Manatee

Hey, if this place can have a board so that ladies can discuss masturbation in excruciating detail, it can support alternative WLS.

At my hospital, the issue between RNY and Bandsters got so bad they split the support groups up. According to the bariatric coordinator, the level of hostility was enormous. I have to agree with the poster who stated that this is primarily a female thing. Females use psych-ops to establish pecking orders and dominance, and making someone feel like an outsider is step 1 in controlling them. All I know is that I posted on Obesity Help, and the RnYers just came after me with a passion. I personally don't care what one did to themselves and their internal organs, but calling me out for my choices isn't their place. I haven't seen that level of attack here against other types of surgery, except maybe in isolated R&R threads.

So, I've officially abandoned the 165 goal. I would probably be there if I weren't working out, but there's been some significant muscle mass gain over the past year. So, my new goal is a 31" waist. We'll see how that plays out

Has anyone here talked to a shrink after losing a lot of weight? I need to work out some body image issues, but have absolutely no idea how to pick a therapist. Are there ones out there that focus on bariatric issues? Is there a list perhaps? How do you choose?

"Body dysmorphia" aka "body dysmorphic disorder": pathological preoccupation with an imagined or slight physical defect of one's body to the point of causing significant stress or behavioral impairment in several areas (as work and personal relationships) In my case, it means I'm actually more unhappy with my body now with the small spare tire than I was when I was huge -- because when I was huge I simply ignored the body shape entirely.

Before and during, that's just over a 100 lb difference in just over a year

Thoughts on a support meeting When one starts the journey toward a band, one gets showered with advice. Some of the most common advice involves so-called 'support systems', where the banded person is supposed to make sure they are surrounded by caring, nurturing, happy people who will cheer and encourage every lost pound and every non-scale-victory. Thank the non-existent God that I am not the type that requires those people. First, shiny happy people annoy me, and second, it's simply not fair to be that kind of burden when most people are up to their ears in dealing with their own demons. However, I recently decided to attend a gastric banding support meeting at the local hospital. I did so for a few reasons: I was asked to attend by the gastric banding coordinator, I was curious, and I needed to see if there were any resources out there to help me fix my freaking head. Honestly, I didn't expect to get a whole lot out of the meeting. In truth, it was far more interesting and far less useful than I was expecting. I'm not certain it was a waste of time, and thus am considering attending the one next month. So, why more interesting than expected? I picked up a lot of tips from the other bandsters, especially about food choices and such. It was also interesting to see who had done well and who hadn't, and to listen to both camps explain why. The coordinator/facilitator kept the flow going, allowing few flat spots and no hostile attacks. All in all a positive environment. But less useful? Yes, less useful than I had hoped. There were very few people who had been banded longer than I, and of those none were nearing the end of their journey. As such, the conversations were still all about the physical end of this process. What can we eat, how to deal with stuck food, who should we tell about the band. All very legitimate topics, but not really anything I needed to discuss. I threw the word 'dysmorphia' out there once, and the blank looks around the room told me all I needed to know. These people don't have a clue yet what's headed their way. There's nothing here for me. So why am I considering going to the next meeting? Two reasons: there's a guest speaker next time, a psychologist (or psychiatrist, I forget which) that specializes in eating disorders. She's mainly a bulimic/anorexic person, but I would think that she has some experience in body image issues. After all, isn't that the core of anorexia? Second, I think maybe there's something I can offer the others. Obviously I don't want to scare them, but maybe I can offer some advice and perspective to the ones that are two weeks or three month out from the surgery. Maybe. One more meeting, and reevaluate from there.

Anyone know a GOOD surgeon in the UHC network in the metromess? I need a chop-n-chisel in the abdominal area.

awwwwwwww, Froggi is SO mistreated.... People reap what they sow.

The weight loss removed my need for the machine completely.

I've decided to follow Paulax's example and create a countdown thread to force a little accountability onto me. I'm about 25 lbs from where I want to be (160-165), and been basically stalled since October. So, time to push... 25

Y'all have all seen the infamous In-and-Out burger 100x100, right?

Just posting to say random restriction is annoying as heck. Yesterday was fine, today I can't drink without gurgling. WTF?

So since I started this thread, I was diagnosed with a slip, had revision surgery, was unfilled for several months, an bounced back to 200 lbs. Right now I'm at 182 lbs, so time to restart the clock. I'm not sure I even can get to my original goal weight due to the muscle weight, but we will see. All I really know is that I have a pool party with my fellow gym rats on August 16 -- Time to PUSH 17

So, yesterday I bought 33" waist jeans. Every brand is different, but that's the smallest I've had yet. $9 each on sale :biggrin: I was curious about the mannequin, so I checked out what size they had on it. 32 waist! Now, I'm not the same -shape- as Mr Plastic Abs there, but it's kinda cool to think I'm kinda close to that size. Interesting.

So, yesterday I bought 33" waist jeans. Every brand is different, but that's the smallest I've had yet. $9 each on sale :biggrin: I was curious about the mannequin, so I checked out what size they had on it. 32 waist! Now, I'm not the same -shape- as Mr Plastic Abs there, but it's kinda cool to think I'm kinda close to that size. Interesting.

I asked this elsewhere, but wanted a 'goal-ster' viewpoint: when do people forget your old self? I'm getting -really- tired of every conversation with people eventually including something about my weight loss/eating/exercise/etc. I'm tired of coworkers still treating me as if I were 'fat and lazy' (not that I was ever lazy). I'm tired of being firmly in the 'friend zone'. It's almost as if for most people, they're just sitting back waiting for the fatman to reappear. I'm only a year out, so I'm guessing that this goes away after a while, but perhaps it doesn't. Maybe the next step is to move somewhere that people never knew that old me? Thoughts?

I never thought I'd post shirtless pics, but here you all go -- now you can see the 15-20 I'm still working on Damn weight is just -hanging- on. Can't figure it out. Going tighter is NOT an option for me, I've become pretty intolerant of the fills lately :thumbup:

I never thought I'd post shirtless pics, but here you all go -- now you can see the 15-20 I'm still working on Damn weight is just -hanging- on. Can't figure it out. Going tighter is NOT an option for me, I've become pretty intolerant of the fills lately :thumbup:

Holy cow. BBK, you've just absolutely rocked in this whole journey. You're a stunner, I hope that your life turns into everything you've ever wanted.