nolagirl2

New Rules: 1) Complete separation of church & state. Yep, even take the word "God" off the penny. 2) Legalize marijuana and end the pointless "war on drugs." 3) Legalize gay marriage. 4) Tax the hell out of SUVs. And then tax them some more. 5) Gun control. 6) Abolish the death penalty.

Hottie McHotterson

Thanks everybody. I had sort of a hard day eating wise, both yesterday and today. My big eating trigger is when I am lonely or bored. Sitting around watching tv and waiting for people to come home just makes me :hungry::hungry::hungry::hungry::hungry::hungry::hungry::hungry::hungry::hungry: I still didn't eat any junk food, but still, overeating is overeating. So I went to the gym today and did the elliptical for like an hour. I feel better. And I took my measurements tonight. In total, since surgery, I have lost a little over 24.75 inches. So that feels good. Maybe I will shower up and take some new pictures tonight.

Wait until you eat something (i.e. not liquids) before being afraid that you can eat anything.

You look like you're doing pretty amazing. You've already lost almost 25% (24.5) of your excess weight!!! Pick up a bag that weights 27 lbs. and try to carry it up the stairs - thats when you really realize your strength

Backstory: A friend from high school came in town who I hadn't seen for four years. I had to go to her father's funeral, and we also were hanging out. It was my first time really letting go and having fun. So here are my NSVs 1) Started this journey at tight 28. Yesterday, had to go to a funeral - slipped on a size 22 no problem. Bit of a muffin-top issue, but my shirt was long/loose enough it didn't look funny. 2) After the funeral, food spread included: Turkey, ham, cheese, rolls (yum), carrot cake, chips & salsa. I had 2 slices turkey, 1 slice ham, and 2.5 slices cheese. NO BREAD!! 3) So I drank a fair amount of red wine yesterday... I think it ended up being around 3 glasses (probably ended up being around 200-300 calories). Well, after I was already basically tipsy/drunk, we went to another bar. I did not order another drink, which was good. Also, my friends ordered Pub Chips (delicious chips w/ seasoning, eat w/ ranch dressing). Even inebriated, I DID NOT PARTAKE!! 4) This morning I took her to my favorite Breakfast place (where they have like caramel pear french toast, and blts with eggs and pesto mayo - delicious). Well I ordered the smoked salmon wrap (smoked salmon, goat cheese, spinach, egg, tomato in a spinach tortilla) and subbed a house salad for the home fries. I ate 1/2 the wrap (fillings only), and about 1/2 the salad. And no bites of biscuits & gravy or strawberry pancakes! I rule! I realize a lot of these are "I didn't eat/drink X", but that is my hardest thing - to stick to the diet on the weekend, when I'm out, when I'm having fun, when I'm celebrating, when it's a special occasion - whatever. So it was really good for me to be able to say "This is a special occasion, and I can drink 3 glasses of wine, but it doesn't need to be 3 glasses of wine, plus pub chips, and rolls, and pancakes, etc." OH, and the SV: I woke up this morning, convinced I'd plateau'ed myself yesterday. Nope, down 2 more lbs!!

DBurlap - A certain amount of anxiety is inevitable. The nice thing is, you're not the only one. You can basically find someone to answer any question you have - someone has been through it. K@t - Yeah I just am unsure, I hate the idea of more surgeries, but I know I will probably do PS, because I am not going to spend the rest of my life being unhappy with my body. EmileeKaye & MsButterKup23 - Yeah I've been trying to really mentally prepare myself for dealing with all the good things/normal things that I will have post-weight loss. I know I will have moments where I don't realize I'm not fat. I already still think of myself as being around 315-330, and I'm at 276. I started this journey with tight 28s (skirt @ LB - not stretch). yesterday I had to go to a funeral, and I was amazed that I easily slipped on a size 22. Sammee - I imagine the PS would take off at least a good chunk of that last 12 lbs. And I wouldn't worry about more skin issues from losing 5-10 lbs., unless there's something I don't understand.

Here, I started a thread for us. I think our experience is going to be different from teens, but probably more different than 30+ year olds too. So let's just have our own little party here: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?p=236907#post236907

Okay, so here's a thread for us. My story to start us off. Was overweight/obese my whole life. When I look back at pictures of myself as a young kid (7-8), I am surprised that I didn't look as fat as I thought back then. But by adolescence I definitely was. Had some hard life stuff (Mom got cancer when I was 8, friend in high shool died sophomore year, dad had stroke sophomore year of college, got diagnosed with PCOS, lost a few important friendships) - each contributed significantly to my weight gain. Then I just got so big, I felt like there was nothing I could do. I just ate worse and worse, because I felt so trapped. I was banded about 5 weeks ago. I have lost a good part of my weight, still have a ways to go. I now find myself constantly looking at my body, trying to figure out what it is going to look like. Unlike lots of bandsters I see on boards who are 30+, I am not married. I worry about my body, about whether I will need plastic surgery, about if I will feel comfortable. About dating after losing weight but before PS. About doing this forever, even though I feel confident. About keeping this weight off forever. About what happens if I lose my band. About the fact that at 22, I'm really going to jump in and start my life, and whether or not I'm sorely behind. So anyway, there's my story. Here's my stats: 9/28/05 (1st consult): 333 4/17/06 (2nd consult): 318 5/2/06 (Surgery day): 315 6/9/06 (today) : 278 Goal (I think) :170

Okay, write this down: Take coffee tumbler (i.e. really big thermosy cup) Fill it to the brim with ice Pour coffee in Add 1-2 tbsp. sugar-free syrup or sweet n low Mix ENJOY! I also occaionally will order them in a coffeeshop. I just ask what varieties of SF syrup they have. At the grocery store, I have seen chocolate, caramel, vanilla, hazelnut, irish cream. Just make sure you check the nutritional label because brands will vary (I like Torani). Also, beware - they are expensive! Like $4 a bottle. But a bottle will last a while.

Well, I came home the next day, think I mght have weighed. Weighed all the time on that day actually. First official weigh-in was the day after that. I'm a daily weigher. Works for some, doesn't work for others.

I haven't had any stuck/pb episodes yet, but just based on my past eating compulsions, i'm afraid to even look at bagels and snickers. just can't do it.

oh, especially the coffee drinks! i used to be such a fancy-coffee addict, but they are such junk food! i trained myself first to get on regular coffee w/ cream & sweetnlow, then to iced coffee sweetnlow no cream, now i can have coffee hot or iced w/ sweetnlow or sugar-free syrup. MUCH better alternative.

I suggest a carb detox. It seems like you are filling your days with too many snacks/junk food (carby). After 3-5 days on a limited carb intake, your cravings will decrease. But the more you eat it, the more you want it. Here's an example of what I ate/drank today: 9am: Iced coffee with sugar-free caramel syrup, Water (0 everything) 10am: 2.5 oz. turkey sausage, 2 oz. egg beaters, 1 oz. shredded cheese. (9g fat, 185 cal, 3 carb, 0 Fiber, 3 sugar, 21.5 protein) 11am-2pm: finish coffee & 66 oz. water 2pm: 2 oz. chicken, 1 oz. broccoli, 1 oz. blue cheese, 1 tbsp. fat-free sour cream, hot sauce (mixed together), plus 1 oz. turkey pepperoni & 1 oz. cheese (19g fat, 350 cal, 2.5 carb, .75 fiber, 1 sugar, 35.75 protein) 3pm: 16 oz. iced tea w/ 1 sweet & low 3pm-6:30pm - drink 34 oz. water 4pm: finish work - go to gym - 40 minutes elliptical 6:30pm: 1/2 c. chili Beans, 1 tsp. bbq sauce, 2 tbsp. cheese, 2 tbsp. fat-free sour cream (4 fat, 192 calories, 24 carbs, 6 fiber, 3 sugar, 11.5 protein) 7:30-10:30: drink 34 oz. water 9pm - do 3 sets of 20 arm exercises & thighmaster daily totals: 32g fat, 727 calories, 29.5 carbs, 6.75 fiber, 7 suger, 68.75 Protein a lot of people tell me i eat too little. i eat when i am hungry and try not to when i am not hungry. i know i have a real problem with compulsive eating, so i cannot let myself snack or graze unless i am truly hungry. i also don't believe that weight loss means "one-size-fits-all" - some people lose on 1500 calories a day, others on 700. it just depends. it's not just that eating/exercising this way makes me lose weight (which it does), it makes me FEEL better. over memorial day weekend, i had some crackers & pizza & bread, etc. when i came back home, it was SO HARD to not eat them. i just wanted to stuff my face w/ carbs. but i did a 3 day very limited carb intake (20g or less), and the cravings went away. for the most part, i try to stay below 30g net carbs (meaning total carbs minus fiber - sugar alcohols DO count) a day, and no more than half of those in sugar. i try to get all of my carbs only from foods naturally (i.e. beans, veggies, etc). it causes fewer cravings. just my $.02

I've been having the same ideas! Granted, who knows what my body will look like. Based on the stretch marks, I know that my breasts are going to be a serious problem, and probably tummy too. I have some flab on my arms & thighs, but I am hoping they won't be too much of a problem. But then I worry because if I do have PS, I will probably be like 24 when I do. That's way too early to know if I am going to have kids, etc. And I don't think I'll be able to wait until I do have kids to have the body I want. Besides, unlike lots of bandsters, I'm not married! If I'm gonna be out & dating, I want to be comfortable in my body.

I weighed this morning at 279.8. Granted, I round that to 280 for my official weight, but to even SEE the 7 was good news. I want the 80s to be gone for good!!!

This challenge is the perfect way to keep me on track and keep making good habits (they're so easy to fall out of!) But yeah, I was super-psyched this morning to see a new decade! 279.8 - I rounded it to 280 - But I am SOOOOOO psyched to be in the 270s. I was considering setting up some mini-goals for myself, but to be honest, each new decade is a mini-goal met!

Yeah it looks like we have similar stats. I'm 22, and with a little more to lose, but also a few inches taller. I know I will probably have my breasts and stomach done maybe. I don't really want to (am afraid of the pain), but I think I will want it anyway. So far my arms and thighs are sort of okay. We'll see.

C - 280 (-53 total, -8 this week*) *yay for my first fill.

walked from day 1 started elliptical on day 22. later that week, started working with small barbells (2 or 3 lbs) doing arm exercises.

I'm basically counting on at least some excess skin, I was just curious - when did you start to notice it? I've lost about 30% of my excess weight, and so far, I still have enough fat that the skin isn't sagging yet :scared:. So anyway, just curious. I was going to attach a poll, but I don't know how. Maybe for simplicity it would be good to say the percentage of weight loss when you noticed it in addition to the amount of weight loss (just because we are all special & unique snowflakes). Thanks

I had liquid diet 2 days pre-op, nothing after midnight day of surgery

I totally agree - once you start, you can't stop. But I am fine just sipping crystal light, then I never miss it. And DON'T try "if i eat healthy things its ok." Because 1000 calories of healthy stuff or even 500, is still 500-1000 more calories than you should have. Yeah, stay AWAY from creme liquers. They are delicious, but deadly.

I'm nowhere near goal, but based on where I can see stretch marks, I'm thinking I"ll have a fair amount in the chest/stomach, and maybe a little bit in thighs/arms, but those seem manageable.

I started with parents and close friends. Then told my brother and sister. Then told one coworker. Then, after a few too many drinks, told my aunt. As surgery date approached, I told other close friends and the rest of my office. After surgery, found out the aunt had told others in my extended family (who i am NOT close to and do not like). But I don't really care what they think anyway, they are a big bunch of b*tches. My parents told a couple of their friends. Everyone basically knows, and my opinion is, if you have a problem with it, I don't care. It's my decision, my life, my health, my body, my money, my everything. I like having support from so many people. A lot of people say "well I want compliments from people who don't know I had surgery." I sort of don't care about that. I mean, that'll be nice, sure. But I like compliments from people who know. I like that when I send my best friends pictures, they say "Oh my god you look amazing!" So what if they notice more because they know more? At least I get that support and encouragement when I need it. And I also told my close friends, because I thought about the fact that if they went and had surgery and I didn't know, that would be sad. And just because this is my weight doesn't mean there's anything wrong w/ it. I'm not going to be embarrassed of my weight, obviously it's not a secret. Also, I don't lie. So no reason to start now.