She Smiles

I fit into a tight 12 and most 14s now from most shops (smaller sizes in some places like kmart, their sizing is HUGE!) I started at 115kg in Nov 2006 and am hovering around 67-68kg at the moment. I'm 163cm (5 foot 4). I want to get down to a size 10....or 60kg, which ever is smallest.

Jacqui is 100% right. I saw a plastic surgeon a couple of months ago and was quoted approx $20,000 for a lower body lift (like a tummy tuck but goes all the way around your back as well). I had item numbers and everything for it from the plastic surgeon, but would get I think $90 back from medicare and nothing covered by my health fund (NIB). (the whole story is on my blog, link below, if you want to look back to where I posted about it). The only way you can get it covered by medicare is if its medically needed. Like if you are getting rashes under your pannus, or your back is hurting. From memory, that is why Chickie had hers done, but she was still out of pocket a few thousand dollars.

I never wore skirts at my biggest. Ever. I wear a skirt or dress at least 2 out of the 5 days I am at work each week. I wear them with tights, fishnets, boots, maryjanes, heels, anything! I must admit I get more "attention" on the days I wear skirts and not trousers though.

Neal you are looking fantastic!!

I wish I fit into Target clothes Jacqui! For some reason all the work-type shirts there are mega long on me (I'm 163cm) and the pants are made for women with small waists and hips, neither of which I have. Although I am a fan of Sussan, Sportsgirl and Myer (especially Miss Shop) when I can snap up a bargain there. I think I spend more money on clothes now too because clothes fit me at last. At my heighest weight I had 2 pairs of pants, a pair of jeans and 3 tops. That was it. Now I have an overflowing wardrobe full of clothes.....

Oh I hear you! I'm down 25-30 pounds from last winter (I'm in the southern hemisphere) and have NO clothes that fit. I've forked out so much money to buy some pieces to transistion me from summer to winter because I work in an office and have to wear corporate attire but also want casual stuff to wear on the weekend. I love shopping, but I hate the massive dent it puts in my bank account! Congrats on the jobs though Lauren!

Look at that beautiful smile! Your photos continue to blow me away LJM and following your journey has been amazing!

There is no way that anyone can predict whether your band is going to slip or not because of your eating. I assume that you are eating solids earlier than your Dr instructed? Each Dr gives the eating guidelines for their patients for a reason - to help you heal, the first few weeks shouldn't be about weight loss. Your post op diet might be different to some one elses, but that doesn't mean that you should discard your because another Doc lets their patient eat solids earlier. Just because someone else is ok eating solids earlier, does not mean that you will be too. My advice is to cut out eating the solids and go back to exactly what your Doc told you should be eating at this stage. That, or give the Doc a call and see if they mind if you go onto solids early. Don't risk it, its really not worth losing your band for a few weeks of boring food consumption.

Alright LJM, lets gear each other up, my half marathon is coming up on May 18 and I need to get my butt into gear to train some longer distances. 13.4km is the furthest I've done and thats not near good enough. We can do this (or die trying haha)!!!!!!

I knew I'd forgotten something! Thank goodness for more experienced bandsters! *goes to find Mt. Dew*

Wow Chickie you and I eat the same amount of calories a day. Why haven't I lost as much weight as you dammit?

Thats a great NSV! You are looking smaller and smaller in every pic you post. It must be very exciting!

LJM you are looking just wonderful!

What do you mean? I AM always right. other than when I am wrong

I think being clueless is a side effect of malnutrition. I read that somewhere so it MUST be true.

I'll be completely blunt. Screw that. My personal journey is not done until I reach a normal BMI and I'll be damned if I am going to agree to being told that I have to keep my mouth shut to keep other happy because I can see that a normal BMI is the healthiest option. Others can do whatever the heck they want but they HAVE TO realise that any BMI above a normal one is going to carry with it higher health risks. Thats a proven medical FACT that they just cannot dispute.

Well anyone that tells her she's ok and doing the right thing needs help as much as she does! I don't get what part of "you have malnutrition" doesn't make a person go "shit, maybe I need to reassess things here" My mind just boggles!!! :confused2:

What I don't understand is that she asks for advice "what should I do about X" and several people write back "to sort out X you should do Y" and their responses MAKE SENSE, but she apparently does nothing. Because its not the answer she wants, I guess.....?

I'm just without words about the whole situation with this person you're talking about

Here here, I agree. BBK, you look smokin' hot!

Congrats on the 2 jobs Lauren!

Yep, I'm with Ange, I'm getting a tattoo when I get to goal, or for my 30th birthday this year, which ever comes first (come on goal!). I didn't really celebrate my bandiversary at all though.

I swear I've lost the last 10-15 pounds of my toes or something, I'm dying to go down the next size and it just doesn't seem to be happening. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

I went on a holiday for 2 weeks about 6 weeks before my surgery and ate out 3 meals a day the whole time (fast food mostly). I put on about 10 pounds in the 4 weeks before my pre op diet. Disgusting I know. And there really was no rhyme or reason to it, I just overate my way to 250 pounds. I lost about 15 pounds on my pre op diet though, thank goodnes! I commend you for wanting to get a head start on your weight loss with the protien shakes, it means you're on the right track for changing your life for the better. Good luck!

HAHAHA thats terrible! Lets hope he doesn't get a job where he has to write anything important when he graduates!