IndioGirl55

Darling this is the rant and raves section - not the support section.:rolleyes2:. And NO ONE IS TRULY CONTENT BEING MORBIDLY OBESE - We hide behind that little saying (Oh accept me for who I am - yadda yadda - I parroted the same b.s. but truly it's called denial)

Michelle Salter - I got it at bed bath & beyond - it's a bit pricey $100 - but it's well worth it. I weight and package my meat after I have shopped and write on the zip lock bag the calories and Protein grams then freeze - The other night I had some whole wheat Pasta - I don't know what a real serving size of pasta is - (it use to be half the box) so on the box it says 56 grm is one serving 180 calories - so I weighed out 56 grm - I could only eat 1/2 - so 90 calories - I would have been guessing if I didn't have the scale - us fat chick seem to ALWAY underestimate - and all those 50 calories here - 25 there add up.. I seem to be on a roll tonite it must be the 1/4 of a mile that I ran tonite - must have boosted my oxygen levels - I am a plain talker and am well know for giving tough band love -(operative word being love) - I know all the excuses as to why we can't do this or that or why it's too hard - I am a fat chick too so I have parroted all the same excuses in my life time - you can't sh*t a bullsh*t - and only a fat person can really understand another fat person - the whole been there done that... LBT is now my transfer addiction - :rolleyes2:

Jachut - took the words right out of my mouth !!!

To frickin funny :cry_smile::confused: Love it :rolleyes2:

Phyl - You totally got what I was saying and I totally got what you are saying - :rolleyes2: Same wave lenght.. Steph I have the kasha go lean crunch I think its 200 calories for a cup - it's like granola - I just got it had some last night 1/2 cup.. Fiber is good to help your body rid it's self of the band cholestoral - My overall cholestral is good - but my bad is a little high - they told me to get more fiber... You are added to the list... Hopefully this weekend I will do it - bug me if you don't hear from me.. Karri If they let him go before his 2 weeks are up they have to pay him by law!!! for the week he had left... Check it out - I know that is the way it is here in Cali.... Good job on the running - will ck out your blog - I am wired tonite for some reason - will crash sooner or later...

oh I back - just thought of this to tell you newbies I still eat out - but instead of eating a taco enchilada rice & beans and the whole thing of chips - I now eat just a few chips - 1/2 or 3/4 of my taco and a few bites of bean - I'm full - granted I don't do this daily but I do eat out about once a week to once every 2 weeks.. When out for dinner Saturday to Olive Garden - grilled shrimp & pasta ate 4-5 shrimp about 4 bites of the pasta and 1/2 cup of soup mostly the broth as I wanted room for dinner.. Misty - Good luck on that mri... Oh ya another thought - 100 lbs - ya to have a good bmi I need to lose 105 - but right now my goal is 160 - at our age imho we have the whole saggy skin issue even with out losing weight - which adds to it.. But that whole weight issue is personal - but I can tell you for the 1st time in my life - I finally am going to get to goal... I LOVE MY BAND - I LOVE ME FOR DOING THE WORK Denise is at goal - Phyl has lost 75lbs and she was banded in July like me - I think we are the only oldtimer on this thread anymore - but ask questions read read read - We will all give you our experience and we won't pull any punches - We are too old for play games... And yes there can be complication - but what are the complication you are going to have from staying overweight - heck you can be driving to work tomorrow and get hit by a truck - is that going to stop you from going to work - this is life crap happens - it's a carp shoot if you are going to have complication - but the odds of you dieing from a heart attack - stroke etc are 10 fold than what could happen if you have a complication. For me it was worth the risk and if you follow the rules you better your chances of not having a complication... OK off my soap box - I really gotta eat... as you can see I really do love my band and want every fat person I know to get it - I want everyone to be happy like me - and you will feel happier without all that excess weight that is dragging you down,..

Becky Thanks so much for saying that I am inspiring you, that's quite a complement. Especially today - when I was a little down. Ok we are the same age - I was 52 when I was banded 9 months ago - I have lost 85 lbs in those 8 months (this morning is only the 2nd time in all those months that the scale didn't move in a downward motion - that's why I was down early - but that has rectified it's self :rolleyes2: - but they haven't ever moved up either) Prior to being banded I had just friggin given up on the whole diet trying to lose weight - had convinced myself I was happy at 244.5 size 22/24 tops 18/20 pants - that it was the person inside that counted. My weight was limiting my life - I was sleeping my weekends away - I could barely walk the mall up and back without my feet killing me - just cleaning house (running the vacuum) i would break out in a sweat. I have 3 grandkids (17 13 4) and I would like to seem them marry and maybe even some great grand kids - as you know when you turn 50 you realize that you have less yrs in front of you than whats behind you - so we want to extend the remaining yrs and being FAT we are shortening them. I can tell you that I feel 10 yrs younger - have 110% more energy and look pretty damn good for a 53 yr old broad - (you can go back a few pages on this post and see my picture or go to the July 07 thread and look for thread labeled Brag Pic I think) The band is the best darn thing that I have ever done for myself. It's a great tool but that's all it is - it's not the magic cure to our issues with food - To be successful with the band you still have to work - but the work is made easier by the band and having proper restriction and feeling full on a smaller amount of food. This is a total lifetime lifestyle change in your eating - you can still eat your summer foods - the secret is budgeting your calories to include your treats - I make Xmas cookies with GD's during the holidays - I allowed myself a few - I budgeted my calories and increased my exercise - trade offs - if you want that candy bar - be prepared to walk for 40 minutes to work off those 200 calorie :cry_smile: Here is what I do - I keep a food diary - I count calories & protein grams I eat anywhere from 900 to 1200 calories in a day - I exercise 3-4 days a week (I have worked myself up to 3 miles on a 4-6 incline and now have a trainer at the gym - I was a total slug bug/couch potato before) - I eat low fat & sugar free 98% of the time - I follow a weight watcher type eating plan - I do have starches/carbs - but I do limit them - I usually have 1/2 cup of rice with dinner every nite - In the beginning i weight and measured all my food - but now I can say I know what 4 oz looks like - but if I am fixing something I m not sure of I will weight it. I eat off of salad/sandwich plates - i use baby spoon and forks - I have a little bowl I got from Target that hold 1 cup. My doc says that I am losing weight like a bypass patient - but I am really working this band and I do eat real food - - I am very motivated to get this weight off - I love shopping in the regular section at Macy's - I love having size 10 & 8s hanging in my closet.. If I can do this anyone can do this - it does take work - it does take will power - but it is so doable.. As far as being hungry - sometime but it's cut down to a whisper as shortgal would say - I can eat dinner and be full and still be looking for something to eat - it's all head hunger - they band our tummies and not our heads and 99% of the problem lies in our head.. I eat popcorn most every night for my evening snack. Ok I wrote a book here - :confused: so If I missed something let me know. But I haven't' eaten yet and I need to go cook - my brain is getting soggy here Sharon - I was lucky I never gained between banding and my 1st fill

Candice What does this mean Mercurial - I don't have a dictionary handy :rolleyes2: Phyl Hugs - I know the heart aches that kids cause even grown ones - On her Bday get a card and present and take it over there and act like nothings wrong - call every day and act like nothings wrong - just leave a message - Hi just call to ck on you - TTYL luv ya Mom. She will come around.. Steph Hope you are feeling better (Hugs) - I totally get the lights off that was cute.. Jackie Are you and DH acting like teenagers while yours are gone Candice Hows your Mom doing?? Karri Are you out running tonite - how did DH interview go?? Beth cant wait to see the pic's Ruby - haven't heard from you today - hope all is well Kristen you too you have been quite Linda - How are you doing too.. Denise - Are you in your pool swiming Ok it's 7:49 and I gotta go see what I can fix for dinner - fish or something with hamburger (lean of course) I haven't had red meat all week so I think that's what I will fix .. CBL :cry_smile: .

Ok Gang - I am feeling better tonite - got on the scale when I came home from work - is showed a 1 lbs loss - I can't count it but it made me feel better and I usually don't go to the gym on Thursdays - but I took my fat little butt and went - I even ran/jogged for 1/4 of a mile - stopped once in the middle of that 1/4 but I did it... But I feel good that I did it and that I didn't die - got a headache though - must be to much oxygen that caused it.. :rolleyes2: And I will exceed my exercise goal for the month of April. Thanks to all of you for understanding - my little pity party and I know that I really shouldn't complain - and felt a little stupid by posting it this morning cuz I know that some of you have had more struggles than I have with the up & down issues. But it was how I was feeling this morning - I was disappointed and since you are my family - I felt that I could share my feeling Here is what I would have told any of you had you posted the same thing i did this morning - Be happy the scale didn't move up - did you get your water in - do you think you might need to bump up your calories - or increase the intensity of your work out - It could just be water weight.you have been eating healthy.. It will be ok - I am great at giving advice - but taking - that's another story.. But in truth - it's all about being afraid of waking up from this dream and being fat again........ I can't get any realer than that...

Shortgal You and I must be related - we are almost exactly the same in how we approach our new band life -this is a total lifetime lifestyle change in our eating plan (which is what a diet really means - not starvation) I don't think you are cold - IMHO all that you have said thru this Thread is right on. Maybe its an age thing - We know that this isn't just another fad diet - this is our life that we are trying to extend. In my research on the band I was told over and over again it's only a tool so I didn't secretly think that it was the magic cure - I knew it wasn't I had been for warned by experienced banders. Our band is only a tool - we do have to have will power - that piece of plastic in our stomach isn't what's going to make us lose the weight - It's us our brains - its what we chose to put in our mouth. As I always like to say they banded our tummy not our brain and 99% of the problem with our addiction is in our brains not our stomach... To bad they haven't come up with a device for our brains !!! If they did I guess we wouldn't be having this discussion. If everyone is waiting for proper restriction and thinking that alone is going to solve their issue - think again - you can eat around this thing - Cookies - chips - cracker - candy - ice cream- cake goes down with no problems - Heck I have pretty good restriction would even say I am at my sweet spot - but I could go into the kitchen and fix some mashed potatoes loaded with butter and eat 2 cups - OMW those 2 cups would be more 3/4 of my daily calories if not more depending on how much butter I used and I am a Paula Dean kind a girl I read so many people saying "I didn't get banded to diet" I don't want to count calories - I don't want to weight & measure food - I want to eat normal - Well normal is what got you fat in the first place -We don't know what 4 ozs looks like - As a learning tool I think you need to weight and measure food - I have a scale that gives me all the info - Protein grms - calories - fat - etc Who knows how many grams of protein are in an ounce - If you aren't reading labels and counting how do you know how many grams of protein you are getting in a day - besides drinking Protein drinks - My doc wants me to eat regular food. My experience with the band is that I do 75% of the work - by choosing to eat healthy 98% of the time allowing for treats 2% of the time which I budget into my 1000 -1200 daily calorie in take and i exercise 4 days a week minimum. I agree you have to do the work if you are going to succeed in this battle to get healthy --It takes planing, preparing - we are learning new habits. I will tell you one thing - - I can't say that nothing taste as good as thin feels - cuz I still love food (I now enjoy my meals - I don't inhale them) - but I do think that thinner feels better than fatter.

A lady downstairs in another office in my building complemented me on my weight loss - "How did you do it" answer "by eating healthy and exercising" this is the truth - the band doesn't make you lose the weight you do by your choices...

Kate You are not alone in your fears - we all had them - Giving up your best Friend (food) is a difficult thing - it is very emotional. As we use food to soothe our emotions... I would do it again in a HEARTBEAT - I feel 10 yrs younger - I have 100% more energy - and I love the way I look.. Do I believe its worth it - HELL YA - I really don't like the saying "nothing taste as good as thin feels" but I gotta say - thinner feels a whole lot better that fat. Do I miss eating ya - sometimes - not often - but occasionally i do. But it's a passing thought now adays. If I want a piece of cake I will have it once in a great while - it's not that one piece of cake that makes you fat - it's eating the whole thing that does. I eat healthy 98% of the time and allow treats 2% - I don't feel deprived. Only you can make this choice but since you asked - I thought I would give you my 2 cents :crying: Good Luck on your journey

Shortgal - I think we are related :crying:

Princess When I visited my surgeon he gave me a questionnaire to complete on the foods that I ate - Fried - Sweets - Breads etc - by how I answered this questionnaire is what he used to direct his patients as to which surgery would be best for them. I like sweets and would binge on them ever 3 or 4 months - but can't say they were my main problem - my main problem was portion control and high fat foods. I find that the sugar free stuff satisfies my sweet tooth - and now adays I just stay away from candy -cakes, ice cream, brownies and cookie as all these foods usually don't cause a bander any problems For me my band has been a perfect tool - it does what it's suppose to it controls my portions - and I am doing what I am suppose to do - control what goes in my mouth and I am now exercising. As to a yr's pre-op diet - ya - I could never do that - but insurance companies are making it harder for ppl to get the surgery due to the regaining of weight after a few yrs - they want to make sure that you are committed to a lifetime lifestyle change in your eating. But I would assume that unless you had quite a bit of weight to lose that after the yr your bmi would be too low to qualify for surgery - I don't work in that field so I can't speak to it with any real knowledge I was so ready for this surgery and as said above it's a perfect fit for me - it may or may not be for you -only you and your doc can decide that. Just keep reading and asking questions - you will find your answers Good Luck to you...

Thanks Candice !!!! Yep just one of those days :crying: that I get to wallow in self pity :cool: I shall get thru this and I know I am not the only one who has been dissappointed by what the scale says... And I am thankful for my good fortune of have such a great support group - who understands. I rejoice in your 1.6 lbs loss - That makes me happy... cuz I know how hard this has been for you..

I think about what she meant by divorce is due to the changes that people go thru - some fat ppl just settle for anyone who will accept them as a fat - they really aren't in a happy relationship or happy with themselves. Like transfer addictions - ie shopping - alcohol - sex addicts etc I really don't think if you have a good solid marriage now that losing weight is going to cause a divorce. IMHO if it does result in divorce it really wasn't cuz of the wls but some other issue.

The Band in it's self isn't going to make you lose the weight. The only thing the band does is restrict the amount of food that you can consume at one time (once you get to your sweet spot) If you are eating around the band (slider foods - that slide right thru and dont cause problems) is that the bands fault - There is an article in the new Magazine section - "Is the band failing you or are you failing your band" by Coach Cher.. It's worth the read... I am going to be very unpopular here - but I just gotta say this IMHO The Band does take work/will power ie going to the doctor to get fills - cooking - planing - counting calorie/keeping a food diary (as a learning tool until we are aware of what kind of calories we eat a day - heck we don't count that 8 oz glass of o.j. that has 100+ calories and truly we drink a 16 oz glass)- eating low fat and low sugar and you have to exercise. I had to take a little test when I met w/my surgeon - as to the kinds of food that I ate - that is what he used to determine what kind of surgery you should have (Brandy likes sweets - well with the band she is able to eat them and still absorbs all the calories - where as if she does get a bypass - the minute she eats sugar she is going to get physically ill - have the dumping syndrome as her intestine don't absorb the calories) Since my problem was portion control - he felt the band would be my best choice had it been sweets & fats - he would have suggested bypass. You should be able to eat hard proteins ( bander rules -tiny bites (eraser size) eat slowly and chew) - if you aren't able to eat regular foods then you need to see your doctor - it's simple as that cuz if you can't eat regular foods you are going to resort to eating unhealthy slider foods - You need to add exercise into your life in some form - slowly at first and increase as you get healthier.. If you are eating slider food cuz it's easier and you aren't losing weight - then you have to ask yourself some hard questions. Are you using your tool or expecting your tool to do all the work. Good Luck Ladies - I wish you all the success in the world - but think you need to really look deep inside to figure out why you are sabotaging yourselves cuz no matter what form of WLS you chose it's going to take work and effort on your part - WLS surgery doesn't equate to simple and easy - it requires alot of work and will power - determination to make a lifetime lifestyle change in your eating and becoming more active thru exercising Weight loss is quite simple - calories in vs calories out.. They have banded our tummies but not our brains - IMHO the majority of our food issues are in our brains and not our stomachs..

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CONTRATULATION ON REACHING GOAL :crying: Yes I have been wondering what happen to you..

I don't feel that I have to justify my choices with anyone... I am grown and I can do as I please - this is my life and not theirs.. This is my choice (the band) in what I feel is best for me ... I don't need the approval of others.

Denise :thumbs_down::cursing::cursing::cursing::scared2::cursing::thumbup::cursing: Ya I think you are right :thumbup: Thank you for the laugh- It puts it all into prospective.. Kari You have a reason to be sad - yes & no on the time issue - I just am a Scarlett O'Hara type of girl - I just try not to think of unpleasant things. I have had 1/2 bottle of water - yogurt with strawberries (fresh)

Thanks Phyl :biggrin2: I know I have no right to complain or be upset :thumbs_down: - it really must be the hormones and my ocd to get to goal.... I reminded myself that my goal was to be to goal by 5/17 I am/was suppose to go out for drinks tomorrow - but I don't know if I will cuz I know myself and will over do it - so that means no gym on Sat morning ... And I don't want those liquid calories - cuz then I will overcompensate with more food to counter act the hang over.. I preach self control - but I am lacking in it at times -:cursing::cursing:

The band provides restriction so that you are full on a less amount of food. But the band does not make your food choices for you - as you say this is a lifestyle change - I use what I have learned in weight watches (making good food choices eating a well balanced diet) and my band in combination - 2 great tools to help me lose the weight..

Peaches :cursing: Yes :cursing:- TRY is another unacceptable word :cursing: - My girls know me don't they :thumbs_down: When I was a kid my Mom made oatmeal with dates (my Dad was a Date Grower) ugh I hated it - but when I was in my 30's I started liking it - but the quick cook full sugar kind :cursing: - I love raisin & walnut - I want to try the Steel Oats that everyone is always talking about - but I gotta go to Trader Joes to get it - the sf syrup sounds good.. 99% of the time I don't have a poop problem - I need this fiber to get rid of the bad cholestoral.... I will get some this weekend with some flax seeds.. Shortgal - I go thru spurts on taking my Vitamins & calcium - I will do good for a week then next week be really bad - this week has been bad for my calcium & Multi Vit - but good on my B complex - but I did take my Multi right not cuz I got an ugly little bruise on my knee.. Thin2bme - Good luck on your fill tomorrow and being able to expand your food choices. Plan - read labels - is my best advice Misty - Heartburn is not being stuck - stuck feels like a golf ball in your chest - I get a itty bit of heartburn every now and then from just drinking Water - take a pecid chewable it should help Why are you getting an MRI???

Good Morning - The site is still SLOW.... Candice - CONGRATULATION 1.6 LBS :thumbup: - Way to go :thumbup: Karri - Hope he gets the State job - If I knew what I know now - I would have gone into a job that had a actual retirement plan - Heck I have been here 29 yrs - If I had a State or County job - I could be retiring... Kari - Why are you up at 1:15 in the morning??? I understand the battle last night was one for me - I wanted sweets... Had some Cereal and then 100 snack pack cupcakes. Calories 1270 - not too bad OK GANG I NEED CHEERING UP !!!!!! The scales did not move this morning (weighin day)!!!!:cursing::cursing::scared2::crying::cursing::cursing: Here are my excuses reasoning etc - Aunt Flo is still around - but it's not that bad - I do think I am retaining some Water ring isn't as loose as it usually is. I know that I am being unreasonable - I know this !!!! I have lost 85lbs and this is only the 2nd week in 9 months that the scales haven't moved and they didn't move up - I know - I know - I know... I know these last 5 lbs are going to me harder than the 1st 85 - I just wanted to wake up this morning get on the scales and to have a 5 lbs loss - I just want to get to goal (sure glad I went back to my original goal :cursing: or I really would be depressed) I am just being a cry baby boobie - but since you are my girls - I had to share my stupid thoughts, feelings and to show you all that I can be as OCD as our girls Karri & Jackie :lol: (girls you know this is all in good fun - just don't want you to think you are alone in you ocd - we all are ocd in some manner or another) As the saying goes - it's easier to give advice than to accept it - I know what I would be telling all of you if you had posted this post. I keep telling myself over and over again - it's ok - but am so afard that this is the begining of the end or the start of putting it all back on (see karri you are like your band mom - you got it honestly) .... Ok - Move forward Janet... Bootstraps tugging.. tugging - ok they are up - I have put on my big girl panties and am dealing with this.... Jackie - You will be ok - you & DH now can do the wild thing in the living room - run around the house naked - all the things you can't do when the kids are home :lol: Well, lets see how long this takes to post. I am tempted to delete is cuz I am being so STUPID :thumbs_down: