FalloutGirl

So I'm not sure if I can still post here, but I thought I'd share my experience to why I came to this decision. I had an appointment to see the Lapband surgeon on the 7th of November. So I went along all nervous as I still had not made up my mind that this was something I was going to do. I sit down and tell him this and he seemed a little bit annoyed with me because I wasn't saying "I want the lapband". We went through the whole thing, he asked me the following questions: Do you have high cholestrol? I said no, he asked if I was sure I said yes Do you have diabetes? I said no, he asked if I was sure I said yes (I started getting a little mad) Do you have high blood pressure? I said no, he said are you sure, I said do you want to get the machine and test it?? I understand he has to ask these questions, but these are all things through one blood test you can find out if I was lying, why would I lie??? pffft Anyway, he explains the surgery to me and says that the band on it's own, I will loose around 30kgs (that's about 60 pounds) THEN I can start exercising. I looked at him and said that I'm exercising now. He looked a little shocked... so I left and rang my best mate and told him about all this and I broke down crying thinking I looked like someone who couldn't walk So I thought "screw him" I'll show him I can do it. So now 6 weeks have passed (not since seeing him but since I started exercising) and I've lost 8kgs (16pounds). I've been walking every night, I go and do personal training 3 days a week and I've joined Weight Watchers to get my eating portions right etc. I'm one of those ppl if you upset me and tell me I can't do something, I'm will go out of my way to prove you wrong... which I guess was a good thing to happen, but I just couldn't believe his attitude. So I do wish you all luck in your commitment with the band but I've decided it's not the right thing for me. I'm very lucky I have a HUGE support group who have just simply been fantastic and I couldn't ask for more. It's a little frustrating cause a lot of them live far away from me, but that's ok, I know how happy they are I've made this decision. They supported the lapband but they're also happy I'm giving this a go first.

I was looking at a pictures of me and my weight loss over the last couple of months (for those who don't know, I've decided against the Lapband and to do it on my own) and I'm getting quite good results. I think the key to my success though is that I didn't go flat out with the exercise straight away. I started it out slowly, only walking 3 days a week for 30 mins... and over the last couple of months have increased it to walking in the morning 5 days a week, Personal Training 3 days a week and running in the evenings 5 days a week. If I had of started off that way, I would of given up as it would of been so hard for me. But the weight is consistently dropping off and I'm getting fitter. I was wondering whats been your success to keep motivated to exercise?

After this post I'm done with this site. Very ignorant of you all to make assumptions as to how my life works. Because you could not stick to a well balanced lifestyle you automatically assume no-one can? I will never get the surgery done and mark my words I will lose the weight and maintain it for the rest of my life. How? Because I understand that good eating and exercise MUST be part of my life for the rest of my life. I've never done "yo-yo" dieting of any description, and probably if I'm honest I've never really had a good attempt to lose the weight. And simply the reason everyone failed at losing weight as you considered it a diet and not a life style change. There is no diet word in my life, I eat the right amount of calories, I exercise probably more then I need too but I want to get it right but I still live life the right one. How many times do I read that ppl are mushing up foods so they can eat it with their band? I also know many ppl who have failed with the band so it's not the ONLY solution for weightloss. I also have an extremely good team behind me that won't let me fail and I won't let me fail. It is god damn hard work losing weight as I've found out and I've had great results for the past 2 months that I've put my head down and realised this is what I want. I have a trainer who won't let me fail, I have a best friend who does all my training with me, even though he doesn't need too, I have a support network of ppl who do not let me get down... and then I come on this site which you would think everyone would be supportive and how wrong was I. For those who lost weight and substantial weight and then gained it back, I don't know how you could, the hard work you must of put into it to gain it all back I don't understand. It's about education and you simply just can't put that junk food in your mouth other wise you will fail. When I went for my consultation for the lapband, I was sitting the waiting room and there was 2 ladies there that had had problems with their band. One lady is fine now but she went on how she cheats all the time and the other lady won't be getting her band put back in and tells me that she'll put on the weight she lost plus more. So tell me what exactly do you learn from the band? Nothing, it's all education and you must do the same things as I do to succeed, the only difference is you can only eat a certain amount and then you get full. Well guess what, my stomach has shrunk too and I now can only eat small meals and I'm full. I do hope you all succeed in whatever way you choose too, and wish you weren't so negative against those who decided not to do the operation. Have a little faith in people. The odds might not be in my favour, but I will make it work because of people like you all who say I can't do it, make me even more determined to do it. So I do really thank you for that. My blog is attached to my signature, so if you want to see me succeed in life, you can check that out every now and then. If not, that is ok too. I'm sorry I feel I have to leave a site I once thought was amazing because of a few ppl.

No shame whatsoever Lovie, you choose how you want to be, sad that you find it your need to be nasty

I'm sad that someone can be so nasty on a site that I've found nothing but great supportive ppl and it's sad she is from Australia, which yes is my home country and I'm very proud to be from here. But go ahead, gang up, I'm not fussed

Not nasty? You attack me because I said something that you took the wrong way? Again, I'm so don't care how anyone loses weight, be the band, gastric bypass or on their own... I refuse to let people make me feel bad because I want to do it on my own. Visualise as you please, I'm glad you got a laugh out of it. I'm not even mad as I type this, because well it's an internet forum, and quite a good one but you take the good with the bad. I'm not sure where I asked for you to hold my hand or coddle me? As for the "moral failure" yeah I've gone back and forth on how "I" feel about that, not how I feel about other people doing it. In conclusion to how I feel about it? Each person chooses their destiny, I chose a slightly different way to you. As for "not wanting to talk "that" way" oh please, we're all adults and I didn't talk anyway that I felt was dis-respectful and if you took it that way then there is nothing I can do about it.

Wow, first nasty person I've come across and sadly you're from Australia too.. oh well. Just because you couldn't over come it on your own means nothing to me and my journey. I've never once spoken down to anyone on this site for their choices and no-one has spoken down to me. I'm allowed and should be proud to say I'm doing this on my own and I don't see why you should get offended for me stating that. Time and maturity has taught me everything I've done wrong and now how to rectify it. Each to their own, if you don't like what I post, don't post in my threads, quite simple, I really didn't think I'd come across someone trying to make me feel bad for my decision. As for the exercise, I just wanted to know what kept everyone motivated.

Well maybe that is your own insecurity about the band... I have no problems with anyone who has it done, I've got very close friends who have had the band done, hell I nearly did and then decided it was not for me. You make it sound like I won't succeed because I've never been banded. This is not what I did this thread for, but thanks anyway

I get that you're doing it on your own, I guess all I was saying was that I'm doing it without the aid of the band. I'm not saying I'm better then you or you're better then me, we've all got the goal at the end of the day

Yeah true, I'm just focusing on that I feel better and look better and can finally see a difference, which is great for me!

Congratulations! It's a great feeling to run and know you've achieved something and it's also fantastic to have goals. I'm running every afternoon on a treadmill. It is my goal by the end of this month to run 2kms (1.2 miles) without stopping.

I think it would be fun and I'm looking into getting one for fun, but what I love about exercising is it gets me out of the house and for that hour it's "MY" time and no-one elses, if that makes sense?

Lost 4 pounds woo hoo :woot: Name___________StartWeight___CurrentWeight______Goal_________ToGo *****<v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f" filled="f" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" coordsize="21600,21600"></v:shapetype>***********:cursing:************************:cursing:********** :cursing:*** Babe...............308............305.4.......199.......106.4 Brandy.............198............195.........166.......27 Cappy..............240............239.........130.......109 Chocolate_Snaps....244............229.........175.......54 Clarebear08........192............189.........160.......29 Donna113...........183............180.5.......126.......54.5 Ebonie.............307............307.........200.......107 FalloutGirl........282............278.........165.......112 FeliciaLevy75......200............194.........140.......54 FlordiaPete........413............410.........300.......113 GratefulHeart......226............223.........135.......88 health4life........279............239.........150.......89 Lindar172..........246............244.6.......150.......94.6 LocomotiveEngineer.311............311.........220.......91 Long2BThin.........216............210.........169.......41 lotzasunshine......270............267.........180.......87 Loveislovely.......216............216.........175.......41 ltgordon...........284.8..........262.8.......185.......77.2 lucyavery..........205............205.........140.......65 Mair...............231............225.........140.......85 Mamanmidwife.......264............264.........200.......64 MissNilsa..........180............180.........132.......48 Tabithan...........240............240.........200.......40 Under200...........242............199.........155.......44 vzghj3.............202............202.........150.......52 WOWOX7.............173............169.........125.......44

Thanks Carrie, I've lost now about 8kgs or I think that is about 16pounds in 8 weeks or so. I'm so far off my goal it's not funny, but I'm getting there, only another you know 100pounds to go (or 50kgs) lol I feel good looking at those pics, seeing the difference in my face cause I was getting a little depressed that I couldn't see any changes! Now I can.

Thanks so much for that... it's hard work and I can't wait till 12months down the track and really see what I "should" look like!! If that makes sense :cursing:

Thanks all, it's going really well. I've decided to post a pic to show you the differences I've had. Unfortunately it's only a face shot, not a whole body shot but it still really shows I've lost weight. The picture on the LEFT was taken Feb 2006 The picture in the MIDDLE was taken March 2008 The picture on the RIGHT was taken 10th Jan 2009 I'm happy with my progress so far, and have upped my workouts again. I did try and make sure I got similar pics with similar pose :cursing: I found the best thing was to not over do it to start with otherwise you give up. So it's been slow and gradual and it's great! Thanks for letting me share! Cheers Kel

don't put so much pressure on yourself, because the minute you tell yourself you can't have something you want it more. I'm not banded and I'm doing this journey on my own, it took me about 8 weeks to really get my food to a good point. I never told myself I "can't" have something, I would say I don't "need" it. I found though if I really couldn't stop myself from having something I'd eat half of what I would of normally eaten. Gotta love weight loss, I believe the mental part is far harder then the exercise. Good luck, you've done an amazing job with how much you've lost. I read somewhere, when you lose "x" amount of pounds, reward yourself with a present that is not food related. I'm doing this now and it's great. After my first 6 week weigh in and measures, I did really well, lost 29cms off my body and 15 pounds I decided to go and buy perfume as my reward. Just something to think about Good luck with it all

Thanks HeatherO, just got back from my morning walk and getting up at the crack of dawn is getting a little easier :wub: I did well over Christmas I actually lost a 1kg or 2 pounds and really no exercise just watching what I eat :tt1: Bring on 2009

I'm joining in, I don't have a lapband so I hope that is ok Name___________StartWeight___CurrentWeight______Goal_________ToGo *****<v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" filled="f" stroked="f" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe">:thumbup:</v:shapetype>***********:eek:********************************** :tongue2:*** Brandy.............198............196...........166...........28 Chocolate_Snaps....244............234...........175...........59 Ebonie.............307............307...........200...........107 FalloutGirl........282............282...........165...........116 GratefulHeart......226............223...........135...........88 Lindar172..........246............246...........150...........96 LocomotiveEngineer.311............311...........220...........91 Long2BThin.........216............212...........169...........43 lotzasunshine......270............270...........180...........90 Loveislovely.......216............216...........175...........41 lucyavery..........205............205...........140...........65 Mair...............231............231...........140...........91 Mamanmidwife.......264............264...........200...........64 Tabithan...........240............240...........200...........40 Under200...........242............199...........155...........44 vzghj3.............202............202...........150...........52 WOWOX7.............173............170...........125...........45 Florida Pete.......413............413...........300...........113

Really? I just find that so hard to believe... but of course I don't live there so I don't know. They claim in London it's expensive, but it's been proven that you can eat healthy on a very tight budget. I use to think the same way, but that is because I would buy all this food and then watch it rot. Now I make sure I buy what I need and cook it and it's a LOT cheaper then buying out. For example, a bought salad (chicken with lettuce, tomato, cheese, egg and carrot) here in Australia costs $4.90USD. To buy all that and make a salad that will last me days, works out to be about $3USD and that is to last me for the week, not one meal... I don't know...

Hi all, I thought I would drop in and just bump my thread and let those who wanted to know how I was going without the lapband and doing it on my own. Things have been really great, hard and it's a slow process, but like my dad says it took me many years to put the weight on. So here are my stats, this is 8 weeks into it: Weight loss - 6kgs Chest - Lost 4.5cms Waist - Lost 9.5cms Hips - Lost 6cms Thighs - Lost 2cms Calf - Lost 3cms Bicep - Lost 3.5cms Wrist - Lost 1cm Neck - 2.5cms What am I doing? I go to a Personal Trainer 3 days a week, I walk every morning for 30-60mins, I run 2kms every night (well walk/run) and I've changed my eating habits. It's been really hard but I feel like I'm getting somewhere. I can't particularly tell the difference but other ppl can, I can notice a difference in my face though, which is great. I think I did make the right decision for me, and I've read some other ppls journeys and I can only congratulate them and feel so proud, I don't think it matters what we use to lose the weight, as long as we do. We all have the same common goal :tongue2:

Being in Australia, I didn't get to watch the episode, but she can come across as thinking she is "better" then everyone else. I don't think it's expensive to eat healthy at all. If anything it's cheaper if you actually go through and calculate it...

Wow, thanks so much for everyone being so positive. I didn't know if I could really post here much anymore (not that I was a huge poster) because I had decided to go against the band. I've had a bad week... but I've pulled myself through it. It's life and I just need to learn to how to adapt to different things. Nanook, I'm 29, I am turning 30 next year and I just refuse to be the same as I am now... and no that doesn't mean I want to be bigger :thumbup: I'm coming over to the States in July for my 30th and want to do everything and anything and I don't want my weight to stop me doing anything. So thanks to everyone for the support and I will keep you updated, it's really refreshing to get your support as well... should I end up going down the "band" option I also know I'll have your support

Yup I'm an Aussie... the doctor I went too was recommended by a friend (they didn't have lapband but some gastric thing) and she was impressed by him... me not so much at all, I wanted to stab him in the eyes with his own pen I'm hoping I won't go down this track, simply because it is expensive as well and all this training at the gym is killing me (in a good way but killing me) and would hate it to have been a waste. For me it's just about control and taking control of my life, which I'm starting to get a grip on. I think we all take our own different journeys and it looks like you've done a great job so far and with promising results, and I hope I have the same success

Thanks Sades, that is what I think too... if I don't succeed at this (which I don't think is an option for me) then I know I have this as a safety net. I'd like to think I gave it a real go on my own, before I get all those problems I listed that I don't have at the moment, which I know I will get if I don't loose the weight. Should I decide too, I will be seeing some other doctor in Melbourne and NOT the one I saw this time