Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!
$99 Yearly Supply Alert! 🌈 "1 per Day!" Bariatric Multivitamins
  • entries
    348
  • comments
    1,448
  • views
    92,572

About this blog

THE SWEET SPOT My journal on my expedition to Bandlandia and my adventures there. I plan to stay forever (been to Onederland many times, but I never stayed long). Join me!:see

Entries in this blog

 

7/26/10 Monday Musings

I can't believe it's been a month since my last post here...I guess because there's not been nothing new on the Band front since the partial unfill and I try to make sure my posts have something Band related here.   - As of an hour ago, we've now got a last minute trip scheduled to the shore before school starts. My SIL/DH just bought a place this summer at Cape May so we're going to meet them there not this, but next Thursday...guess I'll be breaking out the bikini again...yikes.   - I'm back to writing (the LB book) with a new vengeance today...I wrote all morning about maintenance and outlined a bunch of new things as well. I've learned that taking a break from writing can be a good thing and that I can't force feed it...I'm sure real authors can and have ways to keep themselves inspired, but my busy life this summer was making it impossible to carve out chunks of uninterrupted (read 'three teen/twenties' constantly interrupting me) time to get creative and it was getting stale and tedious...and that's just not me!   - I stopped by Barnes and Noble today to pick up a few Lap Band books to start reading at the shore...and was surprised to find they didn't have ANY (the only WLS book they even carry was 'WLS for Dummies' and after perusing it for a half-hour I realized it wasn't worth buying...nothing we all haven't heard as it's a very generalized book about all WLS). I've been putting off reading any LB books until I had at least the full outline/structure of the book all worked out so that I wouldn't be influenced or start questioning myself. It's probably for the best they didn't have any as my DH's family doesn't know about the blog or the book and they'd be wondering why I was reading these post-op. I'll just have to order some to read this Fall.   - I keep forgetting to share a few things, like I went shopping again right before I left for Ohio. Ten more tops and a sundress.   *Portion of Post Deleted for Lap Band Book   - Also, I'm not sure if I told you that I called and moved my 'refill' appointment up...a month. It's tomorrow afternoon. I've got lots of thoughts on the refill and what I'm aiming for this time (I've got some new thoughts on where I was/want to be), but I'll save the details for now. Here's hoping the Doc doesn't toss me out on my ear when he sees I'm in a month earlier than he said...I'll let you know.   - Oh and I've gone from a full 7 pounds up to reining it in to about 3-4 now...Doc will probably say I'm doing fine LOL.   Happy Monday all!
Band_Groupie

Band_Groupie

1
 

6/25/10 My Wrinkles

*Portion of Post Deleted for Lap Band Book   Come on...sing it with me!!! Cracking open the 'box of wine' for you all now...there's no such thing as too early...hold those glasses still GF's...happy weekend! OK, now you're singing...and dancing...WHOOT! YouTube - Wrinkled Ladies
Band_Groupie

Band_Groupie

2
 

6/10/10 Century Club! *PICS*

*Portions of Post Deleted for Lap Band Book   Sorry I'm behind here, life has just been so busy at the end of the school year, but all my kiddos are home and school ends tomorrow for my youngest.   Now, on to the good news...I'm in the Century Club...100 lbs. lost!!!   Here are some pics (left to right); Before--------------1/13/09 = 244 (-4 lbs.) Start 248 lbs. About 1/2 Way---8/2/09 = 195 (-53 lbs.) 1/2 Way=50 lbs. Almost 1st Goal---1/30/10 = 163 (-85 lbs.) Goal=90 lbs. Dream Goal!------6/3/10 = 148 (-100 lbs.)     Thank you all for helping me get there as I wouldn't have been able to do it without all of you keeping me accountable!   8 Blog updates including book questions, my introduction, and a vlog are all here: THE SWEET SPOT
Band_Groupie

Band_Groupie

4
 

5/8/10 Blog Updates and I need input for the Book

Here are some blog updates. Remember, anyone can read these and you can comment under the 'anonymous' choice if you don't have a Google account (just keep pushing the button after you post and it will give you a word verification.   As you know, I'm now working on trying to write a LB book (after a year of messages from all of you suggesting it LOL). I would really appreciate it if you could send me some information (you can do this here, or with a PM, comment on the blog, or via my email) as I go along...I routinely ask questions so I can gather input for the book as I want this to represent all our journies as much as possible. The two blogs marked with * below, are where I need some input currently. THANK YOU! -BG Blog here: THE SWEET SPOT   5/7/10 Lock Me Up...I'm a Smuggler! (Patio projects) *5/5/10 Pre-Op Process (Dr. Clearance & Testing) *5/4/10 Pre-Op Process (Self-Pay or Covered) 5/3/10 Of Mice and Men (and Brother, Sisters...and Parents) (Helping Parents get ready to sell their home 4/27/10 Happy Birthday! 4/24/10 Don't Have any Wild Parties...(going home)
Band_Groupie

Band_Groupie

1
 

5/8/10 Blog Updates and I need input for the Book

Here are some blog updates. Remember, anyone can read these and you can comment under the 'anonymous' choice if you don't have a Google account (just keep pushing the button after you post and it will give you a word verification.   As you know, I'm now working on trying to write a LB book (after a year of messages from all of you suggesting it LOL). I would really appreciate it if you could send me some information (you can do this here, or with a PM, comment on the blog, or via my email) as I go along...I routinely ask questions so I can gather input for the book as I want this to represent all our journies as much as possible. The two blogs marked with * below, are where I need some input currently. THANK YOU! -BG Blog here: THE SWEET SPOT   5/7/10 Lock Me Up...I'm a Smuggler! (Patio projects) *5/5/10 Pre-Op Process *5/4/10 Pre-Op Process   5/3/10 Of Mice and Men (and Brother, Sisters...and Parents) (Helping Parents get ready to sell their home 4/27/10 Happy Birthday! 4/24/10 Don't Have any Wild Parties...(going home)
Band_Groupie

Band_Groupie

1
 

4/23/10 My Bandiversary vlog and Updates!

4/21/10 152 (lbs.) 4/22/10 Happy Bandiversary! (my first vlog...come 'see' me!) 4/22/10 HEY WORLD (best LB day EVER) 4/23/10 Thank You Note (a thank you from my Band/Port for attending the party)   All here: http://bandgroupiethesweetspot.blogspot.com/   Happy weekend all! -BG
Band_Groupie

Band_Groupie

1
 

4/20/10 Blog Updates

Sorry, I'm behind on the Updates...too busy this month LOL!   4/7/10 The Chasm That Is Now My Belly Button   4/7/10 The Black Hole 4/8/10 Gen's Request for Monthly Numbers 4/9/10 **PLEASE READ** 4/10/10 Feel the LB Love 4/17/10 I'm Back 4/18/10 Who ARE you People? 4/19/10 Book Input; Your 'Moment' 4/19/10 Book; Why you chose LB? 4/20/10 New Sig   All here: http://bandgroupieth...t.blogspot.com/   *Don't forget, anyone can comment...just use the anonymous button under comments and keep pushing post to get the word verification
Band_Groupie

Band_Groupie

1
 

4/9/10 To My Followers...(part II)

When I moved the blog the end of January I made a deal with myself...I'd get rid of my funny pics (I thought that was the only reason people followed me) and if people were still interested and if I was still getting comments and emails about writing a book, then I'd try it...yes, you heard that right. To make sure I didn't chicken-out, the week I moved the blog, I told my DH what I was planning...he was very surprised, but he'd support anything I do. More shocking to me than rapidly reaching those 100 first followers (and the horror of the before pics) was that the very first week on Blogger I got comments again about writing the book...the very same day I got an email from one of my LBT friends, Diane about writing a book...it was like I was getting signs...I told her the above and that I was going to try it...something about saying it committed me to the process. I told a few other friends who had contacted me (one was Lena, my LBT supporter and a published author, thanks GF) who supported the book idea as well. I spent my extra time January researching book writing, and making several outlines and then writing a few portions.   Here's the thing...by February I had so many Followers that I was finding it impossible to read/comment on others blogs and write the book. I decided that I was new to Blogger and that I needed to show the same support to others that I'd done on LBT so people could get to know me and so that I could give the support that was the reason I moved here. By March I could hardly keep up with all the blogs (on LBT there a lots of bloggers, but most of them are more like 'posts', short questions), here there are so many wonderful articulate bloggers and I wanted to read and support them all.   I've gotten three months into this blog move and now I've want to keep the promise that I made. I hope by now that you know me and that you know I don't want to stop supporting you, but I need to devote more time to this. I hope you won't desert me if I can't be giving you the support you need all the time. I'm not going to disappear, and I plan to keep blogging…I'm hoping to ask for your help with portions of the book (like TOM and post-band TOM changes…hysterectomy here). I want your opinions because I so value them. I don't want to represent just my opinions, but all the ways that others approach their band journey as well...as you know there are lots of choices we have to make along the way and no one way is the right way...just knowing all the choices would have helped me a lot.   So here's where I am now...I hope that I still have your support and for those of you that don't know me well yet, I hope you'll believe me when I tell you what my friend Diane told me last night when I was freaking out over what my new Blogger friends might think...that I'm doing this for all the right reasons. I really feel so blessed to have my LB and especially to have all the support and knowledge I've gained along the way. I really want to try and pay-it-forward to as many LBers as I can and that's the reason I'm trying this. After a little research I can tell you it's going to be a very long process (maybe a year), that 99% of book ideas submitted never get published (but I'll give it my best shot), if you want to make money being an author is not the way to do it. You know it would be a very limited audience of we LBers, and again, I'd just be thrilled to ever get this published.   I'll need your help and support more than ever along this new path I'm taking. I know by the time this is finished most of you will be at maintenance and won't need this information, but I hope you feel like I do that this LB journey has been such a learning experience that for the newbies just starting a book that they'll be able to relate and turn to might just make their journey a little easier. Thanks as always for listening. Here goes that 'publish' button...
Band_Groupie

Band_Groupie

2
 

4/9/10 To My Followers...(part I)

I'll apologize now for the book length of this post. I have to break it down into part I and part II. It's the hardest post I've written yet. I'll thank you in advance for reading it…thank you.   I seriously didn't even know what a blog was until I stumbled upon a section of them on LBT as I was beginning my LB research. I think blogging is kind of like our LB journeys...we all have to figure out what we need and what works best for us and do it. I started my blog the same way I started my LB journey...I had to learn to put me at the top of the list for once. I selfishly (allowed myself to take the time) started a 'journal' (blog) for me where I could document my journey and research things I was interested in along the way. Journaling is something I've tried to do at several other points in my life (yeah, my whole family had gratitude journals one year), it always ended as fast as it started, but it intrigued me. I looked at the blogs on LBT and it seemed like a 'safe' and tiny place where only a few people even commented on blogs, so I really expected to just be writing for me. I can't tell you how surprised I was when people started to comment and how much I appreciated all the things I learned from other LBers helping me. It soon became such a wonderful and unexpected support system for me and when I got Banded, I tried hard to pay-it-forward and be there for others. There are a group of us that are/were long-term bloggers there, but mainly there are/were lots of soon-to-be or newly banded bloggers needing help and support. The comment I loved to get was that 'whenever I need help, I know I can count on you to answer'. I was so thrilled by my LB results even at that point and all the support that I'd gotten...I felt like I had been saved and helped in so many ways that would impact my life forever.   I've tried to be honest about my happy, but not so perfect life and my not so perfect LB journey. I write whatever I'm feeling that day and I try to write with the same voice I'd be speaking to myself with (yes, some days I talk like a crazy person, and I have lots of days where I just want to laugh, but that's me too). I think the biggest compliment people can pay me in my blogging is for them to say that I've said something they've been feeling, they've learned something that will help them, and that they feel like they know me...because you know what? They do.   As I came to my Blogiversary last Fall I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. I wanted to continue paying it forward, but several other Blogger's on LBT had been encouraging me for awhile to move to Blogger (and so did others on other WL sites I visit now and then) and they told me that I'd be able to reach more people looking into the LB (Kathi was my main Blogger promoter, thanks GF). I was a little nervous about it as I knew that others were following me on LBT (even though there weren't 'followers' I could see by page hits that I had over 70,000 page hits in a year). Let me stop and say here, that I'm just stating facts…anything that might sound like a 'brag' is SO not me (most know that I'm a super humble person), but you never know how things come across when you write. Anyway, as the Holiday's drew near I looked into it more and decided that it was a good idea and I'd move the blog after the New Year.   I made another big decision with my blog move. I decided I'd move my blog without any of the funny pics I loved to use that made me laugh. I decided I'd focus more on my LB journey and less on my day to day life and the silliness that is me (no, not taking that completely out, but there was a point to all this seriousness I'm getting to, so hang with me here).   I know this is the scariest blog I've ever written (oooo spooky). I'm not a woman who generally gets scared about what I do (OK, you know I am scared of the dark still, but I have no control over the Boogie Man...yet). I've given presentations in front of hundreds of people and never batted an eyelash. I think I've shared that in the past, I've sometimes had trouble pushing the 'publish' button when I've gotten a little deep here, but I've learned over time to trust that the people who love me may not always have the same viewpoint, but they'll respect my honesty and that I've shared mine...and more times than not, more people than I'd ever imagine feel the same way and were grateful that someone articulated it. Let me say that again...I've learned to trust my readers...that's important...I don't feel scared anymore publishing any post...except now I'm nervous again...just a little.   I'm wondering if those that have been following me for a long time have seen at least a little change in me since my move over to 'Blogger'. Maybe it's just me, you know how we tend to magnify things when we know we're hiding something (yes, I have been). You see I know that there has been a change, because I know there's been one.   You see, I decided with the move that either my blog would peter out or I'd be trying to do something more to pay-it-forward. Let me go back and tell you that from the very first weeks of my blog I had people sending me private messages telling me how much they enjoyed it, or felt the same way and soon I was getting lots of messages telling me that I needed to write a book (again, I'm just stating the facts). I was flattered, but laughed it off saying I'm no writer, but thanks for the support. Here's the thing, even a year later I was regularly getting Private Messages, emails or Comments with people telling me they'd read my whole blog start to finish and that I needed to write a book (many during their recovery and let me just say...reading my year of blogs is a big feat...I'm sure it's longer than any book...you know I can't describe unpacking the gauze in my belly button without five paragraphs LOL...it totally amazed me how many people did this).   I started to think that maybe there was a need for more information out there from a Bander's perspective. I've looked at the LB books and all of them are written by Drs.; there's one that's written by a LBer and her Drs. but a lot of it is also from a medical perspective. I think you'd all agree with me that this LB journey has been so much huger than any of us originally thought it would be...I've gotten so much more from others going through their journeys than any LB Dr. will ever know (unless they have one). I think there's so much more that can be shared that would help newbies just starting out than what our Docs tell us. The fact that I had so many people reading my whole blog tells me that there's a need for this information out there.
Band_Groupie

Band_Groupie

2
 

4/6/10 Blog Updates

4/3/10 Easter Crazy 4/4/10 In My Easter Bonnet 4/5/10 The Secret To Weight Loss 4/6/10 OK You Scale Whores, Get Out your Spreadsheets   All Here: http://bandgroupiethesweetspot.blogspot.com/  
Band_Groupie

Band_Groupie

1
 

4/2/10 Blog Updates

3/22/10 7 Habits...Or Maybe 70... 3/23/10 Namaste 3/24/10 Tell All 3/24/10 I Died 3/25/10 I'm Coming Back Home (Parent's Move) 3/28/10 Prepped and Ready to Go 3/29/10 Surgery Update 3/30/10 A Bouncing Baby GB   3/31/10 b***h and Whine 4/1/10 Up 19 Pounds...and NowI know Why!! 4/1/10 Stiletto Award 4/2/10 My Crossover Addiction   All here: http://bandgroupieth...t.blogspot.com/
Band_Groupie

Band_Groupie

1
 

4/1/10 Happy Bandiversary Bunnies!

WOW what a year we've all had! Can you believe this is our Bandiversary month already?   Remember all the nightmares of insurance approval, and no sleep the night before LB surgery because we were so excited; It was almost heaven taking that first shower after surgery! We had some work to do, learning how not to be a couch potato anymore. Then we had to learn how to eat right. and prepare healthy food; but pretty soon we were losing weight and had to buy new clothes; Sure there were a few unpleasent changes, like bathroom schedules; but also nice ones, like being able to wear a bathing suit again; Happy Bandiversary Bunnies! It's going to be one wild party; and watch out for all the candy at Easter!
Band_Groupie

Band_Groupie

5
 

3/21/10 Blog Updates

3/15/10 Funky Chicken 3/15/10 Porthole 3/16/10 Celebrities in WL Denial 3/17/10 Sugar Doll Award 3/18/10 Weekday Dish 3/19/20 Enquiring Minds Want to Know 3/20/10 7 Fun Questions 3/20/10 Welcome Spring! 3/21/10 Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants   All here: http://bandgroupieth...t.blogspot.com/
Band_Groupie

Band_Groupie

1
 

3/13/10 This Week's Blogs

- Telling - Wednesday Words (Misc.) - The Incredible Shrinking Woman - Endoscopy Schmendoscopy   Enjoy!   All here: http://bandgroupieth...t.blogspot.com/
Band_Groupie

Band_Groupie

1
 

3/3/10 Blog Updates

Sorry, I'm a little behind with all of you as I've been having some issues (gallbladder, etc.). I'll get caught up today!   Here are my blogs about what's been going on, another nutrition blog on sweets, and my gift for reaching goal. Enjoy! Oh, and don't forget ANYONE can leave comments (just chose the anonymous and write your name so I'll know it was you, and just keep pushing that post/publish button, it's stubborn and takes several times and a word recognition). -BG   I'm Stoned: 3/2/10 I'm Stoned ~ THE SWEET SPOT Sweets and Sugar-Free: 3/1/10 Sweets & Sugar-Free ~ THE SWEET SPOT Dizzy Blonde: 3/1/10 Dizzy Blonde *Update* ~ THE SWEET SPOT My Sexy New IRS Friends: http://bandgroupiethesweetspot.blogspot.com/2010/02/22810-my-sexy-new-irs-friends.html
Band_Groupie

Band_Groupie

1
 

2/26/10 Goal!!!!!

Yes, I FINALLY reached goal!!!! It's all gravy now!   Blogs this week Here: http://bandgroupiethesweetspot.blogspot.com/   -Lookie Here -Linner- Sides and Snacks -My DH has an addiction -We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming -Really? Nobody?
Band_Groupie

Band_Groupie

11
 

2/24/10 Protein First

Blog today on nutrition/protein, here: http://bandgroupiethesweetspot.blogspot.com/2010/02/22410-linner-protein-first.html
Band_Groupie

Band_Groupie

1
 

2/19/10 Nutrition

On request, I started a series on my nutrition. First one is on my breakfast and second on vitamins/supplements/and meds.   Here: http://bandgroupiethesweetspot.blogspot.com/
Band_Groupie

Band_Groupie

1

PatchAid Vitamin Patches

Bariatric Forums

For Patients

Health Professionals

Search Surgeons

Bariatric Surgeons: Want to research a weight loss surgery surgeon? Enter their last name below to start!

×