noela31

Hi Just wondering where you stand now.... Icancelled my own surgery twice before I felt my head was anywhere near in the right place to be banded. Always new i could screw it up if I wasn't commited. About 16 years ago before I fell pregnant with my last child I lost about 50kg workinh the OA programme. I stopped when I fell pregnant thinking the weightloss had made me 'normal'.. putting back on those 50kg and another 20 on top over 16 yrs had me at my pre-op weight!! Went to my first OA meeting about 2wks ago - none in my home town 1.5 hr travel to the closest - though I have always played aroung the edges of a 12 step programme. I still find it hard but go back to OA if you have doubts - if it's a good non-judgemental group. The band is only a tool and 'let go and let God (or your HP)' is the only way to get throughthe 'impossible' times. I had great fears of failing but I am lighter than I was 16 years ago!!!! You CAN do it. All the best

Thanks - can't imagine myself at that weight or size - I to was a size 26....+ at times. To have kept that weight off for that long - hard to believe -I know that will be me next year but still hard to get my head around it. Good luck with everything

AND - a waist line smaller than my boobs - feet (yes I know I always had them but just couln't see them -shoulders - they have ends know as opposed to flowing onto my arms!! - a smile, never new how much time I spent not doing that (and I always thought I was such a happy person)

Ditto to what 'lellow' posted. I too could lose weight but I always put it back on and added a few more kgs in case the returned ones were lonely. I often also unknowingly 'lied' to myself about how much I was eating - I now know the amount of food I was putting on my plate was huge. I was the person who would make a sandwich to eat while making a sandwich to eat - just in case I starved before I got to eat the sandwich I was making!!!! Portion control has been a big part of the band for me. I don't know if I ever really felt hungry pre-banded, but I think the band has reduced the food 'cravings'. It has been a learning curve because I now have to deal with life minus comfort eating - and believe me at over 350lbs I did a lot of comfort eating. More energy and less kgs has made exercise and being more active much less challenging - the exercise is great but for me has been sporadic as I sustained a workplace injury that has made consistant exercise difficult. Also for me here in Australia I go back to the same Dr for fills and check in once a month whether I need to or not. It keeps me focused and accountable. Good luck and keep asking questions - being in the right head space pre banding is the way to go.

Wow!!! Congratulations. It really is the most amazing feeling to suceed at weight loss for a change. So pleased for you

Been a while - thought I'd update - survived xmas and the mucous without an unfill. Am very pleased to post my weightloss as of last Thursday is just over 40 kg - I am very proud to say my weight now starts with a 1 and a 2... this is the weight I was 16 years age when I fell pregnant with my last child......awesome!!!!! Got 0.5 ml added - going back on Thursday to get some removed - pretty rough week - have barely eaten but am keeping fluids down. This has lead to another 3 kg disappearing - it's strange but I'm not happy about that it's not good weight loss. So to everyone out there - keep it up its been a lifesaver for me. Only interesting thing is now I have to deal with all the sh%t in my life without going to the fridge. Somedays its very hard - but worth the effort!!

Been slack but thought I'd post an update - am pretty proud of myself these days. All up now I have lost 31 kgs, thats 68 lbs. Our margarine comes in 500gm tubs - thats 60 tubs of marg, if you put them in a bag and asked me to carry them up the stairs, you'd be told pretty quick what you could do with your marg, but everyday I was carrying that round. OMG!!! Since last posting have had 2 x 0.5ml fills - got the last one because I want good restriction over Xmas - may have to get 0.25 taken out, as the whole mucous thing is happening. Anyone got opinions on this - it's happening quite a bit. Exercise is still not really happening - should get a clearance from the Dr this week and will hopefully be back on track - plan is Water aerobics, swimming and some gym. I'm happy with the weightloss - except I'm going to end up with a serious case of 'tuckshop lady arms' - you know, that lose flabby look!!:laugh: Anyway would love some advice on the slime thing. And to everyone out there - keep posting -it is such a great place to visit!!

Hey - you know it's a twofold process, you're at least aware that the head can still do you in. The lapband really has taken away my hunger and has made my mental state 'healthier', it probably has to do with it not seeming so pointless - the lbs are gone and in my mind never coming back, it's a different feeling - the food choices are still mine, small though they are. I am very aware that I can eat very little so it had want to be good for me!! I risk my health otherwise. Good luck on the 20th and keep reading this forum - it is such a positive and informative place to be!!

Yep - had a 0.5ml fill last Thursday - NOW I know what restriction REALLY is. WQho'd have thought such a little amount could make a hugr difference. I had just been playing up til now!!! How sore do your jaws get - 30 times I've been told to chew eauch mouthful (full - not likely) - my God its like a face workout!! Things that stayed down before are making there way to daylight after being eaten - UGGHHH I'm a quick learner though - hopefully real quick.

I have known about lap band surgery for many years but have always made the comment that it wasn't something I would attempt til y head was in the right place. I am a compulsive overeater and didn't get to my pre-op weight by eating salads and jogging 5k a day. The fisrst photo is on the morning of my surgery nad the 'current' one is from 11th June - about 8 weeks down the track - must get something more current as I have lost another 20lbs since then! This is the NEW me photo - the photos are great to keep your head in shape when you have those days where you beat yourself up!! I have battled my weight all my life - the first diet I remember was at 11. I have lost numerous pounds on numerous occasions but always managed to find them and a few of their mates to come along for the ride. At my pre-op weight it was starting to affect my lifestyle - at 330 I manage work and everything I had to do, at 370 I was in a bad way. My health was OK but sugar and cholesterol were getting to the high end of OK. Last year around October I made the decision to get a referral and see a specialist. Did all the pre op stuff - Xrays, scans, pschologist, sleep tests and dietician. When I went to my surgeon, I felt like the biggest failure - WHY COULDN"T I DO THIS RIGHT!!! - he was great - said this was the best decision I'd made. it was a tool and I still had to do the work. I cancelled surgery twice, as I still couldn't come to terms with it. Finally caved and asked my husband to take time off work and come with me while I had it done - I couldn't do it alone. So on 2nd April I had my lapband done and a gall bladder removed -all went incredibly well - no pain at all and without a doubt the best decision I have made in my life. I have had 4 fills - 3/1/1/0.5 and am now at a place where if I eat more than I should it doesn't stay put - only got the extra 0.5 last Thurs - it's now for real because if I eat to much/too quickly/too big a piece....well I won't describe the consequences!!! I am still morbidly obese but there are days I feel like a million dollars. I enjoy my husband's attention as my weight had gotten to the point were I repulsed myself - my caring, 'can eat anything' husband loved me no matter what - but it made little difference to me. There are other days I look in the mirror and see no progress. I still have to deal with my daily life without the aid of food - its a journey and some days a battle but I'm doing it. Believe me when I say the best thing I ever did!!!!!!!

Wow !!! thanks but congratulations to you too. You must feel very proud of yourself. Funny how being obese but not morbidly obese is something to yell from the rooftops. Only people on the journey get it!! Keep up the great work - seeing other people doing this is and are further down the track is a great inspiration for all of us on the way there!!! Kind regards Noela

Wow - your an inspiration! Love reading others stories, makes me KNOW I am going to be there too!!!

Well - it's been a while - nice to get a reminder in my email that I should post. Life goes on here in Far Nth Qld - still recouperating from my fall - on light duties at work, which is a bit of a joke since they don't actually exist!!! So for the update - all done with food as the exercise is very restricted - and I'm severely pissed abou that but will need to deal with it and move on. Had another fill on the 31/07-08 as restriction got less as the day went on - could eat way too much by the end of the day so got another 1 ml - WOW!!! who would have thought what an itty bitty ml could do!! When I went back for this fill was down to 150.5 kg - I was soooo pleased with myself. Have bought myself a set of scales this week because - yes - my weight now starts with a 1 and a 4 - I am down to 149kg - who'd have thought you could brag about being that fat!!! I can - it is great. All the best to all the other bandsters - had forgotten how good it is to read about all your journeys. Till next time.