julie.ann

Before...August 2008...I gained another 10 lbs before surgery. Current is about 179. I will start back to weight loss when I return from vacation next week. I can't wait to surprise my family this week. They don't know I had surgery 9 months ago and they don't know I have lost all this weight! Do you think they will recognize me???

Here there again. Thanks for the great message. Okay so the first thing you have to know is WHY you have to loose weight. Every doctor is different. Mostly you need to shrink your liver so that they can lift it out of the way and get to your stomach to do the job right. That is the reason that most people have a preop diet. My pre-op was no bread, potatoes, rice or pasta. If I got hungry I was to drink a protein shake. That got the carbs out of my system (which took the cravings with it) not to mention I lost 14 lbs the 2- 2 1/2 week before my surgery. It is okay to be scared. I would really worry about you if you weren't because I would be afraid that you thought that just having the band was going to fix your probelm. It won't. You can get this band and gain weight, but YOU know that you are ready to work hard. That is what brought you to this decision. Be very open with your surgeon. Mine didn't expect any weight loss before he scheduled surgery...but I had to lose some during pre-op for the liver "issue". He said he had one patient that he started on and couldn't get around the liver and had to close up without the band. He went out and talked to her mom about her diet. Asked if she had given up what she was supposed to. She said that her daughter was eating french fries every day. Well, I guess that if she couldn't follow the rules for 10 days then she wasn't ready for the band. I was so scared that I went out with friends a few days before my surgery and without thinking at a mozerella stick. I was so stressed out that the breading on the outside had screwed up my chances! I guess I was scared straight. I'll be honest I had "Last Supper Syndrome" up until the day I started my pre-op. I gain 10 lbs from August when I decided to get the surgery "no matter what" and October when I started my pre-op because I was so afraid I could never eat some of the foods ever again. That is normal. Completely counter productive and some people are better at not doing that than others, but not me. Use you calorie counter and get the bad carbs out of your system. Start with the gym a few days a week to get comfortable there. Honestly a high protein/low carb diet will take the pounds off. And talk to your surgeon. Mine was very understanding! Hang in there. You haven't "ruined" anything.

Okay, so I decided to try maintanence until I get back from my trip on August 5th. So I have stayed exactly the same for the past week. That is GREAT news! I am still under 180 (barely...but that counts) I see my family next week and can't wait to show them my weight loss. It is so nice to hear from everyone. Things have been quiet on the Smashing Pumpkins board.

Success! I haven't weighed in for 6 days and I weigh EXACTLY THE SAME as I did then. Maintenance!!!!! One week down...the rest of my life to go!

Well I have been having ups and downs. I am almost 9 months out. I have stopped weighing myself all the time and decided to try to maintain my weight loss. It has been hard and I haven't been doing a very good job. I have decided to try to shock myself back in a low carb high protein mode this week. Just because I need to get the cravings out of my system. I am still hitting the gym. Because of a couple of things that came up unexpectedly and out of town meetings I actually had only 2 days working out this week. That is the least I have worked out since about November. I guess I'll have to watch that. I did go shopping and was able to fit my big fat butt into a size 10 skirt!!!! :smile: I couldn't believe it! I don't ever remember wearing a size 10! I also bought my first little black dress. It is a size 14 (the girls are always bigger) I have just recently gotten out of plus size shirts) It is Calvin Klein and it looks AWESOME! Now I just need a place to wear it! So I am still having some NSV, but I have to admit that I am feeling very fat again. Part of it is what I am eating. If I was eating right all the time I wouldn't feel like look so fat. I'll have to work on that. I know that I have gotten used to seeing myself like this so that is part of why I am starting to not see a skinny me in the mirror anymore. That will change when I start loosing again. I am still looking forward to visiting my family and surprising them with my 100+ weight loss. I leave a week from Thursday. I have been tanning and worrying about what to wear and what they will say. I will look forward to coming home and getting back on the weight loss wagon. I am starting to think that weight loss will be much MUCH easier than maintenance....I guess I'll have to work on that. Much love to all! Julie Ann Preop/Surg/Now/Goal 285 / 271/ 177 / 142.5 Surgery - October 29, 2008 Dr. Kirshenbaum in Aurora, CO - Self Pay $9950

I financed through surgeryloans.com Glad I did. It made things go quickly and I could never have saved that kind of money. Dr. K is great. I have had 4 fills, all with him. One stick for each fill.

I am getting more comfortable with my body and especially my sholders and arms. I would love to wear some cute tops with thin straps or something strapless. Can anyone help me out with this? I can't find a strapless bra that is supportive enough. I know I need PS and plan to do it in 5 years when I get my WLS paid off, in the mean time can you help me out?

This is VERY theraputic! Welcome on this wonderful journey! It has its ups and downs, but it is worth the trip.

BG...I've seen your pictures before and I totally didn't recognize you. Way to go. You are looking great!!!!!!

Well this is the question I have been wrestling with lately. Am I done? My goal weight is about 35 lbs from here but I have lost about 108 lbs. I started a size 24-26 and I am now a size 12. (I'm sure a size 10 if I could get a tummy tuck.) I have started to plateau. It has been tough the last month and especially the last few weeks. I haven't been as strict as I used to be. Part of me feels like I should be happy with my weight. I am happy. I feel more confident. Of course I would feel even better if I lost at least another 15 lbs. I know that. Is is so bad that I feel happy....dare I say the word....satisfied with my weight? I am 177. I am 5'4" with a BMI of 30. I want to weigh in the 160's for the first time in 20 years, but then why am I doing more of a maintenance diet than weight loss diet? That is the only thing that I can think of. I am happy enough with where I am. I am having a hard time admitting it. Maybe it is because I am SUCH as goal oriented person and I haven't reached my goal. Maybe I need a break until after my vacation at the end of the month and just work on maintaining. Maybe I need to quit making excuses, quit cheating every other day and get back to the grind. I don't know. After 8 months...9 if you count my pre-op diet maybe I am just burned out on folowing the rules. It is hard to keep motivated when the scales aren't moving. It is hard to get the scales to move when you cheat. I wish I could find my will power I had in the begining. Maybe I need to put old pictures of me up, but I know I don't look like that now. Maybe I need more pictures of my now so I can see how much I still need to lose. Any sage advice for a not so newby?

I am trying to find a Zen place....where I can be in harmony with my plateau. Right now it is just tickin me off! :thumbup: Back to looking for Zen.....

I have heard that too. I am the same weight I was when I graduated from high school 17 yeras ago. Hard to believe! I need to be happy that I am maintaining and not gaining! I'm going to the gym right now!

Still on a plateau...still insane!!!!

Prty: I am so sorry that happened to you. It never should have. I think that the next person that tells you that you don't need two seats..you should ask for a voucher regarding that IN WRITING! That way you can tell the next rude person to stick it!

With surgery? I guess the shoulder pain that most people have or the diet restrictions right after. What is the biggest challenge after surgery? Everyone is different. Exercise for some, avoiding soft calories for others. It was really hard not to drink with meals. Follow most of the guidelines most of the time and you will do fine!

bubbalouieuk: That was my biggest fear too! What does my band do for me? I have a perfect entry in my blog about that very thing. You can find it here. It will tell you why changing your diet (nutritional intake) is easier with the band. Take a look through my blog. I have been EXACTLY where you are. 8 months later I am >105 pounds lighter. I went from a BMI of 49.8 to my current BMI of 30.3. I went from a size 24 (or right around there) to a size 12. Honey I KNOW what you are feeling now. I wrote about it here. Oh...Here is an oldy, but a goody too. Take some time and read through it. It can tell you more than I could in this little space. We are here for you! The support I have found on this board is AMAZING. Even now I am getting goose bumps as I think about it. Feel the love, learn, and move forward on YOUR journey..where ever that takes you.

That isn't much calories. Up it. ( I do about 800-900 but most will tell you 100-1200) High protein. Actually, you are still pretty new. Make sure you follow your doc diet orders and then work on high protein.

Don - What a difference! You look great. I bet everyone stops you to ask what you have been doing! That is great!

It's all in my blog. Take your time and read through it. almost a year's journey in there and 8 months worth of lessons learned, diet tips and guidelines. I hope you enjoy!

Has it really been over a month since I have blogged? The newbies won't even know me! Well let me introduce myself. My name is Julie. I was banded 8 months ago in October and have lost 107 lbs. Yay me! Now let's talk turkey..... The band and I just had our first big battle. Now don't get me wrong. The band is in charge, as always, but for the first time I started to get a little pissy at it...always thinking he knows just what I can and can't eat. My son left today for overseas on a 10 day trip, I have hit a plateau the last few weeks and I was feeling like I needed a little old fashioned comfort food. For me that is pizza. What a coincidence....:blushing: I just happen to have some homemade (from scratch) pizza in fridge left over from last night. The first time I cooked pizza from scratch in 8 months! Last night I just picked off teh toppings and such. Well none of that sissy crap for me today. I wanted P-I-Z-Z-A dipped in sauce! So the band said no. .....then I said "DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A BET? I'LL EAT SLOW AND YOU CAN'T STOP ME!!!!!" :crying: Then the band said in a small yet confident voice..."Go ahead honey. Just give it a try. You will regret it. I wish you would listen to me....but if not we'll see what happens." So the band won...then I tried another battle and he won that one too. :thumbup: It wasn't pretty. So I sat down with some ice cream and HE couldn't stop me from eating that so I feel like crap now. Blah..... So I am going to lay off of the weight training and get back to more cardio and add some Zumba classes. I have been at the gym 5-6 days a week all summer and I need to be careful I don't burn out. I'm going to surprise my family at the end of this month. They still don't know I have lost all this weight and I want to tell them I had surgery. I have been just a couple of pounds away from no longer being obese, but that might have to wait while I realign my routine. Stay cool this 4th of July! High /Surgery/Current/Goal 285.5/ 271 / 177.5 142.5 Banded - 10/29/08 Four fills - 4.7cc/10cc Read My Blog: My Secret Journey Touch Below To View My Pics (More on my profile) [ATTACH]151[/ATTACH]