OH YOU **** ME OFF!!

 I knew you and (most) of the others who thought she was advertising would welcome her once you'd heard more about her, Kate, and that's what I said to Leslee in the other thread that was removed.  That's why it bugged me that the thread was removed, because she had taken time to tell her story, and we had a positive dialogue going before it was pulled.  But, all is well now, and time to move on!

Tami

And I was in a Spinning Infomercial, without a mention of the band!  I was honest with them, and they didn't want to take credit for my whole weight loss, only the portion that I lost after starting the Spinning Program (I say in the commercial that I lost 55 lbs. with the Spinning Program, even though my total weight loss at that time was 120 lbs.)  Point is, if you are "selling" fitness, you don't want people to think you "took the easy way out".  And, talk to people who are banded and go to Weigh****chers.  They say that you just don't mention the band.  We all know there's a bias against the surgical option, or there wouldn't be People Magazine's annual issue, "They lost 1/2 their size WITHOUT SURGERY!"

But who knows?  I don't know the woman personally.  I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt.  

Tami

 Thanks guys for sticking up for me.  I forgot about that BodyProud thing - I'll have to look that up again  I was going to compete in that - but the dates didn't work for me.  I compete in the OCB and WNBF federations.

I will be on lapband.com in April in their video section as well as some mainstream magazine ads for Allergan.  I don't have the media schedule, but when I do I'll share it with you.  

Here's a link to a recent show I was featured on for the lapband
www.wfsb.com ---> Health ---> Advancing Medicine ---> go to the Video section of the page (right side middle) ---> I am featured in Part 1 but mostly in Part 2.  Thats my story :-) Enjoy!

 I just read my bodyproud post and no i didn't mention lapband.  I wrote that in Jan 2010.  As with the many changes our body and emotions go through, I wasn't at a place where I felt comfortable that I would be accepted as a true accomplished weight loss individual if I used a medical device to accomplish that goal. So, yes, I left it out - thinking I would gain more acceptance from people.  In 2010 I became more comfortable and confident in my decision and am a proponent for WLS for many people.  

Im sure many people who have had WLS still don't tell people that did it.  Its a very personal decision.

 Leslee, glad to see you're still with us.  I was a little worried that the negativity might have chased you away.  I knew the folks here would be more welcoming once they heard your story.  Thanks for sticking around!  

Tami

I'm wondering if the individual in question had not put her photo up (showing an extremely fit and muscular outcome) would her thread have been reported? I'm sorry, but it seems like a typical case of unfortunate envy. I have read numerous posts by bandsters telling of their success results and how they got to that point. But because their after results were a "typical" slimdown, with no extraordinary outcome, their posts were accepted without question. I'm trying to figure out why so much emphasis was put on this particular person's posts? I think her photos sparked a lot of ill feelings and resentment. It IS possible to transform your body to be extremely fit, it just takes extreme effort. Let's start building up each other instead of tearing down. Let's retract the claws ladies and give the lady a break. If this post doesn't apply to you, just ignore.

 I suppose some people find it unbelievable that someone who has had wls can get their body in that kind of shape, so that's why doubt was sown, but not necessarily out of jealousy.  I think (and hope) that people will find inspiration in her pictures.  Not everyone can achieve those results, but we can all make significant changes in our bodies with exercise.  

I have to admit that I also encountered negativity regarding my "after" body on OH, but it was not from the band community.  It was from those who promote other surgical options, and who are threatened by successful bandsters.  

Tami

I guess there is this extreme jealousy of successful complication free lap banders on Obesity Help, and  if someone remotely seems to be successful and offer encouragement to others they are apparently thought of as a threat....to other MORE dangerous and life altering weight loss surgeries...and people just cannot believe that a simple band can change people lives complication and life altering free.

I can't believe this either, if the resident lunatics posts are never removed ..aka...Maria, Bubble-butt and a few others... you would wonder if OH is secretly encouraging "band bashing"? I mean really, it had gotten so bad at one point, people were attacking new pre ops for choosing the band, many people left this site for that very reason.