duckydoom

My first tattoo I got 5 days after turning 18. It is a rose on my ankle. I don't have a picture of it.
I waited 30 years for my second tattoo - I got this after my 19 year old son died. It is the rose with feathers and his name.
The third tattoo is I got because my sister wanted sister tattoos.
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At 35, I got drunk with a tattoo artist friend and he decided we all needed a tattoo at my kitchen table. And that's where I got it....at my kitchen table.
It's a terrible tattoo of a sunflower on my ankle that I actually want to remove. I don't even want it covered. I have no interest in getting another. Never really understood the appeal of them, personally, but I DO appreciate nice art on other people.

The first one I got on my ankle in my early 20's. It was originally just the Zuni bear fetish and I had the feather added later just cause I liked it.
The second one of the desert canyon/river is on my lower back. Got it in my late 30's. Rafting was, and still is a huge part of my life since my mid 20's. My annual trips through the desert clean my soul and gets me back at peace with myself. Each of the petroglyph symbols hold a special personal meaning and the names are in honor of the dogs I've lost....obviously Belle and Abraham were added years after the original tattoo and the whole thing needs to be touched up. But honestly, tattooing in that spot hurt way more after WLS when I lost all that back fat cushioning and I'm just not up for the pain at this point.
The feathers on my arm were because I wanted a tattoo I could actually see. (Socks cover the first one and need a mirror to see the second one). My brother had gotten a huge tattoo on his upper arm and I really liked the feathers in his. This one wraps all the way around my forearm.
The last one has the most profound meaning and one I wished I didn't have. A tribute to my younger brother who died 4 years ago. He was an incredibly talented musician. His signature from the last birthday card he sent me is above the keyboard.
    

On my right shoulder I have a blue monarch butterfly that I got after I got out of an abusive marriage. A few years later I had three little butterflies in my kids favorite colors trailing behind the big one to represent each of my kids. I also have a Celtic shamrock on the inside of my left wrist in memory of my dad and his pride in our Irish heritage. I have two more that I plan to get, my mom has a specific way that she always signs cards to me and I want to get that by my shamrock and then when I get to goal weight I want to get a bird flying free from its cage because that it how I feel, like I've been set free after a lifetime of being caged in this weight.

I have a flower with a vine wrapping around my big toe. I wanted a tattoo there because no matter what I weighed it wouldn't stretch too much.... and I still love it 15 years later
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It does have such a deep meaning, which is incredibly personal to each person who has it. I'm certain yours also comes with a beautiful story behind it. Sent from my KFASWI using the BariatricPal App

@@Mamapiller
I have a huge lotus on my shoulder. I love it

I have a lizard on my thigh. I'm obsessed with getting more, but it has to be meaningful to me. I'm thinking a butterfly, which is a symbol of transformation. Or a lotus to symbolize the dark, murky Water I came from, yet turning into a flower.....Yep, sounds cheesy, but I don't care.
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Since I was about 18 I kinda wanted a tramp stamp lol but always thought it would look stupid on my fat butt. I have 4 others that I love but put them on less... Squishy... Areas lol so when I get down to goal I'm gonna get my lower back done. Don't know what yet, but something for sure!
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I have always said I would get one if I had something really important I wanted to say but could never come up with anything. I have been thinking about it a lot lately and really LOVE the ones mentioned here showing starting weight. What a great idea!
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I have 7 tattoos. My first one I got when I was 18. I don't regret any of them. I think you're either a tattoo person or you're not
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So my biggest piece yet goes shoulder to shoulder across my chest it's a heart wrapped n chains n padlocked shut with angel wings. I got pregnant with my son at 19 and was madly in love with his father even after he ran out on us before I had him. Well before I could completely move on from him when my son was 4 we lost him to a stray bullet in a drive by meant for another house. I was devistated. And I heard this song which is how I came up with the tattoo design
"From angels wings
To falling stars
God makes everything
But unbreakable hearts"
Figured if God couldn't make it unbreakable I'd lock it away. So that's my big one I've got a small red bird for my mom that says love, and a Chinese symbol for mother. I want tons more a Maltese cross for my dad who passed away who was a fire fighter, a tat to brand me a nurse once I graduate and a sister who lives 1,500 miles away. I also want corset ribbons up the back of my legs with pretty bows once they are all toned after surgery. And once I reach my goal weight I want the difference between start and finish on my wrist
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I paid for MFP premium, and I have a bit more control over telling it when to tell at me (macros etc) than before. Not renewing it though

Whoops just saw that the question is re:the boards here. My premium is for MFP, I am tired and not reading well

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I paid for MFP premium, and I have a bit more control over telling it when to tell at me (macros etc) than before. Not renewing it though

Whoops just saw that the question is re:the boards here. My premium is for MFP, I am tired and not reading well

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My brag list:
I've been with my husband for damn near 13 years, married for 7. I feel this is brag worthy because we both grew up in super tumultuous households yet we've made it work and grown together.
I've basically raised my bro since I was 7 and he was 4. He has Down syndrome, and said tumultuous household left us to fend for ourselves. My husband is great with him, and we come up with awesome stuff to do with him. Last year he was a guest artist on Inkmaster!
I make totally awesome soap as a hobby. I sell tons at craft shows, and people seek me out specifically now. Ego boost right there
I finished my associates degree.
I've been at the same job for 8 years and I am often everyone's go to.
All of my pets are rescues, and two years ago I was able to volunteer at one of the forefront No Kill shelters.
I have fantastic lips and eyelashes!
I think I have a fantastic personality and a big heart.
I have it on my Facebook tagline thingy - I am a dreamer, passionate, creative, crazy pet mom, wife, sister, daughter and friend.
Not so brag worthy, I am neurotic. I have to plan everything out as far in advance as I possibly can, and I get anxious with spontaneity. Working on that for sure.
Not defining myself as "the fat one" in the group is going to be tough, though hopefully not as much so post surgery.
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I have had relationships end, fail to start, or become soured because of my looks, though. From a guy in college who liked me enough to make out with me in my dorm but bluntly told me that I wasn't pretty enough and didn't have big enough boobs and a small enough waist to be "girlfriend material" for him, to a serious relationship that ended because he was "repulsed" by me after I'd gained 15-20 pounds and felt like I'd somehow tricked him into thinking I had myself more together than I really did... ugh.
I now have a husband who loves me no matter what and finds me attractive, so I should just let those old experiences go. Well, I've got something to talk about next week in therapy.

Uh ... if your avatar is a recent photo of you, you are really attractive.
I think you may have some other issues -- dysmorphic ones. Seriously!
That's not to say that we each don't have things we'd like to improve / fix / disguise / highlight about our appearances. That's why Spanx and makeup were invented.
But seriously -- your written description of your face and your photograph do NOT coincide.

Did tattoos for a few years here (and had a shop). I would think that any of the artists that have enough skill to get on the show, should be used to dealing with different types of skin. I can see where if a person had lost a ton of weight and was getting ink on sagging skin it would be extremely difficult but I can't see anyone having that done. I agree with your friend, he was likely trying to make excuses to save himself from elimination.

It's bullshit. My friend did bypass and after dropping probably close to 200 pounds has had no problems continuing with her tattoos. She had before as well. Sent from my SM-G935T using the BariatricPal App

very proud
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@@thomas1984 I'd just present it to him as a concern - "I was able to eat this much food and didn't feel full, is there a reason the mechanism of my sleeve didn't cause me discomfort?" That way it's coming out more as a question vs an accusation, less likely for him to be offended. Then you can discuss the size of the sleeve that he chose, if it's appropriate to "reset" the sleeve as others have mentioned, perhaps diagnostics to rule out any issues.
Good luck - I know how frustrating it can be when things aren't going as you've expected. Hopefully he has answers.

I've loved going through this thread! It's been so nice to put an actual person behind the posting name.
As for me:
I've been with my fiancee for 10.5 years now. We still haven't made plans to have our wedding yet because something else always comes up. Currently it's because we are saving for a trip to Scotland, and I just blew a whole bunch of money on concert tickets. Priorities, right?!
I have a beautiful 13 year old daughter from a previous relationship. She has Aspergers Syndrome and ADD, but that kid amazes me. She has two best friends and is in her last year of middle school, getting ready for High School in the fall.
I have two rescue cats, one who doesn't care if I'm alive, and the other is like a baby. He is so loving and dependent on me.
I make my own jewelry. I make most of the earrings I wear, and I've dabbled in chain maille bracelets and necklaces. I've sold my items at craft shows, and have donates many pieces to silent auctions for different charities or non profit organizations.
I have a diploma in Child and Youth Care, and have worked in a transition home where youth were transitioning from jail back to their families custody. It had it's good and bad times, I've seen teens reunited with their families, and I've seen youth removed and returned to jail.
During an incident where a youth was being returned to jail, I got to drive a police truck! The truck was seriously cool.
I complete a 10 kilometer race! I was the biggest one there, I was the last one to come in, but I did it! It was a 10k portion of our city's annual Mothers Day marathon. My goal was to finish, and finish I did. I weighed about 350 at the time. I had my ipod playing and my ear buds in, but I took them out because the people passing me were calling things out to me. Just about every single person who passed me called out "Good job!" "Way to go!" "Keep on going!" It was amazing and I was nearly in tears by the time I was finished. I was so proud of my city that day.
I grew up playing the clarinet in elementary school, and moved to the trumpet in junior high. I loved it, and swore I was going to be a true musician someday.
I am currently a tenor drummer in my city's pipe band (Fredericton Society of Saint Andrew Pipe Band) and have been playing for the last three years. This summer coming will be my third year in competition. We compete all over Atlantic Canada, and are going to the North American Pipe Band championships again this year in Maxville, Ontario. Last year we played the North Americans, and came in 2nd place (for our grade) and also won best bass and tenor! This is a HUGE bragging right as our mid section is composed of my fiancee on bass drum, me as lead tenor, and one more tenor player. This summer we are competing at a higher grade level.
On the same note with the pipe band, this is why we are saving for a trip to Scotland. We plan to go as a band in the summer of 2017 to compete in the World Pipe Band Championships! Exciting!
I am driving a car that has been completely paid off, and every single ding or dent in it has been put there by my fiancee.
I think I am a great driver, and I am very quick to whip out the middle finger to show to the mediocre drivers around me when they cut me off or do something else stupid.
I currently work as a grocery store cashier, and I haven't killed anyone yet. Seriously, that is worth bragging about!
Goodness, I didn't expect my list to be this long... love this thread!

BCAA also comes in powder form, and I would add to post workout shakes.< /p>
It has all amino acids for complete Protein, and it helps post work out protein to be used by the body to rebuild muscles.
when I was weight lifting or hard interval training, I did notice improved recovery.

This from Sephora helps me when my skin gets super dry in Winter, it has something in it to sooth the little cuts that can happen from dry skin... It's about $30 but gives the skin relief.

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them"
Einstein

What????? Don't like mango?? But how? Huh? You are so cool I automatically thought we could be mango buddies.../ maybe sisters? It's all so crazy!
I guess we are a certain kind of folk.... Huh...
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