willowcat

I like Tommy O's reply to posts on this thread: We are all a work-in-progress. The OP was making a personal, insightful observation about his own "stinking thinking" when it comes to fat people (himself included). Facing our negative thinking is the way we become better people. I have no bad feelings about fat people--but have begun to realize that I harbor less-than-positive feelings toward the elderly (now that I'm nearing 50!). Self-knowledge is a never-ending journey!

There was a 12-year study of morbidly obese and super obese patients who all had gastric banding. The study is online at http://www.obesitylapbandsurgery.com...eryArticle.pdf Good results for long term weight loss and life expectancy. I don't see how lapband can be considered unsuccessful given the long-term study's results? Weird.

I've posted this before, but I thought it was relevant to your post here: Years ago, when I was at my thinnest (after nearly starving myself and losing 30 lbs in 6 weeks), I bought a denim mini skirt. That mini skirt attracted male attention--attention that I was not comfortable with! I unconsciously put on 5lbs--just enough that the mini skirt no longer fit--and then I felt a wierd sense of relief that I didn't have to wear that skirt again! Fat has some benefits that we often don't want to admit we're ok with: fat lets us be in the background; fat says I don't have to compete fashion-wise, sex-wise, friends-wise, work-wise; fat says I'm off the market sexually and will be a faithful wife; fat says I can get by with just being the funny one; fat says I'm motherly and nurturing; fat says I'll be the one that survives a famine; fat can make me feel larger that life; fat can make me feel protected and shielded...! Fat can bury so many emotions and protect us from ourselves and/or our pasts. As the weight comes off, we begin the excavation of our past selves, and that can be very uncomfortable. We are all so much more than just our bodies. Good luck!

Cingulus, Thanks for posting the link to that site--I had no idea there were even sites out there like that--I'm looking forward to downloading the playlist for spinning!

Don't get me wrong, getting the lapband was one of the best things I've done for myself. But it is still just one tool (the others being good food choices and exercise). I have good restriction--thankfully! But good restriction doesn't garantee good food choices ("oh just a little bite won't hurt" "just this once" "but i'm so tired and hungry" ) and it sure doesn't make me get on my exercise bike or go for a walk. So I guess by "slipping" I mean that I feel myself becoming complacent just as you said. And because I feel so much thinner than I really am, it's even easier for me to lie to myself about how much work there still is to do.

All the successful old-timers here seem to have one thing in common: exercise, exercise, exercise! Congrats on your weight loss so far!

My nutritionist has me taking calcium and a child's chewable multivitamin.

This is an excerpt from Geneen Roth's website http://www.geneenroth.com/. It's something to think about. Eating is so often about more than just food. The holidays are hard for everyone in one way or another. Good luck. More About the Holidays A friend of mine once asked a 6-year-old girl what she wanted to be when she grew up. "A person with really long arms," the child answered. "Why?" my friend asked. "So I can reach across the table and eat all the chocolate chip Cookies before my brother gets any." "So, when you are 25, do you think you will still want all the chocolate chip cookies?" "Yes," the girl said. "Do you think that adults want the same things they did when they were children?" "Absolutely." When I heard this story, I thought about my friend Minnie who, when I started teaching her to eat intuitively, bought six packages of Sara Lee brownies and ate them all, even though she didn't really like brownies. Why, I then asked, did she choose to gorge on something that didn't even thrill her? "Because," she said, "I wasn't allowed to eat them when I was a kid, and now that I can eat what I want, I'm making up for lost time." Makes sense. But only if you believe that you are still that same kid. Only if you believe that you can make up for deprivation in the past by eating everything you want now. During the holidays, if we make decisions about what to eat based on the desires of the children we were, we get lost and dazed and fatter. It's as if we are possessed by so many desires, memories, and needs from the past that we can't figure out what the adult in us truly wants right then. Which brings us to the holiday season, when the child you used to be is in full command, ordering you to give her all the things she wasn't allowed to eat — fruitcake or Sara Lee brownies or sugar cookies with red and green sprinkles or anything else she wants. And while we are eating, we will feel free, which we never truly felt as children because the big people were lording it over us, telling us what to do. The truth that we didn't want to admit back then is that kids do need adults to set limits, to say, "No, honey, you'll be sick if you eat the whole plate of cookies and then drink three glasses of eggnog." Don't try for perfection. Do the best you can within your limits and let the rest take care of itself. Despite the voice that tells you otherwise, you are not in control of the immediate universe. And since you can't achieve world domination, maybe you should try to control what you can control, which is what you eat. My second thought is that you might ask yourself what you want now. If the answer is that you want long arms so that you can grab all the cookies or that you want to hide the plum pudding in your bedroom so you can eat it all before bed tonight, you know that the child in you is directing the show. That child is opening your mouth, putting the food in, grabbing for more.

It's been a long time since I've been to this thread--guess I'm catching up on everyone's posts. Elcee, I couldn't agree more with you--on both points! The "sweet spot" is kind of like a mirage--you think you're getting closer to it, but you never really get there. I think the sweet spot must be anywhere between "bandster hell" and too much restriction (ie. not being able to swallow one's own saliva)! Also, having just 3 meals a day doesn't work for me--I get too hungry and then I eat too fast and don't chew enough (and get stuck!). I eat 3 meals a day and 3 snacks a day--but not grazing--I've lost 70-some lbs so I think that this is working for me.

Yes, I've had a "bruised" feeling under the skin where my port is, too. I am quite pear-shaped and have next to no fat on my upper abdomen. The port is very, very "feel-able." I've kind of worried about hurting myself and/or my port, too. What did your doctor say about it? When I asked my doctor, he said that I shouldn't worry--that it would be ok. He said that sometimes they'll do a port revision if it sticks out too much after weight-loss. Jachut has posted that her port is actually visable. My husband doesn't like to touch the port--says it reminds him too much of Alien the movie (other than that, he's very, very supportive--go figure!).

Yeah for Winter Break! I've been able to ride my 6 miles everyday AND I walked for 2 miles (my husband said he's never seen me walk so fast--I've always been a very slow walker)! It feels good to have time for ME! I don't remember when we were supposed to post this month, so far 50.6 miles done; 69.4 to go (7 miles a day to make goal for this month--I'm going to do it, too!)

I don't think the fat in turkey is as saturated as it is in beef--better for your arteries and heart, I think.

You probably feel "absolutely and totally empty" because you probably are. Most people don't have any saline in their bands at the time of surgery. Any early restriction is usally from the swelling from the surgery--that's why they have you on a liquids first and then mushies diet. They don't want you to vomit at all early on because the band may slip. You're probably ok (but as always--see/call your doctor if you are not sure).

Hmm...I'm just the opposite. I used to be cold all winter (even at my highest weight). Now, I've lost nearly 70 lbs and feel just fine this winter--neither too hot nor too cold. I figured that my metabolism is better now (because of the exercise and the healthier diet). I'm wondering now after reading how "hotties" have turned into "freezer pops" just what is the variable? Hmm...

Greek yogurt by Fage! You can buy it in stores like Natural Grocers, Wild Oats, and other "health food" stores. One serving has 21 grams of protien--and if you buy the zero fat version, it has zero grams of fat! I like it a lot and I stir it into all sorts of things.

Kathy, I eat a lot of things with plain yogurt on the side--it helps make things easier to chew into a mushier state and I think it helps make it more of a slider-like food so that I get satiated without getting stuck. Also, I try not to get too hungry--I try to eat before then if possible--when I'm too hungry I almost always end up pbing (I think I'm too hungry so I eat too fast). Someone on here said that our level of hydration may affect our stomach's internal moisture and if we're slightly dehydrated it can make it easier to get stuck--kind of like getting "cotton mouth." I don't know, but it's still good to make sure we're drinking enough water. Good luck. It's certainly no fun getting stuck. Willowcat PS. I was banded in June 09 and I can't eat bread or white rice either. Even a little and watch out!

It's me again--I'm going to try again. I have yet been able to find the balance between work, exercise, and sleep! I'm still trying though. I've had to give up getting up at 5:00 am, because I was too tired at work and I can't afford to be tired (as a teacher I have to be "on" 100%!). I don't want to lower my goal just yet, because thankfully this month will give me two weeks off for Winter Break and I can keep up with my exercise so much more easily when I'm not working. 2911, Congrats on meeting--and exceeding--your goal last month! :w00t:

111.4 miles--8.6 short of goal

week 3: 27.3 44.6 to go (I'm hoping that I can do more over my Thanksgiving Break--I really want to make my goal this month!)

week 2: 12 miles Yikes! Way below weekly goal.

week 1: 36.1 miles 83.9 to go 2911, Sorry your ticker isn't working. Good luck with a different one.

2911, I don't know if I can help you or not, but I'm willing to try. One thought I had is that you may have had the same problem that I originally had with the PINs. So here are the steps: When you get to your weight loss ticker page, enter your PIN, click Edit/Update Data. That opens a new screen that is labeled "Setup". You have to enter your PIN again (I didn't figure that out at first). Make sure you've chosen "Public Data" (if you want it to show up at LapBandTalk). Put in your weight and choose today's date. Click on "Next" to see your updated ticker. Hope that helps--it's so exciting to be able to update the ticker because you've lost weight! Congrats!

I'm in again! Looking forward to working on meeting my goal this month. I'm finally well, and I'm settling into an easier routine at work. I can do it. 2911, congrats on moving that ol' scale! :scared2:

october miles: 103.8 (16.2 short of goal--DANG!) I was bummed that another month has gone by with me getting close but not making goal, so I went back and added up all my miles since the July Challenge. In the last 4 months, I've biked 589.5 miles! I could have ridden my bike to Denver and home again 5 times! So...hello November! Time to try again. :scared2:

Bec, I don't what size you wear right now, but if you're still plus-size, Junonia.com sells exercise/workout clothes for plus-sized women. I don't have large breasts so I'm not familiar with their exercise bras, but I have seen exercise bras in the catalogue and online at their website. Good luck.