gowalking

Yes, ma'am, that's a bonafide NSV. So is the increase of the reps. Same here with my love for the pool. It's the one place I can exercise with no issues. I take an exercise class 2-3 times a week and if I can fit it in, I do laps as well. That pool saved me for sure. You have a great day as well Mikee.

The pre and post op diets are horrible. All I can say is that you just have to get through it. Hang in there...we're behind you.

Good luck my dear. Most of us on this site can understand all too well what you are going through. I do hope that you get the surgery so you can reclaim your life.

If this helps at all, once I was eating regular foods, I'd eat for lunch and dinner, 3 oz. Protein, 1/2 cup veggies, and 1/4 cup carbs. Breakfast is often oatmeal or cream of wheat. I weigh my food, even now and used myfitnesspal (no need anymore). I stayed around 1,100 calories a day making sure I got around 60 grams of protein. I also take a protein supplement because I needed the extra 21 grams to battle hair loss. Hope that helps some.

Non scale victory Mikee. It could be anything that tells you that you're smaller other than what the scale says. For me, it's things like being able to walk, sitting in a chair with arms and not worrying I won't fit. Not needing a belt extender on the airplane, etc, etc. Those NSVs are way more satisfying than just numbers watching.

I know that stats are important. Many of us post those stats. We do it just to show where we were and where we are. Some are still losing and some have made it to maintenance. But for those starting out, please please stay off the scale. I know how tempting it is but don't give in to that temptation. If you follow your doctor's and/or nutritionist's protocol, you will lose weight. If you follow the program....eat less, exercise more, you will lose. Hopefully your band, or other surgery will make it easier to walk away from temptation but you will still have to make that call. For some, it will be a rocky road to that goal, and for others, not so much. Such is this journey...it is very individualized. But some things are consistent and those are what I noted above. This is a lifelong change and regardless of how long it takes, or what your definition of goal is, there's no need to obsess. I'm in maintenance at this point and here is where the challenge lies. I've lost weight before...but to keep it off...to be like this for the rest of my life...that's my goal now. And part of that goal is to stay away from the scale. I know at a year and a half out, how much I can eat. I know when I'm out to dinner, to pay attention and stop when I'm no longer hungry....which is a vast change from prior to banding when I ate till I was stuffed. There's a big difference between the two and it's not nor will it ever be something that occurs naturally for me. I will always have to listen for my band to talk to me. And woe is me if I don't listen... So anyway....just to sum up this rant...eat smart, eat small, chew well, and move. Even if you have challenges, move anyway. I couldn't barely walk before being banded so I joined the Y and paddled around in the pool. Today I swim laps for an hour at a time. And I'm telling you all...if I could do this, so can you. I am one of those folks who got my life back with the band so I'm feeling entitled to tell you that you can do it too. Good luck to all you newcomers. We are here for you with support and a little tough love if you need it, but also many kind words and understanding as well.

What can I say? You are my hero.

Get rid of that scale. Do it now. Hide it, throw it away....I don't care what you do but stay off it. You know just by what you wrote, that there are reasons why you shouldn't focus on the numbers, so why do it? Just follow your doctor's instructions, do what you know you need to do, and the weight will come off. I promise. Look for the NSVs instead of what you weigh. Those are better than any number on a scale. Please...you are just starting out and this is a lifelong journey. No need to sabotage yourself right out of the gate.

Couldn't have said it any better than the above poster. No matter your good intentions, no one who is fat wants to be reminded of this. Believe me, they already know.

Welcome Mimi. I'll be 56 in a couple of months and am also a grandma. You may have read some of my posts but if not, in a nutshell, I had no life before the band. I was in tremendous pain because I had joint disease and could barely walk. I lost 70 lbs. and was able to get my hips replaced in October and now at more than 125 lbs. down, my life is almost normal again. There's no way I can express how grateful I am to the band and how it's helped me. There's also no way I can express how grateful I am to the wonderful people on this forum who have helped me more than I can say. Please keep us posted and let us know when the surgery will be scheduled.

Thank you Shelly and Justwatchme. Your posts mean so much to me.

Mirilax and yes...as TMF says, get off the pain meds if you are still on them. Oh, and while we're on the topic...I have found another solution for this problem....which I've been suffering from since being banded. I get acupuncture for back pain but told her about the constipation and while the back is not better unfortunately, the digestion is much better. I've been going regularly for a month now. You all can appreciate how much of a relief this is. Hang in there Zara...we've all been where you are. If necessary, call the doctor's office on Monday for some additional help.

What a wonderful post. This is what it's all about. Reclaiming our lives...no matter what it is...running a race, playing with the kids, sightseeing in Italy, riding a roller coaster, and for me....just being able to walk without pain and without the cane. This is why I think it's important for us vets to stick around on this site. We help each other as well as provide inspiration to the newbies. I know that you will have a great race readysetgo and I for one can't wait to see those pictures. Good luck today my friend..I'm so very proud of you.

Happy Bandiversary my friend. You are truly beautiful.

Yay!! Exciting when the clothes start to get loose...and more exciting as you go down in sizes. I went from a 26/28 pant to an 8/10 and a 4X top to a petite large. I wish I'd have kept one pair of those 26/28 pants just so I could post a pic with me in them. Oh well....

You just may not be ready yet to commit to this...because that's what it is. It's a commitment. No matter what WLS you have, it's just a tool and you still have to put in the work. You'll know when you've really had enough. It may be due to health issues as it is for many on this forum, or you may just finally decide your life has been impacted enough. Hang out here on the forum for a while....read the good and bad about WLS and good luck with whatever decision you make.

Welcome to the forum. You sound like you're in the right frame of mind starting on your journey. Just know that there will likely be setbacks and potential pitfalls. We are here to help you when you stumble and Celebrate with you when you find your success. Good luck to you and glad you are here.

Oh I'm impressed. You are surely in the right neighborhood. I work in a pharmaceutical company and I manage clinical trials databases. Wow...good job Irene..lol.

OK, I'm looking thru the posts...how does this work? Are you supposed to look at my little pic on the left and try to figure out my profession? If yes, well, you can probably guess some of it by just looking at where I am and what I'm wearing.

Close...I'm a police dispatcher.Oh honey...I like your name. Keish_lorraine...made me laugh.

When I first joined this forum, I said I wanted to be healthy enough to sightsee in London. I've wanted to cross the pond since I was a young teenager and now that I'm in my mid fifties, it's not a cost issue but it was a mobility issue. I was on a cane and in horrific pain when I got banded but guess what.....I'm going to London in 2015. I still have some residual pain issues but I am able to do what my forum name says. I can gowalking again. I've made it. My celebratory goal is within my reach and close enough that I can taste it.

Might as well add my two cents. I miss nothing. Let me say it again....I MISS NOTHING. There isn't a food or beverage out there that I miss more than getting my life and mobility back. I feel light as a feather now like I'm walking on air. No more plodding along leaning on my cane for all it was worth. The cane is gone, my mobility and freedom is back and I couldn't care less about not being able to drink soda. Who cares?? I have a life again. You may not be in the same desperate situation I was in...or others on this site have also faced but you have to understand that we are passionate about what we have gained rather than what we no longer eat or drink. Wishing you well on whatever decision you make.

I feel for you Becky. Pre and post op were the worst for me and I live alone so no one was cooking if I wasn't cooking. I'm in awe of you and others who stick to the program when others are in the house and seemingly eating all the time. I don't have much in the way of suggestions...you just have to get through this...and be able to say no even after you are eating real food again. All I can do is show you my before/after pic. I'm down almost 130 lbs. and that's only a few lbs. less than your goal. If it helps, try to put yourself in the after pic and know that this could be you in 18 months. Hang in there and good luck on your weight loss journey.

OK, I fixed the text so no one gets confused. Thanks for pointing it out...I want it to be accurate as well.

Get used to it sweetie. Some days you will love the comments, and other days, you will want to scream. People don't recognize me. I mean it. They don't say, oh Lizzy you look like you lost weight...they say..OMG!! I didn't realize who you were!' I'm tired of it alot of the time and like you, think they must have really been critical of me when I was overweight. But on the other hand, how can I blame them. Look at the before and after attached. I wouldn't know this is the same person either. Good luck and hang in there!