Contest: Free Band-Friendly Eats!

Jean - this is a wonderful idea - and such a generous gift you offer us!  I don't respond on the boards often, but I read constantly, and you have been a great inspiration and source of information for me.  So, before I dream, I wanted to say THANK YOU for being you!

I'm not banded yet, but hopefully I will be in the next month or so.  My biggest dream for my life post-band is to be happy.  I've always thought of myself as a happy, confident person, but recently I have learned that it's pretty much just a big front.  I want to not care so much what everyone else thinks of me.  I want the self-confidence to know that even if someone disagrees with me or doesn't like me, it's not a personal attack - it's just a difference of opinion.  I want my friends to be happy for me that I'm finally getting everything I want, as I've been happy for them when they've found boyfriends, gotten married, had kids, or bought a house.  I want to stop asking, when is it my turn to be happy?...and for it to finally be my turn.

*apple butter please, if you should choose me.*

This is such an inspiring thread. Thank you for doing this.

I have many dreams that I hope will come true with the band's help. But there is one main one. I have a 5 year old son. One day I hope that I will make him proud and he will realize all the hard work I put into making myself healthy. I want to be around for him as long as possible and I knew I had to do something. He was such a motivating factor for me to go through with all of the tests and waiting and pain to get to where I am now (15 down as of 7/31/08). I love myself and did even before surgery so it was such a hard decision for me to make. I knew that one day my good fortune of not having diabetes and hypertension would run out and it was more important than eating to me to be here for myself and for him. I hope that one day he will look at me and tell me how proud he is. Even just thinking about it makes me tear up.

Because of my weight, he was never supposed to exist according to the specialist. Our only chance of pregnancy was injectable fertility treatment and then it was only slim because of my morbid obesity. We had given up hope of having our own children and began to plan our lives without that joy. When I found out I was pregnant it was shocking and surprising and we couldn't have been happier. He's a healthy, normal 5 year old and I had NO complications during pregnancy.

Amy

My biggest dream come true would be to NOT always worry about the size of seats ie; airplane Fenway park, etc.  I never do anything like see a basketball game etc because I have to sit in the aisle seat (usually bigger with only my husband touching me).  My mother in law gave us tickets to the Connecticut Sun basketball game and I became anxiety riddden the day of the game and couldn't even force myself to go for fear that I wouldn't fit and would be uncomfortable. It is very difficult to be spontaneous with this much weight on and I end up going no where and doing nothing.

If you gave me something, I would take the plum sauce.  Thank you for your generosity.

Sue+

My biggest dream come true  as a result of losing weight is becoming a Firefighter.  This has been my goal for several years now and i know that one day I WILL  get to experience  the rush of running into a burning building or rescueing someone.