SandyM

My surgeon states that excess energy (calories) will be stored as fat, even good excess energy. I'm still reading up on all of this to form my own opinion. But, this makes sense to me.

I'm so happy for you. It has changed my life and will yours too if you let it. Keep us posted on your journey.

Recently I met a lady who truly inspired me. I admit I at times have not been as sympathetic to people who were extremely obese. At first I didn't see myself in their category, then it became clear to me that I was and I was thoroughly disgusted with myself as well. I had the band due to this disgust and the knowledge that I was becoming disabled due to my weight and the knowledge that people saw me as a fat middle aged woman who had no control of her eating. I was finding it more and more difficult to get around, I was getting short of breath and my body ached in places that I didn't think should ache. My fat even hurt. That sounds wierd and when you tell someone thin that fat can hurt they look at you like you're crazy. But my fat physically hurt. I was ashamed of my reflection in the mirror, the store entry doors and even hated my own shadow. I didn't ride my bike anymore because of what people might think. I had become obcessed with my weight and was starting to stay home except to go to work and back. Last week I met a lady that told me she weighed 300 lbs. She is pregnant and stated she had gained 8 lbs since being pregnant and that she had weighed 292 before getting pregnant. She commenced to tell me she had the lapband and had all of the Fluid taken out to give her baby the nutrition it needs. Secretly I was thinking, "well it wasn't working for you anyway". I've been losing weight slowly and have had this fear that one day the scales would just stop moving and I'd have the extra weight that would never come off. This has been a mental battle for me. So when I see people who have failed the band, it reenforces that fear in me. Anyway, I saw the same woman again yesterday and we started talking a little. Come to find out, she started at over 600 lbs. Shes not sure of the actual weight because she would have had to go to freight scale to get an accurate weight cuz her docs scales stopped at 600 lbs. I was instantly ashamed of myself and was truly inspired. This woman had lost over 300 lbs with the band. I gained a respect for her that I did not have going in. And as we talked, I realized she was a smart, inspiring lady. I'm sure she was this at 600 lbs as well. I gained a respect for her that I didn't start with. Not because of her weight loss, but because I got to know her a little. Isn't it a shame that we cant look at people as they are until we get to know them. I've met beautiful people and thought they would be likable just to find that the only ones that could like them is themselves and I've met others that I probably wouldn't have given a second glance as a friend and liked them very much when I got to know them a little. I'm sure this happens when people meet me as well as I'm not necessarily that easy to love either. I spent time on my knees last night asking forgiveness for being judgemental and asking for more compassion and empathy. This lady opened up and told me how mean people had been to her while she was extremly obese and how it had made her someone she didn't like and had also made her get the surgery to turn things for herself. As a result of the weight loss she was able to get pregnant something she had given up hope for. So the ugliness did play a role in helping her, but its still sad. I just wanted to share this. I think it's easy for us to fall in this trap. I'm just glad I realize this and will work as hard on this as I do on losing my excess weight. I just wanted to share. If ever I've hurt any feelings on this board, please forgive me, I don't want to be that person and that has never been my intention.

I had a fill yesterday and don't know if ill be able to keep it and if I do will probably be my last. Before this fill I was able to eat a whopper jr and be satisfied. I am aware that this is not the ideal food for me but my surgeon and I agree that I should be able to lose and maintain without giving up everything albeit the weight loss may be slower than some. It fits my lifestyle. Point is, I don't want to give up my meats, breads, fruits etc that I hear people talk about here. I don't want to be limited to shakes in the morning or a 7 day a week slave to the gym. If I had wanted to live such a strict life, maybe I could have forgone the band. Yes, we do have our emotions and we all learn to deal with them in our own says and sometimes damnit, I want a sleeve of cookies. Thank goodness the band won't let me have a whole sleeve and my conscious stops me even shorter. That being said, I'm still losing weight and yes there is a "wagon" I could fall off of if I'm pnot careful. I will not have my band cinched ltry to control every part of me. I'm still a fat person in heart and head and this is something I will try to change. I read somewhere that it takes about 2 years for the mind to accept the body's weight as base. I don't know, I've yoyoed so. Much I never stayed down that long. Stay strong everybody, holidays are a rough time of year for a lot of people for a lot of different reasons.

Before you start baking try giving yourself a healthy high Protein snack so maybe you won't be tempted. Also atry sipping on harmless liquids. I personally am a coffee and hot chocolate person. I use diet hot chocolate. Try to get the deprived feeling out of your head. I personally have got to where I do more Proteins in the evening to cutout my evening cravings.

Glad you found your way home.

I tried again

I want to continue my journey and keep the faith. It hasn't been as hard as I thought it would be...but I still have had obstacles. I'm still lovin it

Way to go!!!

I put my wedding rings on today for the first time in 10 years. I quit wearing them, telling my hubby that my fingers were swelling. At that time I thought that's what it was. Didn't take long to figure that my fingers were getting fat like the rest of me. This morning I was looking at my fingers and thinking how slender they were looking. I took my rings out and they fit. Funny thing is, I just tried them on 2 weeks ago and they didn't fit at that time. I've only lost 1 lb since then. Go figure.????

I have a cup of diet hot chocolate. It satisfies all the needs and is only 24 calories. Water also helps, but for me I plan a cup of hot chocolate into my evening

Thanks. I sent you a request. See if it works

I have not figured out how to add friends on fitnesspal. It asks for Facebook, phone contacts or email

For now it may be helpful to avoid entrees that are partial meat and stick with solid meat and some veges. Starches will get you in trouble. I use to love WW but I believe they were part of my problem...the encourage low calorie high volume therefore discouraging good protein and encouraging fillers. That isn't good for us. Even without good restriction, if you focus on proteins you will do fine

I have no problem with apples but I remove the peel.

I was able to resume everything at 1 month. On the treadmill at 1 week

As my surgeon says "if you forgot to brush your teeth this morning would you just go ahead and give up on them for good?" . Get back on track. You will not regret it.

You look absolutely great.

Highly unlikely your surgeon will give you a choice. I had glue (dermabond) on the smaller ones plus steristrips. Sutures on the port incision with steristrips. Other than still being real pink they closed beautifully.

If you're stuck for that long you must be trying to get pretty big bites down. Also after an episode of stuck, most go on liquids for awhile and rest things

Same here

If you've lost 3 pant sizes that is weight. The scales will eventually catch up. I can eat almost anything just have to chew and eat slow. Try to increase your proteins if you're getting hungry before lunch. This is what my surgeon told me. And most of all relax. It will happen if you keep it up. We all stall. I stall at least every other month then it takes off again. And, you probably are gaining muscle which accounts for smaller size without pound lost.

Tunneling is eroding or burrowing when the wound doesn't heel inside. Usually caused by infectious process. Bacteria inside the wound will start to eat out further in one direction or another or all directions. A lot of times you'll have tale tale signs like drainage, festering or the wound will look angry. Really the wound needs to open so it can be treated from the inside. I had a pt who tunneled between all 4 of her incisions. Finally surgeon had to go in and open her to get her healed. Usually will require antibiotics. Left unattended can cause sepsis and even death.

And painful

7 months out and 55 lbs down. I'm getting there ok and want to say thanks to all you guys and gals who keep supporting and encouraging. I really appreciate it. I'll get there yet.