steph_co

I love this thread. I went back and read through the whole thing again. Everybody is doing so fantastic. How exciting. I decided to add a few for myself: When I started this journey I was using a bra extender to make the band around my ribcage bigger and more comfortable for me. I think it added about 2 inches of breathing room. Well, that thing is long gone and about a week ago, I had to move to the second set of loops in to make the bra tighter so it stays put. It's almost loose enough to move to the final set of loops! Also, I mentioned this in the challenge thread, but it made me feel awesome, so I felt it was worth mentioning again. I measured 38.5 around my waist on 1/14 and went shopping for pants about 4 days after that. I thought 38's (men's) would be the size for me. They were too big. I had to get 36's. :girl_hug: They were a little snug when I bought them, now they are feeling very comfortable.

The Poll: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/how-many-incisions-39459/ I had 5.

3 more lbs, now, for me! I'm so excited. I see wombat hit it. WTG! SO close, I can almost taste it. Keep up the great work, ladies!

Lots of info in the FAQ's section: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f73/abbreviations-what-they-mean-7959/ Take smaller bites, chew, chew, chew. If it's a certain problem food that you can't get down, don't eat it.

Sounds familiar to me. I think that's why I've yo-yo'ed so much and not been able to keep weight loss off. Being skinny equals being vulnerable in my mind. I have some head issues to deal with. You might look into getting some Geneen Roth books - she talks about compulsive eating. Very interesting. I just started going through her workbook, Why Weight? It is helping me to see what my fears are that have held me back, what I get out of being fat, etc. I can deal with the issues NOW so that when I do get to "skinny," I'm not fighting myself so hard. I really wish there was something they could turn off in the brain to make this easier. But, yeah, one of the things I realized in my work was that once I got skinny, I'd be more visible. That makes me nervous. I'm a major introvert. And more cute clothes will be available to me and I've wanted them for so long that I WILL get them - they'll just make me stand out more. So, yeah...head issues. Just another thing we get to work on after getting banded.

That is such a good point. The list in the "similar threads" surprised me! I also wanted to add something that was emailed to me that I found REALLY interesting. When you are dieting alone (no exercise), when you lose a pound, you are losing .75 lb of FAT and .25 of MUSCLE. But when you EXERCISE in addition to dieting, when you lose a pound, you are losing 1.25 lb of FAT and gaining .25 of muscle - which obviously would result in inch loss. Yes, lbs are important, but inches more so because it gets you into smaller clothes quicker. :biggrin: So it's time to get moving. I'm not a huge exercise fan, either - but I make myself move. Having an ActiTrainer has helped me keep track of my activity level so I can get moving more if necessary.

I am pro-choice, but I believe that you should be able to figure out in the first trimester what your choice is. I feel that beyond that is unnecessary except in cases of mother in danger. Partial-birth abortion makes me sick. And I feel that using abortion as birth control is abuse, as well. I think better education would help the situation as a whole. But then, if education happened BEFORE the pregnancy perhaps we wouldn't have so many problems.

L Ron Hubbard is a nutcase. Seriously. Read about him on Wikipedia or wherever you wish. Google. But I found it interesting that he is quoted as saying: "Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man really wants to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion." LOL Found this info on Wikipedia (Yes, I know it's written by people on the internet, but they have references to back them up): Sounds like who I'd love to follow. Haha.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Er1bwzZCik0]YouTube - Bush - Machinehead[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZXhlwYOyLw]YouTube - violent femmes _ gone daddy gone[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSnLdYBdeHg]YouTube - violent femmes _ add it up[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tCL3bTFDog]YouTube - violent femmes _ blister in the sun[/ame] Yes, I'm sorry - I like angry-chick music [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8v9yUVgrmPY]YouTube - Alanis Morissette - Ironic[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXCCv5ngyI0]YouTube - Alanis Morissette - All I Really Want[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dR6mEu5-egA]YouTube - Alanis Morissette-You Oughta Know[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTpvjNn2BUM]YouTube - Fiona Apple-Criminal[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osWDASNgbx4]YouTube - Everclear: I Will Buy You a Knew Life[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8uamNDLEA0]YouTube - Everclear - Father Of Mine[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcBOi2k7QhQ]YouTube - Everclear- Everything to everyone [official][/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAMnjzU-6UQ]YouTube - Live - Lightning Crashes[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgiGrXpOhYg]YouTube - nothing else matters[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf4EehBhBzU]YouTube - Metallica - The Unforgiven[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRYDetbwegs]YouTube - Metallica- Enter Sandman[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOibtqWo6z4]YouTube - Metallica - Turn The Page[/ame] <---Featuring Ginger Lynn...one of my fave porn stars. Ok, probably just because of Playboy Radio. LOL [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mg1PEoQ_cq8]YouTube - Salt-N-Pepa - Let's Talk About Sex[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKaVBVikysw]YouTube - Salt N Pepa - Shoop ( Classic )[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x66RR_0Ffjc]YouTube - Natalie Imbruglia - Torn[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iu4NcgQZucE]YouTube - Paula Abdul - Straight Up[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XN-Qq2umKZo]YouTube - Paula Abdul Cold Hearted Snake - Hi Quality[/ame] Gees. Thanks for the flashback. LOL I wanted to listen to each and every song as I posted it here. That was fun. Of course, there are many, many, many more that I could post. I'll stop, now.

I just saw this question. Sorry it took me so long. I'm currently a 16. I got into this size when I hit about 205-210? (I can't remember, exactly) So I'm kind of expecting/hoping that when I hit my Valentine's Day goal that I'll be in 14's. I'm also a size 36 in men's pants. Haha...that probably doesn't help much, but that's what I wear for work and I wear these more than my size 16 jeans. I know in my 150's that I'm a size 10.

Click here -----> http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/new-band-update-realize-47058/ He compares the two bands in that thread.

Somehow this topic came up at my seminar and it was my surgeon that was doing the seminar. I think it might have been somebody asking which was better, or something. He didn't choose one over the other, he just named the pros and cons again, leaving it up to the patient. He said that usually doctors will lean towards RNY because they've done so many - it is the leading bariatric surgery in this country. He also mentioned the disaster that the original gastric band was some years ago (80's?? I have no idea) that makes some of the older surgeons gun-shy when it comes to the LapBand. Like a lot of them are taking a "wait and see" attitude when it comes to the band.

Most certainly. I had my pre-op on Oct 18th and set the date for Nov 15th. I went WILD eating all kinds of things I'd like to stay away from, now. I can't say I don't indulge now and then being post-op, but I still haven't wanted anything to do with those dang Twinkies (amongst other things).

WTG, Lauren! That's awesome. Seeing inch loss really does feel good. I feel you on the front-to-back comment you made. If something fits my waist, it doesn't fit my ass. LOL And if I find something to fit my ass, it generally leaves a gap around my waist. Oh, the joys of being curvy. Your tummy will catch up!

I generally weigh everyday. I was going to cut down to once a week, but I'm too addicted. It motivates me to keep moving. The only time I get depressed is when I have been steadily losing a pound a day or every other day and then the next couple days is nothing or a one-pound gain. It's obsessive and I wish I could quit, but seriously, when I think that I'll be standing nekkie on the scale the following morning, it really makes me think about what food is going into my mouth.

1. Be skinnier than my husband! 2. Get pregnant...5 years at it and nothing to show for it. 3. Not feel embarrassed when I go to any doctor's office and get weighed...worried they'll make some snide comment. 4. Be able to fit in with my family - my brother used to be heavy, but he recently lost a bunch of weight - I'm the black sheep. 5. So people can see what originally attracted my husband to me. LOL Yes, I admit it - I'd love to be considered "Arm Candy." 6. Be able to get into running again - I miss that. 7. Be able to wear shorts! It's now been 5 years since I wore shorts and even then, I HATED how I looked in them. 8. Wear a swimsuit and swim with my step-kids and my DH. I've been left out of that for too long because I can't stand being in a suit. 9. Feel like clothes shopping again - I have the bare minimum of what I need to get by right now because I HATE trying clothes on this body. 10. To get sexy lingerie...I promised DH that when I'm at or near goal that I'd go on a lingerie shopping spree. 11. Be able to wear my hot leather pants again. 12. Be cooler in the summer. 13. Be active with the step-kids this summer! 14. Be more adventurous with sex again. 15. Be in more pictures rather than being the photographer. 16. Just knowing when I get there that I'll be able to fit into my formal gowns and business suits again...even if I have nowhere to wear them. 17. Once I get down to goal, I'll be getting my wedding dress taken in and DH and I will get wedding pics done...we never had that. 18. Energy and overall health.

Great video, Patty. Didn't you have a news report somewhere else, too? I seem to remember your story. You did a great job representing us.

My DH knows, but that's because every time I get off the scale, I can't wait to tell him. He knew my weight even when I was at my heaviest and before the band, not losing weight at all. But I was not weighed on my surgery date. Nobody said a thing about my weight. The only times I've been weighed was in the Dr's office at the beginning of my appointments. But DH only came into the room where they weigh one time. Other times, he has waited on the couch in the waiting room for me to get that portion of the appointment done (it's a small room). It's highly likely that they won't weigh you on your surgery date, nor even mention it. I doubt it was even listed on my paperwork that they had just for my surgery. Why would the surgical staff need to know that? The anesthesiologist would need to know, but not everybody. You have to realize that they are probably aware that you know you're overweight and people tend to be sensitive about the number, so they'd have to be some insensitive asses to keep rattling off your weight so everybody could hear.

My surgeon is 3 hours away - it's not a big deal driving that far. It's totally worth it to me. And keep in mind that I'm also driving through about 3 possibly dangerous mountain passes that the weather can change in the blink of the eye on. Welcome to Colorado. It's worth it if you really want it. And I WANT it, so I do it.

1. Momto1plus1.......241...............238..............229...........9 2. TxArcher...........360........Last week, 357......???...........12 3. Hungryforchange...227.5..........225...............215.5.......10 4 shortgal ............. 198............195................192...........3 5. Hollyberries.........298............293................285........... 8 6. Tyman311..........167...........168................150............17 7. Trixie.................264...............255..............244......... .11 8. plump_princess.....237.............233..............227........... 6 9. Foofy ................249............244...............237............7 10. wnt2lose..........236............233.8...........225.............8.8 11. BarbBee...........284.............278.............272..............6 12. Longhorn..........211.............209.............199.............10 13. Steph...............203.5..........197..............188.5.........8.5 *sigh* It was kind of a rough week for me. I don't really want to get into details, but at least you might understand why I haven't been around much...accountability. I did have a NSV this week. I measured my waist for new work pants about a week ago and the tape said 38.5, so I thought 38 size mens pants would work...they were too big! I am now in a 36. They are slightly snug, but actually surprisingly comfortable considering I thought they'd be too tight! One more size and I'll be even with DH. LOL I SO look forward to being smaller than him.

Gees. I'm glad I don't have to follow THAT list. I have eaten steak, chewy Protein Bars, white bread, a cinnamon roll, and broccoli is one of the few vegetables I have always loved and continue to enjoy.

Yes, I crave healthier foods. But I'd say in my case, it's more because I'm forcing myself to eat those more often than the "bad" foods. I can't believe I was standing at the frozen veggie case last night going, "Mmmm." LOL And all the veggies I put on my Subway wrap...wow. In the past, they got tossed off my sandwich halfway through. This time, though, they were absolutely delicious. The biggest weird change for me in regards to cravings is hot stuff. I had it so bad there for awhile that I would get home from work and eat a tablespoon of hot sauce. Now lately I crave jalapeños and anything hot/spicy I can get my hands on!

Would like to get down to 130 and a size 8. The size is more important to me than the weight. As soon as I'm comfortably in 8s and not just "sometimes in 8s, otherwise in 10s." I have to be fully, completely, 100% an 8 or I will keep going. LOL If it takes some extra toning to do it, then so be it. As for my bra size...ha, I wish it would go up as I lose weight. Even as a hefty gal, I had a AA chest. I don't trust breast implants, though, or I'd go for that. Shirt size...I'd love to be a M or S. XL is baggy on me, I think L would fit well. I hate to shop when I'm this size, so I'm not sure. Oh, yeah...I'm 5'7".

8 more lbs for me and I'll be joining you in losing the "obese" label. I HATE that word! That will definitely be a day of celebration for me. Probably more so than breaking into Onederland was. I plan to get a nice smoking haircut and color in celebration and to reward myself. Keep up the good work! You're almost there!

I'm not sure if this comment came because I wrote the post after midnight, but I wasn't being "KEPT UP" by the thought. I am up all night long. I work the night shift. This is day time as far as I'm concerned. So if I wrote the post at 12 noon, you would know it was keeping me up. And who said I didn't respect them? I've worked many thankless customer service jobs. I GET IT.