Band_Groupie

Hello my lovelies! This week is my 'Celebration Week', so drink up you groupies, and keep the party going all week! - My Birthday (I'll be 53). - Our 30th Wedding Anniversary (we'll be leaving for London in less than two weeks…Cheers!). - and…drum roll please…My Third Bandiversary!!! I can hardly believe it's been three years! It seems like just yesterday that I was getting banded, and yet it also seems like I'm now the same person I always felt like inside...only happier. I'm swamped getting packed, so I won't repeat myself, but here are some thoughts I had on the past year HERE I just wanted to stop in for the big party (get your hugs here) and to tell you thank you all for your continued support and friendship! Pics- a pair of pants I found in the back of my closet (too small on me when I got banded)...excuse the pre-shower scary face. See you all in a few weeks! -BG (lap Band Groupie)

Congrats...*happy dancing*! Nothing like an approval!!! -Lap Band Groupie Just 'Band_Groupie' here on LBT. Come visit me on my blog: http://bandgroupiethesweetspot.blogspot.com/

It's the nature of our tissues to be different day to day and am to pm. Even stress can effect it. I'd love to see the amounts of your fills. Some have a big difference with as little as .1cc, especially when you get near the half full point/5cc (over that I noticed a huge difference and was overfilled, unfilled and then in between, now perfect). Your Doc should be doing tiny tweaks at this point. My hunger is gone, over 100+ lost, middle of a Normal BMI. Best Wishes! Lap Band Groupie (Band_Groupie on LBT) Come visit me at my blog: http://bandgroupiethesweetspot.blogspot.com/

Hang in there sweetie...it will all average out, I promise. Most of us have wrecked our metabolisms with diets and starvation. Water retention and TOM also changes your weight monthly. I also had plateaues along the way of over 5 weeks+. It will all average out if you're doing the right things. If you're not hungry between meals, then the Band Is doing it's part and it should be just the competive edge you need to do the rest. I'm under goal (over 100 pounds lost) and just under the middle of a normal BMI. The Band works. Keep the faith! -Lap Band Groupie, just Band Groupie here on LBT, and my blog at: http://bandgroupiethesweetspot.blogspot.com/

Ditto Holly! I still eat everything...in small amounts, and love food even more...I love savoring it now, not just stuffing it in. Hang in there, it gets better! -BG

You're right, the journey is different for everyone and we all have to find what works for us. I lost less than the 1.5 pounds/wk the average Bander loses, but it's a lifestyle change for me and something I can live with forever (no deprivation). You're doing great! One thing: "Ever seen Biggest Loser? You can lose weight quickly and not be flabby as long as you excercise to keep the elasticity in your skin." Exercise does nothing for your skin, only the underlying muscle (and toned muscle underneath can help you look better even with loose skin over it). Skin elasticity and 'bounce back' of it is a matter of genetics and age. Lots of TBL contestants and even winners have had to have PS for their excess skin. Exercise to get healthy and fit, but have realistic expectations on excess skin depending on your age. Keep the positivity and you'll do great!

If you didn't see 'Dr. Oz' the other day, the topic was 'Can you really have an addiction to food?' I know, you're all screaming 'YES!' right along with me. It was interesting as the polls of people were pretty split as were the expert's opinions. The Nutritionist's view was that over-eating is behavioral...driven by emotions, learned behavior, and will power. OK, umm, as a yo-yo dieter now skinny b*tch I can personally tell you that anyone who has ever lost big weight dieting has WAY more will power than the average skinny b*tch...When did they ever white knuckle off 50 pounds while starving and shaking waiting for the next meal (I still wonder why I don't get the shakes now on this teeny amount of food). Anyway, the Doctor's view was that there are certain foods (four of them...at least at this point) that trigger the release of natural opiates in our brain that make us feel good and want to come back for more. I think it's a combination of both addiction and emotions. One study used a medicine that is used to help heroin addicts from overdosing by blocking receptors in the brain that the heroin attaches to. They gave it to chocolate addicts and found that 'chocolate hijacks your brain chemistry, triggering the same receptors that heroin affects'. Great...I'm officially an addict. Apparently those around me knew this before I did...Here's a present I got from my SIL for Christmas this year: You can read the Doctor's article and see the three other foods that are addictive on the Oz site HERE. Come follow me on my blog HERE

Congrats Bander!!!!

Lost 105 pounds, but I'm most proud of the fact that I'm smack dab in the middle of a Normal BMI now (yes, I know BMI isn't the end-all-be-all). I never thought I'd be this successful with the LB (lost 50 pounds so many times before). No more diets, nothing is off limits. I love my Band!!!!

That it would be so successful...well, no, if I knew that, I may not have done all the work it took to get there. So probably, how much head work it would take. A big part of success for me, meant making the mental changes needed along the way. Things like dealing with head hunger and dealing with the changes in the mirror take a lot of mental work to handle in a way that will make you successful.

Trust me, you'll learn to except a little loose skin for how great you'll feel skinny. Sorry, but the skin is effected by exercise at all (age, genetics, and how much weight you've lost from what areas are the factors). I've lost over 100, and at 49 (52 now) it's not too bad (can wear a modest bikini/skirted). We're all built differently. -BG

Be carful with the 'stucks' as you're not fully healed yet. LOL, I've been known to brush on a little nail polish before posting that pic (oh, and don't grab the camera until the weight registers first...I'm blonde). -BG

I shoot for >60 grams a day (more when I was starting out), but in solid protein form (except breakfast...a mushy, I add protein powder to my oatmeal). It got me past goal (I'm in the middle of a normal BMI now), with very little exercise. Keep it up! -BG