I thought it might be a good idea to have a thread where we could discuss the different challenges/issues we face as being single and banded.

I'll start with introducing myself. My name is Chris, I am 32 and live in a suburb of Boston. About a year ago I got out of a 5 year relationship and have just casually dated (online dating) since then. I have decided to take a break from dating for a bit, so I can focus on myself and adjust to living life as a bandster. (I was just banded on 10/2). One of my biggest concerns when I start dating again is if/when to tell that I am banded. It's not that I don't want to tell people, it's just that my idea of great dinner conversation does not include discussing my weight. Overall I would say that I have a great life. I have a good job, a very supportive family, and lots of friends. I am happy to be taking control over my weight and issues with food, and am excited at the prospect of my future as a not-so-fat woman.

I look forward to meeting more single bandsters and hope this thread takes off!

Chris :cocktail:

Chrispy -

Oh the stories I could tell from the dating experiences!!!

Let's just say that it is a pleasant surprise to find guys that look like or better than their photos....because it is an awkward situation when you do not even recognize them when they look SOOOOO much worse than their photos!

*LOL*

~T~

I want everyone to start dating again. My problem is that men my age don't hit on me, even when I am thinner. It's usually men in their early to mid twenties! ( I'm 34)Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the attention. Maybe I look so much younger? I really don't see it though.) Anyway, are any men reading this? Give me some feedback. Maybe because I am fun and cool, and easy going and awesome. Yeah right. Okay, so I have gone to the gym twice, and walked on my treadmill tonight for 25 minutes.(Had to get the girl in the bathtub so didn't make 30, but Monday I worked out with a personal trainer and tonight I feel like cutting my legs off they hurt so bad!)

I am still not losing weight though. I had that fill, then I had that unfill, so maybe I need to get another fill and just give myself more time to get used to the fill. I just dunno. I don't feel like driving back to Dallas anytime soon, I have used up all of my PTO at work. Any good ideas?

Welcome back all of you who were gone for so long! Klo and Dru. SuperG, Getting close!! Good Luck on that surgery! Chrispy, I am hoping you got moved outta that place and into a more serene environment. Texas Rose, you are doing great to be walking that fast. I am a fast walker, most people don't keep up with me, and I only walk about 3.5. Way to go. Wootsie, I am glad I am not alone with checking out the veins. LOL I hope you had a great weekend with the dogs. Last night my mini poodle ate my daughters starfish. Yes, real starfish, one of those dried things you can buy to put in the bathroom with a bunch of shells. I can't believe that dog. Hes cost me about 1200dollars so far, and I only paid 250 for him, the rest is from the vets office from him eating all kinds of crap. Missy, I LOVE the elliptical. My knee hurts so its much better for me than walking, running and even cycling sometimes. But I do know what you mean. Whats your machine of choice?

Okay, I think thats all I have to say, so I will wind this down. ttyl

Kristi

Jessica

Texas Rose

Crispy

Keep us posted on your dating goals. I am living vicariously thru you girls....lol.

I am interested in how well the online dating thing goes. I have wondered if this might be an option for someone in my age group.

I would love to start dating someday...have a relationship but truthfully, if I can't find someone who likes attending church with me (I'm not a fanatic, I just go once a week), ...then I am probably better off alone.

After 2 failed marriages in my past...I realize that its important to me personally to have a relationship with someone who shares my faith values. And someone who would like my family, who are very important to me. Thats just my hope.

Kristi,

I just love a plain ole treadmill. And I like the stationary bike to...I watch the spinners classes and maybe one of these days will have the nerve to join.

I did 2 days at the gym this past week. I hope to go for 3 next week.

Ok all you single bandsters? Where are you?? This is a great thread, don't let it die off.

I don't know about ya'll but this single gal needs all the kindred spirits support she can get!!!!!

:faint: maybe everyone is out on a date!!!

Hi Missy!

Here I am g/f in southeastern Oklahoma, not on a date, but just hanging...waiting for Mr. Right, Mr. Rite, Mr. Wright, Mr. Write, Mr. Ryte, oh heck.....or even Mr. Right Now!

I have lost 37 pounds and feel much better...after delivering my first kidney stone. I drink more water now that I've learned my lesson. Ouch, I don't recommend it lady! Water is our friend!!

I've been widowed for 13 years now. Instantly became full time caregiver to Mama until she passed away two years ago in April. I decided that I was ready to start living again, and living thinner. I had my lapband surgery last April in TJ, Mexico. I am a really slow loser. My daughter has lost almost 80#. She looks fantastic!

I'm not sure how a middle-aged woman meets a fella' in "Almost a Town", USA....any suggestions? lol Common' and keep this thread going! Help!!:phanvan

Dreamer

Missy,

Haven't you been reading? We are dating!! LOL wish I was. I have been at the gym trying to meet our February challenges. I started to date last year, joined one of those matchmaking expensive places, I put it on hold last year after meeting a bunch of people I didn't fit well with. I think Iam going to re open that account. I have veen at the gym!!! I am under 200! And then last night I blew it by having or TRYING to have some breadsticks from pizza hut. Wrong move. PB and J Otter, and a slimy time with it!!! So for most of the day I have been on liquids to let my tummy recover. Lesson learned. Sometimes my band is tighter than....well I don't know what it's tighter than, but its tight!! And sometimes, I feel like I could eat a whole pizza!! Just plain weird.

Dreamer,

I am in OK too. Broken Arrow. I went to Dallas to have my band. How old is your daughter?

Kristi

Okay. I have one more question. Do any of you drink the Matrix protein drinks? I found a website one day, but can't find it again. You can get free samples for just a few bucks. I saw the post on one of the other threads. anyway...

Kris

Ok all you single bandsters? Where are you?? This is a great thread, don't let it die off.

I don't know about ya'll but this single gal needs all the kindred spirits support she can get!!!!!

MissyC,

I'm still here! No one else has been posting, so there really hasn't been much to say. LOL My life is still the same, so I don't have a lot to report to you guys, but I did see Dr Provost last Friday! He was very nice and he said he will do the surgery, I just don't have a date yet. I'm sure they have to clear it with Medicare before they can set the date, so I'm just on hold right now. I've also noticed that most of the last 2 pages are my posts. It looks kinda funny since they started out on page 1. LOL Anyway, that's all that's going on here. Still talking to Donny everyday and I still haven't heard from Steve, so like I said, that's all that's going on here. I do agree though, this is a great thread and we shouldn't let it die. I love to read everyones dating stories.

Joan

Kristi....howdy neighbor! It was good to know that you are doing well after your lapband. Actually both my daughters and I had surgery on the same day. Both are nurses. My older daughter is 39 and she has just now reached a restriction in her lap-band after 4 fills. She has lost 34#. The younger daughter is 33 years old and has had only one fill, the one they gave us 6 weeks after surgery. She is down 80#....I am very proud of them both. Daughter #1 was a diabetic.....she hasn't had ANY insulin since her surgery! Maybe that was a factor in her slower weight loss. My problem is a lower BMI and I just don't lose like I had hoped.

We ordered the high priced protein drinks and they were nasty!!! At this time I am enjoying the new protein drinks put out by Special K. They don't have that medicinal taste to them and I can tolerate them so much better!

Good luck to you on your work outs at the gym. That's what it is going to take to get my old metabolism revved! lol Take care...Dreamer

Chrispy -

Oh the stories I could tell from the dating experiences!!!

Let's just say that it is a pleasant surprise to find guys that look like or better than their photos....because it is an awkward situation when you do not even recognize them when they look SOOOOO much worse than their photos!

Ain't it the truth! I have to tell you guys this story that happened to my niece a few years ago. She was on UDATE and was talking to this really good looking guy on there, according to the pic he posted. So anyway, she had a webcam and he was wanting her to come visit him in Houston. Well, when she saw him on the webcam, he was at least 15 years older than he was in the pic he had posted. He was also a magazine porn guy, I guess you would say, that did European magazines. He sent her pics that were supposed to be him with women that were in these magazines. :omg::omg::omg:You just would have been shocked is all I can say. And, you could never see his face in the pics, so we didn't know rather it was him or not. It's really funny to look back on now, but at the time it was kinda scary, if you know what I mean.

Hey Kristi, a big whopping hi-five on the milestone. keep it going.

Dreamer, nice to meet you. Where are you in Ok? I live in Denton but I'm actually in Durant this week visiting some friends.

Joan, How did your appt go?? Did you have any trouble finding the office? I am still hoping for us to be able to get together for lunch or something. I will PM you when I get back to Texas. (am visiting friends for a few days, will be home next week).

Big news....I had my 3rd fill yesterday afternoon. 1.5cc. That brings my total to 10.5cc in my VG band. So several days of liquid diet, then we'll see.........I am hoping and praying for the perfect restriction......lookin for the sweet spot!!!

I want everyone to start dating again. My problem is that men my age don't hit on me, even when I am thinner. It's usually men in their early to mid twenties! ( I'm 34)Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the attention. Maybe I look so much younger? I really don't see it though.) Anyway, are any men reading this? Give me some feedback. Maybe because I am fun and cool, and easy going and awesome. Yeah right.

Lol I will trade ya! Im 19 going on 20, and all the guys that hit on me are early-mid thirties up to the forties! lol Ive been trying to find someone in their mid twenties forever.....THAT WASNT LOOKING FOR A HOOKUP lol

Hi Missy,

My appointment went really well. Fortunately, my daughter and I had gone down on Wednesday to give them my paperwork, so I didn't have any problems finding it on Friday. Now Wednesday, that's a different story! Anyway, I got there and was called back in just a few minutes, but I had to sit there and wait on Dr Provost for almost an hour. I didn't like that much, but it's the norm for docs, as you know. He was sooooo nice and friendly though. He talked to me about the band and had a little model thing there to show me. The only question I really had was how I was going to take all of my meds, since I take like 30 pills a day, no exageration. He said I would just have to take them 1 at a time. That will take all day, but he also said he hoped to get me off of most of them soon. So, that made me feel better to. He said all he would need is a letter from my cardiologist clearing me for surgery! I hope they don't come up with lots of tests I have to have done, but no one said a word about testing. Of course, this past summer I had 3 stents placed, an echocardiogram, non-exercise stress test, and a CT Scan, just at the cardiologist. Plus, I had and EGD and 2 colonoscopies at the gastroenterologist, and just about every kind of blood work you can imagine, so I've been through the wringer the past few months, but it is sure coming in handy now. I'm sure I'll have to have more blood work done, but that won't be a big thing. Anyway, things went very well. Thanks for asking! I hope to get together for lunch as well, but I will be in Amarillo until around the middle of February as of tomorrow. I have appointments there next week, but I have an appointment here on February 15th, so I'll be back. It sort of sucks not having a permanent home. I just go back and forth all the time. LOL

Joan

Hey Joan, thanks for posting I am sure it helped to let some of that out but I have to say that you are very brave.....I dont think it matters whether you are younger or older we all have our issues but I do believe there is light at the end of the tunnel for all of us....

I hadn't read this in a while, but I wanted to clarify about the younger people being different than us old ones. LOL I felt totally different at their ages than I do now, so that's why I said that. When I was in my 20's, I dated a lot and some very long-term relationships that I haven't had since then. So, I know we all have our issues, but the younger people have an entirely different perspective about them than we do. That's all I meant.

Joan

Jodie,

HA!! It's been so long since I dated, I may enjoy a hookup! No, just joking. You are probably right, thats all those younger guys see, is potential booty call. But seriously....I joined that dating service last year, and put it on hold. Tomorrow I am going to calll and reinstate my membership. they OWE me 9 more dates. I paid for em. LOL what a loser I have become.

Okay, all you OKIES are you ready for this ice storm coming up? I want to leave work before it gets bad. But, I will probably be stuck until 5pm. Lord 5 hours of ice on the streets, I don't think I can bear it!! But I got new tires this week, so I will be fine.

O

How's the dating going? Anyone here to report back yet? Crispy, where ya been? This is your thread, afterall.

Kristi