gowalking

Thanks for the info Jack. Yup...if it's still on, I'd love to join.

@@Babbs totally agree with you that sometimes the skin can cause health problems and also I could not care less if someone gets plastics for vanity, their money their body in my opinion. I'm too old to care.
However, I LOVE this post by @@JupiterinVirgo LOVE IT! When someone comes on here worrying about excess skin or scars I just wonder if they think they look good at 300 pounds? I mean, if the idea of loose skin is so repulsive to them they should just stay obese.
And the fact that they think they are going to look perfect, like they were never obese, after losing 100 plus pounds is just crazy. Do they think they are going to be modeling for Victoria's Secret after they lose the weight? It's crazy. That's why I always tell them to go to YouTube. You can see hundreds of people who have lost weight (most of them young and healthy) and they strip down and show you all their excess skin. It's pretty gross. It happens no matter what we do.
Honestly I think there should be some program where they go into the schools and talk to young people before they get so heavy. Show them what a naked obese body looks like. Show them what a tiny amount of food is considered healthy eating. Show them what WLS entails. AND show them what people look like after they lose massive amounts of weight. Kind of a "scared straight" for obesity.

I too, rarely respond to posts anymore. I'm too far out from newbies and I let others take the lead on questions posed. What I do try to do is give hope to those who feel hopeless. If I can accomplish that, it's enough. All I know is when I read old posts now and again, I get sad because so many of the people who were here when I started and even during my weight loss journey are simply gone now.
I can't help but wonder where they are as they were so important to me as I was going through everything. I hope they are all well and happy and have just moved on...but there was a time when I had really good virtual friends here and not many are left now...
Sorry for the sad post...

I'll be celebrating four years banded in mid January. Lost a ton of weight and gained back my life. I know that sometimes the band will not work even if the person is totally compliant but the chances are much greater that if you are compliant, the band will work well for you.
Good luck and don't second guess your choice if it truly is what you think is best for you. I chose the band because it was reversible and less invasive. It was the right choice for me, and hopefully will be the right choice for you.

Some of us have to reach rock bottom in order to make positive changes. I was morbidly obese and close to being wheelchair bound. I had no life. I couldn't walk a block without having to sit and I live in NYC...a place where everyone walks.
I couldn't travel, couldn't play with my granddaughter, couldn't do much of anything...except eat. And eat I did...even though every forkful of food meant I was jeopardizing my mobility even more.
I had the band put in nearly four years ago. I've been in therapy for more than two years as I needed to work on the core issues of why I was fat...and how to not get fat again. I had both hips replaced less than a year after my band. I still have issues because of the damage I've done to myself and need to take anti-inflammatory and pain meds.
On the good side, is that after this up and down voyage, I am living life again as a normal sized person. I can walk just about anywhere..albeit in pain at times. I run after my new grandson who just turned a year and a half. I have a wonderful man in my life again and I never expected that would happen. Never. I say a prayer of thanks everytime I lie in his arms or take his hand when we go walking. I went to London on vacation last year...something I've wanted to do for so long...and thought I'd never be able to do. Next spring, I go on a two week trip to The Netherlands, Russia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Norway, and Estonia. To me, this is truly miraculous considering where I was before surgery.
Understand that for many of us, the weight is a symptom of something much deeper than just food. I would suggest you continue with therapy....and for however long it takes for you to understand your motives and to try to change your behavior. It's not easy and I find this part of my weight loss journey harder than the losing weight part.
Thank you for sharing your story with us and know that you will find a sympathetic sounding board here and the support you need at least in this virtual world we inhabit.

If this will help you to motivate, go for it.
For me, I found my motivation in the scale going down and clothing sizes going in that same direction.

While some posters are recommending revisions, I'd say that your issues are emotional rather than the band not working. You've learned how to eat around it and that's the problem. Talk to the doctor, be honest with him or her, and see what he/she says about fills vs. a mind reset so to speak. It might behoove you to consider working with a therapist. I do. She had been banded at one time and understands better than most, how to help me to navigate the world of successful WLS and more importantly, how to maintain that success. Good luck and keep us posted.

If this will help you to motivate, go for it.
For me, I found my motivation in the scale going down and clothing sizes going in that same direction.

You know you're fabulous, right? Oh how I love these before and after pics. It's not just the weight loss, but the smile on your face, the haircut, the makeup...all of it. How wonderful to see in all of us, the blossoming that comes from being comfortable in our own skin. Congrats.

What a wonderful Thanksgiving. Girls are home for the long weekend and they love the new house. My f ood has been on track and I'm slowly losing more weight. Life is good. Hoping you all are having a great holiday.
JustWatchMe

What she said...except my therapist does have a bariatric background and has had WLS herself. I don't think it's something you must have when picking a therapist...as long as you have someone who is skilled with helping those like us who have difficulties with coping. I know that is me to a tee.

They probably don't mean to but they are sabotaging you. I agree...self plate and try to not let the things that hurt you come through. I know it's easier said that done...family knows how to push your buttons but please don't self harm. And just so you know...next year everything will be different once they see how improved you and your life have become.

Janedoe92, people do insert foot in mouth alot of times. But you have to just really explain to them that you are very informed on what youre about to do, if you have to take them to a support group meeting with you, or to meet your surgeon, then do it. Im 51, the only child, and my mother wasnt supportive at first to the idea and ill tell you why. Ive always been 145lb, never had a issue with my weight. Flight attendant for 18yrs, out in the publics eye. We hit some very hard turbulence and dropped 500ft and i was up in the back of aircraft. We dropped, i hit the top of aircraft and broke my back, tore the ACL in my right knee and had to have emergency surgery. 3 months later, they found out i had MS and so everything they gave me for medicine had steriods in it. Arthritis set in and i was given fusions with bags of steriods and the weight just poured on. My face blew up so bad you could see that i was on alot of steriods for inflammation and pain. I put on almost 175lbs that i couldnt get off myself. Then i had to get off the steriods if i wanted to have this sugery. Once i started to look into this process, i took my mom with me to the dr so that she could learn more about this process also. Yes, they all may know someone that has had this surgery, but their experience maybe completely different from yours. You say WlS and everyone thinks off gastric and oh, you cant eat this, you cant eat that, theyre not informed. After taking my mother to the group meeting, she hugged me so tight and apologized for not being supportive from the start, having faith in me that im going to make the best decision for myself and not just rush into anything. So darlin, talk to your aunt, let her know that youre not her coworker, and if SHE hasnt had the surgery herself, she doesnt know what we go through personally and before saying something so negative about whats getting ready to be a major part of your life, help me, dont speak on something that she doesnt know anything about personally, in a nice way. Im 7wks post op and ive lost now a total of 75lbs since may and my parents are so happy for me. My mom looks at me and say she has her baby back. Just these past 3yrs since my accident at work, ive had back surgery, double knee surgery, neck surgery, cardiac arrest do to over dosing on pain meds, depression. And this is from being overweight for 3yrs. I walked into the hospital 7wks ago on a walker because of my arthritis. With this weight loss, ive been able to walk 3 miles a day. I can run behind my granddaughter, something that i couldnt do prior to the surgery. So girl, i wouldnt care who had something to say, you do you. If YOU being overweight is affecting YOUR life, do what YOU need to do because youre the only 1 carrying that weight. Like ShelterDog64 said, let them know that their support is so important to you.
I know that ive probably said way to much.....lol but reading your post really hit home to me because ive been there. We will encourage you here. And as a mother and a aunt, if my daughter or niece came to me, needing my encouragement on anything, im going to be there and they will to, just inform them. Now that ive written this novel, im going to say goodnight. Be encouraged
Sent from my SM-N920V using the BariatricPal App

I haven't been to NYC yet, but from what I've seen, I would think having to walk everywhere would change the dynamics for most people. Out here in the Texas suburbs, we typically don't walk anywhere. Heck, my town doesn't even have reliable bike lanes. Of course, there's only about 3 months out of the year you CAN walk anywhere without either dying of frostbite or heatstroke.

and I worked hard. I earned every bit of my benefits; they are not entitlements.
That is exactly what an entitlement is. You *are* entitled to it, and there is nothing wrong with that. Somehow some people in this country have made "entitlement" a dirty word. There is nothing wrong with getting the benefits that you are entitled to.

I needed my port moved as well. No tummy tuck but it stuck out like a golf ball. Even got caught on my belt sometimes and warning...might be TMI, but certain positions in the bedroom caused a problem as well. Not anymore though now that it's tucked behind the muscle..

You know you're fabulous, right? Oh how I love these before and after pics. It's not just the weight loss, but the smile on your face, the haircut, the makeup...all of it. How wonderful to see in all of us, the blossoming that comes from being comfortable in our own skin. Congrats.

I wish I had known how successful I would be. I lost all my excess weight and got my life back. I don't think you can calculate something like that but in my experience, it's beyond belief. I used to be housebound almost as I could barely walk. Now I can do almost anything and my life has improved a thousand percent.
As far as the port goes....I lost so much weight that it stuck out like a golf ball under my skin. I had a small surgery to have it put behind the abdominal muscle. Now I hardly notice it.

OK..since this has morphed into a bacon thread, check out the restaurant that I went to a few weeks ago. Man...was like I had died and gone to bacon heaven.
Oh...and I'm no newbie testing out my band. I'm a vet who knows what she can and cannot eat...and how much. This type of eating is a rare treat...not an everyday thing.
Enjoy!
http://www.barbacon.com/

OK..since this has morphed into a bacon thread, check out the restaurant that I went to a few weeks ago. Man...was like I had died and gone to bacon heaven.
Oh...and I'm no newbie testing out my band. I'm a vet who knows what she can and cannot eat...and how much. This type of eating is a rare treat...not an everyday thing.
Enjoy!
http://www.barbacon.com/

You know you're fabulous, right? Oh how I love these before and after pics. It's not just the weight loss, but the smile on your face, the haircut, the makeup...all of it. How wonderful to see in all of us, the blossoming that comes from being comfortable in our own skin. Congrats.

@@gowalking

I died. And I died happy.

I guess that is what the saying "I died and went to hog heaven" means.
Thankfully I don't live near that restaurant...but the next time I am in NYC........hmmmmmm.

OK..since this has morphed into a bacon thread, check out the restaurant that I went to a few weeks ago. Man...was like I had died and gone to bacon heaven.
Oh...and I'm no newbie testing out my band. I'm a vet who knows what she can and cannot eat...and how much. This type of eating is a rare treat...not an everyday thing.
Enjoy!
http://www.barbacon.com/

OK..since this has morphed into a bacon thread, check out the restaurant that I went to a few weeks ago. Man...was like I had died and gone to bacon heaven.
Oh...and I'm no newbie testing out my band. I'm a vet who knows what she can and cannot eat...and how much. This type of eating is a rare treat...not an everyday thing.
Enjoy!
http://www.barbacon.com/