insubordination

If the issue is about your post-op diet (should you be on mushies?) then don't have the cake or, as someone suggested, moisten it with milk or icecream and stir. If you don't have the cake now, you'll stubbornly make up for it later. Now if the issue is that you think that you shouldn't be eating cake because people who have weight loss surgery are irrational for even considering it after going to great expense and trauma, then I have another opinion (I'm verbose today- sorry). Some bandsters go on diets and count calories. Maybe it works for them but I just read posts about a bunch of people on a diet and beating themselves up when they transgress and have wheat. It reminds me too much of failed diets. I don't buy into that mentality anymore. Maybe certain personality type (left-brained) concentrate on the calories-in/calories burned and the scientific side but out personalities always get in the way. That's why we got fat. I'm glad I'm not one of them. That's not why I got banded. It just drives me nuts if I try to count calories eaten and calories burned. I don't want to think about and plan cake a week in advance. I just focus on choosing healthy food with the nutrients I need to get through the day and the rest falls into place. I don't feel guilty if I eat chocolate but sometimes I question whether it was the best choice to reach my weight loss goals. I say have the cake. Cakes shouldn't have a special power. They are just sitting there being cake. They're not sinful and, as someone said above, it's only a regular diet of cake that will get you in trouble.

Fills aside, it might be beneficial to see a psychologist about why you're bingeing in the evening. It could be diet rebellion as you've identified but it doesn't explain why you trying to set yourself up to not fulfill your hopes. Did you binge pre-banding? If so, it's likely because you don't put a voice to your feelings about a particular issue (speaking from my own experience here). You need to schedule a non-eating activity as soon as you get home and become engrossed in it. Exercise is the best as you usually don't feel like bingeing afterwards but any activity that uses your hands will suffice. TV/Computer do not count. I know it sounds like BS and when you want to binge, you get stubborn and do it anyway but willpower will not just come to you. It's not about willpower at all but why you need to put tremendous amounts of unhealthy food in your mouth. Having restriction has stopped me from being physically able to binge but has brought so many other things to the surface that I am dealing with (for example work, parents etc.). I know it's a positive process but it is a difficult one. I have to say that not all bandsters have tremendous 'issues' but some do.

I wonder whether Fat Albert has a gastric band yet. He probably died of a heart attack years ago. Hey, hey, hey, what's the politically correct name for Fat Albert?

Rhonda. I know how you feel about still feeling big and chubby but you do look like a different person already.

Hmmm Die hard?

Oh wombat! With only two more days to go, I had a showdown with my boss. She said some nasty things to punish me for leaving and tried to bully me into doing unpaid overtime, 'This WILL be finished by Friday, I don't want to hear excuses etc.' She tried to convince me that I had done wrong when it's her mismanagement. I told her I was offended by some of her remarks and that she had crossed the line and, unfortunately, I cried. She apologised but only because I said that I was leaving right that second. I did not want to look like the weak one. She should treat me with respect after 6 years of service but she is so scared that the work won't be finished and she had no solutions beyond threatening me. I have been working my guts out but it's not enough for her. Every employee who leaves gets a going away lunch. We're not doing it for me as there is too much work to be done. I actually spent the day with quiet tears streaming down my face with frequent trips to the bathroom to sob. I couldn't even take phonecalls. I shouldn't go back tomorrow as I have technically served my 4 weeks' notice (I counted the days). However I will FarmerE because I said I'd work until Friday and, to quote you, I will 'tough it out to the end'. This is all band-related in the end. I have been seeing a shrink and decided to ask for better working conditions (i.e. working the hours I'm paid for with no voluntary unpaid overtime). My boss did not like the change in me one bit and refused to negotiate, so I had to leave. I already have a new job lined up thank goodness.

It could also men dill-hole I guess.

Big baby, you have lost rolls from all over. Great pics to really see the loss. Missy, you are clearly much bigger/wider in the first photo. You probably can't see it as much because the photos are taken from different distances. Well done guys! Oh and I concur CD, you do look masculine and hot. Have you been getting more female attention out and about? How are you and your wife handling it? What about the rest of you?

I would suggest another fill, a dietician and a psychologist. Willpower didn't do it for me.

Your stats speak for themselves. If you diet, you will get bigger. When you come to accept this and still refuse to be obese, then surgery is for you.

Missy, you lost 102 pounds in 6 months!!!?!!! That's outstanding. That's my goal for 12 months. I bet you did it through pure hard work. Wow! Our first June Bandster to lose 100 pounds. I'm sure Holli and Suzzzie won't be far behind. This calls for some icons. Also, how does it feel to be 100 pounds lighter? Has your centre of gravity changed? :update: YOU ROCK!:Banane20: :whoo::clap2::faint::banana:cheer2:

Lana, I am the same and am slowly changing (with occasional leaps). The band will absolutely force you to address that issue. It's so hard. Definitely harder than the operation and diets but at least you know what you're going to have to deal with.

I concur. I'm working and stressing like that too and I'm as tight as a nun (I mean drum). I only have 6 days left to 'serve' before I get my parole. I quit after 6 years. Now I just have to work up the nerve to confront my boss about my 5 weeks unpaid overtime.

MysticStar, it's great you're losing. You might know that I'm a vegan but my weight loss isn't greater than some of our power players here. I just wanted to say that the fresh fruit and vegies are great, especially if it works for you. It disturbs me that some bandsters eat no fruit and almost no vegies. I must say that I rarely PB and if I do, it's because I haven't chewed a leafy green enough. I'm sure you know this but you also need to eat protein every day. I personally do it in the form of nuts, seeds, lentils, hommous, kidney beans etc. I make delicious veg curries and whole wheat pasta dishes (for a pasta sauce, try mixing a little tahini with tomato pasta sauce, vegies & brown lentils -it's outstanding). Tofu is easy to digest. Also, make sure you are taking B12 if you are going to go 'no animal' long term. Again, happy you're losing.

You look hawt. Great haircut.

Thanks everyone for your kind words. I hope to see other people's photos too. I'm dying to know what some of you look like if only to put a face to a name. MM, you look twice as hot now. I think it's from the inside as well. Can I say geek to chic? Lucy, those shorts are a riot. I want them! I love AddaDacca and the cannon is great. Your thighs are shrinking front and back and the side shot is telling. You can really see the different dimensions. Even your posture seems smoother and less 'scrunched up'.

HOLLI, you are under 300. I didn't realise. That's so great. Your weight loss is truly outstanding.

Grace you are amazing. Can you describe how this feels for you?

How frustrating! You have me worried as on the last two fills, the doc said that my port had rotated a lot but he could still reach it under flouro. My insurance doesn't kick in until mid June 09 so if I need anything before then, tough. I seriously hope this works out for you. Keep us posted.

Ick! I would never eat something with that many ingredients. At least a lot of them are vitamins however.

Ah BigBaby, you beat me to the punch. Now where are yours?

:whoo:CONGRATULATIONS KARLA!:clap2: It's so exciting when one of us hits ONEderland. It's good to hear you are doing so well too Janine. I don't know whether you know this but MJSafari started a 6 month pic thread for us. I hate putting pictures of myself online. It's difficult to handle both technically and emotionally, hence this insecure preamble. I might take 'em down after a month because the whole thing makes me uncomfortable but for now, 'ere they are. I didn't take 'official' photos (wish I had've). Instead I found a couple of 'before' photos from the beach earlier this year and just posed in a similar way. Keep in mind that I'm not where I want to be yet but I keep chugging along nonetheless. Can someone else post their pics too? http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f93/6-months-pics-junies-june-07-bandsters-46084/

Before & After - standing

Thanks for starting the thread. I'll be brave and go first. Since June 6, I have lost 64 pounds/29 kilos in 6 months. 157kg/128 kg or 345 lbs/281lbs Before & After - Sitting

I can also eat salad. Especially very crunchy raw stuff. Thank goodness as I don't eat meat.