lindata

shortgal - yes, I did. I went to my friend's house for a week vacation and she was really watching her weight and exercising, so I kicked the junk food habit and went to the gym with her. I have been avoiding gyms, just working out at home, but now I've got the confidence to go and know I don't look like a fool. Linda

Annie, it sounds like you're similar to me - a few good friends, not a LOT of acquaintances. I like books, so joining book clubs was good for me. Like everyone said - find something you're interested in and go join a team/group/meeting. One tip - don't make friends with the people who think going out to eat is a great outing, or getting together to eat and talk, etc. That will defeat the purpose!

Name..............Start...........Current.................Goal........ To Go Lizzie_07.........233...............228.5.....................220 ..........8.5 Osangriared.....252...............249.5.....................232 ..........19 Skinny_Jill.......180...............176.....................168....... .....8 Sades.............197...............197.....................185....... .....12 kandiceb..........187...............178.....................175....... ....03 shortgal............183..............177....................175....... .....2 TxArcher..........328..............318......................308....... ....10 Peaches11........217..............208.....................199......... .10 Momto1plus1.....223..............217.2..................210........... 7.2 zippykat...........173..............167.....................160....... ...7 Trixie...............219.5...........209.....................199...... ....10 wnt2lose..........219..............213.6.....................209...... ..4.6 plump_princess....215.............209.....................199........1 0 Mariegabrieleee....250............250......................239........ 11 Foofy..............239.5............237.5...................230....... .7.5 Shalee04..........196..............189......................185....... .4 Hollyberries......267...............262......................254...... .8 CindyG............215...............212......................199...... ..13 MollyBrown......258...............253.......................245....... ..8 lindata............189?.............185.......................180..........5 How weird, I thought my name was on this list. Thus the question mark after 189. I'm pretty sure that's where I started at. And I made it to my goal of 185! Yeah! :rolleyes2: So I've updated it to 180. Linda

Yes, this is very true. I thought hmm, I'm going to pay thousands of dollars, I'm NOT going to screw it up. Well, it doesn't work that way. I still screwed up, but hopefully caught it in time. It's interesting that even being within the calorie range, you can't lose with junk food. I found this too on previous weight loss attempts. For sure on WW it never worked. I always counted points, but if it was points with junk food I wouldn't lose. I know FOR SURE anything with aspartame stops me from losing weight. I gleaned that from my own "experiments." Interestingly enough, I've read a lot of articles recently on aspartame linked with NOT being able to lose weight. Which really kinda sucks since aspartame is in so many low-cal things. The "normal" feeling ... I keep saying this, but I'm glad I'm not the only one. I've reached the point of weight complacency, the weight I've been at for most of my adult life, and the weight I know and am comfortable at. I read all the posts (not on the November Nymphs site, of course!) about how people eat junk, can't seem to stop, and are humiliated and berated about it by other LBTers. I'm glad I can talk here (with the Nymphs!) and not feel that way. If you guys have those opinions, at least you keep them to yourselves! :tongue: Thank you THANK YOU for letting me rant, vent, rage about this and all the while being supportive and encouraging. Linda

Hey Kendra. I've just finished a book on juicing Juicing Therapy by Dr. Jensen. This guy wrote this book at like 91 years of age and he's still going strong. It had some wonderful things in it about ingredients that fight cancer. The important thing is to juice veggies and fruits while they're fresh. In other words, just buying juice already made doesn't have the life qualities in it really anymore. The best things for cancer were fresh: Carrot juice parsley wheat grass "Wheat grass is one of the finest health builders I know. Wheat grass is high in indole, which helps prevent cancer ..." "It contains an enzyme P4D1 that stimulates DNA repair if it has been damaged by chemicals. Wheat grass contains the enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) which neutralizes the worst free radicals (superoxides) and protects from cancer." And it goes on. selenium folic acid It was a pretty dry book - definitely not good hospital reading! I'm sure there are some juicing books with sections specifically on fighting disease and cancer. I would suggest looking into this more. He said some really amazing things in his book about reversing disease, etc, with adding juicing into your diet. Not replacing your diet, but adding juices in. The most important thing is that the ingredients are super fresh and organic. It's super easy to find organic carrots. They're probably even in Wal Mart. I know they're in Kroger where I'm at. Anyway, the carrot juice especially (or half carrot juice/half wheat grass and parsley) would probably do wonders for you. This was taken a bit to the extreme, but one person he mentioned went on carrot juice for a year (just juice) and his cancer went away ... I hope this helps you! Linda

It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power. Alan Cohen

Thanks steph and Lizzie. Your explanations did help!

Jachut, I really appreciate your input on this as you're one of the "oldies" on this board. You've been there, done that, and you're alive to tell about it to everyone else. :redface: I know how people on this board who have been here for a while get tired of hearing the same old, same old, but you're one of the rare ones who care enough to share your thoughts (in a nice way!) to us newbies. It is greatly appreciated! Cathy, take it from me, don't start eating the junk once you've been off it for a while. A little bit really will hurt you like it has hurt me! Shortgal and Jachut - you are very right about having an actual driving force behind your motivation, a real goal, other than just losing weight. Something to strive toward. I was on the phone with my s-i-l tonight who looks pretty damn hot after getting banded and she was helping me get back into gear as well. I've been exercising, but not as intense as I should or could. I know with more intense exercise, I will crave way less junk food, and it will all naturally fall back into place again. I'm going to start going to an actual gym (instead of working out at home), scheduling workout times with dh to look after my son, and get the ball back in the game. Thank you all SO MUCH for all your insight, wisdom and motivation. I feel like I've purged myself of all my bad vibes and I can start over again. Linda, a.k.a. reformed bandster

You're right not to have any of the foods in the house. I'm glad to know I'm not the only all or nothing person. I will take your advice and do a few of those things. I started reading The Secret and quit, but I'll have to dig it out again. I think I've kind of created a false image of myself. I think I look better than I actually do so I don't feel like losing weight as badly as I once did. Now that I blend in a little more when I go out and don't feel like I'm really noticeable, I don't have the urge to lose. But it's the difference between looking adequate and looking hot. And I'm a hottie inside, darn it! :frown:

Needto, I don't know what I'm going to do. I too hate having spent so much and gone through invasive surgery, for cripes sake, and I still can't control myself. I just have to dig in, find the willpower from somewhere, and completely cut the junk out. I may need to borrow Kendra's boots.

Zipnqueen - sorry for taking so long to reply! I haven't been on this site for a while. I really like Dr. Gibbs. I think he is a VERY competent surgeon. I had absolutely no complications. And in the beginning you think every twinge is a slip or your pouch is distended or whatever "complication" you're reading about on LBT that day, so I'd call and they always made me feel so much better. They just seemed so competent that I never felt anxiety after talking to the nurse. But I would be VERY clear about what the price is. For example, I thought I was paying X for the surgery, then got a bill for blood work. I had to pay for the blood work. This was not discussed. I let that one go. I don't think he's done many lapbands (but that could have changed since I had mine done), but he's done a heck of a lot of gastric bypass (which is a way harder surgery than bypass). I figure if they're excellent with bypass then they're gonna be good with the lapband. The one I did not let go was the $175 fee for fills plus the $55 (or whatever it was) fee for the office visit. It stated very clearly on my forms I should be prepared to pay $175, no mention whatsoever of an office visit. I raised it and kept raising it with him directly until he agreed that I shouldn't have to pay it. Now that they've "learned their lesson" I guess from me, I would assume they're going to put it very clearly in their forms exactly what people have to pay. The reason they gave me for this flub up was that they're used to insurance-paid people doing it, thus they don't really care what they're being charged because they're not paying out of pocket, whereas people who pay it out of pocket DO care and it matters very much what is actually written in the brochure. Dr. Gibbs told his nurse that "we've got to change this" meaning the brochure they give out. So I'm just assuming they will change it to include the office visit fee. If you still want to pay that much, go ahead. I really, really like Dr. Gibbs. Like I said, he's very competent, but very busy (but then what doctor isn't). Another thing I did not like was a LOT of info on the band I did not get from the seminar or the brochures I was given, but right here on LBT. I've come to realize most doctors give out waaaay more info than I got - but then again I didn't go to Dr. Gibbs' seminar, I went to his partner's seminar (can't remember his name right now). I know Dr. Wellborn has free fills for, I don't know, 1.5 years, and then $100 thereafter (fills, including office fees all for $100), but I did NOT like that he wasn't in a hospital setting. I felt way more comfortable being in a hospital for my first ever surgery, in case something went wrong and they could hopefully "fix me" sooner than in a private clinic setting. I understand your nervousness. I was a basket case and crying and shaking. Then they put something over your mouth to breath in and you don't remember a thing! I would try to get a private room if I were you though. There was no end of interruptions due to the very old lady next to me through the day and night and I didn't get the rest that I should have. I guess the thing is you have to be your own advocate. So make sure you nail down your prices, and make sure when you're in the hospital they're actually doing what they're supposed to - I had to insist on getting those leg bands which help circulation. I kept saying, "Aren't I supposed to have those leg thingies by now?" and they kept looking for them, and then forgetting about me, so then I had to keep asking ... Any more questions? I think I've exhausted just about every avenue! haha Good luck on everything! Linda

Oh, I HATE that!! We live in a neighbourhood where our mailboxes are in these little "houses" on the front of our lawn. All the people with the little rat dogs (can you tell I hate little dogs? I've got a big one that scares them all away, by the way!) come and STOP and intentionally let their dogs pee all over my mailbox! I NEVER let my dog do that. It's so gross. People think their stupid little rat dogs are so cute. Guess what? They're not! They look like rats! For my dog to eat! Which he actually tried to do last week and we got a vet bill for it too ... but I digress.

Thanks Lizzie!

Hey shortgal. Thanks for your reply. I can't ever treat myself or I get out of control, period. Not even one measly Hershey kiss (and I don't even like Hershey products!). It was a huge struggle before I was banded, but once banded I then was eating according to all the rules, BUT THEN realized I could actually eat anything I wanted (due to absolutely no restriction), and that's when I hit the slippery slide down to where I am now. I've got to go cold turkey, and I need a phenomenal reason to do it, and I don't know where to get my phenomenal reason! I am halfway to goal, but the sad thing is I was halfway to goal about two months ago. I keep going up and down the same pounds. Thank you to ALL who responded. I really appreciate your comments and thank you so much for not getting "down" on me. These food issues I have are literally the demons in me I have to fight and I'm glad I can come here to talk to everyone about it, and I'm glad I'm not the only one who is feeling how hard it is to stop food addictions. Well, I mean I wish no one had to go through this, but it's nice to talk to people who understand.

Oooh, I like this one too. Or you could combine sitting on the porch with a shotgun AND a handheld sprinkler which you shoot at the kids (the sprinkler, not the gun). God, I HATE parents nowadays. Kids get away with EVERYTHING!!! ARGHHH! I would write down the license plates of all parents who drop off/stop to wait with kids, go out and let them know you've got their license plate numbers and are going to phone the police for vandalism and trespassing. You could also get one of those audiotapes of dogs barking on them - the ones people get to pretend they have dogs so nobody burglars them - and play it everytime a kid comes on your property. Hmm, can I come and live with you for a while? This all sounds like a lot of fun! :purplebananna:

Hey Annie. Can I ask if you're following a specific diet like from a book or is it stuff you've gleaned from various sources? I'm interested.

Name............Start.............Current...............Goal.......... ...To Go Momto1plus1....223...............220.26.....................210....... ...10.6 Hollyberries......267...............267.........................257... .........10 Skinny_Jill........180...............177.........................168.. ............9 Shalee04.........196................195.........................185... ...........10 Mariegabrieleee..250..............244..........................239.... ...........5 lindata ............189...............189.........................184...............5 Okay, I HATE challenges! I HATE THEM!!! ahhhhhh!! :purplebananna: But I've acceeded that I need this, badly. So please take me and do with me what you will ...

I know many people are looking at this and thinking I'm crazy for just getting the band not too long ago and eating crappy food. I just hope everyone has compassion when reading this and can be understanding. I thought a lot of my junk food problems would go away with the band but obviously they haven't, and obviously the band lets me eat a LOT more junk than I should. Quite frankly I'm not sure what to do anymore. I've tried so many things to help me stop eating junk - acupuncture, hypnosis, different diets, but it is literally an addiction for me. I hope to stay accountable to people on here. Now you all know, I hope I can get support. I'll probably start that challenge tomorrow (and I HATE doing challenges! haha)

Thanks Lizzie. I think we have a lot of the same issues around junk food. I have to stay away completely - kind of like alcohol and an alcoholic. The band doesn't control me at all with junk food either. But the best thing I love about the band is when I fall off the wagon I never gain back 20 pounds which is what would have happened pre-band. Now I might gain back two which is absolutely manageable. That's what happened these past two weeks - I ate absolutely horrible and I was cringing when I hit the scale and I only gained 2.5. I couldn't believe it. Now I have to find the strength to stop eating the junk again. How do you do it? Tomorrow I'm stopping cold turkey and going from there.

Longhorn, if you can't focus on a book, get lots of those juicy magazines on movie stars. They're brainless but lots of fun - and can get addicting!

Okay lizzie, my girl, you and me have got to talk. I need your opinion. I feel like I'm not at restriction because I can still eat a lot in one sitting but yet I slime really really easily if I don't chew until liquid mush. Did this happen to you? How did you know when you were at proper restriction? Or am I at it now? I thought I would know but I don't! And when you say you get discomfort if you don't chew well, what does it feel like? When I don't chew to liquid mush it hurts going down and i feel like I'm ruining something down there. Can you help me out? :purplebananna:

I'm thinking of you, Longhorn. Keep up the positive thoughts. The boot stomping visualization really will help. I've heard of people meditating and visualizing their cancer being eaten up, etc, and it has helped them. Visiting is always hard - you always try to be on your best behaviour. Well, I try but I don't do a very good job! It's nice to be home and be able to breath in your own space and "let your boobs hang out". That's what I do as soon as my m-i-l, who is visiting, goes upstairs to bed, I take that bra off and throw it in a corner! Just breath, take in the beauty of the spring season, and laugh lots! You've got a lot of new friends here rooting for you. Linda

So I ate a bite of something, didn't chew well, took a big swig of water - big mistake. Did I forget I was banded or something? Started PB'ing on my way to pick up my son and m-i-l. I had to take along a "to-go" cup so I could spit into it on the way. Yick! It is once again a learning curve. I believe I'm at or almost at proper restriction - I mean who knows what a sweet spot is until you get it, right - and I'm having to relearn to take small bites and chew. There were months there where I could eat "normally" so I lost my newly banded ways of eating.

Hollyberries - wowza! My jaw hit the floor when I saw your after shot. You are one hot mama! Way to go!! And you are such an inspiration to me. You are like a machine. Linda