August Bandsters How are you Doing So Far

[LadyBugRed 2]

Want2beme, can you purchase a small refridgerator for your room? If you can I would do that. I would also keep your food in your room. They can't take what they don't know about! Isn't it amazing how family is? My sister in law is now hell bent on "beating" me to show me that you don't have to be banded to lose weight. I have known her since first grade and it is always a competition between us. I actually stepped way back from her around a year ago. I see her on family occasions only. She also lives two blocks from me! Hang in there! You are not alone with the family issues!!

PS - Checked the scale today...I am down 1.4!!:whoo::whoo: 201.4

I am on first aid duty today but found coverage to take my 3 mile walk. Its a bit cold but I am going!!!!!!!!!!!

[LadyBugRed 2]

Hi everyone.

I just wanted to wish you all a healthy and prosperous New Year! Thanks for all the support and I look forward to being with you all next year!

[salsa1877 10]

So I have to update my goals, because, well... I am going to hit them a lot sooner that I had ever anticipated. With only 7.5 pounds to go, I WILL BE IN ONE-DERLAND BY THANKSGIVING! I should be out of most hideous flower patterned, jumbo sized print, plus size clothing by the begginning of the year. I am still working on the exercise goal. Now I should say that I will swim 3-4 days per week for at least 30 minutes. When I said that I didn't know if my original goals were realistic, it was because I thought that I wouldn't reach them in time, not that I would reach them a whole lot sooner! Crazy Ates, we are awesome!

So I took this from the goals thread. It amazes me how far we have come since just August. So far I beaten all of my original goals and am right on track for my updated goals. I went to Wal-Mart this weekend because I needed to buy some new shirts for work. Mine were all way too big. Just for giggles I tried on a pair of size 14 jeans. They were too big!! So I put on a pair of size 12 jeans and they fit. A little snug, but still wearable. I was so excited. I didn't buy them because I have been able to alter most of my pants to fit for work and need the shirts way more.

I hope everyone is very proud of themselves for what we have accomplished. Even if you haven't lost as much weight as you have wanted, you took the first step and that is always the hardest. Here is to no more dieting resolutions and to making healthy choices and exercise an important part of our lives.

[Candle 11]

Happy New Year everyone!!!

My resolutions are to exercise more and start therapy this year.

I was hoping to hit the -75lbs mark by year end but missed it by 2 days. Close enough for me!!!

I hope everyone is doing well and ready for all the challenges and sucesses of the new year.

[LadyBugRed 2]

I went to see Dr. Bertha today. He was happy with my weight loss. I am okay with it but I know I am here for the long haul. We will evaluate whether I need another fill or not in 2 weeks. He feels it is totally up to me. I need to continue on my journey and keep the exercise going as well!

[PigsRFlying 0]

Happy New Year! I plan to stay on top of my fills this year so that I can get to goal! I haven't been the best with fills. My 3rd one will be on Jan. 16th. Exercise should be coming around to help melt it off, I am working out with a trainer every two weeks and continuing on with what they give me.

[crazyace 0]

wow---you guys are doing great!--I haven't been here in a while--life is crazy---but I am down almost 60lbs!!!--yippie--I just got some jeans from the gap!!!!

I spent a month waaaaaay to tight and lost almost 20lbs in one month--but now I feel like I am in the right spot--I can't eat in the morning--really anything more than slim-fast maybe an egg-----at like 4 or 5 I can eat a little bit of real food--and then at night I eat a Little bit of dinner---some days I feel I can eat just about anything and a lot of food but then the next day thick Soup doesn't go down--my doctor (Dr. Ren NYC) said for me to have a routine--wake up have some hot tea or coffee--if it goes down easy then try some solid food for lunch--if it is hard for tea to go down stick with Soup for the day---

I have thrown up a lot--not just PBs--but really throwing up--I was way to tight---so now I know what that feels like

but now for me it seems like it depends on the day--one day I can eat a hamburger then a couple days later slim-fast makes me throw up---

I think I am very sensitive to the band and to everything that could make it feel a little tight---

after a fill--they say to do 2 days of liquids and 2 of mushes---I have to do at least one week of liquids--because nothing real will go down

It is so weird how personal this thing is --how every ones experience is so different

oh--I was banded August 13, 2007--312lbs--I am now 255lbs

yippie!

[salsa1877 10]

So this is a post that I made on the July Board, but I wanted to share with my August Board Family too.

The people on the Dec board are really having a tough time. Last night I was reading through all of the posts and was amazed that they were eating a week after surgery...and not good choices either. Not to mention the infighting on the board is NOT good. So I sat at my computer for a long time last night and tried to figure out what I had done that made me so successful. And I do consider losing 66 pounds in 5 months a success. After a while of reflection I came to this conclusion. I GAVE UP THE EXCUSES AND STOPPED BLAMING EVERYONE ELSE. Could I have justified eating right after surgery? Yep... I was 5 hours away from home and hungry. I was staying at my brother's house where I had NO TV, NO RADIO, NO PHONE, NO INTERNET and he works 16+ hours a day. But I decided that was no excuse for eating. Could I have chosen to not exercise? Yep...I work VERY long hours and in a very stressful environmnet. But again, not a good enough excuse. Could I have gained a lot of weight during my 42 days of being unfilled? Uh huh! But I knew that I could do it. My doctor and my nurses EXPECTED me to gain weight during that time, but I had made the decision that no matter how hard it was (and it was VERY VERY HARD), I was going to do this for me. This journey is not for anyone else...it is for me. And I am worth any amount of hard work that it took.

So this is more to any of the lurkers out there or even those of us that are regulars but need some motivation. Really look inside and decide what you have to do to become successful. This is a lifestyle change and only you can make the change. Your doctor, your spouse, and your friends can be there to support you, but you have to make that change for yourself. I love my band, but more importantly I love the way I have changed. I love the fact that I am responsible for my decisions now. There have been things in my past that may have caused me to make poor decisions, but in reality, I am here because of choices I made. Now I am successful because of the choices I am making. When we blame stuff on others I think in a way it can diminish what we accomplish.

I know this is heavy stuff, but I just had to say it here, where people really understand how hard this journey is. I am so glad that there is no fighting on this board. The support here has helped me so much.

[Candle 11]

Wow - you got me curious so I just checked out the Dec Forum.:faint:

There's a 3 page thread (and a few others) of people eating solids 1 WEEK out from surgery!! I really had to bite my tongue.

It really seems like a lot of people go into this blindly and/or not enough doctors are really educating their patients. Makes me wonder what the slippage, errosion, and complication stats are going to be like in about 2-3 years :straight

[salsa1877 10]

As you can see, I didn't bite my tongue! My band mom (IndioGirl from July Board) and I really felt after much PMing between the two of us that we couldn't not say something! So we did. We may get a bit of flaming for this but I didn't care. Sometimes the decisions we make can now be dangerous. I mean our poor eating habits were dangerous in the past, but they were long term dangers. Some of the things these people are doing are putting them in immediate danger. I was scared to death the first time I got to eat real food. I can't imagine eating after 1 week. Oh well, we all now my stand now!

[IndioGirl55 32]

As you can see, I didn't bite my tongue! My band mom (IndioGirl from July Board) and I really felt after much PMing between the two of us that we couldn't not say something! So we did. We may get a bit of flaming for this but I didn't care. Sometimes the decisions we make can now be dangerous. I mean our poor eating habits were dangerous in the past, but they were long term dangers. Some of the things these people are doing are putting them in immediate danger. I was scared to death the first time I got to eat real food. I can't imagine eating after 1 week. Oh well, we all now my stand now!

I am so proud of my little girl

[crazyace 0]

Wow---I took a look at the dec people---wow---I had to stop reading---who are these people's doctor's???????!!!!

Were they not told that after the surgery --it is NOT about looseing wieght but about healing???---it is ok if you gain weight--because you are drinking calories--Not eating real food---wow--and eating can cause all kinds of problems--alot worse than feeling guilty---wow--I really feel alot of people go into this surgery and other wieght loss surgery on a whim---I spent so much time reading and reshearching before I did this--and then I reshearched my doctor (Dr. Ren at NYU)---

wow I don't understand the December people--if the hoildays were going to be that hard---then they should have waited--this is major surgery and to be taken very seriously--

wow you can see why I had to stop reading.

wow

[valstar 0]

Happy New Year All!

I hope the December people read other threads to get some info and support. This is a personal journey so I wish them the best. I for one wouldn't want to take this step and not make it work for me.

Well, I didn't make my end of the year goal. I guess I allowed myself too many treats. I am trying to schedule a fill soon. My goal for this year is to stay properly filled and conscientious about what I put in my mouth. I am proud of my accomplishments but I feel like I could be further along. I am not adjusting my goals. I just have to work that much harder between now and valentines day. My next goal for Vday is 15 lbs more down. It would have been 10 if I was where I planned on being. So, I am doing a fruit and veggie cleanse for two days and increasing the Water and the exercise. If I do 2.5 lbs a week, I'll make it! Wish me luck and wish me wisdom in my choices!

Val

[valstar 0]

I didn't update my ticker but I made my Dec. exercise challenge!!:whoo:

[whosyadaddy 0]

Way to go Valstar!!!!!!!! Thats great. Im here alot but i dont keep on this thread much.

My update I was 344 this morning. On Jan 6th it will be 5 months for me. Im hopping to hit 100lbs loss in 5 months! Just 4 to go.