I've officially lost the first 10kg!

Stepped on the scales to reveal 98.4kg which means I'm now down a total of -10.4kg since the banding. I've hit the 10kg Mark!!! Ever since I have found the "sweet spot" the weight has just fallen off. I am feeling so great these day. I've been trying on clothes that I haven't been able to get into and I can fit into them now. I'm a comfortable size 18 now and am looking forward to being able to shop at "normal" stores like Suzanne's, Susan Grae, Jacquie E soon (when I have the money).


I had dinner with Mum and Dad last night and ate my smoked salmon and salad slowly, chewing lots, making sure that I didn't feel the need to PB. All went well and they didn't suspect a thing. My mum was talking to be about lap banding, cos she thinks it might be a good idea for my sister who is also overweight. I didn't say much at the time. She also said that My Dad wants her to "do it the hard way", like he thinks having a lap band is the easy way out. I just shut my mouth and didn't say anything. I don't know if I'll ever tell them that I have a lap band. I'm just not sure how they'd react. Number 1, they'd be disappointed in me for not telling them that I had gone into hospital and had surgery (which in itself is pretty crazy cos I tell my parents pretty much everything and we're really close) and Number 2, I think they'd think I had taken the easy way out and hadn't worked my butt off to lose the weight without help. I'm still in two minds about telling them. At the moment, I just want to prove to them that I can lose weight. Once I get to goal weight... I might re-consider, but for now, there is no way I could let them know. I feel bad for not revealing my big secret... but I'm afraid of their reaction. Does that makes sense??





Anyhoo, looking forward to a weekend at home with my Uni books to study for an exam next week. Hope you all have a great long weekend!





LBG xx

DOUBLE DIGITS!!! I did it!!!

Weighed in yesterday at 99.9kg.... GO ME!!!! I had to get on the scales a couple of times just to make sure that I wasn't seeing things... but 99.9 flashed up each time... WOOHOO!!!!!!!

This is a huge milestone for me, a really important one. To not be in triple figures anymore has given me a real boost and I feel like I'm finally on the weightloss train to skinnyness. Even though I have a long way to go... I have been kicking around at the low 100's for a while so to get past this hurdle has been fantastic. Especially cos I'm a bit down about my back pain and not being able to exercise at all.

Woohoo!!!!!!!

Total loss now is -8.7kg since being banded... only 1.3kg to go until I get to the 10kg weight loss.

Have a great day!

LBG xx

I've been MIA..

Not sure how many people read this blog, but for those who check up on me regularly you might have noticed that I've been AWOL.. Well, I had to go interstate for a bit for work, and when I got back I had University on the weekend, and then I've been in bed all week with my long suffering sciatica So I haven't been able to get to a computer to update for the last two weeks! Sorry!!

Today I went into hospital to have a steroid injection in my back to ease my pain so fingers are firmly crossed that I'll be back to normal soon.

Interestingly enough, because I was "sick" I didn't feel much like eating and my band felt extra tight. Which worked for me cos I couldn't exactly get up to go to the kitchen to fix myself something to eat!!!

I've lost 100g since last weigh in, after putting on 700g with the interstate trip, so I'm now at 101.5kg (on 30th May). I'll weigh in tomorrow for a more recent weight.

Anyhoo, hope you are all doing great... banded or soon-to-be banded!!!

Kylie - great news about your finding your sweet spot... you get it now eh? It makes it worth having the band.. and you get what the purpose of the band is, eh? Just remember, your brain isn't banded... and norti foods can still get through pretty easily!!! heheh

Take care all,

LBG xx

7kg gone!!!

Weighed in this morning and I'm now 101.6kg... Yaaaaaaaaaaaay! I finally feel like my weight loss is making a difference and I'm on the down hill slope to double digits. Especially since the last fill it has TOTALLY changed my portion sizes and rate of eating... It's like it's "hit the spot" which all your lap banders will know is that "sweet spot" that you try to find. Word of advice - if you still think you are eating too much, get another fill! I should of had this fill weeks ago...

I have my follow-up appointment with my doctor on Monday. this is the first time I would have seen him since my operation (other than for fills - which he does at the hospital). so I'll be able to sit down one on one with him and have a good chat about how I'm going. I'm not sure if he's going to be disappointed with my rate of weight loss.. I'm losing approx 500g / week and If I keep going the way I'm going I should lose another 15-20kg by the end of the year, possibly more..

I'm feeling great!

LBG xx

0.3mL, so tiny... yet so effective!

I now have 8.8mL in my band after visiting the doctor yesterday for another fill. I lost 2.2kg since I last had my fill, which was 5 weeks ago. The doctor was happy with my progress and said that he wants me to lose 500g /week which is what I'm doing right now... I still want it all to happen yesterday!!

So, I've got an additional 0.3mL in my band, and it's made a big difference. I was on liquids yesterday, and I made some potato and leek soup for dinner last night which took me aaaaaaaages to get through. Today is more of the same... perhaps I'll attempt some solids this afternoon... but for now, I'm happy and constantly full with small amounts of food. That's the whole point of the band right??

Why do I blog my lap band story?

I'm not sure how many people actually read this, but I do know that there are a few random people that leave messages telling me that they appreciate an "honest" account of what it's like to have a lap band. Big Hello to DARREN who stopped by yesterday to have a read and leave a comment! :)

I like to blog because I find it's a great way for me to think things through, journal my feelings and experiences and to keep myself accountable throughout my weight loss journey. If I didn't have this blog, I could easily keep my banding/weight loss a secret and no-one would know about it. I guess by putting it on here, I remain honest and truthful about my weight loss and also to give those of you thinking of getting a lap band an idea of what "real life" with a lap band is all about. I found (as Darren said) that alot of the weight loss surgery sites gave me a real positive impression about lap band surgery... that it would be easy, the weight would fall off and I would be at goal in a matter of months. But this hasn't been the case. It hasn't been easy. My brain is not banded, I'm constantly thinking about food, not only from a weight loss point of view but also because I have to figure out what I can and can't eat. I struggle each week to lose weight, because it is still sooooo easy to eat that chocolate, those chips, lollies, fast food cos it goes down so much easier. I have to work at eating a healthy balanced diet, watch my calorie intake and keep up a high level of exercise.

Do I regret getting the lap band done? Not at all, but it has taken me a long time to realise that the lap band is merely a tool and it will still take motivation, willpower and dedication to lose the weight. I hope those of you who are thinking about getting one done realise this, your weight problems will not be solved once you get a lap band - it will just make it a little easier and you can still cheat!!

On that note, I hope that I'm helping people make the right decision in their own mind to go down the surgery road - because once you go there, you can't go back - well, not easily anyway.

Have a great weekend!

LBG xx

Going to get another fill..

I can eat too much. I had lunch with Kat (another bandit), she barely got through her soup and I finished off 2 cups of salad. So while my meal was healthy, I can eat too much. So I'm going to ring the clinic today and book myself in for a fill ASAP. I hope they can fit me in for Monday! (just rang the clinic - booked in for Tuesday at 8am! Yay!)

Down to 102.3kg today, so that's 6.3kg lost in total. I want it to be more, but I guess I can't complain. I'm so close to double digits!!!

Today I'm going to Yum Cha for lunch today with work. Will be interesting to see what I can and can't eat, but at least it won't look sus that I'm not eating much because it's the whole pick off plates thing. I find that when that happens, everyone is too caught up in what they're eating to notice that I'm not eating much!!

Have a lovely weekend!

Erica xx

Back up to 103, but that's OK!

After a salt/pizza ladened weekend I expected to put on a kilo or so.. but it was only 100g, so I'm back up to 103.0kg and am aiming to go down this week. I keep remembering that my brain is not banded, so I need to constantly monitor what I'm eating (it's just like I wasn't banded!!!). I suppose I could do with another fill if I really wanted - but I find I've got enough restriction to eat a cup of food and feel full, sometimes I push the boundaries and force more in, which I know is totally wrong.. but I do pay for it sometimes. I continue to serve my meals on bread and butter plates which helps.

I am totally happy with my rate of weight loss at just under 500g/week. If I keep going the way I am going, I will reach goal by mid next year, which is totally ok with me.

Hope you are all doing well!

LBG xx

In the 102's!!!

Jumped on the scales to reveal 102.9kg... Go me!! That's 300g shy of 6kg I have lost since having the lap band operation. I've also worked out that I'm losing on average 500g/week which is what I wanted. Saturday is official weigh in, I would love to report 102.6kg tomorrow to make it an even 6kg lost in 12 weeks... wouldn't that be awesome??

Last night I ate some hot chips rather quickly... and needless to say my band didn't like it much... so I PB'd and was a little tender for the rest of the night. I had a delish smoked salmon salad (a small one!) and was full full full after that... It feels sooooooo good to be full. And I'm starting to get over the mental "getting upset when I can't finish a meal" thing... which is great.

Speak soon!

LBG xx

I've Cracked the 5kg mark!!! With 100g to spare!

Jumped on the scales this morning and I'm now on 103.5kg!!! That's 5.1kg down since the banding, and I'm now past my first goal of 5kg lost. It's taken a while but I'm happy with my progress so far.

My next goal is double digits - 99.9kg. Only 3.6kg to go!!

LBG xx