Karlzmom

Bakersfield here. Banded April 19, 2010. I am down 55 from top weight, with 37 being post op. No fills yet...so just kinda working the program. Welcome to the board...its a great place with great people.

You poor thing! Hang in there, focus on getting well...the band will wait for you. It will all be worth it....just concentrate on healing for now. :blushing:

Still working it. No fills, but still losing steadily. Down from a 22 to a solid 16, some 14s....feel terrific.

I had forgotten what I put down for my LDC weight and just went to look....holy cow! I'm only 2.2 away and its only the 2d! :wub: It will be fun to see where I actually end up.....

Congrats on a terrific NSV!

I can completely relate. Before, I accepted that it didn't really matter if I did my hair, fixed my makeup, dressed fashionably, etc. [or at least that's what I told myself] as I was still fat! I guess to avoid daily self loathing I got "comfortable" with the notion it was just me, and no fuss needed. Now that I've taken the steps to become thinner and healthier the "fuss" seems warranted, and now I have the disappointment of seeing "flaws" or at least things that I wish we better....saggy skin, bulge here and there, ruddy complexion, etc. Funny, I'm only just starting to see what others have been remarking on in terms of weight loss and I know its not realistic to think I'd go from blimp to supermodel, but it still would be nice to feel pulled together....

I feel you on this one! :thumbup: As an attorney, I have to be in professional wear everyday and it gets expensive..so, I have taken to dresses and skirts as they look less baggy as I go down. I had a couple of my newest pants taken in, as it made the suits last a bit longer for far less than replacing. I've also become a rabid ebayer and snatch up deals for where I am and down one.....I make sure that whatever I get can be worn repeatedly without much notice..lots of neutrals that can be jazzed with a scarf or pin to make it seem different. My "causal" clothes situation is a mess....i only have two things that don't look like a complete sack but am too frugal to spend for weekend gardening clothes. Good luck and enjoy...its much better to have to shop for a size smaller than a size up!

Had to share...This morning I am officially half-way to my goal! Being only a bit over 2 months out from surgery has me wondering if I should move my goalposts, but think I'll leave them where they are and then when I hit it, I can make a "new" goal. As a side note, I am now within a pound of DH! *I know the ticker looks "off"...my ticker was created after I was already down 5 pounds, and I just never "fixed" it...didn't want to risk losing my history.

Congratulations on your weight loss! You look amazing, and no doubt feel great. WTG!

Enjoy this time! Start to train yourself to function without "needing" food. Focus on healing, making sure you get enough protein. The weight will come off and you will feel great. I feel bad for the people who never have a moments peace, but for us lucky few who start with no appetite and can heal up a bit before needing a fill to be satisfied the experience is a blessing. Good Luck!

Put down 10 for the 4th...got 12...I'm in for another 10...so here's looking at 208 by Labor Day! I LOVE these "mini-challenges"

The old clothes are gone! I really never liked most of them, but they were what I could find that fit...so given the chance to actually chose what I want to wear, I'm on it!

Hang in there Eri! I didn't have all the same traumas, but had a rough patch following surgery [reacted badly to the pain med, dry heaves everytime they sat me up, lots of pain, terrible gas and nausea]. I had days of wondering what I had done to myself, particularly when I wasn't even able to get out of bed to check in here. Fast forward to day 7 post op and it was like someone flipped a switch and I felt 100% better. By two weeks it was like i had never had surgery. Now, 2 months out I am giddy with my progress and wouldn't change my decision to get the band for anything. Be good to yourself, take it slow and have faith. Keep in touch with people here, the support will make it easier. :thumbup:

Had to share my mini-goal victory. This morning I stepped on the scale and it read 220.8! I remember crying when I discovered I was "up to" 220 at 9 months pregnant with my oldest...it was devastating! Now, I'm doing the happy dance to be "down to" the same weight. LOL. I'm into 16 tops, down from a 20/22 and fit comfortably in 18 pants, no more 22s....its a beautiful thing! Anyway, hope its going as well for the rest of you April Bunnies.:thumbup:

Hi Billy- I was banded on the 19th of April, and can only try to express how grateful I am for the chance to get healthy. I've been on a steady loss run since the pre-op diet. This morning I stepped on the scale to discover that I am down 27lbs since my surgery, and when I factor in my preop plan its an even 45! That said, it was tough in the begining, and its a continual learning process. I work hard to follow the rules and the positive affirmation the loss provides keeps me on track. I wouldn't change a thing! It will all be worth it.:thumbup: Best of luck to you!

I don't drink at all while eating but do work hard to keep the food really moist. I think I've used more salsa and other dressings since the band than I have in my entire life.

Surgery was April 19th. I am down 41lbs from my top weight, 36 from start of pre-op diet, and 23 from my surgery date. No fills yet, none scheduled as I seem to be doing ok and don't want to be tighter than I need to be.:thumbup:

WTG! I completely relate.....isn't it amazing? Keep up the good work!

Before I started this whole process I saw my little scale tick up to 265. By the time my PCP had started me on the path, and I got to my surgeon I had worked the weight down to 260...ugh! Was banded the 19th of April, and this morning on the scale I saw a number I couldn't have imagined....225! The wildest part is the hope that its not the lowest my little scale will go, as I am still only 6 weeks post-op and have had no fills to date....it feels like a dream come true!!! I feel so blessed to have this opportunity to get my life back in control and to actually live!

I join the chorus of you are eating too little. scale slowed for me when I was n the 400-700 range. When I bumped it up to the 900-1100 range BINGO! Weight loss resumed... Good luck!

I've gotten rid of the permanent ache in my hips, knees and ankles that made me shuffle along like I was an old woman. I've also gotten rid of my fear of having to sit in certain chairs at work that I knew I'd have to wedge myself into. My antidepressants are gone, and my blood pressure has refound a normal level. An unexpected bonus is the teen-ager skin that I swear must have been related to my less the optimal diet, as since I started on this odessy my skin has gotten just as clear as can be. On the down side, I've also gotten rid of a good bit of hair despite being devoted to getting my Protein in daily. I've got an appointment next week to change the hair cut to help disguise my small balding patch.

I feel you, as I had to do a cookout when I was just at the solid food stage and it was all people who don't know. I chose a hotdog, placed it in the bun and covered it with a bit of mustard and a spoon of the beans. At the table, it looked perfectly natural to use a fork and knife as it was all goopy, so no one was the wiser. I made sure to push bun out of the way as I cut it into smaller bits which mixed into the beans. i found the hot dog to be easy to chew and swallow, with no concern about it being over cooked or tough. all in all, it was a sucessful outing that i plan to repeat! good luck!

Not happy to hear that you are also gassy, but good to know that its "normal" :biggrin:

How is your exercise program? Could you tweek it a bit to up the calorie burn/refire the metabolism?