gowalking

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Hi Colleen. Welcome to soon to be banded life. You are right...this is a new start to a better life for both of you. If you are not homebound, try taking a walk together....or maybe take a drive if that's better and sit by the beach or in a park and watch the world go by. Or go to a movie together. Whatever it is, make the day about your husband and yourself and not about the food. I'm almost a year and a half banded and my life is so much better...there's no comparison to before I lost the weight. I love food but it's no longer the focus of my life and I'm so so much happier now. Good luck and please keep us posted on your journey.

The BBB has given it a very poor rating. I checked into it and there are tons of complaints. I figured since it's my face, I won't take any shortcuts and will get the name of a surgeon from my bariatric group. It will cost me, but like I said...it's my face and I can't take any more chances than necessary.

Same here! It was wonderful meeting everyone. Thanks so much to Lisa for all her help to make the meeting a great success. Thanks to Alex as well for joining us and giving his insight as a long time bandster. Looking forward to the next support group.

No...you're not alone. I hit 'goal' in March and haven't changed anything. I've dropped another 11 lbs. but don't expect to lose much more...especially since I also have alot of loose skin. I'll probably have plastic surgery in the future but for now, I have to deal with what is....and what is is that I look much better in clothes than out of them. But as another poster said, better to be smaller with loose skin than heavier with no loose skin. It is what it is I guess and I'll do the best I can till I can get some surgery. First on my list is to get rid of the turkey neck.

Hi there. I used the same practice as you did. I didn't use Dr. Schwack, I used Dr. Ren. Have you spoken to any of the nutritionists in the practice? I spoke to Despina and she gave me the best advice. She said to eat like I was on Weight Watchers and I did. I eat 3 oz. Protein, 1/2 cup of veggies and 1/4 cup carbs for lunch and dinner. As a man, you would obviously eat more than I do but in my daily intake, I never exceeded 1,150 calories and I plugged everything I ate into myfitnesspal. I lost 125+ lbs. in less that 18 months. Feel free to PM me if you have specific questions. Maybe I can help.

Many of us had hernia repairs when we were banded.

Was out to dinner with four friends last night. I have the band, and another friend is newly sleeved...about three months out. No one at the table knew either of us had WLS and I was a little concerned for my sleeved friend as this was newer to her. The first thing I did was pick a restaurant that was known for it's fish. I knew she and I would be able to eat fish without any issues. Then I suggested last night that we order dishes to share and all agreed. I knew this would allow us to take what we wanted rather than have a full entree sitting in front of us. Well...it worked out great. First of all, no one (as usual) was paying attention to how anyone else was eating. I came to realize that fairly quickly after being banded. Second...I made sure we had veggies on the table and a carb as well so we could choose from a balanced selection. For those with WLS who are faced with eating out, try to make some suggestions as I did regarding the cuisine and ordering, and you will find that your evening (or afternoon) will be positive rather than worrying about whether or not you can enjoy the experience.

Oh, I miss you too!

i will never be (*skinny or thin*) but i will be healthy... when you reached a point as i did (cant walk hardly, cant wipe your ass) being skinny or thin doesnt really matter......healthy is what matters...and by me doing that, i can walk, and hell yeah wear my sexy as f**k shoes again its about health....in reality Ah CG...we are sisters for sure. I'm reading these posts and wondering if anyone is going to mention a goal that has nothing to do with dress size. I'm right there with you. I can walk again...no more cane, no more staring at a future that included needing a wheelchair. I look perfectly normal..in fact I know I'm often one of the smallest in the room these days. Sexy....maybe? But I'll take pretty for now...and I get that all the time, especially at work...Oh, what a pretty dress, Lizzy, you look so pretty today, and other compliments as well. I'm not invisible anymore. Odd how the bigger you are, the more invisible you are but it's true. Better invisible than being stared at...and I'm sure I was stared at plenty. My goal weight was 150 lbs. I'm about 10 lbs. less than that but it's just numbers. If I ever get that TT, I'll probably drop another 10 lbs. and probably fit into that size 6. But right now, I think I look pretty darn good in an 8/10.

I would tell my pre-band self just one thing. That it's all worth it.

I'm nearly 18 months out and I still weigh and measure everything at home. Sometimes I don't feel the satiety right away so I make sure I know when to stop. I can eyeball just fine when I'm out to dinner or just not at home. You are correct, we all seem to have different ways of doing this. You will find what works for you. Good luck!

Thanks for sharing your story Jim. It is inspiring and so are you. Best to you and Kelly

I just stay away from anything with carbonation...no tonic or club soda. I've basically stuck with wine. Less calories and no fizz. I'm actually finding that I like a glass of wine with a meal especially since it doesn't give me heartburn anymore. In fact, nothing gives me heartburn anymore than goodness.

Brenda...sweetie...talk to your surgeon. That's what he/she is there for. I've not had any fills so I can't say for sure but maybe you are in need of one. If you are in proper restriction, you may need to discuss how to become aware of satiety rather than fullness. It's not always easy as we are overeaters and haven't learned how to eat like a naturally thin person. It takes work, and really and truly listening and looking for the signs that tell you that you are done. Oh, and regardless of your current struggles, you are not a failure. You've lost 36 pounds and 15 inches. That's not anything to be ashamed of, it's something to be proud of. Start a new thread with the same thing you wrote in this thread and you'll get lots of advice from the folks here on this site.

that's adorable.

I had a huge hematoma on the right hip after the replacement surgery. It was like there was a softball under my skin so I'm not surprised you can feel something as well.

Wow!! What a wonderful NSV this morning. I got to a meeting late in one of the conference rooms and all the chairs near the door were taken. It meant going all the way around the table to the front to grab a seat. Before I lost the weight, it would have meant unbelievable embarrasement to me as all the folks already sitting down would have had to pull their chairs all the way in just so I could squeeze past them. I had to do it once or twice before and it was awful. It got to the point that I always made sure to get to those meetings early so I could grab a seat right by the door so I wouldn't have to squeeze past anyone getting in or out of the room. So like I said, I was late today and knew I was going to have to get around all the others already seated. Well...hallelujah!! No one had to move in, I didn't have to squeeze my big ass body past anyone...this newly slender gal just walked past all the chairs and sat down at the front of the table. Whatever I had to go through in order to get to this place in my life was so worth it just to know that I don't have to deal with things like this anymore. What a great feeling it is.

Sweetie...I'm very open on this forum. I see a therapist. I have plenty of body issues and self esteem issues even with the weight loss. In fact, it's the weight loss that's bringing it all bubbling up to the surface. We all have unhealthy relationships with food...it's why we needed surgical intervention in the first place. It's a wise woman who realizes she needs someone with experience to help deal with all of this. Good luck my dear. Keep me posted.

My primary care doctor wanted me to get the bypass because I had to lose at least 100 lbs. and she said I'd never be able to reach that goal with the lapband. I wanted the least invasive type of procedure so I went ahead with the lapband in January of 2013 even though it wasn't what my doctor wanted me to do. When I saw this same doctor back in March, I got on the scale as I do every visit and she quietly told me that I was now five pounds less than she was. At least she was 'man' enough to admit she was wrong. Do your homework, read and investigate all surgeries, but know that if the band is what you want, find a surgeon who will support you and go for it. Good luck!

Yes...I think therapy is something for you to explore. You are having separation issues. You need to create a new relationship with food that isn't so emotionally based. A professional can help you work this issue out. Good luck my dear.

Hi Lee. Looking forward to meeting you as well.

The numbers are only part of this journey. I find myself still struggling with body image and self esteem as many others on this forum do. Was at PT last night and the therapist has been working with me for two years so he knows what I looked like before being banded. I was looking at myself in the mirror while doing my exercises and was not happy with what I saw. My slacks looked baggy and the blouse looked like it was hanging...along with what else was hanging if you get my drift. I'm just so super critical of myself so I've no idea why, but I suddenly blurt out that I'm only a few pounds from half my starting weight and when he asks how I feel about that, I answer honestly. I tell him that I'm mortified, ashamed, and embarrassed that I got so heavy to begin with. There's an uncomfortable silence and then he says that he can understand that but I know he doesn't. He's wondering why I'm not thrilled and embracing my new size. See...I am thrilled with my new size and what it enables me to do but I struggle mightily with body image and self esteem same as I did 125+ pounds ago. I'm working on this with a professional and hope to be able to see what others see when they give me compliments. I just wanted to put it out there because I know I'm not alone and I want you all to know that even with meeting goal, and seeing the numbers keep going down, I'm still very much a work in progress.

It's still new to me also...this smaller body I inhabit. I know (and hope) that it becomes ordinary and just a part of my life, but for now, I'm still surprised by how much less space I take up as a normal sized person....and how no one notices me anymore for the wrong reasons.

I've been dealing with this since oh...about a year ago. I hate it and it's the first thing I'm getting fixed. I see my bariatric surgeon next month for a follow up and I'm asking her for a reference for a plastic surgeon. Plus I have a hereditary factor as well. My mom was a gobbler too and not because she lost alot of weight either, but just because that was the way her skin was. I seem to be just like her in that way. I don't wear scarves or turtleneck tops. I just think it brings more attention to my neck instead of hiding it. Truth is, there's no hiding this...I just have to deal with it till I can get it worked on.