SpecialK

Please don't thrown them away -- I found that during my 140 lbs of weight loss time, that Goodwill Thrift Stores became my salvation for finding clothes as I lost weight and they have a PLUS Section so you don't have to go through all the white blouses to find something that at least starts at a 16 or whatever. So, if you can't find a clothing swap another way and donate, consider donating to a place that does put the Plus sizes together to help those of us who have struggled with our weight.

2nd Option - Craig's List where you specifically say what sizes of Plus Size you have available as I also searched there while losing. I recently lost my job and even though I am getting down into smaller sizes (16/18) I will probably always be cost conscious.

Hi Fenton, usually it helps me to know the Calorie content of those tempting things and 1/4 cup of that trail mix is 170 Calories -- I would be able to munch down 1/4 cup in a single handful grabbing off one desk let alone the damage I'd do from others. Think of what else you could have for 170 calories -- 3 healthy oranges for example.

Calories in Trader Joe's Omega Trail Mix - Nutrition Facts, and Healthy Alternatives | LIVESTRONG.COM

I heading into the Mt Carmel West office to see Dr. Miller for a fill next Tuesday. I keep thinking I could get it under control on my own but I'm just stuck at the same number. I definitely am hoping to get more Portion Control back and to keep that saity for longer. Will let you know. It has been so long since I had a fill I can't remember when the last was.

Hi FunnyFlamingo -- yes I was faithfully attending Mt. Carmels support group and then they switched it and I showed up on a 1st Monday instead of a 2nd Tuesday so I need to get back on track - when is the next support group meeting for August?

I am considering going to this as motivation if I am not going to Arizona for my sister's election! I'll know in the next couple weeks if I have a job option lined up and if I do, I probably can't go to Arizona but if not, then I will be out there to support her. The election is on her birthday and I think she will be celebrating big time if she wins and she'll be so down and depressed if she loses so either way, I want to be there for her.

Anyway, I love watching the show Big Medicine and hope it returns in the fall.

I am making some progress but you are right, I need to keep getting out of the house and not keeping things at home is helping. I also called and made a fill appointment for next Tuesday as I'm convinced I am not at the right restriction level. I am eating more quantity than I should of the right kinds of things, like a huge salad or double the portion of meat/protein that I used to eat and not staying full long enough.

Okay, off to get in some outdoor time!

Event Announcement Cincinnati, Aug 20-21, 2010

Hello from OH Events! It’s time again to join your friends at an OH event and kick up your heels! We have so much fun at the events, reconnecting with old friends and meeting new friends we may have met on the boards! We learn together, laugh together and sometimes even dance together! Come show off and be a part of our member fashion show. Bring a friend or family member…we encourage everyone to join us. This year we are proud to bring back our main stage speakers (new topics, of course) who are joining us to provide you with the tools and inspiration you need to get on track or stay on track! Gather your friends and take home free photos of yourselves from our sponsored photo booth!

Come see Dr. Garth Davis and Mary Jo Rapini from TLC's Big Medicine.

Link over to Obesity Help for more info:

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/amos/4204067/Event-Announcement-Cincinnati-Aug-20-21-2010/

My family went to Cedar Point in 2001 and I couldn't ride hardly any rides and I know I was that heavy for at least 4-5 years before that.

I am thinking about calling Monday for a fill - haven't seen my surgeon in forever. I am trying hard to eat healthy but I'm just eating too much of the healthy stuff I am eating and then I'm getting hungry quicker. I thought that adding exercise would stem this but its almost like I'm looking at those calories I burn are "extra" ones I can eat. Totally the wrong mindset. It will probably take a month to get in to see him. In the meantime, I'll just keep plugging along.

This boredom factor of being home so much due to being out of work is a tough one too. I am trying to stay busy but its way to convenient being able to walk into the kitchen for Snacks. I have had a couple phone interviews and 1 in person interview that I came in 3rd on it, and I keep hoping something will work itself out by the end of August at the latest.

I'm doing to get back in touch with my support groups more often as I really did my best when I was getting encouragement from others and giving it back too.

P.S. I'm wearing a "Silly Band" that is a shamrock to remind me visiby to keep on trying.

I'll bump this up so it doesn't get lost too far down in the list. We are still meeting 2nd Saturdays. I haven't made it in the past 2 months but others have.

Hi newbie lapbanders! I am about 2+ years out on my journey to lose about 200 lbs also - I'm 140 lbs down at this point and have to make some mindset changes now that this last 60 lbs is going to be tough but I am in this for a lifetime commitment to be healthy.

I just got to ride 8 of the 10 roller coasters at an amusement park that 9 years ago, I couldn't fit on any of those rides.

Hang in there you can do it!

Cedar Point NSV this past weekend but still room to improve! -- I was able to fit on 8 of the 10 roller coasters at Cedar Point and 2 the seatbelt was about 2" too short and I couldn't ride. I am carrying the weight I have left in my stomach area especially so I am planning to take waist and hip measurements monthly until I know I have those last 2 inches gone that would make me roller coaster eligible for any of them! Even so, I am so, so proud of the ones I could proudly fit into after losing what I have. And, a huge NSV for me is that I walked and walked hours around the park and my knees, legs, and ankles, feet were not holding me back! I was tired but I kept up with the rest of the family niece/nephews youngsters (20 somethings) I was with.

I bought a size Medium Tshirt with all the names of the roller coasters on it to remember the day!

Confession time- had a huge ice cream cone that day at the park but walked 14,500 steps that day too!

Cedar Point NSV this past weekend but still room to improve! -- I was able to fit on 8 of the 10 roller coasters at Cedar Point and 2 the seatbelt was about 2" too short and I couldn't ride. I am carrying the weight I have left in my stomach area especially so I am planning to take waist and hip measurements monthly until I know I have those last 2 inches gone that would make me roller coaster eligible for any of them! Even so, I am so, so proud of the ones I could proudly fit into after losing what I have. And, a huge NSV for me is that I walked and walked hours around the park and my knees, legs, and ankles, feet were not holding me back! I was tired but I kept up with the rest of the family niece/nephews youngsters (20 somethings) I was with.

I bought a size Medium Tshirt with all the names of the roller coasters on it to remember the day!

Thought I'd give this one for Columbus a bump and see what's new with any bandsters out there in Columbus. Still fighting to get my last 40-50 lbs off before I can consider my abdominoplasty *tummy tuck* surgery.

Also, since I lost my job here recently, I am out job hunting and am not sure what could happen if I get on at a new place and then need an extended sick leave to have that PS surgery. Will just see how those cards fall when I get there.

Hi guys! I'm hitting the internet pavement big time job hunting. Had 1 meeting with a recruiter and 1 interview with the CIO of a company and 4 of his direct reports and I was told I came in a strong 3rd out of the candidates they talked to. I am applying online to things I see that I think are my strongest matches, not just applying for anything on the board. I went to an invite at a different consulting company last night and had a great Ah-ha! moment - I had applied on this bank's website about noon and then at 4pm when I got there, a bank VP of that same bank I applied to was there actually meeting people right there and doing informal interviews on the spot! She seemed very interested in me, even whispered off to the side what the salary range she had to work with was... so I'm hoping for more good things to come.

I've been out and played 3 rounds of 9 holes of golf and have hit the driving range a couple times too. I've been riding not walking though because its been almost 90 degrees and humid. I am getting alot of morning walks and/or walk/jogs in, going to the gym, and just doing anything I can to stay busy and active.

It is easy to want to curl up and take a nap in the afternoon (a depression sign for me) and I'm trying to especially make plans to keep me up and not doing that so I sleep good at night.

Unfortunately still fighting the same 3-5 lbs right now, not out of control but not losing. I'm okay with it given the stress of the moment.

Happy summer to all. Keep on hanging in there.

Scrappy -- that is fabulous about the size SMALL things. So happy for you. I bought a size Medium shirt (the breast reduction did help!) and am committed to getting the bottom half of my pear shape now down to a Medium!

I have two job recruiter prospects already in my first day of sending resumes out to talk to some folks in person. I'm heading out to get my nails done pretty and just keeping positive. Heck, I look even more professional now to go along with the "chops" or experience I have built over the years, so why not go forward believing in myself.

Chica - your story is so moving (emotionally) to me. It just shows me how we all had major ups and downs that we used to use food to solve -- me losing a job, you with the things you had, others have just as important things to them. I am still grateful to have a tool that tells me STOP are you sure you want to do this? At least for most things I eat. I tried to eat a Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich yesterday on a hamburger bun since I didn't have any bread, and I could barely eat it and I was PBing as a punishment for even trying it. Then later on, we had another huge Fathers Day feast and I couldn't leave the macaroni and cheese alone (slider food royal!) and then couldn't keep my hands off the chocolate cake -- SO--- yesterday is behind and today is a new day. I took a nice long walk/jog combination to start the day and I am committed to making good choices today. AND I am sending resumes out today for sure.

Hoping I get some replies in a reasonable time so I don't get too discouraged.

Well friends I lost a few days to check in because the job monster got me last Friday - yep, lost the job I had for 14.5 years - walked out the door and felt rotten. I'm going to be okay financially for the short term but it really messes with your mind to lose your job. I had some food pity parties over the weekend and then buckled back down with some walking and trying to stay busy while I get back into the job hunt. Wish me luck and just keep reminding me and all others, its a choice of whether food will Really make me feel better --- NOT!

Everyone is different but my Plastic surgeon kept the nipple attached to the surrounding tissue when she moved it up (the lift part) and then cut excess fat and tissue that didn't affect the connections to the nipple. Mine were sensitive right away after surgery and they plump up, and soften down just as I hoped.

Well I laid off exercising yesterday due to sore fronts of my legs - muscles that haven't been used like that in forever. Surprising, no knee or ankle.hip, or feet pain so I think this is just plain old honest muscle response that will go away. I got a nice walk in on my lunch hour yesterday.

Here's a funny one. My company is having us use a pedometer to track our # steps and we have to get to 600,000 steps by end of August. I'm at 450,000 steps now but that is after about 3 different pedometers - yes, every time I have to make a potty run, I have had the stupid thing flip off my pants waistband and hit the tile floor and break or yesterday, one flipped into the toilet when I tried to put it on my pocket after a friend suggested that. So, I went to Target and bought the cheapest one ($5) I could so that when I break it, I won't be crying as another $20 bites the dust. It is motivating trying to get enough steps in to stay active.

Hi back to Mimi and Niki -- I put on 2 supportive sports bras and went jogging on the treadmill at the gym today! I can't even imagine. I could do about .1 mile and then I'd walk some and then another round and then I finished with .25 mile stretch at the end for about 45 min total. I wasn't swaying in the top and my knees, ankles and feet were not hurting. Really what was holding me back was cardio- I felt my heart rate getting above 160 after the .25 mile part and I felt that was pushing pretty far past the 136 bpm that is for 80% capacity for cardio for a 50 year old range person. I am hoping if I keep at it, the cardio will get stronger, not pump as hard, so I can jog for longer periods. Basically, the BR has helped me to get jogging. Now if I can get this last 40 lbs off I will be lining up for Tummy Tuck in 2011!

I went from a G down to a small C and I was a little shocked at first because I had been so big for so so long. Now, I'm getting used to where I am. When I look at the pretty bras in the stores, there are plenty that offer some padding and uplifting to make me look fuller and I think I will be fine. My doctor had warned me I could end up as a full B and I'm glad I came out a small C but even if I had gotten down to B, I can't picture myself going back for implants especially if some crazy surgeon talked me into DD implants. Now that I don't understand. Hopefully things will settle down, emotionally and with swelling, and things and you'll be happy long term.

I had my surgery to go from a G to a C on April 22 - outpatient - arrived at 11 am and was leaving the hospital for home by 4pm same day! Pain wasn't bad - I kept up with my pain pills for the first day every 4-6 hrs and then took 2 at night to be sure I could sleep good. I got weaned down to 6-8 hours between pain pills in the second day and my third day I was only taking something when I felt I needed it.

I will warn you, Darvocet and/or Tylenol #3 with Codeine made me constipated - so I would recommend a stool softener each evening while you are on those narcotic meds if that has been a problem before.

So, I am happy to report that I went JOGGING, yes on a treadmill at 4 MPH today for .1 mile at a time, then I would walk some and finished with a jog of .25 mile on the treadmill. I wore a double sports bra and nothing jiggled or hurt! Woo hoo!

I am so thrilled for you. I have 40 lbs to lose until I can consider my Tummy Tuck next year. I have Aetna insurance and they cover the Panni but not abdominoplasty - I will have to pay the difference. BUT I WILL!

Why is it there are so many cute dresses out there that are sleeveless -- if they at least had short sleeves I could hide my flabby arms some but sleeveless - that is asking too much. I will definitely be getting my arms done but that will all be out of pocket too!

So today I started to try jogging on the treadmill at the gym --post breast reduction surgery to help with all that top heavy issue. I was able to do 1/10th of a mile at a time several times over the course of 45 minutes - going 4 MPH when jogging and not holding on. The last session I did about .25 of 1 mile and I had my heart rate up into about 160 range which was heavy duty for me. Fortunately, the knees or ankles or feet did NOT hurt doing this jogging. Amazing. I guess I will just keep setting small goals until I see I can jog .5 mile without going back down to walking and then get to 1 mile of jogging non-stop. I really want to lose this last 40 lbs and I know exercise is a big key to do it.

Any other Shamrocks out there jogging now that you've lost weight?

Welcome back Dolores - yes, stay in touch here and we'll do our best to encourage your and likewise we need your help too. Every day is a battle but I never want to go back to where I was pre-band.

Feels good to see progress! It does seem like my body gives up a couple pounds, then bounces up and down around that number for awhile then lets me lose another lb or two! Just glad to be moving on down! I had hoped to lose 40 lbs in 2010 and that would be about 20 lbs in 6 months ending June 30 so I gotta get to 212 to make that goal according this this tracker thread.

SpecialK.............232.2.........155...................214.9

Scrappy_friend....149...........135...................140

LadyRoz.............220............190...................212

CandyStarr.........312............212...................312