This is a pretty sweet forum! You guys rock, so much progress and motivation!
Alright so I've had a life long battle with my weight, tried a bit of everything from a very young age. Tried powder chocolate shakes from the time I was 10. I thinned out throughout middle school and early high school years. By the time I was a senior (2003) I weighed in at about 280. I wore a size 32 dress, that was hideous to my moms wedding when I was 16 in 2001. Started Atkins in 2003, lost 5 pant sizes (didn't have a scale so no idea what my weight was) went from a 26 Women's Plus to a 21 ladies Junior. Then life happened, I began working at a daycare, cooking and eating what the kids ate. Shortly after worked as a Care Provider for a youngish quadriplegic. The eating didn't stop, I ate out nearly every day, if I didn't, I made quick to eat boxed pasta - rarely any meats because they weren't affordable, skipped lots of meals. I did "curves for women" during this time and tried to limit the amount I ate. I did lemon water fasting. I was about 293lbs. I started full-time in college Fall of 2004, working fulltime. Then on top of all of that since sleep was "overrated" at my age. I decided to open my own online (and party) sex toy business. Other than a few sales, it didn't go far, as I didn't have the time to put into it. Feeling overwhelmed, I thought doing online courses would be easier. Boy was I wrong. I was so overwhelmed that everything but the full-time job collapsed.
2006 comes along, I was probably still about 290ish lbs. I began working full-time in a call center (sit down job) and still working part time at the care giving job. I then started The Six Week Body Makeover diet plan, started walking daily as I took on a newspaper route, I was feeling pretty good about myself. I was losing weight like crazy, eating a ton and with my daily workouts I was toning. At this point I don't know what happened.
FastForward to 2008, desperate for help weight has jumped to 354lbs. I couldn't walk 10 feet without breathing heavy, I'm sure I had sleep apnea, I was in misery, none of my clothes fit. My double chin rested on my chest. I hated myself. My primary care physician suggested weight loss surgery and I hated him for it. I didn't believe in surgery to remedy my weight problems, I was going to do it on my own. I don't know what prompted me to go to a seminar for LapBand, or what further prompted me to go through the motions of getting all the dr. clearances or having the surgery other than I thought it would be a miracle weight loss program.
I had the surgery March 28, 2008. I lost 14 lbs, pre-surgery on a liquid diet to shrink my liver. Surgery was a success. I immediately lost 90 lbs total literally within 2 - 3 months, then nothing because anything healthy made me puke (If I didn't chew chew chew). gravy and sauce on everything became my comfort crutch. I yoyo'd about 30 lbs for three years and then finally I've been able to maintain 270 for the last several months just by eating like a normal person and mild exercise. Like a bike ride in the cool of the evening during the summer or a long walk with the dogs. I'm done with being 270, Its now time for me to be healthy and take control of my life. Forgetting the band rules and doing a strict low carb diet. I'm excited to see change!
Woot! You all Rock, I'm excited to see everyones Journeys and hope you enjoyed reading mine. Feel free to ask questions. I could write a novel out of my dieting experiences.
My Story * Slimfast - LapBand - Atkins
