gowalking

Same here. I'm the same weight as I was when I got married in 1977. Obviously, I'm not the same size...not after 37 years and two children. But I haven't been 125 lbs. since getting pregnant with the first one...who just turned 36. I look at myself in the mirror or in a window when I'm walking outside all the time. Not because I'm enamored of my new figure....but because I don't know who that skinny girl I see in the mirror is. 125 lbs. and wearing a size 6 yet all I see is the morbidly obese woman I was prior to surgery. I'm also a work in progress.

Hang in there. I understand. I was taking BP meds and also on alot of anti-inflammatory and other arthritis meds. My hips and knees were terrible and the pain was so unbearable that I struggled to walk one block. I was looking at life in a wheelchair.

I've lost 130 lbs. and my life has been given back to me. I had to have both hips replaced...yes, the degereration was that bad. But I didn't need to replace my knees because the weight loss meant I can deal with the discomfort now. I'm off all joint related meds and the BP meds have been reduced considerably. Two years ago I went on a cruise and couldn't get off the ship because I was in so much pain. I'm going on another cruise next month and my son and I are going scuba diving in Nassau.

You will do great, you will lose weight and yes, your life will improve more than you could ever imagine. Good luck!

Guess who bashed my band. It was my primary doctor. She wanted me to be sleeved or have bypass. Why you say? Because none of her banded patients ever lost more than 40 lbs. Well I needed to lose at least 100 lbs. and I got banded anyway. I wanted less invasive and that's what I had. And guess what....I've lost 126 lbs. and....I am now smaller than the doctor. Sweeeet!!

I ate so much before being banded that I made myself sick. Fast forward 13 months and thisclose to goal and who cares about eating to excess...I look great and feel so much better than I did last year. Once you see results, you will feel the same way.

I wonder if this might change as the baby boomers who are experiencing these terrible end of life scenarios for their parents ultimately become like their parents. If at 50 or 60ish, you see what the folks are going thru, would you likely look to make sure this doesn't happen to you?

I don't know if this means making sure someone will follow your wishes, or if we start to legislate ways to end life before the quality is all gone. Interesting topic but so sorry it's happening to you personally Arlene.

I saw this on my local news last night Arlene. As long as people are fat, there will be those who will happily take your money...

You speak the truth my friend!

Oh you can do it...don't doubt it for a moment. I was also a 4X this time last year and now I'm now wearing (depending on the manufacturer) anywhere from medium to XL...which is not the same as 1X..I know because 1X is still larger than XL.

Toss the Snickers. I did the same thing as you when I had surgery a year ago but it was a bag of cookies rather than candy bars. I held onto them for all this time thinking if I had company, I'd have something sweet to offer. Well..I finally threw them away a couple of weeks ago. I figured they were stale by now anyway. It's just if you keep them in the house, it's a temptation you don't need.

totally normal. I was the same way a year ago and found my footing in this journey and have lost 105 lbs. without depriving myself of anything. I just eat a little bit of it, and I'm fine. you will be OK...good luck with your surgery.

so sorry to hear of your situation AJ. you know you have friends on this forum and friends don't judge. we don't care if you've stumbled...you are human, not perfect. please keep in touch and let us know how you are, or just come on and rant if you must...the good thing is that we don't care...it's just good to see you here. feel better soon!

oh yeah, I'd get another therapist ASAP. please please please try to ignore the scale. you did not gain five pounds...the calibration is different for any scale you get on. you must remember you are not a number but a person. are you having nsv's? I bet you are. are your clothes fitting better or are you wearing smaller sizes? I bet you are. do you have more energy/less pain? I bet you are. focus on those goals and forget about the damn scale. hang in there!! I started seeing a therapist because of all the changes I've gone through this year. she has a band and understands wls and food issues so I think we'll work well together.

If you are being compliant and not losing weight, you absolutely must discuss this with the doctor and nutritionist..and you should have told the nurse she presumed wrong. Root cause, shmoot cause. That's for folks who are not changing their eating habits. Again, if you are following the protocol and not losing, get the help you deserve. Good luck.

Lovely picture. My daughter-in-law's father passed away a year ago from complications from his early onset dementia. It was a very difficult time for her and her mom and I have much compassion for you and anyone who has a family member with this terrible illness. Cherish your mom for however long you have with her.

Saw your response to my post Arlene. Happy Hanukkah to you as well!

Sounds like a great day. Congrats on the weight loss!

Boy can I appreciate your knee issues SillyAuntDi. Same thing for me.....both knees bad, no cartilage, torn meniscus, no surgery until I lost weight. Hang in there. I had to lose nearly 70 lbs. before being considered a candidate for replacement surgery and I have lost around 90 lbs. Turns out I needed both hips replaced before even considering the knees and had that done nearly seven weeks ago. Knees are still sore but the pain is much better. I was on mandatory bed rest for two weeks prior to surgery and now I can lift my legs...something I couldn't do for a year or more. I went food shopping today and only sat for a couple of minutes over the hour or so I was in the supermarket. Before the surgery, I was sitting every few minutes and walking home even with the shopping wagon was torture. Good luck with everything and if you have any questions about the replacement surgery, let me know and I'll try to give you some info based on my experience.

remember...the goal is to be healthy, not skinny.

Good for you Steph, really terrific. I know how you feel. I have enough cortisone in my hips that I was able to swim last week and not just dogpaddle after doing my water exercises. I felt fast and sleek in the water and not like the fat lumbering person I was 86 lbs. ago. And...best of all, I was moving! Hooray! Thanks for your wonderful post! You go girl!!

I feel your pain, I truly do. Between being ravenous on the preop diet, and also off my nsaids, I was miserable.and in tremendous pain. But it was all worth it now that I've dropped 86 lbs. and became a good candidate for joint replacement surgery....which I wasn't able to do before losing the weight. I have to have several joints replaced, but after it's all done, I expect to be mobile and in much less pain than I've been dealing with these last two years. Good luck and I know you will do great!

Oh Arlene, you are just too funny. You said you had a wonderful time and still managed to bash the family. You are my kind of gal! L'Shana Tovah my friend. A happy and healthy new year to you.

uncomfortable as in bringing attention to yourself? If yes, not to worry. No one cares what you are eating...they only care about what they are eating. I eat out a lot with friends and family some of whom know I am banded, and some who do not. No one has ever said a word.....and I always have the old standby ready....'oh I'm just not that hungry'.

you have a great attitude and seem willing to do the hard work. I bet you are one of the true success stories. Can't wait to hear of your progress post banding. good luck!

she's right lell....it doesn't look like you. it's almost impossible to see it's a before and after shot. it's really amazing.....

it also shows how desperate people are to lose weight. And of course all these people will gain it back. I suspect they do this for short term results, not as a lifestyle change.