dylanmiles23

Mine is very thin. My MIL use to have a very obese doctor that was against 'fat' people.
A funny story. My mIL dated a man she liked and when he stopped calling she decided, I have nothing to lose, so she called him. He said he liked thinner woman and his beer belly was massive!

Hello everyone. i haven't been here in months, sorry. Liz, do what makes you happy and no one else. I was told I have an umbilical hernia and was going to have it repaired with my Lap Band. Turns out it is something else and I have this large lump that sticks out. I said when I get a TT I will have it repaired/fixed. I don't know if I will ever be ready. I get it. Today I am seeing a surgeon because of wear and tear on my left shoulder. That is getting done this fall or winter. The pain wakes me and it hurts all the time. I am almost 65 and don't feel like operations, unless it was a face lift. My boobs don't sag!!
I am very happy, Liz that you have a man in your life. I always feel people should not be alone. My MIL was a widow at 52 and was in denial about everything and when she was like 85, she realized she should have dated/married etc.
Yesterday was my 3 year. I am down 70, would have liked much more but I am not perfect. But on the good side of 'just 70' this is the longest I have ever kept weight off. Thank you Lap Band!!
Everyone have a great weekend.
Arlene

Hello everyone. i haven't been here in months, sorry. Liz, do what makes you happy and no one else. I was told I have an umbilical hernia and was going to have it repaired with my Lap Band. Turns out it is something else and I have this large lump that sticks out. I said when I get a TT I will have it repaired/fixed. I don't know if I will ever be ready. I get it. Today I am seeing a surgeon because of wear and tear on my left shoulder. That is getting done this fall or winter. The pain wakes me and it hurts all the time. I am almost 65 and don't feel like operations, unless it was a face lift. My boobs don't sag!!
I am very happy, Liz that you have a man in your life. I always feel people should not be alone. My MIL was a widow at 52 and was in denial about everything and when she was like 85, she realized she should have dated/married etc.
Yesterday was my 3 year. I am down 70, would have liked much more but I am not perfect. But on the good side of 'just 70' this is the longest I have ever kept weight off. Thank you Lap Band!!
Everyone have a great weekend.
Arlene

Hello everyone. i haven't been here in months, sorry. Liz, do what makes you happy and no one else. I was told I have an umbilical hernia and was going to have it repaired with my Lap Band. Turns out it is something else and I have this large lump that sticks out. I said when I get a TT I will have it repaired/fixed. I don't know if I will ever be ready. I get it. Today I am seeing a surgeon because of wear and tear on my left shoulder. That is getting done this fall or winter. The pain wakes me and it hurts all the time. I am almost 65 and don't feel like operations, unless it was a face lift. My boobs don't sag!!
I am very happy, Liz that you have a man in your life. I always feel people should not be alone. My MIL was a widow at 52 and was in denial about everything and when she was like 85, she realized she should have dated/married etc.
Yesterday was my 3 year. I am down 70, would have liked much more but I am not perfect. But on the good side of 'just 70' this is the longest I have ever kept weight off. Thank you Lap Band!!
Everyone have a great weekend.
Arlene

Morning ladies.
I was going to post this in the general forum but thought I'd get your opinions first as I trust and know you better than the general poster out there. Let me know what you think..I'd really love some feedback.
Thanks,
Liz
My primary care doctor and I have a relationship that goes beyond the normal interaction between the doctor and his/her patient. She is a childhood friend of my SIL and because of that relationship, we often talk more as friends than doctor/patient. So yesterday I saw her for my regular 3 month visit and spent most of the time talking about the new man I'm seeing. To my surprise, she asked to see my excess skin and I showed her my belly and upper thighs. Neither of us beats around the bush so she came straight out and said that I look like someone who has been thin my whole life...till I remove clothing. Then it's apparent that I didn't always look this way. I am well aware of it but I'm not ready at this time to go through plastic surgery...nor might I ever be ready. My thoughts have been that the man has to take the good with the bad and if I do decide to go the route of plastic surgery, it will be because I want it...not to please some guy.
So of course, I'm now thinking that while not necessarily a turn off, I might look much improved with surgery. My bariatric surgeon mentioned when she said she would revise my port (as it sticks out pretty obviously) that I could have a TT at that time. I told her thanks, but no thanks...but...now I'm wondering if I'm dismissing this option without really getting some information and thinking it through.
Should I make an appointment with a surgeon? I know if I do, he or she will tell me how they can make me look so much better...it's what they do for a living and I get that. I haven't been intimate with this fellow as of yet, but we're heading in that direction for sure. He knows about my surgery and he's been with another woman who had a large weight loss and he said he has no issue with it. So...do I stay the course as I planned, or do I consider this option? Oh..and it's not just the tummy. My upper legs are badly wrinkled and my boobs are hanging lumps of flesh. I'm reminded of that all the time as even when I see older women in the locker room at the Y, their breasts are much perkier than mine.
Again..feedback and opinions welcome.

Oh! I forgot to say the picture of the stuff I displayed on my table in my Hotel is NOT EVEN HALF OF IT , so YOU can imagine I only took a little roll on case & 1 cary on bag so if YOU ever go to one of these Wlsfa seminar conventions make sure you take a extra case to bring back a LOT of stuff in LOL , seriously though, I forgot my wedges , but I remembered my flip flops , I am so glad I remembered my Tennis shoes though .

Ok I am flooding you people with pictures so here it goes because The Meet & Greet was SO MUCH FUN , I got some good information & LOTS of Protein goodies & met SO many people , SO You Wanted pictures , however I'm going to put this out there my LBD doesn't look that good on me because it is getting a bit loose on me & the blue T shirt that was in with one of the goodie bags is a Xl & I can fit into a LG & Medium so it looks big on me I didn't think so when I looked in the mirror but when I looked at the Pics I could tell , they even had 2 Plastic surgeons doing free consults , but I'm just not ready 30 # more to go , & I won a poster in a raffle I will take a pic with that later , good food , drinks & dancing lots of fun games & other things & you will see the view I had from my room , ok you wanted pics.

I was on the trial for Merida with Dr Blackburn many many years ago. It did work as long as I was on them. Would I ever take another weight pill after that, NO. I love my band and feel you can live without quack pills.

I would love a copy. Thank you. Because of being retired on SS, money is tight.
I enjoy following Alex on FB and Bariatricpal.
Thanks.
Arlene Showstack

Today is my one year bandiversary. I am at the lowest weight I have been in decades. I started at 302 and today weigh 194. I've lost 108 pounds and have just under 50 to go. Almost all of the weight so far was lost in the first 7 months. Then I bounced around with the same five pounds up and down for the next five months.
This past two weeks I became energized again and I now believe I will make it to my goal weight this summer.
Life with the LapBand is incredible. Although the band doesn't stop me from overeating (that's my job) or from choosing high calorie foods, it does help me to stay satisfied on less food for several hours. In other words, the hunger that always derailed all of my previous dieting attempts is solved. The band takes care of hunger between meals. All I have to do is ... everything else.
Everything else means choosing solid Protein and passing up carbs. Limiting alcohol which is pure sugar and has the added side effect of allowing me to feel it's ok to nibble while I drink.
Everything else means no snacking between meals. Snacking wakes up my hunger.
Everything else means no tv eating. Ever.
Everything else means walking. Taking the stairs. Every day and lots of times a day.
Everything else means saying no to helpful people who suggest just one bite won't hurt. I know better.
Everything else also means ...
... Working on the reasons I turn to food instead of to people.
... Seeing a therapist twice a month.
... Going to OA and to CoDA.
... Believing in success and never letting go of the goal.
I didn't get WLS to be prettier or sexier.
I didn't even really get it because of all of my health problems -- high blood pressure. sleep apnea. GERD. Debilitating osteoarthritis. Swelling in my feet and legs. A dozen different medications to take each morning. Horrible lower back pain.
I got WLS because my life had narrowed to unbearable dimensions, where I found myself at age 53 in an emotionally abusive marriage with a raging narcissist. Marriage counseling failed. I ate every night into what I call my food coma. If I had my food, all the chaos around me would temporarily go away. Until it didn't.
I knew that I could never get myself and my college age girls out of that environment while I kept eating. I had to stop. I couldn't stop. But I had to stop.
I looked into WLS and started the process. My husband was coldly critical but didn't say much. I didn't ask permission. My daughters were very supportive.
I got my surgery. I started exercising. I dropped weight quickly and felt better immediately.
A few months later, when his rage escalated, I took my girls and the dog and left him. I haven't looked back. My divorce is in process and it's the most painful thing I've ever done. He continues to try to manipulate the three of us from afar and has stalled the divorce at every turn. It's costing me a fortune. It's worth every penny.
I stopped losing weight five months ago. Last week my divorce therapist and I talked about this. My identity as a wife - poof. My identity as a mom - fragile with my girls away at college. They don't need me every day anymore. My identity as a daughter - in extreme flux since I'm living with my mother right now. She has control and anger issues herself, and that's a daily struggle. I spend a lot of time outside of the house. It's time to focus on my new identity.
My head is back in the game today. I'm making better choices. I'm making new friends and finding social things to do instead of living like a hermit. I'm working on the underlying psychological issues that allowed me to live for years as if I didn't matter.
I know that without WLS I would have never stopped eating. If I'd never stopped eating, I would still be on that couch, waiting to die.
I am proud of the changes I made in the last year. It is so much more than going down in size. I have truly recovered my self. The self that I buried under food all of my life.
I'm scared witless about finding a new house and starting over. I'm scared to make decisions for myself. I was told my whole life that I didn't know what was best for myself. I don't believe that anymore.
Today I know better. I know that I made a good decision getting my LapBand and I made a good decision leaving and filing for divorce. I will make good decisions when it comes to a new home and taking care of my new body.
I see threads on here often asking if WLS changes a relationship or harms a marriage. I'm one person who got WLS because I needed the strength to do what I knew I had to do.
Happy surgiversary to me. My whole life has changed and I couldn't be more grateful.

I truly do know how painful losing someone close is and I hope CG knows we are all thinking of her.
I miss her funny, off the cuff remarks.
It is a good day when I get a good laugh here.
Hope she can return soon.
Funny how I look here daily and find some bit of info about our banded life that helps me????

She does read, doesn't respond or post but she does read because of some negative comments or people she does pop in every once in a great while , She is just doing her & her family , you all know we all go through our stuff, whatever it may be bad , good , happy or sad.

carolinagirl, don't know if you're checking in, but I miss your posts. My sympathy in your time of loss.

Hello everyone.
Everyone seems to be doing well this winter. It is freezing today after a 45 degree day yesterday and of course we got snow again today, in Boston.
I don't know if you all read CG's blog but her FIL passed away this morning. He has been sick and had cancer. We talk many times a day.
Liz, glad you're in FL enjoying yourself. I drove my brother and SIL yesterday to the airport so they are there for 8 days. Lucky.
I went to the gym the other day for the first time in 6-9 weeks and it felt great but this weather keeps me in because I hate wearing boots and taking sneakers. I leave all my stuff in the car and run into the gym so I don't need to use a locker because most of them don't lock. Yes I have complained to them many times. I put my handbag against the drivers seat and have a bath towel on the seat that hangs over. It works.
Everyone have a great Thursday.
Stay warm and healthy.
Arlene

Hello everyone.
Everyone seems to be doing well this winter. It is freezing today after a 45 degree day yesterday and of course we got snow again today, in Boston.
I don't know if you all read CG's blog but her FIL passed away this morning. He has been sick and had cancer. We talk many times a day.
Liz, glad you're in FL enjoying yourself. I drove my brother and SIL yesterday to the airport so they are there for 8 days. Lucky.
I went to the gym the other day for the first time in 6-9 weeks and it felt great but this weather keeps me in because I hate wearing boots and taking sneakers. I leave all my stuff in the car and run into the gym so I don't need to use a locker because most of them don't lock. Yes I have complained to them many times. I put my handbag against the drivers seat and have a bath towel on the seat that hangs over. It works.
Everyone have a great Thursday.
Stay warm and healthy.
Arlene

Hello everyone.
Everyone seems to be doing well this winter. It is freezing today after a 45 degree day yesterday and of course we got snow again today, in Boston.
I don't know if you all read CG's blog but her FIL passed away this morning. He has been sick and had cancer. We talk many times a day.
Liz, glad you're in FL enjoying yourself. I drove my brother and SIL yesterday to the airport so they are there for 8 days. Lucky.
I went to the gym the other day for the first time in 6-9 weeks and it felt great but this weather keeps me in because I hate wearing boots and taking sneakers. I leave all my stuff in the car and run into the gym so I don't need to use a locker because most of them don't lock. Yes I have complained to them many times. I put my handbag against the drivers seat and have a bath towel on the seat that hangs over. It works.
Everyone have a great Thursday.
Stay warm and healthy.
Arlene

Hello everyone.
Everyone seems to be doing well this winter. It is freezing today after a 45 degree day yesterday and of course we got snow again today, in Boston.
I don't know if you all read CG's blog but her FIL passed away this morning. He has been sick and had cancer. We talk many times a day.
Liz, glad you're in FL enjoying yourself. I drove my brother and SIL yesterday to the airport so they are there for 8 days. Lucky.
I went to the gym the other day for the first time in 6-9 weeks and it felt great but this weather keeps me in because I hate wearing boots and taking sneakers. I leave all my stuff in the car and run into the gym so I don't need to use a locker because most of them don't lock. Yes I have complained to them many times. I put my handbag against the drivers seat and have a bath towel on the seat that hangs over. It works.
Everyone have a great Thursday.
Stay warm and healthy.
Arlene

Hi all. Heard from my son.. more snow up North. The weather here in South Florida has been nothing short of spectacular. Wish you gals could be here with me hanging out poolside.

Just checking in with my peeps. Where is everybody?
I've been having a rough week at home with my mom. Trying to put it in perspective and looking forward to my daughter's spring break this coming weekend.
One day at a time!

TGIF everyone. I haven't been responding but I have been reading. BOSTON Sucks this winter. The wind chill today is below zero, again. No snow today but it's coming tomorrow and rain Sunday. Weird weather. CG has single digit temps today, too. Maybe she misses living in Minnesota and freezing her ass off. The snow in front of my townhouse unit is over 15' high. When you go to leave my condos you pray you don't get hit because the mounds are over 12' and it's a busy street.
I hope no one lost heat during this deep freeze. I once lost electric for about 1 hour. Living in a condo, we have under ground electric but it was a town thing.
My husband is disabled but helps a friend and drives limo and thank G-d he is driving a huge SUV because the roads are bad every where. It has an automatic starter and that helps. He has a ton of health issues and one is he has no feelings in his feet and lower legs. He can;t tell if he's cold or not there. It sucks. But with his twenty something pills a day, he is alive.
Everyone stay warm and be safe. Enjoy your weekends.
Arlene

TGIF everyone. I haven't been responding but I have been reading. BOSTON Sucks this winter. The wind chill today is below zero, again. No snow today but it's coming tomorrow and rain Sunday. Weird weather. CG has single digit temps today, too. Maybe she misses living in Minnesota and freezing her ass off. The snow in front of my townhouse unit is over 15' high. When you go to leave my condos you pray you don't get hit because the mounds are over 12' and it's a busy street.
I hope no one lost heat during this deep freeze. I once lost electric for about 1 hour. Living in a condo, we have under ground electric but it was a town thing.
My husband is disabled but helps a friend and drives limo and thank G-d he is driving a huge SUV because the roads are bad every where. It has an automatic starter and that helps. He has a ton of health issues and one is he has no feelings in his feet and lower legs. He can;t tell if he's cold or not there. It sucks. But with his twenty something pills a day, he is alive.
Everyone stay warm and be safe. Enjoy your weekends.
Arlene

TGIF everyone. I haven't been responding but I have been reading. BOSTON Sucks this winter. The wind chill today is below zero, again. No snow today but it's coming tomorrow and rain Sunday. Weird weather. CG has single digit temps today, too. Maybe she misses living in Minnesota and freezing her ass off. The snow in front of my townhouse unit is over 15' high. When you go to leave my condos you pray you don't get hit because the mounds are over 12' and it's a busy street.
I hope no one lost heat during this deep freeze. I once lost electric for about 1 hour. Living in a condo, we have under ground electric but it was a town thing.
My husband is disabled but helps a friend and drives limo and thank G-d he is driving a huge SUV because the roads are bad every where. It has an automatic starter and that helps. He has a ton of health issues and one is he has no feelings in his feet and lower legs. He can;t tell if he's cold or not there. It sucks. But with his twenty something pills a day, he is alive.
Everyone stay warm and be safe. Enjoy your weekends.
Arlene

TGIF everyone. I haven't been responding but I have been reading. BOSTON Sucks this winter. The wind chill today is below zero, again. No snow today but it's coming tomorrow and rain Sunday. Weird weather. CG has single digit temps today, too. Maybe she misses living in Minnesota and freezing her ass off. The snow in front of my townhouse unit is over 15' high. When you go to leave my condos you pray you don't get hit because the mounds are over 12' and it's a busy street.
I hope no one lost heat during this deep freeze. I once lost electric for about 1 hour. Living in a condo, we have under ground electric but it was a town thing.
My husband is disabled but helps a friend and drives limo and thank G-d he is driving a huge SUV because the roads are bad every where. It has an automatic starter and that helps. He has a ton of health issues and one is he has no feelings in his feet and lower legs. He can;t tell if he's cold or not there. It sucks. But with his twenty something pills a day, he is alive.
Everyone stay warm and be safe. Enjoy your weekends.
Arlene

Liz, you look amazing and very happy. Hard work pays off. I wish I could be disciplined.
Arlene