Great2BThin

I am sure eventually I will get used to shopping in the Misses departments. Right now I find it so overwhelming. Even though I hated shopping in 'Womens', it is my comfort zone. I know how to shop there, still feel I belong there etc. Yesterday while walking around the 'normal' sizes, I felt like such an imposter. Especially when I found myself in Petites, I know that means for shorter people, but I used to think of it meaning skinny people. I don't fit either category at 5'9". I felt like everyone was looking at me thinking, what was she doing here, especailly as I went to fitting rooms. I guess I just need to shop more often so I get more comfortable and less overwhelmed.

Good morning. Well I am home from my first day of my new 'mini job' at the rec center, plus I worked out for almost an hour afterwards and was still home at 930. this will be good to keep me consistent with exercise, good thing as the pay sucks but it is what it is and will be a fun little job. Am meeting DH for lunch a little later. My biggest change is going to be in eating. I usually eat breakfast of egg beaters and a slice of bacon. But this morning, I didn't allow enough time and only ate half my eggs and ran out the door. Had my bacon for a mid morning snack when I got home. I can bring something there to heat up in the microwave and eat while working so might try that. Joann and Soover, hope you are feeling stronger every day!

Good morning. What a productive morning so far it's been. Today was the first day of my 'mini-job'. I start at 550am and am off at 830. I think I will like it. It is very slow and easy work and the rest of the time I get to sit and gab with a good friend of mine that got me the job there. She works full time and I am just there for the early hours to help her open and check in all the early birds that use the gym, go to the aerobics classes etc. There's a lot to remember on opening, it will take a time or two before I learn where all the keys go and what opens what, etc. And all the computer programs to open etc. Then afterwards, I was a good girl and changed into workout attire and worked out before coming home at 930. So here I am at 945 when I'd just be thinking of going to the gym and I've worked, worked out and am home with a whole day ahead of me. I am used to sleeping til 7 so getting my just before 5 will be tough at first. When that alarm went off this morning I was like, 'do I really wnat to do this?'. :angry_smile: Tomorrow I will go straight from there at 830 to my volunteer stint at the hospital at 9, might be a few min. late if the roads are still icy. Becky, I wonder what size I'll get to as well. My doc mentioned a 10 once, that sounds so far fetched to me right now. But then again 16's are fitting and even some 14's but other 16's don't fit. And I am still about 40-50 lbs from goal, I think. Not sure where I want to get on the scale either, a normal BMI sounds nice, but right now I am shooting for just an 'overweight' one and to no longer be obese. It was a huge deal for me when I was no longer 'morbidly obese' and now to just be overweight soon is almost normal to me. :frown: How old are your twins? boys, girls, one of each? Janet, I love to Christmas shop as long as I know what to shop for. I hate wandering trying to come up with something for someone that I feel I should get a gift for but not sure what or how much to spend, those type of gifts I hate shopping for. It's so hard to have control when it comes to new clothes for me. It's like a whole new world out there. But so confusing. I hated shopping in Macy's and Dillards (found some Jones NY stuff to try on though) as I am used to one tiny 'Women's' dept where everything is all together. The normal sizes are so spralled out and if you don't know what brand or designer you like it's confusing. And what if I like pants in one dept but not the top and then have to go all over looking for something to match etc. For this newbie to Misses sizes it's overwhelming. I haven't been there for over 25 yrs. and it seems to have changed. But then again 25 yrs ago I was a young mother with younguns and my clothes didn't come from a Macy's or Dillards.

Good afternoon. Just got home from a day of shopping with my daughter. And I found a sweater to go with my black pants at where else? Ann Taylor! :wink_smile: And best of all it was on the clearance rack and everything in the store was an additional 20% off today. YAHOO!! Cathy, it's taken me several fills too.

Allie, I found the sweater today. It's a silverish one with sparkles in it and best of all it was on the clearance rack at Ann Taylor (love that store). So I am set. I start my job in the morning. Filled out all the paperwork today. My hubby says all the right things too. My weight has never been an issue for him other than when I am so down on myself over it. WE will celebrate 30 yrs in April.

I have that same addiction. We've been working on our decorations for most of the week. We are making pheasant balls. We cut up all the feathers off the pheasants, snipped each individual feather to get the downy stuff off. And are now gluing them to styrofoam balls. We will finish tonight. My whole tree is decorated in them this year. We also did trees, glued some feathers to styrofoam tree cones and next is a wreath. DH just finished the lights outside. We got late this year in finishing with being gone for Thanksgiving, which was later this year.

I was able to buy a pair of pants at Costco today and have them fit!! I was so sure they wouldnt' that I tried them on after paying in the restroom. That way if they didn't fit I could return them right away. Now I just need a nice sweater or something to go with for my Chrismtas party. YAHOO!! Scale has been stuck though. As for goals. I have always felt that way in the past. I'd not hit it and beat myself up and usually binge. This time however, I have done some of the challenges here on LBT. I did the Halloween one and now am doing the end of year one. I exceeded my Halloween goal and it was so exhilerating. My year end, I should hit, I need to lose 3 more, but then again haven't lost in over 2 weeks. But don't think I will beat myself up for not making it as I'm doing pretty darn good. I set the goal to be at 90 lbs lost by year end, I wanted 100 but thought that might be too aggressive so my next goal will then be 100 by Valentines day. I too love feeling more 'normal'. I feel like I am 'fitting in' so much better and don't stick out so much as the fat lady in the room. though I still sometimes feel I am. I have a bad body image and picture myself much larger than I am. When DH & I were in Vegas in Oct. we were at the pool. I'd pick out body types I felt were the same as me and DH would say how far off I was and then he'd pick some that he felt were close to me (he was scared to death to do this as he was afraid he'd upset me but then when he saw how large of bodies I was picking out he figured he was safe. LOL), I was amazed at the difference in the body types we each picked out. I was very pleased to realize I was smaller than I thought I was, but still far from 'thin', but closing in on 'normal'. Okay I am rambling, hope you get what I mean.

good afternoon! I just got home from Costco. Earlier this week I bought a 'warming blanket' which was basically an electric blanket in a throw size. I thought since I am so cold it would be great in the evenings especially. I was so disappointed in it, it barely got luke warm. I needed much more warmth than that, my velour down blanket w/o the 'warming' was warmer so back it went. But while there, I saw these slacks. they said they were cords but are very narrow and close together pinwales or whatever you call it as they didn't look real 'cordish'. I debated about getting a pair as I've never been able to just pick something up there and have it fit, and, of course, no fitting rooms there. So I grabbed a pair, bought them thinking they wouldn't fit. But before leaving the store I ran to the restroom and tried them on and they fit!!! They were Levi Docker type. Now I just need a nice sweater or something to go with them and I am set for a Christmas party. That was so neat to just pick up something there and have it fit. Apples, are you near a big city that you have all these stores near you? I guess when I think farm, I think of Dan's relatives who are in the middle of no where in SD. I don't think we have a Fashion Bug here, or if so, just not aware of it, will have to search it out. My daughter is taking me shopping tomorrow. Teacherica, congrats on your band. Joann, how is the recovery going? Charlene, glad your PB episode is over. I have no problems usually with prime rib but do other beef. funny how different foods affect different folks.

Charlene, I've been kindda afraid of shrimp as I heard that happens. Water drinking usually makes it much worse for me. It seems like it should help but I just end up PBing more. Do you have those papaya enzyme tablets I've seen mentioned here? Hope it resolves itself soon. I bet it was probably just the shrimp and not that you were too tight. But if it keeps happening..... JoAnn, WELCOME HOME! So glad things went well for you. I never did have gas pains in either surgery (band or gall bladder). Can you have s/f popsicles while on full liquids? Those were a lifesaver for me. I had a PB episode myself today. I ate breakfast, didn't eat lunch as I was going to a baby shower and thought there was going to be a light lunch served. WRONG!! All they had were mints and cake and I didn't want either. My MIL wanted to stop at a nursury to check out their pointsetias on the way home so by the time I got home it was 4. DH & I went to an early dinner, to our favorite Mexican restaurant and I ate too much too fast, especially those chips. As soon as I swallowed the bite that got me in trouble, I knew I was in trouble as it was way too big of a bite. I think this was the hungriest I've been since banding. Note to self: even when starving, still must go slow and CHEW!!

LoriLei, From what I gathered there seems to be 2 different trains of thought on the part of dr's and fills. Some say, "you are losing great, you don't need a fill if you are losing good at where you are at". Then there is the other opinion of, " you've lost a lot of weight since your last fill, you need a fill as you have lost some of the fat pad between your band and stomach, so you can keep losing". Which is correct? Who knows. I think the most accurate determinant is how are you feeling? Are you satisfied with your portion sizes now? are you hungry? do you stay full for several hours after eating? and things like that. I just got my 6th fill and was at my 'sweet spot' for a few months after my 5th. However, the past few weeks I have been hungrier, eating more, etc. so I got a tweak and my dr. for this fill was of the 2nd opinion in that Ilost a lot and it probably loosened up some. Good luck in finding what works for you. Some folks need a lot more fills than others. There's one gal at my dr office that they told me about that has lost 100 lbs on no fills. I have a large band so think that is why I am needing more fills. They couldn't get the smaller band fastened at surgery.

Would love to see a picture of your outfit tonight! I love Ann Taylor. I will be dangerous there as I get closer to goal. You are the 2nd person that has mention Jones of New York. Where do you buy their things? I know when I used to work at QVC we had a Jones line there but it was a sideshoot of a line and Iliked it though it ran small. Enjoy the party tonight.

Allie, your new photo looks great! Not sure if I mentioned in this thread, but I am going to have a job next week. Well mini job, it's only 2.5 hours a day. But it's at the rec center in my community that I work out at. I will help open it in the mornings and work 550am to 830am. My plan as of now, is then to bring my workout clothes with me to work, and force myself to workout every day (mon - fri) at 830 when I get off. Sounds good in theory now will I do it? Well it'll be 4 days, I volunteer in the bariatric dept. at the hospital I had surgery at on Wed. at 9am but do lots of walking while there. I hope this new regular exercise kick starts my weight loss. I am getting frustrated and worried having been stuck for 2 weeks.

Before banding, I thought it sounded easy to take small bites and not eat too fast. Simple right? WRONG! I do the same thing and that's when I get stuck or PB. And then I think DUH!! what did you do that for? And almost always I am either really hungry, or am in a social setting and not paying close enough attention to how much I am chewing or bite size. Between that and not drinking during meals I find to be the most difficult aspect about the bandster lifestyle.

No, I lost 63% of my excess body weight, which for me equals almost 87 lbs. about 86 1/2. I just can't hit the 87 mark, been stuck for a couple weeks. Other than a deep faith in God and prayer, I really can't say one thing in particular that is working for me other than, I am very strict about following the 'rules'. My portion size is 4 oz, I eat Protein first always, I eat 5 times a day (3 meals and 2 Snacks with protein in them), I work out some, but not as much as I should , and I have a dr. that is pretty aggressive on fills if need be. I had my 6th fill this week (7th if you count the prefill I got in surgery). I feel very fortunate that things have gone so well for me and pray they continue. Good luck to you, when is your band date??

Where is everyone today? I thought maybe I wasn't getting the email notifications again, so came to check and no body has been here today. Today is my 6 month bandiversary. I have lost so far 63% of my excess body weight so I've already exceeded the 'averages' for a year. I feel great about that, but of course, want it all gone now! I got my 6 mos lab work back and am low on Vitamin B1 so started taking those. They stink, smell very vitaminy and I can taste and smell it long after I took the pill. YUCK! I went to Kohls today and bought a Foodsaver, DH wanted one and thinks it's a great way to stockpile the freezer. His brother had one and used it when they butchered their deer meat. So while there I had nothing to do and decided to try on clothes (jeans mostly) just for fun. UGH!!! Is there no such thing as a standard size? I can fit in 14's in one style and in another 18's will be tight. And many of these were the same brand but just different cuts. I thought I'd see a style I liked so I knew when I needed some what to get. I left more confused than ever. I like the Gap ones I bought and will stick to those I guess. They fit well in one style. I think I will put the next sizs of Gap's on my Santa list! Joann, thinking of you today and hope you are home and resting well. Very anxious to hear how well everything went for you.

Happy anniversary too me!! 6 months ago today I got my band. Can't believe how fast the time has gone, nor how fast the weight has gone either!! WOO HOO!! ' Allie, where did you find you outfit? Can't wait to see the pics. I thought I had til Jan. to get mine, but found out yesterday with this new job, i am invited to that Christmas party on the 19th! So I am in need of something much sooner.

Same here Allie. I swear you must be my lap band twin. We lose about the same. I haven't lost in almost 2 weeks. Unless you count the 2 I lost that I regained. I just got my 6th fill this week, hopefully that will help. In the past when this would happen I would it was over and then go back to my old ways and gain it all back. At least my band prevents me from doing that. I am still faithful in what I eat, going to the gym, etc. so I know this too shall pass. I just want it to pass quickly and get to losing again!

My losses are slowing too. In fact, have lost nothing for 2 weeks. Congrats on getting through Thanksgiving. I felt good with how I did as well. I just got my 6th fill on Wed. hope that kick starts the losses again! Are you too tight? taking too big of bites? doesn't sound good to slime so much. Hope it gets better for you.

Cathy, I have no idea how to put a picture on here or how to make them small like your's. I had gained 2 lbs on vacation and luckily they hit the road this morning and took another half with them. Whew!! I was really worried. All the self doubts started coming back. GRRRR I am going to start a job on Monday. I will work a whole 2 to 2 1/2 hours a day from 6am to 8 or 830am. I will open the rec center in my community. My plan is to then bring my workout clothes with me and workout at 830 when I get off. I'm there, I might as well. At first I wasn't sure I wanted to get up and go to a job that early for only 2 hours then thought why not? The extra money will come in handy for my new wardrobe and I will force myself to workout while there. A win win situation.

Down almost a whole one, I'm counting it as a whole!! Only 3 to go! I know this one isn't over yet, but any idea when the next challenge will go until so I can work out my goal?? Name_________StartWeight___CurrentWeight______Goal________ToGo *****<?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = V /><v:shapetype id=_x0000_t75 coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" filled="f" stroked="f" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe">:tt2:</v:shapetype>***********:cool2:*************:wub:**********:wub:****** :whatchutalkingabout * agreatknead........204............187..........180.............7 areellady..........189............189...........159...........30 BIGB...............342............342...........300...........42 BellaPerdente......253............209...........195...........14 Boos02.............258............226...........200...........26 Brandy.............221............204...........191...........13 BrownBear..........240............235...........200...........35 Bunkey1965.........194............170...........170............0 Cadets71...........223.4..........220.4.........189...........31.4 Charlietuna........210............167...........150...........17 Claudine...........250............231...........225............6 CubsGirl17.........172............154...........150............4 Cutiew/booty.......251............227...........220............7 cQQlgirl...........195............187...........175...........12 crzytchr...........276............257...........246...........11 Donna113...........199............188.5.........160...........28.5 Ekat...............527............172...........152...........19 feefee57...........262............212...........180...........32 FeliciaLevy75......240............216...........190...........26 GillieBean.........304............296...........264...........32 HeatherO...........150............143...........130...........13 Hollie ............l54............154...........125...........29 janesays ..........244............232...........225...........7 jazzyywan..........239............239...........190...........49 Jeni85.............182............182...........160...........22 Jillbeme...........235............203.5.........185...........18.5 Josie74............260............255...........215...........40 judy1023...........231............231...........199...........32 klmsilva...........216............212...........190...........26 legster............183............183...........160...........23 linksmom...........251............231...........200...........31 Liquidbluegal......225............214.6.........199...........15.6 Liz_hager..........161............158...........130...........28 Long2BThin.........253............218...........215............3 lotzasunshine......292............275...........250...........25 Luu2008............230............199.5.........153...........46.5 Lunabeane..........244............197...........187...........10.0 Mamanmidwife.......295............268...........260............8 Melissa Aguirre ...266............233...........160...........73 Melody2006.........223............223...........173...........50 MiniPearl#2........???............???...........???...........?? Minxz..............299............287...........270...........17 neefam.............238............189...........158...........31 newby23............242............242...........212...........30 odizzzydori........242............242...........199...........43 paige65............252............238...........220...........18 rainer.............236............222...........210...........12 Redtulips3.........180............175...........160...........15 reif78.............294............195...........140...........40 RichardCranium.....338............276...........200...........76 soontobehottie.....201............179...........165...........14 srknepler..........285............249.2.........255..........(5.7) squale.............353............353...........325...........28 SueAZ..............198............193...........150...........43 Sunshine2..........177............167...........160...........07 Suzzzie............305............305...........285...........20 stevegoad..........370............341...........267...........74 Terilynn112........240............224...........199...........41 Truediva...........299............285...........235...........50 thininside28.......255............255...........215...........40 Turler.............219............209...........194...........15 youcandoit!........196............182...........165...........17 bjbstoney..........321............153...........140...........13

Lori congrats on the job and reason to exercise !!! How long since your last fill.. My doc wouldn't give me a fill in Dec 07 cuz I had lost 17 lbs from my fill in October.. My last fill was in Sept or Oct, so it had been about 2 mos. She said when you lose a lot of weight, you lose the fat pad between the tummy and band, hence the fill. So far it seems good, definitely not too tight, I've been expecting it to be and being very careful adn mindful of my bite sizes. As I eat more solids, time will tell. And....my gain from vacation is gone as well as another half a pound!! YAHOO!!! When I updated my ticker I noticed I have less than 50 to get to my 'goal' which is the highest weight that gives me a normal BMI. That's 169, not sure I will get there, I really want to get to 180 first. But it's what I am shooting for. Well first I want to get to 100 lbs lost, then under 200, you get the idea. I hear you on insurance companies. Just not sure what the answer is. I don't like the idea of socialized medicine. My sis lived in Canada for awhile and had to wait so long for procedures, etc. but here the insurance companies are dictating to dr's what they can do. When I was on my b/p RX my insurance was always calling and sending me things to try a different cheaper drug. I had gone through so many to find one that worked well, I wasn't about to try something different, plus what they wanted me to take was 3 pills vs one and one was something I had had a reaction to. Frustrating. They make it sound like they were trying to do me a favor and save me money. yeah right. And I had to self pay for my Lap Band since my insurance didn't cover any bariatric procedure. That really wasn't the insurance though I guess and more my husbands company excluding it. I've read many things here on people having my insurance company (United Healthcare) and their insurance covered.

Good morning. Well those pesky 2 lbs I gained on vacation hit the road this morning!! Hallejuia!!! Might have even taken another half or so with them. Must've been the fill and liquids yesterday for most of the day. I was so freaking out when they didn't disappear as quick as I'd have liked. All the old self doubts about can I really do this, and who do I think I am, etc. came creeping back really fast. In my past 'diet' attempts all it took was for something like that to happen and it would be enough to convince me I could never lose the weight and I'd give up and gain it back. This time is different. We have a beautiful snowfall outside this morning. Our weather gal on TV is so wrong all the time. it was supposed to be bad yesterday morning and fizzled out. Then last night she said that the day would be nice but snow tonight. Woke up to a couple inches already. Hopefully the roads aren't too bad, I need to get up to the rec center to not only workout but find out about my mini job and get to Walmart. We need new lights for the tree we plan on decorating tonight and I need a babyshower gift amongst other things and a return so thought I'd get it all taken care of in one place. Plus if I go to my son's Walmart I can see him too, but not sure I'll venture that far in the snow. Cool, I just updated my ticker and I have less than 50 lbs to get to goal. Goal being the highest weight in a normal BMI category. Not sure if that will be my goal or not but it's what I am shooting for right now. Oh and one more thing. Found out at my fill yesterday one of my lab tests came back, I am low in Vitamin B1, anyone else have this happen? I am just to get some over the counter vitamin and take one a day and get retested in 3 mos.

Good luck finding that 'smokin' hot outfit' Allie. You'll look great and knock their socks off I am sure. My husbands party isn't until January so I hope to find my smokin' hot outfit on clearance after Christams and it won't be at Lane Bryant either. You know I haven't stepped foot in there for a few months already. They must miss me! We have a beautiful snow fall coming down right now, the big puffy flakes. Looks so clean and fresh and Christmasy out there. Now as long as I do okay on the roads, I'll keep that positive attitude about the snow!! :cursing:

Which procedure will he have then? Lap Band? If he gets the insurance going before he is laid off will they still pay? Good luck on the job situation, there seems to be a lot of job uncertainity going around.

Welcome Pink. I too did this as my 50th bday present to myself. I turned 50 in May, had my surgery on June 5th. Best thing I have ever done for myself. I got a fill today, just had refried beans for dinner and they went down well. Think maybe this fill is what I needed. I just got a .5cc. She felt that since I lost 20 lbs since my last fill, I probably really did need it. I hope I get to losing again. I've been maintaining and then gained those pesky ones on vacation that are still hanging out. I want them gone!! I may have a job. I will help open the rec center in my community at 6am til about 8am. Then I am vowing to take my workout clothes with me and hit the gym before I come home. That's the plan anyway. At first I wasn't too thrilled about having to get up by 5am to work for 2 hours, but then looked at the workout benefit getting me there, etc. and the extra $100 or so a week and thought why not?