gowalking

Regardless of the error in the title, the before/after pic you have posted is awesome. Congratulations on being so very successful!

I know head hunger from real hunger because with head hunger, I want to eat sweet stuff, or graze on things like nuts or pretzels. I also know that I'm often in front of the TV when I get the head hunger. Real hunger comes when I'm doing something and I feel hungry and know that it's time to eat. When I have the head hunger, I do something so I can refocus and usually the feeling passes. I've often gone around the corner to get a manicure. Or I go up on the roofdeck with my Ipod. If I cn't get out of the house, I pick up my book, or go online.

I avoided children for this very reason. The only child I didn't avoid was my granddaughter. Either her parents told her explicitly not to say anything to me about my size, or she was one of those kids who didn't really notice. I suspect she never noticed because I didn't see her for more than a year when I was going through my recovery from the hip replacements. When I finally did fly down to see her, I was more than 100 lbs. lighter and she didn't even hesitate when she saw me. She just ran to me and gave me a hug like she always did. I just adored her 'non-reaction'.

Oh sweetie...my heart breaks for you. How brave of you to post this. My children might have been embarrassed but I'm not sure. What I do know is that they were worried. I'm the only parent they have left since their father passed away and I've since found out that they were very worried that I would die from my obesity. They no longer worry about this and the best best best NSV I probably got was when my youngest asked me to be guardian for my new grandson. That would nave never happened 150 lbs. ago.

I've met nearly all my NSVs so I'll not bother to post them. I just wanted to comment here that whatever you are looking forward to, know that you can have it all. I've been lucky enough that it's happened to me so I know that it can happen to you all as well. Good luck!

For me, a treat is dessert when I eat out. I always eat smart when I go out to dinner. Lean Protein, veggies, and a little bit of carbs. No fried, no heavy sauces, no 'extras' that load on the calories/salt. By doing this, I get to enjoy eating at a restaurant without messing up my meal plan. So, I allow myself a few fork or spoonfuls of some yummy dessert with my coffee. That's my treat without doing damage. If you like Chinese, there are healthier options than fried shrimp. If you want pizza, have one slice with a side salad. Or a burger without the bun. This way you enjoy a treat and don't sabotage your progress.

That's what my bariatric surgeon said this morning after looking at my esophogram. When I asked her about how thin my esophagus was per a comment made by the technician, she laughed and said that they're not used to seeing a normal esophagus. Most of the time because of band tightness, the esophagus swells. Because I am fortunate enough to have no Fluid in the band, mine is normal. I also showed the doctor my 'golf ball' and she said that needed to be revised for sure. So after the summer, I get a port revision to a lower profile version and she will tuck it under the muscle. I will be happy to have it gone. I tried on a dress yesterday and couldn't buy it because the port was really noticible. Happy days and I'm a happy lady thanks to my lapband.

Check with your doctor. Only he or she can advise you.

Sometimes you have to just suck it up and understand it was most likely meant as a compliment. Here's what happened to me. I was out of the office for nearly 8 weeks after my hip surgery. When I came back, I had some new clothes and had dropped additional weight. One of the cab drivers at the train station who had been driving me regularly to the office said to me, 'wow...you're not fat anymore.' Rude? Insensitive? Yes. Meant that way? No. The man was not born in the US and English was not a first language for him. It was a compliment regardless of how it came out and I just had to laugh and take it as one. Believe me...I am so happy that most folks don't say anything anymore about my weight loss. But there will be times that someone will say something because they simply haven't had the opportunity to see you during the process.

FYI Ladies, we're still dating. Last night at dinner I showed him a before/after picture of myself. Told him that if this was an issue I wanted to know now and not later as we are certainly enjoying each others company. He said I was very pretty in both pictures. I know it was a nice way to tell me he wasn't concerned. So..another step forward. He still doesn't know about the surgery and we have decided to take things nice and slow so I'm in no hurry to let him know what that thing sticking out of my abdomen is. He mentioned his own 'girth' and I told him I liked a man with some meat on his bones. And it's true. I feel safe and protected with a solid man. Yes....we've discussed this a bit, me and the therapist. I am seeing that I have a type that I'm attracted to. It's no coincidence that he has similar atributes that my late husband had. So did the guy I was seeing six months ago. Reminds me of Rod Stewart. Ever see all his ex-wives? They look like they could be sisters...

I'm actively dating but have not 'clicked' with anyone yet. So I think of myself as still window shopping and checking out the merchandise. I've been talking with one man in particular and we've made a connection over the phone. We plan to meet later this coming week. He's told me a couple of times that he's not exactly fit. I can tell that he is concerned because I'm slim and he's not. I have no intention of letting him know I'm banded...not at this early stage. But I wanted him to know that excess pounds are not an issue for me. So I told him I wasn't always as thin as I am now and extra pounds is no concern for me. Problem is...it feels like a sin of omission. I tried to let him know that attraction for me is all about making a connection...feeling comfortable talking, having things in common, similar interests, laughing at the same things, etc. I don't like to lie but I also don't feel that everything should be out there right away. I wouldn't tell a woman friend I had just met that I was banded so why tell a man who I may be interested in such a personal piece of info either. The question for me is when do I tell him? Some men I went out with did eventually know of my WLS and it had nothing to do with becoming physical. It just seemed like the right time to bring it up based on the discussions we were having. I have no idea if any of these relationships were potentially impacted because of this or not. I don't think so...but who knows. Besides...if being banded is a problem for some men, better I should know sooner than later. I just find it hard to know when to talk about it. Or maybe I should just do what I've been doing. Tell when it seems the right time to do so...or keep it to myself because I don't think it's the right time. I'm just concerned about this particular man...because it's obvious he's worried about what I will think of his body and since men are so much more visual than women, he doesn't realize that it's a non-issue for me. Amazing that I can be cool, calm and collected in all facets of my life except in the dating world. When it comes to men, I revert back to a scared 16 year old again even if it's in a 56 year old somewhat scarred and wrinkled body.

You are a very lucky woman @CanyonBaby. I too had a love like that. I lost him more than 20 years ago and enough time has passed for the grief to have softened to the point where I am able to know I was truly blessed to have had him for 17 years. Our sons are grown men now and wonderful husbands and fathers. That's some legacy he left. Every time I see them interacting with their families, I know my husband has left a mark that goes on long after he passed from this world. Just know that I have great hope and faith that your husband will survive this battle and you will be able to look back on this as one more challenge you both were able to overcome. Blessings to you both. Gowalking

this made me laugh. No my dear..no change anywhere else...and yes, I lost plenty of hair on my head. I even saw scalp at one point. Doesn't seem fair, does it?

This example might help. I went to an Italian restaurant for dinner tonight. I shared my appetizer which was mozzarella/roast pepper/prosciutto. I ate about half of it...so about a quarter of the full appetizer. Then had veal parm and spaghetti. I ate about 1/4 of the veal and two spoonfulls of Pasta. Then coffee and we split a chocolate mousse cake...which I did not finish. I am now really really full. This is not alot of food..at least not alot of food before banding. It's waaayy more food that I can eat comfortably though. Now...if I want to keep eating, I'll be able to in an hour or so. That's when self control comes into play. The band is not a magic 'pill'. It's still alot of work and dedication.

I'm banded but regardless, I also could eat a whole NY bagel at one sitting...and even another half if I wanted. These days, I eat a Bagel Thin (about 120 calories) or I cut a NY bagel into thirds and eat one third only. Some of it is knowing you shouldn't eat as much as you used to...and some of it is knowing you can't. Or, if you can, you'll pay for it by being very full and uncomfortable...and maybe having to bring it all back up. It's all about portion size, and healthy choices. If I was having the type of Breakfast you eat, I'd only have the eggs and one slice of bacon. Maybe half a bagel thin...or no bread at all. Then a piece of fruit...NO bakery visits. If the craving for a sweet was really bad, I'd have a 100 calorie snack. That's what you're looking at if you have WLS. All I can tell you is that just like it says in my signature, 'nothing...and I mean NOTHING tastes as good as how I feel both physically and emotionally now that I'm a normal sized woman. Good luck!

When I joined this forum in December 2012, I was morbidly obese and in so much joint pain that I was probably only months away from being wheelchair bound. I was terrified of surgery and terrified of what lay ahead. I expected the lap band to fail as everything else had failed when it came to weight loss. But it was my only shot as I needed hip and knee surgery and no orthopedist would work on me at nearly 270 pounds and with a BMI over 50. I decided my forum name would be gowalking because that was my wish..my desire, my hope. Walking, like breathing, is something we all take for granted till we can't do it. Then we realize how badly we are impacted when every step is torture. Many of you know my story so I'll do a quick summary. I was banded on January 14th, 2013. I lost enough weight by June of 2013 to get my surgery scheduled. I had both hips replaced in October and after a long and difficult rehab, and another scary and unexpected surgery, I am finally as mobile as anyone else out there. No...I can't run and yes...I still have pain and issues but I no longer fear not being able to get to the grocery store, or running any kind of errand. If I can't catch a cab, I can walk. If there's a ton of traffic, I can walk down the steps to the subway and move around underground...which is sometimes the only way to get anywhere in New York City. That feeling of helplessness and panic is gone. My knees are still with me. I am small enough now at 113 pounds that while I have bad arthritis in the knees, I can move them pretty darn good and have been able to delay knee replacement indefinitely for now. So...here's the big news. For those folks who have travelled this journey with me on LapBandTalk and now BP, I always said that I wanted to visit England and see all the sights I've seen on TV since I was a teenager watching Upstairs/Downstairs which was the '70s version of Downton Abbey. I want to see it all from Buckingham Palace to Big Ben, to a boat ride on the Thames to a day in the English Countryside. Friends...my trip is booked. I'm heading to London in July. I even booked a bike tour of Hyde Park, and St. James Park along with a walking tour of the East End and Whitechapel...where Jack the Ripper lurked. So I'm going to sit in coach on British Airways for 6+ hours and will be comfy because I fit. I'm going to walk and bike and explore and enjoy the city I've wanted to go to for nearly my whole life. For anyone out there who is starting their weight loss journey or struggling with maintaining or in the midst of a stall or doing really well as I have been fortunate enough to be, just know that WLS has given me a second chance at life and I can't begin to explain how truly grateful I am. The numbers on the scale, the size of our jeans, all the goals big and small that we set for ourselves as we travel this road together makes me feel overwhelmed with good fortune. I've lost 150+ pounds and gained back my life. I think it was a pretty good deal, don't you? One more thing....I can't thank all of you enough for being my support and strength these past two and a half years. I've made some wonderful friendships here and value each and every one of you. I did not do this alone and wanted to make sure to show you all my appreciation. I just wish some of the folks who helped me back in the beginning were still here to see this post and know how thrilled I am to finally say that I'm getting a big item on my bucket list checked off. Have a great holiday weekend everyone and thanks for reading this long, but heartfelt post.

Haven't posted a NYC picture in a while but now that the weather is nice, I'm out and about. This is the fountain at Lincoln Center. It's been updated so it's not the one you all remember from Moonstruck or even Ghostbusters. But you should recognize The Metropolitan Opera House behind it. Enjoy.

After a loss of about 100 lbs. and bilateral hip replacements, I looked at myself in the mirror and was horrified at what I saw. My lower body was badly swollen from the surgery and my skin on my face and neck especially, hung and sagged. My hair was falling out from the weight loss and trauma of two surgeries in less than one year. I went to see a therapist to help me with my issues and have been working with her for more than a year. Shortly after starting to meet with the therapist, I had to undergo yet another surgery for an unexpected health issue. I had now been through three major surgeries in a span of 12 months. Now that I am really starting to feel healthy and well, I have decided that for now, not to explore plastic surgery. My skin is loose where we are all dealing with loose skin. My upper legs are badly wrinkled, My upper arms sag, my belly skin and breasts hang and I still have a turkey neck though it's gotten better over this past year in that some elasticity has returned. Between my bonus and long term incentive payout, I have money to begin the plastic surgery process. And that is how I know I don't want to move forward with it. At least not at this time. I don't want to have more surgery right now. I don't want to recuperate, I don't want to deal with drains, compression garments, post op pain, etc. etc. I just want a break from all things medical. I knew I felt this way but last night, I was convinced. It was a nice evening last night and I decided to walk towards home after seeing a show with my sister. I knew I could grab a bus or train at any point where I got too tired to walk and I wound up feeling good enough to walk all the way home from the theater district back downtown. It was over a mile that I strolled. I know that's not much for those who walk daily but for me, it's alot. Especially as I couldn't walk a block without stopping before I lost the weight and had the hip replacements. I've learned to hide my 'flaws' well. I know now how to dress and how to use foundation garments. As far as being naked, I've also found out that men my age are not so interested in perfect bodies as they are in just sharing a bed and having someone to snuggle with. I've also realized that if someone has an issue with how my body looks, he's not the man for me anyway. I titled this post 'don't rush it' for a reason. My decision took more than a year to make. I was gung-ho for plastics right after the big weight loss but giving myself the time to get used to the new me, meant a change of heart. If you want plastics, go for it. Not my place to say one way or the other. I'm just putting my thoughts and feelings out there for those who are leaning towards leaving things as they are...at least for now.

I hear ya sister! I just divided up some chicken, meatloaf, and fish and increased to about 3.3 oz. per serving instead of being at exactly 3 oz. as If done for weight loss. I figure if I up my protein a bit, I won't look to up anything I shouldn't like carbs or even treats.

Well Sam..here's the problem with this. You are rewarding yourself by staying off the scale and eating more. I think this is a big problem we all have. Making food a good/bad thing. Yes...I know that most of us think of food as forbidden fruit. But we need to think of it as just food and not give it the power we do by making how and what we eat, the indicator of whether or not we are 'good' or 'bad'. I see it all the time...I was good this week, or I was bad this week and we always know the reference is how we ate and what the scale shows. How about instead of giving yourself permission to eat more, you just go ahead and do it...if you are hungry. And if you are not, don't eat more. I know that I am trying so hard to not make this all about the food. Not easy as I am a foodaholic but I'm trying. If I graze one day, I try not to beat myself up over it. If I know I haven't eaten mindlessly, I feel that I did well from a food perspective only. I don't try to make a big deal over it and work on making sure the day does not change based on how I'm eating. This may not be the response you were expecting or hoping for but I really do believe that for most of us, food is so wrapped up in our emotional selves that it's hard to treat it in an ambivilent way. It's one of the reasons why I see a professional every week. I need to talk about my emotional stuff rather than transfer it to how and what I eat. I'm understanding I will likely never be blasé about food but I'm trying to work on giving up all the control it has over me.

I ticked 'other' because none of the choices quite fits me. I know that I don't love to exercise but I love that I can...and do. My mobility was terribly compromised pre surgery and all I could do before was paddle around in the pool. These days I not only swim laps but I am also in the water exercise classes. I love that I have the mobility again to do these things but I don't think I'll ever be of the mind to think 'Hooray, I can't wait to get to the pool and exercise'.

Hi Karen. I know you are new to the lapband so please speak with your doctor and/or nutritionist and they will tell you as I'm telling you that you are doing amazingly well. If you don't like the scale going up and down, stay off it. There are a ton of ways to know you are doing well without ever going on the scale. How do you feel? How are your clothes fitting? Are you fitting into chairs, restaurant booths, tight spots? Are people noticing your weight loss? Can you walk faster, longer, easier? Are you not out of breath when you go up the stairs? Believe me...this is much more than numbers on a scale. Celebrate each and every day that you are following a good program and learning how to eat well and make good choices. This is not a race. You didn't gain it overnight and you won't lose it that way either. Please don't stress this. The weight loss is not a linear journey. You will go up, down, and stall at times. Just focus on continuing to do well and you will be fine.

Oh honey, I'm sorry...I meant Paris is on my bucket list...I only have a week in London and won't even get to Oxford/Stonehenge/Bath, etc. so I have to cross the Atlantic on another trip to make it to Paris. I will absolutely get there..I just don't know when. I'm hoping next year but haven't booked anything yet. Sorry again for the misunderstanding. I wish I could get to Paris this trip...

I'm getting to London next month Shel. Paris is on my list as well though I don't have a timetable just yet. But when I do get there, we'll meet up in a lovely cafe, sip on our coffees and hang out together. OK? Love ya! Hope you are doing better...I know you've hit a rough patch my friend. Liz

Thank you for all these lovely posts. I'm so excited to be able to make this trip. My son asked me to pick up a onesie for the baby that looks like either a beefeater or London bobbie outfit. I hope I can find something.