Dearest Annie, if you need to lose weight quickly, your health is at risk otherwise & your Dr. wants you to, you really ought to look at surgery. I know some people are opposed to it BUT I am for it IF you've tried everything else. To some of us food is a drug and being FORCED to limit your food intake is the only way forward for for some of us. Try looking on the surgery section of 3fc, I bet there will be lots of support & advice offered to you there. YOU MUST look at the big picture, your life, your husbands life & your health, not what others think! I for one would rather you be healthy AND ALIVE having had surgery rather than 'dieting' & getting sicker, it could take too long to lose weight the 'diet' way. Hugs & kisses, I know you pray, do you think the Lord would want you to suffer like this or take the gift he's given to those Drs of HEALING? Good luck, keep me/us posted.xxxxxxx
Welcome new ladies, Houston ?Lisa I start on Friday this week, I had to take a different plan due to the cost, travelling & lack of reliable babysitters, so it's the Cambridge diet for me! The lady who's coming lost over 150lbs on it, she gained a lot of weight after losing her son & understands about depression & eating, she's also a retired psychiatric nurse, so I'll be in good hands! AND she comes to my house, at my convenience! What is your plan, if you don't mind me asking? Good luck, when do you start?xxxxxx
Heather, oooh you bad girl!!!lol I LOVED the bit where you said you checked the additives & trans fats!!! Still, long term you can't give up cookies FOREVER, so an odd one or two isn't going to ruin you, especially as you took the remainder to work!xxxxxx
Xena, Rod Stewart, ooh, love his sexy voice. Good luck with your exams, though I KNOW you'll ACE THEM!xxxxxx
Emily, great on all that exercise, and with the whole family, you are so lucky!xxxxxxx
Sandy, I hope everything works out with the braces & things get better with the 'kids'.xxxxxxx
Mechelle, I hope you manage to get your salt sorted out & HEY you just moved house, 1,000s of miles(?) It will take time to get your diet back on track, start fresh each day & try to cut back on processed stuff, that is SO salt filled!! I am amzed at the amounts of salt in stuff which isn't really salty tasting at all!! It shouldn't be allowed to me made like that!xxxxxx
Kymberley, WTG on the 4lbs!xxxxxx
Ronnie, I will look at your bio, but good luck & keep posting, there is so much support here. What is the Dr's plan based on?xxx
Gotta go & do 'stuff', I'm feeling a bit happier & looking forward to starting my new plan, but at the same time, scared, in case I fail AGAIN! Oh well, as long as I don't give up.
Ammi, hope you enjoyed your nap & feeling more energetic!xxxxx
xxxxsharon

Dear dear Annie big big ! I want you to take the thought right out of your head that we won't support you if you have surgery!!!!! That is just silly!

It is NOT an easy option and certainly LOTS of considerations, but we are hear to support you, hun!!!

I also agree with Sharon -- please go to the WLS board and talk to the ladies there. There are lots of people who have been through a number of different procedures and can give you a lot of feedback.

Sharon, Ammi, and all -- I forgot to bring the cookies to work AND ate them all. I'm okay though. No regrets. Though not something I plan to do again soon!

does anyone know how much soduim we should have in a day? i want to start watching my sodium intake

Oh our Dear Annie! Don't you worry at all about our being your friends! We love you and want you HEALTHY! That's the ONLY thing that matters! Your heart is nothing to mess with, especially if defects run in the family and you must do what is best for you! You are right, many do think surgery isn't right, but that's only when you are looking at it as a quick fix instead of what it is, a tool. Clearly when someone has tried, as you have tried and have an urgent need for faster loss, as you have a need, then surgery may be the best and only thing to do!

You are such a sweet, dear woman. We love you silly thing! When you are svelte and sexy - and most of all healthy - we'll still love you! No matter how you get there! You keep us informed!!!

To everyone else - Obviously, I'm alive. I've not been in much of a posting mood I'm afraid. We've gotten started doing some home-improvement that's taking up my computer time at night and office work has become increasingly overwhelming, taking up my computer time during the day. I hate stress. So I'll try to pop in and at least lurk when I can! Don't forget me!

Hello again! Thank you for the warm welcome. So far, today has been going well. I'm on spring break right now but I'm stuck in the dorms (I work on campus) and the dining hall isn't open. I think it's easier for me to make healthy options when I'm buying food on my own because our dining hall is buffet style, with lots of greasy food. There are healthy options available though, and I need to work on choosing those.

About the question of sodium intake-- my doctor told me to try to stay under 2300 mg per day, but I think it might be different for everyone. I'm just today starting to log my own sodium, because I have no idea how much I regularly consume.

thanks for the answer . i am retaining water so i think i need to watch my sodium intake as well

I think because of the way I grew up, not much support for things, I fully expected to be shunned because of looking into wls. I read the posts this morning and the ones directed at me just made me feel so loved. I am not used to that except here of coarse. Thank you all so very much for your loving words, supportive words and concern. I feel like I have made friends forever and that I can't imagine my life without all of you. Thank you so much! I just adore you all. I know I am sounding sappy but I really feel blessed to have all of you.

Sharon: I got such a lovely silver Dragon from you in the mail and a card to melt my heart. Thank you so very much. I can't tell you that it came at the most wonderful time. I also got something from Nancy on the same day, yesterday. I just am so overwhelmed by the love and care I feel from you all. You are such a sweet hear and I know you are right about God not wanting me to suffer. I always look at things if I can help other people or not and I think I was really feeling that surgery for me would be like failing. I don't feel like that now after trying so hard to loose weight. Exercising like I never have before even when I was thin. I will continue to try to loose weight and exercise, who knows, maybe I'll start going down instead of up. lol. I hope the Cambridge diet works so great for you sweetie.

Brenda: Thank you so very much for the beautiful key chain. I just go it in the mail yesterday. I needed something like that so much and yesterday I got it and a beautiful silver dragon from Sharon. Did you make the key chain? I love it. It is so sweet and it reminds me of you. I should have know that we walk this road together is really how all of you feel just like me. That is why we are all here.

Bless each and every one of you,
Annie

Just popping in for a sec.


Annie~Of course we'll still all be your friends!! We are all at different places in our weight loss journeys, have different health issues and health history. Your doctor knows your health better than anyone else. You do what you feel is best for your health and your family. Of course we'll all still be here for your support. Big big hugs to you.


Patti~When my dad was on dialysis last spring and summer after we almost lost him, the kidney drs and staff said no more than 2000mg


Lilion~I'll never, ever forget you. You're my ellipitical idol!!! Hang tough, remember we're here and care about you. I completely understand being in a mood to not post. Believe me! Lurking is still good. Post when you can. I always look forward to your posts.


Ronnie~ Glad to meet you.

Heather – It sounds like it will be tough to have your DH away so much. He has become such a partner for you in your weight loss / maintenance. That was great that you took the cookies to work the next day.

Ammi – I am not sure if my ex has been making any plans yet. He is being really good about everything and trying to be really accommodating. I think part of this is the fact that he is hoping I am going to change my mind. He has said several times that the window for me to do so is still open. Your picks for AI are exactly the same as mine!

Torister – Congratulations on being 3 weeks on plan! TOM is tough, mostly because I often find it kicks cravings into overdrive. Hope you are doing ok.

Catherine – I am glad you were able to take some time to center yourself after the funeral. I have never been to the funeral of a child, but I can only imagine how heartbreaking it must be.

Deb– I am glad that you aren’t going to let the last two weeks get to you too much. You are really busy, and there are sometimes only so many things we can do at once. Good luck on the GMAT! When are you taking it?

Lisa – I am glad you found your way over to the main thread. It sounds like you are really prepared to start your new diet. I can’t wait to hear how it goes for you.

MsOne – to 3FC! I had a lot of trouble with my knees when I started, and they have gotten so much better. One thing I would recommend if you can get to a gym is an elliptical machine. I find that they don’t bother my knees at all.

Michelle – I have the same problems with sodium. It really affects me a lot and so I try to watch it, but it isn’t easy. Almost all prepared foods are loaded with salt – especially soups. The thing that gets me the most are the things you wouldn’t expect, like pudding (the sugar free Jello pudding snacks have 170mg).

Ronnie – It can be so hard to balance dieting and school. Late night study sessions and lots of junk food around can be total killers.

Annie – Of course we will still be your friends!!!! Having surgery is a personal choice and for some people absolutely the right one. We have all seen how hard you have worked and how frustrating it has been for you. I for one will 1000% support you in whatever you feel is right for you because you deserve to live a fantastic healthy long life, no matter what it takes to get you there.

Patti – I have also heard that sodium levels should be around 2300.


I am looking at an apartment this afternoon at 3pm and then another one tomorrow at 4:30. The toughest thing is the idea of having to go to a laundromat. I HATE having to go out to do my laundry (and with the workout clothes I will have to go once a week). Unfortunately, I probably can’t afford the types of one-bedroom apartments that have washers unless I find something unusual. Does anyone have any experience with portables?

Not much else to report. I am having trouble keeping myself on track. Part of this is not wanting to argue with my ex and he has been the one doing the cooking the last few days. However, this is really not a good excuse and I need to say no if I really don’t want something. For example, last night he was eating leftover pizza and he really wanted me to try a piece because he liked it so much. I didn’t really want it, but I didn’t want to argue so I ate it. I only went over my daily total by about 100 calories, but it is the principle of it. I need to do what I know has worked for me, which is logging what I eat and getting my exercise. Why can things that are so simple sometimes be so tough?

ok ladies thanks that gives me a figure to watch i appreciate it. now i am going to rest awhile ..not feeling good today

lilion, I am so proud of you....and even happier for you. Way to go. Don't ever forget the feeling of accomplishment and pride that you have right now.

Okay guys,
I just talked to the surgeon's office and I have an appointment for my a free seimar they give on the 13th of March. I found out I can choose between lap band surgery and gastric bypass. I hope I can do the Lap band If I decide to do this. I think it is very funny that I will have to loose some weight before I can have weight loss surgery. If I could loose weight I don't think I would be considering surgery. lol. The world is a funny place.

Nancy: Good for you to recognize that you need to be the one in control and not to eat things to please others. I am so proud of you and all the positive changes you are making. Who knows, maybe going to the laundry room in an apartment will enable you to meet some new friends! I used to hate that too when we lived in an apartment without a washer and dryer but, it goes by quickly enough. Bring a book to read or if no one is in the room, walk around and around for exercise! Hugs to you.

Yipeeeeee! Go Lilion. I knew it would happen sooner or later. You go girl! So, so happy for you! Hugs hugs hugs.