gowalking

Oh well...that's different. LOL. I can tell you that my experience has been that as the weight dropped, I went from dreaming of food to dreaming of a new wardrobe. I even have several pocketbooks to go with my outfits..same for shoes and fashion jewelry. I feel like a life sized Barbie doll sometimes. Not that I have her measurements obviously, but I am having a great time dressing myself up after so many years just hoping to find clothes that fit.

Fill is this coming Friday Lisa. Still wide open..lol.

Sarah....just because some posters can eat certain foods, doesn't mean you will tolerate those same foods. Please make sure this early in the process, to check with your surgeon and nutritionist before trying any of the foods you want to eat.

Very runny oatmeal was one of my first mushy foods. But like I said...it had to be pretty watery early on.

sashimi is probably fine but think twice about the seaweed salad. It's chewy and might not be the best choice only a month out.

Welcome to online dating. Just remember...it's not you...it's them.

That's it...I give. I can't... I've been struggling to not gain back weight. For a few months now, I've been saying each and every morning, 'today I will make good choices'. And more often than not, I am eating more than I should. I presumed it was stress eating, head hunger, happy new relationship overeating, blah blah blah. Turns out, I'm just plain hungry. Went to see my doctor and told her of my struggles. I've gained ten pounds over the last six months. Some of my clothes are getting tight. I refuse to buy anything that's going to accommodate weight gain. My doctor explained that the fat cells aren't gone..they're just dormant. And now, they are waking up again and my body is begging to gain weight back again. She swears it's biological and not emotional. I feel like I'm failing and she tells me that failing is not doing anything about this new found hunger, and not requesting a fill. So...Friday will get my first fill after nearly three years banded. I'm both troubled and relieved. This reminds me of when I recently had surgery and went off my anti-inflammatory meds. Was in so much discomfort that I couldn't even walk standing straight. All my joints hurt. I couldn't believe how much the meds were keeping me pain free. The band needing Fluid is sort of the same thing I guess. I'm not 'cured' from overeating and obesity. The band manages my hunger enough for me to make good choices. Without it, I'm back to square one. I have to think the same about the band as I do about the meds I take. Prevention in order to not suffer from my arthritis, or my obesity. It really is a disease...and not a vice.

this is a great list James. it should be pinned so folks can refer to it regularly. should we ask Alex to do this or can a user do it?

I knew there was a good reason we got along so well. My friends are smart people.

Happy Anniversary to you Happy Anniversary to you Happy Anniversary my dear band friend..... Happy Anniversary to youuuuu!!

Thanks for all your comments friends. I was just feeling frustrated. I'm struggling to stay on track. I even have an appointment for a fill for next week. I work s hard at doing what I should...and to hear of someone just ignoring an opportunity...well...like I said...I'm on a rant.

OK friends...I'm getting a fill next Friday. I know this sounds silly but I feel a little like a failure for needing a fill after all this time. I'll get over it...just wanted you all to know what's going on in this dopey head of mine.

Hi Jim! Glad to see you again. Glad things are good.

I have two pictures I keep in my office that were taken at our holiday office party. One was taken before I had WLS and the other was taken last year. I keep these pictures somewhat hidden as they are for me more than anyone else. I look at them all the time to remind myself of where I started and where I am now. I'm smiling in both of the pictures but one of them is of a person happy with her accomplishments and the other is someone who was struggling daily with her situation and co-morbidities. I can't even begin to explain how I feel when I see those two pictures though I'm sure many of you understand exactly how I feel. Sorta like our birthday girl.

A friend at work told me her MIL had WLS. As this friend has always known about my being banded, she had no problem telling me her obese and ill (comorbidities such as Type2 diabetes and hypertension) MIL finally decided to do something about her situation and had some type of surgery. (She's not sure which one). It's now about five months since mom had surgery and my friend tells me she hasn't lost much weight at all. I was surprised that it wasn't noticible after this much time but now I know why. Friend had her in-laws over last weekend and she said her MIL ate basically the same way she did before surgery. The only difference she could see was the amount was somewhat smaller but otherwise, she was eating the same food she ate before. Bagels at Breakfast, bad choices at lunch and dinner....and still drinking both wine and hard liquor. Including mixed drinks with high sugar additives. I can't begin to tell you all how much this bothered me. Why have surgery if you're not going to follow the rules? How did this get past her meeting with the psychologist? Why waste the opportunity when I see so many on these boards who desperately want surgery and can't get it. Anyway...that's why I put this is rants & raves. Can't do anything about it even though I'd like to shake this woman into appreciating the opportunity she was given..and has decided to throw away.

With all due respect, I agree with Dub. If you don't know what you should or should not be eating, bother the shit out of the NUT. It's what he/she is there for. If you do have a list of approved foods, follow it and don't focus on what you may or may not be able to eat down the road. Like all of us, you'll have to figure out through trial and error what and what doesn't work for you. More importantly, focus on non food things. Think about the type of exercise you want to participate in. Think about increasing said exercise over the next few days/weeks, months. Focus on the kind of clothes you want to get into once you start to get smaller. Think about why you got the surgery... I've been banded for almost three years and food is important to me..but my life no longer revolves around it. Never in my life have I said as often as I do now, 'I don't care' when asked what or where I wanted to eat. I'm not saying I don't love food..of course I do. But when you follow the rules and only eat a small portion of it, what kind of food it is doesn't matter so much. Good luck and keep on posting and asking questions.

Welcome back!

I'm so sorry Shel. I am sending you a PM.

Try not to take it personally if she doesn't respond. I can't tell you haw many really nice first dates I had and never had a second one. You can't control this so don't try to...and don't try to overthink it. If she texts back, great. If not, just go at it again with someone else.

If you want to do something fun on Halloween Laurie, go to Lincoln Center. I was there for a concert in the afternoon and the plaza was teeming with kids and babies in costume. Watching them running around the old folks with canes and walkers was a bit scary but they were still cute as all getout.

If you want to do something fun on Halloween Laurie, go to Lincoln Center. I was there for a concert in the afternoon and the plaza was teeming with kids and babies in costume. Watching them running around the old folks with canes and walkers was a bit scary but they were still cute as all getout.

It happens to us ladies plenty. There are lots and lots of size 10 and 12's. Even 8's. But smaller than that become difficult. I wear a 6 in jeans and can be as small as a 2 or 4 in some dresses. Very hard to find those sizes.

Hi @wagyu. Just wanted to let you know that I lost 150 lbs. without cooking my own meals. I live in NYC and have a very small kitchen. I live alone and cooking just seemed like a big old pain in the neck. I shopped at upscale markets for prepared meals and that's what I ate. Mostly fish and chicken along with veggies and even a bit of carbs such as a very small potato, or 1/4 cup pasta/rice. Stay away from fried foods, things you know will have alot of calories and sodium/fat. Other than that, you should be OK. Again...I get that cooking yourself gives you more control but I'm proof that you can do it without cooking your own food. Good luck!

Thanks for posting this Alex. I often feel like I have to defend my choice of WLS and the point is to do what is best for you, not necessarily what is the 'hot' procedure or to feel pressured into getting something you don't feel is right for you. Oh...and one more thing. I know that the band is often a good choice for lower BMI people but the band still can work for higher BMI folks as well and I'm proof of that.

Didn't dress up but I always Celebrate Halloween as the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade passes by my building and I get a bird's eye view. I attached a picture from my living room window. I also attached a picture of myself taken earlier that day with a statue of Dante behind me. I know it's a bit of a stretch, but Dante's Inferno is sort of Halloween-ish, right? Hope you all had a fun day 'trick or treating'.