I would like to know how you are doing with your skin removeal. and i would like to see pictures becouse my husban is in 6x.

First, get your head up~~You lost 100 pounds. Secondly, whenever I needed to lose and got stumped, I would change up my diet. Eat something new--and different and my weight would start to come off again. One thing I will mention, my nutr. lady told me to watch the number of deli meats etc that I was eating, those aren't really the meats we want to be eating. Now some meat is better than no meat for your protein, but I would keep venturing out to new things and see if something new will jump start you. Exercise is hard, to keep myself motivated, I carry a picture of myself at my highest weight~~I keep that in mind when I am feeling like sitting on the couch instead of heading out to exercise. I hope this helps some~~but get that positive attitude back and you will start seeing the pounds shed! Stacey

LapBand October 19 2004 I have had 4 fills since my surgery and have continued to lose weight - before each fill I have stopped lossing weight for about 4 to 6 weeks (Thats how I know I need a fill). I started at 315 and am now down to 165, I still have about 5 - 8 lbs to go before I start my journey of plastic surgery (arms, thighs, breats and tummy - and maybe neck). I am still restricted so the amount I eat is controlled though I still am challenged with making smart food decissions and continue to work on reaching for the right choice in fuel for my body. I do exercise - I do the gym/trainer thing, go to curves when I get bored with that and I found out that as a person of healthy weight I love outdoor sports - riding bikes, hiking, swimming etc. I don't recall at anytime in my journey gaining more then a couple of pounds - when my band was loose I could eat a bit more and surprise "did" so I would gain 1 or 2 lbs that is when I would know it was time no more waiting to see if the losing kicked in again. I was a size 24 when I started this journey and am now between an 8 and a 10 - I am amazed that I got here - when I first started this path I thought if I could only get to a size 14 I would be so happy - then when I got there I realized I that I could drop more and was on a good path of weight loss and exercise so here I am almost the 8 that I never even let myself dream of - WOW I could have really never thought. food restriction to me is 1/2 of the total weight loss formula the other 1/2 is exercise - but you have to do something you will COME to enjoy - just keep swimming, just keep swimming...as Dora say's (I do somethings sing that when I am doing laps - it works). I didn't like exercise when I started, but now I enjoy it and look forward (most days) to my doing something doesn't matter what it is just so I move and somehow the exercise puts me more in touch with my body and mind to make better eating decissions - I think it is basiclly the thought that "After that (the workout) I am not going to ruin it with chocolate cake!) Best of luck on your last pounds! I can't wait to get to my transition weight (what I call where I will have to learn to maintain weight, just the next step in the journey). Best, Margaret

Hi my fellow OH family I recently moved to Greensboro North Carolina {Guilford County area} and I am looking for some support. I moved from NYC and am no stranger to OH. I had my surgery October 22nd 2004. and have lost a total of 140lbs as of june 2006. Now here is my problem I have only been here for 2 1/2 - 3 weeks and have been eating like crazy I dont know why { is it the fresh country air}. I still cannot eat alot at one sitting but I do find myself picking all day long and since I have been here I have been doing alot of cooking. Its not like in nyc where if I didnt want to cook I could send the kids across the street and they could buy from just about any place to get something to eat and that really helped me keep my eatting down not having to cook big meals all the time just my own and I basically kept on track. So I weighed myself last night and to my surprise I have already gained 11 lbs wow!!!! I couldnt believe it. I realized I was starting to gain, my back was hurting me every night and I could feel some difference and see it in my stomach{looks like Im pregnant lol} all of a sudden.I thought it was gas or something. So as of this morning I searched for the Plateau Buster Diet and am under way. But question is is this what is going to get me back on track? or is there something else I should be doing. today I can say I have been very good and I drinking alot of water and everything. I feel like I have failed myself and I dont want to go backwards really in tears last night I couldnt believe I had fallen off the wagon {as I call it lol} and I am questioning if I can get back on the right track after allowing myself to go wrong. I hope I am not just rambling and someone can understand where I am coming from with all of this. I need to know if there are any support groups in the morning or during the day in my area and I guess I could really use a friend in my area I can call on for mental support. Any advice please give it. I also would like to know where I can get good protien shakes here in NC I am still learning the area and if there are any recommendations on brands. I am really not a big fan of the shakes I do so well with everything else but the shakes make me feel so ill. Thanks for listening and I hope to get to know many of you. Sophia

I just posted on the Michigan board how I have gained 14 lbs since my lowest weight. I was at 260 prior to surgery and down to 158 and am now at 172. I'm so disgusted at myself. I can't let it continue. I thought maybe I'd gain 10 and stay there but no - it's still going up. I know how this goes. So since I'm not sticking to most of the rules I'm going to start back up again. I have to watch my protein, drink my water, and exercise! I have a beautiful, barely used treadmill. Plus it's summertime so I could walk outside! NO excuses! I'm hoping that I stop eating all the chips and crackers. I need to count my protein, & eat it first. I just got comfortable and went back to old habits. Patty