cmmcguire66

I am exactly where you are right now. Soooo discouraged. It's kind of a catch 22 for me. I am depressed by the way my body looks from the weight loss (had lost as much as 92, gained 20 back) and my arms, breasts and stomach look hideous. I am newly single and have been dating, but get so self conscious when a man sees me naked. So, I revert to my old comforting tools: crunchy salty things and sweets. Ben & Jerry's goes down real easy. My insurance won't cover a nutritionist unless I am diabetic, which I am not. I feel like I need some kind of guidance and support to get back on track. I wish you well on your journey back, and please keep us posted on your new progress. We all need some encouragement from time to time.

Have any of you ladies felt the need to have laser hair removal in the pubic area because of a saggy stomach? I shave, use cream hair removers, and use an electric razor, all because the itching drives me crazy from the stomach hangover! I tried waxing once, and it was too painful. Also, I find that I have a lot of stretch marks, even on the mons, and it makes for a more sensitive area to work with. I have thought about getting laser hair removal, but frankly would be very embarassed since they would need to "lift" the sagging tummy to get to where I really need it. Also, has anyone ever tried to get the hair OUT of the lips of the vagina? All my hair removal efforts leave hair behind, and that just drives me nuts. When I have my period, I feel so much cleaner and fresh smelling when I have a relatively hair-free area to work with. I appreciate any thoughts. CM

I am here to chat, talk, lean on, cry to, etc. If you live on LI or in Queens, we can easily get together. I have been banded 14 months. Send me a message and let's work through this together.

I have recently returned to NY and would love to join this group! Just what I need...

So, I am newly single since my husband found an old girlfriend, and I am ready to re-enter the dating scene. The problem is, my body is melting and I am very, very self conscious. I am a very sexual person, and enjoy a very healthy sex life (or I would like to again) but the thought of being naked in front of a new person makes me want to scream. I am down about 60 lbs., and everything just went South immediately. I am still pretty far from plastic surgery time, but I will explode if I don't "get some" soon. I just don't know if I can take my clothes off in front of a new man without feeling disgusted. Any thoughts, ladies?

I am newly single and VERY self conscious about my "melting body syndrome" with skin hanging loose. How do you men deal with this in your own personal experience? I am scared to death that some man might want to see me naked, and it's not pretty. Do men feel this self conscious? My ex-husband didn't seem to mind because he saw me as it was happening, so it wasn't like he got this big shock because in clothes I looked like a 7 or 8, but naked I was a 2. Just wanting the male perspective. Thanks, guys.

Hi and congrats on your weight loss! Do you date woman a little older?

Hi all. 42 year old newly single woman here. Banded in July 08 in West Palm Beach, FL. Just moving back to NY after 8 year absence. Would love to meet other Banded singles. Living on LI. Not afraid to cross the Nassau County border.

Does anyone know if there is a way to get ins. to pay for a tummy tuck if you have fibroids removed? As long as they're in there . . .

I was filled on Wed., which was my 4th fill. The doctor had a bit of trouble finding the port, and had to "dig around" in there. It hurt then, and it hurts now. I have a quarter-sized bullseye/bruise in the middle of my abdomen. Has anyone else had their port move up after time (been 6 months for me) and the dr. had to search for it? It used to be right above my incision scar, and now he "hit me" about an inch above that. I know he stitched it into place at the time of surgery.

I'm just feeling sorry for myself with this one. It took me 1.5 hours to find a restaurant for lunch today. No one seemed to have anything that I could eat after getting a fill just 3 days ago. Then, the DH lets me know he screwed up the reservations for our anniversary dinner which is tomorrow. How can I get the family and others to understand that I can't just pick up and go wherever THEY want? If I know that a certain restaurant has something on the menu that works for me, then that is where I need to go. I am not nearly as flexible as I used to be. Plus, no one can really cook for me, so I end up making 2 meals a night. Just once, I want a meal to be no big deal for me. Thanks for the outlet to rant.

See, here was the deal: I've been feeling sorry for myself because my body is melting, I feel unattractive, and I left the plans in his lap. He was going to make reservations at an exclusive restaurant that we both love, and that I haven't been to since being banded 6 months ago. I really wanted him to do SOMETHING to make me feel special: ask for a sugar free dessert, have a rose waiting for me, something. I knew I could get an appetizer and eat some of his swordfish, which is one thing they are known for. I, in turn, planned for some special surprises AFTER dinner. I bought a new dress, under garments, etc. For me to shop right now is a huge deal. I hate my odd size, nothing fits right, and I am recently unemployed. We have a gift card for this restaurant. He had 2 weeks to make reservations, he waited until today, and it all fell apart. Now I feel even worse than I did. I just needed someone to take care of me for a change, and make me and my needs important. So, now we are doing nothing, I lost the babysitter to his nastiness, and am becoming more bitter. It's a pity party to the extreme. It really is the first one I've had since being banded. I am done whining now.

Does anyone else have this problem? My stomach droops from 3 babies, and I am losing weight faster in my legs and butt than in my abdomen. So, my waist has gone from a 24 to a snug 20, but my legs and butt are a 16/18/XL! I have actually started buying maternity pants and shorts because at least they git better. But, it is a little humiliating. Some of the clothes don't look maternity, but some definitely do.

Mine waited until the next day to hurt, and now it's all kinds of pretty colors.

I actually saw an IMPROVEMENT in my periods. They are less heavy and last slightly less time than before surgery.

I have the added headache of being under dental construction, so chewing is difficult. I can't do most beef, salad, pasta and bread are evil to me, I won't even get egg salad or tuna with celery in it (never been a fan of celery, but now it is a definite no-no) and I sometimes have trouble with fish. My food must be moist - I always ask for a side of low fat dressing, salsa, marinara or the like to dip my food. Oddly enough, my episodes fo getting food stuck usually happen when I need a fill. Strange, huh?

I have never been able to swallow pills, and now with the band, I am finding more and more alternatives. My migraine meds dissolve under my tongue, as does my anti-anxiety med. I got chewable baby aspirin, and liquid Tylenol. I take chewable vitamins, iron, calcium, and now papaya enzymes and there is a new item on the market called Nauzene which is a chewable anti-nausea aid. I have owned a pill splitter/crusher my whole adult life, and always ask the dr. if the pills can be crushed and or chewed.

I cook the oatmeal with skim milk instead of water. I actually prefer granulated oat bran. It is like cream of wheat (or Farina) and it is a nice consistency in the morning when I am especially tight. I do a combo of Cream of Wheat and Oat Bran, cooked in skim milk and with a drizzle of Cracker Barrel sugar free syrup. Yummy and band friendly when you can't handle ANYTHING solid in the morning!

I am in agreement with the others that have said if you go through all the trouble and pain to do this, you tend to be more motivated. Also, as the wight comes off, you are just able to move easier, so fitness comes easier as well. You will hit snags and bumps in the road, but once you start buying smaller clothes and people NOTICE your weight loss, you are inspired to keep going. Plus, the PBing is a beast!

I go to Publix (I think it's only a FL chain) but you should be able to get some of those things in Winn Dixie. And yes, Walmart sucks as supermarkets go. I agree.

If you want convenience, the deli section of my supermarket has a whole "buffet" of take and go lunch items for people like us: Hard boiled eggs Hummus Spinach & artichoke dip Cheese sticks, cubes, balls Chef's salad Sliced ham, turkey, roast beef Sliced cheese Tuna, chicken, ham salad Chicken wings Soup Then, swing over to the dairy case: Yogurt (go for Greek - higher in protein) Soy yogurt Cottage cheese Dips (get some veggies - or soy crisps are even better) Cheese spreads & crackers In the regular grocery section: Single servings size of Cream of Wheat and or Oatmeal (if you make it with milk and not water, it's got a lot of protien, and the COW has iron and fiber, Oatmeal the fiber) Tuna and chicken salad kits Peanut butter (Jif makes single serving size containers) and crackers Single serving of light ranch dressing (all my food is dipped and moist) Soup Cereal & milk (Parmalat) Nuts, nuts, nuts (always have them with me) I bought a whole box of those little plastic cups that you get dippping sauce in at restaurants, with their lids, and take a lot of my own stuff with me.

I think the thought process behind going to liquids and then mushies for a day is to "give it a rest." I know myself, I get tense and worry about PBing when I am in a cycle where it happens a lot. So, backing off food for a day calms me down, gives me a chance to heal, and then I am not only ready for food, but I am much more conscious (sp?) of it. As for your acid reflux, before the surgery I religiously took Pepcid AC - one in the morning and one at night before dinner. Now I don't need them, but always carry them just in case. Several posters suggested papaya enzymes, and I bought some to give them a try. I have only used them in extreme cases, and they seem to work. I can see where one might be tempted to use them in order to eat more than you should. For now, I have only chewed them when I took that one bite too many that would result in a PB.

I seem to go in spurts. Lately, I have not been exercising (class ended until January) and I have been drinking a lot less water during the day. Also, hot liquids work very well to loosen me up, but I haven't been having those beyond my morning decaf. I got a dental bridge 1 week ago, and chewing has been very difficult. Put all that together, and it spells disaster! I have PBd consistently for the last 2 days. I came on here tonight for some advice, and I am happy to say I found it here. I will be doing liquids tomorrow, then mushies the next day, then real food. Thanks!

I live in FL where we don't have Trader Joe's yet. I do travel to NY and CA quite a bit, and stock up every time I go. These are the items that I now can't live without from there: TJ chewable Vitamins Almond Meal (use to "bread" fish and chicken, replace up to 1/2 the flour in baking) 50% less salt "just a handful" of nuts - almonds and cashews. I carry them in my purse at all times for the hungries TJ greek style yogurt TJ Chickenless nuggets TJ mini quiche with soy chorizo TJ sliced and TJ slivered dry roasted almonds (I put them in my yogurt for an extra Protein boost) TJ soy crisps and pita chips Low effective carb and sugar free dark chocolate bars (one square melting in my mouth is usually enough) TJ mini goat cheese pizza (an indulgence but man is it good!)

I couldn't start the day without my cup of decaf. It loosens up the band, and makes it possible for me to get through the day's eating. I do sometimes have another hot decaf during the day. I make my own latte by heating up skim milk in the microwave along with a squirt of sugar free white chocolate syrup that is made for coffee (Torani brand, I buy it at World Market.) Then I do 1/2 milk mixture and 1/2 coffee. It makes the coffee higher in Protein. Also, Starbucks has sugar free syrups, and you can get a latte with a scoop of protein. My nutritionist looked it up, and there is about 18g of protein in a sugar free vanilla latte with protein from there.