BeckyinTexas

To date I have lost 148 pounds. I still have a ways to go but I have no doubt that I can do it! I can't wait for the day I FINALLY weigh less than 200 pounds!

I haven't been around for a while but I'm back now with a vengence! I was banded April 29, 2005 and to date I have lost 148 pounds! I have a new life already but I still have a long way to go. I went to a website and just figured my BMI and I'm right at 50 but the day of my surgery I was 76.1 so in a year, I'm pretty darn proud to see it drop that much! I had some problems back in November and due to my own stupidity of not eating properly, I had a seizure and had to have all my saline removed until 2 weeks ago and I'm now happily back in the game! I still lost even without anything in my band but it was much slower but that was what my doctor wanted so I learned a lesson the hard way! I can't even begin to say how thankful I am to have been banded! My life just gets better every day. It's nice to have this thread where we all can relate to what others are going through that start out "super-sized." The day I stepped on the scale and was under 300 pounds, you could have heard me yelling in Dallas. I can't imagine the noise I'll make when I get under 200! But the best part is....I will get there! I have decided to stop pitching myself a pity party and get back on here and get encouragement and support from people that understand where I've been, where I am and where I want to be!

Deb.....Congratulations and way to go! I had my 6 month bandiversary last week and I felt just like you...wow what a great last 6 months. I too am just looking forward to the rest of the journey and know that it's gonna be quite a ride. Congratulations again!

Yesterday was my 6 month bandiversary. I did something that at first I thought was going to be impossible and even my doctor told me it would be but I did it....I lost 101 pounds in 6 months!!!!!! I went to work yesterday and kept saying I was going next door to our health clinic and weigh just to see how close I had come to my goal. I kept stalling because I was thinking that I hadn't lost those 4 pounds I was needing. Finally I thought what the heck and went to the health clinic. Our PA saw me come in and asked if everything was alright. I told him I was on a mission and he said to come on back and he'd weigh me. Well I stepped up on the scale and sure enough....I had lost 101.2 pounds to be exact! I was so excited I started crying. I was borderline giddy to be honest. I went back to my office and was about to burst to tell everyone. The minute I walked in I lost it again and started blubbering. I was so excited that I was actually shaking! I had two of the other women in my office in tears with me but it felt so good! I couldn't wait to call my surgeon's office and tell them. I honestly can't believe that I did it but I saw it with my own eyes and man what a beautiful sight! I'm 101 pounds lighter than I was 6 months ago and I know that it'll just keep getting better and better! Thanks to all you guys that give me support, encouragement, inspiration and answers on a daily basis. I still can't believe how wonderful my life is now that I'm "with the band!"

B....As you already know I'm a proud member of the 100 pound club and I have way more to go. I still have about 150 pounds to go to reach my ultimate goal but I know for sure that I will do it....you can too!

B.....girl, sounds like we have more in common than both using Dr. Jay! LOL I have IBS and I hoped surgery would help it but to be honest with you....it hasn't helped. I was told that it might and I was so hoping it would but so far, it's the same old same old as far as that goes. I hope that doesn't scare you though cause maybe it'll be better for you. I'm also glad you decided on the lapband cause I think...no make that I know....it will work for you! Take care and good luck Friday!

You guys are too much! I was out of town all weekend and when I got home this evening I got online and started reading all these posts and I'm sitting here feeling so good right now because of each and every one of y'all! Man, I'm just so blessed to know people like every one of you guys. You make this journey so nice! Some wanted to know the secret to my success so far...well, a lot of it is pure hardheadedness! A trait that at times doesn't work in my favor but it sure is helping me now. I saw a news segment the week after I was banded and it certainly didn't give the lapband a good review. I made my mind up right then and there to prove them wrong! I have to admit I have been a darn good bandster when it comes to following the rules but I also don't make myself crazy with it either. If I want something I eat it...just now it's such a small amount that it doesn't seem to hurt me. I told my surgeon when I went in for my preop visit that I was an overachiever and what some of my goals were....he doubted me at the time but he doesn't any more. I still have a long ways to go but I know without a shadow of a doubt that I'm going to do it! I started out on the day of surgery at 427 pounds and thank the Good Lord that as of Friday I weighed 325.8 pounds and I'm only going to thrill at watching the scale keep on dropping! As far as exercise....I do it but nothing "organized." I close myself off in my room and turn on music and dance my butt off! LOL I hope no one ever window peeps or they might die of fright watching me! LOL I sure ain't no Ginger Rogers but it seems to be working. I also walk as much as I possibly can. I had polio as a baby and am starting to have some real problems now with my leg but I do what I can. It just gets easier every day as I lose though. I can walk a mile now whereas before I got winded walking from my car to my office. I can even chase after my precious 1 year granddaughter now. Before there was no way I could have. I saw some pictures this weekend that were taken a couple of months before my surgery and I swear I look like Jabba from Star Wars! I was horrified looking at them! Then my aunt showed me one she took Saturday morning and I couldn't believe the difference I saw. I think that's when it really hit me how far gone I had left myself get but how damn good I was feeling now and starting to look good to boot! I've gone down already 6 sizes and it feels great. I just feel so inspired by all of y'all and I hope I can inspire someone just a little bit in return. Thank you all for all your kind words! You have got to be one of the finest group of people on earth and I'm so lucky to be a member of this group! LOL...I'm sitting here typing this novel with tears running down my cheeks cause each and every one of y'all has touched me more than words could ever say! Now I'm off to the tickerfactory to make myself a new ticker!!!!

I go in Monday morning to see if my surgeon will be able to manually flip my port enough that I can get my third fill. I'm so hoping he will be able to! He said if he's not able, then we'll have to schedule surgery to reposition the port and I so don't want to have to do that. Keep your fingers, toes, heck, if it would help, even cross your eyes for me! :cross-eye

I was able to get my fill and no surgery....YEA! I met my doctor this morning and he was able to do the fill with having to surgically flip the port. I was sure hoping he'd be able to and he was. He had me stand up instead of lay down for the fill. He said it would be easier to do it and it worked. I'm so relieved that he was able to. Thank you all for the good wishes and I can never say this enough...you guys are the best!

Kellie....Way to go! Yep, I'm thinking Bigbellykellie is fast becoming Skinnybellykellie! I'm glad you celebrated by getting yourself something new. That always makes me feel good! Ain't nothing like buying smaller sizes. Certainly boosts the old ego for sure! Congratulations, Kellie!

Vonnie....I used Dr. Jayaseelan in Dallas but I had my surgery at the Surgery Center of Richardson. I think Dr. Jay is wonderful and everyone at the Surgery Center are really great. Most that work there have had the lapband surgery so it's so nice that they know exactly what we're going through. That made me very comfortable. As for being sorry that I got the band.....a great big ole heck NO I'm not sorry! The only thing that I'm sorry about is that I didn't know about the band sooner! I've been overweight for the past 25 years and the last couple of years it had gotten so out of control that I was killing myself and I know that....actually killing myself with food, pure and simple. Now with my band, I have my life back in check and I'm on my way to being a healthier and much happier person. When people ask me if I'd do it over again, I answer them that I'd do it on a daily basis if I had to. I know that the band works differently on everyone. Heck it works differently on me nearly every day but the key word is...it works! Check around and see what your options are with financing possibly. I know that prices sure vary from doctor to doctor and facility to facility so do your homework. If you have any questions or concerns, I'm only an email away!

Carrie....What a wonderful idea! I'm on my way out but as soon as I get home, I plan on checking it out.

K.....I don't know exactly why my port flipped. I have lost quite a bit and really fast but I don't know if that could have contributed to it. When I went in 2 weeks ago and found that my port had flipped, I didn't get to see my surgeon but I will on Monday and hopefully he'll have some answers for me. My first two fills were difficult because my port was tilted but when I went in for #3 the PA just couldn't do it. I'm just hoping Dr. Jay will be able to. I'll let you know what he says about the flipping.

Melanie....Congratulations and good luck! Please keep us posted and let us know when your surgery date is. I know you have to be very excited and I'm so happy for you!

LOL....I loved your post! Well, the World Series does begin tonight so a baseball is very appropriate. Mine was very swollen after surgery and luckily it has gone down and you can't see anything now. Mine never reached baseball size but it was pretty darn close. Hopefully your's will start shrinking before someone yells "batter up!"

Crystal....What an awesome post! Congratulations to your husband. I know how very proud of him you are and vice-versa, I am sure he is of you! It sure helps me knowing that the band works for us big folks. It gives me so much comfort knowing that bandsters like your husband and myself that have so much to lose can and will be able to lose the weight with the band. I can't wait to see his current photos. That's what keeps me so encouraged....looking at before and after pictures on this site and looking so forward to the day when I can post my own and be so proud that I actually did it. Please tell him how encouraging he is and congratulations!

Way to go, Ray! 27 miles is quite an amazing accomplishment. Man, my butt would be so sore, I wouldn't be able to sit down for a week! It's so great to hear you have so much more energy and you're doing so good. You're pretty darn inspiring!

Cheryl.....I know exactly what you're going through. I did the same thing. I pitched myself such a pity party right after my surgery but luckily it didn't last long. I went through the "what the heck did I do" phase then. I was so worried about never being able to eat this food or that food but I've found something out....I still eat just about what I want, within reason, but I only eat a very small amount now and it works. When asked if I'd do it all over again I now can answer yes, without a doubt I'd do it everyday if I had to to keep my band. Things will start looking up for you. Good luck and hang in there girl!

Katie.....I'd talk to my surgeon but I think I'd also go ahead but at least I would have told my doctor and feel better. The last time I went to see my surgeon there were two ladies in the waiting room with me and one was pregnant now after trying for 6 years. She said she'd read somewhere that some people called this the miracle band for two reasons....they were able to lose weight and got pregnant after getting the band whereas before they'd had trouble. Hopefully this will be the case for you!

Betty.....Happy bandiversary!!!!! You are always one of the ones I can count on for support, praise and advice on here! Ain't it great knowing we'll never weigh what we did when we started this journey. Congratulations!

Nykee....I love this thread! It makes me feel no so alone. I'm so glad that Teresa started it! Teresa.....good luck tonight! That was my first mini goal, to be under 400 pounds. I made it thank goodness and now I can't wait to bust the 300 mark all to pieces! The best part is...we know we will get there this time and keep on seeing those numbers go down!

OK, to start out....Today is one of my birthdays, the one my Mother and Daddy gave me 52 years ago. My other birthday is April 29th, the day I got my band and really started living again. I have not one, not two, not three but FOUR birthday events planned for me! I just hope I can keep it under control! LOL I went and saw my doctor for my 2 week checkup after surgery and told him I was going to my nephew's wedding that weekend and I would be so tempted to eat some of the wedding cake. He told me there were two types of cake he allowed...wedding and birthday. So I plan on following doctor's orders today for sure! I guess this thread is my lame way of conning happy birthdays from y'all and also to kind of hope by putting this in writing I won't go out and make a big ole pig of myself and regret it later.

I wasn't sure where to put this thread but I have a question....How do y'all comeback when someone asks you what you weigh? I can't believe how many people ask me that! They never asked me that before I got my band when I was so out of control but for some reason now they think they have a right to know what I weigh. I've mentioned it before that it embarrasses me to tell people how much weight I've already lost and still be this big so maybe that plays into it. They hear what I've lost and want to know what I weigh now. I just tell them I don't tell anyone what I weigh. But some keep on. A couple have even started playing the "let me guess your weight" game with me. I have to use all my strength not to want to punch their lights out...unless of course they guess a much lower weight than I am. I'm sure someone else on here has faced the same thing and hopefully can lend me some snappy comebacks!

A major NSV for me this weekend! I got some Lane Bryant gift certificates for my birthday and Saturday night I went shopping to of course Lane Bryant as those certificates were burning a hole in my pocket! Now our local Lane Bryant carries only up to size 26 so before I lost some weight, I couldn't fit into any of the clothes. This time though....I could fit into everything I tired on! I had a ball and walked out of there with 4 shirts and two skirts! I started out trying on size 26s and ended up being able to fit into size mostly 22s! I couldn't wait to wear one of my new outfits to work today but here in Texas it still feels like summertime so I'd ended up sweating to death if I wore my new fall clothes so hopefully a cold front will come through and I can strut around like a peacock in my new size 22 finery! Wow, I won't know how to contain myself when I can go shopping somewhere that doesn't specialize in large size clothes but I soooooo look forward to that day!

You guys are the best!!!!!!!! Thank you all so much for the birthday wishes! I'm very happy to report that I didn't overdo at all....my band wouldn't let me and trust me, I tried! LOL I love the Dallas Cowboys and my sister made me a football cake shaped like a football and I enjoyed a small piece of cake and loved every bite of it! My son bought a sugar-free red velvet cake for another one of my parties and I ate a little bit of that, too. But all in all, I was pretty darn good. I was worried that I'd really go overboard but this little band of mine kept tabs on me! It still amazes me that I actually get full on such a small amount of food! Ain't this band great! Nearly as great as you all are!