JulieNYC

Well, folks, this is the last book of the trilogy. Tomorrow, I'm headed home to Alabama for what I hope is my last round of plastic surgery. It's at least the last major round. In case you're new to the forum, my history is that I lost 200 + lbs in 18 months of being banded. I had a TT with BL in March 2007. After that time, much to my amazement, I lost 60 more lbs. I then had a lateral thigh lift (outer thighs) and brachioplasty just 6 weeks ago, in Novmber 2007. Tomorrow, I'm headed home for surgery on Thursday. We're doing the inner thighs (medial thigh lift), small breast implants (when I lost the extra 60, I really lost a lot of volume -- went from a mid-D to a small :confused:, and a mons lift with a port replacement to give me a low profile port. Anyway, I'll keep you posted as I get home from the hospital. Unclear whether that will be Thursday late or sometime Friday -- depends on how I tolerate the anesthesia this time. In any even, I'll post more from the other side!

Hi Ladies, I started out a size 26 and am cruising down into a 20. For those of you ahead of me in the journey, approximately what clothing size did you wear when you noticed you were crossing your legs comfortably? My legs cross in comfortable chairs, but not in "waiting room" or "office" chairs just yet. How long do I have to wait? To me, that's going to be one of the greatest NSV's.... Thanks!

Exactly. Now when I struggle with weight, it's a 5 or 10 lb issue, not a 200+ lb issue. Definitely a priceless impact on my life. As I tell people all the time, "you'd have to fight me for my band!"

WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!! You're a rockstar!

Meg, You are going to have so many wonderful things happen to you in this journey. Put Onederville out of your mind. It's just a number. Make a list of all the things you want to do along the way and tick them off as you can. Maybe you want to ride a jet ski, or go parasailing, or ride a rollercoaster, or fly to Europe, or sit on the inside seat of a bus, or walk 5 miles without stopping, or walk up 3 flights of stairs without being winded -- whatever your goals are. That said, before you know it, you WILL be in Onederland. The first year being banded flies by. Sitting here today, I can't believe this is my 4th year bandiversary. Four years! I checked off all the things on my list nearly 3 years ago! I had my tummy tuck more than 3 years ago. Wow, that's amazing to think about. I've been gone from LBT for a long time, so today is the first time I'm really thinking about these issues in a while. My advice to you is to cherish the experience. The 200s are full of great joys. You rediscover your physicality in the 200s (at least I did). Everything becomes easier. Then when you get to 249, you think to yourself "gee, I can't BELIEVE I'm closer to the Ones than to the Threes!" As for plastics, Sandi is absolutely right that most doctors recommend waiting 6 months at a stable weight before having them. I'm a perfect example of why. I had a tummy tuck at 195 lbs. I didn't think I'd lose much more weight, but I was wrong. I went on to lose 60 more lbs and I had some loose stomach skin that I had to have revised. That said, I don't regret the first TT when I had it! I always tell people anecdotally that I lost 200+ lbs in a little over a year, but I went from being a "fat" person to a "thin" person in a 6 hour surgery. It's AMAZING what a TT does for your body after 150+ lb weightloss. The need to wait for 6 months (for most people at least) is at least two-fold. First, MONEY. Plastics is expensive. Most people don't want to pay for it twice. I have the very fortunate circumstance of having a dad who's a plastic surgeon. That is rare, but obviates the financial concern in my case. Second, and more importantly, surgical risk. Two surgeries are riskier than one surgery. I did have a complication with my second surgery (I developed seromas in my legs and had to drain them MYSELF for about 6 weeks - it was awful). I wouldn't change the way I did it, but my circumstances were somewhat special (it being free and me being in "marathon" shape and in my 30s, thus, fairly low risk as far as surgery can ever be low risk). Waiting for goal does make sense 99/100 times. Hang in there. Time is going to fly, I promise.

I'm one of those obnoxious bandsters who runs marathons. I run marathons because I want to be a size 4 and I want to kick my brothers' butts in family sports like I never could growing up. But that is IRRELEVANT to band success. It's completely relevant to health, but in the words of my band surgeon, the band and weight loss in general is about eating less. It's not about exercise. It takes about 3600 calories of exercise to burn one pound. At my size, I can run an entire marathon (26.2 miles) and I will only burn about 2700 calories. A whole marathon and I don't even lose a single pound!! Yet, if I was eating 3000 calories a day, if I cut back to 2000, I could lose 2 lbs a week. See, it's MUCH easier to lose weight through portion control than through exercise. Portion control gets you to a healthy WEIGHT, not exercise (at least not exercise alone). Now before I get yelled at (haha), clearly I advocate exercise. There is so much more to a healthy life than weight. And exercise will speed weightloss -- it's just not the primary contributor (portion control -- fewer calories in is the primary). Exercise makes you healthy, makes you feel good, makes your body look better, etc., etc., but you WILL lose weight with the band, whether you exercise or not. So, don't let that deter you. Worry about exercise later. Get the band now. Even if you only get 2/3 of the way to goal because you never set foot in a gym, think of how much healthier you'll be than if you do neither. (And, of course, you can do both! I'm just saying don't postpone for fear that you'll never be one to exercise). I hope this post comes off the way I mean it to. It's meant to be band-positive, not exercise-negative.

I think my favorite day in my entire weight loss journey was the day I hit 299. It was better than 199. It was better than crossing the finish line of the NYC marathon ( and any of the 3 times I've done it since, haha). There is something MAJORLY special about being in the 200's. That's when I quit feeling so self conscious. Sure, at 5'1 I was still quite heavy, but I could buy clothes at the mall, go on a bike ride, sit in a bus seat, walk in winter without sweating, the list goes on and on. And when you get below 250, just wait - WAHPOW! There are so many people who weigh 250 - you feel completely average, yet you know you'll still get healthier and healthier! Congratulations, Kathy. Welcome to Twoterville.

I'm so proud of you all!! I've had those same moments, including now being sure to leave the bigger chairs for other people who may need them in a waiting room. But my biggest thing is that even though I'm more than 4 years out and nearly 3 years from having reached goal and I fly several times a month, I almost cry every time I sit in a coach seat and the seatbelt clips and I pull the strap to tighten it to my size. Or, if there's a larger person next to me, I lift the arm rest without saying a word, in case they're more comfortable with a little extra room. I love my band.

Hi Sandi, I had been working with a personal trainer for about 2 years before my surgery (I'm 4 years post-op) but we couldn't do much cardio because of so much weight on my knees. Still, I had good muscle tone under all the weight and I think that helped both my surgical recovery as well as my ultimate weight loss. I didn't exercise much -- maybe a couple of walks a week - for the first 100 lbs, which poured off me in about 5 monhts (I'm only 5'1 and my body was dying to shed some weight once I was eating proper quantities with the band). Then I started walking longer lengths (maybe 3 miles) about 4 times a week. When I got to 200 lbs, I started running small spurts within my walks and got really excited about having a tummy tuck (I'd been told I could have one at 180), so I started running more and walking less, probably working out 5 times a week. Once I recovered from my tummy tuck, I trained for the NYC marathon back in 2007, which took me below my goal weight! I've had some health problems unrelated to the band (a miscarriage) this year and have gained about 25 lbs. My band is perfectly adjusted, but now that I'm out of the depression that goes along with that experience (I'm 37 and have no children), I've signed up for the NYC marathon again and I know I'll be back to goal weight in no time. I'm so thankful for my band. Without it, I know I would have gained 100+ lbs while I wasn't "minding the store." I'm so glad I have this adjustable tool and a body that craves exercise and responds to it. Thanks for the question. It feels good to own up to what's going on with me. It's been a while since I've checked in with LBT and it's a valuable support tool. Take care, JulieNYC

Happy 4th year to all of us. Telly, did you have your baby? How life has changed, no? Hugs to all, JulieNYC

Very generally speaking, no, I don't think most people who lose 100 lbs "need" a TT. Add 50 lbs to that and I think the numbers change dramatically. As everyone has already said, height, age, skin elasticity, personal satisfaction (clothed/unclothed goals) etc. all factor in greatly. For me personally, TT was the best 5 hours I ever spent!

First, don't worry about needing plastic surgery. I'm not saying not to think about it or not to plan for it, but don't WORRY about it. Lsoing 250 lbs is much more important and you will feel GREAT and be so much healthier for doing that part of the journey, with or without the plastics. TT almost always includes tightening the ab muscles. Something about the weight (or having babies) makes the two muscle walls detatch from each other and sewing the back together is part of the TT procedure. You can mitigate needing a lot of that with exercise. I didn't have any muscle tightening, but I'd worked with a trainer for 3 years and had good muscle tone underneath my excess fat and skin. Plus I'm young and haven't had children. Muscle tightening is normal and generally included in the TT cost (as opposed to a paniculectomy, which is just cutting off the skin and fat). Don't worry about it. I think what I had was pretty typical for someone losing 200+ lbs. I had surgery in three stages. (1) TT (extended) and breast lift. (2) Outer thigh lift and brachioplasty (the TT and the outer thigh lift together make an LBL -- some do that in one stage -- I wanted my TT so badly that I had it done at 200 lbs, which was quite a bit above my goal weight and I still had a lot to lose in my legs, so they suggested I approach it that way). (3) Inner thighs and breast implants. Phase 1 was quite necessary to living a full life post 200+ lbs weight loss. Phase 2 was nice but not "necessary." Phase 3 was completely cosmetic (and fabulous!) Hope that helps, Julie

I had a low profile port put in when I had my TT. The port stayed in the same place, they just dug out a little muscle and put in the smaller port so it doesn't stick out quite as much. Before, I could see it through clothes, even in pictures. You can still see it, but now people just think I have really well defined abs (as if, haha). In hindsight, I wouldn't have bothered. There is very little difference between the port sizes and it took me nearly a year to get my band properly adjusted again (the fluid drains when they replace the port and even if you put back exactly what was supposedly in before, it's never exactly, exactly the same). I don't regret it, exactly, I just didn't find it really worth the trouble and expense.

I was not able to exercise until the 6th week, and then, only lightly. It was truly 3 months before I was 100% back to full gym training. Once I was lifting again, it only took a couple of weeks to get my full strength back. I recovered from my TT well, but when I had my thigh lift, I pushed it too hard post-op -- started walking about 5 days out (I felt fine, after all) and I developed complications (seromas that resolved but that were a pain in the tush for about 6 weeks). It's not worth it. Sit tight until your doctor tells you otherwise, even if you feel you could exercise. Your body burns so many calories post-op that, for me at least, I found weight gain wasn't a concern. And, like I said above, even with 3 months off weight training, I got it all back within a couple of weeks. Good luck! TT is wonderful. To this day I say losing 200 lbs over 18 months didn't make me a thin person -- having a 5 hour TT did.

Lellow, I don't have a spouse -- but I date and I had a boyfriend at the time I had my plastics and I really worried about the scars. As background, I had a LBL (in two stages), brachioplasty, inner thigh lift and breast lift with implants -- pretty much as many scars as you can have (well, my TT doesn't have the vertical scar, but that's the only one I can think I'm missing!). I'm nearly two years past the circumferential and a year past the inner thighs and I can tell you, even 3 months out, the scars are not an issue. What you gain in attractiveness for having your body be appropriately shaped so far outweighs those lines. My brachioplasty scars are pretty severe -- the rest healed very, very well. And no one even asks about the brach scars -- it's just not an issue. Your husband may be put off by your scars in the very early days, more because he'll be afraid of hurting you than because you're unattractive due to the scars. You'll work through it and before you know it, it'll all be behind you. Two years ago if you told me I'd wear the tiniest bikinis one day, I'd have laughed at you. It's possible. Hang in there.

My low profile silicone implants are my favorite part of my body. They look and feel super. I was on the fence about getting them and they're just fabulous. I haven't posted here in a while, but my Dad is a PS and did my surgeries. For what it's worth, he didn't even give me a "choice" -- he said silicone is the way to go.

Thanks luluc! You look FAB!!

My nutritionist explained it this way. Our bodies need a certain amount of Protein and Vitamins and minerals every day to stay healthy and keep our muscle mass. This can be done on 800-1000 calories with nearly PERFECT food choices. Fat people have excess energy stored (as fat). So as long as we've covered what we need to stay healthy and keep our muscle mass (the 800-1000 calories of healthy food to get in the new vitamins, minerals, protein we need), no matter how much you exercise, you don't "need" extra food because you have stored energy for your body to burn. That said, if you do very long workouts (high cardio workouts over 90 minutes -- i.e. distance biking, running, etc.), your body uses all the glycogen (readily available energy in the blood) it has and you can feel weak until your body has a chance to convert fat in storage into glycogen. Hence why endurance athletes, even ones with excess fat, sometimes need to eat/drink calories while exercising or just after exercising. When I'm in heavy marathon training (weeks where I'm running more than 30 miles per week), I probably eat 400 calories more per day than other times. I wake up hungry at 2 a.m., something that was never a problem for me, even when dieting, before I was an endurance athlete. I guess what it comes down to is, I don't believe you need excess calories overall TO BE HEALTHY in terms of your vitamins, minerals, and protein just because you're an endurance athlete, if you're still trying to lose weight, except possibly WHILE you're exercising. That's not to say that you won't be hungrier -- you might be -- and if you are and if it works for you to eat a little more, that's ok too. But you don't "need" it, if that makes sense.

Yep, I definitely use them. Of course fresh food is favored, but they're very convenient and often a good balance of protein and carbs. Like the rest, I usually can't eat a whole one. I love the Healthy Choice lemon fish. I always get 2 meals out of it -- sometimes 3. Great side of broccoli and a tiny dessert that makes me happy, all for under 150 cals, the way I eat it.

I just ran my second marathon last Sunday and I started on the couch to 5K program. Sometimes I can hardly believe that myself. :thumbs_up: Running rocks.

I met with a trainer 3 times a week for 3 years before getting banded. I was stronger and healthier but not thinner. Exercise is GREAT, but it (or lack of it) is not the primary cause of obesity. We are obese because we take in too many calories. I tried to change for 15 years. If I could have those 15 years back and get the band then, knowing what I know now, I'd do it in a FLASH. Have you read the medical literature on weight loss surgery? The statistics (I was a math major, so I trust math, haha) say that less than 5% of people with 50+ lbs to lose can lose it and keep it off for ONE YEAR. Well, I was wanting to lose four times that and keep it off for 70 years! So what would the stats be on that? I got a PhD and a JD in the same semester. I mention that to illustrate that obesity is not about self discipline. I have that. I ran 2 marathons and 12 half marathons last year. But I'd still be 350+ if I didn't have a band, instead, I wear a size 4. Don't kid yourself into thinking you can do it yourself. Look at the math. Less than 5% can do it for a single year. You are not a failure for needing a band. You are a person taking control of your health and using the best tool available to reach your goals.

I know you think you're chewing enough, but my guess is you might not be. Try four things during a "test" meal (you don't have to do all four things all the time, but just while you're figuring out if it's your habits or your fill that is wrong) - (1) chew 10 more times than you have been for each bite, (2) take ridiculously small bites -- half of what you've been taking, (3) measure out 3/4 cup of food and only eat that during this test meal, and (4) for the first 3-5 bites, wait 2 full minutes between each bite, then you can speed up. If doing all that, you can't eat 3/4 cup of real, healthy, food, consider an unfill. Only being able to eat Doritos is the enemy. I've been there, haha!

My advice is find some safety foods -- things that fill you up but that are low calorie and have some nutritional value. For example, I was hungry this afternoon and it wasn't meal time. I had a 1/2 cup cottage cheese with some fiber one cereal and blueberries mixed in. Probably 150 calories but I'm comfortably full and I bet I'll even forget to eat dinner having had it! I find I have to plan my food more than some people do or else I'll make unhealthy choices in the midst of hunger. If I have healthy "safe" foods around, I'm very likely to choose those. If I haven't planned, I'll buy a family pack of M&Ms or something dumb like that.

Even breast implants can be inserted through the belly button, so it makes total sense that the LB procedure could be done that way too. Neato!

I eat cottage cheese nearly every day. I get it whipped (Friendship brand 1%, YUM, or you can whip it yourself by putting it in the blender -- I'm not a fan of curds). I like it with sweet things like others have mentioned, but I really like it with warm things like tomato Soup or marinera sauce. I swear I credit cottage cheese with at least half my weightloss, haha!