Zoe

This is a wonderfully thought-provoking thread. Vines, I love your story. Laughter is one of the things that makes life worth living. It's hard to pick just one thing, since I've had many gifts and lucky breaks. Toward the top of my list would have to be a referral to a shrink provided by a dear friend many years ago, which literally saved my life and gave me back my self.

It's wonderful to read about everybody's victories! I have a big smile on my face after reading just the posts on this page. Congrats to Denise, Lisa, and Shaz. And welcome back, Lisa Green. You are kicking some serious weight-loss butt!

Shaz, looks like you're a Chicagoan; check out Lane Bryant. The bras are kinda expensive but honey THEY WORK. They have sizes from 38B to 48DDD, I think. I went to the one on Addison St. (near Target). The Wabash Ave. store has even more. Penni's right -- this particular number comes with little plastic pads that help push everything up and forward. They are removable but mine are staying put forever! The dog would probably just chew them anyway. Alex and Kathy, I know what you mean about elastic waists. My mother used to be a size 10 but wore elastic waist everything. When I was much younger, I had an hourglass figure (an enormous hourglass, but still...) and I thought Mom was a real slattern. How she could be seen in public in nothing but elastic waist pants? Now I know! Sorry, Mom.

OK, I still want to lose a minimum of 35 lbs., so I'm not ready for a whole new wardrobe yet, but I have been getting pretty desperate for clothes. So, despite my cheapness, I decided I had to get a couple of new spring things that fit. I went to Target yesterday and found a pair of size 18 trousers that actually look good on me, then off to Lane Bryant, where the 16Talls did the trick. I got a couple of 14/16 blouses and lots of underpants (long overdue). So far so good. While in the lingerie section, I faced racks of lacy bras suitable for slinging grapefruits and cantaloupes, not the humble tangerines I've been carrying. I took a deep breath and asked one of the saleswomen if the store had anything that might fit, ahem, "women with no tits." She stared at the items in question and said, "just how small are we talking about here?" At this point I had lost all shame, so I just cupped my puppies over my baggy sweater. She squinted and screwed up her face. "We might have something that will work. Make them look bigger, I mean." She handed me a padded black number. I was skeptical, but off to the fitting room I went, and after some tricky hydraulic maneuvers I was locked and loaded -- with cleavage! Which I haven't had for 50 lbs.! So I am going to be strutting the girls high and with pride. . . never mind that I'm in my late 40s. I have to laugh at myself. Somehow I thought as my weight dropped I would regain the same shape I had years ago when I dieted down to various sizes. As I tried on old (and I mean old) clothes that used to fit me when I was this weight, I figured that the years in storage somehow affected fabrics, because items that glided right over my hips wouldn't fasten around my waist. Painful moments in the stores' full-length mirrors have persuaded me that the problem is not with the garments!

Hummus, refried beans, lots of salad . . . oh, and a teaspoon of Metamucil citrus in a glass of water on rare necessary occasions.

Vera, that SUCKS! But I think you're right to demand a new band. Why risk having to go through yet another surgery? Unless there's a compelling medical reason not to place the band you're requesting, go for it. We're all rooting for you.

Thanks, Greg (and Christina) for letting us know about Nancy and her family. Nancy, I hope you are finding the strength and support you need.

Crystal and Christina, I'm sorry to hear that your dogs are not doing well. It's so hard to watch our furry friends' health decline. Astro and Gunnar are lucky to have human companions who care so much for them. And Christina, I adore the group photos! Gunnar must be a Labrador trapped in a Boxer body! I am a big Lab fan; they always make me smile. The big chocolate dog in your pictures looks a lot like my old Lola. My Sophie gives your guys a big sniff and wag, and we both hope they feel better.

Katie, just about all of us go through huge emotions just before we're banded: anything from fear to elation to panic, and that's just in one hour! Your reaction sounds totally normal to me. As for the weight loss, each doc has a different protocol. I think you need to speak to someone at your doctor's office to find out what will happen if you have gained weight, just so you know what you're up against. That said, with the changes you've made to your eating habits, you're probably going to be OK. Just remember, the nerves are a normal part of getting banded. You're taking a big step. BTW, I agree with Kathy on the Water pills -- they're probably not a good idea.

What she said. . . Amen! Most of us go through emotional growth spurts, I think, when a major event changes our perspective on life and ourselves. After such an upheaval, we just don't connect with some of the people in our lives the way we used to. I've been lucky because my thin friends have been supportive and my fat friends are all dieting themselves. . . some are a little jealous, but we've been through enough together that it doesn't harm the strong friendship underneath it all. But like most people I've shed friends over the years either by accident (moving & just losing touch) or design, and I've been shed by others. It's rough, though, if you don't have many other friends around you at a time when an entire circle seems to be leaving. Are there maybe one or two people in this group of friends that you still like a lot and feel you have something in common with? Maybe it's worth seeking them out. And if you're a cards-on-the-table kind of person and you think the friendships are worth saving, you could talk to your friends (probably one-on-one rather than as a group) to tell them what you're feeling and see how they respond. I don't think you're being bitchy at all. Thanks for raising a serious issue shared by a lot of people here. Good luck, and let us know what happens.

Crystal/Vines, I thought that particular combination was my unique signature scent. Alas. It turns on only one sensory power, as far as I can tell: My dog knows when I'm coming home a couple of minutes before I arrive. But who knows what secret pheromones are being unleashed in the human population by our mysterious perfume!

Hey, Laura, 3/25 is TOMORROW! You'll do fine. Bring some slip-on shoes because you won't want to be messing with laces, etc.: clogs are good. See you in Bandland.

Great photos! Penni, you can give those goggles to a dog to wear while hanging his head out the car window. I gotta ask: how much did the monovision surgery cost?

OK, it looks as if y'all are really serious about this thing, and that Teresa was genuinely hurt because she was left out. So I hereby confirm that Teresa can be Miss October and I will take my candy-corn gazongas out of the running. Good luck!

Teresa, you can have October... I thought the project was just in fun, but it looks like I'm way wrong.

Hey, DeLarla, the naked guys aren't for my benefit! I'm just thinking of "The Full Monty." There's an audience for this sort of thing, or so I've heard.

Hey, do any of the LBT guys want to get in the calendar? Something for everyone.

Here are the players so far: Jan- Christina (I'llsucceed) Feb- donali Mar- Sarah (Marimaru) Apr- Estela May- Nicole (daisydoodle) Jun- bubbame jul- Babs Aug- Vera Sep- DeLarla Oct- Zoe Nov- Megan Dec- Penni

Sarah, can you put my head on Angelina Jolie's body? Oh, wait -- maybe we should use her head too.

Hi Laura -- I'm mildly claustrophobic (with other major phobias!) and the band doesn't bother me at all that way. Not the surgery, not the recovery, not day-to-day life with it. I can see how the idea of something cinching your stomach would suggest a feeling of being closed in, but in my experience it doesn't happen. And with less body I have a lot more space around me!

I can really see a difference. By the way, welcome to Two-nesia!

Hey Isa, your restaurant crawl is a great idea. I feel like your band sister because we are starting at exactly the same size; I'm 5'9" and weighed 265 on my home scale, but something in the Monterrey air made me thinner at the doc's office! Congrats to all April bandsters.

I'll ask someone to take a picture of me (face and all) & will e-mail it to you! Probably won't be for several days.

If I have to show any "kibbles and bits," I'll just paint my boobs to look like candy corn. They should be the same size by fall. --Miss October

I don't know my car parts (in any language), but here's a good one: Schliessfach! (It means "locker.")