gowalking

Happy Birthday Courtney. I know it's hard to sleep and not hold the baby but it's just a blip on the radar. Soon enough, you will be able to do both. I'm very excited for you in having started your journey to a better quality of life. I can't wait for you to post on your next birthday and tell us how you are going to do something new and exciting this time around just because you can.

YES YES YES!! You must plan for these occasions. If you plan ahead, you can avoid the temptations. Make sure there are things that you can nibble on..even if you have to check with the host prior to the gathering. Better to eat too many carrots and hummus than buffalo wings or chips and dip or whatever else is there. As far as today...remember it's a new day. Forget about yesterday and just go about your business as usual today and the rest of the week. Don't get on the scale, don't guilt yourself out, just move forward and know that you learned a good lesson for the next time.

Be careful Lisa. You don't want to fall. A friend of mine slipped on an icy patch yesterday and wound up in the ER. Nothing broken thank goodness but it could have gone the other way. Very slushy and messy here in the city. Glad I'm working from home today.

It was very nice. We walked around the market and had lunch. I had a cup of lentil Soup and a half a grilled cheese sandwich. It was a real treat. He seems like a nice man....very talkative. Maybe a little too talkative. I didn't get to say much. If we go out again, we'll have to see how that part goes. Right now, it's fine but if I can't get a word in edgewise, it may be an issue at some point because I like to talk as well...

Sounds to me like you may want to talk to a professional about your feelings as related to the food. I'm suggesting this as I see a therapist for my food issues. I've lost a ton of weight and I want to make sure it stays off and the best way I cn think of achieving this is to figure out the root causes of my obesity in order to have coping mechanisms in place when I need them. Just because I have been successful losing the weight, doesn't mean I can't sabotage myself. I'm pretty sure that the therapy will help me to not do this. If you are depressed over your situation, ask you surgeon if he/she can recommend someone.

I usually avoid drinking with meals but when I eat out and order a glass of wine, or cocktail, I sip along with eating. Now..I have no Fluid in the band so I don't worry about being uncomfortable or stuck. My concern is that I don't have the satiety if I let the liquid move the food into the stomach too quickly. I usually eyeball the amount of food I'll eat and push aside the rest so I often have no issues with overeating. When I'm home though, I never drink with meals. I'm a rule follower in general.

Wow...you get to eat before surgery?? Lucky you! Like many on this site, it was liquids only for two weeks prior to surgery and about ten days post. Heck, I'd have me a rooty tooty fresh and frooty...lol!

Enjoy your football parties today my friends. Eat smart and have a great time. As for me......I've got a date this afternoon. Met a new guy who cares as little as I do for the Superbowl so we're going to stroll around The Chelsea Market (where The food Network films) check out the shops and grab a bite or a cup of coffee depending on how it goes. We've had some very nice phone conversations so I'm looking forward to meeting him face to face.

Worrying is normal. I couldn't imagine what my life would be like without the comfort of food. Well, my life is a thousand percent better. Without the constant hunger, I can control my food choices and amounts. I eat out, I eat all my favorite foods still. But I don't eat to excess and I am healthier and happier than I've been in such a long time. I'm living my life again instead of watching from the sidelines. I can't say enough how wonderful it is to fit in the world again. I'm not trying to sway you in any way. I went to a seminar and wasn't ready for surgery. I tried to diet for a year and only lost 25 lbs. The second time I went to the seminar, I knew I had no choice anymore and went ahead with the surgery. I wish I had known then what I know now. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Well, the first rebuttal was from my bariatric surgeon.

Beautiful post @AvaFern.

Oh I'm so glad I didn't watch the biggest loser. I would have been fuming based on what you all are saying about the put down once again of folks who've had WLS. There needs to be a concerted effort to show that those with WLS are able to keep the weight off better than those who have not had WLS. Then maybe it won't be seen as the easy way out but the more permanent solution. I bet if there was a surgery to help alcoholics stay away from the booze, there would be lots of those surgeries and it would be called a medical miracle. Why oh why are we put down for being fat, and then put down for being successful in losing/maintaining a healthy weight. You can't win for losing I guess. F**K 'em all.

Thanks for the advice friends. I saw my PCP today and she agreed that another ounce of Protein at dinner is a good idea. She also has told me that I shouldn't lose any more weight at this point. Some of this is psychological as well. More to talk to the therapist about..lol. Lisa...your hair looks great. I had mine colored yesterday...same brown as always. I'm not nearly as adventurous as you. Justwatchme...I'm so sorry this is such a difficult time for you. I hope mom understands and comes around knowing you are doing what needs to be done to forge your new life. Arlene...I've never heard of Biotin making you gain weight. All I know is that my hair has grown back since I've been on it and I'm so glad that horrible period seems to be over. Not good when your scalp is showing... Have a great weekend everyone. I'm going to my son tomorrow to see ultrasound pics of the baby. April can't come fast enough for me. I just cannot wait to hold my grandson in my arms.

Another option out there to try to quit is Wellbutrin. I was a pack a day smoker for 30 years and also loved to smoke. I never even tried to quit. My PCP told me I was starting to show signs of respiratory distress back in 2006 and said I had to stop. I told her I couldn't stop and she put me on large doses of Wellbutrin. In small doses, it's an anti-depressant but in larger doses, it helps stop the nicotine cravings. I stopped smoking in less than a month. It was a friggin miracle drug for me. And my last cigarette was in August of 2006. Of course, I gained an awful lot of weight because I substituted one addiction for another but I'm now smoke free and a normal weight. Good luck...no guilt trips here...as a former smoker, I know how hard a habit it is to break.

Same here. My starting BMI was over 50 and I too had to do three months supervised for the insurance company.

Guess what?? I saw a promo this morning for Entertainiment Tonight and they have a contestant from The Biggest Loser who talks about all the folks who wound up gaining it back. Now THAT is an interview I want to see. Believe me, I don't want to see these people fail, but it helps to reinforce my decision to have WLS if I can be one of the real success stories. And by that I mean now only losing, but keeping the weight off.

Hi friends. I have a question and would love some feedback from ya'll. I've been eating the same way since I was on solid foods some two years ago. Around 1,200 total calories and much like a Weight Watchers program. 3 oz. Protein, 1/2 cup of veggies, and 1/4 cup of carbs at dinner. Breakfast is often oatmeal or cream of wheat or a half a bagel thin with Peanut Butter. Somtimes I'll have two eggs or even Cereal. lunch is usually a half a sandwich. I also have fruit and 100 calorie ice cream or pudding for a treat after dinner. Because I have no Fluid in my band, I can eat anything so I'm very careful to watch my portions. I've been somewhere between 115-118 lbs. for a couple of months now and figured my weight was stable and I could finally buy some quality clothing without having to worry about getting too small and giving yet more things away. So...I noticed this week that a pair of slacks I just bought less than a month ago are a little loose. I get on the scale this morning and I weigh 111.6 lbs. I really don't want to keep losing weight at this point. I know that I've probably got at least ten lbs. of loose skin so when I see the scale say that number, it means I'm flirting with my weight being less than 100 lbs. Should I increase my protein? Should I go to 4 oz. of protein at dinner? I don't want to increase the wrong types of foods. I'm a carbaholic and it's tempting to go to 1/2 cup of carbs instead of 1/4 cup but I think that may be dangerous for me. I don't even want to increase to a whole sandwich at lunch...I know it's too many calories. What do you guys think? I know I can ask the NUT at my surgeon's office, but I wanted to see what you guys had to say first. Any feedback is much appreciated. Liz

She sure is!!

Hang on @endzone. You're almost there. Like I said in my post, it took about 50 lb. to go down 1 or 2 sizes. Now, 10 lbs. or less can put me in a smaller size.

Oh goodie! I like this topic. OK, here goes: I still walk like I have thunder thighs. My legs no longer rub together but I still walk like they do. Have to work on that. I still think I am too big to sit on a crowded subway train. I'm not and starting to realize it, but the brain still has trouble with that. I try on clothes that are too big. Thank goodness for a saleswoman at Lord and Taylor last week who brought me sizes 6P and 8P when I couldn't bring myself to look at anything smaller than a 10P I've started tucking in my blouses. That's something I haven't done since I was a young woman. I think people are crazy when they tell me I shouldn't lose anymore weight, or when my own doctor asks if I'm eating enough. I'm eating healthy...and not starving myself but it's still so odd to hear that when for so long it was comments regarding how much I ate, not how little. I bought some new 'fashion jewelry' because some of the things I had prior were just too big and chunky for the small me. It's not only that I've lost weight, but I'm short and small boned. I'm pretty tiny at this point and heavy jewelry overwhelms my size. I'm sure I'll think of other things but these are the top ones for now.

Oh good! I was going to text you today to find out how bad it was. I'm sure you know the storm was a big bust here in the city though I'm actually fine with it. Did not want my weekend impacted as I am seeing ultrasound pics of the baby on Saturday. Anyway, glad to know that you are all OK and you didn't lose power.

Glad you are getting help and support. I too am seeing a professional to help me with the psychological issues surrounding my relationship with food. As JustWatchMe said, 'one day at a time'.

I went through a ton of clothes. At the beginning, I was able to shop in my own closet as I still had smaller sizes in the back. Also...it took a good 50 lbs. before I really started to go down in sizes. But then I dropped sizes quickly and realized this was going to cost alot of money. I also bought way too much...I actually gave away clothes I had only worn once or twice...or not at all. I can't imagine what I've spent on clothes in the past two years. I agree with others that you need to go to sales/clearance racks and spend some time looking for deals. I bought alot of stuff in Target and Walmart. I found very inexpensive slacks from JC Penney and bought them over and over in smaller sizes. At $25 a pair, it was a good value and I could wear them at work or around the house. It's only now that I'm finally buying more upscale or quality clothing because I'm fairly stable weight wise. I just bought separates at Lord and Taylor. Tahari and Anne Klein for instance. I must say, there is a real difference between cheap clothes and better clothes. I don't mind spending the money when I'm happy with how I look in them.

You may very well be gaining some weight. It's not about how much less you are eating than before, it's about introducing food back into your diet after being on nothing but liquids. Don't worry about gaining/losing weight..not this early on. Just follow your doctor's plan for you and I promise, you will lose weight. Good luck.

..except she blames the PCOS for her weight gain. When she says later on that she makes some poor choices, we don't know if she means volume, or the type of food she's consuming, or something else. I knew I had to shut the program off last night and change the channel when I started talking back to the TV.