Cindy C

My friends, family and co-workers knew I was considering it. Once I went for my evaluation and got a surgery date, I told everybody who would listen!! The support I got was tremendous. I had very few people who were negative about it. But then, anybody who knows me knows they might as well save their breath if they disagree with me! I'm not going to listen to them anyway!

I told everyone. I used it as motivation and commitment.

The date. I would have gotten it 30 years ago!

The date. I would have gotten it 30 years ago!

My out of pocket cost for my surgery was $2000. I saved that much at the grocery store the first year. While I spend a lot on clothes, I always have so that hasn't changed. The change is that I don't have to go to expensive "fat lady" stores ti buy size 10's. I can get them anywhere! Another financial change is my earning potential has gone up. Right or wrong, the fact is that HR directors are more willing to hire someone thin and fit than someone morbidly obese. Even if I hadn't had insurance and had to pay the $20,000+ it would have been a bargain. The benefits far outweigh the expenses. In the long run you'll come out money ahead.

I HATE looking at mine but I do it every single day. I keep a copy of it on my fridge as a reminder of what that big white box did to me in the first place!

I HATE looking at mine but I do it every single day. I keep a copy of it on my fridge as a reminder of what that big white box did to me in the first place!

I HATE looking at mine but I do it every single day. I keep a copy of it on my fridge as a reminder of what that big white box did to me in the first place!

I agree. Those who matter don't mind and those mind don't matter!

I told everyone and anyone. I figure everyone would find out anyway and I really don't care about other peoples opinions about what I do to my body.

Honesty is the best policy 99.9% of the time
I too am a walking billboard for the band. I almost shout it from the rooftops for anyone who wants to hear, and some that don't.
That being said, I was dishonest that .1% at the time of surgery. I had 2 part-time jobs and was only going to miss one day at one of them for the surgery. The boss and his wife were very snobby and nosey. My co-workers and I came up with a plan if the boss & wife asked about what I was having done .... and they did ask in a snobby/nosey way while I was taking that one day off. My co-worker told them I was having vaginal rejuvination! We all had a good laugh and it shut them up. It was in good fun and I knew I wouldn't be working there much longer anyway. I found a different job a few weeks later and they still don't know the surgery I really had done. I guess they just think my husband is having great sex

I told absolutely everybody that would listen. Friends, family, coworkers. I even told the guy at the pizza joint because I knew he wouldn't be seeing me anymore!!! Everyone was supportive....except the pizza guy. I was a "cash cow" for him! LOL!! The only person I didn't tell beforehand was my mother, but that was because she's elderly with health problems and I didn't want her worrying and I certainly didn't want her at the hospital. I told her after I got home. There are always going to be people with negative comments and judgmental attitudes but they are few. I find those are the ones who just don't understand. Use the opportunity to educate them. Even now, 4 years and 140 pounds later, I still have no qualms about telling anybody. I keep my before picture on my cell phone and show it to people....I don't particularly like looking at myself though!

I told absolutely everybody that would listen. Friends, family, coworkers. I even told the guy at the pizza joint because I knew he wouldn't be seeing me anymore!!! Everyone was supportive....except the pizza guy. I was a "cash cow" for him! LOL!! The only person I didn't tell beforehand was my mother, but that was because she's elderly with health problems and I didn't want her worrying and I certainly didn't want her at the hospital. I told her after I got home. There are always going to be people with negative comments and judgmental attitudes but they are few. I find those are the ones who just don't understand. Use the opportunity to educate them. Even now, 4 years and 140 pounds later, I still have no qualms about telling anybody. I keep my before picture on my cell phone and show it to people....I don't particularly like looking at myself though!

I told absolutely everybody that would listen. Friends, family, coworkers. I even told the guy at the pizza joint because I knew he wouldn't be seeing me anymore!!! Everyone was supportive....except the pizza guy. I was a "cash cow" for him! LOL!! The only person I didn't tell beforehand was my mother, but that was because she's elderly with health problems and I didn't want her worrying and I certainly didn't want her at the hospital. I told her after I got home. There are always going to be people with negative comments and judgmental attitudes but they are few. I find those are the ones who just don't understand. Use the opportunity to educate them. Even now, 4 years and 140 pounds later, I still have no qualms about telling anybody. I keep my before picture on my cell phone and show it to people....I don't particularly like looking at myself though!

I told absolutely everybody that would listen. Friends, family, coworkers. I even told the guy at the pizza joint because I knew he wouldn't be seeing me anymore!!! Everyone was supportive....except the pizza guy. I was a "cash cow" for him! LOL!! The only person I didn't tell beforehand was my mother, but that was because she's elderly with health problems and I didn't want her worrying and I certainly didn't want her at the hospital. I told her after I got home. There are always going to be people with negative comments and judgmental attitudes but they are few. I find those are the ones who just don't understand. Use the opportunity to educate them. Even now, 4 years and 140 pounds later, I still have no qualms about telling anybody. I keep my before picture on my cell phone and show it to people....I don't particularly like looking at myself though!

I told absolutely everybody that would listen. Friends, family, coworkers. I even told the guy at the pizza joint because I knew he wouldn't be seeing me anymore!!! Everyone was supportive....except the pizza guy. I was a "cash cow" for him! LOL!! The only person I didn't tell beforehand was my mother, but that was because she's elderly with health problems and I didn't want her worrying and I certainly didn't want her at the hospital. I told her after I got home. There are always going to be people with negative comments and judgmental attitudes but they are few. I find those are the ones who just don't understand. Use the opportunity to educate them. Even now, 4 years and 140 pounds later, I still have no qualms about telling anybody. I keep my before picture on my cell phone and show it to people....I don't particularly like looking at myself though!

I told absolutely everybody that would listen. Friends, family, coworkers. I even told the guy at the pizza joint because I knew he wouldn't be seeing me anymore!!! Everyone was supportive....except the pizza guy. I was a "cash cow" for him! LOL!! The only person I didn't tell beforehand was my mother, but that was because she's elderly with health problems and I didn't want her worrying and I certainly didn't want her at the hospital. I told her after I got home. There are always going to be people with negative comments and judgmental attitudes but they are few. I find those are the ones who just don't understand. Use the opportunity to educate them. Even now, 4 years and 140 pounds later, I still have no qualms about telling anybody. I keep my before picture on my cell phone and show it to people....I don't particularly like looking at myself though!

30 5 lb bags of sugar! OR...

300 cups
150 1 lb boxes
4800 Tablespoons
14,400 teaspoons

People are always quick to criticize what they don't understand. Do your best to explain it to her (or him) but don't feel like you have to defend your decision. You are doing what you feel is best for YOUR health. Opinions usually change as the weight starts falling off. In the meantime, tell her you respect her opinion but you are doing what you feel is necessary for yourself and really don't want to hear any negativity...then change the subject!

People are always quick to criticize what they don't understand. Do your best to explain it to her (or him) but don't feel like you have to defend your decision. You are doing what you feel is best for YOUR health. Opinions usually change as the weight starts falling off. In the meantime, tell her you respect her opinion but you are doing what you feel is necessary for yourself and really don't want to hear any negativity...then change the subject!

The original band was 4cc. They now come in 10cc (standard) and 14cc (large). If you have the Allergan ID card it tells which one you have on the back.

Glad to see you are still so close to ur goal weight. Encouraging, you will get back there soon. Good luck.

I have maintained my weight loss within 10 lbs.up or down, for about 6 years now (size 6). I keep asking myself why have I been so successful?
I was never in a hurry to lose the weight. I only averaged 5 or 6 lbs per month. I never had a goal and got smaller then I ever thought I would, (nice surprise).
I got very small fills. I took allmost a year to get to good restriction.
I wasn't too hard on myself if I cheated. I cheated a lot, I still do and have learned this is part of who I am. Ha!, tomorrow is another day.
I followed my doctors rules the first several months. It was hard, but I did it.
I never compared myself to anyone elses success or failure.
I exercised ( as little as possible) but I did it and still do (as little as possible).
I learned what my food triggers are, this was a hard one to overcome.
I learned to replace my craviings for sweet and chocolate and fat with low calorie, low fat recipes. (I can't live without chocolate).
I learned to eat slowly and chew well, this took over a year to master.
I learned when I go out to eat, about 2 or 3 times a month to totally enjoy my food, to eat whatever I want including dessert, and not count calories or worry about
portions. To enjoy the atmosphere and the company I am with.
I learned if I had a bad day, eating or otherwise, it will pass and tomorrow is a new beginning. Sometimes it was a bad week.
I didn't need anyone to validate my success. No one knows I had this done. Not even my family. So no one to judge me good or bad.
I learned I now have a great track record and most likely this will continue.
For me losing the weight was not a body image issue, it was a health issue. However being thin has been a nice side effect.
Hope this post will encourage some.

Your cats will be fine. I would think that your dog would be too. Animals can sense when you aren't feeling well. When I had my gall bladder out in February, my dog laid by my feet like my little protector for 3 days and he's usually pretty wild.

With as shaky as our economy is right now I would find it very difficult to turn my back on 14 grand a year! The new job could also be a stepping stone to bigger and better things. You must have applied for the job for a reason. If it were me, I'd take it!