second anniversary!!!!
 

it was yesterday!!! and i didn't realize it until this morning when i was SNOWSHOEING!!!! with the dog who really didn't want to be outdoors doing all this!! but she was a trooper, even with all those little tiny snowballs crusting her lower half, and her muzzle.

what a difference. from walking with a cane and stopping every few feet to SNOWSHOEING in 12 degree weather. hmmmm. have i simply changed one form of irrationality for another??? <don't answer that, peachie!!!!>

and debk was in a coma during this time. it's a bittersweet week.

Wow - two short years and a whole world of difference! I'm so proud of you Jif - sniffle, sniffle.
I really want to hear about your plastic surgery appointment this week too.

And, Ms. Deb - I'm so glad that whole coma thing is a distant memory. You two women are simply inspirational!

Your not-so-secret admirer,
Chickadee

Congradulations Jiff, you should be proud.

Congratulations you brave chicksters! :cp: Jiffy, I would be SO interested in hearing about your plastic surgery!

We were away for Thanksgiving, in Lancaster, FOOD capital of the world as far as I'm concerned and the place where we have standing reservations every year. :hun: I was practically comatose when a show I had never seen before came on. It was called "Extreme Makeover" or something like that. I was barely keeping my eyes open and even fell asleep a few times but I HAD to see how this one story ended. A man had lost a lot of weight, I think about 150# and he was having plastic surgery to remove skin from his ENTIRE body! The blasted program ended without a conclusion, on that day. :mad: They were going to continue it on another day and I never managed to remember to watch the show again.
So Jiffy, since I so wish that I could have the plastic surgery but can't, I'll have to live vicariously and be with you in spirit. :cheer:

Congrats on 2 years
 

Thanks Jiffy - you have learned a lot in these 2 years. Thanks for sharing with the rest of us.

P.S. I mentioned that my sister now has a date of June 2 for her surgery.
Now that I know that the wait is sooo long, I was thinking I should go ahead and start the process and I would still have time to lose some weight after I get a date. Besides I am having a lot of trouble losing and I thought have an actual date looming in front of me might be enough to get me kick started. I'll let you know how it all progresses.

p.p.s. Has anyone heard anymore about those new stomach "pacers" that are supposed to send signals to your stomach. Does anyone know how to find out which hospitals are testing those new devices? I think there are only a handfull of hospitals testing them, but I thought maybe NYC would have at least one.

http://abc.go.com/primetime/extremem...09/Jeff/1.html
Still, follow the link and see th mans picture....
Tahnks for the spelling lesson too :D

Oh L., thank you!!! WOw, isn't that remarkable? About the only thing that I don't need lifted is my hands! I really appreciate the link; made it all so easy. Nice to get caught up with the fate of this man.

So you like MY version of your word? :devil: I was being very, very naughty, wasn't I? AND I was skating on thin ice with Jiffy. I like to play with language and hmmmmm went for the suggestive but don't tell Jiffy, ok? I like it here! :cb: Hey, if you're not careful she will ban YOU for giving me openings like these :rofl:

Yes, just kidding! Reeeeelax... :D
have a good weekend,
-L

Darn L., I had a better version than that!

Congrats, congrats - sweet Jiff! You are STILL my hero!



Kel

WAY TO GO JIFF!!!

Ole Alvin's 2nd anniversary will not be until April, but it seem like only yesterday we were posting away about WLS under the heading of "Weight Loss SCAMS" Remember that? We've come a long way in these two years. At this point 2 yearts ago we were going through the "waiting game" leg of the journey. As everyone else has said what a difference 2 years have made. Alvin's electric scooter that he had to use everywhere he went is now a "bed" for the cats at work and he is actually playing golf again.

Again I say congratulations, and I'll check in on you in another 2 years.

Jiffy, give it up girl, tell us all about the plastic surgery appointment. Jiffy, you are a role model and an inspiration to those of us just starting, and for me that you had to lose as much as I have to lose is important. I realize that it will take probably take 50 to 100 lbs before anyone can even notice that I have lost, but I will be getting healthier and happier thanks to your guidance.

oh ladies.. you're making me cry!!! so let me switch gears and babble on about the plastic surgery.

bottom line: we all know that all this excess skin will not snap back. not possible. not happening. so last fall, i saw a PS who works with at the same hospital where i had the wls. and i liked him. but i wanted to get a second opinion. hackensack university medical center, one of the best magnet hospitals in nj. the doc: colen; the chairman of the dept. mid-50s, tall, hasn't had a face lift [unless, of course he's actually 90!!!], autocratic. arrogant. but he was nice to me [and his nurse said that he liked me... she could tell!] the office staff was LOVELY. very helpful

now, we have to remember that hackensack is the county seat of bergen county, one of the wealthiest counties in the country. so he's got women coming in there who can pay for huge amounts of work out of their petty cash. his attitude is - although put politely - that he's getting his money from somewhere, and whatever the insurance company doesn't cover comes from the patient. his fees aren't cheap, but not outrageous, at least for this area.

he'll get rid of the shar-pei leg problem, and the lower body lift [butt and belly] and the breast lift as well. pros: he knows his stuff... he's done more than 100 of these. cons: won't help get insurance approval.

he offered to give me a referral to a surgeon who is in my network, but said that these guys are younger - not worse surgeons, just younger and less experienced. that can work both ways: sometimes the inexperienced ones are actually more careful than the experienced ones.

but i'd rather go to the first guy. he'll orchestrate what has to happen to get insurance approval and all the docs in that area send their wives and children to him. can't get a better recommendation than that!!!!

so i'd better get started. both docs, by the way, when i tell them that i want to lose another 20 pounds say WHY? look at what you've done! don't worry about it.

soooooo. if i want to schedule this in the spring, i'd better get moving!!!!

This all sounds so exciting. It going to be a whole new Jiffy.
Did they say anything about recovery time for this operation?

Jif -- congratulations on your anniversary! :balloons:

About the PS: you know I did the lower body lift last year, right? You probably read the FAQs in the Maintainers Forum about PS stuff -- I want to emphasize how important it is to have a good rapport with your doctor. My opinion is that you have to go with your heart when you choose your PS. Of course the money issues are really important but my opinion is to go with the guy who you trust and think will get you the result that you want.

You've worked too hard to get to this point to settle for anything less. :)

Let me get this clear, they will do "something" to your legs to tighten them up, butt and tummy and breast. . . . . .all in one surgery? How, I mean I don't understand, do they just cut you and then shake you down like we put pillows in their cases, so that all the excess skin is at the top and can be taken off? UMMM, this takes some thinking on my part--where are the cuts--This is boggling my poor little anthesia muddled mind. at this point in my recovery I am wondering about the sanity of anyone voluntarily going through all this (just my personal reaction--it took me 5 years to get over my hysterctomy and even be willing to think of this--so please don't think I am being critical)

You have done the research and you know what to expect--so go for it, but what about batwings? and all those cuts?

and now I can't get the image of you being cut around the middle and then being shook down into your skin like a pillow into it's case. ARRRRRG

Jiffy, I know you must be excited! I would be a little scared too. I understand that it is quite uncomfortable, after surgery, some 300+ stitches. It will be like getting a whole new body! I have made myself that promise to look into surgery too when I get to my target weight--- I have a ways to go!

Jiffy, thank you for filling us in. It seems that you assessed your options from all the important angles. I'm with Meg though; going with your instinct re. the person who makes you most comfortable may give you the comfort and confidence that will bring you through this exciting phase of your successful journey. How wonderful it must be to have reached this stage, after all you've done to get here! I am very, very happy for you! :cp:

As for Buffy's scenario, gee, sure wish somebody could do that to me... :^:

i'm LOVIN that image of being tossed around like a pillow. but alas. the reality is that they'll slit open the skin, pull it up, and cut off the excess. that means that they'll be literally separating the skin from its attachments. DRUGS DRUGS DRUGS!!! and for a couple of first-hand accounts, check out the maintainers forum. the excess skin thread. a WEALTH of incredibly valuable information.

and yes, ya gotta be a little nuts. and if i'd lost ONLY 100 POUNDS [sounds bizarre to call that ONLY!!!!] i'm not sure i'd do it. but after losng nearly 300, there's NOTHING i can do to hide the excess skin. the belly button infections, the lack of balance because my legs are uneven. the back and shoulder pain because the girls are waist high and can';t even be supported with underwire. and my bottom is two sizes bigger [at least!] than my top.

and let's not talk about the batwings!!! they'll be the last to go, but THEY'RE GOING!!! hey.. i can actually see biceps under here...

and thanks for your support. as of now, it'll be the first guy. after all, he's best buds/ golfing buddies with my pulmonologist, the chairman of the dept, the one who thinks i'm fabulous, yet yells at me for not managing my asthma <sigh> i know he loves me...

thank you ladies. the story will continue

I've VOWed (of course, LOL) to simply pull all the excess behind me, and use a scrunchie to keep things "taut."

A lady on the diabetes board where I post has lost 123 pounds...she says tight jeans do a Mahhhhhvelous job if you can't get PS!


:cb:
~VOW

but the prob with tight jeans is that if they're tight in the middle [the GIRDLE effect] they're still too big in the legs!!!!

:high: :encore: :encore: :encore: :cheer: :cheers: :bravo:

can't wait for the sequel:

JIFF UNZIPPED!

:cool:

peach

I want to see before and after pictures! Wow 300 lbs. How amazing of you! I will pray to the gods (GOD) that you will have little pain and discomfort ! But I agree if I would have worked as hard as you have, I nothing would stop me from having it done! Keep us posted, hope you don't have to wait too long for a surgery date!
Gosh this is so exciting!!!

Jiff???

I have a question?

after you get your boob job...do you think that you might be tempted to have a "wardrobe malfunction" like Janet Jackson?

will you wear pastries on your nipples?

oh...i mean pasties!

maybe not!

love,
your middle sister

nice try... and here's a 'MIDDLE FINGER' for my <NOT> middle sister!!! and thank you for all the cheerleaders and fireworks!!!! it'll be a big deal

sfogliatelle?????

by the way, did you see that incident last night??? i mean, we were right near the TV at the restaurant.. and i had no idea that anything had happened!!!!!

and ditzy.. thank you for those prayers and good wishes... it's been an interesting ride. and by the way, there ARE before/after pics somewhere on this forum. if you don't see them [and you want to] let me know and i'll bring them up...

Pastries? Maybe Donuts? Play ringtoss in the bedroom? Or how about Danishes?

(Oh, LORD, let this clear liquid phase pass SOON!)


:cb:
~VOW

Jiff congrats on the anniversary!! :dancer: sorry so late with the anniversary wishes.....life just gets in the way.

As for pulling a, "Janet, Miss Jackson if your nasty" stunt, I say go for it Jiff!! If your paying good money for new boobies........show 'em off :D

Jiff: do you get the Obesity Help magazine? There was a very informative article on the plastic surgeries. You might look at it.

Originally Posted by jiffypop:
nice try... and here's a 'MIDDLE FINGER' for my <NOT> middle sister!!!

sfogliatelle?????

by the way, did you see that incident last night??? i mean, we were right near the TV at the restaurant.. and i had no idea that anything had happened!!!!!

...

Jiff...you should be moderated. :rofl:

sfogliatelle????? be still my heart. be still your boob.

hmmmmm....let's see....janet/justin, a nice meal, janet/justin, a nice meal

I didn't see a thing!

peach

<tee hee>

and thanks barb... i don't get obesity help mag.. and apparently there's a new one: WLS lifestyles. i don't get that one either.

WAIT, the topic is PASTRIES and I AM ABSENT??? That WAS the topic, wasn't it? :hungry:

Originally Posted by stilltrying:
WAIT, the topic is PASTRIES and I AM ABSENT??? That WAS the topic, wasn't it? :hungry:

Yep! that was MY topic!!!!

pastries...I never touch the stuff! :nose:

:rofl:

peach

Well, Jiff, I think those pastries should be FRENCH!!!! (LOL - sorry, couldn't resist!)

Kel