Catherine55

That is amazing!!! Go, you!!! I know how good you are going to feel the day you see that 199 on your scale -- and it's probably going to happen this week!!! So exciting and wonderful. Welcome to Onederland! Catherine

Maybe it's because I've been in NYC for so long, but I firmly believe that every single person who is open to going to therapy can benefit from it. Go for it! Try it out, and if it's not for you, you don't have to keep going. I seriously think of therapy as a little luxury I do for myself. . like a mani/pedi for the psyche. It's so nice to have an hour to just b*tch about or contemplate whatever is on your mind. I find that it helps me get my own thoughts in order, check my perspective, and is a good block of time to figure out how I want to handle difficult situations. I once spent an entire session figuring what I'd say to a former boss (who I felt should be advancing me more quickly) in a review. Then, when the time came, I was able to be articulate, advance my points, and behave really professionally and unemotionally. I know that's not strictly relevant to your issue, but my guess is that you are going to find that therapy helps with a whole host of things, in addition to the self-sabotage issue. Hang in there! Catherine

I have never regretted it, not even for a moment. This is one of the very best decisions I've ever made, and the effort to work with my band (e.g. planning meals & some occasional mild discomfort) is nothing compared with how amazing I feel and how much better I look! I had some doubts pre-op, so I made a pro/con list. (I actually blogged about this at the time -- feel free to take a look -- link below). I also spoke with a friend who said something that really hit home -- she said "Catherine, regardless of whether you get this surgery, you are either have to accept that you are going to be overweight OR make major changes in your lifestyle/eating habits." I've been on enough diets to know that I don't have the stamina to stay on one for 7-8 months (which is how long I've been working with my band), much less to keep going after that point in order to keep off the weight. But, with the band, all of that feels so much easier. I hope that this helps you in your own decision -- definitely make a pro/con list -- it's a huge help (I even brought mine to the hospital with me on surgery day, just in case I got cold feet)! Catherine

I really loved this book -- Amazon.com: Weight Loss Surgery with the Adjustable Gastric Band: Everything You Need to Know Before and After Surgery to Lose Weight Successfully: Robert Sewell M.D., Linda Rohrbough: Books It really told me so much about what to expect, the things I might experience, and I liked the set-up. They have short sections written by people with different perspectives -- doctors, other bandsters, psychologists, etc. I thought it was a great read, and it was my favorite of the 3 books I bought. I also read Fighting Weight, since my post-op doctor (I had surgery in Mexico) co-wrote it. Honestly, I liked the parts written by the doctors, but I really didn't relate to Khalia Ali very much, and I didn't find her part of the book to be that interesting. I hope that helps! Definitely get this book -- it's great. Catherine

I don't know about that. . I think it stopped being private the moment she made it everyone's business by going on TV, getting paid to be a spokesperson for Jenny Craig, and broadcasting her supposed weight #s to anyone who would listen (People, Oprah, etc., etc.). My thought is that if she didn't want to tell people what she weighed, she could have just not told anyone. . . much less alert the media! I completely agree that this is very different from the Driver's License situation. There, people who really don't want to tell their weight are forced to do it by law. Very different from volunteering it so you can get a paid endorsement spot, get on Oprah, and get a cover & photo spread in a magazine with a circulation of 3.6 million people. All of that said, as someone who really actually was 230 (at 5'6) seven months ago, I can understand that she may have felt embarrassed, that she's been humiliated by the press with horrible articles and photos, and that she probably feels so bad about herself for gaining the weight she worked so hard to lose. I'm not trying to minimize her struggle, her feelings, the fact that she's beautiful at any weight, how cruel the media is, etc. All I'm saying is that. . there is no freaking way I believe that 5'8 woman only 230 at her highest.

I couldn't agree more. That has got to be so hard to deal with. Someone posted about stars lying about their weight. I do expect that a bit about their ages, whether they made out with Collin Farrel, etc. I feel like KA's situation is different though because she accepted a paying gig as the spokesperson for a weight loss company. Somehow, I feel like her lying about her weight is a bit like if I lied about my start weight in my signature line or something. Why bother? Plus, she must have lost more than 70 or 80 lbs the first time around. It might have been nice if she got full credit! Anyway, I hope that she will find a good, healthy, long-term solution. And I agree with the person who said she'd be great as a spokesperson for banding! Catherine

I saw the issue of People with her talking about her weight re-gain last night. My heart goes out to her. . and I really hope that she considers getting banded. HOWEVER, knowing that she is 5'8 (2 inches taller than me) and claims to have been 230 at her heaviest . .and only 210 when she was interviewed/photographed, I just have got to call B.S. on her claimed weight. I just don't see how she could possibly be telling the truth, and I also thought she was not telling the truth the first time around. Does anyone else agree? I thought that all of us who also struggle with our weight might have good insight about the truth of her numbers! Catherine

Where exactly the port is located once you have it put in. As you can see from the responses, it varies quite a bit. Some doctors have different preferences. Mine is on the right side, about 1.5 inches up from my bellybutton. I posted photos of the scars on my blog -- check it out if you are interested. They aren't bad at all, and they are fading all of the time b/c I'm using a great product called Epiderm (I think. . I posted it on the blog. . could be off on the name). Is it visible to others through your skin like a pacemaker is? Nope! Can't see it at all. You'd have to put your hand on it & press down to feel it. If someone just ran their hands over my skin, I don't think they would feel it. Does it hurt to get fills? It's just a quick sting of a little needle. My doctor doesn't use any anesthetic, and it's totally fine. Really not a big deal at all. How many incisions did your surgeon make? Just two (Go Dr. Rumbaut! You are a superstar!!) Once healed are they really noticable? They are going to look like any other scar. Mine have faded a lot, and the top one is so small that it's not that noticeable. The bottom one is probably going to fade more, but I imagine you'll still be able to see it WHEN I WEAR MY BIKINI (in 30 lbs. .)! My position is. . . better people see that scar when I wear a bikini than they see what I would have looked like in one before the surgery!! :thumbup: Honestly, the fills and the scars just are not that big of a deal, compared with how much easier it makes getting healthier and taking off all that extra weight. Best, Catherine

Depending on how things go. . maybe a breast lift. Fingers crossed that I won't need it, but you never know. . I'm also going to buy some new, really nice suits for work to replace the ones I've been wearing, and will probably be pretty generous with myself on the clothing-shopping front! I'm 44 lbs down as of this morning (with 25-30 to go to get in my goal zone), and as a treat, I signed myself up for a REALLY SCARY looking exercise program -- www.purepowerbootcamp.com. I really hope that I can hack it. If I can, I'm going to be really excited to see how my body looks at the end of the program and what the scale has to say! Catherine

I'm definitely one of those people who gets really grumpy when I'm very hungry (I call that point "the Danger Zone"). It hasn't really been a problem with the band, since I plan regular meals and the band does a lot to minimize hunger. The only hard thing for me was that -- pretty shortly after I got my band, I was out of town for Christmas (staying at a hotel w/my mom, near my brother's house). My mom and I planned a day for just the two of us, and we both took a long time getting up & out of the hotel. What I SHOULD have done was to eat a bite of something while we were getting ready. Instead, I had to just keep quiet because I was in a FOUL mood until we finally got to the restaurant. What I find with the band is that, when I'm hungry, I'm REALLY hungry (though not quite in the Danger Zone) because I'm totally empty! However, I've had to learn not to say how hungry I am when I sit down to meals with people who don't know about the band, since I get totally full after just a few bites! Hang in there! It's so much better once you're banded! Catherine

Hi! Jennifer, it looks like we're right about at the same point here. I have been having a heck of a time moving past 188 though! I'm planning to step up the workouts and take in less liquid calories (slider foods, wine, stopped having cocoa from the machine at work a week ago. . ). Hopefully that will help me get to my next mini-goal! Catherine

It's definitely been a lifestyle change for me. I'm generally a healthy eater and always have been. . I was just eating a bit too much for years and years. I do still have the occasional treat, but it's one cookie or a small frozen yogurt, instead of a larger portion. Also, I don't eat things like bagels with butter anymore (my former daily breakfast. .gag). I've also gone from 1-2 Diet Pepsis a day to zero since I started my pre-op diet! I thought that would be the hardest thing to give up, but it wasn't bad at all. Honestly, with restriction, I still enjoy eating -- but I don't enjoy doing it the way I used to do it. I'm still all about the quality -- just not the quantity! Catherine

I hear you. It sounds like all of this has happened so quickly that even your co-workers are struggling to adjust, so clearly you still need some time too! Just remember that you still are the same person on the inside, which -- fundamentally -- is the most important thing. Maybe you should log in some more mirror time to get used to how your new thinner incarnation really looks! Definitely enjoy it -- I am betting that your feet and back are thanking you -- and that you are looking better than ever! Best, Catherine

That is so wonderful!!! Congratulations -- I bet that felt fantastic! :tt2:

Took 2 days for me. Wasn't a problem -- I was just careful about getting into that position and it was fine.

I was self-pay and that doesn't really impact how I feel about my decision. For me, letting my body be cut open and having a band put inside me was a waaaay bigger deal then the $9K I spent on the operation. Other than having my tonsils out when I was 5, I'd never even been in the hospital before or had any other operation. Catherine

No! Don't cheat on your post-op diet! Puree some tortilla Soup or something. Seriously -- you could rip out the stitches if you do that (your stomach will churn more if you eat real food). There is a medical reason for the post-op diet -- you'll only be hurting yourself if you don't stick to it. BTW, FF/SF Jello pudding was on my liquids diet.

2FlyGuys, I am betting that because you lost so quickly (you lucky girl!) your mind is still catching up. I was curious to know what kind of things you were finding hard to get used to. For me, neither the physical or mental part has been very hard (maybe I should thank my therapist and dr. for this!). I guess getting used to how I have to eat now -- which is part mental, part physical -- is the biggest challenge, but it has not been too difficult. All in all, the changes I've had to make have such a good outcome that it's colored my outlook in a really positive light. Things like planning meals, chewing, getting stuck and sliming don't seem like a big deal to me in contrast. So, that's the physical side. On the mental one, I guess I'm not exactly sure what I look like right now to other people, but I feel like I'm getting back to the lighter, more attractive version of myself that I was 10 years ago. I can't believe I am only just over 30 pounds from goal. Before the band, losing 40 lbs just seemed so impossible to me. Last night, I went to Macy's to pick up a present for my mother, and it was the first time in years that I stopped to look at clothing (regular sizes) and felt like I might actually see something there that I would like and that would actually fit! Shopping just stopped being fun once I got into bigger sizes. It was a surprise for me to realize how long it had been since I just browsed like that. Catherine

My heart goes out to you, Nina! I know that you feel terrible right now, but in less than a week from today, you are going to be back on the right path. And, two weeks from today, I'm willing to bet that 5 lbs will be near gone, if not entirely gone. You just need to stay on top of your fill and go back ASAP if this one doesn't get you to good restriction. Don't overdo it -- just be honest with yourself about how much you are able to eat. Once the weight starts coming off again, I bet you will find your drive to succeed once again, and I'm excited to see how well you are going to do! Sorry to hear about all of the stress you are under right now. I've had some stress lately too, and I do find some solace in the fact that while some aspects of my life aren't where I want them to be, with the help of my band, my weight and overall health and fitness keep improving. Hang in there! Catherine

Totally! It's been interesting to see where the inches are coming off. I took measurements pre-op and just did them again (I put up a full tally of the measurements on my blog 2 posts ago). I've lost 17.95 inches -- the biggest amounts have come from my hips and waist (yay!) but weirdly, my thighs haven't changed very much. . and it would be great if they would! Catherine

Wow -- I'm surprised to hear that so many people didn't have preop diets. I was 230 as of my surgery, and my doctor had me do 3 days of Clear liquids (that included 2 Protein shakes per day, broth, Jello, Water, Crystal Light. . the usual). According to my doctor, the diet does 2 things -- it shrinks your liver and it makes your liver less slippery. Doing that lets your doctor avoid manipulating your liver (which has to be moved so they can get to the band) as much during surgery, and that will cut down on the amount of pain you have afterwards. Definitely ask your doctor about this. Not only will a few days of clear liquids cut down on pain, it will jump start your weight loss a bit too. Best, Catherine

That's great that your friend is also getting educated about the process! I bought a few books before I finalized my decision, and the one I liked the best was Weigh Loss Surgery with the Adjustable Gastric Band. It's an easy read and has short passages in there from bandsters, doctors, psychologists & others. Also, there is a section in there for family members to read, about living with someone who is banded. You might find it helpful too! Here is a link to it on Amazon.com. Amazon.com: Weight Loss Surgery with the Adjustable Gastric Band: Everything You Need to Know Before and After Surgery to Lose Weight Successfully: Robert Sewell M.D., Linda Rohrbough: Books Catherine

Is the survey anonymous, and will we get to see the results if we participate?

I'm excited today. . . I bought a pair of size 16 black pants on-line from The Gap and. . . they fit! I'm wearing them to work today. I haven't been in a regular 16 for quite some time! Woo-hoo! It's so nice to be able to buy misses sizes instead of plus once again (and to be out of that weird no man's range between 1X and 16 misses)! Catherine

I'm 40 lbs down, and just now my suits (knit suits from St. John . . very forgiving if you gain or lose weight) are starting to get too big. It's funny -- the shoulders are too big now (among other parts). I didn't realize that my shoulders would get smaller! It did take me a long time to go down the first size though, but now it seems to be going faster. I think what Jacqui posted makes sense (distance between sizes is fewer pounds as you get into smaller sizes). I just bought a size 16 dress to wear to an event and (yay!) it's just a little bit too big. My size 20 pants are huge on me now (I posted photos on my blog recently), which was surprising to me. I see the changes so gradually that it's a real shocker (in a wonderful way) to try on something that used to be tight and see that I'm swimming in it! Happy Cinco de Mayo! Catherine