Hello and good morning my friends. Welcome to Banders #7. So, I guess I'll start it off by saying how grateful I am today and every day for the new lease on life that I have. I walked to the office today from the train station. That was something I couldn't do before the surgery. I always say how light I feel and I realized it's not a state of mind, but a physical reality. We are weighed down by the excess weight and all that goes with it. When we don't rumble and jumble as we walk, our steps are lighter. I was listening to my ipod and started to dance a little as I was walking. I'm sure I looked ridiculous, but who cares? When one is thin, even looking ridiculous seems OK.

I am grateful for my for my beautiful grandson who I was able to tuck into my lap last Saturday morning so we could play while Mommy and Daddy got to sleep in a bit. I'm grateful that I fit anywhere and everywhere. No more worrying if I will break a chair, or be able to navigate a booth at the restaurant, or walk down a narrow aisle without having to suck it all in just to get past someone/something.

I'm grateful for my health. I take alot of pills, but many of them are supplements and not prescription for chronic ailments. I'm grateful that I can walk again...that I can swim, bike, climb, and yes....enjoy sex. I am surprised at how flexible I can be now that I'm thin.

I'm grateful that I earn enough money that I can indulge my new found love of shopping. I really think I'm one of the best dressed ladies in the office these days...and I know I've upped the game for others. I am definitely seeing more dresses than I did a year ago.

I'm grateful to Alex for having this site available...and I'm grateful to all the folks on it who are part of my success. I know I would not have been as successful as I have been if not for all of you. I talk about things here that I don't talk to anyone else about. You all know the struggles of being fat, and immobile, and feeling like a failure regardless of what we've accomplished..and I know now how much we 'hidden' people have accomplished. It's helping me to not turn that self hatred towards others still struggling with obesity. It also reminds me that I will always struggle with obesity. Under this thin person still lurks the fat girl. She is the one who whispers in my ear all the time that I'm not worthy of the good things out there and I should just order a pizza and eat the whole thing. She and I clash daily and it's why I still go every Tuesday to the therapist who listens and helps me to navigate this new world I inhabit.

Well...I think I've posted enough for today. Feel free to comment on the above, or share your stories, or say hi, or just lurk. Enjoy your day today...enjoy the upcoming holiday, and looking forward to a wonderfully robust Banders #7 thread.

Liz

Sorry joe about your loss...

The older I get.. The more losses I'm handed. Sigh

Earth wind and fire!!!! Liz. If you aren't dancing, something is wrong and you need to see a dr!!!!????????

I'm dancing just thinking of the music...it could also be the Holiday music I have going at my desk I really enjoy the holiday, and Joe you are 100% right.

Spend every day like it's your last. Love and Laugh and love some more. Get out there and live life to the fullest every moment of it.

Hugs to you all my friends and Happy Happy Holidays!!!!

Should have said something or Pmd me I forgot how close you lived , if it was my day off I would have came & met you & your Wife just to take a pic & meet both of you, JFC.

Joe I am sorry for the loss of your cousin. Yes everyone needs to live life as much as possible and enjoy every minute with the people you love. I was happy my husband and I made our trip to Alaska before he passed away . I would love to go back and do some hiking and more exploring. He really wasn't physically able to do that but we had a nice trip. Life sure does take all kinds of turns sometimes. I hope you continue to enjoy your health and enjoy your time with your wife and family.

Thinking of your family, Joe. And life, affirming happiness and being present in our lives.

Happy new year to everyone reaching , staying, maintaining their goals.

Looking great, Debbie!

Thanks, Debbie -- Happy New Year to you, too, and to all my friends on this site. I am currently in bed and trying to rest after a much-too-busy holiday season. Grateful not to be hungry but still need to rein in the eating/drinking. Enough with the cheese, good grief. About to make a great big beet and green apple juice and that will be the first thing I've had today besides tea. Juicing has always worked for me as a way to regroup. Here's to 2016 and health, prosperity and enjoying our lives. Best wishes to all!

Debbie looking good,, Bandista, take care of yourself. I had a good New Years Day, stayed on the couch in my pj's, weather here was rainy and cool. Dumped my house of all crap food, Cookies, candy, left over cheesecake and pie.. I'm on a mission to maintain and even maybe lose a few lbs. I need to start walking if I can. My hips are giving me problems . Arthritis seems to be causing that. so, exercise is difficult but I know I need to move. I am looking forward to the New Year and hope today will be a good day to de=Christmas my house. Good to see how well everyone is doing. Keep up the positive posts.

Well, I made it thru the week. The BF spent this past week at my place and he's all about pizza and Chinese and ice cream. I was very concerned I would backslide and it worried me considerably. He goes home later today and I weighed 121.6 last Sunday and 122.6 this morning. One pound is nothing. We had sushi for dinner last night so some of it is likely Water anyway. While so many on this board worried about the holidays, I worried about this. I feel so proud of myself for avoiding the landmines and not blowing myself up. Hooray for me.

Way to go Liz.. yes the holidays can be treacherous.. I had to end up throwing stuff out.. Cookies we made for Santa.. (I didn't want to look like Santa). fudge, candy and finally the remaining cheese cake.. (my downfall). I also had some silk pie left in my fridge that had to go. Sugar is my crack. It felt kind of good to be strong enough to chunk it.. I absolutely cannot eat Chinese and I'm good with that because I used to love it too much. I have been using this ugly, cold, rainy day to re-group and reorganize my house.. de-christmased and trying to go through some of my husband's things that I think the kids might want.. that has been the most difficult today.. I have quit for now because it's becoming too emotional for me..

I know you understand. Anyway wanted to tell you good job on holidays and keep it up.

It took me months to go through my husband's things and years to get rid of everything. I still have some things that I'll never get rid of like his wallet and everything that was in it when he passed. Take it easy with this part. Do what you can if you feel up to it, and walk away if/when you aren't able to take on this task.

Happy New Year to you all!!! I hope 2016 is finding you happy and healthy thus far!!

Though the week before the new year I had to have 2 cc's taken out of my band I am actually feeling better for it. I'm able to eat and not really be too hungry between meals. I need to focus a bit on moving and getting some exercise in but I am hesitant to get back to the gym....not sure I'm 100% ready for that yet.

Maybe I will start with the gym at work and just get some walking in daily and go from there. Everyone in my office seems to be sick again. The cacophony of coughing and throat clearing...oh my! I have my classical music turned up loud and I'm conducting them all in unison to spraying of my Lysol!!

I'm taking some immune boosting Vitamins as well, because I just don't want to get sick again! I can't say I was fabulous in choices this weekend, pizza was definitely on the menu as well as movie pop corn but at least I didn't eat a whole pie or anything like that, and today I'm back on track and ready to focus on 2016!!!

OK I have to ask because We've all had was & know about our skim & our bodies how it is reacting , & most of us watched my 600# life & We know what We felt like , well now there's a show called Skin tight who's watching I am not there yet still about any plastic surgery because I can hide most of it , I don't have the hanging apron or other parts & I know some have had TT or other things done but just thought I would ask & I have also watched botched so that makes me scared , so who's watching the new show skin tight?

OK...I must admit I watched it last night. Usually my BF comes over on Wednesdays but I had my personal training last night so he didn't come over and I was able to watch the show. If he was staying by me last night, we would have watched something else for sure.

So..my opinion is that I am even more convinced after watching the episode, that I'm not ready for surgery. Yes...I want to get rid of the saggy skin. No...it's not as bad as the woman in last night's episode. Also...I don't hate my body the way she did. I can cover up the parts I don't like, and I have no issues with intimacy. My BF has made it very clear that he is enamored of me regardless of the saggy skin, saggy boobs, scars, etc. There is nothing off limits as far as his touch on my body so while that was a huge issue for her, it's not one for me. I also think that they will be inundated with people trying to get on the show to get surgery without having to pay for it. LOL.