DaGreen

YUM! Everyone's list look good and tasty!

Will, I thought it was a guy just being a guy always wanting/needing sex not beauty within the eye of the beholder Harmony Herb and Kittycat, EXCELLENT insight. However, I'd like to think that isn't the case. We both have been true and confident within ourselves, no jealousy issues ever and we have been married 15 years and together 20. My husband has chased me around the house regardless what size I am, which I know I should feel extremely flattered, but with body image issues that I have, how can one truly feel sexy? Seriously, this is just a miner set back. I think he thought I was being to hasty in making the decision. I know with much discussion in the next couple of weeks, I will be banded in late Sept or Oct.

Oh, me too! Sign me up! Julie, I currently feel your pain. I have such low self esteem body issues. It's NEVER affected me till recently. Hang in there girl, I believe it will happen for you.

I am sorry Wii Fit broke. Maybe you over worked it That is a bummer that you have to unlock all the games though

Hi and Welcome :lb14: Lots of great people and information here.

Will, you are a crack up! My issues with sex? "EEEWWW, why does he even WANT to touch me? I am so gross" Phoenix, THANK YOU for that. My husband sat back and did that for years, now that I am going ahead with the surgery, he is interested in helping me out, HIS WAY My current status is: I am "allowing" my husband one last chance to put his best foot forward and letting him think that he can "fix me". As someone said earlier, it has to be his idea. So basically, I am humoring him. I have all my books out (see book review), not hiding it at all, I've even cooked him some meals out of the cookbooks. I have also read to him a lot of your posts in this forum. He is opening up more and more to the idea. I am continuing to follow the program for I asked to be banded for my 40th birthday, which is in January. I always get what I want :-? In the mean time, Bob Green, aka Husband, has me working out daily using my Garmin Heart Rate Monitor that the workouts get logged to the computer weekly. He asked of me 8 hours a week to be in my target heart rate zone. I am also following a 1200-1500 calorie per day program. I see this all a precursor to what I will have to be doing once I am banded anyways. Bob, aka husband, is also eating smaller portions and about the same caloric intake as me This gives both of us an opportunity to work together on a life style change before the actual surgery happens. It gives me a chance to work with my psychologist on this as well. THANK YOU ALL for your kindness and support. And I thought HE gave tough love, some of you were pretty cut and dry and I think the world of you for that! <' />

Vix, he sounds like my husband I can't wait to see if you go back to him at a lighter weight. Also, what an ass about the double standard. Like Botox is a "necessary surgery".

Ok, I just finished a couple of books and have also made some recipes from the cookbooks and thought I'd share my reviews with you all. Dr. Ortiz “Lap Band for Life” A must have if you are going to be banded or have been banded by OCC. A lot of what is posted here is answered in this book in regards to what to expect before, during and after your surgery. Some of it becomes a little too medical and some is a bit generic. All in all, it is the format of this forum Robert Sewell and Linda Rohrbough, “Weight Loss Surgery with the Adjustable Gastric Band: Everything You Need to Know Before and After Surgery to Lose Weight Successfully” Easy to understand and follow. They actually give you the food plans pre op and post op. There is even a chapter called “Living with a person that has been banded.” Funny thing though, they sometimes bash being banded in Mexico yet they use a lot of testimonials from people that have been banded in Mexico. Cookbooks- Patt Levine and Michele Bontempo-Saray, “Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery” LOVE IT! I am cooking challenged and found all the recipes doable and you don’t have to go out and find out of the way ingredients that I had to while I was doing South Beach or Atkins. Each recipe is broken down by serving guidelines for Lap-Band AND Bypass AND what week you are at with your meals. The recipes are also broken down by servings, calories, protein, fat, carbs, cholesterol, fiber and sodium. Margaret M. Furtado, “Recipes for Life After Weight-Loss Surgery” More of a “Spa” style recipes. Hard to find ingredients. The recipes are broken down as above with weeks you are at your meals and nutritional value.

Woo Hoo! Congratulations!

Kim, you look amazing! Actually, your clothes are hanging on you in the current picture! Good luck with Fay.

=D> =D> =D> Congrats! Keep up the great work! Denise, you are doing fantastic too! You both are very inspirational!

TMI on this forum is not TMI, It's things we all need to learn about. I hope you feel better soon.

Ok, I see this as a start of your life style change. You have some time to plan. Get yourself into the right mindset and if you have to, write down your plan. Do you have Dr. Ortiz's book? If so, go straight to Chapter 10, Hunger, Pains in My Brains. Pick a place to take your mom for her birthday and go to the website and see what you can have to eat. Same with your husband. If you feel you need a cake for her birthday, get cupcakes for everyone instead of a full size cake. If you are hanging out around the house and get the "head hunger" drink a tall glass of water or go for a walk around the neighborhood. Once you are banded you have to get your walks in, right? No time like the present to start your game plan. It sounds like you have a great support system with your immediate family and within this forum. Here's my strategy currently on the pre-op: I am going to try the Pavlov's Dog theory. Currently I have a TON of South Beach and Atkins Protein Bars, Shakes and puddings and a lot of hard boiled eggs in the fridge. Whenever I have "head hunger" I will and do reach for one of the above items first. Then if that doesn't work, I am grabbing the ipod and going for a walk. Honestly, I HAVE to eat more than 3 times a day and the pre-op diet would have me on the floor in low blood sugar coma, that's the reason for the protein extras. I am not banded but hope to be. I hate this struggle of EVERYTHING evolving around food! I went to dinner the other night with friends for Thai Food. They got to the restraunt before me and ordered a TON of food. I couldn't stop eating. The other night we had a going away party with a bbq for a friend at the beach. Again, tons of great food. I didn't have a plan. To me, those two situations was purely a binge session. I think next going away party I am going to have a protein shake before I show up, say my good byes, and then say MY good bye and leave before I have a chance to lose control with all the food around

Oh dear! Stay strong. This is for you.

I have to 2nd Vix! You guys and gals ROCK! :lb13:

You look amazing! Congrats!

Could you drink V-8 juice?

=D> =D> =D> What AWESOME willpower you have! Congratulations and keep up the excellent job!

From someone that has been stuck in 18's - 22's, 12's are SMALL!!! Congratulations!! I agree, we need pictures!

Ok, immediately I thought of the movie the Exorcist and it made me laugh and I do apologize for laughing. I would have thought peas would have been safe, wouldn't that be like corn? Then again, I appreciate the possibility that it could be the skin. Sorry you had to experience that. Kittycat, I couldn't IMAGINE KFC!

ALL OF YOU ARE AWESOME!!! Thank you for all the support and advice!! You ALL have given me ammo to back my side of the story up. I know one thing, he was SHOCKED and said, "but surgery is the last straw." I kept telling him over and over, "EXACTLY." We spent the whole day together today and I was just so sad and unhappy and he sensed it. He leaves for a couple of weeks, guess when the surgery is going to get scheduled without him knowing? I feel I've talked to him and told him what I wanted and he voiced his opinions now it's my decision, my body. Ellen, you are my hero as well! THANK YOU ALL for the wonderful support.

WOW!! What a fantastic post/experience! Keep up the great attitude you will be successful!

Dawn, you couldn't have said it better! THANK YOU! I am going to print out this whole thread for him to read. I don't understand where he is coming from on this. He is my number 1 supporter, he has been there through my depression and medication, he's been there for the last year at every triathlon I did and for him to see me hurt myself and to still not lose weight, I don't get it.

Thanks for the support! Karenlynn, I am going to follow the plan as if I was banded, thanks for the tips! Kim, I am so effing mad and sad. No kids are involved. I do have high risks of ovarian and breast cancer. I've tried to tell him all this and he knows all this. He is an athlete and doesn't understand. Nothing I said made sense to him. His answer? "We BOTH will go to a nutritionist and do this together." Ugh, he rides his bike about 200 miles a week, he NEEDS the food and calories. I am just beside myself. The good news, it will take me a short time to get the rest of the money on my own. Cara, I truly believe he thinks it's "being in control of yourself". You are absolutely right, it's just going to be more money spent on more diets and more injuries to myself trying to get in the exercise. Doingitagain, thanks! I think you and I both found this site at the same time. STAND YOUR GROUND, don't let your husband do the same to you. Keep posting details about your steps, I am going to need them in the future! You all know I WILL WIN THIS BATTLE AGAINST HIM, it's just a matter of time and the thing is, I think he KNOWS I am going to win. I think he is just in shock.

Well, one week from today I was to make my journey to TJ and now it's not going to happen. As some of you recall, I wasn't going to tell my husband well, I did tell him. I told him today and he said, "No Way." He wants me to give it 6 months, his way. I am so sad. He asked me to give him 100% effort on eating and exercising which I believe I have not done in the past. Because our marriage is a partnership, 1/2 of the partners won't allow the financing to happen. So, unless I can come up with half the $$ in a week, not likely, I don't get to get banded. I talked to Carolyn and she said I can use my deposit for a future date. I feel even If I do well within this next 6 months, I will still need to be banded to keep it off. It is what it is, a food addiction. Now with all that said, I am going to continue to change my lifestyle as if I was banded. I will eat and exercise as recommended for the next 6 months. I am also going to finish Dr. Ortiz's book and I would still like to participate in this forum because I am still going to need you all!