Zoe

Down memory lane... Back in 1975 I ran away to Mexico with no ID at all except a photo card from the newspaper where I worked part-time. All I had to do was sign an affidavit at the airport (U.S.) swearing that I was 18 (which I was, barely). No fee. Of course that was during the Ford administration, before a lot of you were even born.

Joan, have you talked to Dr. Horgan yet about the fellow's remarks? If so, please let us know how he responded. (I'm especially curious because I go to his downtown office for fills.) Meanwhile, I hope everything goes well for you tomorrow.

Neither are mine, DeLarla . . . but I'm in my late 40s, if you catch my drift. I'd rather deal with the Kleenex than with all those hooks, and I was too sore to put on a stretchy sports bra with no closures. This may be too much information, Daisy, but at least you know a lot of us have given the subject some thought!

I agree with everyone. And I think that not only should you tell Dr. Horgan your concerns about the six-pound loss the "fellow" ordered, you should alert him to what this dude is telling patients. "I must have issues, and must not be serious about losing weight" -- is that anything for a patient to hear TWO DAYS BEFORE WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY? Or ever? I wanna kick this guy's ass!

Make that no bra, period. I wore a muu-muu and flip-flops, but then I was in Mexico in August.

Ladyg, you are a great sister, whether your own sister appreciates you or not. If you are really worried about her health -- and it sounds as if you are, with good reason -- go ahead and contact a doctor, even if your sister gets angry. You may save her life. I mention this only because I demanded care for a relative who had a nervous breakdown two years ago and refused to get help. He thought I was part of the conspiracy against him, but finally (after months of struggle) he was involuntarily admitted to a mental hospital. After he recovered, he told me that if he hadn't been hospitalized, he would have killed himself. Was he pissed off at me at the time? You bet. Would I do it all over again? Absolutely. And I'd take even more extreme measures knowing what I do now.

It's a simple matter of physics. A body at rest tends to stay at rest. That's the good old Law of Inertia -- never mind the physics class, it's no news to those of us with recliners in front of the TV. When we exercise, we are taking on the natural law of the universe!

Exercise will probably make a big difference. Not only will you burn more calories, your metabolism will speed up. When our bodies are radically deprived of calories and we don't move much, we go into survival mode -- our metabolic rate drops as a means of self-preservation. You should probably check in with your doctor to make sure your fill is adequate for you. Please don't compare your stats (weight loss or fill) to anyone else's, tempting though it may be. For example, if I had 2ccs in my band, I wouldn't be able to swallow Water, but 2ccs may give almost no restriction for you. And, Karen, not to kick your ass or anything, but what's this about "only" 44 pounds? That's a great achievement, especially if you aren't exercising!

Alas, Jonathan, just a spoon in my case. Crackers and chips are a big no-no during the mushy phase. And a big amen to Alex's comment on TJ's seafood paté -- I loved the stuff. I also ate a lot of instant mashed potatoes, polenta, and masa; I'd split tamales with a friend who only liked the innards, so I'd eat just the mushy cornmeal bits. The masa picks up enough spice from the meat to make it interesting.

Ladyg, there's another Scots bandster who posts here occasionally. Her screen name is Audrey. She and her friend Fiona have lost almost 400 lbs. between the two of them. Try to send her a private message; she may be able to recommend a doctor. Sounds to me as if your sister needs to see a specialist ASAP. Good luck, and please let us know what happens.

Thought I'd bump this up for the newcomers who are graduating to mushies -- please add your favorites!

Great news, Jonathan! Check the food forum for mushy suggestions. Guacamole will never taste so good!

Hey, Vines, you kick ass! How is your husband doing with his band?

Congratulations, Brandi! You are doing the bandster community a big service by posting your story. I know many women are wondering if, or how, they can combine banding and pregnancy. Your son is adorable!

Hi Pat -- welcome to the Chicago bandster club! There are a lot of us around, but we're way outnumbered by Texans! You are coming up on your two-year anniversary. . . any insights you'd care to share?

Excellent post, Miss Darcy. You're right -- it's so easy to get stuck thinking about how far we might be from our goal weight, instead of how far we've come, even those readers who are not yet banded but who have come a long way in their emotional journeys. Brava!

Amoro, Darcy is absolutely right. The weeks between your surgery and your first fill are meant for healing. Some people lose weight like crazy during that time -- even if it's just water weight -- some lose a little, some stay the same, and some (gulp) gain. Yes, it's frustrating when the scale doesn't move or creeps up in the wrong direction, especially if you're not eating much. But please try to remember that any gain is temporary, and you're in this for the long haul. Give your band a break and follow your doctor's instructions on what you can eat and when. Your body will then be ready to start losing fat when you get a fill. Hang in there.

Darcy, you're so close -- next week oughta do it! Last month I was about to give up my goal of getting to 199 by April 5. I was crawling down the weight charts, able to eat huge portions, and posted a 3-lb. loss over the holidays only because I exercised like mad. Then I got a new fill on Jan. 21, and what a difference. I can't eat much. I don't really want to, most of the time -- but I sure miss thick juicy rare steak! And, miracle of miracles, I lost 4 lbs. last week. Goodbye, 220s. That 199 goal still seems pretty tough, but if not by April 5 then sometime later in spring, so if all goes well I can start the summer in Onederland for the first time in years.

Congrats, Rachel! I went through the same rush of emotions during the days before the surgery; I was grateful for the anaesthesia because I finally got some sleep! You're about to take a big step in your life, so it's perfectly normal to be nervous and excited. Please check in with us after your surgery. A number of Aussies are on the board, and you may find someone in WAus who knows the medical scene. Good luck, and welcome!

Amen, brother! Extra worship room -- hallelujah! Loved your other post, Ryan; Jack's too. Hey, Donali, look what you started!

Everyone's given great advice about distracting yourself. How about taking an old picture of your ex and gluing it to a punching bag for an upper-body workout? Also, remember that if you do give in to emotional eating, it doesn't mean you're a failure or a bad person, just human. Do whatever you can to make it easier for you to make healthier choices for yourself, and if you slip on occasion, remember you get to start over not just the next day but the next minute. I hope you feel better.

Vinesqueen, I think you've made one thing absolutely clear: No one on this board will want to go to SE Idaho! I'm sorry you have to live among such small-minded people. The "Christian Diet" phenomenon is news to me. Fat people won't go to heaven? What's up with that? The bigger the body, the smaller the soul? Gluttony may be one of the seven deadly sins, but what about the others? Anger, avarice, envy, gluttony, lust, pride, and sloth. . . heaven must be sparsely populated indeed if anyone guilty of one of the SDS is barred from the gates. Good grief. I hope you don't have to stay there long, V.

Rock on, D! I hope everyone who has been instructed to lose weight before banding has a chance to read your post. You speak eloquently for legions of angry fat people who have been made to feel weak, self-indulgent, inferior, and unworthy of respect. Thank you for kicking ass.

Oh, Lauri, I hope you get answers soon, and also relief for your pain. I have had several lower-body MRIs, and they aren't bad; you just have to lie still. Some facilities will let you bring in a tape or CD to be played during the procedure. The machine is pretty loud, so it's not enough to block out the noise, but the music will give you something to concentrate on while your body is being scanned. Good luck. We're all glad that your doctor is taking your health seriously.

Pati, Dr. Rumbaut gave me a similar report. I presented my local doctor with a copy of it, both to keep it in my medical records and to prove that I really was banded by his proctoring surgeon. I admit that if I hadn't received the report, it wouldn't have occurred to me to ask for it.