Bandster Gal

I've lost 42lbs so far -- 15lbs before surgery. I feel so amazing. The last week... I've lost a pound a day, for a total of about 6lbs. I know it wont last for long, but I am just so psyched that it's happened now. I need to add in exercise soon or I may plateau for good. :thumbup:

I just joined Curves. Seems to be wonderful. Has anyone else tried it and if so, did it help your weight loss? I need somewhere easy to start and that seems to be a great place.

Hey! I put the restriction chart up on my blog: Bandster Heaven If you click the image, you'll get a bigger version of it.

I finally posted my next video... it took me a few weeks.... In it I talk about my progress and answer two viewer questions: Why did I choose the LapBand? Why did I set my goal weight at 180? Go here to watch it: Bandster Heaven

I am enjoying Curves... as much as I hate exercise.... but I am having a hard time forcing myself to go... ergh...

What ever happened to this forum? Where is everyone???

Hey! Don't be too down...some people seem to lose slower in the beginning and hit the top at the sweet spot. I just started exercising, so that's not a big factor yet. I pack my food in a lunchbox every day and eat a cup every meal except for dinner - that's more like 2 cups. I drink a lot of Water and just try to keep my mind off food. I also try to ride the plateaus and understand that they are part of the 'game.' :-)

Hey! Nice to meet you! I got mine at Methodist too with Tom Jones. LOVED IT! It's my 2 month anniv...I'm down 43lbs. The clinic is fantastic. I'd advise going to their lapband support group... and all the others. Also stop by Obesity Help. Lots of good people on the MN forum... though few of us banders... but the people are super nice and we all get together a lot.

Yummy and healthy? Anyone have any? Post'm! Thanks! :thumbup:

I shouldn't be shy so here it goes.. I've lost 42lbs. Here's a photo of me when I was at 37lbs lost. BEFORE: 304.4lbs Went from looking like a hockey puck to looking more like a cube. Hehe

I like the smart machines. They are really nice. I hear it's great for beginners... but probably not so for experts. :-)

) lol lol

I forgot all about those suckers.... I used to have dimples, lol.

Oh man, I can't...but someday it will happen!

Apparently I am getting in 87 grams of Protein....and only 559 calories...ergh. I need to eat a little more maybe.

I have my mother alter my clothes for me, hehe. Otherwise it's Walmart and Target for now... and then later I will try selling it off or donate it to someone who needs it.

I love the band, personally. There are not as many LONG TERM complications, IMHO... I don't want to be attached to supplements the rest of my life. The band also offers me exactly what I want. I wanted HELP losing weight. I did not want a surgery to do it for me. I knew in my heart that I am strong willed, motivated, young, love myself and am willing to do what it takes. But I also had PCOS and 150lbs to lose fighting me. I knew I couldn't do it without help. I got help on May 13th. I am now down 42lbs. If you have faith in yourself that you can stick to the rules (which, with the band, are significantly easier to do than doing it without any help) then you will do AMAZINGLY at the band. No worries. My doctor is one of the top in the state...named by a Top Doctors yearly list. He believes that the band is a fantastic tool (though he does more RNYs) and believes that if you need help and can follow the rules, there is no reason you can't succeed....and succeed enormously! Think about what you want from a surgery. That helped me make my decision. Now I feel great that without malabsorption, I have already lost so much weight. It is so FRICKIN empowering!! Good luck!

You are right. I have been meaning to log on the daily plate and keep putting it off. I think it's probably time.

:tt1: I figured I'd post a rant... you know what really bugs me? When people on the OH forum say LapBanders are failures. Lets define failure shall we? Is it a failure to lose all your access weight WITHOUT the help of malabsorption and only with restriction? I think NOT. They compare our surgeries as though we are on the same racing field. How is that fair if we don't have good ol' MALABSORPTION to help us out? I hate it when the RNY and band are compared. I tell people I got the band and they say, "Oh I know So and So who lost tons of weight with the bypass. So you must be losing TONS of weight!" Ugh. I am losing at a healthy (and quite speedy actually) pace. And we are doing it without the help of rearranged body parts. I have nothing againsts RNYers and DSers (in fact, in my home town, I am one of few banders in a group of 40 of RNYers).... but I DO have a problem with those people that call us failures. It is not FAILURE to be empowered and to listen to your body and lose weight. My new thing now is... I don't want to call the procedure a weight loss surgery anymore. I think calling it an implant is a better idea. They are now putting in implants to attach the hunger nerves... and THOSE people will most likely not call it surgery. WHY SHOULD I? I got an implant to help me control hunger. That is it. :tt1::cursing::tt1: Sorry... had to vent.

Err... I have no idea :confused2: I just eat until I'm satisfied and do protein first. I think I get a lot because I eat a lot of fish, yogurt, cottage cheese, eggs, etc.

Yeah I like OH because it has local people I meet all the time and the LapBand Forum is awesome (as long as other surgeries STAY OUT), but I am starting to enjoy this forum A TON because everyone is so nice and understands each other SO WELL. Banders unite.

I had bad gas and pain for 4 days... the worst. I wanted to hurt someone. By day 10, everything was better... my mood was better.. by 2 weeks out, it was like nothing ever happened. But I have to tell you... the first 4 days sucked (feelings or regret are very normal at that time)... maybe I'm just a big baby. :tt1: lol

This is pretty typical: Breakfast: cup of cottage cheese Lunch: Yogurt cup, cup of mixed fruit Dinner: Fish fillet (like Flounder or Tilapia) and cup of cooked veggies (like carrots) Snack: sugar-free popsicles My best advice, don't slack before you get real restriction. Fake it till you make it. Also, I pack all my day's meals into one lunch box and don't eat anything else. Preparation is the key for me.