Crishell

That is great! I'm still waiting to finally get in a 14 (almost there, in a 16 comfortable). If I were to get into a 10 I would probably explode right in the fitting room.

To make a long story short- All my life I have been very overweight. Thanks to my band, I am smaller than I was at age 15. As a teenager and young adult, all I ever wanted was to be able to wear tall boots. I could never do so because my calves were always too big for them to even think about zipping.I had put off trying on any since losing weight for fear of disappointment. Plus, I don't see any difference in my calves and never measured them before. Well Tuesday I decided to try on some at Shoe Carnival. I tried on several and they all easily zipped!!! I was so surprised & excited. I got 2 pair-one black pair with wedge heel for work/casual and another black pair with a tall heel for "play". Even the tall heel is a nsv because I have never been able to walk in a tall heel before. I even bought 2 sweater dresses to wear them with and plan to get a jean skirt or two since mine are now too big. It's what some might consider small things like this that remind me that I definitely made the right decision getting the band. Happy Holiday's everyone. I will be sporting my tall boots this season.:ohmy:

Hey Mocha75 My surgery was 1/19/07 so almost 2 years. On surgery day I was 300.5 and size 26/28. Today I am 216 and size 16.Weight loss has reached a plateau here lately. Doc says my body is fighting losing the weight. At my largest which was about 5 years ago I was 368 and size 30/32. I lost 48 on my own before made decision to definitely get band and then 20 during pre-stuff/from point I decided to definite pursue. So from my biggest overall I have lost 152 pounds. Trying to get to 199. Before my surgery I had just been told that I was diabetic and I had high blood pressure that was steadily increasing. Today both are fine. I never thought I would see the day where I would be able to zip up tall boots or buy something not from the plus size dept. The other day I bought 16 regular pants and a size L top. Good Luck to you.

Hey y'all. It's been a while since I have posted. Just thought I'd check in. The scale finally changed digits!! I have been 225ish since April. My doc said my body is fighting losing weight because all it knows is being fat. I was last 225 at age 14 so I know I have come a long way; especially when considering my highest weight ever was 368. I am grateful but I have visions of Onderland now that I am so close. Doc suggested i try something new. So I quit Curves after almost 2 years and started walking our track at work (aim for 3- 4 miles) and working out with my exercise videos at home. Also use treadmill and exercise bikes at work some. I have been having Curves withdrawals but I think they are slowly subsiding. It provided the structure I needed being new to exercise when I joined plus I liked the social aspect. So without Curves, I had to step my game up to ensure that I exercise daily or several times per week. I was so used to going there 5-6 times per week that at first felt lost without it. I got a fill on 10/1 and I feel I have good restriction. I am trying to watch my portions and carbs while getting those fluids in. Needless to say as of 10/17, I finally left the 220's (219.2) after months & months. Yesterday I was 216.8 so things seem to be going down finally even if it is kinda slow. I thought my scale was broken and would not change the middle digit to a one. AND I got a part-time job. I have never worked a part-time job but had been thinking about it. As a single person with no kids and no man with sense in my life, I find myself bored in the evenings and some weekends which makes me more tempted to snack or eat more than I should. I'm not a club person, all my friends have kids so cannot always hang out. So I decided to give a part-time job a try to structure some of my evenings. My evenings are watching tv, talking on telephone and reading which gets boring after awhile. Just started Tuesday at this clothing store in town. Don't know if that is totally a good idea because I see so much in there i want to buy for my now size 16 body. Was trying to not buy alot in general even before I started working there because my clothes are not getting alot of longevity before becoming too baggy. But surprisingly I have not been overly tired and I look forward to continuing at least through the holidays. In my pre-band days there was no way I could have handled all that walking around and extra work. Just getting through my full-time job was a struggle. The extra money, although not a lot, definitely won't hurt either. Plus some good looking men have been coming through. I just feel good that I decided to do it and am doing it. Keep me in your prayers and i will do the same for all of you.

Happy Thanksgiving!! Since last posting, I have changed part-time jobs from the clothing store to Kirkland's Homestore in my local mall. It pays more per hour, I can get more hours and the atmosphere is a little better and calmer. Right now, I am only working 2 evenings per week plus either Saturday or Sunday so not too bad. I told them that I wanted no more than 15 hours per week. With this week being a big week with holidays, I am working 19 hours so that's pushing it. I have had enough time to get things around the house & other things done. Overall, I don't regret my decision to pursue a part-time job, my co-workers are nice and the money is definitiely useful at Christmas. I have my good and bad days. Still have to get used to the idea because I had become rather comfortable going home to a quiet house and chilling with most nights & weekends unstructured. Helps to think about fact that three years ago, it would not have been physically possible and it never even crossed my mind. No longer experiencing the Curves withdrawals but I still miss the ladies. I walk when it's not too cold (I get plenty of walking and lifting working my part-time job 4-5 hours when I go). I'm also working out with my Hip Hop Abs & belly dancing DVD's at home. Don't know if I will make 199 by end of year or even by January 19 which is my 2 year Bandiversary, but at least I am closer to it. I try to look at the big picture and reflect on where I came from to keep things in perspective & not get frustrated. I have now taken 6 loads of size 30/32 & 26/28 clothes to Goodwill and gave some to a cousin. For some reason, I cannot part with anything 22 and under. I am buying more clothes from the land of the Misses. I got some straight 16 pants the other day, not even 16W and a size L top. For all of this, I am truely grateful and thankful on this Thanksgiving Day. Looking forward to 199 in 2009. Luv U all, B

I agree. Don't buy a bunch of new stuff if you are planning on having the surgery soon. Next winter everything will probably be too big. I have taken 6 loads of clothes of the Goodwill not including what I have given to my mom and cousin. I had clothes from size 30/32 & 3-4-5X down to size 20 that are now too big. Currently in a size 16 bottom and XL tops.

I was banded 1/19/07. I bought a Spanx camisole from QVc after first trying the Target brand. For everyday or very regular wear, I personally recommend the Spanx brand.

I have been stuck at the same weight for a long while (2 months at least)yet I am continuing to lose inches. I work out at Curves on average 4 times per week, I walk at least 3 times per week, do exercises at home and do treadmill/ bikes at work when my schedule allows. I have always lost more inches than pounds but here lately seems the pounds are not disapparing off of the scale at all. I have been 225-227 forever despite all the exercise, staying within my calorie& protein range too. People say that this is good because means I am toning up and gaining muscle. I am grateful for what i have accomplished & know it's better than gaining. But I want the scale to move a little bit. If nothing else but for my sanity. I no longer weigh daily. I'm not trying to be a body builder. I have alot of fat left on me that could definitely stand to go. Right now, I am in a size 16 comfortably in most everything. I just know I cannot continue to be 225ish and wear a size 12. There's not that much toning in the world. My goal is 199 pounds. When go to the doc they only weigh me, they don't take measurements and compare. I can invision my chart w/ my weight log saying a big "0" for no pounds lost since last fill. i feel that I have good restriction right now so that is not the issue. Will it ever level off and the pounds start coming off as opposed to inches?? Anyone else out there experiencing this??

Hey everybody. Just thought I would share this. I had been rather bummed because I didn't meet my weight goal of 199 for my 40th birthday on August 14. I have been experiencing an extended plateau that is driving me crazy. I cannot get the scale to move lower than 225. I have been losing inches but the scale refuses to move. While I am still grateful for what I have accomplished,l the lack of scale movement downward (been the same not gained) has kept me very stressed out and miserable a great deal. I have tried exercising more/ less, eating more/less, more Protein, less carbs, more fluids. I feel I have evaluated my situation every way possible. So, to make a long story short, while I am not giving up, I have decided to not stress so much about things and go with the flow, listen to my band because I feel I have good restriction now and concentrate on the postives that have happened in my life since being banded. I will try my best to not be obsessed with weighing and get out and have some fun as opposed to sitting at home worrying about a pound. On that note, yesterday we had Homecoming at my church. I have to toot my own horn because I looked good. I had gotten some highlights in my hair for my birthday and I had on a new outfit (size 16 old size 26/28 and at one point 30/32). And I had also bought a pair of black stilleto's (size 9 and used to wear 10's) that I wore as well. I had to practice walking in them several days ahead of time but I wore them. I got a lot of compliments which made me feel good despite that scale. I never could have done that at 300+ pounds. I guess what I am trying to say to everyone listening is: while you may get frustrated and not meet goals in the timeframe you think, don't give up. It will happen in God's time. Just hang in there and stay positive.

I took a 6 week class (met one day a week) earlier in the summer. I could not sign up for the following sessions due to summer plans. It was very fun. I liked my teacher and other classmates who were of varying ages and sizes. At first I thought it was going to be rather easy although I heard that it was good for your abs/core. But you actually do get a good workout. My muscles were sore after the class. My teacher had us do a basic warm up first, then we would move into some basic steps and a cool down at the end of the session. No interference with the port. I loved it. I looked forward to Tuesday nights. I even bought a couple of DVD's off of Overstock.com so that i could continue to practice at home. I plan to resume a class in the fall.

I have been taking the same birth control pill for years. I was never told to stop taking them for my lap band surgery.

Welcome to the site. As everone has said, it is not an easy, magic cure. You still have to work out and watch what you eat. You will have good and bad days but don't give up. Just follow the rules, go for your follow up appointments and fills. Restriction does not happen overnight. You have to gradually get to that point. After a year and half I think I have finally reached it for me. Everyone is different. I have been "obese" all of my life & never imagined being the size i am now. I have about 30 pounds that i want to lose which will put me safely under 200.I have not been that since like 6th grade!! I was anxious and nervous too but more so about conpleting steps required to get approved and awaiting the big day. Once it got here, i was cool. My band surgery was my first ever surgery and overnight hosptial stay. Don't worry, You will do fine. I have no regrets.

I have made no secret of how I have been losing weight. At first I was hesitant because I didn't know what other's would think about the surgery. But alot of my family,friends and co-workers (even those I'm not that close to) have been supportive. They ask questions. I would rather enlighten them about my experience and for them to have the truth than some misconceptions. Alot of those that ask questions would qualify for the band or have family/friends that would. So i kinda consider myself a living testimony and billboard. I saw an old arch enemy (no other way to explain it) a few weeks ago. She saw how good I looked and now, even she is interested in getting the band (I heard that through someone else as she and I don't talk). I wish her the best. Although we have bad blood between us, I would not want to wish bad on her or anyone and their weight loss attempts. I would suggest backing off of the girl. You are at a different level at accepting your situation with your weight and wanting to do something about it. People differ in that regards. If she becomes interested, she will seek you out. Seems you have atleast been successful at introducing her to the idea and she may actually be thinking about it more than you know.

I did not have alot of gas pains associated with the surgery itself. But, after I graduated to mushy foods, I started getting them bad; especially at night. I tried everything. Then, I started taking 2 Beano tablets before eating and that solved my problem. Have not had gas since.

Not really embarassed about my weightloss. But does make me sad because I am now aware of just how big I was at one point in my life. I was in denial for sooo long. I hate to see old pictures of myself. I finally threw away alot of my biggest clothing. I had been holding on to old clothes out of fear of gaining the weight that I had lost back. But those clothes were huge and now actually swallow me up. I get alot of questions, positive comments and encouragement from family, friends, co-workers. But I have never taken compliments well and have never liked to be the center of attention in anything. While I know people are being nice and supportive, I hate for them to focus on my weightloss because I fear gaining it all back and seeing myself as a failure.

Hey ladies!! just thought I would share...2 more days until I hit the big 4-0 on Thursday. I had to go to DMV at lunch today to renew my driver's license. I was afraid of failing the vision test because I am supposed to wear reading glasses and didn't want to have to be told to wear them while driving. I was so preoccupied with that and not thinking about anything else. I also had to take a new picture. Well, I did not recognize myself. My old pic was taken like 8 years ago when I was like 350 and I never changed the weight. Well today not only did I get to change the weight to 225 but I got to say "who's that girl?". Big difference in the two pictures. I even look younger in the new picture and I'm even smiling & wearing a fuschia shirt:teeth_smile:

My highest weight ever was 368 which was like 10 years ago. I had lost weight over the years and never regained (Atkin's etc.). So by the time I started inquiring about LapBand i was like 320. I lost 20 pounds from the time I got serious about band and surgery day. On surgery day, I was 300.5 & today I am 225. So not all of my weightloss was due to the band. Only about 75-80 pounds of it. I'm in a serious plateau right now but still losing inches. This bothers me tremendously because I want the scale to move some too. People say that is still good because means I am losing fat/gaining muscle but I'm not trying to be a body builder or anything. I just want to see 199.

Anyone taking fish oil supplements? I have a co-worker who takes it to help with her high cholesterol. She has only been taking a few weeks and has lost 11 pounds tool.

Ok y'all here's my story...highest weight ever was 368, got banded 1/19/07, on surgery day weighed 300.5. Today weigh 225. My goal is 199 which i had hoped to hit by my 40th b-day on August 14 but not meant to be for me so I changed it to by my bandiversary....... despite being in this prolonged plateau and not meeting my goal for by b-day, I am still extremely grateful for what I have accomplished & try to not get frustrated...I feel & look better, blood pressure and blood sugars are good (no meds), feet don't hurt, I've gone from wearing 26/28 to 16's & 18's. I have a chin, shoulders and feel bones that I never knew existed. Now here's my issue...I've gotten restless & bored...I am depressed (I guess from hormonal changes w/ weightloss..I will be 40 next Thursday and I feel like I have never really dated and have blown my 20's & 30's away being fat, self conscious and shy. I have no kids, no serious significant other relationship and I want to start going out more. I am cranky and irritable, alot, even at work...Haters hating on me when they should be asking me for info so they can get banded too...feels like I'm the new reality show or something. I am getting all this new attention from men and even that is hard to deal with at time because not used to it. I wore a sundress to work yesterday (nothing hanging out and work appropriate length) and the men lost their minds. I want to start dating but have been apprehensive.I'm too old for a lot of foolishness & drama. I know I gotta try and that I will kiss a lot of toads before find a prince. I just want to have some fun and practice dating and socializing with men. Not trying to be a cougar either but alot of younger guys are hitting on me and trying to holla at a sista!! HELP!! Anybody else out there going crazy like me??:thumbup:

Hello All. Perhaps I should have put this in the 30 something section but 39 is closer to 40 so figured some of the folks closer to 40 may venture this way as I have. I am hitting the big 4-0 on August 14. Every since I turned 35, I have been dreading it. But that was the pre-band me. I got banded 1/19/07 so been a little over a year. I currently weigh about 40 pounds less than I did at age 16 when I got my driver's license. Thanks to my band (that I named Brad after by boyfriend-looong story), I feel and look better than I did at least 20 years ago. I am single, never married with no kids. Guys in their 20's are now hitting on me although I am not trying to be a Cougar. I don't dread the big 4-0 as much as I used to. Anybody else out there feel the same way? :confused:

Yes, happened to a co-worker of mine. If you overeat for prolonged periods of time, your pouch can stretch & it's like not having a band at all. She was told to cut back on her eating and her band eventfully fell back into place. That's why they say to measure your food but it's the hardest thing for me to do.

I am a patient with Commonwealth Surgeon's at St. Mary's in Richmond which is where Dr. Bautista is. I had surgery a year and half ago. He was not my surgeon but he has taken over my overall care since my surgeon, that was in office with him, moved to another state. I have not had any problems with anyone in the office including him. I primarily see the nurse practitioner, Janine. She is really good.

I'm gonna give this a try tomorrow

I'm Crishell. From Central VA. Will be 40 on August 14. Single, never married, no kids, but one niece (10), one nephew(9), one god daughter (21) and one god son(15). I am about to be a "godmother grandma" (as it was explained to me) in November. But I have no time for babysitting these days. I am enjoying living my new thinner life. I work in health care. Had surgery 1/19/07. Highest weight ever was 368. Surgery day weight was 300.5. Current weight is 225. Just got back from a cruise this past Sunday so gotta get back on track with my eating and exercise routine. Been a member of Curves for past year and half. Tried a six week belly dancing class in May because was interested in it and figured would be a good way to get in some more exercise. I had fun. Looking forward to getting out of the 220's and reaching Onderland!!

Hey everyone. I am AAF from Richmond, VA. I was banded 1/19/07. Surgery day I was 300.5, (highest weight ever was 368) and today I am 225. My goal is 199. I have gone from size 26/28 to currently mostly size 16. Have even been able to venture into the Misses Dept. which I have never been able to do before. I work out at Curves 4 times a week and walk. My biggest problem is my arms. They are not terribly bad and i still wear my sleeveless tops. Stomach is holding up ok. I have lost my butt (I hate that but would sacrifice it to be healthier). Prior to surgery, my blood sugar and blood pressure were both creeping up. Both run in my family. No hair thinning or loss.I now have shoulders, a chin and checkbones. People "claim" they don't recognize me. My 40th birthday is August 14 and I am actually looking forward to it now. I also have to get my driver's license renewed. Can't wait to get that weight changed on it.