gowalking

Thanks everyone! It just breaks my heart to read about others who struggle, who are fearful and question their decision to go ahead with WLS, and I just want them to know that we all understand the fears and anxiety but that given time, almost everyone will find success.

Interesting....I was like that pre-band. Was miserable when hungry but since the band, I never get that kind of hungry and as such, no acting like a crazed wildebeast. I like being this way alot more than the other, that's for sure.

I just wanted to mention that even with the fantastic loss I've had, and the lapband sitting there inside me, I am still and will always be a foodaholic. I was walking home yesterday from the grocery store and all I could think about was wanting to order a baked ziti from the Italian restaurant for dinner that night. I didn't....I had a chef salad instead, but oh boy was the urge strong. And this is not a once in a while feeling...it's alot of the time and I just fight it when it comes on and am grateful when the feeling passes. I guess I'm going to have to work this just like with any other kind of addiction...one day at a time.

Oh dear, oh dear....don't sweat it. You are at the start of your journey and you'll experience lots of ups and downs...literally and figuratively over time. I'm going to give you a wonderful piece of advice. Stop weighing yourself...or do it much less often. If you are following the instructions your doctor gave you, the weight will come off...I promise. In fact, even if the weight doesn't come off the way you expect, the inches will. Measure yourself now and again a month from now ...and you'll see what I mean. Also...look for those NSVs. They will tell you better than any number on a scale, how well you are doing. Good luck!

Thank you for all the congratulatory comments and good wishes.

I cab from the train station to the office and most of the regular cabbies know me pretty well. So yesterday I got into the cab and since I've been out a lot because of the hip replacement surgery, the driver hadn't seen me in a while. English is not his first language so I have to remember that he meant it as a compliment when he told me that I was skinny now and not big fat any more. What could I say except thank you... LOL.

Weekends are good for me as well. I'm busy the rest of January but open in February right now.

Welcome. I'm across the river from you in Manhattan. Good luck and keep us posted.

I'm wearing makeup again, and jewelry...nicer clothes, etc. And with the new hips, I too want to try physical activities I wouldn't/couldn't before. But the core of me is the same...and I haven't changed how I deal with stuff except when it comes to comforting myself with food. That I don't do anymore.

Well lisa, all I can say for me is that I feel so bad about myself if I eat poorly, and so good about myself once the urge passes, that I try to remember that the good feeling is so much better than giving in to the urge. Or as my therapist says..it the part of me that likes to be in control that manages the part of me that wants to engage in bad behavior. How's that for psychobabble...LOL. Plus...my hip surgery is still very new and my mobility without horrific pain is also very new and I can still recall easily, how bad it was before the surgery. This also helps me to 'stay in line'. I'm sure your hubby understands this incentive as well.

What a lovely and sweet NSV. As a grandma myself, I can so appreciate how wonderful it is to have a lapful of grandkids.

I was on the phone the other day with the pre-op nurse. I'm having a procedure on Monday and she needed to go over some things with me. While discussing my medical history, she was basically confirming what was already on her records...which included my last weigh-in which was oh..maybe 3 or 4 lbs. more than my current weight. But I heard her loud and clear when she noted that I was obese. OK, I thought...yes, technically I still am obese based on my BMI...but this obese woman is wearing a size 12 slacks and tops anywhere from small to XL depending on the manufacturer. This obese woman fits into tight spaces, airplane seats, restaurant booths, suway and bus seats, and pretty much anywhere at this point I suspect. This obese woman doesn't get stared at anymore, doesn't get dirty looks when she is out and about with her cane...because now this obese woman didn't do this to herself...oh no...she probably is recuperating from some kind of surgery or injury. Now folks treat me kinder...sad but true. Plus I don't feel as self conscious either... This obese woman shops in regular clothing stores..no more Avenue for me. This obese woman is not ashamed to wear a bathing suit anymore...even with all the saggy skin, I wear the suits with a skirt to hide some of that. This obese woman got her legs up on the shower seat today to shave. Such an ordinary thing unless you can't do it... This obese woman hopes to lose a few more pounds just so she is no longer clinically obese, but I'll take this kind of obesity any day compared to a year ago when I carried 100 more pounds than I do now and couldn't move because of the knee and hip pain. I've said it before and I'll say it again...one day at a time, one pound at a time...and watch how your life will transform as you do. Happy Saturday all! I got out today...walked slowly and carefully but made it out. It's cold but not like yesterday...it's a balmy 22 degrees currently.

I haven't had any fills. Just one of the lucky ones who is doing well without them.

Ren was your surgeon, right? I used her as well. Had heard Fielding was banded.

Yeah...that first taste of real food is beyond wonderful....I remember that well...it was the best tuna fish ever!! LOL!

Well...I had a shot in the hospital for the lapband but nothing once I got home. However, when I had my hip replacement surgery, that was a whole other story. I had the shots in the hospital, and in the rehab, and for two weeks after I got home. But the hips were a way more invasive surgery with a much more intense recuperation than the lapband. I would check with your doctor to make sure what he/she recommends for the lapband patients.

She's not saying anything new in her article. We all know that thin does not equal happy. All the author is saying is that she's happy with her size....and good for her. If you're happy with how you look, more power to you. If you're not happy with your size, that's when you need to change it. I had to lose weight for purely physical reasons...joint disease was ruining my life and I needed to replace the hips and at some point in the future, the knees as well. I was not a candidate for surgery at 267 lbs. so I chose to do the lapband so I could get the joint replacements I needed. I was basically happy before I lost the weight...but in tremendous pain. I'm much happier with my size now because I feel better physically. But again...this is not about whether or not I'm happier one way or the other.

Everybody is different in terms of what they can/want to eat or not eat. But just to let you know, I eat pizza and hamburgers...not often, but I do...and one slice only or one small burger..no more big macs or three slices for me. But...I did want you to know that you don't necessarily have to give up foods, but rather manage them better. And you can see by my ticker that I'm doing just fine with the weight loss so eating 'treats' every now and then hasn't impeded my progress. FYI, I was banded a year ago. Good luck!!

I was banded by Dr. Ren a year ago. Very happy with her and the hospital. I've lost 105 lbs.

same here Lulu. there's a bunch of us in and around the city working on getting together. Let me know if you're interested.

This will work for you as long as you are committed to changing some really bad, and probably life long habits. It's real easy to eat around the band and self sabotage. I truly believe that the band will work for you as long as you have the support you need, either with a professional or a group in your area, or even on this site...especially as it seems you would not have family supporting you. This is a journey we rarely make alone even though success or failure is almost always of our own doing. Do your investigating...be thorough, read posts on this site, talk to your doctor, and wishing you well with whatever decision you make.

Thanks for your support and good wishes. I know we're more than our BMI...LOL!

Right back at 'ya my friend. You have no idea how important your posts were and still are. I credit you for helping me to be successful. I know you'll deny it, but I'm telling you that it's true.

I put my calendar for 2014 up on the kitchen wall today and as I always do...I took a look at my calendar from the year ending to revisit the last 12 months and see how the year went. I was also able to follow my weight loss journey as well because I started my preop diet exactly one year ago tomorrow. How very appropriate to start the new year with a chance to be a new me, right? So...what I was able to see very clearly, was that the weight did not come off in a dramatic fashion. Well...the first 20 or so lbs. came off quickly but that includes the preop diet. After that, I saw because I weighed and kept track every Sunday, what my progress looked like. Most of the time, I lost anywhere from 1/2 lb. to once in a while around 3 lbs. over the course of the week. Most of the time, the loss was less than 2 lbs. And today...one year after I started the preop diet, those mostly 1-2 lb. losses per week have added up to a total of 103 lbs. so far. Now that's an incredible number I realize, but...and this is a big but....it came off a little at a time. Just goes to prove that it really is about taking it one day at a time, one week at a time and not looking too far forward, but being able to look back and see where you came from and where you are now. For those of you just starting out, remember this post, put one foot in front of the other, and keep your eyes on the prize. The goals you seek will come.... Happy New Year to all..and much success in 2014!