Bright

Ryan, I'm crying and laughing at the same time here! Love your posts so much....! In fifty days you'll be banded - you'll be one of US then.....heh heh heh....:devious :devious :devious :devious Hey, it's going to fly by, and you won't even miss Thanksgiving dinner too much, you'll be so excited about the future - in fact, come to Ireland! We don't even HAVE thanksgiving....! It's the only holiday I never put up any weight.... :) Congrats on your date xx

byeeeeeeeeeeeee Alex, have fun xx

Lisa, people definitely do notice - they just don't mention it - I am absolutely shocked at people's reaction to me - but I'm shameless - I pretty much shove it in their faces now - "hey, have you noticed I've lost over five stone??!!" (which is the way we measure weight here and in the UK) - people HAVE to smile and say something nice. Don't get me wrong, there are lots of people who mention it, and go "wow, well done" but I am so surprised at certain people's reactions....recently, we had a religious thing for my mother's first year anniversary of her death, and I was dying for my mother's closest friend to see me - she was always really nice to me and was the one I would go to with problems etc as I didn't get on my mother all that well - she greeted all of us at the Mass thing, and stayed for dinner etc and never mentioned once that I had lost weight - it was 60lbs loss at the time, and whatever about my ASS, my face was bloody loads thinner - at one point I was filling up her wine glass, and my aunt walked in saying "oh my god, YOU'VE lost weight!" - this friend of my mother's actually got up, and walked away to the bathroom! Then I knew she had noticed but couldn't find it within herself to mention it. People are threatened by us, by having to possibly compete with another person on their level again. I went to a girls night thing recently as well - about 6 of the women from our neighbourhood met to discuss the school run etc - one of them at the end of the night said, "do you mind me mentioning, you seem way thinner - have you lost weight???" All the rest of them suddenly chimed in with "yeah, we noticed too" - and honed in for diet tips and wanting to know how I did it.... Jeez, you think they coulda said something if they were all thinking of it! Anyway I just started with my "helpful" dieting tips again - wasabi on EVERYTHING, raw eggs in soya sauce, tobasco in cheesecake.....they lapped it up.................. :)

ok I'm blushing here now.........don't know what to say! I forwarded these same photos to my family (first time I have ever sent them any progress pictures) - my dad sent me back the unforgettable message "good man" - my father in law replied with " you are doing well, but you look much happier in the before picture" (!!!!) - and worst of all, a close friend, (one of the few who knew me before I put on all the weight) rang my husband saying "she's doing well" and didn't even reply to me!!!! My sister in law said "I'm not going to worry until you get close to MY weight....." THANK GOD for my lapband talk family - you guys have me walking on air! Jennye - it'd be great to see you here more! Sue - you're a legend Ryan - you made my day! Bush baby - definitely! Lisa - that means a lot comin from such a sexy momma!

Thank you all SOOOOOOOOOO much - you are all so kind! :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny I never thought I would have actual side-by-side photos to show - it's like a dream come true - even tho I'm still a work-in-progress, like Alex said in another post, I feel so HOPEFUL - I know this band is going to work, and I am going to be healthy and fit, and hopefully more confident. I feel lighthearted for the first time in years, sure of my journey, and where I'm going. Thanks for all your positive comments - they really do fuel my motivation xx

Thanks for all your nice comments - I'm chuffed to bits here! You all give me such a boost - thanks so much! Yeah Marie, I have red hair! Well reddish/blonde, not really true irish red hair but I'm happy with it!

Lucky Cow!!!! Have a brillo time!

Suddenly, lots of Curves franchises have sprung up all over Ireland, and there is one about 30 minutes from my house, not exactly convenient but there all the same! I belong to a really good gym, and am happy enough there, but often find it hard to stay motivated, and actually working hard there, instead of sneaking off to the jacuzzi/sauna/steam room - (going by the theory that it all counts, as long as you're on gym premises!!!) - my question is, is Curves worth it? What are your experiences? I shouldn't really be spending more money on exercise after paying the yearly gym subscription and having perfectly good walking paths very close to our house....but I'm tempted all the same by the 30 minute workout.... what do you guys think?

Just comparing my vacation photos - we returned to the same area in France for our holidays this year, and when I got the photo's developed, it was interesting to see the difference - I am down 80lbs since that photo was taken in 2001, but "only" down 65 since banding... I am so thrilled at how wonderful I feel being 80lbs lighter - so energetic, sleeping better etc - I can't thank all my fantastic banded friends here, the support keeps me going. August 2004 & August 2001 -80lbs

It's official - Donali knows everything..........

your welcome Alex! I just saved the pics, then cut and pasted them in a graphics (Micrografix Windows Draw) program on a blank A4 page, then saved the whole thing as a .jpg, cropped and resized it! You look great side by side !

Carol, you look fantastic - what an amazing achievement - I am overcome with envy!!!! Well done!

So sorry it's taken me so long to get around to reading all these posts - so glad it's all over for you Anne, and hope you are bonding with Berpitha ll ! Thinking of you, and hope the liquid phase speeds by for you - take care of yourself and don't be rushing back to the gym! (((((((((hugs))))))))))

All I can say is WOW Michelle - you look fantastic, and have come such a long way in a relatively short time - I'm thrilled for you - hope I do as well xx

audrey - you have done brilliantly! Wow! I am so happy for you - well done :D

what a great perspective Alex, I love your one year story! I had to be induced at 42 weeks too, BOTH times so I'm with you on the waiting.... so proud for you - well done xx Ps - I put the montage together for you - hope that's ok....

Wow Penni - I can't believe how great you look - well done!:banana :banana :banana :banana

I think my loss is pretty slow too - about 70lbs in just over 9 months - I am 34, and have probably been MO for 7/8 years BUT I have lots of hanging skin - especially my arms... my thighs aren't great either - but shockingly enough, my horrible hanging stomach has sort of shrunk up over a third - I work out 2/3 times a week - but am resigned to having a good deal of stretched skin. I have given up years ago wearing anything skimpy anyway, and I am not hoping to get into sleeveless vest tops or mini skirts ever! As long as I can get into way smaller clothes sizes, I'll be delighted! However my breasts are REALLY saggy... I would love to have a breast uplift/enhancement/miracle in a few years! But they are pretty horrible these days......See photo attached: ****Just KIDDING! Did you all think I was really going to show 'em????*************** Not even for you guys!!! :eek: :eek: :eek: :o :o :o

Sue I've been killing myself trying to find chewable multivitamins WITH iron - please, does anyone know if we shouldn't be taking iron? I normally take Haliborange chewable tablets - multivitamin with iron and calcium.....but recently started having Berocca - it disolves in a glass of water and is concentrated B vits, Vit C and Zinc - I find it brilliant for energy and stress relief..... They are available in the US for about $15 I believe....

jeez.......I feel physically ill seeing that second photo again! Aaarrgghh! New Hope - thanks so much! I am 34 and the great skin is courtesy of Lancome! If I lighten up the avatar, I will look more like pic 2! That's my biggest beauty tip - take photos with the flash off Thanks too Leatha

Alex, my boob-twin!!!!! I'll check out your recommendations - I get mine at Marks & Spencers - only the best store in the whole world next to Ikea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Donali honey - lovin you so much! Lane Bryant would prob send stuff to Ireland but the shipping/tax ends up costing more than the bloody product so don't worry about it! I am defo getting to the US next year - have travelled enough this year so far! And maybe, hopefully, perhaps, some of you could meet me in NYC or where ever we visit? While I'm there I usually stock up on Gap stuff for the kids and Pottery Barn stuff for the house - but now MAYBE i'll be slim enough to get into gap stuff or whatever thinner cool people wear over there! Thanks a million Rica - you are my new favourite LBTer!

Yay Sarah, so glad to see you here! When we "spoke" (through the magic of MSN Messenger!) recently, my heart went out to you, you seem to be suffering so much, in a circle of self-loathing and comfort eating - You HAVE to look at the weight you have lost with joy and respect. If you didn't have your band put in, you would more than likely weigh 50lbs more than your top weight. I am so glad you got the book - she specifically doesn't lay out exact diet plans but lists food's glycemic (sp?) index, ie how much of a sugar "hit" you are likely to get from certain foods - she has fructose syrup at one end of the scale, and wood at the other end! For people who haven't heard of/read the book, here is a quote: "While we think of sugar as a food, it is actually a drug - an external substance acting throughout the brain and body on cellular receptors designed for an internal chemical called glucose. Since glucose is usually the only fuel the brain can ever use, and is critical to mental clarity, mood states and the controlled release of energy in the body, it is astounding how cavelierly we sprinkle sugar, its inferior substitute, into everything from children's breakfast to ketchup. If sugar were to be put on the market for the first time today, it would probably be difficult to get it past the FDA...." I don't want to advertise this book - when I read it, the whole concept of the glycemic index of food was totally novel to me - but I now often see articles/books/tv programs about it - so if you are interested in this concept, or feel you may be sugar sensitive, you could check out any source really. What attracted me was, the title - I had just weaned myself off prozac - I had all the symptoms of depression, and was prescribed the drug, but it made me crazy - so I felt there was something else wrong - and kept researching until I fould the link between sugar addiction + MO + depression. She even mentions in the book how you are more likely to suffer from sugar sensitivity if you have a lot of alcoholics in your family, which I do, so this convinced me that I was on the right track. I am SHOCKED at the difference this theory has made on my life - that's all I can say. And Sarah, I really hope it helps you too - mostly tho, you should try to visit the support boards, and try not to get too isolated - you are doing brilliantly, considering the year you have just been through - I am thrilled for you and so proud of you.

see? This is me on the damn beach - this one is actually taken at night - wouldn't be fair to you guys to show you the swimsuit one....

oh my god - thank you so much for the compliments guys - tragically I excitedly got home from my vacation, shaking all over from withdrawal symptoms from my pc, and quickly hooked up the digital camera to view all the gorgeous photos - I looked VILE in all of them - you know when you are in the sun, (doesn't happen much to us Irish folk!!!) - and suddenly you feel all free and sexy - you stick on a vest top, skip wearing makeup - let your hair go free (ie don't bother blow drying it or *ahem* BRUSHING it) - you smile confidently at the camera, thinkin, this'll be a BE-YOOO-TI-FUL photo - well, I thought I'd look all californian hippy girl on the beach - I ACTUALLY looked like middle-aged irish woman abroad with red sunburn and v saggy boobs! Siiiiiighhhh.... So I picked up cruel unkind digital camera and, snap, took a photo sittin right there at the 'puter in my junk room with all my crap and rubbish behind me - I enclose the regular sized one for y'all to see - professionally done? Em, no, but I think the camera sorta knew this was his last chance....

I pretty much avoid sugar when i can - it really causes mood swings and wrecks my life (I am a fully paid up member of Drama Queens of Ireland) so if I am really needing a sugar fix, I have it before bed so I become Bitch of the World when I'm asleep. Eg: on holidays I had some chocolate before bed or some icecream but still woke up with a kind of sugar hangover - headache and feeling sort of grumpy/blue. Also the sugar hit is minimised if you have it with a "good" food - ie I have blueberry jam on a linseed/wholemeal cracker or breadroll.... Sorry for being boring about this - I feel so evangelical about it! Really has changed my life, I now feel so guilty for all the mood swings my family has had to endure when the "answer" was so simple....