Debbie3sons

@ JustWatchMe , I have never had a Elk burger thought about it one time when I was in Utah visiting , however I did have Elk Jerky & it was good & a very long time ago when I was younger , I had Elk Steak - it was tender & delicious even though I had to have it medium well , because I don't like my food still bleeding LOL & I love Filet Mignon as long as it's cooked right & also not bleeding , I swear the things We try now , I would have Never have tried before because I would think how gross but Proteins are good for us right LOL.

@ JustWatchMe , I have never had a Elk burger thought about it one time when I was in Utah visiting , however I did have Elk Jerky & it was good & a very long time ago when I was younger , I had Elk Steak - it was tender & delicious even though I had to have it medium well , because I don't like my food still bleeding LOL & I love Filet Mignon as long as it's cooked right & also not bleeding , I swear the things We try now , I would have Never have tried before because I would think how gross but Proteins are good for us right LOL.

@JulieNorton You look like your enjoying it & you look fabulous.

Thank you and I am blushing. Oh. Could be the cocktail and sun????????

Julie you're gorgeous!!!!

Ok. Not too many pics of me except before and after. Here goes a Hawaiian photo
Aloha and fun!!

I know what you mean about not getting sick. I also got bronchitis each winter and every cold turned into misery. I've been banded almost two years now and I don't think I've been sick since surgery.

Just a quick update from Sunny California
Been traveling a lot so hard to keep up with exercise and eating right. Fortunately I am making more good choices then bad choices. Was up in Northern California the last two weeks caught a cold first one in quite awhile. At my largest I would usually get bronchitis twice a year and it would last up to six t eight weeks. So now a cold is very unusual.
After not losing for three months I am back losing again and have managed to sneak back into the 170's which I have not seen for over 30 years.
Been quite the adventure these last 8 years.

Glad to hear good news!
Things are going well on my Hawaiian vacation. I know... Piña colada has coconut and pineapple... So it's a fruit. Right?
Lots of Protein Bars and ready to go Protein drinks... Cannot get them to blend well as hard as I try!!!
I'll just enjoy my slice of paradise for a few more days before the real world comes back....
Eating well 90% of the time. That is
Good enough for today!
Aloha!!????????

Just checking in with my "family". I've been doing great with the food. Down to 194/193 and slowly bumping that down. I'm finding that the longer my food is clean (no bready or starchy carbs, zero fried food, moderate portions, no alcohol) my band is tighter. I get stuck a lot lately (every couple of days) if I don't chew well and don't slow down. I was eating radishes as a snack every day for awhile and then suddenly at work I got stuck on radishes. Radishes! The sliming was horrendous. And pink. Lol. Anyway, it has proven to me that I am indeed at the right fill level and need no more.
The divorce is creeping forward slooooowly, but now that there's a trial date set, I'm looking forward with excitement to the new part of my life waiting for me this summer.
I cannot stress enough how important working with a therapist and my 12-step groups has been for me going through all of this.
I also have a couple of the best friends in the world and have had these people in my life since age 14. I rely on them so much, and they rely on me as well. I am truly blessed.
Happy news. Eldest daughter has started to hear back this week from some of the ten graduate schools she applied to, and has been accepted to Emory, among others. She's flying high, and I'm as proud as a peacock.
Hugs to all my peeps.

I never went to any of the support groups. I'm on this site and two years ago I started therapy due to several issues related to the weight loss.

Went for my year two follow up since the hip replacements this morning and NYU has a system that tracks all your appointments and test results, etc. in a single system. They use both a photo and a palm print to confirm you in the system and today, the woman at the desk looks long and hard at my photo (taken prior to WLS) and asks me if I'd like a new picture taken. I was pleased as punch and put a big smile on my face as an updated picture is now part of my data profile.
Next on the list...my driver's licence and my passport. I always get that hard stare from the male TSA agents...and the comments from the female agents about how I look great now. Not that I mind the comments but I'd like to move past the stares and comments now that I'm nearly three years post banded.
Have a great weekend everybody!

I'm also nearly three years post band. Just like Sharpie, I'm glad to see you online Terry and glad that you are doing well. I've been trying to get under 120 lbs. but find myself fluctuating between 120-125. As long as I don't have any issues getting into my pants, I'm OK with this as a final number. Hell...at 267 before the pre-op liquid diet, I'm more than OK with being 120ish. LOL.

Terry so glad to see you are doing well. I am almost to my 3 year bandiversary as well . I come on the site to see how everyone is doing and I still have some struggles. The biggest problem I had this year was the illness and subsequent death of my husband. emotional eating is a difficult thing to overcome. I am still doing good too , gained a few lbs throughout my husband's hospital stays and hospice at the end. WE always seek comfort in food when we are emotionally at a low point. I still am happy that I made the choice to have lapband and I have lost some of the "comfort" weight since his death in October. My health is definitely better and I am much more active than before. Take Care and check in once in awhile. I miss some of the regulars that helped me so much in the beginning.

Calendar reminded my that it has been 3 years since I got my lapband and I thought I would check in.
Total lost is about 70 pounds, but it does fluctuate. I am still wearing size 34 pants (down from 46), although this holiday season has made them a bit tight, I should be back to normal in a couple of weeks of regular eating. Still one of the best decisions that I have ever made, especially since I was diagnosed with Prostate cancer(currently in complete remission) a couple of years ago, the weight loss made the accompanying surgery and radiation much easier on my body. Lapband is/was not a cure for me, it is a tool. I still wrestle with emotional eating although that is becoming less and less. There are times I hate the band because it forces me to seek other solutions to emotional turmoil that do not involve food.
I don't visit the site very much anymore because my eating and weight are no longer a focal point of my existence, in that I think I am as close to normal as I will ever be. But this site and a large portion of the contributors were instrumental to me to getting my band to work for me.
Thanks.

Outstanding!

So, even leaner and meaner then, eh? Way to go! Thanks for the inspiration this morning.

Keep telling it B52, you are the poster boy for Lapband Surgery. At age 68 I am so excited about life now that I can enjoy doing things. We are leaving tomorrow for our Alaskan Cruise, I am going to ride horses I Skagway while my husband takes a train ride (he loves trains). 3 years ago I wouldn't have even considered doing the cruise .
as a side note, I had to unload horse feed the other day, husband has been under the weather. I picked up a 50# bag and it was pretty heavy but I thought to myself wow I used to carry that much and more on my body every day. Thank God for lapband and my surgeon I no longer carry that burden. Glad to see these positive stories.

@@B-52
And so it goes....just another great story! I'll never get tired of reading how much our surgeries have changed lives. Congrats on leading the pack during your mountain climbing!!! I haven't tried that....yet.

You are my hero.

Just returned from our vacation, 10 days including 7 days on a cruise....
Best news is, I let my band be the boss just as any other day...limited my food intake and controlled my hunger.
I did not deny all the pleasures available to me, just did not make a pig of myself.
I went on a Volcano climb, 3,800 feet straight up rocks and mud through a rain forrest...there was a couple there that were 42 years old, then everyone else was in their 30's and 20's....I'm 63 !!!! Our guide said not only was that a first, but also the fact I was one of 4-5 leaders way out in front setting the pace where everyone had to keep up with.
On another stop, I jumped off a 45+ foot cliff into the Caribbean ocean....there is a bar at the top of the cliff where people sit and watch the cliff jumpers...NO ONE jumped that day but me !!!!
Back on the ship I ran into a family from Holland that were sitting at that bar...they wouldn't stop complimenting me. And when I told them my age, that really put them over the top.
Bottom line....I lost 3 lbs !!! And to think it was just a few years ago I could not carry groceries into the house without having to sit down to catch my breath....not to mention my cardiac issues, diabetes, etc, etc......
Am I bragging?? YOU BET!!! It just doesn't get any better than this...and I have to give all the credit to my Lap Band Surgery....without it, I'd probably be dead....no exaggeration.
Only thing is, with all the booze I consumed over the last 10 days, I need to go on a "Cleanse" including extra time in the sauna to sweat it out of my system.

NOT!!!!!!

I can eat bread! Getting on the horn first thing tomorrow for a fill appointment, good grief, why am I even trying to eat baguette (with butter, ugh, my old self, no!). I realize I've been nibbly and hungry and grazing, etc. Duh! I so know better than this. But bread, good grief. For me that is just crazy. It's been building up and suddenly makes sense -- slipped out of the green zone without being fully aware (or not wanting to -- lazy, don't want to be too tight so cautious, or just enjoying the extra calories and the feeling of rewarding/indulging at my least favorite time of year?). Whatever it is, I'm not going down this road.

JustWatchMe
I know what you're talking about. I can't speak for everyone but for me the band makes dieting easier. I never wanted to call this banded lifestyle a diet but for the most part it is. Dieting before the band was painfully impossible. Not anymore.
The band makes it so much easier to stop when I feel satisfied. The band makes me more aware of when to stop. I love it. I've lost 7 lbs since Jan 3rd on my way to losing 20 more just to get to my lowest from a year ago.

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Hey BariatricPal Members!
I hope this newsletter finds you well, and getting a good start in 2016! Now that the holidays are a distant memory and life’s back to normal, it’s time to focus on weight loss surgery and health. This newsletter can help you get motivated and work hard to reach this year’s goals. Here’s what you’ll find in this month’s newsletter.

News from BariatricPal: Forums and Beyond Member Spotlight: Meet cervidae! Getting Started on a Workout Program – Some Basics
So enjoy the newsletter, and then get thinking about how what you do today can make your dreams come true in 2016. BariatricPal is waiting to cheer you on!

Sincerely,
Alex Brecher
Founder, BariatricPal

News from BariatricPal: Forums and Beyond
We always have plenty of plans up our sleeves to help support you even further in your weight loss surgery journey. This year promises to be no exception. We’re working hard to make improvements and roll out some exciting new developments. In the meantime, here are a few things to think about!

The BariatricPal Store: Get Your Healthy food and Bariatric Supplements!
Weight loss is easier.when you have help. The BariatrricPal Store gives you access to the high-Protein, low-calorie foods and supplements you need, along with the bariatric Vitamins that will keep you nourished as you lose weight. Stop by for bars, shakes, breakfasts, Entrees, and Snacks like chips and pretzels. There are tons of gems like protein oatmeal raisin Cookies and low carb Fettuccini Pasta. You’ll love the delicious choices plus the nutritionals.

In case you need a little guidance, we have suggested meal plans that you can use. Check out the plans for the Full liquid, pureed and Mushies, and Solid Foods diets. We also have plans for Maintenance, as well as a little help getting over a hump with the Back on Track diet.

Around the Boards
Social support is absolutely crucial for success after weight loss surgery, and BariatricPal has you covered! Head on over to the forums if you have questions, need advice or encouragement, or just want to see what’s happening. You can chat about meal plans and salmon recipes, list the pros and cons of weight loss, talk about special concerns like night eating syndrome, and find a surgeon in our surgeon directory.

Member Spotlight: Meet Cervidae
We are delighted to start the year off by featuring cervidae from Rochester, New York. This young lady has PCOS and was working with a nutritionist and specialist with no results. After months of hard work, experimentation with medications, and working out hard, she considered weight loss surgery.

Early last year, she went to a seminar and felt much more hopeful. She saw others who had the same trouble she did and got over it with WLS. She also liked listening to the surgeon’s talk. Cervidae stopped being defensive and realized she needed to do something.

She chose the RNY gastric bypass because of her high starting BMI of 67. She also wanted the extra accountability that comes with fear of dumping syndrome.

Cervidae saw surgery as a chance to reclaim control of her body, and she took that chance. She got surgery in August of 2015 at the age of 22. So far, she has lost over 120 pounds. She’s at 292 lbs. now and is working towards her goal weight of 170 pounds.

Her life has changed dramatically since losing some weight. She’s gone from not being able to hold a job because her body couldn’t last through a work day, to making a living as a freelance artist and photographer. Her “little” victories include losing 8 pants sizes, fitting into chairs, walking upstairs comfortably, and seeing her health numbers get into normal ranges. Best of all, she sees that she HAS a future, and it is a happy one.

The forums have helped cervidae with her anxiety because she now know there are people who care and understand. It makes a difference in her everyday life, and she is grateful for the support. She says they have been as instrumental as her surgeon!

Cervidae has an important tip for members and for everyone else: you are worth it. The journey isn’t easy, from admitting you need help to going through a permanent change, but the effort is worth it because you are worth it. She says believing that lets you see this as “an amazing journey instead of a forced migration.”

Cervidae really credits her surgery not only with giving her her life back, but giving her the will to live. She was ready to give up before, and is now looking forward to a joyful future. She says THANK YOU to everyone – from her friends and family to her healthcare team to BariatricPal members – who has helped her.

Thank YOU, cervidae, for being in our member spotlight and sharing your journey with us. We are so proud of you and thrilled that you have such a bright future!

If you want to be in the newsletter or there’s a BariatricPal member you’d like to learn more about, let us know in the Member Spotlight Forum! You can nominate yourself or someone else.

Getting Started on a Workout Program – Some Basics
The majority of your weight loss comes from your healthy WLS diet. Cut the calories, choose healthy foods, and you’ll lose weight. So why bother working out?

It’s not just about burning a few extra calories, although that sure helps with weight loss! It’s about having more energy in daily life, being able to do more things, improving your physical health, and becoming a happier, less stressed person. You might even say that if weight loss surgery and the WLS diet can get you your life back, exercise can make it worth living!

But how do you even start if you’re not used to being active? It can be scary, but it’s probably a LOT easier than you think. Here are a few do’s and don’ts for beginners.

Do get your doctor’s approval first before you start any exercise program. Don’t worry about anyone else. Nobody in the gym is judging you; there’s a good chance nobody even notices you. Just worry about your workout. Do get the proper workout clothes and footwear. Don’t rush it. The last thing you need is an injury. Start with just a few minutes at a super light intensity, and work up from there when your body is ready. Do schedule in some rest days. Your muscles need them for recovery, and your mind needs them for sanity. Don’t give up. It is tough at first, but it gets easier. Do find something you like. It may be walking, cycling, swimming, group fitness classes, window shopping in the mall, or chasing fly balls at your daughter’s softball practice. There is at least one activity you can love. Don’t overeat to compensate for the calories you burn in exercise. You probably don’t need as many extra calories as you think. Do drink extra water!
So there’s a little help with healthy recipes and beginning exercise, with some extreme inspiration sandwiched in between. Hope you’re ready to get your own healthy act going now…just as soon as you check into the forums!