Lap_dancer

It will get better. Remember you just had surgery there. You're going to feel real funky for awhile. I found my tastebuds were all out of whack. Go easy on yourself. Back off the hard foods and switch it up to warm hearty Soups for a day or two and see if that helps. When in doubt, call the doctor..always. Good luck.

First, Plain I appreciate your input. It helps to hear it from a guy. I have always felt like that was the frosting on the cake to our marriage, the PERK to being a couple. I've long since felt like he's checked out. Re: I can hear him on the phone talking to customers (we have a business), his employees, with more enthusiasm than a dinner out with me. He doesn't seem to laugh anymore, he doesn't tell his funny stories and I sense that he is most happiest when I leave him alone. Our daughter moved out and over the course of a few months he eventually took over her room until I noticed his clothes were now in her old closet, shoes, he made an office desk, went out and bought a new computer with his buddy. I was glad to see him find a best friend, this is a friendship he nurtured over years and now they are truly best friends. Although I am happy that he has found a friend he can do things with, kick off his shoes, enjoy the same NASCAR events, it bothers me he seems closer to his best friend than he is with me, his wife. When I asked him, not in a confrontational tone but in an open manner, "don't you miss being together physically?" his response to me was.... "I don't think about it." He went on to say he doesn't watch anything on television that is overly sexual in content, doesn't listen to anything on the radio, doesn't read anything so he doesn't think about it. Yeah, I think he's right too and then some. Yeah Steve I suggested some medicine and in fact, I recently got a cream from my doctor that is suppose to heighten sensation and urge. I could feel the hormone build up and one night went to his side of the bed. He didn't touch me, hold me, say anything in response to what I was doing to his body....he was, robotic. Since divorce isn't an option due to religious beliefs. Counseling doesn't seem a direction to go in because I think he would be there in body but not in mind. He might even resent it because I think he is happy where he is at.

I don't want to start a whole thread on this but guys...I've lost 118 lbs. My husband has totally lost all sex drive. Granted, he had a brush with prostate cancer, very mild, came through treatment and the next day went BIKE RIDING, needless to say, I doubt it has impacted his drive. He's 53, I've asked him straight up if he is getting it elsewhere, he laughed. He chalked it up to fatigue. I'm trying to be realistic here. Could any dude on here feel fatigued for 8 months? It's now been over a year since I've been with him. "Counseling" is out of the question. He isn't the touchy feely type who taps into his emotional well of talking to strangers about his thoughts. Meanwhile, his new hobby is raquetball and he doesn't miss his regular game. The reason I add this is where he won't come up with places for us to go as a couple, he will go to events with a friend or two and they go for the good seats. I'm not the type who prints out responses as snaps, "SEE, THESE guys aren't blah blah blah.." I guess I want a guys perspective on this. Is it the amount of weight I've lost and he's just waiting for me to hit home? ( what's another year?) Age thing? Loss of interest? All responses are appreciated, I am can handle all sides of the coin so if you feel like saying it, go for it. Thanks.

My GIRLS have dropped maybe one cup size and I've lost 100. But I don't think that is the core issue. My husband was supportive but a friend of mine's husband was not. He got all insecure when she started looking better and feeling stronger. the dynamics of their relationhip changed as she got less submissive to him and finding her own self. She went from a person who was a people pleaser to someone with her own opinion. AND she is hot looking. Best friends want good things for eachother. I think a strong marriage starts first with being best friends.

My answer: All the time. Foods I use to eat, now the thought of them is disdainful. I also have odd experiences with foods I use to eat. An example: I use to love this Chinese food, ordered it often. Suddenly after one meal, I felt nauseated. I hadn't over eatten because as you know, we can't really overeated unless we want to do the PB MONGO dance all over the house. My food preferences have definately changed.

Oh, man. Not such good timing on that one. BUT you know they could promote it as "NO FOOLING! It's FREE. " Dr. V I hope you are getting good response on your freebie. I'm thinking how much I wish someone was doing this when I found out insurance would not cover mine ( '06)(but my path went well in the end). It can cause desperate and depressive feelings on top of dealing with the weight and other health issues. Again, thank you to your group for giving back. I hope your goodness returns to you threefold.

Perhaps someday it can be a goal, a vision, to select a region through doctors willing to donate their services, and offer one person a chance for a new life. A scholarship of sorts. I believe in giving back. I'm sure I'm not alone. Again...best to you doctor. Things that are truly worth having never come easy.

What is the one thing that you find most discouraging? Friends that let you down?, betrayal?, false hope?, for me it is discouragement. The thing I find most discouraging is discouragement. After all the journeys, Colorado for the Band, I had hope of finally feeling normal. Just when normal started touching my skin something else felt abnormal One year later I sit here with another narrative from a CT scan of my spine: Findings: Alignment abnormality is noted with mild levoscoliosis (isn't that what Herminone Granger said as a spell articulate?) and straightening of the cervical spine alignment. *and if I was wondering within myself that it didn't sound too bad I could read on** There are multilevel mild facet disease changes and mild/moderate disc disease changes with moderate disc disease noted of the mid and lower cervical spine from C4-5 thorugh C6-7. Mild canal narrowing and miltilevel mild neuroforminal disease* *Google this for definition changes are seen thorughout the cervical spine. No fracture of subluxation is noted. There are mild anterior/posterior spondylotic changes from C4-5 through C6-7. Impression on the next two pages: Mild Alignment abornmality and mild diffuse face and disc disease as above. So the pain in my back is worse than above and there are more Latin words. The medication worked until I didn't crap for five days. Nausea, lumps in my stomach and around made me think the medicine that took the pain away left something. A tradeoff. Back to the pain doctor tomorrow. http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/pain-medication/narcotic-pain-medications

What is the one thing that you find most discouraging? Friends that let you down?, betrayal?, false hope?, for me it is discouragement. The thing I find most discouraging is discouragement. After all the journeys, Colorado for the Band, I had hope of finally feeling normal. Just when normal started touching my skin something else felt abnormal One year later I sit here with another narrative from a CT scan of my spine: Findings: Alignment abnormality is noted with mild levoscoliosis (isn't that what Herminone Granger said as a spell articulate?) and straightening of the cervical spine alignment. *and if I was wondering within myself that it didn't sound too bad I could read on** There are multilevel mild facet disease changes and mild/moderate disc disease changes with moderate disc disease noted of the mid and lower cervical spine from C4-5 thorugh C6-7. Mild canal narrowing and miltilevel mild neuroforminal disease* *Google this for definition changes are seen thorughout the cervical spine. No fracture of subluxation is noted. There are mild anterior/posterior spondylotic changes from C4-5 through C6-7. Impression on the next two pages: Mild Alignment abornmality and mild diffuse face and disc disease as above. So the pain in my back is worse than above and there are more Latin words. The medication worked until I didn't crap for five days. Nausea, lumps in my stomach and around made me think the medicine that took the pain away left something. A tradeoff. Back to the pain doctor tomorrow. http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/pain-medication/narcotic-pain-medications

Perhaps there are many who think it is too good to be true. If it is true, blessings to you and those on your team who have the love of medicine and ambition to HEAL.

It's Wednesday, January7th. I woke up this morning (with a wine glass in my hand, whose wine? what wine?...-Frampton) I woke up and got out of bed. I slept well last night. This is a big treat for me. For years the other person that is attached to the front part of my body in the form of fat prevented me from sleeping on my stomach. If I tried, my head would not touch the pillow but would hang precariously shoving my breasts up under my already tripled chin. Not comfortable. The first part of my body that noticably changed was my chin. I lost one chin, and believe me I'm not looking for it, another chin and now remains a slight flop. The stomach dropped as well. Although still there, it no longer swings from side to side and I'm not embarrassed to trot when I find the strength. In the past, a trot or slight increase in momentum caused my stomach to swing like a pendulum back and forth. So last night I had the good grace of sleeping on my stomach. I'm definately losing volume. It's because of all the rehersals. Every day I rise and I practice the habits of slow chew, no liquids with meals, protein first, avoiding altogether the things that use to fill my pantry and my stomach. By now it is habit. I'm not so fooled by the smaller sizes in clothing, the compliments which come as a nice change in my life. I know I haven't arrived and though I see the friend in the front of my body disappearing, part of her personality will remain with me and remind me of what we have been through together. The rehersals and daily habits I'm developing will some day lead me to The Really Big Show. That day when I wake up and I step on the scale and there it is...that number. It's a simple number but it represents so much. It represents the end of a long journey. It SHOWS me that I can do it. That I believe in myself enough to know that this obstacle can be overcome. By then I will be able to pick up Christopher and swing him around. I'll be able to place him on my lap and go on Disney rides and walk the park without becoming breathless. By that time I will be shopping with my sister :thumbup: and putting on clothes that are stylish and fit (and are not made by Coleman or bought at REI ..think: camping and tents...kidding). It is going to happen, this show that I am rehersing for. I believe. I know. I will succeed!:sleep::confused::eek:

It's Wednesday, January7th. I woke up this morning (with a wine glass in my hand, whose wine? what wine?...-Frampton) I woke up and got out of bed. I slept well last night. This is a big treat for me. For years the other person that is attached to the front part of my body in the form of fat prevented me from sleeping on my stomach. If I tried, my head would not touch the pillow but would hang precariously shoving my breasts up under my already tripled chin. Not comfortable. The first part of my body that noticably changed was my chin. I lost one chin, and believe me I'm not looking for it, another chin and now remains a slight flop. The stomach dropped as well. Although still there, it no longer swings from side to side and I'm not embarrassed to trot when I find the strength. In the past, a trot or slight increase in momentum caused my stomach to swing like a pendulum back and forth. So last night I had the good grace of sleeping on my stomach. I'm definately losing volume. It's because of all the rehersals. Every day I rise and I practice the habits of slow chew, no liquids with meals, protein first, avoiding altogether the things that use to fill my pantry and my stomach. By now it is habit. I'm not so fooled by the smaller sizes in clothing, the compliments which come as a nice change in my life. I know I haven't arrived and though I see the friend in the front of my body disappearing, part of her personality will remain with me and remind me of what we have been through together. The rehersals and daily habits I'm developing will some day lead me to The Really Big Show. That day when I wake up and I step on the scale and there it is...that number. It's a simple number but it represents so much. It represents the end of a long journey. It SHOWS me that I can do it. That I believe in myself enough to know that this obstacle can be overcome. By then I will be able to pick up Christopher and swing him around. I'll be able to place him on my lap and go on Disney rides and walk the park without becoming breathless. By that time I will be shopping with my sister :grouphug: and putting on clothes that are stylish and fit (and are not made by Coleman or bought at REI ..think: camping and tents...kidding). It is going to happen, this show that I am rehersing for. I believe. I know. I will succeed!:iagree::confused::sorry::biggrin:

Part of the joy in my life comes from a group I call my "Bohemian Brothers and Sisters", the artsy fartsy musicans, painters and potters that I share my muses with. There is Dave, an amazing musician that despite a lifetime of diabetes, he is a career musician, makes a living at playing guitar ( just like a ringin' a bell), there is Glenn, a photograher who captures the money shot in less than five frames. I have Lia, she moved to Florida from the Pacific Northwest and with her she brought the aroma and eloquent love of coffee. She turned me on to Kona, roasted and freshly ground on the spot and then brewed for a cup of coffee like no other. All the memories I have of this collective has nothing to do with food. What binds us together is our passion for creating be it music, art or the promotion and support of artists in my community. It was my withdrawal from this group and socially that was my first indication that something else was goin on besides aches and pains and a depression leeching into myself that seemed to come from no where beginning about five months after my Lap-Band Surgery. Where do all the emotions go when you cannot stuff them down? The question I journaled to myself one day was this: "what do you do with all of the emotions you use to eat over?" It opened up a cave of pain that I decided to explore. From my artist group there are writers and one afternoon amid books and coffee and conversation came a discreet one on one topic between a writer and myself. She said two words: "Lavender Sisters" and Lavender Power and the story of a woman by the name of Angela Shelton. Angela Shelton was doing a short film documentary on women named Angela Shelton (her name). She was travelling the U.S. and stopping randomly, getting the phone book and looking up the Angela Sheltons all across America. What she discovered in that process was that many of the Angela Sheltons she met had something in common, many of these women had been abused. This lead to Angela's shifting her documentary theme to that of women and abuse. She documented her story/their stories. From this grew an organziation called Lavender Power which encompasses survivors of Domestic Violence, sexual abuse, rape support, survivor, child abuse, addictions, violence, healing, trauma, and features recognized individuals who reveal their own abuse stories and ways to help overcome the past. Mo'Nique, comedian and actress, was recently featured in Essence where she revealed abuse at the hands of her brother. Her story reads: The comedian says her brother molested her four times over the course of four years. He often used candy to lure her into the bathroom, where much of the abuse took place. ¢®"He still acts like he doesn't know what I'm talking about. So screw hurting your feelings. You need to get your feelings hurt, and you need to get some help." "My father was very upset, but it never got mentioned again. I'll never forget my mother saying, "If" it's true, it will surface again, and I remember thinking, Why would I lie? Why is there even an "if" in this? I was angry with them for so long, because I felt as if they should have seen what was happening Her brother, she said went on to serve 15 years in prison for sexually abusing another girl and never made amends for the abuse." As I began to journal my own pain, the hazy memories of my six year old self became clearer and then I knew their names, where they lived on my block, the hook (candy), a pup tent, some boys and myself, a little girl alone, afraid, and fleeing froma pain that left me wetting my pants as I ran through the neighbor's backyard to the safety of my own home. It doesn't matter now that my jumbled words could not find the adult vocabulary to describe to my mother what had happened to me or that soapy hand of hers coming out of the sink of dishes she was washing just long enough to slap my face for ' playing with boys'. The event remained painfully hidden until one Saturday afternoon when I was fooled into believing my friend, the brother of one of the boys, was downstairs waiting for me and he had, I was told, new toys, candy and when i got to the foot of the basement stairs I was coaxed further into the darkness only to find four boys and my friend no where to be found. Therapy helped. So did joining the Lavender group. So did finding out that 40% of depressed/morbidly obese women had some type of abuse experience. Myself included. So when we stop stuffing down the pain, it rises to the surface of our memories. From there it goes where? It comes out. It manifests itself still only this time we must face the ugly memories or face a lifetime of relapse into the old ways we relieved ourselves. for more information: Lavender Wikipedia http://www.freewebs.com/mypainfulsmiles/lavenderwikapedia.htm http://www.freewebs.com/mypainfulsmiles/index.htm

Part of the joy in my life comes from a group I call my "Bohemian Brothers and Sisters", the artsy fartsy musicans, painters and potters that I share my muses with. There is Dave, an amazing musician that despite a lifetime of diabetes, he is a career musician, makes a living at playing guitar ( just like a ringin' a bell), there is Glenn, a photograher who captures the money shot in less than five frames. I have Lia, she moved to Florida from the Pacific Northwest and with her she brought the aroma and eloquent love of coffee. She turned me on to Kona, roasted and freshly ground on the spot and then brewed for a cup of coffee like no other. All the memories I have of this collective has nothing to do with food. What binds us together is our passion for creating be it music, art or the promotion and support of artists in my community. It was my withdrawal from this group and socially that was my first indication that something else was goin on besides aches and pains and a depression leeching into myself that seemed to come from no where beginning about five months after my Lap-Band Surgery. Where do all the emotions go when you cannot stuff them down? The question I journaled to myself one day was this: "what do you do with all of the emotions you use to eat over?" It opened up a cave of pain that I decided to explore. From my artist group there are writers and one afternoon amid books and coffee and conversation came a discreet one on one topic between a writer and myself. She said two words: "Lavender Sisters" and Lavender Power and the story of a woman by the name of Angela Shelton. Angela Shelton was doing a short film documentary on women named Angela Shelton (her name). She was travelling the U.S. and stopping randomly, getting the phone book and looking up the Angela Sheltons all across America. What she discovered in that process was that many of the Angela Sheltons she met had something in common, many of these women had been abused. This lead to Angela's shifting her documentary theme to that of women and abuse. She documented her story/their stories. From this grew an organziation called Lavender Power which encompasses survivors of Domestic Violence, sexual abuse, rape support, survivor, child abuse, addictions, violence, healing, trauma, and features recognized individuals who reveal their own abuse stories and ways to help overcome the past. Mo'Nique, comedian and actress, was recently featured in Essence where she revealed abuse at the hands of her brother. Her story reads: The comedian says her brother molested her four times over the course of four years. He often used candy to lure her into the bathroom, where much of the abuse took place. ¢®"He still acts like he doesn't know what I'm talking about. So screw hurting your feelings. You need to get your feelings hurt, and you need to get some help." "My father was very upset, but it never got mentioned again. I'll never forget my mother saying, "If" it's true, it will surface again, and I remember thinking, Why would I lie? Why is there even an "if" in this? I was angry with them for so long, because I felt as if they should have seen what was happening Her brother, she said went on to serve 15 years in prison for sexually abusing another girl and never made amends for the abuse." As I began to journal my own pain, the hazy memories of my six year old self became clearer and then I knew their names, where they lived on my block, the hook (candy), a pup tent, some boys and myself, a little girl alone, afraid, and fleeing froma pain that left me wetting my pants as I ran through the neighbor's backyard to the safety of my own home. It doesn't matter now that my jumbled words could not find the adult vocabulary to describe to my mother what had happened to me or that soapy hand of hers coming out of the sink of dishes she was washing just long enough to slap my face for ' playing with boys'. The event remained painfully hidden until one Saturday afternoon when I was fooled into believing my friend, the brother of one of the boys, was downstairs waiting for me and he had, I was told, new toys, candy and when i got to the foot of the basement stairs I was coaxed further into the darkness only to find four boys and my friend no where to be found. Therapy helped. So did joining the Lavender group. So did finding out that 40% of depressed/morbidly obese women had some type of abuse experience. Myself included. So when we stop stuffing down the pain, it rises to the surface of our memories. From there it goes where? It comes out. It manifests itself still only this time we must face the ugly memories or face a lifetime of relapse into the old ways we relieved ourselves. for more information: Lavender Wikipedia http://www.freewebs.com/mypainfulsmiles/lavenderwikapedia.htm http://www.freewebs.com/mypainfulsmiles/index.htm

Lighten Up Resolution: Lose weight Make it stick: This resolution seems to make its way on the list every year. But in 2009, you can easily make room for fitness in your life by simply making room for it in your house. Any extra bedroom or den can be transformed into a mini fitness studio. Bring Sexy Back Resolution: Increase my sex life Make it stick: To keep this promise, start from the ground up. Help set the mood with a bedroom that is free of clutter, kid’s toys, and other distractions. 1. Clean Up Your Act Get rid of all the junk that accumulates in your bedroom. Don't use it as a dumping ground for kids' art projects, laundry, newspapers, and magazines. No one feels sexy going to bed in a warehouse. First, get everything up off the floor. Store the things that warrant it and trash the things that don't. Clear of the surfaces of chests and tables, and only replace what is meaningful or pretty. You don't want to see anything that reminds you of chores or obligations. Everything your eye lands on should make you feel relaxed and confident 2. Can the Can Lights Overhead lighting is notoriously unflattering. There's nothing sexy about a well-lit room. You want shadows, highlights, and the soft glow of filtered light. Place lamps with ivory shades on each side of your bed, and make sure the bulbs are no more than 60 watts. For even more impact, replace the white bulbs with pink-tinted bulbs. Everybody looks good in this light -- the only thing more flattering is candlelight, and pink light bulbs don't pose a fire hazard. 3. Scents and Sensibility Take the same approach to smell that you took to sight. Get rid of anything that doesn't smell great. Remove the laundry hamper to a bathroom or closet. Evict the dog, just for one night. Wash everything, down to the mattress pad. And make up your bed with the sheets folded back invitingly, the way they do in fine hotels. Choose a scented candle with care. One that's too floral may be off-putting. A better bet is one that smells fresh and clean, like Jo Malone's Grapefruit. The flicker of candlelight will enhance your sexy lighting scheme. 4. Soundtrack The "Law & Order" theme song is not sexy music. Turn off the television! Better yet, remove it from the bedroom. The bedroom should be for two things only: sleep and sex. Put a small stereo in your bedroom and play your favorite music -- it's a great mood enhancer. If you're worried about being overheard by children or neighbors, add sound insulation. Hang curtains and roll out a thick rug -- fabric absorbs sound. Next: 5. Ban the Beanie Babies 5. Ban the Beanie Babies The bedroom is your own private sanctuary, but beware what message you're sending by using it as a display case for your hobbies. Stuffed animals are a no-no, as are too many tiny pillows. What looks good in a bedding store can appear fussy and high-maintenance at home -- not the message you're trying to send. 6. Take a Look Add a mirror somewhere. It doesn't have to be attached to the ceiling, but a cleverly positioned mirror, or even a mirrored piece of furniture, can really spice things up. It will add glimmer and shine, both sexy qualities. A closet door left "accidentally" ajar, with its inside mirror angled toward the bed, can give you a thrill without risking embarrassment. By Lydia Somerville, Senior Editor

Lighten Up Resolution: Lose weight Make it stick: This resolution seems to make its way on the list every year. But in 2009, you can easily make room for fitness in your life by simply making room for it in your house. Any extra bedroom or den can be transformed into a mini fitness studio. Bring Sexy Back Resolution: Increase my sex life Make it stick: To keep this promise, start from the ground up. Help set the mood with a bedroom that is free of clutter, kid’s toys, and other distractions. 1. Clean Up Your Act Get rid of all the junk that accumulates in your bedroom. Don't use it as a dumping ground for kids' art projects, laundry, newspapers, and magazines. No one feels sexy going to bed in a warehouse. First, get everything up off the floor. Store the things that warrant it and trash the things that don't. Clear of the surfaces of chests and tables, and only replace what is meaningful or pretty. You don't want to see anything that reminds you of chores or obligations. Everything your eye lands on should make you feel relaxed and confident 2. Can the Can Lights Overhead lighting is notoriously unflattering. There's nothing sexy about a well-lit room. You want shadows, highlights, and the soft glow of filtered light. Place lamps with ivory shades on each side of your bed, and make sure the bulbs are no more than 60 watts. For even more impact, replace the white bulbs with pink-tinted bulbs. Everybody looks good in this light -- the only thing more flattering is candlelight, and pink light bulbs don't pose a fire hazard. 3. Scents and Sensibility Take the same approach to smell that you took to sight. Get rid of anything that doesn't smell great. Remove the laundry hamper to a bathroom or closet. Evict the dog, just for one night. Wash everything, down to the mattress pad. And make up your bed with the sheets folded back invitingly, the way they do in fine hotels. Choose a scented candle with care. One that's too floral may be off-putting. A better bet is one that smells fresh and clean, like Jo Malone's Grapefruit. The flicker of candlelight will enhance your sexy lighting scheme. 4. Soundtrack The "Law & Order" theme song is not sexy music. Turn off the television! Better yet, remove it from the bedroom. The bedroom should be for two things only: sleep and sex. Put a small stereo in your bedroom and play your favorite music -- it's a great mood enhancer. If you're worried about being overheard by children or neighbors, add sound insulation. Hang curtains and roll out a thick rug -- fabric absorbs sound. Next: 5. Ban the Beanie Babies 5. Ban the Beanie Babies The bedroom is your own private sanctuary, but beware what message you're sending by using it as a display case for your hobbies. Stuffed animals are a no-no, as are too many tiny pillows. What looks good in a bedding store can appear fussy and high-maintenance at home -- not the message you're trying to send. 6. Take a Look Add a mirror somewhere. It doesn't have to be attached to the ceiling, but a cleverly positioned mirror, or even a mirrored piece of furniture, can really spice things up. It will add glimmer and shine, both sexy qualities. A closet door left "accidentally" ajar, with its inside mirror angled toward the bed, can give you a thrill without risking embarrassment. By Lydia Somerville, Senior Editor

People become protective of the babes of the world when it comes to things like smoking while pregnant, or drinking, using appropriate language and otherwise setting a good example. I don't ever recall once hearing anything about setting a good example for my family but eating healthy choices. Where were the articles, WALK-A-THONS, bumper stickers and billboards advocating the wise choices of food? How about a "No Sugar Saturday"? It's January now so of course the channels are filled with weight loss tips, diet promotions and being morbidly obese since 1992, this year is a little bit different. Looking at close to 100 gone off this body, my frame can now feel the efforts beginning to shed. Unfortunately, while compiling some digital photo files, I came across recent pictures of my two adult children and both of them are now morbidly obese. They are only in their early twenties. I am feeling terribly guilty for serving way too many soup casseroles and late night meals. I also wish we had done much more physical activities together. Bike riding, swimming, but it wasn't a priority...work was. My late nights out earning extra income and pulling into the drive-thru at 10 PM for dinner did nothing to promote a healthy lifestyle as a priority for my kids and THAT is what rubbed off on them. Aside from a game show or reality event I hope in many homes across America there are families sitting around watching the biggest loser and learning. I hope mom and dad get some tips that show up in conversation or on the dinner table and the lives of more than a few are changed to a healthier one. As for me, I will join the Discovery Challenge this year as part of my tools to discovering yet more about the me within that is crying to get out. I have the keys and I'm going for the door.

People become protective of the babes of the world when it comes to things like smoking while pregnant, or drinking, using appropriate language and otherwise setting a good example. I don't ever recall once hearing anything about setting a good example for my family but eating healthy choices. Where were the articles, WALK-A-THONS, bumper stickers and billboards advocating the wise choices of food? How about a "No Sugar Saturday"? It's January now so of course the channels are filled with weight loss tips, diet promotions and being morbidly obese since 1992, this year is a little bit different. Looking at close to 100 gone off this body, my frame can now feel the efforts beginning to shed. Unfortunately, while compiling some digital photo files, I came across recent pictures of my two adult children and both of them are now morbidly obese. They are only in their early twenties. I am feeling terribly guilty for serving way too many soup casseroles and late night meals. I also wish we had done much more physical activities together. Bike riding, swimming, but it wasn't a priority...work was. My late nights out earning extra income and pulling into the drive-thru at 10 PM for dinner did nothing to promote a healthy lifestyle as a priority for my kids and THAT is what rubbed off on them. Aside from a game show or reality event I hope in many homes across America there are families sitting around watching the biggest loser and learning. I hope mom and dad get some tips that show up in conversation or on the dinner table and the lives of more than a few are changed to a healthier one. As for me, I will join the Discovery Challenge this year as part of my tools to discovering yet more about the me within that is crying to get out. I have the keys and I'm going for the door.

what a long, strange trip it's been... I had lost 25 lbs for our trip to Seattle. I thought I looked fabulous. But in this photo I was sitting, instead of standing, because I had been on my feet about twenty minutes so I was pretty beat. I also didn't want my hanging stomach to show in a photo, it was halfway down my legs and the girth would be obvious, so I sat. But goofing around, my husband caught this photo anyway HOW TO HIDE fat in a PHOTO and on this cruise, I hid behind a deck chair, put my hand over my chin. And he said to me, "Patty, think about all the things you would have done on our cruise if you didn't have as much weight to carry around." So often I felt like a freak of nature. But I kept going.

what a long, strange trip it's been... I had lost 25 lbs for our trip to Seattle. I thought I looked fabulous. But in this photo I was sitting, instead of standing, because I had been on my feet about twenty minutes so I was pretty beat. I also didn't want my hanging stomach to show in a photo, it was halfway down my legs and the girth would be obvious, so I sat. But goofing around, my husband caught this photo anyway HOW TO HIDE fat in a PHOTO and on this cruise, I hid behind a deck chair, put my hand over my chin. And he said to me, "Patty, think about all the things you would have done on our cruise if you didn't have as much weight to carry around." So often I felt like a freak of nature. But I kept going.

Taken less than an hour before my surgery. What I use to look like, normal, healthy. 128 lbs. in 1978. It's not how long your journey is that matters, it's how much luggage you are carrying. Losing my luggage.

Taken less than an hour before my surgery. What I use to look like, normal, healthy. 128 lbs. in 1978. It's not how long your journey is that matters, it's how much luggage you are carrying. Losing my luggage.

Hello BarneyGirl. I see you are from Colorado. My first thought was how lucky for you that you live in such a beautiful state and can drive through the spectacular views along your way to your surgery. I too had my surgery in Colorado. I think most of all of us were a little scared of the unknown. It's not like what we have done is common like giving birth but in a way it is very much like giving birth to a new life. I can tell you it was far less pain than I expected when I woke up. It was more like being super sore. I was surprised at how fast I could walk without discomfort. The most difficult part for me was teaching myself the new habits of not drinking large amounts of Water with my meals and also chewing slowly and eating small bites of food. I use to gulp my food. I do not do any of this anymore. You are giving yourself an amazing gift which is the chance for a healthy life. I wish you the same wonderful experience that I have had. Please know I will be thinking of you. Best wishes on this new journey. Patty

:tongue2: as you should be.