JustWatchMe

This is very normal. I recommend that you focus on educating yourself and preparing your home for your post op life. I was on full liquids for six weeks after surgery. This meant stocking up on s oups and foods that fit that category. I also was told to immediately begin walking, so I was glad I had a treadmill at home. My nurse told me to walk 15 minutes the first day after surgery and add a minute every day until I built up to two miles. Then keep going two miles a day. You won't believe how wonderful your life will become once the weight starts coming off and food is no longer the focus. Good luck and keep posting here. That really helped my motivation as well.

Happy for you!

Sharpie, you're a wonderful inspiration to me and other banders! Congratulations on your success and thank you for your involvement with this forum. You've helped me a lot!

See your doctor for a small unfill before the weekend.

I've been on and off the WW wagon so many times that by the final few attempts, I barely lost five or ten pounds before giving up and gaining more back. It's a good diet. I just can't stay on diets. The thing about Oprah that strikes me is that she's full of self awareness. She's been over the issues that make us overeat many many times. She had a trainer. She had a cook. She starved herself. She exercised like a fiend. We all watched her lose and gain and lose and gain. She talked about the emotional reasons behind eating. She gets it. And it still wasn't permanent. Why? For me I think it's twofold. Yes, all the emotional and mental stuff is there and has to be addressed and worked on and retaught. I have to learn and practice new ways to self soothe. But also, my body is different from my normie friends'. It won't stay cooperative. It wants too much food. Over and over and over again. My LapBand finally got my body in line. I'm working my ass off emotionally and mentally too. If I didn't, I'd eat right through the WLS and weigh 302 again plus some bonus pounds. I need both solutions. WLS got me started and keeps me not starving 24/7. The rest is discipline and hard emotional work. But it's so much easier with WLS helping me.

Skinny girl problems. Boo frickin hoo. ????

I have nothing to add except I really hope it works out for you. My band has been a great help to me. Once it starts working for you, it's amazing.

I get stuck on raw broccoli now. No matter how thoroughly I chew it.

A friend gave me a set of tiny containers for Christmas. They are one cup or less, and have screw on lids. I love them! I portion out what I plan to take to work the next day and also use them for leftovers. Learning to cook in smaller batches has been a big challenge for me post WLS. Now my kids are away at college, I'm divorcing, and I cook only for myself. Making small portions is a very new skill for me. And my food lasts so long now!

Your tastes may change. Mine did. You would never have convinced me I'd be uninterested in pizza or other foods I previously loved, but that's exactly what has happened. Don't worry. And you don't have to give it up forever. Just for 24 hours. One day at a time.

I came here with many questions about the physical aspects of WLS, specifically LapBand. Almost two years later, I look for the posts about the emotional, social and mental aspects of living without overeating. This site has been there with me through it all. Thank you, Alex, for this labor of love.

This is one of the key changes I've made recently. Bringing my lunch to work always results in me eating healthier and with proper portions. I always bring two s nacks too, like an apple and a grapefruit. So far so good!

I think it depends on how long and how severe the obesity was, plus age. I've lost over 100 pounds twice in my life. The first time at 28, loose skin wasn't so bad. At 54? Well, let's just say the old bod has changed. Even with loose skin, I'm still happier than when I was morbidly obese.

I was thinking maybe I missed grilled cheese sandwiches, but it's been decades since I ate just one. So I would have to write that I miss four grilled cheese sandwiches -- but I don't! Not one bit. Just like pizza. I never crave just a slice. Ever. And I don't miss it at all. No desire whatsoever for either of these binge foods.

I've been off BP this week but I'm doing really well. Clean food plan, and I can't believe it, but I'm losing weight again. But it sure has been strict. I gave up the fried food three weeks ago. Planned and portioned meals. Working closely with my OA sponsor. I'm starting to believe I might actually reach my goal weight this year.

Looking great, Debbie!

Good luck!

Have a friend do karate chops on your neck and back a few times a day. Walk as much as you can. Swing your arms like a windmill. The only thing that gets rid of the surgical gas is time and movement. Good luck.

"You're going to feel so much better once you put down the food." I thought this meant I would feel happy. What I found instead is it means I "feel" better. I feel anger better. I feel happiness better. I feel resentment better. I feel fear better. I feel. I really feel. It's what I was running away from all the time. I just have to feel it now. Not eat it. Here's to living life and feeling the feelings. Sometimes they're wonderful, many times they suck. But today I'm not going to eat them.

I miss the mental and emotional "click" I got from overeating (and from alcohol and from pain meds) that put me (oh so temporarily) into my mellow happy place. I don't miss hating myself. Life is a million times better clean, sober and abstinent from overeating.

Inner Surfer Girl, I love your posts and have no doubt you will create a wonderful novel. My big goal this year is to buy a house after my divorce is final, which looks like it could be in May. I'm scared to death of this huge financial step while I still have girls in college, but I'll do it. While I do, I am keeping my food clean, measured and committed, and I will reach my weight loss goal in 2016 by doing so. This will be my year!

Congratulations!!!

Happy New Year, Alex!

Venting is better than eating! Or getting drunk. Vent away!