JulieNYC

Jane, At 5'2 with an average goal weight of 125 (my goal is 136, but my nutritionist says you calculate protein needs based on average body weight for your height), I need between 45-50 grams of protein a day. I can't see how you need 120 grams in a weight loss phase. Maybe if you were body building, but not in weight loss. I don't so much disagree with the 1400 cals/day. It's higher than I do (when I'm doing well, at least, which is about 5 days a week -- the rest of the time, I probably eat more like 1800), but I know some people do better eating a little more. Have you ever had your resting metabolic rate tested? I'm a firm believer that if you're not losing weight, it's because you're eating more calories than your body is burning, period. I think that's true for all people. Some people have medical reasons for why their bodies burn fewer cals than others, but at the end of the day, it's still about cals. All that said, I'm sure you have a great team of medical professionals and trainers (I think PT is personal trainer not physical therapist, right?) and we're here to support you in following their instructions, if that's what you think is right. You're doing GREAT with your weight loss and the revamp of your body. There are months where I lose practically nothing, then there are months when I lose 20 lbs. It's not predictable -- you just have to hang in there and keep doing what you know you can do for the rest of your life. Your body will ultimately take care of the rest.

Jack, I enjoy you and I enjoy your posts, but, as you know, the topic is about how we should act or deal with the challenges female professionals face in an extremely high stress, male dominated industry. I know you undoubtedly mean well and I don't even disagree with you in concept; however, your solutions are not as simple as your post implies (and they come off a bit like lectures, which you may not mean, but if you do, I would challenge you on). Thankfully, I am an extraordinarily successful bandster AND professional. Eating and drinking "more than what is good for me" (in calories, not in quantity) when I believe it is professionally beneficial is a valid choice for dealing with a difficult situation. To eat out of stress, perhaps, cannot be condoned. But, to "fit in" in a professional crowd for an intended purpose is an option available to the professional woman that is appropriate to vet on a thread such as this! All my best,

Pam, It was comforting for me, at the stage you're facing, to remember I'd chosen an ADJUSTABLE procedure. Though it's likely that you're going to want to face all those changes as quickly as possible (because losing weight is great!), if you panick later on, the speed at which you approach the changes is completely in your control. You're going to do great. Hang in there and just get the procedure behind you. Take care,

That is just FABULOUS!! Way to go! Congratulations on your bandiversary and your amazing successes. Here's to a glorious year 2.

I'm a lawyer at a megafirm in NYC, so, though I'm not an executive professional, we likely confront many of the same issues. Actually, I find most in the workforce, irrespective of position or salary, share the bulk of these issues (i.e. worrying about advancement due to weight, proper work attire, uncontrolable shared office food temptations, etc.). I do agree with you though that one issue that comes up more for the professional at a certain level (and that I've not been able to master) is the client lunch/dinner. I travel on business a fair amount and client dinners are almost always a component. These have been my biggest impediment to weight loss! Particularly as a female attorney, where female partners are already set apart from the norm, eating like a bird and not drinking feels socially unacceptable. So, I take in far more calories at these events than I would like, particularly in alcohol (which I could do without, but for my career). So, I guess what I'm saying is, I choose to "play the part" to the detriment of my diet. My band is a secret in my professional life. I feel like the deck is already stacked against me with my gender and I don't need another thing setting me apart. I make up for it by not taking in the calories when I'm certain I can comfortably hide it (like ordering a diet tonic with no alcohol if I'm at the bar alone), or by always taking my gym clothes with me on business trips. Speaking of business, got to get back to it!

Denise, you are 100% welcome on this thread -- don't give it a second thought. This is a thread for anyone who wants to discuss issues that relate to being at goal, almost at goal or staying at goal once we get to that point. It's not a requirement at all that you be at that stage, just that you have an interest in the topic. Your interest in exercise as a necessary component of permanent weightloss is topical and I know I speak for all when I say we're glad you're on this thread (which, though I technically started, was a culmination of the thoughts of many of us and doesn't belong solely to any one person). Jachut, I know the financial pressures are stressful, but if you can swing the PS now, you'll be so glad you did. I don't have kids and I know when you have them, it's nearly impossible not to put them first, but you've done so much for your body. If you would feel better with a finishing touch, I so want that for you. Betty, //I just hope my grandkids (they are 15 - two of them) progress a little slower than my wishes for you - you go for it - all at once - go Julie!// I think I'm naive. What exactly do you want me to go for all at once?? Remember, you're my bandster Mom!! Haha. As for me, the scale skipped a number this morning! WOOHOO! Love it when that happens. Come on, 150s....

Oh Boo, you made me laugh out loud! I think I kind of DO have a boyfriend (in that 6th grade way!). Too funny. Betty, OK, if you've moved on from PS, I'll move on from it for you too. That's great that you're happy the way things are and let's do everything we can to help you lose 10-15 more lbs, since that's what you want. I bet your BB helps! Let me know when it comes and I'll walk you through setting it up, if you get stuck. I ran 8 miles tonight. I'm simply in LOVE with distance running. I feel so strong and fit -- like I could run forever. It's ME time and I get all my thoughts processed during that time. I just love it. I hope I can do it forever. I met the exercise challenge this month too. Go team!

Tracy, The date was GREAT -- thanks for asking! I'm sitting here daydreaming about it right now. It's hard to work with all the daydreaming, actually. This is the hottest guy I've ever actually seen up close and I can't believe he's dating ME. In my head, I keep saying "but don't you know that I used to be like really fat??" And, actually, he does know that and doesn't seem to care. Anyway, he's probably not my soul mate, but we did have a great time and I look forward to the next time....

Betty, My vote (not that I get one) is for you to consider losing 10 more lbs, then have the TT and BL you want. You'll be in the low 150s at that point and you'll be a super smokin' granny. I know how Alan feels about PS, but you should convince him. It's such a wonderful end to this journey. You should be able to feel your absolute best. Don't buy a BB. When I get to goal (likely in October, given the marathon training), I'll loan you mine for as long as you want.

I'd pay the extra $$ and get the new band if you can afford it. I think that once we have enough data, we'll see that the complication rate for both slips and erosions is dramatically lowered with the VG and AP bands due to their "pillow" design. I say, if you can swing it financially, put the very best thing available in your body.

Yeah, Karey, I hear ya -- I'm jealous over Becky's calories burned too! When I ran 12 miles last Saturday and had an otherwise fairly active day, I still only burned 3100. I usually burn around 2800, including substantial gym time each day. I guess we're all different. Fortunately, most days I'm satisfied on 900 or so cals, so it's fine. Today though, I've got a date and we're going to a Mexican restaurant, so (1) it'll be hard to estimate cals in and (2) I'm taking my bugg off for the date. I hope it's worth it! Punkey, Others may disagree, but if I were a college student on a budget, I'd save my money for other things. I enjoy my BB and find it motivational, but you can get pretty darn close with measuring your cals in and exercise without spending the $$$. I consider my BB an unnecessary but fun weightloss tool.

I eat 1/2 cup fiber one cereal in my yogurt most mornings and that seems to do the trick.

In my experience binge eaters do particularly WELL with the band over the bypass. Binge eaters cannot binge with the band and can, in the long run, with the bypass, hence the regain. I was a binge eater just like what you describe. I would (probably 5 times a week) go to the store and buy exactly the types of quantities you described. And Kat is right -- sometimes I still break down and buy the crap, but now, I'll eat one serving, come to my senses (because I'm physically full, at which point I have the power to turn it down, which I never had before), and throw it away (I waste a lot of food, but I'm thin and if that's what it takes, I don't care). There are benefits to the bypass, but the fact that you're a binge eater isn't one of them, in my view. Far more important, is making sure you're healthy for the long term, so you can take care of your family and yourself for many years to come. I say get the band.

Don't worry about the post-op diet at all. I know you can't truly understand this, but believe us when we tell you, you're simply not hungry for a while after surgery. The problem will be getting in enough fluids, not how to stay on fluids. As for the pre-op diet, it's just 2 weeks of your life. Bribe yourself through it if you have to. Plan out what you get (like a present) every day you stay on the horrible pre-op diet. Write yourself notes about how the ONLY thing you're in control of, in terms of the safety of your surgery, is the pre-op diet. It's the only thing you can control, so you can do it. It's just 14 days. You WILL eat again. There's no reason to feel you have to during those 14 days. As for your husband, you will still be his eating buddy. Just, rather than you both ordering an appetizer and an entree and sharing, he'll order both, you'll order an appetizer, and you'll have a bite or two of all 3 and he'll have the rest. You'll still enjoy the food and the variety just as much, if not more. Since, for your husband, it's not about quantity eating, or commiserating in being heavy, I don't see this as a problem. It's when we "betray" our eating buddies -- the ones we overeat with who are also heavy -- by getting thinner and wanting to eat healthier, that the social issues arise in full force. I think you'll do great and your husband will be your biggest supporter. Good luck!

I'd divide it to make sure you absorb it all. No reason not to divide it, unless you find that the 1/2 doesn't fill you up, right?

I think the BB is more accurate because it's specific to your body as opposed to taking averages of what a body should burn during XYZ activity for X duration at X weight and gender. The BB measures like 9 things going on in your body, from pulse to sweat, to hormone releases, etc. It touts itself as being 92% accurate. So, it's closer to medical testing than to calculations you can do based on activity or heart rate alone. What it tries to do is to get you moving a little more each day, independent of your exercise. Teaching yourself how to burn more throughout the day -- whether taking the stairs, changing your office design to walk a little more, etc. That said, logging things on your own definitely works. I did it for a year and found it very motivational that way as well. The BB for me is just yet another tool. It was a $400 TOY that helped me break a plateau, probably because it reminded me of my goal, simply by sitting on my arm all the time, as much as anything.

Yes, you have to plug it into your computer (well, actually, it comes with a wireless communicator, so you don't have to actually PLUG it in, but your computer does have to integrate with it) to download the info and see how much you're burning. You also have to log what you eat into the computer. The BodyBugg is very tech-y. I love that about it, but it would be a drawback for some. It is a very motivational tool for a gadget lover. For a non-gadget lover, I'd say log your calories and exercise without the Bugg and you'll get to the same place....

It's possible. I was rounding the corner to 400 when I started, and now I'm in spitting distance of my FINAL goal weight of 136. Mini goals are great, as everyone has said. Don't focus on 140 -- focus on 399, then 349, then the GLORIOUS 299! Man, I loved getting to 299 -- that was better than 199 for me. You have great times ahead in this journey, I promise. Each stage is special and builds your self confidence. I don't know if you've seen it yet, but on the "Support" forum, there's a thread for "Super-Sized Bandsters" -- i.e. those of us who started over BMI 50. Also, the "Road to Twoterville" thread is great for challenges and mini-goal support. Get the band now. It'll be the best thing you've ever done for yourself. Don't even think about 140. Think about how great 340 will be. And 299. Woohoo!

I'd get the treadmill. I love my BodyBugg, but I didn't need it at the beginning of my WL. It's been of great use to me in breaking plateaus now that I'm nearing goal, but in the first 3/4 of the WL journey, I wouldn't have needed the BB at all. Tracking food intake and getting SOME exercise was enough until recently. Congrats on your upcoming surgery!

My knee pain went away completely after I'd lost about 50 lbs.

Betty, I really do like my BodyBugg and I still use it. I'd pretty much stalled out since my PS and was having a hard time getting going again. I lost 10 lbs in the month of July. I haven't done that since March or so, and the only difference is the BodyBugg, so even if I get sick of it tomorrow, it's been worth it to me. What I find is that the BB is only fun when you track both your calories in (i.e. what you eat) and calories out (by wearing the Bugg). If you just do the latter, it's pointless. So, really, the Bugg just makes me think about what I eat, like I did for all those months I used fitday/sparkpeople. I also like gadgets generally, and I just think it's fun. I bought it online and haven't done either of the counseling sessions. I meant to, but it was easy to figure out without them and so even though I paid for it (not that you have a choice), I haven't gotten around to it yet. If you can buy it at the health club, I think it's about $100 cheaper. My understanding was that you had to belong to the club, but if that's not true, I'd probably do the sessions in person if you have that option. Lastly, the way I use the BB, I don't wear it EVERY day. I wear it about 5 days a week. Again, if I'm in a place where I can't track my food in, I don't bother wearing it because it's only fun if you can do the math on both sides. Also, it's fairly noticeable, so you get questions about it -- not that I really mind that so much. But, when you're dressed nicely for something, you might want to take it off so it doesn't interrupt your outfit. That's about it! I think you'd like it Betty. I say that because you were particularly successful when you tracked your food. You might give it a shot!

I think it's a myth and a reality. I think it's a myth for most morbidly obese people -- we have plenty of storage and our bodies don't need to conserve and they know it. I know this to be true for my body. That said, I do think there are people whose bodies are simply different and for whom weight loss is faster overall at a higher caloric intake. For what it's worth, with good food choices my nutritionist says 800 cals/day is enough for most people in the losing phase.

Well yall, someone give me some dancing bananas because today is the day I'm officially by the BMI charts no longer obese. I'm OVERWEIGHT! WOOHOO!! So exciting. And on the morning of my date too -- how cool is that.

I think that's another issue we face at goal -- not that we don't think about it before, but at goal we have fewer weight issues, so the ones left are magnified. I don't worry so much about a slip because that is generally fixable with a surgery, and I accepted long ago that there was a possibility of follow up surgery if I opted for the band. Erosion, though, is super scary to me because it jeopardizes my ability to be banded period. THAT is scary. (I know there are stories of super bad slips where the person couldn't be rebanded, but I think that's kind of like worrying about lightening striking me -- extremely unlikely and nothing I can do about it anyway.) Denise, I think you're right to worry and to protect your band by keeping it on the loose side. It's a smart move.

The nutritionist at my doc's office flat out told me to eat no more than 800 cals/day for the best results. She said the MO have plenty of fuel in storage (fat) and that as long as we get enough Protein, vits & mins, which can be done on 800 cals if very good choices are made, it's not an issue of whether we can be sustained, as, again we have the fuel on board. She is a firm believer in calories in versus calories out, and does not believe in the so-called "starvation mode," though that is quite the controversial topic (you might want to do a search on it, if you're interested as it's been often discussed). I wasn't able to be satisfied on 800 cals/day. I eat about 900-1000 and that works really well for me, most days. My suggestion would be to try out different caloric intakes and see how you feel. Then you can decide how rapidly you want to approach this, or whether you need a lifestyle that is more balanced, but with a slightly slower loss.