msutton8

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I'm still slow and pokey but I have retained my mental shift since my last post in the summer. I am NOT a victim, food does not controll me and I can exercise like everyone else. Nothing is going to hold me back but me. If I choose not to work out one day, that is my choice and I have to live with that. But I will no longer sit by and say "oh I can't" - yes I can!

My loss is still very slow, but as of today I have lost 75lb since my highest weight and I really believe that I can do this. I may do it much slower than other bandsters but I can do it. I may have PCOS and thyroid making my progress a bit slow but they will not halt my progress, they do not controll me. I controll me! I have the tools to cope with them and I will do so!

Not sure people can realize what a radical shift in thinking this is for me. I have been feeling like a victim to my weight for almost 30 years, but no more! And that is such a good thing!!

So I'm slow but I'm getting there. Julie from one season of the Biggest Loser said it best "I may be the last little turtle across the line but I'm gonna look GOOD in my shell!" (lol)

I'm so excited!!

Finally after several years of feeling like a victim to my hypothyroidism and PCOS (I can't loose, even with the band it will be really slow, this is just how my body is) I finally decided to make a mental change and let that lead to some physical changes - since I did that just 2 weeks ago I've lost 5.5lb! in Two Weeks! ME? Before this, I was lucky to loose 5lb in a month or even longer!

I am being sure to eat in my calorie range, drink more water, with PCOS you need more protein than carbs so I'm carefully balancing that AND I'm finally exercising. I still don't feel I'm doing as much as I could/should be - but I'm getting between 30-60 min nearly every day and doing some weight training too. I hope to increase that a bit each month but with what I'm doing now, I've lost a TON in just 2 weeks. Why did it take me so long to make this mental change? To stop feeling like a victim? To stop telling myself this is just how I am? WHY? - I think I was scared that I couldn't do it, that even if I tried I would fail.. well I was wrong!

I am finally under 220! I haven't been this small/light/whatever since 1997! That is a really long time! I have only 18 more pounds to 200 and then comes ONEDERLAND - oh my goodness I never, I cant even conceive of myself under 200. I have been over 200 since highschool, thats over 20 YEARS! This will take another major mental switch to cope with and accept, but I'll start thinking of myself as under 200 and eventually my body will catch up with my brain (lol)

I thank GOD for my lap-band, without this amazing tool I know I would not be where I am. I need this, following my eating plan and new exercise plan to succeed! Anyone ever tells you the lap-band is the "easy way out" kick them in the shins for me - this is NOT easy, but it is so worth it! =)

On top of the world!
Melissa

Wow I havent updated for a long time!

Lets see, I've had my band for a little over 2 years now. Other than a few small issues (one overfill, some times with no restriction, few cases of stomach flu) I've been feeling really good. I am so grateful not to have had any major complications like others I know!

My loss is slow but that is partly my personal choices and partly my bio-chemistry.

I found out about a year ago I have PCOS and insulin resistance.. which means my body loves carbs, and loves to turn them into FAT!!! That combined with my major hypothyroidism, is likely what helped me get to 289 (not to mention the emotional eating) - but I now have all the tools I need to over come these issues, my lap-band makes this possible

I have to take thyroid meds and will all my life - with my PCOS/insulin issues I need to balance my diet so I have more protein than carbs and slowly but surely I'm loosing.

I need to focus on eating with bandster "rules", I'm slowly increasing my exercise and while I will never be a fan, its not so bad =)

In 2 years I've lost 65lb and gone from a size 32 top to a 20, and a size 26 pant to 18 - I know this will take me longer than most but I'm not giving up and I am certainly not going to stop!

Oh my goodness what a difference! I got my band 5/10/07 and have lost 55lb since my heaviest weight! If you look at my photos you can see how unhealthy and heavy I was at 289 - now today at 232 I feel SO much better, I have a face again, I have a waist again! I'm not even close to done with myself but I am thrilled with the changes.

I'm still a slow looser but I finally have really good restriction and am getting some exercise every week, it has made a huge difference. I would make this choice again a thousand times!

Well I am enjoying exercise more and getting in at least 3 workouts a week. I joined the Biggest Loser class at my gym and it is kickin my butt - but its fun and really motivating!

I am a slow loser, even for the band. Realized its my major hypothyroidism that is slowing me down, but I refuse to give up just because I'm in the turtle-club. I am still loosing, I am feeling good, my renfaire costume is now so big on me I can't wear it! 

Some loose fast, some loose slow, but I am getting smaller every week and that makes me happy!!!

It is time - I knew the band was not going to solve my problem by only solving the way I eat (which is MUCH improved) I knew I had to also exercise.

I have avoided exercise like the plague all my life but now i really must or i'm not going to have the success I want in the time I want.

Let me set a goal here - I am going to Hawaii for my 40th birthday, January 2009! So that is 13months! I can loose a decent amount, be strong and toned in 13 months!

I can and WILL fit in a wetsuit and take surfing lessons on my 40th birthday! WATCH ME!!!

** a pre-op messaged me today and asked about my experience - so here it is **

Hi there!

Well welcome to bandster hell (pre-op diet) =) - you are not alone. It is SO hard, but its very very good for you! Loosing this weight before hand shrinks your liver, gets your tummy all ready for what you're about to put it through and its great for learning discipline. I know I had none before hand =)

I had to do 2 weeks of 1200 calories, then a week of liquids beforehand and oh my gosh was it hard! BUT I survived it, and you will too =)

Well I'll tell you how mine went - day of surgery got to the hospital, all gowned up, IV in and even though I knew I wanted this and was going to be fine I was a nervous wreck! (lol) its ok to be nervous, this is a BIG change you're about to go through. NO more all you can eat pizza buffett, no more serious binging with haagendaz, no more food for comfort. Thats as big a change as the physical surgery. And I'll admit now and then I still miss my friend (food) but this is SO much better for me. I never would have lost weight without my band!

Came through the surgery just fine, they even found a hyatial hernia, repaired it and instantly my decade long battle with heartburn was gone - if nothing else that has been a miracle! I litterally lived on Prilosec OTC =) - not a lot of pain just mostly uncomfortable. But they will treat you great, if you're hurting tell them and they'll make sure to take care of it. Went home with some meds to take care of gas, make you poop and help with pain. 

I hated sleeping for the first 5 days because I didn't own a recliner. So I had to sleep on my back or left hip for that time and was pretty unhappy (I'm a tummy sleeper) so I slept sort of like a newborn (up down up down) but that passed after a few days (as did all that gas from the surgery) =)

Did just fine with my liquids in that first week, it was amazing that an 8oz protein drink took me all day to get down (grin), bout had a party the day I graduated to mushies though, let me tell you! I lost 8lb in that first week and another  the second. Once you're on food though that slows way down. Thats when excercise and your fills come into play.

I've had 4 fills and am finally at some good restriction! I'm loosing 1/2-1 1/2 per week depending on how well I follow the rules. I've learned how it feels when I'm getting full or when I might be getting stuck and try really hard not to do that to myself. It is a serious learning process that you have to go through with yourself, just listen to your body, ask the bandsters a ton of questions and enjoy the ride!!

This is the best thing I have EVER done for myself! I have lost a little over 36lb and am so happy! Even if this takes a few years I am worth the wait and am so happy to be on this adventure!! =)

Melissa

Well my 3rd fill has continued to do the trick. I have continued to loose between 1/2 a pound to 1.5 pounds a week and am really happy! I admit I have to eat more slowly and I really do need to make good choices but I wouldn't change it for the world!

I still need to work in some workouts, I'm certain that would spur my loss on even better and get those measurements moving. But right now I'm doing fine and very very happy with my band =)

here is how I'm doing so far

Highest Weight 289 - bmi 49.6
5/10 Surgery Weight 276
5/16 268
5/21 263
5/29 262
6/5 261.5
7/3 261 - 1st fill
8/14 260 - 2nd fill
9/18 260 - 3rd fill - bmi 44.6
10/13 254

slowly but surely I will win this race!

My 2nd fill was sort of a disaster. My surgeon was a bit aggressive and put in 2cc's, making a total of 4. I knew in his office I might be a bit too tight but I decided to wait and see. Well.. I couldn't eat anything, even my mushies. And by the next morning I was getting heartburn just from tea (and thats not good). So I called and begged for a slight unfill. He took out 1.5 that afternoon, leaving me with only 2.5.

Needless to say, I still really had no restriction. But I wasn't about to complain for a little while (grin). I had remained stuck at 260 for a month and, spent another month at 260 until my 3rd fill on 9/18/07. He put in another .5 (total now is 3cc in a 10cc AP band) and - BINGO I have restriction!

I am actually full! Easily full on just a little food! I am astonished at what I'm eating (and not eating). Now I'm not saying I'm at my sweet spot yet, because I can still eat about 1 1/2 cups - 2 cups of food sometimes but not all the time. 

Needless to say I am thrilled! I joined WW just to keep myself accountable weekly and watch myself. If I don't loose in a month or so I know I need another fill. I'm so excited to see how I've done by next week. I was even in a wedding today and managed the dinner easily. Just wish I could have gotten a "to go" box (lol)

Happy with my band!!!

Well I got my first fill on Tues, July 3rd. There was nothing to it. I wasn't really /all/ that nervous from reading up all about fills from the other OH folk but still.. 

Nope, slick, in out nothing to it, I'm not worried about any future fills at all, Dr O'brien didn't even need the floroscope =)

I do not really have any restriction however. I AM getting stuck more easily though. I had my first real slime/pb episode last Thursday and ICK I never want to do that again. I've found I really have to chew certain things, and I have GOT to slow down. I can feel it if I'm going too fast and not bothering to chew, that lump in my chest that hurts and .. well its icky. I'm trying hard to change these habits