Ok, I am sitting in my house Freezing!! The heat is on high for me, 70. I have on sweat pants, long sleeved 't', sweat shirt and my Ugg boots in the house. My husband told me to wear a hat. No on that one. I also wear a scarf wrapped around me a lot.
So are you all cold? I am in Boston, actually a suburb about 10 miles from the city but I did grow up in Boston and went to Boston Public Schools.
Lately I have been eating some bad s**t. Last night I ate a container of chocolate covered pomegranates from Trader Joe's Can't buy those again! I really need to shape up and also move my body. I haven't been to the gym in 3-4 weeks. My husband I and share a car and he has been using it a real lot lately, for good stuff, so I am home alone with my *****, Ruby, the cat. My husband calls her 'Dog" because we were always dog people. We have a cat because we had a mouse and my son had 1 too many cats, they now have 2. Since'Dog' moved in we never saw the mouse or any mice since! My husband loves her except for those long claws that scratch the crap out of you.
Well everyone have a wonderful warm, dry and safe Monday.
Arlene
Hi Everyone,
I am watching Dr. Oz right now and the show's subject is Toxic Love. Very interesting about what loved ones do to each other when they have health issues. Dieting together, a mother telling her daughter, you're fat etc. and cooking the wrong foods. Right now is a couple and the wife wears an insulin pump and the husband cooks all the wrong foods. The therapist is trying to help all the people. Great show.
I know of people like that, that make and feed the wrong foods to the diabetic, the WLS person, like all of us etc.
Who is the the toxic person in your life? Mine is ME!!!!!!
I was just watching a repeat on TLC of Say Yes To The Dress. The bride lost 115 pounds with the band. Her future husband was there with her through the whole thing. Congratulations to the both of them. The bride's mother is thin, discipline and opinionated. The bride tried on so many form fitting dresses and loved a tight fitting that showed off her 'new' figure. The mother hated everything and the poor bride left Kleinfeld's without a dress. Why can't mother's say nice things. It is not 'her' wedding and 'her' dress. I had a cousin that was like that. When her daughter married for the second time the bride did everything her way. Sad but her mother had died. My mother did my wedding my way and when we planned it I was just 19. I got married 1 month after I turned 20 and I am still married.
If that bride, Victoria, is part of this site, I hope you finally found your dress and not your mother's.
Today I finally had my favorite-pizza! I had one slice and it went down great. I still haven't tried lettuce yet. I love to eat salad but I am afraid of choking on the lettuce.
I had my support group tonight and we talked about exercise. The one thing I don't do. Next week I am joining a gym. I am going to try to go 3-5 days a week. The physical therapist we had as a speaker tonight thinks tread mills are not great. He likes recumbent bikes and ellipticals better. Good to know because those are the 2 pieces of equipment that I like. I find tread mills boring.
Have a great evening everyone.
As I write this, the snow has started, again. It is around 10 out and it may get 35 tomorrow or what I call a heat wave. Every year my husband wants to go down south but my children and grandsons live here. Our elderly mothers live here. Also you need $$$ to live in 2 places but tonight is Mega Millions, over $550 million, so that would get him his warm weather.
This past week I have had vertigo and the room has been spinning. Awful. I am seeing my ENT today for my annual and hopefully he can help me. My oldest brother told me he has it too.
Not an excuse but I have not been to the gym because I am afraid of what could happen if I do any of the machines. That is why we have wonderful doctors, to help us. They help with our band questions, also.
I love when people bad mouth other's WLS choices. If you did not have a band or sleeve or by pass you can't judge. I do know many people who had by pass and after 7-10 years they are larger than before. One of these women said her surgery failed. WRONG! she failed. I have seen her eat and drink cocktails and wine, daily. The only sleeve people I know are at my monthly support group and they are newly done and they have no complaints, good for them. I decided I didn't want anything other than Band because it can be removed and the others can't. Each to his own and band bashing is just RUDE!
I hope everyone has a warm and safe week.
Arlene
Good evening all,
I had my support meeting tonight and we met our new dietitian. She handed out new recipes and I just tried a great one and needed to share it.
Homemade Baked Cheese Crisps (they are great)
preheat oven to 350 and put parchment paper on a cookie sheet. Must!! use parchment paper.
use shredded cheese and seasonings (I did not use seasoning) and put little lumps of the mixture on the parchment paper, spaced out because the will grow. and spread. (Their words not mine) about a teaspoon of cheese.
Now put it on a rack centered in the middle of the oven and bake 5-7 minutes. When they start to turn brown take them out and let them cool.
I made mine with a pizza cheese blend and the hub and I loved them
Enjoy!
You can use cheddar/jack and Ranch dressing to make it a Mexican blend. Add garlic, chili powder.
Happy Memorial Day to everyone and thank you to all who have served us to protect us.
So today I went dreaded swim suit shopping. My condo has a pool that just opened, too cold in Boston right now but Thursday- Saturday it will be 90 out.
I like the 2 piece type, shorts and a top that hangs over. I tried on about 12 tops at JCPenney and about 4 bottoms. The bottoms were great but the tops looked like sh*t. So then I went to Macy's and tried on just 2 there and bought a suit. The bottom is pants with an over skirt, looks great, never tried one on before. The top is the type I like. MIL was very sweet and bought it for me. I usually don't spend a lot on swim suits especially when losing weight but this should fit the whole summer unless I have massive weight loss.
The past 2 years I have been buying on line from Swimsuitsforall. Their prices are great and they have a large assortment of styles and sizes. I have even bought cover ups from them.
When I looked in the mirror, OMG!, my thighs are so flabby. I told hub, I need a thigh /body lift. I like to wear shorts in the hot summer, too, so he suggested shorts that come to the knees. I don't do carpi, pants at all.
I hope you all have a great swim suit buying day of a smaller size with a smile on your face, men, too.
Arlene
Good evening everyone
After banding can you eat ribs? I haven't tried them yet. Yesterday I tried a chicken wing and it was too chewy, so I couldn't eat it. Wings are one of my favorite foods. Bye Bye wings. Also, how about rack of lamb? Is that a food that goes down well?
Thank you.
I have 2 wonderful sons. Roger is the oldest, 38 and Frank is 34. Roger was born chicken breasted. He needed to have surgery to fix his chest at 2 1/2. If it was not fixed he could have had a heart attack by age 10, his heart was not in the right place and he was hunch backed from the chest problems. My husband asked the surgeon about risks (he was head of pediatric surgery at Boston Children's Hospital). The doctor said you can walk across the street and get killed. Since that time when any doctor has recommended surgery my husband don't really think of it. By the time Roger was 5 he had 4 different surgeries. He is perfect! Frank was born slightly chicken breasted but did not need the surgery because his heart was in the right place.
So this leads to why I am writing. There are pros and cons to everything. Last week a young man around 24ish had his wisdom teeth pulled and died. You never know when it's your time to go.
I love this site and enjoy reading about other's wonderful results, accomplishments and seeing their pictures. I am too computer challenged to put any pictures on, sorry. Writing that the Band is awful because you had a problem is sad but don't knock all of us.
A Boston hospital many many years ago did a research drug, turned out to be Merida, I signed up. It worked great for me until I stopped. In the study, in Boston and England they said 2 women had strokes. You know what, I didn't think about quitting because out of the 2500 people they were over 60 and with that many people there is sure to be health issues.
Let's all think positive thoughts, that we are going to beat Obesity and get healthy and fit. I know I am doing it.
By the way I have had about a dozen different surgeries. From a small mole I got MRS. You never know what is going to happen.
Have a wonderful evening and super Tuesday-spring has arrived!!!!!! at least in Boston.
Arlene
Happy Monday, all.
Does anyone have a stomach that gurgles everyday? Mine does every morning around 10:30-11:00am. I stay up very late and am still in bed at that time. Is this my stomach telling me get up and have my protein shake?
Also, talking about noises, I burp a lot and hiccup. Is this normal? I am seeing my surgeon Thursday for my second fill. I think I have been eating a little too much at each meal, but when I am full I stop and don't push it at all.
Enjoy your day, it's getting cold in Boston.
I love the old cartoons. Warner Bros. use to have retail stores and I bought everything, clothes, gifts, dog toys and art. Yes I have cartoon art all over the house.
About 18-20 years ago I was thinner and purchased a pair of jeans with the Taz, Bugs Bunny and others on them. Today, they FIT!! A super duper NSV for me. I even have the matching 't' shirt. I own a few long sleeved shirts with characters all over them. Like I said. I love the old fashioned cartoons.
One of my favorite prints is called 'Speechless'. It is a microphone and off to the side are the characters that Mel Blanc did the voices for. It was when he died. That is my all time favorite. Yes I am a 63 year Grammie who is young at heart and I show it off.
Do other young at hearts have cartoon people in their life?
Have a great weekend. The weather in Boston is great today. I went to the gym in shorts.
The weather today in Boston is around 77 degrees and sunny. Tomorrow even warmer.
Lately I have been going to the gym again. I go for around 30 minutes, better than nothing.
I live about 2 miles from a community college and my husband (age 63) is now a student 2 days a week. We have one car so today I drove him. I got to the college early so I could walk around the campus. WOW-it took 10 minutes and my Fitbit said about 800 steps. I was shocked how fast the long walk was and how little steps I took. Before the band I never would have even thought about walking to the end of the parking lot, let alone walk around the building. I guess being obese you look at the picture as huge, like my body was, and not as I can do it and will do it. My husband said I should have walked around 2 times but I didn't like the area. The side walks ended and you had to walk through a parking lot with vehicles always moving. Not very safe. Before you know it wonderful winter and snow will be here and you can't walk around outside.
Enjoy this wonderful weather where ever you are. The walk is shorter than you think
It takes me 30-60 minutes to do food shopping than take a fun walk. Never thought of it like that.
Hello again,
I just came back from my support group. One bander brought and showed off her Fitbit. Has anyone bought one and do you like it? Also, the same person does body wraps and swears they take off inches and she says her 4 chins will be gone by next month's meeting, She was banded in July, just like me.
Hello everyone. I haven't been writing lately but I have been reading. Sorry, just been busy with life.
Today I go for a 3 month check up and I failed. How did I fail? I didn't lose any weight but stayed within 3-5 pounds of my last visit. When I go and get a fill it is very tiny under .4cc. My doctor goes slow.
I have not been to the gym since November but I pay every month.
Joke of the day: What do gyms call people like me, who pay and don't go? Profit!!
I had an ugly thing on my forehead and had it removed the other day and have 2 blue stitches. So right now bending over makes me a little dizzy. But I have gym clothes on. I bought a new 'outfit' yesterday. The real Arlene likes outfits not separates. I am nuts. When I skied many moons ago (I learned at 40) my skis, boots, poles and my ski outfits all matched and had the same colors. I am nuts. I am so nutty that I have sox to match sweaters. Orange stripes. I buy men's sox because I wear a size 12 shoe.
So soon I will be at the doctor's and he won't be pleased with my weight not being down. Everyone have a great weekend.
Please cheer for the NE Patriots!!!! We need a super bowl, because we are Boston Strong. Speaking of Boston Strong, that came after the marathon bombings, the RMV just approved a new license plate with Boston Strong on it! Some of the money will go to the marathon survivors.
Enjoy your weekend.
Arlene
Hi from Boston and wonderful Sandy,
Lately I have been unable to feel full. Right now I am very full. I had for dinner elbows, tomato sauce and shrimp. Dinner was yummy. I had a fill in September and not scheduled to see the doctor until after Thanksgiving.
Yesterday I made an angel food cake and put sugar free chocolate chips into it. My husband is a diabetic. He has eaten over 1/2 the cake. I had one piece last night.
I find with the Band that I getting bored with food. I never know what to have. For lunch I had a grilled roast beef and cheese sandwich (1/2). It was great.
Have a great and safe night and hopefully with electric.
When I go out to eat, I eat out a lot for dinner, I order from the children's menu. I have been very strict with my eating. I hope it lasts.Yesterday I had a lunch order of turkey tips and mashed potatoes and had more than enough food. My biggest concern is this week coming up. It is the Jewish New Year and eating at other's homes and an engagement party. I haven't eaten with people who do not know about my banding and I am very nervous when people see a very small amount on my plate, it is buffet dining. My husband said to just say I am watching what I am eating, that is how I lost 51 lbs. since March! I do not plan on telling others about my surgery, too much privacy for me. I know most people are very proud but I feel like a failure and this was the only thing that can help me. A doctor told me that I am not a failure because I went for help by being banded. Do any of my fellow banders feel this way?
Have a great Sunday. Super weather in Boston.
My husband gave up meat 35 years ago for dieting-no he quit the health kick-but still no meat. Many years ago I made meatballs and turkey balls. He eats the turkey ones. My oldest son's friend ate over and I asked do you want meatballs or turkey balls? Eric, answered, I didn't know turkeys had balls. He was a senior in high school at the time. I love dumb kids.
I am in Boston and right now I am watching the Doctors. They just showed a new WLS for the person who needs to lose 25-60lbs. They put a tube thing down through your mouth and fold part of your stomach. It has been used for about 4 years but not approved by the FDA, yet. They use this surgery for other things. Very interesting. I would say to go their web site and see the video. They explain it better than me.
My husband likes the sound of this surgery because his heart doctor wants him to lose about 30 pounds.
Another thing they spoke about was the WLS cards to show in restaurants. The doctors said why can't anyone order a smaller meal.
I finally realized by getting the Band, I put me first for once. I have been taking care of my sick husband for about 15 months. I help with a retarded brother, a 94 year old mother in a nursing home and an 89 year old mother-in-law, who finally gave up driving. You can see, I have a full plate and HATE it. I would love to find a hobby to occupy my time.
Have a wonderful Sunday everyone.
tonight I had my support group. They had a sleep doctor and she talked about the different kinds of sleep and how having the surgery does change people sleep. I know I sleep much better and hub said I don't snore anymore. Also, I no longer take 2 hour afternoon naps.
Next meeting we are having a tasting party with new products. I will let everyone know about the new items. Then in May is a cooking demo.
Most people in the crowd have not had any surgery yet. Some couldn't decide what they wanted. So being me and talkative I said the band is the best. One man had bypass a few years ago and loves it and he was with his sister who is scheduled for the sleeve. Another man, no surgery yet, said his brother had the by pass and never smoked. He now is a chain smoker and said the by pass causes addiction. I don't know anything about that. Interesting.
I really enjoy the meetings and listening to other people's stories, pros and cons.
Do all of you go to your meetings? My hospital is 5 miles from my house, which makes a big difference. I told the director of the office about this site and that she would learn a lot about people's thoughts.
Enjoy your evening everyone.
Happy Sunday night. As most of you know last Tuesday was my one year banding. On Friday I saw my PCP and then my surgeon. They are both happy with me.
My surgeon told me I am perfect with my under 2cc's in my band and said I don't need any more. When I was banded, my band did not have any saline in it. Very interesting how every doctor does their 'own' thing and we can not compare. I see so many people complain that they need another fill, another fill next month, why? Are you doing the right thing? This past week I ate too fast, 3 times and had to go walking. My fault, no one else's. I do not throw up ever, even with the flu, I don't.
The doctor told me I really need to exercise more. I had complained that my muffin top is still big. He is very happy with me and I see him again in 2 months. I would love to be around 180-185 by then. I just need to move my fat ass and muffin top.
This week I am going to a cousins reunion on Cape Cod, Wednesday. I live about 1-1 1/2 hours from there. Then Thursday, Newport, RI to visit a cousin from my husband's side. Great places to visit and Newport is the best for walking around.
Have a great evening.
Arlene
I don't see too much change except in clothes. Today I have on a long sleeve 't' in size xl from the regular misses department! I was wearing a 2 or 3x before. My gym pants are also a size xl from the misses instead of 2xl from the men's department. I feel great today about this.
I hope others enjoy a smaller clothes day, also.
Tomorrow my grandson will be 5. This morning his other grandmother baby sat.
His name is Dylan.
Dylan-yesterday at school we had cupcakes for my pretend birthday.
Nana-did they sing happy birthday?
Dylan-Nooo, cupcakes don't sing.
Just had to share this. He is so cute.
Merry Christmas to everyone in Lap Band land. I went to my son's to see what Santa brought my grandsons. Santa was very nice to them. My son has a Texas BBQ/smoker, from Texas. He does catering, also. He was up all night smoking beef brisket. OMG!! it taste so good. I am going to my other son's for dinner and he is serving one of the briskets. Can't wait. The burnt ends are the best. Now that I am finally having the brisket, 3-4 oz. isn't too much food. I hope I can have a doggie bag.
I hope everyone gets to eat wonderful food with wonderful people/family today and always.
Enjoy the day.
"Eye Candy"/Arlene
Yesterday was my 42nd anniversary. My husband and I went out for dinner. I did have some bread dunked in oil. For my main course I had the filet with mashed potatoes and butternut squash. I am not and never will be a vegetable eater. Dinner was super. I ate the small filet and some of the others. My husband ordered dessert, wrong thing to do. He is over weight and a diabetic. I did taste the chocolate torte. It was super. Just a small taste. And then this morning I was down 1 pound!!! I try to move my body everyday. I over drink tea, hot and iced with Splenda. I don't leave the house without my iced tea.
Today is cut and color day. I have my daughter-in-law's baby shower Saturday. And Sunday my nephew is getting married. Very busy weekend but fun nice things to do. By then the weather will be wonderful. Snow last night. Rain today and this weekend 60-70. Don't you just love NE weather? I live in the Boston area.
Tonight at my support group meeting we are having a clothes swap. I have about 10 pairs of Lauren jeans in sizes 18w and 20w. I hope they find a new home.
Enjoy your day and evening Lap Bands!
