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agreed - you don't have to be knowledgeable about something to support someone in their struggles.

Activity here can definitely help. Having someone to bounce things off of seriously does help - I can definitely say that

You've made a big change to your body by stopping the bp meds. Let your body adjust - those 4 lbs are just gonna disappear

Congrats on your success thus far and your future success!

that's awesome:) congrats!

Congrats Helen! That's a great loss!

I have always been a protein first eater. That will definitely benefit me for getting my protein in every day.

Yeah - I hate O'Hare. worst airport in the country.

Good for you! I'm glad you stood your ground! I woulda made a snarky comment about not eating like a starving animal in the desert when I was eating and savoring my meal the appropriate way

I was a little nervous until I got there - then all nerves went away

oh - I am still having the upper cavity gas a little bit - but its not a big deal. I think its actually keeping me from feeling hungry cuz its that "full" feeling after turkey dinner hahah

I keep burping and walking. Water goes down easier if its room temp than cold right now, which stinks cuz I love cold water - but i'll get there

try maybe switching to the walmart brand? It seems to have less of an aftertaste.

I live on sobe lifre water and walmart cherry limeade

Thanks Lyra!

amazing! congrats! I'll be thinking of you tomorrow! Good luck!

My hubby is going with me

yup- today was definitely not as bad as yesterday -each day gets easier.

haha I don't - I never watch commercials - I tivo everything and watch it later

Thanks!

awesome! That is amazing!

I couldn't believe the belt I found. I could MAYBE fit it around my thigh now. And honestly, its not really all _that_ tiny. I saw this cashier at the store the other day and she was TINY. I wanted to feed her a sandwich. I think her waist was literally the size of my ankle, and i still have small ankles. She looked completely emaciated. I was buying pillows and she barely had the strength to lift those. Like, she struggled to lift them into a plastic shopping bag. What is the deal with this look? I mean, Kate Moss would look like a full figured model next to this girl - and it wasn't because of anything "wrong" - she doesn't eat - she stood there talking to her coworker about it. She's seriously ill - like anorexic. Sometimes I think that would be worse than being obese. My husband looked at me when we walked out of the store and said "you're not gonna look like THAT are you?" I was like uhhh. NO. But that girl needs some damn help.

Glad you're feeling better!

so excited! yay!

always weigh in the AM, after you go to the bathroom and before you drink anything - however, remember, a woman's body weight can change from day to day by around 9 lbs just based on water retention.

Muscle mass the same size as a fat mass does weigh more. 10 lbs of fat takes up more room than 10 lbs of muscle.

Don't weigh every day. I'm pushing myself to actually do away with my scale for the first month. Its hard, but that's what I'm wanting to do!

I always eat before I bake - then i don't have any interest in eating it.

Have you tried going to work out before you go to work?

Congrats on your success! You've done amazingly!

yeah no pregnancy experience here. I don't have any real head hunger issues - I've dealt with those years ago. As long as i can see food in the house, my head hunger issues are ok. I don't have to eat them... - just actual stomach hunger - can't stand to be hungry.

very excited! birthday in 8 days, surgery in 10 days- Happy Birthday to me! Stinks that I won't be able to go out and celebrate my birthday, but that's OK! Just ensuring that there are many more to have

definitely attend the seminars! This is where you will get the medical information on each procedure and what limitations, side effects - both good and bad, from. Its important to base your decision on what YOU wish to receive out of the procedure - all will help you lose weight. None are magic. You still have to do the work. But its the difference between building a house using your bare hands, or having a hammer to pound in those nails. Here are some of the major points:

Lap Band - removable, adjustable, foreign body, can errode, less overall weight loss, no large pills.

Gastric Bypass - reversable (although not easily) fast immediate weight loss, chance of dumping syndrome, rerouting of internal organs, malabsorption, extra vitamins needed for life, no NSAIDS, not suggested for those with acid reflux.

Sleeve - not reversable, steady weight loss (between band and bypass), removal of 85% of your stomach (including part of stomach that produces hunger-inducing hormone ghrelin) , anatomy stays in same order you were given, no foreign bodies, can be used as phase 1 of a duodenal switch - which adds malabsorption to the procedure, few pharmaceutical restrictions, can help end acid reflux.

These are what I received from one fo the seminars I went to - what's funny is, for me, the Sleeve was the most appealing, even though they were actually pressuring for people to have the bypass.

I know people that have had each of the surgeries. Of these, I know people that have succeeded and people that have failed - with each and every one - and its not because of the surgery, it was because they didn't address their own personal issues. If you absolutely cannot stay away from sugary foods, maybe the bypass will be right for you - at least there's a consequence with that one. If you're just an overeater, sleeve may be beneficial to you, especially if you have other issues, like CONSTANTLY feeling hungry. If you've got less than 100 lbs, to lose and you're just looking for some portion control, maybe its the band. You have to decide for you.

Its a difficult thing - deciding whether to tell people or not. You're under enough stress with dealing with the situation, you don't need naysayers and fearmongers crawling up your....leg.

If you feel obligated to tell them, I'd wait until the last minute - that way they don't have time to weigh on you about it. Let them know you've done your research, made your decision and its a topic not open for discussion or negative comments - and stick by that! They may have questions, which is normal, but you can answer those questions with an email or showing them a website.

Bottom line, you know your body better than anyone and you've decided what your body needs. Good luck!