Hi everyone--I thought I'd listen to some advice from one of the other monthly groups and start one master thread in which we have an ongoing discussion/updates. I don't know about you all but I certainly spend most of my time on these boards on the pre-op forum and the general forum, not here. It would be nice to have just one thread to go to once in this forum.

We can maybe start out with introductions?

As for me, I'm going the "online privacy" route for now (paranoid that people I haven't told about this will somehow stumble across me on this site I guess, which is crazy, I know) but I can give you the big picture:

You can call me Penny, I'm 27, single and live in the Washington, DC area. I have a background in politics (which is why I live in DC) but now I'm a librarian which is much cooler and way more fun (trust me on that). Oh, and there's no "Marion the Librarian" thing with me either. One of the things I hear most frequently (besides the cliche "you have such a pretty face") is "but you don't LOOK like a librarian", which is another one of those bizarre backhanded compliments that you never really know how to take.

Personality wise, I'm kind of dorky, big into public radio and books and popular science. Oh, I'm also a little on the paranoid side (as you may be able to tell from earlier in this post). Beyond that I'm just kind of silly and friendly, VERY much so into traveling and I'm an aspiring "green" domestic diva (but that's not going so well).

Very nice kimaly!

Can I ask you how tall are you? And how you came up with your goal weight? I ask because I'm almost to goal and still look heavy, My new goal weight is 150. I changed it from 160 when I got close to it and saw I still wasn't where I really wanted to be and my BMI still wasn't in the normal range. 150 is a normal BMI for me(Well, high normal) But anyway I was just wondering how you came up with yours. If you don't mind me asking.

Can I ask you how tall are you? And how you came up with your goal weight? I ask because I'm almost to goal and still look heavy, My new goal weight is 150. I changed it from 160 when I got close to it and saw I still wasn't where I really wanted to be and my BMI still wasn't in the normal range. 150 is a normal BMI for me(Well, high normal) But anyway I was just wondering how you came up with yours. If you don't mind me asking.

I am 5'7. My goal weight will put me around a size 12-14, which is a very doable goal. That is why I picked it. I also look good when I am at that weight, even though it is still overweight. I do not aspire to be thin, just to look better and be healthy. I am at a size 16 and at my lowest weight right now since the birth of my daughter over 18 years ago. My goal weight will put me around where I was when I got married.

Thank you for the answer. I just noticed I mistook the total amount you want to lose for your goal weight. I thought your goal weight was 135. That's why I asked how tall you are.

Edited March 30, 201016 yr by kimaly

Congrats Kimaly.

Okay for me I have been keeping a food log this week. I have to say it makes me think of food more. I am aming for 1000 cals or below yesterday I ate 1190 so not to bad I also drank 64 oz of water yesterday. I went walking at the mall at lunch. Baby steps

Sounds like your off to a good start. Good for you! And don't worry about baby steps, Steps are steps no matter what type you take.

Sounds like your off to a good start. Good for you! And don't worry about baby steps, Steps are steps no matter what type you take.

Thanks Kimaly you are so right

I went to the weight loss class today. I am down 8lbs. I guess the shake thing is working. Today in class we talked about excuses.......I am the queen of excuses.....and about letting external feelings or circumstances dictate our food choices. Yep, I am external. I am gonna start working on that problem.

You go Charlene Awesome.

Way to Go

Charlene, you are doing great! Maybe I need to do shakes:unsure:.

WOO HOO!!!! And Congrats, You go girl. Awesome job:thumbup::thumbup:

Thanks for the props! My favorite shake is chocolate with a half of a frozen banana. It is so creamy. I think it ends up being 200c, 27p,18 carbs. I have to keep my carbs to 50-60 a day. I think my problem with the pre op shake was I couldn't have fruit in my shake. It really makes a difference.

I don't want to be a debby downer but I am not doing great. I was going with the flow Mon and Tues Wed. hit and the last two days were horrible. I can basically eat alot now or at least it feels like it. I just took out the .4cc becuase the acid reflux always pbing and forget if I tried to eat or drink something cold.

Now I can drink all my water 64oz or more with no probelm yeah. But I made the mistake of testing my band and I can eat so much more we went to IHOP and I ate more than I ever had like my band was not there. It is my fault cause in my mind I was like I can drink I bet I can eat. Well goes to show me I am not ready for a looser band. Now I do not know what to do. spend another 100.00 and add more fluid back or do the shake thing like Charlene is. Dr said eat between 800-1000 a day no more that 1200 and that is only if I am working out very hard which I am not HELP I feel crappy and confused. Why do you do good than I fall flat I mean I did not even make it a week. :thumbup: I am also reading the beck book but very slowly seems like I bever have time.

I don't want to be a debby downer but I am not doing great. I was going with the flow Mon and Tues Wed. hit and the last two days were horrible. I can basically eat alot now or at least it feels like it. I just took out the .4cc becuase the acid reflux always pbing and forget if I tried to eat or drink something cold.

Now I can drink all my water 64oz or more with no probelm yeah. But I made the mistake of testing my band and I can eat so much more we went to IHOP and I ate more than I ever had like my band was not there. It is my fault cause in my mind I was like I can drink I bet I can eat. Well goes to show me I am not ready for a looser band. Now I do not know what to do. spend another 100.00 and add more fluid back or do the shake thing like Charlene is. Dr said eat between 800-1000 a day no more that 1200 and that is only if I am working out very hard which I am not HELP I feel crappy and confused. Why do you do good than I fall flat I mean I did not even make it a week. :thumbup: I am also reading the beck book but very slowly seems like I bever have time.

I was in the place you are now. I went to the Dr to put more fill in and then he asked if I had vomited in the last month. When I said yes that is when he told me to go on the shake diet. Just try the shake thing for 3 days and see if your pouch shrinks. I drink three shakes and eat a meal of 4ozs of chicken on a bed of 2 cups of Romaine lettuce. I put a Tbsp of vinegarete on it. I can also have a Pro Joe, sf jello, or a pickle for a snack. I put strawberries (3) or half a small banana in the shake. My pouch is small now. Four ozs of chicken is almost too much.

I agree with Charlene, Try the 5 day pouch test and see if you can shrink your stomach. Also, maybe .4cc's was to much to take out. Sometimes just a .2 can make all the difference. I also don't do cold things to well, I pretty much do everything warm or room temp. But that's not a problem for me because I've always drank everything that way even soda back in the day. I hope this week brings you better restriction.

I was in the place you are now. I went to the Dr to put more fill in and then he asked if I had vomited in the last month. When I said yes that is when he told me to go on the shake diet. Just try the shake thing for 3 days and see if your pouch shrinks. I drink three shakes and eat a meal of 4ozs of chicken on a bed of 2 cups of Romaine lettuce. I put a Tbsp of vinegarete on it. I can also have a Pro Joe, sf jello, or a pickle for a snack. I put strawberries (3) or half a small banana in the shake. My pouch is small now. Four ozs of chicken is almost too much.

I agree with Charlene, Try the 5 day pouch test and see if you can shrink your stomach. Also, maybe .4cc's was to much to take out. Sometimes just a .2 can make all the difference. I also don't do cold things to well, I pretty much do everything warm or room temp. But that's not a problem for me because I've always drank everything that way even soda back in the day. I hope this week brings you better restriction.

Thank you both I think that is what I am going to do. I am off next week so I will have better control of my enviroment and I will be swimming and doing fun activites with my son all week so I will rock the exercise.