Bandora

Raw almonds, spicy dried edamame or string cheese

I treat myself to better quality makeup, expensive perfume & kitchen gadgets to help me try new recipes.

What procedure did you chose and why did you chose it over the other options? I choose LapBand due to surgeon recommendation. I would have preferred gastric sleeve but it was not option for me at the time What was the general reaction from family and friends? Close family was supportive, didn't tell many others due to negative comments What was the biggest surprise during the process? That I actually succeeded How long was your recovery? I felt great after a few days. Minor soreness How fast did you lose the weight? Steady and slow. About 80lbs in first 10-12 months. How has your life changed since having the procedure? I feel much happier, more active, look great and I enjoy clothes shopping Would you do it again? Absolutely Any regrets? None, other than should have done it sooner What should I be aware of? Be aware of negative people who want to criticize. Follow your dr/nutritionist orders to a t What, if any, foods do you miss that you can no longer have? Soda at first was the worst to give up. Now I don't miss it at all

I also feel that by bringing it up you may make her feel uncomfortable. I think encouraging her to walk with you or cook a healthy meal with you can make her feel more open to asking you questions about WLS or at least make her feel less attacked. I never liked when people ( including my dr.) mentioned my weight. I knew I was fat and it made me defensive. Sadly most people need to hit their personal " rock bottom" before they seek help. Good luck to her & congrats on your success

The chicken Fajita Pita from Jack in the Box is pretty good( minus the pita) . Wendy's Chili is a little bland but decent. Chik Fil A has a good chicken Soup and their nuggets are easy to eat since not dry. I try my best to plan ahead and maybe take my own snack like almond snack packs and string cheese.

Is it just me or is everything now curvy vs fat? I am tired of people now making excuses to be fat. No one will admit that being fat is unhealthy, which it is. I completely understand that we need to be proud of ourselves and take care of our appearances no matter what our weight is. I have been there and it was miserable finding clothes and feeling normal. I constantly hear fat people ( men and women) say they are healthy and they exercise. However, I know some of these people are maybe strolling a few days of the week. They are loading up on sugary drinks and then toss around their 'thyroid" issues.These are the same people who act high and mighty when they hear I had WLS. They may be lucky and the negative health problems have not hit them yet. It just seems there is so much backlash now against WLS and people are being told to love themselves at every size. What I see happening is people are carrying an additional 50+ lbs and blaming it on genetics etc...which is not necessarily true. I do not believe in fat shaming ( since I was fat most of my life) but to take this " I am curvy" attitude is not healthy for anyone. People need to be honest and understand that when you are obese you are not curvy. It is not desirable and it is not good for your health. Period. No one should starve and be a bone but everyone should strive to be the best they can be. A healthy weight varies for everyone's size and frame. I just feel sad when I see young girls shopping in the Plus size womens section when they are only 10yrs old. That is just awful

I find that looking and before and after pics also helps me. I have to see my changes in front of my eyes sometimes. I think I will always have the ' fat girl' outlook. I am not ever going to be tiny but when I see pics of myself next to friends/family I can see how far I have come. When I look in the mirror I focus on the loose skin under my chin and my flabby arms. I start to pick myself apart, so I just don't do it much.

I tend to stick with vanilla or unflavored protein and try to mask the taste with fruits/veggies. Not a fan of chocolate chalky drinks.

I love makeup too. I have always been a MAC fan and Urban Decay has my favorite pencils for eyes. I have recently started picking up some cheaper lines like NYX so I can experiment with new colors. The foundation by Kat Von D is really great for full coverage. I swear by Obagi skincare...its pricy but worth it.

Just remind your self this is in no way easy. You are going to have to exercise and monitor your food choices for the rest of your life. It was way harder than I expected. You will have the "head hunger" where you have to break bad habits. ( Mine was eating snacks while watching evening tv shows) Also, gone are the days when you can binge eat. Personally I regret telling some people because a few were quite negative. Saying how I should have been able to exercise and diet. Funny is these same people are fat. Be confident and look forward to the changes. Your first victories like losing a pants size are so very rewarding! Good luck on your journey.

I too love cooking shows! I am obsessed, I find that when I cut and chop and prepare my food I really appreciate the flavors much more . What gets me is the commercials for fast food and pizza, ugh!

Congrats on your success so far! I would donate a lot of my items to Goodwill as soon as they were too large. I also bought lots of ' transition' items at Goodwill or other thrift/resale stores so I never felt bad if I had to get rid of them a few weeks later. I never want a reminder of how big I was once.

I usually order a bowl of Soup or a small appetizer depending on the type of place we are dining. So many people are watching their food intake that they really don't watch what you eat. Or I will order a lunch portion and nibble on in and box it up to take back to the office. I am not able to do wine with my dinner or any liquid really. I always order a Water so it looks like I have something.

Check with your nutrionist/surgeon office to see if a Protein shake in the morning may be a good option for you.

I have a hard time eating some fruits although I love it. I have to blend it into a protein smoothie. I know too much sugar is bad but I think fruit in moderation would be better than candy to beat that sweet tooth.

Please don't be so focused on the scale. I was banded in June 2013 and I was always on the scale each day. It was frustrating at first. But as I exercised and focused on following my portions and Protein...I eventually saw the lbs drop. It was really cool to see my inches disappear in my waist. Looking back, I think its best to weigh in weekly. I got so mad when the scale didn't budge. We all lost at a different pace. Try to find the positive in your success. Clothes are looser, compliments from a co-worker etc...if you stick to the rules you will continue to lose weight. Also, make sure to get in your Water...it really helped me. Continued success to you!

Beautiful work and an awesome tribute!

I can tolerate most meats as long as they are moist. Sometimes have issues with ground beef patties...I have to really take tiny bites. Fish gives me no issues so I tend to eat fish more often

First of all, congrats on your success so far! Your husband is obviously insecure and maybe even jealous of your new life choices. I would basically see what is behind the food sabotage. Some men are fearful that their wives will become more desirable to other men and that can mess with their ego. Tell him up front you want him to be a partner and not have him force bad food choices on you. Period. He should want nothing but health and happiness for his wife.

Yes, a full size. On workout shoes ( wider fit) I can go additional 1/2 size smaller. I was lucky to be able to donate a lot of my work shoes so I didn't have to throw them out.

I got the same comments so I didn't tell many people at first. These kind of " know it alls" lurk in all of our offices I suppose. My office busy body now is self- appointed as the food Police anytime we have an office potluck or treats for a birthday. Always wants to know what I eat and if I am going to slip up. I laugh it off now. It is clear that their own lives are missing something and their obsession with mine is a form of flattery. ha ha

I was very irritable my first few weeks after my surgery however it seemed to fade away. It is a major lifestyle adjustment and took a while to accept that in my head ( as well as my body)

I would love to wear a real " little black dress"

Hot Cheetos w/ranch! Anything drenched in ranch was my downfall