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:

JC, I have horrible insomnia so I know how it feels to stay awake. Are you doing this by choice or you just can't sleep. I am confused....doesn't take much to confuse me.

I am so excited. I love Mondays because Big Medicine is on . I love that show because all the overweight people deal with the same issues that we do.

Leona, Maybe you are just too young to be tied to one person. You've got your entire life ahead of you to HAVE FUN! I wish I could have gotten the band at a much younger age, although at 22, I weighed 110 lbs. It doesn't matter though. I remember being 22. I got married at 19 and was divorced at 21 because I couldn't stand being tied down and wanted to party.

Chrispy, I think you are amazingly wise for your age!

Denise, I am not sure what is causing me to be awake. I guess it could be from being in bed all last week. Among other things, Stress/Anxiety.

JC

Hello everyone,

I am curious if anyone here has done any of the liquid type diets? I have a while until sugery but I need to lose another 15 lbs before I can get in to see my surgeon to even schedule the surgery. Then the surgery won't be for about month at which point I would have to lose another 15 lbs. So I started doing only liquids todayto try and lose the initial 15 and it has been CRAZY!!! I am so hungry, a couple of times my stomach wouldn't stop growling out loud that my roomate made me get a creamed soup at least. I was trying to hold out for another hour or so but couldn't.

I have been drinking Diet Iced Green Tea, Water, No Calorie Flavored Waters, I also had one cup of OJ this morning, one cup of V8 early afternoon and have had two servings (not at the same time, about 4 hours apart) of creamed soups, I also had one Slimfast type shake today. But I am still so very hungry. ..I totaled it up ad it came to 720 calories so far today.

Well there goes my stomach growling again...I don't know if I am going to make it through my first day of this! Does anyone have any suggestions?

Hey Chrispygal...

I think you're right- being attached is scary... which is prob why matt and I havent talked about relationship stuff yet, although I feel like its coming. He seems to like me a heck of a lot more than I like him although I really do like him more and more... he found me on facebook and myspace and I saw a pic of him sans beard and with shorter hair and he was HOT.. I mean SMOKIN! so I'm gonna have to get him to the barber! lol If you know facebook, you know there's that part on it that says, "How do you know this person?" and I have no idea what to put... and if to take my "single" status off of it either. Oh the fun talk we're gonna have...

I do like being single, I'm feeling that defiance to keep looking at others, but I think it will stop when he and I actually talk about maybe being exclusive. Maybe I feel like I'm still available even when I know at this point, I'm a bit too into him...

So with this being my first actual boyfriend (besides the MASSIVE number of flings I have had (I'm actually embarrassed by how experienced I am) ... I think I'm doing pretty good. I'm also sure that I am way more experienced than he is, and a lot crazier. But for some reason, it doesn't matter. If things continue with the way they are, I might not be able to let him go in September. But Baltimore and NYC are pretty close... and absence can make the heart go fonder!

Denise- I know what you mean about being tied down... I feel that too, but at the same time, I almost want to be to just calm myself down a bit... I've had some pretty wild adventures already, so it might be nice to call it a day. Or I could just be settling...AHHH I gotta love the confusion!

You know what else? I am WAYYYYY more confident in myself than he is in himself, and I need to find a way to make him know that he is a great person. I didn't realize how confident and assured of myself I was until I met him- so another great lesson learned.

Remember, we really do deserve to be treated like queens (and kings)... we are WORTHY to be loved, and it is ok to let yourself be yourself because you are someone special!

I'm gonna be really personal right now and let you guys in on a few of my affirmations that I say every day to build up my confidence... and for me, it really does work:

I am surrounded by people who love and appreciate me.

I make significant contributions wherever I go.

I am losing the weight and becoming healthy.

I deserve to succeed in all that I do.

I can let go and be myself without fear of being myself.

I am happy with my life and my life is good.

So.... that's a few off of my list... I swear that I started making these affirmations like 3 weeks ago and a week after I started them, I met Matt... I think that if I hadn't of felt so comfortable with myself, I wouldn't still be seeing him or feeling this good about my life in general.

By the way JC.... have you tried tylenol PM? I'm sorry you're having such a hard time sleeping!

April... have you had enough Protein? That will keep you fuller longer... also try to distract yourself with something really important to take you mind off of the liquids...

just imagine yourself skinny... visualize it and the liquids will seem like nothing in the big sceme of them!

Hi everyone! Today's my birthday!!! I confess that I am eating cake and ice cream while I type this. Bad girl, I know, I know, but it's only once a year, right?

JC, I am so sorry to hear you're having so many problems right now. Have you tried taking anything to sleep? Liquid Nyquil is good--doesn't make me groggy the next day, and within 30 minutes of taking it, I'm out.

Chrispy, sounds like Mike is a keeper.

There are quite a few newbies this week! Hello to everyone. Smilin' Apple, I have some a liquid diet before the surgery. Here's what I used:

HMR - Official Site - Diet, Weight-Loss and Weight-Management Leader

Derbygirl, Happy Birthday!!! I took a few Tylenol PM, it knocked me down for about three and half hours.

JC

Holy cow, JC! Tylenol PM knocks me out for a day and a half.

Happy Birthday, Derby! Have fun with that cake and ice cream. You're right. It's your birthday and it's only once a year.

Leona, I wish I had your problems!! Thanks for the affirmations!

Smilin Apple, I would do the Atkins diet if I were you. If you eat all Protein, you won't be hungry at all. It's the digestion of carbs that cause hunger pains. I lost really well and fast on the Atkins diet. I just couldn't keep it off. But you'll get the band, and you won't have to worry about that!

Its 1:45 am here and I just took another one I hope it will kick in, I need to get with my doctor this has to be fixed.

JC

Happy Happy Birthday Derbygirl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well Leona I'm glad you gave it a little more thought before you just decided to walk away from Matt. I don't care what age you are, it's hard to meet a true "good" guy. A key thing, in my opinion, to look for is whether or not being with him makes you a better person. The other person in your relationship should lift you up, not bring you down if that makes any sense. But I'm excited that you have some real potential there.

JC Maybe some prescribed sleepies (sleeping pills)would help?

I have to try something. I feel antsy and uncomfortable. I may try to go jogging this afternoon.

JC

Hey DerbyGirl!!!!! Happy Birthday!!!!

Ok, so as this is my first actually relationship... I have no idea on how to bring up the subject that maybe we are actually dating now so I can officially say that we are together... any suggestions?

ugh I hate being so inexperienced in this!

JC, try Unisom. It works pretty well. Just read the label. There is a unisom that has the same ingredients as Benydral , and another one with a different

ingredient. The different one works best.

Leona, I would just bring it up by asking something about being exclusive.

Unless you still feel like you want to date other people.