OH Juli

Thanks for sharing your story and welcome to an authentic life. Coming out late in life has its challenges but also its rewards. Good for you.

Everyone can start over. That's why we go to bed and wake up in the morning. You got it in you to do it! I hope you get your medical stuff rectified so you can live with the band happily.

Hey, While I'm older than you I returned to school when I got banded. I found the structure of my life really did well for getting my exercise in and eating right. After graduation it all kind of went badly. The good news is you can create structure, maybe not papers that are due, but you can put goals to timeframes and really work at getting back into the system of losing. Good luck..

This is missing Protein so I'll add turkey smoked sausage or something. Came across the recipe in my email. Sweet and Tart Vegetable Stew Serves 6 as a main dish 15 minutes prep time; 30 to 40 minutes stove time The stew keeps 5 days in the refrigerator, and is excellent reheated or at room temperature. Cook to Cook: Cutting the vegetables in the food processor will save time. And if you can, use organic vegetables. The Sauté: Good-tasting extra-virgin olive oil 3 large carrots, peeled and thin sliced 1 small (about 1-1/4 pounds) green cabbage, thin sliced 2 medium to large onions, coarsely chopped 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 5 large garlic cloves, minced Spice Blend: 2 teaspoons ground allspice 1 generous teaspoon each ground coriander and ground ginger 2 tablespoons each sweet paprika and dried basil 2 tablespoons sugar, or more to taste Liquids: 1/3 cup vinegar (red wine or cider vinegar) 1 cup vegetable broth or Water 1 14-ounce can whole tomatoes Water as needed Film the bottom of a straight-sided 12-inch sauté pan with oil and set it over medium-high heat. Once it's hot, add the carrots, cabbage and onions. Sprinkle them with the salt and pepper, and sauté the vegetables for 10 minutes, stirring them often, or until they're browning (this is where the stew's depth comes from). Stir in the garlic, the spices and sugar. Cook until the spices are fragrant, but no more than a minute. Pour the vinegar into the pan and boil it down as you scrape up any brown glaze from the bottom of the pan. When there is no liquid left, stir in the broth or water, and the tomatoes and their juice, crushing them with your hands as they go into the pan. The vegetables should be barely covered with liquid. Add a little water if necessary. Bring the liquid to a gentle simmer, cover the pan, and cook for 10 minutes (check often for sticking), or until the carrots are barely tender. Uncover the pan and turn up the heat so the liquid is at a fast bubble. Cook off the excess liquid, stirring the stew often to protect the vegetables from burning. You want the sauce to be thick and rich tasting with a sweet-tart balance. Add more sugar, vinegar, salt and/or pepper as needed. Serve the stew hot, at room temperature, or reheated.

I'm back on the boards after along while. I see myself in your post. I eat easy foods instead of what I should. Mostly out of laziness. I know there's not much I can't eat if I take the time and trouble. Seems like the good for me foods take more time and trouble. Like peeling an apple instead of applesauce. But chewing an apple is more exciting than slurpping sauce off a spoon. Good luck, thanks for the shining example.

Find the local running store and have them fit you. You should be prepared to spend an hour there and to jog a little outside, around the building before you buy. They are the only equipment you need for running so they should be the best you can find. I find them for $89-100 when I go. And don't worry about being a novice runners the people in there are so psyched you're trying their sport they'll encourage you all the way.

WOW I just realized that today is my 4 YEAR ANNIVERSARY to getting banded. WOW again. I was in a hurry when I posted earlier so a little more story now. I love my band. I lost quickly and easily with my band. I rarely have had to get adjusted. I lost most my weight and had complete body lift too. That will be two years ago in May. I've also finished two degrees and got kicked in the pants at work. I'm lucky that I have a job still but it was super hard. I think the stress of that had me going to my old comfort-food. I'm up 40 pounds from my lowest and I really need to knock that off again. I'm hoping with the spring I can. Like someone else said, I spent so much time on this site, before, during and for a few years after surgery that I'm surprised I ever left. Everything changes though, right. I hope to hang around here more. This site was so helpful before, I'm sure it will be helpful again.

I could stand to be involved again. I had surgery in 2007. Doing well but need to knock off some weight gain that I put on in the last year. I've had a crazy work-stress year. How is everyone?

Try tying your shoes looser. Tight shoes cause numbness when cycling.

Yeah, I need to show my head back on these boards too. I vastly underrated the amount of support they give me. So woot, let's talk cycling.

Wendy's Chili or a single without the bun. Taco Bell's pintos and cheese was sublime when I first went back to fast food. It's still pretty awesome. Mc D's burgers are too tough and I struggle with chicken, period.

Well Hi everyone. It's been a long while since I've been on here. I'm looking for support and love and all the nice stuff we get from each other on these boards. My life has been full of great and not so great stuff but full of things that have kept my control of food far from the front of my thinking. My weight is up about 20 pounds since I had plastic surgery. In part because I don't exercise 10 hours a week anymore (see the busy life comment above) and also because I've fallen into baked good hell. The love of muffins and Cookies is just horrible. I'm going on a cruise at then first of March. When I get home I'll be going for a fill. Hope you all are well! I've missed you.