Some people r just plain rude!

While ago a friend of mine (one of our old neighbors from the townhouse) emailed me back about the zoo pics I sent most of u from Saturday. I guess I should lay the background for my griping. When I was first researching surgery, trying to get approved she was one of the types that feel surgery is the "easy" way out. Well, that was her right to have that opinion but those of u who like me have had this surgery no that is a load of something brown and stinky. Its not the easy way out, its extremely hard but oh so worth it. I am thankful every day that God blessed me by letting me have this surgery I would do it again in a heartbeat. Well, back on topic. At first she wasn't too interested if I lost weight or whatever so I didn't really email her or talk to her about it much cause she had smarted off about it so I just figured I wouldn't bring up my surgery or weight loss to her. Time went by and she started asking me about how I was doing (this was after we bought the house and moved over here) I emailed her back some pics and she really got into it. For months now when I update pics for u all I send her a copy. She has been pretty supportive since she asked. While I have been losing weight she has gained and thats one reason I haven't kept her updated, well until she asked at least. I have always thought she was very pretty and she's not that big now but she thinks she is. The point to my episode of griping tonight is, the zoo pics, she emailed back and said oh cute pics of the kids and Adam. Boy, u look good. That shirt makes u look so pregnant though. Ok, what is that supposed to mean? I have been fat all my life and have lost 160 pounds in the last year. I feel alot better about my self image than I did, but hey, I am still sensitive about it. Yes, I realize I am not the skinnest person in the country now and I never will be. But I am alot littler than I was. I still have some surgery to go thru in a couple of months. My full tummy tuck will be in August or Sept I hope. I still have a long way to go in toning up my body. Yes, I have lost the weight but I have alot of hard work still to do with toning. I am using my gazelle and doing at least 2 miles a day on it and walking with Allison every day. That hurt my feelings when I first read it, yes, I know I am a big baby, lol. I even told Adam that I thought about (just thought about Shirley, I am not going to do this. I know u worry about me cause u r my aunt and u love me, this was a thought I had while having the Molly Grubbs earlier. I am over it) ok, I thought about doing another liquid diet and losing down to around 140 just because she made me feel like I am still fat. But I won't do that. I weigh 153, I am 12 pounds under Dr Shinas goal. I am exactly where I want to be. I am happy with me. Who cares what she thinks? I won't say anything to her of course, I will let it ride cause I don't have it in me to be rude. I just hope that I am never intentionally that rude or insensitive to someone. Its not in me to be rude on purpose although I have come close to being rude to Adams ex. That woman has a way of getting under my skin, but thats a whole nother story. Everyone have a fabulous night and thanks for listening to my little sappy, whinning story... Hugs and love Angela By the way, we went to the pound today to adopt a puppy and came home with 2 babies...They are gorgeous! Our dog Dan is not happy but in a day or two he should get used to the babies.

Okay Angela, I just went to your profile and the only thing I saw that even came close to a preggy looking shirt was a loose one, NOT because your tummy looks big but because the shirt was LOOSE! YOU LOOK FABULOUS! Perhaps your friend meant the looseness of the shirt made it look like a maternity shirt? I've seen lots of young women at our church wearing them and thought they were pregnant but only because of the loose part on the tummy, NOT the tummy itself. This is probably what your friend was talking about. I can hardly believe the change. You look like two totally different women. Don't let anything ANYONE might say to you get you down. You have no reason to look down. I can hardly wait for ME to be as small as you. My older sister has (in the past) commented on my weight when I was actually just a smidge smaller than she but I didn't let it bother me because I KNEW I was as small as she. THEN, I gained my weight back and feel humiliated just being around her. She was around 12/14 when I was her size in '01 and now she's a size 8 and I'm 18. Imagine how I feel. My own pastor has commented about my size to me and how I need to lose 80 pounds. MANY people, mostly women, have made hurtful comments and gestures to me. One even said something one night when my hubby and I were out having dinner. We BOTH were having salads and a couple was there we knew. The wife commented on MY salad before they left and how that I was doing good until I put the dressing on it. My husband noticed how she said it and felt bad for me. Don't sweat other people's opinions. The fact that we don't make people feel bad about themselves with OUR comments makes us a little bit better person for it if you ask me. Not saying we're better than anyone, but we can feel better about ourselves. Gale

Thank u Gale! U r so right. I have always been overweight and only dreamed of being able to lose weight until this surgery. I used to wonder what it would be like to be slimmer and not have people judge me on the way I look. I don't know why some one had to say something about your dressing on your salad. Dr Shina told me one time I could have dressing, mayo, ketschup, whatever as long as it wasn't too much. Well, he is a stickler for measuring each meal in a 2 oz cup, lol, his exact wording was I could have whatever I wanted as long as the total package wasn't over what I was supposed to eat. I guess I am too softhearted and take things to heart that people say or take them the wrong way. No one at my church said anything about my surgery. I got the feeling they didn't approve. I had surgery no one called or came up there. One thing that touched my heart was several people I had met on obesity help called me at the hospital and they called Adam here at home to check on me. That really touched me...Have u had surgery yet? Thanks for your reply and God Bless Angela

Angela, I haven't had my surgery yet but Karen, at St. Joe's, said today that they MIGHT be able to get my tests finished early and get me in as early as June 1 since I'm a self-pay and we don't have to wait on insurance approval for anything. I've decided to wait until July 5th because I don't know if I will be on this low-carb long enough to make a difference with my liver and I don't want to do anything that would be asking for a problem that can be avoided with the proper "before" care. No one at my church knows I'm having this except my daughter and no one in my family except her and my husband. I know almost everyone would have plenty to say about it and I don't need the added stress right now. I also don't want to worry my mother. My baby sister, who is a year younger than I, is terminally ill and this is on Mom's mind day and night. She doesn't need to worry about me doing something this drastic that is elective. My older sister would probably put me down for it after it was over and I was okay. Beforehand she would be trying to convince me not to have it. My sil would really give me down the road for it. It's just better to keep it a secret in this life. I think it's great that the people here support one another the way they do. I think for many this is probably all the support they get other than their husband/wife. My daughter is worried for me but doesn't say too much. She's now considering the surgery for herself and I immediately said NO! Is that hypocritical of me? She has a five-year old and a five-month old to raise. I just don't want her to take that risk. Mothers... what can we do with em? including those of us who are mothers. Gale

Wow sounds like u r ready to go anytime! My aunt also goes to church where I do and she had done Lap at Georgetown but didn't tell anyone. I found out later. I think she was afraid of what people would say cause of what they were saying about me. I was proud of it, it was like my prayers had been answered and I sure wasn't shy about letting everyone know. But looking back I can see why the church didn't support me much, it wasn't something that I HAD to do but to me it was. My parents were both scared to death. Just petrified and as a mom I can understand why. They both came up to Suburban that morning and were there. Later soon as she knew I was out of surgery and ok my mom went to the smokies. She had planned to go and I told her to go ahead there was nothing she could do anyway but sit and worry. But she came to the hospital and stayed till I was out of surgery and doing well. I had to stay in recovery for 8 hours waiting on a private room so they let 2 people at a time come back and see me. I don't remember alot about recovery. I had never been cut open that way and well, it was painful. I remember the recovery guy saying heres your demoral button, pu**** when ever u want! That button was never far away lol. It was a good experience. I know that sounds crazy cause the way I felt for the first month was very rough, but the pain got better every day and seeing the weight come off its just amazing. Thats one reason I have some many pics on my profile. It really is amazing to look back and think wow, was that me? Look at the difference a few months make. When I was pre op I couldn't stop reading profiles and looking at people pics. It helped me and I hope my profile can be a help to someone who needs encouragement. Does that sound silly? Oh well. Of course u worry about your daughter and for right now I think u r right. Unless she is just way over weight having a 5 month old is not the time to be doing this. Even if she had Lap. I would personally wait until the baby was older. My daughter was 3 when I had surgery and it was still hard. I stayed at the hospital 5 days, my hubby took vacation and was home 2 days after I got out. He works 7pm-7am and when he went back to work that first night I was so scared I wouldn't be able to take care of her, but I did. Oh well. Good luck and keep me posted on your date! Ange