Yesterday I started my day perfect as I do every day, with my shake. Then I was very bad! I went for monthly 'free' Godiva chocolate but bought an extra plus some almond bark. I like having a small piece of bark when I have the urge for dark chocolate. Then I went to Cracker Barrel for lunch, bad, very bad. Had 2 biscuits.
I was walking around the outlet stores again, so I did get in some walking,
Then I went food shopping with my MIL. She is 90 but the world's slowest walker and never has a list and had me walking all over the store. My Fitbit said I did about 4000 steps shopping with her. She only bought about 20 things. I text my husband from the store, you owe me big time. I can do a month's worth of shopping in less time without walking 4000 steps.
Today my older grandsons are coming over. We are taking them to the Children's Museum. Should be another great walking day. The weather sucks in Boston, so we have to do something indoors with the boys, ages 5 and 13. The science museum would cost over $100. for 4 of us, what a rip off!!!!!!!! How do families afford to have a great day out.
My mother will be 95 on the 10th and she finally lost her last tooth the other day. The same day my 7 month old grandson got his 1st! His other great grandmother (mother's side) lost 2 teeth last week too. Weird.
Everyone enjoy your day.
Arlene
As some of you know I watch tv until the wee hours and sleep late. On Nightline last night was about going out of the country for less expensive surgeries. A company in NC with letters like HSM (can't recall exactly) had two employees who needed surgery. The company sent them to Costa Rica first class all the way. The woman had by pass or sleeve (was not the band) and the man had knee replacement. Plus the company gave them each $2500. for sh*ts. The company felt by sending them to Costa Rica they saved about 1/2 price.
After they showed everything and of course everything came out ok they had on a Harvard lawyer. The lawyer said that if there was a problem there is no mal-practice insurance and how great are the doctors etc. The knee replacement inserts (I'll them) were around $7-9000. and in this country double. They said that is why people go to other countries for surgery.
Just giving Arlene's thoughts and informing others about out of country surgeries. I have seen on this site that some people go to Mexico. There is a weird saying that a person who finishes last place at medical school is still called 'doctor'.
Why, do you get WLS, any type, and then not listen to your doctor or dietitian? Why?
When I was given the pre-op diet, I followed it to the 't' because I was afraid.
When it came to the post-op diet, I followed it to the 't', also.
When I get a fill, I am on 3 days of liquids, 3 days of mushy and then back to my regular foods. I listen to the doctor and his staff. They have been dealing with WLS for many many years.
So WHY, get the surgery and just follow your own rules??????
Think before putting the chip, the french fry, McDonald's, Dunkin Donuts in your hand, let alone your mouth. If you have to have one of these, at least wait until your surgery has healed and you can eat regular foods.
People who have had the band for a while, I have had mine for almost 14 months, maybe some of us know what we are talking about. I listen to the masters, they have been here longer than me. I try to help and if I don't have an answer, I will say it.
So when you are getting wheeled into the operating room, just remember WHY, you are there. To get healthy and live longer.
Have a great night.
Arlene
ps
Saturday night I have a wedding and yes I will eat but not over eat and I do not drink when I eat and never alcohol.
What is a normal weekly weight loss for a bander? I was banded 7/30 and have been losing 1-3 lbs. per week. Is this normal or just normal for me? I see my surgeon and dietitian this Friday. I have not had a fill yet. I hope to go onto stage 5 of the meal plan also. I miss salad, bread, pasta and pizza. I hope they are allowed. I know small amounts but I would like to have them back. I do miss my Dunkin Donuts ice tea, which had caffeine. I brew my own decaf every day, I drink a lot of ice tea with Splenda. I also like Dairy Queen soft serve ice cream.
What do others miss that you gave up when you were banded?
Have a great day.
Happy New Year to all.
I am watching Wendy Williams and Lisa Lampanelli is on about her sleeve surgery. She is down 102. She wore a size 24 and now is around a 6!! Good for her. She had the surgery in April, I think. She looks great. She said she felt the sleeve was better than the band at her age, 51. I am 62. They keeping bleeping her language. Lisa is saying that it is a tool and you have to work with it. Her husband had the sleeve a few months after her. Good for them. She is very funny and crude but that is what I love about her. She is saying her sex life is better and the stomachs can now touch.
We all need people like Lisa to tell the world that surgery is a helper/tool for all of us.
Thank you, Lisa.
Hello
I am a very weird eater. Recall the movie, When Harry Met Sally? Well I eat worse than Sally. My food never touches, I use a different plate for each item, in my house. I dislike more foods than I like. I hate fast food restaurants, my poor grandsons, they get sit down restaurants with me. I never use condiments, never tried salad dressing or soups, so why am I over weight? I love bread!! I could eat 2-3 bread baskets full of wonderful breads in a restaurant with either oil or butter. Then eat my meal. Since having the band, I am so good. I do try the breads but a very small piece and stop. I also would always have ice cream either in a restaurant or at home almost everyday. I have had maybe 2-3 small tastes of my husband's since the band. I am really trying and so far so good. I guess it took me 62 years to wake up and say, STOP, being the overweight Arlene. I can move much better. Because of back problems, I can't stand in one place for more than a few minutes, weight loss will not cure that. I am not as tired as I was and I still have a lot to lose. I hope to be a onederlander within the next week or two. That would be F'n awesome. Yes, I have a potty mouth, that comes with me where ever I go.
Have a wonderful Boxing Day, all.
The weather today in Boston is around 77 degrees and sunny. Tomorrow even warmer.
Lately I have been going to the gym again. I go for around 30 minutes, better than nothing.
I live about 2 miles from a community college and my husband (age 63) is now a student 2 days a week. We have one car so today I drove him. I got to the college early so I could walk around the campus. WOW-it took 10 minutes and my Fitbit said about 800 steps. I was shocked how fast the long walk was and how little steps I took. Before the band I never would have even thought about walking to the end of the parking lot, let alone walk around the building. I guess being obese you look at the picture as huge, like my body was, and not as I can do it and will do it. My husband said I should have walked around 2 times but I didn't like the area. The side walks ended and you had to walk through a parking lot with vehicles always moving. Not very safe. Before you know it wonderful winter and snow will be here and you can't walk around outside.
Enjoy this wonderful weather where ever you are. The walk is shorter than you think
It takes me 30-60 minutes to do food shopping than take a fun walk. Never thought of it like that.
Tomorrow my grandson will be 5. This morning his other grandmother baby sat.
His name is Dylan.
Dylan-yesterday at school we had cupcakes for my pretend birthday.
Nana-did they sing happy birthday?
Dylan-Nooo, cupcakes don't sing.
Just had to share this. He is so cute.
Since I have lost weight I am always cold. I was always the hot one. I seem to never get warm anymore. I wear a mink jacket when it gets below 40. Yes, I wear fur and eat meat. Maybe my husband is right, time to move down south. But then my grandchildren will be in MA and I don't think I could ever leave them. I find myself drinking hot tea all day and that isn't working either.
Yesterday my husband and I went for our annual dermatology checkups. I was told to never use toner again. It either has alcohol or acetone in them. Never knew that after using them for over 40 years. The doctor did say rentol (excuse spelling) is very good for wrinkles. I bought CVS brand on sale. I am on the vein side but you wouldn't know that by me being so over weight for so long. I use to go to Cape Cod to a resort and the resident comic was gay and extremely large and made fun of decorating his large body. From the first time I heard him say that, I started dressing much better. It took a fat man to tell me that fat doesn't have to dress bad.
Thanks for listening to me.
Have a great Thursday. Time to go food shopping-how fun? Not.
Why don't people use mirrors? I was getting a manicure on Sunday and a very thin 40ish woman came in. She wore tight print leggings tucked into awful sox with high wedge platform shoes. OMG! she looked awful. I am now watching Price is Right. A woman has on an awful top, skirt, tights and boots and pig tails (for young girls) and she was over weight, which made her look even worse. Mirrors, people, mirrors. I am no fashion maven but I try to look decent. I use many mirrors to try to look my best for the day
Time to go have lunch out with some cousins. I had a protein shake so I would not eat the wrong foods so I'll have an iced tea or hot tea.
Enjoy your day everyone.
Hello,
My daughter-in-law had a boy. I guess the men in family only make boys, there are no girls in the family other than the cats and dog. Everyone is great. I think they missed calculated the date by one month.
I went for my fill, and got a small one. Since my August appointment I am down 18 more pounds and the doctor was thrilled. So now I am back to stage 3 for 3 days and stage 4 for 3 days. I will lose more weight doing those diets.
Enjoy the rest of your day everyone.
Hi Everyone,
I am watching Dr. Oz right now and the show's subject is Toxic Love. Very interesting about what loved ones do to each other when they have health issues. Dieting together, a mother telling her daughter, you're fat etc. and cooking the wrong foods. Right now is a couple and the wife wears an insulin pump and the husband cooks all the wrong foods. The therapist is trying to help all the people. Great show.
I know of people like that, that make and feed the wrong foods to the diabetic, the WLS person, like all of us etc.
Who is the the toxic person in your life? Mine is ME!!!!!!
Tory Johnson is on GMA and was sort of told lose weight. She has a book coming out called The Shift. I don't know much about her or the book. She is doing a book tour but very over priced tickets, $75. What nerve in my eyes. On Yahoo it said something about nail polish helped her. I have been saying that for a long time. You can not eat with wet nails. I have used that trick for around 25-30 years
Just because someone like Tory is on tv doesn't mean your bosses have the right to tell you to lose weight. My thoughts.
Enjoy your evening-sleep tight.
Arlene
I love to shop for clothes, even if it's window shopping. Where I live in MA we have outlet stores about 30-45 minutes away and my husband is a people watcher. Perfect match! So today we went, the temp in Boston was around 60. I went into the Donna Karen store and they were selling daisy dukes. Can you picture us former over weight women in those with our Shar Pei thighs? Great picture, men. I just thought that was funny and I need humor. I did go to the Jones NY store and bought some 't's for $7. each and bought some for Mother's Day gifts, too. I love that store.
I was good today, my husband wouldn't let me into the Godiva store, OMG! I love their dark chocolates and yes, I do eat them.
Happy shopping, ladies and men.
Arlene
Happy Thursday everyone. Today I start Stage 5 and it's my birthday. My new life is starting and I am 62. It took me all these years to finally take care of me first. Having lunch out at a fish restaurant with my son and husband. I hope I do well eating something different.
Have a great day everyone and think THIN! we are all worth it.
Good afternoon,
I was on the stationery bike at the gym and the trainer came and talked to me and my husband. He said to really get in shape, no bike, no tread mill but cardio. Do exercise where you move and use weights is the best exercise. At the gym there is a back room where all the body builders go and he said they may be able to lift weights but most are in terrible shape because they don't move
their body. Thought I would share this. He also said walking is not good for a lot of women with bone problems. My advice is also ask your own doctor first about everything.
Happy Wednesday/Hump Day,
My son sent me an email that Lisa Lampaneli had the sleeve in the spring and her husband also had it. The picture on TMZ made Lisa look great. The sleeve is too drastic for me. I wish them a lot of luck. I think the Band is the best. It can be removed if there is a problem and no staples that pop or be stretched out. At my support group not one person had the sleeve, just a very few the by pass, everyone seems to love the band.
While I was getting dressed this morning my husband said my shelf is gone. He never knew how to tell me how bad it looked. I told him, I knew I had a huge shelf. Not a Kim K. shelf but a platter size one. I have my daughter-in-law's baby shower this morning. I have on a twin set from my fatter days and the sweater buttons and looks great! I am enjoying being thinner. I know that sounds weird but in my old life when I would lose weight I couldn't handle comments. It really bothered me and this time, don't know why, but they don't bother me as much.
Have a great day everyone.
The scale has not moved down in about one week. I am pissed. I am now on Stage 5 for life so maybe my body is adjusting to food. I took my measurements one month ago and again today. I have lost inches so that makes me feel good. I finally fit into my misses size jeans, 18!!!!!! I haven't seen that size in over 10 years.
Enjoy your Columbus Day weekend everyone.
Well I joined the gym December 17th with my husband. We try to go 3-5 times a week. Just got home and must say the 2 of us have improved our work outs. I can now do the bike for 20 minutes. When I started I was at 10 minutes and level 1 and now up to level 4 or 5. I try other machines for the legs and arms. My husband has been very sick and extremely weak and he is enjoying the gym. He once was a work out nut, like 30 something years ago. My husband almost died 15 months ago and is still not good, he collects SSD at age 61. It sucks. The gym is helping him a lot and making him feel better about himself. We only go for about 1/2 hour right now but at least we are moving
We live in the Boston area and it's around 10 tonight or maybe colder with the wind chill so you have to do in door exercises. They gym is cheap, $10. per month a person. Best $20. we have spent in years!
Enjoy your evening.
Arlene
Happy Monday all. After not losing any pounds for about 4 weeks, I finally lost some weight! I am so thrilled. 10 more pounds and I will be less than 200!!!!! Never thought in my 60's I would ever see those numbers again. In 3 weeks I have my nephews wedding and I bought a great pants suit, size 18, misses not women's! The pants are a little big and the jacket is too perfect, could use a little room. I will give it another week to see if the buttons need to be moved.
Dr. Oz just said at 2pm is the best time of day to cheat with a sugar boost, like 1 oz. of dark chocolate. Do any of you eat chocolate? I haven't yet but that is my favorite thing, with peppermint in it.
Enjoy your evening.
Arlene
So my big butt was so big it could hold a serving tray. Well it is gone! I need a butt lift and I still have a lot to lose. My husband said I need to have the fat sucked from the belly and put into the butt. I told him they do that in Brazil. Brazil, here we come? It is a nice feeling to know that huge monster is gone and there is still room for improvement. I have a lot of belly fat. I go to the gym but I am sure I need to something else to work it off. The fat took many years to get there and it will take some time to get off the body. my fatonmythighs have lost at least 6" since September (that was when I started taking measurements).
I hope every one realizes that inches count as much as numbers on the metal monster when losing.
Every one enjoy your thinner day, off to the gym now.
:wub:Arlene
Good afternoon.
I am watching the Doctor's on tv right now. They just had on a couple that had by pass surgery together. In a little over one year she lost 95 pounds and he lost about 190. The wife said it is a tool. She is right. I hope they keep up the good work. The Doctor's gave them a year's membership to a fancy health club/gym near them. That helps.
One of the doctor's said that WLS is not for everyone. He is right. We know that because of the mean bashers. Maybe bashers need to look in the mirror and blame themselves for messing up. (see I can use nice language).
Enjoy your day.
Arlene
I went to the doctor Thursday for my second fill. He is a very important person in my life. I told him all about this wonderful support site and great people I have met. He thinks it great. I also asked about how big my band is and how many cc's he puts in and he asked why and I told him people on this site people talk about it. He didn't think it was necessary to tell me. Should I have pressed him for this? Being on a liquid diet after the fill, I have lost a lot of weight since Thursday, around 5 pounds!
Last night I saw my new grandson, Max. He is very cute for a new born. Max is my 3rd grandson, no girls, yet.
It is snowing lightly in Boston-ugh! I hate snow and winter.
Have a great Saturday, all.
I was reading about how some people give up and then go back to their doctor for help, which is wonderful. Then there are the people who blame. I have a cousin, Ilana (real name) a know it all RN, who had bypass surgery about 8-10 years ago and is now over weight, again. She blames her surgery for failing. She likes to snack, have her afternoon wine and a cocktail when dining out. Her mother had the bypass over 25 years ago and she also gained all her weight back. (she passed away from cancer). Why do people have surgery and then blame the surgery for failing and not themselves. Ilana went back to her doctor and said the surgery failed, could he re-operate. He said, no. Good for him. We are given a TOOL and we have to learn to use it and respect it. If we don't then we are back to being over weight and it is our fault, no one else.
Yesterday I had Chinese food for lunch, had a few other bad choices during the day, my fault, I gained or retained fluid from the sodium, my fault, can't blame anyone else for me, failing.
I got the Band 8 months ago today and I think I am doing ok. Not a super fast weight loss but a decent one. I see my doctor in a few weeks and I do lose every time which I like and he does too.
Have a wonderful weekend. Happy Passover and Happy Easter to everyone who celebrates.
Arlene
