MeAndTinyTina

Back from the feast at my sister's house. Definitely was a "head game" -- my eyes and head wanted everything, but my real, inner self did not! I stuck to the plan- turkey, veggies, and one treat - a small glass of white wine. I have never posted photos before, but my little niece took these tonight (with the dogs) and the ones without the dogs were last Thanksgiving. @@*Lexie*, I'm not sure what companion dog certification is? Please explain! Both my poodles are rescues too. The older one (7 years old) was pulled out of a hoarder's house with about 30 other poodles - dead and alive. Was about 1 when I got him and in horrible shape. Now he's a superstar. My little girl (18 months) was left in a cardboard box in front of a Walmart when she was 8 weeks old. Wasn't sure she was a poodle, but after a few months and a haircut - she sure was! So now I have a pair. Agility was one of my biggest motivators for the surgery. I'll never be able to run as fast as the dogs, but I really did need to be considerably faster to keep up with these two! My first agility dog (RIP Sweet Pea ) was a very slow Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, so running fast wasn't as necessary. To those of you who need more motivation -- rescue a dog! It will give you someone to walk with! I got my first dog at age 40 after a small stroke. While I was very overweight my whole life, having a dog kept me from getting totally out of control, and did keep me mobile, despite the weight and the bad knees. When you live in a condo, you have to walk the dog. No opening the door and letting them out. I always say that I have rescue dogs - because they rescued me! So these aren't before and after photos - more like before and now! Can't wait for the photo next Thanksgiving! Ellen

I'm going to loose weight this week! As I mentioned in another thread, I am competing with one of my mini poodles on friday-sat-sun in a dog agility competition. That's the sport where you run with you dog through an obstacle course. I'm volunteering at the show as well, so will be constantly on my feet, running around, helping out. I can't wait! I'm hoping for my fastest times yet with the pooch! I bought 2 new tee shirts for the occasion (large - not 2X as I would have a few months ago); one says "my best friends have hairy legs", the other says "Alpha Bitch"! I want everyone to know that I'm a classy lady Ellen

Now that I'm 3.5 months out - I'll tell you what I don't miss the most. Of course i don't miss shopping in the plus size or taking the elevator instead of the stairs, or squeezing into a theater seat -- but the most significant difference is that I don't have the constant underlying worry about my weight. I know I've got it this time. I know what I have to do. I have a medical team that supports me. I have NO DOUBT. It is a very, very liberating feeling and I hope that all of you who are pre-op will experience it too. Happy Thanksgiving! Ellen

Congratulations! You look great! Ellen

I'm a slow looser, but a looser nevertheless! I am determined to loose this holiday weekend no matter what! Who's stronger? A 16 lb turkey or 201.6 lbs of me! I normally go to the gym 5 days a week, but have a dog show this weekend (friday, saturday, Sunday), so even more challenges without the exercise to back me up. I compete in dog agility -- if you've never seen it, its the sport where the dog jumps over bars, weaves through polls, goes on a teeter, etc, and the handler (me!) runs along side. Sounds like a lot of exercise, but on competition days, it's a lot of standing around waiting your turn. I last competed in early Oct and felt so much faster and more energetic. I can't wait to see how I do this weekend. Even though I've "only" lost 50 lbs (38 since surgery), I am down 3 or 4 sizes! I dropped the poodles off at the groomer this morning, and they recognized the dogs, but couldn't recognize me until I got close up! I think the exercise is re-shaping me. Perhaps, as I have always heard but never really believed, muscle weighs more than fat. Also, as I am typing this, I got a call from my father and a CTscan he had yesterday to check for bladder cancer came back negative!!! So I really do have a lot to be thankful for this season. Can't wait to get to onederland in a few days! Happy Thanksgiving! Ellen

Every time I use the bathroom, I hop on the scale. Even in the middle of the night. I guess I transferred my food addiction to the scale I also check bariatricpal way too often!

Wowwwwwwww! Simply amazing!

Last night at the gym my trainer revised my workout routine because it's gotten too easy for me! I'm only 1/3 of the way to my goal and I feel so much better, Can't even imagine what goal will feel like.

Good for you! Normal looks good on you!

My screen name is what I named my sleeve -- Tiny Tina. Years and years ago in the early 80's, I met a drag queen who did a song and dance act in a local club. She was about 400 lbs and her stage name was Tiny Tina. She wore sequins and very high heels and had incredible stage presence and confidence. I was so impressed by this large "women" who was comfortable in her own skin that it gave me, an overweight 22 year old a new outlook on how to "move" in a thinner world. I only saw her a few times (it was a gay bar and I'm not gay, so I didn't go there too often), but she made a lasting impression on me. I named my sleeve Tiny Tina as an affirmation, that obese, average or thin, we are all beautiful and deserving of applause. Someone recently pointed out that Tiny Tina is also slang for some kind of street drug, and I was going to change it, but as soon as I got out of surgery, when I was still doped up, I started using it -- it it has felt right all along. Ellen (and Tiny Tina)

What casino? Where do you live? I'm in CT and sometimes for my birthday I ask for a trip to the Mohegan Sun casino.

Hi - I was disappointed that the video did not include anyone who had been overweight their entire life. I think that is the most common profile of obese adults. Everyone I currently know who is obese has been so since high school or before, I went on my first real diet at age 6. I am 56 and this week was the first time in my entire life that I did not shop in the plus size (or, as it was known 50 years ago for children, the "Chubette" department). And, at 207 lbs now, the only reason I am now a large in some things and not plus size is because Americans are so big that they've made the sizes larger! The video made me feel that I don't have a legitimate reason to be fat. I didn't have fertility treatments. I was never a professional athlete or military person who had to learn to eat for a new lifestyle. But I do know about nutrition, about exercise -- I am smarter than the average bear and it didn't do me any good! No one has worked harder or longer at weight loss than me -- except for the millions of other regular people who have also been fat all their life! Can I blame genetics? Sure, why not? But this video message said that you had to have a good reason to be fat and the implication is that only those people, those legitimate obese people deserved weight loss surgery. How about recognizing that life is different now for most Americans - there are less physical jobs, even school is more sedentary as less kids walk to school, flavor enhancers in our food has altered our tastes, etc, etc. I don't think we need to showcase only those weight loss surgery patients who are deemed presentable enough to be spokespeople for the cause. This attitude plays right into the crazy and punitive insurance policies around WLS. Denying so many people who need it, yet paying, without question for rehab for alcoholics or drug users. Or denying people if they go below a BMI of 40 while they are in the pre-op phase, or cancelling surgery if they gain a single pound! It's the same judgmental, condescending, belittling attitude that predominates society in general, and the medical profession in particular, around obesity. A colleague of mine at work had her VSG surgery scheduled earlier this week but it was cancelled because they found a cyst in her lungs. She has been complaining to doctors for ten years about pain in her chest - to the touch -- not just simply being out of breath. The only answer she got was "loose weight". Not a breathing test or even a simple X-ray - just a lecture. Now she is facing thoracic surgery and G-d knows what else! If doctors had treated her like a grownup instead of a non-complaint child, she would have had this taken care of years ago. it's the same attitude as this video -- some fat people are worthy and some are not. I am very happy that I had the surgery, but I am truly regretful that I didn't have it when I was much younger. I have suffered in my personal life and in my career and while I take responsibility for my decisions, I do not take responsibility for the cavalier and cruel attitude of the medical profession that for most of my life, did not give a damn. Regards, Ellen

Happy birthday! How are you celebrating?

Congratulations! Welcome to twoville! But you won't be there long!

Well, actually, 39.9! My BMI is now under 40. This was the first goal I set. I am officially out of the morbidly obese classification! I lost so slowly the first 6 weeks, but things are picking up now. I've also upped the exercise from 3 days a week at the gym to 5 (1 session with the exercise physiologist trainer and 4 times on my own). Today, after my session with the trainer, I am shopping for a non-morbid outfit! No more scary non-stylish things for me! Have a wonderful day, Ellen

The nurses and aides during my surgery stay at Yale were so great and so kind. Very respectful. I'm not thrilled with the office staff -- it was hard to get return phone calls before the surgery when I was trying to schedule dates, etc. Haven't really needed to ask them anything since. I do go to the Yale monthly support group. First Tuesday of the month at 6, but they're skipping it it Nov. Maybe I'll see you at the meeting in Dec.

Hi Just4myra - are you having your surgery at Yale? Lalataylor-- I do see that you are part of the Yale group, Aidensmom - where do you live? Haven't seen anything new from the original poster? How are you?

Thanks for posting. Stories like yours gives us all more motivation.

Waaaaaaaay cool! I feel a little chocked up and I don't even know you! Congrats!

Thank you Cowgirl for sharing that story. You have been, and I'm sure will continue to be, a big motivator for me. Light and Love! Ellen (AKA Tiny Tina)

Good luck -- I'll be thinking about you today and wishing you well!

I'm not really a teary person, but this post made me misty for some reason. I think it kind of encapsulats everything I want to happen for myself. Congratulations!

Hi - I live in Branford and work in Berlin, so could certainly connect with Cheshire and Waterbury easily. Had my sleeve surgery on August 13. Everything went really well -- no problems at all and loosing weight steadily, now that I am over a very long stall. Ellen

4 weeks and 2 days out and lost 15 lbs post surgery. The rest that shows on my ticker includes my 2-week pre-op diet, which, at this point, was faster weight loss However, despite the scale, I am down 2 pants sizes, 1 blouse size and am starting to feel great - disproportionally to what the scale says. I've lost much more than this in the past and haven't felt this good. We all know about head hunger - I think I'm going through "head weight loss" (feeling better and smaller than the scale shows!) Ellen

looking very good, From a female admirer