sascijo

OH MY GOSH LETHA, Your new picture is wonderful....Please, post some...its your turn... I would love to meet you Texas gals..... We will have to work on this...Actually Brownwood or Brady (right by Brownwood) is the Geographical center of Tx. But there is not much to do here in this one horse town... The only good thing is that it doesn't cost much to live here. So if you chicks cans figure it out, lets do something. Maybe Austin or Ft. Worth- Arlington (six flags) I still have a hard time walking a lot, but we could take a lot of breaks.

Yeah Penni, Anyone with a bar built in their house must have a really cool relationship... That is a good question, what do "all" of the significant others think of the new US? Mine really likes it. He was a bit jealous at first, but now he is awesome. I can see a different look in his eyes...and he is VERY ATTENTIVE..... I like it and so does he...

Penni, I think you incision is looking pretty good. It is only angry looking in one spot. My daughter has been attacked by dogs 3 times and she has olive skin, each time I put vitamin E oil on her wounds and it helped the itching and I personally think it helped the healing. Thanks for showing us...

Cindy, I know you will not regret this.. i just can't believe how happy it has made me. :cool: Keep posting and you will find a lot of support and love here... Glad you found us too...

Well Paula, that's a first for me.... I can't ever remember being called beautiful... THANKS! My daughter now? Yeah, she's been told a lot.. even heavy....My God, I just love this board. I needed this support so much, and I really appreciate everyone. And how I would love to be 190 Leatha... I bet if you would post your own pictures you would see that you DO look "like that"....You are probably better. But the real key here is "I feel better" I just can't tell you how my health has changed. I am a new person all right... God is truly wonderul , I was miss cutsy poosty years and years and years ago. Never thought I would weigh 301. But I did...and now the beauty you speak of is just an extra that I am indeed proud of, but after 35 years of being fat, I am proudest of my health. My legs aren't swollen , my sugar is normal, My heart is beating out of my body, ears don't ring, stars no longer in my eyes, fingers no longer hurt, knees no longer hurt, I can buy my own groceries without help, I can bathe places I couldn't reach, and i saved the best for last. Forgive me for being graphic....I CAN WIPE MY ON BUTT...BECAUSE I CAN REACH IT NOW...SORRRRY BUT IT IS TRUE... tears no longer stream down my face because of embarrassment, I can wear shorts in the summer, my seat belt fits, bartenders flirt with me, my children are excited to show off their mama, sex...... that's private, but WOW.... I am a real woman again. God Bless you all.... I started typing and this just started pouring out.... boo hoo......tears of happiness.:cry :cry :cry :cool: :D Thank you for being there for me...

unfortunately it took me about 5 months to feel restriction and I gained 14 lbs before I found it. I was beginning to feel like a failure. But we finally got it going and I did lose. You will too. Jesse Ahroni told me this and it made me mad..."Terry what makes you so special that you will be the only one hungry, or to not lose with a band? Quit rushing it, You will lose" What she didn't understand was I wasn't rushing it, but I was hungry. I when I am hungry I eat. My doc wasn't to good at explaining the aftercare and I didn't know about the waiting for the tummy to heal, etc. but I do now, and it was heaven when restriction finally happened. Try to eat high protein food and drinks until you get some restriction. It seemed to help me.

Welcome again to this board. You will love everyone here. If you ever have any questions, be sure to ask. There is a lot of knowledge floating around in here...:cool:

You will see a lot of changes now. Be sure to take small bites and REALLY chew before you swallow. Don't panic if you get stuck. It takes a while to get this down. Well, it took m e a while, it may not you.. Good luck, You are already smaller than I am after a year. WOW, you are doing sooooo well.

Thanks Penni, Neicy, and Debra, My daughter really is a very pretty girl. She also is a very good kid. I am lucky. I will post another picture of her when I can, she is way more private than me. I think posting helps me. I did this on Centexbandsters and Smartbandsters(no longer a member) but it did help me "see" my progress. Neicy, I just thank God for my band everyday too! Debra, if that bartender was flirting, there is something wrong with him with all the college girls I saw, but I'll take that compliment and run with it.....lol

Thank you La_madam, This picture doesn't do her justice. She is absolutely beautiful. I will find another one and post it. She is doing well. She started out at 236 and is down to 177. I just adore her. She is a little mama, and she is the one that trys to keep me on track. You are right about the mini support.. We try to keep each other focused. Sometimes Sarah has a hard time..lol.

As you can see I have not changed much over the last 4 months, but this was taken today. You can see my THICK middle a lot better in this picture.... The black clothes really hide it... If you could see the "nude"me you would be SHOCKED. Hanging skin, etc....Not pretty.

Me and Sarah also about 2 or 3 months ago

Dear God, those are repulsive...... Now here is one taken recently. About 3 months ago

This one taken the night before surgery Me and daughter Sarah who was also banded the same day as I. (4-8-03) after looking at these pictures , it looks like we are "trying" to be as ugly as possible. But we really looked like this.....WOW... Let me encourage you to post your own pics. It is a shock....

I just love all of you... I mean it. I really like being in this group of ladies (and men). You are all so down to earth and real...... Superficial people just are not my thing, and you guys "ROCK" Now, You ask for this, I feel real stupid posting them, but here goes. By the way, Thank you, thank you, thank you for the compliments. I was going to eat a candy bar, and now I'm not... SEEEEEEEEE what a little support does.... No Joke... This was taken 4-14-03

Darn!!! My computer kept crashing so I just now read all the super comments everyone made. THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No kidding... I really feel great now.... I have been feeling pretty crappy actually. That picture is in black now girls.. If I post another in my lighter colored shirts you will see the spare tire, little boobs, and all the other flaws. Really.... I'm not kidding. Why do you think I posted that one... lol...lol... it looks better than me.... Shellyj.......that's what my younger sister-in-law teases me about. That song by Trace Adkins called "one hot mama"... Of course I love it.... Once again, thanks to all of you, You girls are the "GREATEST".... I just love this forum and I really am glad to be a part of all of your group.... You are so uninhibited and honest and it seems like you "ALL" are happy for each other and your sucesses. That is what I have been looking for. Some are just jealous or angry groups and I just can't hack that... I am a slobbery , gushy, happy kind of girl, and I want everyone to have great sucess. Not just this group, but everywhere I go, I try to encourage overweight people to try this. I feel like God blessed me and I need to spead the word.... LOVE YU ALL....:cool: :D

Isn't that funny. But I thought my mom was old at 30! So I can't blame them much... Does 50 y.o. mean you are 50 too? I might at well be, it is only 12 days away. But I am not bummed or anything. I feel GOOD!. I am just beginning to have a lot of fun. I love the kids, but they are grown now, and it is time for me and Joe to kick our heels up some. We aren't too rowdy, but we are having a lot of fun we didn't used to have. We couldn't afford it then. Anyway, thanks again...

Thank you NewHope and nightingale2u. I have worked at this and I am pretty satisfied for the most. It will happen for each of you too. I started out wanting the band to do it all. IT WON"T.... darn it... But when realization hit that I had to try, it wasnt so bad. In fact I feel better about myself. And YES NewHope, I had diabetes (not any more) high blood pressure and took 2 meds for it (now I take 1) I took 400 mg of celebrex and for a while I took none, but Now I have a different problem and I have to take a pill called Mobic, but it has Nothing to do with my weight. I couldn't walk, shop for groceries, or do anything that required physical strength. I couldn't hold my grandbabies, didn't have a lap. I could go on and on, but I would be pretty boring. And SEX, well hell, that was a chore... I was so fat that I have to have something to help me wipe my on bottom. Sorry to be so explicit, but it is time for the "unfat" world to understand the problems we have. I can bathe and "reach" everything by myself that needs washed. I couldn't before. I even had a 20 something guy hit on me Sat night when I was at this party. I just laughed. I started to say," So you like 50 year old women huh baby" but I just said no thanks and he left me alone... It sure was fun though. Don't get me wrong, he was loaded, it was dark, and... hell at closing time... anyone.... looks good I guess. But I still got a thrill.... I ask the bartender for a drink, (had a free coupon) and told him I didn't know much about drinks , just wanted something sweet... He smiles at me and with both index fingers he pointed to his chest. I nearly fell over, blushed, gushed and slobbered. Then I said, "NO , I meant to drink". He acted like a mime and acted real sad.... So I started flirting back and he was making me something called a blue hawian (sp) and he was shaking and moving, so I said , " Well we have Tom Cruise here" and he really put it on.... So I go tell my 20 year old daughter cause I am really flattered, and she busts my bubble and tells me, "MOM, did you tip him?" He just wanted a tip. :cool: And here I thought he was flirting.... :D You gotta laugh.... Oh yeah, I get to dance now too. I couldn't do that before, knees hurt to bad, but now they just hurt a little. And it is so funnnnnn to dress up. And I am still fat... at size 18. I have 60 more lbs to go...

AND, by the way, that is my mansion in the background... I wish I had a new one.... but this one is paid for... So I guess I will just remodel.

Well, it didn't so I just posted again and here is the "crappy "old" me"

I am going to attempt to post 2 pictures. One taken 4-14-03 which was 7 days post op, and down 14 lbs. The next one was taken 5-14-04, approx. 90 lbs gone. (I am STILL there, haven't lost any more.) I am not disappointed much, but there is a little disappointment that I didn't make goal of -100 lbs by my birthday which is Aug 7 of this year. But I am real happy and I am still working on it. Only one picture showed up, and it was the "after" so I am posting the before now - hope it works

Rica, You are really pretty... Also, I agree that you should do what the doctor says, but they do all say different things.... If you are doing well with how you have been doing it, I don't see any reason to change. but that is up to you. My surgeon was very easy and only made me stay on liquid a week and mushy 2 weeks. Then I just had to be careful to chew really well, but was able to eat. I realize it is hard to stop when the band tells you to. I am "still" not listening a year and 3 months out. But you have already had great success. You and your honey look "awesome".

Hey Cutie, You look sharp!!! I even noticed the dimple in your cheek is a lot deeper now...And by the smile on your face, you even feel a lot better.... Keep it up! I want to post my pics too. I know how, but I don't know how to keep them from being so big. Let me know and I will post a before and after...

My sister is a paralegal , I don't know if she can answer this, but I will ask..

Birdee, If its any help, I just wish I weighed 186. I would think I was a "50 year old BABE". My daughter started out at 236 and it has been a year and 3 months and she weighs 180 - 177 depending..... on the day..... She is BEAUTIFUL..... You probably just don't need to lose as much... Some people look great at 186 where some are going to look bigger. My sis and I talk about this all the time. Just keep on trying sweetie... It's working.