bandpal

Shortgal, that is a great picture and you look fantastic. Mazal Tov (congratulations)!

Name Lbs Lost % of orig. wgt lost BMI QatarPhil..................55...........................19%........... .......32.2 Foofy.......................48............................17.7%....... ........36.4 Sades......................44.8.........................19.5%......... ......33.7 Shalee04..................70............................28%........... ......29.2 Bandpal...................107.36 ......................37.5% ..............29.3 Skinny_Jill................59.5.........................26.8%......... ......30.8 Stephanie.................60............................26%........... .......27.1 Hollyberries..............113...........................31%........... .......36.2 linda.........................52............................23%....... ...........29.9 Abbisgood................53............................23%............ .......?? want2lose.................91.8.........................32%............ .......31 kandiceb..................63............................26%........... ........27.6 Momto1plus1............81.4.........................30.2%............. ...29.4 MollyBrown......... .....36...........................12.5%.................36.5 TxArcher..................103..........................25.75%......... ......39.2 Cindyg......................62...........................24.5%........ ........34.5 Close........................50...........................20%......... ...........33.1 Tmusicmaker123........73..........................19%................. ...48.7 plump_princess..........57...........................22%.............. ......36 Mariegabrieleee..........73...........................24%............. .......39.1 gabeekeeper.............101..........................30% ...................40.2 strangeratx................55............................24%.......... .........31.0 Shortgal....................44.5.........................20.5%........ ........32. 9 Robin_Bird................113...........................37%........... .......29.2 Staysee....................70............................20%.......... .........48.4 Hajohnson1...............49.8........................18.2%............ ......39.8 lindseyann2u.............80............................N/A.....................N/A Cherlita.....................60............................20%........ .............55 BandChick64............104...........................34.67%........... .....31.6 tyman311..................61............................31%........... .........28 BarbBee....................94............................31%.......... .........35.7 Huskerette.................54............................22%.......... .........30.5 Firebolt......................45............................19%....... ............33.5 Rachel.......................63.............................?%....... ............28.3 Teresajo.....................93............................36%........ ............27. 3 Aubrie........................65.............................?%....... ..............31 NYGirl1.......................02............................33%....................32.6 Maincat......................131...........................43%.....................23.3 TOTAL..............2736.82 (Lets Keep this TOTAL on the list) __________________ Sades: Wow Bandpal, you're doing so well. I'm only now starting to get a reasonable amount of restriction. I'm at 4cc in a 10cc band, so another 1 or 2 should help me get to that sweet spot. I have lost 3 lbs of the 4 lbs I put back on since my second surgery. I can't wait to say I've lost 50 lbs and over! Thank you, Sades - it's not easy, as we know, but I am undeniably making progress. I want to share about it here - I just need the marriage of time and inclination that a long post takes. I'll say this, though: as of today, I am no longer obese. That damn word, with a lifetime of shame and guilt and anger and suffering and self-hate behind it. It can eat my dust, now. My BMI puts me in the "overweight" category for the first time in years and years, and right now it feels pretty obscenely good to be overweight, let me tell you! Sades, I have every certainty that you'll lose your 50 lbs, perhaps "slowly but surely", as you said in your post to Foofy, and perhaps sooner than you think. Like you, I have also started serving myself less food. We all need to decide what feels like "too much" for ourselves, and to abide by that feeling. In my opinion, serving sizes are nothing more than social conventions, all too often influenced by the same feelings that got us in so much trouble in the first place. Look at it this way: If, for most of my life, I was able to eat far more than those around me (and was I ever able to) , then there's certainly nothing wrong with eating less than others for a while, and I don't care what anyone else says or thinks about it. I know that the "sweet spot" is a physical phenomenon (who knows this better than you!) but I believe that it is also a state of mind. Sounds like we're getting there - together. At the risk of sounding like a certain Vice-Presidential candidate , I want to give a "shout-out" to Hollyberries, Skinny Jill, TxArcher and all those other nymphs hiding their halos under their bushels. You are all so important to me, and I will never forget the road we have walked side by side during this year of miracles. And it ain't over yet! Love,

Foofy: "I've been gaining/losing the same pound since mid August." Looks like it's going to be a long, tough haul, Foofy. I'm amazed I managed to lose any weight at all during the last 2 1/2 weeks, yet the scale shows a three pound drop during that time. "It's 28 degrees F with 6 inches of new snow in Helena, Montana right now. It's a winter wonderland." Could you mail some of that snow to my kids? Current temperature in the Arava Valley here in Israel is 91.4. Meanwhile, a special thanks for stirring the pot and getting us talking again! Momto1plusone: "I'm thrilled with where I'm at. I'm thinner than I have been in years" Wendy, your gratification is as wonderful as the warm sunshine outside my window. All of us regular contributors here can say the same thing, and I hope we value it enough, even as we fight our own discouragement at how difficult those last few pounds are to lose. Shalee: "Thanks for the support on my TT" Shalee, keep us posted on the tt, we want to hear about it. ou are one determined lady - I'm glad I'm not those 28 inches!

Name Lbs Lost % of orig. wgt lost BMI QatarPhil..................55...........................19%..................32.2 Foofy.......................48............................17.7%...............36.4 Sades......................44.8.........................19.5%...............33.7 Shalee04..................70............................28%.................29.2 Bandpal...................105.82 ......................37% ................30 Skinny_Jill................59.5.........................26.8%...............30.8 Stephanie.................60............................26%..................27.1 Hollyberries..............113...........................31%..................36.2 linda.........................52............................23%..................29.9 Abbisgood................53............................23%...................?? want2lose.................91.8.........................32%...................31 kandiceb..................63............................26%...................27.6 Momto1plus1............81.4.........................30.2%................29.4 MollyBrown......... .....36...........................12.5%.................36.5 TxArcher..................103..........................25.75%...............39.2 Cindyg......................62...........................24.5%................34.5 Close........................50...........................20%....................33.1 Tmusicmaker123........73..........................19%....................48.7 plump_princess..........57...........................22%....................36 Mariegabrieleee..........73...........................24%....................39.1 gabeekeeper.............101..........................30% ...................40.2 strangeratx................55............................24%...................31.0 Shortgal....................44.5.........................20.5%................32. 9 Robin_Bird................113...........................37%..................29.2 Staysee....................70............................20%...................48.4 Hajohnson1...............49.8........................18.2%............ ......39.8 lindseyann2u.............80............................N/A.....................N/A Cherlita.....................60............................20%.....................55 BandChick64............104...........................34.67%................31.6 tyman311..................61............................31%....................28 BarbBee....................94............................31%...................35.7 Huskerette.................54............................22%...................30.5 Firebolt......................45............................19%...................33.5 Rachel.......................63.............................?%....... ............28.3 Teresajo.....................93............................36%........ ............27. 3 Aubrie........................65.............................?%.....................31 NYGirl1.......................02............................33%....................32.6 Maincat......................131...........................43%.....................23.3 TOTAL..............2736.82 (Lets Keep this TOTAL on the list)

Shalom Sim, First of all, good luck with your surgery. Having the operation during the Yamim HaNoraim has got to bring you a lot of luck- what better way to show that you are ready to earnestly repent for your sins involving food! Yashar Kochecha! As far as "holding yourself back" is concerned: I found that I wasn't hungry immediately after the surgery, and when my hunger did return, it was nowhere near the type of hunger I had always lived with for years before. Stick to the diet the doctor gives you - that's really important. Your compliance early on lays the ground for future success with the band. If you have urges to binge, look at your scars and ask yourself whether you really want to continue to abuse food after the step you have taken. And remember the part in the Viddui about the sins we have comitted with food and drink. G'mar Chatimah Tova,

Name............Lbs Lost........% of wgt lost.......BMI QatarPhil...........55......................19%................32.2 (39.6) Foofy................48....................17.7%...............36.4 Sades...............44.8..................19.5%..............33.7 Shalee04...........68.....................27.4.................30.0 Bandpal.............103.18 ..............36% ...............30.0 (47 ) Skinny_Jill..........59.5...................26.8%..............30.8 Stephanie..........60.....................26%.................27.1 Hollyberries........113.....................31%.................36.2 linda.................52......................23%.................29.9 5 Abbisgood..........53.....................23%.................?? want2lose..........91.8...................32%................31 kandiceb............63.....................26%................27.6 Momto1plus1......80.2...................30%.................29.6 MollyBrown.........36.....................12.5%..............36.5 TxArcher............103...................25.75%.........52.8 to 39.2 Cindyg...............60.....................24%.................35 Close.................50.....................20%.................33.1 Tmusicmaker123..73.....................19%.................60.1 to 48.7 plump_princess....57.....................22%.................36 Mariegabrieleee....73.....................24%.................51.3 to 39.1 gabeekeeper.......101.....................30% ..................40.2 strangeratx........53......................23%.................31.4 Shortgal..............44.5...................20.5%.................32. 9 Robin_Bird............103.....................33.8%................30. 7 Staysee..............70.....................20%................48.4 Hajohnson1..........49.8....................18.2%..............39.8 lindseyann2u........80......................N/A!.................N/A! Cherlita...............60.......................20%...............65 to 55 BandChick64..........104.....................34.67%.............31.6 tyman311..............61.....................31%...............41 to 28 (so far) BarbBee................91......................30%.................36. 2 Huskerette............54..(i gained)..........22%...............30.5 Firebolt.................45.....................19%..................3 3.5 Rachel.................63........................?%................28 .3 Teresajo..............93........................36%................27. 3 Aubrie.................65........................?%................31 TOTAL..............2466.6 (Lets Keep this TOTAL on the list)

Name............Start........Current........Goal.......To Go CindyG...........195...........193...........185........8 Momto1plus1......193.6.........190.6.........185........5.6 Foofy............226...........226...........216........10 Sades............185...........185...........175........10 Hollyberries.....245...........245...........235........10 Shortgal.........174...........172.4.........168.........4.5 Wnt2Lose.........195...........195...........180........15 Stephanie......182.5.........182.5...........167......15.5 Linda............183..........181.5..........170........11.5 Shalee04.........180...........180...........174........06 Bandpal..........185...........182.82........175........7.82 A couple of good days, a couple of bad days... the only thing is, there are more good days than bad days now.

So I have a new trick - I'm spooning up my dinner ( about a half a cup serving of cheese lasagna and milk puree smoothed out on a small plate) with the other end of my spoon, which is about a centimeter in width. It's making my dinner last much longer and hopefully go down much better. QatarPhil made a remark which has stayed with me for the last couple of days: "I’m surprised how little food I need to maintain my weight or even make small gains. My portions seem miniscule and I leave food uneaten. Our bodies are efficient and need so little food, aren’t they?" And I say, Amen, Brother Phil. If the Lapband has taught me anything, it is that I ate a lot more food than I needed. True, the lack of hunger I feel now is in part due to the effects of the Lapband itself, but my shrunken stomach and my newly learned habits and the emotional stability that the weight loss has brought have all contributed to being able to accept smaller portions and to being on the lookout for new ways to redefine that undefinable word, "enough". Finally, at age 48, I am rising above my mother's all too true characterization of me, which I remember hearing ever since I was a small child: "His eyes are bigger than his mouth".

Judy - I know how frustrating it is, but I'm sure that maintaining is the bigger prize. I always said that I'd be ready to accept whatever weight I was at as long as that meant that I wouldn't gain any more. Of course getting to a chosen weight and staying there might be even more rewarding, but you may well get there, too! But maintaining, especially with wedding bells ringing and without a band, is a pretty neat trick to pull off - congratulations!

Name............Start........Current........Goal.......To Go CindyG...........195...........193...........185........8 Momto1plus1......193.6.........190.6.........185........5.6 Foofy............226...........226...........216........10 Sades............185...........185...........175........10 Hollyberries.....245...........245...........235........10 Shortgal.........174...........172.4.........168.........4.5 Wnt2Lose.........195...........195...........180........15 Stephanie......182.5.........182.5...........167......15.5 Linda............183...........183...........170........13 Shalee04.........180...........180...........174........06 Bandpal.................185..................185..................175............10 ok. guys - first challenge for me - I'm taking the plunge - I'm in! - Bandpal

+ + + + = _________________________ As of today I have lost just over 100 pounds (the equivalent in weight to all of the above, according to a previous thread on this board). Thank you to all of you for your friendship, your support and your presence on this amazing journey that we are all on together. I've got another 35 pounds to go before reaching my goal. I've started walking and have registered to work out in our local fitness center- did it the right way, took a stress test and got my GP's OK. My next immediate weight goal would be losing another 6 pounds, which would put my BMI below the obese level. Not being obese... wow, less than a year ago I couldn't even dream of it. My tastes and habits continue to change. The sight of french toast at Breakfast grossed me out today, and I had no problem sitting at the table with guests last night and watching everyone else chow down on home-made pizza. And at night, I'm willing to pop the occasional sleeping pill (also, on my doc's okay) rather than stay up late and fight the Battle of the Binge. Wishing you all a good week out there and thanking you all again, Love,

Thanks Wendy, I really appreciate your friendliness and encouragement. I'm close to that "overweight, not obese" goal myself, that's going to be a sweet one. Let us know when you get there! All the best,

Shortgal, good luck with the upcoming wedding- I hope you can enjoy your own production, not always the easiest thing to do. Anyone who looks at you countdown chart knows how long and how hard you have worked and waited for this day, and I'm genuinely excited to see how close it is! With food, I say borrow Diet Coke's slogan - "Do what feels good" , which sometimes might mean holding off and other times digging in. Wishing you every happiness. You deserve it!

Hi everyone... Good hearing from you, Phil! Easily fitting into an airline seat or effortlessly getting into a small car are enjoyable reminders of my progress. In the past I avoided looking at my reflection or getting photographed, but now I’m quite intrigued to see myself. We have more in common than geography... It's amazing how much more comfortable airplane seats and cars have suddenly become, isn't it (I also enjoy how people don't automatically cede the front passenger seat in the car to me anymore)? I'm getting accustomed to not hiding in famly pictures, and am wearing out the mirrors wherever I go. Loose skin hasn’t been an issue for me yet and I don’t think it will be a major issue when I am at goal. My wardrobe is all new and I quite enjoy buying clothes, something I really disliked in the past. For me neither on the skin, and ditto on the clothes - I would rather have stuck needles in my eyes than try on pants, and now... bring them on! Haven’t worked out why, but I am extra tight in the mornings. First bite syndrome can be an issue, so I start out with small bites. When I am particularly hungry this is a challenge for me. I am tight enough in the morning so that I haven't eaten Breakfast for a while - I drink coffee, tea and ice Water until lunch. Athough it goes against the prevalent nutritional dogma, I have been enjoying eating this way. If I want to, I can make my lunch and dinner larger to compensate. I’m surprised how little food I need to maintain my weight or even make small gains. My portions seem miniscule and I leave food uneaten. Our bodies are efficient and need so little food, aren’t they? How true... it's amazing how much of our food choices are the result of cultural conditioning, upbringing and our relative emotional and psychological well being. My palate has changed too... I’m regularly exercising in the gym and enjoying some tennis lessons and matches. My tennis game and stamina have improved... Recognising what I am like; I don’t try and completely eliminate my favorites... so far so good, getting my band has been a life changing experience... It is genuinely encouraging to see how well you are doing! Be well, and remember, أَكْل العِنَب حَبَّة حَبَّة

Thanks, guys! I tried taking the liquid in small sips and I'm not as queasy. Yay! It's amazing how hard it is for me to think small. No matter what you're eating or drinking, you can always cut it in half. I got an unfill today... Hope that works out for you, Cindy. I know you've been uncomfortable. I think it will be easier to loose weight without adding all the extra calories to my meals. I enjoy a little olive oil mixed in with my meals - good Mediterranean flavor, less calories than gravy or mayonnaise, tasty and a little grease on the wheels for the other end of the train track (TMI). I think I'm at the sweet spot with 7.25 cc's. Hope so. Me too! Go get 'em!

"Hmmm.... 100lb - a guineapig (2lb?), a brain (4lb?), a 2y.o. (25lb?), a cat (10lb?).... Damn, just how big is that elephant's penis??????" Not bad, Fanny: guinea pig.............. 1 lb brain................... 3 lb two year old........ 25 lb cat..................... 11 lb elephant's penis... do the math my lapband........... priceless!

Name............Lbs Lost........% of wgt lost.......BMI QatarPhil...........55......................19%................32.2 (39.6) Foofy................48....................17.7%...............36.4 Sades...............44.8..................19.5%..............33.7 Shalee04...........68.....................27.4.................30.0 Bandpal.............101.21 ..............35.4%...............30.4 (47 ) Skinny_Jill..........59.5...................26.8%..............30.8 Stephanie..........60.....................26%.................27.1 Hollyberries........113.....................31%.................36.2 linda.................52......................23%.................29.9 5 Abbisgood..........53.....................23%.................?? want2lose..........91.8...................32%................31 kandiceb............63.....................26%................27.6 Momto1plus1......75.8...................28.1%..............30.3 MollyBrown.........36.....................12.5%..............36.5 TxArcher............103...................25.75%.........52.8 to 39.2 Cindyg...............58.....................23%.................35 Close.................50.....................20%.................33.1 Tmusicmaker123..73.....................19%.................60.1 to 48.7 plump_princess....57.....................22%.................36 Mariegabrieleee....73.....................24%.................51.3 to 39.1 gabeekeeper.......101.....................30% ..................40.2 strangeratx........53......................23%.................31.4 Shortgal..............44.5...................20.5%.................32. 9 Robin_Bird............103.....................33.8%................30. 7 Staysee..............70.....................20%................48.4 Hajohnson1..........49.8....................18.2%..............39.8 lindseyann2u........70......................?%.................? Cherlita...............44.......................20%...............65 to 57.5 BandChick64..........104.....................34.67%.............31.6 tyman311..............61.....................31%...............41 to 28 (so far) BarbBee................80......................26%.................37. 5 Huskerette............54..(i gained)..........22%...............30.5 Firebolt.................45.....................19%..................3 3.5 Rachel.................63........................?%................28 .3 Teresajo..............93........................36%................27. 3 Aubrie.................65........................?%................31 TOTAL..............2435.2 (Lets Keep this TOTAL on the list)

I can only ever say what everyone else has - good job on paying attention to yourself and catching it early on. Maybe try the medicine in very small sips, like any other liquid? Good luck, we are all thinking of you.

What does PB really stand for? Is it... Please Beware! or... Post-Prandial Blast or maybe... Pass the Bucket or perhaps... Profluent Belch or could it be... Prepare, Bystanders... or, perchance... Projectile Burp What does PB really stand for?

You know you have good restriction when... the only food you can eat looks like the food you've already pb'd. You know you have good restriction when... you comfort yourself by knowing that if you're ever kidnapped, the FBI will find you by your spit trail. You know you have good restriction when... you start chewing tobacco so that everyone will think they know why you've always got that big bulge in your cheek. You know you have good restriction when... every well earned burp carries with it the tantalizing risk of social catastrophe. You know you have good restriction when... you give up couting calories because, how are you ever going to know how much you've actually eaten?

You know you have good restriction when... everyone stands back a respectful distance when they talk to you. You know you have good restriction when... you start pricing spitoons on Ebay. You know you have good restriction when... you start to wonder if hurling is an Olympic sport. You know you have good restriction when... you think twice before opening your mouth at meetings after meals. You know you have good restriction when... you daydream about starring in the next remake of The Exorcist.

Thank you, thank you, ladies... prepare for some real shockers as our bandiversary approaches.

Aw, jeez, guys ...

Glad you're feeling better, Sades. Go get 'em! I'd say: "Good exercise, good food, good emotions!"