insubordination

PS Update your Labour to Thanksgiving weight.

We did want to hear CD. You have done so amazingly well sticking to the pre-op like you did. Also, it's good to know that you don't have to continue starving yourself on liquids to lose the weight. It's something that a lot of us are not sure about. It's so cool that your doc said 2 cups is too little if you're at goal and still losing. I think you have inspired me to work a little bit harder to get what I want. I can't wait to get to goal. Can you believe that you're now a thin guy? It must be a trip.

1 less than last week. We are all under 300 now. That is so cool.

Amazing Cherlita, I love that your so positive about the whole thing. Lizrbit, have you had a good talk about this with your doctor?

I think I have 8.5 (or so) in a 10cc and feel restriction. Food choices are also important. I could only eat a third of a Chinese takeaway (without rice) but if I put in in a blender, I could probably eat the lot. Soft stuff is easy to eat but easy to overeat also.

I also want to add that I consider my life up until banding a few months ago to be a tragic waste of potential. I know not all fat people are in the same boat. Some are great and don't let it hold them back but for me...I want to weep just thinking about all the life I have missed trapped in this self-imposed prison.

I was 300 pounds at 16 (actually, a bit heavier) and every year I got heavier and heavier. It's a tough place to be but I know one thing, I doubt she'll get any thinner without the band.

You certainly are the poster girl for the lapband.

I haven't anything like it but if it's lasted for a few days, then there is a problem that needs attending to. The only recourse is to call the dr and get an X-ray/barium swallow to check everything is OK. Slippage is rare but maybe do a search on the threads on the board and see if anyone has described anything similar. I'm hope you'll be OK. Please check back and let us know.

I'll field some of your questions though I'm only a recent bandster (4 months). Hopefully some others can give their perspective too. Most people are scared. I was excited rather than scared. I guess my main fear was that the band wouldn't work for me. You'll gradually learn through trial and error. I'm just starting to realise that it's in my own best interest to stop eating. A severe stuck/vomiting episode cured me. You will realise that it is dangerous and puts your band at risk. You'll discuss it with your doctor and decide on an unfill or a better chewing technique/smaller bite size/ friendlier food choices. Yes and no. In some ways I miss being able to cram myself stupid to numb my feelings but I don't miss the effect that that behaviour had on me. It was hard at first to know what to do when eating became less of an option. I have had to deliberately add other activities. I'm slowly appreciating food even more because I can only have little tasty bits and must savour them. You can still eat all the nice foods you like but not in the same quantities. Less is truly more, though it has taken me some months to accept that. I still struggle at times but it is slowly becoming normal to serve myself a small amount. Maybe not right after the op but certainly a month/6 weeks down the track you can sleep any which way. For me it didn't. I always wondered at this 'disinterest in food' that I'm supposed to feel. Even if I had no mouth or stomach or nose, I would still be very interested in food. I spent some time just after the op going crazy looking at restaurants and supermarket aisles and getting angry when I had to throw away/couldn't finish food. I spent a lot of time over-shopping and cooking and freezing and, yes, chewing and spitting. I just couldn't accept that I couldn't eat as much as my head wanted to. Just lately though, things have calmed down and it seems as though I can't be bothered putting myself through the grief. I think this is partly because I have figured out why I was doing it but also because I want to be healthy now and deserve to be. Another reason has to be that I can go several hours now without needing to eat. Although food is often on my mind, it's not on my mind every single second of the day anymore. I look forward to further improvement in this arena. It will be different for everyone of course, we are all individuals. I would love to know what others think. Despite my post, it hasn't been a negative experience in any way and I find I'm coping just fine because the weight loss makes me so happy. All I can say it go for it. It won't always be smooth sailing but it's not supposed to be. You will learn a lot about yourself. Overall, I would say that it isn't even hard compared to having a 50+ BMI. We've already done the hard yards but living in our bodies for so long.

Suzzie, congratulations. 48 pounds is amazing. You must be feeling as though a huge weight has been lifted off your shoulders. Am proud of you.

Not sure but one thing to consider is that people who had the band 10 years ago have a different model than we do.

I falafelled my way around Europe. Was cheap too. However, I'm not sure I could do it with the band. I'd have to drop the bread and crush the falafel and have it with lots of hommous.

Well it's not hard to find the reason there Ms NYC. While it's admirable that you look after your mother, it's terrible that you've given up your life. You must feel trapped. Do you think it's a possibility that you could leave her. No one should be subjected to verbal and physical abuse. Have you talked to any one about this?

Great post. I can really relate to a lot of that.

I was wondering where you were. We need you here because I love looking at your gobsmacking ticker. Don't worry Rain, I'm sure most of us have at least a day or two a month where we turn into pacman. Carol, I'm picturing you meeting all your relatives at Thanksgiving. There will be whispers "your face looks thinner" comments and hearty congratulations. I've had two 'your face looks thinner' comments this week. Of course, instead of being happy I think, "What about my arse?" LilMissBand-Aid - it's very impressive that you've lost all that weight pre-surgery. It's a great way to speed up your way to goal. I have been going to the gym lately that I thought I'd give myself a night off last night - no walk or anything. I was very surprised to find that I couldn't sleep a wink.

Congrats on the date! I hope the rest of you get a date soon. Isn't it exciting to be entering the next phase of your lives? I can't even describe how happy and relieved and hopeful I am now that I have the band. I can see a future for me that I couldn't see before.

Welcome! Not many participants this month. Where the regulars? Lurkers, if you are 300+ (or were), copy the table and add your goal for the month. If the table comes out all garbled, click on the 'Go Advanced' tab and it will look fine. I just registered a big loss which fits in with the theory of a slow month followed by a great month. If fact, I just realised that I've already hit my goal for this month. I was shooting conservatively because I didn't want to be disappointed by not reaching it. Man I love fills! Name...................... Starting....Loss....Current.....Goal......To Go Rainer.........................283.........-3...... ...280......265..........15 Insubordination.............296.5......-8.5...... 288.......288..........0 RidinMyHDDream (Carol)..264.........0.........264.........254..... ..10 LilMissBand-Aid..............287.........0.........287...... 277..........10

You should come over to my house Suzzie, it needs some order. Just had a massive jump in weight loss after a plateau. Over 8 pounds in two weeks. Yay! Name...Challenge Start Wt...Current Wt...Challenge Goal...To Go Huntersmom...... 174........... 172....... 159............ 13 SWEETY.......... 202........... 195....... 180............ 15 MJsafari........ 268........... 252....... 238............ 14 captdanbo....... 211........... 211....... 185............ 26 PaulaD.......... 216........... 216....... 199............ 17 Stefanie42467... 206........... 200....... 175............ 25 Suzzzie......... 349........... 337....... 320............ 17 glindab......... 277........... 269....... 250............ 19 MM.............. 242........... 227.2..... 218............9.2 finallythin..... 254........... 254....... 225............ 29 BeckieT......... 259........... 259....... 239............ 20 Miscontext...... 303........... 303....... 275............ 28 ja9va........... 207........... 199....... 182............ 20 wombat712....... 180........... 172.4..... 165........... 7.4 Texasmom5573.... 252........... 252....... 230............ 22 Waters.......... 214........... 213....... 190............ 24 lessnless....... 206 .......... 191.2..... 179 ........... 12.2 MissDarlene..... 223........... 223....... 195............ 28 o2bthin..........238........... 233....... 215............ 18 insubordination..300........... 288....... 283.............5 Holliwagz........325........... 315....... 295.............20 cc...............202............200........190.... ........10

You two sound like me. The problem really does run deep and it's not about just putting food in your mouth. I read an interesting article (not online) about how yoga and tai chi and the like can help people with addictions. I noticed my gym has a tai chi class on Tuesdays so I'm going to go this week.

Some people report tightness when they are menstruating. The band is very mysterious, isn't it?

That's so great you got the job. They certainly went to a lot of effort to get you. I love that you just 'fessed up Missy. Ingrid, if you're going to Sydney, I would be happy to meet you for lunch or dinner. I meet with bandsters all the time here and all experiences have been great. You'll have no problem in business class. It's awesome, though expensive. Insist on that fill. I don't see why they would withhold one if you're not too tight. Why wait to stop losing weight? It doesn't make sense. Suzzie, you're weight loss is amazing. I have also lost a surprising amount this week. Maybe because I just got a fill and then PB'd and then spent 48 hours on liquids. I always do things the hard way. __________________

I don't know which country you're in but Optifast also has bars. Berry crunch, cappuccino and chocolate.

It's true. I probably eat 2000 cals a day but I still lose at least a pound per week. It's because I'm bigger and I'm going to get away with it as long as my body lets me. I have a lot of room to go down if I stop losing.

Big welcome Ingrid. You are doing well so far. Imagine 55lb without a fill. It is all you and it's amazing that you've cut out no-nos. I wish I wanted to! It must have been interesting to read every page of the thread. We started out nervous and starving on pre-op and now we're frustrated and impatient post-op because we want to be thin NOW. This thread has been great for me ((((hugs you guys, lurkers/rare posters too)))) I wonder if the other 'month' threads are this great.