NanaRenan

I've been SUPER-DUPER hot natured ALL of my life. As in if I'm comfortable, I know everyone around me is freezing. My weight loss since banding is very stop and start....like drop three or four pounds in a week, then not lose anything at all for three or four weeks! I have noticed when I am in a losing phase I am like 'chilled to the bone' all the time. When that goes away, I know the scales are gonna level off. Weird, but interesting. Glad to know I'm not the only one! My husband, who's endured years of being uncomfortable to try and keep me content is loving that I'm asking him to turn the heat up!!!! I hope when it's all over and I'm at goal I'll be 'normal'.

I didn't watch it for a long, long time -- I'm not a fan of 'public humiliation as entertainment' -- BUT....I figure if you know by now what the potential is for being singled out and ridiculed, and you go on there anyhow, then you're buying into the game.

I don't think I ever got the memo I couldn't wear heels! In fact, the bigger I got, the more I've worn them!!!! It was the one thing I could control -- what I put on my feet!!! Probably I just headed to the shoe store every time I got depressed trying on clothes!! LOL

I think it's time I give this a try!! Thanks for inspiring me to attempt new things!

Thanks for sharing this list of dos and don'ts. Sometimes I get too carb-oriented to the point I start craving them -- signified by waking up wanting something sweet to eat. I have to "detox" myself by "going Atkins" for a few days to get the sugar out of my system. I needed to review the actually guidelines as it's been a long, long time since I read the book and followed the diet to the "T".

I never liked the consistency of oatmeal, but I love oatmeal Cookies and especially oatmeal cookie DOUGH! So a few years ago I figured out if I nuke my instant oatmeal and then stir in about a 1/4 cup of whole oats, that it was like eating cookie dough! LOL I could eat it every day now!

I have ON OCCASION had difficulty with many of the foods on the list, BUT, I put "other" because the thing I CONSISTENTLY have difficulty with is any sort of sandwich (or anything that is hand-held). It's the double whammy of biting it off -- rather than cutting small bites, it's harder to bite off a small bite when you're used to taking big bites -- AND not wanting to lay it down and pick it up a bunch of times, so rushing bites too close together. Hamburger Subway Chopped BBQ Sandwich PoBoys PB & J Doesn't matter -- I pretty much know before I start that I'm gonna regret it.

I'm still shopping in my many boxes of clothes I've worn briefly since I got down to 249 in 2005. I've got to get significantly below that before I HAVE TO buy new clothes. But LOOK OUT when I do!! LOL Not really -- I actually intend to do quite a lot of sewing and starting to work on clothes to sell -- including personal items that I will sell off on eBay as they become too large.

This comment made me think about the numerous times -- and my husband, family and friends can attest - that a dinner party at I am in will be ushered to a tight booth, EVEN when there is a perfectly adequate table open in the immediate vicinity. Also, many times, although no one in the group ordered a diet soda, I am 'accidentally' given one. If these things occurred a little more rarely or randomly, but its as if it's some form of subliminal punishment/motivation.....as if I didn't know I'm obese! I used to be bitter about it. Now, I just smile sweetly, act as if it's all innocent and never happened before and silently pray that they REMEMBER this if/when they are ever obese somewhere down the road. Cause y'never know.... I think that's why people do mock/ridicule/discriminate.....they're suffering from a deep, internal fear that they, too, could end up this way someday.

Very cool!!! You did a great job of explaining how the TOOL 'works'.

Y'know, I've given an awful, awful lot of lip service to my pre-concieved notion that if I can only eat 3 or 4 ounces of food at a meal, I intended to make it the very best tasting/healthiest foods possible. Now I'm backing away from that notion. In practicum, I've had a lot of problems getting my BRAIN to accept that the meal is over!! I'm literally full to the brim, couldn't eat another bite and my brain is screaming at me -- "You haven't eaten enough! You're gonna be hungry too soon." But the reality is, I'm not getting hungry too soon, so my brain just needs to SHUT UP! What I've started to notice -- as I've become more involved in life and less obsessed with my next meal -- is that I don't have this same battle if I eat JUST TO FUEL MY BODY instead of eating something deliciously divine to soothe/nurture/reward/treat my mouth and/or emotions. Anyone have any comments to share on this topic??

I'm fortunate in that 98% of the time I'm eating out I'm with my husband and/or kids and grandkids. I just get an extra plate and take a forkfull or two from their orders!! And actually, my friends don't mind sharing with me either. But when I eat out with someone I'm not comfortable asking to share I will order something -- protein! -- ala carte, like a grilled chicken breast or a fish fillet. I need to ask my doctor about one of those cards to carry!

Hey, Rain, me too! I remember at 18, in the maternity ward following my first delivery a cranky nurse who kept getting me out of bed to put on a bra so my breasts wouldn't sag -- I finally flashed her -- lifting my gown over my head to show her they already sagged!!! Seriously, I passed the pen test in 4th grade!!! At 45, after FOUR stints (totaling 7.5 years!) as Dairy Cow for my progeny they are definitely TROPICAL in locale (nearing my personal Equator!) By the time I reach my goal weight -- they could be nearing my personal Antarctic!

OMG -- it hurts to LOL!!! (I was in a high impact rear-end collision on Friday and hurt all over!!!) But I couldn't help but LOL at your description!!! I still have a LOT of weight to lose, but am beginning to fear my extra skin may be getting tangled around my ankles before I hit goal and am considered for a TT. I'm so excited for you -- the countdown begins! -- and can't wait to follow your progress!! Nana<---dreaming of the day she'll be past all of the surgeries!!

I buy mine in the fresh seafood market section of the supermarket. Either in a pouch or a plastic tub. I know there are cans on the aisle with the Tuna and Salmon, but I've never tried it.

They certainly are a CARB-FEST aren't they!?! I've seen a few with eggs -- usually scrambled, but occasionally hard-boiled -- some questionable sausage patties, but not much to offer in the way of healthy protein. I usually pack some instant breakfast packets and get my low-fat milk from the hotel.

My opinions on Scientology aside, I once heard a discussion of the 'power' of celebrity. The speaker ran through a list of Hollywood "movers and shakers" and gave their background....in an attempt to show what gave them the authority to speak on such weighty topics as politics, social reforms, etc., etc. One that stuck with me was Tom Cruise. He was a dropout/busboy when he was offered his first movie role. And because of his looks and acting ability (which, when you think about it is an innate ability to lie convincingly!), he became very successful and made a lot of money. But at no point did he use that money to further his education -- unless you count the tens of thousands spent on attaining each new 'level' in the Church of Scientology! -- instead, he was catapulted onto the world stage to voice his opinions on different topics and be quoted and filmed endlessly by the media. But he's still a dropout/busboy....just with a lot of money and power. Nana<---a dropout/housewife.....with a GED and a blog

I'm almost 5 months out, and despite my best focus on Protein AND taking Biotin, my worst fears are confirmed, I'm losing skads of hair on the shower. Hopefully this will be short lived and it will grow back. My hair has already thinned down significantly in the last 20 years. I don't relish the thought of it getting thinner any quicker than is necessary! btw -- I've had multiple surgeries over the years and never noticed any hair loss from anesthesia.

It is definitely mental. I can feel so full I would surely puke if I took another bite, but my mind -- conditioned from 45 years of eating -- will be screaming at me, as I walk away from the table..."You didn't eat enough, you're going to get hungry!" I'm almost 5 months out from surgery and it gets a little easier -- the physical vs. mental challenge -- every day.

Do NOT underestimate this! I was on the pre-op diet for 17 days -- ONLY because my surgery date kept getting bumped back -- LONG UNPLEASANT STORY, that! Originally, I would have only been on it about 4 days! Despite that, my liver was STILL so large and unweildy that the 20-30 minute procedure took over two hours! My surgeon was SO frustrated that he told my hubby in the waiting room that had I not been sent home TWICE before, he would have stopped the surgery and sent me home to lose more weight. But he didn't think he could do that to me after all I'd been through, so he kept trying and praying and finally, SUCCESS!!! I felt so bad for him!!

Thanks! This is a good reference article to keep on hand! My GP said to me, years ago, that whatever Government official gave his/her seal of approval to the OLD food Pyramid (the one we all grew up with!) should be shot at sunrise for KILLING tens of thousands of people and causing hundreds of thousands more to develop Type II diabetes!!!

Tejas-Rattler and mbsbike -- you BOTH have impressive stats! Way to go!

Hi, Jennifer...I'm in Pearland (South of Houston for the rest of you). And I have the same insurance as you. I was banded in August.

Don't worry -- there's plenty of time to refocus her thinking. You don't even have to wait until you're banded. You can start today.... er ...okay, maybe wait til AFTER Christmas Day! LOL But choose POSITIVE statements -- like "eating smart" and "getting fit". I've always heard it takes 5 positive comments to erode the damage of one negative. Just pay attention to your language a little and it'll be fine!

I am insured with Aetna on a POSII plan. Ultimately it will come down to whether or not your employer's group plan covers you -- not Aetna in general. The surgeon's office submitted my paper work the last week of May. Between then and the last week of July I was denied FOUR times and was on my last and final appeal. (The next step would be to go to my husband's employer and beg them to rewrite their group policy to allow for WLS! -- Can anyone one say "career suicide"?) With the last submission my ANGEL at the surgeon's office requested that someone who specializes in bariatric surgery study my case file. Instead of the customary 15 to 30 day wait, they came back with an answer in about 3 days. DO IT and DO IT NOW!! Hallelujah!!! Best wishes to all of you who are in the trenches fighting for coverage. I'm four months out and we're getting the bills and seeing just want we might've had to pay if I hadn't MIRACULOUSLY gotten approved.......it's terrifying!!!