The Gals' Room

Hi ladies - I haven't been able to shop in a non-plus-size section or store since I was a freshman in college - 22 years ago. (The freshman 15 came to visit and brought about 80 more of its friends to stay.) I'm finally in a size 16 - pushing a size 14 - and am suddenly discovering this whole new world of shopping! The stores! The selection! The colors! The prints! I no longer have to buy the same shirt in three different colors, because there are more out there - and they'll finally fit! My town has truly lousy shopping. I've been doing what I can online, and then hitting the stores when I travel for my daughter's dance competitions. I still use Lane Brya…

Okay I was just wondering if anyone has had a problem after weight loss surgery with that loose skin that waddles back and forth every time you wave at someone. I figure I notice it now so how bad is it going to be after a significant weight loss? I don't want to look like I can take to flight at any moment by just spreading my arms! LOL! Any suggestions on how to avoid it?

So I'm wondering if losing weight affects your periods, or if irregularity of periods can be caused by being overweight? Since I started mine when I was 13 they have been REALLY irregular. I would either not have one for months and months or I would have one that lasted for months! Because of this I got on birth control to keep them regular and have been on it since I was 15. Even now if i stop taking the birth control for a couple months, I don't see a period until I start the BC again. So are there any that have been in the same situation? And if so, did your periods become regular or what?

Ok...The Power Room is for sure the place to go for the truth. I have been reading some of the threads and all I can say is WOW... So my questions are how bad is the lose skin really???? I have to loose 200 lbs and am scared at how bad it will be since I am 43 My next other problem is I have a hard time holding my pee right now...does that get better? The doc said it is the weight pushing on the bladder. Any words on this problem from anyone. Thanks!

Ladies from Australia I need your help ! I was wondering if you knew your round about weight when you went down in clothing sizes? For me, I started at 122kg in a size 20 Now I am 101 I am fitting back into a size 18 I am desperate to know when I could hope to get to the next sizes - 16, 14 , 12 , 10 !! I know it differs for everyone any help would be great. These are 'regular' sizes, IE Jeans West Jeans... I know in the bigger shops I am a size "14" jeans (City Chic) even though I am size 18 in Jeans West Jeans. Im starting to get very excited at the prospect of fitting into REGULAR clothes from REGULAR shops! All help will be appreciated!!

I'm getting banded on Monday, and there is a good chance I'll be getting a visit from a certain aunt soon. I'm already seriously overdue, but because of my thyroid, my cycles are crazy. So, she can come any day. I'm just wondering if anyone had this visit either during or right after surgery, and if you had any issues with bending over while sitting.

Hey ladies. I have to ask a question that I have been to afraid to actually ask someone in person. Since losing some weight I have been really noticing things about my body. I have a TON of small bumps in my breasts. Some are hard and small, some are big and round. Is this normal? When I feel them, they usually hurt afterward. Next, I also have bumps on my stomach. Like above my pelvic bone, below my belly button. There is one that is big (maybe quarter width) and some small ones. I have even felt bumps on my ribs. So, does this sound normal? Old fat cells? I just don't know!

So, I am newly single since my husband found an old girlfriend, and I am ready to re-enter the dating scene. The problem is, my body is melting and I am very, very self conscious. I am a very sexual person, and enjoy a very healthy sex life (or I would like to again) but the thought of being naked in front of a new person makes me want to scream. I am down about 60 lbs., and everything just went South immediately. I am still pretty far from plastic surgery time, but I will explode if I don't "get some" soon. I just don't know if I can take my clothes off in front of a new man without feeling disgusted. Any thoughts, ladies?

Should I ride my motorcycle now that I'm 270lbs? Okay here is my story, a few years ago I purchased a sports bike (which I love to ride). I was about 200 to 215lbs when I got it and I rode any chance I got. It was like my therapy and it worked every time. Well about two years after I got it my then boyfriend, now husband took it for a ride without my permission and crashed into a wall head on :crying:. He was fine but my bike was not:mad3: . It was going to take $2,500 to fix so we kept putting it off for other things. This past weekend my husband decided to surprise me and take it to the shop. It will be ready next week, but now I'm having second thoughts about ridin…

I have had problems for years with bras. I can't just go into any store and find one that works with me. I usually get them from Lane Bryant, as they seem to be the only place near me where I can find what I am looking for. My question is does anyone have any ideas where I can find a good bra with good support. My bra size is 48-50 DDD. Thanks for any advice.

I haven't tried Alli, but a friend did and lost 27 pounds and kept it off. This was a year ago. I have been thinking about it, just for a few weeks to kick start a weight loss. I'd ask my doctor first, but wanted to see if any lapbanders have taken it. Anyone take this after banding? If so, what happened? Anything good, or bad side effects? Thanks.

"I would also encourage your friend to read a book by Gary Chapman called "The Five Love Languages". Ebonyrose wrote this on another thread and I really wanted to see what others thought. I downloaded the audiobook and was blown away with how Mr Chapman explains how we show love and how we need a certain behaviour to validate our love and that this can be different for our partners. It is dawning on me how I may have misread my hubby's behaviour and how he certaainly has misread mine. This book has brought me to tears more than once and should be a mustread for anyone going into a relationship. Ebonyrose this has truly changed my life. Thank you Anyone else read or liste…

I am sorry to be a bit graphic here, but I wanted to warn those of you who have pets. Please, please,please DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PAPER SHREDDER ON THE AUTOMATIC STARTER. I work at a vets office and have just seen pics of a dogs tongue that had been shredded in the paper shredder - very upsetting. :eek: The dog was sedated and his poor tongue repaired, but let me tell you, you do not want this to happen! Only turn your shredder on when you use it, then turn it off. Think about how easily this could happen with a curious pet - this dog was a lab and we all know how hyper and curious they are. Anyway, just passing this on..

Ok, I am now 3 months postop and my cycle was very weird right after being banded. There were about three weeks where I was constantly spotting and then three weeks with nothing. NOW I am having a VERY heavy period and I am hurting ALOT. I had to leave work early yesterday because I could barely stand and I called in today and just stayed in bed. I have a heating pad on and it is barely helping. Is this common after being banded? Will they all be like this? Or just this time? I am probably going to stay home tomorrow too. Especially if it is as heavy as it was today. Sorry, I now this is probably TMI, but thanks for reading.

Earlier today I was loading some pictures up on ebay and all of a sudden this temporary folder pops up and I notice that there are files in it with girl's names. I open them up and they are all dirty pictures. My husband and I had a problem with this a few years ago (we have been together for almost 5 years). I know some women don't have a problem with their husbands/boyfriends looking at this stuff, but I do have a problem with it. And my husband knows it. He said he wouldn't do it anymore and I believed him. I never did check up on him, because I trusted him. But now I am pretty sure that this has been going on for years. I confronted him with it and he says that he is …

soul love some advice or info from anyone who has done this. I am considering getting a reduction to hopefully a 36/38 DD so i can workout better (maybe even run!) and fit into clothing better. However, I am worried about losing sensation. This is probably TMI but my girls are definitly one of THE zones for me and I am afraid I would lose sensation and not be able to fully enjoy hanky panky again.

I have been having trouble with my birth control pills lately and my doctor gave me some information on the Mirena IUD. I was reading the information and I noticed that it said that it is for women who have already had a child. I haven't had any children so I am a little confused as to why my doctor would suggest it if it is only for women who have already had a baby. Does anyone use this who hasn't had any children? Also, does it cause a lot of bleeding and cramping?

I am dying to tell someone, but I don't want anyone to know! I am 40 years old and have boys that are 21 and 22. I get complimented that I don't look that old but I have this ugly forhead. I hate it when people at work ask, "are you upset/mad? You look mad." I'd looked into it a couple of times, but ok, whatever. But then I got an offer from the Dr. that did my boobs, but he's llike a 3 hour drive. I looked for someone closer and of course found one. I emailed, got an appt and got botox on Monday! I'm so excited, but don't want to tell anyone. For 2 reasons. Want to see if anyone notices don't want to tell, it's my business (seems funny since I feel I'm on…

Has nothing to do with the band, but I have to give my alma mater some love. GO HEELS!!!!

I am not a very good girl, I'm afraid. :tongue2: I thought I'd make this thread for people like me to ask the rest of you stupid questions that females are already supposed to know the answer to but we don't. So my first question is: What does it means when someone says their skirt is "cut on the bias"? I read that all the time in chick lit books and it drives me crazy because I can't figure out why someone would know or care about that and why the author thinks it's important to say.

and i dont mean the sexy kind, you know, the ones on men! i am talking about the OMG! where the hell are they coming from hairs that crop up. what kind of products do you find work best to remove your unwanted facial hair? what works good for stubborn hair?

Apparently I am one of the ones thats band opens wide up during my period. I was so hoping to be one of the ones thats band closed shut,,, but it opened on up for me to pig out on Xmas dinner. Of course, it was ALOT less pigging out than previous pre-band Xmas dinners so for that I am thankful. I hope you all had a happy happy holiday!

Hey ladies! I've been taking Lybrel since 2007 and it's been amazing. I haven't had a period since november 2007. I had my surgery on 3/18 and sure enough couple days later Aunt Flo shows up. I can't begin to explain how hellish it is to have a period when you're newly banded. It's been 5 days and the period shows no signs of letting up. Has anyone had issues with birth control since getting banded.

i had a complete hysterectomy in october and having been struggling with losing, more like lack of losing, since then. more so then before to say the least. i am wondering if anyone else has experienced this. my doc says its normal, but i wanna hear experiences from other bansters. i am really freaking out about it. i am on a replacement hormone, estradial (sp?). when having the hysterectomy, i figured i would gain some, but not like this. and i didnt think it would be so hard to lose. i have gained 15 lbs since surgery. its killing me.

Have any women in here lost their menstral cycle due to obesity? I had a regular cycle for a long time but now that I'm at my highest weight, I worry I've lost it due to my weight. I haven't had my cycle since Oct. (which was enduced by medication because it was not regular before then). I had a thuro examination and there seemed to be no physical complications (i.e. cysts). I just know there was a long discussion about my weight and how it was important I lose weight. Any comments/thoughts/suggestions? Feel free to respond.

First of all Im sorry to break into your forum,but I dont know what else to do.I have read most of the post made in this forum and you all seem so sexually liberated that reading some of this stuff actually makes me horney.About me:I was banded in Jan.2008 and have lost 77 pounds.Before my weight loss I had some problems in the sex department,if you get my drift.But those seem to have worked themselves out.Now, the problem.My wife of 29 years has formed a relationship with an "out of the closet homo"She swears that trhe relationship is just friendship.But there seems to be more to it than that to me.She spends the night with her Watching movies, she says,They also make we…

My husband and I have been together for 11 years, married 5 of those 11. When we began dating I was very healthy and active. In the past 11 years I have had 7 surgeries and a few illnesses that have taken their toll on me and needless to say my husband. I am having revision surgery tomorrow due to a slipped band and my husband is being a jerk. He's been this way for about the last 4 surgeries. I was hospitalized twice for kidney stones in the last six months and he didn't come to the hospital one time and the other he came and didn't even give me a kiss, no support nothing. He is usually supportive, but doesn't seem to have it in him anymore when I am sick. I have …

i have an O *every* time, consistently, i do that ab exercise where you brace your elbows on the two elbow pads, hanging, kind of, and pull your knees up using your ab muscles. know what i'm talking about? it's CRAZY and i always have to just keep my facial expressions in check due to the dozens and dozens of people around me! what about you? anyone else experience this during this exercise or any other? maybe this is a question for the sex educator... s

Hi everyone, is anyone else having problems with sagging breast? I had my band sugery on 12-18-08 ,i have lost 44 lbs. My breast have went from a full ddd, to a sagging dd. I miss the fullness. Will in surance pay for a breast lift?

hello ladies (& gentleman lurkers), how did your spouses/significant other/family deal with you being on the liquid diet 2 weeks after the surgery? were you being tempted when they were eating? how did you feel during that 2wk period - hunger-wise? i've resorted to chasing my husband (SpiritDriven71 Banded on 3/17/09) upstairs while i make and eat dinner for myself. it'd just be interesting to hear what others have done. i should mention that i'm dieting as well, so i'm not being insensitive to him - i'm not eating Wendy's when he's having a Protein drink. i've been to every meeting and doc's appt with him so i was prepared and knowledgable about what he cou…

Just wanted to share.. My once thick and gorgeous hair has been falling out since I was younger, so it's not band related.. But for years I've debated getting the expensive extensions, but I've seen 'bad' jobs, so I've been too afraid to pay for it and then not like it. So a co-worker was telling me she has a friend who bought the Jessica Simpson hair extensions and that they looked great.. they are priced well and clip in. I just got mine yesterday and I love em! I wore them to work today and everyone has complimented on em! They sell different styles (this is just where I got mine, I know other places sell em): hairdo? by Ken Paves Beauty products and beauty supplies …

Ok there is no other way to say this but I can't poop. only smal pellets and I feel full of it!! I have a hard time swallowing pills but have taken the following: Milk of magnesia Colace Stool Softers Laxative chocolate and otherwise Does anyone know of soemthing that can give me a good Colo Clense and get me back on track???

I've been on the preop for almost a week and on Day 5, I started my period. This wouldn't be a concern, except for the fact that I'm on Mirena and haven't had a period for over 6 months. I can only assume its related to the 10 pound, rapid weight loss. Is this normal/ok? TIA

Uumm, have any of you banded ladies noticed that you now have a new female smell? I started noticing it about halfway through my pre op diet. Its really bothering me. Its embarrassing to me. I won't let my husband near me like that, well, I'm still in pain too anyway. I only notice it when I go to the bathroom, but its not just my pee. I'm 7 days post op, I wonder if it will go away. Help, am I alone?

So I started reading the implant thread and got overwhelmed that it was so long. I have two questions. Most women's breast are to some degree different sizes, with weight loss does this get more pronounced? Also the supplements that are suppose to add cup sizes and firmness, do they work? Do they also add fat to your arse?

I'm just wondering if anyone else has the same symptoms that I do around their TOM. My whole body aches, gas, bloating, and a severly upset stomach. It's almost like the flu. Before I was banded I never once had any of these symptoms around my TOM so would banding make that change? I've been trying to figure out why I'm feeling so miserable every so often without eating anything different, etc. and the only thing I can assume is it's my monthly "gift". Anyone else?

:huh2:This is odd and I've never heard of anyone else experiencing this, however, when I have a really great orgasm, my chest has this itching sensation. It is usually like in between my breasts but has been my entire chest area. Has anyone ever experienced anything like this?

Does anyone know of a good shampoo and conditioner for long naturally curly hair? I have been using the Signature Collection from Bath and Body Works, but they discontinued it a while back. I have been able to order it online, but it is too expensive and takes forever to get here. And it is getting harder and harder to find. I am really bummed that they stopped selling it in the stores because it is the only thing that I have found that makes my hair behave. I want to find something that is sold at Walmart so there will be less of a chance of it getting discontinued. I used to use Pantene, but it started making my hair fall out. Any suggestions would be great!

Does anyone have size 12 or 14 clothes they are using anymore? I have a lot of size 16 that are falling off and I need more 12 and 14 but buying clothes is getting really expensive! So I was just trying to see if anyone wanted to share! :thumbup: send me a private message if you have anything!

I have been having some abnormal bleeding now for about a month. I went to my gyno today to see what might be going on. I haven't seen her since I had surgery so she immediately noticed my weight loss. When I told her about the bleeding, she started telling me that it is from the Lap Band and not being able to absorb my birth control pill correctly!! I am very confused. I told her that the surgeon said there would be no problem with continuing to take my pill after surgery. She didn't believe it. I tried to tell her how the band works and that there isn't a problem with absorption. She kept interupting me and telling me that I was wrong! She also told me that I am malnour…

so i need some help in a bad way ladies. in october i had a hysterectomy and since then have no desire what so ever to have sex. this is not good. i used to have a healthy sex drive. now i have none. literally NONE! its starting to cause problems with my hubby. he doesnt understand that i dont like being like this either. does anyone have any suggestions? ideas? i have called the doctor and they are going to call in some kind of prescription cream? and she said if that doesnt work then we can try changing my hormones. last night hubby was very very mad/upset with me. i just want to get this figured out! thanks!

Okay, ladies...I need HELP. I have large breasts, and at Lane Bryant I'm a 42E. I have bought several bras to find a good one and haven't yet. (That Couch to 5K program is really paining me sometimes.) I was thinking of researching the ones that the ladies on the Biggest Loser wear, but I checked and they're expensive. Before buying one, I'd like to get feedback...and suggestions on a good bra? Has anyone tried the ENELL?

Hey ladies I am having a rough go of things, and I know I am more than likely not alone. So I thought I would start a thread for those of us with marriage problems to chat or b*tch or whatever we need... What is your story?

FOREVER and EVER, my periods have been 26 to 28 days apart (without the pill). In June, the gap was 37 days, followed by a normal 26 days, and now nothing after 43 days!!!! Those of you who have hit menopause, is this how it started? I KNOW this is supposed to be "a new door opening" and a "time to throw caution to the wind and be myself", but I can't believe how emotionally unprepared I am for this, if it is truly menopause. The 49th birthday already had me thinking way too much about mortality and making things count. This is the icing on the cake. Rats. Thoughts?

Hi. I am new here and I would like to ask for some suggestions? See, I suffer from very painful PMS. I've read from somewhere that strrong pain relievers like ultram, vicodin can be used to treat PMS pain. Have you ladies ever heard of this or tried it? Thanks for your help.

Has anyone else noticed/been irritated by Jenny Craig's new obnoxious ads? They have recruited Phylicia Rashad for this season, and have dressed her in VERY baggy clothes. Of course she's going to look amazing next month when they put out new ads of her wearing clothes that fit, regardless of the extent of her weight loss. This pisses me off/amuses/annoys me as much as the diet drug ads that show before pictures of miserable looking women frowning in ill-fitting bikinis, a greasy ponytail and no makeup, then magically after losing 30 pounds, they are wearing a flattering bikini, sporting a huge white smile with a full face of glamorous makeup and their hair is Miss Americ…

Is it just me or does your period/beginning of menopause seem to have an effect on the tightening of your band Not really sure if its just coincidence or not

ok so i know that the band gets tighter when that time of month comes around. although i have not been able to eat anything today, my band only has 6cc in 10cc band. Not only that, but i have had KILLER KILLER cramps, to the point of crying and bedrest all day. I didn't know what i could take, as when i called the dr. and they were not there. I found the meds from my surgury and i took 2 of them as directed (oxycodone) It has worked wonders, although now.. my temperature SPIKED wayyyy high, then it went low, and now it is normal. when it spiked, i had to change all of my clothes two times because i sweat soo much, you could wring out the clothes. I have thrown up several …

So my husband and I have been swimming pretty consistently for about 6 months now. He was new to swimming when we first started and I wasn't all that great, either. But today when we swam, I went for a half mile without stopping and he went for 150 yards before he had to stop and rest. I was ecstatic that I could go that far! But he was in this terrible mood. On our way home you could tell he was VERY frustrated and was telling me how he was done swimming. He feels like he's only a fraction better than he was when we first started. We're training for a triathlon in May. I keep telling him it was just an "off" day, but he's convinced he's hardly any better now than he wa…

I was just wondering, can anal sex cause colon cancer or any other type of cancer? I have heard that doing it alot can cause it?