carbgrl

Well, I exceeded my original Valentine's goal of 169 but didn't make my second Valentine's Day goal of 159. Although, I'm happy with my progress! Happy Valentine's Day Bandsters!!!! Don't eat to much chocolate!!!!:smile:

Sometimes I miss food. Sometimes at resturants when I see a skinny girl eating a huge hamburger or sandwich, yes, I do feel envious. Sometimes like at Thanksgiving, when everyone was enjoying 2nds and I could barely eat a couple of bites of turkey, I do miss food. BUT, I try to focus on how much healthier I am. How much longer I will live and how much more I will enjoy my life as a thin and healthy person. When it's all said and done, I'm thankful I have the band that will help me to keep the weight off and I won't have to obsess about food as much. I'm thankful it will give me the freedom from obessing about my weight. It will give the gift of only having 1 or 2 sizes in my closet instead of 10 different sizes. I still enjoy eating, just not as much!!!

It's true, you do get better each day. I went back to work after a week but, to be honest, I felt weak and tired for a couple of months. Lean on your friends & family for support and help with the kids. Of course come here too! Hope you feel better quick!

Past couple of months I get really tight during my TOM. I can hardly eat anything. If I try, it I usually vomit. I believe this is fairly common but, what do you do? Just grin and bare it? Wait for it to pass? Any suggestions?

Sorry you're going thru this. Hope you continue to recover and heal! What were your symptoms before they figured out your port was infected? Was the outside of your incision infected? Just curious. Take care,

I have IBS too. I guess you can say I used to have it although, not as severe as you. I would have diarrhea (sorry-TMI), whenever it acted up. Since I've been banded, I haven't really had any problems with it. I think it's a combination of eating less, eating better and maybe because the food is slowed down by the band in the process. Now, I'm the complete opposite, sometimes, I'm constipated which I haven't EVER experienced before. Good luck!

1. Go for a walk. If you have a dog, take him/her with you. Try to really take in everything beautiful outside and shift your focus from food to the pretty flowers you see, the nice houses you see, or the nature that surrounds you. 2. Arts and Crafts. Sew, paint, draw, and create your own masterpiece. You can capture how you are feeling in your drawings. Why not go to your local crafts store and buy something that you've never done before? 3. Play an Instrument. Play the piano, violin, trumpet, or any other instrument that you like. Create a new song or just play by reading the notes of your favorite song. 4. Take a nice, relaxing bath. Create a mood for taking a bath: dim the lights, put on relaxing music, light some candles, close your eyes, and feel calmness take over your whole body. 5. Listen to Music. Put on some Mozart or Beethoven to transport you into a relaxed state of mind. If you do not like classical, put on whatever makes you feel good. Singing out loud also helps to put you in a good mood. 6. Write in a Journal. Write down exactly what you are feeling in your journal. Write about whatever happened that day to make you feel like you want to turn to food. You will feel better once you have your feelings off of your chest. In days to come, you will be able to look back on the times that you didn't give into a binge. 7. Say Affirmations. Say an affirmation out loud and with feeling behind it. Write this affirmation down and post it everywhere you can so that you are always reminded of how you want to be. Put a copy of it on the refrigerator or on the pantry door so you think twice about bingeing. Always try to talk yourself out of the binge. 8. Go for a Drive. Pick up your license and keys and go for a drive. As long as you feel safe, leave all cash and credit cards at home. Try to drive in an area where there is not a lot of temptation for food if you do bring money with you. This will at least make it more difficult to binge. 9. Call a friend or family member. Pick up the phone and call someone that you know you can talk to about how you are feeling. Someone that will encourage you to talk to them until you feel better. It's better to call someone instead of opening up the pantry door to get food. 10. Read a good book. Pick up any kind of uplifting book that you can find. Reading stories about motivating people that went through challenges will provide hope to you. There are many inspirational stories out there. 11. Get on here read & post messages. 12. Go shopping online or in person - start picking out your new SMALLER wardrobe! 13. Exercise. Good luck!

You can also buy a can of black beans (I like Bush's) and mush them up yourself. I add alittle hot sauce, diced onion, tomatoes and little bit of white cheese (mozzarella, provolone, munster...) Yummie!

That's great! Kinda like "Elfing yourself"!!!

Good luck. Let us know how it goes. If they don't fit yet, they will soon!!! Luckily, I still had plenty of clothes from the last time (about 2 years ago) when I was "skinny". AND every size in between.... lol Hopefully, the band will help me keep the weight off this time!!!

I agree. Sounds like you need a slight unfill. Good luck!

Starting size 18/20 Current size 12 I still have about 18 lbs to goal and I need work on toning and building muscle. I'm starting to look deflated!!!

When I reach my goal, my BMI will be 24 point something... barely in the "normal" range but, it's the weight I've I felt the best at. I know anything less people would say I was "too skinny". BTW, I'm slightly more than 5'5. Good luck and congrats on your success!

I'm @ 164. 5lbs to my Valentine's Day goal. I don't think I'll make it by next week but, that's ok. My original goal was 169 and I've passed it!!!

I only told immediate family. People at work are so nosey as it is, I couldn't stand them judging me or their comments.

Congrats on hitting goal!!!! I'm less than 20 lbs away from my goal. : ) Your photos are AMAZING!!! Just curious, how tall are you?

Congrats!!!

Congrats!!!!! I've been snoopy dancing too. I hit a milestone too. Less than 20lbs to goal! WooHoo for both of us.

20 lbs to my goal weight!!!! WooHoo! I'm soo excited. I hope I can get to it before my bandiversary. Then on to the maintenance phase. Which is just as hard or harder than losing to me. Thanks for all the support.

Wish I was closer. I'd love to join a group like that. I'm in the Dallas=Ft. Worth area.

Mimi, I totally agree. I will also give myself a 3 lb range. Anything above that I will be back and on track. In the past, when I've gained alot of weight I attribute most of it due to not weighing myself on a regular basis. Before I knew it, I'd be 50 lbs over weight. It was denial and I would avoid the scale. I can't let myself do that again. I will never be one of those skinny people that don't have to be vigilant and monitor every pound.

Congrats on getting a fill and good luck with the cancer issue. Above all, take care of yourself and focus on being your healthiest self!

HCG is a hormone and this diet has been around for over 50 years. The diet is very strict but, with the HCG you seriously DON'T feel hungry. You can research on the net but, here's a website where I found my doctor. www.truehcgdiet.com.

Sorry to hear about the erosion. Good luck to you both.

I haven't used Alli but, I am using HCG and lost 8 lbs the first week. It does slow down quite a bit after the first week or so but, still faster than the band alone. I just want to hurry up and get to my goal so I can start concentrating on maintaining.