gowalking

Amen Terry! I was waiting to see if anyone would post that. The nutritionist is setting you up for failure. Have a good long talk with him/her. Telling you that you are not where you should be is not only wrong...but counterproductive. Really....think about going with another nutritionist.

My whole life is a NSV. From the most mundane things like lifting my legs to shave them in the shower to the most vital such as moving and without pain and without looking at the rest of my life being in a wheelchair. If I tried to list them all out, this post would go on forever.

You look beautiful Julie!

My port sticks out like a golf ball under my skin but I'm proud of that bump. When I first got banded, I was so fat, you couldn't see or feel the port. It's visable now because I've lost so much weight. I might get the lower profile port in the future, but for now, I don't let it bother me.

I've married off both sons after my husband passed away. Some of it will be bittersweet Julie...can't do anything about that. But lots of it will be wonderful and that's what you should focus on. Enjoy the day and best wishes to the happy couple.

Hullo!! Can we show the psychiatric community this thread? When my therapist tells me that food is not technically an addiction, I want to scream. Who does these things except people who are addicted? Old food, bad food, too much food. If you substitute any other substance for food in these posts, it would look like any other addiction be it alcohol or drugs or anything. My therapist says it's not an addiction because it doesn't change the brain. I call bulls**t on that. I know my brain lights up like the Empire State Building when I see Pasta. Hell...it happened last night. We ordered Italian in and I was cleaning up the leftovers last night and all I wanted to do was eat that cold dry spaghetti. Don't tell me this is not an addiction. I know that pasta is my heroin and no one can tell me different.

I live in NYC and while it's great for shopping, it's not great for deals. I go to the outlets when I'm in Florida or even Jersey or LI. I found that Talbot's is a great option. They have a nice selection in petites. I went to Steinmart the other day. I like their selection alot as well. I'm just glad that I have options.

CG is right. I've been at my current weight since January and have gone down as much as two clothing sizes. Somehow the body does get smaller even if it doesn't show on the scale. In fact, the only reason I weigh myself at all is because I'm on steroids and need to watch for Water weight gain as that can indicate kidney issues.

What I feel is my port moving around. Not that it actually moves...but there are times when my pants get in the way or even if I lay down, I have to sort of move the port into a better position. I'm going to see my bariatric surgeon soon and ask about a lower profile port. Mine sticks out something awful at this point. I'm used to it but there are times when it shows even with clothes on..and I don't care for that at all.

I've started to look in the juniors department but obviously the clothes are not age appropriate so most of them are a no-go. I love the clothes at White House/Black Market except that obviously, the color palette is limited. I just have to know going in, that I'll be trying on the same outfit in several sizes (if they have them) because I have worn clothing anywhere from a size 2 to size 12. I went to the Ann Taylor outlet the other day and started off with a size 10P dress and size MP shrug to go over it. I wound up with a size 4 regular dress and size S regular shrug. I'm also learning how to buy what looks good and not what fits. That's also a huge change in mindset.

I've eaten enough spaghetti in one sitting to literally make myself sick. Cooked up nearly the whole box...and then ate it all...even cold out of the pot after I put it in the fridge. What horrible feelings of hatred and self loathing that brings up for me. I tap into those old feelings whenever I feel the urge to eat more than I need. That's usually all I need to stop me cold.

Remember that terrible commercial where the girl says 'Don't hate me for being beautiful?' Well...don't hate me for complaining about trying to find smaller sized clothing. I know....it's not supposed to be a problem buying regular sizes..but I am only five feet tall so I need to buy petites or find certain styles that translate to 'regular' proportions. Turns out that it's easy to find clothes in sizes 10/12/14 in both regular and petite. But not so easy finding sizes 4 or 6. Instead of flipping through racks of clothes looking for the larger sizes, I'm now doing the opposite. I know that this is a better problem to have, but it's still a problem.

Great questions @@Sun Godess. These were the questions I had when I started the process and got closer and closer to surgery. Rather than answer your questions one by one, all I can say is that I've been where you are...and am living a great life again now that all the excess weight is gone. I am so very happy with my decision and I'm sure you will be as well.

Good definitions for those of us who have difficulty distinguishing when we are truly hungry vs. head hunger vs. satiety. Not always easy to figure out...especially as we often don't know when to stop eating. I'd blow right past satiety and even past full till I would be painfully full...even to the point of sick. Thanks goodness I don't do that anymore.

As we know, the fashion industry doesn't give two hoots about larger sized women...so it's not surprising that there's hatred out there. If these were pictures making fun of sexual orientation or race, this person would be fired. I'm not saying that's right or wrong...I'm just saying that it's still OK in this society to make fun of fat people.

This really is the hardest part of the process...the time just before and after surgery. Once the band is working as it's supposed to, and you see the results of your hard work, it will all be worth it.

My freezer looks just like yours. I've been doing the same thing almost since I've been banded and it also keeps me from overeating or being impulsive.

Great post. We have to remember that we didn't put it on overnight and it won't come off that way either.

Keeping you and Dave in my thoughts and sending hugs your way.

Consider tracking your food intake on Myfitnesspal or something like it. I found it invaluable for tracking calories and keeping me focused.

When I was in plus sizes, everything was waaay too long. Why does the fashion industry think that bigger means taller? What I wouldn't have given to find plus size petites....

I don't 'like' this post...I love it. Beautiful...just beautiful. And so are you.

When I joined this forum in December 2012, I was morbidly obese and in so much joint pain that I was probably only months away from being wheelchair bound. I was terrified of surgery and terrified of what lay ahead. I expected the lap band to fail as everything else had failed when it came to weight loss. But it was my only shot as I needed hip and knee surgery and no orthopedist would work on me at nearly 270 pounds and with a BMI over 50. I decided my forum name would be gowalking because that was my wish..my desire, my hope. Walking, like breathing, is something we all take for granted till we can't do it. Then we realize how badly we are impacted when every step is torture. Many of you know my story so I'll do a quick summary. I was banded on January 14th, 2013. I lost enough weight by June of 2013 to get my surgery scheduled. I had both hips replaced in October and after a long and difficult rehab, and another scary and unexpected surgery, I am finally as mobile as anyone else out there. No...I can't run and yes...I still have pain and issues but I no longer fear not being able to get to the grocery store, or running any kind of errand. If I can't catch a cab, I can walk. If there's a ton of traffic, I can walk down the steps to the subway and move around underground...which is sometimes the only way to get anywhere in New York City. That feeling of helplessness and panic is gone. My knees are still with me. I am small enough now at 113 pounds that while I have bad arthritis in the knees, I can move them pretty darn good and have been able to delay knee replacement indefinitely for now. So...here's the big news. For those folks who have travelled this journey with me on LapBandTalk and now BP, I always said that I wanted to visit England and see all the sights I've seen on TV since I was a teenager watching Upstairs/Downstairs which was the '70s version of Downton Abbey. I want to see it all from Buckingham Palace to Big Ben, to a boat ride on the Thames to a day in the English Countryside. Friends...my trip is booked. I'm heading to London in July. I even booked a bike tour of Hyde Park, and St. James Park along with a walking tour of the East End and Whitechapel...where Jack the Ripper lurked. So I'm going to sit in coach on British Airways for 6+ hours and will be comfy because I fit. I'm going to walk and bike and explore and enjoy the city I've wanted to go to for nearly my whole life. For anyone out there who is starting their weight loss journey or struggling with maintaining or in the midst of a stall or doing really well as I have been fortunate enough to be, just know that WLS has given me a second chance at life and I can't begin to explain how truly grateful I am. The numbers on the scale, the size of our jeans, all the goals big and small that we set for ourselves as we travel this road together makes me feel overwhelmed with good fortune. I've lost 150+ pounds and gained back my life. I think it was a pretty good deal, don't you? One more thing....I can't thank all of you enough for being my support and strength these past two and a half years. I've made some wonderful friendships here and value each and every one of you. I did not do this alone and wanted to make sure to show you all my appreciation. I just wish some of the folks who helped me back in the beginning were still here to see this post and know how thrilled I am to finally say that I'm getting a big item on my bucket list checked off. Have a great holiday weekend everyone and thanks for reading this long, but heartfelt post.

I portion out my food at home even if one piece of fish becomes three meals. As for dinner out...I either bring it home or I try to share small plates with whomever I am with. If necessary, I leave it over and it gets thrown away. I remind myself that it's better to waste the money for food rather than eat what's left over and have to spend money on larger size clothes. I see it as a trade-off and that helps me to be OK with leaving it over and knowing it's going into the garbage.

Speaking of flying comfortably, I'm heading to London in July and will meet up with my sister who will be there for business. We'll spend some days together exploring the city and I'll also be on my own for a few days while she is involved in her meetings. While checking prices of plane tickets, sis mentioned that I should have no problem being in coach as I'm small enough now to fly comfortably even if I wound up in a center seat. That got me thinking about how uncomfortable it used to be as @@briefs199 noted and how much better it is now that I'm small. I can bend over to get something out of my bag or if something falls on the floor. I can cross my legs or stretch them out a bit..I can keep the tray open if I want....and yes, the seat belt always closes and I don't have to ask for an extender anymore. Isn't it wonderful to fit wherever we want and not worry we'll spill over or not have enough room?