Hi everyone! This is a support thread for bandsters who are approaching or maintaining their goal weight, whatever that may be. This thread will likely include monthly challenges for exercise and/or diet goals, which members can choose to join or not join at their leisure.

I read a book once called Passing For Thin, which was written by a woman who lost 150+ pounds through OA, yet never felt thin on the inside. That is one of the things thread is intended to discuss, as well as the other unique challenges and successes of a bandster who is now Passing For Thin. These issues could be related to food in the maintenance phase, upcoming exercise goals, self-esteem issues, relating to the opposite sex -- anything you confront in your new body.

Maybe in the course of discussing our issues, we will become thin on the inside as well as the outside.

Let the discussion begin!

Just joining in on this conversation. Have not read all the former responses.

I feel as though physically, I can pass for thinish, but what a fat head I still have.

I have been overweight since foreverrrrrrr, and have never 'thought' like a thin person. I have always felt the fat girl. My head is still there. I don't 'feel' as though I look fat, but I associate myself with the 'fat girl' image.

I catch myself wanting to say disparaging comments, like "my fat ass" or sitting on a chair hoping I doesn't break. I really need to work on this. I know I look thinnish, I just need to work on those voices in my head.

Has anyone here adjusted their goal as they got closer to it? I only have 20 pounds to go, but I'm feeling like maybe that won't be enough. Then, I think that is only because I don't feel thin yet. Maybe I will when I'm at goal or considered "normal" on weight/BMI charts. So I was just wondering if you were happy with your original goal when you actually got there. Anyone?

I'm still changing my goals daily, if not more often than that. I really want to be happy with the 150's or 140's but am seriously worried I won't be happy until I hit the 120's/110's for my height.

There is an interesting website (can get you the link if you want) that shows various methods for calculating your ideal or goal body weight. One of the methods it uses, which it calls a more realistic goal weight is one that tells you what your average peer (age, sex & current weight) would say was an appropriate goal weight. I hadn't realized at first that last bit about the goal being set by a group of peers at your current weight, and it took me a while to notice the goal kept changing as I lost weight since I didn't go back to the sight often. But it was eerily accurate in "guessing" what my own ever changing thoughts of a goal weight would be as I've lost the weight.

I wore a belt today (brown, wide, braided), for no other reason than it was a fashion accessory that looked good with my outfit. Wearing a belt feels like passing for thin. Which is a good thing, because I've been feeling fat.

Ah, the belt, the BIGGEST mark of being thin!! I never even had a belt until recent, you just don't need them at size 30! :Banane20:

I'm 40 in six weeks time, and I couldnt have wished to have looked or felt better than I do. That was what really got me moving on this surgery 2 years ago, the thought of being 40, fat, miserable, unwell.

The smartest thing I've seen posted on these boards.

Perfection in motivation, and so simple.

Congratulations.

greg

p.s. There was a lot I enjoyed about drinking, but I couldn't limit it, so I quit. There was a lot I enjoyed about smoking, but that was purely drug addiction, so I quit. There is even more I enjoy about food, but I can not restrict my intake, so "the band" does. Yippie, and God Bless us All. :Banane20:

Ghost/Diane,

I'm interested in that link. Maybe it will help get my head and the image of me in a mirror a little closer.

Thanks, MC

MarieCarmen - Here's the link. The site will give you your "ideal" goal weight based on your Peers or "People's Choice", BMI, Met Life Tables, as well as 4 other methods for calculating your IBW (Ideal Body Weight). It also has links to articles that point out some flaws in these different methods that are well worth the read. For example the Met life tables assume a women is wearing 3 pounds of clothes and 1" heels. So for that chart you actually have to add 1" to your height and 3 pounds to your weight if you weigh without clothing like I do.

One insightfull but potentially depressing thing about the site is that for my height 5'2", every time I lose weight the "People's Choice" IBW weight keeps getting lower and lower. It isn't until I get down to 111 that my peers finally think I don't need to lose a few pounds!!! :faint:I really want to believe I will be happy with my weight LONG before that weight. Dear Me, if I'm a size 10 at 165 and am looking at maybe being a size 6 after plastic surgery which probably will only bring me down to 150ish. I'd have to be down to a size 0 (or less?) if I managed to get down to 111. That sounds plain stupid, vain and greedy to me. Though I will admit with my sister being 5'10" and a size 1 a little part of me probably will always feel like the "fat" girl in my family.

Better Ideal Weight Body Calculations

I am closer to my goal!!!! 7 pounds away!!!

Audree

Dear Me, if I'm a size 10 at 165 and am looking at maybe being a size 6 after plastic surgery which probably will only bring me down to 150ish. I'd have to be down to a size 0 (or less?) if I managed to get down to 111.

Ghost and I are the same height. I weigh 148 and am a consistent size 6P, even in pants (and even a 4 on top sometimes). To be 111 I'd have to shop in the kids' department. I went to the PCP this morning for my pre-op bloodwork and she said to ignore the charts and not go below the 130s. I think she's right.

Audree, WOOHOO 7 lbs to go! Congratulations!

Audree, what have you been eating these days? Last time you checked in, you were thinking about another fill, but worried because you started to pb. I am just wondering what a typical

day's eating is for you.

I have such a slow metabolism, it drives me crazy.

I am going to check out that link because I really don't know for my age,what I should weigh.

Julie, You are only 5'2"? That's the same height I am. I would probably wear a 14 at 148. I know some years ago, I weighed 135

and wore a size 12.

I am really frustrated because I don't lose the way other people do. I have looked at some threads to see what others eat, and I would gain weight if I ate like that. I really can't lose unless I am around 800 calories. I had a resting metabolism test taken that showed I only burn 1,000 calories just breathing.

I sometimes worry that I will not lose anymore.

Julie, You are only 5'2"? That's the same height I am. I would probably wear a 14 at 148. I know some years ago, I weighed 135

and wore a size 12.

Yep! I'm 5'1 1/2" but I claim 5'2 because I round up in height, down in weight (wink).

I've always weighed more than my clothing size would reflect. Even at 358 I never outgrew Lane Bryant, for example. I remember in 7th grade getting down to 135 and being a size 3 in junior's. At 148, I'm a 6P or sometimes a 4P -- never an 8. Now, sizes are definitely cut bigger these days, so I'm not claiming to be skinny, but it is weird that I weigh so much for my size. I guess it's partially because I have an athleti build (did I really just say that??!?) and partially just having extra bone and muscle from being so heavy.

You're really lucky Julie! I know when I was in the 140's I wore a

12 or a 14.

I wish I could have gotten the band in my 30's instead of my 50's. My face looks a lot more wrinkled now that I have lost weight. It makes me wonder how bad it's going to look when (or if) I lose anymore.

I am closer to my goal!!!! 7 pounds away!!!

Audree

YEAH Audree! Good for you!

I know what you guys mean about the sizes these days. I just bought a size 8 skirt from the gap at 153, however when I try on old jeans or shorts size 8 from my closet I can't get them over my hips. Sizes have to be larger these days. I never wore a size 6 even when I was 135 pounds before.