ReneBean

Yep. Since I had to sign back in, I haven't gotten another one. It must have something to do with that whole Software change thing.

The RNY is just too scary for me! I feel that "Cut & Paste" is strictly for the computer - not my body! The safety factor on the band is very reassuring for me. Here's good luck to ALL of us! :]

You GO, girl! That's a great NSV!

BCBS is evil... I called before I started all the testing and pre-work to be sure that my company does not have an exclusion - and they said no, no exclusion. Great. So I did all the tests and put together my file and the coordinator at AIGB called and was told that there IS an exclusion on my company policy. Right now, I am waiting for my HR person to get a definitive answer, since we can't get the same answer two times in a row by calling... GRRRRRRR. I'm venting with you, Sister!

Hey - if he's like a "Real Man" type - just tell him it's a Girl Thing - he'll step right back. That way, it's not really a lie (cause everything to do with a girl is a Girl Thing) and he won't ask any questions. :]

If you really think he will judge - you could always use the old "gall bladder surgery" line.

Naked. Fantasy or Reality (books/tv)

Dee Dee We DO know you - in some sense, we ARE you. That's what makes this board work. Hugs to ya! Good luck. We're all rootin' for you! Irene

You have to walk before you can run. I am giving them points for moving away from the anorexic girls and toward reality. Maybe after the world gets used to seeing normal sized girls - they can move into plus size. After finally getting onto the photo re-touching web-site (finally! I was able to get there from my computer at home) I was appalled at the fact that these women, most of whom were fabulous to begin with - had been de-lined and turned into artificial cartoon characters. If Dove is using anything other than a Barbie Doll to advertize - lets support it and encourage them.

Oh Sarah. We are soooo much alike. I, also, wish to Wow them at my class reunion - my 25th coming up in a mere 2.5 yrs. I have a medium range goal to weigh less than DH - he clocks in at 300lb. Last - I want to be energetic enough to play with my grandchildren now, and healthy enough to see them graduate from high school and get married and stuff. Still waiting on the paperwork - but I have a dream...

I tried that - and it didn't work for me, either. (Penni - you're not alone!). I think the screen just takes longer to load than our computers are set to try. My system times out before the page loads. I will probably try from my house one of these days - but dial-up is soooooo slooooooow. :]

I'm right there with you on the food names... Aero choc cup? Like Reeses Peanut Butter cup? Oh - I guess we will have to get Loupy to detail the ingredients of her sins with no brand names... LOL But seriously, This whole band thing - it's a LONG TERM committment - not a race. It is a battle with our long-ingrained eating habits and our lousy metabolisms. I only hope I am doing as well as you are a few weeks after my surgery! Relax and heal. We are here for you.

Hi Chichi Girl. It sounds like you went from high to low to fast for your brain to catch up! Maybe this time you can go a little more slowly - and take a few plateau breaks for your head to catch up with your body. The trick will be to lose the weight slowly enough - and get counselling along the way. I would think that going from the "invisible" fat girl to the hot girl in only 8 months might be a little bit of a shock to the system, if you weren't totally prepared for it. The beauty of the band is - you get to take another shot at it. This time - if you start to have issues - you can just maintain until you are ready to go forward again. It's not a race - there is no "finish" line. Life is a learning process. Welcome.

Ahhhh - that "FINALLY!!!" feeling. Enjoy it! I am still waiting... *sigh*. Happy for you!

Like sands thru the hourglass - so are the days of our lives... Now, can we let this post die, please? I think it has outlived it's usefulness... :]

Werewolf in London... "Friday Night I crashed your party Saturday I said I'm sorry Sunday came and trashed me out again. I was only having fun wasn't hurting anyone and we all enjoyed the weekend, for a change."

I have one word for you: FIGHT http://www.obesitylaw.com/surgery.php

I am thinking it has to be centimeters... 10 inches is about the size of a skinny girls calf... :]

So true! I had about an hour of "Face" time with the doc and then took a 500+ question multiple choice test. The test took about two hours - so the three hour estimate is probably a good one. The doc asked questions like "Why do you think you are fat?" and "Why do you want this surgery?". I am thinking that if I told him I was fat because Gremlins came in the night and put cotton in my belly, I probably would not have "passed" the psych eval. (But I lied and told him it was because I eat too much! LOL) I wouldn't worry about it too much. Read the questions on the test carefully and answer truthfully and you should be fine. Good Luck!!

Go, Lovecats! Go! Rock On!

Have you tried "Real Diets" before? If you haven't - then by all means try. But, I suspect that you probably have - on numerous occasions - if you're anything like the rest of us. So, what happens if you lose 30-40-60 pounds in the next 6 mos? Are you going to gut it out and keep trying on your own? Are you going to get the surgery? And will your spouse support you if you decide to get the surgery? Or will he just use that as proof that you can do it on your own? And what if you Don't lose weight? Will he say that you just didn't try and make another DEAL? I am sad to say that it is sounding more and more like emotional blackmail/control issues to me. Take it from a really big 40 yr old girl - there ain't no 'easy way' and dieting without help is HELL. I take it the spousal unit is not large? If he was, he would know this. If he isn't - then there is NO WAY he can understand. I think you should think long and hard - and ask the questions about what will happen after 6 mos. If you ARE going to cut a deal - do it right. Determine that after 6 mos, you may elect to get the surgery to continue with your success - or you may not - but he must support you in whatever decision you make. Just my 2 cents. I know I have tried Real Diets all my life - and I hate to see you waste a lot of time that you could be enjoying life as a thinner, healthier person. I WISH there had been a Lap-Band option when I was 27. One last unhappy thought - sometimes it is the people who love us the most, that do us the most damage. I hope, I REALLY HOPE, that you have every success in whatever decision you make.

I'll do it. I am still waiting on the Red-tape to clear - but I will get a photo taken - or find one and write up my reasons for doing the surgery. :]

ok Find Wee Lass Hell on Wheels raises a Toast to Certainly She Fall on Ass. LOL

very carefully... Finduilas HelyanwëFinduilas Helyanwë Finn-Dwee-Lass hel-ee-on-wee I sort of like that my surname rings like "hell on wheels"

***AND*** Since when has it been about being LIGHTER? This whole process is about getting THINNER. If you want a number to think about - try your latest dress size - SMASH THAT scale.