mumof2boys

Welcome and congratulations on your decision. It's funny...I made up my mind on my birthday too. I went to the doctor following my 33rd birthday and began with my six months of supervised weight loss effort (that was September 2006). In April 2007 I went under the knife and now I'm 87 pounds lighter. It is a wonderful tool and it can truly make a difference in your life. Good luck on your journey!

Welcome and best of luck to you. You will read lots of inspiring stories on here and make wonderful friends. There is a wealth of information to learn from everyone. We all have different journies but want to end up at the same place, a healthy life. I absolutely love my band and only regret that I did not get it sooner. It is, by far, the best decision that I have ever made. I never imagined losing weight like I have with the band. I feel like a new person and I absolutely love it. May you have a very successful surgery and a speedy recovery!!!

Hi there...I'm from Southern Maryland and work in DC. I was banded on April 30, 2007 by Dr. Brody at GW University Hospital. Good luck to everyone and let me know about a meeting. I'll try my best to make it.

Hi there and welcome. I live in Southern Maryland and work in DC. Congratulations on getting the band. I love mine (sure, we fight sometimes, but what happy couple doesn't, lol). This site is a wealth of information. The good, the bad and the ugly. Best of luck to you.

Hi everyone. I have always wanted to do the 3 day breast cancer walk, but because I was so big I knew that I would never be able to complete it. Well...this is a new year. I have committed to completing the 60 mile walk. I have lost almost 80 pounds and I know that I can do it. My aunt is a breast cancer survivor so it makes me even more excited to take on this committment. I will be doing the walk in Washington DC in October. I am in the beginning stages of raising money (I have to raise at least $2,200). If anyone is interested in donating on my behalf, you can do so through my site at: Welcome to the Washington DC Breast Cancer 3-Day: Also, if you are in my area and are interesting in joining me for training walks, let me know!!! My personal goal is to be at my "weight loss goal" by the time of the walk. Wish me luck!!!!

I look at it this way...I didn't wake up one more a fat person...it took time for me to gain all of that weight that I had on me. Therefore...I don't expect to lose it overnight either. I have lost 80 pounds (never thought I would get to say that) and I feel absolutely wonderful. My motivation....the way that I feel, the way that I look, the comments that I get from people...it all keeps me going. I now love the scales...I used to hate them...I now love to shop...I used to hate that too because NOTHING would fit me right...I used to hate going out to parties, etc., now I really look forward to them because I want to hear and see peoples reaction to me when they see me. My self esteem has sky rocketed over the past several months and I owe it all to my band and my ability to work with the band. It's a life changing experience and you have to put forth the effort to make it work. Good luck!!!

Hello Marylanders and welcome. I am also from Maryland (Southern Maryland, to be exact). Congraulations on being banded (and soon to be banded). This is a wonderful tool for weight loss. I love my band and love losing weight. I have also become pretty fond of exercise (which I never thought would happen). In fact, I'm beginning training for the three day breast cancer walk. It's a 60 mile walk. I'm pretty scared, but I know that I'll be able to do it. I'm hoping to reach my goal by then, so the sky is my limit. Good luck to everyone and enjoy the weight loss!!!!!

Thanks for the replies. Of course I'm worried about it, but I'm starting my training tomorrow. I have to get some really good shoes. I just can't wait. I'm also curious to see what my weight is at the time of the walk. As of yesterday morning, I finally hit a 80 pound loss. I want to hit 100 pounds by my one year anniversary and who knows where I'll be come October. Thanks for the well wishes!!!!

OK...here's my list: Wear a bathing suit without being mortified Be able to jog without the fear keeling over in death Walk 60 miles in the 3 day breast cancer walk (I'm doing it in October 2008) Chase my children in the yard Be in pictures instead of always being the picture taker Go on a roller coaster ride again Go into a store and buy clothes without trying them on Not worry about the seat belt buckling on an airplane Go hiking in the mountains with my husband Wear business suits at work instead of generic sweaters and stretchy slacks I'm happy to report that at this point I now do not worry about half of those things. I'm getting there...I'm in no hurry...it feels great and I LOVE MY BAND!!!

Hello everyone. Now that I have dropped some pounds and have more energy, I have made the committment to do the 3 day breast cancer walk. I will be walking for a total of 60 miles over the 3 days. It will be held in Washington DC (the closest one to me) in October. I have started reaching out to folks for donations. If anyone is interested in donating to me, you can go to my page at: Welcome to the Washington DC Breast Cancer 3-Day: I appreciate any donations, no matter how big or small. It is a great cause and I'm so excited to have the ability to do this. On a side note...my goal is to reach my "ultimate weight loss goal" before the walk. Wish me luck!!!!

Virgo here...I love my band and have had no problems. I think that I have been quite successful so far and I'm looking forward to doing even better. I have no ailments and never really have. So...good luck!!!

I live in the D.C. area and one of our local news channels (NBC) had a Health and Fitness Expo yesterday and today. My husband and I attended yesterday and I met the twins from The Biggest Loser (Bill and Jim). They are so very nice and gave me some tips to get through this plateau. I got a picture taken with them, but I really don't know how to post it. I can't believe how easy they were to talk to. My husband made a comment that they were very nice because they were "real". Anyway...just wanted to share my little "celebrity" encounter with everyone. If I figure out how to post the picture, I will do so.

Bill said that the scales didn't move for him for five weeks, so he completely changed his routine. He took up swimming and yoga and really went by Jillian Michael's book. (He also said that he was working out sixs hours a day, which of course I cannot do because I work) I am headed to the book store this morning to get it. He said by following the book and changing his routine, the two weeks prior to the finale he dropped 18 pounds. They both looked so good, I couldn't believe it. I tried to post the picture but it won't work. It's too big. If anyone has any tips for me on how to post it, let me know and I'll see what I can do. The Expo was pretty good. I found it to be quite crowded on Saturday and next year I'll probably go on Sunday. I didn't wait in any of the lines for the free screenings. I think that there were probably lots of folks there that didn't have health insurance and it was a great opportunity for them to talk to professionals and get free screenings. There certainly was a wealth of information available for just about every illness out there. I'm very excited because I'm going to do the three day breast cancer walk and I got information on that. So...it was definately worth attending.

I have heard about the pad and the yoga. I can't wait. My 4 year old is a pro at bowling. He's so cute when he does it. I get a real workout with the tennis and the bowing. I give it all I have. I didn't know I was going to have so much fun with it. It's definately a great investment. It's bonding time with the family and exercise time for mommy.

Hey there everyone and Happy New Year. So...Santa brought my family a Wii for Christmas and I have to say "I love it". I was doing the boxing and the tennis the other day and I was sweating like I was doing aerobics. I was even sore from bowling. Has anyone else taken up the "Wii" for exercise?

Hey there...I'm 34, married for almost 10 years, two sons--ages 7 and 4. I was banded April 30, 2007 and have lost 77 pounds as of this morning. I'm kind of in a rut right now, but I'll get myself moving again. My goal is to reach a 100 pound loss by my bandiversary. Nice to meet you all and I'm looking forward to chatting with everyone.

Oooohhhh...I'll have to look into that. Thanks!

Exercise is my biggest issue also. It's tough but once you find something that you enjoy, it becomes a little easier to do. I took up water aerobics and I absolutely LOVE it. I wish that it was available everyday, but unfortunately I only do it once a week. I have also recently started jogging. Of course I don't go far, but I'm working my way into it. I also got an exercise ball and I enjoy working with that while I'm watching TV. I completely understand where you're coming from. My lack of exercise has shown on the scale...it has been sitting still for almost four weeks and it's driving me crazy.

Yikes...a bagel? I stay completely away from bread and a bagel is pretty thick. That's probably what did you in. I have not ever had a PB and I am so fortunate. I have read descriptions on here and it doesn't sound fun at all. They say that after a PB you should do liquids for 24 hours. Did you do that? Good luck and I'm glad to hear that you finally have some restriction.

Musicalmomma...I could not agree with you more. I get sick and tired of hearing that too. I also hate how the news and magazines make it a point to stress it. For instance...the cover of PEOPLE magazine says: "Half Their Size...NO SURGERY!" Who gives a crap how they did it...good for them that they lost weight but I really don't care that they didn't have surgery. I did and I'm losing weight...that's what matters to me. The band is not the easy way out...you still have to eat healthy, count calories and exercise. What's so easy about that????

I wasn't planning on getting one. I had no interest in standing in long lines and spending the night outside of a store to get one either, I just happened to stumble upon it. I was very lucky. I went to Target one Tuesday after work to get "Meet the Robinsons" for the kids. Well...I happened to be walking down the Wii aisle and there were two sitting there. I couldn't believe it. It really was a great find. I wasn't sure if my kids would want to play it and if they would really get it (they are 7 and 4), but let me tell you...they love it just as much as I do. Good luck locating one...it should be a little easier now that the holidays are over.

I didn't tell my DH until about a month ago when I reached ONDerland. He couldn't believe it. I still weigh more than him by about 7 pounds, so it's getting closer. I was mortified to tell him, but I did...now, I will pretty much tell anyone who asks because I don't weigh that anymore.

Yes...my scars do the same. I can say that even if I got down to 100 pounds I will not ever be wearing a bikini. They aren't terrible, but they are still there, still pink and still puffy. I did buy some Mederma, but I didn't buy it until about four months after surgery and on the back it says for older scars to apply three times a day. I'm going to try it out, but I really haven't been good with it yet. For new scars, I think that you only have to do it once a day for like three months. So...if you haven't been banded yet, you might want to check that out. I hear it's the best stuff out there for scars. I knew that my scars would do that, but I figured that a couple of scars across my tummy is better than breaking the scales with my weight. Good luck.

Hi everyone...I need to jump in here. I too am in a funk and need some help getting out of it. The holidays and the weekends is where it goes downhill (not to mention the football games over the weekend with drinking and snacking). Why does this have to be so hard? I need to get my rear end exercising because I know that will make the scale move. Why is it that everything that tastes so good is so bad for you and why is it that all the healthy food is expensive? :cry Why couldn't we all be born and remain skinny, eating chips and dip? Why...why...why?:omg: Well...any challenge that you guys set...I'm jumping in with both feet!!!

I bought mine from the doctor's office. Good luck.