Tomorrow I see the doctor and may get my first fill. I am nervous. I am doing fine as is. After the doctor I have a dietitian meeting about new foods. I miss bread. I went to Olive Garden today, no bread sticks, no pasta and no salad. I ate a small piece of chicken grilled and mashed potatoes. Tasted great but it was Olive Garden, home of the endless salad.
It is 2 months since my banding and I'm doing super. I don't get enough exercise in. I can't afford the gym right now but hope to join one within the next month or so.
Next week is my birthday and I would like to go walking around down town Boston and window shop but my husband isn't well enough to walk around. He has health issues. Last year on my birthday I took him home from the hospital after open heart surgery. The heart is fine, it's the rest of the body that isn't doing well. He's another whole story.
I just needed to vent-thank you for listening.
Happy Sunday evening. I wanted to tell everyone I really enjoy reading your blogs. They help to keep me going and show that anything is possible.
I am in stage 4 of my food plan. I make a super turkey stuffing with Ritz and cooked vegetables. Since I am allowed those, can I have some stuffing? Or is it too heavy? I am torn. I know I can eat the turkey.
One food that I really enjoy and eat too much of is jumbo lump crab. Does anyone else enjoy this? I eat it as is, no mayo.
Thank you fellow Banders, you're all great.
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 new month to everyone in WLS land. I haven't been writing much but I try to read about all of you.
The end of July is my 2 year banding. Best thing I ever did. I am much healthier and I actually enjoy walking. My weight has been around the same for 1 year but my surgeon thinks I am at goal even though I would like to be 40-50 pounds less. I am around 190-195 right now. When I got married 43 1/2 years ago I was 144 and have not seen that number since. Under 200 maybe 2 times in all my married life.
I enjoy eating out and do so almost every day at least one meal. Bread is a problem food for me so only great bread in restaurants and then mostly the crust and dunked in olive oil. A week ago I was out with my grandsons, 6 & 14 and husband and I ordered fried onion rings. I had 1 too many and after very bad slimming and throwing up slim I threw up that f**kn onion ring in front of the boys. How embarrassing is that? The band tells you when to stop and you need to listen.
I enjoy outlet shopping and walking. I go almost once a week even if it is just window shopping. When I go walking I need to be someplace not just in my area, boring! So I went when it was the Memorial Day weekend sales!! OMG, I did good. I wear a size 12 shoe and Easy Spirit had sandals for 1/2 off. I bought 3 pairs for $80.!!!!!! Mighty fine value when you have huge feet and I am only 5'5".
Congratulations to all who graduate this spring.
Enjoy your summer.
Arlene aka Eye Candy
This morning got up early and went to my son's house. Last week my grandson was 13 and we had to bring him his b. day gifts. My son went and bought fresh made bagels. I was polite and asked for 1/4 of a bagel and he put Smart Balance on it. Nothing. That is how I felt about eating a former breakfast food. Nothing. I can live without them. I loved that. Some foods I can not go without but bagels are on the good bye list.
On my never live without list is pizza, bread in restaurants, almonds, pasta and Chinese food. I think that is it. If you can't have what you really love and enjoy yourself the Band will not work with you because you will go after all these forbidden foods. Or that is how I see it with me.
Have a wonderful weekend and hopefully no storms where you live.
"Eye Candy"
I saw my PCP today and went over my meds etc. She said that about 6 months ago a study said that there is no evidence that fish oil helps against heart health. I see my WLS doctor Friday and I am also going to ask him. Has anyone heard of this? I have been taking fish oil gummies since the Band in July.
Have great Tuesday everyone.
I was surfing on the tv and found an old Dr. Phil. The obese husband wouldn't go near his wife unless she was under 200 pounds. They have not had sex or kissed in 2 years. She got under 200 and he still won't go near her. He is obese and had the nerve to say he wants his size 10 wife back. Dr. Phil told him off but good. That is a form of abuse according to the doctor and I believe it.
I have heard of people that can not handle it when their partner loses a lot of weight and that they leave. That is sad. I know my husband and I have been married 42 1/2 years and have both been thick and thin but mostly thick for us. We are not going any where.
Everyone enjoy the rest of your long weekend.
Arlene aka 'Eye Candy'
Good evening everyone
After banding can you eat ribs? I haven't tried them yet. Yesterday I tried a chicken wing and it was too chewy, so I couldn't eat it. Wings are one of my favorite foods. Bye Bye wings. Also, how about rack of lamb? Is that a food that goes down well?
Thank you.
Hello Lap Banders,
I have said before I am computer challenged, or I would re post an article. On Yahoo just now I read that a waiter in CA named a table of 3 women on their check, Fat Girls. How awful is that?? Do they call me and my over weight husband the 2 fatties.
Have a great Hanukkah to all who celebrate.
So today we were on our way to an Italian restaurant for lunch and we were passing a golf club that has views of Boston. So we went to the golf course. The menu was great. We both decided on the lobster roll that had mayo on the side. I hate mayo so this was perfect. This would be my second time trying lobster since the banding last July. I got stuck real bad. It was awful. My poor husband was left eating while I was walking around outside in 97 degree weather. People from NE live on lobster since birth and now I can not do it any more. I am very sad about it. The french fries went down fine, of course.
Stay cool and wear sun block.
'Eye Candy"/Arlene
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.
Good afternoon from blizzard Boston.
In the local paper there was an article from Soma Intimates. They said that when women that leave their abusive person they usually forget bras. So Soma is collecting used and new bras for DOVE. I know having lost weight I have many large sized bras. Maybe some of you do to and we can all donate them.
Enjoy your TGIF.
Good evening,
On Yahoo I was just reading an article that said Tim Gunn thinks it is awful the way designers treat plus size women. Finally someone on our side. He said if he was on the 8th floor at Saks in NY he would jump through the window because the clothes are that bad.
I am not in plus size any more but I totally understand what he is talking about. When I wore plus size I wore a lot of Ralph Lauren. The jeans fit the best and lasted forever.
Maybe now the designers will listen because Tim has a lot clout!!
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.
Happy Sunday
Since I bought a Fitbit the other day, I have been recording everything I eat onto the computer. I am now so much more aware of everything I put in my mouth. It was one of the best investments I have made since my surgery. Some people need a crutch and I have found mine, the Fitbit.
For all of you celebrating Santa, it will make a great gift.
Just came home from food shopping. Awful weather in Boston, rain maybe snow later during the Pat's game tonight. Then we are rain/snow the rest of the week. UGH!
Enjoy your evening everyone.
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.
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.
Today I finally had my favorite-pizza! I had one slice and it went down great. I still haven't tried lettuce yet. I love to eat salad but I am afraid of choking on the lettuce.
I had my support group tonight and we talked about exercise. The one thing I don't do. Next week I am joining a gym. I am going to try to go 3-5 days a week. The physical therapist we had as a speaker tonight thinks tread mills are not great. He likes recumbent bikes and ellipticals better. Good to know because those are the 2 pieces of equipment that I like. I find tread mills boring.
Have a great evening everyone.
I have not written since the new site has been up.
There are things I hate and things I like but it is Alex's brain child not mine or yours. So just grin and bear it.
So I am a natural red head. Only color I have ever been in 63 years. Money is very tight so 2 months ago I bought s decent color and it looked good. I couldn't do hi lites but that was fine because I wasn;t born with them. Last week my husband was with me when I went to buy another box of dye. He choose a different color. Sunday I had bright red/orange hair. It glowed!!!
I called the company and they said to buy light brown. I left it on for 20 not 30 minutes. My hair is almost black. UGH!!!!!!!!! Today I am puling out the credit card and getting hi lites. Who the f**k knows what I will look like. Anything is better than almost black on a very pale skinned red head. When you get older you have to go lighter not darker because you do get paler I think.
I can't do Thanksgiving with this color. My youngest grandson, Max will be having his 1st b. day party with about 40 people next week. Can't embarrass him.
I have been staying in the middle 190's for a long time now. Today I am back down under 192!!!!!!! I have been 188.? after a fill for 1-2 days. I would love to see the 180's again soon.
I do not eat any pies so I am not worried about Thanksgiving desserts. I have never had a pie because I don't like cooked fruit.
This is very long but I needed to rant about my hair color.
Have a great day. Boston is cold and rainy today. Stay warm.
Arlene aka Eye Candy
Today my husband had an appointment in downtown Boston. We never go there even though I live about 10-15 miles from there. If you know Boston there is a real tourist trap for non-stop eating, QUINCY MARKET. Very famous place since the beginning of our wonderful country. My idea to go walk around and have lunch. After walking up and down and looking at pizza, ice cream, candy, Italian pastries, clam chowda, lobster and other goodies, I had a very boring salad. I was good. Hub had a chicken & cheese Philly sub with fries. After we went walking around and my idea, again, we stopped at the Boston Chip Yard. Fresh homemade chocolate chip cookies. They are small and I did eat 4 of them over an hour. I was bad. About 32 years ago we had a push cart at Quincy Market in front of the Chip Yard and Carmel Corn popcorn. I ate both every day and at closing the Carmel Corn people would give us the left overs for free. I didn't see them today, happy about that.
If you ever visit Boston this is wonderful place to visit, they have street entertainment, tours, Old Ironsides isn't too far away and the wonderful Aquarium is near there too.
That is today's tour of Boston and eating.
Enjoy your weekend.
Arlene
I was out today driving with my husband and we were talking about food. He is a diabetic. He said he would love a bowl of hot fudge and said to me, I am sure you do too. I said no, don't want to even have a taste. I am clearing my head of all my old favorites. Like buying fresh made bread and eating a loaf before I even get home from the store. Or having wonderful bread in a restaurant and eating more than one basket full. Bread is my very best friend. I still do have it in restaurants but have totally changed how I eat it. One restaurant I only eat the end crusty parts of the bread not the doughy parts. I know, it is still bread but it takes me longer to eat and I need my friend.
Another friend of mine was my pint of ice cream almost every night and I added almonds and sometimes chocolate chips. I only have my SF Popsicles now.
I hate fast food places so that was never a problem. I do miss really great french fries but I now have a small amount of mashed potatoes instead. I really really want to be thinner. I don't know why this time is different than the other 100 diets/weight loss programs, but this time I am going to be healthier and thinner. I hope you all agree and let's do it!!!!!!!! together.
Have a wonderful evening everyone.
When I go out to eat, I eat out a lot for dinner, I order from the children's menu. I have been very strict with my eating. I hope it lasts.Yesterday I had a lunch order of turkey tips and mashed potatoes and had more than enough food. My biggest concern is this week coming up. It is the Jewish New Year and eating at other's homes and an engagement party. I haven't eaten with people who do not know about my banding and I am very nervous when people see a very small amount on my plate, it is buffet dining. My husband said to just say I am watching what I am eating, that is how I lost 51 lbs. since March! I do not plan on telling others about my surgery, too much privacy for me. I know most people are very proud but I feel like a failure and this was the only thing that can help me. A doctor told me that I am not a failure because I went for help by being banded. Do any of my fellow banders feel this way?
Have a great Sunday. Super weather in Boston.
That awesome moment when your ex is getting fatter and you are getting hotter!!
Love this. I don't have an ex but I have many ex friends and saw one the other day and she couldn't believe how great my hub and I look.
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.
I finally realized by getting the Band, I put me first for once. I have been taking care of my sick husband for about 15 months. I help with a retarded brother, a 94 year old mother in a nursing home and an 89 year old mother-in-law, who finally gave up driving. You can see, I have a full plate and HATE it. I would love to find a hobby to occupy my time.
Have a wonderful Sunday everyone.
