NanaRenan

I'm 7.5 months out and I'm STILL training myself!! I try to use a pencil eraser as a judge for cutting. It seemed ridiculous at first, but you get used to it. And I -- PERSONALLY -- cannot eat anything hand-held. Forget it! Burger, sandwich, taco, burrito, pizza, -- FORGET IT! For some reason I canNOT take small bites and chew sufficiently and get stuck every time I try! I have to put it on a plate and cut it up like everything else!

I can't do flour tortillas (or pretty much any bread product made from flour) -- feel "stuck" after only a bite or two! But I can eat corn tortillas. And have handled rice (white and brown), but only in small quantities, not because I can't, but because I know I don't need to!

Yes, "immersible" is hand-held, stick the business end down in your cup or bowl and puree the heck out of it!

I'm so sorry for your loss and pray for peace and comfort for your family. But it sounds like there were a LOT of extenuating circumstances surrounding your cousin that do not apply to you. And, I can't help thinking that keeping you band-free and possibly fat-for-life, your family would essentially be shortening your life, not prolonging it. Of course, it may take a long time for them to EVER realize that. Don't be discouraged -- I was denied by my insurance provider FOUR times before they finally approved. (HINT: My surgeon requested the ins. co. have someone specializing in bariatrics look at my file....the approval was instantaneous!) I KNOW it has added years onto my life and as the pounds continue to disappear, my life expectancy rises! Hang in there!

A THUNDERSTICK!!! LOL That's the brand of immersible blender I bought years ago. I started out with the blender, but it was a hassle to constantly be washing it. An immerible allows you to blend right in the glass, cup or bowl you're eating from and then be washed off quickly and ready for next time. Immersible -- that's MY recommendation!

I've just trained myself over the last 10 years -- in my weight loss/pre-diabetes battles -- to always, always, ALWAYS eat something ASAP upon rising. My mother and sister were never breakfast eaters, both overweight their whole lives and ended up severely diabetic (mom dead at 75 from complications and sis with a double bypass at 52). Like most children of the 60s and 70s (especially who had a mom who wasn't about to cook breakfast!) I grew up eating cold Cereal and did the same with my kids. After trying Atkins back in the 90s, I realized what an all carb breakfast did to me and I started trying to eat some Protein. And came to believe that the sooner I "started my engine" (switched on my metabolism by eating) the better. I still think not being hungry at breakfast is a big red flag and should be right up there with excessive thirst and frequent urination, (which neither my sister, mother or me EVER experienced as diabetics!) as symptoms of diabetes!

I don't guess I'm TOO surprised about the clothes being the top of the list. After all, how we dress is an outward reflection of how we feel inside as well as a statement of our identity. Stands to reason it would be a biggie. I love ALL the NSVs. No matter how small. Found a new one last night. I kept having to swivel my wedding ring around to put the setting back on top, when I finally realized what it was I was doing it was all I could do to not go wake hubby up to share the good news! LOL

ps....I read somewhere that drinking a hot liquid in the morning helps. I've never been a fan of hot beverages, but I might give it a try.

Okay...thanks everyone. I tho't I'd read this was somewhat normal. I was already pretty tight (shakes only!) at breakfast and looser during the day. But I was starting to be hungry again after dinner. Now I'm SUPER tight -- like 1/4 of a shake for breakfast -- in the morning and barely anything for lunch. Then dinner is now like lunch used to be and not hungry again before bed. Good to know it's reasonable. Thanks again!

It's SUCH a mind game. Truly. Here are a couple of the EPIPHANIES/Reality Checks I've had... *About two weeks out, I was out running errands with my daughter and grandchildren. I had to watch over my lively toddler grandbuddy and since I still couldn't really hold him, it was decided I would chauffeur him around in his car seat while she tended to something important with the granddoll. He was screaming and tossing an awful fit and I was already thinking "Man, when they get out, we'll just go somewhere and have a nice leisurely lunch and....." WHAM!:mad3: I realized I was going to be limited to a very small cup of smooth soup!! And then -- the BIG realization! I knew no other way to cope with heavy, urgent stress than to plow through it then eat my way numb! I called my hubby and whined and cried to him and he talked me through it. I had to start working on other ways to react to stress and I still have the occasional "freak out" when I don't know what to do -:huh2:- but, eating isn't in the short list any more. **Hubby and I shared most meals out for years. Now instead of taking turns choosing and halving everything, I take a fraction of what I used to eat. For several months he would make me choose both resturant and entree -- and I readily complied, believing if I could only eat a few mouthfuls they were going to be PRIMO! Eventually the burden of always having to make a decision wore me out and I insisted that HE choose. I said, "It doesn't matter whether it's cardboard or filet mignon, I'm full after three bites anyhow!" And :lightbulb: ta-da, I finally got it. food is NOT my comforter, my lover, my best friend. It is FUEL for my body. Hunger is the "E" on my tank, not my cue to eat my way into a gastro-gasm. Eating only the very yummiest foods actually made it HARDER for me to recognize the signals for when it was time to stop! ***In addition to sensually saitiating (sp?) myself with food, I've had to learn to stop rewarding myself with it!! I am an extrovert, always glad to be around others and can -- on any day the sun comes up -- find SOME excuse to :party:party!! "I walked to the mailbox today!" Whoo-hoo, that calls for Seafood tonight! "I kept the grandkids all day!" How's Mexican sound for dinner? Geez, I really am a 45 year old toddler!!! I wanted what I wanted, when I wanted it and because it was something common, necessary and seemingly benign -- FOOD, I didn't dare deprive myself. If my addiction had been diamonds, it would've been easier to curb!!! LOL But I've found other ways to reward Pam. I bought a cute little table for beside my bath and loaded it with luscious bath products -- (Its SO much easier to fit my smaller body into the tub nowadays!). :bathbaby: I cleaned out and organized my closet and actually enjoy getting dressed -- I do it somethings three or four times a day -- JUST BECAUSE I CAN!!! And who cares if it creates more laundry -- I bought a new front loading washer and dryer and I just love running them!:washing: Instead of weekly expeditions to the grocery store and loading the pantry, fridge and freezer with processed and preserved junk. I go nearly daily and buy fresh REAL foods.:car: Instead of vegging out in front of the tube and mindlessly gnoshing in the evenings, I get online and type, type, type, with my tunes rockin' and do some chair dancing, etc. All I need is an occasional swing from my bottle of Water and I can go on for hours!:ohmy:

I had mine done last Thursday. It was general anesthesia and involved some pain since the surgeon also located it to a place where I'm not a squishy. LOL But I was able to attend a wedding two days later, so I guess it's not too bad.

You are experiencing very normal feelings and reactions. You can't control your feelings, so you can only control your actions. Start by looking at yourself in the mirror and making a vow..."You've been through worse things than this, you WILL make one WISE CHOICE at every meal time." And then do it...whatever it may be...... Choosing a veggie over a carb. Not drinking during your meal and for at least a half hour afterwards. Etc. Then you'll be able to stop beating yourself up because you know you ARE actively doing something! C'mon....hang tough. You've been through a heckuva lot to get to this point. You can make it to that first fill.

Absolutely would not hesitate to do it again in a heartbeat! My DIL is considering it -- hoping to battle PCOS issues and have a baby. If I had the $ to pay for everyone of my obese friends and family to have it done, I would!

I am, for once, truly speechless!

Name: Frangipani Weight loss from day of surgery: 81 lbs Total weight loss: 87 lbs Name: Candle Weight loss from day of surgery: 81 lbs Total weight loss: 95 lbs Name: Salsa Weight loss from day of surgery: 88 lbs Total weight loss: 88 lbs Name: Pammycakes Weight loss from day of surgery: 88 lbs Total weight loss: 90 lbs Name: Ceradad Weight loss from day of surgery: 80.5 Total weight loss: 100.5 Name: KarenG. Weight loss from day of surgery: 78 Total weight loss: 78 Name: NanaRenan Weight loss from day of surgery: 52 Total weight loss: 72 Name: TexasBecky Weight loss from day of surgery: 88 Total weight loss: 98 Name: SPEBSQSAlady Weight loss from day of surgery: 55 Total weight loss: 55 Name: Brandottie01 Weight loss from day of surgery: 20 lbs Total weight loss: Name: Bergdorfblonde Weight loss from day of surgery: 28.5 lbs Total weight loss: 28.5 lbs Name: Gometros Weight loss from day of surgery: 52.9 lbs Total weight loss: 74.9 Name: Pizzicato66 Weight loss from day of surgery: 74.5 Total weight loss: 76.5 Name: Valstar Weight loss from day of surgery: 52 lbs Total weight loss: 57 lbs Name:Gweniper weight loss from day of surgery: 48 total weight loss: 82 Name: purplegirl1818 weightloss from day of surgery: 73.5lbs total weight loss: 90.5lbs Name: LessNLess weightloss from day of surgery: 51lbs total weight loss: 57lbs __________________

caryla, I think 50 lbs since Christmas is PHENOMENAL!!! I wouldn't sweat THAT at ALL!!! You'll probably get a fill at your next appt., especially if you're experiencing a lot of hunger. But meanwhile -- KUDOS!

Hey, Red Girl...I've stalled out MANY times in my 7.5 months. I'll drop 3 or 4 pounds, then sit at that number for 3 or 4 WEEKS! Very annoying. BUT -- People kept commenting on how good I looked AND the clothes kept getting looser. And, eventually, the scales will move again!

The band essentially turns our stomach into an hour glass. We control, through chewing (and even slicing and dicing beforehand) the size of the "sand" we're putting in our hour glass. Throw a pebble in there with the sand and it jams the opening and you're "stuck" until it dissolves or comes back up. Neither of which is very pleasant. It doesn't take much for the pouch to hold enough food so that the nerves signal the brain you're full. Even though the food continues to empty out, the brain takes a while to go through the whole 'hunger-satiated-hungry again' scenario if we don't over ride it by eating out of habit, boredom, etc. Which most of us did, which is what enabled us to get to the point of needing a band.

Glad we helped some....guess that's the primary function of this forum is to help one another! Yes, pick up that needle and thread, but don't get too caught up in making something perfect, just concentrate on the ACTION of doing it. (Depressives are often perfectionists who sabotage themselves with unrealistic goals! SOUND FAMILIAR, ANYONE??) And I'm so glad that you're consciously trying to give your hubby a break. It's true, we DO take things out on the people who love us unconditionally -- because no one else would stick around and take it!!! I'm blessed to have a great husband! And altho' he isn't that great at reading my mind and knowing exactly what to say and when to say it, he tries...sometimes making it worse -- (I had to have a port revision last week and have been a little cranky post-op:angry:) -- before stopping and just asking, "What do you need from me right this minute...?":wub:

Today is a land-mark day for me. I broke 250. I WeightWatcher-ed myself to 249 for ONE WEIGH IN ONLY in 2002. My body just seemed to muchly prefer the 250s!!!! It took me over three years, but I put it all back and more...eventually reaching an all-time high of 321 last Spring after being put on several new prescriptions! For the first time in 16 years I'm under 250. My new "to lose" goal is now double digits! I'm now off of ALL of those prescriptions that made me feel so terrible. Everything in my closet is NEW! I now, occasionally, buy a garment that has no Xs anywhere on the label! I AM a happy camper!! A sharp contrast to how utterly OVERWHELMED I was a year ago!

An Irish Setter and a rack of Baby back ribs.... ....um -- can we get a list that doesn't include tasty menu items???

Hi, MicheleK....I'm so sorry for what you're going through. I've battled depression a lot in my life, and know all-to-well the feeling of being "on hold". But while there isn't a lot you can do to hurry up the process, you can try to occupy yourself while you wait. My first suggestion is -- when you AREN'T at the point of jumping down his throat, be as kind and appreciative of your husband as you can manage. It'll help make up for some of the negatives and you're gonna need his support over the long haul!! My BEST suggestion is -- find something TO DO, MAKE, CREATE. If you have a hobby -- even if you haven't touched it in years, dig it out, dust it off, stir it up and force yourself to do it. Anyone who's ever worked with mental health knows how therapuetic it is. (Personally, I believe it's also a spiritual issue, but I'll keep that to myself.) Anyhow, simple science, creating (sewing, cooking, gardening, painting, music, writing, crafting, etc.) uses a different part of your brain that the one you run on every day AND it causes the rest of your brain to be flooded with endorphins. No way can that be anything but positive for someone in your situation. Keep in touch and let us know how you're doing.

This made me LOL. Several years ago some friends who'd lived in Germany for many years sponsored an immigrant. We were often having to translate my colloquialisms for her. Including but not limited to "Hey, Monica, I haven't seen you on a coon's age". A year or so later I happened by their house and she was there, her greeting caught me off guard, "Pam, I wonder how many raccoons have died since last I saw you?" LOL Bless her heart -- she got an "E" for effort! btw -- seems I haven't been seeing as many WASa posts as before, either!

I know the pursuit of a good night's sleep all too well. I have fibromyalgia -- sometimes referred to as "The-Princess-And-The-Pea-Syndrome". Everything has to be JUST RIGHT and even then it can get derailed SO easily. I take Elavil which gives me about 75-80% relief of my symptoms and helps me STAY asleep. And sometimes I add in a melatonin, just to help me FALL asleep. If those stop working, I'll go on the hunt for something else, because you can't NOT sleep! Nana<----wonders how many mass-murders are actually insomniacs....?

Oh, how I long for the day i can have PS and be rid of this flab! I have no expectations of any of it going away. I had loose, hanging skin which grew and grew after each baby, beginning when I was 18 and only weighed 150 post-partum. (I tho't once it stretched, that was it, but I stretch anew each time from the top and had excess accumilate at the bottom.....it's crazy!) I've still got a ways to go, but I get SO excited reading about it here. Ya'll really inspire me!