StephC

Cheryl - you must be teeny! I wish you'd post some pics! My youngest dd is 5'2" and she's 115 and a size 3. I can't imagine being so little. Thanks for your encouragement. I'm really excited. I guess I must have been this excited for the band too but all I remember was getting through the pre-op diet.

I think I'll be ok. My surgery is on a Thursday, and I'll be in the hospital on Friday, hopefully I'll get out before Sat. (dd's sr prom) - anyway I'll have dh and dd to help me around until Monday and I think I should be feeling pretty good by then thats a good 4 days of healing. I'm thinking about going into work on Monday for a couple of hours. Just bc we are closed on Mondays (everyone but me) so I could go in in my jammies and not have to worry about anyone seeing me. Get my payroll and bills done and go home. Then I think I'll take the rest of the week off and not go in again until the following Monday. That'll be day 11 or 12 of my healing. As far as dh being away that week, not a big deal - less of a worry on me. I'm old school - I still get up and pack my hubbys lunch and make his coffee in the mornings, have his supper ready when he comes home from work - all the little wifey things. So for him to be working away from home is a mini vaca for me. Let me clarify dh would never expect me to get up with him or make supper after just having surgery - he doesn't expect me to do it now, its something I like to do. I've been doing it for 28 yrs - its just kinda habit now. Speaking of dh - he's been very supportive about every decision I've made, from the lapband to the tt - he's just so funny about it all. Last night I made porkchops in tomatoes for him, and I took a small bite of the tomatoes and it gave me a tummy ache - I was telling him about it and he said, well after you get that surgery you can just go back to normal. LOL what like I'm gonna get the band removed? Silly men. But he's a sweetie, he's been working for 2 weeks around the yard, cleaning out my flower beds bc he said its better to get it done now before I have my surgery. All that is true, but I never plant my annuals until after memorial day anyway. BUT we have a beautiful looking yard - long before the neighbors - thanks to my tummy tuck!

4meonly - how tall are you? I don't think I want to see pic of the skin, I'm one of those that gets grossed out pretty easily. Did ya all see my ticker? The days are moving on down.

My day is fast approaching. I can't believe its just 3 more weeks! This month is moving fast. So many things going on and to top it off I'm back to work full time so that makes my day go so much faster. Bad news is it sounds like dh will be working out of town. Its a good thing bad thing. The good is that the job he is going to is just 30 miles from my oldest dd, who is in college. So that would be really nice for both of them, they can have dinner together and stuff. The bad side is he won't be around after my surgery - and still thats got a good side. He would definitely take the day .. or weekend off for my surgery but then the next week he wouldnt' be around, and yet it would be less for me to worry about. Hmmm And I have my youngest dd, who's almost 18 to help me and take care of me. Its always something.

From what I've read they can do a little "lift" at anytime,even in the dr's office. I also read about them doing the lipo too.

JJ - I think you are very fortunate to be getting it all done in one surgery. Thats wonderful. I also agree with Kat, its gotta be better then what it is now.

ok maybe its just me bc I know my turn is coming up soon but geesh LJM it looks so painful! Didn't someone say something about being cut in half? As much as I love the result pics I can't help but cringe and think geesh steph thats gonna be you in 3 weeks. All in the name of beauty! Thanks for sharing LJM, its so good to see how good the results can be.

Jill - good to hear from you! Breast feeding is good for the baby, I lost alot of weight when I nursed. I always lost weight really fast, it takes so many calories to produce the milk, so if you eat normally your body will take all those calories for the milk and you'll lose weight. Have fun on your cruise. I want to hear about the marine too - details Bman!

I thought WOW she's a tough cookie! The whole going back to work has been the most stress for me, I really hope I bounce back fast.

The truth be told I have no idea what my surgeon charges. He was very adament about getting the insurance to cover everything and he has never even brought up the cost. But the first surgeon I saw said the tummy tuck was 10k and he didnt' want to talk insurance at all. I'm kinda anxious to see what the insurance is paying when its done.

(((((VA))))) we love you! Things will look up. Once you get back to work you can get your fill. The guy is still hanging around as your "friend" so be patient and let him work things out. The job is going to happen too.

Esmeralda - please repeat. You had a tummy tuck and went to work the next day? Or was that after your second surgery? Wow! I hope I bounce back like that. Karey - I'm sorry your hormones are still outa wack. My sister has warned me and so I'm preparing myself that I might get the hormone weirds. My sister said no one warned her and she thought she was going insane. At least you are aware that its the hormone imbalance.

I'm glad someone bumped this thread - I love the grandbaby pics! My son and dil are expecting on Nov. 15! I can't wait. My kids are all grown. My baby is graduating in less then 2 months and will turn 18 on June 1st. Its all so bittersweet seeing them grow up. But God must have known that I'd need another baby and blessed ds and dil. Just as my last one is leaving the nest I'll get my first grandbaby.

Oh and another thing. Enjoy the feel of losing the weight. For example think of something that weighs 20 lbs - two 10lb bags of flour - and think about carrying that around all day. My neice said I walk so much faster now and I said well if you think of a 50 lb bag of dog food and having to carry that around all day - when you finally put that bag down I bet you'd walk alot faster too.

Harleygirl- wtg on the 20lbs down! I remember that no one "noticed" until I had gotten down about 30-40 lbs. Then it was just little things like "did you get your hair cut?" I was really mad at my mil bc she hadnt' seen me all winter (this was my first year banded) and everytime we'd talk she'd ask me how much I'd lost and then when she came home for the summer she never mentioned my weight, said I looked good - nothing. I was mad and hurt. But now I look back at those first 40 lbs and although it was huge for me I was still obese. Now this past winter (into my 2nd year banded) I left the season (I work at a golf club) at about 180 and tho I didnt' think I was losing much this winter I had lost 20 lbs and people are taking second looks at me, can't believe its me, asking me if I've lost ALOT of weight - every day someone comments on my weight lost. One of the delivery guys said he thought they'd hired someone new - all over these last 20 lbs. At church yesterday my friends were saying how good I look and that I look healthy and a normal weight. I just got interupted by 2 old men golfers and the one points at me and says .. you've lost alot of weight havent' you? LOL I said yes I have. I just find it amusing that it took 70 lbs before anyone would actually comment on the weight lost.. other then the very closest to me. Its almost as if people dont' want to say anything until its just so obvious. Anyway - Harleygirl enjoy every pound lost and love your band. Its so worth it.

wow Boo you look wonderful!!! I don't even see the tummy bulge that would require a tt! You look so good! Great pics! What did hubby think of the pics? He's got to be loving them! Claudia - how'd the blind dates go? Va - did you start a new job today? Bman - how's the marine? Is he home now, or does he have to go away again? Faith - I am a FIRM beliver in fills. I've had about 6 or 7 of them. It took the first 6 to get to my sweetspot but after 6 months and down 20 lbs I decided I needed another to kick start my losing again. It worked I lost 5 lbs the first week! I've backed off and think its about 2 lbs a week now but I had gone months with just losing 1 or 2 lbs all month. Good luck! I have to call for an unfill today - :Dancing_wub: it really makes me sad and scared! My band dr says he wants it all out before the surgery and I'm getting close - a little over 3 weeks - (I'm so excited) I figured I'd call today so I can get the date and time that I want. The day before surgery as late in the day as possible. I had thought of what I could eat when I was unfilled (like a doughnut) and it scared me. I thought good grief Steph if you get this unfill too far in advance you'll gain back everything you've lost! Love you girls!

Tami you look wonderful! Wow! thanks for sharing.

TMarie - welcome! When you say you've lost as much as your body will let you, are you saying you're at goal? Someone said that once we get the fat taken off the belly then the rest of the body will lose faster.

My 2nd thought was I wonder why no one has made a chocolate covered smilie... LOL Have fun hon!

Geesh Bman - you and your marine always bring crude and nasty thoughts to mind - my first thought was does the little marine stand at attention? :biggrin2:

Now I'm getting scared to have my tt - don't know whats down below waiting to see the sunshine!

what is mrsa?

I've been saying a prayer for both of you on the jobs - everytime I think of you I say Lord, bless them with the right job. I got on the scale this morning and it finally moved! I'm down 2 lbs this week. I updated my ticker last Friday so I'm pretty happy about that. I need to lose 2 lbs a week to hit my goal for ps. I'll still be 10 lbs over the normal bmi but I"m hoping he'll take 5 lbs of fat off my jelly belly and then I'll just need to lose 5 more. I can't tell you all how excited I am to be getting so close. It all seems like its finally coming together. I've been trying to think about these weights that I'm seeing now and I can honestly say I just don't remember being here. Like I remember before kids, I was teeny, then after my 2nd I remember never getting those last 5 lbs off, then it just seems like the yo-yo dieting began. Speaking of babies - how's our mama's out there? Jill - where are you? How ya doing? - Nikki - I know you have your hands full with all those little men running around your house. Are you getting back to "normal" yet? :smile: BK- it was so good to hear from you, don't be such a stranger. How's that little man of yours? My DIL is doing good, still not having morning sickness, but she was very sick last week with a chest cold. We were all worried but the dr gave her some antibiotics and she's doing alot better.

Thats good you can take that much time off. I'm not going to be able to. (my biggest gripe over the whole ps thing) I don't have a hard job either - sitting on my butt all day - logging in and out of LBT - :smile: But I do have responsibilities, I know I'll have to come in to do payroll or my fellow workers will hang me. I have to post every day just to see my ticker count down. Too cool. I got on the scale this morning and it actually moved! Yeah! I'm busting my butt trying to get these last few pounds off and I was getting worried. 8 lbs to lose before May 1st.

Hey Julie - thanks for posting the pics! You look great! I know you're getting more and more excited ... ok I know I'm getting more and more excited!