roundisashape

Those are good, but Lemonades are where it's at! It feels so bad to deny the little cookie-pushers that I wound up with a box against my better judgment.

Hey Rebecca! I'm from Baltimore and still working on a surgery date too. Where are you having yours done?

They're everywhere. Those evil, delicious little things...

You're revising from the sleeve? The DS was my first choice but I'll probably sprout fairy wings and fly before being able to get it covered, so sleeve it is! Please keep us up to date on your progress - I wish you luck!

Oh, and congrats on getting sleeved! It's great that you're only a week out and already feeling up to exercise!

You might be able to find something on craigslist, but you'll probably have to move fast and google product information on another page while you're responding on another. I've seen a few people post sturdy equipment at reasonable prices but I've never been quick enough. While you're looking, there are a lot of free workout videos on youtube. I've even tried bellydancing, which I'd never do in front of another human being! My favorites are the walk away the pounds exercises, they're easy on the joints and a lot of the versions are online.

Oooohhhh, Sue, night shift? Part of me misses it because I could get so much more done, but I also remember spending several years in a fog because I never, ever got enough sleep. Hopefully you'll be able to catch up on your rest while you recuperate! Lucky, that's pretty much where I am. Trying to squeeze in as much of the preliminary stuff as I can before the end of the year so I can take time for the surgery next year. Confident it will all be worth it, though!

I'm very sorry for your loss. Thank you for taking the time to share her story with us.

Congratulations on your success, and on all the decisions you've made along the way to overcome the negative things that happened to you!

Nice job! You don't look like you were ever overweight at all!

Cindymg, I'm looking forward to that too! I live in a neighborhood full of eclectic little shops and I would love to be able to wear what they have. Gamerirl, no joke about the pants. There are parts of this chick we see more of than her husband, lol. Oh, and Old Nave IN THE STORE! That's got me excited, I like their stuff but you can order two of the same thing online, in the same size, and they don't fit the same way. Trying stuff on will be a huge help! Mparkersmith, I suspect we're pretty similar that way. I always complain about not having options, but the truth is I'm not even sleeved yet and I'm already overwhelmed! Soccermomma, 9/10 of my current shopping trips end the same way, with frustration and tears...I was hoping it would be better! Thanks for all the great tips!

Thanks! I've never heard of Free People before. Off to google...

So I have coworker who is quite lovely, but since she lost a lot of weight she sometimes forgets to wear pants to work. Today was one of those days, and it occurred to me while we were engaging in a fan vs. space heater battle that she has no idea where or how to shop for her new body...and that I probably won't either! I've been shopping in plus size stores or online as far back as I can remember and don't even know what's out there. If you've gotten out of the "plus" world, what are your favorite stores? If you haven't, is there someplace in particular that you're itching to be able to shop at?

Wow, that's fantastic! That's the kind of loss we probably all secretly hope for .

Bwahaha! Me too! I kept thinking, "If I couldn't catch him before, what am I going to do now that he's all 'roided up on Protein powder?"

Wow! You look like an actress, but I can't remember which one, lol.

Really, you're pissed that she said pissed? Get over yourself. Goldy, PJackson's probably right - unless he's always like this, he might just be feeling overwhelmed and scared and maybe just doesn't know how to tell you that. I hope things calm down for you soon, and Thursday's surgery resolves your health problems. In the meantime, you've always got support here on the boards!

Bummer! A mouse got in my house and chewed straight through the zipper bag I had all my Protein samples in. Bit a hole in every single packet, the furry little freeloader.

Thanks, all! I know I'm going to have to make this trip at least monthly going forward. This morning I thought about everything I did yesterday, and mentally compared it to how I think the same trip might go this time next year. I should probably put the outfit back on and grab a picture, then maybe journal the whole day while it's still fresh so I can compare next November!

Today was rough. I had to travel to DC for work - three *full* trains each way, crammed in like cattle (on two of them, standing room only and the escalators were broken almost everywhere). My boss is a runner so i spent most of the day trailing a few yards behind like some yappy little dog. Plus, since I don't normally have to dress up, I had to buy something appropriate. It's my own hangup, I know, but I always swore I wouldn't ever cross the line and buy elastic waist pants. Last night, I had to cave and buy elastic waist pants because nothing else fit right. I doctored up the outfit and felt about as cute as a 300 pound 5'3" 35 year old can feel, but it still hurt to buy those stupid pants. Anyway, today just really reinforced for me why I want to do this! 2 more visits and they can submit to insurance.

Oh, cool! Thanks for the heads up!

Lovely! You've both done so well, it's very inspiring!

I have a pretty good awareness of who will be supportive, who won't, etc. Right now, 6 people know: my sister and one of my nieces (both have thought about surgery but are nervous about it), my boss (I've had to take time off), and my three best friends (one had bypass surgery 10 years ago and is thinking about a revision and the other two are supportive either way). I'll probably let the rest of my office mates know after my insurance approval comes back and I get a date, because it'll be a sure thing then. I don't anticipate any judgment or issues, but I don't want them all to know I'm planning this and have it fall through for any reason. We're a small enough office that there's no point in trying to hide anything! As for the rest of my family? It was a hard lesson to learn, but I've finally figured out that I'm going to be judged and found lacking no matter what I do (in every area of my life, not just weight). I don't care if they know about it, but it would be my preference to fill them in after the deed is done just so I don't have to listen to any crap.

Good luck! I hope everything goes smoothly!

1. To get off BP meds 2. To be able to GO and DO without worrying about how my size will impact my experience (will I fit in the chair, are there hills, am I over the weight limit, etc) 3. To find the confidence to meet someone and start a family 4. To be cute in clothes 5. So my feet and legs won't hurt anymore