6 Month Bandiversary!

[TheRealSouthernBelle 22]

This has been the best 6 months of my life (as far as successful weight loss goes)! I have been given this excellent man made piece of machinery and it has enabled me to take control of my life! I could have NEVER lost 80 pounds in 6 months without the band and I thank God for the gift he has given me. I've been fat all my life and now I really feel like I have the opportunity to not be anymore! The hunger beast has been tremendously tamed with the use of my lapband. I can remember 6 months ago I was so scared to get this procedure done and wondering if I would be successful and if I could follow the "rules". I constantly dreaded the thought of eating something and throwing up. I'm glad to report that I have never thrown up! Recovery was hell, perhaps because I had a hernia repair as well and I doubted myself for making such an extreme decision, but I knew I needed help. Help is all the lapband is. I have control over food it no longer has control over me. I choose to make smart decisions when it comes to food. I also like to treat myself from time to time. I live in the south, so there is a plethora of good cooking and treats everywhere. Sometimes I mourn over the loss of tasty food every day, but I know that it is the best thing for me. I even envy those people that can eat whatever they want and not gain an ounce. I pray that I can continue down this path of successful weight loss. I know that it will only get tougher as time goes on, but I have some tricks up my sleeve to get over plateaus. I originally had a 6 month goal of 94 lbs. lost, but it's only been 80 lbs. I am still happy for that. I have some more lofty goals. I want to be 230 by my b-day in Sept., under 200 by my 1 year bandiversary, and at goal by my fiancée’s graduation (May 2012). I have great optimism and put in the hard work, counting calories, exercising, drinking Water, and turning down dessert when I go out to eat or tasty office treats, etc. I encourage everyone to share their experiences and ask questions. Also, I wish all my fellow bandsters much success in their journeys. I know the road along the way is full of bumps, roadblocks, trials, tribulations, and maybe even some dead ends, but it will be all worth it once we get to where we are going!

Me fat and happy in July 2010. 320+ lbs. (I stopped weighing myself after that).

Me playing in the dressing room a couple of days ago. 268 lbs. -80 lbs. since pre-op diet

Just threw in another pic I like a lil' better!

[Juliat 6]

You look wonderful!! Keep up the good work

Julia

[Rachel412 116]

you look amazing, and you're gorgeous!!!

[hopetolose 192]

Looking good! Look how flat your tummy is getting Keep it up!

[Elie936 1]

Wow wow! Good job. You lost 80 pounds in 6 months!!! Hows your diet? Do you exercice lots, and last question, but you really dont have to answer, but we have the same body, i was 341... Hows your skin? It seems tight to me:)

You are doing AMAzing, continue, your almost there.

Makes me smile

[Cindy C 150]

YOU GO GIRL!!!!!

[TheRealSouthernBelle 22]

Thanks everyone for ALL the positive comments! That is why I keep coming back to LBT, it's the most positive lapband community on the web. Elie, my diet was pretty rough the first 5 months. I never had a meeting with a nutritionist or dietician, so I was left to my own devices. I refused to weigh my food. I still don't do that. I just didn't want to feel obsessed and abnormal. (I did buy a scale though for emergency plateaus only). I loosely counted my calories. After a 3 week "plateau" I started keeping a food journal. I wrote down everything I put in my mouth and got the food nutrition counts from fast food websites and Calorieking.com. I've been looking up info on the web as far as how many carbs and how much fat I'm supposed to have in a day. I also found my BMR by doing some calculations and I found out that I should consume 1500 calories a day in order to lose a pound a week, but I am usually under that plus I exercise 3-4 times a week. I lost 5 lbs. the first week, 4 lbs. the second week, and 4 lbs. the third week I started tracking and really watching what I ate. I do have my treats from time to time and I do go out to eat! My regular diet consists of:

Breakfast

a Protein drink (I'm too tight for regular food): Atkins Advantage, Mocha Latte shake or Caramel Latte shake or Muscle Milk light chocolate. They are ready to drink, so very convenient and I buy them from Wal-Mart.

SNACK

1/2 of a Protein bar: Special K chocolate Peanut Butter or Atkins Advantage Caramel Fudge Brownie 30 mintues later 16.9 oz. bottle of Water

lunch

a turkey sandwich with pretzels or a small bowl of Chili from Wendy's or leftovers from the night before or some Lean Cuisine meal

SNACK

1/2 of a protein bar: Special K chocolate Peanut Butter or Atkins Advantage Caramel Fudge Brownie 30 minutes later 16.9 oz. bottle Water (usually with a Special K protein water add in)

WORKOUT

20 minutes on weights then 25 minutes cardio (on treadmill doing Couch to 5K, on week 4) after 16.9 oz. bottle of water

dinner

a 6inch Subway sandwich either turkey or blackforest ham and Lay's light chips or Wendy's salad with grilled chicken (no croutons or pecans) or some type of meat (baked chicken or baked pork chop) with a side of rice and vegetables an hour later 16.9 oz bottle of water w/ Hawaiin punch or Crystal Light

My skin is okay so far. My arms are the worst. I'm still not sure if it's excess fat or skin, but it looks horrible. I got a little skin on my inner thigh, I think I need a Thighmaster. LOL! My stomach just looks bad period with the stretch marks and surgery scars, I'm sure when I lose the fat it's going to look like I gave birth to twins. I'm not too concerned about that though. I'm pretty sure I'll be going under the knife eventually. My boobs are so deflated and saggy. Other than that I'm okay.

[vickyd 24]

Great job!! You look amazing!!

[stateofzen 46]

Yay you! Great progress

[Coco's Mum 1]

ThankyouThankyouThankyou !!!! Oh my gosh you look great and I loved reading your success story !

[Kimmypoo38 5]

Congrats! Your weight loss is incredible! Keep it up and you will be at goal in no time!

[GoSetReady 0]

You look fab!!! Keep up all the hard work. I love reading what everyone is eating and what they are doing for exercise. Gorgeous!!!!

[JennB33 0]

You look great, and are an inspiration to all of us! I'm 4 weeks post-surgery now, and am so excited for the future! Keep those pictures coming, you have every right to be happy and proud of yourself!

[sassyfrass 24]

Wow! You look awesome! Congrats on your great weight loss! These good positive posts, with pics, especially, make me want to have my lap band tomorrow! :-) But I must wait a few months still for my insurance change.

Way to go. I wish you much success as you continue your loss.

[roziecakes 20]

WOW! You are truly an inspiration! What a great job you have done, and you look so GREAT!