Question:
I have recently seen sev actresses that have lost weight and have mixed feelings

about this. (This is my 3rd time trying to post this so I hope it goes thru this time - I feel like everytime I try to word this it comes out different). Star Jones and the mom from "The Parkers" both have lost enough that they are looking good, but I recently saw Katie Segal from "8 Simple Rules" and she has lost so much weight, I thought they had put someone else on the show. She is stick thin, and doesn't look like herself at all. I could only tell it was her by her voice. (I know she might have lost weight by grieving John Ritters death). I had always thought that she was so voluptuous and looked great in her clothes and now looks totally different. I always thought if someone lost weight up to a point that they'd look better, and SHE looks worse. It feels confusing that some are losing and look good while she looks nothing like herself. I've thought several times that this was a stupid question, but have continued to be bothered about this. It makes me wonder if I'll have problems with my (hopefully soon) changing self. Why does this bother me so much? Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.    — bufordslipstick (posted on January 20, 2004)


January 19, 2004
I have to agree with you about certain people and the way the surgery has affected their looks. I used to have a problem seeing other men who were post-op and how they looked years older (not all guys mind you). Then I realized, hey I am not doing this to look better I am doing this to FEEL better and live longer. So, I sucked it up and had the surgery done knowing that my life would never be the same (thank God). What I am trying to say is DON'T worry about what you will look like after you lose the weight, accept the fact that you will be healthier and live a longer life. JIM
   — Jim S.

January 19, 2004
I think your concern is valid. Depending on your age and how much weight you have to loose your slim body will look very different, believe me! I love the way I look in clothes but naked is another thing. My "girls" were always the part of my body that hubby loved best, now they are barely there anymore. I think you need to know going into this surgery that you may not be completely happy with how your body looks in the end, and try to deal with it before the surgery. I guess that is why so many of us fight to get the plastics done. Good luck! 252/122
   — sherry H.

January 19, 2004
Hi Rebecca, I think your question is good point made. Although I haven't seen Star Jones or Katie Segal recently to comment on either. I read that Ms Jones had a Lap Band, but I don't watch her show and I never watched 8 Simple Rules, so I can't compare Ms Segal before and after John Ritters death. I'm sure his death did play a part. They are like family away from their real families. Did Ms Segal have surgery? Keep in mind this surgery before and after surgery is quite a mental thing! We eat for physcial/mental reasons. Having the surgery doesn't heal emotional feelings, so one could over eat as well as under eat. I think for the most part those that have never been thin their entire life may feel the need to go thinner. This is why being in close contact with your Dr is crucial after weightloss surgery. Then again, just as we never saw ourselves obese (as we were)the same could be said about not seeing ourselves that thin! Our main goal should be to become healthy and to illuminate our co-morbidities. In doing so we should (do) become thinner, but we "must" always take our vits eat protein/drink water for life! Some tend to forget this and will (do) become very ill. Weightloss surgery is not for loosing weight and once that is achieved we no longer are obligated to the daily routine of pills/water/protein, because we are! Not many think of going over board and loosing too much weight, as yourself, but I'm sure it is thought of. Some people seem well adjusted to being obese and maybe they will fear being a thin person. All I know is, that I could not be where I'm at today had I not seeked a professional therapist's help before my surgery. It was a head thing with me and it took 6 months of seeing her 2 times a month for months, before my break through came. Thank God I had a wonderful therapist and we together worked past 30+ years of hurt to get where I am today in my life. See, being thin doesn't guarantee happiness! I was miserable thin and obese....Just no one knew it but me, till I had enough and wanted help. A shame it took so long, but the main thing is I got help and by doing so I was ready mentally for this surgery and I no longer have those surpressed feelings as I have for all those years. We all have different reasons for why we become obese, but I can tell you this....It's not just because we love food and ate our way to obesity! Sorry, this has been so long and hopefully I shed some light on my issue, anyway. lol Good Luck ans always ask questions. We are all family and here to help when ever we can. Hazel Lap RNY 2/11/03 250/139/135
   — Hazel S.

January 19, 2004
I think Ms. Segal lost her weight involuntarily..ie..grieving, divorce an is unhappy. She wasn't really ever overweight. Ms. Jones is a mystery to me. Rumor has it she had a lap band secretively but she still talks about eating everything in site. I can't figure her out. I think there are a lot of holywood/celebrities who do have it done and not say anything about it. Delta Burke has had a battle with her weight for over 20 years and suddenly she appears in a small normal body and keeps it off. Sounds fishy to me. There are a couple others but can't think of them now. Hollywood has been having this surgery and not telling for years. Seems like the celebrities that have told have books to sell, tapes to sell, and vitamins to sell. It's a business.
   — Mary Jane C.

January 19, 2004
From the research I've done on the Lap Band, people with less than 100# to lose can use it with pretty good success. But those of us who have more than 100 pounds to lose, don't fare near as well with the Lap Band. People generally lose only 40-60% of their excess weight with the Lap Band, and the procedure does not decrease hunger; whereas the gastric bypass surgery candidates can lose 80% or more of their excess body weight---depending upon how closely they follow the protien/vitamin/water/ exercise suggestions. On this website, I've spent many hours reading and looking through the before and after photos of people who've had WLS. By and large, the people are really happy with their weight loss and where they settle in at about 2 years. Some were really sick and had complications that rendered them thinner than they'd planned to be; and others didn't lose as much as they'd planned because they, admittedly, didn't exercise as much as they thought they should. While I don't know the women you spoke of, I know many women who have had the surgery. As others have mentioned, so much of our heating is emotional--and no surgery can ever change that. But fortunately, most surgeons have therapists or wonderful nurses for us to turn to as we journey through our weight loss process. The bottom line is; you simply can't judge what will be your weight loss, against people you've seen. All of our results are as individual as we are. Don't let your fear of what you see on TV stop you from doing what you think is best for you. Good luck and take care, Jessica
   — Jessica D.

January 20, 2004
Just yesterday I noticed Starr Jones new appearance. I was home for the holiday and I was watching the View. I thought for sure she has had gastric bypass or the lap band or something. Then I noticed a scar on her chest and I wondered if she had some kind of heart surgery too. She is looking very good and I don't think she lost that much weight that quickly without surgical assistance, but you never know. Also as far as a list of celebrities who have had surgery don't forget the lady from ER (she plays a nurse named Halle, but I don't know her real name) and Al Roker. They had gastric bypass as well. Also the lead singer guy from Blues Traveler.
   — Sara A

January 20, 2004
I think your responses are mixed up. I am not really sure why there are so many lap-band responses to your actress question. If Mon'que from the Parkers lost weight, it is because she is exercising. She was just on a morning radio show talking about how she would never have surgery. Her whole comedy act is about big women and how skinny women are evil... Pretty funny. As for Star Jones, she had to lose weight. She was on the verge of losing the Payless contract in addtion to having health problems. I heard she had the Lap Band. I think Katie's Segal is just grieving. She lost weight when she was on Married with Children when she had a miscarriage. The only show that really bothers me is Friends. They look unnaturally healthy. I think it may bother you because they represent the beauty and body standards. And so as they lose weight they don't realize that millions of women try to immulate them.
   — keishax

January 20, 2004
A few weeks ago, People magazine had a cover story on actresses and their weight with Rene Zellweger and Laura Flynn boyle on the cover. Rene, with her new size 14 body, and Laura, looking a very scary size 0? Inside was lots of pictures of actresses in before and after states, both those who have gained and look better and those who have lost more and look worse. I, for one, love Rene in the bigger size and think she looks perfect now. She described herself as "fluffy". What a nice way of putting it!! Apparently the extra weight has not impeded her getting movie roles yet they say laura Flynn boyle is so scary thin that it is affecting her career and ability to get jobs. I hope this means that Hollywood is swinging more towards the Rene model as the role model and not the Laura model.
   — Cindy R.

January 20, 2004
I personally think it comes down to each person's perception of what looks good on them. My goal weight is 200 lbs and I'm guessing I will settle out between 180-200, which gives me some buffer to work with. I'm 24 lbs from goal. After my PS next month I will likely drop immediately (after swelling is gone) from a size 16 to a 12. I can almost zip a 14 now. The 12 should be comfy. That is truthfully about as low as I want to go. I'm 5'9 and am a medium build frame with heavier leg bones and joints due to carrying tons of weight for lots of years. My knees are down to all bones but they are quite large. So for me to go lower than that I will look horrible in my opinion. I have always thought that a healthy body was one that had some fat on it. The height/weight charts say I should weight 156, but it is not a goal I am striving for nor does my surgeon feel it would look good on me. He also feels that the 180's would be the absolute lowest I should go. I don't want to have PS on every inch of my body. I'll be having enough as it is. <p>There is no reason to get too thin. It is very rare that people cannot stop losing. You may dip lower than you want at first but it will likely settle out where you want it to if you set realistic expectations from the start. Don't shoot for hollywood glamour look, unless it's a healthy one. This truly is in your hands! Trust me you will look better! Just don't get hung up with seeing how low you can get.
   — zoedogcbr

January 20, 2004
Star Jones had the lap-band. Someone I know has a friend who was in for her gastric surgery and saw her there at the hospital, apparently overhearing the conversation in regard to her getting the band that day. I didn't see/hear it myself, so it's just what was told to me from a reliable source.
   — Fixnmyself

January 20, 2004
Thanks for all the great answers. I knew Star Jones had the surgery but didn't know about "Moniqu'e" (not sure of spelling). I'm glad to hear (one way or the other) that she didn't have the surgery. As far as Katie Segal goes, she never was really big, and like another person said, I don't think she has had the surgery. I think some of you realized what I was getting after. I also liked Renee Zellwiger at the larger weight - and then again - Lara Flynn Boyle looks really bad. I guess it all goes back to sometimes we don't really see ourselves as others do. As I've heard others say on this site, even though their weight is a lower number, and seeing their picture - WE'D think they looked good, they might still think of themselves as heavy. It all goes back to our heads being messed up, and/or having to play catch up with our new bodies. I will be having surgery 1/30/04 and have no intention of backing out. I have waited to long for this. I just wish I was on the other side starting the journey. Oh well! It will be here soon. I think I will try to see if I can find a good therapist here in Ky. But that will probably be another question..........
   — bufordslipstick

January 20, 2004
Hi, just wanted to comment about your question? There is always going to be this mind thing we have to worry about. Each day I get up and decide for myself what kind of day do I want to have. Some days I feel so good, then other days I feel fat and ugly. Some days you_____ARE_____going to struggle.Some days it will be easy to handle then, some days it won't. Life is not easy at times, even if you are not going through the trials we have to face each day. It is imperative that we have a positive mental attitude, and work on it every day in order to keep ourselves strong mentally. May God Bless You. I hope this helps some, at least this is my point of view. Janice
   — betterfitness




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