Apples2

By the way....I have not had a weight "lose"...it's been a weight loss!

Not to change the subject....I know this friend thing has been discussed b/4 but went through it on the weekend and just kind of set me back. I have been feeling pretty good about my weight lose and can tell in my clothes that there is a big change. Went from a 3X top to 1x and that is not tight on me. I have this friend that at one time (about 5 yrs ago) had a super hot body. She got type 1 diabetes a few years ago and started gaining tremendous amounts of weight. She is a person that always says she does not need friends but she makes the exception for me (I'm her one and only). I have always been sympathetic to her weight gain plight, listening to her complaints and what it has done to her emotionally. I am always right there to encourage her when she goes to weight watchers and complement her when she loses. Well, had not seen her since I started to lose weight in Nov. I have lost 46lbs. I figure if I have gone down a couple of sizes, I must look like I have lost a little. NOTHING out of her mouth and I spend 6 hours with her. I brought up my lap band surgery a couple of times but she didn't bite. Either I don't look like I've dropped a pound or she is being really insensitive and jealous. UGH!!!!!!!!.. Jealousy? or did she plain not notice?

MNbob...welcome. There is a Minnesota thread on here somewhere. I am from MN also. Should be banded in May or June by Dr. Fortier from Long Prairie, MN. Good luck to you during your banding process

Hey Blund, I bought a food scale in Dec 2007. Salter, model #1440. I LOVE it. Has everything you should need. All you have to do is type in what your food is that you are weighing and it gives you everything on the screen. Bought at Macys. I bought my bathroom scale back in 1995 believe it or not. I love it. It's sturday and has ALWAYS been accurate with my clinic's scales. Each and every time. It's a Health o meter personal scale. Not digital. Has the big dial. Best scale I have ever had. Hope you find something that will work for you.

Appreciate your concern for preacher's wife and the preacher himself. Not sure if she really ever got around to the real thing. But, from that point on, every time I saw her, she had a red tongue.

I thought the food was similar to canned cat food

About 15 years ago had the sweet preacher's wife ask me to go out to dinner with her. Do you know what was on her agenda???????????? She wanted me to tell her how to do it cuz her sweet preacher husband thought that would be a thing he would like. (Not sure why she picked me...must have noticed that my mind was wandering during service). Anyway, after the initial embarrassment, and knowing that I wouldn't be able to keep a straight face as I explained my technique, I told her to practice on a Tootsie Roll Pop. Still to this day I feel like I let her down!

That should be LBTAA..I don't know what I would have done without this site. I got such limited info from my dr. and surgeon. Like..."go home and to the pro-op weight loss for six months" whatever. Did it anyway. Only way I learned was from the experience of everyone here. I am so in love with the positive attitudes of some. I get such a kick out of some the the the questions.... just a couple of months ago I was reading and some talked about PB ing. I just about posted to ask what it was....I though to myself "don't be stupid...find a thread about pb ing." Happy I did. Otherwise I would be talked about on the thread "I hate it when people post just to post." Whatever!!!!!!

Angie...love your belly button ass. .... I have old lady boob ass. You know when you are not trying to show your cleavage and you look down and you have butt around your neck?

I also think Boo should be the new girl at the top. Hell, she can photograph herself...ooops...but then she couldn't hold her own boobie in the photo. Boo is much more photogenic than the apple girl!

I despise that "fat girl store" feeling. I wear somewhat "normal" size (XL) on the bottom and have to go to the women's section for my tops. I have gotten the look by clerks and customers that maybe I'm lost when I am in the normal section. I omitted a NSV in my above post that I experienced this morning. I am somewhat of a clothes horse. Cleaned out all my clothes that have gotten to big for me and was able to drop off five large bags of close to our local Salvation Army store. It felt cleansing. Yahoo!!!!!!!!!

I love the positive posts where people say they love their bands. I am hoping when the installation is complete, I will say the same thing. I love what preparing for this band has done for me. It has made me strive for the goal and throughout this prep time I have been able to stick to a diet similar to how I will be eating after the band. I just feel so energized and know that if I can stick to this without the band, I can surely do it with the band.

MY DREAM IS TO WEAR JEANS AGAIN!!! I am an apple (thick waisted) and that's not going to happen for awhile. But, my NSV is that my yoga pants are loose and I am waiting for the day they fall down. For the last 7 years, the only slacks I can wear have elastic waists. I started this journey in Nov and wearing a 3x and heading soon for a 4x. I put on a 2x the other day and it hangs on me. Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!! Doing my six month pre-op diet and I get days where I am in a slump. What pulls me out is not so much the scale but the way clothes fit me.

Good for you, Dab. I love your statement that you made about your lifestyle change and that now it is second nature. You should be so proud of your accomplishments. With your attitude, you should have no trouble reaching your goal. I wish for you another successful six months for whatever it takes to reach what you are striving for. Thanks for sharing your story

Thanks for the support, Janet. I have a question for you. It's off the subject. After losing your weight, how do you feel about the condition of your skin...do you have sagging? or are you one of the lucky ones?

Tom...happy to hear you lost 3lbs and decided against the steak. Hang in there, Bud! Not only are you shrinking your liver in prep for surgery, you are preparing yourself to be strong after your surgery and the liquids for awhile. What pushed me over the edge to have this surgery was lab reports of an extremely fatty liver. I want to be around for my grandkids (If my sons would get off their asses and produce some).

I don't know if I will be able to give up coffee. I know I can cut back on it but I just love a cup in the morning. My dr. says to cut out caffeine for six weeks after surgery. So many drs., so many different opinions!

I'm staying on plan today because when I don't I go to bed feeling yucky and wake up feeling yucky (both emotionally and physically yucky)!

Thank you for the support, Cindi. I am ready for all of this to take place. Been looking at doing this for three years and feel that I am fully prepared for what's ahead.

I also look forward to taking this journey with you, Cathy. Sounds like our surgeries won't be too far apart from each other (if I get approved). I am ready to get the band and start the next phase....we'll talk soon. The other Karen

Karey..just had a chance to read your post about taking a pain medication and then having trouble. I will tell you a situation I had and then you make the decision based on how you feel. I had surgery on an ankle a few years ago. B/4 I left the hospital 4 days later, I swallowed a pain medication. Two days later I had terrible heartburn and nausea. This persisted another day. Called my GP and he had me immediately go to the ER. The medication had eroded through my esophagas (sp?). I would suggest that you call your local hospital and talk to a dr. or nurse on duty to see if they think you should be looked at. I don't mean to scare you but your symptoms sounded so similar to mine. All I know is I waited too long and it took me more time to recover than if I would have called my dr. when I had the earlier symptoms. I am hoping by this time you are feeling better and there will be no need to be concerned. Good luck

I am in my 5th month of the 6 month ins required diet. I decided from the start to stick to a plan close to what I would be doing after surgery. It was fairly tough the first month but after that just became somewhat routine. Now I am so happy that I did this. I have a feeling that it has prepared me for what I am in for after surgery. I know that I will most likely be hungry for awhile after surgery but I am so used to this feeling. I started Nov 20 and am down 46lbs. This diet has prepared me and also this forum. I felt like I was left out to sea all alone when I first started. I have gotten so much info from this site. Good luck and I believe the band is a tool to help a person succeed. YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!!

Hey...I got the OK to remodel half my house after a little session with my hubby. I think it's about time to remodel the other half!

Thanks for the info on the protein powder, Janet. 24g is right up there and makes it possible to get the recommended daily dose of protein. I am compiling info on different protein powders for when I need to do my liquid pre-op and post-op. I just gag at the thought of drinking protein shakes but think I can do it if there is no taste. Again, thanks

God bless people that DON'T judge others but I think they are few and far between. When we truly do not understand someone else's plight, we tend to judge. I bet most of us have witnessed it multiple times in our "overweight lives". Having knowledge is the key to understanding the people in this world that struggle with various "disorders" and addictions. I am thankful to my LBT family. I can come here and talk and not feel judged. Welcome Lainey. I hope you continue to come to this forum for support and wish you luck and hope that all your stars align.