DeLarla

Paul's post on the other thread is award-winning quality. He was able to find the words I've been trying to say all along. When I lash out at Mexican surgeons, it's not specifically the surgeon; it's the lack of quality standards, it's the impossible commute, it's the lack of a lifelong partnership. Sometimes things set me off like a firecracker, so I lose my cool and start clucking. Sorry for the hijack, Penni, but if you haven't read Paul's superior contribution to the other thread, now's a good time. Penni and I learned the hard way by going to Mexico. We both got screwed badly in many ways. If we had surgery in the US, we'd have easy access to a legal system that would help us seek justice. Consider us samples. Now's time to pull Penni out of this nonsense of swollen fingers. Penni, between the two of us, we've lost an OBESE PERSON. Get up off your butt and do the Honky Tonk Badonkadonk if you have to. Make sacrifices if you must. Instead of staying in hotels with room service menus, grit your teeth and stay with a thin family member or friend. It only takes a day or two to get back on track, so go somewhere that will help you, not hinder you. It's easier to say than do, but you've been strong before. Call your trainer, find some motivation. Step away from the beads and towards the treadmill!

Kelly, I'd be lost without you and my LBT peeps! Kryssa, my turtle sistah! Even though I don't come to the turtle place often, I also want hard facts, both good and bad. You can only wear rose colored glasses with certain outfits. The rest of the time you gotta see the gray to know the truth. Maude, the reason I deleted my posts there is because I didn't listen to my own advice, which is to walk away and move on to another thread. I got sucked in and did this: "I think the problem is the natural tendency we have to "one-up" each other in writing. Somebody will share an opinion about a subject...then somebody else twists that into something that becomes slanderous, exagerrated, eroneous." Hottie, that's not just a problem with the board, but that's the exact monkey that lives on my back and drives me to lash back. I get really defensive when I see incorrect information, and for one surgeon to claim there's only one band placement technique is a boldfaced lie. My surgeon "took what he learned in Mexico and improved upon it." Many others have said the same thing. When I saw all the folks thanking him for incorrect information, I snapped. "When people are getting whipped up, that just means you are for sure talking the truth.....and truth makes people uneasy." That's such a profound statement. I need to squeeze it into my signature line as a reminder to myself that no matter how honest or dishonest someone is, many people are afraid of the truth. Hmm, I should learn to play drums, get a rock band together and call us Truth Exposed. People would hate us so they'd buy our albums like mad! I'm never leaving LBT, I just left that thread. I don't get intimidated by words on a screen. I would have crashed and burned without LBT. LBT is my Christmas and children and mom. Oh, and I've got lots of hot boyfriends here and deep, meaningful bonds with women who mean the world to me. Jesus take the wheel!

DeLarla loves Big Paul :kiss2:

First, I apologize to Donali for deleting my posts on the Ortiz thread. I used to have a bad habit of deleting posts, which drove people buggy, but I did it again and deleted myself from the now-famous Ortiz thread. Also, I promised never again to participate in an "LBT war," which is the direction that thread was going. I have to learn to keep certain opinions in the proper place. I'm still a work in progress, I am not perfect. To me, that thread is nothing but an infomercial with inaccurate information posted only to placate the masses and gain business. But is it really my duty to point out the truth when I see dishonesty? According to too many people my truth is offensive. I opted for a more positive 2006 without all the tension and anxiety so part of what I need to do is to let the "eloquent bullshi*" slide from time to time. This is one of those times. To those I offended on the other thread, I am sorry. I'm not here to hurt people. Perhaps Jesus believers understand what drives me (so I've been told.) Some of us had a calling, and mine was loud and clear. I have a natural born instinct to protect my friends and family. I'm the scout who goes first to see if it's safe, and I won't let loved ones through till the bad guys are at bay. When I see thorns I rush to clear a path so nobody gets hurt. But it's not an easy roll because sometimes people get trampled in the rush. It's like a real life episode of "LOST" where I've seen and heard things, and I want to warn others, but nobody will listen till it's too late and they finally see it with their own eyes. I can't save the world, and I'm learning that the hard way. I've had more band related complications and surgeries than most people (there are others who have had it far worse than me.) So far only two of us that eroded (in my circle) have actually lost weight since band removal, while all the others are gaining or struggling to maintain. This scares the crap out of me to the point where I can easily see myself slipping back into anorexic or bulimic behaviors - or worse, 315 Poundland. Is it normal to walk around starving all day instead of having 5 or 10 walnuts to ease the pain? Is it normal to exercise 3 times in one day to get rid of the pound of crap I ate the night before? Is it normal that my weight/food issues keep me from falling asleep at night and then awaken me after only 5 hours of sleep? Is diet-related insomnia normal? I am not normal. I may never be. I absolutely love what people wrote about me & Penni being welcome and loved at LBT. I won't leave, but I did leave that thread and will start from Square One, one day at a time, trying to avoid wars and conflict and focus instead on the support, love and encouragement I get from my family here.

"I come here for support and understanding and compassion to get through the rough times" Me too, but Penni, we don't just come here to get through rough times. LBT is so much more. It's a place we can share laughter or even a new outfit. When you got your new car, your LBT family was just as excited, and what fun is a new car alone? LBT is like a family in a box, always there no matter what. It's not fair to hijack this thread with my feelings over the other thread, so I'll go start one myself. But girl, don't think you're alone in this struggle. I've lost a few pounds since band removal, and I've been going to the gym and feeling that burn that feels so good. But has my head changed? No. Every one of my days is exactly the same "up stairs" as every one of your days. I have flashbacks of what a shrink told me, that the human mind isn't designed for long-term fighting like this. I hope he's wrong, but I could snap at any minute and go back to 315. Any minute.

Now off with the pants!

Now THAT's a picture! I was just gonna ask where Public has been, but here he is right here in the topless thread! NICE :target:

"WOW! you saw all that and still went there." Uh, no Dog. You did all your research yet YOU still went there. I had my procedures done in other facilities. Looks like someone who did their research only got the skinny on the positives and forgot to ask about the negatives.

"You say that you would recommend surgery in Mexico to anyone. Would YOU have surgery there? Would you send your children there?" Touche'

"It doesnt matter what country you go to, what hospital you go to. the doctor can carry all the insurance he wants and follow all the guidlines and regs he wants. What does matter is his skills and .knowledge and working conditions." You mean things like a hypodermic needle lying at nurse's station uncapped and unattended? That kind of working conditions? Perhaps a patient wandering around a surgical suite in a drug induced fit of hallucinations, touching everything with no staff around to hear or care? I think I gotcha now. Research that, would ya?

I read a book about dog discipline that said dogs respond to double vowel sounds. If you want a well-trained animal, call him Oooh-Oooh, or MooMoo, or Chi Chi, Voodoo, Fifi. Get it? Anything with a double vowel for a good baby.

What website?

I think I'll start a butt hole thread.

My friend's dog is named D.O.G., and they pronounce it DeeOhGee.

Sorry, but you can't call her Bandit or Zoe or Muffin because those are all on the list of most popular names. Name her Lilly Fields or Flooberjoober or anything as long as it's original!

Celest, a "place to vent?" Pun intended, or not?

This sounds like a good place to rag about the 1.5 pounds that refuse to go away. They are keeping me from joining the "I Lost 80 Pounds" club. Bastards.

A sale on Kotex, hey, great idea for a new fun thread! But seriously, what is Alex going to do if I really post my naked pics here?

"Here boobies boobies boobies... Good Boobies, come here, tweet tweet" I'm SUPPOSED to be working, not wetting my panties!

Keeping it bumped because I'm stalking Celest. And Donali. This is such a great thread.

I'm a lil jealous here.

Tears, great. My husband says I broke our dogs so now he has to send them away to school since they are too spoiled. Phooey. She looks like a Fiji. I read the list of 10 most popular dog names, and Fiji wasn't there. Allison Bella Charma Daisy (a classic) Elfie Faeleen, Fiona, Fiju Geisha Halo, Heaven Ittybit Jumbo Keisha Lemon Pie Mango Natasha Olivia Pork Chop Quipit Race Baby Sugar Pop Trisquit U (sorry, I don't like U names) Velvet Wishper X (just X) Yibble Zatrina

I seriously vote this best laugh of the month. Paula, you slay me! I swear, I literally gripped the side of my desk in anticipation of seeing your new home after Katrina. I was even gonna send a housewarming gift! I guess I can send a floating keychain?

P.S. "DeLarla, I'm not Magic. You know me, I don't have to pretend to be someone else to be obnoxious and rude." HERE HERE! And you know I was kidding, right?

DeLarla loves Paul.