lellow

The only problem I could possibly see in that is that you might not be able to get a fill until you get back. Otherwise, no I don't think that will be a problem. 4 weeks out from surgery, I was 100% back to normal.

Actually I'm managing the summer heat better than I ever have, Brad! And I can wear little spaghetti strap tops and cut-off jeans where in the past I've usually worn huge t-shirts and three-quarter length pants. I'm also wearing white tops for the first time in years (always wore black previously). AND I've been going to the public pool - my previous house, before we moved a year ago, had a pool and it used to be the only place I'd be seen in a swimwuit. I am a little shocked at all the things I used to NOT do because of my weight, but didn't realise that I was doing. I always thought I had enough of a good body image to carry my weight off, and I never felt like I wasn't attractive or sexy even at my highest weight. But now, I realise I DID in fact modify my life so as not to 'stand out' and that I'm not doing that anymore. It's funny how our mentality shifts, and we 'hide' ourselves, without even realising we're doing it.

I can tell from your photo that a lower BMI would suit you, Jacqui. :thumbup: In my case, when I was last 65kgs (at 16 years of age, I think) my head looked huge for my body, my shoulders looked like a linebackers on this skinny body and I looked, well, sunken in. I had no muscle definition at all, and my family used to hound me unendlessly to eat more because I looked so skeletal. I still see skinny people who look 'softer' than me now. I don't want thin arms that have no muscle, or have pencil thin thighs. I want to look fit, and I think I'm close to that now, if not for the excess skin. You can see my ribs clearly when I'm naked, I have only a marginally high fat percentage (for a woman), and I believe that a lot of my weight now is muscle, and not fat. Plus I am a D cup on top, and have an ample backside, and broad shoulders, so I am naturally curvey, which TBH I quite like and wouldn't want to give up. So a BMI of about 25-26 is where I think I'll be happy to be right now. My plastic surgery should remove about 4kgs of skin, and that should take me right into that weight range. :thumbup:

Re BMIs, my Dr explained that BMIs were created by insurance companies for assessing people for insurance, and tended to be unforgiving. Which is why it doesn't take into account muscle mass, fat percentage etc. It's a simple calculation of weight vs height, which means a heavily muscled body builder with a fat percentage of 20% would be considered 'obese'. There is no room for variation. He said that in general, a healthy weight should be measured in fat percentage (mine is currently about 35%) and in how the weight LOOKS on you. And looking at me, he thinks I should be around 70kg (BMI 26) or at the very very lowest, 68kg (BMI 25ish). And I kinda agree with him. So my goal is 68kgs (5.5kgs less than I am now). I think anything less than that, and I honestly won't look good. I actually think I would look thinner than average even now, if not for my excess skin.

Last night we received our mortgage redraw approval papers. I am officially on the countdown to flatlands!!

No change for me. In the last week, I've lost my good restriction (but that's okay because I'm getting another fill - my 5th - next Friday). I also couldn't exercise for 4 days because I hurt my foot and I also over-indulged with food and alcohol on the weekend past (it was the long Australia Day weekend). A combination of these saw me gain weight in the early part of the week, but with exercise again, I've lost almost all of it (bar a half lb or so) I definitely believe now that my weight loss so far can be attributed to a combination of exercise and good restriction, and the loss of one or more of those aspects seems to be detrimental to me. Gilta, it's frustrating I know when the scales are standing still. I hope you get some movement soon (and get in to see your MD earlier than April!)

gilta, you're doing an awesome job, in fact much better than me! I had less to lose to get to goal (which is a weight of 70kgs, something my Dr has set, and is at a BMI of 26). So while I haven't actually done as well as you have, I got to the point where I can look at plastic surgery quicker as a result. Also have some good news - my finance has been approved! So the surgery is going ahead for the 2nd of April! My new weight loss goal is to be at 68kgs by that date (despite what the Dr thinks!) So 6kgs in 9 weeks!

Argh typed a long post then lost it! Will try to recap: I have been lucky in the boob dept in that I only lost a cup with the weight loss - went from a DD cup to a D. And while they're not perky and perfect, for a woman who's breastfed 4 kids, they're not bad either. I would be ambivelant too about implants if I'd lost more than that. I suppose the bottom line is that I wouldn't have much minded anything more than a C cup myself as well. I could probably also have lived with a B cup, but then again I'm only 5ft 4in. Also, before I would do my boobs, I would have taken care of my inner thighs, which have met in the middle since I was in my early teens. Though my PS's clinic just called me with a quote and it will be $4400 to lipo my inner thighs, and that's on top of the $16000 I'll be paying for my body lift. So I'm passing on it. He also says lipo alone probably won't do the trick, that I'd likely need a thigh lift as well if I go down that route. While I don't like that part of my body, I don't hate it enough to spend $4400 let alone the cost of a possible thigh lift to get it fixed! Right now the most important thing is to get this visible and very obvious 'overhanging skin' off my body. The rest of my imperfections, I can more than live with, I'm sure!

It's perfectly okay for you to hijack, Jacqui! I have to admit to worrying about the time needed to recover - DH has committed to being there and making sure I get the time I need, and I'm sure he'll follow through. The hardest thing for me will be not being able to pick my 3yo up - I don't think he'll understand why and that will be difficult. I'm not too worried about the pain - I guess I know that's part and parcel of this, and I know I can take pain well. I have wondered though if I'm prepared to carry on with life without surgery to remove this excess skin - after all, I've lived with my saggy belly for years before this. And I have concluded that I am not prepared to live with the belly, and will accept the cost and pain involved if I have to. The hips? Maybe. The bum? Definitely. But the overhang of belly that covers half my pubic area is something I cannot live with anymore. I did weigh up whether I wanted to go 'the whole hog' with a body lift as opposed to a TT though, and I think, hell, one in, all in!

Sam, I was hoping to only need a tummy tuck at worst, but I can see that to get the best results, I will need a full body lift. I can live with a saggy butt, but it's the overhang on my hips (that extend onto my back) that will need to be taken care of, or else I doubt the result will be anything than a slightly flatter stomache, and not much else. In my latest progress pics, you can actually clearly see the buldge where my skin overhangs on either side of my hips. It completely ruins my silouette. I hope at worst, you can get away with a TT and look like a million bucks. I too am a little concerned about the pain, but my PS reckons a body lift isn't a lot more painful than a TT.

I will be!! Lol! I hope to be in a drug induced fog for the first week at least.

Thanks Sam! I appreciate the support right now - it's all a bit of a scary, yet exciting new world for me! 'Ringbarked' was how my surgeon explained my torso lift to me. I think it means excess skin gets removed from right around my torso, so I end up with a scar that goes right around my body. I have contacted my PS's clinic to ask about lipo on my inner thighs as well, which is something he mentioned as a possible procedure to do at the same time, but in my nervousness, I forgot to ask about during the remainder of the appointment. I have had thighs that meet in the middle since I was in my early teens, and he is sure it's not going away with exercise. Though I'm not sure if I'll actually do it, especially if it ends up costing too much more. I'm actually still waiting to see if the redraw on our mortgage is approved too, so am not celebrating or getting too excited yet!

after having a great few weeks with weight loss, I've hurt my foot and haven't been able to exercise in over 4 days. I also had waaaaayyy too much to eat over the Australia Day long weekend just passed, not to mention the copious amounts of alcohol I consumed. But hey, sometimes you have to live a little, right? My scales this morning say I've GAINED 3 lbs, and I hope that's an after-effect of the weekend and will be gone by this Friday. Either way my foot is far less sore, so I will be back on the bike tonight, and will burn the weight off if I have to. I also realised over the weekend that my eating capaicty has increased again, so I think I may actually need another small fill again soon. Have booked an appt with my Dr for early Feb.

Hi carcol, I do exercise actually - about 4 times a week on average (though I haven't done any this week due to hurting my foot) and at intensities where I sweat bucketloads. I do think this has been the main reason for my consistent weight loss. As for what I eat - I don't calorie count or do low carbs, I just eat far less than I used to now than when I didn't have the band, and that seems to have worked for me. I also listen to my body and when I start to get hungry more often, I make sure I get filled - in fact my appetite has increased in the last week - which is not good considering I haven't been exercising much either - so have made an appt for another fill in early Feb.

Morning all, hope you're all having a great start to the year! Last week: 74.8kgs (164.6lbs) This week: 73.5kgs (161.7lbs) Loss of 1.3kgs (2.9lbs) Exercise: 3 X 40min rides on a stationary bike 1 X 1 hour walk

It's my first consult with the plastic surgeon my bariatric surgeon has recommended. I am nervous and a little excited! I was initially unsure that I really needed this surgery, but lately I am 100% certain I want to do this. I hate that despite losing over 80% of my excess weight, and being only 10lbs from goal, I still look big in the belly area due to all the excess skin. You can see my ribs when I'm naked, but the bottom half of body looks like it's a horrible melted mess! Plus in hot weather, I develop angry, sore welts in between the folds. The only thing I worry about is that he'll want me to be stable for longer before he'll do the surgery. I don't really want to wait to get this overhang off! I guess I'll find out soon enough though if, and when, I'll be able to have surgery.

Jachut, think of all that muscle you're putting on! Probably why you're not under 70kg again yet, but I bet it'll be any day now. I think the day my scales say 60 something is the day I will honestly, geniunely cry. heartfire, I hope the scales surprise you tomorrow morning, matey!

I've been doing okay, actually, which I suspect is a combination of getting back to regular exercise, having good restriction, and an increased metabolism maybe? Starting weight: 169.8lbs Today: 161.7lbs Loss: -8.1lbs Lbs to go to Valentine's Day goal: 2.7lbs

searze, you sound like you're really feeling down about your progress, and I don't blame you. Bandster hell (the time between getting banded and finding restriction) shouldn't last this long. I hope Steven has some answers for you. I have kids too, the youngest is almost three. The only other advice I can suggest to you about exercising with kids is to try an do it after they're in bed. My regular routine is to hop onto my spin bike (like I mentioned, I bought it for $200 through DealsDirect.com.au, so really reasonably priced) and go flat chat for 40 mins until I'm pouring with sweat, but only once my youngest is tucked in to bed, which is at about 8.30-9pm. I do that 3 - 4 times a week, and I'm absolutely certain it's what's helped with my consistent weight loss. Of course when I started on it, I only managed 10 minutes at a rate of about 45rpm, but I worked up to 40mins at 55-60rpm now. With that routine, I was losing even when I wasn't restricted - about 3kgs a month. Now I have restriction (and am on higher intensity exercise) I'm losing about 5kgs a month. I know it's not always easy with kids to exercise, so I do empathise. I suppose you have to look at it this way: with the band alone, you will lose, but slowly. With the band and relatively intense exercise, you will lose faster. With the band, restriction and intense exercise, you'll be blitzing it. So look at yourself and assess your situation. And if you fall into the slowly losing category simply due to your circumstance (no restriction and not able to exercise with intensity, for whatever reason) then don't beat yourself up too much about your progress, because it IS progress, and that's something to be proud of.

Yep, me too. I'm a very happy bander.

My Dr is also of the 'no liquid calories' brigade, and I do as he says, most of the time. I still have the odd cup of tea, and sometimes a hot cocoa with skim milk if I'm at a cafe, but I don't do Protein shakes unless he instructs me too (eg after a bad 'stuck' episode or after getting filled). He, and most Australian drs, don't advocate any protein that 'slips' past the band, and expect you to have all protein in solid form. So, as you can see, Drs vary from place to place, from surgeon to surgeon. If he says no Protein Shakes, don't have any. Follow his instructions, and not what someone else is doing.

edel, I think that it's hard to quit smoking and quit food (I know because quitting smoking is still one of the hardest things I had to do) so please don't beat yourself up too much. Since you've decided to get back on track, I'm sure that ticker will start to go down again. ktork, congrats on hitting onederland!!

Morning all! I know it's Thursday still for most of you in the US when I post these threads, but heck, it's Friday for me here and that way I can post my update in the Valentine's Day challenge as well! It's been a really good week for me this week. Not sure what I'm doing differently (in fact I'm exercising less because I gave up 2 bike rides to start the couch to 5k running plan this week) but whatever it is, it's working! Last week 76.7kg (168.7lbs) This week 74.8kg (164.6lbs) Loss of 1.9kgs or 4.1 lbs! I've never lost that much before in one week (except right after surgery)!