gowalking

This is not normal circumstances. Nothing you do during this stressful time should be taken into account. If you cannot get back on track after the crisis is over, then you have something to worry about. Until then, prioritize as needed.

This was an ignorant comment from an ignorant person. It's like telling an alcoholic to just stop drinking. It doesn't work for them, and just not eating doesn't work for us. You don't need to give her any comeback or smartass remarks. Not when you look like you do. You are strikingly beautiful and that picture tells it all.

Same here. My PCP said that if I got down to 150, she would be thrilled so that's the goal I set. I'm 25 lbs. lower at this point...the same weight I was when I got married back in 1977. It's not the same body though...can't be..not after two kids and 35+ years. I think I'm probably done losing in that my weight has pretty much stabilized at or around this number. I'm a 6/8 in pants, 10/12 in dresses and all over the place in tops. So much so, that I have to try them on since I can be a Small to Large depending on the style and manufacturer. I can do just about anything and I can fit just about everywhere. I have loose skin and still have that pot belly. Only surgery will fix that and I haven't decided if I'll pursue it. My BMI is in the normal range and I've lost more than half my body weight. I have days where I'm amazed at the transformation and other days where all I can do is criticize everything. It's a journey still even if I have reached my 'goal'. I'm thinking you will know when you are at goal when you become comfortable at least most of the time with the amount of weight you've lost. The scale, the BMI, the clothing size...they are all just guidelines. It's how you feel inside that counts.

Here's what turns me on way more than food. These are pictures from last month taken on our submarine experience excursion in the Bahamas. Two years ago, I was also in Nassau and couldn't even get off the ship because I was so heavy and in so much pain from my arthritic knees and hips. Now I can do almost anything again. There isn't a food in the whole world that tastes as good as living my life normally feels.

Hi all. Here are a couple of pics from our submarine experience excursion when we were in the Bahamas. I love looking at these pictures because this is the same girl who couldn't get off the ship two years ago because I was in so much pain and couldn't even walk the pier or navigate the tender. If I've said it once, I'll say it a million times. This band gave me my life back. Have a great day everyone.

It's more important for you to get the education you need instead of sacrificing it for your children. Use that money to further your own opportunities. Good luck!!

This is bandster hell and you just have to use self control and just diet even though you are hungry. Once the fills start working, you will find that you are not hungry all the time and it will be easier to eat better and eat less.

So glad to see you back on the site my friend. This is a wonderful post. It's not about the numbers...it's about quality of life. I am still obsessing over the scale but working hard to stop. I am also a work in progress regardless of the fact that I've reached 'goal'. I'm still dealing with body image and other psychological issues related to my size. I am still working on living with this body and if I should or shouldn't have plastic surgery. I need to make sure if I do it, it's for me and not to seek some unrealistic expectation of perfection. I too, went on vacation and did the things I wanted to do without worrying if I could or not. I also stayed in control of my food choices and intake while I was away which was a big thing for me. That is success. My most important success is to come. Life long maintenance where no one even remembers the fat me but only this me. Congrats on your progress. You look wonderful.

Oh yeah, I get it. I also used to spill over into the next seat...or I would stand because I didn't want to squeeze anyone else in. I fit fine now on the train and bus. I used to get on the last car of the PATH train because it was empty. Now it doesn't matter if there's only one seat between two people that's open. I always fit. Good luck! Follow the doctor's instructions and you'll do great.

For those in the NYC area, I just received an email from NYU Bariatric Group. There will be a clothing exchange on September 7th. I've cut and pasted the info below. I'm bringing a bunch of things that no longer fit me and were very gently worn including my winter coat from last year. I hope everything gets taken. I also hope that others on this site stop by to drop off or pick up new things. Join us in midtown Manhattan Sunday * September 7, 2014 * 11 a.m.–2 p.m. qwetyuip[asdfghjkl;' Where: BOTTOMLESS CLOSET [in the Hotel Pennsylvania opposite Penn Station & Madison Square Garden] 401 Seventh Avenue, Level B, Suite 40 (bet. West 32nd and West 33rd Streets) *** Take Elevator #1 to Level B; follow signs *** Everything must be clean, intact and ready for wearing. Intimates (e.g., workout clothes, underwear, swimwear, sleepwear, socks, hosiery) must be new/unused/unworn. Accessories are great (belts, jewelry, scarves, neckties, purses, shoes, etc.). Dressing rooms are available. If you need nothing now, feel free to stop by with items you're no longer using and stay for the conversation. Bottomless Closet, our host, helps disadvantaged NYC women enter and succeed in the workforce and improve the quality of their lives. All items not adopted during our event are donated to BC. Documents will be available for tax purposes. Contact bandsterswap@yahoo.com if you have any questions about the exchange. If you'd like to help set up, please come at 10:00. If you're able to stay a little past 2:00 to straighten up, please do.

You're no different than lots of other folks on this site. Hell, if we could control what and how we eat, we wouldn't need WLS. Tell the truth to the NUT and let her know you are having a great deal of difficulty sticking to her suggestions. Sounds like you are having some food funerals. I had them...lots of them. I thought I'd never be able to eat certain things again so I ate like there was no tomorrow. Once I got banded though, I followed the instructions to the letter and when I started to lose, that was great incentive to stick to the plan. It's been over 18 months now and I'm smaller than half my size and happier and healthier than I've been in years. Don't let this setback derail you.

Beautiful picture!

Good. Now you can relax. I'm sure if they were concerned about the other breast, they would want you in right away.

You look so wonderful Di. I'm just so so so happy for you. I can remember when you started posting on this site and now look at you. What an inspiration!! And yes...it can be done. I lost a pound on my cruise. Just shows that you can still have a great time without losing control over the food. I know how fantastic you feel right now...I surely do.

You're a good friend Mikee.

Vince and Halloween....say bon voyage to the old you and embrace the new, healthier, and thinner you that is coming. Between my obesity and mobility issues, I was like someone in jail. No freedom at all. Today, I can move normally again and I fit everywhere. I move like a thin person...I don't rumble and jiggle down the street anymore. I move and everything moves with me...not against me. Life is good again and you are both lucky to start this process before your health was negatively impacted. Good luck to you both.

I don't think this article is applicable for many of us. You have to remember, shopping when heavy or obese is an ordeal. If you find something that fits, you buy it in every color and get the hell out of the store as fast as possible. For those who are/were heavy and obese for many years, this is the first time in a long time that shopping can be fun again. I've spent a considerable amount of money over the past year buying clothing that only fit for a few months or even weeks before going to another size. I don't regret a moment of it except when I was still purchasing like a fat girl. One in every color. I understand now that I don't have to do that anymore. So...most of my clothes have gone to charity or to friends. I'm glad they are being used by someone else. We also may overdo because suddenly we actually look good in clothes. That's a big change for many of us. I have to stop myself from overbuying. But it's hard when you see how nice you look now. My only consolation is that I try to buy from discount or lower end stores and I take advantage of sales as much as possible. I look good in dresses again so I just bought six of them. But they were half price so I got them all. This could be construed as being a shopaholic but it's not. Nothing personal, but the last thing we need is to be afraid of something that is new again and pleasurable. As long as you can pay that credit card bill, there's nothing to worry about. Have fun shopping gals!!

I was actually out of the office on medical leave for a period of several months and by the time I got back, I was virtually unrecognizable. I mean literally, people didn't know who I was. It was very disconcerting and uncomfortable but it does pass and people get used to the way you look and the comments stop. As far as no one saying anything as your weight goes up, the hope with WLS is that we don't gain it back. Good luck and hoping you will become the person you see in your head soon enough.

This is probably not what you meant but I wish I would have known how successful I was going to be. If I had known, I'd have done this years ago. Good luck!!

Are you allowed SF pudding? It's a staple for me when I want something sweet. What about SF sucking candies. Sometimes one of those like a butterscotch can satisfy the sweet tooth.

Think seriously about seeing a professional. I do and I know she is helping me to not sabotage myself. There are alot of psychological issues behind body image dysfunction and I am starting to explore it with the therapist. I dropped alot of weight once before and put it back on along with another 40 more and I just can't allow myself to get off track again.

Those pictures show that weight loss is not always the best barometer. There is an obvious change in your body that does not reflect just three pounds down. Great job!

Yes. I feel like a fraud. I feel like a fat woman in a thinner body. I look at pictures because I don't see the way I look to everyone else. I'm 25 lbs. below my goal and while I'm not too thin, I keep thinking I need to lose more because I'm not thin enough. I see a therapist to help me with my body image issues. Most of us have problems seeing ourselves whether we're overweight or not. I only saw a fat woman when I saw pictures of myself. I didn't see the fat woman in the mirror, and I don't see the thin woman in the mirror either. You are not alone...believe me. And it has nothing to do with age either. You're a young woman and I'm a 56 year old grandmother. Here's my before and after picture. I don't recognize either of these women and they are both me.

Doesn't even have to be weight related comments. For the first time in years, I spoke up for myself the other day. I was heading up the staircase at the train station. The escalator was out of service but for once I didn't care because I was thrilled that I could get up those stairs. Just so happens that a train let people out at the same time so there were alot of people heading down as I was going up. A man made a remark about stupid people and I knew he was aiming it at me. I shot right back and said he didn't own the staircase and he was rude on top of that. Now, if you know the city, you know that people mouth off all the time. I never did this before because I was always terrified that someone would just call me a cow and that would be the end of me. Not any more...not this new gal.

Hmm...I wonder if asking if the food is OK is a suburban thing. I also eat very little of my meal but have never had the server ask anything other than if I was finished. I guess they are used to crazy anorexic people here in NYC...LOL!!