OH Juli

If I may... Your discipline is the thing you need to measure, not the band. It will work only as well as you will allow it. If you go into this saying I have mostly everything I need to lose weight but I need some support when the tough times happen, the band will work beautifully for you. If you go into this saying I'm going to test the band at every opportunity because that's how I behave, the band, well I'm guessing will not be a good a tool for you. I expect there are other ways of saying this...but it's about you and your committment to transforming your life. Doing something drastic like having an WLS says that you are there on many levels. Framing the use of the band in how it will support you the best way possible will go far in how well you succeed with it. So quick and dirty, you can and will cheat with the band if you want to.

I heart BG, in a totally straight way.

Hi Sisterfriend. Hop on the November 08 site for people who are in the same boat as yourself, well more current to your situation.... Or hop all over there's much to learn on this site and lots to share. Good luck!

Social networking site. Mini blogging. Random thoughts shared with many people... This is a great demystification post on it. BTW, also about my most favorite motivational blogger ever too. Twitter demystified and debunked

Here's something, I went for a pear, peeled of course, instead of something like pretzels or cheese. It's a little slow going down, but yeah, I feel like that's a reasonable choice as far as food goes. As an aside, no desire to hyjack, but anyone twitter?

My world too. Vodka, that's okay, right?

I'm loving the energy and humor on this thread. It's motivational indeed. And I have to say I feel far more sane looking at the rest of you scale additcs. I only get on once in the morning, well sometimes in the evening, and sometimes before and after I poo, but that's not very often, and I'm always naked, I even take my glasses off which means I have to bend over to see the numbers. Good thing I live alone for the most part. I'd hate to walk in on someone naked, bent over the scale, with their butt toward the door....

Barb, Look at you with those amazing goals! You go girl. Take a few minutes and remind yourself of other goals you met head on so you can pull on those past successes to get you through those challenges. You're gonna blow 2009 out of the water! Woot!

I forgot the other fantastic thing I say when I get, "you look great" or some variation on that-- "Thanks, can I tell you I feel amazing!" It takes it off of how you look which is just icky to talk about at times, and focuses on what is really important, how you feel! XO

Rock on naked bandsters. I'm on day two as well. Feeling less of a call for the sugar and other bad for me things. w00t. I ran yesterday too eventhough my iPod was dead. It's charged now and I'm running again this afternoon!

Hi COlady. Aint that some stuff? Who'd a thought it would be like this? But it is. You know, there's is a transformation that's taken place but you're head hasn't caught on just yet. But then again there are some really profound things that remain the same. Good things too. Like you've got the same heart that cares deeply about things you cared about before. And you have the same eyes that reflect all the sweetness you shared before...regardless of the packaging some things don't change and for that we can be happy. But then wow, some things are starteling different. May I suggest that you find a place that's free of distractions and really remember what 300+ pounds was like? Go to a place where other people won't bother you and focus on what walking was like, or for me it's carrying laundry baskets. Climbing the stairs, bathroom stalls that were too small... Remember how it felt then think about how you feel in your body. This isn't about how you look, that will come. But think about how you feel. I'm sure there's a difference you can measure. Good luck.

This reminds me of a joke: "All men want to see women naked, right? Okay men, do you know what you need to do? Move the scale into the living room, because no woman will step on the scale with a stich of clothing on!" Isn't that the truth and my scale is in the coldest room of the house. And who said we can't weigh daily or even 3x a day???

This is going to sound way more snarky than I intend it to be, and basically I'm a nice gal, read my other posts, but what's in the quote is an excuse to not follow through. "Supposed to be fat?" Pish-posh. No, no, no. You are not supposed to be fat. You are supposed to be fit and healthy. If you watched that show and came away with a sense of, "Damn, I've been doing this wrong all along, if I get to 500 pounds I can be hospitalized and disabled and that's the purpose of my life..." then you are supposed to be fat. -disclaimer-I'm not saying the people on the show are supposed to be fat but that they are futher away from getting well than you, Oblong. Look at what you've accomplished so far. You have a date, you have done your research, you have defended your choice to the important people in your life. You know this is a tool that will spark other amazing changes in your life. And really I quoted you because the other piece, the "I fought my body my whole life" spoke to me. I did too. I've joked that my hair and my feet are the only two things where my body didn't disappoint me. But with the band, I own my body now. I do things like run and jump rope. It's freaky and cool and you'll be doing it too. So breath deeply. Freak out all you need to. We're here for you. Girl, you are just weeks away from being banded. It's an amazing thing. and you will do really well.

First of all, take a deep breath. No really. Inhale, exhale. You're fine. You are not a failure. May I suggest you stop looking for the motivation you once had, because that time is in the past. Look for some motivation that fits you today and will work for tomorrow. It might be like what you had before but it could be something new. I too got stuck looking for that "new car smell" that feeling of how it was in the beginning, but the car's not new, it's going to smell different. This isn't the beginning, it's going to be different. That's reasonable, no? So between here and February what can you do that will make you feel a little more at peace? Can you just be at peace with your restriction level, knowing it will change in a few weeks? Can you do things that promote good banding behavior, like drinking Water or exercise and give yourself permission to let the other stuff go until you get that fill? I dare say you probably need to look at all that is good, find one or two things that you can say have been improved since you've been banded and focus on those. Don't worry about what is missing right now. It will come. Good luck.

What everone else said. "Thank you" always works. "I'm working hard, I appreciate you noticed and said something." "How nice of you to notice." If you have not bought new clothing that fits, be prepared because when you do people will really start commenting. It's lovely and part of what you are working on. Being uncomfortable is normal, but it's something you can handle. Also, if you don't like the spot light quickly change the subject, ask the person something about themself so they stop talking about you.

You are wise to research well before being banded yourself and allowing your daughter to be banded. If you haven't considered doing some mental health work along side getting banded it might not be a bad idea, well because I believe there is alway something to learn about ourselves when we go searching. Good luck to you and your daugther.

Hi there all you banded babes! I just caught sight of this thread and while I'm not down for the 5 day pouch test, I've got my reasons, I'm down for getting serious before the first of the year. Today is as good a day as any, right-o? My goal is to get as far away from processed food as possible. No more chemicals and dare I say it, reduce my caffiene. I don't know if I'm setting myself up for failure or if I'm cleansing my body. I just know I feel better when I'm eating better food. So I'm detoxing right along side you all. Why wait until Thursday?! I do believe I'm going to run today as well. E-gad. Run!

Hi my sickly Marchies. I say that with a smile. If it's not one thing it's another, no? I hope you all a good 2009 with improved health and continued weight loss. Gwen, I'm sorry to hear you are struggling with your balance and are having bad effects from eliminating carbs from you diet. Jeni, Ugh, stomach and asthema, and wisdom teeth. How super unfair is that? You'll be getting better soon, I'm sure. Keep your spirits up as best you can through out the duration. You'll be 100% soon. I'm doing what I never thought I'd have to do again and that's make a new committment to eating better at the new year. I thought all that was behind me with the band. However, if I look at it from a positive POV, I'm going from good to better. Not horrible to slightly improved. I really want to remove all processed food from what I eat. The biggest challenge will be the hazelnut creamer from my coffee. Isn't that something? Not candy or Cookies, because as much as I do like me some sugar, I know that can be put aside for long periods of time. The coffee always gets me! Wish me luck. I'm wishing you all a wonderful winter season. XO Juli

Thanks for the update, Kathy. You're really quite amazing at keeping us current. You're enthusiasm is delightful.

Hello Natalie! Has your surgeon given you directions on what you should be eating pre banding? If he/she says no fat, than no fat it is. If not, follow what you are being told. As hard as the next few weeks will be, believe me when I tell you that it will fade into distant memory as you move through the phases of being banded. Welcome to the boards. Nice to meet you.

First of all, big hugs. Isn't losing weight a bear?! Okay, now I want to tell you that it isn't a phase. It's a habit that you'll have to really work on to break. Well it's a habit you'll have to really work on to keep at bay for longer and longer periods of time, because it will sneak up on you here and there. But the good news is you can change the situation in your favor! You recognize you are doing things that are unproductive to your goals. You have tools to do productive things or you can create new tools. They can be a silly as Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz clicking the ruby slippers together saying there's no place like home. But you can say, "There's no place like feeling good about my choices. When I eat crap, I don't feel good. I will not snack." Then you feel good about yourself, and you go and smile in the mirror or do something else that makes you happy. I know I make it sound simple. It's as simple as all that, but as hard as accepting it too. Good luck.