tlbutler

Congrats to you!! I also purged my drawers of all the too-big clothes just this past week, and I hauled 5 garbage bags to Goodwill. I had a split second of "man, I should hang on to these" and then I told myself "NO. You are never going to fit in these again!" It's an awesome feeling. I did the same thing and I too had a thought of omg, what if...but then I dope slapped myself into reality! So I donated all of my size 32's to the homeless shelter. I now fit into a size 16 sweater/size 18 blouse... I went from a 4x pant size to a 2x. My bra size went from a 52 DD to a 40 C. And lol, my shoe size from a 7 EEE to a 6.5 D!!! I still have all of my 5x sweatshirts because I am cold all of the time and I wear them shoveling snow with multiple layers underneath (love Massachusetts weather). I just love reading all of everyone's success stories!! You are all Truly the inspiration that keeps me motivated!!!

Name, real or screen~ Theresa Goal weight for February 28th~ 189 Weight on February 1st~ 194 Age~ 49 City/State~ Pembroke, Ma Dietary goal for February~ To eat under current calorie count Exercise goal for February~ Training for first 5K for March Personal goal for February~ To succeed at my new job Date banded~ September 17, 2013 Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 65 pounds Do anything special for Valentine's day?~ evening out with my sweetheart!!

Hi Fellow September 2013 band mates!! I love reading all of the posts. NewMeDebbie congrats on the proposal and setting a date...awesome news!!! Anyway I saw "my team" today and these are my numbers...????.... Surgery date: September 17th, 2013 Starting weight: 259 lbs Today's weight: 194 lbs Total weight loss: -65 lbs Band remains unrestricted

How do you stop these emails from every post?

Hi everyone. I met with my bariatric team today and I am finally under 200 pounds!! My surgery date was September 17th, start weight 259 and today I weighed in at 198 (my 10cc band remains unrestricted)! It was a very tough month as my 25 year old sister Gina passed away unexpectedly and I was laid off from the job that I have has since 1998. My emotions have been all over the place...all I do is think of food---like I want to bury my face in a pan of brownies (baked with Heath Bar toffee candy) with butter crunch ice cream, whipped cream, nuts and lots of cherries!!! It is soo hard and I can honestly say that this sucks bad as I have never had to deal with such intense emotions and not be eat my way through. I am blessed with a great support system and a wonderful family. I hope that you all have a safe and happy New Year's Eve and that 2014 bring us abundant blessings!!

I too am sorry for your loss. We received Gina's ashes Christmas Eve but because I live in Massachusetts and the ground is frozen, we have to wait until spring to bury her. I too will pray for your family that you find peace.

Lol, I am very honest with myself and with others. I was banded Sept 17 and have gone from 259 to 203 pounds (I was weighed in this morning as I am getting B12 shots) and My band (named Destiny) remains unrestricted. I want people to know that there are options and the lap band along with an amazing bariatric team loosing weight can happen. My walk is not perfect, but I am really dedicated and I look forward to what is ahead.

My Nut gave me some suggestions for those times that I would like that chocolate taste. Sugar free chocolate jello pudding or sugar free fudgicles. Just a thought.

Peanut M&M's is the drug of my choice...omg!!! At the height of my "addiction" I would eat about a pound a day. I had to give them up completely (as I did with all candy) because if I didn't every stressful situation I came into, my hand would be in the candy jar. I can tell you that the key to my sanity and success over the holiday week last week was that I planned each eating day in advance. I only ate what I could fit on a saucer size plate and didn't go back for seconds. I brought sugar free pudding and ate that at dessert time. I was still part of the eating festivities, but on my own terms. Then I planned a walk around the "big" block with my son. He took his bike and I walked. I found that if I plan to walk by myself during an eating day, then I may not be motivated to move, but plan it with someone who won't forget (like my 8 year old son) then I have to move because he will hold me to it!! Lastly, I planned a weigh in at my surgeons office the day after thanksgiving. Crazy as that sounds, it totally was a deterrent. I lost 6.5 pounds since my last weigh in on November 8th. My next appointment is the day after Christmas! I love reading your posts and blog...you are such am inspiration.

Lol...5, 6 or 7 kids. Omg, I adopted 1...and as a single parent with a son with disabilities one is good!! My parents however biologically had 5 kids and adopted 7 (no it does not seem to be cheaper by the dozen). All of the biological kids are all adults (my twin and I are 47 and the youngest is 40)...the adopted kids ages range from 35 to the youngest at 3 years of age...most of the adopted kids have some major physical disability (ranging from my sisters with Down's, my sister who was born with an under developed brain, my brother who was born without an anus etc.). Makes for a crazy house at holidays that's for sure!!!

Can you change to 3 weighed and measured meals a day to see if this gives you the jolt that pushes your metabolism?? Also, you exercise quite a bit...are you loosing inches and gaining muscle?? Just my thoughts!!!

It may or not be slow...but the good news is that it will come off. I don't let anything become an excuse to be a roadblock on my road to better health. As with most everyone who is overweight, we all have something that is an obstacle...high blood pressure, diabetes etc. but if you follow the plan set by your bariatric team, the weight will come off!!!

I no longer take the metformin since after being banded my A1c went down to 6.2 and the cystic tumors have shrunk to pea size. But I have the mirena and it has been a life saver.

I have pcos, are you on any type of hormone therapy??

Waiting for your post Bandista!! So glad you are doing well!! Here's hoping for am amazingly smooth and painless recovery!!

After 10 weeks of pre op/post op liquids, mushies and ground foods, I get to eat solid food today!!! Omg!! I think that want grilled chicken Parmesan and salad!!! I can have an apple today!! The world just got bigger today!!!

I saw this happen with my mother (from my dad) and now my mom wants to do this to me. My mother was on weight watchers and lost 50 pounds then hit a plateau...so she joined a local gym. Then my father joined the same gym and lost weight and unknowingly sabotaged my mothers progress. My mom left weight watchers then the gym and has gained some weight back. Now my mom has seen my weight loss and yes is happy for me, but now it is weird. I have been on many "diets" and have been successful for a while, but eventually gain the weight back. But this time it is different, my HEAD and HEART are in the game. I pray for continued success everyday (and for all of us that struggle with weight) but this journey is one that I think I have to travel on my own.

Lol, I saw this on the news today (I live in Mass)...and I would be horrified if my son got a "note" instead of the expected candy. But if she felt this strongly about it, why not hand out carrot sticks, granola bars or apple slices to everyone (not just the fat kids). This way she can hand out her FYI propaganda along with a healthy alternative to candy.

BEST secret answer EVER!!!! So glad you shared!!

Lol, I live in Pembroke and had my surgery at Beth Isreal in Milton...I grew up in Dorchester!!!

I am on mushies and I have been allowed tuna, ground chicken, eggs, hamburger, fish, cheese and cooked veggies. I am really enjoying my food right now. No bread, raw foods of any kind or crackers...oh and I have to keep my food moist!!

Omg that was hilarious!!!!

Sorry... I made my partner wait 3 weeks after surgery. By then, we were both ready. I don't ever hang from the chandelier or anything like that but it was very active. No port pain to report!!

I have had absolutely no trouble at all. I madey partner

Congratulations!! I adopted my son Nicholas when he was 2....but my parents where his specialized foster parents. My parents had him from 2 months old until he stole my heart and I just couldn't imagine my life without him. Because my son has disabilities, his adoption process fairly easy. My son is now 8 and is the love of life...the center of my universe!!