kyteachjules

Have you thought about adding ankle or wrist weights while you are at work? Just simply adding those and upping the weight so often will give you an extra boost. Try using a pedometer and see how many steps you take in a day, then work on increasing it little by little. There are little ways to add more movement or strength training, very easily. :smile:

See, I have exactly the OPPOSITE problem. I'm 5'10" and everything is TOO short. Even now, as I get smaller, the shirts seem to be getting shorter and shorter. I definitely am not (NOR will I ever be...) ready for 'belly' shirts!! HAHAHA I usually do well at The Avenue, Catherine's or CJ Banks. Of course, I'm pretty conservative.

I have been an 11 for a while and now my 10s are big on me... I'm telling ya, it SUCKS because I have some GREAT shoes!

The hubby isn't too keen on the loss of boobage, but he's willing to foot the bill for new ones later down the road... I made him promise he wouldn't make me look like Pam Anderson!

I'm sorry you went through that, but I honestly laughed so hard I cried reading this! I, too, have a pretty warped sense of humor and just envisioned myself doing something similar! Again, I'm sorry you had to do through this!!! As far as getting stuck, I haven't yet. I have completely eliminated bread, Pasta, rice, potatoes and other "stickable" stuff. The only thing I REFUSE to give up is my Peanut Butter. Luckily, I haven't had any problems with that, at all.

Well, my husband usually watches over me like a hawk to see what he can eat once I'm finished! And, when I'm out with friends, it's like the food lottery to see who is going to take home my left-overs if I don't take them myself! Most of the time, I order what I want, eat a little and take it home. But, I have to admit, sometimes it's fun just watching the hubby and/or friends hover to see what they can nibble on!! LOL My doctor gave me a little card that shows a little blurb about my surgery and, sometimes, I show it if the wait-staff are being a little toooooooo observant.

You all make excellent points. And, I rarely have felt intimidated in life, but in the back of my mind... I know I did this and have begun to lose weight because my ultimate career based goals. I am currently a teacher and have finished my principal certification and anticipate receiving my doctorate in school administration in the next 2-3 years. I ultimately did not want to go into an interview as my large self. I have been going through hiring a principal in my building, (chairperson of the committee) I know the scrutiny that these individuals go through. (And, I know what I thought when a slightly plumper individual showed up versus the little teensy skinny lady). I initially thought "there is no way that skinny chick will ever fit in w/ our staff!" Luckily, her personality was horrid and the 'plump' lady was more suited to our staff. But, in the back of my mind, throughout this process... All I could think of was 'when I go through this, I want to be able to 'fit' the staff.' Now, what scares me more than ever is... since I'm working out and changing shape, will I become one of those folks who won't 'fit.' I'm not small right now, but I hope to be. (Yeah, not petite, just thin! I'm 5'10"). I just want to be an excellent administrator, but I also want to be able to be, for lack of a better word, judged for the job I do, not how I look. But, I honestly don't know if I would have been hired at my heaviest. Regardless of my ability and knowledge, I'm sure that my size would have been an issue. (However, random children usually find me and respond to me... EVERYWHERE! Some random kid in the shoe department at Kohl's followed me around with a description of her sneezing and how she really liked the pink shoes ... ALL the pink shoes. I eventually shook her when her mother FINALLY took notice! Come to think of it, random people usually just walk up and start talking to me...) I digress! So I guess, what this all boils down to is that I want to be known for what a good teacher/administrator I am, regardless of how I look! But, hopefully, my weight loss will give me an extra "push!"

I asked the lady who sized me for a new bra the other day if they came in "long" rather than cup size... She laughed!

I eat well at restaurants! It is much easier than you think! Leftovers are fabulous for eating later or... for your friends to pick off your plate!!! It's easy to pick salads with a Protein or grilled chicken or all sorts of fish/seafood that give you your protein. As far as drinking, I haven't had a drink since June, 2007 when I started losing weight. I was banded in December, 2007 and my doctor suggest not drinking during the first year. To be honest, I don't miss it. And, they are empty calories, so it is almost like sabotaging yourself. But, I think you'd be fine!!

GAS-X STRIPS WORK!! If all else fails, do some very gentle knee bends and small stomach crunches. And, believe it or not, sit on the toilet and have a nice bottle of bubbles. Blowing bubbles uses the same muscles that cause you to release gas (and have a BM, thus the toilet). Usually helps! (I'm a spec ed teacher and have had to use this technique w/ kiddos at school... and w/ myself after surgery!!!!) Enjoy!

Been there, done that w/ the long pants. BUT, I've had to go back to buying TALL pants, again because my legs are longer since my gut isn't in the way! HAHAHAHAHA!!!! I had purchased a nice pair of pants back before Christmas and they had gotten really loose. SO, in my infinite wisdom, thought it would be ok to actually dry them after I washed them. My unfortunate decision didn't shrink them in the right places, however. They were still baggy as all get out, but about 6 inches above my flippin' ankles! Guess they are going in the yard sale box!

December 13, 2007!

I tend to get a little aggravated w/ a fat man trying to tell me how to lose weight. Nuff said! :tt1:

I'm so glad I stayed overnight. The anti-nausea meds that were administered via the IV helped, tremendously. And, it was good to be in that reclining bed, rather than completely flat. Plus, I was able to move around as much as I wanted.

The only one I had an issue taking was vytorin and I cut it in half. I was fine. I take 2 Flintstones chewables and 2 calcium chews (am and pm). I'm still on synthroid and pepcid (hopefully not much longer on that one!), but I've not had any issues swallowing them.

You'll do fine! Keep in mind you can have broth and jello, also. Keep up the good work!! Good luck!

Congrats! Every day does get a little easier!! :hurray: Welcome to the club~

What an awesome idea! I have boxed up most of my old clothes and I am only buying a few pieces at a time to make it through, but man... it's very odd to change quickly!:rolleyes2:

I haven't had a fill yet, but if I eat my proteins first, especially with salads, then I feel it longer... But, lettuce is a weakness for me. I LOVE IT w/ a cilantro lime vinaigrette or a homemade honey, olive oil and dijon mustard. My biggest issue right now is that I've had so much chicken, I could CLUCK!

I'm an elementary special education teacher and had my surgery Dec 13. I took 5 days off before Christmas break and came back when school resumed on January 3. So, I had 3 weeks off (of course, my stomach was re-routed out of my chest) but did go back to visit for my holiday party. I wasn't allowed to drive for a week (even though I did sneak to town a couple of times! LOL) because of the 'extra' part of my surgery. The hardest part is not lifting the kids or stuff that I am not supposed to lift.

I look at it this way... I can have surgery and lose weight. I can have plastic surgery and fix the way I look. BUT, you just can't fix STUPID! LOL I've decided that most people are just out to make themselves look better... SO, I'll just reverse roles one day. Or, kill that person with kindness, people often feel worse about what they say if they don't get a reaction from the person to whom they speak.

sleep = Electric blanket, flannel sheets, flannel pajamas and 2-3 other blankets! I wear LOTS of layers.

You could always dig him up and smacking him... I honestly think that when people send us 'motivation,' they truly think we will read or interpret words in the same way as the original person. Interpretation is the heart of everything we hear and see. I think just ignoring stupidity is one thing, but if you don't voice your opinion people will not know what we are truly going through. The surgery was difficult, but adjusting to our lives post-band is self-control.

I've not been a huge fan of Oprah, at all. Dr. Phil makes my skin crawl. How anybody can be a fat man and try to tell the world how to lose weight is totally beyond me! And, I just don't think he can 'fix' everybody. DON'T GET ME STARTED ON THE DRUNKEN BARBIE Sandra Lee... Phooey! And, Britney and Jamie Lynn need some a come to Jesus meeting and decide what's important, celebrity or living! ::steps off soap box:: I feel better now!

I was posting my myspace blog and talking about my shape changing and the issues I'm having believing how different I am starting to be physically. I purchased a sweater on Sunday and on Monday, went to put it on. When I looked at it, since it is smaller that what I'm 'used' to wearing, I had a gut-wrenching panic and denial that I could wear that sweater. I told my husband, "I can't wear that! It'll be too small! I just don't think I can put it on!" Of course, he looked at me like I had lost my ever-loving mind and giving me the 'then why the hell did you buy it' look. You know the look... the one that says "OMG, she's been to Zappos/C.J. Banks/T. J. Maxx/Kirkland's/Old Time Pottery/shopping, etc again" look. He, in his infinite wisdom, kept his mouth shut. Anyway, I put that sweater on and it fit, perfectly, if not a little big. I really have no idea how to adjust my thinking when it comes to appearance. Honestly, I hope that I adjust mentally, as easily as I have physically.