Re: Opinion on Unfill for vacation?

[Guest guest]

My thinking was the cost involved in the cruise. My thinking was the

embarrassment that I feel when I'm sitting there at a table waiting for things

to go down while everyone is staring at me thinking I'm not liking my food. I

obviously should not have posted this question because it's almost " cult-like "

thinking on some of the responses that I'm getting. This is ridiculous. Of

course I wouldn't ask for an unfill for Thanksgiving. We all have had to get

used to this band in each of us. I think I've adjusted fairly well for the most

part. I do feel there is a part of me that will never be the same. I will

never be able to take a big bite of a turkey & swiss sandwich and I do miss

that. The weight loss makes up for that and so I don't sit and obsess about it.

I deal with it and eat what I can. I knew it was a touchy question to even

remotely ask but I don't think I need to be blasted for even asking. Isn't this

supposed to be a support group? So if this question

gets your bile boiling, then I'm sorry. And then to end your Email with

" blessings " is a little contradictory in my opinion. I felt your Email was a

bit judgmental to be ending with that. Anyway, if anyone would like to answer

my question in a way that does not make me feel like total crap for even asking

it, that would be really great and appreciated. I'm struggling here. Can't

anyone see that?

Kelli Hepworth <225Free@...> wrote: I'm sorry, but I have to

voice on this one. Why did you get banded

in the first place if you are going to get unfilled at each

difficult eating opportunity? If you are truly committed to making

this work there should not even be a question. I waS BORN on

Thanksgiving. I have always LOVED Thanksgiving, the food, the

family, the whole package. When thanksgiving 2006 rolls around will

I get unfilled so that I can enjoy all those wonderful Turkey day /

Birthday treats? HELL NO!!! My pleasure will come from being with

the people I love the most and seeing them enjoy the bounty of the

season. My joy will stem from the fact that I no longer need to eat

until I'm bloated to enjoy the holiday. Hello! Cruise food is

amazing. Is stopping your weight loss or even gaining weight worth

it in the long run? Sorry to be so harsh, but this type of thinking

just gets my bile boiling.

Blessings,

Kelli

// My husband and I are going on a cruise for our 5-year

anniversary. I was banded 6 months ago and have lost 37 pounds.

What is the general opinion of people if I were to ask for

an " unfill " for the cruise? //

---------------------------------

Get your own web address for just $1.99/1st yr. We'll help. Small

Business.

[Guest guest]

: If you've been reading previous posts you can't be too surprised

about the comments you're receiving.

My immediate reaction after reading your message was similar to Kelli's, but

m.o. is to process internally before

sharing. The food issue as a social issue is a one we've read about before,

but I think if we are observant to those around

us while we're eating we'll notice that our eating habits are not unusual or

outstanding. What I've found is that I eat more

like my skinny friends now - they take fewer bites, eat slower and rarely

finish their entire meal. I certainly don't think

they don't like their food, I think they must be full . Do whatever feels

right for you.

Peg

6/22/06 (NWWLS)

300/266.5/150

_____

From: [mailto: ]

On Behalf Of Chinberg

Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2006 9:41 AM

Subject: Re: Re: Opinion on Unfill for vacation?

My thinking was the cost involved in the cruise. My thinking was the

embarrassment that I feel when I'm sitting there at a table waiting for

things to go down while everyone is staring at me thinking I'm not liking my

food. I obviously should not have posted this question because it's almost

" cult-like " thinking on some of the responses that I'm getting. This is

ridiculous. Of course I wouldn't ask for an unfill for Thanksgiving. We all

have had to get used to this band in each of us. I think I've adjusted

fairly well for the most part. I do feel there is a part of me that will

never be the same. I will never be able to take a big bite of a turkey &

swiss sandwich and I do miss that. The weight loss makes up for that and so

I don't sit and obsess about it. I deal with it and eat what I can. I knew

it was a touchy question to even remotely ask but I don't think I need to be

blasted for even asking. Isn't this supposed to be a support group? So if

this question

gets your bile boiling, then I'm sorry. And then to end your Email with

" blessings " is a little contradictory in my opinion. I felt your Email was a

bit judgmental to be ending with that. Anyway, if anyone would like to

answer my question in a way that does not make me feel like total crap for

even asking it, that would be really great and appreciated. I'm struggling

here. Can't anyone see that?

Kelli Hepworth <225Freecomcast (DOT) <mailto:225Free%40comcast.net> net> wrote:

I'm sorry, but I have to voice on this one. Why did you get banded

in the first place if you are going to get unfilled at each

difficult eating opportunity? If you are truly committed to making

this work there should not even be a question. I waS BORN on

Thanksgiving. I have always LOVED Thanksgiving, the food, the

family, the whole package. When thanksgiving 2006 rolls around will

I get unfilled so that I can enjoy all those wonderful Turkey day /

Birthday treats? HELL NO!!! My pleasure will come from being with

the people I love the most and seeing them enjoy the bounty of the

season. My joy will stem from the fact that I no longer need to eat

until I'm bloated to enjoy the holiday. Hello! Cruise food is

amazing. Is stopping your weight loss or even gaining weight worth

it in the long run? Sorry to be so harsh, but this type of thinking

just gets my bile boiling.

Blessings,

Kelli

// My husband and I are going on a cruise for our 5-year

anniversary. I was banded 6 months ago and have lost 37 pounds.

What is the general opinion of people if I were to ask for

an " unfill " for the cruise? //

---------------------------------

Get your own web address for just $1.99/1st yr. We'll help. Small

Business.

[Guest guest]

>Hello, I was banded in May of 2002 and my husband and I have gone on

3 cruises since then, believe me it's difficult to do, but I lost

weight on all of them (not much 4# or slightly more) but he gained! I

was just careful and skipped lunch usually and did not attend the

" chocolate event " Have fun enjoy the cruise.

> My husband and I are going on a cruise for our 5-year anniversary. I

> was banded 6 months ago and have lost 37 pounds. What is the general

> opinion of people if I were to ask for an " unfill " for the cruise? I

> realize this is my new way of living, etc. But if I were doing Weight

> Watchers or something like that, it would be my choice to go off plan

> for a few days in order to enjoy my cruise. I'm not asking for a free

> pass. I've been in several situations now where I have gone out to

> eat with my family and paid $8 for a dinner and have eaten 4 bites of

> it and given the rest to my husband for lunch the next day. It's

> frustrating to sit there and watch everyone else enjoy their meal and

> I get four bites and am done. I certainly don't want to sit with 6

> other people at a table on the cruise and eat four bites and be done.

> Cruises are expensive and I don't want to be miserable when it comes

> to my meals. Any other time I'm okay with it but I just don't want to

> not enjoy my anniversary. Any thoughts? I feel like this is a

> huge " no-no " and I should just accept it but I'm having a really hard

> time. Please let me know what your thoughts are....

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

On Sept 17th I am going on an eagerly anticipated 11 night Southern

Caribbean cruise followed by 4 days at Walt Disney World during the Food and

Wine Festival. I recently had a very aggressive first fill (2.2 cc's in a 4

cc band) and am having lots of trouble eating. But it is slowly getting

better. The important part to me is that I am able to lose weight again and

that I'm able to get enough nutrition to meet my daily requirements on

Fitday.com. I know there might be some tough choices to make on the cruise,

but I would rather do that than gain any weight back.

Here are some of the things I plan to do to help me with eating on the

cruise:

1) I will order hot tea or hot coffee before every meal

2) I will be very careful with my first 2 or 3 bites of food, as that is

often where I get in trouble.

3) I will stay away from foods that always cause me problems, like bread,

potatoes, and rice.

4) I will let myself enjoy things I normally don't have at home, like a few

bites of dessert and an occasional ice cream on deck.

5) I will stop eating before I make myself uncomfortable.

6) I will enjoy the atmosphere, the company, the servers, and everything

else about dining on the cruise.

You need to decide what you want to do and what is important to you. To me,

eating is not the most important part of cruising. I've cruised before and

while the food is good, everything after the first couple bites of anything

still tastes the same. So I choose to enjoy those first few bites and hope I

will also enjoy stepping on the scale when I get home.

Beth

[Guest guest]

Kelli,

My suggestion: Don't do the unfill. [i had to do one because of band slippage.

It is easy to gain, even if it seems like you are eating small portions.] I

suggest instead that you make a list of foods that do not trigger BPs and chose

food from a buffet. Don't overload your plate. Nibble while you enjoy the

company of your companions. Look around. Many thin women have learned to eat

in this way. In a restaurant setting order off the orderves [sp?] menu rather

than the dinner menu.

Learn your body's signal when you are close to enough and then stop eating and

toy with your food. And lastly, no one will stare. Most will not notice.

Those that do will probably approve in contrast to those that comment with

disgust when large people eat a plateful of food.

Joan

Re: Re: Opinion on Unfill for vacation?

My thinking was the cost involved in the cruise. My thinking was the

embarrassment that I feel when I'm sitting there at a table waiting for things

to go down while everyone is staring at me thinking I'm not liking my food. I

obviously should not have posted this question because it's almost " cult-like "

thinking on some of the responses that I'm getting. This is ridiculous. Of

course I wouldn't ask for an unfill for Thanksgiving. We all have had to get

used to this band in each of us. I think I've adjusted fairly well for the most

part. I do feel there is a part of me that will never be the same. I will never

be able to take a big bite of a turkey & swiss sandwich and I do miss that. The

weight loss makes up for that and so I don't sit and obsess about it. I deal

with it and eat what I can. I knew it was a touchy question to even remotely ask

but I don't think I need to be blasted for even asking. Isn't this supposed to

be a support group? So if this question

gets your bile boiling, then I'm sorry. And then to end your Email with

" blessings " is a little contradictory in my opinion. I felt your Email was a bit

judgmental to be ending with that. Anyway, if anyone would like to answer my

question in a way that does not make me feel like total crap for even asking it,

that would be really great and appreciated. I'm struggling here. Can't anyone

see that?

Kelli Hepworth <225Free@...> wrote: I'm sorry, but I have to voice on

this one. Why did you get banded

in the first place if you are going to get unfilled at each

difficult eating opportunity? If you are truly committed to making

this work there should not even be a question. I waS BORN on

Thanksgiving. I have always LOVED Thanksgiving, the food, the

family, the whole package. When thanksgiving 2006 rolls around will

I get unfilled so that I can enjoy all those wonderful Turkey day /

Birthday treats? HELL NO!!! My pleasure will come from being with

the people I love the most and seeing them enjoy the bounty of the

season. My joy will stem from the fact that I no longer need to eat

until I'm bloated to enjoy the holiday. Hello! Cruise food is

amazing. Is stopping your weight loss or even gaining weight worth

it in the long run? Sorry to be so harsh, but this type of thinking

just gets my bile boiling.

Blessings,

Kelli

// My husband and I are going on a cruise for our 5-year

anniversary. I was banded 6 months ago and have lost 37 pounds.

What is the general opinion of people if I were to ask for

an " unfill " for the cruise? //

---------------------------------

Get your own web address for just $1.99/1st yr. We'll help. Small

Business.

[Guest guest]

Hey ,

First of all let me say, I am jealous. I hope you have a wonderful

time on your cruise! I know a woman that was newer banded and had

purchased her cruise before the band surgery. She had a slight of

an unfill before the cruise not only because she wanted to enjoy

some of the food, but she was worried about having trouble without

her Doc to call. I think this is an individual decision. Either

way the band is fine and you will eventually get to goal. Many

people go from full to slightly unfull.

I wish you the best!

I am off to The Bash in Tijuana. I hope you all have a wonderful

weekend!

Lake s, WA

Banded 7/20/05

Starting weight 210

Current weight 139

Goal was 140 Maybe I'll go for 135?

Feeling great!

>

[Guest guest]

//My immediate reaction after reading your message was similar to Kelli's, but

m.o. is to process internally before sharing.//

I agree, Peg. Our first intent is to support everyone. I'm not particularly

pleased with the post that questioned why she got her band. My answer to your

question would be that your Dr. probably won't allow it. I know that at NWWLS

it specifically states they will not do it for special reasons. Only medical

ones. Being newly banded, I know how you feel. My husband wondered the same

thing for our next planned vacation. I think it will be a wonderful and eye

opening experience for you to take the cruise with your band. If anything, it

will strengthen your will power once you return. I liked the post where the

lady said that she tasted everything in small quantities and enjoyed them all.

Ahoy!

R.

Banded 7/31/06

Dr. son NWWLS

---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

Those are wonderful ideas! Thank you so much for them. A few people now have

mentioned having hot coffee beforehand. I've never heard of this. Does this

open up your band or something? I knew this question was going to cause

controversy. And I've done a lot more thinking on it. One of the things I

hadn't thought of was how hard it would be to come back and getting the fill

again. It would be like a taste of freedom and going back to the band would be

miserable for me. I probably would then want to go get unfills more frequently.

It's not something that I'm going to even start doing. This is my way of life

now and I'll manage just fine on the cruise. Thanks to everyone who was

supportive and not judgmental.

Beth Eloheimo <bethe.traveler@...> wrote: Hi ,

On Sept 17th I am going on an eagerly anticipated 11 night Southern

Caribbean cruise followed by 4 days at Walt Disney World during the Food and

Wine Festival. I recently had a very aggressive first fill (2.2 cc's in a 4

cc band) and am having lots of trouble eating. But it is slowly getting

better. The important part to me is that I am able to lose weight again and

that I'm able to get enough nutrition to meet my daily requirements on

Fitday.com. I know there might be some tough choices to make on the cruise,

but I would rather do that than gain any weight back.

Here are some of the things I plan to do to help me with eating on the

cruise:

1) I will order hot tea or hot coffee before every meal

2) I will be very careful with my first 2 or 3 bites of food, as that is

often where I get in trouble.

3) I will stay away from foods that always cause me problems, like bread,

potatoes, and rice.

4) I will let myself enjoy things I normally don't have at home, like a few

bites of dessert and an occasional ice cream on deck.

5) I will stop eating before I make myself uncomfortable.

6) I will enjoy the atmosphere, the company, the servers, and everything

else about dining on the cruise.

You need to decide what you want to do and what is important to you. To me,

eating is not the most important part of cruising. I've cruised before and

while the food is good, everything after the first couple bites of anything

still tastes the same. So I choose to enjoy those first few bites and hope I

will also enjoy stepping on the scale when I get home.

Beth

---------------------------------

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starting at 1¢/min.

[Guest guest]

Thank you so much for your support on this. I've decided not to get an unfill.

I really struggled when I first got my band because I literally felt a friend

had died, i.e. food. There was definitely a mourning period there. My husband

and I really enjoyed eating together and that has changed. I've gotten used to

it. I don't necessarily like it but I've gotten used to it. If I were to go

get an unfill for this cruise, it would probably start a downward spiral

mentally for me and I would go through a very depressing time when I returned

and had to get my fill again. I realize that people thank God for their bands

everyday and I should probably be of the same mind set. I see it as a very

expensive piece of equipment in me that I appreciate when I step on the scale.

But I do miss my days of eating. I thought perhaps the cruise would be a place

that I could revisit that friend but clearly it's not a good idea. I've asked

the same questions of myself. " Why did you

even get the band then if you are just going to go unfill it! " " How dare you

think that way " . I guess I was thinking of the cost of the cruise and being

miserable on it when it came to dinner. I'll get through it. Thanks so much

guys!

<bbgirl253@...> wrote: //My immediate reaction

after reading your message was similar to Kelli's, but m.o. is to process

internally before sharing.//

I agree, Peg. Our first intent is to support everyone. I'm not particularly

pleased with the post that questioned why she got her band. My answer to your

question would be that your Dr. probably won't allow it. I know that at NWWLS it

specifically states they will not do it for special reasons. Only medical ones.

Being newly banded, I know how you feel. My husband wondered the same thing for

our next planned vacation. I think it will be a wonderful and eye opening

experience for you to take the cruise with your band. If anything, it will

strengthen your will power once you return. I liked the post where the lady said

that she tasted everything in small quantities and enjoyed them all. Ahoy!

R.

Banded 7/31/06

Dr. son NWWLS

---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

Michell, I apoligize for upsetting you, perhaps my tone was a bit harsh, but I

just don't understand why anyone would jeopardize the success they've had for a

few dollars. If that is " cult-like " and " judgmental " then so be it. (who

would have ever though I would have my own little cult:::it's mine-all-mine!::

I spent more than a few dollars to get this band and several thousands over the

years on different plans, even hypnosis, so my little brain cannot grasp your

desire to pig-out on a cruise so others wont' look at you for eating small

portions. In my world it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks about how I eat

now, nor how much the meal cost.

I am sorry you feel like crap.

I am sorry you are struggling.

I will still sign off with

Blessings,

Kelli

-------------- Original message --------------

From: Chinberg <cyclin35@...>

My thinking was the cost involved in the cruise. My thinking was the

embarrassment that I feel when I'm sitting there at a table waiting for things

to go down while everyone is staring at me thinking I'm not liking my food. I

obviously should not have posted this question because it's almost " cult-like "

thinking on some of the responses that I'm getting. This is ridiculous. Of

course I wouldn't ask for an unfill for Thanksgiving. We all have had to get

used to this band in each of us. I think I've adjusted fairly well for the most

part. I do feel there is a part of me that will never be the same. I will never

be able to take a big bite of a turkey & swiss sandwich and I do miss that. The

weight loss makes up for that and so I don't sit and obsess about it. I deal

with it and eat what I can. I knew it was a touchy question to even remotely ask

but I don't think I need to be blasted for even asking. Isn't this supposed to

be a support group? So if this question

gets your bile boiling, then I'm sorry. And then to end your Email with

" blessings " is a little contradictory in my opinion. I felt your Email was a bit

judgmental to be ending with that. Anyway, if anyone would like to answer my

question in a way that does not make me feel like total crap for even asking it,

that would be really great and appreciated. I'm struggling here. Can't anyone

see that?

Kelli Hepworth <225Free@...> wrote: I'm sorry, but I have to voice on

this one. Why did you get banded

in the first place if you are going to get unfilled at each

difficult eating opportunity? If you are truly committed to making

this work there should not even be a question. I waS BORN on

Thanksgiving. I have always LOVED Thanksgiving, the food, the

family, the whole package. When thanksgiving 2006 rolls around will

I get unfilled so that I can enjoy all those wonderful Turkey day /

Birthday treats? HELL NO!!! My pleasure will come from being with

the people I love the most and seeing them enjoy the bounty of the

season. My joy will stem from the fact that I no longer need to eat

until I'm bloated to enjoy the holiday. Hello! Cruise food is

amazing. Is stopping your weight loss or even gaining weight worth

it in the long run? Sorry to be so harsh, but this type of thinking

just gets my bile boiling.

Blessings,

Kelli

// My husband and I are going on a cruise for our 5-year

anniversary. I was banded 6 months ago and have lost 37 pounds.

What is the general opinion of people if I were to ask for

an " unfill " for the cruise? //

---------------------------------

Get your own web address for just $1.99/1st yr. We'll help. Small

Business.

[Guest guest]

I have to say I've had that experience where I'm sitting at the table " stuck "

and people are staring. This is especially uncomfortable when I am on a date

and he is paying for the food laying there on the plate mocking me. Then I

feel like I have to explain. I don't generally want to do this. It can happen

with a tiny amount of food. . .and I haven't even been able to tolerate a fill!

So, , I feel your pain. Do your best and remember the decision you

make is all about you. . .no one else.

---------------------------------

Get your own web address for just $1.99/1st yr. We'll help. Small

Business.

[Guest guest]

Thanks Datsun girl! It's nice to know someone else feels my pain. I really

should probably get into one of the support groups. Like I told my husband, I

feel like my own breed! I would love to find someone like me and go to dinner

with them. The support groups are just so far away. And life is busy with work

and family and kids. I need to take the time for myself and get to these

meetings. I'm thinking of biting the bullet and going to the Southend Soup

Nite. If anyone wants to go too and either yell at me or hug me, that would be

great!

Datsun Girl <datsun_girl@...> wrote: I have to say I've had that

experience where I'm sitting at the table " stuck " and people are staring. This

is especially uncomfortable when I am on a date and he is paying for the food

laying there on the plate mocking me. Then I feel like I have to explain. I

don't generally want to do this. It can happen with a tiny amount of food. .

..and I haven't even been able to tolerate a fill! So, , I feel your

pain. Do your best and remember the decision you make is all about you. . .no

one else.

---------------------------------

Get your own web address for just $1.99/1st yr. We'll help. Small

Business.

[Guest guest]

Hi -

I cringed when I read your E-mail-not because of what you said-but because I

knew that you probably wouldn't like some of the answers on this board..it

can be tough at times.I really don't think they are trying to be mean to

you..I think some people think that support is when you tell it like it is.

And even me..who I like to think I am unjudgmental when it comes to band

issues.I was kind of thinking. " now why would you want to do this so close to

the beginning of your journey " ? but lucky for me I never write my first

reaction until I can think about things for a while. And then I remembered

that I have definitely been where you are. (And probably many others have

too!)

I went through the mourning period when I was on liquids because I for one

LOVE food and it was HARD not to get to have it.

And then I too when on a cruise (my 5 yr anniversary too! CONGRATUATLATOINS

TO YOU AND YOUR HUBBY!-we went to Hawaii). And although I was at my lowest

weight ever and had the best time wearing borrowed clothes and to me..at

220..I was downright skninny..there were still times I pushed the food and

PBd and then got mad because I couldn't eat like my skinny husband was

eating. I couldn't even eat fresh yummy pineapple because it doesn't work

well with my band and it made me mad! But I do know there is NO WAY I would

have been able to get to 220 (from 365) without my band.my friend that I

love to hate sometimes.

The other thing I had to go through is having TWO band pregnancies (by the

way..be careful on your cruise-we're pretty sure it's where my first

daughter was conceived!) :-)

But in order to get enough calories for the pregnancy I had to literally

break most of the bandster rules and of course I got an unfill.

Just for something to think about (and I'm definitely not being judgmental

here)-if you are at a good point with your fill..it's HARD to get back to

that spot again without a lot of tweaking. Also, it's hard to just buckle

down and start following the rules again. But I totally understand your

thinking of all that free food (that you paid a lot of money for!) and you

can't ENJOY it. I truly do understand that. And it's YOUR cruise and if

you want to eat some on the cruise..that is your right..so I could share

some things I used while being pregnant to get food down---if you drink hot

liquids before you eat-it tends to open the pouch a bit. Also, I had to

drink with my meals to get more food down (this one is the hardest one to

follow again though if you get in the habit of breaking the rule). And stay

away form the things that are hard on your band (like for me that would be

bread and pasta and rice). And there are so many things at that

buffet..maybe you can check it out and get the things that you don't get

that often at home. Or go to those really nice restaurants and get yummy

fish.which..for me goes down easier and then have a bite or two of yummy

dessert.

Actually..I think you might be surprised.you may not be able to eat the

whole plate or the whole serving like you used to but it may be fun to have

something sinful and still get the taste of it but not be able to finish it.

For me..that feeling always makes me feel " normal " ..like how a skinny

" normal " person eats. They taste it but they don't gorge on it.

Anyway.I am really, really jealous. With me having two back-to-back

pregnancies I haven't been able to have a vacation since my cruise in Hawaii

two and half years ago. I KNOW you'll have a great time.

<hugs>

Have fun.

Another bandster in Olympia

_____

>>I've decided not to get an unfill. I really struggled when I first got my

band because I literally felt a friend had died, >>i.e. food. There was

definitely a mourning period there.

[Guest guest]

(((((((HUGS))))))) , I have not made it to many support nights, but the

message boards can be a huge help (or a pain in the A$$ lol) You are not

alone!

Blessings,

Kelli

-------------- Original message --------------

From: Chinberg <cyclin35@...>

Thanks Datsun girl! It's nice to know someone else feels my pain. I really

should probably get into one of the support groups. Like I told my husband, I

feel like my own breed! I would love to find someone like me and go to dinner

with them. The support groups are just so far away. And life is busy with work

and family and kids. I need to take the time for myself and get to these

meetings. I'm thinking of biting the bullet and going to the Southend Soup Nite.

If anyone wants to go too and either yell at me or hug me, that would be great!

Datsun Girl <datsun_girl@...> wrote: I have to say I've had that

experience where I'm sitting at the table " stuck " and people are staring. This

is especially uncomfortable when I am on a date and he is paying for the food

laying there on the plate mocking me. Then I feel like I have to explain. I

don't generally want to do this. It can happen with a tiny amount of food. .

..and I haven't even been able to tolerate a fill! So, , I feel your

pain. Do your best and remember the decision you make is all about you. . .no

one else.

---------------------------------

Get your own web address for just $1.99/1st yr. We'll help. Small

Business.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the hugs Kelli. Glad we patched things up!

225Free@... wrote: (((((((HUGS))))))) , I have not made it to

many support nights, but the message boards can be a huge help (or a pain in the

A$$ lol) You are not alone!

Blessings,

Kelli

-------------- Original message --------------

From: Chinberg

Thanks Datsun girl! It's nice to know someone else feels my pain. I really

should probably get into one of the support groups. Like I told my husband, I

feel like my own breed! I would love to find someone like me and go to dinner

with them. The support groups are just so far away. And life is busy with work

and family and kids. I need to take the time for myself and get to these

meetings. I'm thinking of biting the bullet and going to the Southend Soup Nite.

If anyone wants to go too and either yell at me or hug me, that would be great!

Datsun Girl wrote: I have to say I've had that experience where I'm sitting at

the table " stuck " and people are staring. This is especially uncomfortable when

I am on a date and he is paying for the food laying there on the plate mocking

me. Then I feel like I have to explain. I don't generally want to do this. It

can happen with a tiny amount of food. . .and I haven't even been able to

tolerate a fill! So, , I feel your pain. Do your best and remember the

decision you make is all about you. . .no one else.

---------------------------------

Get your own web address for just $1.99/1st yr. We'll help. Small

Business.

[Guest guest]

What area are you in ?

Re: Re: Opinion on Unfill for vacation?

Thanks Datsun girl! It's nice to know someone else feels my pain. I really

should probably get into one of the support groups. Like I told my husband, I

feel like my own breed! I would love to find someone like me and go to dinner

with them. The support groups are just so far away. And life is busy with work

and family and kids. I need to take the time for myself and get to these

meetings. I'm thinking of biting the bullet and going to the Southend Soup Nite.

If anyone wants to go too and either yell at me or hug me, that would be great!

Datsun Girl <datsun_girl@...> wrote: I have to say I've had that

experience where I'm sitting at the table " stuck " and people are staring. This

is especially uncomfortable when I am on a date and he is paying for the food

laying there on the plate mocking me. Then I feel like I have to explain. I

don't generally want to do this. It can happen with a tiny amount of food. .

..and I haven't even been able to tolerate a fill! So, , I feel your

pain. Do your best and remember the decision you make is all about you. . .no

one else.

---------------------------------

Get your own web address for just $1.99/1st yr. We'll help. Small

Business.

[Guest guest]

Me too!

-------------- Original message --------------

From: Chinberg <cyclin35@...>

Thanks for the hugs Kelli. Glad we patched things up!

225Free@... wrote: (((((((HUGS))))))) , I have not made it to

many support nights, but the message boards can be a huge help (or a pain in the

A$$ lol) You are not alone!

Blessings,

Kelli

-------------- Original message --------------

From: Chinberg

Thanks Datsun girl! It's nice to know someone else feels my pain. I really

should probably get into one of the support groups. Like I told my husband, I

feel like my own breed! I would love to find someone like me and go to dinner

with them. The support groups are just so far away. And life is busy with work

and family and kids. I need to take the time for myself and get to these

meetings. I'm thinking of biting the bullet and going to the Southend Soup Nite.

If anyone wants to go too and either yell at me or hug me, that would be great!

Datsun Girl wrote: I have to say I've had that experience where I'm sitting at

the table " stuck " and people are staring. This is especially uncomfortable when

I am on a date and he is paying for the food laying there on the plate mocking

me. Then I feel like I have to explain. I don't generally want to do this. It

can happen with a tiny amount of food. . .and I haven't even been able to

tolerate a fill! So, , I feel your pain. Do your best and remember the

decision you make is all about you. . .no one else.

---------------------------------

Get your own web address for just $1.99/1st yr. We'll help. Small

Business.

[Guest guest]

cyclin35:

I certainly wouldn't blast you for getting an unfill for your

vacation, but I think you should think about a few things, first.

Why do you feel that being able to eat food is the best way to

celebrate your anniversary? Being banded doesn't mean that you

can't have that wonderful food. Wouldn't just a few bites of

everything taste just as good as eating the whole thing? I have

heard that the best flavor is in the first couple of bites, anyway.

You will have paid for it whether or not you eat it anything at all.

This is not the time to be thrifty (as in a restaurant at home).

Feeling satisfied is what it's all about.

Prior to making that decision to unfill, spend some time watching

thin people eat. Most (I'm generalizing here) thin people eat

slowly and don't eat everything they are served. And they can say no

thank you to dessert. Most people (i.e. your cruise tablemates)

won't pay that much attention to what or how YOU are eating. As long

as they get theirs, they are good.

Are you talking about a complete unfill so you can stuff yourself

(and you will gain weight), or a slight one so you can avoid

getting a golf ball, pb'ing, etc? Either way, if you eat too much,

you will not feel good, physically or emotionally. When the cruise

is over, what will you remember? Will you feel good about eating

everything in sight, or will the best memories be of the fun you had?

This decision is yours, but don't do it until you have thought it

through to reminiscing about your trip when you come home. Will

you feel good about your decision then?

Good luck

Kate