Mechbandster

Got to my goal weight last weekend! 220lbs. I am officially in the "normal" BMI. I have lost 130lbs in six months. That was alot faster then I was expecting, but I am very happy. Just goes to show you that anything is possible. My doctor actual said I could stop around 230, but stopping short of a goal I made back in January was just too difficult. It was eating at me to lose just 10 more pounds. The difference I feel from just 6 months ago is amazing. I have more energy, more drive, and alot better attitude. Good luck to everyone. Don't think that just because you are not as far along as some that you are not doing as well. Everyone is different, so just keep doing what you are suppose to be doing. The scale is not the only measure of how a person is doing in weight loss. I have gained more enjoyment from non scale victories then scale victories.

Thanks for all the compliments. They mean alot. All can make it, you just have to keep using the band as a tool and concentrate on the little goals first. That way, getting to your final goal doesn't seem like such a big hill to climb.

I didn't do anything really special, but now that I think about it. I should. I didn't expect to be hitting my goal so soon, so I really haven't had time to think of something to do. Going to have to put on my thinking cap.:)

I wouldn't change much for alittle longer. Though 900 calories is not alot, I was going on 700-800 a day with alittle exercise when I was at your stage. The increase in calories might not help. You could still have some inflammation around your scares still. Just be patient. As someone else stated, you might be gaining alittle muscle while you are losing fat. If you have not lost any weight in another week or two, then I would consider increase in exercise, calories, etc. Don't worry about the scale for awhile, just worry about doing what you are suppose to do. The weight will start to come off.

Thanks alot! I appreciate it. I see you are also close to your goal. Keep up the great work.

Went on vacation to the beach with my entire family( parents, siblings, nephews and nieces) I took my son and his cousins to a go cart track. It was the first time in 9 years that I felt comfortable to get into a go cart. You probably couldn't of paid me to even get in one a year ago. I didn't feel like sausage in a sausage casing, or feel like the cart could only go half the speed because of my weight. I even got into some carts that I would not even have been able to fit into a year ago. I don't know who had more fun. The kids or me. I also enjoyed riding a bike for exercise during vacation. That is something I have never done. Exercise use to be a bad word around me. Especially during vacation.

I found this website about how to figure your BMI and it made me feel alittle better. Home Body Fat Test i always felt that the height and weight BMI chart is alittle too basic and doesn't consider how much lean mass a person has. I don't think this site is perfect either, but I think that it takes more things into account so I feel it could be alittle more accurate.

I am about 7 pounds away from the goal I made before the surgery. My doc and family all say that I can stop losing, but it is hard not to get that goal. They told me to stop 10lbs ago, but I have just slowed the weight loss and not stopped. I am still technically "overweight" until I hit 220lbs, but I know that the BMI calculator is not exact for every person. I am probably at normal BMI now, but I still can't shake the urge to get to 220. Maybe I should just get to 220, then let myself gain alittle back. Then I can say I made it.

100lbs is a big milestone. Congratulations! Keep up the good work.

Now my "skinny" clothes that I bought a couple of months ago to get me through are now too big. Down to a 36" pants and XL shirt( but they are fair from a tight fit). My other NSV was a realization while in the shower the other day. I have a tube shower that I have always hated because it felt so small. As I was taking a shower, I realized that the shower felt alot bigger than the last time I thought about it(before the surgery). It was just one of those silly little things that make you smile and proud.

That is great. I hate shopping, but I like to be able to be in any store and know that if I see something I like. I know for sure they will have it in my size. I also won't have to pay even more for the XXXL size either.

I take Tums Maximum strength. Actually its a store brand, but same thing. Two in the morning fills my daily allowance. Berry flavored tastes pretty good too.

My latest NSV was a funny surprise. I went to put on some shorts after work the other day. It had been several weeks since I had put on this particular pair of shorts. I knew they would be big, but I was just going to be home so I figured it didn't matter. I put them on and buttoned them up. I took two steps and they literally fell right off:w00t::smile:. My wife looked at me laughing and said " I guess those go onto the don't fit pile now". The pile of don't fit clothes is much larger than the do fit pile now.

That is awesome. 5k in 30 minutes is great! Keep it up.

This XL fits great. I can get clothes at Wal Mart and Target ( which is good since I keep getting slimmer and need new cheap clothes). I'll see if I can jog alittle longer today.

Your not crazy. I felt the same way when I was just walking. I HAD to start jogging. If you have already been walking, then you have already started the road to jogging. The 1 most important thing is to get a good set of running shoes( if you don't have a pair already). They don't have to be the most expensive you can find( mine were on sale for $30). Just a pair designed for running and that is the only time you use them. Good fitting and designed shoes will do wonders to keep away injuries. The 2nd most important thing is stretch before and after you jog. This will also prevent injuries as well as make you fill better. The third is start out slow. Don't feel like you have to start to run 5 miles on your first week. you should start out walking maybe 15 minutes, then start to jog for 5-10. After that walk for 10 and jog for 5-10. Finish up your running with a cool down walk of 10 minutes. You don't have to be exact,but you get my point of jogging and walking the first week or so. You want a pace that you can keep for a extended period of time. It does not have to be fast. The jogging is alittle faster than walking with one foot on the ground at a time. Don't have a stride that is so long your heel touched before the balls of your feet. Arms at 90* at your side in rhythm with your stride. Just get out and try it. I played football in High school and College and absolutely hated to run, but now I really enjoy getting out and jogging. Its fun and great exercise. Just listen to your body and don't over do it.

I too am getting to the point that people are telling me I should slow down or stop. As some have already said in this thread, They probably think they are helping, but they are not. I am also sick of being asked by everyone in the world how much I have lost. Why is it everyone's business to know exactly how much I have lost? Why can't they just say " Wow, you look great. Good job" and move on.

I too find that at night I want to eat even though I am not hungry. Drinking crystal light and chewing sugar free gum help me to get my mind off of food before I go to bed. The chewing really helps because it gives my mouth something to do. If you can, try and get rid of the snack stuff in your home. If it is not available, then you don't have to worry about getting into it. Good luck.

Today I have lost 100LBs since the preop diet before the surgery. I cannot believe it!! I feel so much better than I did before I started this journey. The numerical number of the scale is important, but feeling 1000% better everyday can not be measured. It really is the little things that you notice that make you feel the best. Clothes fitting better, not sweating when doing anything, not feeling tired all the time, I could go on. I am more active and really enjoying life alot more these last few months then I was for years. Its nice to look at old photos of myself and say that is how I USE to look rather than that is how I look now. I hope this thread will inspire some that feel like they are not doing as well as they should. It is a marathon and not a sprint. You really have to take it day by day and don't become obsessed with the scale. If you are feeling better then before the surgery, then that is a victory.

By no means is my weight loss close to typical. I am a guy so it is easier to lose weight anyway. I really do nothing over the top or come close to starving myself during the day. I eat three meals a day and sometimes a night snack if my Protein is not high enough( usually a Atkins bar or low carb yogurt). During the work week I have a Protein shake for Breakfast, but weekend I usually have a egg and turkey sausage. I do feel hungry inbetween meals sometimes, but I just drink Water and tell my self I can wait. I posted this up for two reasons. One was because I was really happy to reach this goal and wanted to share. The two goals I made when I was first banded was going below 300LBS and losing 100LBS. Those two have now been completed and it feels great. The second reason is I hope it shows people that goals can be accomplished with steady progress. Don't think about trying to lose 100LBS if you are at 40LBS lost. It seems like too much. Make short realistic goals and concentrate on them until your done. I didn't really concentrate on the 100LBs until I was about 10LBs away. It was always in the back of my mind, but I thought about my short term goal first. For example, try to think of a number on the scale that you can realistically hit by the end of May. Don't make to too easy or too hard. Then when you plan a meal or exercise, think about if that choice will get you too that goal. If you stray alittle that is OK. You don't want to feel like a prisoner to weight loss because that will just make you upset and fail. Enjoy life, but just try to make more healthier choices in that enjoyment. Thanks again to everyone for the congratulations! It really is great.

Preop 1/15/09 and banded 1/30/09. I don't think anyone is more surprised by my weight loss than me. I average about 850 calories a day, but usually burn all of that off with exercise. Losing it this fast is a double edged sword. I like that it is coming off fast, but it scares me alittle. I've only had two fills( the last just two weeks ago and only .6cc). I feel alittle like a freak, but have lots of energy and no real side effects.

Thanks everyone for the kind words and congratulations. I really appreciate it. It has not been long since I was banded(1/30) and I wish I had some super secret way to share with you guys how I have lost so much so fast. I really just do what all of us do that are banded. High Protein, low fat and carb, and try and stick to 4oz as best I can. I may have 5oz or so at some meals, but I have a rule not to eat more than that(except for maybe soup). If I am not feeling totally full after a meal, I just wait. I usually get that full feeling after 15-20 minutes. The only other thing I really avoid is snacking between meals. Its hard sometimes at home watching tv, but I just chew sugar free gum or drink Water. That helps alittle. Its funny how some things you think will bother you before the surgery isn't as bad after awhile. I only drank beer before the surgery, and not being able to drink it made me think about not having the surgery. Now it doesn't bother me not having it. I realized that the hanging out with friends at a event is the fun part, not the beer(I just drink rum now:rolleyes2:). As I have read on other posts in this forum. The feeling of eating something I shouldn't is not as good as going down another notch on my belt or seeing the scale go down.

I've eaten some pasta with turkey meatballs and sauce, but I don't eat very much of it. Less than a oz. I have tried pizza once and it was no problems, but I stay away from it if I can. Not eating pizza has not been as bad of a problem as I thought it would be before I was banded. Though during pre and post op, the pizza commercials were driving be crazy!!

Congrats!! I just broke 300LB just a couple weeks ago. It felt great.

Welcome!! A normal BMI is under 29%( I think the range is 20-29, but I am not sure). I wouldn't really worry about a ideal weight number if I were you. It will change constantly anyway. I've reconsidered mine about 20 times since my surgery in Jan.