Rebecca Cain Salpacka

Down 68lbs since surgery 4/26 and 82lbs total since 3/1! January I only lost about 3 lbs, February I doubled it and lost almost 6. I wish I was having the 8-10lbs per month that I use to have, but I realize that as time goes on, the weight comes off slower..so I am grateful to still be losing at all! I also realize that I can still be doing more to help that along...its just getting harder to stay motivated, and in a positive mind frame sometimes....but I can do this...I WILL do this! Anyone else at this mark of the journey, finding their motivation slipping?

I know the changes that need to be made..but that is where my prob lies...i get in a frump and motivation to make those changes is almost non existent..and then i get frustrated that i cant bring myself to do what needs to be done. I recently started on meds because i was diagnosed with depression, im hoping after im on them a bit longer, i will start to come out of it a bit, which will then help get myself back on track.

Wow Carolinagirl..100lbs with no fills...thats amazing! Nice job. Im happy with my weight loss...but it just seems like as time goes on, its harder to stay focused on the right choices, and to get myself moving like i should...and it isnt for lack of wanting it..I do..just sometimes i get into a frump and i hate it.

Its crazy how much faster men lose weight then women...Jim..you were banded only 10 days before me, and have lost nearly double what I have since surgery. Way to go and keep up the good work.

I am so glad to see this post and the responses. I will be 10 months on 2/26 and I also have noticed more recently that many are having probs after 18 months or so, and im also noticing people having their bands removed because of the complications..it was starting to worry me, because prior to having the band, i only seen one more two that had been removed...i researched like crazy before deciding to have it. This thread has helped me to feel at ease again.

I was only going by what my surgeon and the other docs have told me...i dont necessarily agree..was just sharing the info i was told. Glad to hear you are doing so well Missy...hope it continues for you.

200lbs in 14 months...that is a bit fast...thats just about 15 lbs a month...i was told bandsters generally keep it off and have the least amt of health issues if they dont lose more than an average of 10lbs a month. I wish you the best and hope that you are able to get answers for whatever is causing the issues.

awesome. i started at 357...when i got into the 200's it was the most amazing feeling, cuz its been nearly 15 yrs since i was there lol. you will be getting excited with each of the tens now..280s, 270s, etc. im in the 270s..and 260s isnt far away. WTG and keep up the good work.

My situation was that I had went to get a small unfill which is done by my surgeon,(for a week i couldnt keep anything more than 1 bite down) she was telliing me not to worry about numbers(such as how many grams of Protein and calories) and that if i can only get 1 bite of food down then that is fine, just eat one bite 3 times a day..SAY WHAT!!...she felt my band didnt need to be loosened, I stood my ground and she finally listened to me. So when i got in my car, before i left the parking lot i was calling over to the nutritionist to state that those things totally contradicted what she (the nutrtionist) had been telling me since our very first meeting...and that the two of them should probably meet up and talk things over so everyone is on the same page lol. The nutritionist met with her and they did readjust a few guidelines..and in the end i decided to listen to the nutritionist..because i only plan to go for an adjustment, if the nutritionist looks at my meal logs (i see her every 2-3 months) and says my portions are too big, or if my weight loss stops....so as long as im losing and still at portions, then i must be doing something right. Its so hard because every surgeon, baritrician, nutritionist all vary in their info from place to place...I go with what works for me, because i truly believe that with any format of losing weight (surgery or not) every person is different and different things work for different people. I still say to talk to doc tho, because if its confusing you (understandably) then you need to feel comfortable with the info you are being given.

how many steps and appts you need, varies based on self pay or insurance, which insurance company (some have more requirements then others) and the surgeon themselves..they also have varied requirements. This first consult should give you a majority of that information tho so u will know better what to expect. Good Luck!

I cant do ground beef but i can do ground chicken and turkey.

My surgeon, nor the bariatrician never suggested a goal weight for me, they asked me mine and i said id be very happy at 200, tho i would still be considered obese in terms of my BMI...they never said anything about a lower one, but im sure they have lower in mind lol. I see the bariatrician on wednesday and will ask her. I am 5'1 so the "ideal" range that i see all over the internet is 109-135.

As i stated in my later comment, i am going to try and get under 200, but as my first HUGE goal, i set it at 200..that would be 157 lbs lost...

Wow, i never expected this thread to go the way it did. FIrst I want to thank Patty for having my back. I will say tho that i was not offended by Cheryl using the term obese, as I did say it myself, based only on what the BMI calculator says. I also want to say that OBESE or not OBESE I want to be healthy...for me that means no high blood pressure, no heart conditions, diabetes, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, or any other condition that requires medication for treatment, and is directly connected to my weight. Of that list, I have APNEA, its a huge condition i know, and is improving with my weight loss...tho OSA may never completely go away as it isnt caused strictly by being Obese, but obesity does make it worse. The only medication I am on is for my thyroid, which is not caused by my weight, but in fact contributes to my higher weight..as we are still working on getting the right dose. Floriday, I never meant to sound like I was "settling" for being obese...i said i would be happy at 200 lbs, but i never said i would be the happiest or that I was going to just stop doing as i should when i reached that point. The 200 is my first big goal that i want to reach...my small goal was to lose 75 lbs in one year...my highest weight was 357 on March 1, and I am currently 281..so I reached that first goal almost 5 wks early. my next small goal is to reach 100 lbs by my 1 year bandiversary...that is 24 lbs in just under 3 months...(4/26) with the proper discipline I know its achievable. I have seen several people posts their ultimate goal (their final weight so to say) and the weights are clearly not within the "normal range" given on websites or by doctors....so this is what triggered me to post this question and see how many other doctors felt that those numbers arent necessarily the gospel of what weight people should be. Thanks again for everyone's input, it is ALL very much appreciated.

So this month was a slow month in the weight loss market lol. Im posting this 2 days early (surgery was on april 26) but since i weighed in today, i wanted to make sure i dindt forget to post my update. I had some issues with swollen legs due to my Water intake being a little low and my Protein being at about half. the protein has been tough since my last band fill on 12/17..the first two wks after it were the worst..but im doing much better now, getting my protein and water, and legs are back to normal. This month only brought me down about 3 lbs...a 3rd of what last months loss was, but thats ok...its a loss and im ecstatic about it. Last March 1st i set a goal of 75 lbs for this March 1 (before even knowing when my surgery date would be lol) ...im down total of 75. 6 as of this morning...so even more ecstatic that I hit that mark 5 weeks early. If anyone else is having issues with swollen legs and u know your sodium intake isnt high or your water is at a good level..look at your protein. I never knew protein effect that...by my bariatrician pointed it out to me and after i was getting more protein in..it was like night and day...hopefully it helps someone else out there. Keep on moving and keep on losing!

Will continue to keep you in my thoughts and prayers...you CAN do this!

Banded 4/26 From Chicago RIdge/Oak Lawn area. Looking for local bandsters to give support and receive support on this exciting Journey!

my port is just at my waist line..no hwere near the bra. one incision was right where my bra sat..but it wasnt really an issue.

I had to email my bariatrician yesterday because of some leg swelling that ive had...during our back and forth, she asked about my Protein intake. Up til now I was told 60grams a day by my nutrtionist...but according to the doc, she says 60-80. Turns out that, tho it doesnt happen often, not enough protein can cause swelling in your legs. Since my last band fill, my protein has been onloy about 30, because of such small portions...so it make sense. I would say as a starting point, try to get 60, then at your next visit with doc (or if u can call or email them) confirm with what they say. good luck

Red, how are you doing now? Just thought I would check in on ya.