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Everything posted by cathgr8
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Hi everyone: Thought I'd post though I'm a little ticked off. I somehow gained 5 pounds, with TOM and needing a fill. I got 1 1/2 back off, but I'm hungry all the time. My fill is scheduled for 3/21. I sold my house (very good news) and am moving back to where my son is going to high school, saving me an hour driving a day and a lot of stress and money. I'm determined to spend that extra time exercising. But first, gotta schedule the movers. Have a Happy St. Patrick's Day!
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I've been noticing very chapped lips and peeling, brittle nails. Is this from less fats, dehydration, or what? I'm trying to get more water in. Any other remedies?
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A thread for Single Bandsters
cathgr8 replied to NewBeginnings2018's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
Jessica, Look out, I re-met my old junior high school boyfriend in November, thinking we had nothing in common, and we fell madly in love. Joan, I'm so happy for you. Let us know how this progresses! -
I'm not making my Valentine's Day goal either. I set it in August, and was really aggressive in coming to that figure, then plateaued for a while before my fill. And I'm losing really slowly this month too. And even with that, I'll be within 5 lbs., so I'm very happy.
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I'm losing on the bottom faster than on top. I've always been pear shaped, but my pants size is 16 now, top size is 18-20. That's not my usual pattern. And though I was a 36 C before putting on the weight years ago, after 77 lbs. lost, I've only gone from a 46 DD to a 44DD. I'm starting to look top heavy, and I'm thinking breast reduction is in the cards. It also took until the last 5-10 lbs before my face really showed a big difference. Maybe it is the high protein diet.
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Thanks for the supportive advice everyone. I have been trying to incorporate all of it - not to beat myself up, also to try to take some breaths and break down what I can do about the things I can control. I also decided to let my man (what's the abbreviation for dear supportive significant other?) in on the situation. It has been a bit of a struggle figuring out how much to say to him all along. He knows about the surgery and the restrictions, not so much about the head struggles. But over this past weekend we visited my parents and he saw all the photo albums, so he knows the score. He was very supportive also, said "Take the advice they give you when you board an airplane. First secure your own oxygen mask before assisting others." I'm pretty sure that's the same advice Barbara465 was giving me in different words. Now I have to figure out how to find an alternate "M&M" for those out of control moments. I keep thinking exercise, but boy is it hard to find the time.
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Hi Junebies, I need some support. I found myself buying a bag if M&M Almonds yesterday (of course I chose that because it had 40 calories less than peanut!). I have been pretty good about following the eating plan, not so good about exercise. I find myself in a very stressful period of my life, and don't want to use food to get me through it. I'm trying to sell my house so I don't have to drive two hours a day getting my son to school and back (which does keep me from exercising regularly), and so I can save some money, also trying to get a new job (my boss is nuts, the atmosphere is intolerable), had an interview Tuesday and waiting to hear. (Imagine starting a new job and having to move at the same time!) My mom has apparently gotten Alzhemer's and my dad is depending completely on me, my daughter is bipolar and calls me hysterical 4 times a week, my son is depressed and seeing a therapist. I need to set boundaries and try to focus so that I don't backslide. Luckily things are good with my new relationship, but we only see each other every other weekend, and in between it's like we're lovesick teenagers. I'm feeling swamped.
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I admit it. I'm not drinking all my water anymore either. I'm going to make a bigger effort from now on. We got one of those one cup coffee machines at work, and its so easy just to drink that.
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Hey, I forgot to notice my hair isn't falling out anymore either. It's pretty thin for me, but luckily I had thick hair to begin with. I think I also have the problem of activity level being too low. The past four days , I have gone for a walk, trying to keep this latest slowdown from lingering too long. I rode my November fill as long as I could without exercising. That's my biggest weak point. And even here in southern California, it's been too cold to walk before or after work this week. I went to the mall three times. Yesterday my son had an appointment mid-day, so I walked while I waited for him. I have to get to where I have a regular routine!
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I agree about the plateaus, Pinky. I lost 15 pounds between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Only now that I'm slowing way down again, my size has dropped and I'm getting comments from everyone noticing the shrinkage.
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In one sentence: The best thing I've experienced since being banded is....
cathgr8 replied to Lap_dancer's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
Having the confidence to face meeting a man I haven't seen since I was 14, and then falling in love with him, and believing he could fall in love with me. -
Happy Holidays Junebies! I also had a slip yesterday. Someone delivered a big basket full of cookies to my office, and by the end of the day I had eaten four. They just go right on through the band. I was very disappointed in myself, but then I had to say, this is a new way of living. There will be slips along the way, especially at times like the holidays, but the slips aren't as big (heck, last year four cookies would have been a warm-up) and I know I can get back on the plan again. Going to focus on hard protein today. My son has two friends spending the day, so I brought the basket home, gave it to him and told him there'd better not be any cookies left in there when I get home!
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Going on my first date in a very longggg time need some support....
cathgr8 replied to apinksoprano's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
Hey, I wish you luck, and I say "Go for it!" I am less than halfway to goal, alone for years. I got an email in October from my first BF ever, after 36 years. I was thin then. I thought ahd thought about whether to meet him. I was sure my size would turn him right off. I wrote him and mentioned I had weight loss surgery; he made no response to the comment, but he still wanted to meet. So I did it. And he wasn't turned off - to the contrary, he loves that I'm different, that I have scars and wrinkles, he loves every darn thing about me. If you never take a risk, you'll never find anything you care about losing. If it doesn't work with this one, don't give up. And don't wait around. Live now. -
Barbara, Add mine to the prayers for you and for David.
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I went to get my nails done last night, and I was seated in front of a full length mirror, you know the ones you usually avoid ever looking into? Well after about 15 minutes, I ventured a peek. Damn if I didn't recognize that person. She looked like me, not a fat lady. What a great realization!
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Hi Junebees, It looks like I found the perfect mixture of fill and lovesickness. I recommend it. I am now 3 pounds under my Christmas goal, and lost 5 pounds this week. That's 15 since the fill 3 weeks ago, 10 since meeting my new/old honey. He's coming to visit me Thursday - Sunday, which should be good for my weight loss, because I have no appetitite when I'm with him. Now I really have to buckle down Monday and start exercising! Best of luck to those having struggles. Infatuation wears off, so I'm sure my plateau is coming!
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A thread for Single Bandsters
cathgr8 replied to NewBeginnings2018's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
Wootsie, Thank you for your wonderful wishes. Read the book "Lost & Found Lovers' by Nancy Kalish. She has done a study and finds this is the most successful kind of relationship. I'm going with that! I'm not going anywhere. Having discussed it a lot, we both feel that the surgery was part of a series of events in both our lives where we were unconsciously getting ready for the moment we reconnected. That's a good reason to do somethng for yourself! I wsh you success and happiness and a great day! -
Great job Pinky and Barbara! I do think we're all getting to a better spot. I think my first fill is going to be plenty for awhile. My only problem is I'm spending all night instant messaging with my old/new honey (and yes I do work full time). I get powerfully hungry at about 1 a.m., but I don't want to add any more calories. I just keep imagining the hunger pangs are the outward sign of incinerating fat cells!
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A thread for Single Bandsters
cathgr8 replied to NewBeginnings2018's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
OK, so it's only been a week, but I want all of you to know that I am completely smitten with my old flame, and he is also smitten with me. I thank the band and the work I've done on myself in the past year. Without those things, I'd probably never have agreed to meet him, I'd have projected myself poorly if I had, and I never would have exposed myself to rejection by writing to tell him how I was feeling. I broke up with him all those years ago, so I don't know if he'd have ever gotten up the courage. We have decided to take it very slow, as he lives and works far away, and I still have a 15 year old at home. But from the content of our conversations, I have a feeling it isn't going to be long before that resolve becomes difficult to stick with. I actually went to see my therapist, because I thought maybe I was crazy to feel like this so quickly. He advised me that I would be crazy if I didn't grab this chance and go with my feelings. Have faith and do the work...miracles happen. -
As of this morning, I have lost 10 pounds since my fill two weeks ago, and I passed my mini goal - for the first time in history, I weight less than the weight listed on my Driver's License!! Woo Hoo!!
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I went to see my therapist today, he's been with me for years, and helped me make the decision to have the surgery, but I haven't seen him since. He was so excited for me, he just kept telling me how skinny I am - ha! It felt so great! Then tonight, I went out wih a girlfriend, who said "Wow! you suddenly look so much thinner!" I am truly tight with this fill. I'd say I can only eat half as much, and I'm rarely hungry. So the 8 pounds I've lost in the ten days since then is making a big difference in my appearance.
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My doctor decides based on how much weight I've lost. He put off my first fill because my loss was really fast. When it slowed down he gave me a small fill (1 cc), and said if it wasn't tight enough to come back in four weeks for another 1/2cc. He did ask me about my restiction level before he decided on a small fill. I'm glad, because after about 10 days, the fill kicked in, and I have had to force myself to eat to get in 800 calories since Thursday. No slimes or PB's; 2 golf balls. I'm just not hungry. In 2 weeks since that fill, I've lost 8 lbs. I trust him.
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A thread for Single Bandsters
cathgr8 replied to NewBeginnings2018's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
Thanks Ladydi, I have been working on myself so much it seems to be paying off. I got up all my courage and wrote my old flame an email, just saying life is too short, so I'll tell you what I'm feeling. If you want to take it further, I'm game. He spent the entire day composing the most beautiful response, and that's just what we're going to do. If it doesn't work out, at least I've made a huge leap forward. Fingers crossed, -
A thread for Single Bandsters
cathgr8 replied to NewBeginnings2018's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
I've been widowed for 14 years, used food to medicate the grief, and my weight to avoid relationships while I raised my kids. Well, I finally had a date yesterday - with my very first boyfriend, whom I haven't seen or heard from in 36 years. He found me on the internet, lives 300 miles away. I can't express how wonderful it was - he remembered everything about me, and told me what a huge impact I had on the man he has become. Wow. But I'm a bit afraid, he has been fighting prostate cancer, and has been divorced for only a short time, and I still have no confidence about my appearance. I'm doing my best though. He's coming back in 2 weeks and we're seeing each other again... -
Hi guys, Glad we all made it through Thanksgiving temptations. I could hardly eat, and have lost three pounds this week. I'm either having a delayed reaction to my fill last week, or my new middle aged crush is curtailing my appetite. I had a great time on my date yesterday, he's coming back to town in 2 weeks, and I'm seeing him again! Thanks for the support.