wendytip

Becky, just go to the "photos" section of Lapbandtalk, you know, where everyone posts their photos. That's the only way that I could figure out how to post the pic! See, you're not the only one that's comp. illiterate! I've got the pixs set to private so that only my "friends" can see them, so you shouldn't have any trouble. You'll have to go back...oh, maybe 2 or 3 days on the photos, but since I posted them last night, they should be right there on page 1 or 2.

I haven't mailed out a pair of shoes before, but I have a friend who does a lot of shipping, and he told me that the postage and shipping should be about $10.00. I'll surely let you know if it's any less than that, and refund the dif, or you can use it as a credit on my website if you want.

So, the total is $35.00, send me a check or money order, I don't care which, but a check would be easier.

Wendy Tippens

612 Marlboro Avenue

Chattanooga Tennessee

37412

Let me know how you like the shoes!

Carol, you can get those Special K protein mixes at your grocery store. They are usually in the section that has all the diet and nutrition stuff, although, sometimes you can find them with the regular drink mixes, like Crystal Light. They come in those single serving sleeves that you can pour into your water.

Merry Christmas,

Wendy

chubb,

I'm sure with your mitigating health circumstances that you'll be approved. When I went for my consult the guidelines were a BMI of 40 and above, OR a lower BMI with health issues, such as you have.

If I were you and my insurance company didn't approve it, I'd get a Lawyer. And, if the only thing stopping me was a BMI that's too low...I hate to say it, but I'd "eat my way" up to a BMI that was high enough.

Hello!

Thanks for the friend request. I am honored to be your first, but not last, friend. So, have you been banded yet? If not, then when's the big day? If you have then how are you doing?

Wendy

Here's my question; Do you have to have a "specific" type of tennis shoe that you need to wear? If I just get your run of the mill, generic shoe will that work? I don't want you to have a pair of shoes that you love and not be able to wear them. I was thinking of a plain canvas shoe...sound good?

And the band is going so GREAT! I can't even believe this is my life so far; it's amazing. At my last weigh in, I was down 28 lbs in 8 weeks! So, yeah, I am LOVING this!

Hey Becky,

I sell a bunch of my stuff. I can do the shoes in whatever colors you like, and I sell them for $25.00 a pair. I actually have a website coming up...someday. Glad you like them, and just let me know, and I'll be glad to make you a pair!

Wendy

Hey Becky,

Okay, here's what you do; tell me what size you wear and what colors you want your shoes in. It will be 25.00 plus postage (I'll figure up what that is...it shouldn't be very much). I'll have my paypal set up soon...within the next few days. Give me your address and I'll mail them to you. All you have to do from there on out is wear the shoes with funky pride and direct people to my website...which will be up in the next few days.

Wendy

Hey Cosmogirl,

So what kind of rethinking have you done? You have to understand that you haven't been banded that long. You probably haven't hit your sweet spot yet. When you do, let me tell you, it's a different world! Hang in there; it's a HUGE lifestyle overhaul. If you have an addiction you have to learn how to live your life all over again, without using food. It's a challange, but you can do it. Let me know if I can help in any way.

Hey Cpriscilla,

All you have to do to send me a message is click on my name. I'm glad I could be of help. Hang in there. It's a big adjustment, but you can do it. I have some video blogs you might want to check out on youtube. They're posted under That crazy fat chick.

Celebrate every lost ounce!

Hey girlie!

Your shoes are ready! Go on photos and look at them and tell me what you think. I would have just sent you a photo but I wasn't sure how to do that. My website should be up in the next 24 hours. It's artisitwendy.com I'll be posting your shoes on there and you can pay me that way. Just hit the paypal button and we're good to go! Or, if you'd rather; you can email me at wendytippensmail.com and I can give you the info there. Let me know what you think. I hope you like them.

Hey! Did you get your shoes? Did you like them? Have you worn them yet? My new website is artistwendy.com

I'm just now getting stuff put on the site, but there will be lots to come.

W

Hey!

I was wondering how you were doing! I'm doing great. I went for my first official weigh in almost 1 month out and lost 16lbs! My first fill went well, but I can't really feel any restriction. I called and mentioned it, and they told me that I won't really feel anything until probably the 3rd time or so. They said that they have to take it slow, but that's o.k, I'm still doing fine. I'm into a size 18 pants! I'm so excited! How are you doing?

I asked my doctor about that issue, specifically,( I haven't been banded yet. It's set for the 22nd of this month) and he told me that I shouldn't be able to see the port at all when I lose the weight. I would imagine that's true, since the port should stay in forever. I mean, people would want that showing...that'd be kind of creepy, I think. Then again, if it's not an issue then why did they come up with "low profile" ports. I'm not super concerned about it; anything is better than all this fat I'm carrying. Best of luck to you and congrats. Here's to a new life!

Wendy

I felt so bad about telling you that maybe putting on weight was a way to get her attention. That was a stupid idea, so pretend as though I never said it. I didn't want to seem too negative, but here's what I wanted to say:

Did your insurance pay for your band? Mine didn't. It was all out of pocket, and if I were struggling the same as I was before the band, AFTER shelling out 15,000, something would be done. It must be so difficult to have been on the pre-op diet, and to hold it all together, just waiting for your first fill, to feel...nothing. And, to keep struggling with that daily? No way. I would give it another week and then something would have to give. I just feel like, if you wanted to continue to struggle you wouldn't have had the surgery. And who knows how you feel, better than you. Keep me posted on what happens.

Lena!

First, of all, did you lose your husband? I am so sorry. My sincerest condolences. Second,I just went to your website and I think we may be related...spiritually, anyway. I LOVE your art! That's what I do to keep from eating, too. And I'm an active member of the GBLT community, as well. I mean, I would assume from your website, that's the case. As a matter of fact I have an annual fundraiser comming up for Chattanooga Cares. That's my charity. How close to Chatt. Tn. are you? I'd love it if you could come to the show!

Okay, apparently, we are twin sisters from different mothers! I'm 5'7 too! I started out at 271, so we're close on that one.

I'd give her (your doctor) a while longer and then I'd have to have something done. I'm sure she has her reasons, I mean, she is the doctor. It's kind of a catch 22 though. If you manage to lose weight, then she may think the fill is o.k, but you don't want to gain weight. I HATE to say this, but maybe (God, I hate to say this) maybe it will take you putting a little on, to let her know that your fill isn't working for you.

Okay, here' s my question? If she puts more in your band and it's too much, then can't she just take some out? How long are you supposed to "wait" before she puts some more in your band, if needed? In the meantime, I'd take in lost of protein (I use this liquid protein that has 42 grams and 170 calories that you can mix in with water,) and keep myself busy (I work on my art) doing anything that kept me away from food.

Don't give up hope. I know...believe me, I know, how difficult it is, but you'll find the "sweet spot." You said, that if you had the willpower that you're having to pull from now, that you wouldn't have needed the band in the first place. If you're like me, and evidently you are; it's not neccesarily getting the weight off, it's keeping it off. It's coming your way, just hang in there. BTW, I find it funny, that 140 is what I'm shooting for too! How tall are you? I'm 5'7. I started at 271, you?

So, I'm a "mighty woman"...I like that. I may start going by "Wendy the Mighty!" You know, making the decision to put it all out there in that swimsuit, was iffy for me. But then, I thought, "

What the hell?!" I'm not going to be this size much longer and I wanted to be able to look back and REALLY see a difference. Also, I remember before I was banded, I'd look through all the before and after pix, but there was never any "before" pictures. I wanted to see that progress and know what I had to look forward to. So, I thought, "When I get my banding I'm going to have some "real" before pix!" I asked my dad if he was shocked to know that I'd put those pix up. He told me that he wasn't shocked, and that I was the only person he knew of that was crazy enough to do something like that.

Thank you so much for the compliments on my art! I LOVE creating. I swear, it's the only thing I love more than eating. You look pretty "funky" yourself. LOVE the glasses and the hair. I'm working on getting my website up, but I am so FREAKING BUSY! I feel like I'm being pulled in a thousand different directions. Betwenn changing my life with the band, teaching, performing, writing and other art stuff...there's not enough hours in the day!

Thanks for the friends request!

Kisses,

Wendy

You seem to be doing great! But you really can't judge how you're doing with the band itself until there's something in it, right? I think those people that are losing 25 lbs the first month after surgery probably have a few things going on that we don't. 1. I think they may be having their bands filled as they're having the surgery. I know some doctors do that. Mine doesn't and yours didn't, but some do. And, of course if you've got something in the band, then the weight is going to come of quicker.

2. I don't know how overweight those individuals are. If they are way heavier, then the weight will fall off quicker. And, if they're heavier AND they've had a fill...well, then, yeah, the weight would probably be coming off that quickly.

And you've gotten through that first month with no fill and a weight loss! That's awesome.

So, how is it since you've had your fill? Can you tell a marked difference? How much weight do you want to lose?

AGGGGHHH! That drives me crazy that you can't find them. When you click on the tab does it take you to the photos at all? Do you have an email? If so I can send you an attatchment w/ a pic of the shoes.

And there they are on page 1!

Congrats to you! Your success is very inspiring!

DO NOT let anyone bring you down in ANY way! Find something...ANYTHING you like more than eating...yes, there's something out there, and when you want to eat, turn to that. My thing was Art. Hell, I recovered my sofa and car seats my first month out. Make sure you're eating right, and have you hit your "sweet spot" yet? I bet not...and most importantly "celebrate every, single lost ounce."

Hang in there. Getting filled adequately will really help.