Dianechef

I was at the dentist & the front desk lady went on & on about how fabulous I looked. I walked by her desk 3 differnent times & the third time she pulled me to the side & said - "You have to share your secret!" So, I did. I told her EVERYTHING including showing her my port. HA. I WAS IN THE DENTISTS OFFICE!!! I haven't even show my sisters my port.

Ha.......we have so much in common!!

Hi Mary! It appears that I'm following you!! HA!! You also need to tell us a little about yourself too. So, spill the Beans about your life.

You hate apples?!?! You are SOOOO funny.

Sorry, no side pictures in my photo album. Maybe I can hurry & go throw my swimsuit on again & get my husband to take one!! Whenever I tell him I want to put my swimsuit on, he's falling right behind me. ROFL!!!

I looked at your pictures again & you are definately wearing a smaller jean size then I am. What are they - a size 14?? 12?

Mary!! You are beautiful. REALLY!! I can definately see a BIG difference in your body size. Great job!!!! 80 lbs. is A LOT!! I think that there a few things you need to keep in mind. 1) We have completely different shapes. My sister is built just like you & she always complains that she is wearing an intertube around her middle. (So funny you said "tube".) She refers to herself as an apple shape & I am a pear shape. You have smaller arms & legs then I do. However, I gaurantee my behind & chest are bigger then yours. Because I still have the hourglass shape, I can get away with looking like I lost more weight. Instead of my measurements being 36/26/36 they are probably 45/35/45. (I have no idea, just guessing!) 2) I always take a good front picture. Had I posted a side picture, you'd see that I'm not as thin as I look. (SERIOUS!!) If I can find one a side picture, I'll post it here. I'm not sure how many of them I took! HA! 3) We are all so different that it truly is hard to compare to anyone. I guess the exercise has really played a big role in everything. (As you mentioned!) I think it may have helped to really tone everything. I personally think that had I not exercised, I probably would have lost more weight. Instead, I lost lots of inches & gained muscle which I will gladly take!! You really do like fabulous Mary. I think we are all the hardest on ourselves then anyone else.

Hi Paula! I love your comments here!! Thank you so much for sharing. I think that sometimes when we ask about missing people it's like giving a speech & trying to thank all the people who have helped you. There's no way you can possibly name or remember them all!! But, because they aren't mentioned, doesn't mean they aren't important. I also come here for the same support that you mentioned. This place has really helped me more then I can explain. You are a very kind, considerate person & I think threads like this are such a kind gesture on your part. It lets people know they are missed what a great feeling to know that you were missed! I love ALL your posts & think you are a wonderful person who adds so much to this forum. Thanks for being YOU!!

Hi Pinkmary! I'm 5'7". Holy cow - you've lost 80 lbs!!! I would soooo love to be there too. It looks like you & I are the same height & started at about the same weight. I am sure you look much better then you think you do. It was my husband who coaxed me to post these pictures & I think he wants me to start believing what everyone is telling me!! Sooo, I understand ya when you say you really can't see the difference. I can't see a difference until I see a picture side by side. Try taking some pictures and I bet you'll see it!! Hi Tina!! I'll check my personal e-mail.

Hi Tina! Welcome to the AZ Bandsters club!!! I am from Gilbert & was banded 7/15/05 in Mexico by Dr. Ortiz. What doctor are you using? I get my fills from Wendy Hall who lives in Snowflake but comes into town every 3rd Monday of the month. I would definately go back to your doctor for the first fill & then decide what you want to do after that. Your surgery isn't very far away!!!! Good luck!!

I have a fill of 2.7 in a 4.0 band & have had no problems with bread in a reasonable quantity. I can eat sandwiches & breadsticks as long as I chew, chew, chew & not eat a lot. I can't do tortillas at all. They get stuck immediately. Funny how everyone is so different.

Let your Fingers Do the Walking with Diane! This is waaay cool. I'm a piano teacher. Who knew my slogan would be this? Love it.

Donna - YES!! My bra has a row of hooks in the front!! Very funny......I've had that bra for years. I am so glad I don't have to wear it anymore!!!!! HA!!!

I went shopping today & went to the Women's department like I usually do. I picked up some size 18 pants & a shirt. I went to the dressing room to try them on. They just didn't fit right. I tried some in a differnt style. Same thing. This happened 3 times. I kept giving them back to the lady who was in charge of the dressing room. After the 4th time of telling her they just didn't fit right, she said to me - "You might want to try that section!" (She pointed to the ladies section where they have NORMAL sizes.) I have never shopped in the ladies department in my life. When I walked over there I was so lost. Everything was unfamiliar to me. It took me a while to find some clothes that seemed to be my size, but they were all too tight. (size 18 even!!!) I just don't know where I fit in!! I was so comfortable being the Funny Fat Girl! I knew where to shop, what to buy, how to act, who I was & now it has all changed!!!!! :faint: I never dreamed that losing weight would involve this type of feeling. I'm happy & thrilled to be smaller!!! :biggrin1: But at the same time, I feel as if I am starting a whole new life all over - kinda like going to a new school & making all new friends. Who is this new me & why don't I recognize her?!?!? :rolleyes Kristin - have you visited your therapist yet?!? Did she give you any insight or help?

Yep, they have one. It's right in the lobby as you walk in to the right. I checked my e-mails from it when I got there. Nice hotel!!

HA!! I love the honesty of little kids. When I returned home from surgery, my 8 yr. old said - "Did you really have surgery or were you just joking?!" HA!! I too had to sit down & explain it a little bit more to him. I never got the booklet with pictures that you're talking about! I must have missed out. Hmm.....

Hey Molly!! Does't it feel good? It's the start of your "new" life - life where YOU are in control & it is so empowering. I love the feeling of leaving a restaurant knowing that I ate until I was comfortable & not stuffed. I feel healthy & alive instead of stuffed & wasted. Great NSV!! Keep up the great work.

What a wonderful sister you have!! Hang the roses upside down to dry & you can remember this moment the rest of your life. The flowers will keep & look beatiful!! I'm so happy for you!!

I agree with P'Nut! I am sure that Dylansmom deleted her thread because she felt like she was being attacked for her beliefs. Deleting the thread made the attacks stop. However, if she were to simply delete her own posts, that would have probably accomplished the same thing. I stayed away from the DaVinci Thread simply because I saw what was going to happen right off the bat. There are lots of beliefs & feelings in LBT & everyone has a right to believe what they want. I think Dylansmom got slammed & was very, very hurt. I haven't seen her around here since. It's very sad.

Hey P'Nut! :wave: I felt the hug!! I agree with you whole-heartedly. I have shared more stories, shown more pictures & bore more of my soul with this group then I have with anyone else. (Besides my husband of course!) I just feel very "safe" here. You all are my friends & seem to understand me when nobody else does. Thank you!! I love LBT!!

I am feeling so much better!! It's nice to know there are people who feel the same way. I tried to talk to my sister about this & she just thought I was blowing smoke. She use to be smaller then me & now is larger then me & just didn't even want to hear it all. (In her words - "Yada yada, so you don't feel thin.....whatever! Get over it!") Lisa, I really do like that article. It is very true. I'm sure there is so much riding on how we think of ourselves & why we do what we do. Dutchgrl - You are so smart to see a counselort NOW!! I had no idea that these head games would be a problem. I just figured I'd lose weight, feel great & have a party! I am still learning. P'Nut - You're right!! One of these days I'll accept a compliment & actually believe it!! I can't wait for that day. So, have we solved any problems here? I'm thinkin' I just need to get over it & time is the only thing that will help. Kristin, I'm eager to hear what your therapist has to say!!!

Go P'Nut!!! Aren't NSV's fun!! I keep finding new ones every day. I agree with Lisa. You might as well just buy the 14/16 because you'll be there in no time!!! How tall are you? You look pretty tall in your Before/After pictures.

Hey Lisa!! Good article. I'm trying to figure out if it is fitting for this problem or not. I have always had a good self-esteem. I've never had a problem with it!! Even when I was very fat, I always walked with my head held high & looked people straight in the eye. Hmmm......maybe I really don't have a good self-esteem & I'm just messed up more then I think! j.s. - Yeah! You understand!! I will jump in your boat & we'll take a little ride to the shrink! What do you think?!

Okay, I started a new thread called "Messed up Body Image" if anyone cares to go there!! So, back to the topic of weighing today.......you all are doing great!!!! Greta, aren't good fills wonderful?!?! I just got filled 2 days ago & I feel so in-charge now!!! The scale is going DOWN!!! :confused:

Okay, thought I'd post a picture for anyone who cares to be my therapist & figure out my problem!! HA!! The picture on the left is me as the Funny Fat Girl! (I'm the one on the right.) The picture on the right is my family on Easter Sunday. This is the dress everyone kept telling me how much I looked like a new person!! So, am I completely messed up?!? What's my deal?!?!? Why can't I see it?! :confused: