How many are Happy and Sucessful ?

[CaroleK 0]

Am I successful? Yes, I think I am. Am I happy? Yes.

I have one minor regret. That I wasted time dithering about rather than actually doing something about my excess weight before I hit 310 pounds.

What do I love most about my Lap-Band? I love that I've been banded for 16 months. I lost 52 pounds in 7 months. Then I hit a super stressful and busy period in my life were I made a major change. My husband and I decided to leave Florida and move to Northern Alabama to be closer to my parents (who were moving there from Florida). He quit his job without another job lined up, we sold our house and bought a house in Alabama and we moved. We attended a family reunion, I traveled from FL to AL 5 times in 3.5 months to check on construction of our home. We kept an eye on my parents' house during construction and I argued with the contractor several times. I traveled to Florida to help my parents move. And we took a vacation back to Florida to see friends and family.

During all of that I gained weight. Yup. I bounced around in a 5 pound range. Some days up 2. Some days down 1. Other days up 4. But I never left that 5 pound range.

I didn't pay attention to what I was eating. In fact I ate out a lot while traveling and while my kitchen was packed. I didn't count calories. I didn't watch the nutritional content of my food. I didn't consciously limit my intake. And I didn't gain.

And that is without an optimal fill level.

It has taken me several months to find a doctor in reasonable traveling distance from my new home for fills. Now I've found one and I have an appointment next week for a consultation and fill.

In the days before my Lap-band I would have never made it though the last several months without gaining. In fact I would have gained a good 20 or 30 pounds during period like that.

If I had never had the band I would never have had the courage to make a change like moving from Florida - but if I had I'd have weighed 310 pounds when I made the move and the gained another 20, 30 or perhaps more pounds. I'd be living in this new town weighing 330 or more pounds.

So while I'm not a "success story" yet because I'm not done losing - I am a success because my band has totally changed my life.

[Jachut 487]

Me!

I'm at goal - into my healthy weight range so I lost 100% of my excess weight and am still losing very slowly. I'm in maintenance now, and have maintained below 80kg for about 5 months, its easy, I dont think about it, I dont diet, I wear what I want and I'm not even thinking about PS, I accept my body with its faults and its good points (I have a rather flabby bum, lol but I have great shoulders and collarbones) and I feel healthy, fit and well.

I never PB, I dont overeat or think about food much at all these days, I couldnt give a toss about Protein and calories and eating to a formula or plan, I just eat what I feel like when I feel like it and its healthy most of the time. I love running and go five or six times a week.

Best thing I ever did.