juliarh

Just really quick (as a former spokesperson for a major organization) -- I really liked how Al Roker handled his WLS -- there were murmurings about it, and then he came out and did several segments about it -- the thing about the sleeve is that it's not as if you're not going to be modifying how you eat and it's not as if you're not going to exercise. As others have said, I think a website that you keep private for now, but when questions arise, you can make public. If you are affiliated with any of the baseball teams, you are probably already on their website -- maybe after you go public you can have the website link to your site. The worst thing to do would be to lie. I think that since you are a semi-public figure, you need to be honest because that will go to your public image. But you don't have to be honest until the question arises. But be prepared for the questions. So, you will need to know all about the surgery, some of the stats, etc. If you do appear in newspapers as a representative of the team, you will be quoted. So your knowledge about VSG will be taken as the "truth." So it's important not only to you, but to us (yep!) that you know what you're talking about. And if you don't know how to put together a blog or a website, you might want to hire a firm to do it (with a clause for confidentiality) -- Remember how you handle this will ultimately decide public opinion on whether this is a "good" thing or a "bad" thing -- I know that that's pretty heavy to hear, but it's really important how you handle the media -- and the media pretty much blasts people who lie. If you lie, then they think there's something "wrong" with it. If you're truthful and knowledgeable, then they'll most likely print positive things (course that depends on the person writing . . . ). If you have any further questions, I'd be happy to answer -- I used to do PR and was a spokesperson on Capitol Hill in Washington DC for years and kinda know the ins and outs of handling the media . . . Hope that helps!

Good luck Pam! We'll be sending good thoughts your way and when you feel up to it, let us know how you're doing

I also just bought George Stella's Livin Low Carb -- he lost a ton of weight just eating low carb and has a terrific cookbook -- I've made several of the recipes and they're easy, quick and taste is outstanding Even my kids like it - double bonus He uses a lot of soy flour in his recipes that call for breading -- haven't used it yet, but as soon as I do, I'll let you all know

Thank you so much for this information!! I was just about to ask this very question and thanks to you all, my search process is that much shorter I love this place!

As everyone said, breathe! The surgery will go fine -- it will be sleep, awake, new you, but then the real work begins. You all will be fine and we look forward to seeing you all on the board when you're up to it

Congratulations!!!

Holy cow!! Congratulations! I know how thrilled you must be -- I haven't seen the 170s since I was married (23 years ago) -- thanks so much for sharing your journey with us Congratulations and big hugs!!

I use stevia -- it's brand name in the States is Truvia, I think. Here in Paraguay, it's grown all over the place, so it's in powder form, liquid, you name it. For me there is no bitter aftertaste at all. I like the fact that it's natural too -- that the sweetness comes from a plant (just like sugar!). When I was in the States I was a big Splenda person, but now that I'm here, I gotta say stevia/Truvia beats it hands down

You know, I've only told my parents, my husband, and my kids (18 and younger) -- not told my brothers, not told anyone else. I am the only one in my family who is obese and have struggled all my adult life -- I just didn't want the extra burden of them asking, "so, how're you doing?" -- that said, my mom-in-law (who has a heart of gold) has routinely withheld surgery information from us until afterwards -- breast biopsies, my father-in-law's colon cancer, her heart attack -- all of this has been very hurtful because I want to be able to pray, assist, whatever. I know she thinks that she's sparing us anxiety, but I get more upset knowing afterward. But, I think because this surgery is different (it's elective, essentially), that it was a choice you made instead of being foisted on you -- I don't know what kind of relationship you have with your daughter, but I think if you explained it in a sincere, open way, she might be understanding. And if you want to continue to keep it private from the rest of your family, explain that as well. I think as soon as you start lying, it becomes bigger than what you intended and becomes "cancerous." This might be a good opportunity to have an adult relationship with your daughter . . .

Oregon, congratulations! You really are a true inspiration on this board, and I'm so thankful that you continue to write in and tell us what it's like even during maintenance. Congratulations on being able to go on a cruise, enjoy yourself, come back and fall back right into routine. I'm soooo looking forward to that. Thanks so much and many, many hugs!

Congratulations Gary -- I too hope you'll keep posting occasionally so we can hear how great you're doing Congratulations again!

wow! that's fantastic! Congratulations -- I too have not participated in Halloween in ages, but am looking forward to it next year -- Buying off the rack has to be up there in great NSVs! Congratulations!

So glad this is going well for you! I too would not change a thing -- I think it's going to be a literal life saver for me Welcome to our community

Congratulations Dennis! We hope to be seeing "less" of you on this journey

I so agree with Mommy2Girls -- this is going to be her battle. My mom, in her way as she now acknowledges, wasn't the best role model for me either. But my weight issues as an adult are not her fault. I look at my 14 year old daughter, who is active, happy, and TINY and I wonder, hmmmm, what did I do right? The true answer is nothing. She doesn't have my genes (she's adopted) and she has from day one been a very picky eater. She stops when she's full, doesn't snack all day, etc. Wish I could take credit for it, but I can't. My oldest son, who is my biological son, has my body type -- and he struggles with his weight -- right now, at 18, he's got his weight in check, but I can see with the stress of adulthood, he might gain weight. My youngest son (adopted), has been chubby from day 1. He is overly active, loves all sports, but is overweight. And I look at all 3 of my kids and I think, I can't take credit or the blame -- the only thing that is on my shoulders is to provide healthy food, encourage exercise and sports as much as possible, and try to be a positive role model. Beyond that, I don't think there's anything any of us can do!

Oh! and even though fatsecret calculates my fat, I don't pay attention to it.

Hi ! I'm at 7 weeks and I try to eat at least 600 calories a day -- I also try to get in at least 60 gr. of Protein in and I try to stay under 40 grams of carbs, but sometimes I'm not always successful with that. I don't think that I've gone over 60 carbs though (yet). I keep track of everything (food, weight, exercise) at fatsecret.com -- it's got an app for iPhones and Blackberries, but I don't have those so don't know how well they work. Hope that helps!

Congratulations Catgirl!! 115 pounds! wow! And it's great that your husband is losing weight too I'd love to hear your story if you have time sometime

yeah, I sent it to her and her editor -- we'll see if I get a response.

Hi all -- like Irene, I didn't have much of a loss -- .6 pounds. sigh. Not thrilled, trying to figure out what I can do to get the fat gone. But at least it's in the right direction. I could go on and on, but I kinda did that in my vlog (see my signature) -- so don't want to bore you with the "whys" and "how comes" -- hopefully next week will be bigger

Sorry this is long -- wanted you all to read my email to her: I realize you have written a mea culpa after the fiasco of a blog you put out into the ethersphere about fat/obese/"rolls and rolls of fat" people. I'm also betting you are right when you said your reaction may be due to the fact that you yourself have an eating disorder. How ironic! A person who used to suffer from an eating disorder bashing others who suffer from eating disorders. Actually, it's not ironic. It's sad. The killer is that in your "mea culpa" you said, " I feel just as uncomfortable when I see an anorexic person as I do when I see someone who is morbidly obese . . . " Do you?? When was the last article you read that bashed anorexics?? As in, "Oh my god, did you see that sack of bones just walk across the bar? It's like the night of the living dead." No where. Please, let's get real. There is no one who justifiably thinks that anyone with anorexia is a "bad" person, that, in your words, "It's something they can change, if only they put their minds to it." We all know it's a disease, a medical problem. Do we bash people like that? No, we say, "gosh, I really hope she gets well soon." Or something to that effect. Your knowledge of obesity and what causes it is seriously lacking -- it's not just something that "most people have a ton of control over." Nope, doesn't work that way. In fact, many women you see who are morbidly obese have PCOS (that's Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) -- where cysts grow around their ovaries, mess with their metabolism, and make it extraordinarily, if not impossible to lose weight (and have kids, but who's counting). So when you see a morbidly obese woman, do you think, "Gosh, that must suck to struggle to lose weight and not be able to have kids." Nope, you didn't. You attribute it to "lack of control." (Go figure, she might have a medical condition! Sound familiar?) In addition, researchers (obesity researchers) have recently found out our "eat 5 breads a day diet" actually has a direct correlation with the rise in obesity. But! Researchers have also discovered that our production of fat is not controlled by the calorie consumption and calorie expenditure -- in fact, the fat production in our bodies can get so out of wack that the fat cells keep reproducing without stopping. But that's just research, right?? Who needs FACTS when we can talk about "control" and "exercise" and "nutrition." Who needs FACTS when we can just put our discriminatory opinions out for public consumption?? Don't think it was discriminatory? Let's do a test -- you said: "So anyway, yes, I think I'd be grossed out if I had to watch two characters with rolls and rolls of fat kissing each other ... because I'd be grossed out if I had to watch them doing anything. To be brutally honest, even in real life, I find it aesthetically displeasing to watch a very, very fat person simply walk across a room " Let's replace a couple of words: "So anyway, yes, I think I'd be grossed out if I had to watch two characters of African descent kissing each other ... because I'd be grossed out if I had to watch them doing anything. To be brutally honest, even in real life, I find it aesthetically displeasing to watch an African American person simply walk across a room." Nope -- you wouldn't say that would you? That wouldn't be nice. It would be . . . hmmm . . . discriminatory! Right?? What makes you think that judging ANYONE by their appearance is any less discriminatory??? Because you can, right? Because the vast majority of people in the United States will agree with you. Still didn't make it right in the 1800s and it doesn't make it right now. Your mea culpa fell far short of what it should have been -- what you need to do is examine your own mores. If you're willing to discriminate against one, where does it stop??

I just watched the video -- overall, I think it was good -- I wish he hadn't said that there would be no diet and exercise (because let me tell you, I'm not eating this high protein low carb diet for nothin'! and doing my exercise for nothin'!) -- but I think it was an accurate representation of the vsg surgery -- it would be interesting to see if they do a followup on the patients. I just don't want people to think this is the "easy way out." Cuz it ain't.

Wow!! What a difference-- if you had told me you were the same person, I wouldn't have believed it!! Incredible! Congratulations! You must be so thrilled

Good job Labrys -- it's a nice feeling to know that even if we don't lose anything, we're not going up again either!! I'm so thrilled for you -- you're so close to ONDERLAND!!! Keep your fingers crossed for us Wed. weighers

I too have a candy-related story -- the other day my son was eating gummy bears and I said, hey just give me one -- he kind of looked at me and gave it to me -- it was horrible!! Like eating Kool-aid but without Water -- yuck!!! And I used to LOVE gummy bears. no more gummies for me!! Congratulations on the chocolate -- I'm not confident in myself enough to have it in the house. If there were any Achilles heel I might have, it would be chocolate. So, the fact that you haven't touched them makes you a goddess in my eyes!