BobbieND

First of all. Congrats on the awesome weight loss!!! I was banded Oct of 08, and am down just 80 pounds. Just 8 pounds to Onederland and I just cant get there! Aurgh !!!!!!!! :cursing: Oh well, it'll happen when its supposed to. About the excess skin - I have it too, so I talked to my surgeon about when I can start to prepare for removal, and he suggested to wait until I make goal ( 150 - 175 ) and then maintain it for 2 years ! That seems like an awfully long time for me, especially since its been a year and a half already. Anyway, thats what I was told. Let me know if you hear anything different, ok? Keep in touch :-) Bobbie

Betsy B - your asian salad sound devine! Where did you get a recipe for that? Or would you be willing to share it on here ???

YES! Spaghetti Squash, or Noritaki noodles. These are very good, actually. Just make sure you Rinse, Rinse , Rinse !!!! Good Luck :-)

OHM ... "When my family is sitting enjoying my best efforts foodwise, that is when I feel deprived. When everyone is sitting round with heaped plates, that's when I feel something missing. When we are sitting enjoying a movie with a bowl of Snacks - even healthy ones - and I can't partake, that makes me feel a bit of an outsider." Yes, I agree about the snack, but seeing others with heaping plates?? I get nauseous looking at all of that food, and seeing just how fast they all really eat. AND that it used to be me!! I'm stunned really. I can't fatham that I ate like that at one time. Sure, sometimes i wish i could eat more, an dfeel that satisfying "Full" feeling in my tummy and NOT in my chest. But, Que sera Que sera , ya know? :-) :scared2: I feel SEXY in my size 18 pants!! My goal is to make a 10-12 ... Ans I know I'd NEVER get there is I ate like I used to... Keep it up... We're ALL so worth it!!! :thumbup:

Btriger "As far as cookbooks and romance novels go, I watch the food Network as if it were porn. :scared2: " WOOT! WOOT! me too! LOL mY BF just cant figure out why i like to watch tv or read about food. I guess that makes him deprived, huh :-D DO y ou have any FN Favorites? I adore Giada, Alton, Anne, Ina, Ellie, and Duff. I'll watch ANYTHING with any of these chefs on it :-)

I know I'm full when mu CHEST gets full and feels tight. It's weird that its my chest, and not my stomach. Brcause of this, I never really get a Satisfied full feeling. ANyone else??????

pas4mykids, First of all, I feel your pain. I, too, am a food addict. :tongue2: I've always dreamt about food. I used to Plan my day, evening, vacations, etc around what I'm going to eat, and where. Sometimes, I still do. I subscribe to many cooking magazines, and I buy cookbooks like others buy romance novels. I can food shop for hours! :blink:The grocery store is never a quick little jaunt for me. Do I wish I could sink my teeth into a big fat juicy burger and stuff my face with fries? Absolutely! Be able to devour a plate of pasta and breadsticks? Hell ya! But I can't. These are the facts. And sometimes it totally sucks. BUT!! I look at my results, how much better I feel, the smaller clothes in my closet, etc... and I KNOW this is all worth it. :wub: I still dream about food - (Broasted chicken and Pasta the most.) And I probably always will. It's who I am. But NOT eating some of your favorites, or not eating as much as you used to, gets easier and easier. Trust me on this. Let me know how you're doing ... Keep in touch! :thumbup: Bobbie

Great website !! Thanks :-)

I could have written your post word for word about a year ago!! I still get things stuck, and barf and slime - in the car, in the parking lot, at home, in the restaraunt, etc... Its very humiliating. And unfortunately, my bf is of no help when in the car... he has a very weak stomach and gets upset with me because I didnt barf back at the restaraunt - If i knew... Would i be doing it in the car??? and getting upset with me? LIKE THATS GONNA HELP THE SITUATION!!! Anyway, NO more Broccolli, Green Beans, Pea Pods, etc... nothing hard to digest,stringy or causes gas. I can't manage most fruits either... Anyone else going thru this too ?????

Becci and Mimi ... I've been reading this entire post today, and I almost PEED myself laughing! LOL I have tears streaming down my face .... My co-workers must think I'm on Crack or something! LOL Becci - you have an AMAZING writing style... Thank you for your story, and for being brave enought to share your pictures... I need my tummy done, as well as under arms, boobs, thights and butt. But my Dr says i hv to wait until i reach goal! I'm at 210 right now, and goal is 150. It's take me 2.5 years to loses the first 80 pounds. It will probably be another 2 years before i can get the flab/skin taken off. Oh well...... my younger BF ( by 13 years ) loves me the way I am, and I dont mind it too much. I just get rashes and sores, and they hurt. Anyway, I thoroughly enjoy reading your stories, and hearing about your lives. Congratulations to both of you !!

Rock On!! Congrats :-)

I'm sitting stagnant, and i HATE it! :thumbup: Only 2 pounds lost in the last month and a half. BOOOOO ! Name*********Starting****Current******Goal******ToGo Adjua....................347...............337...........240......... ....97 Angie64.................270...............270...........210....... ......60 Astrasmom............254...............254...........170............. .84 Babe....................265...............265...........199.... ..........66 Band_Groupie........172.5.............157.5..........0-148........0-9.5 BetsyB.................226.6.............206.8.........109...... ......97.8 BobbieND..............224................210...........150..... .......60 Bree99.................259................259...........155..... .......104 Brigette................198...............198............150.... ........48 Bristlecone............157...............157............130....... .....27 crzytchr................217...............217............180..... ... ...37 Dana36.................233...............229............160....... .....69 daqui26.................274...............274............200....... .....74 destined4thinness..215.5.............215.5..........150............65 5 Diamondgirl81........317...............309.............250............ 59 ericanda1973.........198.5............198.5..........130......... ..68.5 Fourme.................189...............188............145........... ..43 HummingBird..........204...............188............150........ ...38 jenibeni.................224...............212............165....... ....47 Jennih...................232...............232.............130.... ......102 KDEE....................240................240.............150...... .....90 kyleegirl01.............211................209.............160...... .....49 Lady LAP...............217................217.............125...... .....95 Lisa65...................174.5............165..............145..... ......20! Liz........................193.4............187..............155...... ......32 lotzasunshine.........247...............245..............175........ ...70 newdicarlo.............187...............174..............135...... . ...39 Northernmist..........289...............265..............175.......... ..90 ol55andahalf..........184...............184..............144...... ......40 Peggy1.................308...............308..............225......... ..83 RandaPanda...........194...............180..............150........ ....30 RAYNE913.............234...............225..............160....... ....65 RobinAnn.............232.4...............220.6..............160...... ....60.6 scoutmama...........270...............270..............180........ ....90 shadst8................333...............317..............217........ ....100 skinny31................261...............255..............182..... .......73 SNDYCNRD.............207...............197.5............150.......... 47.5 sueinne.................220................217.............180.... ........37 Tabithan................244...............234..............190....... .....44 TARASGIRL.............305...............289..............225....... ......64 tdtucker................256...............256...............160...... . ....96 Teacher2010..........192...............183...............150...... . ....33 Tealeaves..............305...............289...............150...... . ...139 TeriLu....................215...............212...............150.. .... ....62 TIGGER71G............224...............224................130....... .....94 unshackled............277...............277................180....... .....97 Valerie.................190................190................150... . .......40 __________________

Congratulations!!!!! :-) btrieger - Well put ! :-)

I actually WANTED the Sleeve ... But my BMI was just UNDER the cut off. I needed to gain 7 pounds in order to get it! lol My Dr wouldnt let me go up since we were working on going down... So, I chose to be banded.

Erin, One bite at a time. One minute at a time. If you eat poorly today, eat better tomorrow.Your pouch is small. Fill it with good food - veg, fruit, protein, good carbs, some dairy. You can only eat so much, so make it count! Eat Protein first - ALWAYS! Eat very small bites, and chew well. If you don't get full after your first measured plate of food,wait 10 min, then take a bit more. Use smaller plates, cups and utinsils. Every pound lost is worth all this. I promise !!!!!!!! And I agree - Clothes are the BEST motivator! You're beautiful, and SOOOO worth it :-)

Oh PHOOEY on what they may think!! You NEED this fill ! Trust us... you will feel SO much better afterwards.

I have both, and love both - but for very different uses. For what you're talking about, you want a regular blender. An Imersion blender won't do you much good.

RL is my "Mother Ship" LOL I eat there at least once a week. You can order anything in any quantity you want to. re: I'll get 2 coconut shrimp and a skewer of Scallops ( grilled, no butter ) Then next time I'll have a skewer of grilled shrimp and a add on size ( .5 pound) of crab legs. Last week i ordered a Main Lobster tail and shrimp skampi. Of course, I cant eat the biscuts, and My system doesnt like salad anymore. They're very good about ordering ala carte. Enjoy !!!! :-)

Right on, LeighaMason! VermillionKiss - Journal, Eat Proteins first - ALWAYS! And NEVER beat yourself up. SO you gained back 15 - Big Woo ! You LOST 35 ! That alone is something to Celebrate :-) And so it takes you 2-3 years to reach goal ... So? Are you in a race ? NO! This is a way of life change - not a diet. You're young and beautiful ... embrace each day as a new challange. And accept what happens. Take responsibility. You over eat? fine - dont do it tomorrow. You ate some bad foods? AND? Enjoy it, then move on without mentally kicking yourself. Use each meal, food item, day and pound ( lost or gained ) as a LIFE experience. Embrace it. And make it your own. We are all SOOOOO worth it!! Best of luck to you VermillionKiss!!! :wink:

I'm doing a Biggest Loser at work also ! lol I'm currently in 7th place out of 12. We're about half way thru...

Glad to hear I'm not the only one! lol It's my Bday today, and I'm thinking, and contimplating ... I've come a long way since 10/08, but I'm also beating myself up because I can't believe how quickly the time has gone!! Holy cow! I should be in Onderland by now, or even farther but i'm not. I've been sitting between 212-217 for the past month makes me crazy! lol What is everyone else doing to get the weight to shift??

I'm glad a few of you have revitalized this thread, so to speak. I could really use the information, encouragement, and the peace of mind knowing I'm not the only one going thru this ... Thanks :-)

Chapamar and MissyMS - I totally hear you! I, too, am obsessed with food. My bf just doesnt get it! lol And I'm a Foodie down to my bones. I subscribe to 11 different food / cooking magazines, and Food Network is my Mother Ship :-) I love to cook as well... but i can't very much at all. The problem in my house is that neiter of us really likes leftovers. I also love soup, stews, chili, etc... So i make huge batches and then freeze it. However, it seems I never get around to wanting it again, and I end up thorowing it out or giving it away. Then a week later I'll make another batch! I also horde food, but I know why I do that. It stems back to my childhood and never having enough. So yes, I literally dream of broasted chicken and pasta, I obsesse over my cookbooks - which I read cover to cover like any other novel I may be reading - they're like children! hehehehe I just wanted you to know that you're not alone ... EVER!!

Meliwriter - I hope your appointment goes well today! Don't forget to keep us posted on what you found out and how you're doing !!!! :-) I'm a very slow loser as well ...

SWEET !! Thanks Emjay :-)