Great2BThin

I like the tankini, I like the diagonal strips. I tried that one on as well. I do like that one, it's not the same one but might have to consider it. But silly question, how do I get bottoms to match it, seeing as how it is on overstocks? I suppose I should be able to find black ones but I kindda like a few of the colors as well. Well gals, I certainly didn't mean to give anyone a complex about their calves. I have had so much trouble fitting into capris especially, but jeans as well. I have to make sure the jeans are wider leg styles, or they will be tight on the calves or I can't pull them up. And every pair of capris I tried on Sat. until I found those at Goodwill I had the trouble with. Before surgery they were 21" so have gone down some. The thing is they aren't flabby, they are rock hard, must be muscle from carrying around 305 lbs. You know how we get hang ups about parts of our body, and I think my calves are my issue right now. Even the upper arm jiggle doesn't bother me as much as my calves. But I am sorry to have insinuated anyone else had big calves or that measurement was huge. I just know I am having issues with mine. Cause, Allie, your's don't look big in your tankini! I also have a hard time seeing my loss in myself so maybe I'm still envisioning them as before as well.

Yes I posted photos when I hit 100 lbs lost the last week of Jan. I posted them on this thread and on Janet's "I'm here to help" thread. I hope you can find them.

I'd love a trip. Just have to be sure I can get off work for it. I fly free so would just have the hotel/food cost. I think if you put your photo here, Apples for a few days you'd be fine. You could always delete it again in a few days or something. I was leary of it too but finally did it. Nothing bad has happened yet. LOL

Speaking of photos, when are we going to see one of you Apples??? thanks for the kind words about my calves issue. I did get some Jones NY capris, at Goodwill!! My kind of deal! They are white, I've never worn white before either. What stores do you find Jones in? I've seen that brand in Dillards but they never have much. Didn't see it at Macy's.

Well my breakfast used to always be 1/4 cup egg beaters, a smidgen of cheese and 2 slices of precooked bacon. However, I had constipation issues a lot so switched about a month ago to Kashi Go Lean Cereal, still has a lot of Protein but has Fiber as well. I have 1/2 cup of that.

Apples, welcome home, hope you get water soon! Allie, I was self pay too and had a seminar and 6 weeks later a lap band. Would've been sooner but I had a cruise to Alaska booked in there and had to schedule all my pre ops before that and around that. So glad I did this. My insurance paid for neither band nor bypass and at the time of my surgery my surgeon only did Lap Bands. A week after he started doing Realize bands as well. Glad I didn't have to choose. It would've been another thing to stress over. I've avoided dresses due to my big calves and they are still HUGE as in 17 1/2" around STILL!!

Allie, I think that's the tankini I have my eyes on for now. I tried it on and liked it, but wanted to keep looking. I have the AP-L (large) band which is the 14cc one. I have 11 cc's of fill in it I think. I believe AP-S (standard) is the 10cc band. I liked that band because of the little pillows like around it where the saline goes. It just looked sturdier to me. Army, I hope you are able to get a fill soon if you don't have much restriction. Addy, woohoo on the loss!! Maybe we'll hit Onederland together. I've been stuck since I hit 100 lbs gone, I lost 2 more at the time but am stuck between 201 and 202. I tend to lose like thta though. When I lose I will lose 5 or 6 lbs and then be stuck again. Hunzi, so glad to hear you are set to go again. I hope the scar tissue isn't an issue. Good luck to you! CathyChatts, where are you????

Gino, I count calories and protein grams. For me I definitely watch what I eat. If I didn't the band would do me no good. Janet likes to say that the band is 20% and the other 80% is up to us (I hope I got the percentages right) regardless if those are the right percentages, the band is a tool that works only as well as we use that tool, it won't do the work for us. Becky, something that has helped me in restaurants is first the bill. Now that I am not pigging out on the huge entree and sharing hubby's or something like that the bill is so much smaller. And the other thing I do is look around, just look at what people consume, I do that and think that is what I looked like eating all that food and many times more than that. It helps put it in perspective. Also getting into the mindset that food is just a fuel for my body and enjoying the companionship or socializing with those that I am with versus the food. Seems this old mind is stubborn and hard to retrain sometimes, wish they made a band for the head! LOL Well gals, I am struggling some with lots of PBing. And I know it's because of my teeth issues. I have those 2 root canals started on one side of my mouth and am supposed to avoid chewing on that side, so 50% of my chew power is gone. I am getting stuck on not chewed enough food. I think I am chewing and chewing and then Wham, it's back up. So I am being extra extra mindful of my bite size and my chews, it's helping and I did it much less yesterday. The day before was every meal. DH was getting concerned as nothing I was eating was staying down. But alas, the scale didn't go down. GRRRR!! Tonight I am making chili thinking it is a little mushier and that will help too.

Thanks Allie, I think you rock too!! You inspire me! Armywife, I do eat pretty low carb. I have cereal for breakfast though (Kashi go lean) and then chicken usually for lunch and dinner is a meat and some veggie. I eat about 1/2 cup portions and that fills me up. I have good restriction. And I am working out 5 to 6 times a week doing 'Power 90' by Tony Horton DVD's.

Great pics!! I love the black top you are wearing!! I struck out on tankinis at Kohls. I just didnt' like any of them, and there weren't many there. Most were halter style and I know I don't want that. So the quest continues!

As for Nsaids, I was told not to take them as well. However, then my dentist wanted me taking ibuprofen for the inflammation due to my the infections and my 2 root canals. I called my surgeons office and they said it would be fine for a short term something like this, but not to take it regularly. So kindda the same as Charlene's dr. Katy, glad something is finally going to be done about your issues.

Iteach, the tankini was black and white with like a swirlly pattern and the bottoms were just black. I will keep checking then for them to bring it back!! LOL Allie, your mom sounds somewhat like mine. Not loving at all. In fact she told me once my entire life she loved me. And as my husband says, 'she just sucks the life out of you'. She's so negative and brings you down so much. Addy, good luck at the dr. today! Anxious to hear why your port would hurt. Mine does once in a while but usually after a lot of crunches or something so figure it must be the muscle.

I'm in, gained back 1 1/2 from my Valentines Challenge goal, it's exciting to be putting a number in Onderland as my goal for this challenge! Name...........Start lbs..........Current..........Goal.......To Go Barb12590..........176.................176...............170.........6 Bklyn1984...........263.0..............263.0............253.........10.0 Bobbie155...........255.8..............255.8............245.........10.8 Burgygirl.............230.2..............230.2............220........10.2 coloradobanding...236.................236...............220........16 crzytchr..............239.................239...............229........10 gingerbug...........179.8...............179.8............167.8......12 irishgal...............197.................197...............185........12 Janesays.............214.8..............213.6............202.........11.6 KikiVal315...........212.5..............212.5............206..........6.5 Kristilaw.............264.................264..............250.........14.0 lcwils01..............223.................223..............215...........8 lindar172............229.4..............229.4............219..........10 Long2BThin.........202.4..............202.4............192.4........10 mair...................225................225...............215.........10 Merda................270.................270...............260.........10 mljalways...........215.................215...............200.........15 MsNickelback......179.................179...............167..........12 pvtash61............???..................???...............200..........?? ValJean..............266................266................254.........12

Ann Taylor is my favorite, Loft or regular. Funny yesterday I was at land's End overstock section of their website to order a tankini I saw there and IT WAS GONE!! I was so bummed. I didn't want to order it when I saw it as I had no idea of size. So I went to a Sears store here to try some Land's End on to know a size and came home to order it and poof, gone. I couldnt' find anything in that section yesterday. The regular price ones are so expensive. And the one I saw there a few days ago was even a Tall size. Guess I'll have to keep watching and hope more show up!

Happy Sunday!! I too did some shopping this weekend and can so relate to how much more fun it is now. I found an amazing clearance rack at the Gap and got so many cute springy things (must've been from last year to be so cheap on clearance) and EVERYTHING I took to try on FIT!! Then went to NY & Co and found some more, a shirt for $5 and I didn't realize til I got it home that it's a MEDIUM!! I had tried it on and everything, took it off the Large section of the rack never checking the inside tag til I got home. Tomorrow I am going to Kohls to look at tankini's. I see they are on sale and then I have a 20% off coupon. Hope I find something doable. I am a little frustrated by how my legs look, lots of skin but also still very large, especially my calves. I tried on several capri pants and couldn't get the leg openings up over my calves. Though i also went to Goodwill and found a cute white pair that were Jones NY for $5!!! I also can relate to having to have a sheet or something over me even in the midst of summer. Can't sleep without it. feel too out there and also I'll get the shivers even if I am not cold. Teach, did you shop at the King of Prussia mall? I liked that mall when I lived there but at my weight rarely went as it was so huge to walk through. Allie how was the date??? Cathy, speaking of dates, how have your dates been, still seeing the same guy???

No problem, Rose, I was in a hurry yesterday and not much time to post but did want to get that out there for you. It's the first exercise program I have stuck to, and I really see and feel the results of (probably cause I stuck to it). scale is up for me today a couple pounds, guess I did too much Valentines celebrating. We went to dinner on Friday night and then movies last night. And if you know me and popcorn then you know I had popcorn at the movie. today we stopped at my daughters job (she's a wedding planner at a Doubletree Hotel) and well you know how Doubletree has those Cookies so I had one of those. GRRRR Okay celebrating is over! Plan for the rest of the day is to start working on taxes!! UGH!!

Oh I still have my occassional treats as well. We went to dinner for Valentines early and went to Texas Roadhouse, I had BBQ ribs and part of an onion blossom. And then popcorn at a movie. But these are occassional treats, not every day occurances. I think i appreciate them and enjoy them more this way now too.

Janet, have a good time!! P90X, is a workout DVD available at Beachbody Fitness, Nutrition, Diet and Weight Loss Products and Videos

Katy, can't you use a different surgeon? Didn't you say your GP recommended a different one? The other one doesn't seem to care too much.

You are right, God needs to be your comforter. That being said I think we are all guilty of comfort eating. But, in my opinion, and it may not be popular, you can't put food before God. And if you truly are that afraid of your eating after surgery, I think you need to research it more before you go into it. You need to be totally prepared and willing to make this a lifestyle change. If you aren't, then it will be hard to be successful. As you have probably read or heard, it is possible to 'eat around your band' by having too many liquids, mushies etc. Many junk foods like ice cream, Cookies, chips, are slider foods and go through the band pretty easy and are empty calories. You need to be willing to eat Protein first, low fat, etc. I like to think the band is doing about 20% of the work, and the other 80% is up to me. My 80% includes things like proper food choices, listening to my body and hunger signals (they are different than pre band), exercise, etc. The bands part is restriction and reminding me that I have had enough and need to stop eating. My intent isn't to sound harsh or dissuade you from banding, but please go into this with your eyes wide open and willing to make the changes necessary. Really seek God's help and guidance in your decision, He will direct your path. I felt so blessed in my decision, I prayed about it, whether it woudl be His will, and the doors just seemed to blow wide open for me. And I've had amazing success, but it's hard work, a lifestyle change, and many blessings by Him. Good luck to you and your decision.

Allie there are lots of stores here with swim suits out. I tried on some tankinis several weeks ago already at Target. That is what I decided I wanted this year. I may go shopping for stuff tomorrow for our cruise, but not sure how much to get yet as it is still 3 mos away, but I just have this 'need' to get something for it so it feels like we really are going. LOL allie and Apples, I really feel for you and the abuse you endured growing up. And I admire you for becoming such strong women in spite of it today. I have a toxic relationship with my mom but there's no abuse in our history. She's just rather narcissitic (sp) and it's all about her and she never has anything positve to say to me about anything. I did my Power 90 workout today with DH, he went with us today since he is off. The onlyl other time he did it was on Day 1, so he was amazed at my progress in 4 weeks. Next week we are moving to phase 3 & 4. EGADS, that means instead of 100 crunches we do 200!!! Not sure I can do that, but it's something to work towards. We just got home from Texas Roadhouse. We went there tonight for and early Valentines date. It's always so crowded on a normal night we thought we'd go tonight and avoid the crowds since DH was off today. I had the rib/fries appetizer for my dinner. I ate 2 ribs, gave the other 2 to DH and never touched a fry, and I was stuffed. The hardest part was I absolutely love their rolls. DH does too and ate all 4 of them and then the waitress brought us more thinking we were both eating them, so he brought the other 4 home. I was too afraid to try bread so didn't though they looked mighty good!

Well, Janet, hubby was impressed with my workout. He said he could tell a big difference the last time he did it with me. He did it with us on our first day as he was off that day for MLK holiday, so 4 weeks later and he was impressed. He was really impressed that I could do all 100 crunches!! Maybe not perfect but I can do them. Next week we are moving up to phase 3 and 4 and that includes 200 crunches, EGADS!!! Don't think I can do those, but maybe by the end of the 90 days. also got copies of all the P90X DVDS and a copy of the workout schedule to move into after that. My boss who is very into the P90X workouts was telling us today that after the Grammies they were interviewing Sheryl Crow and asking her how she keeps in such great shape. She said all she does is P90X and praised it and said she was getting a lot of her celebrity friends into it and supposedly there is something about that on some website. So now my friend and I joke that we are going to look like her when we are done. :thumbup: Now if the scale would move again. I know my body now and know that it drops fast and big for a week or so and then sits still for about 3 weeks, I am one of those lulls now but so anxious to get the next 1 1/2 lbs off to hit Onederland.

Hi Becky, I've been on numerous cruises, not sure I am an expert. I have been to Greece many years ago when I was 18. In May DH is taking me on a Meditteranean cruise as a reward for my 100 lbs loss. We will leave from Barcelona and stop in 3 places in Italy, then Malta and Nice, France. We sail on May 10th. The rest of my cruises have been to the Carribean, Mexico, New England/Canada and Alaska. I've been on Norwegian, Princess, Royal Carribean and Carnival. They are all nice, but Princess and Royal Carribean were my favorites. In May I am going on Norwegian and haven't been on them in 10 yrs so a lot has changed with their 'freestyle' cruising and newer ships. I love the sun too, there wasn't as much sun worshipping time on the Canada and Alaska cruises. There's tons of food onboard, but there's also many healthy options and usually very nice gyms and walking tracks. Even at 300+ lbs it was never a problem for me on a cruise to gain weight. Now DH on the other hand has been known to come back as much as 10 lbs heavier. he loves a good buffet! :biggrin: That's wonderful of your sis to want to take you. When are you going? Well my teeth are feeling much better today so am relieved about that. I just dread going back in 3 weeks to finish the root canals. DH is off today so he is going to come with me to do my Power 90 workout. I hope to impress him with how much I can do now!

Wow, Teach, great photos. You look so much younger even now. Looking good! What kind of dog do you have? Looks like one of mine in the background of one of the photos.

Oh the dreaded root canal did not go well. Got there and found out I needed 2!!! UGH!! They were teeth next to each other and both already had crowns on them. The infection had spread and caused issues with the other tooth. So he started both root canals, but since I was only scheduled for one didn't have time to finish. Also the tooth originally needing it was still rather infected and inflammed around it and was draining so much he couldn't finish filing one of the canals all the way down. That and the fact that it wouldn't get numb enough didn't help. I was in a deal of pain yesterday but feel better today. In fact I went to work and volunteered at the hospital. Am about to go workout to my Power 90 as well. Interesting, at the hospital I visited some post op folks. One of them was amazed to hear I had weight loss surgery. That amazed me, he was shocked to hear that both I and the gal I was with both started at 305, she lost 135 lbs 7 yrs ago (she was bypass) and kept it off. He said we were such an inspiration. Silly guy, even thought I was at goal. HA HA, but alas, I have 20 to 30 more to go. My dr. said a normal BMI I should shoot for 169 but he would be happy with anything under 180 so we shall see where I end up. Allie, oh yes, my mom is a real joy sometimes. I can so related to having feelings you are missing out. I feel that a lot with her and my sisters. I see others who's mothers or sisters are like their best friends and I get jealous and feel I am missing out on something. It's not for lack of trying either. But that being said, I refuse to let my mom continually put me down as well. No wonder I have self esteem issues! Oh and did you hit Onederland now if you are down 107lbs??? If so you were awfully quiet about it!! VZ you must've gotten our warm weather of a few days ago. Then we got the wind and now it's cold, even had a dusting of snow las tnight. COME ON SPRING!! That's why my ticker is flowers.