sandradee0124

I was banded the same day you were and my high weight the same as yours. I knew going into this that my struggles with metabolism would contribute to my success. I can eat a lot or a little and how much I exercise, what I eat, and how much I sleep are big factors into weight loss. I participate in a weekly support group meeting associated with my surgeon's office. The first week our homework was to write down our motivation for having surgery and losing weight. We made copies of this and posted it where we could see it often. I don't have a problem with eating. However, if I don't get 45-60 minutes of hard exercise 4-5 times a week I don't lose weight. I had to totally change my lifestyle to get up at 3:00am, drive an hour and meet a workout buddy close to work for that exercise. It sucks some days, but I do it twice a week. In addition, I gave up weekly massages to pay for a personal trainer I meet with once a week and he kicks my B&&& into gear. Give yourself credit for all you have done. Then take it to the next step and find the motivation to get walking, swimming, whatever. Start with twice a week. If you see results it will motivate you further to kick it up. I wish you the very best............

I commend you for pushing through the hurdles. Thank goodness you called! Good luck with the surgery and with making your dreams come true. You'll do it!

I love the SLOG. I realized this morning that I walk faster and pick my feet up when I walk! I called my old self jabba the hut and I walked like I felt that way in the old days! WTG! Keep it up. Give the fill time to kick in and see where you are. I'm glad to hear you are doing so well! Congratulations!

Spark is awesome! I get about 5 emails a day with some kind of interesting and useful information. Have fun at the beach! It sounds so fun! (Picture, please!).

The biggest thing I've struggled with is learning to love myself and not be hard on myself no matter what the scale says, a pair of pants feels like, or whether or not someone compliments me. I've struggled with the self-image situation for years and I feel that is as much as any other accomplishment. I got banded 5/26, and I've had some struggles with the weight, motivation, sadness. Over the last couple weeks I really have started to give myself a pat on the back a couple times a week for small things -- a workout, a walk, extra water. And remember, if you lose a pound a week for a year? You will be 52 pounds lighter than you are today?!!! That is amazing!

You get a lot of walking in just to and from work. Make sure you are getting enough Protein and Water, and try to get up every so often and walk around, even if its to the water cooler and back. And don't sweat the slowdown -- happens a lot and next week it might be 2 or 3 pounds and you'll feel better. There are so many factors that impact weight loss and its best to get to the place where you look beyond a day or a week and towards a monthly and your ultimate goal. You are doing fantastic, and it gets better day by day. Good luck!

A lesson to all of us not to take our health, the tool, our lives for granted. Good luck to you; God bless.

I like your motto! You have the drive to make it happen. August 24th is not that far away, in the scheme of things. Think about last year this time? Lap band probably wasn't even on your radar screen? You've come a long way; don't ever give up the good fight!!!

My surgeon's office has a monday night support group, alternating in brea and orange (he has offices in both locations). You have to sign in, but I've never noticed that anyone is truly taking roll or anything like that. He has a yahoo group that posts conversations and topics for the upcoming mondays. These posts typically occur on Saturdays: OliakCenter : Oliak Center Hope this helps!

Its very different for everybody. I tested the four my doctor recommended and settled on Slim Fast which I love. However others hate it. If you can, I'd recommend you taste test both of them before you make a major investment :-)

Congratulations! You've done fantastic! Hope you enjoyed your walk!

YOU LOOK FANTASTIC! The fact that once you used to shy away from pictures and now you embrace them is a tribute to your fantastic progress and increased self esteem. I love seeing your pictures! Totally motivating. If I keep working out someday I'm going to look like you! (OK, some year, but hoping!!!). Have fun at jazzersize.

Its a love hate relationship isn't it? Congratulations on seeing 1!!!!! You are doing so well!

You are hilarious, but it is pretty serious. Hopefully you had a lot of water with you. Passing out would definitely be an option. Glad you had the fam to pick you up if you would have needed it! And seriously, walking around the track in 95 degree heat and 95 percent humidity (about)? You were out of your mind lol. Take care of yourself! Make sure to get a lot of water in you today!!!

So true, thank you for your insight and supportive words!!

As always, you seem to know my heart. Thank you for your post and your support.

You have come this far, DO NOT give up on yourself or your resolve now. Like Fool said (above) prove the naysayers wrong. Make a list of five reasons why you had this surgery. Put it on a sticky note. Refer to it as many times as you need to. You did not do this in vain!!!

Live in Irvine, Surgery in Orange, Surgeon and support groups in Brea. Loving the 57 :-). Banded 5/26. 2 fills and doing good at that. Somedays I'm in my sweet spot, other days I'm hungry. I'm dealing though.

WTG! Pick up 2 (20 lb) bags of potatoes and carry them around the grocery store! Imagine that you did that every day for x number of days/weeks/months/years. That's fantastic! Congratulations..........

Like weighing too much, comparing yourself to others is just not a good thing. I found myself doing that a lot the first couple months, and realized that it was a negative motivator for me. (Why work out when I'm not losing... Something is wrong....). Through support groups and people on these blogs, I've come to realize that the journey is mine, and the support I get helps me with the bumps in the road I face. This is a big deal to us. We can't do it alone. But we also can't compare ourselves and judge our success against each other. That's hard. But we'll all be there, helping each other, through the highs and the lows. Take care!

I have to laugh! You said "holy crap". I can't stop laughing. It was funny. The situation was not (I remember that). I take gummy fiber from Target now and I LOVE them! Says to take 2x a day; I take 3 and I have no more worries. Congrats on your success!!!

Loving the "detoxed" feeling! My weekends are always more challenging than weekdays for eating; I feel you! It sounds like you have a lot of fun items on your agenda this next few months! If you have space in your suitcase..... Have a great day!

The comfort food thing. It hasn't rained here since January. I agree that winter for all of us (whether in warm weather or snow) will be more difficult. I'm used to pot pies, pot roasts and potatoes in the winter -- gonna have to rethink that. As fall starts soon, you are so right need to get going on that! Have a good day! Hope for sun for you tomorrow! I'll send some your way! LOOK AT YOUR NEW PICTURE!!!! I love it!!!

Beautiful, inspirational post, thank you! Best wishes to you as you move forward.