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I was just coming to post this....I'd rather send $10 a year than have to look at those ads...so annoying. Rain

I'm 7 months out and while I was hungry for the first few months after surgery, I am not so much anymore...That said, I still want to eat crap as much as I did. But, now I am unable to eat as much garbage as I was...I would literally, 7 months ago, be starving an hour and a half after eating 3 bowls of Cereal in the morning. Now I have ONE packet of oatmeal and am good until lunch. BUT...that desire to eat during the morning...especially while feeding my kids snack, is overwhelming. But that is habit, not hunger. For the first three months, before my insurance allowed me to have a fill, I struggled. But, I was so dedicated and wanted to lose asap...I didn't allow a single piece of mindless food past my lips...If I was hungry (which I was sometimes since I had no fill), I drank TONS of unsweetened Iced Tea and just dealt with it. NO Snacks...and the weight literally flew off of my body. I was able to deal with it though because I knew that when I got a fill, I wouldn't feel hungry anymore and I knew I could stay focused for three months... While not at optimal restriction after the first fill, things were infinitely better and the weight continues to drop really rapidly. Good luck...I think that folks that are so addicted to food (my husband is as well...banded in April at 393...down 85lbs) truly benefit from some behavioral counseling as well...To be honest, I think I could as well and I am not as wrapped in food as dh was/is...That addiction is hard to go away. Best of luck to you! Rain

Jack....time for a new belt buddy! My daughter has been asking how she can grow up and be strong....I can tell her without feeling like a hypocrite....better yet, I am SHOWING her by example. rain

I'm in!! Name..............Start..........Current..........Goal ......To Go 1. Sades...........201..............201...............190..........11 2. cQQlgirl........215..............215................200..........15 3. Linda Lu........228.............228.................215.........13 4. Rainer..........251..............251................241...........10

when I worked I was always always early. I have a real issue with being late to things...I think it's because my parents were always late and I hated it. Punctuality is my "Thing".. Rain

What an interesting thread. I am very judgemental...I know that about myself and it's probably a major reason why I don't have very many friends...I cannot/will not get past my initial opinion of someone. That being said, I treat everyone (initially) with respect because that was drilled into my head as a child and I cannot escape it. As for everyone being able to shower....when I was pregnant with my twins I weighed about 360lbs and there was this enormous pressure both lying and sitting. I had to put a folding chair in the shower because it was too exhausting to shower without one. Now the majority of that was probably because I was so oddly shaped (My stomach was HUGE!!!!)...but I can imagine how a super morbidly obese person would have a hard time showering... Thanks for this thread...it made me think! Rain

You're a mother...95% of what you do is for your children either directly or indirectly...I totally understand.. My parents died young (of lung cancer). My mom was 53 and my dad was 59..I was 21 when my mom died and 27 when my dad died...I don't want that for my three little girls (3,2 and 2)...I WILL do everything in my power to see my grandchildren..my girls graduate from college, their weddings etc... (Why ddi I put grandchildren first???Weird??) I cannot think of a more rational reason... Best of luck! Rain

Happy birthday! I have to tell you...that is a BEAUTIFUL camera...dh is a photographer and it is a beauty!!! That being said...if it's not what you want...then it could be the BEST and it wouldn't matter. Our first Christmas together...dh kept going on and on about the amazing present he bought for me....I was going to love it...he was so excited to give it to me. etc... All December I could hardly contain myself. I was thinking beautiful diamond earrings to match my beautiful wedding band...or perhaps a nice bracelet...or a spa day... I waited with anticipation until all of the presents were done being unwrapped and dh went to the bedroom to get the one he "forgot..." It was very large...not a tiny jewelry box at all. It was............a portable easel. complete with dry erase markers, pads and a carrying case. I cried and cried and cried and got a spa weekend. Poor dh has never lived it down. I hear ya girlfriend...I'm married to him as well. Happy Birthday. Rain

congratulations and welcome to bandland! Keep up the great weightloss!!! rain

Well...if you want to talk semantics...yes.... However, I was specifically talking about myself and I am neither dehydrating myself nor amputating a limb in the effort of making the scale go down. One does not lose fat without losing weight (unless they are turning it ALL to muscle and that's highly doubtful in my case!!! :Dancing_chief: )...since I already own a scale and have no fat measuring device at home, I'll have to stick with the scale. And really, I did the whole ketosis thing immediately after banding... My sex life was seriously altered...for some reason, dh didn't want to jump into bed with my breath...I cannot imagine why!!! :biggrin: Rain

No...you are right....a scale does not intrinsically measure health...but it is a fair indicator that one is headed in the right direction...you can be skinny and unhealthy, no doubt....but at 338....the loss of weight is the number one goal...which is best measured by a scale. rain

QUOTE:; If you had ample energy to get through the day, were feeling good in your clothes, moved confidently about your daily activities, and were getting compliments from others that you were getting in shape, would you really care if the scale read 100 pounds or 400 pounds when you stepped on it? (If you're thinking "yes," re-read the description in the first part and truly imagine what it would feel like to live that way, then ask yourself again and again until the answer is "no.") --------- I would still not be happy...while energy and feeling good and compliments etc...are nice, they are not the reason I had the surgery and am so gung ho about losing...I NEED to be HEALTHIER... So, the scale makes me accountable for that. I don't, however, allow it to affect my mood because, as weetin (more or less) said, it's affected by so much more than just your amount of excess weight. Although, when I get to a new low...I am thrilled!!! Just my two cents! Rain

I don't understand...whether you have medication or not, you have high cholesterol. Medication doesn't make the diagnosis any more valid....it just means you are on medication for it. I was borderline hypertensive and my cholesterol was borderline as well...That was written in my letter from my pcp along with a few other aches and pains due to my weight. Your dr. will certainly say your cholesterol is high and that you are hypertensive. Good luck with your approval! Rain

sadly...it's a common thing...and it lasts long... partly because of a huge decrease in food intake... partly because of lack of Fiber Make sure you drink your Water like a crazy woman... take benefiber (they are chewables)...or you can get the powder that goes in your drink... Either way, later on...as you are able to eat more and exercise more, you'll find it happening more frequently...but for now, it is less frequent. Good luck and congrats on your loss thus far! Rain

Go to your local store where you normally shop and grab clothing in your old size and in your new size and in the next size down... Put on the smallest size.....if it fits, REJOICE...if it doesn't....but on your old size and REJOICE anyway because you are SHRINKING!!! Ok...dh took the kids yesterday and I went to Lane Bryant and tried on 16s...most of them fit me...some didn't (or didn't look good) so I went and found some 26/28s....I felt sooo good when I put them on...It was the best feeling ever!!!! And I was thinking about the times I would try on 26/28s and they wouldn't fit in....And here they were falling off of me!!! Truly, I cannot think of anything better... Oh...and then try some clothes in your present size...guaranteed some of them will be too big. HEAVEN... and I didn't spend a red cent. Have fun! Rain

Ok...obviously I jinxed myself... I just had my first official pb... in my bathroom with the twins screaming and banging on the bathroom door... They were so offended that they weren't allowed in. ummm...that's not fun! FYI...emotional eating not only doesn't help you feel better... it hurts like hell!!! Oh...and when you aren't able to handle solids in the am...that means chocolate chip Cookies as well...duh!!! Rain

Nope! Rain

congrats Lauren...I think a 10 is my goal size...I cannot even begin to fathom being a 10...but I will. You are doing so well! Rain

What I would do...wait until she asks and then say you had surgery...when she asks why you ddn't tell her...list off the 75 reasons she said and tell her you weren't in a position to deal with a conflict over it... Or..don't tell her at all. Why does she have to know? Congrats on your weight loss..that's awesome! Rain

I've only slimed so far...but the last time was the worst... I was in Philly with my dh this weekend for a night away from the kids. We went to Irish Pub for dinner and I got stuck. We got back to the hotel and dh went downstairs to get me some pineapple juice from the bar. It seemed to do the trick, so I leaned over the give him a thank you kiss...which turned deeper...until I started to get the dry heaves and had to run to the bathroom and slime into the toilet...There's sexy for ya!!! rain

I used advanced laproscopic surgeons...drs bertha aND abkin...we loved them....both dh and I used abkin...bertha does our fills... the work out of st peters, st clares and morristown memorial and their main office is in florham park. Best of luck. Rain

update: Rainer ................ 256 ........... 216 ............. 250 .............. 34

I've got 2 more.....I can do this!!! Congrats to everyone...we are rocking this challenge Name............starting#......current#.......goal#.....to go Anitak33...........245............218..........199.......19 Anna2766____.......232............226..........220.......6 TxArcher...........360............346..........345.......1 Candle.............218............209..........207.......2 Cerrin.............350............350..........325.......25 chickatee..........188............179..........175.......4 Cookielover........202............202..........192.......10 cQQlgirl...........220............217..........210.......7 Faithmd............306............301.2........296.......5.2 georgiagirl........275............264..........261.......3 Hollyberries.......298............298..........285.......13 Hoppingto..........350............314..........294.......20 Irishmae11.........233.8..........234..........219.......15 Jennie1976.........290............251..........235.......16 jfran..............187............181..........177.......4 Jillrn.............176............171..........166.......5 Jsrico.............255............178..........165.......13 juliegeraci........220............220..........210.......8 KarenG.............207............191.5..........189......2.5 keekahari..........220............217..........205.......12 kjl315.............237.5..........228..........220.......8 legster............223.5..........212..........199.......13 LessnLess..........172............168.5........164.......4.5 liz_hager..........202............198..........190.......8 Manatee............188............175..........175.......0 Mandyjo............191............179..........180.......-1 metawnny...........252............252..........240.......12 MJRouse84..........274............233..........218.......15 nip50..............250............235..........238.......-3 Rainer.............264............250..........248.......2 Redtulips3.........248............231..........226.......5 RenewedHope........228............215..........210.......5 rharriet...........367............256..........248.......8 Sades..............229............199.7........189.......10.7 Skinny_Jill........195............187..........180.......7 Stacy73............230............222..........222.......0 SueMagoo...........230............222..........220.......2 Sunny112...........145............145..........140.......5 Susan4794..........240............240..........225.......15 Suzzzie............303............294..........290.......4 SWEETY.............180............174..........170.......4 Trystelle..........219............209..........205.......4 Twilight...........206............194..........185.......9 uxbus5.............240............240..........230.......10 want2lose..........236............236..........225.......11 wombat712..........154.8..........147.8........140.......7.8

I would have had a serious slap down...You showed serious restraint. I'm impressed... Rain

Here are my 7 month pictures... Im thrilled. These are some clothes that I just bought for the spring and summer...so they are too small....I look forward to seeing them grow too large. Thank you all for your support. I appreciate you all so much.