MustangGirlRN

I also suggest more "upscale" stores like Kohls and Macey's. Coldwater Creek also has awesome clothes for middle aged and older women....and they're really cute. I'm lucky enough to have a Coldwater Creek near me, but they have a great catalog. The clothes are a bit pricey, but excellent quality. Congratulations on reaching a size 16! I'm at an 18 pants size because of my ginormous hips, but a large or x-large shirt. It's wierd trying on normal sized clothes. I found a blouse I really liked the other night but it wasn't available in an x-large. I looked at the large and it seemed so small, but I figured I would try it anyway for fun. It fit!!!! I was so excited I bought it right away. This is the best adventure I have ever been on in my life!

I think that says tons about the lapband surgery! If so many nurses have chosen it for themselves, it has to be good :cursing: Us nurses are usually very picky about having medical procedures done on ourselves.

My physician told me the same thing too. However, I had done my research and already decided that I did not want the gastric bypass surgery. I was not comfortable with having malabsorption my entire life and all of the other side effects from the bypass. I didn't want to be old and in a nursing home some day and my kids trying to figure out how to get nutrients into me. I didn't want to be "different" my whole life, (I've already spent a lot of it being different and I'm finished with it). It was completely a personal decision. I knew the statistics, but also knew that with diet and exercise and determination, I could have the results that I wanted with the lapband. True, your weigt loss may be a little slower, but it will appear more natural, and your body will have more time to adjust to the changes. It just seemed like the healthier option for me. I have friends who have had bypass and they swear by it. I have friends who have had the lapband and they swear by it. It's a personal journey and a personal choice. The route you choose it yours entirely. I wish you the best of luck with your decision. :party:

Congratulations on your weight loss!! It's feels great doesn't it? :wink: I am getting rid of my 'fat' clothes and then shopping in my basement for clothes that I used to wear. This weight loss is forever in my mind, and I'm never going back. My entire way of thinking is different, and athough sometimes I still think like the fat person I was, most of the time food isn't such a big deal for me anymore. I've never experienced that with any other diet and that's how I know I'll never need my fat clothes agan. I am getting close to running out of choices in my basement and a friend who has a lapband suggested that I search upscale resale shops for some good buys until I reach my goal weight. I have also done some clearance shopping, which I love and gotten some great buys. I think you can be confident in yourself and your weight loss this time and clear out the fat clothes!!! They're not as cute as what you can wear now anyway, right???:thumbup:

I doubt you would be eligible for FMLA; "FMLA requires covered employers to provide up to 12weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave to ''eligible''employees for certain family and medical reasons.Employees are eligible if they have worked for their employer for at least one year, and for 1,250 hours over the previous 12 months, and if there are at least 50 employees within 75 miles. The FMLA permits employees to take leave on an intermittent basis or to work a reduced schedule under certain circumstances." http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/compliance/posters/fmlaen.pdf However, many organizations offer medical leave to employees who do not meet FMLA standards. Typically it's unpaid leave approved through the manager of your department. If you were good enough to hire, you should certainly be worth one or two more days off if you need them to recover from surgery. On the bright side, I work in an emergency department and one of our nurses was back in about 6 days after having the lapband. She said she was fine coming back so soon. Another possibility is to ask for light duty for a day or two to make sure you don't have to lift anything too heavy. Good luck to you!! You will be a greater asset to the company when you are healthier and happier!:w00t:

I am at my sweet spot right now and I can still eat steak if i take small bites and chew like crazy. I like my steak medium rare, so it's not dry which probably helps. Bread on the other hand...sometimes I can, most of the time I can't, so I usually just avoid it altogether.

I guess i need to be signed up too! It's part of my morning routine. I think it's whatever works best for you. I don't fret over it when the scale says I'm up a little, I understand fluctuations, but I definitely know the first day a pound comes off!

Hi and welcome! I can tell you that getting the lapband has been the best thing I have ever done for myself. I'm a mother of five and a nurse, so I've spent most of my life giving to others. The lapband was about me. I was banded 11/7/08 and I've lost 40 pounds. I'm 1/3 of the way to my goal, and already I have so much more energy and motivation. I've dropped about 3-4 sizes depending on what I'm wearing and I feel phenomenal. I used to hate getting dressed every day wondering what I could fit in that would look decent. Now, I'm looking through my old things for fun things to wear. I have a long way to go, but I love my lapband. It's the tool I've needed for many many year. Good luck to you with your surgery. This site is a wealth of information and most of the people on here are friendly, encouraging, and helpful:thumbup:

I work for one of the busiest pediatric hospitals in the country and fake nails are strictly banned in for staff who provide direct patient care. This was the result of a nasty infection outbreak in another hospital's newborn ICU caused by someone's artificial nails. It's way too big of a risk for octomom to keep her nails. Additionally, preemie's skin is very delicate and thin and tears easily. Those nails will make it difficult for her to even bathe or change their diapers. I think octomom should remove her fake nails and use the money to buy diapers for her kids!:tt2: