cole&matt'smom

Today marks my 6 month mark! It seems to have flown by. I've had my slower months but I am finally in my green zone. I have no regrets, this has truly given me a new outlook on life. My biggest challenges have been: learning to pace myself eating, don't let food control me & quit expecting to just wake up a size 8. My mind is having a hard time catching up with my new body. Funny how that works. At times, I'm a little saddened by the difference in the way people treat & look at me now versus the heavier me. It's truly sad that some people in this world will only notice smaller people:/ I am 14 pounds from my personal goal weight & can't wait to reach it!!!

I made it to the 40lb mark today!!! I thought I was never going to see it! The loss between 30 & 40 creeped soooo slowly. I tried keeping my head high by measuring inches. I am down 29 inches since Jan:) I am 22 lbs from my goal so I have got to kick things up a notch at the gym. I am ready to conquer this challenge & live a healthy, happy life. Next NSV....weigh less than my husband, 8 lbs from this goal. I am so glad I chose the lap band....best decision ever:)

I felt the same way up until this past Wed. I had surgery on Jan 16th & after the initial swelling went down I could have eaten ANYTHING. I was always hungry. My surgery costs only covered one fill:/ I have paid for 3 out of pocket. I told my dr Wed that they needed to fill me good this time. I am happy to say that I may have finally hit the Green Zone!!!! I have not been hungry at all. Yesterday I ate very little & was satisfied throughout the entire day. I know I hated ppl telling me to be patient but at this point patience is your only hope. Stay strong & know that you will get there.

Oh number 1 how i have missed you!!! it felt FABULOUS to see the weight of 199 this morning???ƒ I set 2 goals during my preop stage. 1) see a "1" at the beginning of my weight ...I have not seen this since my thyroid went crazy 11 years ago 2) weigh less than my husband....I have never weighed less than my husband, not even while dating. So goal #1 is now complete & I am 20lbs away from goal #2!!!

I am coming up on my 3 month post op date. I am down 30 lbs & feel great. The band had been one if the best decisions I ever made. I have beat myself up a few times during the journey due to losing 18 lbs pre-op & only 12 lbs post op. I hit bandster hell around 6 wks post op & just recently got my 2nd fill & am finally satisfied between meals. I have lost a lot of inches though. I have a scale obsession which completely owns me. (Yes, I know...stay away from the scales!) Well I tried, my husband even took the scales to my neighbors.....I sent my son to get them 3 days later. Holy smoke, I need to get a grip. Lol!!! I'm not beating myself up as much though. I have dropped 2 pant sizes so I keep reminding myself that the pounds aren't everything. One of my NSV was to be a size 12 which is only ONE size away!!!! Hallelujah!!!! Some ppl would die if they were a size 12 but that is my goal. I do want to lose 30 more lbs though. I keep telling myself that I am half way there, I've got this. I made it this far in Bandster hell surely the next 30 will be easier:) I'm posting a before & after pic. The before wad taken in Dec. (I began my liquid diet Jan 1st) the after pic was taken this past weekend.

Thanks everyone!!!! You all are so sweet & encouraging:)

I work as a lender @ a local bank in my hometown. Most banks will finance medical needs based in your credit score & collateral. You will definitely get better terms & rates. I was also self pay & did mine through a 0% credit card. This offer is only good for 12 months. I have decided if I don't have it paid off before then I will do a loan through my bank:) good luck!!!

I am getting my 2nd fill today. I just got to the dr & was informed that they have began the Fluor option!!!! It does cost more but I am willing to try this because my 1st fill was not a success at all. I have been starving. Hoping this helps. If you have had a regular fill then a Fluor please leave your thoughts:)

Today I am half way to my goal!!! I am officially down 30 lbs!!! After lots of frustration with 3 lbs that seemed to never want to go away, I finally figured out that I wasn't eating enough calories to compensate for my workouts. I have cut back on one of my workouts & BAM those 3 pounds along with 2 more disappeared:) I go tomorrow for my 2nd fill & hope to get some restriction. The past 6 wks I have had none so I just worked really hard to lose. I have been starving so maybe this one will help with some feel of satisfaction after each meal.

Ugh!!! Nurse called today & my dr is out tomorrow so another wk before I can get a fill:(

Thanks so much everyone???ƒ

Awesome!!!!! You will touch soooo many ppl through your Lap Band story:) Great Job!!!!

I bought Jilian Michaels 30 Day Shred with combines cardio, strength & Abs. It is a 20 minute GREAT workout!

I am 7 weeks out & keep playing with the same 3 lbs. They can't seem to stay away! Ugh:/ I called my nurse today & asked when I could get my 2nd fill! I just had my 1st one week ago. I told her if I had SUPER strong willpower them I would not have needed a band. Lol! She gave me the same advice as everyone else. Be patient, it will get there:) So here's to the next 3 weeks of waiting, hunger & no restriction.

Great job on the weight loss. I had my thyroid removed several years ago & my weight has been a constant battle. I do not wish hypothyroidism on my worst of enemies. I am thankful for my WL surgeon finding that my meds needed to be increased. I feel much better:) Keep up the hard work & you look WONDERFUL!!!

Great job!!!

Thanks so much everyone???„. I seriously almost cried because I was soooo excited! All of this logging foods, Zumba & Julian Michaels' workouts are all paying off. I started yelling for my husband to come see the scale. I am excited to begin working toward my next goal! When I get below my husband's weight you all may hear me scream with excitement!!!

I like the EAS Carb Advantage Strawberry & Milk Chocolate flavors. I have just recently purchased unflavored Whey Protein from Amazon & began making my own shakes:) I am using Unsweetened Almond Milk (40 cals, 2 carbs, 1 protein & 0 sugar) 1-2 scoops of protein (25 grams of protein per scoop, 2 carbs & 2 sugars) & strawberries. My nurse said I could use sugar free jello flavoring & it is great in your shakes.

I'm headed to my 6 wk post op appt & will get my first fill:) Thank goodness because I am sooo hungry all the time & can eat more than I could just 2 wks ago. I have been careful of what I have eaten & began exercising so the weight is dropping, just SUPER SLOW!

I did get my first fill today:) The doctor is checking my thyroid levels again due to my levels being low in Dec. We are hoping the med adjustment in Dec. did the trick. The dr & nurse made me feel much better today. I had lost 5 lbs in 4 wks which puts me in the normal range. I'm going to keep tracking my food & exercising. Excited to see what tomorrow holds. Hoping for some much needed restriction:)

I was told by my surgeons nurse at my 2 wk post op visit that most ppl lose 10 lbs at that visit & I was only down 1 lb. I guess this has given me the idea that I am obviously behind their other patients:/ Maybe I have just let that comment bother me too much. I know I would have loved to have waken up from surgery skinny. Lol! But I didn't become overweight over one week so I'm not going to lose it in a week.

Thanks!!! I'm losing pounds really slow but I'm losing inches fast. I started back to the gym on my one month band anniversary so I feel like that explains the inches. I still struggle with letting go of bread but it is getting easier. I'm hoping things will speed up after this fill. Everything with recovery was really easy for me. I had very little pain.

I have noticed several people place protein in their yogurt or other food to help reach their daily goal. What brands/names are you guys using?