azmensan

Mine is something I call mexican egg salad. I made it up - 4 hard boiled eggs (only 1 whole, the other three whites only), cut up some onions, them some green bell peppers. Then add salsa and tapatio picante and mix it up with a fork. LOVE IT!!

You're too tight!!!!

Being able to bend over and tie my shoes.

I was fat because I ate more calories than my body burned. That simple. But in all honesty, it all started with a brain tumor (on my pituitary gland) which basically wreaked havoc on my hormones and adrenal functions. But once that got treated I still found it difficult to lose because I'd developed all kinds of bad habits when going throguh the terrible depressing 200+ pound weight gain in a 6-month period from the tumor. Anyway, that's behind me. It's up to me to lose the rest and, with the band, I know I can!

Thank you so much to those of you who have responded and understand the point I was trying to make about the kinds of difficulties I/we face as plus size women in professional environments then changing patterns, changing size, fitting in... I haven't yet found anyone in my local area (that I know of) who has this type of situation. Partially I think it's because, like me, they are attempting to keep it a secret (I live in the Metro DC area, I KNOW they must exist). It seems everyone else I know personally (well, personally as in they go to the support group meetings my doctor's office holds) who has been banded are stay-at-home moms or school teachers or secretaries and I don't really have a lot in common with outside of sharing the journey of the band. Some of that, I think, is perhaps the stigma obese women face in the workplace - let's be serious, you gotta be REALLY good at what you do and have the kind of personality that makes people look past your fat in order to get ahead when you're obese. And then of course the lack of self-confidence to go after the high-power roles. So, personally, I guess I consider it a huge accomplishment to have gotten past that stigma. But now I'm freaked out about how I'll be perceived as the weight continues to come off. I am personally making sure that I lose the weight as slowly as possible (and inconspicuously). I liked some of the ideas some of you came up with for the lunches, though. I actually changed jobs a month after getting banded because I didn't want the folks at my old job to know (they think I just got a hiatal hernia repaired - but there WAS a rumor that I was getting gastric bypass, so I was ticked off about that - yet another reason I'm trying to force the weight loss to go slowly). Changing jobs was probably a tad extreme, but hey it was also another good step up the ladder so at least it wasn't foolish. Anyway, thanks again to all of you, and further ideas from those of you who understand the "fitting in" issues of women in the workplace, keep 'em coming! Lisa

I'm looking for "like" female six-figure + executive professionals (like me) who have been banded. To share storeis, insights, decisions on who to tell/not tell, buying new suits, handling those lunch meetings with ever-present food, the stresses or high-powered jobs that, when held by women, are typically held by athletic and fit women who look great in a business suit, etc. etc.. Anyone else out there? :clap2:

eggs for sure, i have them nearly every morning. beer for sure NOT - i had to stop entirely because i can't handle the hops -the fizzies

Don't worry! I have only lost 8 pounds since my surgery 3-1/2 months ago. I am not worried. at least I haven't gained back ANY Of the weight i lost from all the liquid diets and stuff, so I am very happy. You should be, too! not gaining it back is a wonderful thing, too! give your body time to adjust and it will allow you to start losing again!

Cookie Lover, you're 33. By now you've probably learned how to really pick your friends and who is truly a friend and who's just a buddy for whom you fill esome kind of purpose. You already know if your heart who's going to desert you and who won't.

just make sure you chew! chew! chew! and lettuce shouldn't be a big deal. but chew! chew! chew! trust me on that one!

i'm 3-1/2 months post op and i can't "do" soda at all - not flat, because the sugaryness SUCKS. not carbonated, because the bubbles cause stretching and actually hurts.

I had similar pain, but it wased after about a month. I'm now 3-1/2 months post op and I still have pain if I touch that area. But I can live with it.

Been there, done that! I was a total hog before I had to do the two weeks of liquids prior to surgery. I gained like 6 pounds because of it. It's definitely "last meal" syndrome!