crystal525

Hi everyone!!! It's been awhile. Just dropping by to update my progress. I am a 'slow loser' and I'm okay with that! As of today I am down 43.5 pounds. I was in size 18s at surgery. If I couldn't fit it in a size 18, I didn't buy it (needless to say I only shopped at Lane Bryant and other plus size stores)! :biggrin: Now, I am in 16s--any 16s -- WalMart, Target, name-brand, all of them! I am very happy with my progress. My doc is too--he's the one that had to convince me that I am doing very well--above-average. I was getting really discouraged reading about everyone that had lost 50 pounds or more in less than 6 months. Here it is 10 months out and I still haven't lost 50 lbs...but that's ok. I have 7.1 cc's (I think...it's hard to keep up) in my 10 cc band. I've been at my sweet spot (I think) since my last visit in August but I think I will need a fill at my next appointment in October--I'm beginning to get hungry more often! I don't lose a pound a week or anything. Usually I go up and down the same 5 pounds over and over throughout the month and then drop them all at once. Usually right after TOM... So--hopefully after this TOM I'll be 50 lbs down??? I usually hold 4-5 pounds of water!!! I started the C25K running program on August 17 and I am surprised at how my body has started changing. I am losing inches and can tell in the last week my 16s are even getting too big. Now--let me explain. I am not nor have I ever been a runner. Even in High School when it was a requirement in PE to run the mile, timed, I always walked and had a time of nearly 20 minutes. Yesterday I RAN for 20minutes straight. 1.3 miles! Holy cow...I never would have thought I'd be here. I have to say that this band has been a life changing tool. I started out thinking that I was just going to lose weight and it was going to be easy (yeah yeah...even though everything I read told me it would not be--just like every diet pill and plan I thought I would be the atypical one). I have learned that there are times when I just want to eat, still... Head hunger never goes away for me, I guess. But I have also learned that this is not for everyone. I know that if you choose this you have to work it. It's not a magic fix. Luckily I realized it because I am one of the ones that has to exercise and eat the right things or I WILL NOT LOSE. I am healthy, I am happy with myself, and I am confident in myself. These are all things I could not say before surgery. For this and for many other reasons, I am grateful. Sorry for the length! That's what happens when you stay away too long. Keep up the good work everyone! :biggrin: Crystal

Oh--my gas pain was REALLY bad in my left shoulder. It's completely normal. I used gas-x strips. I think it was gone in about 4 days or so for me! And...I was 254 at surgery and I couldn't see my port at all before. Now that I'm 210, I can't really see it at all, but I can definitely feel it. My dr. said he would give me a "gucci" port if I got "all skinny". :biggrin:

Mine's on the right too. No specific reason. I think it's dr. preference.

Check out Inside the Mind of Suz... Suz's Couch to 5k Running Podcasts | Inside the Mind of Suz I just started week 2 yesterday...really enjoyed her podcasts so far.

I love it and I can eat it. I chop it all up completely before eating. It's actually an easy way for me to get my protein with the cheese, egg, and I use FF lunchmeat (which goes down easier than chicken) and veggies. The dressing lubes everything up real good too! Low fat when using fat free dressing. I personally think this is a great choice.

Well my initial reaction was PMS... :thumbup: but I don't think that fits now... But--if you weigh everyday, it could be just Water retention from too much salt...anything! Don't worry and just keep doin' what your doin'.

Grocery bills are more -- for all the reasons listed above. Going out--MUCH less. We never get fast food anymore and when we go out, I don't usually order anything...just eat part of the appetizer and a spoon of whatever my hubby and/or son ordered! They can't eat it all anyways. That said...in the beginning it was a challenge remembering that I couldn't eat like I used to. I would always order a meal when we went out and ended up barely touching it (even over a day or two).

Way to go!!! I too am a "slow-loser". It's hard and I get impatient, but it's so worth it! I think we slow-losers should consider ourself to be in the average category, not "slow" losers. Some people just lose really fast. I really do think we are the norm--I think the stats say bandsters lose only 60% of their weight in the first 2 years...

I remember a couple months back reading a post of yours and thinking "wow--he's being so hard on himself". You have lost ALOT of weight. You are almost at goal. Sometimes we put so much pressure on ourselves--knowing we can't keep that up forever--we end up falling off the wagon. Remember when we dieted pre-band, slipped up and got discouraged and binged until the next diet??? Remember that? At least we don't do that anymore! This is not a diet. It's a way of life and sometimes "life" gets in the way. Don't beat yourself up. Get back to exercising and eating the good stuff!!! Oh--I know what you mean about the peanut m&ms -- the lady at work keeps the mini packs in a candy dish... I usually stay away, but there are times... You have done BETTER than most of us on here. Consider the last month a vacation from being so hard on yourself!!! :frown: Take care. You are already a success story. Crystal

It's definitely gas--lots of gas pumped in for both surgeries! Pain was much worse that I expected, even thought I knew it was coming. Got better beginning the 4th night.

I have sure felt this way, many times since being banded. This is just a tool, as everyone says. I don't think ANYONE is truly prepared for life after the band, until you are banded. I'm happy for some people that get banded and are able to immediately live a strict, follow every band rule, life. I think if I had that kind of power, I would never been a food addict. We have to make a mental change along with the band. You've taken the first step. I (IN MY OPINION) think this takes time and does not automatically come with being banded--no matter how much counseling you have pre-band. One week/month I may do very well, and other times I struggle EVERY SINGLE DAY. No one is perfect, no matter what they say. Just make sure you start every day with positive thoughts. Journal your thoughts and every bite you put in your mouth (no matter good or bad). Eat right, exercise, get a fill. Don't let yourself spiral down--it gets very hard to pull yourself back up...just like waiting for Monday to start a diet. Monday never comes. You can do this. We all can.

Funny you ask this. See ... in the beginning, I decided to have the band because it was not too invasive and it was a slower loss than GB, so odds were good that I would not need excess skin removed. I told myself if I lost 100 pounds in 2 years, that would be fantastic. THEN...I was on here reading about people losing 20-30 pounds in the first month or two, and 10 pounds every month after that, and I got jealous. I was comparing my results too much to others' results and was becoming disappointed with myself--doubting myself...even though my results were still on track with my initial expectations. I had to stop reading the site for awhile. If I had read the POST-Operation posts PRE-Operation, maybe I would have been prepared for the aftermath of the actual surgery. I finally realized that my "new" expectations were too high and only based on what some others were experiencing. Eventually my fills started working and I started losing weight. I actually don't even think I'll be getting a fill at my appointment on Friday since I've lost 16 of my 34 pounds since April (yes...I only lost 18 pounds my first 4-5 months...). My 34 pounds (lost since surgery) is not alot, but where would I be without the Band? 10 pounds heavier? On another diet, only to gain 20 more over the next year? Now, I'm on my way to being 1/2 way to goal in my first year and AT goal in 2. My point here---don't let what you read here, and other people's successes make your expectations UNREALISTIC. Everyone is an individual so keep that in mind. This is NOT a fast and easy way to go. Exercise, eat right, and it'll work for you. I'm just happy that I can still eat most of what I like (it's harder, and I eat less of it, but can still enjoy most things except bread...). And -- I don't have to worry about how much heavier I'll be in the next year, or five years.... Good luck to you.

Banded November 13, down to 220 (loss of 34 pounds since surgery). I'm a slow-loser, but I am happy with it. Still not out of my 18s yet, but did buy a size 16 dress from Dress Barn for my son's HS graduation ... would have fit a 14 had my hooters been a little smaller! :welldone2: I'm finally getting noticed (for my weight loss that is)! :frown: I'm on track to be down 60 pounds at my 1 year bandiversary. That was what I expected--I just expected the beginning to be faster than it has been for me. Seems I've been losing the best in the last few months. WTG EVERYONE!

I am at 6.1 and most days I feel like I am there---others (like the last couple) I feel like I can eat a horse. Of course while I'm "on" I can hardly eat anything... So--is it my sweet spot? I think so, for now. It will change after losing weight though... I go next Friday -- I'll see what I'm eating next week, and how much I lose at my next visit. I have had a fill every month since January (small fills), and really just started losing well the last 3 months. Good luck!