Catracks

I will need a panni and maybe a tuck. I have lost half my weight and I have some serious skin baggage already. How much does it have to hang to get insurance approval. What kinds of skin issues need to be documented? -- If you don't mind me asking. I'm still really anxious about all this.

I absolutely LOVE leftovers. I've been eating BBQ all week from a meal I had on Sunday. Good point about keeping the dressing on the side. Soggy salad grosses me out! I've never run into any problem at a restaurant. I will order from the senior menu (kid's menu has crap usually), an appetizer, split with my husband or order a full meal and take it home. The only time I would really show the card is if I happen to be invited to a buffet and I want the child's price. Even that's too much for the amount I eat.

Ten pounds in one week? Congratulations!!!!! At lot of people don't lose at all due to the aforementioned fluids, etc. Don't worry. The weight is going to continue to come off. Stalls will happen. many get them after week 3. Keep trucking on and get in your fluids and protein.

I don't have a problem with showing skin that is decent looking. I tried on a summer dress without compression pants and ... YUCK!!!! I really am going to need plastic surgery if my belly is hanging down with only half my weight gone. I mean it looked deformed. Pants are fine. Shorts are fine, but my lower belly and inner thighs are scary. I'm scared to death of the plastics, but I think I am going to need this, but not only for cosmetic reasons. I guess it depends how bad it gets and how much I can absorb, but that part of my skin is a maze of stretch marks and it hangs over my C-section scar. I think my fears are real. However: I know what you mean about looking behind you to see who that man is talking too. I mean, it CAN'T be ME. I do wear cute tops and pants, but I think I will be forever self conscious about my lower body.

Early morning: Lipton chicken Noodle Cup-a-Soup Breakfast: Chobani Greek Yogurt (6 oz.) Lunch: Pork, fresh, backribs, separable lean and fat, cooked, roast (2 oz.) Ratatouille (2 oz.) pineapple, raw (2 oz.) Snack: Chicken, breast, skin not eaten (3 oz.) Dinner: Salmon, cooked (3 oz.) Asparagus, cooked from fresh (2 oz.) 3 chewable Vitamins 2 calcium chews Calories: 793 Fat: 33.1 grams Carbs: 44.5 grams Protein: 77.7 I've been reading some of the day's meals here and some people really eat like birds that are at goal already. One menu had something like 2 tbs of Beans for a meal. How does one get by on 3/4 a scrambled egg for lunch? No fruit? No veggies? Are people listing literally everything they ate that day?

Dorrie

Here is a tidbit from the paranoid one: Lawmakers seek to crack down on junk food as obesity epidemic worsens By Chuck Lindell AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Published: 7:27 p.m. Tuesday, April 19, 2011 An epidemic of obesity, bringing higher medical costs and shorter life spans, has prompted a diverse mix of Texas legislators to target junk food and sugary sodas as enemies in the battle of the bulge. One House measure would ban food stamp users from buying Cookies, candy and "sweetened beverages" with their Lone Star cards. Two other bills call on the federal government to restrict or eliminate low-nutrition items from food stamp purchases. And measures in both houses would add a penny tax per ounce of soda with the twin goals of reducing consumption and raising $500 million to $2 billion a year — estimates vary — for a state budget strained by a massive shortfall. "These are very basic things people can live without and are better off without," said Rep. Richard Peña Raymond, D-Laredo, author of the bill to ban the use of food stamps for potato and corn chips, candy, cookies and soda. http://www.statesman...?printArticle=y Wow. A lawmaker thinks we should be living without that stuff. Granted it is for food stamp recipients in Texas, but who would thing the government would seek to control what anyone eats? Since it is their dime, they believe they can. Government health care is on their (well our) dime too. Texas is not the only place this is going on either. It's pretty widespread.

Well this was the topic of the discussion and it is just a discussion. What's going on is very real and I think it should be talked out by the weight loss community and the Obesity Action Coalition. This is already impacting people. Apparently people are losing their jobs and not being hired NOW. Government is already getting involved in what restaurant can and cannot sell. Why on earth would you call more expensive insurance premiums "paranoia." It's already happening. As for the government forcing the issue of weight loss when I've already been the victim of it. -- well, nice to know that I shouldn't worry about ... what was I talking about? La-la-la-la-la-la, can't hear you while my head is in the sand, clouds, whatever. BTW, I am happy, but prepared. BTW, you do not need to participate in a thread that makes you uncomfortable.

Cheri, I cannot thank you enough for being so open. I really appreciate it. You know, you might get insurance to cover some of your surgery because it seems to be medically necessary in your case. I have lost half my weight. and it really is just hangy below the navel and what skin is there is a mass of stretch marks from pregnancy and weight gain. There is some on the inner thighs and under my arms, but I think I can get that toned with exercise/weight training. I have to wait until a stabilize my goal weight for a year. I'll start thinking about it again later. Thank you and best of luck. You look great!

I never made any comment about "Twinkie stuffing" as as a fat person I know how much more productive I am and how much less sick time I take. When I was in the military there absolutely was a weight and fitness standard. They started throwing overweight people out that just could not handle the job anymore. Like another poster, I can see both sides. I don't like intrusive laws. I am part libertarian in that way. I don't see forcing a business to hire someone that they feel is not right for the job. Shall we social engineer the world to death? The fact is that we as humans put a lot of stock in appearance. Fit people may not be the best choice for the job, but on a psychological level a person that is: younger, fitter, thinner, has more hair, and/or is more aesthetically pleasing comes across better in an interview and is perceived to be a better worker. On this forum we talk about how people perceive us differently when we lose weight. Hell, I'm still obese, but men are starting to flirt and I get noticed by sales people. I used to be invisible. Yes, it sucks. Changing the laws will not change millions of years of evolution and I do indeed think an employer has the right to choose without being forced. Oh, and I do see the writing on the wall. Just like smoking, obesity is going to have some real penalties in the way of super increased insurance costs and woe to the person that gets "free" health care. Their food intake and weight will probably be forcibly monitored. Too bad I still smoke. The commercials in California tell me that I kill babies.

I would probably need a tummy tuck and I guess a panniculectomy, but it frightens the heck out of me. I wonder if my skin hangs low enough it would be covered by insurance. Cheri, you and I basically have the same stats. I am 5'1" and had surgery at 246. I am shooting for 130 pounds. If you don't mind me asking ... How bad is it really? The loose skin I mean. I don't care about my arms. My boobs are like Water balloons and they'll mold into whatever shape I want them to. What I am concerned with is the skin below the navel. It's funny because abdominal surgery doesn't phase me in the least. Plastics freak me out.

That's just the point. We CAN do something about being obese, We are doing it. Granted our way is a bit more drastic than some, but still hard work. People cannot change race, sex (well not really) or change something like being paraplegic. I could do my job prior to surgery, but I'm more productive now that I can actually sleep.

Like I said, it's one of the reasons besides health that I got WLS. Many doors are closed to me. I had a chance to be in a TV show produced by a friend of mine, but in reality there was no part for me as big as I was. No costume would fit me. Should I sue him? Being obese is a factor against people for real reasons. Then again, there is a certain right to privacy. What happens if employers start dictating what you can eat and your participation in dangerous sports? In some industries they already do that. When making movies, insurance companies do not let actors engage in anything that might put the movie at risk. Models cannot eat themselves out of the clothing they need to wear.

There is no place in the Constitution that says that you have a right to NOT be offended. As for job performance, I would say yes, obesity can very much impact job performance and sick time. I was a zombie from lack of sleep and it did affect my productivity. Some retail sales jobs and other high public profile jobs take your looks into account. I don't see obese retail clothing sales people. Face the facts. it's not good for what they have to sell. How about an obese personal trainer or gym membership rep? Do we have to force another law on the workplace and everywhere else? My health was not the only consideration for WLS. I saw the writing on the wall and knew that life insurance and health insurance was going to be severely impacted. God forbid Obamacare stays in place. What penalties do you think are going to be imposed on an obese person who needs more care than the general population?

I'm 5'1" and started at 246. I've lost 60 so far. I'd love to be at goal before summer is over.

I know. I would sure like to get a study done with active members of this forum to see if we do better than those silly studies. How many have gotten to goal. How many maintain goal with a given percentage +/-. How many are at appropriate BMI 2 years out, etc.

Come to think of it, I am slouching too! This is a good motivation to start exercising. No real exercise up to now. Can you believe it? What a lazy sod I've been.

From an 8 to a 6.5, but my feet are naturally wide so I have to get 7.5 shoes anyway. Most places do not sell wide shoes and I love my Vans! I HATE heels. I live in sneakers and sandals. I've seen what heels did to my mother's feet. Bunions. I mean, SERIOUSLY?

My doctor gave me the go ahead for any and all physical activity at 2 weeks out. I said: "Horseback riding?" and he said, "Sure!." So I did. Everyone is different. Your mileage may vary.

It just seems like my surgeon wants to hang on to those silly statistics. On my first appointment he told me: You can only expect to lose 50% of your excess weight so you will probably end up at around 180. When I told him I would be into child's sizes at 105, he told me 130 was okay since that would be about 50% of my excess weight lost. Is there some kind of new math that I'm not aware of? It kind of pissed me off a little because I just about hit his 50% mark at 3 months out and it wasn't acknowledges. Oh well. It doesn't really matter. It's not a competition, but it does help me to get results when people tell me I can't do something. I have an authority figure problem huh? Don't get me wrong. I like my surgeon. He's a great guy, but he drives me nuts!

Thanks Coops. I think I will stick that that 130 goal. Like Renee, this is a weight that my body seems to settle at. What's really odd is that my family was used to seeing me weigh 100 pounds as an underweight teenager. When I got a little older and put on some weight they thought I was overweight and really got on my case. In reality, I was just fine. @ Linda - I like your new goal.

Funny you mention this. I went to my 3 month appointment and I brought up goal weight. I thought he told me 110, but he said it's more like 105 for someone who is 5'1". What he gave me was the lowest end of the height/weight chart. My original goal was 130 and around a size 6 pant which is normal BMI. Now I know 105 is too small for me even with a small frame. I would be wearing size 0. I'm thinking about adjusting my goal to 125 or 120. I just don't know anymore. At 105 my BMI would be just under 20. At 120 it would be 22.7. At 130 it would be 24.6. I thought 18.5 - 24.9 was normal. Why do these surgeons set the goal SO LOW?

You kidding? You are so beautiful and photogenic.

All the time. It's usually the scenario you describe, but insert "co-workers" in place of "students."

In this case I knew what she meant. My step-mother told me: "You are beginning to look like yourself again." You see, with my fat face, I didn't have a "pretty" face. It was bloated and misshapen. You could hardly see my eyes. It sounds harsh, but it really is a compliment. What I don't like is when I know people notice, but don't say a thing as if they would be saying: "You look great now, but you didn't use to when you were fat. It's okay. i know I looked like Uncle Fester with hair when I was fat. Okay, I know I'm still fat, but with marked improvement.