See what hard work and my band has done for me!!!!

You look wondeful, good for you!

Thanks for sharing and congratulations! It's obvious your hard work is paying off!

Absolutely wonderful!! kate

excellent job.

I agree on the exercise.. everyone tells me I look smaller than my actual weight, and it's because of the reshaping from exercise.

It looks like your job is similar to mine....desk jockey. I love the way I feel when I exercise. Just  out of curiosity, how long did you take off of work? Also, do you think you could have lost the weight without the band if you had incorporated your physical activity before banding? I don't want you to take my questions the wrong way, seriously, I am asking these questions for me. I have altered my eating habits and caloric intake, and I hit the gym (hardcore) at LEAST 3 times a week...soon to be stepped up to 5 times a week. I combine cardio and strength training, and I ALWAYS feel my workout the next day....I make sure of it. I haven't had WLS yet, and I honestly believe I'm doing the right thing by giving myself one last opportunity to give it my 'all' on my own, but at the same time I question myself. Am I wasting my time? I mean, I know logically if I keep up my routine, I'll come out on top....I just can't keep this little devil of doubt off my shoulder! Dang it!

I have no problem answering questions...that's what this forum is for.  This forum has been my life line.  I am on here every day.  Two years later I am still learning from veterans and newbies.   

Yes I am a big time desk jockey, in the finance department.  I go walking for 30 minutes during my break.  I am lucky because during bad weather I can walk the corridors at work.  I work in a huge building and the corridor is at least two football fields in length.  I know if you walk it 4 times it's a mile!!!  That's how big my building is.  On a nice day they have walking paths circling the lake outside.   

I actually did not incorporate exercise till way after my surgery.  I was very resistant to exercise...even after having trouble losing.  One of my regrets is not exercising sooner...but at least I am now.  I exercise 6 times a week for 90 minutes a day.  I do cardio and weight lifting.  

I think in my case I wouldn't have been able to lose 140 lbs without both the band and the exercise.  I have tried it without the band and failed over and over.  I need that band in me making me full after only a small amount.  Also, because of my band I really can't eat pasta or bread products which makes it easy to stick to a low carb diet.  I am a volume eater and would eat a medium pizza all by myself...now two slices is enough.  I have tried it with the band and without the exercise and I wasn't losing.  But with exercise and a sensible diet (no more than 1200 calories and 30-40 carbs a day) I have lost weight easily.  I have really gotten interested in organic and clean eating.  I try not to eat any processed foods...no frozen, prepackaged, or convenience foods.  I try to make all my food from scratch (which is not as hard as you think with a crock pot).   

I was back at work 9 days after my surgery.  I felt great and had no problems.

The nice thing about the band is we don't really have a "window" of opportunity in which to lose weight.  Any time you want to lose weight you just go in and get a fill.  I know a lady that had unfills when she got pregnant and got fills after wards to lose again.  So even though I stumbled and struggled in the beginning I can still lose weigh 2 years post op as quickly and easily as someone 2 weeks post op. I am losing an average of 1-3 lbs a week...sometimes more.     
 

I say there's nothing wrong with you wanting to try one last time on your own.  If this is something you need to do before you have surgery...then do it.  It will put your mind at ease knowing that you did everything else and this was your last resort.  It's not a waste of time...there's always tomorrow.  My only warning is if you see you are gaining rather than losing weight...don't waste any more time.  It's a lot easier losing 250 lbs than 350 lbs.  Sometimes we have to admit defeat.  You sound like you are serious and no matter what you decide I think you will be successful.     

 

I is nice to see some who has had issues with their band. I am on my second band and I am finding the wt is being very hard to come off. I have also recommited to the process. It is hard to keep up a good exercise program. I do alot of work at home. I work as a paramedic and do 12 shifts when I get home I do not feel like going tro the gym. So I do my thing at home. I do at least 30 min when I do which is about 3-5 times a week.
I see there is hope. Thanks for the post.
Laurie

Wow! You look amazing! And really? 218 in the second pictures? Doesn't look like it! Congrats!!!

That is freaking awesome!

Jean

 Congrats!  All that hard work has payed off! :)