I just found out my surgery will be in July (granted my pre-op testing goes okay) SOOOOOOOOO

Here's a thread for everyone getting banded in July 07!

Does anyone have any good ideas for a neat name we could call ourselves?

Danny, I think it's great what you're doing, and at 33. I know in the classes I had to attend all the men were older, in there 50's, even 60's looking to me. Then on the other end, the women who were half younger, and half older. I know I'm glad I did this at 35. I don't want to waste anymore of my life away.

I'm a mother of a 3 year old, and he is my insperation to be the best I can be. Having had him later in life, it puts being healthy and being there for him in a whole new perspective. In the last 3 years after he was born I tried everything to take of the weight. Nothing worked. I have hereditary cardiovascular disease in the family that took my father at the age of 43, and took my fathers father at the age of 40. I couldn't stand to think I could be gone in 5 years, and never get to see my son graduate, from elementary school!!

So I know what you mean about wanting to be a healthy father for your kids and wife. There is no better insperation for us. Best of luck to you on Monday.

well well how bold of me i never welcome our male friend to the group i do appoligise.

WELCOME jDHJ8JR aka Danny

Just wondering. What caused you to gain wt? Was it a pregnancy, depression, some other major life event?

I know for me, it was a major depression that hit during my freshman year in college. I gained 50lbs that 1st semester! Horrible time in my life. I tried exercising and dieting (who of us here hasn't), but I didn't keep the wt off. Up and down I went. Then, I got my first "real" job out of college. Pretty good paying job, but a horrible place to work. I ended up getting fired after a year and 2 mos b/c they told me I was unqualified for the position. Whatever. Everyone told me I had could've sued them (which was very true) b/c the termination was bogus. But I was so broken by that experience. I am such an overachiever and this tore me up, BAD. So, I gained more wt. That was years ago, but the wt is still here...kinda like a reminder.

With this wt loss, I will be shedding a lot of emotional baggage and I can't wait. It will feel like a freeing, a deliverance. This wt loss will be a victory for me over all of that junk from way back when.

<p>Hey gang. Just wanted to post a few pics of me...so here goes.</p>

The first 2 (the big ones) are me at our work Christmas Party in 2006. The little one is of me sometime in Jan or Feb 2007.

Reason for being FAT

i've always been overweight, when i was younger i was the bigger cousin between me and my cousin. (we lived together when were were very young)

I was never as pretty as her, as this as her, as that as her.. only i've always been more intelligent. she had everything handed to her on a sliver platter. everything i got after working hard she got the day after just for fun... ok sorry back to being fat..

i've just always been a big girl. and i could never loose it... my parents own there own business and its dealing with food so its always been there in my face and i never could say no.

but wait till i loose some weight wait till you see whos the prettier cousin... ME. (let me know if you wanna see her, personaly i dont think she's that hot but you can let me know)

you look stunning Chimboree and i love the toes, i can see you look after them!!!!!!!!!!!

Dini, I am sorry you don't feel you are getting the support you need from Adam. You said he feels he is being supportive. If you read what I just wrote you will see it is a communication issue. You need to let him know what you need. Be very careful and use "I" statement so he doen't get defensive. Ex. "Since I had this surgery, I really needed to feel I am getting support from you. I know you are being supportive, but sometimes I feel I need more. I need....."

You are taking the blame,so to speak, and saying "hey it's me. at this time I need a little more". Be sure to assure him you appreciate everything he has done so far. Men love us. They just don't know what to say or do sometimes...:help: They just need a little nudging. And for us having this surgery, it is a very emotional time, whether we realize it or not. Just some ideas to think about.

I am sure he would do more if he knew he needed to. I can almost hear him say, "I am being supportive" in an irrated voice as I type. JUst being open and telling him what you need will probably help. I teach communication and this is a tool that is very successful when talking with loved ones which can quickly escalate negatively when people get defensive.

OK class, let's move on to other topics

Danny, again, welcome. You are taking a big step in being healthier and more active with your family. A friend of mine is going to be watching my progress so she can encourage her son to have the surgery.

Laurend, just thinking about you. Hope everything is going well

Chimboree, there is nothing wrong with self confidence. Keep it up.

You asked why we gained weight. I would say mine was depression. I found I am a depression eater. I gained a little weight with each child but not enough to make me MO. On my 35th birthday, my husband was killed in an accident, leaving me with a 4 and 7 year old. 2 years later, the man I had been dating for a year died from cancer. A year later my father died and 2 years later my brother died. So in a 5 yr period, 4 important men to me died, my husband being the most traumatic. I went into depression after his death and even though I improved, I never really got better before another death occurred. It tooks years to improve and once I did I looked in at a picture one time (not a mirror. I always think I look good when I look in a mirror) and thought, Lord, honey, you are fat. After the inital depression that brought on, I started working to get healthier and lose weight. I think I am healthier but the weight was just to fond of me. It would leave for and while and comeback. This time I am locking the door after it.

:whoo:

Sorry this was so long.

Chimboree, love the pics. You are definitely a hottie jalottie!!!!

Dini, I have seen your pic. No way the cousin is prettier. Let me see her pic.

Thank you for the advice Sunshine, I am sorry to hear about your losses, but you are am amazing person and the name you choose for yourself says a lot about you. Your our Ray of Sunshine!

Chimboree, very good question.

My being fat stems back to when I was young. I was addicted to carbs at a very young age. In my senior year I joined Diet Workshop and lost 30 lbs, so that put me at 150 lbs. That's the smallest I ever remember being. I was 17 then, and I had kept it off until in May of '91 when my father passed away unexpectedly. My life has never been the same.

We were so close, and I still miss him so. I began to eat when I felt I had no one to talk to, food was there. When no one was there to support me, food was there. I've never had a close relationship with my mother, still to this day we're not as close as I'd like for us to be, but in the last year she's learned to respect my decisions, even if they are not decisions she would of made for herself. I married the first time around in Feb. 1994. In October 1994 he was in a motorcycle accident. Very lucky to have lived throught it, but was never the same person. He started cheating, and we seperated. Got back together, and my nerves were always so bad, that I started eating again. We divorced in 2000.

I haven't really gained that much since then, figuring I was around 200 when I met my current DH. I gained 25 lbs when I stopped smoking 2 years ago. When I gave birth to Hunter, I weighed 226, 2 lbs less than the day I found out I was pregnant.

So I've been a very emotional eater. I've ate for every reason under the sun. I've never known what it was like to eat for nourishment. And that's my story of why I believe I'm fat.

my cousin pic is up on... gioborza.bebo.com

look through the pics... theres one under Dario's 21th! the open pic is her too. shes vain so there are lots of her check them out

you look stunning Chimboree and i love the toes, i can see you look after them!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you! Don't forget to look at the nails, too. Listen to me. Hahaha!

I do admit, this is one pic that I actually like. Usually I hate seeing myself. Not usually a pleasant experience.

...

Chimboree, there is nothing wrong with self confidence. Keep it up.

You asked why we gained weight. I would say mine was depression. I found I am a depression eater. I gained a little weight with each child but not enough to make me MO. On my 35th birthday, my husband was killed in an accident, leaving me with a 4 and 7 year old. 2 years later, the man I had been dating for a year died from cancer. A year later my father died and 2 years later my brother died. So in a 5 yr period, 4 important men to me died, my husband being the most traumatic. I went into depression after his death and even though I improved, I never really got better before another death occurred. It tooks years to improve and once I did I looked in at a picture one time (not a mirror. I always think I look good when I look in a mirror) and thought, Lord, honey, you are fat. After the inital depression that brought on, I started working to get healthier and lose weight. I think I am healthier but the weight was just to fond of me. It would leave for and while and comeback. This time I am locking the door after it...

:whoo:

I'm sorry about all the loss. That would certainly bring on major depression. But you seem to be doing so well! I can relate to you w/the eating and depression. I also tend to shop when I'm down. You wouldn't believe the stuff that I have...It's pretty ridiculous, actually. And what a waste of time and money.

And thanks for the compliment!

Lynette I'm also sorry to hear about your father passing away. I wish that my father and I could be close. I want to more than being slender and holy willies thats a lot. You were bless that you were so fond of each other.

I Love your sons name. Hunter thats fab!

Chimboree i was your nails but only on one hand. VERY NICE!!

Chimboree, you are GORGEOUS!!!!!!! What a hottie.

Sunny, I too am sorry for your losses. It's a hard thing to go thru, but you seem to be doing the right thing for yourself and your kids. My heart goes out to you.

Dini, I saw your picture too, and you are an amazing young woman. Can't believe there's any cousin prettier.

Give me a few days and I'll post some pics of me. Don't really feel up to it now, but I will soon. I get one of my little man and I.