NanaRenan

Ah, there are more!! Complimented a lovely, elegant older woman at my church one day: "I just love that suit you're wearing." She sharply replied, "Thank you, lose some weight and I might let you borrow it." ____________________________________________________ Went to visit a new doctor because we'd just moved and I needed my Rx's transferred. The only thing bothering me that day was my feet and legs were slightly swollen from being on my feet for days moving in and unpacking. This tiny, little man -- MAYBE 5 foot tall, 120 lbs: looks like he'd been on a hunger strike with Ghandi!!! -- walks in, pokes me in the leg and says, "So why you eat the butter and the gravy and the may-Oh-nnaise?" Before I can pick my chin up off the floor and even begin to formulate a response he starts to rattle off a diet: "3 oz. white chicken, boiled or broiled, one cup of steamed broccoli, etc., etc." Like I walked into his office that day NOT KNOWING I was fat! _____________________________________________ After reading an article on thyroid issues, I asked another doctor about checking mine, he sighed, tossed me file on the counter and said, "Lady, every fat woman in America thinks she's got a thyroid problem." Well, thank you for that reality check!! _____________________________________________ Daughter got mad at her Daddy once -- we were on vacation and I was in a pair of shorts, he said, "You know, Honey, your legs are really great!" She said it sounded like a condemnation of the REST of me. But it didn't bother me -- it's true, I am built like an orange with 4 pretzels sticking out.

I've always taught my children: "SMALL" people belittle others to make themselves feel bigger. And I also tell them, "The only thing you can REALLY do about people like that is DON'T BE ONE OF THEM!" Here are a few of my own experiences: Walking into the mall one hot summer day, I noticed a gaggle of teen girls -- obviously waiting for a mom in a minivan to collect them. I was vaguely aware they were singing, but my mind was on returning an item. A few minutes later, errand complete, I walk past them again and no longer distracted it dawned on me they were singing the Jenny Craig jingle. I glanced around and YEP -- I was the only person in the parking lot, so the seranade was just for ME. I got in my car and drove off, shaking my head and such youthful arrongance and seriously praying for forgiveness if I was EVER hateful to anyone over their weight back in the day when I was then. About then it hit me what I needed to do. I pulled U-ey and went back into the parking lot. Unfortunately, their ride had come and they were gone. But I was planning to hop out, grab the obvious ring-leafer by the collar and say, "You know, you'd better be careful what you say or do, because you just might be looking at your future, cause I know I was no where NEAR as fat as you when "I" was 15!" Prolly a good thing they were gone, I would've likely ended up in jail!

A few years back I lost about 50 lbs. I tho't I'd be smart AND THRIFTY and wear my 'fat clothes' until I reached my goal. And then I saw a photo of myself and ditched them all. OMG -- I was so sloppy looking! (Actually, I prayed for them to be a blessing to someone in need. A friend from church approached me about giving them to a co-worker. I did and she was thrilled to get them.) ennywayz... I've already extracted promises from my two daughters and a couple of close friends -- the MINUTE they notice me looking sloppy, it's time to pack off the old stuff and TAKE ME SHOPPING!!

Gayle!! I'm thrilled for you! Truly! I'm not banded yet, but even at 300+ lbs I have a huge apron, from my four pregnancies! (Foolish me, thought once 'stretched' it was good for as many runs as you wanted to give it -- no, I 'stretched' more and more each time!) I fear it'll be to my knees by the time I near my goal weight! And you've made me somewhat optimistic that the insurance might pay for it!! I just assumed "No Way, Jose", since we've had to fight so hard to get them to pay for the banding!! Hope you can share some pictures soon!

I do thank you! Pam<-----off to order that book PRONTO!

Prayers and best wishes for the best possible outcome, Alexandra!!! We look forward to hearing a good report!

Prayers and best wishes, Miss Nilsa! Let us hear from you as soon as you're able.

I get sick of the sweet flavors of Protein shakes REALLY quickly. I bought nearly tasteless 100$ ANY whey Protein powder and add it to Soups, broths, grits (Hey, I'm from La. and grits are served with salt and butter!!), etc. I've been on it for 2 weeks and 2 days and I've lost 14 lbs.

I keep hearing about the gas pains afterward. I tho't they were something particular to Lap-Banding, but the pre-op nurse told me that it's just from the laparscopic surgery. This will be my FOURTH laprascopic procedure (hysterectomy in 1990, gall bladder in 1992 and hernia repair 2006) and I've never experienced any sort of gas pains that I'm aware of or remember. Do ya think I'll escape it this time, too??

Hey, Tammy...or anybody...? What's the name of that book and where might I get one? And is it helpful?

Thanks, Karen. I'm being banded Tuesday and can get myself in a panic reading some of the scary posts here. I'm glad for every good thing I read. Somebody remind me to post when things are going well!!

I found my HAT picture!!!

Thanks! I appreciate the support. I'm having it done at Vista Medical Center in Pasadena, TX.

It's probably been 12-15 years ago, but I subscribed to a magazine called BBW (Big Beautiful Women) that was supposed to be like any other women's magazine minus the skinny models and articles urging you to always be on a diet. I bought into the whole "fat acceptance" hoopla. Then I started getting a TON of junk mail -- ALL of it weight-loss oriented. I could by cases of grapefruit, or this pill or this machine, etc., etc. ALL of them had gotten my name from BBW because it was misspelled in the same obvious manner! I was furious and sent them a box FULL of all these lame DIET offers and insisted they cancel my subscription immediately. They did, but I never got a refund! Bloody hypocrites!

This thread reminds me -- did anyone see that show "I Can't Believe I Wore That"....? I recorded the 70's, 80's and 90's episodes (don't know if there are more or not!) So far I've only watched the one from the 70's. Man, we wore some ugly junk!!!!

I've never been able to join in when women are on men-bashing rants. I realized a long time ago that Mike on his WORST day is better than a lot of husbands on their BEST day, so I've got no complaints. I told him this morning that I'd read a lot of posts on here about infidelity and such following banding and weight-loss. We find it puzzling to say the least, but both agreed that if we see even a HINT of a problem, we're going for counseling. We both know we have something special and don't ever want to take it for granted or jeopardize it. We've already planned out a weekend get away for every 20 lbs lost!! :kiss2:<hubba :kiss2: hubba> :kiss2:

Oh Sweetie!! It may be 'ridiculous', but it seems like it would be next to impossible to NOT think about it! First of all -- that's a LOT of loss you've endured. Every time we lose someone, we come face to face with our OWN mortality. That alone is enough to make one a little shaky. I think it would benefit you to talk to someone professional about it. Just being aware of it and taking it out could save you a lot of private anguish. And get checked regularly. My mother had Alzheimer's and I panic every time I forget something. She was also legally blind due to macular degeneration , so I panic if my eyes get blurry. It's human nature, I think, to react to such things. Most importantly, she died from strokes brought on by her diabetes which was brought on by her obesity -- so I am being banded because I don't want to follow that path.

....and I sure 'ATE' my way to this point! Now I just need to get banded THIS MONTH! We tried on the 2nd. And we tried on the 7th. Now, everybody, QUICK -- cross your fingers, say a prayer, light a candle, whatever you can do to help -- PRAY we get to do the surgery this Tuesday -- August 14th. :sick Since I'm SICK of Protein shakes -- I picked this for my crazy hat, okay?? Pam<----going off to browse, I think I have a REAL photo of me in a hat I can put up!

And here I was confident that choosing LapBanding over Gastric Bypass insured there'd be no noticable hair loss!!:ranger: Yikes!:omg: My hair is almost to my knees and is already HALF the thickness it was 20 years ago!! I'm not sure WHAT it will look like if I lose a bunch after surgery!!! I'll be borrowing my daughter's "Hair and Nails" Vitamins from GNC....they really do seem to help hers grow faster! Maybe they'll help me hold on to mine.

One thing to keep in mind with any forum.....there is an unknown percentage of people who have the surgery, do great and never come back to report on it. Whereas if you have difficulties, you want everyone to know about it. So, there will always be a disproportionate number of 'horror stories' to read through. (Sorta like when you're pregnant and everyone has a nightmare tale to tell you! -- and I'm sure there are other analogies as well.) There are a LOT of positive stories here, you just have to make sure to pay attention to them and give them equal credence.l

I think someone mentioned this earlier. The one that nearly killed me -- LITERALLY, I'll die from the after affects if I don't get banded and soon! -- was THE T-FACTOR DIET! The 'anti-Atkins', if you will. Their big pitch was, "You can eat 47 baked potatoes with nothing on them for the fat that's in one hamburger". Aye carumba, when I think of all the nasty baked potatoes I ate WITH NOTHING ON THEM.....!??!?!? And Pasta and rice with nothing on it!!! I could've been eating HAAGEN-DAAS and I wouldn't have gained as much! If we'd known back then (late 80s, early 90s) that my mother was diabetic, I would've done a little research and realized that all those carbs were NOT a good idea. But by the time she was diagnosed I'd gained over 100 lbs eating bland, tasteless carbs!!:faint: Oh, well, live and learn!! I've been screeching ever since I found out that that stupid food pyramid is a death-sentence to pre-diabetics. Thank goodness there's finally some reform happening!!

I'm still not banded -- this week, prayers lifted! BUT, I've dieted enough to know my body and if I restrict too much for too long, it'll shut down on me. All appetite disappears and the losing stops. I HAVE TO 'cheat' for a day or two to get myself kickstarted again! Problem is -- unbanded -- the 'cheat' can snowball and lead from a 'day or two' to a 'week or two' and pretty soon, I've put the weight I lost back on. And my body is proud -- it successfully foiled another starvation attempt!!! My prayer is, with this TOOL (the band!) I will be able to keep those 'cheats' in proportion and under MY control. Pam<----tired of my body always getting the upper hand!

I 'married' the romantic and realized I'd found a 'best friend'. We've been together 28 years and I love him a bazillion times more than I did when I was a starry-eyed bride! He's not 'romantic' in the classical sense. Not a lot of candy or flowers. But he always makes sure the air pressure in my tires is exact and that I get regular oil changes! And he never forgets to take out the garbage. That's okay with me!! Those things have to be done....I can buy my own candy and grow my own flowers!! Recommended read: Five Languages of Love by Gary Chapman

Hmmmm....either I'm blessed to live near a really great Wal-Mart or my personal standards are horribly low and I just don't realize it! :omg: LOL 28 years ago when I started keeping house, Wal-Marts were dinky-ish things you had to drive to really small towns to find. Then about 21 years ago, or so, I happened to live just a few miles from one of the first "SuperCenters" in the country -- it was called HyperMart. I guess I never got over the novelty of doing all my shopping in one location!! All these years later, I still do the bulk of my shopping at Wal-Mart. As to their treatment of employees, through the years I've known several people who work there and I haven't heard any worse complaints about them than any other retail store. I do think the demise of independantly-owned businesses is a shame -- but Wal-Mart is only partly responsible. We'd have to lambaste Home Depot, Lowe's, Target, and a couple of dozen other corporations, too.

Okay. I see. Thanks! Now -- what's a NSV?