Fauxnaif

OMG! I am SO tired of hearing about how bad children from single parent homes turn out. People are either good parents or they are not regardless of their marital status. How dare you assume that two parents turn out better kids than parents who are going it alone (by choice or not). AND...I think that many of the problems blamed on single parents are actually more closely correlated with poverty for whatever reason. Most single parents are women and most women fair very badly financially after a divorce.

Or overeating.

It seems like a good moderate fill. As time goes by I think you will get more used to it and be able to decrease the sliming incidents. Eating most things but lots less of them is a good place to be! Congrats!

Calories sometimes but generally just try to eat healthy and stop when I am full. I do not watch carbs.

I have felt bulimic at a few times after banding. These were times of great emotional stress where I would overeat knowing I would PB then eat some more. I pray I didn't damage my band or stomach. Each time, I noticed the behavior and did one or more of the following (in addition to making a conscious decision to stop the behavior): talked to my therapist, journaled, talked to my husband, got my antidepressants adjusted, slept, spent quiet time alone, etc. Figuring out what was wrong is a necessity for me because I sure didn't get to over 300 just because I like dessert! food and behavior around it have very little pull for me now.

AMEN TO THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Some of us see how our families are and make a vow to NOT be like them!

I am similar. We do eat out; we just sit there for at least an hour. The waitpersons ask me if it's okay all the time. Just talk a lot between bites and it's not that noticeable. This IS normal for us.

Here' s what should happen: You eat slowly and chew your food well. The band will cause you to get full faster because your food will sit on top of the area of the stomach with the band around it and slowly fall down through the opening. Once you feel a sensation of food too high in your esophagus or seeming to back up in your throat (there are lots of other signs, too), you are finished eating. If you are chewing well, eating slowly, stopping when you are full and not eating very very tough food (like fajita meat for me), you should not PB and the food shouldn't be stuck. I have had a lot of PBs in my day and know this to be the truth for me. FN-reformed PBer

Don't have it but I think it was written by Jessie Ahroni, if that helps.

Struggles: 1. consistently exercising without overdoing it. 2. knowing what I really look like (I think I have no idea). I go from thinking I look fairly good to thinking how huge I still am. I have no idea how people see me and I find I am a little reluctant to give up the fat girl persona. 3. learning what fashion looks good on this new body (fun, but weird)

Such a big deal!!! Congratulations!!!! Thank God for our bands!

BRAVO!!!! These things are more rewarding that seeing numbers on a scale change!!!!:clap2:

Earlier in my banding journey, I weighed once a week. Now I weigh everyday. But I do so with the understanding that it could be up maybe 3 pounds just due to Water gain, etc. So it must be up several days in a row to get me worried. When I find myself getting a bit obsessed, I back off for several days. Or if I eat something salty or whatever, I don't weigh myself for a bit. On the scale, mine went up and down like that too until I got a Tanita Digital scale. It weighs very, very consistently. This is the one I have. It was well worth the price! http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=13033110

Fried food like tempura Baked potatoes Real, liquid coffee creamer

I totally understand. My first year was incredibly hard for this exact reason. I highly recommend this book. Between the band and it, I have finally reached a point of comfort with food. http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780449003824&itm=1

:clap2: Great post! Excellent points. So many people cannot even afford to go to Mexco.

Me too. I'm slow, slow, slow. But getting there. I've been going almost 4 1/2 years! I lose, go months without losing (much of it psychological) then lose more. Slow and steady does win the race. ETA: I don't think genetics are a problem for me at all. I blame my behavior.

This is a huge achievement! Congratulations!:clap2: Enjoy your body and that new man-maybe at the same time!

Well, how about this? My insurance doesn't pay for ANY weight loss surgery. So this is not an issue. How simple it makes life! I think more insurance companies are going to follow suit, especially if they feel they are being defrauded.

Only the first year or so after being banded. It happened soon after I ate. My students used to laugh at me.

Oh nevermind.

Oh yes! I went from a 10 to an 8 1/2. I had to get rid of all my shoes and buy new ones.

Get up at 5:30. Drink coffee and surf the net till 6:30. Get ready and take son to daycare then go to work. I normally exercise after work.

Log your calories and make sure you are getting at least 1000 a day. Drink at least 3 quarts of water a day (this is when I really lose). Exercise but realize that your weight may go up before it goes down.

I actually enjoy food much more now that overeating is more difficult. I have more freedom and am getting more into some really good food as opposed to junk food. When you eat small amounts, you can still lose.