gowalking

So..most of you know I'm headed on my dream trip to London shortly. This is miraculous to me as only 2 1/2 years ago, I was barely able to walk a block and was only weeks away from going into a wheelchair. In preparation for a bike tour through St. James and Hyde Parks that I signed up for, my friend and I rented bikes and will ride in Central Park this afternoon. I've been practicing at the Y but I need to make sure I can ride a real bike and not just a stationary one. So...for those who focus too much on the scale and the numbers, think of me and others like me who note success as not just a number but in how we've regained our lives. In fact, I've climbed above 115 lbs. this week and while I'm not thrilled, I'm not obsessing. I've been eating out alot recently and this is likely the cause. I'll be a little more aware of how much I'm eating and the few pounds I've gained will come off. Or they may not come off. As long as I don't put on more, I'm OK with it. I'm way more focused on the bike ride today than what I weighed this morning. Think about that when you get pissed or depressed because you didn't lose enough weight this week. Or why didn't I lose weight if I'm starving myself? Don't starve yourself. The body doesn't like it. Have a great day today and a great holiday weekend. Eat well and eat smart. Enjoy all your non scale victories and enjoy your friends and family. I want to hear about all the holiday NSVs after the weekend. I hope to see lots and lots of them. Liz

It's not great when you are not recognized. I went through that at work. I was on medical leave and was out for 7 weeks. When I got back to the office, alot of people truly did not recognize me. It was very disconcerting.

The input you'll get on line will be based on what surgeries other posters have gotten, and how they are doing. Basically, the reason bandsters go with the band is that it is a less invasive procedure. The reason sleevers go with the sleeve is that they do not want to deal with the aftercare of a band. That's what you will have to think about in order to make your decision. Good luck!

My knees are a mess Mary. Riddled with arthritis and no cushioning left at all. Just bone on bone. I haven't had to replace them because I've lost all the excess weight but they still give me problems. Swim...swim, swim swim. Very good exercise and very easy on the joints.

This is not about love of food. This is about an abnormal relationship with food. You are obviously not a food addict so it's understandable that you don't get it. Oh...and about picking up cigarettes from the ground, ash trays, etc. I've done some pretty disgusting things in order to get in my food fix. I won't go into details but I've seen other posts from folks who are also ashamed of some of their behaviors regarding food and let me tell you friend, it's not pretty.

Went to a baby shower on Saturday for the daughter of a dear friend of mine. We've been friends for more than 40 years so I know her family well. The last time I saw many of them was for the wedding of the mom to be when she was a bride two years ago. I got lots of comments on how good I looked. I was ready for them and was very gracious. Then cousin Ettie comes over and tells me that she didn't recognize me and that (in a stage whisper) I lost alot of weight. Twice she said it. I know it took everything she had to not ask how I did it, which I appreciated but it was still unnerving the way she swooped in on me and got up into my face. I have relatives just like this so I was able to not let it bother me once she moved on to someone else but I was really glad to have gotten that over with...lol. I'm at the point now where I have started crossing these 'experiences' off my list. Yet another group of people who have seen me thin and hopefully will not think about it twice the next time I am in their midst. Sounds silly but that's what I'm looking forward to now.

I'm a carboholic too. I'm banded 2 1/2 years and just know that there are plenty of carbs that go down real easy so understand you will still have to be vigilant and make the choice to eat less of some of the items you love. Will it be easy? No. Will it be worth it? You bet.

Talk to the doctor about a support group or see if your coverage includes mental health. No..you're not crazy but most of us have an unhealthy relationship with food and a therapist who specializes in bariatric issues can be a life saver. I know because I see one. She helps me to work out issues without turning to food and she helps me to look at the root causes of my obesity so I can avoid it again. It's not the first time I've lost alot of weight just to put it back on and while the band works better than anything else I've ever tried, I know already that I can eat around it if I choose. High calorie/sugar/fat foods go down real easy. I think we all know that and how hard this journey can be even when so many think we've taken 'the easy way out'.

Hoping for a speedy recovery and getting back on the surgery fast track. Any delay once one decides surgery is the way to go seems like a huge setback but you have to keep looking at the big picture and know that things will work out. I was supposed to go for band surgery in October of 2012 and had to wait till January of 2013 because Superstorm Sandy hit NYC and the hospital sits on the East River. Terrible flooding and the hospital was closed for three months while they got it back up and running. Very stressful at the time of course but now 2 1/2 years later and at goal, it's just a distant memory. Good luck!

Wonderful! So happy for you that this has been such a positive experience for you. Same for me. I've been in the green since day one and am so grateful for that. My whole life has changed for the better and I love sharing my success with others.

Sometimes the numbers are not the best way to judge success. If you are increasing muscle while losing fat, it could look like the scale isn't moving in the right direction as quickly as expected or hoped. Try to look at other factors. Are your clothes looser? Are you going down in sizes? Do you feel better? Are your co-morbidities going away? Look for improvements in non scale ways and you may find that you are being more successful than you realize.

I'm glad the girls are not feeling rejected. No one can hurt you as badly as those who are supposed to love us.

I'd like to be able to change my stats to read starting pant size to current pant size instead of starting/current weight. My job is all about metrics so I understand the need to collect and analyze numbers but we really need to not obsess. There isn't a perfect weight nor is there a perfect size. This is about health and the quality of life...including how we look and how others see us. I keep telling myself I won't look at these threads but I do because I want to try to do what others are doing by saying to stop focusing on the scale. You are only three weeks out scarlet. How long have you been overweight? Years, right? It won't come off overnight. And even small losses are still losses. I never lost more than three pounds in a single week and yet I still managed to lose over 150 lbs. Relax...and enjoy the NSVs and whatever positive experiences you have while you are going through this change. Good luck.

You know what Julie...it depends. If it's someone I am getting to know and feel it's important for some reason, I'll tell. If it's someone who is peripheral in my life, likely not. I usually find that if I say anything about being formerly obese, it's because that person has possibly spoken about having joint issues or maybe even mentioned WLS. That's when I'll tell in order to let someone know that you can take charge of your health issues depending on what they are..and make changes that assist in having a more normal life.

Sorry but your post is funny...I presumed you were posting about heart trouble...lol.

My sister gets boils regularly and she takes a medication that her dermatologist prescribed for her. You might want to check that out. She does much better with breakouts when she is on the meds.

You can bring fruit..in fact any food is basically allowed on domestic flights. Not sure about international though. I'm going to London next month and have so much walking planned out that I don't expect to have any issues regarding overeating.

It took about 50 lbs. lost before people said anything. They may have noticed 'something' but didn't realize it was weight loss. Also..yes..better fitting clothes make the weight loss more noticible. I'll tell you though...after a while, you get tired of the attention. What I get now, and like, is 'you look nice today' or 'that dress is pretty'. People are getting used to seeing me this size and the compliments are more generalized rather than size-centric.

Everything you posted above my friend. Try to enjoy the ride Shelly. It really is the journey as much as the destination. Make a list of your NSVs and focus on that instead of the number on the scale. I bet you have dozens of them.

Even if it is vanity, so what? No need to rationalize this decision. If you want plastic surgery, go for it. You don't owe anyone a reason why.

My hair is not what it used to be. It's definitely thinner and less fuller and softer. So I cut it short to minimize this...and I like it short as it turns out. More importantly, I'm a normal size and I have good mobility again. This more than makes up for the hair loss.

My issue is passing gas. I do it alot. Luckily most of the time there's no odor but there sure is noise. I've farted in front of friends and family. I can't help it and just do the best I can by laughing it off...

It sucks to be fat and once you start to become 'not fat', the foods you love and crave will not have the same hold on you. My life is so much better now that I am in less pain and simply able to get around where once I was on a cane and couldn't fit where other normal sized people could. And I'm telling you this from personal experience. I couldn't imagine not having food be the first priority in my life but when you are a participant again, instead of on the sidelines of life, your fears and worries about the 'loss' of the food really do disappear. Good luck!

I can't tell if it's sleeveless or not but if yes, how about putting on a short sweater or shrug over it? I have several sleeveless dresses that I do that with because it's just more appropriate for work.

I've never gotten a fill. Just lucky enough to have never needed one. But that allows me to eat any type of carb including rice and pasta. I know some bandsters cannot eat these types of carbs so I would suggest carbs that you can handle..or of course you can ask the doctor and/or nutritionist.