Slow Users-Banded a year or more

hopeinapril · 09-03-2009, 08:10 PM

Hello!

I think I found the correct board! Most of the people that were banded the same month as I are getting plastic surgery. That is so far off my radar at this point!

My current goal is to get under 200. I'm really closer to it than I have been in a long time. I would like to get there by the holidays.

I agree with the other posts. I figure if it takes me this long, I should have some seriously ingrained habits about eating! I still have a brain that wants me to eat. At this point I am not sure that will go away. But, the good news is that I eat fairly well and the times I don't, the band is really helpful!

I'm glad the scale is gradually moving downward. I keep hoping that my skin will not sag much! LOL! I didn't tell too many folks that I got the band. Good thing, because not many would believe I had WLS. (just like the other poster said!)

marivan · 09-03-2009, 09:37 PM

I don't even want to think about my skin! I'm just pleased with the loss I've had so far.

And I wanted to share my NSV of this weekend. It is a first for me.

I went with my DH to buy a suit for an upcoming wedding. After we did that (and a lot poorer) I asked him if he'd come to the local "fat lady store" with me and see if there was anything I could find for my outfit. We went in and walked around and it was just so depressing. Everything was either grunge outfits (trying to capture the youth market) or for the over 60 set. And anything in between had big bows, big patterns or was just plain ugly.

I suggested we try the Reitman's store that was across the parking lot. It said they had some "Plus Sizes". I walked in and asked to see what they had in suit jackets for a wedding. She showed me a lovely jacket and asked me my size. I said I wasn't sure, what did they have? They had 22, 20 and 18. I said "I'll try the 22". The woman said, "oh dear, that will be far too large for you, try the 18" I laughed and said I'd meet her in the middle at 20. Well, it was too big! I tried on the 18 and it was perfect. I felt brave enough to ask to see some dress pants, we went through the same routine and I ended up with a great fitting pair in 18.

I CAN SHOP IN NORMAL STORES AGAIN!!!

For the first time in almost 20 years. I was so happy, my husband said I looked great in my outfit and I will be comfortable in my size 18 suit in Scotland at the end of the month. His family haven't seen me for a couple of years, and I was 293 then. I'm now 226 and I feel like I weigh 150.

I had to share. I've been on this plateau for seven months. I've lost only 10 more pounds since it started to come off again, but this is proof that our bodies are shifting that weight around and we are getting thinner.

Thanks for listening, and keep up your hard work everyone. We are getting there!

Mary

Doddie63 · 09-03-2009, 10:30 PM

18 WOW, well done Marivan. I remember you earlier post of setting the goal of "being comfortable on the airplane" when you went to Scotland. You will be very comfortable and should be very proud when you meet everyone at the wedding. What a trememdous achievement.
Doddie

marivan · 09-03-2009, 11:24 PM

Thanks Doddie,

You've been a big help in my being happy with the achievements that I've had, rather than upset while comparing myself to others. We turtles end up winning our own race in the end.

You are doing pretty good yourself, I see. Well done to you too!

I'll let you all know how I get on with my airplane, and the wedding.

take care,
Mary

hopeinapril · 09-24-2009, 08:49 PM

Mary,

How awesome! I am in between a 20 and 18. It will be so nice to shop in a normal store. Actually, I have been hitting the re-sale shops and size 18 is a tough find there! LOL, I will have to go and buy some stuff.

Have you noticed there is some serious variance in sizes? I have several pairs of pants in size 18. It's like the 3 little bears, one pair is too loose, one pair is too tight and one pair is just right...LOL

marivan · 09-24-2009, 09:41 PM

Hi Hope,

That is funny, I'm going to have to remember that one. And it is so true. I have been shopping a few times since then to get some other clothes that fit for our holiday (leave on Saturday), and I must have tried on ten pairs of jeans in one store. One pair was actually great, right length and high enough of a waist and not bell bottoms (that seems to be the style at the moment). But the 18s were quite snug, so I ended up getting a pair that were a bit too long in a 20. Well, now I've worn them two days and I'm swimming in them! I'm tempted to go back tomorrow and see if the 18s are still there. I can't take back the 20s as I washed them before I wore them.

But yes, I walk into shops and have absolutely no idea what size I am. It doesn't help that the sizing is so different from store to store.

I went into a Zellers store last Friday as a friend had recommended Fruit of the Loom as a nice type of underwear. They were all in packets so I couldn't tell what the sizes meant in reality. So I bought two packs of six and brought them home and when I opened the first one I burst out laughing. They were bigger than the pairs that I started with two years ago! I carefully folded them up and re-sealed the pack. I had to go somewhere I could actually look at underwear and try to judge whether they'd fit.

Aw, it's a fun dilemma though. I've managed to not buy any clothes for the past two years. I even wore my winter coat last year even though it was way too big. I got a few comments (kind ones) but with a sweater it was fine. I may actually try to get one more year out of it. Silly to buy a winter coat this year only to hopefully need another smaller one next year. But I've found some lovely stuff and I'm looking forward to strutting my stuff for the next two weeks in my new duds!

Take care!
Mary