spldgrl

The hardest thing coming from a "fat" home is the mental pressure we put on our selves. I recently found a motivating self esteem curriculmn that I facalitate. It teaches how to focus on the positive, set goals, and the affirmation process. I taught a class yesterday, (skinny or fat, the same issues from our youth only their physical stature is different) and I had to explain to a "skinny" girl how to accept and believe a compliment. she had never been complimented and thought it was true. "only saying it" He family only told her negative things and she has less than no self esteem. I wish everyone who suffers from low self esteem could reach this curriculm. If interested further try:thepacificinstitute.com or loutice.com Why is family so much meaner than friends and why can we say good bye to bad friends but no bad family? Heres to changing that chain reaction and passing the POWER onto our children and grand children.

How awsome to have a dr. on, Makes me more conifdent that this is the place to be refering anyone interested in WLS. Thank you for your time.

Husband just bought a Harley. it is nice to be able to fit on the back comfortably. We live where it is wide open just a few miles out of town, and own a bar 40 miles out of town so we get to ride out there every week. found out Wed. that 17 bottles of Crown, ECT really is heavy in the saddle bags. but how beautiful to ride 3 miles and be in the wide open with such great views. wish I could go every day, alittle sore on the thighs tho>

Meleah is beautiful!! and waht a beautiful name for such a beautiful girl. Just needed that baby fix. thanks for the pics makes me realize the world is good to have such beauty in it!thanks

I am very lucky. I have a teenage son 17, that will finish any food. I simply eat what I want of whatever and hand the rest to him. I have no problem asking at resturants for a 1/2 size portion or a to go box at the beginning. I was nervous at first, but everyone has been good. then if it is left on the plate, I take it home. I think it is great to go out, get a meal I reallly like and it now makes 3-4 meals. cheaper to eat now!!

Hey Jodie: Sorry to hear you are feeling so bad. Maybe it would be a good idea to talk to your theripist. I too am from a small town, ok very small town, and yes. everyone knows everything. I can relate. I also work with teens from struggling homes and lives. You are actually lucky to have a friend, boy or not and this sight that sooo many people care and are worried about you. a good pick up would be to literally write down the good things in your life. I have found latly that writiing on a piece of paper the success I have, then I can re-read them when I am down, then I feel like I have accomplished something and I feel better about myself. There is a group of young motivational performers that you may want to hook up with. their address is: R_5online.com I have family members, myself and my own children who struggle with similiar issues, you do know it is not only the weight right? depression sucks and the weight may add to the depression, but there is more there. I am sure you know all this, but the mother in me is telling myself about the child issues in me and you bring back alot of memmories. I wish someone would have told me what all of the people have told you, high school seems sooo important now, but hell, in the realm of life, hs means nothing, so don't let it. the last 20 years have flown by, I actually thought I was 29 last week, NOT!! my kids are in hs and I would never want to deal with all there is out there for teens now, but if I could do it over again, I would laugh threw HS and all those "jerks" cause one day, they might end up working for YOU!! Prom and Homecoming - yeah, didn't go, didn't get asked and that hurt, but last night I sponsored a formal dress dinner for my youth council group, and we had soo much fund and wore the formal I was never able to in hs. Let me tell ya, I looked HOT!

I don't notice anything other than need to drink liquids and chew chew chew. not hungery or want to eat, so vacationing sounds like more fun. can enjoy activities instead of being hungry. my family notices after a fill, cause they " have to wait until moms hungry" and continue asking every 10 minutes " hungry yet?' they are teenagers 16 & 17 so it's a joke. then when I'm hungry, we eat together and share. It is cheaper on vacation cause you share of everyones plate instead of ordering one yourself. It's you call, I personally have no problem and have had 2 fills. Brenda

wow, 43 lbs that is great. I too was banded on May 2, and to date I've lost 26 and think thats good. my clothes are tooo big and fitting in my small end of the closet section. 43 is great, you are doing great keep it up!! Brenda

I totally understand your delema. I was so ready to get the surgery and get going. I have lost weight, however am eating like crap and no exercise. I will start Monday also, if they even remember me at the gym. I had surgery on May 2nd.. Learning to eat again is hard, keep thinking I can eat what I want only small amounts. should eliminated all sugar. I cant to breads or most heavy food, managing to loose 2 or more lbs per week, but not good food choices still. Good luck!

have you tried the tums or gas x chew tabs? I had the same feeling, tightening and stuff, but this was a few days after surgery. Called a friend who said,"chew a gas x now" I live 1.5 hrs from my doc and thought I would die before then so I chewed and kept chewing gas x till the feeling was gone. went to dr. found out the acid in stomach fills up threw the stoma and causes the tightening. now I chew a calcium tums almost every day no more stomach pains at all dont even notice the band is there except for port and my nails are growing too. so try the chew gas x only don't try too many or your gut will hurt from that. only 2 then wait and see. max 4 a day. good luck.

Sel pay in Montana. Great Falls Montana. you can fly right in and go to surgical center (appx 1 mi.) hospital and anathes. (sp) gave a 355 DISCOUNT FOR CASH. TOTAL was 12500. and then doc is 2300. that includes all appts and 3 mo after care. fills and all. its not as cheap as mexico, but he comes to me. I live in a town 100+ miles from great falls and he comes here every tuesday and I see him weekly or bi which ever I need. I was sick at first and he was right there on the phone and then drove here Fri and came to my house to check things out. great guy.

This is the HARDEST part, try and mix up your liquids. flavor waters, teas, broth it does make a difference. I focused on doing this to shrink the liver to make surgery and recovery soooo much easier. stay focused, think positive and picture yourself each day drinking the liquid. You willl have struggles, heck I cried over an eggroll. Husband took me home and we drank a protien shake and laughed at my crazy crying fit. good luck and stay focused.

I am a career specialist for a non profit agency assisting unemployed or underemployed community members become employed in self sufficient careers. I also assist students with financial aid. I just wrote and was awarded a grant to fund the heath care industry in training the most need in our community is CNA. Finally I am the agency facilitator for soft skills training, job retention workshops, and personal improvement workshops for our 6 county region. I also so the books for my husbands companies. He owns and operates a steel fabricating company and a bar. And I have 3 kids. 18,17, and 15. The oldest is graduating Sunday - yehw 1 down 2 to go by the time I am 40 I will be skinny, no children, and hopefully rich - ok 2 out of 3 isn't bad goal.

3 weeks post op, and not even ready to post pics. I will tell ya that liquid vit E is wonderful for the scars. Nurse recommended at the hospital got mine at Target' for a couple bucks. just wash, then rub on the scars it is excellent, hold on gotta look at my scars,port site is only one you can see clearly others look like Nana's 9 month shot. What so ya know the vit oil must work try it if you get a chance. I will try and post soon. maybe I look nothing like Nana unfortunatly!!

Road Queen: Try and play it by ear. I thought for sure as did my doc that I would be able to attend a conference 3 days post op/ no way. I was in no shape to sit in a chair all day. Your doc should be aware that you may need additional time and be willing to write the excuse if needed I'm sure he will. I am 3 weeks today post op. went to 3rd doc appt. and got a fill. I have seen doc so much it is like I'm seeing another man! huh like one isn't enough. (sorry guys) So far 24lbs down hope to see more with this fill. man it felt wierd. could actually feel the stuff going in. this has been an adventure! First week sucked, 2nd week feel better with some limitations, 3rd week everything great, back playing racketball, it felt good to get things moving again. Best of luck May bandsters, remember: ATTITUDE...it's all there is between you and success!!

hey Trish, great idea. Buying clothes for a short time is crazy, I will be posting when I have some too. How are you?

I am 9 days post op. finally feel good. it was those damn staples! I had about 4 days of the "what have I done!" Have to be really careful of what I eat, and only mushy threw a straw stuff. For me the socialization that came with meals. Ladies at work would go out and for 2 weeks not me. Yesterday a great friend call all resturants in town (ok theres only 5) and found a mushy creamy soup for me, so I went and my feeling of not being included were gone. It took about 7 days for me to feel like a person again, Dr said liquids only for 1st week, I could not continue. the stomach acid was so strong it was forcing upwards. I ate gas x but did find small amounts of Yoplaid whips yogards with the air stirred out so it just ran down gave me some nutrients and the feeling of full. pretty much lived on whipped yogart until day 8 then went to creamy soups. 1 week post op visit, everything good, staples out and now on mushies. hard to believe we get excited about malto meal and mashed pot. Hang tough, you will feel better, I would say it gets better each day, but ya know one day is great and the next will suck for the first little bit. It will get better and this too shall pass.

I COMPLETELY agree with Vinesqueen. Go get that hair doo now, life is way too short to stop living. I know there are certain things that can't be done. but there is sooo much you can do. I tell myself and friends ok anyone who will listen that it's a good thing I am overweight, otherwise all the men would want me!! Not to mention, when I get skinny I will be sooo cute, I won't be able to stand myself. I waited years to get a stylish haircut, and thought I was not small enough to wear cute clothes. Did you know, cute clothes come in "fat chick" sizes too. Now I dress cute and very in style, and have everything except the skinny jeans. That too will come, sooner now that I am banded. I have lost 24 lbs and feel better already. maybe just knowing my time is coming. For years I worked hard dieting excer. and nothing helped, now I literally have the "power within" My day will come, but until then "look out skinny girls, here I come and I will be cutier than you" Get you hair styled now! see how great it fills, it may give you the power you will need to get thru the hard times to come with this whole pre & post op. PS that old saying that you need a hairstyle to fit your face, some skinny chick made that up, its crap do what you want!

You all are too much. It is the first good laugh for days, Betty, your answer caught me off gaurd. I have to ask dr on Tues if I should have waiting longer than day 3 since he never said anything. lol Too soon 1 week, not interested in any movement until staples out.

Debbydo and Kathy soooo sorry to hear about your troubles. Must be us first of May baby bandsters. Had a heck of a time couldn't stop vomiting and I mean violently. scared crap out of my hubby, he called dr. shock!! when the blood came I got scared too then couldn't stop crying or vomiting. went to er and got nausea supp. (lovely) anyway today must really be mothers day, it is the first day I feel only the staples pulling. Reminds me, question, did anyone have staples? watched a lap band surgery movie for drs. (hospital let me watch, dr not pleased but oh well) they showed tape like holding the openings closed. I have staples. lots of staples 29 to be exact. Is this normal?? Thanks for all the anwers to my crazy questions- let us know how you are doing Debbydo and Kathy, best of luck!

I was banded on Monday 2nd. felt good until late Tues night then the gas set in, and the dizziness and very lightheadded. I had horrible stomach problems by Wed. I had been told to not eat anything! so I didn;t when thought i was having heart attach I called a friend she said eat tums or prefer gas x. had heard on this site about gas x too so I had 4 chew pills I chewed then to dissolve and within 5 min all was well. I started throwing up violently every hr from 4 to 9pm finally got to er, used phen supossitories and vomiting gone. Weh, long story----- I read through all the sites and found some people were on mushies by now, so i liquified tomatoe soup very very thin and sip it. it worked 2 weeks with nothing but liquids was just tooooo much. Now day 6 I am eating very liquified soups. creamy plus 2 cups water to make it very thin and I feel good. actually have energy to walk. Just remember everyone is different and you have to read your body. The best news for tummy trouble is the gas x or tums w/ calcium and water water water. Didn;t think I would make it thru but I did cried alot but got thru it. Best of Luck and rememver to read your body. Are you hungry when you eat or just eating?

ok so you look like your twenty!! Where do you live? I want to come and get my pics taken at your dmv!! Tried the blond streaks to hide the grey, didn't work just had brown, blond and grey. You look great! and for a dmv photo what do your pics look like from a photographer? Tried to stretch mine out one time to look skinny, my face was 2 ft long lol.

Debby: Your note on the tomatoe soup AWSOME never thought it could be sooo good. Got pretty sick today. thought I was having a heart attach. Called dr he said come in, (ok 1.5 hr drive I'll die before for sure) ok not really called a girl in town whom I don't even know she was banded in Feb. She said eat gas x!! NOW!! My dr told me NO solids not even tums. boy was he wrong. The gas x did the trick feel much much better. First timers both patient and dr. boy we make a good pair. I cried, he stressed and called Dr. Snow in TX. All for gas!

Can feel and see swelling at port site. 3 day out of course doc showed me where it was. kinda wierd when the weight comes off does the post area show more?

Oh yeah, best part, put the charges on my american express and got air fare miles 2 filghts anywhere cont us.