anniedub

Hi, Just thought I would add my $0.02. I was dating a guy a little while ago just before I hit my goal weight, and it never even came up. He saw me naked, was VERY close to my scars and my little "lump" but never seemed to notice - or was too polite to ask. I'm quite short, so I can just say "I'm little, so I don't need much food". I've never had anyone call me on it. So don't get worried and worked up about how you'll respond to questioning - remember, most men are not very observant!

Hi Shamrocks, A quick post to let you all know that I am thinking of everyone as we experience our 1 year bandiversaries. Some of us are where we wanted to be, some of us are still working towards it, but all of us are successful no matter what, because we are still going. We haven't thrown in the towel, or put it in the "too hard basket". And that in itself is what makes us successful. Love to all of you xoxoxox

As serious and sad as the situation is, I can't help but giggle when she is referred to as "Octo-pussy" :thumbup:

Hi Shamrocks, Just wanted to let you know that I'm still trucking! I had to move out into the country for work, I don't have the internet so I don't get to check anything at all very often! I miss hearing the stories, the triumphs, the tears and the challenges of our group. We are almost hitting our one year anniversary, mine is only 2 weeks away. I hope everyone is still on track and staying strong. Miss you all! Much love and best wishes, Annie xoxox

Oprah is so ignorant. She makes me LOL.

Hi there ladies, Something that has been bugging me for a while. When I was morbidly obese, I had shitty self esteem. I thought that I was absolutely worthless, no-one would ever love me, I looked fat and horrible and ugly. Everything that comes along with low self esteem. Anyway, I am almost at goal weight now -- so why don't I feel any better? I thought that losing weight would help me feel better about myself and how I looked, but I still feel exactly the same as I did when I was 60 lbs heavier. I don't know whether I've just had a shitty night and so I'm down in the dumps because of that, or what. I went out with some friends tonight, I was feeling like I looked good (for the first time in a long time), but then EVERY ONE of my girlfriends got hit on tonight except me. I was trying to flirt with this one guy (I'm not very good at flirting) and one of my girlfriends just comes in, bats her eyelids a little and he's making out with her in 30 seconds flat. So I come home and I just keep feeling like shit. It wasn't meant to happen this way! I was meant to lose weight and feel better about myself! What should I do?? Sorry, this has turned into a bit of a rant.

Hi everyone, I've been a lazy girl, not checking the boards! Too much going on I think. But I've missed you all with your sage advice! I've finally finished my postgrad, have my graduation ceremony in a couple of weeks and I'm now just waiting to hear about work for next year. The worst part about the education system is that they only have to give you 2 days notice to start work anywhere in the state -- so I could be given 2 days notice that I have to move 15 hours drive from here! Bah! Anyway, I'm impatient and frustrated with work etc. Otherwise, my weight loss has been going well, even though some of my food choices haven't been that great. Weird, huh? I guess that's the beauty of restriction -- even when I DO decide to eat something naughty, I sure can't eat much of it! Anyway, I've been pretty down for a while, but I'm hoping I'll come back up again soon. Glad to see that we're all surviving here. Much love to all, Annie.

Hi there all, I don't have any experience with Alli (or Xenical as it is called in Australia) -- but I would warrant that any medication which comes with a warning to carry a spare pair of underpants with you at all times is NOT a medication I would want to take! :tongue: But seriously, I hope your doctor gives you some good advice and you can work on getting the weight loss ball rolling again. Hee hee @ "thinking you'll just pass a little gas but suddenly....". It's called a "Shart". You think you're just going to fart, but there's actually a surprise in store...

Hey Ghostbuster, I know the feeling. In your first post, you could be talking about me. It's uncanny. But unfortunately I don't know the answers either. I'm just going to see how life plays out, I guess. I definitely agree with "you have to love yourself before anyone else can love you" thing, about self esteem and confidence. And I'm trying to work on mine. But i know so many people who have sh-tty self-esteem and are still in a wonderful relationship! Anyway, who knows. I hope that you posted in a moment of weakness and you're now feeling a little better. Just wanted to let you know that you're not alone in those feelings. Annie.

"Precious Blood" by Jonathan Hayes -- a brilliant author AND BANDSTER. He's a regular poster here, although he doesn't advertise his book on the site. For that reason, I'll keep his username to myself. Those of us who know him, love him. It's a brilliant crime thriller, in the vein of Kathy Reichs and Patricia Cornwall. Also, "Shantaram" by Gregory David Roberts. A very thick book, but amazingly worth it. It is the autobiography of a man who escaped from prison in Australia, then went on the run, ended up in India living in the slums and became a psedo-"slum doctor". He ended up returning to serve out his sentence then setting up medical clinics and so on in the poorest parts of India. He is inspirational, and has an amazing way with words. And, of course, for those of us who are determined never to eat junk foods again, "Fast food Nation" by Eric Schlosser.

Agreed entirely. For me, restriction just feels like you're satisfied and full -- but a helluva lot quicker than ever before. This is why it's important to eat slowly, otherwise by the time your pouch is full, you will have already gulped down 4 or 5 more bites and there ain't nowhere to go but up again, baby!

Hi Ciljon, Any gap fee can be claimed on your tax (as it is an out of pocket medical expense of more than $1500). I gather than you can get up to around 50% back, if you're lucky! Depending on your other tax details, obviously. I'm just doing my tax at the moment, will let you know when I know more. Annie.