steph_co

Name............Start........Current........Goal.......To Go CindyG...........195...........195...........185........10 Momto1plus1......193...........193...........185.........8 Foofy............226...........226...........216........10 Sades............185...........185...........175........10 Hollyberries.....245...........245...........235........10 Shortgal.........174...........174...........168.........6 Wnt2Lose.........195...........195...........180........15 Stephanie......182.5.........182.5...........167......15.5 I'd like to be at least in normal range of BMI by my Bandiversary. Which would be 159 and lower. So I'll go for AT LEAST 15.5 lbs by Halloween, but hope for 20. :thumbup:

Thanks, guys! I appreciate the welcome back. It's always kind of hard to tuck tail and come back to the group. LOL I'm not officially a police officer, yet. I am conditionally certified as a peace officer in the state. But I'm not sworn in anywhere. My offer with the Sheriff is conditional on the background check (which should go well - I'm clean). So most likely I have it. I just have to wait for the red tape, I guess. Well...off to a good start. It's AMAZING what a liquid diet can do to a person. I'm down 5.5 lbs of my 15 already. I'm so happy. I KNOW now that I can get down to my goal weight. I got really discouraged when I got up that high - thinking it was over for me. But I'm recommitted and even giving away the junk food I bought before the fill that I REALLY wanted. Ugh. But sacrifice is necessary to get what I want. I'm also looking at joining up with Curves to get a good circuit training in there. I'll probably pick up running again soon...but would like to especially get on with the strength training. It would really help with my new job.

Haha...that's what I was going to mention to you. I used to get it really bad. As I get lighter, it seems to decrease. Improving your stride and what shoes you wear can help, too. You might consider going to a physical therapist to see if they can do a stride analysis for you.

I plan to get back into it soon. If not before the band, then as soon as I can pick up that kind of exercise after the surgery. I did it last year before starting my night job and LOVED it. It made me feel great and I had tremendous success. Unlike other exercise, I didn't feel like I had to FORCE myself to do it - I actually enjoyed it. And I liked being able to do a 15-min workout if I didn't have much time. In a month of doing it, I lost 22 inches all over my body (the nutritionist at the Dr's office was impressed with that). I'll attach links to my before and after pics (I don't want them imbedded in this post and have to see that everytime I open this thing). PICTURES REMOVED FOR PRIVACY'S SAKE I know it seriously looks like I'm just holding my gut in for the second pics, but I wasn't...that's how dramatic the change can be. And you can't say I sucked anything in for the picture of my back. LOL I just know what works for me and T-Tapp will be the first good habit I pick up after the band. I want to see those results as quickly as I can! :whoo:

I thought it would be helpful if you guys could give info on surgeons in our state for soon-to-be bandsters to make a decision. If you could list the following info, it would be very helpful: ____________________________________________________________ Surgeon Name Location Date of banding What your surgeon closed with (sutures, glue, staples, etc) How many incisions Type of band (if you know) Overall cost of your surgery (if you wish to share) And your personal review of the surgeon and his/her office and staff _____________________________________________________________ Thank you so much in advance, guys! If you can think of another thing to add to the list that I didn't think of, please feel free!

1) I found some courage in getting smaller and I'm back in school...soon to be in a new career 2) I'm healthier 3) I've gotten back into running...I'm doing 2.6 miles 5x a week and I LOVE it 4) Clothes fit better and look better on me 5) Men notice me...I get compliments 6) I carry myself better. My posture has improved and I don't MIND being noticed because I look better. 7) I don't get the pains in my legs anymore when I stand for a long time. 8) I have more confidence in myself in general - I'm better in social situations. My personality can shine through instead of me worrying the whole time that they're looking at my fat. 9) I'm cutting down the "bulk" in my closet by throwing out clothes that are too big (honestly, I still have a lot to throw out). 10) I used to dress to hide myself...I find myself looking at clothes now that are more flattering and feminine because I like looking good and being noticeable.

LOL...it was a sheriff's deputy that I worked with. The one that keeps commenting on how much weight I'm losing. He asked if I had had any kind of surgery to lose the weight and I caved and told him. He asked me some questions about it and then I said that "I still have to work hard to get the weight off." He said, "Yeah, right..." and walked off. He didn't believe me. Ugh. That was annoying. And the very reason I have not told anybody else IRL that I have the band. That reaction would kill me if I had to hear it all the time.

I knew it could be a possibility, but it was not my surgeon or his office that mentioned it. I did a lot of research before I ever got the band and came across this possibility on my own.

WTG on the losses, guys. I've been doing too much stress eating. It's been a hobby that sadly I have picked back up. :thumbdown: I am working on it this weekend because I know I've gained a couple lbs back and I do NOT like it. Back to basics, as they say. I don't see how I'll make 159 by June 21st, but the unexpected is always possible, I suppose.

Awesome, Bandpal! It sounds like everything is going so well. Good for you. I'm happy to see that it's had such a positive effect on you and especially when it comes to relating to your family. That's always a plus.

I can get stuck on dang near anything if I don't chew it well enough. Haven't PB'd anything and I only slimed once after my first fill (have had 2). I've been stuck to the point that the pain made me feel like I was going to pass out and I started sweating...but no sliming or PB. It's really weird. The exceptions are stuff I'm not supposed to be eating anyway...like Cookies, candy, cake, ice cream, etc. That stuff doesn't get stuck at all. WTH? LOL

I fully agree, Linda. I feel more accountable when I'm on the board. I've been dealing with a TON of stress these past couple of weeks and have been very bad and I know I've gained weight, I'm just afraid of the scale. But I'm getting back on the wagon and look where I popped up...the board! LOL It is really great to have somewhere to go to talk about the challenges and struggles of not only losing weight, but losing weight with the band. It is an entirely different ballgame. And I swear...the next person I hear that says having the band is cheating, I get to hit with a baseball bat.

You look great, Cindy! Hope those pounds fall off fast for you, here. You look so confident in your new suit. I had to go buy a new suit and I do NOT look that happy wearing it. LOL I rush from the locker room to the shower to the pool and get in the Water as soon as I can. And I feel like everybody is staring at me as I struggle back out of the pool. It's horrid. There's no way you guys are getting a picture of ME in a suit. LOL Wait until I hit goal (or at LEAST "normal") and I'll consider it. I think you look fantastic!

I have officially survived the 9-week Couch-to-5K!! I skipped ahead a couple of times, I slacked off a few weeks, but I finally made it. LOL I'm not going quite 5K, yet...it's more like 4.02K (2.5 miles). But I am running the full 30 mins. It feels AWESOME. It is a great stress-relief. Love it. It's been so long since I've run like this. I can't even believe that I'm back into it. *sniffle* Now I hope it kicks my ass into eating better so I can lose that 14 lbs by June 21st.

I think I could finally join a challenge again. I really need something to motivate me back into losing weight again. I've been complacent too long. And when I'm in police academy, at least I won't be able to dwell on food all day long. And I'll be running most days, and strength training for at least 2. So I'm gonna go wild and say 14... 2 lbs per week. Yikes. LOL Name..............Start...........Current..............Goal........ To Go CindyG..............210................210..................198....... ....12 TxArcher...........308................308...................285....... ....23 Foofy...............235.................235..................225...... .....10 Skinny_Jill..........173................173..................163...... .......10 Hollyberries.........257...............257..................247....... ......10 Stephanie...........173...............173.................159............14 Hey...just realized...that'll put me into "normal" for my weight. Man, that would so totally rock. It would be the first time in 10 years that I have been "normal" for summer. I look forward to wearing shorts all the time! HAHAHA

LOL...that sounds really pleasant. I haven't puked/PB'd yet...I've just had the stuck feeling and it WANTING to come up, but not doing it. I agree with Craig about the barfing thing. But I wouldn't freak out about ONE TIME. I just wouldn't make a habit of it. But that's one of the things they were looking for when I had my psych-eval - that I wasn't bullemic because that can definitely cause your band to slip. You'll see a lot of threads on here about people freaking out because they have nausea and don't want to slip their band with all the puking. I even get nervous when I get hiccups that I'm going to displace my band.

I am officially starting police academy on May 12th. :blushing: I have wanted to do this for the past several years, but always felt I was too big. I am now in excellent shape, am running 2 miles every other day, and look good in a uniform. LOL I have to thank the band for this. I have made many unsuccessful attempts at losing weight before this. This FINALLY made it possible. I am SO excited.

HAHAHAHA...8 weeks without sex. I think I would have killed somebody. We waited a few days, Shannon. As long as you don't go buckwild, you should be okay. Sex does not have to be strenuous if your partner understands they have to do a little bit more of the heavy work for a bit.

Fanny? I think you're my hero. LOL I've always enjoyed your posts. And I think a woman that can get a guy in his undies is A-OK in my book.

Some excellent lines you wrote, Bandpal. I can fully agree and understand the emotional eating - I still struggle with that. I'm really happy to hear you have found something to substitute that uplifts and inspires you. It sounds like your trip is going well - I am happy to hear that. I hope to hear the rest goes as well. I have not flown at all since being banded. It has been a few years since I have flown, at all. I love flying...but, haha - nowhere to go!

LOL, Bandpal! hahaha...that made my night. Thank you Linda, Wendy, Sades, Kendra and Bandpal. I am super excited. I wish it were here, already. I hate waiting. Kendra - You're not kidding about life changing. I'm wondering if I should add the 180 useless pounds that is my husband to my ticker when I lose that, as well. Anywho...I ran the full 30 mins today...it looks like I may just survive the Couch to 5K!!! I only went 2.25 miles, but I know I'll work up past that. Now I just have to work on my push-ups and sit-ups so I don't embarrass myself at the academy. LOL

Somebody help define this for me. When somebody says they have lost x% of their excess...does "excess" just mean the pounds that put you out of the BMI normal category? Or does "excess" mean everything you want to lose? Because, for instance, I have lost 81% of the weight that puts me out of "normal" for my BMI. But I've only lost 58% of what I'm wanting to lose. But I have chosen a number that puts me at a relatively low BMI in the "normal" range. If I wanted to settle at the highest number that would make me "normal," then I could say I've lost 100% of my excess when I hit that number rather than saying I've only lost 72%. Does what I'm saying make sense? I'm just wondering what the stats are based on when they say patients lose x% of their excess weight. My surgeon never set a goal for me. I don't remember if I was asked what I wanted to get to. I think they'd be satisfied with "healthy." LOL

WTH? I've never heard of this, either. Weird!!

My surgeon's office instructed no exercise other than walking for 6 weeks after.

My BMI was 36.5. Don't regret it a single day. Best decision I have ever made in my life. It took something this drastic to get me to move down in weight as far as I have. I've been stuck above 200 for the past 4-5 years. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat if I had to make the decision again.