kjeter

Well, I've decided to change my target goal weight. I am 5' 7" tall, and currently weigh about 165, which puts my BMI at 25.8, almost in the normal range. I originally had my goal as 135, which is about what I weighed at age 20. Now I think I'm going to be happy at 150. That will put my BMI at 23.5, which is smack dab in the middle of the "normal" range. I'm wearing size 10 or 12 slacks now, and I figure 15 more pounds will put me in the 6 to 8 size. Plus, I intend to have a tummy tuck early next year so that my jelly belly doesn't jiggle when I brush my teeth in the morning.(LOL!) That should just about do it, I think. I'm wondering what you all think about what I'm thinking? How much is too much, and how much is too little?

No, I haven't, but I sure need to. I'm always suprised at how I look in pictures. Oddly enough, I always think I look bigger in pictures than I do in the mirror. They say the camera adds 10 pounds, but I have to ask, "How many cameras were ON me???" LOL! I'll try to get some pics this weekend and get them posted so that you guys can be the judge. Sometimes I think we're too critical of ourselves.

Thank you so much, you sweetheart! Considering I began at "Severely Obese" I'm just tickled pink. Can't wait to hit 159 so I can be normal!

Crystal is right about being too tight and not getting enough calories. I've certainly had that going on lately. I was stuck between 172 and 175 for almost 6 weeks and it drove me crazy. I ate less and less and still nothing. Then I talked to Crystal and she suggested I increase my calories for a while, which I did. Then BOOM! down to 165 in a hurry. Now I seem to be kind of stuck again, but no worries. I'm not in a race to finish this. I'm perfectly fine if it takes me the rest of the year to lose this last fifteen pounds. I know that the smaller I get, the more I'll have to fight for every pound. And the slower I lose it, the more likely I'll stabilize right where I want to be.

Way to go Ready! It still irks me how stingy your doctor is with fills. I've had 8!!! And Ezma, I'm so happy for you! Almost 100 pounds gone forever! You are truly an inspiration.

1. What have you learned about yourself since you have been banded? That I don't have to stuff myself full to be happy and satisfied. 2. What has surprised you most about being banded? That I could actually learn a fear of some foods! 3. What foods do you miss that you can't/won't eat anymore? I miss bread. I haven't had a single bite since January. I used to eat soooo much bread! 4. Do you regret being banded? Never! 5. Would you recommend the band to anyone? Absolutely. I'm trying to talk one of my sisters into it right now. She's on the fence only because of the $$$ involved. 6. If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything? Yes. I wouldn't have eaten that piece of chicken that ended up being my worst stuck experience ever!!! 7. Would you do it all over again? Every day of the week and twice on Sunday, honey. 8. Has your self esteem improved? Oh my gosh, yes! I feel sooooo sexy!!! 9. Has being banded changed your personality? Absolutely. I'm so much more outgoing. And another weird thing... as I've thrown out my larger clothes, my closet has gotten so much brighter! I wear bold colors and patterns now that I would have NEVER worn before. 10. What do you dislike about being banded? Okay, I do miss chili dogs and burgers, I have to admit. But I like slim thighs and perky boobs much better!!!

I always drink when I eat, but not much. Maybe a half a glass of iced tea, whereas in the old days, it would have been two big glasses. I have a very strong gag reflex, so if food feels too dry going down the old gullet, it's not pretty. No problems with this slowing my weight loss, however. I still only eat three tiny meals a day.

Welcome! I was banded February 1, 2008 so I guess that makes me kind of the "senior" Victorious Valentine!

You got it! If I don't post pics here, I'll put them on my myspace page for sure! And my plateau has been the same. I've only lost three pounds in the last month, too and TWO of those were this week. It sucks, but we'll get past it and on to our goals!

Holy Moly! I don't think I would ever attempt that! Congratulations!

Yes, sometimes when people ask me how much I've lost, I'll say "More than you'll ever get me to admit to," and I laugh. That way, they know I'm not offended, but that I don't think it's any of their business.

I finally came off of a 3 week plateau, and have lost 2 pounds in the last three days. Hooray! My six month anniversary is August 1, since I was banded on Feb 1. I wanted to be at 160 pounds by then, but alas am about 8 pounds heavier than that. However I can fit into my size 12 black cocktail dress, just in time for an event coming up on August 8. I've known this was coming up since January, pre-surgery, and have been hoping and praying it would fit. Finally it does and I won't have to waste money on another dress that I'll wear only once!

I haven't told many people either, including my mother, who is very judgemental. When people ask how I'm losing weight, I tell them, "There's only one way. Eat less and exercise more." And that's the truth! It's nobody's business HOW you are managing to do that, and you aren't lying to anyone with that response.

I've heard that Dr. Wade Barker in Dallas does the surgery for $9,500. I haven't confirmed that with his office, but I saw it here on this board one time. I myself paid $15,000 with AIGB (there was an exclusion on my insurance for WLS), but since they found a hiatal hernia during my lap band surgery, insurance paid to fix that and AIGB refunded back the entire amount insurance paid, $9,500. Still, even if I was stuck with the entire $15,000 bill, it would be absolutely worth every penny. I can't tell you how much better I feel about myself. Best decision I ever made, even if I had to give up a lot of other stuff to get it.

You look absolutely adorabale. I love the new outfit... very sassy! I can really see a big difference! Congratulations and keep up the good work!

Oh, Gibson, dump the bastard! You need a new doc that knows what the hell he's doing! We had surgery in the same month, and I had my 6th fill today, 7.6cc now, and I've NEVER gone in for an unfill. The guy's a douche.

Oh, Honey, get yourself in for a fill, and make it a big one!!! I'm at 7.5cc in a 10cc band. Your doctor is waaaaayyyyy too conservative. You're doing this almost completely on your own! I'm going in tomorrow for another small fill, my 6th. You shouldn't be hungry in the evenings if you have proper restriction. Sometimes I'm hungry on the way home from work, but 3 or 4 ounces of grilled fish, and I'm done for the night. That's how it should be if your band is working property. If it's not, that's the doc's fault, not yours.

Very well. I'm very happy with my decision to go with the band. I noticed that you've had your band for quite some time. How has your journey been? Are you at goal?

My insurance just didn't cover WLS at all. And as for the recovery with hernia repair, I don't think it was any longer. I had the surgery on a Friday, and went back to work the following Tuesday. Of course, I have an office job, so nothing strenuous. It was no big deal, really.

From your lips to God's ears, Ezma. I'm trying!

There are lots of "solid" foods I can't eat anymore. Steak and dry chicken are out of the question. So is bread. Know what? That's why I got the band. I don't need to be eating that stuff because that's what got me fat to begin with. I'm perfectly happy with grilled fish, green veggies, and a skinnier behind, thank you very much!

I'm wearing a pair of size 14 skinny pants that I haven't worn in three years!!!

Same here. My son has commented that my feet and ankles are skinny now, to which I replied, "That's great, but I'm trying to get it off the butt and the gut!"

My hiatal hernia was discovered during surgery as well. The good thing was that, though my lap band surgery was not covered by insurance at all, the hernia was. My surgeon filed for the hernia and then refunded back the amount insurance paid to me. It ended up covering about 2/3 of my total surgery cost! So I say "Yay, hernia!" Repairing it during lap band surgery shouldn't be a problem.

There weren't really a lot of bad indulgences, except alchohol. Oh, and peanut butter cookies (it was so good being so bad!) My main problem, I guess, was that I ate almost all processed foods. Those little pots of Chef Boyardee dinners, although they're not many calories, they're certainly not HEALTHY! Probably loaded with sodium and other preservatives. Glad to be back home and back to my fresh grilled fish daily. I eat so much fish, I'm gonna grow gills!