Bandora

2 years post-op and I still am deciding on my overall style. I tend to stay with classic styles for work . After leaving the plus size world I was delighted to never see another bedazzled tunic or sparkly t-shirt. Some of the clothing found at Lane Bryant/Torrid/Catherines was expensive but looked cheap to me. My styles leans towards banana Republic/Ann Taylor and I can find deals that look comparable for 1/2 the price at places like H & M and Ross
Do not get stuck dressing only in what is considered as " age appropriate". I am not saying dress like a 16 yr old girl, but be aware that many trendy styles can be adapted to a more mature woman without dipping into the old lady zone.
A great fitting pair of jeans is a worth spending a few extra dollars. As mentioned previously, a good bra and/or Spanx is a godsend. Nothing constricting but a nice Shapewear tank is amazing under clingy fabrics. Avoid skin tight clothing as well as oversized, You will have to spend sometime trying all various styles to see what flatters your body type. Also, do not be afraid of color.
Also, from my observation some items that "frumpisize" a woman are :
1) The mid calf wide leg capris in pastel colors. Matched with a boxy capped sleeve t- this outfit screams old lady
2) High waisted jeans
3) Off the shoulder t's with animal print/floral tunics/anything with shells/shiny beading or sequins in the daytime
4) Twinsets /cardigans in matching colors
5) The wrong kind of floral prints
One thing I did was spend a day by myself at the mall. I went and tried clothes all day and took pictures of myself in the dressing room. Try styles you would never have tried, especially for jeans. Focus on your best features. If you have amazing legs, try a shorter cut skirt. If you stick with neutrals try to add a color. There is no pressure to buy either.
Your style will come in time. I look online constantly for ideas and try to adapt to my budget. Enjoy !!!!

I use scoop vanilla whey Protein, handful of Kale , scoop of Greek Yogurt ( Honey) and a few raspberries/strawberries which are frozen. It blends up nicely in my Nutribullet. Add crushed ice/water or lite almond milk if you want it thinner.

I'm sorry that they are not being supportive and unfortunately you cant always "bring them to the other side" . As many have posted before, education and information is the best way to sway a negative opinion. If this doesn't work, they simply may never change their mind. You have to follow your surgeons recommendation as well as trust your gut feeling. Sometimes there is jealously and other issues that go deeper than the actual procedure. I wish you the best !

My olldest daughter has been on my case for years to quit buying all my clothes at Walmart by default. WEll, now that my weight is down, I shop at Kohls, Pennys, Macy's, etc. and can actually find stylish things I like.
That same daughter just married her gal pal this past Saturday, and I wore a dress! I have not worn a dress in over thirty years (I am 63). That dress ahd big bright lowers on it and was above my knee. I wore the prettiest laciest push-up ra I have ever had and felt good about it. No more $8 bras for me. I wore lipstick. Mama always said that lipstick and heels were for bad girls. Oh, well.
I had not seen the Homewrecker who broke up my 23 year marriage to my girls' father, but the were both their at the wedding. I sooooo got my weight loss revenge.
Which reminds me of a joke: Why does Mrs. Claus worry so much about Santa? Because he knows where all the bad girls live.

I'm sorry that they are not being supportive and unfortunately you cant always "bring them to the other side" . As many have posted before, education and information is the best way to sway a negative opinion. If this doesn't work, they simply may never change their mind. You have to follow your surgeons recommendation as well as trust your gut feeling. Sometimes there is jealously and other issues that go deeper than the actual procedure. I wish you the best !

2 years post-op and I still am deciding on my overall style. I tend to stay with classic styles for work . After leaving the plus size world I was delighted to never see another bedazzled tunic or sparkly t-shirt. Some of the clothing found at Lane Bryant/Torrid/Catherines was expensive but looked cheap to me. My styles leans towards banana Republic/Ann Taylor and I can find deals that look comparable for 1/2 the price at places like H & M and Ross
Do not get stuck dressing only in what is considered as " age appropriate". I am not saying dress like a 16 yr old girl, but be aware that many trendy styles can be adapted to a more mature woman without dipping into the old lady zone.
A great fitting pair of jeans is a worth spending a few extra dollars. As mentioned previously, a good bra and/or Spanx is a godsend. Nothing constricting but a nice Shapewear tank is amazing under clingy fabrics. Avoid skin tight clothing as well as oversized, You will have to spend sometime trying all various styles to see what flatters your body type. Also, do not be afraid of color.
Also, from my observation some items that "frumpisize" a woman are :
1) The mid calf wide leg capris in pastel colors. Matched with a boxy capped sleeve t- this outfit screams old lady
2) High waisted jeans
3) Off the shoulder t's with animal print/floral tunics/anything with shells/shiny beading or sequins in the daytime
4) Twinsets /cardigans in matching colors
5) The wrong kind of floral prints
One thing I did was spend a day by myself at the mall. I went and tried clothes all day and took pictures of myself in the dressing room. Try styles you would never have tried, especially for jeans. Focus on your best features. If you have amazing legs, try a shorter cut skirt. If you stick with neutrals try to add a color. There is no pressure to buy either.
Your style will come in time. I look online constantly for ideas and try to adapt to my budget. Enjoy !!!!

I did my best to clear out as many processed food items as possible. I do keep canned tuna/chicken on hand as well as a few cans of tomatoes/canned sauce to use in a bind. I buy almonds weekly as a snack. In the fridge, I keep string cheese and some cottage cheese/yogurt for Snacks. I buy a large container and split into my own portions to save money.We try to by fresh fruit/veggies weekly and try our best to eat what is in season to save $$. I use frozen veggies for smoothies if I cant afford fresh. I use frozen spinach a lot also. I use a Protein Powder and make all kinds of smoothies . Try to avoid all breads and refined sugars. No chips or crackers because they trigger me to eat more. I like to roll up deli meat/thin slices of provolone as a cheap " go- to " lunch.< /p>

I, too hate the glitter, rhinestones, and sequins. Can't stand the shiny, clingy fabric they make most tops out of! And why all the cut-outs and/or macramé tops?
Why can't someone make a nice tailored blouse like Ina Garten and Martha Stewart wear? Much more flattering.

Planning your eating is an essential skill to have foods you need to be healthy after surgery. But let’s face, some days will fall apart. Unexpected situations come up and you will need an emergency stash of Protein foods.


Non-perishable protein foods are ideal to stock up at work, home, in your purse or backpack or in your car. Keep a clean shaker cup and single serve size of Protein Powder handy. All you need is Water to mix. Keeping a ready to drink Protein Shake handy can be an easier alternative. All you need is to open and sip or find a cup of ice to pour the drink into.
Small cans of tuna or chicken can be open and eaten right out of the can. There are also tuna and chicken salad kits that you can keep stocked at home or work. Softer meat sticks or meat Jerky can be stashed in a desk drawer or locker at work. Brands include Ostrim (available at Owasso Nutrition Plus by Fit for her in Owasso or online) and Kratos High Protein Beef Bars (currently at Reasors).
For meat sticks, find ones that have four grams of fat or less and at least seven grams of protein per ounce. High protein Quest chips make for a crunchy snack that can be stashed. These are currently available at GNC stores. Nuts deliver protein and healthy fat. Make sure you measure out the nuts, because that healthy fat leads to higher calories. One ounce of nuts is about ¼ cup. Measure this into snack size baggies or find the 100-calorie packs of nuts. Eating out of the container can lead to overeating.
Protein Bars are also great ways to get in some protein. Look for protein bars with more protein than carbohydrate like Pure Protein or Premier Protein. If you are driving about town, you can get protein bars and Protein Drinks at convenience stores like Quik Trip and Kum & Go. You can also stop at a grocery store and buy string cheese, light yogurt or an Oscar Meyer P3 snack pack. Keep a stash of plastic spoons in your car for eating yogurt. Time to stock up on emergency proteins!

Well I have seen so much negativity on the band lately....and it kinda brings me down. so for those of you who are against or on the fence about the lap band, or struggling with your weight loss, I just want to say.
The lap band is working for me!
100 lbs down!
Yup....crazy. 11 months with the band.
Has it been easy? Hell no.
Burps, puke, reflux, too tight, not tight enough, stalls, ect..
Was it the "easy road"? Definitely not.
Changing the way I eat, the way I exercise, the way i think about food, learning what I can and can't eat so I don't get sick in public or with friends and family. Learning to enjoy meals with the family with band friendly food.
And even if it was the easy way, my hubby still forked out over $12k, sooooo...i know it wasn't easy working for that money.
Have I learned alot? You bet.
I still struggle. What if I fail? Am I really hungry? Why do I weigh myself every dang day? What do I say when I am with people and can't or don't want to eat? And I have to really be honest about what I eat...
And I still haven't found the idea of exercising "fun". But I know I have to do it. And I never regret it when I am finished. I like barely being able to walk because I totally crushed my workout.
So is it going to last forever...my weight loss? I sure hope so. I've worked hard for this. I've followed all the rules, and in the process i have learned so much about myself. I have come way too far to fail. This relationship between me and the band is a tricky one. But this IS the new me..so for now I am going to enjoy this victory....and have a pumpkin latte. ..cheers!

First of all , congrats on the 130 lb weight loss!. You just have to toughen up and do your best to ignore comments like that. Women can be such haters!!!

I love twinsets.
And they do not "frump" me.
But I agree with your other suggestions.

2 years post-op and I still am deciding on my overall style. I tend to stay with classic styles for work . After leaving the plus size world I was delighted to never see another bedazzled tunic or sparkly t-shirt. Some of the clothing found at Lane Bryant/Torrid/Catherines was expensive but looked cheap to me. My styles leans towards banana Republic/Ann Taylor and I can find deals that look comparable for 1/2 the price at places like H & M and Ross
Do not get stuck dressing only in what is considered as " age appropriate". I am not saying dress like a 16 yr old girl, but be aware that many trendy styles can be adapted to a more mature woman without dipping into the old lady zone.
A great fitting pair of jeans is a worth spending a few extra dollars. As mentioned previously, a good bra and/or Spanx is a godsend. Nothing constricting but a nice Shapewear tank is amazing under clingy fabrics. Avoid skin tight clothing as well as oversized, You will have to spend sometime trying all various styles to see what flatters your body type. Also, do not be afraid of color.
Also, from my observation some items that "frumpisize" a woman are :
1) The mid calf wide leg capris in pastel colors. Matched with a boxy capped sleeve t- this outfit screams old lady
2) High waisted jeans
3) Off the shoulder t's with animal print/floral tunics/anything with shells/shiny beading or sequins in the daytime
4) Twinsets /cardigans in matching colors
5) The wrong kind of floral prints
One thing I did was spend a day by myself at the mall. I went and tried clothes all day and took pictures of myself in the dressing room. Try styles you would never have tried, especially for jeans. Focus on your best features. If you have amazing legs, try a shorter cut skirt. If you stick with neutrals try to add a color. There is no pressure to buy either.
Your style will come in time. I look online constantly for ideas and try to adapt to my budget. Enjoy !!!!

2 years post-op and I still am deciding on my overall style. I tend to stay with classic styles for work . After leaving the plus size world I was delighted to never see another bedazzled tunic or sparkly t-shirt. Some of the clothing found at Lane Bryant/Torrid/Catherines was expensive but looked cheap to me. My styles leans towards banana Republic/Ann Taylor and I can find deals that look comparable for 1/2 the price at places like H & M and Ross
Do not get stuck dressing only in what is considered as " age appropriate". I am not saying dress like a 16 yr old girl, but be aware that many trendy styles can be adapted to a more mature woman without dipping into the old lady zone.
A great fitting pair of jeans is a worth spending a few extra dollars. As mentioned previously, a good bra and/or Spanx is a godsend. Nothing constricting but a nice Shapewear tank is amazing under clingy fabrics. Avoid skin tight clothing as well as oversized, You will have to spend sometime trying all various styles to see what flatters your body type. Also, do not be afraid of color.
Also, from my observation some items that "frumpisize" a woman are :
1) The mid calf wide leg capris in pastel colors. Matched with a boxy capped sleeve t- this outfit screams old lady
2) High waisted jeans
3) Off the shoulder t's with animal print/floral tunics/anything with shells/shiny beading or sequins in the daytime
4) Twinsets /cardigans in matching colors
5) The wrong kind of floral prints
One thing I did was spend a day by myself at the mall. I went and tried clothes all day and took pictures of myself in the dressing room. Try styles you would never have tried, especially for jeans. Focus on your best features. If you have amazing legs, try a shorter cut skirt. If you stick with neutrals try to add a color. There is no pressure to buy either.
Your style will come in time. I look online constantly for ideas and try to adapt to my budget. Enjoy !!!!

2 years post-op and I still am deciding on my overall style. I tend to stay with classic styles for work . After leaving the plus size world I was delighted to never see another bedazzled tunic or sparkly t-shirt. Some of the clothing found at Lane Bryant/Torrid/Catherines was expensive but looked cheap to me. My styles leans towards banana Republic/Ann Taylor and I can find deals that look comparable for 1/2 the price at places like H & M and Ross
Do not get stuck dressing only in what is considered as " age appropriate". I am not saying dress like a 16 yr old girl, but be aware that many trendy styles can be adapted to a more mature woman without dipping into the old lady zone.
A great fitting pair of jeans is a worth spending a few extra dollars. As mentioned previously, a good bra and/or Spanx is a godsend. Nothing constricting but a nice Shapewear tank is amazing under clingy fabrics. Avoid skin tight clothing as well as oversized, You will have to spend sometime trying all various styles to see what flatters your body type. Also, do not be afraid of color.
Also, from my observation some items that "frumpisize" a woman are :
1) The mid calf wide leg capris in pastel colors. Matched with a boxy capped sleeve t- this outfit screams old lady
2) High waisted jeans
3) Off the shoulder t's with animal print/floral tunics/anything with shells/shiny beading or sequins in the daytime
4) Twinsets /cardigans in matching colors
5) The wrong kind of floral prints
One thing I did was spend a day by myself at the mall. I went and tried clothes all day and took pictures of myself in the dressing room. Try styles you would never have tried, especially for jeans. Focus on your best features. If you have amazing legs, try a shorter cut skirt. If you stick with neutrals try to add a color. There is no pressure to buy either.
Your style will come in time. I look online constantly for ideas and try to adapt to my budget. Enjoy !!!!

2 years post-op and I still am deciding on my overall style. I tend to stay with classic styles for work . After leaving the plus size world I was delighted to never see another bedazzled tunic or sparkly t-shirt. Some of the clothing found at Lane Bryant/Torrid/Catherines was expensive but looked cheap to me. My styles leans towards banana Republic/Ann Taylor and I can find deals that look comparable for 1/2 the price at places like H & M and Ross
Do not get stuck dressing only in what is considered as " age appropriate". I am not saying dress like a 16 yr old girl, but be aware that many trendy styles can be adapted to a more mature woman without dipping into the old lady zone.
A great fitting pair of jeans is a worth spending a few extra dollars. As mentioned previously, a good bra and/or Spanx is a godsend. Nothing constricting but a nice Shapewear tank is amazing under clingy fabrics. Avoid skin tight clothing as well as oversized, You will have to spend sometime trying all various styles to see what flatters your body type. Also, do not be afraid of color.
Also, from my observation some items that "frumpisize" a woman are :
1) The mid calf wide leg capris in pastel colors. Matched with a boxy capped sleeve t- this outfit screams old lady
2) High waisted jeans
3) Off the shoulder t's with animal print/floral tunics/anything with shells/shiny beading or sequins in the daytime
4) Twinsets /cardigans in matching colors
5) The wrong kind of floral prints
One thing I did was spend a day by myself at the mall. I went and tried clothes all day and took pictures of myself in the dressing room. Try styles you would never have tried, especially for jeans. Focus on your best features. If you have amazing legs, try a shorter cut skirt. If you stick with neutrals try to add a color. There is no pressure to buy either.
Your style will come in time. I look online constantly for ideas and try to adapt to my budget. Enjoy !!!!

Wow- what a disappointing list. When we have canned food /non-perishable drives at work we have a set list of items acceptable for donation. candy is excluded as are any frozen items. I am not sure what part of the country you are in but in my state ( Arizona) you can sometimes find farmers markets or produce markets that sell for example 60lbs of veggies/fruit for 10$. Sometimes I split with a friend to make sure the fruits don't spoil. I freeze a lot of soups/stews when I needed to save a dollar too. Good luck to you!

I think that is completely normal. In some clothing stores I feel like I am an imposter. I am not at my goal but I am close. I definitely fit in regular sizes. Sometimes I feel the salesclerk will " catch" me and advise me " we do not carry your size". I do not know where this paranoia comes from.

I think that is completely normal. In some clothing stores I feel like I am an imposter. I am not at my goal but I am close. I definitely fit in regular sizes. Sometimes I feel the salesclerk will " catch" me and advise me " we do not carry your size". I do not know where this paranoia comes from.

I am frustrated when people only talk to me about weight loss. My hobbies and interests are the same now as they were before. I am not a food cop and I do not care if someone is eating healthy 24/7. I get irritated when people think I am judging them.

I think that is completely normal. In some clothing stores I feel like I am an imposter. I am not at my goal but I am close. I definitely fit in regular sizes. Sometimes I feel the salesclerk will " catch" me and advise me " we do not carry your size". I do not know where this paranoia comes from.

I am frustrated when people only talk to me about weight loss. My hobbies and interests are the same now as they were before. I am not a food cop and I do not care if someone is eating healthy 24/7. I get irritated when people think I am judging them.

Wow- what a disappointing list. When we have canned food /non-perishable drives at work we have a set list of items acceptable for donation. candy is excluded as are any frozen items. I am not sure what part of the country you are in but in my state ( Arizona) you can sometimes find farmers markets or produce markets that sell for example 60lbs of veggies/fruit for 10$. Sometimes I split with a friend to make sure the fruits don't spoil. I freeze a lot of soups/stews when I needed to save a dollar too. Good luck to you!

I find that looking and before and after pics also helps me. I have to see my changes in front of my eyes sometimes. I think I will always have the ' fat girl' outlook. I am not ever going to be tiny but when I see pics of myself next to friends/family I can see how far I have come. When I look in the mirror I focus on the loose skin under my chin and my flabby arms. I start to pick myself apart, so I just don't do it much.

No, its not "fair" that others treat you different when you're slim, but you cant control how others think, unfortunately. Im sure when you picked out your favorite shirt, house , car , puppy etc you picked out the most attractive one didn't you ? That wasn't being shallow, that was going for the one that you liked best. I do think when you lose weight and start feeling good , you send out "good vibes " and radiate self confidence . Maybe thats why others are suddenly attracted to you ? Just a thought !!