Corridor72

I put this stuff in my greek yogurt in the mornings. Love it!

I wouldn't have handled that well either. And yes, definitely two steps forward and one step back! But at least we're still taking steps forward!

@@Rogofulm Thank you for your concern and for the suggestions. I have always been the master at hiding behind the camera and never allowing anyone to take my pictures. For this reason there aren't very many pictures to compare any new ones to but also, people are afraid to suggest I allow them to take a picture now because they know what my reaction would've been before. Having said that, I have noticed that, in the few pictures that have been taken of me recently, I do look a little different in them. So I think you may be on to something with the idea of using pictures to help me see what I don't see in the mirror. Seeing as the holidays are coming up, that should present a lot more photo ops and, hopefully, a lot more opportunity for me to find the difference in the photos because it sure as heck doesn't show itself in the mirror !lol...As for whether or not the fat that I see in the mirror could just be loose skin? Sure, some of it is loose skin. Some of it is fat too though. I am seriously considering counseling if my brain can't catch up soon. I did this for my health so the last thing I want to do is jeopardize the health that I value so much because of not being able to perceive myself the way I should.

@@Leepers , Yes, my profile information is correct. That's one of the things I use to justify that I'm not being unhealthy in wanting to lose more. That puts my BMI at 22.9, which is in the healthy range but I could still lose more and be within a healthy range. Also, when you look at all of the different charts, I could lose more according to those too. I'm not overweight on any of the charts, which I think is maybe what he's looking at. I don't know. For me, it isn't as simple as just not being overweight anymore. I really didn't think anything of my friends' comments, initially, because, of the ones who mentioned, only one of them isn't overweight. I think that, as a society, we have gotten so used to people being overweight that our view of what is healthy is skewed. And they're used to the fat me so I just assumed that their perception of what I should look like was skewed by what they were used to seeing. And then the surgeon said something to me about it and that's when I really started to think about it and became concerned(and confused). I think some of it is that I have huge boobs. Always have. Even after losing 141 lbs, I still wear a 34DDD. So it's kind of that Dolly Parton effect. My boobs are so big they make everything else look smaller(to everyone else) in comparison!lol..Or at least, I'm guessing that's it because to me, it all looks fat. Regardless, you're right...it is a slippery slope and one that I will probably spend the rest of my life trying not to slide off either side into anorexia or obesity(again). The surgeon has talked to me about learning how to move into maintenance and has suggested that I start to add some things back into my diet now. He suggested taking baby steps instead of going all out. He told me to start with little things like having a few crackers with my tuna or a piece of fruit with my meal instead of just having all protein and veggies. I've been doing the crackers on occasion but I find it difficult to add other things back in just yet. Part of that is because I still want to lose a few more pounds though. I think it will be easier once I KNOW I'm at MY goal. And, after talking with my surgeon, I think I've decided that my goal is no more than 5 lbs away. If I lose that 5 lbs and I'm still feeling like I look like the Good Year Blimp, then perhaps I need to still just shift into maintenance and hope my brain catches up to my body soon after. Otherwise, I will talk to him about a referral for some counseling.

I was the same way for quite awhile. It took me a LONG time before I could go shopping anywhere and not automatically go to the plus size section of the store. I would go into a store, find the plus size section and then realize there was nothing there to fit me. The first few times it happened, I did like you and just left. Then I started to wander over into the regular sizes once I would see that there was nothing in the plus sizes to fit me. I am finally reaching a point where I don't bother looking at plus sizes because I finally know that I don't belong there anymore. The problem now is that I still pick up larger sizes than what I actually wear. In fact, I bought some tops a few weeks ago. I bought them all in medium, thinking they would fit because of the way they're made. I got home, tried them on, and had to bag them up and take them back to the store to exchange them for small. I obviously have no clue how to judge things by looking at them anymore as to whether they will fit my body or not. Anyway, I vowed that day that I will try everything on before buying it from now on because I can never buy the right size if I don't.

Thanks @@gowalking . I am seriously considering counseling. I really hadn't thought of it until the last few weeks though. I've had at least 3 different friends(none of them know each other) who have expressed concern to me about how thin they think I am and that they're concerned. Two of them said "You are walking a very fine line right now between health and anorexia". I kind of brushed it off and didn't think much of it until my surgeon said something at my last visit. He was kind but stern and let me know that he wouldn't approve of me losing more than just a few more pounds. I knew that what I was seeing in the mirror was quite different than what everyone else was seeing but I don't think I realized how much different until he said something to me about how thin I am getting. He and I had a long talk about my self image and inability to see myself as I really am though. I left feeling kind of numb. I don't know. I know that I need to work on seeing myself differently and I need to learn to focus on the positive things that I see rather than just seeing the flaws. I am, and always have been, my own worst critic though. Anyway, I think that if things don't begin to improve soon, I will probably seek counseling to see if that will help. In the meantime, I'm just going to try to follow the advice of my surgeon. If he tells me it's time to stop losing when I see him again in a few weeks, I will do what he says. I don't want to. But I will. I will do it because I know the risks of being too thin. I actually have cared for patients who died as a result of anorexia. I don't want to be that person who becomes ill or, worse, dies as a result of not being able to maintain a healthy weight because of psychological issues. Who would have ever thought that, in the span of 1 year, I would go from being 100+ lbs overweight to the point of being in a place where I have people concerned that I'm about to cross the line to being anorexic???

Do you have a GNC near you? If so, they will usually let you sample their products in store. I actually just bought some of their Total Lean 25 Banana Cream in ready to drink and powder. I'm not a big fan of their other RTD flavors but the banana cream is pretty good. I would've probably never tried it either had they not given me the option of sampling it in store. Also, anything you buy there is guaranteed so if you don't like it, you take the remaining portion back and they will refund your money. I had my doubts about that when I first started buying stuff there(sounded too good to be true) but I bought a bunch of the GNC RTD in chocolate, vanilla and strawberry last year prior to starting my liquid pre-op diet. I tried them all and didn't like any of them so back to the store they went. I told them I didn't like them and they refunded my money on the spot with no questions asked. I've even sampled chewable vitamins there.

I can usually tell when something is stuck before the slime starts so it does give me time to get to the bathroom, if needed. The PBing and sliming associated with something stuck in your band are not like violent projectile vomiting episodes that you might have with gastrointestinal illnesses. I never worry about taking extra clothes or choosing different foods due to the company I keep. Then again, I don't mind that people know I have the band either. If you're really worried, then sure, keep it light until you and your band have had more time to get to know each other. Soup would be a good choice in those situation. Just be careful not to get into the habit of eating soup all the time because it is a slider food and won't keep you feeling full the way more solid foods will.

I like to workout early in the morning. However, I would have to be up at 4:30am to get my workout in before work and I am NOT a morning person so I usually go after work. Weekends, days off, and vacation days, I try to get it in early. Makes me feel better AND, it leaves the rest of the day open to whatever else I want/need to do.

What flavors did you get? I assume the dates are still good? What are you mixing it with? I'm an Isopure fan(acutally just finished drinking a shake I made with almond milk and Isopure Zero Carb Dutch Chocolate). I've never noticed a salty taste to them. I have only used the vanilla and chocolate mixes though. I bought some of the ready to drink clear liquid ones in the bottles prior to my surgery last December and I hated those. I don't know if it was because I tried them immediately post-op and EVERYTHING had a weird taste or if it was actually the drinks that tasted bad but they were AWFUL. I ended up throwing them out. Couldn't bring myself to try them again.

Wow, and I always thought it was just me! Actually, there is a post on here somewhere from several months ago that kinda talks about this same thing. For me, I am the one who absolutely saw every last ounce of fat on my body when I was 283 lbs. And now, when I look in the mirror at 141 lbs less, I still see that 283 lbs woman staring back at me. Intellectually, I know that 141 lbs has to have made SOME difference in my appearance. But what I see when I look in the mirror hasn't changed. It's a real struggle for me too because it makes me feel that I still need to try to continue to lose weight. My surgeon has actually expressed concern to me because every month when I see him, he asks if I'm finished losing weight. My answer is always "No. I want to lose a little bit more." I know that I have reached a point now where he wants me to stop losing and just try to maintain so the "little bit more" is really an avoidance of giving him a number. I'd rather he think it's 1 or 2 lbs more rather than telling him about the 10 lbs that I'd really like to lose. During my last visit, he even told me NOT to come back this month and tell him him I want to lose more. He was quite stern with me. But the real problem is that I just don't see that "thin" person that everyone else tells me they see. I see FAT. Lots and lots of FAT. Especially around my mid-section. I really wish I could see the true image of what I really look like but I just can't see it. I don't know why.

The only advice I have is to buy most of your foods from the outer perimeter of the store. The inner aisles contain mostly processed, packaged junk. You want to stick with mostly fresh fruits & vegetables, proteins, and dairy. As the above poster stated, shop for things that are in season. Those will be cheaper. If you have a freezer, buy meats in bulk when they're on sale, repackage them into appropriate sizes for meals for your family and then freeze. When you must buy canned goods, store brands are usually just as tasty as name brands and are cheaper.

I don't mean for it to sound like I don't appreciate the fact that people notice my weight loss or even that I don't appreciate nice compliments, because I do. It really feels good when people that knew me and talked to me before take notice and say something nice. It's the comments from people who acted as though I was invisible when I was fat that bothers me. And you're right @@Bandista, we all need to feel valued and respected regardless of who we are, where we are, or where we came from. I used to be bad about keeping my head down and not speaking to people any more than I had to because I was so ashamed of myself and what I had become. I didn't feel worthy of any acknowledgement. It has taken me a LONG time to learn that I was always worthy and so are those around me. Like you, doesn't matter where I am, I try to make eye contact with people, smile, say hello or something. I don't want to be that person who makes someone else feel that they aren't worthy of even being spoken to. And now that I think about it, maybe that's why people think it's ok to ask me about my weight loss? I don't mind speaking to those people. What irks me is that those people who wouldn't speak to me before now want to ask about something so personal as my weight loss journey. I don't know...I'm rambling. I'll stop!lol

Congratulations! You look great!

I'm not offended it by it at all. I think people *think* they're complimenting me on my success when they call me skinny so that's how I try to take it. The only thing thing that really offends me in terms of things people call me related to my weight these days is that I have had a few people call me "scrawny butt". Now THAT, was offensive because it was quite clear that it wasn't meant as a compliment at all. But all of the "you're so skinny" and "skinny minnie" comments do not bother me at in the least.

Wow! Look at you! You look amazing! I was supposed to be banded 10 days after you but ended up being delayed until December. Anyway, it's hard to believe it's been a year already. And wow, what a difference a year makes!

I learned a lot from my pre-op diet. First of all, I learned that it's okay to be hungry. Like @@Leepers said, hunger is not an emergency. I don't have to feed myself the minute I first feel that twinge of hunger. If I need to, I can wait awhile. I also learned that hunger is often a signal that I'm thirsty rather than really being hungry and I can drink something and the feeling goes away. I also learned how to deal with cravings. Boy did I ever have some nasty cravings during those first couple of days of my pre-op diet. But ya know what? I learned that I don't have to give into them. I can wait it out and it will get better. Head hunger is something that I will always battle on some level, though it's much improved since being banded. But I CAN win the battle with the hungry monster!

It will take a few days but it will get better. I was miserable for about 5 days and then, overnight, I suddenly felt much better. Hang in there!

I think you hit the nail on the head when you said that, in re-reading your post, you realized you've already moved on(mentally) before anything has happened. Let that be your sign that it's time to just move on. Period. Do NOT stay in that relationship. It isn't healthy now and it isn't going to be healthy later. Get out while your daughter is little and you don't have to worry so much about how it will change her life. Little ones are resilient and handle change much easier than older kids do. As for the food, you will be able to have those things again. And actually, I had my surgery 5 days before Christmas. My birthday is in January so I was in the exact same place. It wasn't as bad as I expected. Actually, I decided that I'd just consider it my gift to myself on both occasions. Best gift I ever had!

I have weighed myself every single day since I started this journey. I have found that it helps keep me on track. I don't get upset when I see a little bit of fluctuation because I know that I didn't gain a pound or even 5 pounds in 1 single day so, it has to be simply that, fluctuation due to water retention. I'm okay with that. In fact, after months of doing this, I've figured out the cycle and I know when to expect it and I know when it's going to drop off too. Having said that, I'm at a point in my journey where I'm beginning the transition from weight loss to weight maintenance so my surgeon has suggested to me that I weigh daily so that I always know where I'm at and he has said that I should do that for the rest of my life so that I don't unknowingly creep up more than the normal fluctuation and end up regaining 20 lbs without realizing it and then getting frustrated and falling back into old ways. He says this way, I will see it happen sooner and that will be my signal to re-evaluate and figure out what the cause is whether it be that I'm eating too much and need another fill, being too lax in what I eat and need to get back to the basics, or slacking in exercise and need to hit the gym. Whatever the case may be, the scale will tell on ya every time and there's no denying it.

Just know that, in the end, it will all be worth it.

Best of luck to you! You can do this!

I find that I have to set goals. For instance, I'm told that I need to drink 64 oz of water per day at a minimum. So, I make myself drink a bottle when I get up in the morning before I eat anything. My band is pretty tight in the morning so that can sometimes take a little while because I drink my water cold and my band just doesn't like cold in the mornings. I drink at least 1 more bottle by lunch time. If I haven't had by lunch time, I make sure I drink it before I eat my lunch. Another bottle mid-afternoon and another in the evening. I find that by doing this, I can usually squeeze in about 4-5 16.9 oz bottles of water per day. I'm kind of a slave to it because, like you, I rarely get thirsty and could go most of the day without drinking much but I know that my body needs the water so I watch the clock and just try to make it happen. I will tell you this-the closer I got to my goal, the more I noticed the impact that my water intake had on my weight loss.

I've always been a sucker for sweets. However, since I've had my band, I don't eat them that often and when I do, I can have 1 or 2 bites and then I'm done. I don't want anymore. So that one little piece of candy is more than enough to satisfy my craving. I don't deprive myself of those sweet treats because, if I do, I feel like I'm on a diet and I crave them more and actually end up eating more of them than if I just go ahead and indulge in 1 piece of candy. I do try to choose something like dark chocolate pieces that's not quite as bad and actually has some nutritional advantages over some of the other stuff.

My favorite is fish(tilapia or salmon) with some veggies(broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, or green beans). For breakfast I usually just have yogurt with granola or occasionally some high protein oatmeal.