ADJL

Ha! Not only did I take them, but posted the awful things with all the rolls and glory. I WANT to remember where I came from...I'm at -25 lbs right now and don't ever plan to go back. Those pics are a great reminder why.

Congrats! Its got to feel good to clear out that closet!

Donna - I'm sorry you felt so down about this exchange with your mother..and frustrated with how its going in general... WLS is hard enough without other stressors added on top of it. I think sugar free popsicles are a godsend when it comes to needing a sweet treat. I ate FOUR of them yesterday...so I totally get needing a little sweet something every once in awhile. Instead of a gym membership...look for a pool membership. With your knee surgery I think Water aerobics as a low impact exercise might do wonderful things for you! Thats something you can do daily without too much strain on your knees...and it will really help you build muscle and lose the weight. Even if you are just treading water or walking back and forth in the shallow end you will be burning a ton of calories with so much less physical pain!

This was me too. I was overweight, but not morbidly obese...I also wasn't bullied about my weight and had a good friend support system....so maybe I would have thought differently if I had a different experience growing up? I do, however thing its crucial for the family to rally if this is a choice made for a child. It would require a huge lifestyle change for everyone and not just the child. And I think counseling of some sort should be mandatory...teenage emotions can be so overwhelming and I can't imagine what the stress/anxiety of WLS might do to those that are still maturing...

Oh I can't wait for the day when a bra off the rack will fit well! Its been so long since I was properly measured...maybe that will be a good 50 pound loss reward. My boobs are jealous of your boobs.

Great job! And congratulations!

^^what GuyMontag said! My dad always made us write a pro and con list when we had big decisions to make...maybe thats a good mental exercise when thinking about what surgery is right for you. Me...I was only going to consider the band. Something about removing parts of my innards didn't sit right with me. That was my personal decision and choice. But...out of 30 people that I started the initial consult with...I was the ONLY one that chose the band. All the rest chose sleeve or bypass. So...it really is something that is a personal decision. Don't let your doctor push you into another option unless you really feel good about it.

I always add fruit (frozen banana or frozen berries) to my Protein shakes...just makes them taste better. And, I always add fruit to my salads...also makes them taste better...I know that for my lifestyle change not having fruit isn't a long term option so I'm keeping them incorporated, but trying to make smarter decisions on how and when I eat it. They are also my main source of carboydrates right now. I also look at some fruit as a "dessert." Watermelon and mango and frozen grapes especially. YUM. Of course this may all change in the winter when fresh fruit isn't as plentiful...

Fantastic! What a relief that must be for you! Can't wait to watch your progress, Cherie!

If you feel good and are healthy and THAT is your goal then you've reached it! Congratulations! There isn't a number on the scale that's going to tell you you've reached the epitome of what you want...that has to be based on what makes you feel happy and what you are comfortable with. I am very curious why your doc says your not supposed to be super small...and whether it was a comment like that making you think that you should be happy where you are at or if you truly feel good with your weight loss and how you look and feel? Regardless...again...congratulations on reaching a point where YOU feel awesome...that's a feeling I can't wait to find again!

I'm a complete control freak and just threw caution to the wind when I decided to band...jumping in with both feet and refused to allow myself to think about it. Honestly...I had a really rough first 2 weeks and was ready to throw in the towel and demand they take that thing out of me. But, it was because my body was rejecting the Vitamins I was taking...it had nothing to do with the band itself. Once that got sorted out I've felt...well, exactly how I did before...in fact I was just saying in another post that I forget I even did this occasionally and resort to eating big bites or gulping or whatever...thats when the band shows up and wags her finger at me. It sounds like you have really thought this out. I'm excited for you!

I'm celebrating right along with you! I had a blood sugar NSV today of 88 (with no insulin last night)! Doing the happy dance...love seeing results from good healthy choices!!!

Love fish. I also bake mine...400 degrees for 10 min or so...you can put some lemon pepper on it...thats also one of my favorite ways to flavor chicken.

What Dawalsh said...hang in there. Everyone is going to lose differently. I hit 5 weeks and plateaued. I've only today seen one pound lower and its because I've been exercising like a maniac. Keep doing your walking and low impact yoga/pilates..even if you don't see it coming off in the scale numbers you will feel a difference and your body will be healthier overall...eventually the scale will catch up with all the good work you are doing right now. Don't let this derail you!!!

You look fantastic...especially after having TWINS! Amazing. Great job.

You didn't mention it, but are you exercising too? It might be that you just need a change of pace for you to break a slow loss plateau. Even do some calorie cycling if you are into that. The reality is that if you are eating only a cup of food...even with drinking water you will keep losing weight as long as you are expending more calories than you are eating...but too little food will slow your metabolism and make your body think its starving (thus hoarding your fat)...follow your nutritionist guidelines for calories and types of food and you'll be fine.

I had three women in the group with me that were approved by tricare for the sleeve. So, they do approve the surgery...maybe just not for everyone?

Great goal! Mine is late night snacking...it's habitual...not hunger.

6 weeks post op and I still forget. I sit down to eat and I still haven't picked up the habit of remembering that I have the band...so I take a BIG bite...or I don't chew. Or I walk by my daughter's bag of jelly belly's and grab a handful....its neverending... I WANT to make changes...but so much is just an automatic response. I actually spit out those jelly belly's by the way...1/2 chewed because it took me 15 seconds to remember what my goals are and that a mouthful of jelly belly's just don't fit in with them... UGH. They need to invent a lap band for the brain hunger response.

How incredibly cool is that?! You look fantastic and I can't believe you climbed that wall...awesome victory for you!!!

Wow! the difference is very clear! Great job!

Mary - I would add that you don't have to make every change all at once... take baby steps. Start with changing something you know you are doing "wrong" like eliminating a specific food or late night snack...or add in something right like a walk after dinner... Too much change at once can be frustrating so be gentle with yourself, but push yourself too!

You can do it! Can't wait to see you achieve your goals!!!

I am and I need to start using it! username: tentseven

I was told no straws. Went without for about 3 weeks then started using them again and have had no problems at all. My doc told me that its for air issues and also the sucking can cause issues when you are first banded...like too much pressure on the stitches or something... I showed up at my fill appt with a Water bottle with a straw and he didn't say anything. So I take that as consent.