Every morning I'm forced with the decision of what to wear. I wear the same few pairs of pants and skirts and try to mix it up with the few shirts I have. I attend school in the morning and many of my classmates are young teenagers who dress as if they're going to the club, while I look like frumpy queen.

It's so annoying because when I look in my dresser I see the few fat clothes I have right along with the thin clothes I was able to wear only a year ago. When I lost the weight the last time, I promised myself that I would never get fat again and I donated all of my fat clothes to charity, except for the few that I somehow forgot to donate and continue to wear these days.

I'm just so disgusted with myself. This time last year, I had people, mostly men, telling me how good I look. Now look at me. I know the band is a slow process, but I'm so ready to just be able to look in the closet, pick something out, and be able to go. Now, it's just a daily chore.

First of all I want to say congratulations on your band. Yes it is a slow process but you can help to shape your body and speed it up a little. We will discuss that in a minute.

This is clearance time in the stores, they are changing over to the fall clothes. If you squeeze out about $15, I don't know if you have financial retraints, go to whatever stores you like....walmart...target....fashion bug...torrid....avenue....lane bryant....ok that's enough. You will find something you like around $15, I did, now I can't stop going. You don't have to lose weight to buy yourself something. You need to feel good in process of losing also. 1 thing, just one little top will make a big diffrence. Once you have lost some weight and can see it, you are going to want to do something for you. You don't have to wait, a new haircut, lipgloss, earrings, just do something small for you right now because you are worth it.

Your co worker, you could take her under your wing and you guys would be good for each other. You could start off by making her a walking partner or a exercise check in partner. That is when you guys don't actually exercise together but you let each other know what your going to do or what exercise you did do that day. Later, you may feel more comfortable with telling her. I tell everyone but that is just the type of person I am. I want to help others because weight is such a personal and lonley issue.

Suggestions to get the maximum bang from your band.

*Drink your water

*Take your meds and or vitamins

*Eat or drink your protein first and keep low carb, don't junk it

*Exercise everyday (walking is excellent soft cardio but if you can do more then do it, lifting light weights to start are great, just keep moving and make it fun, it makes all the diffrence in the world)

*Keep food journal and exercise journal (you can keep those here or go to the various threads to post it)

*Get your fills when you are suppose to

*Love yourself right now, tell you everyday you love you and do things for you to show that, ie eating properly, exercise, drinking your water

Big Huggs and Good Luck, you will do well. LBT is a great tool if you use it.

I agree 100% -- I went and got my hair cut - very short - it now shows off my 'thinner' neck even though I have only lost 17.5 lbs so far --- it DOES make a difference....