mslynn

So 41% of us who struggle with obesity have had to have the good ole GB removed. But...most of us had it out preop...that is good news I think! Mslynn :wave:

What are "BC powders"? Thanks, Mslynn :wave:

Update: I'm almost 6 weeks post-op and I've had a hard time with weight loss. I've probably lost around 8-9 lbs since being banded. That's not much, and I feel disappointed with it. I am very glad that I can keep that disappointment to myself and not have to answer all of the "How much have you lost?" questions. So far, I'm very happy I only chose to tell a few people. Will keep you posted throughout the journey. Mslynn :wave:

Thanks Jacqui, That seems like a long time to have extra skin, but I guess it's worth the chance that it might shrink up! Mslynn :wave:

How long after weight loss does it take to for skin to shrink (to the extent that it will shrink)? Thanks, Mslynn

I thought Star Jones looked a little bobble-head at times, but here Angelina Jolie looks the same... no? I think she looks too thin, and that makes her head look disproportionately large. I thought she normally looked more athletic/muscular than this...

For comparison...

Yes, I thought Jennifer Aniston looked better with the extra 5-10 lbs she had when Friends first started. She's beautiful regardless, though. I guess it's the camera adding weight...whenever I see plain old photographs, I'm always shocked at just how thin they really are. Mslynn :wave:

My concern is that if I tell more than a few, then *everyone* will know (word will get out without my control). Otherwise, if I knew it would stay managed, I'd tell 2-3 more friends... :shrug: Mslynn

Apparently Barbara Walters thinks it's gastric bypass surgery: "Walters said she and fellow producer Bill Geddie had put off telling Reynolds for months that her days on the show were numbered in hopes she could somehow "redeem" herself. She insisted that hiring O'Donnell had nothing to do with Reynolds being shown the door. A MATTER OF TRUST She said Reynolds' credibility was further tarnished by the dramatic weight loss she achieved with the help of gastric bypass surgery that Reynolds has never publicly acknowledged while touting the benefits of dieting. "The audience began to distrust her," Walters said." See http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13581950/ for the full article. Mslynn

Thanks Telly, I was wondering that myself! Mslynn :wave:

Hey Jachut, This is my fear. I look very young and get told that all the time. I'm sure once the weight is gone, I'll look my proper age. I'm sure that new wrinkles will be an easy trade off for the fat and I'll *FEEL* younger, though! I'm just anxious because when long term weight loss was a fantasy, I always pictured my body the old way. Now that it's coming (yea), I will have to accept that I'm older now (and that I carried weight so long my body won't look the same). Mslynn :wave:

I'm sorry to hear that txbldhnds...they would most likely save money to treat your comorbidities with a 15-20k surgery and save on your health care for years to come. Unfortunately, they don't seem to think that way. The poll actually refers to plastic surgery (e.g., tummy tucks, breast lifts, thigh lifts), which is often needed after people lose a lot of weight with WLS. My guess is your insurance probably wouldn't pay for that either if they didn't pay the WLS with all of your comorbs... Mslynn :wave:

Well, I'm banded, and I only told a limited few. I don't regret that, yet. Will keep you posted. Thanks, Mslynn :wave:

Check the ingredients of meat tenderizer. It is papaya enzyme. So...you can use meat tenderizer or papaya enzymes. They're essentially the same thing! Mslynn

My concern is that I want to have kids...I won't get PS until after that and I don't want to flab in the meantime. :phanvan Can you get PS before having kids? Mslynn

Yes, you are all correct. It depends on what you do. I wish I knew how to go back and edit the poll choices, but I don't think I can do that. mslynn

These are interesting stats. The majority tend to either tell everyone or tell a select few, with the rest falling in between. I love polls where you can get real data! Thanks to everyone who answered/answers this. Mslynn :clap2:

Thanks for sharing! I'm having surgery this week. I've been thinking about the likelihood of needing plastic surgery, and seeing your pics gave me a sense of calm...yes, I can fix whatever skin/sagging issues might emerge as a result of weight loss. Thanks for sharing these with us. :hail: Mslynn

Well, the stats don't look good so far. 80% of people have moderate to significant loose skin. Only 20% have none or mild loose skin. I guess I need to start saving for PS! :phanvan Mslynn

Has anyone other than jqpublic found that their skin decreased with weight lifting? I've read this but not heard from anyone (until now) that it actually works... Thanks, Mslynn

I'm surprised that so far no one has not had loose skin. I was hoping that we may have had a few people whose skin bounced back. I plan to lose a lot of weight, so this is good information. :straight Mslynn

Carlene, You're right. No right or wrong at all. Just different approaches for different people. I think I'm starting conservative and not telling most people. We'll see how restaurant eating goes. My biggest struggle is not telling some friends that might be hurt if I do end up telling them later. Otherwise, I've told my close family. I do struggle with the issue of lying though. Mslynn

Those things look like nuts and bolts or something. It's good your cardiologist wasn't alarmed, but I would ask until I get an answer. Mslynn

CanadaSunshine, I'm sorry your primary support has been a struggle. I think like you I will probably talk more after the initial stress, etc., has worn off. Like you, I don't want to be "The Educator." Best wishes to you on your journey. Mslynn