gowalking

Thanks Lisa. Jack says the diner is a block from the Babylon station? I can google it to know what direction to go towards...or if you can give me a landmark or two, I should be able to find it. Or feel free to wait for me at the station so I can walk with you and not get lost... I'll send you a text before the date just to coordinate. Liz

Thanks for the info Jack. Yup...if it's still on, I'd love to join.

I'll be celebrating four years banded in mid January. Lost a ton of weight and gained back my life. I know that sometimes the band will not work even if the person is totally compliant but the chances are much greater that if you are compliant, the band will work well for you. Good luck and don't second guess your choice if it truly is what you think is best for you. I chose the band because it was reversible and less invasive. It was the right choice for me, and hopefully will be the right choice for you.

Nice to hear from you Debbie. Sorry about the job situation but it sounds like the kids are well and your weight is under control. Me on the other hand...I'm struggling with the weight. It's good stuff...I'm in a great relationship and I admit that I'm having fun with food. I work hard mid week to be very careful about what I eat but when we're together on the weekends, I'm eating out and no matter how careful I am, it's still food that's higher in salt and fat and it shows. I was 127 lbs. just before we met and I am now struggling to stay under 140 lbs. He's not trying to sabotage me...I have to be strong and say no to eating out all weekend long. We're just having so much fun together....it's hard to stop the eating out part as it's alot of what we like to do. Not to worry though...I won't fall off the wagon though I've stumbled a bit. Julie...honey, all I can say is the anticipation is worse than the actual day. Change it up if at all possible and try to make new traditions if you can. All I know is that I worked almost completely off gut feelings those first few years. If it felt OK, I did it, and if it felt not OK, I didn't...even if it meant changing things up last minute. I spent my first Christmas season with the kids of course, but went somewhere else so we were not doing what we had done when Alan was alive. I don't know that you can do the same thing, but it helped me to do something completely different. Just know that I understand as do lots of people dealing with loss. It's just so hard when the loss is so new and raw. You know you are in my thoughts... Liz

You look great. I'm almost four years out from being banded as well. I've gained back about 20 lbs. from where I was most comfortable, but surprisingly, I've heard from others that I look better with a little more meat on my bones. I'm working on losing at least 10 of those 20 lbs. That should make me feel better about where I am.

Make an appointment with your doctor and see if you need an adjustment. Then start to track your food and get in some exercise...even if it's just walking the neighborhood. Just as long as you are doing some moving...

Good luck. I had my WLS at NYU...just down the street from Bellevue.

Good luck. I had my WLS at NYU...just down the street from Bellevue.

Good luck. I had my WLS at NYU...just down the street from Bellevue.

If this will help you to motivate, go for it. For me, I found my motivation in the scale going down and clothing sizes going in that same direction.

Some of us have to reach rock bottom in order to make positive changes. I was morbidly obese and close to being wheelchair bound. I had no life. I couldn't walk a block without having to sit and I live in NYC...a place where everyone walks. I couldn't travel, couldn't play with my granddaughter, couldn't do much of anything...except eat. And eat I did...even though every forkful of food meant I was jeopardizing my mobility even more. I had the band put in nearly four years ago. I've been in therapy for more than two years as I needed to work on the core issues of why I was fat...and how to not get fat again. I had both hips replaced less than a year after my band. I still have issues because of the damage I've done to myself and need to take anti-inflammatory and pain meds. On the good side, is that after this up and down voyage, I am living life again as a normal sized person. I can walk just about anywhere..albeit in pain at times. I run after my new grandson who just turned a year and a half. I have a wonderful man in my life again and I never expected that would happen. Never. I say a prayer of thanks everytime I lie in his arms or take his hand when we go walking. I went to London on vacation last year...something I've wanted to do for so long...and thought I'd never be able to do. Next spring, I go on a two week trip to The Netherlands, Russia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Norway, and Estonia. To me, this is truly miraculous considering where I was before surgery. Understand that for many of us, the weight is a symptom of something much deeper than just food. I would suggest you continue with therapy....and for however long it takes for you to understand your motives and to try to change your behavior. It's not easy and I find this part of my weight loss journey harder than the losing weight part. Thank you for sharing your story with us and know that you will find a sympathetic sounding board here and the support you need at least in this virtual world we inhabit.

Here's the thing...you can tell people anything but if you lose alot of weight in a short period of time, they will know you've had some type of bariatric surgery. Simple as that.

They probably don't mean to but they are sabotaging you. I agree...self plate and try to not let the things that hurt you come through. I know it's easier said that done...family knows how to push your buttons but please don't self harm. And just so you know...next year everything will be different once they see how improved you and your life have become.

Honestly Julie...I loved the cheesecake with candied bacon bits on top. The patrons...well as this is NYC, there were lots of pretty, thin people there. Not like what you would have expected. NYC is a different breed...you just don't see lots of obese people here. It's like when Parisshel used to be online here and said that Paris was filled with pretty people. Same with New York. I did not see much in the way of what you would expect at a restaurant that was all about excess.

OK..since this has morphed into a bacon thread, check out the restaurant that I went to a few weeks ago. Man...was like I had died and gone to bacon heaven. Oh...and I'm no newbie testing out my band. I'm a vet who knows what she can and cannot eat...and how much. This type of eating is a rare treat...not an everyday thing. Enjoy! http://www.barbacon.com/

If the decision is to meet up on the 17, I'd like to join. Lisa...I'd need to ask if you can pick me up at the nearest LIRR station though. Let me know if that's do-able. Corey already said it would work fine because I would take the train to Woodside instead of coming back into the city, and then we can take the 7 train back to Flushing to meet up with my girlfriend. Liz

What she said...except my therapist does have a bariatric background and has had WLS herself. I don't think it's something you must have when picking a therapist...as long as you have someone who is skilled with helping those like us who have difficulties with coping. I know that is me to a tee.

You know you're fabulous, right? Oh how I love these before and after pics. It's not just the weight loss, but the smile on your face, the haircut, the makeup...all of it. How wonderful to see in all of us, the blossoming that comes from being comfortable in our own skin. Congrats.

I take New Jersey Transit daily and know exactly how horrible this accident was...and could have been because I know the Hoboken Station so well. When I read this, all I could think of was that he really was asleep at the switch. And yes...as the article notes, it's not the first time this has happened on the commuter trains here in the NYC area. That other accident was on the MetroNorth line that services Grand Central Terminal. What I can't help but wonder...is why his wife (and yes, he's married..it was in the papers) didn't recognize the sleep apnea. Your wife did. I know my mom did as my dad did that same snort and snore and dead silence thing. I know my mom was constantly prodding him so he would breathe again...and this was before anyone really knew what sleep apnea was. I'm a bit skeptical....his lawyer says he has undiagnosed sleep apnea...not a doctor. Oh, and yes...accidents with drivers falling asleep at the wheel is well documented. I'm sure many of them also suffer from sleep apnea. Here's the other thing though...I'd bet the house that right now, lots of people reading this story in the New York papers are thinking this is yet another reason to hate fat people.

This.

Well congrats to you for making this decision to make your life better. I'm sure you'll do great. Feel free to reach out to those of us here on the site...and in the NYC area.

Welcome. I live in the city as well. Hi! Are you pre op or post op? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App I'm nearly four years out from lapband surgery. If you look at my profile, you will see that I lost around 135 lbs. I've been in maintenance for about 2 1/2 years and until recently, stayed within 5 lbs. of my ideal weight. I am struggling now because I'm in a new relationship and enjoying eating out and all the other fun stuff that comes with romance. I plan on stopping the madness because some of my clothes no longer fit and I will not start that nonsense again...having clothing in several sizes because my weight yo-yo's. Fortunately, my band will help me to get my weight back to where it needs to be. I just have to be more vigilant. It's true with WLS as it's true with any 'lifestyle' change. Losing the weight is easy. Keeping it off is hard.

Welcome. I live in the city as well.

I hear you Lisa. Fortunately, my weight gain is due to happy stuff...Corey and I are having fun with food, and it's hard for me to get the genie back in the bottle. But I've been told by my doctor and others, that I need to drop a few lbs. and I know that I want to be at around 125 lbs. I'm creeping way too close to 140 and that's bad....really bad. So...I can tell you already that I'm still in Florida on 11/26 and in Philadelphia on 12/3. I might be able to do 12/17. I have plans for dinner with a friend in Flushing and I might be able to do both dinner and a meet up depending on what time you guys typically meet and of course where. If Corey isn't working that Saturday, I might even find myself on LI at his place. I suspect though that he'll be working and in the city by me....which means my taking the LIRR out there and then taking it back to Queens. Let me check with Corey...and let me know what time you think you would meet and we'll go from there. I don't even know if the date works with everyone else....

oh boy do I need a back on track discussion...15 lbs. Lisa... 15 lbs. I don't fit into some of my clothes... If you do after Thanksgiving, I might be available. This Saturday we're heading to Lincoln Center for an evening of La Boheme.