gowalking

Oh Melinda...I'm so sorry that you've had complications. I'm 16 months post banded and have had much success. Posts like yours worry me that things can just as easily go wrong for me as well. I see that you mention that you had no warning or other complcations. Did you get regular follow up with the surgeon's office? I don't know what I'll do if my band goes south. It saved me and I can't imagine not having it. Please keep us posted on how you are doing and if you revise to another WLS.

Obviously, this is not a dress you wear to a wedding, but I also wanted to show you that we are all dealing with the same issue...wearing sleeveless dresses but needing to cover the upper arms. Here's my pic. This dress was from Kohl's. I really like their Vera Wang line. Pretty and reasonably priced.

I'm between emotions scared excited. I'm in New York by the way where are you from ??We're having our Spring support group in Manhattan on June 14th. If you are near NYC, please try to make it. Details are on the local chapters thread under NYC/LI. I'm between emotions scared excited. I'm in New York by the way where are you from ??

OK folks. I hope you take this in the spirit in which it's intended. I'm still laughing over what my friend said to me yesterday. Like I wrote above, this was a friend I haven't seen in a year so I expected him to make comments about the change in me but what I didn't expect was when he looked hard at me for the upteenth time and said, 'Lizzy, I swear...if I was straight, I'd do you in a hot minute'. I bet no one has gotten that comment yet. LOL!

You'll do great. I used the same bariatric group at NYU. Dr. Fielding's wife, Dr. Ren, did my surgery and I've done extremely well. Let us know how you are doing, and I hope to see you at our NYC meeting in June.

Just beautiful. Congratulations!

Oh my dear girl...you are not a failure and you're not losing the battle. It sounds like you are too tight. Glad you are calling the doctor tomorrow.

Beautiful post. And yes...it makes perfect sense. I too just want folks to let it go and for me to stay this size so that it becomes normal and no one thinks about the fat me. I'm actually making it my business to see people who I haven't seen since the hip surgery just to get the shock and comments over with. Then hopefully, we can all move on.

No no...you have it wrong. There's nothing wrong with loving food or loving to eat. The problem is we don't know when to stop. Once you have control over that, you won't mind that you still love food or love to eat. Believe me...I still love food...always will. And I love to eat. I love good food and it's still my favorite way to socialize. But I'm satisfied with just a fraction of what I ate before and being able to walk away from the table knowing I was always in control of the food and not the other way around, is an amazing feeling. Here's hoping you reach this awareness and find great success. Good luck to you!

Oh, I so get this thread. I've lost so much weight that people don't recognize me. Some of it is also because I'm off that damn cane thank goodness, and I no longer wear glasses, my hair is much shorter, and I'm wearing makeup again. But really....they don't know who I am. My own son says he is thrown every time I get off the train and he doesn't recognize the person who gets off. People at work have walked right past me without knowing it's me. A co-worker even asked my name after I got on the elevator with her after I said hello to her. Once I reminded her of who I was, the look on her face was incredulous. It's both wonderful and very off-putting because it makes me wonder who I am. I know I've changed...but how much? I hope I'm the same person I was, just a little better. I do know that I'm more outgoing with strangers. Just chatting and such but still, it's not something I did before. Even a good friend of mine told me yesterday that she can't help but stare at me because I've changed so much. Again...it's nice to hear yet what I also hear is I've changed so much because I was so very heavy and now I'm not. There's one girl at work who likes to hear the numbers. I know she doesn't realize I don't like it but she's very good to me so I let it go. But it's true...I don't like to tell people it's 120+ pounds. It's embarrassing. Just shows that reaching goal weight does not mean you've come to the end of your journey.

Great job Lee. I too have a drivers licence and passport that make people look twice when they see my picture.

I love going to restaurants. I live in Manhattan and we have some of the best restaurants in the world. No way was I not going to a restaurant even after being banded. However....no matter what the food is, or how delish it is, nothing...and I mean nothing tastes as good as being normal sized feels. That's my restaurant triumph.

Try to explain to her what you've just said on this thread. If she still doesn't get it, you may need a little distance from this gal while you are focusing on your weight loss journey. We know how hard you're working. You can always come here if you need support.

Nice start. Good luck and welcome to the other side.

What kind of advice are you looking for Sunshine? We can't tell you what to do..only you can decide whether or not you want surgery. If you have specific questions, please feel free to ask. There are plenty of folks on this forum happy to respond.

Good one readyset. I can't wait till you slip into that airplane seat either. I had a funny nsv last night. I wasn't paying attention and reached for my SF pudding on the coffee table and of course, knocked it over onto the carpet. Boy was I annoyed. I started to clean the carpet while bending over, which is a killer on the back. Suddenly I realized hey, I could get down on the floor and get up again. so I did. Imagine someone smiling while cleaning a stain on the carpet. Well that was me last night. LOL!

I didn't want such an invasive surgery so I went with the band. I had to lose at least 100 lbs. and my PCP tried to convince me to go with gastric bypass or sleeve because she said all her patients with the band only lost around 40 lbs. and I needed to lose alot more that that. How did I do? Well...I now weigh less than she does.

Yes ma'am. We hope to have meetings in the outer boroughs and on the Island as well.

I know I posted my NSV last night about buying my first dress in like forever, but I just have to post another 'experience'. I am still so new to the thinner me that I need to check it and reinforce the change I've made all the time. It's almost not enough just to see the clothes fit. Heck, I hold them up and wonder how I can possibly fit into them. The other thing I can't get used to is the bus/train seats. For those who take mass transit, you know what I mean. For those who drive, you should know that the seats on the bus or train are notoriously narrow. It's a rare thing to see seven people actually sitting in a row of seven seats. There was a time when I would seek out the empty subway cars just to make sure I had enough space so as not to crush anyone or make them so uncomfortabke that they would get up. Now I'm starting to get used to the idea that I can fit in those seats. Just this morning I got on the PATH train as I always do when I head out to Jersey. It was a crowded center car and there were two men sitting on either side of the empty seat and I politely asked if it was taken. No looks of worry or concern from either of them...that used to happen more than I care to admit. (Again...another reason to look for the empty car or empty city bus). One of them mumbled it wasn't taken and I slid in. I fit fine. Plenty of room. It still moves me, these NSVs and they make me want to cry when I do something that other people just simply take for granted. And I'm not talking about skinny litle girls...I'm talking about normal sized women and men. I am just so thankful to this little tool we have for giving me a new lease on life. Really, I mean it. I do go walking now just like my name says. I made that dream come true. And so many other dreams are coming true as well. I wish all of you success. I hope if you have issues or struggles, you can read positive posts and get yourselves back in the right frame of mind. I hope to see many of you in June. Have a great day everyone.

The NYC and surrounding area Spring Meet and Greet will be on June 14th from 2PM till 4 PM at The Atrium at 805 Third Avenue. The building is on Third Ave between 49th and 50th Streets. The Atrium is at the back of the space on the lower level. We are looking forward to seeing many of our forum friends there. If any Jersey friends want to attend, please feel free to cross the Hudson and join us. If anyone needs driving or mass transit directions, please PM me.

I'm reading alot about folks reaching goal, trying to reach goal, almost at goal, not successful, not as successful as they want to be, blah, blah, blah.... So...here's the question. What is it that means success to you? Is it reaching a goal weight? Is it some NSV that you've attained? Is it a change in your perception of self? Something to do with relationships perhaps? I'm curious what you all think. I'll start it. I reached goal in terms of weight a couple of months ago. But my idea of success is not hitting goal weight. It's being this size more or less the rest of my life. I've lost alot of weight before, but as usual, put it back on and some extra just for the hell of it. My son says he doesn't recognize me and it bothers him. He knows the fat me...and I understand that. I was fat for a very long time. He doesn't remember when I was this size some 20 years ago. I want him to start to think of me this size so that he's comfortable with the smaller me. That means I have to stay this way. That's success in my eyes. What about the others on this forum? What's your definition of success?

Smart man. He knows not to ask and he also knows that if the time/relationship is right, you'll tell him.

And this is why we will be a dynamic duo Lisa. I was going through the posts looking to see if anyone was going to address this. Good for you. You took the words right out of my mouth. Never forget, the doctor works for us. No matter what...we are always the customer and as such, need to use those we employ as we see fit. Good luck Gardnergirl. You've got this!

I know this is ambitious but maybe we need to do a cruise. This way, we can meet up. Would love to see Tammie again and meet Mikee, Jamilyne, Sharpie, tmf, Jim, Bandista, my BFF down in Raleigh, Arlene, and whoever else wants to come. The more the merrier I say. So....who wants to take this one on and organize it? Maybe we need to PM Alex.....lol.

Glad you had a good time in my town. (Now you know why my being able to walk was such a vital thing) Glad to know that you got home OK. ...and best of all...so very glad that I got to meet you. Now I know that I can say I have a friend from New Orleans and that makes me very happy.