starryeyed

So what is an appropriate goal weight exactly? I have gotten down to about 142 and am planning to keep going to 130 or even lower? My doctor initially said they would like me to be at about 155lbs and not much under 150. I don't understand why not under 150? What difference would it make? Wouldn't losing more be better? I haven't seen my doctor in six months and am slowly approaching the date of my 2 yr bandiversary and will be having an appt. at that time. Just wondering if other people have gotten quite a bit below their goal weight and did your surgeon approve or disapprove? starryeyed

Jachut, you basically reaffirmed how I feel. Thin is lovely and elegant. I have been back at ballet class for a year now, too, and we perform publicly, and ballet makes no secret of it's preference for thinness. My weight history may or may not be unique and may or may not pertain to what my current weight should be. Here is a brief history: I went from a 7lb baby to a normal to slender sized child. At 14 I thought I was getting fat and went on a year long 'diet' and (reached my height of 5'7 during this time) weighed about 110lbs. Very thin. After a year I lost discipline and slowly gained weight until college when I was up to about 180lbs. I went on another major diet and got down to about 120lbs. I maintained a thin to average weight until I got married and got pregnant with baby #1. I gained lots of weight while preggers and it came off reasonably well with #1. Then when my son (baby#1) was six months old I got pregnant with my daughter. The weight came on doubly fast and didn't do away. Three years later I had the band and a year after that I was at about goal (150s). So I have not always been overweight. I don't know whether this matters. I sometimes feel like I am bordering on EDNOS but as was mentioned earlier, many overweight people have distorted images regarding body and weight. I know I do. starryeyed

I am 5'7. I think they would like for me to be on the high end of my recommended weight but I am not comfortable with that. They set 155 as my goal where I could actually see myself at 120.

I'm on day four of my Optifast, clear broth, raw veg. diet. This evening I ended up on the kitchen snacking on totally inappropriate foods. I am really not liking this diet. I am thrilled to be getting the band. This is what have worked on for months! It's finally happening and I don't seem to be able to follow two weeks of a very simple diet. Although, if I didn't have very disordered eating I wouldn't have 125 lbs. to lose. I did recover somewhat by at least making a salad to take to work tomorrow. I am having a serious case of Last Supper Syndrome. I keep thinking of all the foods I 'should' have eaten. starryeyed

Something positive. Well I am 13 lbs. from goal and about three weeks from my one year bandiversary. I am enjoying the benefits that come from being close to goal, such as increased fitness and energy and being able to buy 'thin' cute clothes. I feel so so much better about myself. I have lost over a hundred pounds and I really hate to think where I would be if I had not had the band. The band has truly been a miracle in my life. I finally feel like I am the person I am supposed to be. I didn't feel like ME when I was 100 lbs. overweight. I was always insecure and felt really unhappy and embarrassed about the way I looked. Thank God for the Lap Band!! starryeyed

FUNNY! And GROSS!! Good story, thanks for posting it! : )

Hi Lap Banders! I am absolutely thrilled to join the club! I have lost 102 lbs. in a little more than 10 months. I really can't believe it. The lap band is one of the greatest inventions known to man! It's changed my life and I don't know how I ever carried that 102 lbs around. I feel great! starryeyed

I am so happy to FINALLY be in ONEderland! It seems it has been so very long but tomorrow will be 7 months. I have went from 280 to 193 for a total of 87 lbs. I feel like a new person. I can't even imagine at this point how I will feel at goal. I have approx. 40 lbs. to go which doesn't seem like much in comparison to what I have already accomplished but I am guessing things will be going a little slower from here on out. I'm glad it summer and the weather is nice because being outdoors and exercising will definitely accelerate the weight loss. I hope to be at goal by my one year anniversary (11/01/08). The prospect is utterly thrilling. starryeyed

Congrats on ONEderland! I am also hating the muffin. I keep thinking about plastic surgery but I think I will give it some time. Hopefully when we are both at our goal weights muffin top won't be an issue. starryeyed

I made it! Starryeyed...........237.....199....193....-6

Congratulations on your one year anniversary and your weight loss. You look wonderful! starryeyed

What are my secrets? Hmmm I hope I can think of something brilliant to say....Well for one I have been walking outdoors. I walk anywhere from 4 to 6 miles at a time (with my iPod, I love it!). I recently joined Curves with a friend because we had a month free to try it and I really liked it. I stay right on top of my fills to be sure I always have adequate restriction. I have 6.5 ml in a 10 ml band. Last but not least I am highly motivated. I want to be thin again SO badly. I wanted this band SO very badly. I can still hardly believe I have it. Everytime I screw up with my diet I remind myself that HEY, I went through a surgery to have a plastic band put around my stomach and I owe myself the best results possible. I am done being the fat girl. starryeyed

Thank you all so much for the words of encouragement! It feels so good to share my success with you all and your support keeps me going. The mere thought of weighing 150 lbs. for the first time in six years makes my heart feel light! Even weighing 165 would be tremendously exciting. I am 5'7 so I would be 'somewhat' slender. Yipee! Thank you again and I look forward to reading about all of your successes also! :laugh:

Five months and 66 lb. later I am finally halfway there. Fourteen more pounds and I am in ONEderland. It is really exciting to start to feel like 'me' again. Thank God for the band! I can't imagine how I would feel or where I would be without it. Now my new goal is to really focus on exercise. The weather is finally starting to warm up and the best exercise for me is outdoor walking. A friend at work joined Curves and as part of a promo got me two weeks free, which I start tomorrow. Now that I have about 60 lbs. left I wonder if I can make it by my one year bandiversary, which is Nov. 1st 2008? starryeyed

Thank you all for your words of encouragement! They mean a lot! I did my third session at Curves today and I have really been enjoying it. I think it's a great addition to my outdoor cardio. starryeyed

Starryeyed...237...199...214...15

I called the dr.'s office regarding a fill and I can't get in until March 18th. I guess that will give me plenty of time to work with the restriction I do have and make the best use of it. Eating junk is definitely a vicious cycle and I have to get off it immeadiately. The weather here is cold and miserable and even so not an excuse to sit inside and eat. starryeyed

For the last four days I have really been messing up on my diet. I have been eating inappropriate foods, eating too much and too often. What's going on here? Do I need a fill? I feel guilty and bloated. I had a birthday recently and I had cake and mexican food to celebrate and I don't seem to be able to stop the celebration. I need to get back on track but it seems like I am hungrier now that I have been indulging. Any advice is appreciated! starryeyed

I have been banded for three months now and would absolutely do it again in a heartbeat. starryeyed

Thanks for the replies, they are helpful and reminding me that I do NOT want to go back to my old ways. Overeating, whatever the reason, isn't the way I want to go through life anymore. I was banded 11-01-07 and I have a 10 ml band. I had 4 ml put in at surgery and a 1 ml fill since then on 1-11-08. I had some restriction before the fill and good restriction after up until recently. I am going to reevaluate the level of restriction by getting back on a good schedule and eating the right foods. I have had great success so far and I love the band! It seems like I am constantly re-learning that this is a new me. starryeyed

Update.......current 229..... starryeyed

Thanks for the info about Wellbutrin. I guess I am afraid to take anti-depressants because so many of them have weight-gain as a side effect, except Wellbutrin, which is why I initially thought it would be a good one to try. I probably should see what the dr. says.

I am on plan today because I am committed to the band and my new lifestyle and the new me. Being on plan is such an accomplishment and feels so good. I am on plan because want to continue to look better and better in clothes. I really want to be in onederland too! starryeyed

I am struggling with the emotional after-effects of banding also. When I have really good restriction and am losing weight quickly I am crabby and angry. When I feel like I am eating too much food and not losing quickly enough I get depressed. I am not currently on any meds because I am supposed to be taking Wellbutrin and I stopped because it increased the irritation. I have MANY MANY blessings to count. However, the stress of being in a job I don't like with a horrible boss AND dieting and making lifestyle changes is really getting to me. :hurray:

Thanks for getting me in list format! I didn't know how to do it. starryeyed