LAKE COMPOUNCE ....NEED HELP....PLEASE!!!

Hi everyone: I haven't been on the boards much lately but I really need your help. I cannot believe this is happening!!! My work is sponsering a day out at Lake Compounce and I really want to go but I'm so scared about fitting in the rides. We took our baby last year but she was only a few months old so I didn't have to go on any rides with her. THIS YEAR will be a different story. I know she would LOVE to go on a few rides (like the teacups) and I'm so afraid of not fittting. Here is another year of my life living in fear of amusement parks and rides. I LOVE AMUSEMENT PARKS. This weight is just so life-limiting. People just have no clue what it's like to be me(us). See, this is why I'm having surgery. I swore that I woudn't be a mom that couldn't do things with her child. God, I sooo want this appeal to go through. It insurance hasn't denied me my original surgery date was 5/26. I would be down at least 15 lbs by August. It's just so discouraging. I haven't told my husband about the outing yet cause I know he'll want to go. I know that he can go on all the rides with her but I want the experience of doing it too. Does anyone have experience with Lake Compounce and the rides in the "kiddie" area? Did you have trouble fitting? I'm 5'3" and a size 26/28. Any help, insite would be so greatly appreciated. Thanks, gina

Lake Compounce has an excellen****er park, which does not restrict you because of your size. Also, you said that your husband will want to go, so he can take your daughter on some of the rides. You have done something more important, and that is to pursue your weight loss surgery. Don't give up with insurance. In the meantime, go to the park with your family. It is better to create a memory, than to let the opportunity pass. Bob H.

I agree...go to the water park and have fun. Let you husband get on the smaller rides and enjoy what you can. Don't pass up the opportunity! Tracy

Hi Gina, As my hubby already posted, there is a grea****er park that you can do with your daughter. Don't pass up the opportunity to go. I went last summer in my size 30/32's and felt embarrassed, but did the water park. I also did the bit ferris wheel with my kids too. It's the kind that fits about 6 people at a time. It was fun. I don't remember adults going on the kiddie rides, but my kids are 6 and 8, so they do them by themselves now. Just go, don't worry. You'll have fun, and hopefully next year at this time, you'll be able to do all the rides as a thinner person! I'm not a ride person, so it doesn't bother me either way, but I like to be there to watch my kids have fun. This year I'll be there as a thinner person and maybe will do a few rides (we'll see, I"m a big chicken!) paula

Gina, First of all.... (((((Big Hugs))))) I know how stressed you are feeling about this. I remember so well how badly I tried to avoid those things. My husband is in sales, and he always gets free tickets to parks or gets invited to company sponsored events where families are welcome and I HATED when he would ask me to go because always felt so self-conscious and handicapped. Then when our kids came into our lives.... it was even more depressing having to watch my husband or sister ride with them on the rides. It is not a fun day, I know..... but there are a couple of things you can do to be able to go and enjoy yourself. About the kiddie rides, you can stand on the carousel and hold your daughter on the horse which will be fun for both of you. Also, some of the rides may still be to big for her so she may not be able to ride them anyway. I just went a couple of weeks ago to LC with my family and guess what? The kids were not interested in the rides at all because the water park is one of the 1st things you see when you walk through the gates and that was all they wanted to do. Bob is right, there is a grea****er park at LC. There is one especially created for toddlers. It has a number of little slides and kiddie swings that are set right in the giant wading pool and you can get right in there and play with your daughter. Believe me, I had a hard time getting my 3 year old to leave. I think they rode 3 rides all day and the rest of the day was water park. By the way, when I was at the water park, there was a great blend of all sized people, so dress the way you feel comfortable and enjoy the water. Most likely it will be hot and you will appreciate getting cooled off and having a great time with your daugter and husband. It will be okay Gina.... sending good thoughts for that appeal to go through for you. terri

Hi Gina- I havent been to Lake Compounce so I cant comment about the rides, but I wanted to support you. I can relate to your feelings about the fear of being to big to fit in the rides. I walked around so ashamed of myself for being so "huge". I was my own biggest enemey and I gave myself so much negitive talk. Thinking back on it now is painful how I hated myself so much. I dont mean to refer that you are walking around hating yourself but I remember my whole life was on the line and the approval meant I would have a second chance at life. I felt I would just die if I couldnt get this operation and start to put the pieces of my life back together. I was so desperate and unhappy. Im so sorry that the approval did not come as you had hoped it would. I wish for everyone a swift approval for their surgeries and for an instant the person decideing could get a real idea of what it is like to be "us" and limited. There would be no denials if it could some how be convayed how devestating it is to be our sizes. Im going to cross my fingers for you that this gets approved. I hope you dont have to skip out on the rides and miss the joy you would share with your baby. If by chance you cant go on the ride your husband will go with her and you can have fun watching them. You will make the best of it I am sure. Let us know how you make out. I dont want you to be to hard on yourself because its easy to do. Hang in there Gina.--- Jesse

Gina, I don't have any children yet so I don't have any experience with the "Kiddy" rides. However, I did go recently with my 5th grade students for their class trip. I didn't go on any rides with them were you have to be strapped or barred in. Anything that you can sit, or stand in without being restricted is what I go with. Yes it sucks... but I'd rather miss out on the ride, than face the embarassment again of having the ride attendant tell you that the "Ride can't accomodate your size, we're going to have to ask you to leave this ride". The up side to our situation is that we've both taken the right step towards freedom from this physical and emotional weight we carry. Thankfully, the decision has been made by both of us to correct our situation before our children feel any serious effects from it. Good luck! Have fun most of all, even if it means taking pictures of Dad and Baby around the park ~ Next year, you and dad can trade!

I do sympathize... I remember being with a friend in California at one of the magic mountains and for the first time not being allowed on a ride because I couldn't get the harness closed. It was a devastating feeling after waiting what seemed like an hour in line. I know how you feel... and it has been a long time since I have been to Lake Compounce. I have fond memories of my sister's 18 birthday and seeing Don Henly there. (a while ago). Good luck. Dave

Gina, Want a good laugh??? My hubby and I and the 2 kids went to Disney in January. What a mistake. I knew I was too big to enjoy it and I didn't want to be a burden on the rest of the family and have them miss out on things because, "Mommy's just too tired". We decided to go to Universal one day and they have the best roller coaster going. In front of every ride they have a seat for you to sit in to make sure you "fit" in the ride. I skipped that still thinking I was only a size 12/14. What a mistake. My hubby and I get to the ride, I sit down and think this isn't so bad. Yeah, then they had to pull the harness down. It took two ride attendants and all their weight to get that thing buckled. I refused to get off the ride. When I took the harness off at the end of the ride, all you heard was a big "whoooooosh", yeah, that was the fat saying, "thank god you finally freed us". The one thing I learned through my obesity was, it doesn't matter what you look like, and who cares what other people think. I used to wake up every morning and tell myself, don't listen to what other people say. I know its tough, but believe you me, in the end it is all worth it. Good luck with your appeal, I don't know if you do it or not, but prayer is a great way to deal with some of the disappointments in life. Hail Mary became my best friend. I had the whole OR repeating it with me. Don't think they were all too happy, but it made me feel secure. Jen

Dear Gina, Hi, I feel your pain. Since you've gotten a lot of good advice, I will just share something with you. Previous to my surgery, I went to the movies. I tried real hard, but couldn't fit into the seat (I was 310lbs). I got up and started walking out, humilated of course. Luckily, something made me try a side row seat. I was able to squeeze in. Last week, my kids asked me to go to the movies with them. I was thrilled since they are 26 and 23 and I don't get to do anything with them anymore. While I was watching the movie, it dawned on me that they got new, bigger seats in the theater. I thought, "It's about time that a theater got bigger seats to accommodate larger people". Later as we were leaving, I noticed that these seats were old. It then hit me: I got smaller!!! I had room on the sides of my hips. I was thrilled!!! (I lost a total of 61lbs so far). Just one of the many wonderful experiences thru the weightloss journey. I hope you will go. Even if you don't go on many rides with your daughter, you will be there with her. That will be what she will remember. If you don't go, there will be one less memory she and you will have of being together. As you have set-backs, don't be devastated by them. Things will continually get better as you lose the weight. Remember-"Whatever doesn't kill you, makes you stronger!". Keep the faith, Esther