OH Juli

My bari surgeon would have me at 110 pounds if I let him. Actually, I really don't know where I'm going to land weight wise. I see muscles and bones under my skin...when the skin's all gone, I could be very differently sized. I'm not worried about my weight at this point. I'm more worried about getting nutrition. I don't wear my band tight, so as long as I have Protein shakes to should I get swollen and have more restriction I think I'll be fine. Also, if god forbids anything happens and I need an immediate unfill I'm only 3 miles from the hospital my bari surgeon works out of. Like all my English weights and measures?

My blood work needs to be done after March 17 but before my surgery. I'm calling for that appointment tomorrow. My band apparently doesn't need to be unfilled before surgery. My plastic surgeon thinks I'll be fine without messing with it. What's your opinion on that? I'm working out HARD. I was joking that I broke my Abs today. Oh, I didn't think about a wedge pillow! good idea. I figure I'm wearin my old panties untils I fit into my happy new tiny ones. Hey mrgrta. Ask all the quetions you can think of. You know I don't have too much of an issue of getting nakkit in front of the doctor. I just tell myself he's a professional and I can't be bothered.

Niki, Look at you going back to school! What are you doing? Where are you going? I see a pattern where we get our butts in gear about doing what we want, losing weight, going to school, living the heck out of this life.

A few things: How connected is she to the black community where the culture is made up of more body accepting women? Also one finds that in Latino community, does she have exposure to that by some women, aunts, grandmothers, friends of yours whom she respects who are look like her? Can you reach out to them and tell them she's needing a little support so they approach the subject with her? www.titlenine.com is where you find that sports bra. As for helping her lose some weight, by all means you are her role model. Of course the better you eat and the more you move encourage her to join you. Have her taste your food/protein drinks. If you track her food show her and have her track hers too, if she's inclined. I too have a little girl on the obesity curve. I try to give her opportunities to learn about eating well and moving her body and remove the junk. It's just EVERYWHERE. Good luck. Your daughter is lucky to have such a compassionate mom.

So you already want a different bike Mac? If not, no you didn't, if so, yes you did.

HI Jeni! You'll be so happy when it's done. Well after all the pain! I can't wait to see your results.

Knowledge is power. If you know what you are eating you can make a better decision about how much or how little to cut back on. Good you for tracking your calories. I do it here and there so as not to get too comfortable assuming I'm eating the right amounts. It does pull me back to regular and helps me stop eating mayo. (My new drug.)

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f12/oh-julis-plastic-surgery-87383/ That's the link to my plastic surgery thread.

Calling about getting the blood work lined up, getting the unfill, borrowing the recliner. I had to create a plan for my time off at work, who will do what. I can't wait to be off work for 6 weeks, even if I'm doubled over in pain. I shouldn't really say that. I don't want to be doubled over in pain. I just really could use a break from work. Thank heavens school will be out. The biggest sadness about the whole April -May recovery is missing out on primo cycling weather. Alas, I'll get caught up.

Jeni, If you are like me I'm half way between terror of not waking up and knowing it's going to hurt like a *&%ER. KWIM? You'll be fine. Write about your feelings if you don't already. It will help

I'll second that about not sticking to one brand and figuring out what kind of riding you might do. The one thing most people do is under buy their first bike. Meaning they put real money into it, but not enough. Like I want a road bike, I'll buy the cheapest one I can get. That doesn't work out well in the long run. If you are just thinking about starting to ride, do some research and look at buying used. If you LOVE it, and you probably will, save your pennies and buy a new bike, a model or two up from them lowest entry level bike. And as for your butt on the seat, it doesn't matter how big or little your butt is, it always hurts the first couple of rides. If you ride 2 or 3 times a week and you're still hurting on the third week you need a new seat. Otherwise you'll probably get used to it.

I debated putting a thread out there but I'm happy I have. Just a little support has been nice. I'm not on here nearly as much as I used to be, but there's a woman who is having some of the same things done near to the same time as me. I'm making a new friend and that's always nice. Yeah, I'm not getting my thighs done because my legs are skinny in relation to the rest of me. I had a breast reduction 6 years ago. I'm getting some stuff revised, but no implants. The irony of having them reduced only to get them enlarged was too much for me. And I don't want biggins. Funny how we are so differently shaped.

Jeni, Look at you! I can't wait to hear all about your PS! Are you getting anything done on with your chest? I see you are getting arms and legs done in June. How did you decide to do your stages when you've decided to do them. Do you have a PS thread we should visit?

You need to learn to ride in front of me and you'd not get snotted on. Pick up the pace.

Hi Gwen and everyone, To answer your question what to do when you hit your goal weight? I suppose my answer is live life and try to always control how I eat. I see myself as having a chronic illness, like heart disease or diabetes. It's obesity, and while I might be symptom free, I'll always have the disease so I will always have to be on top of it. Or at least try to be on top of it. I really do liken the band to someone getting a heart procedure done. Some see the light and change their behaviors for the rest of their lives. I want to be with that group. They exercise and eat like they want to live forever. They are taking advantage on the second chance life has given them. That's me. I want to live a happy and joy filled life. Being in control of my food helps me do that.

I touched Gloria today. (She's my bike.) I can't wait to get back on her. I think I'll try to ride a minute or two in March. BG, didn't we do that insane 50+ in the rain in March last year? I'm worried that I'll miss too much of the season with PS happening in April if I don't get out there this spring. But then there's school... Ugh, so much to do, so little time! Glad everyone is doing well.

Lellow, We are having the same thing done, well looks like I'm having my arms and breasts cut upon too. All the talk of pain in the above posts has me freaking out a bit. My surgeon, whom I find a little funny, was said, "oh your arms and your back side will hurt but you won't even notice because your stomach will be really, really painful." They are sending me home with a pain pump. My other worries are how to sleep, like do I borrow a recliner? What to wear, do I get granny nightgowns that button down the front? Luckily my daughter is 7, and while she's not keen on me having surgery, as she says, she likes me a little fat, I don't have to worry about picking her up. My ex is going to keep her for a solid 8 or 9 days then I have friends who will be picking her up, dropping her off at school. Until I'm off the pain killers I can not drive. How many nights in the hospital will you be staying? Do you have other children? How are you balancing the fear with the excitement?

lellow- I'll keep tabs on you. Where are you having it done? Do you have a thread started? Should I not be lazy and just go searching for it? Shalee We do what we go to do when we can do it. I'm happy you are reporting it turned out well for you to have the TT earlier than what might be considered optimal. Being able to create the perfect circumstances for everything in my life would be like having super powers. And that's just not possible. We do the best with what we've got at that time. :thumbup: Jachut, What are you going to do? Shoot for it or set it aside for later? Tracymom You'll need to keep us posted as well. Babygrl You know I heart you!

After debating, do I put a thread on here or not, apparently I’ve decided it’s a good idea, so here it is. I’m scheduled for my plastic surgery April 6th. I’m having a lower body lift, a 360 incision and a vertical incision, a mons lift too. I’m having my arms done, and a revision to a breast reduction surgery from years ago. I’m not getting implants. I’m seeing Dr. Kurtis Martin. His staff has been amazing. He makes me feel very confident in his skills. This will take 7 hours of surgery and I’m maxing out the amount of time he will work on one person. It’s good, because I don’t think I’ll need other surgeries. I was kind of apple shaped and didn’t carry a lot of weight on my legs (relatively speaking) so I’m not having leg work done. However the way he places the incision on/around my hips there will be some improvement with my legs. I’m guessing there’s 20-25 pounds of skin that’s coming off. I’m basing that on the estimates the two surgeons I saw gave me. One said 15 with a wink, the other said 30. I’m going with Doctor 15. Doctor 30 was super eager to cut me as much as possible and wanted to give me the works. Dr. 15 asked me what I wanted and even made me defend the vertical incision decision. As much as I’d like to get my neck done, there’s no money for that now. Maybe later if I strike it rich. I was shooting for dropping more weight before surgery and I hope I still will, by my weight loss has stalled. I exercise regularly and hard, so I know it’s about eating fewer calories. But the good news is I’m pretty buff under the skin! I’ll be able to show off my muscles this summer. I will have my port revised too, btw. Being unfilled doesn’t sound appealing to me, but I know I’ll work through it. And I don’t know that I’ll be posting pictures of my half naked body. As grateful as I am to those who have gone before me who have posted their pictures, it’s just not in the cards for me. Oh, and let me answer this before it gets asked. I do feel like if I waited one more year I’d probably have all my weight off. However, right now I have a job that will pay for the panniculectomy, and generous benefits for time off. A year from now I probably will not be able to take off for 4-6 weeks. I base that on the fact I’m finishing my MBA the end of March and I’m going to be looking for something new this summer/fall. Surgery now is the best fit for the schedule. Yeah, you saw right, I’ve been in school since 2005. I got my undergrad then my graduate degree while losing a bunch of weight. It was absolutely deliberate. I'm absolutely that awesome.

Mine is being moved with the lower body lift. It's in the way where it's at currently. My doctor was very matter of fact about it too.

marmar, You'll do well. I'm at the point of getting plastic surgery. And I'm having a lowerbody lift, my arms and my breasts lifted without implants. Heavy I was like apple with toothpicks for legs, so my legs while not super sexy, don't have that much excess skin. JulieNYC was right in telling you to take care of first things first. You'll be amazed at how quickly time passes and all the fun new things you'll be able to do. Congratulations for taking the steps in healthy direction!

Hi Marchies. Amazing we been at this for 23 months now. I've not been on in a while. I hope everyone is well. I'm having plastic surgery on April 6th. For a little while I struggled with finding/spending the money for this when financial times are so precarious. But through some innovative thinking and some serious belt tightening I created a solution. So yeah, I'm calling Monday to get on the books and to get scheduled. It's the 6th. Gee wiz.

Talking about sushi, my biggest barrier with it now is the nori paper. So if you eat sushi no roll, or better yet sashimi which is straight up fish, you'll be back there in a couple of months post op. The noodles and rice cause me grief though still.

I'm a single mom, work full time and am in a masters program getting my MBA. I'm not going to cut you slack because you know its about buring more calories then you consume. And well there's only so many fewer calories you can cut. You MUST exercise to change the equation. Now what I will tell you is that with limited time, and that is a very real constraint, you need to find ways to add 15 minutes here or 20 minutes there. Perhaps DVD's at home so you don't add commute time is a good answer. Walk with your kid, so it's that mommy time but it's also good for you too. Join a gym with child care. If you get into the habit of exercise you'll come to love the stress relief it brings. I've had to cut back on the hours of exercise, like I can't go on a 3 hour bike ride, but I still manage to work out 3-5 times a week. Good luck.

Well here's something to think about if you choose to limit your caffiene, which I did initally. Look at tea. Green tea, white tea, etc. They are like wines, you can totally get engrossed with them and their flavors etc. I do like coffee and have it most days. I go for quality over quantity, like with most things that go into my mouth these days. I French press my coffee now, well because I'm a snob, but it's also deliciousier. You will find that there are many different answers to these types of questions. Good luck.