steph_co

I generally weigh everyday. I was going to cut down to once a week, but I'm too addicted. It motivates me to keep moving. The only time I get depressed is when I have been steadily losing a pound a day or every other day and then the next couple days is nothing or a one-pound gain. It's obsessive and I wish I could quit, but seriously, when I think that I'll be standing nekkie on the scale the following morning, it really makes me think about what food is going into my mouth.

1. Be skinnier than my husband! 2. Get pregnant...5 years at it and nothing to show for it. 3. Not feel embarrassed when I go to any doctor's office and get weighed...worried they'll make some snide comment. 4. Be able to fit in with my family - my brother used to be heavy, but he recently lost a bunch of weight - I'm the black sheep. 5. So people can see what originally attracted my husband to me. LOL Yes, I admit it - I'd love to be considered "Arm Candy." 6. Be able to get into running again - I miss that. 7. Be able to wear shorts! It's now been 5 years since I wore shorts and even then, I HATED how I looked in them. 8. Wear a swimsuit and swim with my step-kids and my DH. I've been left out of that for too long because I can't stand being in a suit. 9. Feel like clothes shopping again - I have the bare minimum of what I need to get by right now because I HATE trying clothes on this body. 10. To get sexy lingerie...I promised DH that when I'm at or near goal that I'd go on a lingerie shopping spree. 11. Be able to wear my hot leather pants again. 12. Be cooler in the summer. 13. Be active with the step-kids this summer! 14. Be more adventurous with sex again. 15. Be in more pictures rather than being the photographer. 16. Just knowing when I get there that I'll be able to fit into my formal gowns and business suits again...even if I have nowhere to wear them. 17. Once I get down to goal, I'll be getting my wedding dress taken in and DH and I will get wedding pics done...we never had that. 18. Energy and overall health.

Great video, Patty. Didn't you have a news report somewhere else, too? I seem to remember your story. You did a great job representing us.

My DH knows, but that's because every time I get off the scale, I can't wait to tell him. He knew my weight even when I was at my heaviest and before the band, not losing weight at all. But I was not weighed on my surgery date. Nobody said a thing about my weight. The only times I've been weighed was in the Dr's office at the beginning of my appointments. But DH only came into the room where they weigh one time. Other times, he has waited on the couch in the waiting room for me to get that portion of the appointment done (it's a small room). It's highly likely that they won't weigh you on your surgery date, nor even mention it. I doubt it was even listed on my paperwork that they had just for my surgery. Why would the surgical staff need to know that? The anesthesiologist would need to know, but not everybody. You have to realize that they are probably aware that you know you're overweight and people tend to be sensitive about the number, so they'd have to be some insensitive asses to keep rattling off your weight so everybody could hear.

My surgeon is 3 hours away - it's not a big deal driving that far. It's totally worth it to me. And keep in mind that I'm also driving through about 3 possibly dangerous mountain passes that the weather can change in the blink of the eye on. Welcome to Colorado. It's worth it if you really want it. And I WANT it, so I do it.

1. Momto1plus1.......241...............238..............229...........9 2. TxArcher...........360........Last week, 357......???...........12 3. Hungryforchange...227.5..........225...............215.5.......10 4 shortgal ............. 198............195................192...........3 5. Hollyberries.........298............293................285........... 8 6. Tyman311..........167...........168................150............17 7. Trixie.................264...............255..............244......... .11 8. plump_princess.....237.............233..............227........... 6 9. Foofy ................249............244...............237............7 10. wnt2lose..........236............233.8...........225.............8.8 11. BarbBee...........284.............278.............272..............6 12. Longhorn..........211.............209.............199.............10 13. Steph...............203.5..........197..............188.5.........8.5 *sigh* It was kind of a rough week for me. I don't really want to get into details, but at least you might understand why I haven't been around much...accountability. I did have a NSV this week. I measured my waist for new work pants about a week ago and the tape said 38.5, so I thought 38 size mens pants would work...they were too big! I am now in a 36. They are slightly snug, but actually surprisingly comfortable considering I thought they'd be too tight! One more size and I'll be even with DH. LOL I SO look forward to being smaller than him.

Gees. I'm glad I don't have to follow THAT list. I have eaten steak, chewy Protein Bars, white bread, a cinnamon roll, and broccoli is one of the few vegetables I have always loved and continue to enjoy.

Yes, I crave healthier foods. But I'd say in my case, it's more because I'm forcing myself to eat those more often than the "bad" foods. I can't believe I was standing at the frozen veggie case last night going, "Mmmm." LOL And all the veggies I put on my Subway wrap...wow. In the past, they got tossed off my sandwich halfway through. This time, though, they were absolutely delicious. The biggest weird change for me in regards to cravings is hot stuff. I had it so bad there for awhile that I would get home from work and eat a tablespoon of hot sauce. Now lately I crave jalapeños and anything hot/spicy I can get my hands on!

Would like to get down to 130 and a size 8. The size is more important to me than the weight. As soon as I'm comfortably in 8s and not just "sometimes in 8s, otherwise in 10s." I have to be fully, completely, 100% an 8 or I will keep going. LOL If it takes some extra toning to do it, then so be it. As for my bra size...ha, I wish it would go up as I lose weight. Even as a hefty gal, I had a AA chest. I don't trust breast implants, though, or I'd go for that. Shirt size...I'd love to be a M or S. XL is baggy on me, I think L would fit well. I hate to shop when I'm this size, so I'm not sure. Oh, yeah...I'm 5'7".

8 more lbs for me and I'll be joining you in losing the "obese" label. I HATE that word! That will definitely be a day of celebration for me. Probably more so than breaking into Onederland was. I plan to get a nice smoking haircut and color in celebration and to reward myself. Keep up the good work! You're almost there!

I'm not sure if this comment came because I wrote the post after midnight, but I wasn't being "KEPT UP" by the thought. I am up all night long. I work the night shift. This is day time as far as I'm concerned. So if I wrote the post at 12 noon, you would know it was keeping me up. And who said I didn't respect them? I've worked many thankless customer service jobs. I GET IT.

Gees. I didn't realize it would turn into such a big deal. Like I said, it's not going to alter the course of the universe whether or not they bring me Water. I just wondered if there was something I could say so that they would believe me and not bring me the drink. Sheesh. I have worked in a restaurant. I worked all sides of it except cook or manager. I was kitchen help, table busser, waitress and hostess. I KNOW what it's like to work in a restaurant. If somebody had asked me for NO WATER or any drink whatsoever and was polite about it, I would have obliged them! I've never been rude to a server. No, I don't reach for other people's glasses to drink them. Same way that I didn't reach for them BEFORE the surgery, why would it hit my subconscious brain to reach for them after? If there's not a glass designated as MINE, I don't even think about it. If you think I had a "tone" in my post and it had to do with a drink, it didn't. I had just had a terrible experience at a restaurant where the server was downright awful. Yes - they do exist just as they do in every profession known to mankind. When a server is good, generally they get 20% or MORE as a tip. If they were stellar, easily 30% and up. Even the mediocre ones get no less than the standard 15% and even at that, I feel guilty. If you think I don't understand the profession, you're wrong. I would never consider yelling at the waitress because she brought me a drink. I wasn't even rude when the waitress asked me incredulously if I truly wanted NOTHING, even water and then she brought me water, anyway. Good heavens. I wasn't looking for the fine art of insulting the waitress for not understanding that drinking with meals isn't very good for you anyway. I just wanted something I could say so that she'd truly believe me. For those that offered HELPFUL suggestions rather than hissy fits, THANK YOU. I like the glass of ice suggestion. I think I'll do that.

No restriction whatsoever. I can eat whatever I want. I'll give an example...back a couple weeks ago when we went out to visit Rich's son and I said I had had a "bad" day? I ate freaking 4 slices of pizza. Now, in my defense, this is the most delicious pizza I have ever had in my entire life and I haven't had it in a couple YEARS. But that was still more than I should have eaten. I got back on track after that, thank goodness. I watch my calories, but I'm STARVING between meals. I stay full for usually an hour, up to 2 hours at the most. I look forward to my fill on the 23rd (same day as Sades). It'll be nice to be able to STOP at less than a cup of food.

Good thread: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/new-band-update-realize-47058/?highlight=Realize His last response in the thread also compares the bands.

No problem with salads. I even had a wrap from Subway last night with baby spinach, tomatoes, olives, jalapeños, and pickles. I have heard of people with good restriction having a hard time getting it to go down. But there's no restriction as far as dietary.

I took a weight that I was in HS and a size 8. I LOVED being that size, so that's around the weight I was when I was that size. I *think* I was 138 when I got into that size, but I can't remember for sure. Honestly, if I get into 8's at a higher weight and I'm comfortably in them (I have to compensate a bit for a bubble butt), then I may end there. My end WEIGHT is flexible. My end SIZE is not.

I have a hard time with exercise, too. But as I get smaller, I find that I LIKE moving around more. I like how my body feels while I'm moving compared to before, but I also like how I feel knowing that I actually exercised. Just slowly add things in. In the past, I went for overkill right away and it made it impossible for me to stick with it. I started with adding walking. I'm adding fitness classes next week. Eventually I'll get back into running.

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/scar-stages-share-yours-6117/

Looks like you found it http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f9/mushies-stage-recipes-17637/index9.html#post683035

I couldn't answer the poll. I went back at 4 days post-op. I was still pretty weak. At 5 days, I did a bit better. I was operating at about 75% until 10 days post-op when I was feeling 100% better. I have a medium-level physical job. I work night security patrol. Getting in and out of a patrol vehicle a couple dozen times all night long, walking through properties, etc.

You don't necessarily have to be DIAGNOSED for it to be an issue. My social worker explained to me why they ask that question... Once you get the band, it is INCREDIBLY easy to make yourself vomit. As she put it, even insanely easy. If you still have the urge to make yourself throw up your food before the band, getting the band is a BAD idea because you could very easily cause yourself slippage or erosion. So if it's a compulsion that you basically have to keep yourself from doing, the band is a very bad idea. I did "casual" bulimia about 10 years ago. Where I would binge and occasionally make myself throw up. I didn't have the self-control to do it after every thing I ate. I hated doing it. I was uncomfortable and really grossed out. This casual thing lasted about a month. I don't care if it's easier, now, I still wouldn't do it. I hated how it felt. Explained that way to the social worker, she figured I shouldn't have a problem with the band. I don't have any compulsion to throw up. I'd rather learn healthy eating habits so that once I get down to a healthy weight, I can STAY there.

Insurance companies will do what they can to put people off so they don't have to end up paying for anything. They HOPE you'll get frustrated with the waiting and just decide to forget it. Don't let them get away with it - follow what they tell you to and just bide your time. You'll eventually get there. I know 6 months seems like a long time...it definitely is when you've made a decision that'll affect the rest of your life. I'm a self-pay, so don't have any idea what happens if you lose/don't lose.

I'm glad I didn't read this thread before going to my psych eval. I would have been freaked. LOL I got off really easy. She sat down with me and my husband and asked questions about my mental state, family background, support system, attitude towards dieting, tendencies towards bullimia, etc. I do tend to have a bit of depression, but it didn't disqualify me. She just strongly suggested that I find somebody to talk to, especially after getting the surgery.

I woke up moaning. :wink: I'm sure that's what you want to hear. It wasn't necessarily a "Mack truck" feeling. The top of my stomach just hurt immensely. Felt like somebody had stabbed me there. Haha...guess they had! Anyway...no tubes anywhere. My IV was already out, even (I actually don't mean the needle, I mean the bag was disconnected). I was just lying in the hospital bed moaning. They gave me some pain meds through the IV needle and I think they took it out a short time later once I showed I was able to down pain pills orally. I knew exactly where I was, no confusion. It didn't feel like waking up from normal sleep, at all. No surprises, really. I honestly believe when you're under anesthesia that you still have more awareness than you do when you sleep regularly.

What's the deal? WHY, when I say, "No thank you, nothing at all to drink," do they always think they're being helpful when they bring me Water and say, "Just in case!" I'm getting tired of it. I wasn't kidding when I said nothing to drink. I don't even like it on the table because I used to be a major meal drinker and it's a subconscious thing to reach for that glass in the middle of a bite. I haven't drank any, yet, but I keep wanting to reach for that dang glass. What can I say without saying, "I've had surgery, I can't HAVE anything to drink with my meal," that'll get them to BELIEVE me that I REALLY don't want anything to drink? I'm actually getting to the point where I think it's really rude when they ask what to drink and I say nothing and they say, "Not even water?" I say no, thank you and they STILL bring me that dang water. :wink: I know it's not a huge deal and it's not going to alter the course of the universe whether or not they put water in front of me, but it makes my struggle to follow my band and diet rules that much harder.