gowalking

I remember when you first came on this forum. You have come so far in your journey and it is truly inspiring. I'm so very happy for you Di.

Looking for info on location/ date/ time of July meeting? No July meeting planned for BariatricPal Local Support Group. We will have a meeting on August 2nd likely at the same location as we had in June at The Atrium in NYC. Update with details on time/location to follow.

My doctor pushed me towards WLS. She wanted me to get sleeved or bypass as her experience was that folks who needed to lose 100+ pounds were unable to with the band. Now she knows that it's absolutely do-able as I decided to get the band and have lost half my body weight. I hope she now advises her other patients that the band is very much a viable option.

I've got a pair of 12 and 10 sized jeans and they are getting too big. I usually wait till I go to Jersey or Florida to buy my jeans in Walmart. I'm not getting to either state for a while so I went into the jeans store by my apartment where they actually have salespeople who can suggest sizes and styles for you. The girl was probably 22, thin as a rail and likely no help to me at all but she was the only one there and I told her I needed jeans that fit better and I showed her how they were sagging everywhere. First thing she did was tell me I should try a size 8. OMG....a size in the single digits? No...not me. Well...sure enough, they fit no problem. Then she says they are still too baggy and brings me 'skinny' jeans. No...not me. I tried them on and they were tighter than any pair of jeans I've worn in years but even I could tell that they fit well. I'm not in mom jeans anymore. How's that for a NSV, huh?

yes I did...spent $43.00 too. I hope it was worth it...I'm a $19.99 type of gal...lol.

Same here!! Was talking with friends a couple of weekends ago and we're thinking maybe New Orleans at Christmas. If we actually pull it off, I will surely let you know.

West Village. Banded 1/14/13 at NYU

Colleen is right. This is just post op swelling. You might still feel restriction without a fill but it's unlikely.

Great post Bandista. And I get what you're saying. I too have found this weight loss journey not nearly as difficult as I imagined. Eighteen months and down 130+ lbs. I noticed today because I'm wearing a dress, that my thighs don't rub against each other anymore. I'm still working on my 'new normal' but I swear I haven't been this happy about my appearance and subsequent mobility and health improvements in more years than I care to remember.

Interesting observation this holiday weekend. I was with my son and DIL in the mountains and ate things I haven't eaten in a long time. It was BBQ/grilling for four days...hot dogs, burgers, ribs, etc. No veggies unless you count the salad in a bag I made sure was available to me. There were no really healthy or light choices and while I didn't eat much of it, I ate things like macaroni salad, baked Beans, and peppers & onions with sausage. Not surprising...I was not feeling well yesterday after Breakfast. I knew it was coming out one way or another and fortunately, I didn't puke. I was however, in the bathroom for some time and all I can say is that it wasn't pretty. I bet my tummy simply revolted from the food I gave it. What a difference now....I can't eat that type of food all weekend...I just can't. I'm fine now. I was even OK last night because I got home later in the afternoon and had some hummus for lunch. Then simple grilled chicken, steamed green beans, and quinoa. Tonight...grilled salmon. I guess I'll have to be more careful in the future if I know there will be several days where good choices are not available. I'm not worried about the cruise though. I know I can make very good choices on the ship and now I have even more incentive to do so. Last thing I need is to feel sick on vacation because I'm not eating smart.

Spectacular!

...don't come down on folks when they offer it. Especially if you are new to the WLS experience and the vets respond to you. We see the same questions over and over and over again and we still take the time to answer you because we know that for you, it's the first time you are going through this. It would be so easy for us vets to leave the forum and live our lives successfully but we stay here because we remember how it was at the beginning or if we see that you are struggling during the WLS journey....so we stay here and try to help. Please think about that if you don't like how we've responded. It's not because we know better....it's because we simply know more than you do right now. Respect that please. We try so hard to be sympathetic when you screw up or ask questions that you already know the answers to...like I didn't lose 5 lbs. in one week, is this a stall? Or, I ate a bag of chips...did I do bad? I've been on this forum for a year and a half and in that time, I've seen too many vets take a hike and it's often because they are rebuffed when they offer insights or even just their own personal experiences. If you want this forum to succeed, and if you personally want to succeed...be aware of what you say either on the forum or when you PM. Especially when you PM. And one more thing. I didn't post this on Rants and Raves because it's not a rant. It's a request.

How about a pretend boyfriend. preferably one who agrees with everything I say. Lol!

Can Dr Fielding help? I used his wife for my surgery. It can't be healthy for you to not be able to eat solid food.

While you should take your husband's concerns into consideration, you need to do what is best for you. Most folks decide between the two surgeries based on the invasiveness. If it's not a concern for you, the sleeve may be the way to go. If you are uncomfortable with losing most of your stomach, the band might be better. I did not want my stomach surgically altered so I went with the band. I'm 18 months post op and have lost more than 130 lbs. For me, this WLS has been a great success....no issues whatsoever. Just be aware that I have followed my doctor's protocol and have not 'tested' the band by eating around it or anything else that could be considered detremental. I think that's the key with any WLS. Follow the rules and you will likely be successful. Good luck and wishing you a successful weight loss journey as well.

I think for most folks, it comes down to how invasive you are comfortable with. Personally, I did not want most of my stomach removed or my intestines re-routed. I wanted something reversable in case I changed my mind...for whatever reason. And typically, you can be as successful as you want to be if you put in the work regardless of which WLS you go with. Note that I said typically. There are always those few who do everything by the book but still have issues unfortunately. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Hey Alex...pin that 'open letter' part. Folks need to be reminded of all the points that were made. I still see too much on here about which type of WLS is better and why XXX surgery didn't work for me so don't do it. I've even commented on some posts and I usually stay out of those topics because it's a no-win situation for everyone.

OMG! You look stunning.

Hey Wendy. I lost nearly 100 lbs. and didn't see it. I am seeing a therapist to help me to see the new me and not the fat girl. I'm down 130+ lbs. and still working on seeing what everyone else sees. I bet while you don't see the difference, others do. Hang in there!

I have degenerative joint disease and take a medication called Duexis. It's a combination med that includes an anti-inflammatory with something like Prilosec to help coat the esophogus/stomach. Ask you doctor about it. FYI, it's a very large pill so just be aware....

50 lbs. is still significant. Don't compare yourself to others. Having said that, it's likely that you need to exercise and while you say you eat small portions, are you eating mostly Protein and veggies? Even small portions should be healthy choices. Have you spoken to a nut or the doctor to try to find out why you haven't lost more?

Also have a desk job. I took three days off but worked from home for the next seven. If you can do a WFH, that's a good compromise.

My biggest concern is gaining it back. I don't care what some bandsters say about not being able to gain it back, I see it all the time on this forum. I know for sure that if I get careless, I'm going to balloon back up again. When I listen to my band, it tells me when to stop but if I don't listen, I'll overeat and since I have no fills, I'm not worried about upchucking or getting stuck. I weigh once a month because I don't want to trade one obsession for another but it's hard because I still don't feel totally comfortable with 'regular' eating. I never want to worry about eating out or having a drink or two so I just need to be aware of what and how much I put in my mouth. Easier said than done at times though...food addiction is a tough one for sure.

Every time I walk into the kitchen at work and see leftover donuts, bagels, cookies, sandwiches, etc., I just look down at my body currently clothed in size 8 slacks and a medium blouse and that's all I need to walk out again without taking a damn thing. I used to be in a size 26 slacks and a 4X blouse. Enough said.

A couple of pics from the parade...