She Smiles

You're right - I've done those things and am losing steadily again, but no where near as much as in my first 6 months or so. I'll get there, its just going to take time. Training for a half marathon should be helping!

You can all do this guys! There are a few of us more seasoned Aussie banded folk on this board too.

Mine is to get to final goal ASAP. I'm close, but not close enough. It gets a lot harder the more you lose because your body seems to get used to the small amount of food for fuel. By May would make me extremely happy....

Thanks for all your thoughts guys, I appreciate your time. I have had a consult appointment made for the 18th for a few weeks now, but as I am sure you can all relate am incredibly indecisive about this for a myriad of reasons. I'll just go ahead with the consult and see what the professional says. Neal, good luck for your surgery! Its so soon now!

Nina GOOD LUCK!!! Tami, can I say that it is reassuring for me to read that you are having some doubts - let me explain - I am SO sorry that you are in this situation at all, but knowing that its not just my wacky mind swinging and swaying on my *almost* decision to have a TT is a comfort. I'm glad to know that other people, like yourself have second, third, fourth etc thoughts. So - what I keep telling myself is that I have a whole lot more living to do in this body and will I really be happy looking like this for the rest of my days? Yes, it might be for vanity, but for me its also about my mental health. Like you, I didn't work my a$$ off, literally, exercising to have this body. I want the body I feel like I deserve. Thats just my 2 cents - ultimately, you need to do whats right for you. I've had mixed reactions from friends too, its always going to be that way. Try not to let them sway you (easier said than done). As an aside - to all of the PS inpirations on this thread - I've posted some before pics of my tum on my blog (link is in my sig below). Now I know none of you are Surgeons but you've seen a few befores and afters in the PS's that you've visited, I predict. In your opinion, have you seen befores that look like me? Am I going to be laughed out of the surgery and told that I need to lose more weight? What are your thoughts from a lay mans point of view? (sorry to hijack the thread a little for a moment).

In some ways were are very lucky in this country and in others, we are not. I believe that some insurance companies in the States will cover plastic/recontructive surgery, but no insurance companies will here in Australia (please correct me if I am wrong!). If you have a medical reason for needing the plastics, then medicare will cover part of the cost. So while part of the journey to a "new you" with the lapband is covered by insurance if you're with the right insurance company, once you get to goal and want to look the way you think you deserve to after your months of hard work, its $10,000 + to get that body. Thats the bit that no one really talks about. And I wish I'd been better prepared (info wise) for when this time came (I would have started saving back when I was banded in Nov 06). Just my 2 cents....

One person has a band because they saw my success, another is currently in the initial approval stages. I haven't told many people at all about my band. These two people who I know struggle(d) with their weight asked me what my secret was, so I swore them to secrecy and told them. They both followed up with my surgeon to make appointments within days.

I hear you on the tummy Laurend. Darned thing is stopping me getting in the equivalent of a US size 6. A BIG BIG congrats on fitting in the 12! Maybe next time you go back for more you'll be in a 10!

I've set a range for my goal which puts me between 23 and 25 BMI. I'll see how I go when I get there (which shouldn't be long, fingers crossed). I'm of the same opinion that I didn't get WLS to just be not fat. I want to lose all of my excess weight, be healthy and happy with my weight. I don't understand how if some one has reached their goal by changing their eating habits and what they eat as a lifestyle change, why there has to be a rebound stage? I plan on continuing to eat and exercise the way I do now once I reach goal in order to maintain - thats just part of the deal as far as I'm concerned. Can you explain the rebound theory to me? I have honestly never heard it mentioned before, is there research that proves this?

If it were me Tami, I'd go with option a). While it will mean 2 recovery periods, a big rearrangement of plans and a longer wait for the PS, you are getting the plastic surgeon you wanted (not some second choice who just happens to work at the right place) and a professional bariatric surgeon to sort out your port. While its possible that the replacement of your current port during plastic surgery might work and end up perfect - it also might not. How will you feel after the swelling goes down to realise that the ports still highly visible and you need the lower profile after all....? (just playing devils advocate here!). Its a sucky situation to be in, and I'm so sorry that you are here! But I think you need to assess it in what is going to be best for YOU as a patient with those people as your surgeons. Good luck with your decision!

Oh Julie you must be SO excited about getting out for a run again! I'm so glad those pesky seromas are clearing up!

Losing you're doing great, working out at that rate you'll drop that 10 pounds in no time!

Julie, you're in my thoughts *hugs* Hope you're feeling better soon.

I'm looking into plastic surgery to be able to avoid it altogether!! I'm over having to hide it under flowing looser tops and high waisted pants. If it weren't for my tummy, i'd be in a US size 6, maybe a 4 at a squeeze in some stores. THATS frustrating.

I think you'll find that your nutritionist will tell you that you can eat everything in healthy moderation. Our Australian band Dr's don't actively encourage the low carb high protien diet - well, none have that I have heard of on this site here and on a couple of other forums. Its more about learning to eat a good diet and handle our food in a "normal" manner. Low carb works really well for some, and not for others. Just follow what your nutrionist advises and you'll be a successful banster in no time. Good luck!

I just wanted to post and say how much of an inspiration and motivation all of you guys have been for me. I have my first consult for plastics on Feb 18 and am nervous and excited. However, I can't even imagine how I will feel when I have an actual date to count down to like you all. You are all going to look absolutely amazing, can't wait to see the after pics (please post as many as you feel ok with after surgery, I know I for one will really appreciate it - I'm trying to prepare dh for the aftermath right after surgery of a TT :eek: and its such a motivation for me). Good luck and all the best for the next step in your journeys! I'll be thinking of each of you as your date arrives.

You can SO do this, we're here to cheer you on!! And hey, the next month is going to FLY past and then you'll have your new tummy *is very jealous*

FINALLY made it to being able to post on this thread - 100.5 pounds as of this morning!

Hi guys! As we have been discussing, this is our thread to post our before, during and after pics of our banding journeys. For those of us who are not yet banded or just starting out, feel free to just post your before pics, and you can add after pics later on as you wish. It would be great to put faces to names too! I think it will be great to have our own thread to encourage and support each other, sometimes the numbers in our signatures don't reflect how much of a difference it has actually made to how we look!!

I just got an extra 0.25 put in last week to take me to 7.75. This is a perfect fill level for me, the past few days I've hardly been thinking about food (hurray!).! I've had to keep going back in to get 0.5, 0.3 or 0.2 put in each time I lose a few pounds because my band loosens up again. But I think this level will be good for a little while

I would love to know if there are any funds that cover it, I'd swap to them immediately!! I'm with nib and have top hospital cover and they make it clear that its not covered. I think if its deemed to be reconstructive, medicare will cover a portion because it is classified differently, but if its plastic or cosmetic, then I think we're on our own to pay. I can report back after the 18th Feb, I have my first plastics consult that day.

I'm with Jacqui. Running is my passion. I do try to go to the gym a couple of times a week to do a bit of cross training, but I running is what I love. I think along with convienience, passion and enjoying what you do makes it easy. I hate swimming, I could never do it as a form of exercise, but some people love it, I'm not too fussed on classes other than RPM either. You might have to try a few things before you find something you love. Does some one you know have a bike you can borrow? Can you buy a couple of cheap exercise DVD's from Target or Kmart (or ebay)? Can you set up your own mini circuit at home you can do while watching TV? I attribute more than half of my weight loss to my exercise, because I haven't really "dieted" for most of my lapband journey. Sure I eat less, but I haven't missed out on all my favourite foods.

I have booked my first PS consult for the 18th Feb (and am waiting for another one to contact me to book a consult with him too). I'm about 10-20ish pounds from goal now and have a BMI of 26. I waited this long because I wanted to see how my body would look closer to goal, and I need to wait until August at the earliest for the surgery anyway to have the time off work and find the $ to fund it too. I'll be looking at a tummy tuck first and then might get a breast lift in a couple of years. I can live with the sagging boobs for a while, but the jelly belly just depresses me.

I have to say from the pics, Dr Reaths work looks fantastic. I think going for 3 consults is a smart idea though, just to be sure that the service and support you're going to get for your money is top quality too. A website might not reflect exactly what the whole process will end up like. As a friend said to me when I said the PS site that I was looking at today looked like they really CARE (I was in that happy/blind to reality phase myself) - aren't they all supposed to look all that way? I think the only way to REALLY decide is by going and asking the dozens of questions we have. When are you thinking of going for the consults? Its kind of exciting isn't it??

I was off for 2 whole weeks. I could have gone back on day 11 or 12 if I had to, but I was glad to have the 2 weeks. I work a desk job, if I'd had a more strenuous job, I might have taken longer. I was on liquids for 2 weeks though, so I didn't have much energy because of that.