allykat

I sent you a message!

I thought this might be the best place to start getting my butt back in gear. I haven't been to these forums in YEARS and they were such a motivation to me early on. I'm starting over from scratch it seems. I had my surgery several years ago and while my weight loss was at a snails pace, I was loosing. I wasn't the perfect bandster and looking back, I tried to do it my way instead of following the rules. I was hit or miss with exercise....would do great for a few months then get lazy. I had trouble with reflux that required a complete unfill twice. After the last unfill, more than a year ago, I never got filled again. Part of it was me being I guess in a depression. I lost my job, my mother died, just life happened and I turned to my old friend food. However, I'm not back to where I started and sick of it. I have a new job now and many blessings in my life like a great DH and kids that I really lost sight of during a year from hell. I made my appointment for a fill but that isn't until May 15th, the soonest available. However, I'm starting today with doing what I can to cut out some of the really bad habits I've fallen back on, like drinking diet sodas, carb overload and not drinking my water. And exercise! So I'm just wondering if there is anyone else where I am that is trying to get their sh-- back together and get back to basics and be serious about this? I could sure use the encouragement of someone who has been there and is doing that!

Good luck, Mia! How exciting!

Right now, I'm doing about 20-30 minutes of cardio (depends on how much time I have) and then I'm working with weights. I do abs daily and alternate legs and arms. I then end with about 10-15 mins of more cardio (although not high impact...more of a cool down). My workout takes between 1-1.5 hours, depending on the reps I do. I aim for at least 4 days a week, but will do a minimum of 3x and have done 6x on a good week. I can definitely tell in my clothes that it is doing me some good. I'm a very slow looser, but I'm okay with that as long as the inches are coming off. I started off at a size 24/26 and am wearing 18s for the most part now but can fit in some 16s. Tops I wear 14s. I have a weird shape...need more room around the hips/belly, but it bags in the waist and legs. I did notice a cool result of weight loss...my car seat is now too far away from my steering wheel! Just never thought of that happening before!

I'm not in Albany, but started working otu at Anytime Fitness. It is a 24 hour gym, so I like the flexibility of the hours. We just went to 10 hour work days, so it is nice to go at odd times and get it over with.

I'm around..I've checked here in the past and when nobody posted after me, I just figured everyone had gone off to greener pastures! I am getting ready to cancel another fill appointment (Thursday at 2 pm) if anyone wants it! I'm still loosing slowly, but the key is loosing, so I'm happy. It was fun to go and buy a dress this weekend that was not in the women's section, but the ladies section! I started more intense workouts about a month ago and I can sure tell. Before, I was walking, doing one day of aerobics (hit or miss) and yoga. I knew I needed more, so I started hitting the gym and doing more cardio and more weights. I can really tell a difference in my body, too. And it seems to have helped me get out of a stall I was in. I've been going about 4 days a week, other than last week when my daughter had the flu...just couldn't leave her those days, but I'm excited to start back today! Hope everyone is doing great!

Just wanted to let you guys know I just cancelled an appt for a fill Wednesday at 1 pm. If you need one, call now...the next available was April 2nd!

You've made some definite progress in a year, Mia! I know you must feel great! Good job.

Mia, I'd be curious to know what all is needed as well. I too was self pay. I am cancelling a fill appointment I have for 1/20 at 2 pm. For once, I've actually lost enough weight that I don't need it! Call now if you need this appointment!

Hey guys! I haven't been around in a while, but was looking at some old pics (head shots) this week and could FINALLY see a difference in my face. I thought I'd update my before and during pics in the hopes that I'd see a difference from the neck down...rofl! The blue shirt is a few days before surgery, the black shirt was about 2 months after surgery, and the black sweater and jeans was last night, nearly 1 year since surgery.

Mia - you can tell a huge difference in your face! Wow! Leslie and Jeannie - looks like the two of you were lookin' good adn having fun!

Just echoing what everyone else has said! I can tell you that I have about 4 months to go to reach my bandiversary and I am no where NEAR close to even matching your weight loss. I'd love to be where you are. You look great, you know you feel better and that is some accomplishment. I can understand letting the crappiness at work get you down, but remember how far you've come and don't give in to those bad habits. You may not be 100 lbs. down by your one year mark, but you'll still have made quite an accomplishment!

I just cancelled a fill for 11/3 if anyone needs it. I am so mad that I can't go (work conflict) because I really, really need a fill! The next one isn't until 12/8, so I'm gonna have to really rely on will power the next month!