crabcake

Wow Scarlett! I could've written this post! I have the same problem w/ the arthritis plus a few other things, but being crippled is what scares me the most. Good luck on your surgery. I don't have a date yet.

great book!

I'm borderline diabetic and I don't check my sugar myself. That's something done w/ my lab work at my dr's office. She watches it like a bulldog. But, it's true and I'm supposed to be watching my carbohydrate intake. I do...I watch it as it moves from my plate, to my fork, then to my mouth!!! :-D

Tell them you just found out you're a borderline diabetic. That'll shut them up!

I'm a librarian and I can't believe someone said that to you! Jeez, w/out patrons, we wouldn't have jobs!!! I am sooooo sorry! Speaking of working in libraries...I worked w/ an Indian lady (India Indian) who told me one day in rather poor English that I'd really let myself go and I needed to get on a diet and do something about it. I told her she had the manners of a goat and she should learn to mind her own business!!! What's wrong w/ people? I would never have commented on her poor English! Then a guy I worked w/ made a comment one day that no one was as big as me. I told him I didn't think he wanted to start throwing stones because when I threw some back he'd find out what I really thought about his baggy ass!!! :angry But the one that really made me feel crummy was when I was out shopping one day. Two teenage girls (yeah, I know, they'll get theirs in the end) were walking behind me through a narrow section of the store and one started mooing and the other one said I thought I told you to leave your cow at home today! :think

Boy is that the truth! I work at a college and let me tell you, there's a lot of really smart people walking around that can't even tie their own shoelaces!

Do it! I spell words like that all the time (sometimes even on purpose!). Seriously though, why not? It's correct. I do it just to annoy some folks and I'm pretty sure it's working so far! :biggrin1:

enterprise01, I stand corrected!

Hey, we have funny bones here too...frankly, I'm ROTFLMAO right now! :biggrin1:

Not true. Judgement can be spelled with or w/out the first e. The Brits do it all the time. Here's what the Brittanica has to say: http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9044086/judgment :speechles

If you need the noise, try the White Noise Machine Sleep Mate by Marpac. 980-A Latest Model. Amazon sells it. I've used this for years and it puts out about the same amount of noise (maybe a little less) than my c-pap did. I love it!

Jodi, I think it's a great idea for you to talk to a counselor. May I also suggest you find either a Sierra Club, Habitat for Humanity, a church group or something of that nature to join. It would give you the opportunity to 'start fresh' with people you don't know and that don't know you. It sounds like you're twisting yourself into a pretzel with your old friends, trying to anticipate what they'd like. If you start fresh, you can be whoever you want to be (maybe even the real you???) and without all that old pressure on you to try and figure out who others want/need you to be, you begin to discover things about yourself you really like. You're at a wonderful time in your life (I can say this because hind sight is 20/20), but frankly you sound miserable. I've been where you are and looking back I wish I hadn't allowed other people's opinion of me control me so much. If you find something special in your life that you enjoy doing (and I mean you really enjoy doing), you'll find people that enjoy the same things as you and will like you 'cause you do. Be yourself. I'm not sure you know who that person is yet. I didn't at your age. But trust me, losing 50 or 60 pounds is not going to make your life perfect. Being thin is not the end all and be all. Believe me, thin people have problems too, they may just be a whole different set of problems. Good luck. Please keep us posted on your progress. You sound like an interesting person and frankly some of the things you said made me laugh out loud. That's the real you coming out. Be that person.

Thanks Denise. Knowing that helps. I am a little worried about the recovery and I guess I'm worried too that this won't work either. I know it's only an aid and I'm willing to put in the work, but having so much to lose gets discouraging. Do you do any exercise besides walking the dogs (I'm a 3 dog mom too, so I know that's a lot of work!)? We put in a pool a few years ago, so I'll be able to swim again once the weather warms up a little and I've also joined Curves. This is the most I've exercised in my life, which sort of explains how I got here doesn't it?

Thanks BJean. I don't think I'll tell many. Obviously the DH has to know (!), other than that, I'm thinking I'll tell my sister, 'cause if anything happened to me, she'd be so hurt that I hadn't confided. And my best friend since I was 5 who is about my size too. I'll see how not telling my work friends goes, but several of us joined Curves at the end of last year and try to go at least 3 times during the week. How long was it before your Dr. would let you exercise? I've never been big on that (no pun intended!), but have really been enjoying the Curves thing. Thanks for your advice.

I look forward to that time. But right now, I'm at the rocking back and forth stage. Part of it I think is the guilt. Mind you, I'm too old to worry about what people think, but still that's part of it. I know some of my family members will wonder 'why doesn't she just go on a diet'? Even though they know how I've struggled over the years. It is about me though and you're right, I have to decide that I'm worth it. Certainly I won't be concerned about what they think from the grave will I??? Ha! Thanks for the support.:dance:

Thanks BJean. If I could lose the weight on my own, I would. I've had a weight problem since I was 8. I've dieted for the past 45 years, sometimes w/ success, sometimes not. As I've gotten older, it's been not. That's why that other voice in my head says 'if I could do it I would have done it by now'. Two years ago I weighted what I do now. Except I've probably lost and regained the same 20 pounds 4 or 5 times. I'm tired :tired and I'm frustrated. So what's in committing another 2 years. I realize it's not a quick fix. From reading some of the posts, I see how difficult it still is for many folks. But getting the band must help, otherwise we'd all be losing weight w/out it. My thoughts aren't logical. It's head games I'm playing on myself. Maybe I'm the only one who has had self doubts about the surgery, but I doubt it. Hopefully talking to my surgeon on Wednesday will help address some of the doubts. In the meantime, I'll keep reading here.:decision:

I'm not crazy about the shrines either. They are slightly distracting. However, I understand the need/desire to make them. Two weeks ago the sweetest kid I've ever known was killed in a car accident. He was 18 and would have graduated this spring. His school chums made a shrine for him where he died and it's the only one they'll be able to make because he was buried in another state. So, they can be a good thing too.

I have my initial visit this Wednesday. I'm nervous. I keep thinking I should be able to do this on my own, but then another voice keeps saying if I could, I'd have already done it. Also, I'm not thrilled w/ the idea of surgery and recovery. The only kind of surgery I've had was dental and that was no pic nic either!

Hello Banders! I recently went to a LB seminar and have my initial drs appointment coming up. I first thought I'd go w/ the bypass, but my husband prefers I do the LB. Any suggestions for questions I should ask at that first visit? I'm really torn between which procedure and would really appreciate your recommendations. Thanks!:biggrin1:

Thanks ReneBean! I guess this is why I'm torn...immediate gratification vs. the long haul. The main reason I was leaning towards the bypass was that the insurance would cover it. However honey says we'll recoup the investment from what we don't spend due to my health issues. The one thing I keep thinking about is the 'one shot deal' thing. I'm actually scared this won't work for me either, like the many diets I've tried. At least with the lap band I know I can go back for adjustments.

Hello all. I'm in Montgomery and have my initial drs visit next week. I'm going to Alabama Weight Loss Surgery w/ Dr. Miles. I'm soooo nervous! Any advice?