JustWatchMe

I just had my adorable fix for the day.

You will, you will, you will! It won't even take a year. Just wait. The first thirty pounds gone and I could sleep again. Just THAT alone changed my energy level. I started walking the day after surgery. My nurse was strict about it and boy did it make a difference. 8 weeks post op I went to Italy and WALKED everywhere. Up and down hills for two weeks. I wasn't out of breath at all. You know all of those crazy dreams you have about what you're gonna do when the weight starts coming off? They're all going to come true! I rode a bike. I rode a HORSE and he wasn't the biggest one in the stable either. I fit in a movie seat with room to spare. I cross my arms. Love this one. I can shave my legs sitting in a tub. I fit in a tub. I can reach my ankles. I accidentally waited too long to try on my tight dress slacks from the back of the closet and by the time I did, they were too big. Had to donate them. Invest in YOU. It's never too late. I was banded at 53 and this is the best year of my life. I have so much to do and I'm not waiting anymore. Welcome and keep posting!

Dealing with this now. Track everything. Be honest about it. Stay connected here. I weigh daily but that's a personal choice. If that makes you crazy don't do it. It keeps me accountable. I didn't look at a scale for years. Such denial. Celebrate the successes. Really celebrate them. If you have a day of great choices and stayed on track, be joyful and share it. MyFitnessPal is a good way to stay connected with other people who are tracking daily and you know you're not boring anybody by posting it. Slow down each meal. This is hard but key for me. If I stop and wait a minute or two after my first one to two bites it makes SUCH a difference in being able to notice satisfaction during my meal. This is so hard to do but can be learned. I think of this as interrupting my meal. I discovered this by accident at work. Although I try not to eat at work sometimes I have no way to get away from my desk for lunch so I have to eat there. I had to wait for a phone call one day. Two bites into my lunch the return call came. I was busy with that for about five minutes. When I came back to my food, my strong hunger was already gone. I ate some more of my lunch but I could feel satiety signals better. I listened and obeyed. I didn't need to finish all the food I had brought. This was such an eye opener for me that I try to do it intentionally now. Take a couple of bites, walk away for five minutes (bathroom break?), then resume the meal. We are such physical and emotional and habitual creatures. We need to modify all three areas if we are to succeed. Don't put danger foods in your path. If it's an item you have trouble controlling, say goodbye to it. It's not worth it. It will derail your weight loss. Be kind to yourself. This is a daily process. You won't graduate. You'll deal with feeding yourself every meal every day for the rest of your life. Accept it. Embrace it. It will get easier if you build strong habit muscles. Some days will be hard as hell and will suck. They are just days. A fresh choice is made at every meal. Never ever give up on yourself. Help somebody else. If somebody asks you here how you succeeded or failed at something tell them. It keeps these facts fresh in our own minds and reminds us we are NOT the only ones struggling and learning and failing and succeeding. The ones who keep at it are here on the boards. The ones who gave up are gone. Be here. Hope this helps you. Writing it helped me. Good luck.

@@gmanbat said, "In my life the offensive people that I have the freedom to escape are normally dealt with my best defensive tactic.... my not being there. When I see their name, when I hear their voice, I occupy other space and experience other environs. My life is fraught with trouble enough without subjecting myself to self-torture." Yep.

Goodwill all the way. I'm losing now and in the same boat. I bought nine blouses last week for 38 bucks. A few too small but I couldn't pass them up and they'll fit soon. Try it!

There's never a "perfect" time for WLS. But you won't regret it. Go for it. You'll be amazed at how things will fall into place. Congratulations on your happy news!

Many of us older WLS patients have tried several appetite suppressant or fat blocking meds over the decades. I beg you to think of the long term effects on your kidneys and heart. When I was younger I always thought those side effects couldn't mean me. As I age I watch obese family members deal with life threatening heart and kidney problems. I've been on three meds in my life that were later recalled. Two for arthritis and one for weight loss. I'm grateful that today my tests come back fine. But I don't know what damage may have been done. WLS is drastic. But the drugs are too. Please think of the future. Good luck.

I hear ya. This has been my experience recently. It's a struggle but we will prevail. Good luck to both of us!

Traveling this weekend. Needed to read this so I don't overindulge in the restaurants. Great tips!

Congrats on your banding. I was told I could sleep however I was comfortable. For me that was on my right side. My port is on the left. I was back to sleeping on my stomach in a few days. It was a little sore but I sleep better that way. Many folks sleep in a recliner the first week. I wasn't that sore I guess. Good luck!

So glad you're doing well! Hope your recovery is smooth and soon you'll be enjoying your new banded life!!

Congratulations ! Stay connected here. It really helps!

The weight loss alone gave me incredible energy. Even after thirty pounds down I noticed it. We don't realize how exhausting it is for our bodies to carry the weight. Combine that with the draggy feeling from poor sleep and hypertension and I wonder sometimes how I dragged myself through each day. I have so much more energy now.

I've started a new chapter in my life. One of the changes I am looking to make is to volunteer in some capacity. My motives aren't entirely selfless. I know that finding a hobby or a cause that I am passionate about will be good for my self esteem and give me a healthy outlet for my energies. What have you started after WLS that "gives back" and gives you joy?

Ok thanks. Will you post when it's available?

I've never had pain like that after a fill. I've had 3 fills. I'd call the office before the holiday weekend starts.

I bought a pack of the Quest Coconut Cashew. It's good but very sticky and gummy. Are all of the flavors that consistency? I keep them in my desk for when I'm unable to get away for a lunch break. I agree they are filling and not overly sweet, but the texture turns me off. They are also difficult to remove from the wrapper.

Ok that's not so funny today. I wore a polo shirt to work and was in the ladies' room putting my hair up in a ponytail. Aaagghh! Wrinkly, flappy, BAT WINGS! Ugh! I had a vision of my arms in the wind making a "slapslapslapslap" sound like a playing card in the spokes of a kid's bike. Well, it's better than my old fat arms. Right? RIGHT? o_0

Have a great holiday weekend everyone! Stay on course! (That's from me to me.)

"Welcome to the best club in the world" Love this!

Thanks for the boost! Yes it's definitely an up and down process but I am determined not to follow old patterns of despair and giving up. I am NOT ever giving up on myself again. EVER. I've changed my whole flipping life this year. Not just WLS either. Bumps in the road are not walls of concrete. SO glad I posted here! Thank you!

I've been making poor food and drink choices and have lost no net weight in over a month. Today I will walk for 45 minutes on my lunch break. I will choose Protein and not sliders. Carbs will be kicked to the curb. I won't get over-hungry during the day and make up for it in the evening. Most of all I need to take my own advice, which is look at the big picture, feel GREAT about how far I've come, and don't get derailed. I have a fill appointment next Tuesday and I'll tell the nurse how this month went before we decide if I get another fill. This is my danger zone, folks. Please chime in.

Emergency room right now.

Keep on top of this. Try to get some iron in but counter that with prune juice so you don't get constipated. Strength should be coming back by now. Tell your doc if you're not improving and good luck!

I was still on full liquids until six weeks had passed.