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All of my attempts at weight loss have been in good faith and with, what I thought, was a fairly educated mind about how to do it - yet I always failed. What I didn't do, until I was getting ready for WLS, is to address the emotional part of HOW I GOT to 330 pounds. I mean, how does that happen to someone? How can I be college educated, seemingly successful in other areas of my life and be squarly on a path to an early grave at my "own doing"? I had never really let go of my ego. I always had that bargaining voice in my head that rationalized and minimized dieting and weight loss. What this site did was to help me see that I AM NOT ALONE! There was power in that for me. I can't explain why, it just was. My parents are both alcoholics. My mom has 30+ years of sobriety and has dedicated her adult life to helping others with addiction. My dad has never gotten free from his addiction. I was exposed to the tennant of AA and the 12 steps a long time ago. As a teen, the foundations were laid but I NEVER really embraced the concept of accountability. I think this surgery MAKES me be accountable. It also gives me a control I have never experienced. That concept of "control" is one major difference between food and alcohol addiction. It is not a one size fits all. It's not like there is a perfect recipe for how to be successful in this BUT there are similarities of how people become successful. For an alcoholic, you don't go to bars, you don't take the first sip. For a food addict, it's not as simple. But there are lifestyle changes that support my goals. Again, I had NEVER, EVER considered the emotional side of weight loss (except for attending one, solitary OA meeting at age 23 in which I was so full of shame I could never go back). This time, at 45 and in a very different place in life, I was able to say "I am a food addict and the data (weighing 325+ pounds) supports that. I can't run from it." And all of that self realization brought a huge amount of shame in the beginning. I am coming up on my one year anniversary for my first doctor appointment (mid August). It's gotten easier to think about my failures in the past without shame. It's still there but it's less and less. I do know that if I get too far away from this site, the voices in my brain that tell me "it's okay to cheat today" start to creep back. This site, belonging to a community, helps me stay focused and accountable. I am far from perfect (I ate a half piece of cake yesterday) but I have come so far. People tell me how great I look and I minimize it. Not because I am not proud of myself, but because it doens't support success. When I say I have so far to go, they say "but you've come so far you should be proud". I have started explaining to people that I can't "celebrate" in the same sense of before. Celebrating tells my brain that it's ok to reward myself with an extra calorie or two or two hundred. It's a slippery slope and always will be. I still have a LONG way to go to get to a goal of "normal". The hardest work lies ahead. It scares me but I have some tools for success and I am going to keep coming back here checking in and being accountable. Thanks to all who commented - it helps keep us going!

As of yesterday, I have lost 100 pounds. YEA! (cue happy music to start playing loudly) Now, to lose the last 18 pounds. My target is to be done in January of 2012. I started my preop diet on February 9th of this year, and had surgery February 22nd with Dr. Nicholson in Dallas, TX. My surgery went extremely well. I had no complications and went home after one night in the hospital. My recovery went smoothly. I had no trouble drinking fluids or finding a Protein I could tolerate. Didn't have any vomiting once I got home. Didn't need much pain medicine at all - took a total of two or three pills after I left the hospital. Went back to work three weeks after surgery - I had to wait for my three weeks check-up before I could get my doctor's clearance. I have a two hour drive to the office, and the doctor was concerned about me being in a car for that long that soon. I had to stop and walk around for 5 minutes or so after an hour - to help prevent the possibility of clots. Working a twelve hour day (8 hours work, 4 hours driving) was too long at first, so I would stay in a hotel close to the office for three nights a week until I was ready for the 12 hour days. This journey so far has been a major learning experience for me. I am a very organized (obsessive?) person. I had everything mapped out for each day - what I would eat. I tracked calories, protein, carbs and ounces of Fluid. In all my dieting history I had never tracked the grams of protein or carbs in my food - so this was brand new. The other major learning experience was how to deal with life without my old "frenemy" FOOD as my coping mechanism. There are addicts in my family tree (alcohol, recreational pharmaceuticals) and that tendency is within me. Not for drugs or alcohol - why go there when there was food available? (Cocaine couldn't be any more satisfying than brownies.) So I am having to build an entire new relationship with food, and build totally different coping skills for all of the triggers that previously resulted in me choosing to use food inappropriately. I am pleased to report that this effort is going well. But it really is "one day at a time" as the AA folks say. I have to stay 100% conscious of what I am doing. On a lighter note - I have had a blast rediscovering smaller clothes. I am now in 12's and some 14's - and they are petites! Still sounds strange to even say that! I started out is 24 Womens and 3X's. I say "thank God for clothes" as it hides all the sagging wrinkled skin from the weight loss. I am also WAY HEALTHIER than I was. My PCP was talking to me prior to me starting the 6 month preop (which actually took a year for me - insurance issues) about WHEN I would have a heart attack, not IF. My father dropped dead of a massive heart attack when he was about the age I was when I started my preop diet. I had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and sleep apnea (I hated my CPAP machine and wouldn't use it). My joints ached all the time. Now, I am off all blood pressure meds, all cholesterol meds and I no longer have sleep apnea. My last labs looked good - except for borderline anemia (even with iron). That doesn't have anything to do with the sleeve, I have been that way most of my life. The only meds I take now are Vitamins and minerals, acid reducing meds, and hormones. Didn't mean to natter on for so long. Thank all of you on this site for being such a wonderful support for me. You guys are my "AA" - and, believe me, I come here every day to help me stay focused. If I can be of help to anyone here, feel free to PM me - I am happy to return to favor. I posted some before and recent pictures. The picture with the giant guitar is at the Hard Rock in Albuquerque. That was last Thursday - I was on vacation with my 86 year old energizer-bunny mother and my two sisters.

i have struggled so much this year!! we lost my father in law in february to alzheimers. i had my band surgery in may. then in july i lost my only sister. we were twins. she was a recovering alcoholic and was bipolar. it's been very very difficult for me. ok it's been diffcult for everyone who lives in this house. the kiddos weren't dealing well with anything at all so i have them both going to therapy. my youngest has adhd and they wouldn't give him meds without him seeing a physcartic and she suggested he go for therapy. my oldest is angry at everything. my hubby also goes to therapy due to the fact he has anger probs and it's hard for him to cope with it somedays. i suspect his has ptsd and we found out this past week he also has mild sleep apnea. i am seriously dreading the holidays this yr. i was happy we made it through thanksgiving lol. now gearing up for christmas. it's just not in me. i thought decorating would help and i went overboard on lights and garland in this house. we could land a 747 in here lol. but it is very pretty!!! i put on my happy face and smile and it does help- to a point. i figured there are less fortunate people in this would then me and i should just pick myself up and move on. i have my health, my family and i am still alive and breathing. so instead of looking at all the negative in my life i am trying to look at the positive things.Worry is like a rocking chair--it gives you something to do but it doesn't get you anywhere." same this for negativity and feeling blue. sure in the world doesn't get you anywhere...

Have your first alcoholic drink and what was it?

Getting banded is one of the best decisions I've ever made. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. I have not given up alcohol, though I don't ever have martinis anymore because my tolerance is so much lower at this weight that one would do me in for the night! Don't forget to take your measurements and before photos asap. You will want them later, I promise you! Yes -- this does become second nature. And, you can have a life, enjoy good food and wine with the band. In fact, I enjoy food more now because I don't have guilt feelings associated with it and have to feel bad about myself if I eat something that is high in calories. Check out my blog if you have a minute. It will give you a good idea of what it's like being banded, and I have some links in there to other bandster blogs that I really like. I hope that helps! :thumbup: Catherine

Happy birthday! I think others are right and you will be able to eat a little more later on down the road. Everyone heals at their own pace. I already can eat a bite of just about anything, as long as it's not in the morning. food and me are not friends till lunch time. So that allows me to feel pretty normal. Like you, I love eating out and all that goes with that. The San Francisco Bay Area is very food-focused. I eat out a lot. I order an appetizer, or share a main dish with someone else. Only thing I am missing right now is alcohol. But I am willing to wait. Lynda

I eat totally normally, just less. I dont count Protein, I dont focus on protein, I eat carbs, usually Cereal and bread daily, I drink alcohol in moderation and enjoy what I want in moderation when I go out to eat. I basically eat 3 meals a day, no Snacks, that works best for me. I've never drunk a Protein shake and I've never been advised not to drink with meals. Every so often I have a really bad day or week where I eat badly - too much chocolate or Cookies in particular. I write it off and get back on the wagon, I dont wallow in it and go right off the rails. I dont fuss over what there will be to eat wherever I'm going, and I dont obsess over takeing home doggy bags of food I've not finished in a restaurant. So what if I dont eat it all? I just make a decision from what's available wherever I happen to be and yes, sometimes that's even McDonalds! I hate ice cream and sweet drinks so never had to deal with that particular issue. I run for about 45 minutes 4 or 5 times a week and do three fairly tough circuit training sessions a week as well. I've lost 85lb in 18 months which is more than 100% of my excess weight. I'd say its been easy, I really would. It's just been gradual and natural and I've lost my terrible obsession with food and dieting.

Here is why alcohol is really bad when your trying to loose weight. The body uses alcohol as fuel first, and only after all the alcohol is used up does it obtain energy from your fat stores. So basically drinking is stalling your fat-burning process. I got this info directly from "the complete idiot's guide to Glycemic Index Weight Loss". Seems right to me.

I've been banded since Aug and started experimenting with alcohol about 2 months out. Being in grad school, it was nice to be able to go out with friends. A few things to keep in mind: 1) double check with your doctor if it's ok 2) you won't be able to have a lot 3) instead of getting big drinks, ask for shots (or shot versions of your drinks) that way you get the taste of it without the calories or immense amount of liquid. Good luck and have fun!

Dear Pokieism, You ask so many good questions that I'm going to cut and past your questions and then give you very honest answers so I can keep it all straight. Sara - there was a question I wonder if you would answer - were you taking only what you are supposed to of the Alli? I did take more than the recommended doses. I took the dose doctor's prescribe when writing an Orlistat prescription, which is more than the over the counter recommended maximum. Overdoing is a lifetime pattern for me. All things to excess, nothing in moderation. Have you developed any eating disorders? I am addicted to Frozen pineapple on a stick from Dryers. I credit it with the 30 pound weight loss during the last 2 years. I make my main meal of the day lunch and then replace dinner with Dryer's Pineapple Pops. I stopped keeping ice cream in the house 2 years ago and go through 9 boxes of Pineapple pops a week--that is addictive behavior because many times a day I'm grabbing a Pineapple Pop give give my mouth something to do when the people around me are eating meals or when I'm feeling weak and might eat something with fat calories if I didn't keep the pineapple around. Dorrie had a wonderful answer for you. I would say a concern for you from me is def the cheating - because that will set you up to fail. Another serious issue. Crossover replacements for your foodstyle...they are known as addictions. Alcohol, smoking, weed, cutting, and replacement "feeling" (I forget that one - help me out Dorryie!). Yes, in the first 5 years of my band I did develop addictive behavior with wine coolers. The band was tight, and I would skip solid food and drink wine coolers after dinner. I was never a drinker before I got banded and one night I was watching an Oprah after work enjoying my dinner ---a 6-pack of Green Apple Smirnoff's Vodka Coolers. The topic of the show was people who got WLS who developed alcohol, sex, or gambling addictions once food was cut off to them as their go-to addiction. That was probably 2005 and even though I was at my goal weight I knew that Oprah Show was talking about me. I cut myself off from those friendly little bottles cold turkey. Now I may have one or two bottles once a month but that is all. Going to a counselor is OK - but what then - do you actively work on what you have talked about? Do you read on your own? If you were not taking a diet aid, could you maintain your loss? If I was not taking the Alli I could maintain my weight. I credit the Alli (and walking) for the 30 lbs I've lost in the last 2 years. I did go to a counselor for several intense years and I thought our work together was completed. I am going back to her. My nature is mostly that of a loafer, a lazy person who does the minimum required to get by in the world and I make no apologies for it. I know who I am, I like living a lazy life and I don't have kids so I'm not failing a duty to children to teach them by example to work hard. I will always look for the easy way out. But when I want something I will work. When I lost weight I jogged 5 miles per day 3-4 days per week. When I wasn't jogging I was on bike rides with friends in which 200 miles cycled in a day was not uncommon. I loved it, but then had a nasty bike crash while in a pace-line and that wrecked my right knee and ended my cycling career. The esophogeal stretch may be a way to get some of it covered by insurance, even if they will not approve the sleeve. My insurance is happy to pay for the band's removal, but with my behavioral patterns and a BMI of 32 I no longer qualify for WLS as a covered medical procedure. Replace the mochas with a coffee, or warm up and froth a glass of hoodia soy milk in chocolate or a spash of coffee. I go to Peet's Coffee and they make a non-fat, sugar-free mocha that doesn't taste sugar-free. I get a small and that's 250 calories. That is something I enjoy and wil continue to gie myself several times per week. I don't like soy milk, or black coffee, or tea. I have tried and they are not for me. Popscicles are good (Dryer's Frozen Pineapple Chunks on a stick) , Jello too! If you cant get away from alcohol, make a jello shooters, freeze them, and blend them in a blender with some crystal light you have poured into ice cubes. I stopped alcohol in my life because I knew it was becoming a problem in 2004/2005. Get onto My Fit Pal, get to know the site well, it will help you alot. Never heard of it. I'll look into it. Thanks! If you find yourself off the band, still go to therapy, and prepare yourself to do this old-style until your esophagus and tummy can heal - get the original "eat this, not that" book, and feel free to stick around the forum. There is alot discussed here, not all VGS related, and you can build up a healthy bit of knowledge. Notice I did not say yay or nay about whether you should get the sleeve...I cant make that decision. Whatever you go, I hope you work through everything and are well. You misunderstood me. Sorry my words were unclear. I wasn't asking anyone to make the "sleeve after band with esophageal stretching" decision for me. I know that only I and a willing surgeon can do that. I offered my medical history and was asking if anyone in this forum ever got the sleeve after having a band removed due to esophageal stretching, and did it have the desired outcome. I talk like I am telling you what to do - it is just my nature, I only intend them as suggestions... If you don't believe you can find a way out you become the problem. If you believe you can find a way out you have solved the problem. I know that ultimately it is up to me to change my love-relationship with the things I put in my mouth and learn to eat for nutrition rather than comfort. I'm working with a dietician now to do that. But I also want to take advantage of the latest medical procedures to build upon my efforts. My knees are shot and my spine is shot in two places so I live in constant pain and on Oxycontin 24/7. I need to keep working at getting the weight off this body sooner rather than later and this time I'm committed to doing it right with my therapist, my dietician and my personal trainer. But I do also want to know if anyone has a medical history similar to my medical history with the band AND has benefited from an additional, newer procedure. Thanks for your ideas and concerns. I really do appreciate them because you help me develop my own thoughts to a point of greater clarity and you help me see where blind spots in my thinking might cloud my judgement. Sincerely, Sara

A lot really depends on the surgeon that you have. I know a lot of people complain of gas pains, however I had ZERO gas pains after surgery. My surgeon assured me up front that he works very had to get all of the excess gas that they pump in you out before he's done. He also put a drain in for 24 hours which was supposed to help and I felt great. Immediatly after I woke up in recovery I felt nauseous. The nurse was quick to help me out. she gave me some meds for nausua but first she put an alcohol swab on my nose... she said that it would help the nausea and amazing enough... it did. Who knew. I tried it a couple times at home when I had some nausea and it helped then too. I was on a morpine pump for the first day and was allowed to press the button every 10 minutes if I wanted to but to my suprise I probably only used it once an hour. Again, I think that had a lot to do with the surgeon and how good he was. The worst pain that I felt was when I first tried to get out of bed to walk... WOW... It was like my stomach was ripping open. My weight on the incisions really hurt, but I pushed though and it seemed that every time I got up to walk was a little better. I really didn't notice any internal pain until day 3 when my sleeve started "cramping" when I tried to eat or drink or really just about any time it wanted to. I was told that it was normal and would go away... and it did. Day 4 was better and by the middle of week 2 the cramping was all gone. Every day was better and better with the incision pain and I would say that they felt completely better by the end of week 2 post op. Hope this helps, feel free to ask me anything. Gene

My doctor recommends a really low-carb bar from a company called Quest (you can find them by googling "quest bar"). They're DELICIOUS and they do free samples so you can try them before buying. Yummy and great nutrition. 20g Protein, 4g carbs, no sugar alcohols (which upset my tummy). Worth a shot.

I just turned 21 6 months ago and I'm about 6 weeks post op. I was wondering if anyone had tried drinking so soon after surgery? I know your not supposed to drink at least 6 months after surgery, but it seems to be really hard because all of my friends want to go out! Now I'm not talking about anything crazy because I know how alcohol is like pure calories but I was thinking maybe half a glass of wine or something. What are your thoughts?

Vogue, I love Mio and it sounds great to put it on crushed ice! You did great to only gain 2 pounds. We won't be on a cruise, but the all-inclusive resort is a very large property. They have golf cart shuttles to get around, but I intend to walk. It is approximately 1/2 mile from the beach to the restaurants. I believe there are 7 pools, so I can exercise in the Water also. The rooms do have small refrigerators that they provide free beer, water and soft drinks in, but I could take some shakes and put them in there. There is a lot of free alcohol provided in the room also, but not an issue for me as I have never been much of a drinker and have given it up totally now. I would rather eat my calories! Interesting you would mention the chocolate cake. All the best Desserts are chocolate! However, I have found since my sleeve that even one bite of a true chocolate dessert upsets my sleeve terribly. Or perhaps it is more correct to say my intestines are upset. It makes me bloated and miserable. I am not sure why.

HI all. DAy 6 and felling almost human today. A little hard with a get together and I cant eat or drink alcohol. But I got through it and am happy. Energy returning finally only a short nap today. How is everyone else feeling?

We always have friends over... I mean almost every weekend. I buy either special K or Kashi crackers to dip I'm hummus or a home made dip that I know is healthy. Also we usually grill chicken or steak kabobs with veggies and fruit. As for alcohol I'll have flavored vodka with diet cranberry juice ( 5 calories) And just skip dessert;) Have fun!!!

::::: pasting what I wrote on a similar topic:::: With those drink squirt things. ( Mio, etc ) it's easy to have low sugar or sugar free drink fluids all day.... There's free filtered Water on the ship. I mixed a Mio-type drink with seltzer over crushed ice and stayed happy I purchased trial sizes of Protein powder and grabbed milk cartons from the Breakfast station and purchased a $1 from dollar store to use to mix any of that in... If you let them know, Carnival will take out the overpriced water, soda etc from the room fridge and allow you to use to store your medically necessary items. I explained that I needed it to store medicines and food related to my medical condition. No further questions were asked except if I would need receptacle to dispose of needles (like for diabetic injections) I had a few alcoholic drinks. Maybe 3 the entire cruise. You will feel the alcohol faster but it seems to wear off just as fast. ( it really doesn't but our post op bodies trick us into thinking it does ) ... Being mindful of that I didn't drink everyday With most cruises, there are so many opportunities to walk and even more. Water aerobics. Zumba on LIdo deck , the gym. Or just taking the stairs instead of the elevator. I did a LOT of room service. And I had that chocolate cake every night. I came home with less than 2 extra pounds that were well earned with no regrets. That's what vacations are for

It sounds like it is not a good idea for you to be drinking alcohol right now. I love wine and martinis, but my focus is on my health, which is more important than drinking. No judgement, but we all have to recognize our limitations when it comes to post-surgery life. If I never have a glass of wine again, but get back my health and can do the things I want to do physically, it will be totally worth it. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I understand where the OP is coming from. But here's my take on it. My parents had seven children. We all had the same general childhood food options (my father's hunting and vegetable garden and my mother's cooking) and the same access to general child-rearing, medical and philosophical ideological applications. Yet we didn't turn out identically. One was a childhood diabetic. Four became heavy smokers. Two became alcoholics. Six didn't go to college, the seventh got a Ph.D. Two were blonde, one was a redhead, and four were brunettes. Two were tall, two were short, and the rest were of average height. One has a slight / petite build, and the other six are fairly muscular -- two were quite athletic. I was the only one who was overweight during childhood. By the fourth grade I weighed 100 pounds. I was the heaviest girl or boy that year in my class. In high school I weighed 165-170. In college I got up to 185. In my 20s and 30s I finally became "slim," but my weight fluctuated dramatically -- from 120 to 185. By my 40s my highest weight was 205. By my 50s my highest weight was 225. In my 60s my highest weight (just before WLS) was 235. During all those years I dieted "successfully," losing and gaining weight over and over again. And until my siblings hit their late 50s or early 60s I was still the only one of us with any kind of weight problem at all. I don't know all the medical / physiological / psychological reasons that combined to produce the obesity that my sibs didn't suffer from. But very clearly I had challenges they didn't have. I tried my hardest to overcome my overweight. But, in the OP's words, I "failed" to do so. For over 60 years, dramatic diets didn't work. Weight watchers didn't work. Exercise didn't work. Diet pills didn't work. Self-shaming didn't work. Trying harder and harder and over and over again didn't work. Honestly, the only thing, at age 68, that finally worked was becoming so unhealthy that I became more immobilized than I'd ever been. It was crystal clear to me that without some kind of dramatic intervention -- and doing something very different than I'd ever done before -- I would turn into an agoraphobic, chair-bound, miserable person and turn my husband into my caregiver. That was not a future I was willing to accept. That possible future was dire enough to motivate me to have WLS. Thus far, it has turned out to be exactly what I needed. It has been a wonderful success. My knee replacement surgery has been deemed no longer necessary. I can walk 3-4 miles without rest at 3+ miles an hour. I can stand for hours without sitting down. I am no longer agoraphobic. I am satisfied by how much I eat and physically nourished by it. And I am definitely not a failure. I just had not found "the right medicine" to treat and resolve my condition. That's how I'm looking at it -- at least for now.

Hi fellow Portlanders (and others in OR as well!); I've been away for a month due to a family emergency. I had scheduled with Dr. Ortiz in Mexico for May 7 but now r/s for June 5 so in 2 days I start my "pre-op" diet; I'm afraid I've been "loading up" on food for the past month, thinking I'll never eat like this again! Jeez, this food thing is so hard but I'm really looking forward to taking this step. I have been a bit more active on the lapbandforum.com as it relates to those going to Dr. Ortiz since it is his website but I want to stay in touch with you guys since we have a common bond with our locale and some of us going to see Dr. Fitzpatrick. I spoke on the phone with her and she was really nice and helpful. I liked her right away; she is actually a Naturopath which is great in my book anyway. One of the things I noticed is when I drifted away from "you guys in the support group", I went back to bad old habits so I feel this connection is super important to our health and success just like AA can be to the alcoholic. I proved it to myself for sure. So, stay tuned and let's keep in touch. thanks all, Sufina

Me tooooo!! I'm so "not ready" in a way... I'm worried about all of the following: A. My apron tummy B. My boobs C. The skin on my upper thighs D. My love of alcohol E. My love of delicious, rich food F. What if it doesn't work? Will my new body be pretty? Will I be pissed that I can't drink? Will I be pissed that I can't eat? What if I try and screw everything up? Is it worth having the body that I want or should I just let it go? But then again, I really hate that I get winded on stairs and can't tie my own shoes or see parts of my body without hurting myself. It sucks that it has to be this drastic. The other part of me is super excited...

Brace yourself Zannie....there's not a damn thing you can do to stop him from introducing them to her. Not in Texas, anyway. [edit: Oh, that's right! If you can support that she is half crazy then that is your best chance! Especially since she has made threats. Sole custody is very hard to get unless he is a drug addict, alcoholic or otherwise is shown to pose a risk to the children.]

Suzanne, I am so sorry you are going through this. You have been given great advise. How are you doing today? Is your dh with you and are you in counseling? I don't think it has anything to do with your band either, but timing. He may have been a bit selfish thinking it was all about " you" now and then was given this attention at the office. One of the main things to remember that it is very important to take care of YOU! Keep on the "band wagon" and keep your goals at the front of your plan. This will make you stronger for yourself and for your kids. I was married to my first husband that I met in college for 18 years. I wish I had the strength to divorce him when my boys were your kids age. Because when I finally got the courage, they were pre teens and it impacted them A LOT. I feel that they heard and felt the stress in the home which impacted their trust and anxiety. Marriage does not have the same road map for everyone. In my situation, my x dh was an alcoholic. If he was not verbally abusive or sick, I may have stayed. We had been through counseling but if he could not give up drinking, then it was worthless. But my advise to others with children is to try to work it out with counseling, anti-depressents, what ever it takes. I think it is important to try when you have children and have been good together for so long. If you give it your all and it still does not work, then I support leaving. If your dh will not go to counseling( and find the right one, which is hard) and won't give up the gf, then I agree that it is over. An affair within itself does not have to end the relationship, but you do have to put it behind you and not bring it up at every fight, which I am sure is hard. I have a good friend who had older children, maybe college and high school and her husband of 20 plus years cheated. She was devastated. He truly hurt her, like your dh hurt you. Like you, they had been together since HS. They are together, 10 years later and are very strong. When I look at them now when we are out, I can't beleive they went through that, because they are so in love. I told you that story because it can happen if the love is there and the "want". As you lose your wieght you will become more and more emotionally stronger and you will feel the energy and postive parts of your life. You are GREAT:clap2:. Keep in touch.

try to do a half hour of cardio a day,walking,just a half an hour,before or after wk,it will boost ur metabolism,despite the alcohol & make u feel so much better.u can do this.like u said,u didnt go thru all of this to not eventually get healthier & dwn to ur goal.keep networking for a new job.u have got to force yourself to get out or it will only get worse.u can do this.

Hi everybody. I was banded the 23rd. Today has been my hardest day. I have been craving sweets all day and it didn't help that there was a dessert auction at church today. My kids bought some cookies, the no-bake chocolate kind (yum), and I bought my husband a chocolate pecan pie. I have had a bite of both and am fighting not to have another bite. It is so hard because I have been so good but I feel like I could grab a spoon and make myself sick on the pie. Uugghh! I have not had any alcohol and am wanting to wait a little longer. I am 2 and 1/2 weeks post op and I can eat chicken, fish, protein shakes, yogurt, fresh fruit and veggies. Of course all of this has to be chewed to the consistancy of applesauce and I can only have 1/2 cup 3-4 times a day.I started my post op on Jan 9th and so far I have lost 26 lbs - 12 before surgery and 14 since. I get my first fill on the 15th. I hope it gets better for everybody who is struggling. My doctor has a support group once a week for all of his patients. Do you guys have that option. I have been 2x and have really enjoyed all the information that is shared. If you can I highly recommend it.