OH Juli

I agree with Lucy, tell people what you want to tell them, fewer calories in and whole lot more out. As for drinks, I find it easier to just put a glass of water in front of me, though I never touch it. And really most folks are not paying that much attention to what you are eating and drinking. They just don't. I'm pretty open about my experiences, but to date I've only had one person ask me if I had surgery, actually she asked if I had done "something drastic" to lose the weight. I said, I had weight loss surgery. She's a big woman so I felt okay with that...dunno why, I guess if a skinny woman said, did you have WLS I'd be less okay with it....anyway, the woman said she too had surgery so I felt it important to say I had lap-band. She had bypass, lost 150 and stopped losing. I'd say she's still 100 overweight. Which isn't a judgement call, just interesting. Anyway, don't tell anyone anything you don't want to tell them. You can redirect conversations away from yourself if you ask people about themselves.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, my Marchie Buddies! I'm so happy to make resolutions that have to do with working on my house and being a better person in my relationships...well, I suppose that means my house is in bad shape and I neglect the ones I love, so I shouldn't be happy But really what it means is that food and my health are my largest concerns and I am overjoyed about that. Rosi, Try eating bananas or someone said drink pickle juice for leg cramps...I don't know the science behind it or if it's a old wives' tale, but there's a thought.

Kuebel J Change your statement from "I desperately want to reach my goal" to, "I am going to reach my goal" and then do what it takes to reach it. Bada Bing, Bada Boom--you goal will be reached! Happy New Year. I'm off to find the January thread, I'm sure it's out there.

Glad to see you are well and happy! Looking forward to the pictures.

I don't watch it either, so you need to tell us what the dad said....

BG, I hear you about the sugar beast! I ate an ass load of peanut M & M's on the ride home today (which sucked because YOUR state doesn't plow the roads well enough). When I got home I cleaned out all the sugar that may appeal to me, plus other food like real corn chips etc so I won't be tempted. I started the day with a few iced sugar cookies too...after reading your words I so got how you feel. It's freaking crack! I need to go cold turkey, so I will. You've inspired me, thanks. Did I post this? TOSRV - Home This is my ride I'm doing in May. I thought I wasn't going to be able to do it because of my kiddo schedule but I can. I was just told that before that weekend I'll need to do a 75/75 Saturday and Sunday. I'm actually pretty stoked. Looks like I'll be doing 150 right along side you Texans. HP, girl, you know you got the right bike...go back and find your posts about when you shopped for that bike so you can remember how you felt about it. Back to work tomorrow. Woo Hoo. :|

Happy New Year Kids! I'm still at Alison's. Everyone is sick including me. I'm coughing and hacking and allowing people to sleep so here I am on the computer... I know it's 8 am, but Zoe stayed up to ring in the new year with us and she's going to be out for an other hour. Alison is coughing worse than me. Ugh. I have a 5 hour drive later today part of which is in some snow. BTW, BG, we did sled/tube thing yesterday and it was a hoot. Sledding at Echo Valley if you find yourself in western MI. I hate to leave, but I need to get home. I got on a Spinning bike yesterday, and feel it in my ass today. I haven't sat on a bike seat since October, I don't know why I thought I'd be pain free.... Glad to see HP and D poke in your heads. Miss you guys.

Hi Tyanna I'm and OSU patient too. I had Mikami, in March. Nice to meet you.

B, You're kiliing me. OMFG. I'm glad you're alright and have a plan to keep on riding even without your lollies. Ugh. As for my biking news I've signed up to take a two day class (in the evenings) for bike maitenence with the gals I bike with. That's in February and I can't wait. J

My sweetie went on a diet at the same time I got banded. (We don't live together.) And she lost 25-ish pounds to go from 175 to about 150. That was back in the spring and summer. She's now struggling because ten has creeped back on and she's fighting to get them off. It's interesting, because you'd think relating to her struggle for 10 pounds would be difficult for me, but I get it. She get's my struggle too. But we're women, if you haven't figured that out yet, and relating about body issues is easier than between a man and a woman, I think.

Hi Fort Bend Band! I was banded the day after you and I one state to the east, in Columbus Ohio. Please post and post often. We all can use the support of other Marchies. This isn't about a how fast or slow you lose, it's about dealing with food and all it's implications in our lives and sharing that with others. I'm glad to see you here.

B, The best part about losing 45 pounds now is that you won't gain them back. I love the band for that! Congratulations!

I joked at -90 that I lost a Nicole Ritchie. I'm with you about having a dysmorphic body image...it's the same one that let me believe that weighing 300+ was okay. It's a struggle to get ahold of, certainly.

I get my fills standing and with flouro. It's cool to see the underwires of my bra and the hooks, etc in the x-ray. But I digress...while I lay down you can't feel my port so they have me stand. It taks a good bit of manipulating it to get it in the right position to be filled too. Interesting huh?

oops on the waste waist error. Editing is a pain on here.

Being short waisted I like a lower rise jean. Old navy has something between a the waist and low rise. I wear those. And I got new boy short style panties. My old grannie style don't work with those jeans. At the waste jean nearly hit me at my bra line. Well, it feels like that!

Hello people. It's quiet on here today. DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD I miss you.

Hi Katie, Welcome. We're a nice group of people here. Ackimaui, don't let up until you get a call back. You've got to be a pest to get what you want!

not that I don't love and appreciate you, B and TX but where the hell is D, HP, BG and JC? ZZ, you're quiet too. People??????????

Whosya, I'm gonna leave the details to Brandon or Jody because they are the fellas and can better share their experiences... However, everyone has a period of time where you need to just suffer through getting used to the saddle. That's typically less than two weeks if you ride 3 times a week. Sounds like you're doing some overall great working out. Swimming, running and biking??? Do I see a triathelon in your future? :eek:

Jen, You don't need to disclose your banding to anyone at the gym. I don't have any issues with the port. I guess early on doing a leg press when my middle parts were all squished up did I really notice it, but that was before I had lost much... With minus 60 you'll be just fine. :eek:

Dude, those are some sexy bike shoes. And thanks for the nod to the new picture. :eek: I don't change it up that often. Okay well if 3.5 is where you are now how soon before you think you'll hit 4? TX- You're body building as well as riding? How'd I miss that? I'm not body buliding specifically but the non running days I'm working on program that's geared toward serious weight lifting. Some of what I'm doing deadlifts and overhead dumbbell swings, push ups and renegade rows. They are done in succession and rather quickly so the heart rate stays up. The trainer is pretty systematic and has some serious long range goals for weight lifting for us...(that goes back to comment about trainers with their own agendas) It's intense but worth doing for the time being. What are you doing? Are you taking lots of pictures, before, during and after? Your body is going to change considerably and seeing it in pics is very cool! Howdy to the rest of yous guys.

Denise!!!!!!!! I have missed you so much! There's another Denise with some numbers after her name on LBT and everytime I see her name I think it's you and I get all excited, :confused: then I realize I am wrong and I get so sad. I was going to dig out your email address and get intouch because I've missed you so much! Today was my first day back at the school with no kids, no staff. We love it when you all are gone...Really we are jealous as hell of you teachers but try to play it off. Good restriction is the key to this thing. I'm tight in the morning but can eat like a freaking lumber jack come evening! That's annoying! Glad to see you had a good Christmas with no fighting. Ours went well too. Happy, happy, happy.

B, Golly...here are my thoughts off the cuff. Is there a biking group you can join? You'll find the other riders who can improve your game there. And I'd be cautious of a trainer because finding one who meshes perfectly with you might be hard, only because my limited experience is that trainers have a limited knowledge base (like not biking) and often have their own agenda or can't hear what you are looking for. But it doesn't sound like you're going down that road. As for developing aerobic strength on the trainer and endurance on the road I don't see them seperate objectives...but I'm also talking out my ass a bit. Explain yourself more here, could you? What is your one primary goal pertaining to biking?

Julie, You get many well deserved comments on your bravery and willingness to share your experiences. Add my comments to the pile. You’re an amazing human. Kiss your parents for me because they made a fantastic person. I wish I had the vocabulary to really express just how meaningful reading about your journey is for me. Not just because it gives me hope for my future, but because it shows just how caring you are. Instead of telling others what they should do or how yours is the only right way you’ve embodied showing by example just how life transforming (literally and figuratively) lapbanding can be. And though your pictures are amazing and telling and I devour them, your words stick with me more than you might imagine. You’re better than a rock star. You’re just regular with a great heart… Thanks so much, Juli