gowalking

I'm smiling from ear to ear!! I do type on my pc with my legs crossed...lol! I cross my legs on the train when I can see myself in the window so I can stare at them. This is a great NSV and I'm happy happy happy for you my friend!

Oh Bandista...I love it. Ladies of the Sassy Haircut Brigade. I'm so excited to be part of this club for sure. I love you post as well. I know just how you feel, and so do most of the folks on this thread, and on the forum itself. I don't see it as vanity, I see it as pride. Not in a negative way, but in as being proud of how we look now...and wanting to take care of ourselves by eating right, exercising, and looking good whether it be a new haircut, or makeup, or nice clothing. It just shows that we care about ourselves and that's a good thing. I know this is very ambitious of me, but I'd love to try to have some kind of face to face with you gals (and guys). I feel so close to many of you that I'd dearly love to meet up somehow. I wonder if we can try to find a central location and make plans. How I would love to be sitting over a cup of coffee with you, Lisa, CG, Di, Tammie, and many of the other regulars on this thread. What do you say? Anyone want to give it a shot?

You may be swollen. I agree with labwalker...put in a call to the office. Not being able to eat solids is not normal. Good luck...let us know what happens.

That's what I was going to say...Chico's perhaps? I was in there a couple of weeks ago and even some of the 0 sizes were too big. Clothing sizes are absurd. I mention them in my posts so others can understand where I was versus where I am now but they really make no sense. I wear size 6P in slacks but size 10P in dresses. And in tops, I can range from petite small to misses large depending on the manufacturer and style. All I care about is that I'm no longer in plus sizes. Being both fat and short always meant that everything in the plus department hung like a nightgown or needed a six inch hem and the crotch was often somewhere around my knees. My sister has said for the longest time that designers hate fat women..even those that create plus size fashion for them and I believe she is right about that.

First off TMF, lot's of luck and best wishes to you on your knee replacement. As far as viewing the surgery, my doctor made me swear not to youtube the hip replacement surgery. He said it was brutal and there was no good reason for me to watch it. I never have and I'm glad. Try to forget what you saw, OK? Keep us posted on your recovery.

I was on vacation last week and found myself less than compliant. I didn't want to struggle like that but I found myself challenged to eat healthily as I was able to when I went on a cruise earlier this year. I was with my adult children and a grandchild and found myself no where near 'healthy' food options so I did as best I could. I had Cereal and fruit every morning instead of the egg/bacon/cheese sandwiches everyone else was eating. I tried to stay away from the 'snack' foods that were in the house...chips, candy, etc. I bought healthier Snacks like 100 calorie Cookies and pretzels to go along with the fruit. I figured I could minimize the damage that way. I chose a grilled lobster instead of salmon one night but didn't dunk the meat into the melted butter. I had 1/4 of a baked potato..no sour cream. I gained two lbs. over the course of five days but as my son said, 'it was a vacation.' I had hummus and pretzel flats for lunch yesterday...not a sandwich, and ate a typical band friendly meal last night. I'm trying to live a normal life by indulging once in a while but getting right back to my regular food schedule as soon as I can. I hope this becomes second nature at some point, or at least something I can control as thin people do and not find myself going off the rails as I often did prior to being banded. Just finished my salad with tuna and am so glad to be back to eating normally again. I don't like when I'm not in control of my intake. Just goes to show that it's still a journey even though I've been and exceeded goal for several months already.

I cut my hair shorter as well Di. We can carry it off now because our bodies are smaller. I love the short haircut on me and your haircut looks great too. Enjoy it!!

Try to take classes if you can. I find that much more interesting than just walking or biking or even laps in the pool. I like the new friends I've made and the interactions with these folks. I know they look for me on Mondays and Wednesdays and that gives me alot of motivation to make sure I get there those days...and Saturday mornings as well if I can.

Nothing's up with that Janice. A half pound is just a good dump away. Sorry for being crude but it could be anything...your tom, a full colon, too much salt last night...anything. Take it from someone who's been at this for a while...stay off the scale. It will drive you crazy. If you are being compliant, you don't need to weigh yourself very often. Pay attention to how your clothes are fitting or other NSVs. They're better than any number for sure. I list my stats just for informational purposes but I never weighed myself more than once a week even when I needed to get to 200 lbs. in order to have my hip replacement surgery. I've lost more than 140 lbs. and never lost more than 3 lbs. in a single week. It will come off, I promise. Follow your doctor's protocol and you will be fine. Good luck to you.

I too keep a list on paper as I start to run out of things. It obviously helps me to not forget items and it also helps me to avoid things that shouldn't be in the house. I did that whenever I was on a diet as well. However...I never wrote down Ring Dings or chips on my lists no matter whether I was watching my intake or not. It was just a mind game I played with myself though. If I didn't write it down, then I could say I wasn't planning to eat all that crap. Truth is I always planned on eating it. So again I'll ask how can the medical community not see this as an addiction?

I wish I could give you a crystal ball so you can see how much improved you will be. The best I can do is tell you that I finally gave in and got banded in January of 2013 for the same reason as you...I needed both hips replaced and both knees. I had to lose nearly 70 lbs. before even being considered a candidate for surgery. I lost the weight in six months, had the surgery two months later and now...one year after both hips replaced, I am nearly normal again. Yes, I still have issues but I no longer need a cane or wheelchair assistance. I can walk without needing to sit down every few minutes, I can climb, bend, swim, everything. I can do almost everything I want and I have my life back. I even have avoided replacement of the knees as I've lost more than 140 lbs. and my weight is no longer a stressor on my knees. This can be your future so think of me as your future and know that it is all possible for you. Good luck!

CG is spot on. Sometimes my meal satisfies my hunger and sometimes it just doesn't. When the latter happens, I know I have to distract myself and eventually the head hunger goes away..and the satiety often kicks in. Once that happens, it's pretty easy to avoid the urge to eat just for the hell of it.

Good for you! Hang in there...once the band gives you correct restriction, you'll be able to handle this so much better. Glad you see now that no one gives a rats ass about what and how much you are eating. They are much more interested in what's on their plate and not yours. I was amazed when I realized that very thing. Only the girls at work noticed...and they knew I had a band so I think they were very curious about my new eating habits. Now it's no longer on anyone's radar and they are all used to my small meals and small bites and no one thinks about it twice.

Come to our support group meeting on the 25th in midtown. We'll be your support! The info with the address/time is in the support group thread...or PM me. PS: Say hi to Dr. Fielding for me. Haven't been to the office in quite a while but heading back in December for another follow up.

I never saw it that way before. I like that you put a positive spin on it. I'll try looking at it that way instead of so negatively. Oh...and you were all correct...I got on the scale this morning and the two pounds are gone along with about another half pound. It's not even the fact that the number is back to where I was prior to going away...it's the feeling of not being in control while away. That's really what my issue is about at its core. Either I'm in complete control, or I'm totally out of control. The massive weight gain was me very much out of control and now it seems that I'm only comfortable when I feel back in control...like when I'm home and eating 'normally' again. Funny how I don't worry about eating out. Maybe because it's one meal rather than several days of eating out. Something to discuss with the therapist tonight...lol.

I hear you all. Thanks. I just get afraid that I'll undo all the hard won gains I've made since getting the band. I know how easy it is to sabotage the work we've put in and that's what scares me most of all. I suspect strongly that I will always have to be vigilant. I just don't think this will ever be second nature. I should ask folks online who are banded for a number of years if this ever gets more instinctive. I really do feel like someone with an addiction who's in recovery. Not that I've experienced it, but I've heard and read enough to know that those folks always consider themselves addicts....so why shouldn't I, right?

Not sure if I should say sorry or lucky you...lol!

Hi Julie. I was widowed 20 years ago. It takes time, but I promise you that you will be happy again one day. I don't necessarily mean with another relationship. That's a maybe or maybe not. But so soon after your loss, I know how hard it is right now to think that you'll be able to enjoy yourself and laugh again but you will....

Great pictures Lisa. You and Ken look adorable!

Sure was!

You bet! She'll be taller than me real soon.

This trip to Myrtle Beach is one year after my hip surgery. I still have aches and pains....having done lots of damage along the way, but I was able to keep up pretty well and walked around without limiting anyone. Some pics attached below. Me and my granddaughter...who loves me fat or thin...though I can't say enough how enjoyable it is to be able to keep up with her now. The pic of me heavier is from two years ago...and the pic of me at the beach...well, what can I say? I hadn't been to a beach in probably 5 years or more. Now I can navigate walking in the sand just fine.... Life is good.

You are beautiful my friend... inside and out.

Will post pics when I'm back.

With the family in Myrtle Beach. Having a wonderful time.