good news & bad news!

[Bright 9]

Apologies - I haven't been posting much lately - I do read all the new posts every night tho. I am finding it a bit isolated here in Ireland, I feel I don't have anything to contribute advice-wise as my experience of surgery etc seems so different from all of your experiences with the american / mexican doctors.

As I haven't told anyone here (except for our two dearest friends!) that I have the lap band, I feel like I am the only person in the universe going through this banded life! Thank god for this message board - it's (imho) the friendliest board and I smile every night reading the posts (and cheer for you all too!). So basically, I am feeling kinda lonely here, and having a bit of a moan! Please, you guys, COME VISIT!

Well, that was the bad news (which isn't so bad really) - the good news is that I feel I am doing really well with this amazing little tool. I have lost 30lbs to date, (today it is exactly 6 weeks since surgery) and yesterday was my birthday (34 - yay!). My family know I have been "dieting" and were all complementing me on looking slimmer - apparently my face shows the most, and whoda thunk it, but I may actually have cheekbones! Who knew???!!!! I just took a photo now at the pc to compare with my little avatar photo - which was taken last summer - please be kind and bear in mind it's after 11pm here, I had a long hard day and did my make up last at 7.45am!!!

I dunno if this will work anyway but here goes!

[Bright 9]

jesus h christ! I did everything my feeble brain could come up with to make this smaller! I now have the biggest face in the developed world!

sorry....

I can't do any better!

Does anyone know how I can sort this?.....hope none of you open it up too early in the morning!

sigh - I give up - I'm off to bed !

[Graceful One 4]

Bright,

Congratulations on the 30lbs! I'm not far behind you at 5 weeks and 25lbs.

I wish I could see your pic better, however, you have marvelous skin!

Thank goodness for this board!

[Alexandra 55]

Hi Bright!!

I've resized your photo, and yes indeed, you look terrific! Congratulations on the 30 lbs! I seem to have hit a brick wall but I've decided not to obsess about it until after the holidays. You should come around here more if you're lonely!

[bbrecruiter2000 1]

Hi Bright,

You look fantastic!!! You can really see the difference in your face. I have been having trouble lately with being compliant. THe last few weeks, I have been eating poorly and not sticking to the bandster lifestyle and I have not lost much this month so far. Anyway, I will go easy on myself during the holidays and not beat myself up for eating the wrong foods.

I missed you and Happy Birthday.!!!! :D :cool:

334/261/180

-73

6/23/03

[Graceful One 4]

Bright,

I can totally tell in your face...I'm jealous! I think all my 25lbs came of my forearms...they are quite svelt...ahh yes just where I needed to lose it!

Feel free to email me any time you want to chat...we can be band buddies! Jayvue@aol.com

It must be something to do with the flip flops that your losing so well....hmmm...might have to pull mine out of the closet and give them a try!

Good luck love,

Jennye

[donali 57]

Bright -

Of course you are looking gorgeous - you go girl!

I've been missing your posts, but haven't wanted to bug you. Sometimes we just need downtime to adjust to life.

But hey - if you're lonely... then screw that!

How do you feel your experience has been different than the Am/Mex experience? TALK to us, girl!

And a belated, very, very, very happy birthday to you!

I have a funny story I'll PM you with later today... lol

[shellyj 5]

hey bright!

WOWWWIEE WOW!!! you can tell a huge difference in your face!!!! you are so pretty too!

Happy Birthday!!! just think where you'll be next year!

i agree with donali tell how your feeling because your not alone youve got all your banding buddues on this forum rooting for you!!

[shellyj 5]

that was banding buddies! lol!

[Bright 9]

thanks everyone for replying to my post - I feel a bit guilty this morning for whining to you all... and you're right Alexandra, (love your new picture by the way, you look about 19 in it now!) I should come on line for support more if that's what I need. Unfortunetly that is typical me, isolate myself and then complain about being lonely!

Oh and thanks for the complements - i look far from gorgeous but am surprised at the change in my face - I don't have as many chins now! Also my stomach has gone down a lot if you know what I mean.

I am really enjoying eating - I eat so little that I can really enjoying full cream yogurts, and salad dressings - dieting used to be so miserable with all the "diet" foods tasting of additives and sweetners. I am also delighted to be at a point where I seem to have broken my bad habits - eating between meals and eating at night - I was going to bed at nine some nights just so I wouldn't snack! But I'm taking each day as it comes - next month I may be blending big macs and cadbury's buttons! (chocolate buttons!)

I'm ashamed to say I am doing precious little exercise except for christmas shopping so am hoping catch the New Year's Resolution fever for joining the gym - my husband got me a great membership for my birthday!

Jennye - Definitely all the weight loss is down to the flip-flops - but tragically it's bloody freezing and wet here in Ireland at the moment so I'm back to wearing red runners!

Babs - hang in there - this is pretty much the hardest time of the year to stick to a rigid plan - it will all come together again in the new year!

Shelly - loved your pictures too - we are going to kick super-model ass next summer!

better go - must make dinner for kids - thanks for cheering me up guys xx

:kiss :kiss :kiss

[donali 57]

...next month I may be blending big macs and cadbury's buttons!

Just hopefully not together... lol

[claraluz 2]

Bright, you look fabulous! It is a tremendous difference in your face. You go, girl!!

Nancy

[Lindaloo 0]

Bright, you are a very pretty lady!

Don't feel bad about not knowing how to work the intricacies of the computer. I'm really computer-stupid, I couldn't post a picture if my life depended on it. My DH says I'm stubborn, but I don't really think that's it....I just have a hard time retaining info about how to do things on the 'puter unless I do them over and over and over.

All the ladies here are so pretty to me. Inside and out!

[Bright 9]

.........for all your kind messages! My self esteem is soaring!

Tragically, Linda, I worked as a technical support agent for IBM, solving pc problems so I have no excuse! I am just pretty crap on the internet and am learning the whole digital photo thing!

I seem to be on a plateau (I now feel REALLY part of the banded community!) with my loss - 31lbs down in total but I haven't lost another ounce for the last TWO weeks - I am eating more carbs than I did in the first few weeks but still am only consuming less that a third of what I used to demolish! This is very frustrating, I keep feeling that I'm failing in some way - I know I'm sticking by the rules, so it strikes me as so bizzare the way our heads work - I guess I've been feeling like a failure for so long, it's hard to recognise sucess when it comes - 31lbs in almost seven weeks is way beyond what I even dreamt about losing at this stage - guess I have to have faith and hang in there!

[shellyj 5]

hey bright i know exactly how you feel about 'feeling like your failing' i still feel just as fat as i was in may! everytime i see a person i havent seen in a while and i get that 'you look like your loosing' i smile and say thanks but i dont feel it!

we'll get there!