kyethra

Does anyone know of a good sodium tracker, online or for the PDA? I'm pen and paper impaired. I'm on a high sodium medication. At my current dosage its not that big of a worry as I naturally eat a low sodium diet, but as my dosage goes up it becomes more important (If I reach the max dose than I will want to stay under 800 mg of sodium a day). I'm already on a low dose of lisinopril (5mg) that I hope to get off of when I lose some more weight, so any ideas would be appreciated.

I agree about the name change idea. Why don't you drop the adoption idea-- it sounds like your family is doing well now, so don't cause a rift by trying to make it even more official. But if her having the same last name is important to you, then that might be something to consider. No legal strings attached.

I love my dyson. I've been surprised by it actually. I have really bad allergies so I was worried it would kick up dust or be a pain to empty. Nope, its great. It just sucks it up. Now I have a mini lop. He likes to push hay out of his cage. Well I don't know if he means to, at least all the time.. but he can be messy. The dyson works on it better than the shopvac. Much better. The shopvac with its big hose would keep getting clogged up, etc. So I tried using the dyson. It might clog up once or twice, but its really easy to take it apart to unclog and fix and it clogs a lot less and sucks up a lot more. Plus the hose is nice and long so I just plop it on the couch if I want to vacume the mini blinds (I have an attachment for that), and there is a mattress attachment or something that is great for furniture and bedding (like after its made, or even unmade and I just want to get the dog hair up). The only word of caution is to be careful vacuming over small wires with it. I used to do that with my dirt devil because it wouldn't make a difference. This thing will suck anything up and even if you turn it off and pull the wires out, it might still cause the wires to not function. My hubby. Tivo and the dish. My kitchenaid. No more breaking handmixers for me. A good handmixer with drinkmixer attachment. I'm all about more power. Crystal lite to go. I'm addicted to it! My notebook computer and my wireless and my software that helps me do stuff (like one note and adobe acrobat pro) and the internet. And other people who use the internet so I don't lose papers. My scanner. So I can put things on my computer before I lose them. The fax and printer/copier. Cell phone PDA Now I can find it! Its from the sharper image. Its a beeping thing. It has these little disks you attach to stuff either a ring or adhesive. There is a base unit thats like a remote that is magnetic and goes on the fridge. Now when I can't find my wallet, or my keys I just get the thing off of the fridge and the press the right button (they are labelled) and if it is in range my wallet will beep back. If it doesn't I know I am not in range so I keep walking and pressing the button until it does beep back. And then I keep doing it as I get warmer and warmer until I can find it. Its really been a lifesaver. With this thing I have found my keys when they were between the side of the couch cushion and the couch liner of all places. My husband will sometimes lose his wallet or keys and then we would have to look for them forever. Like it would be twenty minutes and we were always late. Or he couldn't let himself in the door if he didn't have house keys, etc. Now he can just use this. Occasionally a battery goes dead and that old panicky feeling comes back. Those batteries get replaced immediately. Contacts, and glasses. Hair dye. My hair is a much prettier shade when chemically altered (but it wouldn't necessarily know it was chemical, especially since people assume it isn't all the time. My natural color, the last time I checked, was a dull mousy ginger colour. So I die it a more vibrant red) Modern medicine. I wouldn't be breathing without my drugs. Or staying awake. books and periodicals. And good bookshelves to hold them. Sunscreen. Air conditioning. One of my favorite parts of summer. I remember life we had it. My pets Conditioner (though I guess shampoo is important too). Prepackaged foods. I just think its wonderful all the stuff I can buy. All the Soups, sliced fruit, sliced veggies, sliced cheese, sliced meat, frozen dinners. Sometimes I think about a bread-maker, but I'm not sure it would be worth it since I have the kitchen aid now. That mixes it for me so all I have to do is let it rise and then put it in a pan pretty much. Did I mention ben and jerry's?

I have a tatoo on the top of my right foot. I love it! and its easy enough to cover if I wanted to/needed to. I gave it a lot of thought beforehand. But do ask about healing. Make sure it would be a place you can check as well to see how it is healing.

Because I too will want to get pregnant one day I looked up studies about that before I got banded. Bands are the safest method of WLS in regards to pregnancy. The risks of pregnancy in morbidly obese women are actually higher than the risks of pregnancy in banded women (who are down to a healthy weight I assumed). The risks of the band were comparable, I think, to normal risks. Plus if you ever become sick or something you won't have to worry about how malabsorption would affect what you take. For me, at least, that was big, since I will always require meds for chronic issues. I also liked the idea of getting fills far on down the road (assuming my band doesn't get filled to capacity sooner) should I need them. Ten years after surgery, I know a lot of bypass patients have gained back a certain amount. But that is just me. You have to decide what works for you.

I'm sorry to hear about your problems. The lower stomach ache and all sounded like my gall bladder except for the throwing up all the time. Thats how I was sure I hadn't slipped. I wouldn't throw up unless I tried to ride in a vehicle or do too much (like say stand up for ten minutes) and then bile and blood would come up (of course I wasn't eating. Eating hurt). I'm glad your new doc is so approachable. Its good that he is reachable if you do have to have an emergency thing done.

Yes, I have fast food on occasion. Not nearly as I did before. When I went to McDonals I got the fish sandwhich and some fries and Water. I ate half the sandwhich and about half the fries and later I drank my water. It was less than 400 calories (it was lunch) and I had a light dinner that night anyway... Then another time I had 1/3 of a taco bell crunch wrap supreme. The other day I had wienersnitzel. 2 hot dogs lasted three meals-- that surprised me. I just don't eat much now. I do have to be careful not to give in to the sugar monster sometimes (and that could work for junkfood in general). I'm supposed to not have more than 200 calories of sugary food a day, like ice cream. I can do that. I don't even eat it every day. But say I am tempted to have more-- I have to remind myself, no, you already had your amount. You can have more tomorrow. You have to eat veggies now. And since eating veggies can be satisfying now, I really don't mind trying to balance out my diet like that. So I figure as long as I within my calorie limits ad getting all my nutritional needs met, then yes, I can have "bad" foods sometimes. I wouldn't have gotten the band if I could never ever have them again. Well maybe I would have...

I had a pretty good body image before. I've always had high self esteem- I think I'm pretty damn cut. But lately I've been feeling down about my body. Its not loose skin that has me down because I don't have much of that yet (well I have some on my upper arms- its kind of gross to see if develope but kind of cool too in a sick sort of way. Those baby's are getting lipoed and lifted a few months after I reach goal). My biggest issues are with boob quality-- I swear there is more sag and there are starting to look a little deflated. They looked rounder before. Also with all the marks on my skin. I've had two surgeries recently (lap band in march, gall bladder out in April). Plus, after the first surgery I had a lovely allergic reaction to the tape that was holding down the gauze over my steri-strips- I broke out in a bunch of blisters underneath it. Well those blisters scared. It looks bad with all that stuff. Also, I have four round little scars on one breast (they are not raised at all and I know they will fade wit time) from when I found out the hard way the past summer that one shouldn't fry anything at all in the nude. It sort of funny, I didn't think anything of those red marks (or other scars I have in various places on my body-- I'm a clutz) until my husband brought it up. Now they just jump out at me. So I'm focusing on visualising my scar faded body. I think my tummy is getting thinner. Maybe even my face too, a little. Thats another thing I can focus on, epecially in clothes.

You are only 19. A lot of people would be hesitant to diagnose someone your age with a personality disorder, and for good reason, you are still very young. As a rule, adolescents shouldn't be diagnosed with things like that because, well, its too easy to diagnose them with personality disorders. Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish between bipolar and BPD and they can be comorbid. I wouldn't worry too much about specific labels for now. Just focus on finding the right treatment (and its great that you are getting treatment, btw). There is a type of therapy, Dialetic Behavior Therapy, or DBT that you might be interested in. Ask your therapist about it. And there are a bunch of meds out there and so forth... it can be tricking finding the right combo, it takes some time, so hang in there.

Sometimes what I do is cook from the freezer. Or the pantry. This involes simple things-- perhaps opening up some canned veggies, or pouring some frozen ones into a bowl. Then the product gets put in the microwave. The rest of the meal is done the same way. Preheat the oven or open up the microwave and plop in something from the freezer. You'd be surprised at what you can find in the frozen food aisle. There is stuff that is pretty healthy and tastey. Same goes for canned goods- I like chunkey soups myself. If you go to sams club or costco you can find things like frozen hamburger patties or fish filletes or salmon or chicken or a bunch of stuff where all your husband would have to do is either put them in the oven and set the timer (maybe turn them once) or microwave them. Plus if he does decide to do carry out you can remind them to pickup a salad or that chinese food might have veggies in it, that sort of thing.

If you want to go darker you can use some of those tanning loitons. I haven't tried anything spray on yet, but I have tried those. I have used the no ad brand one and I accidentally purchased the wrong level (I have very fair skin and just wanted a touch of color but instead I bought medium coverage). I didn't get any streaks or anything. It looked nice, my roomates all then wanted to use it too. And then there are the loitons that build up more gradually with time, the ones that give you a glow. Those are fool proof! I think I remember my father's dying as well as I remember him. He died a horrible death of skin cancer when I was 3. Its not a pleasant disease at all. And as another poster mentioned, getting suspicious looking bits cut off of you isn't nice either. I had a large mole cut off (too big to freeze off) and then they gave me a couple of stiches. Granted the little scar is less noticeable than the mole, but latley I feel like I've been getting a lot of scars. Don't do something that could you more of them! If you must tan, please have regular apointments with a dermatologist for skin checks and also know your skin as well.

<p>Oh Janine, I can just picture that nurse. I'm sure she has some deep lines around her mouth (or will) from holding it pursed in a sour expression so often? I've been around nurses like that, too. </p> <p> </p> <p>Speaking of nurses, yesterday my PCP's nurse called me. She said she had my test results back (I was thinking this was about how I had had to pee in the cup the day before. I was surprised they were calling and so soon). Apparently my liver enzymes were high. This is from about three weeks ago. So I told her, yes, I know, thats from my gallbladder, ya'll know I had that out last week, right? "really?" "Oh" "Well then come back here in three months to have your liver rechecked or have your surgeon recheck it. We don't want you and that test to fall through the cracks in the sytem."</p> <p> </p> <p>I thought that was pretty funny. I don't know if its my doctor or her nurse that are being ditzy lately-- because someone is. This is the second time something like that happened. I'll mention it at my next checkup because it is a little worrisome to me. I'm sure its all fine and it really is in my chart somewhere, but still...</p> <p> </p> <p>Given that I've had terrible doctors before, I'll take some ditziness any day (like the one doctor, who when I told him my pneumonia was relapsing and that I needed antibiotics, decided that instead it was some sort of bronchiospasm and gave me an inhaler instead. Of course it really was a pneumonia relapse and it was miserable. Or the other doctor... Well we do say the student health center is the killing center for a reason).</p> <p> </p> <p>OH Juli, I like to make charts. Last night I was looking at what classes I wanted to take and when, and different ways to gain experience (so I can get a job once I get my MS), and then thinking, well if after I get my masters I get this then... If we have a baby x year... And appearance can make a difference in job interviews and so forth. If other candidates are worried about their nose rings (personally, thats my favorite peircing of mine, it stays) and buisiness attire, I don't want to have to worry about all of that in addition to being 100 pounds heavier than they are. While I have trouble truly knowing knowing that people really care about stuff like that (or age or sex or color or race or religion or any of a bunch of other things that people shouldn't care about but do), I realise that they do. That a lot of people do. And I understand that many believe that it is ok to discriminate against fat people because fat people can lose weight (supposedly anyway). Personally, I think if people are going to be hating on another group of people I think it should be for a really good reason, like if no more tequila were being produced</p>. Ok nap time for me.

tammy, I am sorry to hear about your loss. And I noticed someone, momlambert maybe?, is selling their house and getting a new one! Thats a big change! May your cupboards be plentiful. I am actually anxious to see what happens to the skin around my eyes with a lot of weight loss. a few years ago I had hard contacts for a while (RGP) because I have astigmatism and I couldn't wear soft contacts anymore-- they dried out like crazy. I only lasted about six months on the hard contacts because my eyelids started to droop all the time. Its a really rare side effect of RGP. After I stopped wearing them it got better for the most part, but they never went back to the way they used to be. Since weight loss can cause loose skin I'm wondering if it can cause it on the face too. Well I know it can, but I guess what I want to know if it will cause it around my eyes. I want to think that maybe it would help the situation, but I don't see how. A fifty pound loss is great, loriPA. Rosi-- I can be pretty noisy some days. It growls and gurgles and then there is the gas and burping! As far as hair clips go, I have some big ones I really like. They are called octopus clips or something like that. I like them because they actually hold a bunch of my hair. I break barettes a lot. So with a couple of these and just a few hairpins and a couple of small clips I can get all of my hair up. My hair is getting pretty long, mid back almost, and its thick for a white person. Apparently 2-3 times as thick as the average person (or so every single hair professional always tells me :fish: ). I love big clips, strong brushes, detangler.

<p> </p> <p> </p> <p>I love the new almay lipsticks, the ones that stay on forever. I think I have found the perfect lipsticks for me. Plus they have the coordinating lipwhere stuff, the linker and gloss and lipstick. I love almway, its like makeup for dummies, and I know I'm not allergic to it. My friends were appreciative when I showed them their coordinating eye colors (the girls I know don't know makeup stuff either-- we're hopeless mostly). I always feel left out looking at coordinating eye stuff though. They have it for every color except grey eyes. Nobody ever has stuff for grey eyes! But theres more of us than there are people with green eyes... I had a tube of MAC lipstick when I was younger, like 14 that I had for years. I used it until it absolutely completely wore down. They used to have colours that you just didn't get anywhere else.</p> I discoverd dior not too long ago because I ordered an eyebrow pencil that was dior from some department store online. For some reason I have a hard time finding one thats reddish. maybeline or some other brand like that used to make one in the perfect shade but they don't seem to anymore. Since I use a milk benzoyle perozide solution for acne on a regular basis, I find my eyebrows keep getting paler. The eyebrow pencil wasn't cheap, and the shipping was almost as much. But they sent me a suprise free gift thing with it- a makeup bag with some sample size makeup in it. Lip stick, tinted moisturezer, mascara, and something else. Its nice stuff in general, including the bag, actually, but I adore the mascara. And its just their regular mascara. I was using my smudge proof, waterproof, clump free stuff. This stuff makes all that pale in comparrison-- it makes me not mind using mascara when I do use it cause it sticks to the lashes and looks good. So since then I've been pondering if expensive eye liner would be easier/better too (I have hear lancome le crayon is good for people who have poor fine motor skills like me). Its crazy! If only I could buy sample sizes!

Awww, thats sweet, your bro noticing like that, afrykanvyolet. I ate a chilli cheese dog today. Well most of one anyway-- I couldn't finish all of it. I'm constantly surprised by how little I eat these days. Now even a whole hot god anymore! No fill in site for me. Luckily the white stuff on my tongue is just about all gone now. While I was waiting at the pharmacy today I naturally went to the candy aisle. I got a bag of big Peanut Butter m&ms to split with DH because if I have sherbert too all of that is still less than 200 calories worth of junk food. I was a good bandster today. I also looked at make up a little. I think at some point I might buy some nicer makeup and maybe even a lesson to learn how to use it. I'm hopeless at that stuff. But I looked today at sephora and the eyeliner and shadow I want come to about fifty dollars together! Thats before shipping! I was shocked! I don't even wear makeup once a week, how am I supposed to justify that sort of cost? I'll think about it.

I couldn't feel mine right after I was banded either. I couldn't feel it at all until I lost about 30 pounds. Then I was freaked out, because there was this lump sticking out of me! I could feel my port! Either way, its ok.

try taking some anacids with your pain meds. And if you happen to have hydroxezine, take that with them as well.

Mine didn't, but I think some people's do. Of course for me it probably would have been pointless, given the number of prescription medications I am already on.

One thing that I found interesting was that when ancient Christians were thrown to the lions back in Rome, the Romans really didn't like having to do that. For them it was a government thing, sort of like how the church could be in more modern times. Governerors were minor dieties and of course the emporer was one. They would try to plea bargain with the christians-- they would say, why don't you think about it for a couple of months, then we'll come back and talk. How about you say a prayer for the emporer and burn a stick of incense and this never happened, etc. That sort of thing. They really didn't like having to take them in. And they weren't out hunting them down either but if someone was going to be obvious about it they felt it was against government policy and so they would have a chat. But the christians felt proud to be martyrs. Now fast forward to modern day... Sure we could put up a fuss about separation of church and state (yeah right). But its really a lot easier to just along with 'in god we trust". I don't plan to stop using money any time soon! I don't believe in being a martyr. Maybe someday there will be a cause where I feel strongly enough in it to do that. I definitely cannot think of it now. I like it when kids have choices. When I was a teen I "church hopped". Went to a different denomination every sunday for a while. It was interesting. At that point I wasn't a Christian, but I wan't to learn more about the culture around me. Thats the sort of thing I would do as a parent, I think. Or the local unitarian church is decent too because it presents alternative viewpoints and things-- it teaches sex ed to junior highers for one thing, and has pagan celebrations and talks and stuff sometimes, for another. I like picking and choosing what I want to believe. What set of things will or will not work for me. Or chooseing nothing if thats what I decide. I like choices in general. I've never been the sort of person who is easily content with whatever is handed to me. I'm picky. I'm glad I live in a time and place where I am able to be picky.

Ok so I am back from the doctor. I caved and went because I was feeling worse today in general. So antibiotic for ten days (trimethoprim) and I'm also supposed to take cranberry capsules (lots of them) and lots of fluids because trimethoprim isn't very strong, but its the only one that will work that I'm not allergic too. Though I am supposed to check with the pharmacist to see if they still make one med. And my allergist to see about antibiotic desensitisation. Its something my old doctor used to talk about too. I'm allergic to most antibiotics so that really limits my treatment options when I get sick. There are IV ones I haven't taken like vancomyiacin that should work for me but I would have to go to the hospital just to do that. I don't like going to the hospital, what a hassle for an infection! So thats my homework. And more diflucan because the antibiotics can cause the fungal stuff to come back though its clearing up beautifully. isabellesma, the miralax takes a few days to work, so give it time! I know how you feel. But make sure not to overdo it otherwise you will end up with the opposite problem on your hands! I've been there, done that! I didn't lose or gain any weight this week so that makes me feel better. So today I am eating better. Strange, I know. Protein shake for Breakfast. For lunch rather than trying to have a whole sandwhich I gave up on the bread and just had meat and cheese. Since I didn't overeat I also didn't have to drink while I was eating. Much more comfortable, this following the rules. I figure since I got all my protein in today already, for dinner I can focus on veggies and carbs. Maybe some pees and a bit of Pasta... We have a food sealer (it vacumes out air and seals the bag) that I am very fond of. Keeps out freezer burn. So I can take some of the left overs too and make myself frozen dinners with left over food from when I cook, I figure. If its good. I wish we had some soy meatballs (real meatballs are good too, but I like the soy ones and they are healthier) to add in, but we are currently out. Oh well, I'll put it on the list. I also want to put peppers and zuchini in the pasta next time, another thing I am out of. I have my post op apointment on the 15th-- I'll ask about exercise then.

Before the band, I used to sometimes measure time in terms of "pounds ago". 100 pounds ago was quite a while ago, high school years. 60 pounds ago would be more recent, about when I was 19 and 20. 40 pounds ago I met my husband. Twenty pounds ago I started to give up on losing that 20 pounds from 40 pounds ago. Now that I have the band, I suppose I could try it in the opposite sense. It is sort of strange in a way, having my linear sense of time disrupted. Maybe its a good reminder that life and time really are cyclical. Now I can say that 40 pounds ago I had weight loss surgery and was waiting to see if I got into grad school. 10-15 pounds ago, I found out I got in. Hmm... I've also been working on my rules for when to not follow the rules. Normally there is a stage in every diet for me, when "just this once" starts to happen more and more frequently until its always just this once and I think we all know that it is pretty downhill from there. ) So I have my rules on when there can be no rules. If it doesn't fit in here, then sorry, I have to be good: 1) My birthday; whole day is a free for all (if my birthday is "missed" due to illness I may reschedule for a later date. 2) Celebration dinners (and no, everyday cannot be a celebration) 3) Christmas, New years eve, the eight major pagan holidays, and maybe a couple other holidays I specify in advance. 4) Cinco de Mayo. Its mexican food and margaritta goodness. 5) the times I order movie theater popcorn so long as these times do not exceed 8 times per year and the bucket never exceeds a medium (probably won't be bigger than a small). I get soda on those days too. 6) vacation If its not on that list, then its not allowed to be a free for all. Naturally, I reserve the right to revise my list, but I think this is a good starting one.

Before the band, I used to sometimes measure time in terms of "pounds ago". 100 pounds ago was quite a while ago, high school years. 60 pounds ago would be more recent, about when I was 19 and 20. 40 pounds ago I met my husband. Twenty pounds ago I started to give up on losing that 20 pounds from 40 pounds ago. Now that I have the band, I suppose I could try it in the opposite sense. It is sort of strange in a way, having my linear sense of time disrupted. Maybe its a good reminder that life and time really are cyclical. Now I can say that 40 pounds ago I had weight loss surgery and was waiting to see if I got into grad school. 10-15 pounds ago, I found out I got in. Hmm... I've also been working on my rules for when to not follow the rules. Normally there is a stage in every diet for me, when "just this once" starts to happen more and more frequently until its always just this once and I think we all know that it is pretty downhill from there. ) So I have my rules on when there can be no rules. If it doesn't fit in here, then sorry, I have to be good: 1) My birthday; whole day is a free for all (if my birthday is "missed" due to illness I may reschedule for a later date. 2) Celebration dinners (and no, everyday cannot be a celebration) 3) Christmas, New years eve, the eight major pagan holidays, and maybe a couple other holidays I specify in advance. 4) Cinco de Mayo. Its mexican food and margaritta goodness. 5) the times I order movie theater popcorn so long as these times do not exceed 8 times per year and the bucket never exceeds a medium (probably won't be bigger than a small). I get soda on those days too. 6) vacation If its not on that list, then its not allowed to be a free for all. Naturally, I reserve the right to revise my list, but I think this is a good starting one.

I'm finding myself in a rather strange situation. I haven't weighed myself for a while, not because I'm afraid the scale is going up, but because I'm actually worried about weight loss. Yes, I know I'm crazy. The thing is I got banded and then the weight started to fall off pretty fast. But I got really sick as a result of the rapid weight loss-- my gall bladder went bad (evil is the term I perfer) and I had to stop eating so I was on Clear liquids for over a week and of course I lost more and between the vomitting the intense nausea and diziness I was bedridden for half of April. Now that my gall bladder is gone I am feeling much better, and I'm able to eat again. I can even eat fatty foods without a problem! But I still can't eat much at all. Since I still have some swelling from the surgery that makes me even more restriced (I have no fill). I find myself worried about losing weight quickly again. I know I only had one gall bladder, but that made me so sick. And I've been finding myself eating in some not so good ways these past days because I want to get more food in. I find myself drinking a lot as I eat. I eat too fast and because of that I don't when to stop until it is too late sometimes and I either slime or I am on the verge of a PB. I've noticed that I am overstuffing my pouch. I don't mean too, but I don't notice it until after I do it. Part of the problem, I think, is that I am not necessarily awake long enough to get in three meals a day lately. I'm narcoletpic and have a few other sleep disorders. When I don't feel well or am healing from surgery, I find that I really want to sleep more. In order for one of my narcolepsy meds to work right I can't eat anything withing a few hours or so of bed time (like no closer than 4 hours). I can eat anything, physically. Its just that I can't eat a lot of anythign except for stuff thats pretty soft like ice cream. Getting through dinner (a roast beef sandwhich w/ low fat cheese and three breaded veggie things) took a while and a lot of drink and I felt a little overfull when it was over despite all that. But I feel compelled to eat as much as I can and then have junk food Snacks as well, like either ice cream or a Peanut Butter cup, because I worry that I will lose weight too fast. I think I am worried that if my gall bladder went bad, what next? Only I also want to have healthy eating habits and patterns and follow the rules and my nutrition guidelines that my dietician gave me. And I do want to lose a lot of weight. I just don't want to lose it this week. Or as fast as I was unless I know there won't be anymore bad side effects. Any suggestions? I would appreciate some help here.

http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/ Vegetarian times is awesome for some great recipes. You can also add some meat in stuff if you want. Some of my best recipes have come from that magazine over the years. Their veggie lasagna is yummyness. And they have taught me to add Beans to stuff. And other stuff to things. Like veggies.

Some women just have more hair than others. I remember discussing this in the dorms as a freshman. Check out frida Khalo paintings sometime... I think it is quite normal. Of course I would say this and then the girls who did have a little mustache would point out that I was pretty unhairy (and that is true, I generally don't even shave or wax my thighs since the hair there is so fine and pale). So I would explain that sure I was... Now. Give me thirty years and I'll probably be as hairy as the next person. I have older relatives that swear by their facial bleach. Some women even shave. I like wax myself (I use it on my legs, underwarms, and those tiny little invisible hairs that grow between my eyebrows. They annoy me). And there is also the the cream stuff that takes hair away. I find wax satisfying, because it decreases ingrown hairs and I'm sort of masochistic I guess. I love ripping those suckers up by the root (and no, it doesn't hurt. To me, a razor cut hurts a lot more). Some men are less hairy then other men naturally. Some guys have to shave twice a day and still get a shadow. Other guys might only need a shave every few days (and some races need never shave at all). Its just a variation...