Support

I hope that I am in the right link. I have been told that I am not a canidate for the Lap-Band surgery. I honestly think that I can loose weight if I find the right support group. I have lost a lot of weight before as most of us have. I have managed to diet myself up to 300 pounds. I am huge and I hate it. The cycle has got to stop. I have a birth defect known as Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy. Last December I was checked into Hermann Hospital by two wonderful cardiologists. Dr. Rosales did an alcohol ablation to my heart when I was in 90% heart failure. My surgery took my "gradiant" from 160 to 0. Dr. Doughtery then fitted me for a pacemaker. I am doing very well, heart wise. I just want to stop eating the wrong foods. I know that I have not found what I am trying to eat my way through but I think that with the right support group I will be able to be successful, again. Loosing over a 100 pounds is very frightening and over whelming. I hope I have what it takes to do it. If not I am going to die a very fat woman.

Hi Dixie, I started out where you are now(299.6). I've lost 160 pounds with no surgery. I've used LA Weight Loss and working out. LA Weight Loss is a great program for people who need to loose a lot of weight and maintain it. It is a healthy, balanced diet. And it is a healthier alternative to WLS. I've not lost my hair or threw up or any number of complications that occur with WLS. And also, the support is great. I go three times a week to weigh in, have my food diary checked, and discuss with a counselor any problems or concerns. Good luck to you. Lynette

Hi there Dixie and welcome to the non-op board. Everyone can lose weight if they really focus on it. It is a simple formula, eat right, exercise and take care of yourself. Sounds simple, huh?? Of course it does. So why have many of us gotten so obese? I don't know the answer to that, I truly don't. What I do know is I am now on the path to rectifying that. I was 352 pounds on January 26, 2005, the very beginning of this year. I went on weigh****chers with my son and lost 27 pounds by April 30. In March and then again in April I had surgery on both knees. By the time I went back to my doctor in July 2005 to beg him for WLS I was back up to 342. My doctor wanted me to try something else. I was also dead honest with myself about where I was and how I had gotten there. You mentioned that we have all lost a lot of weight before. Well I hear a lot of people on the boards talking about the thousands of "diets" they tried and how they never kept weight off. I had never truly "dieted" for more than 20-30 pounds of effort. I had lost over 100 pounds in 1997 but I had also reached over 400 pounds and I could barely move. Cutting out sugar and walking 3 miles a day allowed the weight fell off because it didn't belong there. By the time I went back on WW, a full 8 years later, I had regained about 60 of that. I kept off over 50+ pounds. So that was my only attempt at weight loss that is worthy speaking about. This morning I weighed in at 254 pounds. By January I will have lost over 100 pounds. I didn't have WLS, I chose not to. I follow a low-carb approach and cut out all sugars and white flours and processed food. Another 54 pounds and I will be at my goal. You can do it Dixie, it's in all of us to do it. Regardless of the weightloss journey the success will be determined by what is in our head, our mindset at the time we begin. Please come here for support, it is a great board and a great bunch of people. Donna

Welcome Dixie, as the ladies have stated above, we all have been there and done that. We can lose the weight and keep it off with a program that works for us. Support teams as in this board is a great way to re start your journey. I urge you to read the postings and profiles for information and motivation. I know it will give you the jump start you need to get you back on the losing track. We can lose and maintain this weight !!! The support is here Dixie !!!! Welcome Welcome !!!!! Phyllis