journee

Hey everyone! I just stepped off the scales for the third day in a row (that's my test of whether its a genuine goal reached lol) and I reached my 50 pound weight loss goal! <dancing a little jig!> Because I started at 249, this is even more exciting for me because it puts me at 199....ONEDERLAND!!!!!!! Wooohoooo! My dream plan was to reach this by my 6 month bandiversary, which was Nov. 16...but I missed it by a few weeks, but oh well! I hovered around 202 for a while lol. I am getting tons of compliments from people I run into, and my 13 yr old daughter is getting really annoyed with people saying..."Wow, you guys look like sisters!" lol I am feeling so good about myself right now (even though I have a bunch of weight to still lose)! I bought 4 pair of size 14 pants and jeans from the Gap and Christopher & Banks, and size Large sweaters (not even the XL!!!) I still look in the mirror and see the same fatness I saw before, but I'm trying to develop some decent body image. I can't see it, but everyone seems to be able too, so I'm accepting that I have some psych issues to overcome lol. Thank you all so much for all the support on this site. I sit and read every night, and it helps me so much to follow everyone else's journey. If you are considering the band... DO IT! It's the best decision I ever made for myself :sad_smile:

Hey everyone I have been so excited reading everyone's successes! I feel like my band is finally at a place where it is working, but I am having some issues that worry me a little. I'm hoping some of you can provide some insight. My doctor believes in tiny fills (only .5 at a month) to get to a sweet spot. I've been losing between 4-6 pounds a month, but I really have to be careful what I eat. The band wasn't really doing its job until the last month or so. I was just not eating fattening food. I had a fill last Wednesday that feels completely different than the results in the past. I can't eat anything at all until afternoon. I have to take a thyroid pill in the mornings, and its all I can do to sip the 2-3 sips of Water to take it. (I break the pill up in tiny pieces) Hot coffee seems to do better, but I can't eat anything at all in the mornings. By afternoon, I can eat the small portions that we are supposed to, and by supper, I can eat probably a little more than we are supposed to. I am having some real issues with a burning feeling in my chest. I guess it's heartburn. It makes me pretty miserable, and I've never felt it before. Another really weird thing is this strange gurgling sound in my chest. Have any of you experienced that? It's LOUD and very noticable. It's kind of like trapped air escaping, but it isn't really like a burp at all. It's a gurgle! lol So strange and embarrassing! LOL Today I was in a store and it happened and the saleslady helping me looked at me so strangely. I opened my mouth to apologize, and this weird sound came out of my mouth! It was like a little monster trying to escape! lol I was so embarrassed, but it made me laugh too! Oh well! I'd be upset, but it's all worth it! I bought size 16 jeans from the Gap this weekend, (down from a 20W) and I'm not to my 6month anniversary yet. I'm only 8 lbs from my 50lb first goal, and I weigh less right now than I have in my adult life. I'm pretty happy and really excited about the future

Fantastic! You should be very proud of all your hard work! We're all celebrating with you!

WOW!! Your post brought tears to my eyes!!! I'm so happy for you, and I can't even imagine how your life must be so different! Congratulations!

I am so very sorry to hear about your little dog. You aren't crazy at all for crying or feeling so strongly. Our pets are like children to us, and they love us unconditionally. I hope you are ok, and again I'm so sorry.

Ok....for the liquid diet....it sucks for sure, but it isn't really all that bad if you just set your mind to it. My doctor let me have scrambled eggs with low fat cheese on top, cottage cheese, and the low fat yogurt....so I was able to eat that and feel like I was really eating something. I also ate a LOT of the Campbell's Soup at Hand's. I love the Creamy Tomato and the Vegatable Beef. The Veg Beef is even good without heating it up (which I found out when i was starving and no microwave nearby) I kept those in the car all the time. I got the Slim Fast Optima shakes...they have more Protein and the Atkins ones are good too. I really like the No Sugar Added Carnation Instant Breakfast, and I add a tablespoon of dried milk to it to add more protein. smoothies with skim milk, fat free yogurt, ice, and fruit are super filling and great for you. broth is nice because it's hot and sipping it takes a long time. sugar free popcicles saved my life several times and so did crystal light peach tea! lol I have to admit there were a few times that I broke down and ate ( I did tonight actually...had mexican and I am sooooo regretting it...it WAS NOT worth it...I just had this desperate "OMG I'll never have all that again" feeling, which now feels silly) I really think the Soups are the trick and the scrambled eggs. I felt like I was having real food, and it wasn 't so bad. The key for me was staying away from restaurants or anyplace where food was being served. As long as I was at home or working, I was fine because I always was prepared with the right stuff. I had a really hard time when I was in a situation when I didn't have any good choices (like my son's band banquet last Thursday...that was awful because there was just simply nothing there I could eat on the diet, so I just ate the regular food and it was definately not worth it) You'll do great if you just buy plenty of stuff that you can get to quickly, and don't let yourself get hungry. Eat something regularly and drink a ton. Getting really hungry is what will tempt you into the wrong thing. I've managed to go 2 weeks on liquids (minus the 2-3 cheats which I regret) and lose 12 pounds so far. My surgery is now just over 24 hours away and the real fun begins! :biggrin2:

I'm very sorry for your loss, and I appreciate it if you are trying to give a warning. However, I have to look at this surgery for myself from a different point of view. My husband was killed in a car accident nearly 3 years ago when he was 36 years old, leaving me widowed with 2 kids. Since then, I have been terrified that if something happens to me, my kids will be orphaned. I look at this surgery not in a vain, cosmetic, "wanting to lose weight" way....but more of a way to improve my health so I can be around for my children long term. I understand that there are risks, but the risks of my staying this big are far more numerous. I'm far more afraid of my fat than I am the surgery. I really am sorry for your loss and I understand how bitter it can feel. I hope you can find peace with time.

Hey everyone! This is my first post even though I've been reading avidly here for months. I am so happy I found this site, because I have learned tons and it helped me really make the decision to pursue Lap Band surgery. I found out a little over a week ago that I was approved by Ins. and scheduled for surgery on May 16th. I was thrilled that it is was happening so fast, but now that it is only days away, I'm absolutely terrified and having second thoughts. I'm not really sure what it is I'm afraid of. I'm frightened of the actual procedure, simply because I'm not great with anesthesia, but I don't think that's my real fear. I really think my underlying panic is the fear of failure. I've tried so many diets, and the weight always comes back. I just want to be healthy and look decent. I think I have gotten to the point of giving up that anything can fix this. I am praying that this is the real solution for me, and that I'm strong enough to use it to its potential.