Great2BThin

Thatta girl!! Great attitude. Come post away here more often and shout out your losses. We love cheering them on.

I too am becoming a shopaholic, I have to stay away. So far most has been on sale at least but not all. It was just so freeing to be able to go into any store and now that I am in sizes I never imagined it's so tempting to stock up. But I need to wait and see where my weight stabelizes at. I like NY & Co too, never imagined I could shop in the same stores as my daughter. But my favorite is Ann Taylor Loft or regular store. And Gap for jeans because I like their longs though they discontinued the ones I like so who knows where I'll get them going forward. I'd love a designer pair some day, just because I can! I better get more than my part time job! LOL

Doodles, congrats on hitting Onederland! That's such a huge milestone to reach. BeckyinTexas, WOW!! AM I impressed with your numbers. Awesome job! Have you had any plastic surgery or did you not have a lot of excess skin? I see you've had your band since 2005, I've not known anyone that's been banded that long. Have you had any complications or issues over the years? That's my big concern, but so far mine has been just perfect!

Apples, you can preach like that anytime! We all have those moments and though I don't want to dwell on the past anymore or feel like that again, it sure does help to call it up once in awhile when those temptations come a callin'! Never do I want to go back there! Debe, Congrats on your band. You were banded the same date on me just one year later. I was june 5, 2008. Yes it does get better, but it just might get worse before it gets better. As you heal and the swelling goes down, you start to get hungry and you have not much restriction yet. Hang in there and don't despair, it gets better and better as time goes on and you get fills. I definitely had those what have I done moments. But now one year later and 125 lbs gone, I am having 'so glad I did it moments'.

Good evening. Congrats VZ, on the new job!! And congrats on all the bandiversaries! We have some great successes here. It's meant so much to have this place to come and share ups and downs with. Guess what I bought yesterday? Size 8 jeans!! I can't quite wear them yet. I can zip and button them but well sitting down or breathing might be an issue. :grouphug: But I have them at the forefront of my closet as incentive. And they were on clearance at the Gap for $12 can't beat that! WEll maybe with the cashmere sweater I found on the clearance rack at Ann Taylor outlet for $6!!!

Looking awesome Allie!! Congrats. You look so much more radient in the after picture too.

While I totally agree with what Janet is saying I think in my family it was another reason. My sisters were fairly supportive at first UNTIL I got smaller than them. See I was always the fat sister and now there was a new opening for that position in the family as I resigned from it! When I got to a smaller size than them they said, congrats, but 'now you are PI_____ us off'. They've had very little to say since then, though they did congratulate me on my recent size 8 purchase. BTW, I had no idea what sizes they wore when they found out I was smaller than them. Speaking of size 8......I posted yesterday wondering if I should get them or not. Well I DID!! Went to the Gap outlet and the style of jeans I like are being discontinued and were marked down to $12!!!! They only had one Long pair and guess what it was a size 8. It was destiny!! LOL Anyhoo, I can zip and button them. Whilst I can't breathe or sit down in them yet, I can get them on. So I bought them, DH calls them my 'dream jeans'. They are on a shelve right by my closet door so I have to see them everytime I go in there. Is that cool or what?? Here when I got the surgery, I just wanted to be a 'normal' size, then thought well a 14 would be good 'cause then I'd have some wiggle room in the normal sizes but my dream size was a 12. And now I am a 10 and knocking on 8's door. Who knew??? (I sure hope that doesn't sound like I am tooting my own horn too much, I am just so super excited)

Thanks for all the kind words about my pictures. You are all too sweet. One thing I really struggle with is how I see myself. I still see myself as the before picture. I know I see more door in my after picture, I am wearing size 10's, etc. but when I look in the mirror size 26 is still looking back. They say the head takes awhile to catch up. It's almost like I am afraid to think of myself 'almost thin' now as I will jinx myself. Does that make any sense? Or if I say heck ya I do look good then in some way that is cocky or tempting fate or prideful. But I am getting there. Am going shopping today, heard of a Banana Republic and Gap outlet that aren't too far from me. Who knew? Gap discontinued my favorite jeans so am hoping to find a good deal and stock up. Do I dare buy the size 8's for future use??

Yesterday was my anniversary of getting my band. I am down 125 lbs and only 11 lbs from a normal BMI!!! WOO HOO!!!!

Cathy, Would love to see pics. AM trying to post a before and now in this post (letting you know in case it didn't work")

Let's see if I can do this. I am attempting to post a before pic taken the night before surgery and a 1 yr pic at 125 lbs lost.

Elayne, in the beginning I got fills 2 weeks apart. I think my first 3 were that way, then I had some restriction and went a little longer. Sept seems a long time to wait, especially if you aren't feeling much restriction.

Thanks everyone. Would you believe in the busyness of the day I forgot to take a photo? I take one the 5th of every month. I will pretend it's the 5th tomorrow. I will post the before and current as soon as I find my before, hopefully I backed it up on a disk before I set up the new computer.

Today is my bandiversary! One year later and 125 lbs gone! 300's to 100's!! WOOHOO!! Only 11 to go. Think I will make DH take me out to dinner tonight to celebrate my 2nd birthday. And I bought myself a present, a new computer!!! AM waiting for my son to come set it up for me. Hopefully I will really notice the speed difference.

HAPPY BANDIVERSARY TO ME!!! Today is the day, one year ago at this time I was in the recovery room wondering would this really work? I was so sure I was going to be that statistic that it didn't work for. After all, I failed at everything else I tried. But here I am one year later and 11 lbs from a goal of a normal BMI!! WOOHOO!! I am at 125 lbs gone. Who'd have thunk it? I started with a 3 in front of my weight and now am in the 100's! 180 to be exact, 169 gives me 'normal'. Can't wait!

HAPPY BANDIVERSARY TO ME!!!!!!! Last year at this exact time, i was waking up in the recovery room from receiving my band. Hard to believe. Never in a million years did I think I'd be sitting here saying I was down 125 lbs! I am just thrilled, I can't imagine how I will feel when I can type that I am at goal! I think i am going to make DH take me out to dinner tonight to celebrate my second 'birthday'. Also, I bought myself a present today, a new computer!! This one has been so slow and frustrating. I am going from 512mb memory to 4gb and from 200gb hard drive to 800gb so it better be faster. They had such a good deal on a package at Bestbuy that I got the all in one printer and a HD widescreen monitor too. So now I need to figure out what to save to transfer to the new one. My son is going to help set it up. Meredith, you will do just fine, you have the right mental attitude going into this. I did follow the 'rules' pretty exact and have done great. As long as you understand this is a tool and not the miracle cure you will do great. A tool only works as good as you use it. Laura, you will do great travelling. I have found when travelling something to eat just about anywhere (well maybe not Barcelona, I got Burger King there as it was the best option). Even in fastfood, I do burgers w/o buns or chicken nuggets, granted the nuggets are breaded but it hasn't hurt me too much as it's not a daily thing. I find it hardest to get veggies when travelling for some reason. Joann & Laura, I hear you on insurance companies. Today I went for my mammogram and a bone density test. I get checked in and go the the radiology dept and they said I was early. I'm like, huh?, my appt was 9am and it's about 9:03. Well seems last year I got my mammo in July due to a scheduling conflict, normally I do June. So because of my insurance I had to reschedule, they won't pay unless it's a year and a day since the last one. GRRRRR I did get the bone density done but now have to go back. Well I better get off the internet and get busy backing up the stuff I want to keep.

I am just home 2 weeks from an NCL "Freestyle" cruise to the Mediterranean and I came home 1 lb. lighter than I left. Food was no problem for me. Didn't find things rubbery or hard to chew and food seemed fresh. We did the buffet a lot more than usual because this was such a port extensive cruise and we were coming and going at different times. Each breakfast I got a cooked to order omelet and they do egg white omelets if you ask. I'd then only eat about 1/3 to 1/2 of it before being full. They always had some type of meat at the carving station, some days I even got a hamburger patty and ate part of that, there was always healthier options available. And a few times I did have some unhealtheir options like ice cream or dessert. I tried to always take the stairs instead of the elevator, there's the gym, there's the walking track, and not to forget all the walking in ports. If you are motivated and determined it can be done. I've heard of some people having a slight unfill before cruises or flying as they tighten up, I had no issues whatsoever of getting tighter. Be careful and enjoy, I wish I was going again!

I hadn't really thought of it. Any ideas?? I feel like I should honor the day some how, but then again did just get a cruise for losing 100 lbs so can't ask for too much. I am getting my mammogram and bone density test tomorrow, but that isn't too celabratory!! HA HA To think of what I was feeling a year ago TODAY! Fear, panic, excitement, starving (liquid diet), etc. What a difference a year makes. I hardly feel like the same person sometimes.

Peas, thanks for the kind words about my weight graph. Friday marks my one year bandiversary. I can not believe it, one year ago I was on the liquid diet right now and very nervous and so sure that I would fail at this too and now one year later I am down 125 lbs!!! Who knew??? I love my band and am so grateful for it, and for everyone here that has been such a great support. Arlene, you and hubby are going to do so great together. Apples, your DH sounds like mine. IN fact he came home from work a few hours ago, and is going back in a bit. But he'd much rather be farming, I think it's a regret of his. There's some land in the family in SD and if circumstances ever warranted it, he'd be there in a heartbeat. In the meantime, my backyard is the envy of the neighborhood if I do say so myself. He's out there 'putzing' as he calls it, all the time. Bubba, I can't do lettuce. It balls up and gets stuck on me just like bread, so it might have been just the lettuce. Kindda keep track of when it happens and what you ate, and you'll know for sure soon. Well I am having some exercise issues. I had it going so good for awhile. But I went with a few friends daily at 230pm and we did that Power 90 DVD. It's great to have workout partners, WHEN they are motivated too. However, when they peter out, it's tough. I didn't own the Power 90 and one of the other gals that has become very spoaradic did, however, I did get to burn a copy so have my own now. But when they don't go it's so easy not to. I've been doing my Wii Active at home and think DH is going to soon be my new partner, but I gotta stay consistent and am struggling.

Before my surgery, no I didn't tell anyone, only ones that knew were my husband and kids. I wanted to tell folks in my small group to pray for me, but on the other hand there were a few women in there that I knew would blab it all over the church and would've said it was a self control issue. However, after I started losing weight, if they asked me what I was doing I told them. I didn't want to be dishonest or deceitful and after the fact it was easier. Most, but not all, have been very supportive and now a gentleman in my church is having the surgery next week. Do what you feel comfortable with. Before surgery I just wasn't comfortable sharing and was rather nervous and didn't want to hear the naysayers either. I pray all goes well for you.

Angel, you poor thing, a year later and only 1cc in your band. I am so glad you dr was agressive and you can go back soon for the next fill. This should make all the difference in the world! All this talk of lifts of various parts of the body has me really looking at mine and wondering. LOL Most of me is okay but I definitely have some skin issues. Guess I'll take a wait and see approach. I haven't paid off my band surgery yet.

Congrats!! I had the band and hernia repairs last June (it will be one year on Friday) my blood tests are all normal, I am off b/p meds and down 125 lbs. Only thing is my knee is still not good, but better. Welcome! My big worry is my knee too, I am also bone on bone. Granted I was taking 8 to 10 Ibuprofens a day before surgery and had to give that up after. I find I don't need it so much anymore but the knee still hurts. Most of the time it is bearable, however I just got home from vacation and lots of walking and it was bad. I guess all the years of carrying all that weight have done their damage. I may be looking at knee replacement in the future, that is the only thing the dr. said would help as I was too far gone. BUt just don't want another surgery right now. Scary thing is, he said the right knee was 75% of the way of the left. So I have thoughts if I do the replacement of doing both at the same time.

So, Apples, what do you have done to your eye lashes? I got my cut, color and eye brows done (I tend to have a unibrow if I don't have them waxed). It always feels good to have that done. Meredith, how upsetting that has to be for you. for some reason, many around us when they hear we are having weight loss surgery, have to tell us about all their horror stories they've heard that happened to a friend of a friend of a friend of someone. Like has already been posted, these things can and do happen but it is the exception and not the norm. You've been informed of all the risks, am sure you've even seen your surgeons stats as far as complications, been prescreened etc. I made the mistake before surgery of reading the 'complication' board here on LBT, yes I wanted to know about them, but it wasn't something to dwell on a week before surgery. I didn't balance it and read only that, and not the positives. Congrats on having your date. Laura, that is the exact way I was told to measure my protein too, by volume and not by weight. Makes sense since it is the small space of our pouch we are filling up. Here I thought that dr's or members of their family had it easier when it came to dealing wtih dr's. You've dispelled that myth for me. But good for you in bantering back with him. Arlene, congrats to hubby in getting his date! That will be so nice for you to have him eating the same as you etc.

MRose, CONGRATS!!! on hitting onederland. It is so cool seeing that one in front of your weight isn't it?? Janet, I think you are right about LBT being like support groups. I know I get more out of coming here than I do my meetings. If I wasn't volunteering and possibly being a leader not sure I'd keep goin twice a month. Some meetings are great, some not so great, I'm always afraid I am going to miss the good ones! Plus, knowing that folks are going to ask me about what I am doing to be successful keeps me on track. I started going to my meeting the month before surgery, so they have seen me all the way through this thus far. Bubba, glad you got so much of your fill back. Hope it helps immensely and soon you will get the rest back. Peas, that test sounds neat. I'd love to know what mine is. Well I am off to get my hair cut and colored. It's pouring rain out today so it won't last long!

I have done some seminars too, it is kindda neat and puts into perspective how far you've come. But also to see that new excitement and hope from the people there, especially in those times when I am rather complacent in where I am at. Wish I was in VA to meet up with you gals! How fun, you'll have to take photos so we can see! Teach, I am back at 124 lbs down today, one of those 2 came back. GRRRR Oh well, we'll get through this. It's probably cause we are getting so close to goal. Allie, yur plastic surgery will probably take off those last 5 lbs for you and you'd be at goal! Congrats!