gowalking

I'm in. Also..I used to live in Orange County...Middletown and Monroe. Let's see if others are interested as well.

readysetgo611 is in Brooklyn. I think she might also be interested. I saw Huberman for the psyche consult the insurance company required.

Everything on this thread resonates with me. I've even started seeing a professional because I just don't know who that woman I look at in the mirror is. I never saw how big I was except when I saw myself in pictures....and now, I don't even see me at all. I see a stranger staring back at me. I knew I was fat, but didn't see it, and now I am not fat but still think I am. I went shopping with a friend a few days ago and went for the XL and L sized tops...she said they were too big and to my surprise, I took home medium and even small sizes. I still worry about fitting into booths, or squeezing past tight spaces, and just today on the subway, I saw a smallish spot where I could sit and the woman moved over a tad and I sat down. I fit fine but still apologized as I had always done because I thought I was squeezing her in. I wasn't....I could tell there was enough room for me, but again, the fat girl in me is often front and center. I'm at the stage where I am relieved that I'm not morbidly obese anymore but I'm not enjoying my new smaller size yet. I guess that will take some time. I also want to do whatever I need to in order to make sure I don't gain the weight back. I've lost alot of weight before but put it back on. There are times when I'm eating and I know I'm done...I get that too full feeling and I stop even if it's in mid forkful but there are other times when I know I could eat more than I should and I have to tell myself...it's enough...stop now. Losing the weight is just part of the journey...keeping it off is the real deal. Thanks for posting everyone...it always helps to know that what I'm feeling is not unique and many are going through the same thing.

Looking good!!

Believe it or not...Flintstones chewable multi-vitamins. They're not too big and not too chalky. My doctor said they were fine but of course check with your doctor before trying any of our suggestions.

good luck tomorrow. don't cheat post op no matter how hungry you might be. follow your doctor's protocol, and a year from now, you very well may be that thin mommy that you are hoping for.

I am very pleased for you and your success, I truly am...but I feel it's important to note especially for the new bandsters, that your experience is very much an anomoly. Most bandsters, even the very successful ones still deal with head hunger and have to constantly make good choices concerning both portion sizes and healthy foods vs. high calorie, high fat/salt, processed foods. For most folks, the band when working correctly, satisfies the appetite enough so the bandster is not too hungry. This way, they can control portion and content. But it is still at times, a struggle to follow the rules. I am a very successful bandster fortunately. I've lost over 100 lbs. and yet the past two days, I was at a friend's house and we ate out nearly every meal. I watched my portions and made the best food decisions I could but I knew between the couple of alcoholic drinks, and higher sodium content of some of the foods I was eating, I would get home today with likely a gain, and I did. A little over two lbs. but I also know that I'll drop those two lbs. over the next few days as I go back to 'regular' foods that I eat at home. I think that's a more common experience than maintaining a constant weight no matter what the surroundings or circumstances...which explains the fear alot of folks have around the holidays. Again B-52, this is not a knock on your experience at all so I hope you don't feel I'm doing that...I'm just giving my experience and what I think is the majority of folks based on posts I read. I can so very easily see how and why people fail at this. Head hunger is hard to control and folks can always figure out how to eat around the band...we know this. Every day, I have to commit to this new lifestyle and my fervant hope at this point in my journey, is that I can maintain my healthier lifestyle.

Totally get what you gals are writing about. I posted on the NSV thread last night that I went shopping with my girlfriend and got into size 12 slacks and was trying on XL tops. They were too big and my friend knew it. she kept bringing me. medium and smalls... which fit. I started out a year ago at size 26 pants and 4X tops. Oh and I shop at Walmart and Penney's a lot because I don't stay in the same sizes for long.

People who fail like to see others do the same. It makes them feel less accountable. steer clear of this person who in my opinion is not such a great friend.

I went clothes shopping with my girlfriend yesterday and fit into size 12 slacks...and several small and medium tops. I haven't fit into sizes this small in like 20 years.

Hi Hazel. Nice to see you post. I too am not in the chat room much these days...

Do not, I repeat, do not compare yourself with anyone else be it pre-op or post-op weight loss. This is your journey and no one else's. Come to this site for support and advice but not comparisons. Otherwise, you are setting yourself up for potential disappointment. Good luck, follow your doctor's protocol and enjoy the changes to follow.

Hummus is one of my go to foods. I eat it with a Weight Watchers whole wheat wrap torn into bite sized pieces.

Sorry you are not feeling well but a unfortunately, this is how we usually learn our lessons. Remember that as long as you eat and drink slowly from now on, you shouldn't have this discomfort. Feel better soon gals.

Same here. I've been going out to dinner alot this week and will do so for the next several days. I look forward to it because the band (as long as I listen to it) helps me to taste and enjoy without eating to excess. I don't miss the overeating...I focus on enjoying what I do eat and enjoying the much slimmer version of myself. I don't find it that challenging at all. In fact, I've had a blast this week so far and expect to continue it...there's nothing to fear as long as you approach it correctly. So far I've had Turkish last Sunday, Greek last night, Indian tonight, and will enjoy Japanese on Thursday night and Italian on Friday night. I don't expect a loss this week, but I don't expect a gain either. This I can live with..and hope to for years to come.

January 1, 2013: morbidly obese severe osteo-arthritis both knees severe osteo-necrosis both hips hypertension severe mobility issues December 24th, 2013: clinically overweight...but I know I look totally normal to the average person dropped six clothing sizes improved symptoms both knees hip replacments bi-laterally...no hip pain BP normal mobility vastly improved. 2014: improve my balance, strength, and endurance swim and bike regularly at the Y get off the ship this time when we go on our cruise this summer and walk on the beach, swim in the ocean, and anything else the family wants to do. ..and most important...stay healthy this year...and no more surgeries.

Hi Coach. Good lesson learned. Take a few minutes and look up the nutritional information for many of the big chain restaurants. It reads like a horror story...the amount of calories, fats and sodium in those meals. Now...I'm not saying don't ever eat at Applebee's but know that you should try to eat as smart as possible when heading to those types of restaurants. I don't know if you are allowed it yet, but a good alternative for 'soft' foods is fish. It goes down real easy and is a much better choice than carbs. Good luck on your journey!

Thanks for posting your struggle Ilene. I really appreciate it because like many others I suspect, this is my fear...that the 'thrill' of losing the weight will eventually wear off, and the old yearnings will be harder to say no to. It helps to know that a real vet like you can recognize a bump in the road and make the decision to get back on course. I know that I have to listen to the band...it's not automatic with me in terms of stopping and I do worry about letting quantity sneak back in or poor food choices overtake me again. It's funny...I have some holiday cookies and chocolate in my fridge at the moment but am so fearful that if I even taste either of these items, I'll open a Pandora's box. Yet, I have dessert when I'm out to dinner. I can take a few spoon or forkfuls and it satisfies. Like many addicts, it's the 'secret' eating alone in the house that I worry about most. Once an addict, always an addict I say.

I had bi-lateral hip replacement surgery in October. I got on the scale about three weeks later and was 15 lbs. heavier than the day of surgery. It took another month for that weight to come off and it had nothing to do with what I was eating. It was all about the swelling and fluids in my body that just had to dissipate and be reabsorbed. You are going through a similar situation. As long as you follow the rules, you will lose...just be patient.

Everyone is different when it comes to what they can or can't eat. I am an anomaly in that I have no Fluid in my band and that allows me to eat anything. What I do and have done in order to be compliant is to eat band sized portions and for me, that consists of basically a weight watchers type of meal program. Three ounces Protein, 1/2 cup of veggies and 1/4 cup of carbs and I look to stay at no more than 1,100 calories daily. I don't know that it will work for you, but it works for me. I also eat alot of fish. That's a very band friendly protein. Good luck with your weight loss journey.

See if there's any way you can reach out to your old friend to apologize for telling her WLS was a cop out now that you know better. It's anything but that....it's still alot of work and a real commitment. If you can reconnect with this friend, she might be a good support for you on your journey.

you got it! Have a good time today, enjoy the show.

OK, here's my take on it for what it's worth. I've thought about leaving more than once. It's hard at times to not be judgmental but to also help people to understand accountability. You have to be rational about the band and follow the darn rules...you just have to..it's that simple. If you want to fail, it's easy to do so. Even if you don't want to fail, it's easy to do so. We all know this even if we don't admit to it. And it's true...you see the same topics over and over. But I try to remember that these are not the same topics to those going through these issues/concerns for the first time. I do my best to recall how scared I was a year ago, and how this forum helped me to really get a better handle on what what happening. I only knew one person who had been banded and all she did was tell me how great it was without giving me the details I needed. I got those details and personal experiences here and I can't begin to say how much that helped me. Now almost a year post banded, I am fortunate enough to be successful at it, and as such I try to inspire those who are looking for said inspiration. Every once in a while, someone tells me how important my posts are to them and in the end...that's why I stay. Oh...and one more thing. I've made some really amazing connections on this site..and with people I'd have never met otherwise. I've made friends and confidants here..and that means alot to me.

Oh this is easy..... Miracle on 34th. St. (the original with Maureen O'Hara...and in black and white...not Turner colored..ugh) I cry every time they show the last shot of Chris' cane in the new house for Suzie. It's a Wonderful Life. I cry every time Jimmy Stewart opens up the book from Clarence and reads his note about having a wealth of friends. A Christmas Story. I laugh every time they show the Chinese Restaurant scene...especially as I'm Jewish and that was, and still is, our Christmas tradition. Movies and Chinese...a great way to spend the day.

Same here Wendy. I can't even imagine your pain and suffering. My sympathies to you. As Bandista says, this is an exciting time for you and you are right on the cusp of finding a healthier you. It's wonderful so embrace it all my dear.