gowalking

twenty years ago I lost 80 lbs. and swore I'd never be fat again. FF to a little more than a year ago and found myself facing severly limited mobility and now needing to lose more than 100 lbs. So yes, I surely understand your worries as obviously, many of us have the same feelings you do. I'm actually seeing a professional to hopefully understand my triggers so I can cope better. What I've come to understand is that you can sabotage your success just as easily with WLS as anything else. I may not be able to eat to excess as I once did, but over the course of a day, one can graze and still manage to put the weight back on. This is a process and now that I'm transitioning to maintenance, I really think the work is just beginning. Hope to see you here on this forum a year from now and still going strong!

I had/have body image issues and am seeing a therapist to help me with this. I didn't self sabotage...at least not yet. But I am super critical of myself and do not feel comfortable in my body. I don't see what everyone else does and now that I've made it to goal, I am working on learning to live this way for good and not find myself eating for the wrong reasons. Good luck and see if you can find support via a group or even one on one with a therapist.

Don't let what you see on this site influence you to do something you are not ready for, or interested in. If you feel strongly that you can get healthier by following your husband's food plan and by working out, then that's what you do. There are people on this site who were in excess of 300 lbs. and other who were under 200 lbs. Every journey is different and everyone has to go on their own journey. Follow your journey as you see fit and if you decide at some point to have WLS, do it because you want to or need to, and not because others who started at a lower weight are doing so. Good luck to you and the hubby.

Found myself in one of those restaurants last night that used to scare the crap out of me. Very tight seating and very tight just trying to get to the table and back out again. I've avoided these kinds of restaurants because I was so afraid I'd either not be able to get through or I'd have to ask a patron to get up so I could make it past their table. Either way, both scenarios were mortifying to me. This time I got into the chair at our table fine...and it was tight...really tight. I sat on the side with my DIL and son...both of whom are thin people because I'm now smaller than my SIL and sister, who sat with my brother, across from us because they had more room on that side. Walking out after dinner, was also challenging because of how crowded the place was and when we got outside, my DIL mentioned that it would have been much more difficult to make my way out a year ago. I was thinking the same thing myself. So here's another situation that I no longer have to avoid. Now I know I can go to any restaurant and not have to worry about the space I take up.

Check with your doctor. Some bandsters can take NSAIDs and some cannot per their doctor's preferences. Also...like any med taken, it's a question of risk/benefit. I have joint disease and was in severe hip and knee pain so for me, it was take these meds so I could walk. If your issues are not as severe, you may be able to substitute the NSNAIDs for something else. Good luck.

Just know that when you have alot to lose like I did, and people notice that you have lost a considerable amount of weight, they may very well assume you had WLS. I've dropped basically a whole other person in terms of the amount of weight I've lost and I know the women in my department are likely assuming I had WSL. The guys only notice I'm smaller...they don't wonder how I did it.. But these days, WLS is so prevalent that I think most folks make that assumption. I've had a few people ask me outright what I did and I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt that they are asking because they see I've been successful, and not just because they are nosy. I tell them I went on a strict food plan and am staying around 1,000 calories daily. Most people I work with knew I had severe joint issues as I've been on a cane for more than two years and once they found out I had bilateral hip replacement, they are satisfied with my answer that I needed to lose weight to prepare for the surgery. It's all true and the only thing I leave out is the lapband part. And I do that because I'm not comfortable talking about it, not because I fear any negative response.

True, you will never have your favorite meal the same way again but not true at all that you will not enjoy it as much. In fact, once you are happier with your size, you may find that eating less of your favorite meal will allow you to enjoy it more. I know it does for me. I love food and will always love it. But I also love eating small portions of it and having all the pleasures of being nearly half my size when I started this journey.

Hi curiously. I can't influence you...you have to make the final decision. All I want to tell you is my experience. I love food...I don't like it, I love it. Having said that, I love being normal sized as well. And I still love food, I just have learned to eat a whole lot less of it. Yes, there are times I wish I could eat alot of it again, but it's fleeting and as long as you listen to your body and know when to stop, it actually feels good to walk away from the table without being so stuffed that you are uncomfortable. Again..I'm not advocating one surgery over another, I'm just trying to let you know that just because you love food, doesn't mean WLS can't work for you. Good luck with whatever you decide.

....and this is how grownups discuss various weight loss surgeries.

Hey nona....do you live anywhere near NYC? I ask because believe it or not, there are lots of shoe stores here in the city that cater to drag queens and they carry quite a nice selection of shoes in larger sizes. If you can get here, you may find lots to choose from.

Yes Ma'am. Went from an 8 1/2-9 back down to a 7 1/2-8. And also no longer wearing wide widths. I have to use alot of self control or I'd own dozen's of pairs of shoes.

I'm sure you don't see it...that seems to be an issue many of us have but know that the change in you is truly spectacular. you were beautiful before but you are truly transformed in the more recent pictures.

Hi starfish. gosh I love your name...gotta tell us what it means. anyway, I don't know that I'm a veteran but I am nearly 14 months post banded so I figured I'd respond. yes...protein Protein protein. I supplement my daily food intake with a glass of

Hi Shel. Just saw this thread. Glad you got the shot and I hope you get relief. I was going to let you know that I got several cortisone shots before the hip replacement, and unfortunately, have had to get more in my back since the hip replacements. I've done all of them while being banded and like everything else we do or take, it's always a question of risk/benefit. Feel better soon!

Hi Pupichupi. I posted this pic on another thread on Saturday. That's me in my mother's mink coat. I haven't been able to wear it in about 13 years and I never thought I'd ever wear it again. It wasn't my goal outfit but it was so wonderful to feel the accomplishment of being able to fit into it again that I was nearly overwhelmed by it. Good luck and make sure you post a pic of yourself when you make it into that velvet gown.

My sister and I eat out quite a bit. She's making better choices because that's what I'm doing. Even last night, though we ate rich...French onion Soup and Croque Monsieur, I suggested we share it along with a salad. I know without a doubt that she ate less because we shared. Was a time we would have both eaten our own soup and sandwiches. Even with adding the salad, I know she ate less that she would have before I was banded. And I surely ate less. Even with sharing, I couldn't eat as much as she was able to. They cut the Croque Monsieur into five pieces and I took two....and ate 1 1/2.

Frozen fudge pops are surprisingly low in calories. 60 for a single pop, not the double sized ones.

Just make sure to talk to the doctor and get his/her input.

I'm banded so I don't know if that makes a difference but I can tell you that I took NSAIDS and had cortisone shots until I finally had my hips replaced. Without the NSAIDS and shots, I wouldn't have been able to walk so I did what I had to do. I'd suggest you discuss you pain and discomfort with your doctor to determine your own risk/benefit. Good luck...I certainly know what it's like to live with joint pain.

It's called unjury. It's a Protein powder supplement. It's I think 21 grams of protein and 100 calories. I take it daily and between that, the biotin, and the vitamins, my hair started coming back and it's pretty good now.

Shakes are one way of doing it but for me, it doesn't give me the satiety I need so I take a supplemental protein powder...like Unjury. Each packet is 21 grams of protein and that gets me to or close to 60-65 grams daily.

And this is truly what a NSV is all about. Great news!!

Some people are just slow losers no matter what. Even if they follow the rules, it still comes off 1/4 lb. at a time. Ane then there are others who are slow losers and it's because they don't follow the rules. Each of of us knows which type of bandster we are.

Hi Hayley. It sounds like it may be time for you to weigh and measure your food. I've done that since the beginning and it works like a charm for me because I also have issues with knowing when it's enough. I eat 3 ounces of Protein, 1/2 cup of veggies and 1/4 cup of carbs. I used to track everything I ate into myfitnesspal so I knew to stay around 1,000-1,100 calories a day. I don't use myfitnesspal anymore...I don't have to at this point. But I still weigh and measure. Good luck!!

Why are you not eating food? Is your band too tight? You shouldn't be replacing food with crap. Go to your doctor and nut for help. Otherwise that terrific 40 lb. loss will disappear.