gowalking

Great! Just didn't want any of the regulars here wondering which thread we're on. I'm good with staying right here with my pals.

OK folks...CG changed it to 'Me'. I'm not sure if she's going to start another thread or if we stay on this one. CG darlin'....will you start a new thread or shall we just stay here?

awww...thank you.

Guess who's a tiny lady? Me. Yup...that word was used to describe me. The pic below is from my mom's birthday dinner and yes..the tiny lady is me. When we were out the day before at the Chinese restaurant, the waiter taking care of our large table was doling out hot and sour Soup and describing us as he was doing it. So he called my mom 'pretty lady' and he called my aunts 'blonde lady' and 'smiling lady'. When he handed me my bowl, he said, 'for the tiny lady'. Yes...I am pretty small these days and loving my life.

Same here countrysweet. My sister got annoyed with me because I kept asking for pictures to be taken from our weekend in Florida and my SIL told her that if I wanted to take pictures, I deserved to because of how hard I worked and how good I looked. That's a nice thing to say, but it's not why I have my picture taken these days. I do it because I need to start to recognize the smaller me. I also see the fat girl in my head though I am finally starting to recognize the new me. It's not been easy though and I see a therapist to help with my body image issues. It's understandable when one has lost half their pre-band weight. There are some pics of me at my heaviest. I look at them and then look at current pictures to try to get comfortable with my new body. It's still a work in progress but I'm hoping sooner or later, I accept my new reality. If you have trouble with this, don't hesitate to discuss it with a professional. Even if you can't find before pics, put up current pics so we can see how beautiful you are. Congrats on your success!

pizza is a once in a while treat for me. It's not that I don't love eating it, it's a choice I've made. As good as a hot slice of pizza is, it's so much better to walk into a place like Old Navy and know that even though the clothes are too young for me, I can still try them on if I want to. Shopping these days is much better than eating. I will need a new fall/winter wardrobe as the clothes I wore last winter no longer fit and I can't wait to start buying stuff!

Best tip out there is to log in all your food. It will help you get back on track ASAP when you document everything that goes in your mouth.

FYI, CG started a new thread...Lap Banders #1. Come follow us there.

thanks for the heads up Sandy. I'm so not looking forward to this but I have to do it...I should have done it when I turned 50 and that was six years ago.... My doctor is really annoyed with me...

Yes..many many ice packs...here and in Florida..lol. Enjoy your walk. I'm battling a cold so no pool for me. Maybe I'll bike a little instead. From what I understand, there are so many auto-immune conditions out there that many of them are undiagnosed and that's the big problem for the rheumatologists. I hope you find someone you can work better with. I've been very lucky in that regard. The pain management doctor I see has recommended many of the doctors/surgeons I see and they have all been top notch. Have a great day today hon!

My dear Bandista...I am the poster child for arthritis and anti-inflammatories. I'm on Cymbalta 60 mgs. now. It's working very well for me in that my lower back is much better. But I have joint, muscle, and nerve issues still. I was on Neurontin before the Cymbalta and it didn't help at all. I was also on Voltaren 100 mgs. for a very long time but finally went off it a couple of months after the hips were replaced. I am currently taking a med called Duexis. It's a combination pill that includes an anti-inflammatory and Prilosec. I know that NSAIDS are not a great thing to take long term but any med has risk. You have to determine with your doctor, if the benefit outweighs the risk. Right now, I need to be on the meds because I have some kind of hyper-inflammatory issue going on that they can't seem to diagnose. I see a rheumatologist as well so he can monitor my condition. The current thought is that I have some kind of auto-immune issue going on but they can't figure out what is causing it. My bariatric surgeon is aware of these meds I'm on but she feels the same way...for me, the benefit outweighs the risk. I'm also not filled and that might have something to do with it. Oh...and I've tried a few topical meds but they never really worked for me. My issues are too severe for that. If you have any questions about pain or NSAID meds, just PM me. Chances are I've had some type of personal experience with it.

Didn't look at this yesterday but just had to today. It really is all about the poop. What a challenge it's been for me since being banded. Who knew how wonderful a really good s**t could be once it became as rare as The Hope Diamond. I take a stool softener and a prescription med for IBS. I don't actually have IBS but the doctor feels it will help me stay regular. Well..turns out what works best for me is acupuncture. She puts the needles in my hand and ear and that's for digestion. It really works. Oh, and about floating turds...mine sink like the Titanic so maybe more fiber is needed. I eat my veggies regularly and I have salad once or twice a week so I'm not sure what else to do. I take Mirilax once in a while for bloating emergencies. My colonoscopy comes up shortly. All I'm looking forward to in regards to that procedure is weighing myself after being all cleaned out. Maybe I can get down to 120 lbs. When I was 16, I weighed 113 lbs. Obviously I don't have that body anymore but it would be sorta cool to know I weighed close to that number again.

If you're concerned about being able to eat the rice, go with sashimi instead. The fish should go down pretty easy as long as you eat slowly and chew well. In fact, if the fish is as fresh as it should be, you can likely get it down fairly easily.

I'm presuming since you are working with Methodist in Brooklyn, you are open to trying another practice not too far from you? If so, I was banded by the bariatric group out of NYU Langone. I've been very happy with the practice and the hospital. If you want further info, feel free to PM me.

Three days to recuperate is often not enough. It's still surgery even though it's laproscopic. I would discuss this with the surgeon but my thoughts are that this is not enough time..especially as teaching is not a desk job.

Good to see you back on the forum!

I also have alot of residual issues from all the damage I did to myself. Plus the doctor told me that I was moving differently than before because the body is now so different and it will take time to get used to the 'new' way of walking and moving.

Going to the bathroom has been a challenge for me ever since I was banded. Talk to your doctor and find out what will work best for you. I take stool softener, a prescription med, and I get accupuncture just to help me go regularly. It's a pain in the neck for sure but I'll take it over being morbidly obese and unable to walk without a cane.

Hang in there...all your wants can and will come true. I'm living proof of it. I was morbidly obese and had degeneration so bad in my hips that I nearly wound up in a wheelchair. WLS was my only option if I wanted any quality of life again. It was a long and arduous road that included double hip replacement but I made it and you will too. I am a tiny lady again. Really. Even the waiter at the restaurant I went to last week said it. He was taking care of our large table and doling out hot and sour Soup and describing us as he was doing it. So he called my mom 'pretty lady' and he called my aunts 'blonde lady' and 'smiling lady'. When he handed me my bowl, he said, 'for the tiny lady'. Yes...I am pretty small these days and loving my life. I can do everything you are all dreaming about and it's as good as you imagine. I stare at myself all the time because I can't believe what I look like now. I take part in everything and love it. I haven't watched a Netflix movie or read more than two books this whole summer. I was too busy going and doing and involved in life. I hope many of you stay on this site so all of us vets and newbies alike can share in your success and be inspiration for others still waiting to have surgery or who are struggling. Good luck to all of you.

Can you get someone else to help you? Another family member or a good friend? Don't derail your plans because you husband isn't able to work with your schedule. This is something you need to do for yourself and then hubby and kids will enjoy the benefits of your weight loss down the line a bit as you get healthier, and hopfully happier with your smaller body.

Same here Arlene. Thanks for letting us know about CG's mom.

Hi Friends. Wanted to post a happy holiday wish to you all. Have a great Labor Day...enjoy the beach, or the mountains, or whatever you wind up doing this weekend. Stay healthy and make those good choices we've come to rely on. Liz (gowalking)

I hate when patients are given such ambiguous instructions. It's ridiculous and only sets a person up for failure. Until your band is providing sufficient restriction, you might want to follow a Weight Watchers type of plan as I did along with tracking your calories, Protein, etc. in myfitness pal. I did and this food plan helped me to drop 140+ lbs. without being hungry all the damn time. I still have to be aware of what and how much I eat, but I am praying that I never gain it back again. I love being this size and the freedom it provides and I never want to be fat again. FYI, I eat 3 oz. protein, 1/2 cup veggies, 1/4 cup carbs at most meals. I stay under 1,200 calories daily and try to get in at least 50 grams of protein. You can tailor a plan to your needs and preferences. Good luck and here's wishing you great success.

I fluctuate between 125 and 127 lbs. so I've lost 140+ lbs. That's more than half my initial body weight before surgery. I imagine myself literally cut in half when I think of before and after. I post this picture sometimes to show people what this amount of weight looks like. Yes...those are both pictures of me and I think it says it all.

Welcome. I was banded in January of 2013 and just turned 56 a couple of weeks ago. I feel better and younger than I have in forever. I have enough energy to do almost anything and I was nearly immobile before the lapband and subsequent hip replacement (which I wouldn't have gotten without the weight loss) You will do great and get off you meds and find yourself exercising and embracing life again as I have. Wishing you all the best!