Chickie

I still look at mine almost 10 years later and relive my big day too. You just look so radiant. Congratulations again.

I know you were talking to Julie, but this struck me. So many people DO see weight loss as a cure for all their problems. You know the "If only I were 150lbs, my life would be perfect" thing. I often wonder how many of us felt this in the beginning? I know for my monies worth, I felt this way for about 6 months post op. I knew, realistically that it was insane to think that way, but I couldn't help but wonder how wonderful my life would be when I was skinny. As my weight dropped, all that happened was my health improved, and my clothes shrank. I still had the same (wonderful) husband and son. I still did basicly the same thing every day, and I realised that while my life did to an extent revolve around being fat, I actually had a really good life. I have a wonderful husband, and son, I have a beautiful home, nice car, all the material stuff I could ask for, and some cool hobbies. I finally realised that I did have a wonderful life, despite being fat. I just let being large cloud the way I saw my life. I thought I was so hard done by. Boo Hoo. My biggest problems (outside my heath, that really was a train wreck) was having to shop in the plus size department, and pay slightly more than the skinny chicks! I guess my point is,my life is really good. Everyone in my family is healthy, happy, and we all love each other. And we always had that. It just took time for me to wake up and realise that. Yeah, I tend to drone on... You are all regretting letting me in now, aren't you!?!

Some items of clothing can be altered at very little cost. And then, as you shrink out of things that are not worth having altered, or can't be altered, eBay is a great place to sell your old stuff, and buy new.

LMAO! You so smart. Me dumb. Sorry to insult your intelligence! Although I do now see why you took such offence. I guess if I put someone down, or made regular negative comments about surgery for weight loss, then went on to have it myself, I maybe would be able to read so much into a simple, innocent comment! You got your heckles up for nothing. Tunes change all the time. I always said I would never have children, or get married, but I did. And if I were to pick a fight with everyone who said I changed my tune.. Boy would I be a busy girl! And I don't like being called "Dear" by anyone but my husband. It is a term of endearment coming from him, but really strikes me as passive aggressive coming from someone who is making a point of disagreeing with me. If that was the intent, go for it. But be aware that I will be placing you on my ignore list.

How you got that I think people should rush into surgery uninformed, and because everyone else is doing it, I will never know. There MUST be more between the lines in my original comment than I thought! But yeah! Have surgery, because everyone else is doing it folks! Don't bother with research! Its a waste of time! And while you're at it, I am jumping off a cliff this afternoon, if anyone wants to join me... :heh: And if your sarcasm detector is a bit off this afternoon... It's a joke Joyce.

Was the FYI for me Boo? Life is usually far from perfect. But I think that life can be wonderful, enjoyable, and everything you want it to be without perfection. And losing weight will solve weight related issues, but usually there are a myriad of underlying emotional issues that need resolving too. I guess I am just realistic about things to the point of being blunt at times. And thanks for the welcome.

Weight loss will not solve all of your problems. It will not make your life perfect. What it will do is resolve any weight related issues you may have, and obviously, your weight will be lower, and you will be more able to concentrate on the other issues in life. I am still the same person now at 107lbs as I was at 297. I am a little more confident, and out going now, and I have found a wealth of new talents and strengths, but inside, I am exactly the same.

Apart from being 20 years older, I expect that as long as all is still well with my band, I will still be around the same weight as I am now, and still banded. The band has been used in Australia and Europe for the last 15 to 20 years now, and while some of the very early bands have been removed, or revised, there is some very good evidence to show that the band is safe long term.

I found out who all my real friends were. Those who stood by me regardless of my size = Friend. Those who gave me the cold shoulder once I was thinner than them = Thoughtless assholes who do not deserve my friendship.

Don't panic? (Oh, that was the Hitchhikers Guide... Sorry, lol) Everyone eats different stuff at different stages. I don't personally eat meat (by choice, not because I cannot) I don't drink carbonated crap, even the diet stuff, I don't eat processed foods, I don't drink alcohol. I don't do a lot of things. What I do do that should be common for all bandsters (and non bandsters), is exercise regularly. Everyone needs exercise.

You may need a tiny unfill. My best advice, given your surgeon is closed over the weekend, is to go on liquids till you can get an appointment for some professional advice.

The only problem I see is if you come to wear it, and it is too big. Some clothes cannot be altered without huge effort. But, it's not a depressing problem. I have stuff in my wardrobe that I planned to wear this summer that is at least 3 sizes too big. I look at them and wonder who in the hell I give my cast off's to this time.

Thank you Tracey, Janice, and Gibson. It is sort of unreal that it has been a whole year since I got to goal. It only took 17 months to get to goal, and I thought that time flew. But this year has just gone at such a rate. Really. I can't get over how long it has been already.

A year at goal! Time flies when you are having fun! I got to my goal weight July 2006, had my tummy tuck August 2006, and here I am a year later! I lost a bit more after getting to my goal weight of 140lbs / 63kg (I am down to 107lbs / 49kg). The day I was banded, getting to "goal" seemed so very far away. But it feels like I was only banded yesterday. Has it really been a year? :faint:

Awesome. There are not really all that many "at goal" bandsters around these parts, lol, and I thought it best to ask before I jump in! Yeah, like Julie said, I am trying to gain a little weight. I dropped down to 107 lbs. I am not all that happy being this thin. I worry that if I get sick (I can't eat when I am sic, even if it just a flu... I just can't face food) I will lose even more weight. I am happier around 114lbs. I was a very, very loose Aussie 8 (I think that is a 2 or0? I will have to look it up) and I could still get clothes, now, I have to wear kids clothes. Girls clothes are cut differently than womens. No hips or boobs. So yeah, I'd love to gain 7lbs back. I don't see it happening. I am going to have to have the rest of my fill removed I think. I have next to nothing in my band as it is, so I hope that what's left to be removed will make the difference. On goals post weight loss goal; I found that I became very goal orientated during my weight loss. So I set new, non weight related goals for myself. Usually related to my running. The first was to start running again after my tummy tuck. The second was to run the Mothers Day Classic, and my next goal is to run the Green Bridge 8km run. That's coming up in September. I had grand idea's of running the Bridge to Brisbane, but they have over 7 thousand entries to date, and I am not sure I want to be pushed and shoved out of the way... Plus, it starts too early in the morning for me! LMAO My goal for April next year is the University of Queensland's Triathlon. As soon as it is warm enough, I am getting back into the pool, and getting my backside ready for that one. I also need to buy a bike... The running I have down, because it's only a 3km run. I want to finish somewhere in the middle of the pack, so I have to start training now. And a huge Congratulations to everyone who is approaching GOAL!

Woah! I never said it works 100% of the time for 100% of people who are banded! I am not uneducated on banding. I didn't just jump on the bandwagon yesterday. I am not sure why you felt the need to add "I am sure your doctor explained it all to you"... It just seem a little aggressive to me. A little "I know better" ish. Maybe I am wrong. I don't know, it wouldn't be the first time. LOL Actually, in the close on 3 years I have been seeing my surgeon, we discuss regularly the reasons people have their bands removed, why band failures occur, and what, if anything can be done to prevent, or resolve any issues. If you read more than 2 of my posts, you will see that I regularly say that the band is not the be all, and end all. It is not a perfect system, nor is it right for everyone. And, yes, I have lost over 110% of my excess weight, and I have kept it off for a year now, and no, not every single bander will do that well. But I do not run around saying that everyone will lose that much. Never. I say it CAN be done, but it is down to the individual. What my comment meant, simply, is her co-workers have seen how well she has done, and their tune has changed. That is all. And for the record, I went into my banding with my eyes wide open. I had all the facts, I knew the risks involved. I knew I might die. I knew it might not work. I knew there could be complications.

Bumping...

It's amazing how people change their tune once they see banding really works, huh? Congrats on getting down under 80kg!

Am I welcome in this thread? I have been at goal weight for a year now.

She Smiles! You looked so beautiful! Congratulations! I just watched it last night. Oh. My. I have always loved Mikey Robbins. Always. What a fantastic interview. I cried a couple of time during that hour. Reney. I am a runner too. I don't take any extra Protein either. I just make sure I eat a balanced diet, otherwise I tend to get a bit sluggish.

You must be so thrilled, relieved, and excited!! Congratulations on such fast approval, and your new banding date!!

While losing weight slower does help to a degree, and exercise does tone the muscle under the loose skin, only genetics, age and duration of obesity will determine just how much loose skin you will end up with. The is no fool proof way to prevent it, and there is no cream, exercise or prayer that can cure it. All that said, I would not trade my loose skin (the little that I do have) for my obesity. I would rather have loose skin than be obese. And while tummy tucks look rather painful, for me, it was more uncomfortable than painful.

Thank you Mary.

You understand correctly. Solid Protein does keep you full for so much longer than a Protein Drink. Protein drinks will do like any other liquid, and go straight through the band. The will not keep you full. Protein drink are really only useful in the weeks after surgery when you cannot take in solid protein. I know, for me, when I have counted protein grams (I don't count protein, carbs, or calories) I always appear to get enough without the need for a protein supplement.

Thanks Ladies. I just realised this morning that is has been over a year! A year! For 12 whole months, 365 days (a few more days, really, but who's counting?), I have been at goal. It seems kinda insane that it has been that long already. Time really does fly.