lisalee

Another good idea for the sore hiney is to buy some Desitin or diaper cream. I use it on my adult patients with diarrhea or frequent stools and it helps to protect the skin and keep it less irritated. Believe me, it works pretty well!

MimIn, good luck with your surgery! You're gonna be one hot gale! How exciting! I would say I am jealous but I have more up there than is comfortable. I hope to get a lift someday tho... Is anyone out there discouraged about the way their slimming bodies are now sagging? I wouldn't say I am depressed because I look so much better now than I did but even so, it is discouraging to see how badly I abused my body. Thank goodness for PS!!! I am ending the Patty's Challenge and starting the 4th at 189. My goal weight is 138 so I am 49% of the way there. I never would have believed it if someone had told me this back in September! I can now run 4 miles without stopping....3 on a regular day. I have NEVER been able to do this, even as a teenager. It is very gratifying. Running a 10K is now a very real possibility. Congrats to all!!! You are my inspiration and motivation!!!

I am so jealous that you all live so closely to Dr. Spivak's office. I live 3 hours away in Temple so it is just too far to make it a regular trip. I read that he is sponsoring the Komen run? Who can go? How far is it and when? I would love to try to make it down to Houston for that. Frankly, I would love to come down just to have a chance to say "hi" to that marvelous man!

No weight loss for me this week. Exercised only twice. Just got busy I guess and have out of town guests for the week. The rain doesn't help either. I've gone running in it but the lightening is a little worrisome. Still at 190 pounds. Still glad I did it this way!!!

MimIn, so true, so true! I have realized after talking to a guy that he was flirting with me and trying to be friendly but I didn't get it! Maybe I'm looking for it but it seems like doors get opened more, people smile more and I feel like I'm more visible. I really hope to keep the memory of what it was like to hide behind so much flesh and be invisible. I don't want to do anything like that to another human being. I can't say that I ever felt outright discrimination or dislike from another person because of my obesity but I know it's out there and don't want to be a part of it. I suspect that once I began to pack on the pounds a part of my emotional growth was stunted and I'll have to travel through the developmental challenges that I may have missed. Boy, that sounds deep! There is so much to learn! :girl_hug:

I was just wondering....has anyone heard of or read about the emotional challenges that come with being a new, "skinny" person? Like....how to deal with the new you...the new self image. I feel exuberant much of the time...and yet very self conscious too. Somehow that fat allowed me to *insulate* myself from others. I'm not complaining....I like the compliments (they come sooooooo often) and the whistles, honks and so on. It's just so odd to be noticed. I searched the internet for reading material on this type of stuff but really couldn't find it. I will trudge on (lightly!) through this new experience but being the person I am I would love to read up on it and understand the phenomenon better. Any ideas? Any thoughts?

That's so interesting....I freeze all the time! I used to save on my heating bills in the winter because I could keep the heater at 63degrees and be OK. This winter I couldn't tolerate it below 70. Let's hope it pays off in the summer with AC bills!

Hi September Bandsters! This is our 6th month! Seems like a lifetime and yet we still have a lifetime to go! Tami.....drumroll please....:clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2: congrats on your mini birthday! It is so much more than SV's isn't it?! And you look so happy and healthy! BJean..........hang in there. It's gotta be much more difficult without the exercise. Don't go anywhere though...I enjoy reading your comments and encouraging words. I'm in at 190 pounds down 3 from last week. I haven't lost more than 1 or 2 in a while. Ran 3 times and walked 3 times last week. The flu has finally gone so I'm hoping to catch up to my pace last week and get going again. Two more weeks left in this challenge! While I'm nowhere near 25 pounds I am better off having been a part of it. Thanks all!

It's been so long ago I don't remember a lot....the legs yes. I don't recall anything happening to the abs. It was pre-band and I was eating low-fat meals (less than 20grams fat/day.) I managed to lose weight with it and long walks. Nothing really counts pre-band. I did get wobbly legs but that's about all I can remember.

I had one of those a few years ago! I sold it after I realized I was only using it to hang my clothes on it! I enjoyed it. I could watch TV and exercise....back up or increase the resisitance according to my needs. It never gave me sore arms....just toned ones. It was a great way to aerobically burn calories, and I wish I still had it. Go for it! Any exercise is good exercise as long as you don't experience any pain. Maybe I'll try to find myself another one.......

Babygrl, it took me about 6 months and quite a few pounds before I could actually say I enjoyed exercising. Fun? Not in the same way but an emotional necessity. I don't feel like the day is complete now without some form of exercise. I sometimes repeat positive sayings to myself when it's especially hard....sounds corny but I think it works. What is really satisfying is realizing that what I am doing now I couldn't have done 6 months ago. That keeps me going. Variety, too will make a difference. Running or walking isn't for everyone. I am impressed you get up so early. Now that's an achievement I can't imagine doing! Hang in there...it gets better

Tommygirl....yes! Jump back in and report here! I don't know what I'd do without this group! Now I'll sit on my hands and quit posting for a while :myscared:

Of course, it is March 17th! I knew that :myscared:

BJean: I do worry about my knee....and force myself to take rest days when appropriate. Good advice, I hear ya and I appreciate it! Tommygirl: Way to go! Sometimes it just takes a period of refocusing and being realistic with ourselves. Keep up the good work and don't be discouraged if you don't lose 6 pounds next week. You are headed in the right direction. Tami: I have a new perspective on spinning. Thanks! I may have to join a gym that offers it for a little variety now and then. MimIn: I think now I have heard of the MCSE exams.....it's quite a challenge? Kudos to you! I hear they are quite a bear! Marathon runner? Naaahhhhh. That would take the joy out of it! I was struck by some sort of a virus this weekend that actually knocked me down in bed for the last 48 hours. It is the first time I have ever experienced throwing up with the band....and believe me I tried not to. I took Phenergan for nausea but it did no good. Yesterday I didn't even eat or drink (that was the worst part.) Fortunately, I am up again today and taking in those precious fluids. Soft eggs were hard to get down so I resorted to oatmeal. The band doesn't feel any worse for the wear but things are not sliding down as easily. Guess I'll stick to liquids and mushies for a while. Hoping tomorrow's weight will reflect true weightloss and not just water weight. Not up for exercise yet. When is St. Paddys' Day? has anyone considered when our new challenge will be?

BJean: Sorry, it was another person....I just read back a few pages. I'll work on applying mistaken identity on another website :myscared:

Awesome!!!

Tami: you say you love the spinning class....does it burn any muscles besides the quads? I would love to try it but hate riding stationary bikes. BJean: I have heard of people finding new addictions when one doesn't work anymore.....I'm thinking Carnie Wilson...who had a gastric bypass then struggled with a new one...alcohol. Guess I'll have to find a Chocohalics Anonymous meeting somewhere! MimIn: What is MCSE? BTW thanks for keeping up with the challenge numbers! I'm hoping to drop a few pounds this week....I've become an exercise junkie. I conquered a 3mile run in 36 minutes today.....a first personal best. I cannot believe I am doing this. I now have the dogs on exercise programs too....I walk one each day for a slow but enjoyable 2 miles. I guess there are worse things to become obsessed with. I am truly a blessed woman. If I don't lose anymore weight, ever, I will be happy still. Hope you are all as satisfied as I am.

Jodie, I have to jump in this thread and second BJean's impression that you may be struggling with a disorder called Borderline Personality Disorder, or at least have some of the symptoms. This disorder is something that can be overcome or at least managed with therapy and sometimes medications. Sometimes people with BPD also have concurrent depression, which can make it much more difficult to deal with. Some of the traits include: 1. Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment. 2. Unstable and intense relationships 3. Potentially dangerous behavior eg. spending, sex, using drugs/alcohol 4. cutting 5. Emotional highs and lows that may occur all in one day 6. Off the wall displays of anger (out of nowhere) ......and others. Many people with BPD are highly intelligent, witty and charming folks. That's why we want to help you here. You sound like a delightful person. Get some professional help...at any cost. You spent $15,000 dollars on the band. Don't let it all go down the drain but stopping your life changing experience now. Good luck girl!

Mary, you are absolutely right! I sailed along for 3 months with the weight slipping off but the last ten pounds have been tough! Naturally, I have found as I lose the weight I have had to really pump up the exercise to keep it coming off...at about 1 pound/week. I am happy to say I am at 51% of my way....if you look at BMI. Still have 43 pounds to get to a BMI of 25 but I actually set my personal goal at about 10 pounds under a BMI of 25. I don't think I could ever gain it back as easily as I did before. I guess what I worry about is that I may quit losing it some day. Only time will tell. I am so much better off now than I was 6 months ago!

Ooops! Make that down 2 pounds...I didn't count losing the one I gained last week. Now at 193.

Does he want us to have a certain BMI? At 25 or does he want it to be less?

BTW, does anyone know how he calculates your ideal body weight? I would really like to get the second year of fills for free. I was told if we lose more than 50% of our excess body weight the first year that is possible. Thanks!

I am a Dr. Spivak groupie! I was banded on 9/19/06. There was one nurse there that was wonderful...a hispanic guy, who said he worked part time. He was gentle and kind. I wasn't thrilled with the rest of them. Maybe because I'm a nurse myself. Maybe I just wasn't thrilled with the surgery. It took me a while to come to grips with the fact that I had a problem that only the band could fix....I don't think I was OK with the surgery for a few weeks. I am a true believer of it now and tell everyone that asks about it how wonderful it is! I think Dr. Spivak is a gem of a man, kind, compassionate and with a remarkable CV to boot. I didn't have any pre-op tests. My only co-morbidities were depression, cholesterol and GERD. I would love to be a regular at one of the support groups but since I am 3 hours away from Houston it's not possible. If anyone starts any unofficial meet-n-greets, let me know. I may just drop in when I get my next fill.

Karey...glad you have such a great doc! It's so nice when they are kind. BJean....I always liked chocolate but it has become more addictive than anything I have ever imagined. I CRAVE it. Sadly, my workplace is full of it. I have actually locked offices behind me to keep myself out of it. (people keep it in containers on their desks for anyone to eat....how do they do it?!!) I'm debating whether or not to call for a fill. I live 3 hours away from Houston, where my doc is. I have difficulty with eggs in the morning but no problems with oatmeal or mushy cereal. I can eat large portions if I eat slowly and chew well. I just don't get full. Once in a while if something is not chewed well, or too dry I spit up saliva, but generally not a problem. My concern is that the last time I went in (end of Dec.) I was still too restricted to put anything in. It was also the beginning of the TOM. I went back to calculating my daily intake and it's about 1500 calories a day...if I am careful. Too much. I can't tell if it's bad food or poor restriction. I've only had 2 fills, one in November and one a week later with omnipaque (sp?). As I said before, the December fill didn't actually take place. Any suggestions? I'm down 1 pound this week to 193, ran 3 times this week, 2miles, 3miles and 2miles. Loving the running!

:angry BTW...where do these looser spammers or whatever come from....I wish they'd get a real life:mad::mad: