100lbs lost and gone for good!

[Guest guest]

Hi group! Well, I debated on whether or not to post this because I didn't want to jinx myself but it has been 2 days now and the scale says 180!!! Officially I have lost 100lbs. It is so strange to be 100lbs less!! At one point, right after my son was born and my thyroid messed up (I am hypothyroid), I got up to 300lbs. So all time loss is 120lbs! I would like to get down to 155 or 160. I can remember when I used to say "if only I only had 20lbs to lose" or "that lady isn't fat, she only has 20lbs to lose" like it was supposed to be easy. I know this last 20lbs are gonna be the hardest and that i will have to fight every pound.

What has been the greatest thing about the band? Well, I still think about food, but in a different way. Instead of wondering when I am going to eat and planning all my meals, I am now wondering WHAT I am going to eat. I think about the nutrition in my meal now. Protein first, veggie second, then possibly a starch. I can eat pretty much anything, including bread but I have to be careful. When I know I am going to eat bread, I know I will not be able to eat very much. Maybe 1/2 a sandwich and then I will get hungry sooner then if I had chosen a meal without bread. I haven't PB-ed in a while, and I think I have a total count of maybe 4 since being banded last March 05. The key is to know your band. Know how much you can tolerate, how fast you can eat, how much you need to chew a certain food. I have learned that before banding, I didn't really pay much attention to what I was putting in my mouth. Now I know and I am the last person at the table rather then the first to get up and get more.

I have enjoyed all the NSV's along the way, including some most don't think about until it happens to them. Hygiene is easier...and I wont say anymore about that LOL. I don't feel self conscience when I walk in a room anymore. I love shopping for size 12 jeans but still find myself buying bigger shirts over in the plus size section just because I like the style. I can't stand the shirts with no sleeves because I do have saggy arms. Which brings me to my overall appearance. My arms look terrible, and so does my lower abdomen. I want people to understand that no amount of exercise is going to prevent the loose skin if your genes and your skin type prevent it. But I am not thinking of plastic surgery any time soon. For one thing, no money. But really, at this point, it is just not on my mind. I don't recover well, I can't take pain meds, so I am a little afraid of another surgery any way. But yeah, if and when I decide, I would like to get my boobs lifted and my tummy done. The arms aren't that big of a deal to me since I never liked wearing the short sleeve or no sleeve blouses anyway and if I do get my arms done, am I going to want to show off that scar? I can see getting the other two things done because of physical problems. For instance, my back hurts and I am thinking it could be the weight of my breasts dragging me down. Plus, my "apron" on my tummy is probably going to cause rashes when I lose more weight.

Well, this has been long enough. It was fun tonight in chat, it felt good to talk to other bandsters again!

M

280/180/155

Lapband 3/1/05

http://www.tracyslapband.com