colsie

I'm with you Pushin10, I like the social impact of being a more normal size. When I was at my largest, I seemed to be most invisible in a room (weird, huh?) people would just ignore me. I also gave up the booze a year ago along with the band and everyone has been great about it. They can see that I am lighter, more energetic and a lot happier. They like that and therefore don't care what I drink. Must admit though, a cold beer on a hot afternoon is something I do yearn for occaisionally... MC

My kids have never seen me at this weight. And my eldest boy is fifteen! MC

Hi Jen, I also wanted to let you know that you're not alone in Sydney. I was banded in October 2007 and have lost about 30 kilos since then. I found the Optifast terrible, because it's pre-band so I was still so hungry. And it's hardly gourmet meal stuff! But it did the trick, getting me down to a safe, operable weight. Post band it's been great. Not all plain sailing, having to learn to eat the right quantities at the right times, but it has been worth the effort. I now have about 4 to 5 kilos to go before I reach my goal weight. Yes, it's taken a long time, but I'm in no hurry. It's a life changing decision putting in a band and I am going to enjoy the increased energy for the rest of my life! MC

I hit a major milestone for myself in the last couple of weeks - I now have less to loose, than I have lost! I am just over half way! Yes, yes, I know that the second half is going to be harder to loose than the first, so I have joined a local gym and bought a pedometer (measures how many steps you take) and I make sure I walk at least 10,000 steps per day.

I have 4cc's in a 10cc band which seems to be a good level for me at the moment. I find chicken is the worst thing for me, especially breast meat. The trouble I have, is that my family loves to buy a grilled chicken burger on the weekend, and I will have just the meat and salad; some places will serve you thigh meat, some breast. Once, when I had breast without realising, I had an awful PB episode - in the car, with three kids in the back! I don't think I have ever been more embarrassed in my life! So these days, I will just have the salad and a few french fries. I have learned my lesson!

I agree with this idea - I seem to be loosing weight in a very sporadic way. I'll go a week, eating well, drinking well and not loose a thing and then I'll have a week where I'll drop a kilo or two (2-5 pounds!) It's proabbaly related to the level of exercise that I do. I have a sedentary job, and then will go mad in the back yard cleaning-up and mowing lawns. Anyway, so long as the trend is down and the fitness is increasing, it's all good! Happy Australia Day, to all the bandsters across the globe! (Jan 26th).

I agree with Houston Honey - I reckon I put on a pound or two on Christmas day alone! But the way I see it, if I didn't have the band, I'd have put on a whole lot more and it has already helped me loose a heap of weight. Come January, I'll get back on to the proper eating routine and I know I'll have to exercise a whole lot more, but it's all achieveable, it just takes time. And it's been a lot of fun having some nice dinners with friends during Christmas as well!

You could be on to something. I found myself getting cranky with kids last night, and I realised that they were not doing anything worse than normal. They're two good boys. I stopped and realised that it was my fault and might be food related (I got my first fill yesterday and ate very little all day). You're right, when I start to feel stressed I should simply go for a walk or do some other exercise.

Wow, it's good to see how much weight everyone is loosing - very motivating for me! I have lost 28lbs (13 kilos) so far. Banded Oct 23rd, with my first fill yesterday (3cc's in an 11cc band).

Oops! The reply came back to me (as an email response). I didn't think I was being a bringer of doom. Now I understand! Sorry Jelbel. Where's tiki2007's response to all of this?

Why bad? The question was whether those who watch the program think it's a good or bad program. I think it is a bad program because it sets unrealistic expectations. Please feel free to discuss your opinion about the program rather than flaming my opinion.

I think The Biggest Loser is a terrible program. Not only does it set unrealistic expectations, but the poor contestants fall in to one of the great dieting traps; by loosing weight rapidly, your body goes in to famine mode and you loose muscle mass as well as fat. When you stop or slow the rate of dieting, your body comes out of famine mode and rapidly stores fat. That means, you drop 10lbs of fat and muscle on the program and then put back on 10lbs of fat. One of the winners here in Australia now advertises Jenny Craig, because she put on so much fat she had to start dieting again! And we all know what it's like to have a see-swaing weight, don't we? I looked at a lot of diets before I decided to have my band, and a long slow permanent change to my weight is what I want. Do it once, do it right.

I agree - don't rush it. My Doctor said to stick to walking, for the first few weeks. I now also do a bit of gentle gardening but avoid any exercise that will use my abs. My doctor said that it's not just the visible wounds which you have to take care of, but you must also make sure that you don't make your band slip in the first few weeks.

G'day Holly, I was banded on Oct 23rd. Mike

Hi, I was banded on Oct 23rd, somewhat impulsively. I have had the growling stomach (nice to know I'm not alone!) but haven't felt hungry. Today is exactly a week later and I feel great. I made a good decision to do this and so did you. I did this for me, not my friends. Luckily for me my friends have been supportive, but I'd have done it anyway. Think of the big picture! For me, I'm 44, so a couple of years of dieting is a small price to pay for a happy and long(er) life!