40ismyyear

You are facing one of the biggest decisions you will ever make, and you are wise for taking all factors into account. My (slightly tongue in cheek) advice... The reality of asking for help and making the HUGE step of getting a band is ... are you ready? ... YOU STILL HAVE TO WORK to lose the weight so you STILL GET THE CREDIT! :cursing: Who cares HOW you get healthy?! Be proud of the fact that you are moving in a positive direction to help yourself. Like you, I did my due diligence and researched for a couple of years before landing on this decision that has changed my life so completely. Here is the way I look at it. For me, MY band is NOT: a magic pill that mysteriously made all of my food cravings go away the therapist I never had who solved all of my emotional issues that made turn to food when I was happy, sad, angry, breathing ... a calorie counting miracle that sends signals to my brain when I have eaten too many calories a non-issue in my life that does not require me to think about it (sorry to get serious on you!) What I have found my band IS: just the tool I needed to remind me that I don't have to eat until I am full, bloated like a toad and regretful to enjoy good food a voice inside my head that sounds a little like Jillian on The Biggest Loser (i.e. "Ok, Karen. You took this step, you are eating right. Why exactly are you not out there moving instead of sitting on the couch? Hmmmm?) It is a personal choice - one you make for YOU and you alone. If you are ready to work and change your life, then it can be the right choice for you. If you are looking for a magic pill ... keep looking. And let me know if you find it!! Best of luck to you and remember only you can take control of your life ... don't let what others think impair your decision to take a HUGE leap of faith and find out how flab-u-less you can be!!

It can be done!!! I will agree with you COMPLETELY! By far the best thing I ever did for myself. Eat right and move, move, move. Then, when you feel like you can't move anymore ... MOVE some more :sad_smile: I am two lbs behind you and can't wait to hit that magical 100 mark. CONGRATULATIONS and keep up the good work!

I just found this post ... I created my own I was so excited to be hitting this milestone ... duh! http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f112/could-my-body-onederland-68328/ One question ... WHY do those last couple of lbs prior to onederland seem to cling they were dipped in superglue?! It WILL happen ... we can all meet our goals. Lord knows if I can do it ... ANYONE can! I was at 191 yesterday and I still can't believe that person looking back at me in the mirror is really me. Keep going!

Sushi. Never ate fish of ANY KIND before my band ... in fact the thought of a creepy dead fish on my plate repulsed me. Now, I can't get enough of the stuff. I eat sushi about three times a week. Also ... red/yellow/orange peppers. Crazy, I know. But I LOVE them now. I am eating like an adult ... who knew?

Sugar Free popsicles were my vice of choice for the first few months. Yummy and 'nearly' calorie free!

One word ... 10K! Wait ... is that actually a word? Regardless, I did it and came home feeling fantastic. Smiled the entire last mile! Running a 5K at the end of this month for speed now that I have the endurance to go the long haul. 10K for speed is in April. I hate to sound corny, but I DO have the power to amaze myself! We all do!! Size 22 to a size 14 Couch potato to exercise-aholic Embarrassed in a bathing suit to wearing a bikini last week Covered up to prancing naked (my hubby likes that one) Who is this person? Oh yeah ... it's ME!

So much to be thankful for ... my biggest scale victory was getting below 200 (yeah me!) But my biggest NSV was going to Kings Dominion and fitting in EVERY SINGLE RIDE with my daughter! I had a teary moment as I walked up to the old rickety wooden coaster she loves so much ... that was apparently built for people who weigh 102lbs or less ... and I realized I was going to FIT IN THE SEAT!! This is freakin' awesome!!

Apologies to John Mayer... I can not believe this ... but I am one and a half lbs from onederland!! I haven't been there in over 15 years and even then it was only for about a year in my 20s! I am at an absolute loss for words. Can I track it here so you can share my joy when it actually happens? When I am ACTUALLY less than 200 lbs? When I hit that magical mark, I will post a before (yikes) and an after pic. That extra pound and a half could make me look JUST like Cindy Crawford ... :ohmy:. I want to document the day! I feel confident you will all hear the whoop regardless of how far you are from Richmond, VA! Please oh please ... won't you celebrate with me!? How grateful am I to have a place like this to make a post like this?! You guys get it ...

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you! The words of support are so important ... the ones that mean the most are those that say things like "inspiration" and the post on my profile that said "you give me hope". Me? An inspiration? That is sheer madness! I am at a loss for words ... and so grateful that I can't even begin to express! I am just a fat girl who dared to take a chance on myself! Only 25 or so lbs to go! I think I can, I think I can!

I hear the chorus, friend! I work out everyday - either running or weight training - and I too had the plateau from hades during the month of July. Finally dropped 5lbs! And yes ... muscle does weigh more than fat ... but that doesn't mean our scale driven egos should suffer, huh? Congrats! You can make your goal!!

Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes. It is what you make it ... you can make yourself fail or you can make yourself succeed. It is NOT a magic pill. It takes hard work and you have to be willing to change your life entirely. My life is completely different now!

FINALLY! Perhaps the most annoying plateau ever is broken! From the time I started this post at 201.5 to now, I have played with the same 3 lbs. 201.5 ... 204.2 (what?! ... I hadn't gained a pound till then) ... 202 ... 201.8 ... 201 ... 200.8 ... you get the point. Then ... last week, I saw that magical first number. Of course is was after a run so I refused to claim it. I have been below 'that mark' for three days an counting so I will OFFICIALLY declare myself UNDER 200. 198.2 this morning! As promised ... scary before and not-so-bad after pics. (sorry for the duplication ... having issues getting the link in correctly!) Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum - 40ismyyear's Album: My Body is a Onderland!

This is only the beginning!! Congrats and keep it up ... shopping for new clothes when you HAVE to is sooooo much fun!

Gotta add one more. When I started this journey, my husband was convinced I would spend a lot of time crying happy tears (AKA HT) over my success. I am a crier .. it is what I do! Up until this week, I had not had that moment. On Thursday, I went shopping at lunch because all of my tops were too big. Not only was I able to buy size M tops, but I also bought a pair of SIZE 14 PANTS!! I stared in the mirror, checked the tag about a hundred times, then had that familiar HT feeling well up. I am in a size 14...me...Karen! My booty and thighs are in a size I can buy in ANY store!! I have gone from a size 22 to a size 14. Uh oh ... there come those HT again! Amazing. I DO have the power to amaze myself!! Oh yeah .. and I had to travel for work on a completely full flight. I had the center seat and ALL of me fit without bleeding over to my seat mate's space! Life gets better and better every day. This was the perfect choice for me!

Yep .. such an individual journey! I am five months out today and have had two fills (currently around 7cc I think). I can certainly eat more than the requisite 4oz, but I have been SO blessed in that my mind has taken over and I may eat 6oz of veggies, chicken or fish instead of 6oz of chips, chocolate or bread I have little restriction in terms of volume, but I am not hungry often at all. I also have no PBs, sliming, stuck food issues, vomiting etc. I think I have found my sweet spot! This surgery changed my life completely. Once I committed to the surgery, my mind kicked in and kicked my arse! I am training for a 10K, I work out daily and have relearned how to eat healthy foods. Who KNEW I loved sushi this much? I have decided not to have another fill until my 'diet-brain' fails me and I NEED that volume restriction. I am listening to my body and taking it one day at a time. When I crave a whole cake ... that is when I will consider another fill. I am a lucky one ... I know this! I have a friend who is two years out who has struggled to lose 20lbs ... but she eats whatever she wants and fights PBs/vomiting/etc. The tool will only work for you if you work for it, right? We have to listen to what our bodies have to say! Fill when you need it ... don't if you don't!

Favorite part? My midsection ... I have uncovered my small ribcage and HELLO flat tummy! Are those hipbones I feel? Least fav? Legs. I was born with tree trunk legs and will die with tree trunk legs, fat or skinny :laugh: That won't stop me from running as much as possible in an attempt to make them less tree-trunky! Everybody has to have a goal, right?

Just felt compelled to pile on ... you are FLABULESS!!

I have a five victories to be grateful for this week! First ... a combo NSV/SV. About a week ago, I got into my pre-pregnancy pants!! Whoooo hooo! Then, this morning, the scale showed me the number where I was 9 years ago when I started this glorious motherhood journey. Very cool to be on BOTH the health and motherhood journeys at the SAME time! Second ... I am training for a 10K next spring as part of my overall healthier me goal. Last night, I pulled 1.5 minutes off of my mile because I was actually able to RUN without the momentum of my 'jiggle' making it hard to keep moving forward. My butt actually co-operated instead of wiggling to it's own beat, so to speak. Who knew my legs could actually be powerful again? Third ... bathing suits. I actually LIKED trying them on this year. My hubby was appreciative, I was able to buy from the 'normal' people sizes and a 16 top was TOO BIG even with my ... shall we call them ... ample breasts. Fourth ... and funniest, actually. I had my second fill on Thursday and the lady running the floriscope (sp) had to move me three times to get a me at the right angle for a good view because 'your waist is so slight'. LOVED it! My oddly tiny waist (for a 'big girl' .. can't wait to shake THAT term) is back!! Fifth ... being thankful that I have a place like this to share these victories with those who really understand!! :thumbup: Keep up the hard work, all! We have earned it!

YOU ROCK! Congrats for giving us yet another reason to feel inspired and to keep on keeping on this journey!!

I drink coffee everyday! I purposefully avoid caffeine, but I don't have any problems when I put a little hit in my decaf!