Happy_Girl

It's called PhotoFacial. It's supposed to remove fine lines and sun damage - basically sun damage. Oh, it's supposed to shrink your pores, too.

The eyes lasered thing was to correct my vision problems. I was blind was a bat. No more contacts or glasses for me now! Yippie! I'm thinking about botox and the laser thing that is supposed to stimulate collagen and remove any sun damage (can't remember what it's called - der) this fall.

I am sooooo jealous. I've been thinking about getting botox myself. I don't have any problem areas -- just starting to get crows feet and laugh lines (no frown lines - my handle is happy girl, after all). I budget about $5K for personal appearance every year (because I'm worth it), but I've already spent $10K for the lap band surgery this year. Over budget and it's only March. Yipes! Last year I got my eyes lasered. I HIGHLY recommend that, by the way. I was going to wait until next year to get any cosmetic enhancements that I thought were needed (since I'm over budget). After all, my 40,000 tune up is due. So, what's the final verdict? Is it worth it? I'm in a carpe diem kinda mood. And I gotta look good for all of these younger men who are all of a sudden showing a whole lot of interest in little ol' me.

If you've never read Maya Angelou's collection of autobiographies, you should. It has nothing to do with weight loss, but I found them very inspirational and she's led a fascinating life. Very well written, too. At one point in my life (several years ago, jeez I'm getting old), I was a single mother with no money and no education feeling very overwhelmed. Reading this got me to thinking that if she could overcome what she overcame, I need to quit whining and just do what I needed to do. You know...I'm needing a fresh dose of inspiration. I'm going to re-read those books and see if that inspriation can't be applied to my life's challenges today.

I know it's small consolation, but you're mighty cute and I'm sure that there will be plenty of women just dying to help you heal. Your british accent alone would get you pretty far where I'm from. Giggle, giggle, blush. I'm not trying to trivialize your pain, just know that it will get better. I promise. I wouldn't lead you astray.

I'm in the same boat. I've only lost one pound since my follow up appointment on 02/02 and am feeling a little disappointed. I'm off the liquid diet, but I ran the numbers and had been only eating about 1,000 cal/day. I've upped my calories this week to about 1,500 hoping that next week, after I get my first fill on Monday, 02/16, the weight will start falling off again.

I lead the team responsible for filing the consolidated federal income tax return for one of the big 5 oil companies in the US. a/k/a glorified accountant/CPA It's a glamorous life but someone has to do it.

You should talk to the doctor about his support staff and mention the appointment times consistently running late. Remember he's running basically a small business and he probably isn't aware of the bad conduct of his staff or the scheduling problems that are going on. If you were the doctor, wouldn't you want someone to let you know what's going on? I would. Spin it as you are just looking after his best interests and the interests of his business. A trick I try to use for all doctor appointments is to schedule the first appointment or two of the day or right after their lunch break. That way they're not running behind and my wait in minimized. I even call my hair dresser and see how she's doing on time before I head her way (she's always running late, too). Time is money, baby! :bored: Hope this helps!

I gained 3 lbs. I just kept drinking my Water and by day three i was back on the right track. It's just water - I promise. :bored:

Well it started out as being something very morbid. I'm having my surgery this Thursday, January 22nd and I was thinking that I didn't want my family to have to go through my closets all in disarry if I died during surgery. I told you it was morbid. So, I started cleaning out my closets. I have two big walk-ins and they were crammed full of clothes in a wide, wide range of sizes. I weeded out everything that even if they fit, I would never wear (tapered ankles anyone?) and have routed them to Goodwill. I swear, I've been holding onto some things I haven't worn in over 15 years. The Goodwill pile was embarrasingly HUGE. :huh2: Anyway, I ended up with one closet full of clothes that fit now or will within the next 15 lbs or so. And the other one full of clothes that will need a little more weight loss. I'm going to tell myself that I'm shopping when I dip into closet #2 since I'm trying to refrain. Some of the stuff in closet #2 is pretty cute! The end result was some very organized closets and I'm all freshly motivated to get into some of those cute things in closet #2! I highly recommend the closet cleaning. It's very cathartic.

I think the size changes will vary by person. Body type, height, weight loss, etc. will all effect when you change sizes. I wear a size 18 from about 250-225. I'll hit a size 16 from about 225-205. I haven't been below that in so long that I don't recall.

Take a dose of Milk of Magnesia. I was banded Thursday, January 22nd and took some yesterday. I pooped a few hours later :confused: and it seemed to take the gas pain with it. I've never been so happy to poop. I'm one day ahead of you and what a difference a day makes. I was only out of bed for an hour or so yesterday. Today I'm up doing laundry and some light housework. I feel sore but sore like you get two days after a really hard ab workout. Hang in there. It'll get better tomorrow.

I'm so glad you had a good experience. I'm getting banded at the same place Thursday morning (different doctor, though), and am starting to get a little freaked out!:thumbup: Maybe it's the loads of fun I've been having with the pre-op diet? Hhhmmm? Anyway...your post made me feel better. Thanks.

I got a divorce last summer after 15 unhappy years with my former spouse. I didn't stay for money (I make alot more). I didn't stay for kids (we didn't have any together). I had some misguided notion that I could fix him - that I had an obligation to fix him. I finally realized that I couldn't change who he was, and who he was wasn't good enough for me. I told him, "You win. You don't have to be a good husband to me." I called a lawyer the next day and was divorced within the month! It's like I could breathe again! So, the moral of the story is...you can't change someone else no matter how many years you spend on it. Don't waste any more of your life if you have a lost cause on your hands.

I'm paying cash for my lap band in January 2009. If I have a complication at some point in the future that requires additional procedures (i.e. slippage, erosion, etc.), will insurance cover those costs?

Your response makes me sad because it's so, so true. I'm sorry you (well all of us for that matter) have had to go through these unpleasant experiences. People who have never struggled with this simply do not understand. You're right --- I have been struggling with how to deal with this, but, I will not tell people when I am banded in Jan '09.

I'm getting banded in January and am torn on whether tell people, too. I socialize quite a bit with my co-workers. But, if I tell ANYONE at work, then everyone will eventually know; and while most people will be supportive, the next time I correct an employee or receive a promotion over someone else, I fear the cattiness will emerge. But on the other hand...i feel that any "shame" I might be feeling can't be healthy. Maybe I'm underestimating people. I just know that once that cat is out of the bag, there's not putting it back in. So...I'm feeling a little isolated and am in the same quandry you are. :laugh:(

I'm scheduled for 01/23/2009 and have my pre-op scheduled for Dec 15th. I'm driving to DFW and using TLC Edge since I'm paying for this out of pocket. I'm getting a little anxious - ready to do this now!