OH Juli

Keeping a food journal will give you some insights you can work with and adjust. Sorry to hear your family is struggling. (Good to hear about the grand daughter). You'll get it together. Good luck.

Until you're gay you really don't know what is a choice and what was predetermined. My programing, down my DNA says I like women. But whatever, I hope you don't have gay children because they will probably kill themselves. The rate of suicide for the gay children born to your type of christian is amazingly high. Good luck with your life. I'll be enjoying mine.

I'm a reality baser too. This idea that I'd be able to get tons of stuff done is silly. But actually, I am able to do things like a load of laundry, cook dinner, do the dishes...I'm able to go all day without pain medication, but I do take it at night. Apparently my seromas are becoming legendary. Today they took off 28 ounces again. That's a boat load. The surgeon is talking about maybe putting a drain back in, but apparently I'm healing and I have two pockets collecting Fluid, so I'd still have to get drained on the smaller one. Alas, I'm just planning on twice weekly visits to the doctor. He's funny and I love the office people, the hour and half drive is bit much but nontheless, I'm driving it. Okay, so I'm sitting at a size 12 right now. I think I'm going to land at a 10. For whatever reason I think that's big, but it's not. It's who I am. Sigh.

Are you talking about me again? Not the stupid part but the lesbian part raising a kid. Yeah. Last I checked I'm a lesbian and I infact have a child. It is possible. As for marriage being a creation of God, it's a creation of man. I think people were procreating long before the laws of humanity took hold. As for gay people being part of the natural order of things, you'd imagine natural selection would have irradicated us many generations ago. But no, we are here and a creation of God for a reason. I'm pretty sure it's not to disturb heterosexuals on a personal level. I think it's probably part of a bigger design though. And for real, I'm just a regular fat woman much like everyone else here. I raise my kid to moral and just, I don't kick my dog and I pay my taxes. I just happen to think other women like me (read gay) are attractive and they float my boat. I don't want take anything away from anyone else. I don't want to sleep with you or your husband or your younger sister, unless of course she's gay and single.

I don't know the laws in your state. However it is unethical. And your wife may want to approach them with the answer that the date was set by her medical professional and is in the best interest of her health which trumps anyone's payroll timeline. If she were so inclined she could give them the hypothetical situation that should something happen during the postponed time, like an effect from a co-morbidity getting worse-blood pressure rising and causing a stroke for example, she would have reasonable grounds to sue her company. Or she could just not budge and tell them to ask her lawyer to change her surgery date. They'll back off. I'm sorry she's struggling with them.

Chillax there girlie. Sometimes fills can take a few days to take affect. And see how it feels in the morning. Mornings are always tighter for most people. You have plenty of time to lose weight. You'll find your sweetspot. Don't give up hope. Though I do understand your disappointment. Expecting something you didn't get is always frustrating. Hang in there.

Yeah, Sue put it pretty well. Pannis just remove the skin. Tummy Tucks repair the muscle by lacing it together. As for the belly button, my doctor cuts around the orginal button and carefully measures the newly pulled skin, cuts a hole and attaches it to the area. There's got to be a better way to detail that... But my belly button is where God put it. The skin it's poking through however was put there by Dr. Martin. :thumbup:

Hi M, Here are the regular first questions: When was your last fill? How often and what do you eat? How is your blood work? Do you exercise? What's going on in your life that is keeping you from focusing on your wellness? Is there a foreseeable change or will you need to actively need to change some things around to refocus on yourself? Please answer and let's see if we can help you sort your problems. We are here for support. Juli

Tummy Tuck is more painful by far. They go in and repair the muscle as oneflew said. With a breast reduction they are staying out of the body and just (I laugh at the "just" because it's extensive) are on the outside of body and only cutting tissue. However, you can manage a tummy tuck, I'm sure. BTW, on the scale of ease of recovery for me. My breast reduction was easier to deal with than my banding procedure. My recent lower body lift, (2.5 weeks ago) braciaplasty, breast revision, is a harder recovery just due to the extent of all the incisions than either banding or the reduction. The tummy hurts a lot. Getting out of bed-standing up, the drains, etc. are something different to contend with. HTH

Thanks. Yeah, I'm still building up Fluid. It will be okay. I am up and about. I can't imagine be confined to bed rest. Karey, you're a trooper. I have to say I'll be happy when I'm 100%. My results will be worth it. However, I just wanted to put it out there this is literally a pain of a surgery. Like Karey said, it's not for sissy. :rolleyes2: LOL.

Hey kids, So I'm getting some big swelling seromas which my doctor drains weekly. Yesterday he took out about 16 ounces which was a huge relief. So while I"m feeling the pain let me say, this does hurt. It hurts a lot. It's not a walk in the park....and I'm healing beautifully and doing really well and I've got a decent pain tolerance. But for those of you considering the surgery it's a knock you down kind of thing. Mind you I've got about 8 feet of incisions on my body; I did the maxium amount of plastic surgery an ethical doctor would perform. So reality is that before I'm thinking I'm all hot and skinny and my memory fades about the pain, this is rough, rough, rough. You've been warned. I was too, but I didn't really hear it or listen...

18K is about the average. My insurance covered the panni but not my doctor and since that was only 3K of the package I decided to pay it all out of pocket. Having a doctor I trusted is worth paying the price. I heart my doctor, BTW.

Two words Cliff Block Clif Shot Bloks 18/Box - Margarita: Smartbody Nutrition

I'm jealous that you are standing upright. I'm still hunched! BTW, the pic of you and your boy is so cute. What happened to your tummy tattoo?

rdim- I'm going to break your heart by saying no. My thighs are still flabby, because of the skin, but underneath the skin there are strong muscles and I'm very fit. Cycling is great, great, great for getting healthy. And you should consider it as a way to add something new to your exercise routine 1. because you're going to get bored if you don't add new stuff and 2. cycling is fun! I hope you get out on your bike. Don't worry about how long it's been, that phrase, "It's like riding a bike" comes from the truth. You never forget! Keep us posted on what you decide. HP- Good to see you posting again. Are you going to track your miles ridden this year like you did last? I bet you'll be up to 1000 in no time. J

Jeni, You'll figure it out. Tomorrow is two weeks after my plastic surgery. I can't imagine having to go to work feeling like I do. Well I can imagine it. I'd be able to get my work done, but I'd be wiped out at the end of the day. I'm happy I have 4 more weeks off to recover. I am driving a bit now and only keeping the pain medication for bed time, which makes me feel more regular. Which is nice. Also, I was fearful about not having my band adjusted (unfilled) before surgery, but it was a good choice. I have my same restriction and I'm eating small amounts. Makes me happy... Enough about plastic surgery. How is everyone doing getting to your goals? Is the spring weather getting people outside and exercising more? Are there summer goals?

Kathy, That's fantastic news!!!! You are amazing and doing so well. Congratulations!

Hi HP! I'm sure once you get back to riding regularly and eating like a bandster the weight will start falling off. Glad to see you back here and thanks for the all the warm wishes on facebook. I hope to get riding in a couple of weeks myself.

Jeni, That's so amazing! Rock on size 6!!!! I'll be happy to see a 10! I'm so glad for you.

Lellow, I posted this on my thread and I know we're reading each other's every word, but I'll post here too. My surgeon took out my drains yesterday and told me to expect to seep until after the drain holes scab. Then he said I'll get a sernoma which he will drain off next week. "It happens all the time you might as well be comfortable with out the drains." is what he said. So yesterday I drained all over the place. I put a menstrual pad in my panties up by my belly to collect the Fluid, but now the holes are sealed and so has the seeping. Ick. I'm not looking forward to collecting fluid under my skin, but I suppose it's par for the course. I did find my port yesterday. He had to reposition it, and my stomach had been so hard from the swelling I couldn't feel a thing. It's generally in the same place where it was...funny.

I got my drains out today which if you ask me is a bit premature. But my surgeon said I'd feel better and he'd just drain me in a week anyway, so might as well... Aside from that all my sutures are looking good. They are just pulling apart a bit in my left underarm, again he wasn't surprised and says its common. I saw 163 on the scale today or 162. I'm not minus 18 from the surgery day so I know much of this is Water retention and swelling from surgery. I'm continually surprised to look down and not see my belly...it's something else. Tracymom that's great news!!!

Do as your husband suggests and stay on rest until you are required to be back at work. Find something fun to do if you have the energy, like shopping.

I write. Let me know what your publisher would want to see.

Like Sassy One I didn't get a fill until well after 6 months of being banded. Losing weight can be done with just the band alone, however I expect you are more concerned with what you will do until you get refilled. Just hang in there and watch what you eat. You'll be fine.

I had a reduction when I weighed 250 pounds. I went from an H and I (they were differently sized) to a D. My nipples still had sensation but the outward parts, near my underarms were always numb. I did it for the ability to better exercise. It was a good choice, but painful. Plastic surgery hurts. Really.