Southern Missy

Hey J -- hope ur feeling better today. I saw this (it's called The Flasher) and thought of you. :cursing: JUST KIDDING!! I hope it makes you smile.

Strap-on arm and ankle weights might work... as well as a pocket FULL of change. :cursing:

Well, I had been hoping to post 100 pounds less of me by bandiversary but although I'm a little short, I am still very happy with my progress.

If you're talking about Dr. Eich, he is one of the guys I went to see. He was very nice and did appear knowledgeable. My only drawback with him was that he doesn't take credit cards and my flex care benefits are with a credit card. I don't have the money to foot it upfront and then be reimbursed, unfortunately! :redface: Thanks for letting me know!

Count me in! Both days are fine really but I would prefer August 1 (does that help?) :purplebananna:

Hey guys, I was interested in finding out who the plastics guy was at your meeting? Did you like him? I've gone to see a few in Bham recently and I would love to get some feedback on what you thought about the one who came to talk to you. THANKS!

Josie, You actually made me laugh out loud with your story. Sorry you're having a down day. To me, that is the worst part of postop... everything else you can kind of understand but to not be able to control your emotions really sucks! :mad: I haven't decided whether I will have my tummy tuck and BL in Oct. or wait until Jan. I think I'll be at goal by Oct. but the timing would be so much better if I could stand to wait until Jan. Oh, well. You're not helping either -- with making it sound like such a breeze! :sad: Keep flashing, I mean, WALKING -- it'll make you feel better! :eek:

Yes, I second that! Thanks Josie for posting it. I was thinking that the posts had been quiet and forgot that maybe it's because Sue was undergoing her very own procedure. Ms. Sue is my FAVE trikke rider and I can't wait to hear how your surgery went!

Well, Joseibies, I have been lurking and following your posts and I'm thinking of you today. I know your surgery is going to go well and you will be smoking hot when it's done. Just wanted to wish you well! :frown:

Well, I guess Dr. S finally got tired of us -- he's MIA!! :smile:

Hi Dr. Schulman, Thanks for all the advice you have dispensed... it is priceless! :rolleyes2: I have read through this entire thread and always check for updates. I haven't seen the one I have, though! So, here is my question: I am in the process of interviewing surgeons as I would like to have a panniculectomy/tummy tuck and breast reduction done the end of August/first of September. So far, I have visited 2 surgeons and have plans to visit 4 more before the end of the month. Both of those physicians submitted paperwork to my insurance for benefit determination, which was approved in both cases. However, is it really necessary for each surgeon I see to submit this paperwork if I am, in effect, interviewing them to see if I want them to do my surgery? If not, how do I tell them not to seek approval until I decide? Thanks! Melissa

Hi Karey, I, too, have followed your journey and commend you on a job well done. I really appreciate your candidness as I feel it is helpful to a lot of us. In answer to your question of what would you do, I would, without hesitation, have the sleeve. I don't trust myself to do it alone; if I could, I wouldn't have gone down this path to begin with. I don't have a day that I don't consciously have to think about whether I should eat something or not and I know without a doubt that I would not be where I am right now without my band. Each of us has to consider what is best for ourselves. This is only my opinion of what I feel would work best for me and I share it with you because of your unselfishness in sharing with us so much of yourself. My thoughts and prayers are with you as you debate your situation.

NO, not for him to realize what he missed out on... BUT it would be bad if you gave him a chance now. To quote a movie I've seen WAY TOO MANY times (for an adult anyway, lol); "smile and wave, boys, smile and wave!" I say he had his chance and he LOST IT! :thumbup:

That is great!! You'll find that all it takes to get started is a plan and then make it a priority. You're already on the right road, just by asking for help. Good going! :w00t:

Quite honestly, I think you're trying to do too much too soon. You are going from 0 to 100 and no one is going to stick with that kind of situation. My suggestion? What I did, of course! :redface: Start out slow, 2-3 times a week with something you, if not particularly enjoy, at least have no trouble accomplishing. When I started, I would go out and walk and not necessarily with purpose... what I mean by that is: just moving was my goal; not sweating, not briskly -- just walking. Then, after I felt like that was "routine", I added another day and began to make it a brisk walk. After another couple of weeks, when that became "routine", I decided to try Couch-2-5K instead of just walking. I would do each week until I felt comfortable. If it took me 3 weeks to get comfortable with week 1, so be it. Five weeks on week 2? So be it! After I became accustomed to that, I bumped up to 5 days a week and now, almost 9 months later, I am running up to 3 miles/with the endurance to sometimes run 25 minutes at a time (although I prefer intervals). I use the elliptical and weights on alternate days. Exercise is key but you're not going to lose the weight tomorrow and it's okay if you take it slow. If you had told me in May (when I had my surgery) that I would be running as my exercise, I would have laughed in your face and probably fallen on your foot when I was rolling around on the floor laughing. :thumbup: Now, I LOVE it! I really, really do. I never would have believed it. So, anyway, just take it slow, make yourself do it and test the waters one foot at a time instead of just jumping in -- you're learning a lot of new things right now and jumping into them all at one time can be overwhelming so just take your time. YOU CAN DO IT!!

Down 2-1/2 more pounds. This has been an awesome jumpstart back to the basics!

Alright, I may be alone but I am going to keep on posting! For anyone who wonders if the 5DPT is worth it -- IT IS!! Since starting, I have lost 7 pounds and I feel myself beginning to regain control of my eating. I never realized until now that I AM addicted to food and when you let yourself have just a little taste (over and over), gradually you begin to slide back into those self-destructive behaviors. Luckily, I like the new me too much to destroy my results so WHOO HOO :thumbup: for the 5DPT. I also realized that yes, it is time for a fill so I will be going to get that on Wednesday. Thanks again, BBK for starting the thread, Luluc for posting the link and all you wonderful ladies who contributed to this thread. You have been inspiring and TRULY helped pull this girl back on the wagon! :cool:

Alright, Day 1 -- DONE 5 glasses water (need to get in that 6 today) 2 protein shakes (probably need more protein than that) pureed chicken soup (does that count as a liquid? :thumbup:) 40 minutes exercise 3-1/2 pounds gone this morning - WOO HOO! :wink: I did fine all day until bedtime and then it was HELL. I think I'm one of those who likes to eat when I have no witnesses because everyone was in bed and I thought of 9 million things to eat (although I managed to ABSTAIN). :thumbup: Oh, well... ** I hear crickets chirping in here... did I jump in too late.... am I alone?? :cool2: **

YOO HOO.... LULUC.... ARE YOU OUT THERE?? GIRL -- YOU TOTALLY ROCK!! I had my daughter start the 5DPT with me today and she was not fired up about it at all so I told her about the chocolate PB cheesecake shake and she just made them for us. O M G !! She was even impressed and decided it might not be so bad after all! :scared2: LOL! - Anyway, got in my exercise today -- combined walking and running for 40 minutes. - 3 glasses of water in so far - 1 totally delish PS I am feeling AWESOME!! I am so pumped cause it feels so good to be back in the driver's seat. HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYONE!!

I started about 6 weeks post surgery, around 240-250 pounds. I was V E R Y slow, mind you, because I was so out of shape but with the right shoes (very important) I kept plugging along and now I am probably in the best shape of my life and finally in ONEderland (as of 12/2008)! Go for it -- I don't think I would have been as successful as I have been without it.

Unfortunately, for those of who have a substantial amount of weight to lose, loose skin is unavoidable. I have been diligent with exercise since having the surgery; running and lifting weights, and I still have loose skin. I am planning on some kind of plastics to help with it. I kind of look at it like the stretch marks I have from pregnancy (x4)... they aren't real pretty and I can't do anything about them but the reasons for them are priceless!

OH, what a relief!! I have not been around LBT very much in the last couple of months so just reading this makes me feel so much more hopeful. I hit the ground running after surgery and then after the holidays it felt like I bounced off a brick wall. I am starting the 5DPT TOMORROW!! Thanks so much for your post and for giving me hope!! I can identify with you, maddie....although I have had no gain, I have had no loss either BUT I know exactly why. I've stuck to my exercise (for the most part) but the eating has been out of control. Hang in there, seems like you're getting some great advice. LULUC -- THANKS for posting the link to this thread. I had become very depressed, beating myself up for reverting back to bad habits. I feel hopeful again and I really, really appreciate you and all the other wonderful ladies for your candidness. However, it is becoming rapidly apparent to me that ALONE is not going to get me there so I would appreciate your encouragement and your help holding me accountable. I am posting here DAILY... and since I am going to start the 5DPT tomorrow I'm probably going to turn into a big bi*&^% and no one at my house is going to want to encourage me to do anything but take a hike! :scared2: HA!!

I have hiccups pretty frequently and normally when I am/should be done eating... they are uncomfortable but not usually painful and they don't last very long. Not sure if that will be your experience or not but for me, when my family hears me start hiccuping, they all say "you're through!".

Hanson... Is there room in that booth for me?? I have been having a really tough time lately.. I don't need tough love -- I do that pretty well on my own -- just some encouragement. I can't decide if I need a fill or not. I thought I did and then today woke up and everything is getting stuck so now I'm thinking PMS :sneaky: but should I still get a fill? Grr....I HATE food! (wish I really did). :confused: