Good luck, Jewel

[Chef Cindy]

Jewel, my prayers are with you. Hope you have a speedy recovery. Let us hear from you as soon as you are able. We will be thinking about you.
Take care.

[Mamasue]

http://www.3dtextmaker.com/queue/Good_Luck_Je_23835.gif

I will be thinking and praying for your speedy recovery and a nice flat belly! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[Jewel]

Awwww, you guys are gonna make me cry! Thanks to all for the good wishes. I know people have plastic surgery every day, and it's still a fairly controversial subject. Some feel that you're 'messing with what God gave you'. I think that life is too short not to feel good about yourself, and whether it's 'right' or not, a lot of our self-esteem is based on how we look.

God made me a 7lb 3oz little baby like the majority of us out there. He also made me a very emotional woman who ate to try to fill a void that I didn't realize was there. At age 21 I weighed 140 lbs. At age 23 I weighed 270. Twelve years later, after enduring all kinds of stares, the shaking of the heads, the 'you've got such a pretty face!' remarks by well-meaning friends and family members, I decided to take a long look at myself and see what void I was trying to fill with my obsessive binge eating. Once I figured it out, I set out to lose the weight, and I lost 110 lbs in a year and a half. The sad part is that I had very little to show for that weight loss! Sure, I was smaller, but my body was saggy and flabby because my poor skin didn't have the 'snap' and elasticity at 35 that it did when it stretched out at 23!! When you lose that much weight it's supposed to make you feel good about yourself, and feel like a real accomplishment. It doesn't feel like an accomplishment when you have to stuff 5 or 6 lbs of excess skin down the front of your jeans! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif I was blessed with parents and a DH that fully support my decision to have that excess removed. I am very lucky in that respect! Sure, it's expensive... both of my surgeries combined is costing me $6500. But, I received a $10,000 work bonus at the end of December and my wonderful DH said to forget paying bills with it, he wanted me to do what I wanted to do with it! So under the knife I went... The way I see it, my self-esteem is worth a great deal more than $6600. Thanks to everyone on this board who is also supporting me in my quest for one ultimate goal: To take a shower without picking up something 'hanging in front of me' and washing under it! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif (Eeewwwwww!) Thanks again everyone. I'll post as soon as I can with gory details. Forgive typos and rambling, run-on sentences that have no meaning, because I'll be 'marinating' in Demerol! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[BlueMoose]

Good luck Jewel! I am fairly new to the BB, but I enjoy your posts. You seem very clever, witty & fun....someone I would like to know http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif. I hope everything goes well and you are happy with the results!

[Jewel]

BlueMoose, you're in Minnesota! How far are you from Northfield!? I saw video of that Tornado this morning on the news! My DH called me in and had me look because Northfield was where I spent six weeks last November and December training people for my job! You weren't close, were you??

And thanks for the nice words... http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[This message has been edited by Jewel (edited 05-11-2001).]

[greysangel]

Jewel -

Good luck with everything and let us know how it went!!

I totally totally support your decision! I have lost 82lbs, have a lot to go and am working like crazy in hopes that the skin will bounce back. However, sweet hubby already knows that if it doesn't, I will be doing the same as you!! I'm working way too hard and life is too short to not feel like I look good http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

Best wishes
JeAnne

[This message has been edited by greysangel (edited 05-11-2001).]

[funnybone]

http://www.harrythecat.com/graphics/k/cheerld1.gif

We're Cheering for you Jewel!!

[crazycook]

Best wishes, Jewel. Cheers to the day when your reflection smiles back at you. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif
*HUGS*
Anna

[m4star]

Jewel- I also support your decision 100%!!! You've worked so hard and deserve to show off the young, beautiful body that you've created. It's not bad or wrong at all. You are simply turning back the clock, getting a "do-over". You're giving yourself the gift of being able to live a wonderful, healthful, and happy life. Best of luck with the surgery and please let everyone know how you are doing!!

[Gypsy120]

We are all pulling for you Jewel. Keep us posted.

[SusieO]

Best of luck to you, Jewel!

http://www.harrythecat.com/graphics/k/flower4.gif

[browneye]

Jewel,I already told you good luck, but...
good luck...sending up prayers....
what a cool story you have to tell. I would do the same thing if I walked in your shoes....
get well fast so you can come back and chat!
Plus I wanna know how all you cool meals came out...
http://www.harrythecat.com/graphics/k/sun22.gif

[Curleytop]

Jewel! I think you are doing a wonderful thing! After all is done, maybe you could post a picture of the "new you"! (in clothes of course http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif.
The best of luck! We are all pulling for you!

[KValley]

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A shout of encouragement from east of the mountains, Jewel! You go, girl!!

[jazzcat]

Jewel, I too wish you the best and a speedy recovery. You should be very proud of yourself and I think you're doing something wonderful for YOU

[kwormann]

Please let us know how you faired as soon as you can http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Kim

[ama47369]

I just wanted to jump in and say that we will be thinking of you. Hope you have a speedy recovery!

http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif Amanda

http://www.harrythecat.com/Graphics/k/flower31.gif

[KathrynY]

Jewel - Just wanted to pass along my best wishes for a successful surgery and speedy recovery. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[ebobbitt]

Jewel, I'll be thinking about you on Monday. I hope everything goes well and can't wait for you to get back to the BB.
Elizabeth

[GayeC]

The graphics on this thread are awesome! You will be in my prayers, Jewel. I wish you the best and a speedy recovery. Gaye

[Missi]

Good luck!!! Our thoughts are with you! Keep us posted!

[cdm]

Just got back on this board after being bored last weekend. I wish you the best Jewel, you'll be in my thoughts and prayers!!!! I hope you get out of the hospital real quick!!!! Those places scare me!!!!

[Carolyn]

Jewel, my thoughts and prayers will be with you. Go for it! This really northwestern Washingtonian thinks you've really got it together and applauds your decision. Let us know how you are as soon as you can, but don't rush things.

[chefbec]

Positivity. Keep us all posted. Best wishes and hope all goes well.

[maizeyoats]

Jewel,
I love all your posts and would miss you terribly if you were away for long.
. I will be sending up many prayers for a very successful surgery.

[SandyM]

My thoughts and prayers go out to you also Jewel - get well soon, and as soon as you can, please keep us posted on your progress!!!

[mandarin2j]

Jewel-

Add my best wishes for a safe surgery and a speedy recovery! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

-Amanda

[Julia1Pin]

May you wake up in minimum pain, and look like the woman you always knew you were http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Mbart]

I also add my support, Jewel. I'll be thinking about you, and hoping for a quick, full recovery.

[SusanL]

Good Luck, Jewel We are all pulling for you and know that soon you will be doing the dance
http://bestanimations.com/Music/Dancers/Dancer-02.gif

[Tiger]

Jewel- Congrats on your weight loss!
I just wanted you to know I had a neighbor with the same story as yours. She had the surgery about 15yrs ago. She never put the weight back on and she still looks great! Good luck!

[HARRYET]

jewel,

just want to add my $.02, wishing you a successful surgery, and a quick recovery! we will miss your wit, so come back to the bb soon http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

Ann

[Hoosier65]

Jewel, ditto on all of the above and have a speedy recovery and know that a lot of people out here a with you and waiting for your return. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Jewel]

Thanks for the cyber-hugs, my friends, you don't know how much this means to me. My parents arrived on Friday afternoon, and we're doing all of our 'running around' this weekend, in preparation for Monday. I'll be home by noon and probably drugged out for most of the day, but I'll definitely post on Tuesday and give a status report. Thanks again for all the support and prayers, I'm gonna need all the atta-girls I can get for a few weeks! If anyone out there has ever had 'drains' from any surgery, you'll know what I'm talking about...ick.

Here's a toast to Flat Tummies and Demerol Nibbles!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif