saninbham

I had a panneculectomy which is below the belly button (fanny pack). Insurance paid for mine. It's a bigger surgery but I got the same results that a friend of mine got when she had her tummy tuck (the surgeon decided she didn't need above the belly button tightening once he started-he said sometimes you don't know those things until you start surgery). She basically got a panneculectomy and still had to pay for a tummy tuck. I love mine (same scar as the tummy tuck).

I am post-op almost 2 years and I have not had to have a fill for almost a year. Now, I am starting to eat more with little or no restriction. Is this normal?? My ticker is wrong because I can't remember my pin :thumbup:

I am so proud of you!! I don't expect to ever get that small because I have a really big head (no seriously, I do). But I am really proud of your success:thumbup:

Okay, okay, okay!!! I have been lurking in this forum since I got banded and as much as I don't want to admit it, low carb is the only thing that has ever worked for me. I really wanted to be one of those people who can just eat less and lose weight, but it aint happening. I didn't happen before the band so I don't know what magic I thought would make it happen after. Anyway, I am in. My husband got approved for LB and his surgery is in Jan. He has already started on a low carb diet so hopefully it will make it easier for me. It just seems to me that a couple of years back, when the Atkins diet was all the rave, low carb stuff was a little easier to find. Anyway, I need to read my book again to get it right but, count me in, I am back on board :biggrin:

Yeah, I know, it's kinda sad. However, ironically enough, there are many people who have had the surgery that feel the same way. My best friend had LB 3 years ago and right before surgery said that she was so ashamed that it had to come to this. Also, a girl I worked with had GB and wouldn't tell anyone because she was embarrased that people would think that she was a failure, because that's how she felt. She had failed to get her weight off and she didn't want anyone else judging her. My friend that got LB has not lost any weight. She is still feeling like a failure. She nearly talked me into getting GB. I didn't mind anyone knowing because I have struggled with and continue to struggle with this all of my life. I explained to people who wanted to know why I would go to such "extremes", that you wouldn't think that chemo and radiation was extreme if it would save a life. Obesity is killing so many of us and we are made to feel ashamed because we need help to fight. I feel that just like war, it doesn't matter if the person next to you is rich, poor black or white, it's still a war and we are all fighting for our lives. Oprah has self esteem issues, we are know that, but it is sad that her fear of being thought of as a failure would make her hate the very thing that can help her, and we never know who is in her ear saying you don't need that, you can do it on your own and making a buck off of her fears (her friend Mr. Greene maybe, hmmmm). I read the autobiography of Richard Pryor (Pryor Convictions) and he said that his family members supplied him with tons of cocaine and made sure he stayed high. You wonder, why would anyone, especially family members do this when they know this is hurting/killing him. Simple, when he was high they had access to his money. He couldn't account for millions of dollars gone. People will use your weakness to benefit themselves and everyone else around you wonders why you are allowing it to happen. This may be what is going on with her. I don't know, just another perspective :biggrin:-I just like this smiley!!

Yeah, but people hate Martha too. It's one of those industries where you cannot please everyone no matter what you do. On another note, Oprah is a business not just a name and not just a show, and the point of any business, especially here in the states is to make money. She is just better at it than most of us.

Okay, there is so much Oprah bashing I feel I need to say something in her defense. First of all,to put the media in perspective, look at the high profile abduction cases in the country. How many people with missing loved ones who don't get the attention are saying, why not my child, sister aunt etc. Hopefully they can use some of the media's attention on the missing to help ALL of the missing. Yes it's unfair, hey but a voice is a voice. The same with Oprah. Yes she has millions (a billion actually), and yes she struggles with her weight but we should not be so arrogant to say she does not deserve to voice her struggles because she has money, because that's what we are all here doing... voicing our struggle and looking for support. It's like you are saying that she should keep her struggle quiet, well guess what, just like you, her weight tells on itself. Everyone notices when you have put on weight. No that really large sweater didn't cover it up for you and it doesn't cover it up for her!! Especially if is as significant as what she has put on. Fess up and deal with it. She is on TV folks, with millions of viewers. She needed to come forward and say yes I have put on weight because I definitely wondered when she was going to acknowledge it. The comments seem as though people are more annoyed with her success than anything else. How dare she say she has gained weight, so what if she struggle, I struggle every day no one applauds me for my struggle, when in actuality, that's what we do here on the site everyday. We encourage you, applaude you, chastise you and support you. I have gotten PM's from people saying don't give up, don't beat yourself up, you can do this. Especially when I have gained a few pounds. Don't be so arrogant to not understand her struggle. Either just ignore it if it bothers you so much or think, she is like me, despite her money and fame she is just another human in the weight struggle. Just like me, she is struggling to do something that is VERY HARD for anyone, including the rich and famous. And don't start beating me up either. I am already emotionally down (gained 2 pounds-yuck) and really don't want to be kicked:sneaky:

I have been really tired lately and I can't find the motivation to excercise. I just want to sleep :thumbup:

I am so sorry to hear that. Yes, I think it is best to take a sabbatical from the program. I have not started because, like someone else said, it seems like Mt. Everest to me, however, I have gotten up to 1 hour every other day on the treadmill. Eventually I will get the nerve up to try the running program.

Okay, I don't really know when to stop eating. It sounds crazy but some say stop the moment you feel full, however, when I have done that, I get really hungry quickly. When I stop when I feel satisfied I stay full longer and don't crave in between, however, I am afraid I am stretching the pouch. When do you guys stop? I want to do the right thing.

Okay, The election is giving me nervous energy and I want to eat. Emotional I know,but I am nervous.

I am proud of you!!! I hope to get to the program at some point but I am afraid to try. I am up to 45 minutes on the treadmill though. At what point did you start the program after surgery?

I have felt the same frustrations you have. I hovered around the same few pounds, losing and gaining. I began to wonder if somehow I was sabotaging myself. However, I have been told several times that until you get a fill, don't worry about it. My doctor only expects me to lose 3 pounds from my followup visit, which was a week ago, until my first fill on November 13th. I also noted that it was close to my TOM and my body was hording water. Don't give up and don't be discouraged. Stick with the plan and be patient (I know, easy to say, hard to do). I have gotten stuck several times to the tune of throwing up (not pretty).

:frown:Okay, I am 2 1/2 weeks out, I have not had my first fill so I am in Bandster Hell. With this in mind, I am still trying to make good food choices, but I am getting to the point where I can eat real food and I am HUNGRY!!! I am at work so for lunch I had a South Beach diet meal. It's like that Wendy's commercial where I remember opening the package, there was food and then nothing... cause I am still hungry. Any suggestions on what I need to do because I don't want to drink anything to wash this smidgen of food through the stoma but geez...

Okay, I know it's kinda soon for me to start feeling down, however, whenever I dieted in the past, I was always a pretty good loser when I stuck with it. I just couldn't keep it off. I did not do a preop diet so from surgery on the 6th to date, I have lost 10 pounds. I know I should be grateful for that, but, I was only on broth and popsicles. Now that I have started mushies and I have begun to exercise, things have slowed, and, a couple of days I have gained. It kinda got me down because I have such a bad history with weight loss I guess I am kinda scared that after everything I have done to get the surgery and all, that it is not going to work for me after all. That I will have to slink away from the forums because of failure. I don't get all of my protein shakes in, I know this but could this be slowing my weight loss down?? I don't know, I guess I am just venting, but, I tried on a pair of old maternity pants, and they still fit (I didn't mean to, I just kinda grabbed something but still--my baby is 3 for goodness sake). I guess I have to be patient but not being able to eat real food yet, doing all of this exercise and still it seems that I am getting nowhere fast. Hopefully in a couple of months I will be able to look back on this post and think, poor kid, crying for nothing.

I have been dying to try this program. I looked into it before having the surgery and decided it was my program of choice. Just waiting to heal a little bit more before I start. Thank you for the podcast info. I have been looking for some good music to excercise to and it is good to know that they have this already set up for the program. I have already been walking on the treadmill (and so has the whole family, because the 6 year old and the 2 year old harass me to death to "ride it", the whole time I am on it). Looking forward to starting the program and I am hoping to help develop a love for running for the entire family. I am so jealous of people who love it. I want to be one of them.

Okay, I think that I have created my first Protein shake recipe, however, if this is ganked this from someone else and I just haven't seen it, I am sorry, but I think this is an original. And I shall name it Fruity Surprise!!! Here goes: Fruity Surprise 1 scoop of Vanilla Protein 4 oz. skim or 1% milk (you can use 8 oz because at 4 oz it is a little thick) 1 6oz thingy of vanilla yogurt (I used light fat free Yoplait) 2 individual packets of Splenda 1 packet of Crystal Light Fruit Punch (the little ones you put in a bottle of water) Blend and enjoy. I poured mine over ice and it was yummy!! san:thumbup: PS--If you try this recipe and you like it, let me know. If it made you gag....I don't want to know (I am sensitive:crying:)

It is more of a woman of color issue, as stated earlier so this would be the best place to view it. Although there are many other groups that keloid, it is generally an African American trait. Sometimes it is frustrating trying to put in keywords in the sites search engine in order to find the information that you want. Because of this, once again, it is easier to find things with a common thread in one place, once again, the whole purpose of sub forums. And yes white is a color, so welcome, since you have obviously subscribed. My only suggestions is to use the Serenity Prayer the way that I do. Many people think and focus of the change part (accept the things I cannot change, change the things I can) however, for me this is not the important part. Because we spend so much time thinking about change, by the time we realize it is either something we can change or not change, we have wasted valuable time and effort. To me, this most important part of the Serenity Prayer is "and the wisdom to know the difference". If you have the wisdom to know the difference from the offset, lots of time would be saved. All of that to say, if you are going to post, bring something different and stop complaining about something that is not going to change. This is a forum that not only has members, but members who feel it is necessary, despite your disapproval. Please, and I say this in the kindest way possible without malice or discontent, have the wisdom to know the difference. Once again, welcome to the WOC forum Patty. :sad_smile:

No, but I had a girlfriend that approached me about it. She kept pressuring me and pressuring me and I was in no way interested. She had a new boyfriend who was taking her to "the next level" and I guess she wanted me to experience what she was experiencing. I ended up so annoyed I told my husband. Big mistake. Although he knows I was not interested, he no longer trusts me to go anywhere with my friend. She ended up breaking up with the boyfriend and she was glad I didn't not participate....he was married.:biggrin:

I am 11 days post op and on mushies. I know that I am in Bandster Hell because of the hunger however, while I was on liquid I lost 9 punds. Since I have been on mushies I have gained 2 pounds back. I am eating the stuff I am suppose to eat, however, I am hungry about every 2 hours. There were no guidelines given to me about this time, but I am starving and scared. I don't want to gain but my head is starting to hurt trying to not eat. How often should I eat during Bandster Hell???:tongue2:

Then what should the forum be titled so that women of color can come and share and get support from others with like issues and not have to search the whole forum to find them? I know that it is politically correct to want everyone to be the same, however, there are differences between the races just like there are differences between sexes--sorry but that's the way it is. Should the men not have their own also, are they sexist. Now to try to give you a understanding of what she meant by "white only" forums, consider the magazine Cosmopolitan. Although it can be purchased by anyone, has various topics that all women can understand, it is rare for them for focus on topics that are specific to African American Women. Because of this, it is very difficult for us to relate to many of the things they talk about. This is the reason Essence is considered our Cosmo. Cosmo is not white only in theory, however, in it's practice of not reaching out to us, it is. That does not mean that we don't suscribe or enjoy, it just means that the topics are not really trying to reach us. They say it is because African American women don't buy the mag, however, it's a catch 22. Things like this are so difficult to help non African American people understand because you can pretty much read any magazine because they are pretty much all written for you to enjoy, however, to see faces that look like me, talk like I do and understand my day to day, I have to go to a race specific place. If you don't believe me, next time you get your Cosmo, thumb through and look for African Amercian models. I know this is difficult to understand and it seems like we are being seperatist-but we are not, we are using the option of having a sub-forum for support just like everyone else, oh wait, then that makes us equal to all other sub forums. I read, post and enjoy most of them, and they have been so helpful and informative, however when I want a forum that specifically mets my needs, I come here. Question--do you have a problem with the gay and lesbian forum. What reasons do they have to have a seperate forum. What is it about their lifestyle that they should have their own forum and we should not? Once again, it did not say African American forum, it says women of color. Now you can take that to be a positive and say that white is a color also, as I said earlier, and join, or continue to be upset about the name. And once again, what should the forums' name be in your opinion?:Dancing_biggrin: PS--Did you know that my doc did not want me to have lap banding because I am African American. Studies show we don't lose as much weight and have a harder time than our caucasian counterparts. He wanted me to have GB. Now, who do you think needs the most emotional support from someone who understands exactly what I am going through, can you understand what I am going through??