gowalking

Hi @Slimsoon1988. We'll provide information once we have a date and location for the next meeting. It will likely be in the spring but not exactly sure when. You can always PM me or Lisa as well if you want to know the status of our next get together. Liz

You know what Arlene...it's easy to be disciplined when I see the scars from my hip replacements every time I get undressed. I know that keeping the weight off will let me keep my knees for as long as possible. It's quite a motivator. I'm sure that if not for the hip replacements, I'd have alot more trouble staying on the straight and narrow. Besides..you've lost 80 lbs. and that ain't nothing to sneeze at.

Hi friends. Finally got hold of one of the professional shots taken at the Christmas party and wanted you all to see it. Liz

I've also lost around 150 lbs. and my tummy looks alot like yours. I have flabby thighs, a saggy ass, breasts that look like I fed all of Cleveland, and a turkey neck. I think about plastic surgery all the time and might have work done in the future. I need a break from any surgical procedures as I've had several over the past two years but I will consider it for 2016 if I still feel the need. I haven't had a flat stomach since I was 16 years old and part of me wants that fixed badly. The other part of me feels that I shouldn't be so critical of myself. I hope to have a better handle on my motivations next year so that I make the right decision for me and not for anyone else.

One of my friends at work presumed that since being banded, I'm no longer interested in food. I tried to explain to her that I was VERY interested in food. And more that that, I am enjoying food in a way I didn't before being banded. When I was obese, the point was to eat till I was full. I tasted the food but not really...it was all about the amount of it, and the way I felt holding a big bowl of Pasta. I anesthetized with food but as soon as I was done, I knew nothing had changed. I still was dealing with whatever crap was going on in my life and all I had done was eat more than I needed to yet again. Now, I enjoy food for what it is. To suppress hunger...to enjoy as a social activity, to taste and experience it but not to lose control over it. Food is a much better experience now because it's part of my life, and not the focus of my life. I know some of you say that food is no longer a focus for you but I just wanted to note that it still is for me...but in a better, healthier way.

Dr. Ren did my lapband surgery. You are in good hands.

FYI freshair...I eat whatever I want in smaller portions and have lost more than 150 lbs. Just saying...

Thanks for that. I surely don't feel like I'm anyone's hero. I just know I did the right thing and that tomorrow will be better, and the next day better still. What would have been bad would have been accepting the relationship as it was.

Took a huge step this morning. Got tired of the limitations set by one of the fellows I've been involved with for quite some time now. I ended it. Not him...me. Am slowly learing that there's nothing wrong with wanting more than someone can give. It just means that I have to be strong enough to say I'm worth it. God...this is so much more than just a weight loss journey. Glad to have friends here who will listen and not judge. I knew dating would be fraught with danger. My pattern has always been to fill up the emotional void with food. This was a good thing I did even though I'm sad. I'm reminding myself that I'm not mourning the relationship as it was...I'm mourning the relationship the way I wanted it to be. Most importantly, I'm not feeling out of control. Going to go to the pool tonight and get back to doing what makes me happy. Have a great hump day all.

Check with your doctor about alcohol. They all seem to have differing instructions on that.

No baths till the incisions were fully healed...I believe it was a few weeks but check with your doctor to confirm.

Lo mein is Pasta, yes. There's also veggies and sometimes Protein as well in the dish if you have beef or shrimp or chicken Lo Mein. Chow mein is vegetables. But remember...Chinese food is very high in sodium and sugar. I'm not saying don't eat it, but make it a once in a while item...not something to eat regularly. And of course, keep track of any rice you eat as well. Pasta or rice...it's still carbs.

You bet. I can also grab it from underneath and pull it up. I have even been thinking I might have to revise it to a lower profile at some point because it's so pronounced. I don't think I even noticed the port when I was heavier. You should probably check with the doctor just in case there's something up with your port, but I suspect it's just the same as my experience. My surgeon already told me this is all due to the lack of belly fat when I saw her around Christmas time.

You are in the middle of the hardest part of this process. You are starving and scared. I understand exactly how you feel. I wish I could give you a glimpse of your future but since I can't, I'll tell you about what I went through. I was so afraid that my life would be over without the comfort of food. Silly me...my life not only is NOT over, it's better than ever. I eat smaller portions of everything and not only do I not feel deprived, but I feel great because I'm in control. I can do almost anything I want. My size and former joint pain kept me from living my life. Now I'm back in the game. You will get through this and once the weight starts to come off, you will feel empowered. I cannot tell you how much I love my life now. I am so sad to know how much I lost when I was obese but I guess I needed to get to rock bottom first. Hang in there. It's all so worth it, I promise.

Hi Stacie. I saw my PCP on Friday and she told me I had to increase my Protein in order to stop losing weight. I'm currently around 112 lbs. unclothed and she said that means I'm actually around 102 lbs. as I have about ten pounds of excess skin. She does not want me to be under 100 lbs. (minus the skin). I don't know anything about inches lost however so hopefully someone can respond to that. If I do decide to get plastic surgery, it will be next year at the earliest which would put me many months after 'goal' weight. I'm actually almost a year out from reaching the 150 lbs. goal that I have on my ticker but it doesn't matter as that goal was just a number my doctor threw out there. At 150 lbs., I was still overweight per the BMI scale. My doctor just felt that at 150 lbs, I'd be a healthier weight, not necessarily an ideal weight. I had multiple surgeries in 2013/2014 and as much as I'd like to remove the skin, I need a break from hospitals, doctors, and post op pain. So...maybe next year. Or maybe not. I'm just not sure yet.

Happy Birthday Courtney. I know it's hard to sleep and not hold the baby but it's just a blip on the radar. Soon enough, you will be able to do both. I'm very excited for you in having started your journey to a better quality of life. I can't wait for you to post on your next birthday and tell us how you are going to do something new and exciting this time around just because you can.

YES YES YES!! You must plan for these occasions. If you plan ahead, you can avoid the temptations. Make sure there are things that you can nibble on..even if you have to check with the host prior to the gathering. Better to eat too many carrots and hummus than buffalo wings or chips and dip or whatever else is there. As far as today...remember it's a new day. Forget about yesterday and just go about your business as usual today and the rest of the week. Don't get on the scale, don't guilt yourself out, just move forward and know that you learned a good lesson for the next time.

Be careful Lisa. You don't want to fall. A friend of mine slipped on an icy patch yesterday and wound up in the ER. Nothing broken thank goodness but it could have gone the other way. Very slushy and messy here in the city. Glad I'm working from home today.

It was very nice. We walked around the market and had lunch. I had a cup of lentil Soup and a half a grilled cheese sandwich. It was a real treat. He seems like a nice man....very talkative. Maybe a little too talkative. I didn't get to say much. If we go out again, we'll have to see how that part goes. Right now, it's fine but if I can't get a word in edgewise, it may be an issue at some point because I like to talk as well...

Sounds to me like you may want to talk to a professional about your feelings as related to the food. I'm suggesting this as I see a therapist for my food issues. I've lost a ton of weight and I want to make sure it stays off and the best way I cn think of achieving this is to figure out the root causes of my obesity in order to have coping mechanisms in place when I need them. Just because I have been successful losing the weight, doesn't mean I can't sabotage myself. I'm pretty sure that the therapy will help me to not do this. If you are depressed over your situation, ask you surgeon if he/she can recommend someone.

I usually avoid drinking with meals but when I eat out and order a glass of wine, or cocktail, I sip along with eating. Now..I have no Fluid in the band so I don't worry about being uncomfortable or stuck. My concern is that I don't have the satiety if I let the liquid move the food into the stomach too quickly. I usually eyeball the amount of food I'll eat and push aside the rest so I often have no issues with overeating. When I'm home though, I never drink with meals. I'm a rule follower in general.

Wow...you get to eat before surgery?? Lucky you! Like many on this site, it was liquids only for two weeks prior to surgery and about ten days post. Heck, I'd have me a rooty tooty fresh and frooty...lol!

Enjoy your football parties today my friends. Eat smart and have a great time. As for me......I've got a date this afternoon. Met a new guy who cares as little as I do for the Superbowl so we're going to stroll around The Chelsea Market (where The food Network films) check out the shops and grab a bite or a cup of coffee depending on how it goes. We've had some very nice phone conversations so I'm looking forward to meeting him face to face.

Worrying is normal. I couldn't imagine what my life would be like without the comfort of food. Well, my life is a thousand percent better. Without the constant hunger, I can control my food choices and amounts. I eat out, I eat all my favorite foods still. But I don't eat to excess and I am healthier and happier than I've been in such a long time. I'm living my life again instead of watching from the sidelines. I can't say enough how wonderful it is to fit in the world again. I'm not trying to sway you in any way. I went to a seminar and wasn't ready for surgery. I tried to diet for a year and only lost 25 lbs. The second time I went to the seminar, I knew I had no choice anymore and went ahead with the surgery. I wish I had known then what I know now. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Well, the first rebuttal was from my bariatric surgeon.