Erink

I hate to admit this but at 38.5 BMI, I wore ankel weight under my pants and drank the largest big gulp I could find prior to that weigh in. I wasn't about to hear, "Sorry, but you are 10 lbs underweight and are not qualified." I took matter into my own hands and have sucessfully lost 30 lbs in 5 1/2 months and have never loooked back. This 30 lbs are all weight from me, not counting the weights.

As of June 23, 2008, I a at my 4.5 month anniversary and have lost 29 lbs.

I had my third fill on May 15, I am just a bit over three months out. I am at 4 cc in a 10cc band and I feel that I may have hit the sweet spot. Month one lost 16 lbs - easy, month two 6 lbs – not as easy, but during month three I felt no restriction. I ate more than I should have, but for the most part I was making excellent post band choices. Given that I still lost 3 lbs in month three. At first I was a bit disappointed, but then I thought, wait, that is 25 lbs total. When was the last time I lost 25 lbs in three months and let’s face it, did not gain 3 lbs? I realize now that this is going to be slower than I originally thought, but who cares, as long as I am going in the right direction. I really feel month 3 has been the most valuable month. It is when I really, I mean really realized this is just a tool and not a cure. When following the rules, eating 8-10 bites of high quality protein, I am satisfied, don’t have the urge to eat more, and don’t even think about food until about 3-4 hours later. When I do feel hunger, it is this annoying thing that I first thought was gas, then I said, oh, that is my stomach, better eat some protein (like a string cheese) and the feeling is gone. I am then back focused on what I am doing. Is this how skinny people feel all the time? I also have realized that I am still “dieting” everyday. I still have to make the right food choices, but the band makes choosing easier. Even though I only lost 3 lbs last month, I learned the most. Now with my recent fill, I am empowered even more and have set the month 4 goal at 6 lbs. If it is only 3 I will be fine with that as well. And guess what? I am not just losing but still living. To think of all the times I have dieting feeling tortured, avoiding social situations and dreaming of hitting goal one day and being done with this. I feel mentally I am at goal, and the rest of me will catch up during the next year. Thanks for letting me share.

A few years back I had hyperthyroidism and dropped 35 lbs in about 3 months. This put me at a curvey size 12. I remember walking into the hospital for tretment and every man I passed (yes everyone - old, young, Dr. or landscaper acknowledged me. A polite smile, "Isn't a lovely day," opening the door for me, or just up and downing me with their eyes as they passed me. I admit it, it felt really good. After treatment, when the weight starting piling back on (60 lbs in 5 years), I noticed fewer and fewer men acknowledging me in any way, shape or form. I am happily married for 13 years and have two beutiful children. However, I sure missed that little ego boost. Now that I have been banded, I have lost 25 lbs, and have just re-entered onederland. Went into Starbucks today, and this man walks in as I was walking out and looked right at me with a polite nod and said have a nice day as he held the door open for me. I really don't believe these guys are creeps, it is just an automatic male response. I don't think they think, I am going to ignore that fat girl, they see someone who is attractive, and they look at you. Well, some are creeps.....On another note, I arrived at a hotel for business starving. The only place to grab a bite was the hotel restaurant bar. I sat down and orderd and asked the man a few seats over if he was with the conference as well. (He had on the same type name badge.) He said no and then asked me where I was from, what conference and had I ever been to the city before. I said no had not been here, was lookibg forward to site seeing with a College friend who was joining me the following day and that this was a fun "escapse from my work and family." He asked me how many kids, who was watchng them etc. I told him my husband. This entire conversation took about 2 minutes. The band then started playing and I removed myself from that section to eat my meal since the music was really load. A few minutes later the guy reappears and says it was really nice meeting you and shakes leaving a folded uo note in my palm with the words "You're escape" and his room number. I nearly died. I had just told him I was married with kids, and I make it a point to be friendly but never flirty in those type of situations. - Oh and I was also about 220 lbs, with no make-up and quite haggard from my trip cross country. I showed the note to my husband when I got home and we had a great laugh! ............so I guess size doesn't always matter. Erin

I met Amy at my lap band pre op class and we were banded the same day and chat regularly about our sugeon and success. I told her that she really was one of the prettiest women I know and with her height andthe "tool" in place, she would soon be a knock out. She is already there. congrats!

I've got three. A few years ago we were in Hawaii and the hotel "Do Not disturbe sign had a fat Hawaiian man in a hammock sleeping. My 3 1/2 year old daughter saw it and said, "He is fat." Never having heard her recognize fat before, I asked her what it meant. She said he had a really big tummy. I then showed her that I had a big tummy and asked if that meant I was fat, and she said, "No, only boys can be FAT!" The other was when I was 15 years old visiting my older sister in her college apartment for the day. She had a women landlord from Jamaica (Rather large herself.) My sister said to her landlord, this is my sister Erin, the landlord exclaimed, "My, she is a fat one!" I almost died. I was only 15. Now I laugh about it whenever I think if it. One more - this is sad. My son was three years aold and we were watching TV one night and he said to me out of the blue, I don't want to you be a fat Mommy anymore. I broke down in tears trying to hide them. I asked him if any of his preschool friends had said I was fat, and he said no. Then he climed up on me and said but I love you so much Mommy.

Hi Everyone, I am in Onederland! I've been between 201 and 203 for the last month, somedays seeing 200, or even 204! I thought I would never get out of the 200's. Yesterday the scale hit 198, and today 199. I know I should not weigh everyday. I have my third fill (hopefully) this Thursday. This month has been very difficult. I don't have much restriction. I even ate two pieces of pizza one night and felt nothing. I will say that besides that night, I really have noticed a huge change in the food choices I make. It is not the constant battle it once was. I know the band is really helping me to change my habits, I would however like to feel more restriction. I certainly don't want to get sick, however I do want the band to prevent me from eating certain foods. I will say this month has been a valuable learning expereince for me. I still need to asses everything I eat, plan out meals for the day, and make the right choices. This IS NOT a sure fix, only a tool. I know the reason I did not lose that much this month is becuse I could have made better choices, but I am not beating myself up, I still lost 3 lbs this month which has brought me to onederland. On another note I bought a pair of size 14 jeans yesterday! I never wore jeans because I could not get them to fit me. I tired on the 16W and they were too big, went searching for size 14 W, they had none. Went to a different store, tried on the regular size 16. Too big. Do I dare try the 14? I did and OMG they fit. My husband loves them on me and says I look so curvey. I have not been able to shop regular sizes in years. I am really motivated now!! Thanks for letting me share. Erin

Hi Everyone, I am in Onederland! I've been between 201 and 203 for the last month, somedays seeing 200, or even 204! I thought I would never get out of the 200's. Yesterday the scale hit 198, and today 199. I know I should not weigh everyday. I have my third fill (hopefully) this Thursday. This month has been very difficult. I don't have much restriction. I even ate two pieces of pizza one night and felt nothing. I will say that besides that night, I really have noticed a huge change in the food choices I make. It is not the constant battle it once was. I know the band is really helping me to change my habits, I would however like to feel more restriction. I certainly don't want to get sick, however I do want the band to prevent me from eating certain foods. I will say this month has been a valuable learning expereince for me. I still need to asses everything I eat, plan out meals for the day, and make the right choices. This IS NOT a sure fix, only a tool. I know the reason I did not lose that much this month is becuse I could have made better choices, but I am not beating myself up, I still lost 3 lbs this month which has brought me to onederland. On another note I bought a pair of size 14 jeans yesterday! I never wore jeans because I could not get them to fit me. I tired on the 16W and they were too big, went searching for size 14 W, they had none. Went to a different store, tried on the regular size 16. Too big. Do I dare try the 14? I did and OMG they fit. My husband loves them on me and says I look so curvey. I have not been able to shop regular sizes in years. I am really motivated now!! Thanks for letting me share. Erin

I can really feel mine. I tell people I feel like a Thankgiving Turkey and When I get to goal weight the red thing pop out! so I know I am done :glare:

BMI is a good start. They actually say bandsters have a higher MBI than others. I would start there and see how you feel. Re you finding it difficualt to maintaint the lower weight, if so you may be trying to be thinner then you should be. Can't wait until I have this problem!

Dr. Mueller is great and so is the program. Just had my second fill today. Down 23 lbs in two months. I would be happy to talk to you about him, the surguery etc. It has been great for me. erin 619-944-3318 - CELL

My family and I went to an Italion restarant on Saturday night. The portions were huge and in the past I could have eated most of it. I looked around the room and noticed what people were eating. No wonder most people have a weight problem. I ordered the eggplant parmesan. It came with salad & soup (I gave the DH) and spaghetti that My 9 year old ate. I had about 1/3 ofthe egplant and I was full. Amazing. Took leftovers home. Had a small amount for lunch the next day, and the rest today. On the table we had garlic bread and I was not even interested in having it. I swear not having carbydtaes for 6 weeks has made me uninterested in them. Before, I was a carb addict. I did not feel complete unless I had carbs with my meal. Now, I can serve them to my family and just pass them aside. My energy is thorugh the roof and I am not falling asleep in the office at 3:00 like I used to. Thanks for letting me share.