BillOh

First of all, looking at your results, WOW! That is amazing. I started with a goal of 24.0, the medical standard for the top end of normal. Even my WLS surgeon now thinks that would be too low for me. Soa few months ago, I adjusted my goal to what I remember I looked my best at. When I get there I will see what happens.

I thought it was expressed as a percentage of what you needed to lose, that makes sense. 50% is the figure I remembered. I'm sure there are other factors, I was only going from a BMI of 37. I would think a person started 40 and above would have a smaller percentage in that time, but I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

I know there are a lot of them out there, so I hope your question starts a conversation. For me, I'm going to re-evaluate when I reach the goal you see in my signature. I chose this goal (195) as I remember being happy with myself and my weight when I last weighed this. (1988 I think) I've been using the WII fit for awhile and it lists anything over 30.0BMI as obese and anything over 24.0 as overweight. Boy it sure is nice not to hear that little animated voice say, "That's obese" For me to get to the top of the normal range I would have to be 183, which i have not been since 1977 I think. Most people I discuss that with say that would be too thin. I'm not sure what I will do when I hit my current goal. I will probably make it while the weather is warm, but maintaining might be harder when it turns cold again. (But I lost my first half without excercise from Dec-Feb.) I don't know, as you can tell I'm uncertain, I'll watch and see how this devolops.

Speaking as a man, I don't think men mature till at least 35 :tongue_smilie:. Now, its easy to look at your picture and see why he finds you attractive, but he isn't thinking long term. My wife and I both went through this. I didn't love her any less, and still found her attractive when she was your weight, but now I know I will have her around a lot longer. At our age, that becomes more important. As for your need to alter yourself, that is just what he is doing at the gym.

As for the shoe :tongue_smilie: go to a shoe store and get fitted. I found out for years I had been buying the wrong size for years and it caused me problems. I am partial to New Balance brand, though I've had good luck with Brooks.

While I had never heard of walking the 1/2 or full marathon until this thread, the above I've found to be true for the 5 and 10k runs I have entered. At the last one, there was a group with a display recruiting people to work out with them for just such an event, so they are out there.

I'm pleased to say both my wife and I did new personal best in the 5k on the 4th. Partying later that day kept me from "onederland" but its coming soon. Oh, yea, signed up for #6 for 7/18. Its getting addictive, limiting myself to one every 2 weeks. Having one on the schedule helps me stay motivated, which will help later this week when the heat and humidity return.

I have never heard of a walking one, at a pace of 4mph, they would have to keep the course open for 3-6 hours. I'll look forward to hearing about it if you do. I am going to plan on the 1/2 marathon running for 2010.

My doctor won't do a fill until 6-8 weeks post op.

I allowed myself once a week when Pepsi-throwback was out. Now I'm back to none. If I find myself in Mexico I may pick up a coke on occasion, but I'm basically back to none.

I'm definitely in the home stretch and my loss has slowed down as expected. In the short term it seems frustrating, but when I get on the WII fit, I can easily chart the last 6 months and it makes a nice line dropping toward goal. Recently I've been losing about .5lb/week. Seem frustrating, but a month later it seems worth it. However, I recently had a traumatic weekend (won't bore you with the details), but I put 4lbs on that weekend. 3 weeks later I'm back to my low and hope to start moving that graph again.

5k # 5 this weekend. I'm lucky to live in a big enough metro area I could find one every week if I wanted to. We have been doing one every other weekend.

As far as the 2nd half of that, I'm really proud of the 5k and 10ks I have run (another 7/4) As for the first half of that, I don't know, I was definitely a stress eater, not sure how I beat that with all the stress I have now. Just staying active in as many ways as possible I guess, I also tend to eat when I am bored.

If you don't get any answers, take a look a little down the forums menu list. I know many people, including myself, don't see the long list of special forums here until they have been here awhile. There is one for each area, and you can go to the Florida group and find several subgroups for areas inside Florida.

I agree with all the replies you have had. BTW, I am near goal with only 2.5cc in a 10cc band.

When this comes up, I like to mention that there is a Chinese Buffet near me that the kids price is 50 cents per year old That would mean 25 dollars for me.

Many restaurants also have a senior menu that you can order off of, this is typically healthier and smaller portions. Bob Evans comes to mind.

PS, the band works better for Browns fans.

What does your doctor say? My wife went bypass and I went band. We have both been very sucessful. I had less to lose.

I did have one MGD64 that I drank slowly.

Yes, in most cases that I am aware of. The one reply up several from mine that started mentioning pillows, gasx strips, could have been written by my wife, it made a lot of sense.

I haven't read all your replies yet, but does she have any classes scheduled as required by her program before the surgery? My wife had 4 classes and they recommended bringing your spouse to the last one for just this type of discussion. It helped me make the decision to go ahead as well.

Your observation is correct on what people here have to say. I think many doctors go by their own experience. Mine is one of the most conservative and waited 8 weeks. Others get some in the operating room. I think my doctor felt that having the swelling and port stitching fully healed lessens the chances of the band slipping or other complications. (This is from the memory of a man who admittedly has none :thumbup: )

Initally they don't want you to eat uncooked vegtables or fruit because of risk of bacterial infection. Banannas are an exception since they are sealed in their skin and that can be peeled away.