Search the Community

if you blame beer consumption, please discuss the before and after surgery effects

Let me give you an example of what happened to me - I went from this (June of 2006 to January 2007) to that. See the difference? I was at my weight that I am now in June, and by November, I went from 195 to 248! Man, talk about a lot of weight gain in a short period. And notice the difference in hair and makeup.

:happybday2: :happybday2: :happybday2: HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHERRY!!!!!!!! :happybday2: :happybday2: :happybday2: Hope your special day is happy, and full of great surprises! A wonderful person like you just deserves a wonderful day the way I see it!!! In fact I think all of you deserve to have a great day. It is supposed to be windy here again. I am so sick of wind! It messes with me wanting to get outside and exercise. I am renewing my efforts. I figure with Spring, and Easter, it is time for new beginings---so it is back to basics for me. Like Cindy the scale is playing games with me, I see the infamous 199 and by the next day it is 201 again---and I have had enough!!! Going to try to work it off, watch what I eat a bit (not gonna go totally nutso here!!!), and see if I can do it with this fill. I don't feel hungry, I am begining to eat just because I CAN! I hate to chance another fill, and get too tight, and start all the trouble that can lead to. I think in all honesty, my fill will be ok, if I respect the foods I put into it!!! I like being able to eat anything---I do not want restriction that causes me to eliminate foods---so it seems heaven forbid, I may have to pick up my pace here!!! I began Monday, and am now back to seeing 201 on the scale again---it had went up to 203 again. I think one thing I really need to pay attention to is my sodium intake, because I retain water like crazy!!! For the last several years pre banding I took a diuretic as part of my high blood pressure meds, and now, if I eat chinese for instance, it is an instant 4 pound weight gain---which has to be fluid---it goes away quickly---but it sucks seeing the weight go UP! So watching my salt....that's hard! I actually got into a bit of a "discussion" regarding my band, and my SIL with my MIL on the phone last night, and neither of us hung up very happy! She tells me she has a message for me, and the message is (done in a Kindergarten sing song) "Ha ha ha I have lost 80 pounds!" It just struck me in the wrong way!!! So I told her I was glad my SIL had lost weight, I wasn't sure who decided I was against her doing so, but they were wrong, that I would no longer discuss my band, nor my weight loss with either of them, I was sick of her acting like a 5 year old. Of course.....I had to add that no this was not jealousy, I had lost more than 80 pounds, and I would never again tell any of them how much! This is an 80 year old woman telling me what a 58 year old woman said. It has been building, all along for the last year! She had tried making it a competition at first, then she had complications from being too tight, so I had to hear how bad the band was---and amazingly now that she found the right place of restriction, they love the band again---and I am the enemy! The two of them are very close-as I am with my own Mom, but I don't appreciate being made the common denominator for them to pick at---and it has been non stop....little jabs. I know I have to have a TT---I have had a muscle tore loose on the left side of my stomach for many years---courtesy of my ex husband and a well placed boot. And they make non stop comments about how my stomach really needs work, and how atleast the way SHE is losing, is feminine and attractive, as men like broader hips. I would love not to have the issue I do with my stomach---I cannot help how I am built otherwise, I have now and even at my heaviest had slim hips and legs--it is the way my Dads family is built. My DH tells me to make gray hair comments, because she went gray in her late 20's. But I can't do that! Ok I'll quit----thank you for listening, I have been stressing over this! Whew----thanks so much for always being there!!! My Mom went and did her sleep test last night following her problem waking up after her knee surgery. The technician told her she fought sleep all night long, that she would hear back today, that her condition is quite serious! I hate that she had the problem, but I believe it was a blessing in disguise, we had tried to get her to ask about her sleep before, and her worthless PCP blew her off! I am so glad she is going to get help! I am off to lunch with my friend Marie, here soon. She wants a burger at Fudruckers (oh do NOT try to get my 2 yr old granddaughter to say Fudruckers---it ends up a 2 syllable fu'uckers----sounds SOOOO bad!!). I think I can get a salad, or some chicken---and if not, I'll do better tomorrow!!! Everyone take care, will get to personals next time, I used up all my time and space venting---thank you AGAIN!!! Kat

Today is my first year bandiversary! I have lost 173 lbs this year and have gone from a size 28 to a size 14, from super morbidly obese to obese and teetering on the edge of overweight. This is a weird post to write. It feels like emotional homework. For whatever reason, I don't feel like taking inventory of all the things that have changed for me this year -- the new me is so good that I don't want to waste a single second on the time I spent unbanded. Not that they were bad years in every way -- of course not -- it's just that who I am now is who I'm supposed to be. I'm so content and so confident that I've found the long-term solution to my weight management that I don't need to focus on the way things were anymore. Does that make sense? <O:p</O:p<O:p Anyway, for those of you just starting out, I thought I’d give you my top 10's: 10 reasons to get banded:<O:p</O:p <O:p</O:p (1) I lost from 358 to 185 in exactly one year without doing anything I'd consider extraordinary. I'd like to lose 30 or 40 more, but if I don't, who cares. Life in Onederland can't be beat. <O:p</O:p(2) I can travel so much more comfortably. Since I live 10 states from my family, that's a huge deal. I can fly Air Tran and not pay to select my seat ahead of time because if I get stuck in the middle, it simply doesn't matter. I don't live in the world of seatbelt extenders anymore. In fact, I almost like being in the middle seat because I can sit there just as comfortably as anywhere else. (3) food has lost its importance in my life. I don't count the minutes or hours until my next binge. I don't order 2 (or more) Entrees at a "to go" place and come home and eat until I fall asleep. I actually enjoy going to a restaurant or cooking a good meal more now because I still feel good afterwards, since I only eat a reasonable portion for my body. Food doesn't kill the whole night. (4) I fit into life again. I used to walk up 4 blocks to make sure I got a single seat on the bus. Now I don't bother. If I get a double seat on the inside, that's fine too. I fit in a subway seat. I never worry about getting into a friend's car and whether the seatbelt will be comfortable. I don't worry about breaking office chairs our lawn chairs or whether a theater seat will accommodate me. (5) I've found other things that are almost as fun as food. Manicures. Pedicures. New clothes. Haircuts. Even exercise. I didn't do any of those things before. It was too hard to voluntarily look in the mirror. (6) I'm an extrovert. I was always an extrovert, then somewhere along the path of gaining 200 lbs, I became an introvert. Except I wasn't really an introvert, I was a closet extrovert who acted introverted because of the limitations of my size. That's painful and I don't do it anymore. (7) I don't worry about my health on a daily basis. I used to think every little pain was a sign I was about to have a heart attack, whether it was a pain in my arm or a heart palpitation, etc. Now I know I'm healthy. (8) I take no medications. I don't need blood pressure meds. I'm not a walking time-bomb for diabetes. I don't have migraines, lower back pain, or foot pain when I get out of bed in the morning. I have excellent bladder control, even when I sneeze. (9) I'm starting to feel comfortable telling my "story." I didn't tell many people about getting banded. Now I'm more comfortable telling people. I truly don't get bogged down in anyone thinking it's the "easy way out." Anyone who thinks that doesn't understand WLS. And, even if it were the easy way out, who cares? I want the people I care about to have an easy way out of a horrible disease. I don't go out of my way to tell people I have a band, but if I'm asked directly about the weight loss, I don't try to hide it anymore. That feels good. (10) When I daydream about the future, it doesn't make me sad. I'm starting to believe the things I daydream about could actually happen. 10 Things That Helped Me and Might Help You With Your Banding: (1) Just hold your breath and get banded. Quit second-guessing yourself. I second guessed my decision for 3 years of "research" and if I'd just accepted that needing the band is a responsible solution to weight management and isn't a sign of failure, I'd be at goal right now instead of having wasted that time. Yes, I could have lost the weight on my own, as I'd done before, but the band is the only reasonable tool to lose AND keep it off. (2) Once you're banded, quit expecting to lose tons and tons of weight before you get a good fill. Being banded but without a good fill is almost like not being banded. Your cravings won't be dimmed until you're filled. Quit expecting this to be anything other than what it is. Get filled and you'll lose weight. It's frustrating because you just had WLS and it isn't really activated yet, but it will be, so hang in there. (3) Exercise at least a little as soon as you're physically able. Realize this has to be part of your new life in order to lose steadily and maintain for the long term. (4) If you're not losing 1-2 lbs a week, count your calories for a few days or weeks to see where you're going wrong. I happen to believe all weight loss is calories in compared to calories out. Not everyone believes it's exclusively this, but everyone believes it's at least in part this. You don't have to count calories all the time, but if you're frustrated with your progress, it's one way to speed things along. (5) Once you're 4 or 5 months into it, consider finding someone to mentor. It'll help you stay focused on your own journey to help someone else with theirs. (6) Don't worry about sagging skin. You may have some, but it's more attractive than fat, and even if it isn't, if you've lost so much weight that you have sagging skin, think of how much healthier you must be. (7) Don't worry about having to have a revision surgery. Lap band surgery isn't that big of a deal, in terms of surgical recovery for most people. If you have to have a revision, so be it. At least you'll be 100 lbs thinner and having surgery to STAY thinner, not to get thinner. Your recovery will be a ton easier at a lower BMI. (8) Accept the fact that being too tight is not healthy and won't necessarily help you to lose quicker. Get an unfill if you even suspect that need it -- if you suspect it, you really do probably need it. (9) See a therapist as often as you can during the weight loss phase, if you can at all afford it. With very limited exception, there are emotional reasons why we carry extra weight. Even for those with medical reasons for weight gain (PCOS, etc.) there are emotional issues that come up from carrying the weight, even if the emotions themselves were less of a factor in the actual gain. As the weight comes off, you have to deal with those issues or else you might stall until your mind catches up. (10) Quit blaming yourself for being fat. You're a cool person. You're doing something about your weight now. Forgive yourself for not doing something about it before. Just jump on board and do something about it now. There's a whole new world waiting on you. Thank you to all the moderators and members of LBT who have gone through this life changing year with me. You have been my most stable and constant source of support and I am so very grateful.

I don't know why I haven't seen this thread before but anyway... I'm here now. I really need something to get me back on track. The weight is not coming off as fast as I'd like it to and I have been stuck in the same 35# range since Thanksgiving. Do I cheat? Yes, sometimes. But I wanted the band to keep me from cheating or at least give me a punch when I tried to cheat. That is not easy after years and years of bad habits. I wouldn't say it was any one bad habit in particular, it was just negligence. Years went by and I realized one day that I had gained 150# in a space of about 10 years. All that time I did nothing to stop it. I guess I just kept making excuses and ignored the weight gain. It wasn't until health problems started occuring that I decided to do something about it. Now, I'm stuck yet hopeful. Maybe this thread and support from other men will help. I never had a goal weight but I remember a friend years ago told me that if I would just lose 30# she would be all over me 24/7. At that time my weight was the lowest I can remember at 235#. So I think 30# less and I will have my goal weight!

Hi Guys! I live i the UK, but got banded in Belgium on March 28th. A week and a half later I am feeling great! I was 228 pounds before surgery and am now 218 having lost 10 pounds already! A few days ago I had actually lost 13 pounds but have gained a few pounds since I started the mushy stage of my diet. I was not concerned about the weight gain though as I was hardly eating any calories for the first week after surgery. Anyway, I am healing well. I have taken off all my stick bandages and the wounds are healing nicely. I am still getiing a rather numbing pain in my shoulder from time to time. Why is this? Dave

I must say you're right...But being a couch slug was for me when I was sick and not feeling well. I think me spending almost $200 for a new bike was not for nothing. Plus I already know I can do 30 to 45 minutes per day--been there and done that. I have a lot of things pushing me now---dreams, goals that I have to obtain. I was once 315 pounds---I got down to 218 once--but I didn't have the right stuff to keep me there. Now--with the way I feel and all that I have done to get the lap band--I'd have to be a fool to play the couch slug. I am just one Man with 2 small kids. Who do they depend on--me. I came to my final conclusion in November that I had to get off my duff. I lost weight--gained it---lost it--gained it back and more. Now with my new tool--it's more of a confidence factor than anything. Trust me--the minutes last week was just the beginning. I wondered---how did I ride my bike 30 minutes on Wednesday--then go to the Gym for 37 more minutes if my mind was trying to be a couch slug??? Sorry....it will not be that way...

I've lost 100 pounds in 8 months, so it is definitely working for me. Ladies, just remember if you've had PCOS related infertility, that could change with weight loss. On one hand, that could be a blessing. On the other hand, that could bring on quite a surprise. PCOS, for the poster who asked, stands for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. It's name is a bit of a misnomer since it has much more to do with insulin problems than with cysts in the ovaries. Some of the symptoms are: Irregular periods - Nine or fewer menstrual cycles per year may be a sign of PCOS. Bleeding may be heavier than normal. These conditions are caused by a hormone problem, because the ovaries are not working properly and producing hormones that keep the menstrual cycle regular. Infertility - Because women with PCOS don't have regular menstrual cycles, many are unable to get pregnant. With help, women with PCOS can get pregnant, however. A number of infertility treatments are available. (See section on Treatments.) Hirsutism - Hirsutism means excess hair, which can be a difficult symptom for many women. For most women with PCOS, hair in the mustache and beard areas becomes heavier and darker. Masculine hair on the arms and legs and more hair growing in the pubic region, abdomen, chest or back are also possible. This symptom is caused by high levels of male hormones (androgens), as are thinning hair and acne. Thinning hair - Just as heavier hair growth is possible, scalp hair thinning may be present. This is caused by higher levels of androgens. Acne - Acne (pimples and oily skin) can also bother women with PCOS. The acne is usually found around the face (especially along the jaw line), chest, and back. Weight gain - Many women with PCOS gain weight around their middles taking on an apple shape rather than a pear shape. Such weight gain is linked with problems with the proper use of glucose and insulin in the body. Other skin problems - Skin tags, thick lumps of skin that can be as large as raisins, can form and usually are found in the armpits or neck. These can easily be removed. Darkening and thickening of the skin also can occur around the neck, groin, underarms, or skin folds. This condition, called acanthosis nigricans, is a sign of an insulin abnormality. Depression and anxiety - Because of the nature of many of these symptoms, woman may find themselves more anxious or depressed by their appearance, or by their inability to become pregnant.

HI! I just found the board tonight and am glad I did. I am in the process of gathering information for a band. I had not heard of them until about 2-3 months ago while trying to find another "diet" and talking to a friend of mine (who is a nurse). I'm tired of dieting (not to say the bad influences that they have had on my five daughters! with me yo yoing for the last 10 years). The more I read the more I feel this is the best way for me to go. I have fought weight loss/gain/loss/gain problems from the time I was in Jr. High. I lost a bunch of weight just before I met my husband (went from a size 18 to a size 9 in a year) and then got pregnant. I gained 65 pounds with her. That was 21 years ago (she'll be 21 in June). I then waited (and didn't care about my weight gain at that time, I wasn't "too horrible" and besides I had a new baby) two and a half years and got pregnant with my 2nd daughter. I didn't wait between kids, I had four babies in less than 4 years. They are 11 months apart, four times with the exception of the last one who is 18 months from the one just before her. I was losing weight and exercising when I discovered the surprise pregnancy of the last one. From there I have just kept fighting weight. :help: My family history is that of obesity and I lost my mother in 1998 when she was 56 years old. I am now 42 and looking at either facing the facts that I won't live to see all of my grandchildren OR taking ahold of what the obesity has done to my family and fight it like H***. Well, I guess since I'm here, you all know what choice I have made. I think I can say I"m the only one I know of who has GAINED on several of the diets following them to a "T". So trying another one of then at this point is NOT an option. I fight depression, severe osteoarthritis in my feet, knees, back and hip. I have had two knee surgeries on my left knee and one on my right. I have GERD as well as pre-diabetes (which is also another family hand me down!). I am looking for as much info as I can to take to my GP on the 26th of this month. He is a great doctor and I have before brought him information about other medications/ideas and he listens and helps me with either deciding they are good and moving forward or bad and directing me to another source/help. I think he will be happy that I want to take control of my weight and my life! He has been telling me to exercise and eat less. Why is it that people cannot understand that if I could exercise I would? I have a hard time walking long enough to get groceries, but I will say that I REFUSE to ride the little cart and have only used wheelchairs if there is absolutely NO possible way for me to walk. I want to LIVE, LAUGH and ENJOY my up and coming new grand baby and to watch him/her grow up as well as any other's my girls may bless me with. I want to WATCH my girls as they marry, succeed in college and move on with their lives. But I also want to be able to WALK down the aisles as the mother of the bride and NOT roll down it. Thus, I need help! And at this point the Band is the source of what I feel will keep me on the help line for the rest of my life. I LOVE healthy food, but I am hungry ALL the time....and thus, I eat. At this point my 5'4" frame is holding up (barely) 310 pounds. I KNOW that there is a small sexy woman under all of this fat....but I only see the fat lady at this point. And as I have always said, it ain't over until the fat lady sings...well this fat lady will hopefully be singing this fall when they roll my stretcher into surgery and I can begin a new life! Can't wait to hear from you all and your stories! I need lots of support too! My brother's all live out of state. My parents are gone, my in-laws are gone. I have my husband of 22 years and 5 girls and my best friend in Canada that will be support. But they will never (except my best friend as she has weight problems too!) totally understand the hurt when someone looks at you and points, or a child makes fun of your child because you are fat. The world is mean and I want to survive it now more than ever! I want to be ME! Finally! sorry, i have a lip problem (well, lol, finger problem when typing), family calls it diarehha of the lip. Hugs!

Well this initially started as a search to find out if it was worth it to buy protien shakes that have 30g+ of protien in them. I am still not fully satisfied that say those 3oz shots of 42g of protien are a waste. I would love some real answers backed up by medical websites that are in plain english as to whether the body can use 42g of protien in one meal what is the magic number? Obviously obsene amounts of protien are a big mistake. But if we are supposed to have 60-80g a day why not have it all at once or in two meals? It seems to me that nomatter what it is calories in the end that determine weight gain or loss. Eating enough protien prevents our body from burning muscle eating too much protien can lead to other health problems like gout. We all know what a healthy per day total is for us from our nutritionists if no one else. But it still begs the question of how much can be absorbed from one meal. If it truly absorbs all the way through the intestines then it would be in our system for what like 24hr's? It seems that in that time it would make the argument moot whether a 42g shot of protien is a waste or not. I am not trying to be argumentative. I am just frustrated at the lack of solid information I have been able to find via the internet. Every source seems to disagree and most of the sources I have seen on the internet are body building sites and I'm sorry but I don't believe their info is necessarily correct for the general public at least. I just want real answers that are backed up by something that is written in lay language so that I can follow it. Jack I love you but with all your technical talk you lose me, I was a music major not a science major.

For me the band was not worth the physical pain, shame, and discomfort I have felt about the band itself. I have had a difficult time eating since I got the band, and I finally admitted to myself after a year and a half with it that I had an eating disorder. I wanted to lose weight, however inside I was dying and I was using food for comfort. So when I thought losing weight would be the answer, it was a decision based on the idea that "if I look better I'll feel better." Not true. We feel confident when we take care of ourselves and look healthy and beautiful, however that is a daily task that requires much more than a number on the scale or my body size. Emotionally, physically, and spiritually I must love and respect myself. I think getting the band was a drastic measure on my part. I got frustrated with eating slow and not being able to eat what I wanted and I reverted to eating sugary and snacky foods all the time partly because it went down my stomach easier. I even smoked weed partly so I could calm down, and then eat easier. (when I was sober I was more tense, and my band would be tight feeling) I think anyone thinking of getting this band should see a therapist and explore their issues with eating for at least 3 months first. If at that time you determine you have healthy motives and still want to move forward, I would proceed.......however I think probably many people with the band have deeper reasons for their out of control eating and weight gain. Take care- Nicole V.* recovering anorexic, compusive exerciser and compulsive eater

You're right...with the amount you are eating it is probably impossible for that weight gain to be actual fat. I know, it still hurts to see the numbers on the scale go up but don't let yourself be fooled. It's not true! If you are a little dehydrated as you suspect, your body will hold on to all of the Water it is getting for conservation. Water weighs a lot. The only (healthy) way to get rid of that water weight is to make sure you start drinking water again. When your body "learns" that you will give it plenty of water on a regular basis it will let go of what it's holding onto. This has happened to me time and time again so I feel confident you will see it go away. But, when you are dehydrated it might take another day or two of good water drinking for things to stabilize and see that water weight go away. I aim for at least 64 oz every day...I have found water is extremely important for weight loss. So, don't get discouraged even though it's tough to avoid worrying about it. I keep 24 oz water bottles and know that I must drink at least three of them every day. It works for me to make sure I get in my water. I hope this helps!

Hi there, Can I assume that u all are from US? Im from UK. I started with an overactive thryoid (Hyperthyroidism). After suffering for over 4yrs, and no of carbomizole can help, doc put me through radioactive threatment which after 1 month, I went straight and became underactive (Hypothyroidism) When I was overactive, I can eat anything I like and not put on any weight. Once I went underactive, within 3 years, I put on nearly 3stones. In that 3 years, I kept going back to my consultant and GP and beg them to do something cos of my weight gain but they would not increase my thyroid tablets and kept confirming all the tests are show that they hv given me the correct dose of thyroixine. In the end, after weight watchers, gym, all kinds of diet, I gave up and went for the lap band operation. I had my lapband op last Sept, and my weights has gone down to 12 1/2stones now, I have 1 1/2 - 2stones to go before it goes back to my previous weight when I was overactive. U can also find all the info on thyroid on this very good book by Mary Solomon (I think thats the author) She wrote a book on how to control your weight when u have a thyroid problem. Very good info book, even though it didnt help me to lose any weight. So, for all those with underactive thyroid, and have had the lapband operation done, did you all managed to lose a big percentage of weight???

for the last twenty years I was over weight, whey bigger the my older brother! now im alot smaller now he just hates it. I have thirty pounds to my goal weight of 180.in the past i was down to 190 and took a break from any thing to do with weight loss, after two years of living on a low calorie diet and walking I, just needed a break to clear my mind. I had a problem and a fear of weight gain and I let my self gain a few pounds back and i m happy to say that I can gain a few pounds and I, can lose weight as I want.........I have the power to lose and the knowledge to do it. as of today I, will start watching my weight and start counting calories again. I hope every one out there is taking time to lose weight! good luck I, will be talking to you soon as I start to come closer to my goal weight! JOHN

as for the weight gain... scale, very confident... bowel have not been moving... tried "correctol" made me very sick to stomache and did nothing else. any suggestions? eating.....i know i have eating more lately... but i am eating so much less than before and no snacking.... some papers tell me to only eat 2 ounces of food... then others i see say half a cup... everything is different... thanks for your insight!!!!!!!!

Sometimes treatment of H Pylori can cause weight gain. Its true! It happened to me. I was not symptomatic but I've had GERD forever so I was tested for it and then treated for it. After that I gained a lot of weight. My family thought I was crazy until I showed them a study proving that what I said can happen. it affects the metabolism or something. And they won't give you H Pylori back either... ( I miss mine).

Hi all, Well this morning I got on the scale and for the first time that half a kilo I have been dancing around on the scales for the past few weeks was gone. I actually punched the air with joy when I saw 84.9 kilos! :clap2: WOOOOOO!!! thats a total of 30 kilos lost for me. I am so happy!:biggrin1: I agree with Susannah. If this woman wasn't willing to be honest about how she managed the loss, then she should have just kept her pride and acomplishment about it to her self. She was entirely deceitful, and we all know that obese people will try anything - there must be hundreds of people eating aroudn the inside of thier plates and STARVING, wondering how the heck she did it. Silly woman! I admit I have band shame. I am disgusted that I let myself get as obese as I was. I knew that there was no way I could lose all the weight myself again, only to put it and more back on the next time (such has been the cycle of my life). I think its a personal choice as to whether we divulge the knowledge of our bands, and I for one don't want to have to defend the decision I made for a second. For me, and I am working on this one, the judgement of others plays a major role in my own feeling of personal worth and self esteem. I guess that comes from years of being the bigger girl/person in every circle I travelled in (even when I was "thin" I was still the biggest girl!). HOpefully one day I can be like Susannah and tell those people casting judgement to mind their own business. I guess thats just another step in the process of sorting out my food/weight gain/personal issues which the band is helping me with

I tend to believe that if you have only just recently experienced this weight gain, but otherwise have been a normal weight your entire life, then this is probably not the answer for you. I believe the guideline is that you need to have been overweight (obese) for 5 years or more. You may benefit more from seeing a therapist for eating disorders first and see if you make any progress in that area. Just my opinion.

Today I started my two week post-op diet. I was doing really well until lunch when I was completely famished!! Luckily some steamed vege did the trick - I wonder how long before I crave something terribly naughty! I took my 'before' photos which was very brave of me. Braver still was going out and buying a new sexy set of scales (if you can call scales sexy... somehow I don't think you can). Later in the day I finally plucked up the courage to jump on. I had prepared myself for it to be bad but I obviously hadn't prepared myself quite enough!! After not weighing myself for about a year I thought I would be around 115kg/253pounds. (which would have meant I had gained 20kg in a year) BUT NO!! I was shocked to find I had eaten my way to 121.2kg/266pounds!!!!! A weight gain of over 25kg/55pounds. My boyfriend weighed himself too and he was a mere 76.8kg/169pounds. Ahhhh!!!! I am nearly twice as heavy as him. So my goal is to get to 70kg... well and truely under him. And there you have it. I just need to make it through the rest of the day and there will only be 13 more to go until the op that will totally change my life. I just can't wait!!!!!

Today I started my two week post-op diet. I was doing really well until lunch when I was completely famished!! Luckily some steamed vege did the trick - I wonder how long before I crave something terribly naughty! I took my 'before' photos which was very brave of me. Braver still was going out and buying a new sexy set of scales (if you can call scales sexy... somehow I don't think you can). Later in the day I finally plucked up the courage to jump on. I had prepared myself for it to be bad but I obviously hadn't prepared myself quite enough!! After not weighing myself for about a year I thought I would be around 115kg/253pounds. (which would have meant I had gained 20kg in a year) BUT NO!! I was shocked to find I had eaten my way to 121.2kg/266pounds!!!!! A weight gain of over 25kg/55pounds. My boyfriend weighed himself too and he was a mere 76.8kg/169pounds. Ahhhh!!!! I am nearly twice as heavy as him. So my goal is to get to 70kg... well and truely under him. And there you have it. I just need to make it through the rest of the day and there will only be 13 more to go until the op that will totally change my life. I just can't wait!!!!!

I was just DENIED!!!!!! I didn't lose the 5% of my excess weight as required by my insurance company during my 12 month MD supervised diet program. I had a heart problem in the late summer (since been fixed) and went on a medication for five months that made me totally sedentary. I didn't want to do a stinking thing! And I gained 27lbs on it. My high was 371, my starting weight (the one they use) was 344. So in order to qualify, I have to be 335. Granted I've lost weight since being fixed in December (I'm now 347.6), but even with a letter from my doctor stating that the weight gain wasn't totally my fault, and even with my case manager pleading my case to the medical director for the Ins Co. I'm denied! I can try again next month... One positive thing, once it was submitted it only took a couple of hours...

DENIED!!!!!! I didn't lose the 5% required by my insurance company over the past year. I had a heart problem (since been fixed) and went on a medication that made me totally sedentary. I didn't want to do a stinking thing! And I gained 27lbs on it. My high was 371, my starting weight (the one they use) was 344. So in order to qualify I have to be 335. Granted I've lost weight (I'm now 347.6), but even with a letter from my doctor stating that the weight gain wasn't totally my fault, and even with my case manager pleading my case to the medical director for the Ins Co. I'm denied! I can try again next month... One positive thing, it only took a couple of hours...

Last night was Passover for my family and as with most holidays it was a feast. I felt a little awkward because the last time I had seen most of these people, I was 40 lbs lighter. I know most of us can relate to that! Anyways, I indulged of course...:hungry: many of these foods probably wont go down the band. No one said anything about my weight gain, but I am sure they were wondering.... These are people I will not disclose or discuss my band with. It kept running though my mind the next time I see them and the marked contrast in how much food I will consume. Then I started to think about when people notice me losing weight again....they are sure to ask what I am doing. My answer: PORTION CONTROL!:high5: Susan

Howdy, All. Another glorious day in Mtg lending... DH & I spent yesterday doing yard work... the weeds are all mowed and I spent some time digging up the volunteer and squirel planted trees... That stinking Crepe Myrtle is the very devil. It grows from seed, AND the existing plants spread systemically - the roots are everywhere. ARRRRGH! I was able to get a couple of them completely out - roots and all - and I tamed the remaining bushes until I have the energy to go out and battle them again. Once a yard gets away from you, here, you might as well just get a flame thrower... it's nuts how awful my lawn is. Maybe I will put in a BIG patio..... So, today, every muscle in my back, butt & legs is SCREAMING every time I move. Nothing like spending several hours bent at the waist, pulling weeds and roots... *sigh* I guess I need to do yard work more frequently, eh? I think we are going to dedicate a day per weekend - at least that's what we are saying today... But you know how that goes. :] Kat - you won't get VERY lost... highway 20 is pretty easy to follow - and if we meet you part way, you won't even have to come into the big city. I am very excited. Now, when are you coming? I took about a minute of French - and I can fake it on the pronunciation - but it was too confusing to learn two languages that are SO similar. It messed me up with both languages pronunciation... so I dumped the French and devoted myself to Spanish. Mandy - I think I would have been quite surprised if "Flushed Away" DIDN'T have any toilet humor... it would seem to be expected in that particular film. Obviously I haven't been keeping up with my kid movies. I haven't seen any of these, yet. Chris - Don't worry too much about making any decisions regarding Andy... I think, in the end, you will find any decisions to be made are pretty obvious. Don't overthink it - just go with the flow and enjoy. Hugs! Eileenie - how awful to hear about such a horrid thing on a day dedicated to jokes! Hugs! So, how do you score a 4 day week? Did you take Good Friday off? Does your company give it as a Holiday? Spring has sprung, here, too. My peonies have big ol' pink buds on them. I should have flowers in the next day or two. LOVE peonies. St. Sherry - I think I like that... LOL! Sorry about the weight gain... Do you need a fill? Or have you just been eating around the band? I find my self eating more than I need on a pretty regular basis... which explains the fact that my scale is not budging from 287. *sigh* So, you are a Rieki Master, now... can you focus your Rieki energies toward weightloss? Or is that more of a spirit vs body thing? Betty - it truly was a fabulous day to be outside, yesterday, too. The sun was shining and it was lovely warm - but not scorchy at all. Ahhhh. Dianne - lol! Wouldn't THAT be something... AF Day passed me by, thankfully! I don't like practical jokes very much... and I am not in any mood to be surprised, these days. Hope that swelling goes down, soon. I know you are anxious to see what "the girls" will look like once they are at their normal size. Hugs!!! Cindy - MMMMMMmmmmm - crab cakes! Love those things... I would probably eat more than one... you are so good! I am going to have to try this "chess pie" stuff one of these days. It sounds so yummy! Darcy - if you skip exercise for an entire month, does that make you an exercise virgin, again? *sigh* OK - ZERO miles for March... so my YTD total remains 38 miles. How pathetic. Patty - HUGS!! I am glad DM is there to help out. I wouldn't fret TOO much... it will take the boys most of their vacation to figure out how to get into too much trouble... :] Hopefully, anything they get up to won't be permanently damaging. Well, I have lots more Spanish to study... I can't remember future or past tense verb forms, at ALL - so right now I speak a very limited version of pigeon spanish. Not so good if I want to teach the stuff. Back to the books! Hugs & Love to All!

Oi OI A new threat for me to post on ! LOL Well i'll start off Introducing myself (Drum roll please....bam bam clunk) well hell never mind.. any way , I'm JayCee 23, Okla, Divorced for uhm *counts the months..*16 months. been dating The same guy for uhm (whinces 13 months) Known him for 4 years tho! Things are okay i suppose i love him , he says he loves me but we're taking things slow... like seperate apartments... Ever since i've been ballooning out (gaining weight) things have kinda come to a stand still . Hoping after i get my body and mind back in order from all this weight gain things will get back to the norm. Wondering how much things will change when other guys start noticing me more after i lose the weight but eh time will tell right! One thing i'm hopin for is gawd the sex to get bettah! Since i've packed on the puddin, i'm not near as flexible! Anyone else have that damn problem!? anyway I got 2 childeren a 2 year old and 3 year old. Hard to find a good guy that will take ya on with all that. but i'm hoping this is the one. Kudos to you ladies that are out there breakin hearts! I've been reading the post! My current bf and I met on a video game back in 2003, when i was preggers with my first child , we've been friends ever since. Yea i'ma big geeky girl i play MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game). anyway after the dirvoce we finally met up and been together ever since! anyway that's muh story :girl_hug: