Telly

Oh MO.... I am a scale, tape measure and water addict but I must confess, I really am a photo addict.

Here you go hon.. hope this works: This is Vickie1177 Everyone

Funnyduddies.. I wanna see! I wanna see! MUST SHOW PHOTOS OF BELLY BEFORE AND AFTER SURGERY

Heh! Wow, I am a bear. Your next shall be as... a bear Almost 32% of people will be reincarnated as a higher form of life than you. You're not perfect, but you've lead a better life than most. With a few changes now, your next life could be even better. LOL! I don't want to be a big fat butt plugging bear that sleeps all day. I want to be a cute cuddly koala bear :cry

Ty Rachele, Sheryl and CCBSTX, Your words of encouragement and support and objectiveness is exactly what we all need to hear. We need to talk about differences and indifference. It's healthy I think. As far as hitting my goal.. I know it sounds crazy but I know it can really happen. Not just for me but for everyone that really put forth the effort. Some of us are in this, with complications beyond our control. There are others with no complications, no co-morbidities and are just not doing right for themselves or the band. Then there are others that have no complications and no hold backs and are just gung-ho about their weight loss. There are banded people that can lose just as much weight and just as fast as a Gastric Bypass/RNY patient, with the right mindset and determination, anything and everything is possible. Hell.. it's even possible to pull through this and reach goal and not ever need a TT or Breast Augmentation. I received a post today in my doctor's forum and something that the poster said struck... in a good way. She said, and I quote her verbatim: Hi ______, I lost about 25 lbs in the first month after surgery and gained about 5lbs back waiting the 2 weeks until my first fill. I know it is all about lifestyle change, but the whole point of needing the surgery was to help to restrict what I could eat. Until your band is properly restricted, you probably won't see huge victories on the scale. Patience is the most important part of banding! Some people start this journey with an amazing gusto and ability to instantly change their lifestyle drastically. I was ready to change whatever it took to be successful, but I also needed the band to make a believer out of me. I needed to see it working, and then go from there. Lucky for me, it started showing me results right away and it made it easy for me to work with it... You can't get discouraged so early in your journey! Stay positive and be patient. You may need a few fills under your belt to get going! I know I am late in responding but I hope this helps in some way! Take care! ----------Anonymous After analyzing what she said, I realized what she meant. She meant that the band does the same thing for everyone. Some rely on it wholely and some don't. Either way and at the end of the day, the WLS is serving the same purpose.

Yes you can do it Keeka! I am waiting to hear something great from you. :biggrin: Keep on keeping on honey. Work it out.

(Taps her fingers... anxiously awaiting updated onderland photos of the Chef)

You are absolutely right. The band is not for everyone, nor is the Open RNY. I just don't appreciate the fact that there were a few people that night trying to talk that girl out of banding. She has a choice and she made it. I felt they were trying to scare her into getting the "faster" weight loss procedure. Everyone is different. I agree with that. "Ride your own ride" unless your car is broken down.

Aww Heathergurl:clap2: You are doing fantabulous hon. I personally can't wait to see your new do. I love pictures. I love reading success stories, NSV's and your "shampoo knocking" story reminded me that last night as I got out of the shower.......the towel actually wrapped around me now. :heh: It was a normal large towel. Before the weight loss.. I had to use the towel to only cover the front of me b/c it wouldn't completely wrap around. My butt would always be exposed (ewww):speechles The towel is not completely closed.. in the front, there's a lil opening still... but it wraps around my waist and chest. God it feels good. **Seeing changes here and there makes the drive even less painful for me**

LMAO @ everyone. Ok.............. this last weekend wasn't so great for alot of people. It's never ever too late unless you are buried. Let's do this. Get your ass's on the ball! (fist hits the desk) Tough love here.

Don't Stop.. Get It Get It... That's What Im Talk'n Bout. Congratulations On Your Onderland Success.... Now Keep Goin Warrior! P.S. nice lil tan you got there.

Alright yall, no bike ride today but yes, I am about to do 4 miles on the treadmill. Watch this burn off maa booty!

Heya Ceparano.. We may decide to post this every weekend where you can decide, whenever... what weekend you wish to participate. You can do it twice per month or every weekend. I put this thread up b/c the worst time to be tempted into deviation is the weekend. I'm in it for next weekend.

Yessss! Let's Bump It Up. Everyone Needs To Post Everytime They Work Out. Helps Give Me Ideas Too.

Good LAWWWD! I thought I was in it to win it. LOL!

Ok all, report your loss pwease

Vluckey... SWEETNESS! 50LBS??? NO SWEAT! WORK IT OFF GIRL!

Telly reporting here Sarge! I did .. alot.... LBT BOOTCAMP SPRING 2006 Highest weight 240lbs, lost 5 before surgery Starting 04/10 at 235 lbs. BMI=43.00 Date Weight Lbs. Lost BMI 04/10/2006 235lbs -5lbs 43.00% 04/24/2006 219lbs -16lbs 40.10% 05/01/2006 216lbs -3lbs 39.50% 05/08/2006 207lbs - 9lbs 36.7% 05/15/2006 05/22/2006 05/29/2006 06/05/2006 06/12/2006 06/19/2006 06/26/2006 06/30/2006 Body Part - Inches lost by date: :)4/24/2006 :)5/1/2006 :)5/8/2006 Neck :)15.00 :)15.00 :)14.75 Arms :)14.00 :)13.00 :)12.50 Bust :)45.00 :)44.50 :)44.00 Chest :)42.50 :)40.00 :)39.00 Waist :)46.50 :)44.50 :)43.00 Hips :)52.00 :)50.50 :)49.00 Thigh :)28.50 :)26.50 :)25.50 Calf :)18.25 :)17.75 :)17.50 Ankle :)10.50 :)10.25 :)10.25 Wrist :)6.75 :)6.75 :)6.25 Total in. lost since surgery 17.5 inches Here's a picture of my progress I have a long way to go yet, but so that you can see the difference here

Thank you PhotoNut *huggles back* You have no idea how much your support and everyone else's here puts the wind under my wings. I wake up everyday and look in my mirror as I brush my teeth.. (no lie) and I say to myself in my best Jamaican accent.... "Evry ting gwan be aire mon..." I'm serious.

TY NJGirl and TriciaK, I almost feel compelled to go back there for the sake of soon to be and newly banded folk. I can't tell you how many times I gave the www.lapbandtalk.com link to those people last night. I did that b/c I think they needed to have a good reference, resource about banded people before they bash soo much and to kinda help stop with the negative antics. Alot of them just really don't know about what we do and how we do it and how much alot of us love our band. Usually it's not soo bad in there but omG last night..........

Hell to the yeah yall! I'm doin this. (Will call doc about damage control issues. I'd be stupid to not look into this). I love every single concern and voice. That person I spoke to last night was in www.obesityhelp.com chat room. I go there once in awhile b/c they have a very LIVE and crazy chat room that is mostly ran by RNY patients. Let me tell you that I feel they are just downright viscious. They make banded people feel (in my opinion and in a few other's opinion) less than what they are, saying constantly that banded was not fast enough for them and it's a slow losers club..etc. I just get urked about it, nonetheless, take it up the watooosie when I prove that i'm losing faster than some of the RNY patients though I'm still newly banded ( I let them all know that anything is possible with proper eating and exercise, yadda yadda yadda (emileekaye) I don't want to bash that chat room b/c I do learn things from some of them, but to be honest, they are really uppidy and snooty about their weight loss. They all brag soo much about losing their weight sooo fast and some even talk about how they were banded but it just didn't work for them, how they gained all their weight back. Alot of them complained last night about "DUMPING SYNDROME" where some of them cheat alot and have cheesecake and sweets, (donut holes as one of they stated) and just got shivers, sweat.. diahrrea.. etc. I wonder why the band didn't work for them.. hmmmmm. After complaining about "Dumping", 2 of them then complained about the band and how they personally felt it was a waste of their money. :purplebananna: I was upset because there were 2 girls there that were about to be banded, one in particular today. She was there asking about laxative intake for today's surgery. She was discouraged. She got worried and scared. I freakin hated what they were doing and saying. (sighs) Of course Melly Mel put in her 2 cents :xena_banana: I said a few things that of course got some of them ticked off :bananajump: I don't mean to upset people but I speak my mind. It ended up with me stating.... "My band is NOTHING without me. I don't expect my band to do all the work. It's up to me to make healthy life choices regarding my weight. I'm not a lazy loser :)" I even stood up for us bandsters by also stating that... "What's really great about being banded is.. you do lose a bit slower than an RNY patient and it gives your skin time to catch up with your body." Well that was all she wrote at that point. Fire in the eyes :angry. I know, I know but I couldn't just walk out of there and not say anything.... :heh:

I feel I can do it and keep it off. I will be tempted here and there with my husband as he eats horribly, cheeseburgers, curly fries, etc. I turn away from those things, even before surgery. I know what I need to do and I'm living it now. Just practicing what I preach. I believe working out daily is normal for alot of people .. athletes I think I know that if I burn more calories than I take in, I'll continue to lose. I have been doing this since day 1 of my return home from Monterrey. I have stopped and taken only 1 day of a break b/c my legs were sore. Yes 18lbs per month 4.6lbs per week sounds kinda nuts to some people but I hear of Gastric Bypass patients losing a whole heck of alot of weight .. very rapidly (which was the purpose of the type of procedure) and some with organ issues, and some not, but that's expected. I, however am working out daily, twice per day, in the morning and evening. I'm burning double what I take in. I stay hydrated. I do not drink sodas or high carb meals. I am taking in crazy Vitamins from the shakes I drink. I keep the Protein coming with full force. I sweat like a sauna room. If I hurt myself, then I'll learn from that but I won't stop what I am doing. I will continue to work out hard, drinking shakes and having very sensible meals. Taking breaks when my body screams at me. I'm in this to win this. Those "Biggest Loser" contestants were in the gym and working out 6 or more hours per day.. as seen on the show. Losing 30 - 45lbs each month. Crazy weight loss! If the doc tells me to take it easy then maybe I will but until then... I'm going for broke. Thank you all for your input. I read everything in the threads I post. I take in everything. I will, however research on the subject about organ issues b/c that is scary to me and I want to equip myself with knowledge, and prevent damage (thank you again PNut :mad: LOL, damage control I just don't want to stop unless I really have to. I am also the type that if I order furniture and the delivery people tell me "it will be 2 weeks for delivery unless you want to take home the set in the warehouse now.." I am the type to say... "honey, let's get a uhaul and take it home". I hate waiting. Ty again all

, never thought about that Photo... hmmmmmmmmmm something to ponder.. organ issues.. I don't want. I could use friends right now. Thank you for replying Thank you and Kat, thank you for your words of encouragement. Made me feel good.

Emileekaye, My dearest LBT new friend.. You work really hard and you really do commit to yourself. I admire you and your motivation. 30 minutes is really good. It is better than nothing. I am happy you are my friend and that you found a new kick within yourself to get back on the wagon and really make this work for you. I can't wait till we meet up one day, after we reach goal. We can talk about all the crazy things we did to get there. (If I make it alive). You are my counter inspiration. Believe that. Also, you have the right to take a day or two off. (Notice I said a day or two *snickers*).

Carol.......... I love that you worked out, despite your physical problems. You are my hero for the day, really. I got some heat in another forum for being myself .. and being "the perfect lap band patient" (she called me)....... from a woman that gained all her weight back and wanted a hug b/c she just eats everything and has no control. She said that she knows she shouldn't eat this and that... and she knows the band is a tool, blah blah but then turns around and says...."help, I don't know what to do". Of course I gave my 2 cents. I know I can be mean.. but I am honest and I do believe people have to really make things work for themselves if they want to succeed. I always say... "fight yourself hard" and your post gave me a good feeling. Thank you for sharing.