Wheetsin

No better, just suited on an individual basis. Since this is a lap-band board, most people here found the lap-band to be the better choice for them. You've been given some good links. Additionally, search terms like "pros and cons," "band vs bypass," etc. And if you haven't yet, find a bypass board and ask their opinion. Best to get both sides of the story from people actually living with it.

Sex appeal... so since we're mostly women, I vote that this little chunk of sex appeal gets put up instead:

You know, I would have to see it on fluoro to be convinced that this happens. To me, it's not logical. I would think that if you have food in your pounch and drink, either the water trickles through the food, maybe taking some small bits with it - or the water gathers on top of the food, causing discomfort (I KNOW for a fact this happens, but not all the time).

I can go to a lot more places. But I still find the best cut for my shape at LB. :rolleyes I did find some jeans at Gordman's that fit great, so I bought one, and one each in the next 3 sizes down, but most of what I buy are work clothes. I'm still a plus size so no going to any random place just yet, but I'm definitely no longer limited to just a handful of stores. Most tops I'm an 18/20, sometimes a 14/16, sometimes a 22/24. Most bottoms I'm a 22, sometimes 20, sometimes 24. I've been embracing the store changes. When I bought Catherine's 0X and it was too big, it was sooo nice to ask, "Do you have anything smaller?" I don't miss that place one bit!

When I asked such questions in a previous threads, the replies were along the lines of: god understands if people haven't gotten the word, and while disappointed that they didn't give in to the "natural" inclination to have faith in him, he can be forgiving for those who didn't have the opportunity. It's pretty much the answer you'd expect to get, no? There are pbviously a lot of mini debates hiding in that answer.

If you aren't already, take pictures. Taking them nude is best, but if you aren't comfortable with that, try to take them in the same outfit. The side by side evidence this provides will help. I have to do it to see a difference, and even then I rationalize it (flattering angle, those clothes are slimming, etc.) Just keep doing it, and eventually it's going to be undoubtable.

They don't bother me, then again I'm running 1600x1200. I wonder if it's partially a matter of resolution for those it does bother?

This is a really good point. I am definitely a facts-oriented person, but I understand the concept of faith. It doesn't make much sense to me in the concept of religion, but if it did, I wouldn't be me. I was looking for something I posted a very long time ago, because that's easier than re-typing it. I couldn't find the exact post (though I could find one that references it), but here's something similar: Point being, if you come to any forum online or not, with the expectation of entering into a religion-based argument/debate/discussion with the intentions of "winning," you will never succeed because there is no win, there is only share beliefs and at the end of the day it's probably a matter of agree to disagree, but wither way chances are great that both sides walk away knowing more about the other than they did before the dialogue occurred.

Sunta, it could be either of us. We were both quoted, then referred to as "person." *shrug* *I* don't think we look alike...

<p> By and large, the atheists "here" aren't angry. And least not enough so to warrant such a blanket statement. Is that typical of the ignorant christians here? (Yes, that's a parallel, for parallel's sake). I understand it's a common blanket from whence to make a statement. Christians don't understand how we could be happy without [whatever version it is] their god. And if you're referring to Sunta (since she has largely been the one expressing anger), she has said many times that she is not atheist. As for the others, don't assume that anger in a message = an angry person. Otherwise I can quote you many angry PEOPLE, theistic beliefs notwithstanding.</p>

It's okt o call them and them to tell you a joke, if that's what you want. They may not oblige, but they are there to serve you.

Our LBs are very business oriented, not clubby at all - but I know exactly what you're talking about. I'm going to guess that at least half, if not more, of the store is dedicated to business wear, and they do carry some sharp slacks (that's mostly what I buy there). Our Catherine's is very much geared to an older, as in much older, crowd. But if purple sequins ever become my thing, it will do me well. Our Fashion Bug is split - some businesswear, but mostly stuff that's a little younger than I am. (Fashion Bug, LB and Catherine's - and maybe a fourth, I can't remember, are part of "Charming Shops".) And for anyone who may not know, the LB mail order catalog has never been affiliated with LB. And, in fact, they've recently had to change their name and are now called "Women Within" or "The Woman Within," something like that. My style, at least before I got fat and could still wear it, was very much along the lines of banana Republic, and for work Anne Taylor/Loft. My style never changed, but when "what fits" begins to matter much more than "what I like," you find your style becomes subject to change. Not really. I'm so glad I'm back into decent clothes.

I'm out of the social loop at work because I can't talk with them about the things they talk about - mostly tv shows. Some of the ones I hear about are Lost (have never watched a single episode), House (have never watched a single episode), Grey's Anatomy (saw one episode and was completely lost), American Idol (have never watched a single episode), The office (have never seen it, but have had many people tell me I would like it), Survivor (have seen a total of about 15 minutes in the form of 1 minute here and there)... you get the idea. There are a few shows I watch, but I don't plan my day around it like some of the people I work with. I have seriously heard things like, "I can't, House is on tonight." I haven't heard something like that since college, when the dormies used to plan their school schedules around being able to watch Jerry Springer. It's amazing, and I can attest to it - being so far removed - how much emphasis society puts on these television shows. Entire conversations revolve around them. They're a way for people to reunite after a weekend apart, or at the beginning of a new work day. Little subset of language are popping up left and right that consist of references to these shows. They're even becoming verbs, e.g. "He Housed him in the meeting." I know a litle more about music. At one point I was extremely tapped into the music world - well, for the genres I enjoyed, anyway. But I still tend to stick with my old favorites, and have not learned much about the new musical generations. Good thing I have lots of books.

No, unfortunately I really am that dumb when it comes to country music. If that's who it was (I have no idea, surely there are other Billy Rays, but I've never seen that dancing show, I don't watch much pop tv) I can picture him, from seeing him on tv once, but I only know of one song he did and really couldn't remember the name of it, just that it was something stupid and rhymey, and there was some kind of dance that went with it. My C&W IQ is somewhere in the negatives. Honestly. Here's a test. Wheetsin, name all the C&W artists you can think of (in modern time), and the name of one song they have done: Garth Brooks - don't know a single name Faith Hill - I don't know a single name, but she's pretty, and I know she is married to another C&W singer I don't know the person's name, but someone sang a song about things that "don't impress me much," and one of the things mentioned Brad Pitt. Dixie Chicks - Wide Open Spaces (easy, a co-worker used to play it over and over) I know there's a guy named Kenny Chestnut (or something like that, sounds like Chestnut) because he has some kind of restaurant here and I've seen it on a billboard, but I have no idea what he sings. Umm... Yeah, that's about all I got.

I haven't heard of anything. What kinds of challenges is your wife encoutnering?

I don't think it will change in the sense of a true personality shift. Someone can geratly love spending time with other people and be more willing to do it as they lose weight (I know I'm more willing now, especially when it involves people I would be meeting for the first time), but I believe that in their heart of hearts they will continue to be introverts. Think about introversion and what it really means. It isn't about enjoying crowds or being the center of attention (loosely, but not directly), it's about how you recharge your batteries, so to speak. I can facilitate a seminar and have a good time, and do a great job in front of the large audience. Even do the dinner afterwards. But that night, I need the me time alone in my hotel room to process what happened during the day and "rest up" from the effort.

Excommunication is the term she used with me. I can't say she wasn't misusing it, or using it because she figured I knew nothing about it. She divorced and them remarried outside of the church (at the DMV!) All I know for sure is that she has limitations on what she's able to do. E.g. she cannot receive sacraments, but she can attend mass. And I know that in order to be accepted back into the church, she had to do a lot of things she just wasn't willing to go (or perhaps that was in order to have her marriage to my father recognized... I really don't remember, we don't talk about it frequently). Hmm... I feel like an atheist whose mother poured tea on her head. Nope, not really! :biggrin1:

This seems beneficial to bypass patients, but hwo does it help the lap-band folks? Some things are similar, but there aren't a whole lot of consistencies in the day-to-day (which is what most people seem to struggle with). Do you find it helpful? (Truly wondering, not doubting - I've considered going to a group that's mainly RNY, but haven't because I don't see the value). My surgeon has a group that meets once a month. I don't mean this like it sounds, but I'm not much of a support group person. I don't get a lot out of it. Mainly when I go it's to help others. (I lied, mainly it's an opportunity to meet up with a few ladies I've befriended). I should add that the one I went to saw a few regulars, but was mostly new/upcoming patients asking the same exact questions over and over, and then never implementing the advice you give them. *sigh* Maybe I'm just a bit disillusioned.

My mom is Catholic. I was born about 2 months premature. When I was maybe 2 weeks old I contracted (streptococcal) spinal meningitis. It was a bad case. I was misdiagnosed for 3 days, so by the time I was properly diagnosed, it was critical and they didn't think I would live. (As I'm told) I spent several weeks in the hospital with about 14 IVs hooked into my spine and head, and they pulled so many spinals that I ran dry. At one point during the 2nd week they called my mother (who had JUST left, long enough to shower and pick up some clothes) and told her that if she wanted to say good-bye to me, she had better hurry up and get back out there. I'm fuzzy on the details, but at some point she panicked because I had not been baptized yet, and baptized me herself. So we have an excommunicated Catholic buying an iced tea from the vending machine and using it in lieu of holy water - I'm guessing it didn't really count. That's the only time they took the initiative to influence religion in my life. And I don't exactly remember it, so we're cool.

That's the biggest reason I shop there. I'm between 5'10 and 5'11, and fairly long legged. At many stores, the "talls" are not tall enough (esp. since I like my jeans a little on the long side, because either I'm wearing them with some kind of sandal and like the fullness in the leg, or I'm wearing them with some kind of heel and need the extra length). LB's talls are perfect, and sometimes they're even a bit too long. When I say I'm hard to fit, it's a combination of my height and my shape. I'm hourglassy, but not in a good way. I'm always one full size smaller on top, usually two, and my waist is significantly thinner than my hips, which are - by far - the worst part of me. In a lot of stores, if something fits my hips, it's gaping at the waist. Or if it fits my waist, my hips are pulling the pockets tight. A lot of LB stuff is a very ideal cut for me, and saves me the add'l $ of having the pieces tailored. Lately I've been hitting Dress Barn. A lot of their stuff is not really my style, but it's dress season and they have some of the cutest dresses. PLUS I wear their size 16, so I'll shop their for the ego benefit alone. I did pick up a few things at Fashion Bug, their cuts work for my shape too. I've also been hitting Target a lot lately. I go to Avenue mostly for shoes, but they have some cute things in. Their cuts don't work for me as well. The one good thing is that since they carry 30/32, a lot of the larger women (trust me, I was one of them) shop there more so than the in betweens. So their larger sizes sell out, leaving the smaller sizes to go to clearance. Woo hoo! (I'm either their 14/16 or 18/20, sometimes 22 in pants... so I can ALWAYS find stuff for cheap)

Carlene, I haven't heard of the towel approach. Are they made by most sunless tanning manufacturers, or are they one specific brand?

My plan (all along, because I'm way too pastey to pull the color of this dress off as-is) has been to Mystic Tan. I'm actually going to try it out this weekend. That way if I get too orangey or just look weird, there's time to 1) let it come off and 2) find something else. I've seen people do this and look great, and I've seen people look really weird. I sought out & got some recommendations on places that are good about tailoring the strength to your skin tone. I've also been using that Jergen's "daily glow" (I think it is) lotion stuff. Mediocre results, a little streaky. And man - that stuff stinks! I am not a fan of tanning. I don't like encouraging the risk of problems (cancer runs in the family, mother is a melanoma survivior, had to have a mole removed when I was 14, etc.), plus tanning makes me freckly, and Wheetsin wasn't meant to be a ginger. The sun doesn't make me freckly, but tanning does. Go figure. A girl that I work with used to be a hair dresser and wants to do my hair. I don't know - I can do a pretty mean up-do myself. (But I cheat and use regular bobby pins and roller pins for the larger chunks of hair, and hide them with other hair pieces.... I can never get hair pins to do anything other than fall out). But I'm going there the weekend before so she can practice and show me what she wants to do. I like the hair bling, I used to do that back when proms were a part of my life. Not over the top for a wedding? Those are 3.5" heels, and my limit is 3. So I need to practice in them, and have hubby rate my wobble for me. That's probably the most important thing. Good thing hubby is tall (I'm 5'10, and with heels can tend to tower).

Hey Strawarts, nice to see you around again! It's a piece of dust, small bug, etc. reflecting light from the flash. No worries. Your question was no more strange than all the people who see these things and call them "ghosts" or "orbs"!

I have the problem off and on. How weird is that? But it's true. If you go to edit in advanced mode, it's much nicer. It's still not perfect as it leaves some code tags in that you'll have to edit out (e.g. special characters like quotes are translated to their code equivalents, paragraph tages are in place, etc.), and this is at least better than the smiley faces.

Whole lot of nothing. The store I had to go to (to pick up the 2nd pair of pants) is one I'd never gone to before. And no one there knew the story. So I was very nondescript about it. I just put my bag on the counter, told her I needed to pick up some pants - but also had a few issues she could help me with. Apparently the bottoms that weren't in the sale weren't supposed to hit the stores when they did and actually came out early. Hence they weren't in the "store system." When I told her I expected her to still give me the sales price, she just called someone over and asked how to do it. I also told her I wanted the 30% off your purchase applied to my shoes. She did it no questions asked. Hmm... too bad this store isn't closer to me, or I'd have a new home. (Actually I'm in a blend of 14/16 and 18/20 at LB, so I may find that I've lap-banded myself out of that store soon enough!)