X post // Progress report

[Guest guest]

I'm posting with an update on my progress! While I was researching the band,

reading these boards religiously for over a year, and waiting for my insurance

company to get my doctor " in network " , seeing positive results from others was

very uplifting and kept me motivated.

I went in for my third (tiny) fill today and found that I have lost 54 lbs in

the 15 weeks I have been banded. I rarely weigh at home, maybe once a month to

make sure the scale is moving in the right direction, so my monthly visit to the

doctor is always exciting to see how I've done! I LOVE THIS BAND!

For me the journey has been easier than I expected. I have little fill, (1.15)

as of today, and have no trouble eating whatever I want. Of course, I am

choosing foods wisely 90% of the time and avoiding bread, pasta, rice, potatoes,

etc.. I believe in keeping my band as " loose " as I possibly can while losing

weight steadily. I have not barfed in many, many years (she says knocking on

wood), and do not wish to start now, so loose is good for me. Honestly, it

might be the idea of barfing that keeps me on track. If I choose the wrong

foods, I would probably not be loosing well, thus needing a tighter fill, thus

the possibility of barfing.

Exercise is and important part of my day. I began exercising about a year ago,

in preparation for surgery, thinking that the stronger I was, the easier the

surgery would be. I have been doing hydro-training classes 4-5 days per week

for 11 months, and have recently started hiking for about an hour 2 days per

week at a local mountain preserve. Sometimes when watching TV at night, I get

out my 5 lb weights and work on my triceps, or march in place holding the

weights, just to get an extra 15-30 minutes of movement to light up my

metabolism.

One weird thing I've been thinking about lately: I sometimes feel fatter now

than 54 lbs ago. I am in a bathing suit many times a week, so I'm used to

seeing the top my thighs up-close, and in mirrors. Before the weight loss, and

though they were a bit larger, my thighs were smooth. Now, those same thighs

look lumpy and a kind of saggy. Every time a catch a glimpse of those thighs in

the mirror, I think, man, I'm gaining again. I once heard a woman who'd lost

tons of weight say her skin looked like it was melting. This could be the start

of my melt.

Thanks for listening to me ramble...but this band is the best!

Kathy V in AZ

8/5/04

Dr. Blackstone

filled by the fabulous