JulieNYC

Triple, quadruple, a zillion times over, DITTO! No one should feel like they have to know what their goal is to join this thread. I know at 250, coming from 350, I needed to discuss these issues. So, anyone and everyone who feels they identify with these issues is welcome. Thanks for clarifying that Boo.

I fall somewhere between you and Jachut. What's most frustrating for me is that I never know what I'm going to feel. Some days I feel like I could still lose 50 or 60 lbs -- I feel like a house. Other days I feel like I'm really very close to goal. I just don't know what my goal weight is. A big part of that for me is my excess skin. I lost nearly 200 lbs and I went up and down 100 lbs twice before the band. When I think about it logically, I think I should lose about 25 more lbs, then my thigh and butt lift (December) will take me to my final goal of 136, which is a normal BMI for me. My legs literally have rolls of skin. I see that and I know it's not fat, but it distorts my body image. I try to just relax about it -- December will be here before we know it, and I can reevaluate my goal weight any time I want to -- it shouldn't be such a source of stress. Maybe part of it is that I've ALWAYS been struggling to get to a goal weight. I mean ALWAYS. Since I was 5 years old. What in the hell am I going to do when I'm not struggling for a goal weight? I guess I have anxiety about that date, which is rapidly approaching. Lastly, I ask for this group's support on my long-term exercise goal. I am running the Chicago 1/2 Marathon on September 9th and the NYC full Marathon on November 4th. I'm doing an official training program, of course, and it's going well. Speaking of, off I go -- it's a light day today (5 miles).

First of all, thank you all for your responses. They are making me think about my own issues already. As Betty aluded to, several of us on this thread were banded in April 2006 and have had a long-running monthly exercise challenge that was mostly for the April crew. That thread is what lead to this thread -- in that many of us were starting to want to discuss the issues that come up nearing goal and we wanted to discuss that in the wider forum, yet we didn't want to lose the exercise challenge. So, let's set an official July 2007 exercise challenge. Anyone who wants to join can, and if you don't want to, that's fine too. Most importantly, if you want to modify the challenge to suit your own goals, whether higher or lower in number or duration, that is absolutely encouraged. For example, I'm setting mine to match Jachut's, and I'll reflect that in my signature. Here's the base challenge: In the calendar month of July, complete twenty exercise sessions of at least forty-five minutes in duration. Report in on your progress, successes and challenges at your leisure. Let the races begin!

OK guys, I started the new thread. It's in the Support forum, not the General forum. It's called "Passing for Thin" and can be found at the following link (I hope, if I did it right): http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f15/passing-thin-support-thread-those-approaching-goal-37513/ I hope everyone will join the discussion, as you are all very important to me.

It should pass. If you're able to drink, drink a lot of Water to flush it through. Don't worry about it unless you get stuck, then revisit if and when it's a problem. Hang in there!

Freedom from my pannus was worth every minute of pain from my tummy tuck. Even assuming it would have gone back to something tolerable over, say 2 years, if I'd have waited, I would still rather have those 2 years free from my pannus. It really limited my movement. Insurance fraud is one thing. Self pay for cosmetic surgery by informed adults is another. I can't wait to have my thighs done in December. After losing nearly 200 lbs, my surgeon says he can take 8 inches off each thigh. Bring it on.

For me it was just under three months.

Thank you for your kind words, Boo. I'm going to give some thought to the title of the thread and the way to introduce it, and I'll launch it within a couple of days. Until then, let's keep using the June thread.

I'm not a doctor, so please follow up with yours as you're doing. BUT, I doubt taking an antibiotic will disqualify you for surgery. It's things like blood thinners, NSAIDs, etc. that mess you up for surgery. Antibiotics are often prescribed pre-op for various reasons, so my guess is your surgery will go forward as long as your UTI clears up. Best of luck!

It's not changing, per se. It's just that the moderators opened up a new forum category for threads that are designed for those banded within a certain month. The "monthly" support threads were overwhelming the main forum, so they want to group them together. Makes sense -- I just worry that people won't find our July thread if they weren't on the June thread to read our discussion about it. I guess if we're cognizant of the issue, we can make sure to reach out to Bluehill, Kat, Roberta, etc. if we see them on other parts of the forum. As to the more basic question, I don't know -- do we open the thread up to target non-April bandsters? Do we make it an "issues for the final stretch thread?" Meaning, we'd be targeting those who have lost a large percentage of what they want to lose but are still plugging away at the rest? Or do we stay April? We could build in a monthly exercise challenge, but leave the thread on the main forum, as the thread would be to discuss all issues for those within the "zone" of goal. I need the exercise challenge. I need to be accountable to someone for getting to the gym most days. Beyond that, I'm open. Ideas?

That's fabulous news! Way to go -- bandland here you come!

I fear, too, that when we start the July thread, we're going to lose more stamina because of the new placement of the monthly threads in their own category. I actually think having a separate section of the forums for monthly groups is great, but I wonder what the impact will be on our group....

I couldn't have swallowed pills for about 10 days post-op because I didn't want to get an unfill and I was tight from the fluid buildup in my body from the surgery. In anticipating that, I asked for liquid narcotics, which did the trick perfectly.

Jolly Time makes an AWESOME single serving popcorn with 3 grams of protein, 8 grams of fiber and only 90 cals. I dig it. You might check it out and pop your own for the movies, or for a snack in general. For me popcorn doesn't fill me up at all. I have excellent restriction and still, I could eat an almost endless amount. That's why the single serving bags are so great....

I won't lie to you -- it rocks. :bounce:I flew recently and the couple in the next row wanted to sit together, which, if I agreed, put me in a middle seat (I'd booked months in advance, out of habit, to get my aisle). I almost annoyed myself I was beaming so much for being comfortable in the middle seat.... You're going to be there too in no time -- think about all those future trips! For now, buy two seats if you have to. You want to be comfortable after surgery. You're going to do GREAT.

I got to the gym tonight and ran 4 miles. The AC was out in the gym and it was in the 90s today so talk about sweaty.... Can you guys believe we're where we are and it's just been barely over a year? I can't BELIEVE I can run 4 miles. I can't BELIEVE I truly would rather end (or begin) my day with exercise and that I look forward to it rather than dreading it. Do you think we've broken the old patterns and if we fast-forward 10 years we'll still be in this healthy pattern?

I miss Kat....

I've lost 190 lbs over 14 months and 180 of that was in the first year. I'd like to lose 30 more and I plan to meet that goal by Christmas. No, lapband is not for people who don't have that much to lose. I find that some doctors will tell you that -- and if they do, it's usually because they don't believe in the lapband -- they're more of a bypass practice to begin with. The exception to that would be someone who is at serious, immediate medical risk and needs to take off 100+ lbs IMMEDIATELY for health reasons (for example, uncontrolled BP that is in danger of killing the person). Keep researching practices until you find one that believes in banding for high BMI patients. Those practices are where you'll have the most success as follow-up care is paramount. I chose the band because I'm a young(ish) woman of child bearing age. I didn't see a need to go through the malabsorption issues of bypass. I liked knowing there was something less invasive to my body that would help me gain control of my weight. And, if it didn't work, I could choose the more invasive process (bypass or DS) at that juncture. It's kind of like killing a bug with a shoe (the band) or running it over with your car (the bypass) -- the bug's just as dead with the shoe. For me, the band was the best tool for the job. Other people may need a different tool for various reasons (and there are tons of threads you can find using the search feature on this forum to find threads on bypass/band choice), but don't let your starting weight be the determinative factor. Good luck in your journey!

Boo, as I sit STILL at 174, I feel your plateau pain. Have you been following the BodyBug threads on the exercise forum? I know the expense of that thing is a REAL consideration ($399 -- ouch), but I'm going to give it a shot and see if there are small changes I can make throughout the day to burn enough calories to get me over this plateau and to goal. I can commit to logging my food and the device will tell me how much I'm burning, so it should reduce weight loss to a mathematical formula, if you believe the stats that it's 92% accurate. I can deal with 8% inaccuracy -- that will only -- at most -- steal a pound from me every 12th time I'm entitiled to lose one, per the device. I can set and reach goals when they're concrete like that, so I'm giving it a shot. I'll let you know how I fare next week. If it's not on your radar, once I break my plateau and get to your weight, I could probably be convinced to share (it can't be reprogrammed, but we're probably close enough in stats to share)! I've got a 4 mile run tonight, probably on the treadmill. I've got a 9 miler on Sunday -- my first "long run" for the marathon training....

Vixie, First class is definitely better if you can afford it. The seats are so much more comfortablly sized and the seatbelts are longer. Though the seats aren't THAT much bigger, those extra 3 or 4 inches can make the difference in being miserable and being moderately comfortable in flight. Plus, the armrests are much bigger, so even if the seat isn't that much bigger, there's more distance between you and the passenger next to you, which reduces the "evil eye" factor, to the extent you care about such things. I'm not sure what your size is, but I used to travel quite a bit at 350 lbs and I'm only 5'2 (so I was very round). I found that when I was more like 250, I agreed with faithmd and I would rather be in a window seat and out of the way (albeit uncomfortably), but at 350, I really needed the aisle to be able to "spill" over -- I just wouldn't have fit in the window. If it eases your anxiety, I think I have a seatbelt extender I'd be happy to mail you, so you don't have to ask for one on the plane. For me, that was the worst part -- not like you couldn't look at me and tell I needed one, but still, asking was the pits. Anyway, PM me your mailing address if you'd like it. Your surgery will be behind you in no time and once you've dropped a few lbs, flying will be so much easier! Just wait -- the world will soon be your oyster. Hang in there. This gets SO MUCH EASIER.

Holy hell. You guys convinced me and I'm $400 poorer. Woohoo! This looks like a blast. I love stats and graphs and stuff like that. I've been looking for the perfect thing to help motivate me to lose these last 30 lbs and I hope I've found the tool. I've been running a lot but haven't been closely monitoring my food (for a variety of reasons). This is going to push me over the edge. I can't wait to get started!

Thanks for the thoughts, Betty. I'll be fine. I've got an appt for some meds on Wed. For me, when I get to such a low point, that's the only thing that gives me the building blocks to dig my way out.

I woke up early this morning (side effect of the depression I'm battling right now) and decided to make the most of it and go for a run. So, I got that out of the way for the day.... Nineteen down, one to go.

OK, Boo, I think you just taught me something. If you get enough protein, your appetite for the bad stuff wanes? COOL. I didn't know that. That could very well be what's going on with me. Maybe I don't need a fill, maybe I need to commit to just eating right for three or four days and let the cravings get out of my system. I've DEFINITELY not been getting the protein I need for the last couple of weeks (while I've been having my little food traumas). OK, today I'm going to get my protein in and stay distracted so I don't have candy issues. The weekend is easier for me, food wise, so it's good timing. 4 miles in 34 minutes? Boo, you're my hero! Geeze, that's FAST. Yes, pleading with the scale gods works. It burns calories to scream. Boo, we'll both be in the 30s by Christmas. Let's make it happen. I ran 4.3 miles this morning and am running a 5 mile race tomorrow morning. Woohoo! Good weekend to all.

It took me a full year. Even now, if I'm hungry, I think about ordering an appetizer and a main course before I come to my senses and know that one or the other will be plenty and that ordering both is just a waste. Really, it took an entire year for me to accept that and I still have the pangs of "will it be enough."