voiceomt2002

Hi Angie! I feel your pain. Okay, I actually feel my pain. I'd forgotten how much being fat hurt. Just more incentive to choose health. Funny thing, it's easier this time. I choose to grill out, not because it's tastier (which it is) and cheaper (which it is) but because I like it. Not so much in this oppressive heat with the mosquito squadrons filing flight plans with the FAA, but even then this is more fun and less work.

I'm loving being single again. I choose to date when it pleases me, and anyone who can't see past this temporary weight gain isn't worth a second date. I've already had one guy tell me somewhat bluntly that he doesn't want to date anyone overweight. (Funny, he's sporting quite a few extra pounds, too.) At first, I was a bit hurt, but then I became more and more amused at his shallowness and hypocrisy. I don't want those traits in my life, so his name was scratched from the "amusing" list. I have standards, and he just fell below the bar. The things I find fun are an equal mix of solitary and social, so if I find someone to share those amusements, I'll find them where the fun stuff is already.

(Lifting my glass of water and toasting) Here's to choosing to have fun, be healthy, and take control of that which we once thought uncontrollable. Here's to loving life.

Hi Metime. Guess Photobucket had an issue. Just email me privately with a list. Say, up to five at a time. I'm happy to share.

Hooray and congratulations!! Welcome to the Century Club. I've still another 50 lbs to go before doc says I've lost enough. Heck, I'd be happy to stop right now. I'm sharing clothes with my youngest daughter! LOL!

Once there was a woman named Alice who fell down a spiraling hole of guilt and shame while following an elusive White Rabbit of Beauty. She discovered a magical place called One-der-land, though at first it seemed a place of madness and horror. I'll occasionally recount (not in chronological order because this is a place of madness, after all, at least to Alice) some of her adventures.

Alice landed at the bottom of the Shame Spiral in tears, her body shattered by so many years of abuse, both from within Alice herself and from others, who felt she didn't deserve anything. She wondered if she'd ever be able to get up, but she managed to heave herself erect and walk, still hoping for another glimpse of the beautiful White Rabbit. Alice had to rest often, and had trouble breathing, but the path seemed familiar somehow, as if she'd traveled upon it or at least seen it many times. Her feet swelled, her knees hurt, and upon occasion she considered just lying down at the side of the path and becoming another one of the many grave markers just visible through the thorny bushes. Still, something inside her refused to allow her to give up. She had to keep fighting.

Finally, an angel in a white coat smiled at her. "You've been approved. Step forward. Your new journey can begin. At the end of your time here, you will see the White Rabbit if you are patient and work hard."

In a clearing sat a man wearing another white coat, but this man was unlike any other she'd ever seen. In his own charming way, he was handsome, and his eyes were kind. He invited her to sit and rest at his table, where a fascinating array of things were laid out. Some were gruesome body parts in frames or on pedestals. Some were the familiar diet protein shakes she'd starved herself with many times. Other things were not easy to describe and made no sense.

Her handsome new friend tried desperately to make himself understood. Alice leaned forward, for he seemed so earnestly trying to explain something important, but though he spoke English soon his words were gibberish, and Alice knew in her heart it was her fault she couldn't understand him anymore.

What she had understood was that he would help her, if she would obey the rules of One-der-land. He'd given her a few, and told her she must discover the rest for herself. All would be revealed to her slowly, allowing her to adjust to this new and frightening world. Then the man vanished, and Alice was left alone wondering what to do next.

A cheerful fairy peeked in. Her bright eyes and sleek figure made Alice very envious, but she was so sweet and charming, Alice couldn't stay angry with her for long. The fairy danced up to Alice. "Hi! My name is Locarb! I just know we're going to be friends!"

Now Alice was very suspicious. She'd heard of Locarb fairies, and they could be very vicious, even expensive, to keep as friends. Alice narrowed her eyes. "Are you going to make me buy ridiculously expensive things I don't know how to use, limit me, and put me in a very narrow box?"

Locarb's laugh was the tinkle of bells! "No, no! That's what happens when YOU limit ME!" The fairy reached into her basket and pulled out a white mound of something creamy, covered in a brightly colored sauce, served in a small bowl. "Here, I'll prove myself. This treat is for you. This magical treat will keep you from being naughty and disobeying the Lord and Master, whom you just met. You may only have this once a day, so choose wisely when you have it."

Alice looked longingly at the white creamy stuff, served so very prettily. It looked like the evil poisons that had made her addicted and ill. Her body craved those poisons like an alcoholic craved liquor, and so she feared them all. She sniffed it cautiously. "I smell raspberries...and cream."

Locarb nodded, her cute blonde curls bobbing. "Yes. I assure you, you can have this. I'll allow you to have this early today, just to show my good intentions."

Her fingers shook, but Alice licked her lips and took a tiny taste. Raspberry and something like cheesecake exploded on her tongue and slid down her throat like ambrosia from the gods. Alice's eyes filled with tears. She put the spoon back in the bowl and pushed it all aside. She sobbed. "I can't have things like this! They're poisoning me. Please, take it away before I gulp it all down! I'm already sick from things like this. It's too delicious and wonderful for evil creatures like me."

The fairy picked up the spoon and put it back in Alice's hand. "Yes, you can have it. Trust me. It's expensive in calories, but there are only 8 carbs in this treat, and it will keep you from wanting the poisons you have been eating. Now, enjoy your treat. I will help you, if you let me."

"Okay, but it's your fault if I get fatter." Alice sniffled, and ate all the contents of the bowl slowly, savoring every drop. When she went too fast, the fairy tugged at her hand until she slowed down. Finally, the bowl was empty. Alice waited for the horrible sugar rush that temporarily gave her energy, then sent her crashing to the earth with less than she'd had before. The rush never came. In fact, she felt...good. "Oh my! What was that?"

Locarb leaned close. "The legend of no desserts in One-der-land is false, and always has been. However, like all treasures, it must be sought and enjoyed wisely. This is your first weapon in the war against the addiction that has poisoned you all your life." She pressed a small piece of paper in Alice's hand. "Use it wisely and well, or it will do you no good!"

Locarb's Creamy Treat

2 servings 400 calories/ 8 carbs

1 block of cream cheese

2 T. Splenda

2 T. milk, cream, or half-n-half

2 T. any sugar-free syrup such as Torani or daVinci (see links) per serving

Open the cream cheese package and drop the cream cheese into the bowl of your food processor. Add the Splenda and cream. Whirl, using a spatula at least once to get the creamy mix off the sides of the bowl if necessary, until the substance is light and fluffy. Place in a small sherbet bowl. Pour sugar-free syrup over each serving, as desired. Eat slowly.

Copyright: Lena Austin 2010 Do not distribute without direct written permission from the author.

::NOTE-- the opinions and ideas expressed in this blog are my own, and opinions are like anuses. We all have them and they all stink. Except mine, which smells like roses.

Thanks, y'all. That's a big help. Minimeme, my doc does a great job explaining the metabolization of carbs vs proteins. His staff is excellent. However, I will keep in mind that the folks may need reminders.

Patscal, you nailed it on the head with why Dr. Baptista asked me to help. He has a few who are having difficulties finding variety and flavor without the use of carbs. Like you, I've had no difficulties. I loved the homemade soups and delicious creamy recipes I made while on the Liquid and Mushy stages, and never looked back. (Okay, once...I threw up the slice of oatmeal bread and swore never again. LOL!)

Agreed, I too spend very little time in the kitchen, and when I do it's because I choose to take a little more time and effort. Hmm. Maybe I'll bring a sampling of my favorite snacks like deviled eggs, herbed wings, cheese "crackers", scottish eggs, and marinated mushrooms. They'll never believe it's all low carb living.

Hooray for you!! I'm sitting looking at the wrong side of 200, and reminding myself it's all worth it. Thanks, Cing!

I'm guessing my bariatric surgeon, Dr. Michael Baptista, is getting more and more successful. He's moved from his partnership with another doctor and into his own spiffy new office MUCH more conveniently located for me, in Arlington right off 9A and Monument in the Brooks Rehab Building.

Now, I'm not saying his former partner was a bad doctor-- not with that many awards-- but I didn't like the other doctor and that's the honest truth. I'm allowed my opinions, and my two experiences with the former partner were unpleasant.

Now I feel much freer to help Dr. Baptista with his newer patients! I'm pleased to say Dr. Baptista asked me to start attending the monthly support group so I can provide cheerfulness and inspiration to a group that has recently begun to focus on negativity in his opinion. One subject he mentioned specifically I could help with was the low carb diet. Many have difficulty in going beyond what's on the face of low-carb living and consider it bland and without joy.

Do you think I can change that? Yeah, I can. Especially since it's official-- I lost another 7 lbs, and I'm now within 10 lbs of One-der-land! I can do it!

Now the question to ponder is-- what issue with low carb life do people have the most trouble with? I found it easy, so I have no clue where to begin. I need opinions, here!

Honey, Southern Belles have to stick together. LOL! I'd rather do roots than give a perm any day.

I've been loving your Crazy Fat Chick YouTube. I'm a subscriber under the name dragonswriter. One of these days I have to figure out how to make those videos. I'm told my webcam will do it. I'm just a ignorant, not stupid. LOL! I'd be moving the laptop into the kitchen and showing how to cook some delish low carb dishes!

Get 'em Wendy!! Girlfriend, I'd do your roots for you if I were closer. I'm licensed.

Thanks, BG! I've posted a few new ones as well as some old chestnuts that deserved a second look.

Well, I'm not Band Groupie, but I am having trouble keeping up here on LBT, especially my blog. So, I've moved to an old blog I kept while preparing for surgery and now it serves as my Bandster Cookbook.

http://fatfrogdiary.blogspot.com

Please come join me there. I'll still post here now and then, but mostly there.

Lena

Welcome to the friendliest place for bandsters ever. I just had my first bandiversary, and I'm down 82 pounds.

Lauraann, you need to have your band checked for complications. If there's no saline in it and you're still getting food stuck, but you're not losing, something is possibly wrong. The band is plastic, hon. It's highly unlikely it'll shrink like a worsted wool sweater.

I've just had my bandiversary, and I still throw up but I know why every time. I've eaten something I shouldn't, like bread or stringy meat. That's why my doc continues to monitor his patients. His low carb diet is not easy, especially with all the temptations presented in our modern society. I threw up today, but I knew I ate that stuffed portobella mushroom too fast. My fault, not the band's.

Have your band checked and take a serious look at your food intake. Keep a food journal and mark down honestly how much you ate, what you ate, calories, proteins and carbs. Your nutritionist may be the really strict kind like mine. Then again, s/he may not be. Why not have the data for them in case they ask?

Time for some serious analysis with your surgeon and his team of experts. Think of it not as going before a judge like a criminal, but like a seeker going before the guru.

LOL!! Darn tootin' BG! See you at your new blog! BTW, mine is Fat Frog Diary. Now that you've moved, I'll post there more regularly.

As anyone in our sisterhood of Scale Whores Anonymous (SWA) knows, I'm the nut case who keeps track of her weight by writing it down on the bathroom mirror with a wipe-off board pen.

I have an antiquated bathroom scale that looks like it belongs in the Art Deco Revival era several decades ago, and I love it because of that beauty. I know it's not accurate, but I step on it anyway every day. (That's why there's an SWA-- we're compulsive about it.)

Last month, just before Christmas, when I stepped on the scale at the doctor's office, I got a nasty shock. Despite repeated attempts to be very good, I'd *gained* a pound. EEEK!

So, I was determined to get back on the wagon. I pulled out the old food journal and locked all the carb contraband out in the cabinet outside.

My scale said I lost. At one point it dipped down to 205 lbs, and my shriek of joy should have shattered the bathroom window. (Thank you, tempered glass.)

Still, I drove with butterflies in my stomach to the doctor's for my monthly weigh-in. Would his infinitely more accurate scales show how hard I'd been working? When my turn finally came, I stepped on the scale.

The nurse gasped.

My heart sank. I was doomed. Done in by that tangerine I had a week ago. *sob* One little cheat had cost me.:thumbdown:

"OMG, Lena!! You've lost TEN pounds!" The nurse did a jig with me. :thumbup: Later, doc gave me a hug. I'm back on the road to One-der-Land, and I think I see it rising out of the mists in the distance.

My bandiversary was January 2. One year, 75 lbs lighter. I'm no longer a size 26, but a svelte (for me) size 18. According to my doctor, I have another 50-70 lbs left to go. Is he insane? Okay, I'll play along. After all, he's not been wrong yet.

Funny thing is, I'm still a size 26 in my head. I still slink through the lingerie section, expecting to be chased out by the sales clerks and sent to Lane Bryant.

I'm still shocked when some man ignores my wedding ring and (gasp) flirts with me.

On the other hand, I'm doing things that just wouldn't have been possible a year ago. I exercise three times a week and think it's fun. I bowl with my family, and we're talking about hitting the beach when the weather warms.

My husband wants to go on a second honeymoon (technically it would be a first. We were too poor back then) and scuba in Bermuda, and I actually think that's a great idea. I proposed taking up water-skiing too.

I fix my hair and put on makeup, and I smile at the woman in the mirror, even if I hardly recognize her without the bags under her eyes from sleep apnea, the puffy cheeks, and triple chin. Who is that woman with high slashing cheekbones, full red lips and smoky eyes? Me? Are you sure? Where's the dumpy old broad who spent half her life in a wheelchair or leaning on a cane?

I'm learning to see myself as a thinner, healthier person. I guess it's just going to take more time. Funny thing is, I now have that time.

I'm laughing and at the same time, I'm nodding. My size 12's fell off in the first few months. Then my size 10's. My size 9's fell off last month. Up to this point, I'd bought mostly online or blindly going to the granny panties. This time, my daughter tricked me into (gasp-shudder) bikinis. In colors. (I still hyperventilate at the thought of the red sparkly ones.) I'm still a size 26 in my mind. Hmm...I see a blog coming...

As if to prove the point, my DH playfully yanked my jeans around my ankles in the kitchen this afternoon. (sigh) I don't have time these days to re-tailor my clothes to fit, so I'm wearing the baggy stuff. Most of the time, I wear a belt to prevent mishaps, but I was lazy. I won't make that mistake again, especially with a frisky DH hanging around. (giggle-snerk) Yeah, I love the old fart.

Many folks have a fear of flying, or arachnophobia, etc. Common phobias. Other than a fear of heights, I considered myself fairly fear-free.

Then I lost 75 pounds. That's only halfway to my goal weight, but with everything in my closet falling off me and not enough time to tailor anything but my favorites, my daughter said, "Enough is enough, Mom! You can't make a bra, okay? Time to shop!"

I sighed and gave in. Until we came to the threshold of the lingerie department. My feet wouldn't move further. I stood there, paralyzed with fear some snobby salesclerk would give me the usual contemptuous look. "I'm sorry, Ma'am. We don't carry the larger sizes. May I recommend Lane Bryant at the other end of the mall?" You know, the dismissive flick of the hair, the turned up nose and presenting her back as if you're unworthy to even set foot in her department?

My daughter had to literally trick me to get me in the area by asking me if a certain sexy little bra would work with her wedding gown we'd planned.

Then, because I wasn't the victim/shopper, I could go to her. I was relieved and hoped she'd pulled a fast one, hoping I'd buy her some lingerie for her wedding. To get out of buying for myself there and hoping to go back to buying my lingerie online where I didn't have to be snubbed by salesclerks, I was happy to shop.

My daughter pretended to shop for herself, casually asking my opinion, and eventually she slipped in the question about what size I thought I might be these days.

I fell for it and told her my estimate. After all, I am proud of my much smaller size, even if I'm only halfway to goal.

Quick as a wink, two packages of my size underwear and bras hit the basket. Susan grinned in triumph. "Gotcha, Mom. I saw you admiring these. You can wear them now, you know!"

I gulped. I glanced around furtively, hoping I could make a mad dash for the registers before the salesclerk had me burned alive for sacrilege.

It took me two days to open those packages and try them on. They fit. In fact, they're comfy! My fear is gone, and next on my shopping challenges will be (gulp) buying a pair of jeans in the Misses section, not the "Women's" department. Pray for me!

I decided I'd better mention this horrible fear reaction to my doctor so he could warn the shrink to warn the pre-ops that they might have to face the challenge of a fear of shopping in the normal stores. It's freaky, and I never thought it would happen to me, the clothes horse.

Doctor Baptista said he'd heard of this from several of his patients, but no one had explained it to him until me. He promised to tell the shrink if I'd blog about it.

Save yourselves and shop early and often. Learn to buy one or two pieces as you shrink, or you may face the phobia yourselves. You have nothing to fear from the salesclerks, really. (My mantra.)

All laughter at my expense is welcome. Thank you.

Hear! Hear! I did gain one pound, but quickly lost it so it may have been a simple normal fluctuation. It's been wonderful to celebrate without the guilt of overeating. This year, the focus was on the family and much, much less stressful with me sitting and laughing with the friends and family in the living room instead of trying to cook too much in my tiny kitchen. Did we have treats? Some, but mostly it was about the gifts and laughter, not food. Hooray for us!

(Sips tea) Head hunger? Not worried about that...it's that huge pile of pies I'm scared of. LOL!

I like 'em. My men are no fun at holiday time, so I don't ask them for their opinions anymore.

What? I'm not supposed to look at my batwings and say, "Well, at least I don't need a parachute! I'll just glide home!"? (giggling)

Time for an SWA meeting again. LOL! BG, the important thing is not to re-gain lost weight. The yo-yo cycle can cause as many health problems as being overweight. Okay, so your weight loss has slowed or stalled. Are you still in One-der-land? Are you healthier than you've been in years? Are you doing more and feeling great? Are you happy?

Stop obsessing. Being a bandster is just as much mental as it is physical. You've "confessed" several times that your vacations have been part of your problem, so you know you've had issues with what goes in your mouth isn't coming off your butt. (grin)

Now, stop making Thanksgiving such a horror. It's about being thankful, not how much we can ram down our bands. Have a little turkey, and when you're full go take a walk in the lovely fall air. You'll be back in time for coffee and maybe by then a little spoonful of pumpkin pie as a treat. No more is needed. Be thankful and be happy. (HUG)

Oh, dear. It's my kind of nightmare. If worrying about overeating and PBing at family gatherings wasn't bad enough...

I just received an invitation to a (gulp) formal New Year's party. Yeah, the kind where the women put up their hair and wear fancy gowns. The kind that sends a clothes horse like me running to the closet to see if anything she has is "good enough." :redface:

My one fancy gown literally fell off me when I tried it on. Yes, I really mean that. I tried to button the neck thingy, lost hold, and the whole dress dropped to pool around my ankles. Darn it, I only wore that stupid thing once. (sigh) Okay, so it was a size 26 or so. :thumbup:

The host of the party knows I've lost a lot of weight, and he sent a note telling me that while the "formal" was important, he told me to do my best but don't fret. Such a sweetheart! :thumbup:

Then I went to my very favorite silky pantsuit. (Wince) Same thing with the silky pantsuit, only the pants ended up around my ankles and the top, well, let's just say Santa's bag would fit better. Oh, dear. :confused:

Um...Anyone know a used formalwear shop? :confused: