gowalking

Dr. Ren did my surgery as well and I've been thrilled with the outcome. She is a very lovely woman and I have a great relationship with her.

Stephanie..I had both hips replaced and the pool was a life saver for me. Check with your doctor about when you can go in the water and find a gym or a Y with a pool. I both swim laps and do water exercise classes. It's great for resistance but easy on the joints due to the buoyancy.

How are things across the pond Maddie? I think I just might have to make another trip over to your neck of the woods again. Maybe I'll explore other parts of the UK. Have always wanted to see the Yorkshire area and Scotland.

I basically follow a Weight Watchers type of diet. Portion control and consume daily 3-4 oz. Protein, 1/2 cup vegs and 1/4 cup carbs for lunch and dinner. Stuck to 3 oz only while losing...now go to 4 oz protein at times as part of my maintenance phase. Eating that way and feeling satiety with my band helped me to lose 150 lbs.

I too have taken this journey in my later 50s and after 150 lbs. lost, I can tell you that it is a learning experience. Stick with less expensive options while you are losing. This way, when you no longer fit it an outfit, it won't feel like a waste of money when you put it aside and if it's not a good look for you, again..the cost won't be such an issue. I bought things plenty of times that once home, I said to myself, 'what was I thinking??'. These days however, I get lots of compliments on my clothing. It's a learning curve but you will over time, get to know what works for you and what doesn't. The best part....is that shopping is now fun for me. I love it now and was only three years ago, I dreaded it.

Hi Stephanie. We'll be your support group. Welcome back and feel free to use us to help you get back on track.

One of my favorites is hummus with raw veggies. I dip the carrot or pepper sticks into the hummus and it's yummy. Lot's of Protein as it's base is chickpeas. Try it!

Oh honey...I'm so sorry he hurt you. I won't give you any kind or rah rah speech. Feel bad...cry..but don't lose focus on your health and weight goal. It will be so awesome as the weight drops and you look and feel better. Focus on that, OK. Hugs...

My story....I dated my guy for three months before being intimate with him. It gave us the time to get to know each other enough where I could be fairly certain that my skin would not be an issue. I showed him before pictures so he understood how heavy I used to be. I also date in my age range and that means he has body image issues as well. He has a bit of a pot belly and wants to get rid of it. He's not a big eater and he does exercise...it's just that he's 60 and age is the issue. By the time we moved the relationship to the next level, he was very 'into' me and what I look like naked is all about his head, and not his eyes. He tells me over and over when we are together that my body is beautiful and I know he means it. He doesn't see, or doesn't care about the saggy boobs, saggy belly, saggy legs. I have to tell the OP that she shouldn't worry so much..because age appropriate men do not expect a model's body. Far from it in fact. He makes me feel beautiful and desired so plastics is the last thing on my mind. If you do plastics, do it for you...and not for a man.

For me...it's an obese sibling. I'm very close to my sister and we were the fat girls for a long time. Now I'm not fat and she still is. I don't care what she looks like but I worry about her health as does my brother. He got into running a few years ago and is in the best shape of his life. I am much healthier now...even my children no longer worry about me as they once did. But my sister is not on the same page as me...and I don't know if she will ever be. We always planned to retire and live near each other in Florida and now I'm not so sure she will grow old with me. I love her dearly but know that I cannot come on strong about this. She will succeed only if she makes the decision herself to lose the weight...but I hope she does. When we walked the Brooklyn Bridge a couple of weeks ago, we had to stop about 1/3 of the way because sis and I were walking and talking and I forgot how hard it is to do that when you can't catch your breath. I had to wait for her to rest. The fact that I didn't need to, and she did, did not make me feel good at all. It only served to make me more concerned about her health. I don't know what, if anything, I can do...so I love her and hope that she takes control of her situation and we become two skinny minnies together.

The lapband gave me quality of life again. There are certain dates I'll always remember. My birthday of course, my kids birthdays, my wedding anniversary, even the day I lost my darling husband. All of them dates of great importance in my life. I've also included the day my life changed for the better though I didn't know it yet....January 14th, 2013. The day my band was placed.

Professionals know to not talk at all. Yes...I love massages and I know what you are going through. I used to have to tuck my hands under my thighs so as not to have my hands and arms fall of the sides of the table. Now I fit fine and have all the room in the world. As far as the loose skin, forget about it. The massueuse has seen it all and will know you are a WLS person. So what...just enjoy it.

Went out for lunch yesterday with the fella and we were both pretty hungry. Everything looked yummy but I suggested we have two items, and see how hungry we still were and to go from there. So we shared a pitcher of white sangria, a small guoc, and nachos appetizer. Turns out that was enough. Never even bothered ordering anything else. Plus...it turned out to satisfy well into the evening when we had some fruit and cheese to nibble on rather than a full dinner. I really do prefer eating this way. Haven't been uncomfortably full in quite some time and I have learned to enjoy not feeling the heaviness or the guilt that comes from overeating.

That happened to me a few months ago. I was at Talbot's and inadvertently wound up on the plus size floor. The saleswoman asked me if I was looking for a gift for someonw and I said, no I was looking for myself to which she then said I was on the plus floor and petites was up two flights. It was wonderful and I know how great a moment like that feels.

Well friends...I am back from London. I walked for miles and miles. I did the bike ride. I had leg pain and it was very discouraging but I didn't let it stop me. I saw everything I wanted to see. I found London to be better than I could have imagined. I figured out the underground fairly easily and was off. My sister got me acclimated and I was out and about with and without her. I ate too much but with all the exercise, only gained about two lbs. I told the guide who took us on the bike tour about how I was nearly wheelchair bound less than three years ago and he was truly impressed...and not because he wanted a tip either. You can tell when someone is genuine or not. He took the picture of me on the bike at the statue of Nelson. He said that I should send that picture to my surgeon and I think I will. I've attached a few pictures for your viewing pleasure.

Lisa, Ken, and I are headed to AC today to meet up with a bariatric group based in Philadelphia who are having their annual meet and greet in Atlantic City. We're interested in getting to know these folks...they are very welcoming to newcomers but I'm also checking them out to see what we might be able to take away from this experience to try to have our own meet & greet. I will be communicating with Alex to determine if a similar event can be organized for us as well. Just curious...let me know who on this site would be interested in something like this. We have people from all over the country plus folks from outside the US as well so some would have to come a long way unfortunately. I have however, seen on the FB site for this event today, that people are coming from up and down the Eastern Seaboard and even from Canada. Again...if you can respond and let me know if you are interested in trying something like this, please let me know so I can gauge if there's enough interest to follow up. thanks all!

FYI, this is the group shot taken yesterday.

Glad things worked out and you were there. She needed her mom yesterday.

Hi Lisa! I was heading towards life in a wheelchair. I had horrific joint disease and my hips needed to be replaced. I could barely walk a block, I used a cane, and I couldn't manage stairs. That was 2 1/2 years ago. Check out the picture I attached below. This was taken about a month ago. Yes..we really can get second chances.

When a door closes, somewhere, a window opens. I'm betting this is the beginning of a wonderful new stage of your life. Welcome to the site!

Hang in there. Once you are maintaining and people get used to seeing you at your lower weight, they'll stop. I had folks at work who seriously did not recognize me. I don't mean they said they didn't recognize me as a way to say I looked different/better...they literally had no idea who I was till I spoke. Imagine what that feels like. Unfortunately, our 'issue' is completely external. If you are an alcoholic, it isn't immediately noticible when you stop drinking. Same for any other destructive behavior. But weight issues are right out there and you can't hide whether you are losing or gaining. Try not to show your annoyance...most people are not being nosy..they are being (or think they are being) thoughtful. I couldn't wait till no one noticed my new body at work and I'm just about there after a year with no discernable weight loss.

@Daveo...I just posted the other day about being in a new relationship after many many years on my own and how I was surprised by that but I can echo lots of what is posted here. When you are happy with your life, and have lots to do and many different interests, the ladies will focus on that, and not your physical appearance. My gentleman is nothing like I would have imagined. He is of another culture than me and very ordinary in the looks department. What makes him attractive is our shared interests and the fact that he wants a lady in his life...but he doesn't need one. Desperation is very unatractive and that goes for men and women. We are both of that same opinion and have full and happy lives. That's what attracts people to each other. Find what interests you, and don't let the fact that you are alone make you lonely. Cultivate friendships and do things that you enjoy. Then you will be where you want to be when some lovely lady crosses your path. Good luck my friend!

I suspect like many of us, as the weight drops and you find a better quality of life, the loss of the favorite foods, or the loss of eating to excess will fade. As it says in my signature, being normal sized, and being able to do all the things I couldn't before, beats whatever is on my plate or on the menu. I also can eat anything so for me, it's all about choosing wisely and watching my portions. Even more than two years post-op, I can overeat if I'm not paying attention. So, I take the portion I know is band friendly or I divide up my meal into the correct portion and then I can forget about it and just eat what I've set aside and no more. If I have one of those days where I'm wanting to eat more than I should, I remind myself where I was versus where I am now as far as quality of my life and that's usually all it takes.

If possible, just incur the cost of bottled Water and know for next time to bring the flask. You shouldn't jeopardize your health or well being over this.

They've done 'real women' challenges before and there's always one or two designers that get all bent out of shape because these women have curves. I for one am convinced the fashion industry is fine with taking our money but really hates fat women. We've had a thread recently about plus sized clothes...and how awful the styles are.