anonemouse

You aren't kidding. The plus size section absolutely sucks. But I personally hate Lane Bryant, too. When you're fat and short (and I'm barely under average height), clothes shopping is the pits. At Lane Bryant, they apparently think that as women get wider, they also get taller. I can't even wear their petite stuff; it's 4 inches too long. Their shirts don't fit right either; the arms are too long, the neckline's too wide, etc. Seriously, I got the most flack about having the surgery from women that were much heavier than I was and who had already had surgery. They apparently couldn't see that while I wasn't as fat as they were, I was still fat and qualified for insurance coverage.

Back with a review of the tropical flavor: Not horrendous, but not what I'd like to drink every day, honestly. Now, take into account that I'm pretty darn sensitive to the taste of artificial sweeteners. This stuff is SWEET. Way, way too sweet for me. The fruity flavor otherwise isn't terrible. It's not got as strong an "artificial sweetener" flavor to it as it could have, since it's sweetened with aspartame instead of Splenda, but still very much oversweetened. I might be able to drink it if I dilute it, maybe put 1/2 packet in instead of 1 packet per bottle. But then it would only be worth 3 grams of Protein per 32 ounces, so I'm not sure that's worth the price of a box of 7 packets. BUT, if you can't drink regular, unflavored Water and you like drinks like Crystal Lite, you'd probably love this stuff. Personally, I've drunk about 1/4 bottle of it, and I'm about to pour the rest out and get some plain water.

Dude, I think ANYONE willing to take on the office of President (even if it's a write-in) is scary and probably crooked as hell. :biggrin: I think we're down to voting for the least scary, unfortunately.

That's what I can't wait for. One more size, maybe 1/2 size! I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

I caught a LOT of flack before I had surgery, and even while I was in the hospital AFTER surgery (from the nurses). I was told repeatedly when I went to the support group meetings that my original surgeon required that "you're not big enough," "why are you doing this, you're skinny?", etc. And that was from other fat people! I really think people that are very large just don't have an accurate sense of how large other people really are, unless they are larger than them. To those people, I was a "skinny mini." To people that were a normal, healthy weight, I was FAT. But yeah, I got comments and looks from my family, too. My mom wanted me to "just pretend like you had surgery." Literally, that's what she told me. My dad was the king of critical looks and slightly snide comments. I took the higher road, no matter how angry and hurt it made me, and I'm glad I did now. I've proven them wrong. I'm successful and I'm determined to reach my goal weight. Hell, my dad even told me how proud he was of me! THAT blew me away.

Ladies, I waited too long to go shopping in my closet. I realized that my 18WPs were getting way too baggy (I try to wear them as long as possible), and I had four pairs of 16WPs in my closet from my last unsuccessful diet that I hadn't even taken the tags off of. Went to try them on. Some of them are okay, slightly baggier than I prefer, but wearable. A couple of the others are just barely wearable. I mean, we're talking saggy-ass, pull them up to my breasts, BIG. I don't think I can wear them. Awesome, but irritating, since they've NEVER BEEN WORN. I'm really going to have to start up with Ebay, I think. I've got the two pairs of 16WPs (soon to be more, hopefully), a pair of 18WPs that are barely worn, a pair of 20WPs that are barely worn, etc. After these get too big (I LOVE saying that, btw), I'll HAVE to go shopping, since I haven't been smaller than a 16W for years. Hell, I need to go get some Spanx. Maybe I can go down another size!

I don't doubt he'll get some (the more intelligent ones, perhaps), but I think a lot of them won't vote for him when it gets right down to it. There's so many people in this country that consider the Christian religion to be the most important thing in their lives, PERIOD, that I really doubt they'll vote someone into the Presidency when they'd be pretty unlikely to hire them for a job, if they applied. They might give lipservice to voting for him now, but I think that'll go out the window when they go to the ballots on voting day and have to choose between someone that they, deep-down, think is in a non-Christian cult, and someone that they do consider to be Christian. Either way, it's going to be interesting. I don't know whether to hope I'm wrong or hope that I'm right. If I'm wrong, the Democrats will have a lot harder fight. If I'm right, the fight'll be much easier, but it means that a whole bunch of Americans are ignorant asses.

You and I know that it's stupid, but I wouldn't be the least surprised if it happens. Just judging from reactions of many ultra-conservative Christians in my area and that I've talked to online, whenever LDS/Mormonism is introduced in the conversation,they start talking about cults, and "not Christian," and things of that nature. I doubt they'll vote for someone that they think is part of a cult. And heck, we're talking about Americans here. We're not exactly known as the most informed voters.

Bite your tongue! :puke:

Oh, yeah, as a Democrat, I kind of DO want Huckabee as the Republican nominee, even though he DOES scare me. He's scary to Democrats, but a lot of Republicans think he's scary, too. Romney would be harder to beat than Huckabee, but I still think a lot of ultra-conservatives won't vote for him. He'll probably get the moderate and liberal Republicans, but I seriously doubt he'll get much backing from ultra-conservative Christian Republicans. If he's the Republican nominee, I predict a boost for Democrats from the ultra-conservative sector. I doubt they'll consider anyone who they don't think is Christian.

I would not be surprised in the least. Hey, if that happens, I'll be related by marriage to the possible future VP! *shudders in horror* (My SIL's cousin is married to Thompson's son.)

We need to see more of you, Lisah! It's good to have you back!

Frankly, Huckabee seriously scares me. I think he'd be even worse than what we've got now, in terms of letting his religious beliefs influence his decisions. Don't get me wrong, I think he's probably a great pastor for the people that believe the way he does, but I don't think he'd be able to set aside his personal beliefs enough to act in the best interests of the nation as a whole. I like all the Democratic nominees, so I really don't care which one gets nominated. Now, as for the Republican nominees.... Well, I seriously doubt that Romney would win, if nominated. There are way too many very conservative Christian Republicans who don't think that Mormons are Christians for him to win. I honestly think many of them would probably rather have a Christian Democrat in the President's office than a Mormon Republican (yes, you and I both know that Mormons are Christians, but still). Huckabee, like I said earlier, is way too conservative. After the last 8 years, I think moderate and liberal Republicans (if there are such creatures) will probably run screaming from him. Giuliani? Maybe, if the ultra-conservatives can get past the adultery/divorce/pro-life/flip-flopping thing. McCain probably has a better chance, but he'll still have problems from the moderate/liberal Republicans who think he's sold out to the ultra-conservatives.

I had a fill yesterday, and my doc put in .5 cc. That's a pretty big fill, considering I already had over 2 ccs in my band. I'm TIGHT. I had hit my sweet spot with the last one, but lost enough weight that I had been really loose recently. I was even eating bread! Not tons, of course, but when I've got good restriction, I can't even nibble on bread. Right now, I'm having to sip, sip, sip everything. But that's fine. My doc says that as long as I can get liquids down, I'm good.

There are galleries at www.makemeheal.com that you can look at. Many plastic surgeons also put examples of their work online.

Worth it? HELL YES! Let me put it this way, I've NEVER been able to lost 40+ pounds before. EVER. I'm still losing, too, and I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that I will reach goal and stay there. And the best thing? I don't feel deprived at all. This isn't a diet, it's a new way of life.

I think it'll depend on your specific policy, just like with banding. From what I understand, though, even if the policy covers it, the insurance company generally won't approve it unless the skin is causing some major, chronic issues (rashes, infections, etc.).

Please stay! Like SElaine said, we're all struggling with our weight here. You aren't going to be any less welcome just because you didn't have surgery!

I REALLY doubt it. Now, I'm sure you could make it a mushy, by cooking it until it's glue, but who would want to? Bleh!

I've actually found that I suffer from head hunger more when I don't indulge myself. As a result, if I get a craving for something, I'll go ahead and have it, but just a little of it. I learned not to just keep eating the hard way, with a bunch of take-out from Outback. Boy, that hurt. NEVER AGAIN.

I picked up the tropical flavor to try, so I'll update with the results!

I buy Seapoint Farms, or something like that. I get it at Kroger, though, so I don't know if Walmart carries it.

Try the frozen, ready-to-cook kind, if you can find it. It's REALLY good. It's become my favorite veggie.

I couldn't have said it better myself! I mean, I'm 24 and I want to feel comfortable and confident in my body, for once in my life, and not feel like hiding. I look bad because I'm fat right now, and I don't want to look bad in the future because I settled for "good enough" when it comes to plastics. I want "good," not "good enough."

Honestly, I think we're in for a big improvement over what we've currently got, as long as Huckabee isn't the one voted in. At the moment, he's the only one that REALLY gives me the creeps. I keep wanting to use the sign for the evil eye against him.