gowalking

Sent you a PM.

I also suffer from DJD which includes an 'unstable' spine. My vertebrae move all over the place and I suffer from multiple issues due to that. My doctor(s) have said that surgery is not an option...that the 'cure' is worse than my disease. I've been told the best thing is to work the core muscles so they can take up the slack for the unstable vertebrae. So....personal training..here I come.

I'm surprised, but I kinda like the boots with the heels. Regardless, you look like a million bucks and I expect you'll knock their socks off!

I went shopping today because I desperately needed pants that fit. I wasn't sure what would fit so I tried on 16's and they were too big. Then I tried on 14's and they were kinda loose. I thought just for jiggles I'd try on some 12's and they fit! I was so shocked I actually broke down crying in the changing room. I have always been good at keeping my emotions locked down tight, but in there at that moment, I totally lost it and started bawling and LOUD. The changing room attendant knocked on the door and asked if I was ok. It took me awhile, but I managed to get the words out that I was ok and that I had found out I was a smaller size than I thought I was. I'M sure she thought I had lost my ever loving mind, but for me, this is a monumental thing. I had been an overweight kid and an obese adult, my entire life! The size I put on and zipped up, I NEVER had been that size. The closest I had to being that size was a size 11 juniors in 4th grade, so here I am, over 30yrs later and I am finally smaller than I was in 4th grade. It was monumental. I also discovered why it's important to check the price tag before falling in love with a pair of pants because $115 for a pair of pants I probably won't get more than a couple months wear out of was just too much, so I had to put them back. Broke my heart, but I did go on to find other 12's and some 14's that worked and I am officially not plus sized anymore. I can shop in the regular section with all the cute clothes!❤️ From 32/34 and some 36 down to a size 12 in less than a year...all I can say is wow! Thanks RNY for giving me a life I didn't know was attainable! How much do I love this post? More than I can say. I've been following your posts and weight loss journey and this makes me happy beyond happy. I feel like I was there with you as I went through the same thing. We all have our moments when something happens that lets us know we are just normal people again...or sometimes for the first time. Again, let me say as my signature notes.......nothing..and I mean NOTHING...tastes as good as being normal sized feels.

I just reconnected on FB with one of the vets and she will start to post again, but yes...while looking up older posts, I see how many of the people who helped and supported me, gone gone gone. I can only hope they are doing well, and be grateful that when I was a newbie, they were here for me. This site, and the people on it, were integral in my success and I'll never forget them.

Everyone's 'sweet spot' is different Kathleen. I lost 150 lbs. with no fills. I'm maintaining with about 4 cc's but others have their bands filled with more Fluid or less depending on what works for them. Sounds to me like you need more fills if you are back at your pre-surgical weight. If you think you are being over charged, look around for other doctors...and see what they charge.

I'm in Manhattan @Ianey but will support you however I can. Good luck and text if you have any questions and I'll try to help answer them for you.

Congrats! Follow your surgeon's instructions and you'll do fine.

The most important thing to remember is that you are not in control. Meaning even if it's a great date, you may not hear from him again. And if that's the case, you can't obsess over it. Just try to remember that you enjoyed yourself and on to the next one.

So hoping for an end to this. Of course you're dealing with a form of depression. How can you not? I can only presume how tiring this has all been. Thinking of you for sure.

Nice to see you back on the boards RJ!

tell your doctor of your concerns. have him/her go over your choices as many times as necessary for you to feel comfortable with your choice. remember...you are the consumer and like any other purchase, you want to be sure you are buying the right thing. good luck..keep us posted.

it takes time and practice to learn or re-learn how to shop. and believe me..you will make some mistakes along the way. but eventually, you will get to know what works on your body and what doesn't. best of all, you won't have to buy the same thing in every color just because it fits and it's a style that you think hides the lumps and bumps.

I've been in my line of work now for 20 years. If you know you interviewed well, you can deal with not getting the job a whole lot better than if you know where you screwed up...or just that you screwed up. Mock interviews are a great idea and I'm sure when you interview for real, you will have the info and feedback you need to have a really good crack at the position.

Please remember that we on this site cannot recommend anything other than speaking with your doctor and/or nutritionist when it comes to introducing anything new or anything sooner than what was recommended. If any poster tells you it's OK or not OK to move to pureed foods, they do not and should not give you direction on this question. Again..only your doctor/NUT should answer this question.

Go to your doctor for an evaluation before jumping the gun and asking for the band to be removed. I know for me, if the band was gone, I'd have alot of trouble with my food consumption...and would gain alot back for sure.

I've had the occasional bubbles but have kept it to a minimum. So far, no issues but like I said...it's a rarity. No more seltzer for you! By the way...my weight is definitely creeping up. I resolve every morning to keep to my food plan but I tend to derail too often. It's not a horrible gain, but since the cruise in June, I've gained about four more pounds...and since I want to be at or around 125, I need to lose about eight pounds to get there. I'm finding it difficult...but I'm trying. Hope all is well with everyone. I miss some of the folks who are gone from this thread... but I'm glad for those who are still here.

As long as you are following your surgeon's plan, and not overeating or eating foods that are high in calories and of no real nutritional value, the weight will come off. Banded folk often lose at a slower pace than other types of WLS. 1-2 lbs. a week is considered good and not everyone loses steady anyway. Are you exercising? Physical activity can also help even if it's just walking to start.

I opened this thread out of curiosity as my husband died from a PE. I've no intention of watching the video...I just know from personal experience that a PE is truly life threatening. It was my biggest fear when having my hips replaced. I gave myself shots daily and got up and moved around as soon as able because I know what can happen if you have/get a clot.

As a banded person for more than 3 1/2 years, and on maintenance for more than two of those years, I weigh myself daily to keep in check but do not focus on the numbers. I don't post much anymore but I still go on the site regularly to see what's up. As a veteran, I try to let folks know that there really is a rainbow at the end of all this fear and uncertainty. I understand completely that if you are new, or still losing weight, that the numbers are important. Just remember to focus on living your life, and enjoying the experiences you once could not. It's not what you weigh, but how involved you are as a participant in life. Most of us know what it's like to be on the sidelines looking in rather than being part of what's going on. That picture of me and my grandson was taken just the other day. I went to an amusement park with my family and walked all over. I got on to the rides with the baby. I fit everywhere...I participated in everything. And with every step I took, and with every ride I went on with him, I sent up a prayer of thanks for getting my life back. The gentleman I'm with is my boyfriend. His late wife was sick, obese, and mobility challenged. He knows I was once in her shoes. He appreciates what I did to get healthy and supports me always. We do things together and while he loved his wife and still does, he also loves that he has a companion now who can do things with him rather than have to stay at home. The last picture is me when I was obese...and that's not the largest I was either. I wanted to have that picture juxtaposed with me on the bicycle to show the difference between before and after. I went riding that day in Central Park to make sure I could handle it as I was heading to London and planned on riding through all the Royal Parks on a tour. I struggled for sure, but I made it. And had a great time as well. So..the story here is...pay attention to your weight loss journey, but make it about your life and your experiences, and not what you weigh. Success is not measured in pounds, it's measured in being an active participant in your life. Have a great weekend everyone.

When I lived in Atlanta I used to pass a shoe store every day that catered to drag queens. I figured if anyone could do comfortable, large-sized high heels, they could! I live in the West Village in NYC and was a time that 8th Street had nothing but shoe stores that catered to the Drag Queens. There's even a show on Broadway called Kinky Boots that's about a shoe company that makes boots for the queens. If you are ever in my neck of the woods, make sure to see it if it's still running. Now..regarding your original post, first off lett me congratulate you @@Inner Surfer Girl. Going back out into the world is a scary thing and I applaud you. I wrote a post today that you should read. It's all about participating in our lives again. I think it's very timely for you. I've got no input on clothing tips but you've gotten some great advice so go with it. What I can say is that once you are comfortable in clothing again, don't be surprised if you become a clothes horse. I know I have. I am playing with clothes and accessories like I was my own real life Barbie doll. I've overdone it, I know but I don't care at the moment. I have years of catching up to do so the fact that I spend on fashion jewelry, shoes, bags, and lots of clothes doesn't bother me at all. I've slowed down as my size has stabilized over the last couple of years. I know you're not yet where you want to be but do try to have fun with this and buy yourself some good pieces. You are worth every penny of it! Keep us posted on the job hunt. and enjoy your weekend.

Please let us know what happens. Us bandsters are still here and always interested and concerned when one of us has an issue.

Same here Debbie. Feel better hon!

The 'hook' is that the audience knows that she is supposedly in denial and everyone is waiting for her to admit she is unhealthy and her issues are weight related. This show is not about Whitley's attempt to teach people that body shaming is something she will not allow in her attempts to lead a normal and ordinary life. This show is all about shaming Whitley. The show sets her up for humiliation every step of the way. Losing weight and getting healthy is not what people want to see. If/when she does finally decide to take her issues in hand, there is no more show. She is worth much more to TLC by remaining morbidly obese than by really taking her health issues in hand and doing something positive like losing the weight. Once I realized what this show was really about, I stopped watching. I refuse to be part of the exploitation even if Whitley is OK with, and aware of it.

Hi CLN.BK. I live in Manhattan and see a therapist who specializes in working with people who have food based issues. She's on the upper West Side. Feel free to PM me and I'll send you her info.