Howdy all. .

I thought I would share a group I put together after I had trouble finding people my own age with the band. . There are diffrent issues that people under 30 have with the band. . . . It is funny how much I have growen up since getting the band. .

If you are intrested at looking at my Young And Banded group

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/youngandbanded/

Have an AWSOME day

Hi all.... this is so cool that young people are doing it because i think its so sad wasting our youth being unhappy with our weight, My surgery is on August 15th and my Birthday August 5th so what better a present to give myself.. I'll be turning 25!

I know how it feels feeling like the "big" one in the group and things i will NOT MISS are as follows...:mad:

• feeling like the fat one and intimidated when out with thin friends:phanvan
  
• following my thin friends around the mall and holding their bags whilst they are having a ball trying on all the pretty clothes in the changing rooms..:think
  
• getting called "fat " in the street by strangers or being told im too fat to be out and to go home..
  
• covering my stomach with a pillow when i sit down, covering my stomach and holding my breath and choosing to stand at the back for photos,
  
• going clubbing in frumpy long button up shirts :boy_hug:
  
• dressing like a tomboy in summer with nike shorts and oversize tshirts
  
• swimming in long tshirts and shorts..(man their heavy and take a long time to dry)..
  
• getting my jewellery resised cuz my fingers are fat
  
• having my mother tell me im just jealous of her cuz she is skinny when we argue lol:angry
  
• feeling out of place in girly clothing..:kiss2:
  
• tugging at my clothing to make sure it doesnt ride up when im out dancing :bounce:
  
• feeling embarrased eating in public:hungry:
  
• having my thighs rub together untill theres no skin left (if i wear a skirt which is rare..)
  
• having to wear bike pants under skirts to prevent thighs chafing
  
• realising that the clothes only go up to a small size 12/14 (aussie sizing is different) in your age group clothing stores..:noidea:
  
• trying on clothes in stores and wanting to cry because the largest size they have is still too small:angry
  
• being ridiculed or laughed at and rejected if i show interest in someone of the opposite sex!:think
  
• being ashamed of my body with my boyfriend
  
• wanting a tshirt on and the lights off lol
  
• not being picked to go backstage at concerts
  
• having your hair cut at the hairdressers and the mirror makes your face look real fat
  
• felling scruffy even though im in decent clothes
  
• having family members i havent seen in a while tell me ive gotten huge..... well duh dont remind me geeeez!
  
• being scared to show my arms
  
• hearing the saying "you would be pretty if u wasnt so fat"..or "being fat doesnt suit you!"

and the list goes on...

man reading this through i wish i would of done this waaaaaay sooner if your deciding whether to do it or not i say DO IT you have nothing to lose but the negatives in your life..

bring on the skinny clothes! and society's respect...

Hi Lady Loca, I go through the same exact thing, I have always ALWAYS worn jeans ALLLLL year round because I had a teacher tell me my shorts were too short when I was in about the 5th grade. They were school regulation, she was just doing it because I was big. I wont wear shorts AT ALL or anything that shows from my knees up, I will occasionally wear a calve length skirt (that I made, YAY ME!) lol. But my freshman year I wore a skirt that I absolutely loved, and thought was gorgeous and when I walked into my Biology class with a lot of guys in it I felt soooo embarassed that I got my extra clothes out of my locker and changed because of the comments made about my "fat legs". Also I JUST started wearing cap-sleeved and sleeveless shirts because of my arms. MY feelings now is if they dont like it, they dont have to look because Im working on it and I know that I will be so fine after all my weight is gone that I wouldnt look at them anyway lol! Ive just gotten to where if they find it offensive for a big girl (or guy) to try to look good, and like everyone else then THEY need some psychological help, not me. Anyways, Ive dealt with a lot I mean ALOT of ridicule (especially with my sister being the bombshell that she is) and I just put it in the back of my mind, and now Im friends with some of the people that did it, I showed them the other side of me, the fun party girl thats forgiving and some have actually apologized for making fun of me in highschool because they didnt know me!

Jodie-- I know how you feel as well, but I've always worn things that were suited to my body type so I know they looked good. I surrounded myself with people that accepted me and actually only knew a few people that don't like the way I look even now. Most of my friends told me that I was beautiful already and didn't need to lose the weight, but I know they are wrong because being big is not who I am. I have never seen myself as a big person- not even in the mirror. But I am reminded of it sometimes when I can't ride roller coasters (I pretend I'm too scared now if we go and hold my friends stuff), or I sit in a chair next to someone else. I have no problem wearing clothes that show what my momma gave me, and no one has ever said anything except, wow those are some BIG BOOBS! Most guys and girls are fascinated by them lol. I surround myself with the HOTTEST people I can find, (perhaps torture, perhaps envy) and I dress accordingly. I love going to clubs and dancing the night away, drinking til 6am and then having sunrise breakfast with the crew. I also love NYC and the amount of different people there are in the city. I guess it is so diverse that anything goes. I wish other places were like that.

Although, I do know that if I stayed in the ignorant town I grew up in, I wouldn't be so uplifting about my weight. Elementary, Middle and the first year of high school were VERY hard. People are just ignorant and immature. When I surrounded myself with my fellow performing artists who know who they are and what they want to do with their life, a new maturity arose and my weight was NEVER an issue. I think that the other people in my early years were jealous that I knew what I wanted to do with my life and I was going to get it. They are still in the same town married to each other and working at the local Walmart. Its something to be overweight, but its something else to overweight and ambitious and happy. And it is possible to get through whatever emotions you have to work through.

I am lucky to have a very supportive family. My mom is also overweight and we had the surgery around the same time, so we are each others rocks in this situation. Growing up, she did tell me that we needed to lose weight, but we did it together, both failing miserably (hence the band). She never told me I was fat and ugly- she told me I was beautiful. So I can understand what it might feel like to have an opposite mom. I will NEVER tell my kids that are ugly or fat or stupid. In my eyes, they will be the most beautiful, perfect, and smart child in the world. And a child should believe that and have that imprinted on their self-esteem at an early age.

I'm sorry that you have gone through so much covering up, so much embarrassment- you have no reason to be ashamed. You are BEAUTIFUL- I saw your picture- your hair and face and body are GORGEOUS already. Like you said, if those people have a problem with your arms showing, then its their problem and you can find people that will accept you. And I love what you said about when you are skinny you wouldn't even think to date those guys that make fun of you anyway. I feel the EXACT same way. I want a man that takes care of himself and is clean-cut and active.

oh and the people that make fun are REALLY insecure or jealous of you... and as you said need Mental HELP! I would suggest ignoring them because you as long as you know who you are, that's really all that matters!

And again, sorry to hear about those immature people you have to deal with. I hope you find happiness within yourself