tapshoes

Hmm. I hadn't thought of it, but now that the idea has been planted I shall give it some thought. I too cannot abide the idea of a massage, but a mani and pedi is do-able. New haircut is needed, but I get those anyways so that's not too motivational. Let's see, a new pair of shoes - now, that's an idea! A facial - that's good too. New glasses - practical and a reward. Keep the ideas coming, please.

I guess banded sex brings a whole new meaning to the phrase "hitting your sweet spot". :thumbup: and Gibson, "If I had a boyfriend I wouldn't have to worry about paying for a gym membership! "...boyfriend maybe, husband, nope. The diffference between them is duration!

I came into this world big - in fact, I was the biggest baby ever born in the hospital from its opening until several years later (10 lbs, 7 oz) Great, what an auspicious beginning!! And by the way, my mother was a very petite 4'10" weighing in at about 110 pounds at my delivery!! AND it was vaginal delivery, as they were not into C-Sections 50 years ago. Need I say I was the last child born to my mother?? Anyway, I digress.... As an adult, my healthy weight was 130; I doubt I will EVER see that again, and it is not my goal weight now! As for biggest - I don't know. Until 2 weeks ago, I had never owned a scale...I don't believe that humiliation is good for the psyche!

I started tap dancing when I was 3, and danced my way through school...it even helped pay for my university education (not that I studied dance, but by then I was teaching it). It is one of things I miss the most - any kind of dance demands a fitness and agility that I no longer possess. However, it will come again with the loss of the weight, and my commitment to fitness. I won't ever be a threat to a Broadway show, but I shall enjoy tapping my toes, and shuffling my feet again.

I would love to be able to wear a little black dress, not a big black muumuu! Nothing with spaghetti straps though, because I believe the batwings would detract somewhat from the over all appearance. Oh, and thong underwear by intent, not as the result of creepage!

I very much enjoy this thread! There are so many words that agitate me. Mispronunciations: Newfoundland - with the accent on 'found'. For those of us who have lived or spent time there, it rhymes with understand - accent on 'land' Geography: Canada has provinces, not providences. I won't begin to discuss the pronunciation of Saskatchewan. :biggrin2: Colloquialisms 'flushed out' - as in discussed an issue. To flush means to be rid of; the phrase is 'fleshed out' that is, to have a fulsome discussion. Either way, I hate the use of the phrase! The entry room in a house is a foyer...it is a French word, and is pronounced correctly foy-ay, not foy-er. So many words, so little time! On the other hand, a favourite word: uvula. Oh, and undulate...almost hypotic to say and hear.

shortgal, I'm with you! The newly purchased bathroom scales 'broke' a barrier! This is such a momentous event, and now I believe I can lose the weight that has accompanied me for way too long! It can happen, it can. I am not going to screw this up, I will succeed, I will stay on the bandwagon today.

Every dinner time! DH has a 'normal' sized portion on his plate while I have my measured portion on my smaller plate. Then 15 minutes later when he has inhaled his food, he looks at me and says, 'Still chewing?'

I enjoy water and drink copious amounts. The challenge is to get it in given the limitations around meals. But, I have a litre bottle on my desk at work and usually sip 2 or 3 refills during the day, I have water as soon as I get up, as soon as I get home from work, and sip all evening. I was using a lot of Crystal Light but started weaning myself off of that - why drink the calories? I know it is only a few, but every little bit helps.

Cod is a more 'meaty' fish, so that would be my suggestion. Halibut is also meaty, the flavor is subtle but distinct. Tilapi is mild, but not as fleshy. Shark is more like pork in consistency - again, a distinct taste but not overly strong. I am not a shellfish kinda gal - I just can't rid my mind of the bug-ness of them! However, as I turn down no food ever, I will eat all shellfish but it is never my first choice. Most fish are 'fishy' if they are not fresh. As someone who spent decades on the coast, I can attest that fresh salmon bears no resemblance to that which has been frozen or canned. When I eat frozen fish now, I just don't compare the tastes; I just convince myself it is a new kind of salmon.

This just confirms what I always suspected. So, out come the scales.

Thanks Chrysalis, Trying to anticipate a size for June is part of the stress. Will my weight start to drop faster or will I stall before then? Will I spend more on tailoring a dress than it costs if I buy it in anticipation of one size, when I will be another? What style will show off my new curves (the ones going in, not out:biggrin:) - I do want to look good and not just because my ex will be there with the new wife(although there is some of that too). Let the games begin.

To quote an earlier post: The days of the rest of the world owing others a living are coming to an end. People are fed up, they aren't taking it anymore. I can only hope so, but frankly I don't see it. In fact, I hear more and more how people are 'owed' everything! Now yes, there are extreme cases, but not every joe/josephine on the street is 'owed' for every untoward event in their life. I have, and continue to, pay taxes etc. with the understanding that any benefits are for those in dire straights, not for a long-term lifestyle for someone otherwise capable of working. I certainly did not tally how much I paid in, with the thought that someday I would get it all back. The cost of ill-health is high (to society and the individual), and I absolutely think we all benefit if the population is healthy and able to work. I support WLS (obviously) but do not support that taxpayers should pay for everyone. The screening should be thorough (to filter out those who are 'fudging' their comorbidities), financial state a consideration including questions such as 'what can this person REALLY pay' with real financial auditing done, the work history of the person (chances of this person going back to gainful employment), etc. OK - now I will step back from the computer as I am sure there will be stuff thrown at me for this post.

Biting someone's head off - um, were you planning on eating it?? :sad_smile: Once you are banded and at your 'sweet spot', the amount of food you will need to be 'full' will be less. Of course you are hungry now as you haven't yet been banded so your stomach is used to more, more and more food. The nutritionist is trying to get you to eat this way now so that it will be second nature by the time you are banded thereby minimizing the overall adjustments and stress. Reading the many posts on this site and others, most long-time banders consistently say they eat what they want, just less of it. Some seem to have one or 2 foods that are problematic, but not entire groups of foods. Good luck on your journey, whatever your decision.

I am hoping that shopping in my closet is an option. I have a lot of weight to lose, but just can't see myself spending lots of money per size. Until I can afford (or out of necessity have to go on) a shopping trip, I am wearing my clothes with belts - remember those? I have 2 or 3 fashionable belts and wear my big shirts and blouses over the skirts/pants and use the belt to cinch things in. I am hoping I can get by for 15-20 pounds before I will just HAVE to give in and go bargain shopping. No big sprees until I am at goal which right now is still just a glimmer in my mind's eye!

Fat behind the eyeball? I've never heard of such a thing, but I'll lose it anywhere - eyeballs, feet, earlobe - it is all 'free' for the taking! I must check this out when I go for my long overdue eye exam in another couple of months. Thanks for the post.

Until I saw this thread, I had forgotten that I have a wedding to attend in June. Great, no where near goal weight, going to the wedding of my ex's brother (we were, and remain friends) and now the need to find something suitable for a shrinking body that will be comfortable for dancing and won't have assorted body parts flopping and flapping in the frenzy. Sleeveless is just not going to do, and although a pashmina/shawl would work for the service it will not do for the dance floor. Deep cleansing breathe; going to my happy place.:redface:

I can SOOOO relate. last year DH's company went under at the same time I accepted a new job in a new city and we had a made an offer that had been accepted on a house. 10 months later after fixing the house (60 year old bungalow requiring lots of attention), I am working, DH is not. He is trying to find work though, and his resume has been redone a dozen times depending on the job he has applied to, he scours newpapers/websites etc, but after this long he is starting to spiral downward. He is 'older', and frankly most employers seem to want young people just out of school that can work cheaper and be molded to their way of thinking. Highly experienced older men are NOT the choice - despite the obvious benefits of skills/experience and maturity. With each week his enthusiasm is less, and the pressure is more. My job has now become somewhat tenuous - which is just adding to the pressure. I suspect another move to yet another place is in our future but I just can't worry about that now.

Luck, that's when preparation and opportunity meet. (Pierre Trudeau)

Heartfire...be prepared for more than 'looks' from people. I was subjected to lots of comments such as 'treating the child like a dog', 'she probably ties the kid in bed too', etc. The kids though did not run amuck in stores, hide in clothing racks sending everything to the floor, get lost, ram carts into the back of people's legs, knock over displays of cans, and other pleasantries I've been subjected to by other little darlings. Funny thing too...I work for a national professional association, and I have parents calling me asking why their son/daughter didn't pass the certification exam, or demanding that their child be granted status because of XY or Z. Usually the call ends with the demand that I do something or they are going to go to their representative or someone. Uh-huh, yes indeedy, threats demonstrate maturity, and the public would willingly accept uncertified professionals as long as it was your child!! This is incredible to me - your child, who is probably 24/25 years of age, has mommy/daddy calling??? :eek:University educated people have their parents calling on their behalf? Is it possible these are the same people who had children completely out of control, and these same children never grew-up? Never learned to be mature responsible ADULTS? Sorry - I seemed to have segued into a different rant....

Indio - That's fabulous! Congratulations. You will made a great participant - you are articulate and eager to contribute. Enjoy.

Congratulations! Such a positive change.

No charges can be laid if the case is justifiable...you have been provoked, ridiculed, harassed and psychologically beaten by this device that you invited into your loving home. There are limits which the law understands!:huh2:

L8BloomR - it wouldn't be the toes I would cut off. Does the term 'bobbit-ing' resonate?? I too have sheltered many cats and dogs...each one someone else's castoff. My last dog was a black lab - absolutely terrified of hands...anyone's hands. It took me several months before he would trust me enough to let me pet him. He never got over his fear of men and would vigorously defend the house with much throwing himself at windows, and ferrocious barking if a man appeared. (Love life took a bit of a downturn at that time:lol:). Then there was the dog given to me to 'train' -the adult owner had given the dog to his son (age 5) and the boy hadn't trained him yet. That dog (by this time age 1 year) had never seen a leash, a collar, any toys, and was allowed to run free in the community. Isn't it strange that the dog didn't have any manners?!?!? That dog did not go back to that home - after lots of training with the dog, the family decided that a puppy was cute but a dog was work! The son wanted a mountain bike instead, and the parent didn't want to assume any responsibility. And those are only 2 of the many dogs I have had the privilege of owning. And the cats I have rescued...from starvation, from life outside (in 30 below temps), from caged existences....I never cease to be appalled/amazed by the depravity of the human animal. Cats with diseases, cats mistreated, cats with internal injuries....alll of them somebody's responsibility at one time. Animal rescue was one of the most difficult sickening volunteer positions I have ever done, and after over 20 years of it, I can't do it anymore. I have my 3 cats (all rescues), and once these join the rest of the cats and dogs of my past in their naturally achieved final reward), then no more pets for me. But if ever I win gajillions of dollars, my money is going to free spaying and neutering...

Your stories are inspirational, heartwarming and great to read! For me - this week I threw away my 'fat bras' - you know the kind with shoulder pads that have gel, 5 hooks and enough underwire to 'mcgiver' an explosive device! Now, I'm still big, but for the first time in a LONG time, I can comfortably wear a bra without spillage (the girls or the underarms), a bra that won't set off a metal detector.