bassriley

I had the Realize band and have been really hapy with it. Lots of people have lots of opinions. I don't really have strong opinions, except that for me the Realize band has worked great and I've had great results. My surgeon said that he wouldn't decide for sure until he actually began operating, because he said that until he actually saw my anatomy because different bands fit work differently with different anatomies. For me, his openness in that regard really made me feel comfortable trusting his choice. I would say the most important thing is to feel confident in your surgeon.

Good luck! Peace.

People can and do change. And "cheating" when you start dating someone and cheating when you're married are so different that they really need different words to describe them. Nobody takes vows when they start dating.

I'm speaking both as a guy and as a professional counselor. Things may not be as bad as you fear but are probably not as innocent as your husband claims (and maybe even believes). Don't assume from this that's he's having an affair. While he may be, I wouldn't assume it. However, even if he believes that his texting is innocent and supportive, it probably isn't. It's hard for me to imagine that he doesn't have an unconscious dynamic in which he is desiring the attention and affection of a younger, attractive woman. He may not be aware of feeling attracted to her, but there may be an unconscious erotic transference. I would encourage you and he to talk openly about this and, perhaps, to seek marriage counseling. But again, don't assume that his motives are bad and that he is lying, as he very well may not be. All the best.

Ditto what Jack said about the obsessive compulsive stuff. I've come to the conclusion that the reason I've done so well post op is that I stopped being a compulsive over-eater and instead became compulsive about measuring, weighing, and evaluating foods. I don't put anything in my mouth without weighing it, figuring out its nutritional content, and putting it on a spreadsheet. I'm nuts about monitoring my food intake. It's still a compulsion, just a better one. The reason that I could never successfully lose weight before I think is that I wasn't allowing my desire to be obsessive/compulsive about food to continue living.

In 34" waist and 15 1/2 shirts. That's what I wore when I was 18! Doctor told me last week that she didn't want me to lose anymore weight-I haven't heard a doctor tell me that anytime in my adult life. So I guess I've reached goal. I still can't get used to people calling me slim. I think it's going to take a long time for me to learn to see myself the way I am now.

I've found two beers that I can tolerate because they have very limited carbonation-Guinness and Tetley. If you are like I was in college, you won't be drinking 12 packs of these mainly because they're too damn expensive. But they aren't bubbly, so they don't make me bloated the way that regular beer or soda does. Whiskey doesn't have carbonation, so if you're not drinking it with club soda it should go down okay. The biggest issue with alcohol, though, isn't the carbonation. It's the calories. Lots of empty calories that go straight through the band. I don't drink much anymore because doing so would undermine maintaining my weight loss. Of course, I'm also 36 and drinking a lot isn't nearly so important to me as it was when I was 21. Good luck.

Lost 2 pounds in the past week. Currently at 188.5. 8.5 to goal!

One suggestion. I'm still learning how to tell when I'm "really" full after so many years of eating way past the point of satiety. So I weigh everything I eat. Never have a meal with more than 4-5 ounces of food, and never eat any more frequently than two hours between meals or snacks. What I know is that 4-5 ounces fills me up, so I don't try to make myself gague when I'm "really" full. I'm learning to recognize the signs, but for me, right now, it's really useful to have the food measured out so I know when I should be full.

Hey guys. Have never joined in this challenge, but I'm stuck, so maybe it's time. I'm only 11 pounds from my goal weight, so I shouldn't complain, but I've been stuck here at 191 for two weeks now. Partly, some family problems and I've slipped a little bit back into eating (and drinking) for comfort. But it's time to get serious and drop these last pounds and then work on maintenance. So hopefully you guys can help me on the last leg of the weight loss part of the journey. Thanks, Bryan

WOW! I think I found my dream girl!

What kind of accountability are you looking for from us? How can we help?

I'm sure you're right. But that typically doesn't stop people, in my experience.

I can only speak for myself. I've done really well. My eating is incredibly structured. I weigh and/or measure everything. I've also created a list of "never again" foods for me that include: most sweets, deep fried foods, sausage and bacon. For the most part, I've followed my list. I occasionally will have Italian sausage if I'm eating out, but the only sweets that I've had since August have been sugar free pudding or sugar free popcicles. I don't know why I've done well, because I've had plenty of times of being on diets and losing the battle. I guess it's just the right time for me. I will say that I live in constant fear of falling off the wagon and getting back to where I was, and I know that it's definitely a day by day thing for me. Bryan

Do you think he might be gay? Having an intense relationship with a new "best friend" that he essentially decorated a room with while losing all sexual interest in you. . .I don't know. Sounds like a possibility to me.

Jason, I think maybe you're projecting some of your own background/issues here onto the rest of us. As someone who has never had a drinking problem but does enjoy a drink or two in the evening, I definitely don't fit the "all or nothing" model you're suggesting. And I've lost well over 100 pounds while having a drink most evenings. Bryan

Now about 6 months post op, I eat six times per day, 4-5 ounces of food each time. Total calories per day are 1200-1400 and 70-80 grams of Protein. I've had trouble with vegetables making me feel very bloated and gassy. I've been doing V8 a lot because it doesn't seem to have that effect and still gives me my veggies. Anybody else had this trouble? Advice? Thanks, Bryan

A little too late for that. Eww.

Chuck, I've done pretty well in my career as an obese guy. Maybe one of the reasons is that I never look like I weigh as much as I actually do. There was one job that I interviewed for that I really thought I was a shoe in for that I didn't get even after being told by the interviewing manager that I was the best candidate for the position. I did wonder if my weight may have been an issue? I'm not looking for a new job-very happy where I am-so not sure how losing over 100 pounds may impact this. Bryan

Okay, I'm not much of a prude by any stretch, but I have no idea what salad tossing is all about. Anyone else?

Okay, so my fellow guys are keeping pretty quiet. I'll bite. My wife and I tried this after about 7-8 years of marriage when we were exploring a variety of things to try to spice things up. It was okay-nothing spectacular. Did it a few times, and sort of agreed that it didn't really work for either one of us.

I agree, getting below 300 felt great. For me, hitting 300 pounds was the impetus to have the surgery. Somehow, when I was in the 200's (even when it was 299 forever!) I kidded myself that my weight was just a "small problem." Hitting 300 really was what shook me out of my complacency and got me in the surgeon's office. Having said that, I now weight under 200 pounds for the first time since I was a freshman in college, and it feels pretty nice too!

Nothing to be depressed about. You've lost 42 pounds, which is great! As far as my secret, I am pretty much maniacal about managing this. I weigh everything so that I never eat more than 4-5 ounces at any sitting. I have kept a food diary every day since my surgery to make sure that I get my 70 grams of Protein and to keep my daily calories between 1300-1500. The only dessert that I have had since August is sugar free pudding-1/4 cup per day. Other than that, no Cookies, cake, or anything else. I have started running or walking 4-5 days per week. The only "rules" that I have broken are caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol. my doctor told me that I couldn't have any of these after surgery. As far as alcohol, well, I just really like it. I'm on call alot of nights and when I have to be at the hospital overnight, coffee is what gets me through. As far as nicotine, I'm a mostly reformed former smoker who occasionally falls off the wagon (but if Obama does it, so can I?). Bryan

Thanks for the advice about Guiness. You've made me a very, very happy man. Having one right now. :thumbup:

HIPAA Clarification- We have sort of started implying that anyone who knows anything about a person is bound by HIPAA. Not true. HIPAA exists only to prevent heath care professionals from releasing information about patients. Inasmuch as Susan is not functioning as a healthcare provider in her role as a moderator, and inasmuch as ROcky was not her patient, she cannot possibly have violated HIPAA (I have no idea whether she is in healthcare in her day job-doesn't matter). Whether she violated his confidentiality is another matter, but Rocky all but begged us to find out who he was, and he dropped so many clues along the way that it's hard to fault her. And for those who wonder, I am a hospital chaplain, have been for almost ten years, have two masters degrees, and am a board certified chaplain and a national certified counselor. And I do a HIPAA inservice every year as part of continued employment and teach HIPAA to interns and students at my hospital. All this not to toot my own horn, but just to show that I'm not afraid for you to know how I know what I'm talking about.