AngryBaby

I enjoy the occasional beer from time to time. I just sip on it instead of taking full sized drinks.

I started off at 262-264 and my official goal is 142-144 pounds for an even120 pound weight loss. My first goal was to get below 200. That goal has been obtained, now if I could just get down to 142-144 I would be happy.

I'm also in a rough patch at the moment. I've been banded for 10 months and have lost 72 pounds. I'm only half way there and I average about 5 pounds a month. This last month has been pretty much a stand still so I decided to try running instead of strictly working out. We'll see if this helps any.

I can't eat veggies raw. I absolutely love broccoli yet I have difficulties eating it. The only way I can eat it is when it is steamed and with no stems. Only broccoli floretts for me!!

1. Your in the mushy stage. In the mushy stage you need to focusing on your stomache healing. 2. Mushy food goes down really easy therefore you will be able to eat more. 3. Just wait until your get to real food. You won't be able to eat as much real food (i.e. steak, chicken, fish, etc) 4. Don't stress too much (yet) about eating too much. Spend this time focusing on your stomache and not your head. Try to stop eating when your are no longer hungry not when you get full. Waiting to stop eating until your full while still in your mushy stage, will cause you to eat alot more calories than necessary. This takes alot of practice, just try to stay focused. 5. Make sure to get in your protein! It will keep you from getting hungery so often, plus it will help you stay on the downward spiral of weight loss. 6. Consider the mushy stage as your training wheels on that spanking new 10 speed bike. Sure it sucks but you have to start somewhere!

My dad is a guy who carried all of his weight in his stomache. He's lost 60 pounds in just a few months and so far he looks really great! From what I understand from people who post on this site, those people who have more weight to lose tend to lose ALOT of weight really quickly compared to those people who don't have as much to lose. However you will reach a point where you don't loose as much weight as fast. You can still lose it all, but you have to be determined to do so. Keep up playing basketball. Try your best to eat right and you can get there. I have about 50 more pounds to lose and I've already lost 72 pounds so far. Just remember that everyone loses at a different rate. Like the other person said you should definately shop around to see if lapband is really right for you. There are some places where the other surgeries are not as pricey... just make sure they have good stats and personel working there. Stay positive and active and you can reach your goal!!!

Try getting an unfill. Not chewing long enough and eating too much or drinking while eating can lead to throwing up. It is a mistake to get a fill after you are already having issues keeping your food down. This is your journey... not your doctor's. You can always look into getting another doctor to do your fills if your having issues with him listening to you. Keep us updated on how your doing! Good luck and I hope you begin feeling better soon!

I went shopping today in hopes of finding something cute to wear to work. I found an adorable top (normal size Yay!) for $8. I then had a revelation. I realized that when I used to go shopping for tops (plus sized), I was lucky if I could find something less than $25-$30. I've realized that you end up spending alot more money when you are obese than when you are "normal". America is "fighting" obesity. Eat healthier food.... healthy fresh food is more expensive than over processed food. Work out more.... commercials flood television shows with "use this EASY workout and you will loose 20 pounds in two weeks" results not typical... Plus, you figure in all of your doctor bills then BAM! bye bye money.... Of course the majority of society frowns on public nudity. Therefore, we must buy clothing. So we hit up the malls and other random stores in need of wearing something publically acceptable. *Sigh* Why do businesses think that is okay to charge a plus sized person more for their clothing than someone who is smaller. I've seen the crappy material they use to make some of these clothes. I know you're using more material HOWEVER I also know that it doesn't cost THAT much more for the extra material. On a side note... why do designers think that everyone who is plus sized should wear ugly clothing? It's hard to find something really cute (and age appropriate) for a 22 year old sized W22-24 chick. I would hit up Lane Bryant and nothing is screaming "buy me 'cus I'd look great on a 22 year old". I'd hit up DEB and they have cute plus sized clothes but not everything is adjusted appropriately for the chicks with curves in all the right.... uh well curves in all the places... I'm just happier that I'm smaller. It's less frustrating to shop and soooooo much cheaper. I wish good luck for those of you who are on the road to normal-dome. Until next time, Angrybaby signing out.

Hey Steph! There are possible complications with getting the lapband (errosion/slippage). The band can be removed and the fluid is adjustable. The cost varies by where you have the surgery. You should do your research and find out as much as you can about the lapband. You can simply google it and you can find out quite a bit about it.

I was self-pay and had 1 year "free" fills. I don't regret my decision to have the band. I did my research and I don't want to lose any more organs than I already have... I want to have children someday so I want to be able to know that I can unfill my band to make sure my child will receive adequate nutrition. I want to be able to reach a point when I no longer have to rely on my band and can control myself so that I can have all of my Fluid removed. For me the band was the obvious choice. I am aware of the complications that can/may arise. I am prepared if the worse does happen. I honestly believe that everyone should do their research when trying to decide which bariatric surgery is the best one for them. Every surgery has their possible complications and you need to be able to decide if you can handle the complications if/when they arise. Those who had the surgery without doing the research are fools. Read about people's complications/successes. Be prepared and don't get caught with your pants down.

I've heard people say time and time again: Enjoy your 20s... Everything goes down hill from there (body wise). When people think of back when they were in their 20s most think of their smokin' hot bodies, stamina, and their joints not popping all the time. I'm 23 going on 85... I started off my 20s at 5'5" and 270 pounds with a fat rear, thunder thighs, and working on a triple chin. Every joint in my body screamed as I moved. I would hyperventilate when I tried to run. At the age of 22, I had my gallbladder removed. My life as a butterball was really starting to show massive signs of stress on my body. I have more stretch marks than Octomom and am really surprised/relieved that I didn't get diabetes. My life is beginning to change. I'm losing weight and I can breath. I can fit in a roller coaster and I don't have to touch anyone I sit next to involuntarily (ass spilling over to the next seat where someone else happens to be sitting). As I shrink, my skin refuses to join the crusade. As one blogger put it, I look great in clothes but horrible naked. I am one of those people that as they gained weight they gained it everywhere. My once thunder thighs have become empty potatoe sacks. My floppy/fatty boobies have become tube socks with a rock in them. My plump santa gut now looks like a melted and scarred up smiley face. Don't even get me started about my ass... To give you an idea of how many inches it took for me to look so pathetic here you go: Inches lost 6in off chest 7in off stomache 8.25in off ass 4in off each thigh Going back to where I started... They say the 20s are the best years of your life. I say screw it! I've never been much of a conformist anyway... I'm going to make my thirties the best years of my life. By my thirties, I'll lose all of the rest of my weight and get a nip/tuck or two.... or eight (we'll see what happens). By my thirties, I'll start popping out pups, have a stable career, and become less of a closet nudist and more of a streaker. Rawr... Until next time, Angrybaby signing out.

Protein has nothing to do with nails. However you should make sure you take your vitamins. I take a multivitamin, b-complex, and calcium. The multivitamin contains biotin which helps with hair, skin, and nail growth.

Lost 70+ pounds and went from a 44DD(Lane Bryant) to a 38DD(Victoria Secret)

My life is caos. I can only influence what happens in my life, but I cannot control it. The only thing I feel like I can control is what goes into my mouth. Before lapband, my control issues with food was eating as much as humanly possible. If I saw food I ate it. Food didn't make me happy, but it numbed me. It took away the stress, anxiety, anger, frustration, etc. By having the band I figured that it would help me lose weight (and it did). The only thing it didn't do is take away my issues with food. I can control food. I can control how much I stuff into my mouth (binge) and I can decide to not eat at all (starve). I can control my weight. I can control how many inches I've lost and how much/little I eat. I have so much power when it comes to food. I'm constantly trying to balance on the tight rope of disaster. I have no safety net. If I lean too much on the side of not eating I could easily fall to my death toward anorexia. If I lean too much on the side of binging then I could (yet again) easily fall to my death toward heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. Yet, if I can keep my balance and stay focused, I can reach the other side. I can be lean and healthy. I could have the opportunity of living a long life. I just have to keep my balance. This self-discovery is devistating yet enlightening. It is important to constantly self-assess your mind. To be in denial is self-destructive. Never lie to yourself. Constantly work on yourself. We are all under construction, not just our bodies but also our minds. I'm working on myself. I still have alot of work to do and there is always room for improvement. I strive for perfection, yet I know it is unattainable. I must remind myself to shoot for the stars and feel comfort in the fact that if I don't make it, then at least I'll land somewhere in the sky. Until next time, Angrybaby signing out.

I was banded a week after I turned 23 and now I'm roughly 9 months out and 70+ pounds down. Here are some things I've noticed. 1. People randomly strike up conversations with me. 2. I get hit on ALOT. 3. My ring size has gone from a tight size 11 to a loose size 8. 4. Shoe size has gone from a W10 to a regular size 8 1/2. 5. I used to wear W20-22 and now I'm at a size 12 Juniors. 6. I can cross my legs with ease. 7. I can see my bones! (collar bones, ankles, and wrists) 8. I've become extremely flexible. 9. I can sit in a chair with arm rests and not feel like I'm going to break the arm rests with my fat ass. 10. I just discovered I had an hour glass body shape.... yay!

I can't wait to lose my gut. I hate always looking pregnant since my stomache is so friggin huge. I'm loving that my thighs have shrunk considerably so they look great in jeans. However I would love to be able to wear shorts without it looking like I have granny legs.

I don't work with the band the band works on me. The band screams at me when I'm hungry. The band abuses me when I'm full. The band is happy when I don't eat at all.... I don't get hungry anymore. I simply don't want to eat. Eating no longer makes me happy it only annoys me and it consumes too much time (pun intended). I have better things to do with my time. It's funny how much the band has changed me... I used to live around food. I looked forward to every meal. When I finished that meal my mouth would salivate as I dream up my next meal or dessert. Food made me happy in every way possible. I dreamed about it and I lived for it. Now I must find something new to fill the void of food. My body has changed because of the band, however my mind remains the same. As time passes by and inches melt away I slowly begin noticing the miniscule changes my body attempts to make. I see a glimps of collarbones, a trace of the hip bones, a slight hint of wrist bones and knuckles. My body makes me marvel at every curve and flab of grotesque skin emptied of globules of fat. Priceless... My mind is stuck in neutral. I try to keep a journal to track my measurements, weight, and appearance as I change from month to month. Yet I am still surprised to see the face that looks back at me every day in the mirror. My face has changed dramatically. When I first turned 23, I looked like a 16 year old. Now after losing 70 pounds and simply 8 months later I look my age. Which may seem like nothing to an average person, but to me it's pretty freaky. Aging 7-8 years in only one year is creapy, like something you'd see on the Twilight Zone. My personality remains the same, through thick and thin (again pun intended). I'm a gamer chick who diggs comic books and loves reading. I'm also a closet rock star who plays a kick-ass air guitar. I have a unique and sometimes dark sense of humor and love to laugh. I enjoy not being the average girl. I love being different and I am more honest than most people will ever dare to be. Until next time.... Angrybaby signing out.

I was on Nutrisystem for a year. I lost 10 pounds...yay. The food sucks and is, like the other poster said, high in sodium. Most of the food is tomato based and gave me horrible heartburn and stomache issues. It's definately not worth it. It's really expensive and it is much less expensive to just go to the store and buy your own food. I spent roughly $300 a month on the nutrisystem. Now I spend $60 a month buying grocieries to feed my self. Nutrisystem is definately not worth it.

So I have the lapband and my mom has the sleeve. I received my band roughly a month before she had her sleeve surgery. Considering the circumstaces we have both acheived splinded results. However, I am envious of how far she has come in her journey. She has gone from wearing a size 22-24W to a skinny size 8. I have gone from a size 20-22W to a size 12. Keep in mind that this is roughly 8 months post-op. I just wish I could have lost weight as quickly as she has. I have lost 70 pounds at this point and still have about 60 pounds to go until I hit my goal. I'm trying my best to be happy for her and I always celebrate her victories with her. I'm so proud of her, it's just that I just wish it was me... Although I am happy for myself too. I've never been this small in my entire life. I've always been a bit of a butterball. I'm starting to realize that the "skinny life" is so much different from my old life. It's really weird. I'm now cold ALL THE TIME!!! Back in the day I was often know to go outside in just jeans and a t-shirt (in the snow, mind you) and just comfortably chill. Now I have to wear three shirts, a sweater, gloves, a scarf, and a hat... and I'm STILL cold. My bones aren't as well cushened as before, which is making it uncomfortable to sleep. My knees poke at eachother if I try sleeping on my side and my elbow keeps poking me in the ribs. Who knew being 70 lbs lighter could be so uncomfortable. I also find that I'm not as clumsy as I used to be. I don't bang into door entries anymore. I also don't trip over my own feet as often. My shoe size has also shrunk quite a bit. I used to wear a size 10W shoe now I'm at an 8 1/2. Weird... People treat me differently too. I don't know what it is about being fat, but I'm used to people avoiding me. If I was to sit in an empty auditorium back when I weight 262 lbs no one would sit next to me. In fact the entire auditorium would fill up and the only seats that would be empty would be the ones right next to me. You would think that I smelled bad or had some horrible contagious disease. Now however things are different. People talk to me and they don't even know me. Guys shamelessly hit on me in front of my fiance. Hell, I'm just shocked that guys are actually hitting on me! Unlike some people, I am very open about my surgery. If anyone asks, I will honestly tell them how I lost weight. It's even all over my facebook page. I'm not embarressed and I'm not ashamed. This is the first time I've actually succeeded at weight-loss. I'm very proud of myself. I have not finished my journey, but I have accomplished many goals that I never have before. This is the first time I've been below 200 lbs since I was in Jr. High. I never thought I would be able to say that. My next goal is to be able to say I've lost 100 lbs and not be lying. Until next time... Angrybaby signing out.

-Weight 262 -Height 5'5" -BMI 44 - Any Co's high blood pressure and knee pain -Name of Insurance Self-pay Currently 195 lbs Still 5'5" BMI is 32 normal blood pressure and the knee pain is gone. Yay!

I was very quiet about getting the band until after I had it put in. I didn't want other people trying to convince me that it was a bad idea or tell me freak horror stories about "a friend of a friend" who diet tragically on the operating table. However after I was fully healed from the surgery and back to my old (yet slightly slimmer) self I told the world (facebook). If anybody asks how I lost weight I tell them the truth. I don't want to lie and I'm horrible at keeping my own secrets.