ser123

By the way Silry, I LOVE your quote... If it wasn't for physics and law enforcement I'd be unstoppable. I am going to have to steal that for use elsewhere....

Audree, I don't think you can really keep your hair safe because it is wet even with a swim cap. I am brown right now and have been kind of leery because of the dye. I am normally blond and it doesn't affect my blond color at all, but I swim at most 2 times a week.

silry, Congrats on the loan! Do immediately log in as soon as you find out whether you will accept the loan! When are you planning on doing the surgery? YAY! That is funny about your dog, too, by the way.

That is a very good idea about the birthday, LOL. And it isn't like you are dating him so no reason to distance yourself, as you say. You guys are friends regardless. If you think you need therapy, then by all means GO for it. I don't know how to suggest finding a good therapist though. It isn't something you necessarily ask around for referrals for!

Anyone have any songs they love to groove to while working out? Me: Survivor - Eye of the Tiger Irene Cara - theme song from Flashdance

Deckedout, I love to swim too, but have a hard time making myself when it is cold outside. Brrr! Have you ever thought about entering an event like a Master's swim or something to keep you going? I find that if I am planning to do an event it helps me to stick with it a bit more. I am very bad about doing the weights on my own. I like lifting once I get there but I definitely can find a million excuses. I am very good at riding my bike and running or walking. I have a rec center membership (for the pool) and 2 gym memberships (one by my house and one by my office). Plus I have a treadmill at home and 3 bikes. I have zero excuse, LOL, but can still find 'em.

Audree, Yes I imagine you would do your own thing, as you are one of the most well-researched people on here. I love those Morningstar Farms "soysage" patties. Yum.

Saraincincy, OWIE. Sorry about your stuckage (That word made me smile but I know it made you groan). It is a good lesson to learn. My friend has had gastric bypass and so she gets sick if she eats too much sugar or fat. She had surgery a couple of years ago now, but she said initially she would test things. But she only tested things once, LOL because she would get sick. She told me a lot of people have to learn the hard way what they can and can't eat. I am definitely one of those people (see Taco Bell bean burrito story a week and a half ago... ugh).

As far as therapy goes.... I think therapy is great for people who want to go to therapy. If you are in therapy because someone dragged you there or because someone suggested it, well that may be just a waste of money. I have been to therapy a couple of times. The first time was for me, and because I wanted to go (not for my weight) and it helped tremendously. The second time it wasn't nearly as helpful. I didn't think I had the problem, LOL, but I was trying to save a relationship. So going because you want the other person to change doesn't really work, LOL. Duh.

My thought is if he knows when your birthday is, then you don't have to tell him, especially if you had a conversation about it. If he doesn't do anything for your birthday that will tell you a lot about his interest level. On the other hand, sometimes even when you know someone's birthday, you forget. So maybe in casual conversation with him say something along the lines of, "The people at work are taking me to lunch for my birthday on Tuesday" and then he is reminded but you haven't asked him to do anything. If all he says is Happy Birthday, well then you can distance yourself some.

Has anyone been exercising at all? The first week after the surgery all I did was walk but I walked a lot. Last week I added biking into it since the weather has been nice. I had no problems and was able to go about 9 miles each time. This weekend I started with some jogging. I didn't go very far... more of a jogging and walking for now. But I had no pain. I probably won't swim for a couple more weeks. My incsisions are doing really good but I want to feel like they are totally healed. Does anyone have any exercise goals for the year?

I have been doing pretty good. I have been eating soft foods for the last few days. I don't have a lot of restriction but I DEFINITELY get full a lot faster than I did before. I lost 10lbs immediately following the surgery and then I was getting hungry on the thicker liquids. I gained 5 lbs back but I think I am losing again even though I am eating soft foods now. I think my body had to kind of get used to what the heck I am doing. I am calmed down enough and not weighing myself 300 times a day. I am back to weighing myself once a week. Which I am doing on Fridays because that was when I had the surgery. Overall, I am transitioning into eating and getting back to my normal self.

Hey Audree, I read that gal's email to you. I thought it was interesting but I am not sure it is something I would want to follow. I am not judging her AT ALL because obviously it worked for her and she is very happy with her results. What I found interesting is that she only eats one time a day and basically only eats some Mexican food. I also noted how few calories she was eating. I am not sure that is what I would want to do, epsecially for the long term. I think it is very important to eat several times a day, even if is was only 100 calories at a time. I also think it is important to vary the diet, although some people are totally fine with eating the same thing all the time. What did you think of her plan? Are you planning on following it at all? I hope you are doing good today. I missed you posting yesterday.

yeah, where are these imixes? Let all of us non cool people know how to find those, hopefully with step by step instructions for the computer disabled.

Also, I wanted to amend my previous post about going out and dating someone just to have fun even if they aren't your perfect person..... If you have a bad date, BELIEVE ME, all of your single friends will laugh with you and you will realize even a bad date will give you a lot of mileage. Example: I went on a dinner date with a man. Seemed great, until he kissed me. He licked me around the mouth. EWWWW!!! WTF was he thinking? Example: My best friend went on a date with a man to the zoo. It was over 90* out and he bought a slushie and wouldn't share it with her. Uhhh, okay. Example: My best guy friend went on a date and got up and went to the bathroom. He came back and the girl had ordered a bottle of wine on his tab without asking. Just one example of many of bad dates that make good stories....

Thanks Wootsie! You are making me feel like a .... genius. Don't forget to keep everyone updated on your situation either. I am waiting for the next installment!

I date a lot. I guess I figure almost everyone is worth a free lunch to meet and see if we click. I have a doctorate degree and have gone out with people who work in factories and only a high school education because we clicked. I have dated people shorter than me, taller than me, superskinny (which I don't prefer), fatter. I even once dated a smoker (YUK) because he was exceptionally charming at our lunch date. I guess I think that it doesn't hurt to meet someone, and if you have a good time, just go out with them. I usually end things after about 3 months if I don't think it is going anywhere or if the other person hasn't ended it. Having a good time with someone isn't necessarily getting super serious.

Wootsie, I am like you. I want it IMMEDIATELY. I decided to do the surgery at the beginning of December and had it in the beginning of January. I am very glad that I didn't have to undergo a lot of extensive testing that would have thwarted my plans for lapband domination in 2007. I understand totally where you are at. 13 days left now though, sister.

Kristib, how much weight have you lost total since the band? I am like serious in that I notice that when I lose weight, I plateau every so often before my body kick starts again. It is all about calories in and calories out, so if you are eating less and exercising more it has to come off. Eventually. If you have lost a decent amount of weight, maybe your body is at one of its set points like serious suggested. Another thing is that if you do the same type of exercise routine your body gets used to it, unfortunately. Maybe talk to your trainer about that and see what she/he says about changing up your routine a bit. I swear, if it was easy for us fat people to lose weight, we would all be skinny, wouldn't we? Skinny people seem to try about half as hard and get twice the results, not that I begrudge them that.

serious, If your stylist is also a friend, maybe you should say something to her... although that is a pretty high risk situation and I am not sure I would do that myself. If you do switch my thought is that at some point she is going to ask you about it anyway, either socially or if she sees you at the salon. So you kind of have to decide before you leave what you are going to say when she asks you about it. I think if you avoid it, you are only going to be able to avoid it temporarily anyway. Sometimes it is hard to do business with friends for that reason. I would almost just get a referral from someone else and go to an entirely different shop if I was going to switch. Then you don't have to constantly be worried when you are at the salon that you are going to see her. Do keep us updated with what you decide to do....

I just stopped after the surgery. I need my caffeine and I didn't want to quit, LOL. But I haven't had any since the day before my surgery. To be honest I have thought about it but it is really getting a lot easier now. And it has only been 2 weeks. So to break a pop habit in 2 weeks is pretty good I think. I have had coffee with soy milk since day 4 after surgery. I always get an iced venti sugar free vanilla soy latte from Starbucks. They are only like 170 calories or so and they are very delicious. $4.70 though. If the QT one is anything like Starbucks frozen drinks you are looking at MEGA calories. I would check nutritional content and plan on punting something that was super high in calories.

Lianna, Great results! I am so happy for you and excited for myself! Have you posted any pics in the before and after thread?

Minipearl#2, You aren't supposed to drink pop. If you have air in your stomach it is quite painful. I haven't even thought about cheating on this aspect because I am quite motivated by a fear of pain! I was a big time pop drinker prior to the surgery. I drank diet and I have switched to unsweetened iced tea, which I like a lot better anyway.

Mindysa, I am not Audree either but I had surgery on the same day as Audree! I flew to Mexico on a Friday, had surgery that same day (after all my other testing), flew home on Sunday and went back to work on Monday. I do not have a desk job... I have quite a physical job in fact. While I wasn't doing cartwheels, I was able to do it. I have also been able to walk on the treadmill since 4 days post op with no problems. I can say I am sure we are all in the same boat in terms of weight loss. I am 5"8 and weighed 215 on the day of my surgery. I am a size 16 which some people don't think is that fat. But I know what I look like naked and I am not happy about that. I have tried a ton of diets and I work out all the time. In fact, I have been doing triathlons for the last 3 years. I figure if I work out that much and I am still a fatty no amount of working out is going to make me thinner. It is definitely a FOOD IN problem, not a WORK OUT problem for me. I didn't tell anyone except my 2 best girlfriends. But I just told my sister this week. I am glad I told her and I am glad I waited until post surgery. Good luck to you and stay on the boards. I am so addicted to these boards and reading about everyone's progress. It definitely supports me and motivates me.

HAAA about not needing a full tank of gas to get to crazy! Very sorry about your news but I am sure you will pass the tests. It is only a matter of days for those tests and probably a matter of weeks before your surgery. Once you get the surgery then you will be able to start off knowing you are in pretty good shape and you are going to be able to make the most of your band in becoming healthier!