MrsParris

Shelby, you look fantastic and you have done so well. You are truly an inspiration!

Wow, what an achievement! I am currently at 164 myself, but at 5ft.3in. it still isn't pretty. You look great! This is the second time I have lost a large amount of weight. That added to 2 pregnancies, and a c-section has left my mid-section in sad condition.

For me, if something gets stuck and I know it just isn't going to go down, I have plenty of warning. I don't vomit immediately. I have time to excuse myself to the restroom. I have never gotten stuck, then instantaneously vomitted. I was once in a situation where I had to wait about 20 mins. before I could throw up. You'll be fine. Good luck.

Carrie, Don't get down on yourself. I stayed in the 170's for 8-9 months. It sucked! I got discouraged but I never gave up. I tried everything I could think of to break out of plateau, but nothing worked. I bought a pair of Skecher's Shape up shoes. They were so comfortable that they motivated me to walk more often. They don't seem to have done much for my backside, but my legs are now super-toned. But, I still wasn't losing. I cut my calories down to around 800 per day. It was tough, but I was desperate. I am not really recommending it, but that is all that worked for me. The scales started moving again. It is still really slow, like only 1/2 lb. per week or so. I am trying to stay around 1000 calories per day now, but some days I still only do 800. Hope the personal trainer works out for you.

Shelby, That is amazing. I will never see a size 6. When I weighed 143, I was in a size 10. You are doing fantastic. The way I see it, to maintain instead of gain is an accomplishment.

Nothing wrong with snacking, just make sure they are healthy, and you don't exceed your daily calorie allotment. Hot air popped popcorn is my favorite night-time snack. I spray Parkay fat free, low cal spray butter on it, but skip the salt. It is delicious, low-calorie, & high in fiber. I also eat a protein bar as a snack sometimes. I feel like I am eating a candy bar. Special K protein bars are very good.

Congratulations on your 1 yr. bandiversary hubby dear!!!!! You need to post a new picture. You look angry in your boat photo. Currently I am at 167 lbs. and I easily fit into a size 12, but can squeeze myself into a 10.

Congratulations!!! It gets easier. Small portions and excessive chewing are second nature to me now. My views on food have changed and it has lost some of its importance. I still have cravings, but not obsessions. I don't worry about my next meal anymore. Good luck and stay focused.

You know what is right for you. I got tired of gaining and losing, the whole vicious cycle. The band is a great tool. The head hunger is much harder to work with. I still struggle. Good luck.

Congratulations!!!!!!! My first baby was C-section, but the second was vaginal. Unless there is a medical reason why you have to have a c-section, you might get lucky and deliver vaginally like I did. I was mobile almost immediately and in way less pain the 2nd time than with the section. Good luck.

Congratulations! Post some photos please!!!!!! I love before and afters.

I have been wondering the same thing. I have been stuck in the 170's for 8 months. I love the restriction that I have and I am scared of being too loose again. If I knew getting some out would start my weight loss back up I would give it a try.

Congratulations! I don't post on here often, but I visit a lot. You both have done so well.

I suggest chewing sugarless gum. It is helping me with the sweet cravings and it gives my jaws a workout. I even read somewhere that it burns a few calories.

Congratulations!!! I have had my band a little over a year. I am very close to my goal of 160 lbs., but I have been stuck in the 170's for 7 months. It has been slow go for me too. I keep thinking it will start moving again, but no such luck. I am the only person I know who has a 3-day stomach virus and loses no weight at all. Do you have any tricks or ideas to get the scales moving again? Thanks, Kimberly

OMG! Your changes are so dramatic! You have got to be so proud of yourself. Keep up the great work.

I want to reform my wayward ways too. I weigh as soon as I pee, then again after my morning poo, then again before I put my clothes on to go to work. I think the scales like to mess with my head. Like today, they weighed me more after the poo than before. How can that happen??????

I think these are too funny and too true!!!! I just had one cold scrambled egg for lunch today. My students have gotten accustomed to my strange eating habits and I don't gross them out anymore. They have even stopped asking me, "Is that all you are going to eat?"

Congratulations on setting your date. Make sure you save some $$$ for shopping. The day after my surgery I shopped for hours. They have some awesome shoe stores. I bought 9 pair, got stopped by airport security and had to empty out my carry-on which was full of shoes!

You will not regret getting a band. I lost 107 lbs. years ago only to gain them right back over a period of about 4 years. Now that I have the band, I know I will never gain that weight back again. It really helps keep me in check. I have quit losing right now, but it is my fault, not the band. I am not working hard enough. But, because of the band I have maintained within a couple of pounds the same weight for almost 7 months. For me that is a victory. My Blue Cross would pay for the band if I agreed to go through tons of paperwork, psych evals, weight loss classes, etc. Once I made my mind up that I wanted a band I didn't feel like messing with the insurance company, so I self-payed for the surgery. My husband followed suit and we self-payed for his band also. I just wish I had done it when I first heard about it 3-4 years ago. Since you will get it for free, you have nothing to lose, but your meds and some ugly flab. Go For It!!!!!!

Before my band I had severe acid reflux, like waking me up 3-4 times at night. Since getting the band all heartburn and acid reflux have disappeared. Even if I hadn't lost much weight from the band, just that one positive side effect made the band worth it to me. I am not going to worry too much about the posibility that the band could possibly cause an increase in cancer. It is interesting though and I would like to know if it is true.

Thanks for this post. I have been in the 170's since the end of May. I got as low as 170 then up and down. I blame all the vacations I was fortunate enough to go on and my own inconsistencies. I realize that the closer I get to my goal the harder it gets. I have recently upped the exercise and water intake and eating less carbs and I see the scales going down again. Congratulations on breaking your plateau and hopefully you won't be in the 170's as long as I was/am. I refuse to give up and I am glad to hear that you didn't either.

Congratulations!!!! 169 just sounds so much better than 170 anything. I have been in the 170's since the end of May. Mostly due to vacations and being inconsistent. I am back on track now, but here come the holidays! You will probably hear me celebrating all the way in Canada when my scales finally say 169.8 lbs.

I have been banded for one year. I still struggle with the head hunger every day!!!!!!! I got my band when I was 37. I just wish I had gotten one when I first heard about them. The doctor decides what size band you need once he sees the size of your stomach. As far as I know they operate M-F. I get my fills from a local doctor that performs lap band surgeries. I have only lost 55 lbs. since getting my band, but I lost 27 lbs. in preparation for surgery, for a total of 82 lbs. so far. The band is just a tool, and I have done OK with it, but also a bit inconsistent. I don't think you have to go back to the OCC for your fills to be successful with the band. Many bandsters use private physicians and the fills centers and have done well with their weight loss. Really and truly it just depends on the person and how committed they are to making consistent good choices and lifestyle changes. It won't magically make a person skinny. I tell pretty much anyone and everyone. Without my band I would still weigh 252 lbs. It helped me improve my quality of life and it was so worth the $$$. Five months after I got my band my husband got one too. Good luck on your decision.

Hi, I have been away from this site for a while, job stress, etc. I am so glad I checked in today. I need some morale boosting! I just made it to a size 12, but size 10 is my ultimate goal. I am in a major plateau and hopefully this will inspire me. I want to join in too.