derbygirl

After years of black knit pants and big bulky sweaters, I'm having a hard time changing my style. As much as I've hated the way I've looked over the years, in a way, I've gotten comfortable. Is anyone else having a hard time letting go of those clothes that are now getting too large? Does anyone know of a website that helps with self-makeovers? :help:

Hey, consider yourself fortunate. Lots of companies aren't covering 1%.

OMG...I never thought about just using broth! I've stayed away from my fondue pot since the surgery, but now I want to get it back out. Thanks for this information! Hey, do you make anything sweet? I miss my chocolate-covered fruit from the fondue pot.

Here's a tip: Squirt some lemon juice on that canned chicken and it takes a lot of the "canned" taste out.

I've made these before. They're a good treat when you need something sweet, but be warned--they're gonna make you THIRSTY! Waiting an hour can be difficult.

I was ready, albeit nervous. But my mother, who was elated I was having the surgery and kept bugging me to have it before I even seriously considered it, was my caretaker for the day. And, she told me afterward that when she walked in and saw me in that gown with IVs that she wanted nothing more than to grab me and get me the heck outta there. That was probably exactly what your wife was going through the first time. I actually had to go back and edit this post because I didn't read far enough to see that you'd gone ahead with the surgery. CONGRATUATIONS!!! :confused:

Hi...me again...I wanted to pass along the name of a book that I read prior to surgery and I found it not only informative, but also fun to read. It's called "The Real Skinny on Weight Loss Surgery" by Julie M. Janeway, Karen J. Sparks and Dr. Randal S. Baker. Janeway and Sparks both had bypass, but they discuss both procedures in detail and their own personal journies. And they're pretty funny. I actually have been meaning to re-read it since the surgery because there is so much information thrown at you once you meet the surgeon that it's hard to remember everything. Good luck with your decision.

How old are you? Have you recently moved? Did you notice it before it got cold? I developed dry skin a few years ago--mainly in the winter months. Never had it when I was younger. I watched a news segment on dry, itchy skin just a month or so ago. They said it's more common in the winter and that people shouldn't take as many showers to help the situation. Well, I'm not going to stop showering, but I can tell you that Cortaid makes a hand lotion that's medicated. You can get it over-the-counter. It works really fast. Oh, but my point is that it's probably not related to the lapband.

Research both options. There are good and bad with both procedures. I, personally, chose lapband due the lower fatality rate, but also because of finances. My insurance did not cover EITHER procedure and the bypass is considerably more. So far I've been very satisfied, and I can tell you that is what most people here are going to say. Those who've had a rough journey aren't going to frequent this type of board, although we all have our ups and downs. Bottom line: Only you can decide. If you really can't decide, ask your family doctor which route he/she thinks you should take.

It seems like every time I update my ticker, it doesn't work the way it did last time. It's so frustrating!!!

When I had my second fill, I noticed a big difference for about a week, then things seemed to loosen up. Until then, I could not eat carbs without a little bit of pain. I've heard that eating too fast can make you sick. Also, you may need to chew more thoroughly. I have leveled off to losing about 10-15 pounds a month, and for some weird reason it always happens in about a week. For weeks I won't lose a thing, and then one day I'm down 3 and the next day 2 and etc. It's weird. But it's made me a little less obsessed about weighing, which is good. Anyway, maybe that's what your body is doing, so don't fret about not losing a pound every couple of days like you might have in the beginning. I don't burp or hiccup like some people talk about. That is often a sign that you're full, but my doc only allows me to eat about 1/2 cup of food per meal, so I never reach that level of fullness. I eat whatever I want, pretty much...just not the same volume as before. My doc recommends low fat, high Protein...and I do make an effort to reach my daily protein goal, but I figure until my weight-loss slows, I'm not going to stay away from carbs. In fact, sometimes it seems that eating carbs causes me to lose more. Perhaps it's the increase in calories/metabolism. I dunno. Anyway, you're doing great! Give that fill a few more days and you'll be back to your old self again. Just take it slow for a few more days. :biggrin1:

Bettina, I am really fat. That's my secret. :nervous

LOL--thank you, I feel better now.

Oh, I finally got it to update....after doing it the exact same way I tried it on the first five failed attempts! :angry

Just toss it. It does sound really annoying, but it's good practice for you to be around the temptation. Sabotage is something we're all going to encounter on this journey. It amazes me that people who love me want me to be unhealthy because it makes them feel better about themselves.

Carol, I had never read your signature line before, and I nearly busted out laughing in the middle of my office here. :biggrin1: Could you please give me any more information you have about the place in Toronto. I always hear about LB patients going to Mexico, but never Canada. Anyone here have the actual LB sugery done in Canada?

Argh...the supporters. That's the thing. You CAN'T COUNT ON THEM to be supportive!! I remember before surgery the counselor asked me who would be there to support me through my weight-loss journey. My answer was basically NOBODY. I have lost significant amounts of weight in the past and been abandoned by jealous friends and even family members. It drove me back to eating every time. And then, guess what? When I regained, those people wanted to be my friend again. That's when I realized that MY ROLE was "The Fat Girl". Everyone was apparently gaging their own bodies and self-worth by comparing themselves to me. So when I lost weight, they suddenly felt bad about themselves and being around me wasn't as fun for them due to their insecurities. As tough as it is to swallow, you (and everyone else here) probably has a friend or two that honestly prefers that you don't lose another pound. It's not their fault--they're not bad people. They just have issues, like everyone does. Of course, it could be that you lost this friend because of some other reason. But my point is that you are doing this ALONE. It's YOUR JOURNEY. Try not to lean on others for support because they may not always be there.

I was told 1/2 cup....forever and always. I am rarely "full" with 1/2 cup. I am satisified though. But if I didn't measure, I would probably eat 3X what I'm supposed to. I don't think I am capable of knowing what "full" is....if I were...would I have ever gotten myself into this position in the first place? Doubtful.

There are a lot of foods where it seems unreasonable to measure with a cup. Is using a food scale the same? With meat, 4 Fluid ounces and 4 ounces on a scale comes out to the same amount but it seems like this wouldn't always hold true. Any thoughts?

MaryKay, you da woman!! I love that post!! And I agree whole-heartedly. Get the heck outta that house!!!

Delta, is this a real program or what your goal is? I need to start moving soon and I'm not sure where to start. Congrats on the big loss!!!

Mine was useless. You'll learn more here.

I don't eat it even though it's one of my favorites. I just can't help myself when I'm around it. I pig out. And I don't chew like I should. So I stay clear.

Totally! The more water the better! :biggrin1:

P.S. You are overdue for a fill. I know because you were banded just about a week after me and I'm overdue for MINE, too!!