finallytime

Here is the 16 week side by side comparison

Look at this change in 16 weeks. SO BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO BE. You got this. You will be sooo happy in a few weeks that you did that!!

Thanks everyone. And if you only knew the half of what has been going on in my personal life. The victory is even sweeter. VERY long story short and just a few hi/low lights. Surgery 12/14. My 'thin' but obviously not healthy husband suffered a massive heart attack on 12/18. Thankfully he is fine now. My dad went into the hospital on the 19th. And in January was diagnosed with a fatal lung disease. My 3 year old pretty much gave up sleeping from November to February and would just scream for HOURS every night and never sleep more than two hours at a time. Thankful that is way better now too!!! Got a heel spur in November and have weekly cortisone shot so i can walk and exercise without crying. So this victory is really sweet for me.

And I hit 50lbs on Friday!!! So happy with this decision. And still no fills! When it slows down I will gladly get a fill. But can't believe within 3 1/2 months down 50lbs with NO gimmicks. No juicing, no just shakes, no fasting. I have actually eaten the entire time. Just healthier!!

I guess it depends on your doctor. I was driving the next day. And by day 2 drove about 200 miles, but totally agree with the no pain meds

I feel the same way. I am almost 3 months out and down 46 with no fills. I too want to see how long I can go without a fill. I like knowing the band is there and if there reaches a time that this is more than a mental game, I will use it. . Glad to see someone else feels the way I do!! Keep up the great work!!

Every one is different. I was banded on 12/15 no plication. Down 24 since surgery with no full and hoping not to get one for a while. For me it's a mental thing. I like having the band there knowing I can get a fill I need be. But knowing I need to change my lifestyle and work on my eating right and exercising without the fills. Everyone has a different journey - just enjoy the ride!

Earlier today I realized that anytime I bend down or get up from a sitting position the incision where my port is hurts. Never happened before today and was just wondering if this was normal

Have to be honest. I LOVE them. I run them through water first to get rid if the smell. Then in a frying pan with coking spray only I put in minced garlic, diced tomatoes and whatever vegetables I have with either shrimp or grilled chicken and then add the noodles. Absolutely delicious!!

Added you as I too was banded on 12/14. You can also keep your diary open so your friends can view. I do that as it keeps me honest

thanks everyone! Weird thing is, it isn't as hard as I thought it would be. Don't get me wrong, not a walk in the park and I am working my butt off- i think I just finally wanted it for all the right reasons! Hoping to go as long as possible without a fill... although will gladly take if necessary. Only time will tell.....

Although I haven't reached restriction per se, I am full for 4-5 hours between eating and am steadily loosing 3 lbs per week, so my dr and I decided to give it another 6 weeks before my first potential fill. I want to keep doing as much a I can without the fill as I really am retraining myself to eat correctly and exercise accordingly. 33lbs since preop on 12/3 so I will gladly take that!

But sometimes it's hard. I can honestly say that I am following the plan 100% I log every morsel of food and don't go over 1000 calories . I don't eat more than a cup of food at every meal. I rarely have a snack, I drink my water and I walk 3 miles everyday. The only thing I could do better is chew slower. I have been the same weight for 10 days which seems statistically impossible. Trying to focus on the bigger picture which is getting healthy. And I am proud of myself for all the healthy choices I making. But I am 4 weeks out and down 8 lbs post op. 23 all together. Is there something else I should be doing? Is it because my dr only had me on a liquid diet for 1 week post op.? Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated

People just don't get it and it has taken me a long time to realize that. I have beaten myself up long enough on other people's thoughts. Case in point. Years ago I lost almost 70lbs on WW and could not have been prouder of myself until.... The one comment that changed it all and me back to my old habits and I gained 90lbs. ONE COMMENT!!! A co worker said to me in the elevator. You lost so much weight. You look REGULAR now- REGULAR who the F says that!!!!! And unfortunately at that part in my journey all my fragile psyche heard was I wasn't regular before!! And something must be wrong with me. That is why this time I am no longer dieting. I have changed my life for the better and am emotionally more stable. I get frustrated with the scale from time to time. But I know for once I am making the changes to be healthy and happy not a size 2!!

Thanks. I want to exercise. My dr said nothing but waking until jan 21st. Hence why all I am doing is walking. So hopefully that will help!!

What scales to people use (for people, not food)? I have a great scale that is hooked up wirelessly through my laptop. However I am about to throw it out the window. Seems even on the hardwood floor it just doesn't stay level. Case in point weighed myself Friday and then again on Sunday and according to my very expensive piece of crap scale I have gained 7.2lbs. Mathematically impossible as my total calories for those two days was 1900 and net calories was 1100. So any help you can lend would be appreciated as I am not getting on this scale anymore!!!

Thanks. I can try to change the battery as I have had for awhile, but no salty foods either. So perhaps just a really expensive bad scale

So between pre op and 2 weeks post op down 22.... however it was 24 and now that I am back on solids it is tough! Wish my dr has me on liquids of mushies longer, but 15 days out he starts real food. I have done some good things, like spent all day friday and today making turkey meat loaf cupcakes, baked egg cupcapes, turkey taco wontons, two stews and a roast. So I will have all healthy pre-portioned meals available. However I find myself snacking.... At least its a healthy snack (like 1/2 of the turkey meatloaf cupcake, but still....). I have a 10CC band with no fills, so can only hope that on the 21st I will get a fill and that will help. I am confident I can do this, it's just another little hiccup along the way.

Mine was less than supportive and is thin. However on my 3rd day post op he had a heart attack. Skinny does not equal healthy in all cases. Since the heart attack and subsequent surgery he has certainly joined the healthy eating club. Sometimes his intervenes

I'll have to check them out

Thanks ladies and I have been tracking everything, even the little tastes when I was cooking and the 1 tator tot I ate off my son's plate..... I haven't hit above 850 calories for the day. I am very thankful for myfitnesspal as I track there. And trust me Martha Stewart I am not, but I refuse to not have this work for me, so I will just keep cooking healthy things on the weekends and freeze enough to get me through the week.

Banded on 12-14 and had more than my share of pity parties the first week and 1/2. Trust me I am only 12 days out and feel so much better. It is not easy all the time as right now I have no restriction so I am pretty much just on a diet. But made it thorough 2 big days this week including hosting and cooking for Christmas Eve. It does get better'

Not sure my body even knows what to do with these extremes. Seriously though it is not like I am trying to sustain on nothing. Just been a rough week. Banded on 12-14 on 12-17 my husband had a heart attack ( go figure the skinny one was the unhealthy one). My father was rushed to the hospital on 12-18 and is still there and I have a 3 yr old. The issue with eating is actually the drinking. If I drink something I am usually hungry and then I know I have to wait 30ins and by then I am doing something else and don't eat. Any suggestions for quick mushies on the go? I have made purreed chilli and the ricotta and sauce but they aren't very portable. I haven't had more then 400 calories any day this week and am WAY under on Protein. Any helps would be greatly appreciated. It's almost 3pm here and I just realized I didn't have anything today except Water as diet snapple and now I just drank and need to wait another 30 minutes....

When was it and what was it?

I agree that it is very early on. And I need to be mindful of eating and drinking. But I am trying to put into perspective the old me would have drank and eaten myself into oblivion this week with my husband having a heart attack and my dad being in the hospital and being as they are both going to be here tomorrow I am debating the 1/2 glass. Guess I will see how I feel about it tomorrow. But nice to know I made a chocolate chocolate chip cake from scratch today ( my favorite), 4 dozen cookies, 3lbs of baked ziti, multiple dips and put candy out in all the holiday dishes and didn't so much as have 1 m&m.... Pretty sweet victory!!