ronik26

Hello Nikki32, Sorry to butt into your thread, but I was reading some of the old pages, and I noticed that we have a few things in common. I don't know if Nikki is your name, but it is mine. Also, you wrote that you have 4 boys and that this one sneaked in. I have 3 boys, and my pregnancy was unplanned as well. I noticed that you refered to your baby as "he." I didn't read a thread that said whether you actually found that out or whether you're just assuming. My husband and I are just assuming this is a boy! I'm only in my sixth week. Anyway, I just wanted to say "hi," because you sound a little like me. I'm sorry you're not feeling well, and I hope you get good news at your 3d.

dmtjet, lynette-- thanks for the support about the weight gain--I had not heard that about the gas, etc. Laurend--when I have something a little more positive to report, I'll give you my stats, how's that? Heat--for all of you who say it is too hot to exercise outside--I hear ya! I basically live in the desert and the exercising outside thing is not practical. We're moving back to a saner climate at the end of September, but I'm really going to have to start making myself do something here at home-- DVDs or something--until then. ABOUT ME My name is Nicole. I'm 36, I have three boys; 17 yrs., 6 yrs., & 20 mos. I homeschool my 6 year old, but I did not do that w/my oldest. The oldest is actually going to college in Hawaii right now. I have a Masters and a credential, but I just left my job as a teacher to stay home full time!!! Yeah!!! I've been overweight basically my whole life, but it got really bad between middle & high school. We have a bulldog puppy named Obi Wan right now (can you tell the 6 yr. old named him?) and potty training him right after surgery has been a lot of work, but he is just about the cutest thing ever next to a human baby!!

Wrangler504--Don't think it's only Verizon. TMobile promised us a special price on our new phones last year AND a dollar amount off our phone bill if we would not quit them. We agreed, but they later said that they never offer a discounted phone & bill. We had the person's name with whom we spoke, but they said they couldn't "find" her???!!! It's a cell phone thing. We have learned never, ever get a phone on the Internet(TMobile sent us 5 wrong phones in the space of 2 months last year!!) And never, ever agree to anything not in writing. You are lucky you have a receipt!! I had my surgery on the 11th and have only occasional (though intense) gas pain. I am bummed, because I assume I am the only person in the history of banding to have gained 10 pounds from my weigh-in the day before surgery to getting home 2 days later. I did have a "last meal" after the weigh in and before surgery, but I have not eaten anything since that cannot be described as a mighty clear flipping liquid. I am hoping it is just a discrepancy between the doctor's scale and mine. Even now my home scale is telling me I weigh 6 pounds more than I weighed on the 10th at the clinic. BTW, I did get a little card to use at restaurants, but it has my weight on it!!!!!!!!!!!! As if I plan on letting Buddy down at the local Diner have a good laugh at the fat girl to save $3.00 on chicken stars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey everyone! I'm driving to TJ tomorrow for preops, though my surgery is not until Wednesday. I'm a little concerned about next week, though, because I have some driving around to do. Has anyone done some driving a few days after surgery? There won't be anyone home to help me.

Thanks to all of you who liked my post about the easy way out. I've never even dealt w/that attitude, it just pisses me off. Cherrybomb--Wow--4 hours! impressive. I had a lap surgery to remove a cyst on one of my tubes so I could get pregnant w/my second boy, and they threatened to keep me overnight until I peed. I have to admit I lied to get out--it's not like they watch you. Lynette-- My screen name is a mix of mine and my husband's names and our anniversary: Ron + Nikki + the 26th (of June.) I always use that name for everything because we set up our first email account together, and I can't possibly remember more than one screen name!! As for the stepdaughter, I'm a stepmom of a teenage girl too, but I wasn't privvy to her "change." I agree, though, that some people hate it to be a big deal and others don't mind. You can broach the subject by focusing on her need for supplies to feel her out on it. Gladster--just a word about clothes--if you do choose to donate to an official charity, don't forget to get a receipt if you itemize your taxes. I always blew that off until my tax guy gave me a list of what all this old stuff might be claimed for--needless to say, we've now got hundreds (almost a thousand) of dollars worth of deductions that we used to overlook every year! Frustrated--I would have told the insurance guy, "Look Skinny Boy, I gained that kind of weight on my last diet, and it didn't take me nearly as long as it would probably take you to get a clue!" Not really, but the idea that I couldn't gain that kind of weight really is laughable!!

<p>Laurend--It's good that you're out. Thanks for the pillow tip. </p> <p> </p> <p>Another word about taking the easy way out. I've been thinking about people saying this, and I just can't get over how ridiculous it is. I think of it as taking the permanent way out. Look, if your pool were leaking, would you drain the whole thing, stick gum in the hole, and refill it just to have to repeat the process endlessly because your method just wasn't working for the long run, or would you have a professional come out and fix it once? Why should we have to stay on the diet, lose weight, gain weight treadmill forever? Why not just let a professional help us do it once and for all? Besides--as far as taking the easy way out goes--why do people use lawn mowers, and edgers, and automatic sprinklers, and blowers to make their lawns look nice? Because those are the right tools, and they make the job easier. Even if it were true that surgery is the "easy way out," why would that be wrong? You only have to rake a big lawn once to know taking the easy way out and buying a blower is pure common sense.</p>

Hi everyone who just came on today! Lynette--congrats on your weight loss Mindy--I don't like the Gazelle because it has no resistance-I don't feel like I'm getting a good workout at all. I'm just flailing around up there... Felicia--I'm sorry your husband thinks that. I don't understand that mindset. I swear I've been lucky, and I haven't run into anyone who thinks that (at least not out loud.) I've been telling everyone, and people are just curious. My mother is the only one who expressed any doubt, and that was one short sentence, because she knows better. Initially my husband was worried, but he's all supportive now because I equated the surgery w/more & better sex!! You know it's still a lot of work to lose weight w/the band and, assumably, your husband will come to see that too. Dini--I'm very embarrassed by my weight. The absolute worst is when I see someone I haven't seen in a while, because they won't know yet that I'm so big. I feel compelled to tell everyone about my surgery so they know that this is only temporary.

AppleBlossom--hey, I'm going to Dr Ortiz on the 10th for pre-ops, surgery on the 11th. Welcome. Mrs Horne--I'm glad you're well enough to post--sorry about the nausea.

Wrangler--I'm not taking meds or anything, but I have been told I have low blood sugar, and I know that when I'm doing well on a diet, I usually get dizzy a lot. Can you keep some oranges on hand for emergencies? (Won't that be convenient? "Sorry Boss, I'll get off the floor in a minute--I just need someone to throw me the orange in my purse.")

ReneeMarie--I'm getting surgery w/Dr. Ortiz on the 11th, and I'm not really doing either. I have a shake for b-fast and generally eat a salad w/some meat in it for lunch and dinner. I've lost 9 pounds since the 25th, and I'm not starving. It's working well for me. Of course, I have to have something fun to reward myself, so I have Healthy Choice fudge pops and 100 calorie pack cupcakes as well. I was supposed to lose 13 pounds, but I guess I'm really supposed to lose 15 now (5% of body weight) because I gained 3 pounds between the time I faxed them my paperwork and the time I started my pre-op diet. D--- last supper syndrome! Jennifer--I know it's a bummer when things don't go as planned, but it sounds like this date change will really work out for you! I know what you mean about your dad going w/you--I kinda wish my sister would go w/me for the same reason.

Chimboree--you're beautiful. I used to think I was pretty, just fat, but I got a "pregnancy mask" with my last pregnancy that never went away, and now my face is all blotchy and sun damaged. Yuck! (I'm thinking about getting something done w/that while I'm in TJ to get the band!) Dini--What you were saying about pampering yourself reminds me of my sister--she's always been a big girl, but she has also always changed her hairsyle, bought cute clothes, and never thought she was too fat to dance at a night club. Ironically, I've always weighed less that she does, and I don't do any of those things. Although I do wish she would get the weight loss surgery with me, I also admire that she accepts herself the way that she is. Weight Gain: I don't have nearly as good an excuse as some of what I've been reading. I have never been small, but I did not get really fat until the summer between jr. high and high school, which I spent eating with my best friend. I was fat all through high school, lost a little, got pregnant (at 18), got HUGE again! Lost 130 and slowly gained some of it back until I had my second baby when I got HUGE again. I kept gaining after the second baby until I got pregnant a third time and continued my HUGE streak!!! I have gained about 70 pounds with each baby and did not take it off w/either of the last two.

Dini--That's ridiculous for a pedicure to be so much!!! In So Cal, they only cost that much in Beverly Hills or some expensive spa, but everywhere else they're about $20, maybe $25.

Wow, that's great that two of you made it home in the same night!!! Woo Hoo!! Kathy--I do kind of feel old, but I really mean old to have a baby with my own body. After 35, they treat you like a high risk pregnancy no matter what, and all the times I've gained monumental amounts of weight, I've been pregnant (except in the summer between jr. high and high school.) I just don't think i can do it again. My husband is three years older than me, and he's in disbelief that our youngest will only be 2 when he turns 40. Rebeccah--thanks for the encouragement about the family. People on this thread really are great. Chimboree--thanks for the calendar update--that's a lot of work!! Best wishes to everyone going in tomorrow. I know Bobbert's Mom is going because I remember reading her post about the beers. Almost made me wish I drank.