gowalking

You can add me to the list. I had both hips replaced at the same time a year ago and my orthopedist has already told me that my knees are a mess and even with all the weight loss, I have damage and like mrsto, will need both knees replaced in the future as well. I take exercise class in the pool at the Y and I do laps as well. I also ride an eliptical bike. I can't run or jog. Don't stop exercising, but do find something that will be easier on your joints. Good luck and welcome to the wonderful world of joint disease/pain/arthritis* *yes...I'm being sarcastic..lol.

I'm still not always thinking like a thin person. I took out my jeans this morning and just before I put them on, a quick thought went through my head that they wouldn't fit. I knew they would but I still recall easily that fear or unease every time I'd put on my pants when I was obese. I always feared they wouldn't fit and that fear is still there obviously. It's especially hard now beacause the jeans are really small and I don't realize that I'm small alot of the times. Still working on body image issues though it is getting better. The other random thought today is that we really really need to not obsess over the scale. I admit I weigh myself daily. I do it because it helps me early in my maintenance phase. Having said that though, the number cannot determine our outlook for the day either. I went out to dinner Wednesday night and again last night. Wednesday night I had grilled fish, a couple of shrimp, veggies and a little bit of couscous. When I got on the scale in the morning, the number was the same as it had been for several days. I was a little surprised since I've been very compliant. So last night, we went to a restaurant that's supposed to have the best Pasta in all of NYC. My sister in law is leaving for Beijing on Wednesday for work and will be gone for a year. She wanted her last meal in NYC to be her favorite food so we headed to Porsena even though pasta is my trigger food for sure. Well...I stayed in control but ate more carbs than usual. After all...it was the best pasta in the city. (It was really good..lol) I also had a little bit of dessert and two glasses of white wine. So I got on the scale this morning and figured I'd be up at least a pound if not more. I lost almost a pound instead. Just shows you that it's only a number and the numbers can move without rhyme or reason. I'm not feeling like I dodged a bullet today, nor do I feel bad if the scale doesn't go down or stay the same when I'm being especially compliant. I focus on the NSVs instead. The best one last night was not that the food was terrific (which it was) but I walked home from the restaurant. I went across town and had no real issues doing it. A year ago I was bed ridden and days away from my hip replacement surgery. Walking home from the restaurant was better than any number on the scale. OK, sorry for rambling...have a great day, and a great weekend everyone. For those who Celebrate Yom Kippur, have a good holiday and an easy fast.

How much weight do you think you need to lose for the dress to fit? If not much, you may want to make it a Halloween costume but if you need to lose a more significant amount, it might fit at Christmas. Also..as the other poster said, everyone loses differently so all you can do it try to wear the outfit but know that you just might not be able to. I was able to wear a pretty dress to a wedding that took place around 7 months after my surgery. I had another dress the same size that I never was able to wear. The window on sizes grows shorter as you lose so know that it's really a crapshoot. Good luck with your surgery and keep us posted.

I discovered anew, the joys of hummus. Yummy with veggies or a lo fat wrap torn into pieces like a pita but way less calories.

Have an easy fast Arlene and a good holiday. Liz

..yet another form of discrimination as far as I'm concerned. As Lisa noted, why is WLS any less important than any other type of preventative care?

Great news! Please keep us posted.

This is a heartbreaking thread. I hope that most of the folks who posted here and have been off the forum for a while have found the success they were looking for. I had my share of rude comments as well but nothing was a bad as my own self hatred for what I had become. I try to never forget how hard the struggle to eat well can be and I refuse to become a judgemental 'former fatty' same as I try not to make faces when I pass the smokers when I head into my building at work. I remember when I was one of them...huddled around the ashtray in all sorts of weather sucking down the smoke. I don't always feel it, but I try as much as possible to have compassion for those who remind me of sadder and more difficult times in my life. Besides...one should never judge a book by it's cover anyway. I've started dating a gentleman who is on the heavy side and during a conversation about struggling with excess weight, he looked at me like I had just grown another head when I told him I understood how difficult the struggle is. He just presumed I never had any issues as I'm pretty small now. In time, I may show him what I used to look like. For those newer posters who have recently added to this thread, you just hang in there. I never thought I'd ever be a normal size again and I'm there and enjoying my life more than I have in a very long time. So will you.

Thanks for this post. What a good belly laugh I got from it.

Same here Terry. Thinking of you and wishing you well.

I love normal! It's the best!!

Congrats and welcome!

You go ahead and get them nails done. You never know who's paying attention. One day last week, one of my coworkers saw a new color on my nails and said to me that I had such pretty hands and my nails always looked so nice. I keep 'em short and don't do crazy colors but it really is a very feminine thing to do and makes me feel put together. Same thing with the makeup. It's not vanity...it's all about caring for ourselves. In fact, get the toes done too...LOL.

I don't know that this is a pep talk. What I can tell you is how much I understand how you feel and what's going on in your head. I was so unhappy with how my body was looking that I started seeing the therapist because of it. I've been seeing her since late last year and I'm just now starting to get comfortable enough that I can at least recognize myself in the mirror. I also still stand there and stare at myself when I'm naked and try to take in the wrinkled skin that is my new reality. I took the biggest risk possible in my mind by dating again. I haven't had to make the hard decision yet to show anyone what I look like under my clothes. That's still in my future and may never come to pass. I am learning to value myself as I did not for much of my life and part of that value system for me at least is that he will have to be a truly worthy man for me to become physical with him. I'm also working on deciding if plastic surgery is in my future or not. Again...if I do it, it has to be for the right reasons and I'm just not there yet. I'm glad you went to an OA meeting. Anything is better than reaching for the food when we are going through difficult times. This journey is so much more than about weight loss. That's the physical part of it but we all have emotional issues that led us to become obese. Those issues are alot harder to deal with than losing weight. I know you feel very vulnerable right now and imperfections are difficult to handle. Please know that you have great support here on this forum and we're all behind you as you tackle the tough job of living this new life we have all found. You know we've all had good and bad days...or even weeks/months. This is a journey of ups and downs and we're with you to celebrate the good and support you during the difficult. I'd be happy to talk on the phone if you want. Just PM me and we can exchange numbers. Liz

I started to laugh when I read this post but realized if one is not banded, then it's a legitimate question. So yes...as the others have said, you cannot feel the band. As you lose weight, you will be able to feel the port because it will stick out but you don't feel anything 'inside' your body.

Ask at your doctor's office about career opportunities in the field. The first things I thought of are the nutritionists and the patient liason position. Maybe even something on the clinical side if you're willing to go for another degree. My friend's daughter graduated college with a graphics design degree and she couldn't find a decent job. She went back to school and got her nursing degree and is now taking classes to be a PA. She's only 35 and has a whole new career...and one that she will always be able to earn a living from I might add. Good luck. Let us know if you find something that piques your interest.

Shortly after I was banded and using myfitnesspal regularly, I plugged in an 'average' serviing of spaghetti and tomato sauce. When I say average, I mean my pre-band average which was often half the box or more. To my horror, but not surprise, that was probably 2,000+ calories alone. I think I once plugged in a whole day of eating pre-band and saw that I often consumed 3,500 calories or more a day. No wonder I was morbidly obese. Sheesh. Anyway, the second 'surprise' I got was when I started feeling more comfortable and was ready to eat out again, i checked the calorie count of the crab legs at Red Lobster. I figured as long as I stayed away from the drawn butter, I'd be OK. Well...no not really. The calories were not the problem as much as the sodium. I think they boil or steam the damn things in ocean Water, the sodium is so high. People forget about the sodium count. Water weight though it may be, it's still weight. Now I'm more than 18 months out and I know what are good choices and what are not. I live in NYC and eating out isn't a treat, it's a way of life. But if you go to 'better' restaurants, you can get simple grilled fish and wonderful sides. I share alot these days and by doing that, I don't eat too much of anything which limits the damage.

Very good advice. Since I can't/don't eat much, I make sure what I do eat is really good tasting and of good quality. I also find that eating items I used to devour doesn't happen much since Have to be so selective. And like you, I am in NYC and privvy to some of the best food out there thank goodness. A few bites of something wonderful is a damn sight better than a plateful of something ordinary. At least, that's how I see it.

Good article. I'm learning to move on when something about the relationship isn't quite clicking instead of trying to figure out what happened. I always make sure to give them a chance to respond in case of a technical glitch (such as a missed phone call or text or even a misunderstanding) but then it's bye bye my friend. It's a good lesson to learn. That, and being happy with yourself and not relying on someone else to make you happy. That never works. I'm very happy with my life especially as I am in a much better place physically with my much improved mobility. If I meet someone, great. If not, I'm quite content to be on my own. Being alone is very different than being lonely.

I agree with CG. Chasing...you should do a copy and paste. I also hope that you can continue to avoid the negative posts, but spend more time here on the forum so folks can see success stories that will help to balance the averages..or even trump them. There are WAY more successes than failures out there!

Hi Patty. Congrats on your upcoming surgery. I know that you are nervous..it's perfectly normal. I'm sure you will do well. Again..follow your doctor's instructions and you'll be fine. As far as your question...yes, I can't explain it nor can my surgeon except that there are a few of us who have restriction without the fills. There are some right here on this forum as a matter of fact so while it's rare, it's not unheard of. But I think I approach eating a little differently than most. Since I know I won't get stuck, and can eat small meals or snack all day long if I choose, I have to listen really hard to my band. I can overeat if I'm not paying attention. I have done that once in a while and even one bite too many can make me go from satiated to uncomfortable so I have to know when to stop. If I'm full, I've gone too far. In order to make sure this doesn't happen, I weigh and measure my food at home, and pay very close attention to my portions when I'm out in a restaurant or someone's house. As good as something might taste, I can't eat too much of it. I have to stop as soon as the hunger is gone, but that's always before feeling full. Those who can differentiate will do well. Those who can't may struggle till they figure it out. Good luck and keep us posted on your surgery and progress.

I would say for you to just monitor how you are feeling and if something seems off, call your doctor. Wishing you well.

Been there, done that, got the tee shirt. What would you like to know? I've been on anti-inflammatories before and after banding. I've taken steroid shots for pain and inflammation...all post banding. I've been on Tramadol and a myriad of other pain meds and anti-inflammatories. I've not had any issues with the band while on (and still on mind you) NSAIDS/pain meds. Now...I will tell you that I have no fills and maybe that's a factor but I needed those treatments and went ahead with them. It comes down to one thing. Does the benefit outweigh the risk? For me, it did.

I'm also scheduling this procedure John. I put it off for six years but my PCP yelled at me last visit so I know I just have to suck it up and get it done. I see the doctor a week from today and plan to ask just that question about the drink and how the lapband affects it if at all. I'll let you know what the doctor says, OK?

Come on people...we really have to support each other and not bash each other. Just yesterday, I had a wonderful conversation with a colleague in my office who works in IT. He upgraded my computer and when he set me up with the new one, he commented on my photos. I have a couple before and after ones on my desktop that I keep there for when I want to post them with a thread. At first I was embarrased that he saw them, and then perturbed that he mentioned it. Then he asked how much I lost and I though oh gosh, what nerve to ask something so personal. Then I took a good look at the guy and realized the reason for his interest. I asked him which surgery he had and he told me the sleeve. He also said he had dropped 230 lbs. in just over a year. Well....then I told him I was banded and what my stats were and before you knew it, we were like two old friends and talking about challenges, successes, excess skin, all of it. I congratulated him on his loss and he just said to me, 'you are lookin' real good girl'. I'm probably twice his age but a compliment is a compliment and it was really nice to hear it. It didn't matter that we had different WLS, all that mattered was that we were both successful and so very happy with our outcomes. Why can't we do that here on this site? Let's stop the nonsense, OK?