pink dahlia

When I had to pull a ton of stuff out of the closet that didn't fit anymore. Woohooo ! Several garbage bags later im thinking "This is fun !Everthings toooo big !!

well you go girl !!!! Im sorry for your losses and difficulties , im sure its been hard, but I like the way you stayed focused on your health and didn't use them as an excuse to binge all day long. Hope you're better soon !

You are amazing ! WAY TO GO !!!! The comment about making too much food, more than you can eat ? Me too ! I pack a small lunch every day but still bring home 1/2 full containers ! I still have it in my head that there wont be enough lunch and ill end up being hungry ! My hubby packed a lunch for me 1 day,( his idea of a normal lunch ) I could of made 3-4 meals out of that 1 bag ,. and to think I used to be able to eat that much ! EEEEEEEK !!! no wonder I was obese ! Keep up the good work, and yes, God bless thrift stores, because they're where I get 90% of my cute , slimmer clothes ! Great job ! Keep it up !

Sorry for that last reply, computer issues.......... I never considered anything except the band as the others were all waaaaayyyyy too complicated or hard on my body. Reroute my insides ? Ummmmm, no thanks !! I was banded 18 months ago at 225 lbs, wearing a size 18 frumpy, tired and NOT happy with my body or how I looked. I lost 50 lbs the 1st 7 months and while the weight loss has slowed down (normal for me) Im still losing slowly......and down to 162. I now wear a size 12 and hope to get to 140 lbs this year. ( I'm 5"3, and 55 yrs young. I feel great, bounced right back, and have been told I look fantastic !!) I went back to work 7 days after being banded and followed the Drs rules 95 % of the time and have had no major problems. A co worker who had Gastric Bypass not long before I was banded ? She was out a month, still has to follow a ridiculous diet, and constantly talks about her weight/ diet/ complication issues. Yeeeesh !!! Its a no brainer ! Getting banded was the best decision ever ! Hope this helps ! Good luck !!

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I am having the same problem and I was wondering why im struggling to get the scale to move when im sticking to about 1200 cals a day, well now I know why ! I never thought of the small amount of carbs that I eat as the problem ! I thought back to what ive eaten this week,................ spaghetti, 2 crackers w/ pb every am, a half a baked potato........... etc,. Hmmmmm, this might be the problem as to why im stuck on 162.5 lbs ! THANK YOU everybody for your good advice !!!

I love the Kirkland brand (Costco) sugar free Calcium Chews. 20 cals each and really good, taste like a tootsie roll !

well aren't you beautiful !!! congrats !! you look great !! ( im also 5'3 with a goal of 140 ! only 23 lbs to go ! ) good for you !!

Raw broccoli is a big no-no, and dry chicken breast and dry pork chops too. Broiled chicken like the already cooked , good smellin ones from the grocery store are fine ......mmmmmmm....... sometimes pasta gives me a little trouble. Tonight I made spaghetti and had a mini stuck for a few minutes.....Everything else is fine for me,

I started taking a pool exercise class about the same time I got banded. (225 lbs) it was and still is fun 3 x a week, its helped me lose 63 lbs so far and nobody cares about what you look like !!! Just remind yourself you are there to get healthy, not impress anybody ! Have fun !!!

Sorry you have to go through all this, I understand its frustrating sometimes. I've had the same problems you have in the past, but I would just go get a fill. (About every 3 months) Sometimes I would hit the green zone, sometimes not. And yes, I could eat a big plate of food too,. Why? you ask ? because I was HUNGRY !!! ALOT !!! But its a daily learning thing of what to do and not do. When I started eating too much, I found that if I ate a band sized meal of protein and veggies, I was still hungry, so I would fill in around the edges with as much salad or veggies as I wanted. It always worked , as I wasn't hungry anymore, so I could keep my mind off of food ! I also didn't have to make or buy any different foods, and my body liked all the salad and raw veggies. I lost 50 lbs the 1st 7 months, (banded Dec,2011 at 225 lbs ) now im SLOWLY take off the remaining weight and im down to 162 !!! (Goal is 140 !) 3 weeks ago my Lap band Dr told me to I was eating too much, so go for about 1200 cals daily, move exercise from 3-4 x a week to 4-6, and track everything on an app like myfitnesspal.com. Ummm, ok, I 'll try it......... Hey !! I lost 4 lbs the 1st week and 1.5 lbs each week after that so far ! OK!!! I can do this and so can you !!! Good luck !!

hi there, this being New Years Eve i want you to know that i was banded 1 year and 2 weeks ago (December 13th 2011 , weighing 220 lbs !), and by that New Years Eve i weighed in at 212 lbs !!! I thought , "it can only get better !" , and it did ! This New Years Eve i weigh 163 lbs !!!!! (Goal is 140 ) So hey, It DOES GET BETTER, SO FOLLOW YOUR DR.S RULES AND A YEAR FROM NOW YOU WONT RECONIZE YOURSELF !!!! ive gone from an unhappy, tired girl to lots of energy, happy with what i see and feel like, almost daily compliments, and today just bought cute Nike running clothes and cute sweaters in size 14, not size 18- 1x ! So, hang in there, take it a day at a time and you'll love it when your clothes start falling off !! Good luck !! BEST. DECISION. EVER .

Hello all, tommorrow December 13th is my 1 year anniversary ! If you had told me a year ago i would be this happy with my body i wouldnt of believed you . My surgery and recovery was a breeze, i follow the Dr. s food rules 95% of the time, swim 3x a week and walk when i can. I was 5'3 weighing 225 lbs, tired ,out of of shape, wearing a frumpy size 18 old lady clothes. Now i weigh 163 with a goal of 140. i have lots more energy, feel great and my sleep apnea is gone ! I wear attractive size 14 clothes,get nice compliments and like what i see in the mirror. This was by far a good decision, so if you have any doubts, just imagine how good you'll look and feel in a year ! THANKYOU to all who posted in the last year, i learned alot ! Best of luck !!!

Banded 1 yr ago today (Dec 13th) at 225 lbs, now i weight 160 (!!!) with a goal of 140. Yeehaw !! Im VERY happy !!! (Can you tell ???)

and congrats to cheryl 2586 for reaching your goal ! Amy Gibson, you'll get there too !! As a veteran , thankyou to both you and your husband for your service! Been there, done that !

P.S. ive had 8 fills, ( 9th fill next week ) some gave me restiction, some nothing, some for a short time, some it took 2 weeks for the fill to "click." Dr said" thats normal too, sometimes it takes awhile for the fill to find all the nooks and crannys, and sometimes fills last longer or shorter at diff times w/ diff people. there is no one set rule about restriction, so just take each fill as an adjustment, but not written in stone that it will cure ALL hunger 100% ! " GREAT ADVICE ! SOOOOO, again get rid of your scale ! Eat healthy 90%of the time and exercise minimun 3 x a week ! you'll do great !!

hang in there, its waaaaay too early to start getting upset ! today is my i year band-anniversary and i couldnt be happier ! ive gone from 225 to 160 and look and feel 100% better. you are just starting this journey and like any journey you can sometimes go forwards, backwards and yes even go nowhere for a time. Your body is adjusting to a major (but better in the long run ) shock. it needs TIME !!! its not done overnight ! So, just an idea, get rid of your scale and focus on how your clothes are getting looser, how youre exercising and eating right ! Once you focus on those things, you'll find the scale is only a GUIDELINE, not a LIFELINE !!!! Best of luck to you !, It will get better with TIME !!!

i just tried to use common sense, as too many rules was too confusing. i was told to eat protein 1st fruits and veggies 2nd, and if i had any room left over , carbs. i eat nuts or PB everyday, and include a little lo fat cheese 2-3 times a week. i have a cup of milk daily, and a little treat everyday. (skinny cow ice cream, or a cookie or 2).i dont like soda, alcohol, or fried foods, and eat fast food once a month, maybe. i think you're doing fine, and write in your logs what they want to see, but use good common sense in you daily eating habits. like they said, if it aint broke , dont fix it !!!

well, im down 63 of the 85 lbs i need to lose , in just 11 months. I started Dec 2011 at 225 and im at about 163 now with a goal of 140. I did slow down a bit at the 50 lbs mark, but im still losing, so no i dont think you always stop at 50 lbs.

Oh yeah ! shopping is waaay more fun now ! Im a diehard 2nd hand store shopper, im at Goodwill once a week and finding great stuff ! My wardrobe is 90% 2nd hand, and im always getting compliments on my cute stuff ! (And cheap too !) Im picky about what i wear, it has to be in excellent shape, no stains or missing items, and it has to fit well too. i love a bargain !

congrats on your success !!!! WOW !!! Thats alot ! im down 62 lbs in 11 months and while i dont worry that some one has lost more or less than me, id still love to hear about your daily food and exercise habits. Care to share ??

The only thing i regret is that i didnt do it sooner !! Im down from 225 lbs to 163 in 11 months with my goal of 140 lb in site. My sleep apnea is gone, i ve gone from a size 18-1x to a skinny size 14, i swim 3x a week, started on a running program, walk when i can, can paint my own toenails (the big tummy is gone !!! ) wear cute clothes, have lots more energy, like what i see in the mirror, enjoy the frequent compliments, etc etc etc. i can still eat 90 % of the foods i used to, but i take only a few bites of "sliders" or choose not to eat them at all. I followed the Drs rules 95% of the time and we're both very happy with my progress . It just keeps getting better and better !!! So , no regrets at all, instead im very grateful that with just a few diet and exercise changes, i've been able to lose weight and not feel deprived and still live a normal life. Best of luck !

im rarely on forum as im usually busy with other things, but if this is any help...............i was banded LAST December 13, 2011, and i cant believe it almost been a year ! Im down 63 lbs , feel great , get lots of compliments, and cant believe i have my life back ! I swim and walk , follow the Drs rules 95% 0f the time and watched the weight roll off. I 've gone from 225 lbs, frumpy size 18-1x clothes to 163 lbs, wear a size 14 skinny jeans, my sleep apnea is gone, i look and feel healthier and younger, and it just keeps getting better and better ! I still can eat 90% of normal foods , including thin crust pizza, steak, pineapple and celery. the only favorite foods i had to give up was broccoli and thick chicken and thick pork chops, and i can only eat a few bites of any potato item before they expand. i cant help you with the soda pop or alcohol problems as i dont like soda but have a margarita every month or two. Most wheat breads are fine, but depending on the type or brand of biscut i might have a problem. hope this helps you calm your nerves, getting banded was the best decision ever ! Good luck !

No, i dont think you're "crazy" to be thinking about the band just because you have a low bmi. i do think however that you need to think a little about some of the things in your post. i totally get your problem with the lose it/gain it weight , but the band doesnt take away cravings, so if you "have no willpower" on the free food at work, the band doesnt take away the cravings. on the other hand, since i fill up on protein and fruits and veggies 1st, my cravings have gone away 90% Since my portions are now so small, im naturaly losing weight (Down 63 lbs in 11 months !) . i just have very little room left for the junk food "sliders". As far as your favorite sliders, (mashed potatoes, fries, carbs) , i cant eat more than 6-7 fries or a few bites of potatoes as those start expanding on me and i feel like i have heartburn, so i stop after a few bites. I totally get the low self esteem, your age and family history, and the up and down weight, so the band has been a lifesaver for me , as it literally gave me my life back ! i dont think your bmi is as important as to wheather or not you're willing to follow the band rules. If you'e not, it will be a waste of time and money. If you are, then dont worry about your bmi and go for it ! good luck to you !

I think you're doing great ! Like me, you're averaging a lb a week with some weeks more or less. i think were both right on target. i keep a daily log of my weight and food and exercise , not because i live and die by the scale ( i dont) but because it lets me see my progress . Also if i stop loosing or gain i can go back and look at my eating habits and make quick changes to get me back on track in stead of guessing at what i ate. Keeping track has been a huge lifesaver for me. I think you 'doing it the right way, so keep it up ! great job !