Bandista

I went to a karoke birthday party last night , & this is what I wore you have seen this dress on me before but since I lost more it seems to fit even better now .   
Debbie3sons

The 180s are so close!!!

@@JustWatchMe sending prayers and {{hugs}} your way!!

@@jfc193 Man card remains intact!! Thank you for sharing, we all need a pick me up now and again.

At the risk of losing my Man Card I am going to share what a coworker sent to me..
Enc. Note 2-23-16.pdf

Hi there, we are in the same boat -- thanks for posting as this is so much on my mind. I had an original goal of 148 which I now know would be much too thin for me. That was exactly 100 pounds down from my day-of-surgery weight. More recently I reset my goal for 158, thinking I would just vow to always remain under 160 -- that that's when the alarm bells would ring out -- but now I'm in the seventies and suspect twenty more pounds down would make me too skinny. I am also tall and large-boned, etc., and I like having my curves. But I've still got some belly and could stand to lose a bit more plus tone, tone, tone. Working on that aspect of it now, whilst enjoying the size 10 pants. That is pretty amazing and I Celebrate it every day. I have a couple of pairs of pants that don't fit right quite yet, so that's the angle I'm working right now: workout to be lithe enough for those pants and then reassess. Good luck with all; you've done so well. Here's to health and happiness!

Getting the appetite monster off of my back has been such a relief! I am no longer driven by that hunger and obsessing over whether I am on or off a plan, etc. I have a new normal. Every one is different and you will find what works for you. I am happy to report that I still love food, just in much smaller quantities and eaten at appropriate intervals. I am not on a diet but I eat smart and listen to my body. I do not deprive myself -- that mentality did not serve me well during all those years I'd dieting and regain. There's a part of me that enjoys being "in food" -- I'm a cook. I hardly taste now when I'm cooking (not hungry!) but I enjoy the display and presentation, the textures, aromas and notion of preparing food for others to enjoy. It's all good!

Getting the appetite monster off of my back has been such a relief! I am no longer driven by that hunger and obsessing over whether I am on or off a plan, etc. I have a new normal. Every one is different and you will find what works for you. I am happy to report that I still love food, just in much smaller quantities and eaten at appropriate intervals. I am not on a diet but I eat smart and listen to my body. I do not deprive myself -- that mentality did not serve me well during all those years I'd dieting and regain. There's a part of me that enjoys being "in food" -- I'm a cook. I hardly taste now when I'm cooking (not hungry!) but I enjoy the display and presentation, the textures, aromas and notion of preparing food for others to enjoy. It's all good!

Getting the appetite monster off of my back has been such a relief! I am no longer driven by that hunger and obsessing over whether I am on or off a plan, etc. I have a new normal. Every one is different and you will find what works for you. I am happy to report that I still love food, just in much smaller quantities and eaten at appropriate intervals. I am not on a diet but I eat smart and listen to my body. I do not deprive myself -- that mentality did not serve me well during all those years I'd dieting and regain. There's a part of me that enjoys being "in food" -- I'm a cook. I hardly taste now when I'm cooking (not hungry!) but I enjoy the display and presentation, the textures, aromas and notion of preparing food for others to enjoy. It's all good!

Getting the appetite monster off of my back has been such a relief! I am no longer driven by that hunger and obsessing over whether I am on or off a plan, etc. I have a new normal. Every one is different and you will find what works for you. I am happy to report that I still love food, just in much smaller quantities and eaten at appropriate intervals. I am not on a diet but I eat smart and listen to my body. I do not deprive myself -- that mentality did not serve me well during all those years I'd dieting and regain. There's a part of me that enjoys being "in food" -- I'm a cook. I hardly taste now when I'm cooking (not hungry!) but I enjoy the display and presentation, the textures, aromas and notion of preparing food for others to enjoy. It's all good!

Getting the appetite monster off of my back has been such a relief! I am no longer driven by that hunger and obsessing over whether I am on or off a plan, etc. I have a new normal. Every one is different and you will find what works for you. I am happy to report that I still love food, just in much smaller quantities and eaten at appropriate intervals. I am not on a diet but I eat smart and listen to my body. I do not deprive myself -- that mentality did not serve me well during all those years I'd dieting and regain. There's a part of me that enjoys being "in food" -- I'm a cook. I hardly taste now when I'm cooking (not hungry!) but I enjoy the display and presentation, the textures, aromas and notion of preparing food for others to enjoy. It's all good!

I think I'm going to make meatballs! I thought about deviled eggs but I need to get one of those fancy egg pans so they don't end up a mess. Lol.
Thank you all for the suggestions! There are so many options but I just couldn't think of any.

Congratulations! It's a nice place to be!!

Congrats!!! I am 5 pounds away...I am doing the Easter challenge and my goal will be hit onederland. I've been in a stall for over three weeks and NOTHING is breaking it????

Yay, you!

WHOOOHOOOO! Congratulations!
pam

Congratulations!

way to go!!!!!! congrats!!!!!

Whooo hoooo, great job!!!!

Congratulations.

Congratulation!!!! So happy for you!!!!! I am 10lbs away from being there!

Whooohoo! I made it to Onederland!

It's a breeze.
Cooked a freaking spread for my son for Breakfast this morning........didn't phase me. A vanilla Protein shake and I'm good.
Cook for the family quite a bit and don't have problems sticking to my menu and my portion sizes.
I measure things at the house with my 1/2 cup measuring cup in order to figure out what my meal size should look like.
In restaurants, I'll evaluate & portion out the entree (always chicken, steak or fish) and eat only that amount. I do not like to ever reach the state where I'm full. It's not comfortable to me and I simply don't like it. It's better when I eat my 1/2 cup portion over 20 minutes and I'm done.
Very, very easy to follow the plan.
Hunger is no longer there......at all. There are cravings that pop up occasionally and require discipline to work past. Had this happen recently with my downfall.....mixed nuts. I bypassed them and instead step into the half-bath near the kitchen....closed the door and pull my shirt up. I'd love to tell you that I saw a 6-pack of ab muscles.....but what I did see is a smaller belly and the future site of that 6-pack !!!!!! Forgot all about the food craving.
I can now see my progress really well.....I'm now leaner than many of my non-bariatric friends. I want to be leaner than my gym friends next. I want to live lean and that makes discipline come easy...easy....easy.

I am one who has a suppressed appetite, (or none at all)...I have no interest in food and sometimes, when I am busy or traveling, will forget to eat entirely.
People describe it as "Feeling Full"...I have never felt that since my Lap band surgery....however, my brain tells me I am full and have no need to eat, even if I have not eaten in over 12 hours.(or more)
And if my brain senses it, then I simply don't think about it....
And the miracle is, I am one who could not stop eating...like a machine, all day long.
And when I do eat, it is very little...very small portions. Waste and throw away more than I eat. So because of that, knowing my portions will be small, I concentrate on eating the healthiest I can...make the best of it and not waste that small window with something with no nutritional value....
After 5 years, I don't worry about measuring portions, or counting calories...I did in the beginning...but now, it's all about eating healthy and eating less...along with plenty of exercise.

@@librarianlk - Great question and you have received some great answers. I am only 8 1/2 months out, but not only did I have the same question as you pre-op, I recently had a similar conversation with my therapist about wanting to be "normal" with relation to food. In the beginning, I felt very food obsessed, so I completely understand where you are coming from, but now, I am just more mindful. Having said that, when discussing with my therapist she said something that resonated with me. "You aren't normal yet" she said. I obsessed about food for at least 40 years of my life and to expect that I would undo all that and be "normal" in 8 short months is unrealistic of me. I hope to reach a point in my life where I have a more normal relationship with food; however, 1) who is to say what "normal" really is? and 2) just as an alcoholic is a recovering alcoholic for the rest of their lives, I too will always be in recovery from my obsession of food. For the rest of my life.... That is daunting sometimes, but the struggle does change (and will continue to change) and I strive for being mindful yet not obsessed of every bite.
I hope this helps a little. I am trying to explain that your fears are reasonable but please do not let them get in the way of making the decision of going forward with the procedure. It is an incredible journey and I would highly recommend therapy as you move through it. It will be the biggest tool you have (next to the actual surgery).
There is a really good article posted today called "Food and Eating...the Extremes" that addresses the extreme obsessiveness on the other end of this journey. It is worth a read.

I'm 18 months post-op (today). I've lost 100 pounds and am maintaining at 135 pounds.
Everything @@Djmohr and @@stacyrg1 said (above) is true for me, too. "Obsessive"? I dunno. Mindful? Always. Disciplined? Pretty much. Plan my food and track it? Most of the time.