DevilMayKare

Whoa! Never binge? Surely you jest. I think most of us are probably bingers. I'm not sure how easy it is to get to 300# without binging! I STILL feel like I binge--but the difference now is a binge consists of eating a whole piece of toast (or maybe TWO cups of yogurt) instead of a whole loaf of bread and a whole pint of B&J's. Oh, my binge monster has jumped out from under the bed a coupla times--but you'll understand the downside reeeeal fast when you've experienced a 30 minute, choking, slobering, heart-cindering PB. Binging just isn't a viable option anymore--Thank the Lord (& Inmad).

Wow--what an inspiring message Sue! This forum is such a great place to come to and share our fears and woes...frustrations and failures, but it's stories like YOURS that really give us all hope! Thank you for letting us share in your success!

I don't have a fill yet either (scheduled 8/8) but I have to go REAL slow with soft, cold stuff. I have to take small bites and wait between them with frozen yogurt or I get the most excruciating brain freezes!

Well, I'm gonna have to get out my old notes (from a VERY scientific and successful weightloss program I did a few years ago) and type out some detailed information on this, but really it's all about physics. Gravity: ignore it and you'll fall. But for the sake of this discussion please keep these averages in mind... A 300 pound woman walking will burn 10 calories per minute--60 calories an hour. A 150 pound woman walking will burn 5 calories perminute--30 calories an hour. So just walking around during the day you will burn TWICE as many calories when you are 300# than you will when you are 150#. Considering how much most of us dislike exercise we are unlikely to double our activity unless we regard it as essential to our weightloss--which it is. One time for 4 weeks I kept meticulous records of my PACs (Physical Activity Calories) and calories consumed and it was absolutely amazing how I could predict at the end of the week exactly how much I would lose. It became very clear to me I would either have to workout twice as long or twice as hard to get the same weightloss results at a lower weight as I had at a higher one. I've got a whole chart of how many PACs per minute one expends for each activity and weight. I guess I could type it all up, but that would take awhile. Does anyone happen to know of a chart like this online anywhere?

OK Jen, it's Friday night. We expect to hear how you handled everything on Monday! (Well....maybe not EVERYTHING! lol) But really, how did it go???? Inquiring minds want to know.... or as my mother would say, I'm not nosey--I'm interested!

Sarah, PM me your address and I'll mail you a Wacom. Seriously, FREE TO YOU. All you have to do is download the drivers online (I'm sure that can be done). Ya just have to promise to create a DeLarla drawing to share with us. You Mac or PC?

Oh man am I out of it!! Sheesh! Turn your back on technology for one friggin minute!! I'd never even heard of those things. But basically, they're just a wacom on top of a notebook computer, right?

Go buy something Zoe, not a whole wardrobe--just one or two things that make you feel pretty. Yes your size is changing, but your life is NOW. If you feel better about how your look right now you are less likely to eat and more likely to move into that new wardrobe sooner. My advice is to INSPIRE YOURSELF!

Well, I would say the Embassy Suites are 4-star--as the Lucerna would probably be rated. I'm not a critic (just at times, critical! *wink*) so I don't know the EXACT criteria, but 5-star denotes the BEST--inordinately nice. A lifetime ago I had a rich, lawyer boyfriend and let me tell you the difference in a 5-Star is obvious. One, the rooms aren't just "nice" they are luxurious... also, the restaurant food is to die for (the food at the Lucerna was good---but certainly not anything out of the ordinary)... most of the 5-star hotels leave spa robes hanging in the bathrroom...often there are baskets of fruit or some other goodies, things like marble counters and/or antique furniture is the norm. Views are PART of the experience! No 5-star I've been in had a crummy view (San Francisco, New Orleans, Laguna Beach, Bilbao Spain). Oh, at the Hotel del Haro in Spain they even left a "Pillow Menu" where you could pick out a soft, firm, semi-firm, theauraputic or feather pillow! (They all had fancy names of course and the "menu" was in Spanish, French, Italian & English). In other words the 5-Stars are EXCEPTIONAL. For example, when I mentioned I'd like to save the label from a great bottle of wine at the hotel restaurant in New Orleans (man--I canNOT remember the name of the place!) the waiter brought back the label laminated onto one of their cool-artsy menus signed by the chef! And at the very least they always turn down your bedsheets (which are top-quality thread count) and leave chocolate on your pillow (you gotta know that was my favorite part!). Thinking back I guess my expectations of a real 5-star hotel were unrealistic, but I never would have had those expectations if it hadn't been referred to that way several times. But--one more time--please don't think I am saying the Lucerna wasn't a GOOD hotel--IT WAS!!

Sorry! Didn't mean to digress there. Goalprizes... I met a gorgeous young masseur (not that young & gorgeous it matters! last week. I took his card told him when I'd lost 40# I would give him a call & treat myself to him.... uh, I mean, one of his massages. Where in CA is Calistoga? I'd love to meet you guys there too.

A computer tablet? Do you mean like a WACOM TABLET? Because seriously I have TWO (one Win & one Mac)--with pens-- sitting in my garage that I would be happy to send to you! I was a graphic designer for 12 years and started a different career 3 years ago. The past 6 months I've been getting rid of my old computer equip because I didn't really have much use for it and it was just sitting there getting antiquated. The people I gave the PC & Macs to weren't designers so they wouldn't have the slightest idea what to do with them. I just kinda held onto them hoping I'd run into someone who would appreciate a Wacom. If that's you, let me know and PM me your address. (I don't think I have the drivers anymore, but I'm sure you could download them somewhere online.) Let me know.

Well this is gross, but I've gotta say it: Be careful with high-dose B vitamins if you've got hemmoroids. After about 5 days of B's they make me ITCH like CRAZY! It always takes me awhile to figure out what's going on because it doesn't happen right away. I don't know how there could be a build-up since they're supposed to pass thru but they definately make me want to scoot around on the grass like a dog with worms! (You really needed that visual--right!?)

That's so funny you said that DeLarla because the month I was lurking (before hopping into this forum) there were a few times I could barely stand to hold back with an opinion I wanted to express--and then you would post almost exactly what I was thinking! (And I'd wannna say, "Yeah, what she said!") The reason I took so long to jump in is because I knew once I did I would spend way too much time here! AND O MAN was I right! I've had this forum in my desktop background ALL DAY, reading posts inbetween dealing with clients & questions from co-workers. Several times I just wanted to say, "Leave me alone--I'm reading here!!" Soooo not a good idea since I have to make $$ to pay Mastercard for this thing! But back to the subject... honeymoon... marriage is a pretty good analogy for the band (any eating plan really, but especially this one). There are going to be times you love it to death--times you want to divorce it and lots in-between. I fear for people thinking any kind of food restriction is going to be easy for those of us with the fat genes. Yes--it will be SOMETIMES (if you're lucky) but don't get sucked in. I have lost over 100# twice now and KEPT it off for OVER 2 years both times. Believe me, I thought I had it licked. THere were MONTHS I felt so good being fit and thin I didn't even consider binging. Twice now I thought I'd never gain this much weight again. Never again. Two things I know how to do now. I know how lose weight and I know how to gain it. Now I just have to lose it (AGAIN!!) so I can take another shot at maintaining it. I'm going to fight like hell to keep this demon at bay. I'll never believe it's easy--except for those golden, fleeting moments when it is! Those are a gift--don't look 'em in the mouth.

YES IT WORKS!! NO, it's NOT magic! Comon guys--remember the ol' "tool" jazz. Is it easier to pound in a nail with a hammer or with a rock? With a hammer of course--but you STILL have to POUND! I am relatively new to the band, but in my experience life is consistent. There certainly are people who have gastric bypass and gain weight back. Do you seriously think you can get rid of the fat demon forever? I believe with all my heart you CAN win the war--but don't think for a second there won't be lots of battles! Thinking the band will do it all, or gastric bypass, or lipo or phen/fen or whatever is just setting you up to let your guard down when the demon raises its head. IT WILL. Get READY for those times! By being here DeLarla's enlisting help in her battle--and thereby all of our battles. You never know what one thing you might read herr will get you out of that "I've gotta eat!" struggle. This band is a great opportunity. Please overcome your fear and grab it for all you're worth--but steel yourself to WORK at it and come here and share your failures and your successes and Celebrate everyone of them! You COULD fail--but there is a VERY GOOD chance you CAN SUCCEED! ANd what the heck would it be worth if it were easy? Sorry....hope I don't sound like I'm preaching. I've just been around for awhile and I've seen what works and what doesn't. And work is what it takes--and sometimes there is incredible joy in that.

Oh, but be careful with the screaming into a pillow tip. I literally couldn't talk for two days after.

Band or no band almost EVERYONE goes thru this kinda stuff of their weightloss journey--AND life! It'd be a rare person (or a young, inexperienced person) who didn't. I'm forty-something, lost and gained over 50# about 6 times and over 100# twice, been in I don't know how many "groups" and can tell you from experience that these feelings are ABSOLUTELY normal! Hey--if it were easy Elizabeth Taylor wouldn't be fat. I don't care who you are, how pretty, how smart, how rich, how wise, how educated--if you've got the FAT DEMON it is going to be a daily exorcision. Some days the demon will be sleepy and quiet and somedays it will be screaming but it would be a big mistake to think that just because we've got this piece of silicone around our tummies that we've killed it. The absolutely only thing that gets me back to losing weight is the alternative. (We all know what that is!) If there's a "honeymoon period" it's nothing but a little respite from the constant bitch this fight is. Enjoy those times while they're there, but don't kid yourself into complacency. So what to do? WHATEVER you can! Walk, run, put on music, buy a hat, paint a wall, call a friend, weed the yard, build a fishpond, take a shower, howl at the moon or put a pillow over your face and scream! I have done ALL of those just to do something besides eat and even if they only work for as long as you are doing them, at least for that small space of time you aren't putting food in your face. Sometimes success comes in small, chewed-to-death bites. It's hard! Is it worth it? I often doubt it, then I remember the alternative....

I'm just under 200 now and was 228 when I got my band, but 6 years ago I was 312# so I have a litte idea of what it's like at 350+ size. I lost 150# on an Optifast type of program and managed to stay below 165 for several years. THen I had bunion surgery last Aug, couldn't exercise and gained a bunch back. I just could not seem to get a handle on things and knew I would end up over 300 again and that's why I got the band. BUT as far as your question about exercising... when I started out at 300+ I would get whatever the OPPOSITE of catcalls is while out walking--so I put an enormous amount on the credit card and bought a gym-quality elliptical trainer to be able to workout in private. The ellipticals are very easy on the knees. I put a fan right in front of it to hit my sweating face, put on some music and started out using it just 5 minutes at a time (just one song) several times a day. That machine was a life saver for me. Worth every penny. One of the nice things (I know, there are NICE things???) about being that heavy is you can lose REALLY fast! I remember how cool it was to lose 4-7 pounds a week. That just doesn't happen when you're under 200. BUt for me the key at ANY size is EXERCISE. Believe me, I hate it as much as the next person but very few of us can lose and keep weight off without it. Ever read Oprah's workout schedule? She does a miniumum of an hour of cardio (plus weights) 6 days a week. With all her money and smarts I think if there were a way to lose and maintain a weightloss without exercise Oprah would have found it. ANd remember, even there aren't a LOT of people over 350 who have lost that much successfully--YOU CAN! Even if you were the very first person to ever do that someone's gotta be. What an opportunity you have to be a success and ENCOURAGE others who think it's hopeless? It is totally doable--and YOU CAN DO IT!!

Wow DeLarla those are really COOL! I love your bright colors. I especially like the red fringe. That looks like a really fun hobby. So do you scavenge things for ribbons and bows and fringe or just go buy it by the yard?

I'm in Costa Mesa (OC). Unfortunately California is a VERY big state! Kinda makes it hard to get together in person. Isn't it just so wonderful that we have the web to bring all of us so far away close?

Well, I can only HOPE to have your problem someday!! I'm not even close to being ready to meet anyone, but when I am I think I would probably opt to tell him ahead of time--and I'm one of those who hasn't even told her family or work associates. The whole weight thing is such a big part of my life if a guy can't handle it, it's really better to know that BEFORE I waste much time on him. Also, I'd hate to have to approach sex being AFRAID of turning him off or being rejected. Please let us know how it all turns out! Oh, and go out and buy the sexiest black bra and panties you can find!

Back when I used to work out of my house I would give the mailady popsicles on hot days.

Yep, you got it--a $10 K-mart pool. I cut big holes in the bottom for the roots. Works great! Lisa--let's see pictures of your purses! And...uh, welding caps (still trying to figure out what those are).

Yeah, tofu is what I was talking about. Tofu is made from soy Beans which I would guess soy milk is so I was thinking they're likely the same thing. Maybe not. I'll compare the labels next time I'm at the grocery store. The tofu that used to be so easy to use in recipes was the semi-firm in a little carton in the vegtable section of vons. It also blends well with any kind of tomatoe sauce if you need more Protein. GOsh--it's almost hard to keep up w/ all the new food products! My current fav are the Healthy Choice fudge bars--only 90 cal apiece a they seem to curb my choc cravings. I can't buy the HC ice cream sandwhiches tho---I just end up eating half the box.

OmiGAWD! You are an EVIL WOMAN! (I'm so looking forward to the video!)

Back in the day my WWatcher's leader was into soy & used it in lots of recipes. It's very high-protein, low cal. The BEST thing about semi-firm soy is that it can take on the flavor that you're cooking with. I used to replace 1/3 of the cheese with soy in a potato CHEESE soup (lots of NY sharp) and you absolutely could not tell the difference. (You just blend it in the blender with the cheese.) Even fooled my picky boys at the time. BUT if you try this, note it does not warm-up well. When we had leftovers there was just no way to heat up the soup without burning it. You can't see the soy mixed in the soup but it also cuts the cals to mix it w/ beef--that just never worked w/ my kids because there was no way to hide it.