TerriDoodle

I just googled 'group travel Las Vegas' and got this link: Las Vegas Group Travel - Las Vegas Group Vacation Package | LasVegas.com LasVegas.com is a great website and I'll just bet they would have some great travel specialists that could help. The first question is: How Many Rooms? .... because that makes a difference in whether or not you can reserve a block and get discount prices. 20 rooms is usually the minimum as far as I know. They do have a number listed for <20 rooms as well. They can arrange meeting rooms, shows, tours, etc.

Sorry I can't meet you guys. Priorities, priorities!!

TracyKS - I see ya darlin'!! Good JOB!!! Now, will you be doing that most days during August??? Hmmmm???? REGARDING EXERCISE CHALLENGES! -- Laura has the right idea. Only set goals you KNOW you can achieve otherwise you set yourself up to fail. Failure is not a very good motivator! Success is!

Are you eating within 3 hours of bedtime?

A dear friend sent this to me and I immediately thought of the LBT Intimacy thread. Hope you find something of value here and that you see the 'fault' does not lie within you: One Monday, a patient told me about the sermon his priest had given the previous day. He asked his parishioners to imagine God paying a visit to the United States and consider where He would stay, what He would want to do and who He might want to visit. That interested me, and I began to imagine: where? - Helmsley Palace or Ramada Inn? what to do - Walt Disney World or the Grand Canyon? who to visit - Michael Jordan or Billy Graham? Then I wondered: would He call room service? carry his own luggage? be escorted by a band of angels? Which house of worship would He visit first? Later that day, I thought about it in a more serious, but different context. If God came to visit and chose to stay with you, would you welcome Him, or would you turn Him away? If you did invite Him in, how would you act? Would you walk on eggshells? Set rules for what time meals were served? Or would you behave with "company manners"? We’ve all heard that expression, but have you ever thought about what it means? Does it mean to refrain from saying what you really feel; or to behave in accordance with what is truly in your soul - to act freely and be vulnerable? That would probably depend on how you view God. Every individual seems to have a different concept of who and what God is. Each denomination has its own interpretation. But there is one characteristic that most faiths attribute to God: love. I have heard it said that "God is love". But, therein lies the problem. Many people find it difficult to let true love into their lives. They associate love with weakness, dependence and the relinquishment of power, and fear giving anyone that much control over them. Instead, they hide their emotions and mitigate expressions of love. Some people have difficulty accepting love. Unconsciously, they reject love by staying busy, being angry, worrying and closing their partner out. Some even pick fights before any potentially happy occasion. Many patients have described driving home, listening to romantic music and experiencing warm feelings toward their spouse, only to walk into their homes and become angry because dinner wasn’t ready or the house was a mess. Others have described what I call "sleep talk". While leaning over their sleeping child or spouse to kiss them goodnight, they feel emotions deeper than they ever realized they were capable of. However, in the light of day, the feelings are absent. These examples are unconscious attempts to establish distance from partners and find emotional safety in the estrangement they create. Unfortunately, their loved ones only see their actions, or lack of them. Their feelings are invisible to the eye. These patients pay a long-term price for their emotional security. They live life in loneliness and despair. Despite intellectual awareness to the contrary, they refuse to let anyone approach the emotional child within them, for fear that they will be hurt as they were in their youth. This picture is clear, when we see it in others. But, when we attempt to view our own behaviors, we often get caught up in the "facts", which we use to depreciate our partners. We think to ourselves "To hell with love. I want to hurt someone before they hurt me." Later, we berate ourselves for our deeds, but often it’s too late. We forget the times when our partner says "I love you". We disbelieve the words, question the motivations and deny our desire to respond to them. There is a solution. That is to see ourselves introspectively and allocate the time and effort to fight the survival instincts that cause us to protect ourselves, rather than risk being vulnerable. Only in that state can we say that we have invited God into our lives. Then, in His presence, we can ask "Is this the way I wish to act?" The answer will be obvious. Because, when we allow God to live within us, it is easier to act in the name of love and to demonstrate true "company manners".

I have noticed that when I drink 'heavily' -- which for me is 3-4 drinks in a night -- that I am much more prone to sliming/PB'ing the next day or two. I don't do that anymore!! Two is my limit!

If you are PBing every meal, you certainly ARE feeling restriction! It is hard to eat properly at Disneyland, isn't it? Seems like you're always in a hurry and people want you to hurry up so you can go on to the next thing. Also, your 'stress' level is increased. Probably not eating the right things either. Why don't you call your doctor and discuss it with his nurse? They might advise a slight unfill....at least for a while.

Forever I have sent my jeans to be dry cleaned so they wouldn't shrink. Now I'm washing and drying them with heat so that they WILL shrink and I can get another couple of weeks wear out of them! That's a first!

OK PEOPLE! Time to establish and commit to your August Exercise Challenge! What are your goals for this month?? And let us know...did you meet your July goals? Mine will be 22 sessions again, but I think I'm going to break it down for myself into weights, cardio, and swimming...I want to do more swimming. I have to give this a little thought, so I'll report back later.

I use swimming to mix up my cardio...I guess I swim 2-3x a month in the lap pool at my gym. Man those lanes are LOOONNNNGGGGG!! I swim 2 laps then 'rest' at the end of the lane with some water aerobics...2 more laps...then more aerobics, etc. I do enjoy it but I'm not very good at it. I think I'll go swimming tomorrow!

You can look in the complications forum, but I think if your band had slipped you'd be having some pretty severe symptoms....like not even being able to get water down. If you aren't having any major problems, you're probably just fine!

Mine was $12,900 (a bargain!) I didn't require any pre-op testing, otherwise that would have been out-of-pocket as well. It did include surgeon's fees, hospital, anesthesia, and 1 year of fills and follow up.

You might be interested to see this poll I posted a few months ago: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/would-you-do-again-30418/

Well, it's interesting really.... you miss food now, but pretty soon it won't become so important to you (hopefully)...i've heard lots of people make the same observation. And it's terribly convenient to be able to get by with smaller meals. If you're in a hurry a 'meal' might be as simple as a Protein bar or 2 scrambled eggs. Pretty cool if you ask me. Saving tons of money not eating out, that's for sure!...it's a waste now. Best of luck to you!

Hope that helps!

The bold numbers in my signature reflect my status. 215 = beginning weight 190 = current weight 150 = goal weight cool, eh?? 25# gone forever!!!

So how did you like the Zumba class? Crazy, huh? Everytime someone starts to exercise an angel gets her wings.....or something like that. It just does my heart so good to see folks ramping up their exercise even just a little bit at a time. Just remember that the scale is not necessarily your friend anymore! For example, yesterday I wore some pants that I forgot I had...I bought them in early June for a trip we took. I weighed 7# more than I do today. 7 measley pounds. I put them on yesterday and they were absolutely falling off of me...at least a size and a half too big. The scale is NOT reflecting my progress accurately! MSJEN - You remember that too! Sara -- why in the world did I think it was your SON who was injured??? I'm so sorry I misunderstood -- it's your husband!! I probably would have just broke down and cried if my FIL said that to me....I'm SO sensitive about that subject!! One thing I've noticed about my aging mother is that suddenly she has become downright RUDE sometimes and that is SO unlike her...she's always been so gracious it's like I don't even know her! I know it's hurtful, but just try to remember that it's a factor of his age....he probably doesn't even remember what you looked like 6 months ago!! DUH! And you are absolutely right about being glad you didn't have restriction while in Mexico....stress most definitely affects your band and it would have been disasterous if you hadn't been able to eat and keep YOUR strength up! OMG that would have been bad. So the angels were watching out for you in that way. Thanks for posting....I've been thinking of you. Pamela -- Your bed is downright LUSCIOUS!! Ya'll did a great job. I had my closet done last summer because it is too small and I also needed a cabinet and drawers for the jewelry I make. I couldn't believe how they actually gave me a cabinet and 5 drawers, a shelf unit for my shoes AND MORE rod space than I had before. It's like a miracle and I'm so glad I had it done! Thanks for the feedback, Kat. I just have to 'pay back' for all the help people like you gave to me when I was new ....and scared! I dont have the patience like you do, but like you said, I just let them know someone is listening...and I shoot from the hip. :woot: Are you still feeling blue about your job...or did that go away along with TOM? LOL :woot: Damn hormones. I've got the day off again today. Going to the gym, bookstore (for a strength training book :eek: ), walmart, the bead store (my favorite place), etc. Oh, NSV last night.... my 17 yr old son wanted to come for a visit (he lives with his dad) and bring his 3 friends. They're all so cute. Anyway, I asked if they were hungry, knowing how the girls eat like birds and probably hadn't had dinner. The two girls are both vegetarian (:eek:) and so I just started hauling out all the snack foods I had....and I was SO PROUD of myself that it was all healthy foods!! Granola, watermelon, cherries, hummus, whole wheat pita chips, cherry tomatoes, apple chips, cheese and lite cranberry juice to drink. They were in heaven! Bad news is now I have to go back to the store today!! LOL

THAT- A-GIRL!!! WOOOO HOOOO!!!

Every single one of us on this board have been thru those pre-op jitters. But you just have to trust that you wouldn't be hearing such enthusiastic ravings about our bands if they weren't WONDERFUL. Just keep reading the posts, look at the Before and After thread 100 times and get yourself a band, girlfriend!

Here are some general terms: Abbreviations and What They Mean - LapBandTalk.com - Lap Band Talk Forum - The largest forum for Lap Band Discussion and Lap Band Support The sweet spot is where your restriction is just right....not too tight so that you can eat almost anything you want but in small portions....but not too loose so that you get hungry between meals, can eat larger portions and you don't lose weight. The sweet spot is a rather elusive thing that comes and goes....requiring adjustments to your band (fills).

Yes, I definitely remember feeling full after 1/2 cup of Soup or cream of wheat. I thought, "Oh this is cool!" But it won't last for VERY long...maybe a week or two. As your swelling goes down you'll be able to eat more and more often. Coughing won't hurt your band...but it may not feel so good! I remember once when I sneezed!! :eek: That HURT!!!!!!! Did your doc give you some breathing exercises to do as well? Every hour or two take a few very deep breaths....as deep as you can...that will help your lungs a LOT. Do that for 3-4 days. Congratulations! You're on your way!

Abbreviations and What They Mean - LapBandTalk.com - Lap Band Talk Forum - The largest forum for Lap Band Discussion and Lap Band Support

I am pretty sure that IS a PB!!

Michelle - When my daughter and I went to a guest ranch in Colorado last year, they said you couldn't ride if you were over 215#.....just to give you some idea. I just got stuck BAD on some deli turkey....sliming like crazy for quite a while. It finally went down. Does anyone know....is sliming as bad for you as PB'ing?? We have filets for dinner tonight and I wonder if maybe I should abstain....and go with cottage cheese instead. We 'rescued' two little dogs earlier today. Fortunately one of them was wearing a tag and we called the owner. She was 2 hrs. out of town but said she'd be back in a few hours. So far it's been 5 hours. These dogs are penned up in my kitchen 'cause they have fleas! I guess I should throw them outside but they're so dang cute...and they just sit at the glass back door and look in with pitiful faces. What a sucker I am. We've been VERY lazy today. I've been beading but haven't finished anything... maybe I'll work on my WWJD bracelet instead

Good Morning Everyone! :ranger: First of all, and most importantly I want to congratulate you, Kat!! 100# is an incredible achievement and you should be so very proud of yourself!! All in just over a year, too. Did you really think you'd have come so far in a year? I totally agree with everything Pamela said, too. You are such a sweetheart all the time, you have such great advice for us all and we are SO lucky you adopted the Violets as mentor and friends. I know that I speak for all of us when I say how very happy we are for you and that we appreciate all you do for so many here on LBT!! I hope that since you are now a skinny thang you won't leave us!! We need you at LEAST until April '08!!! We love you!!! :love: Pamela, dear -- listen to Kat. Work the band but enjoy each day. I think that you and I are similar in our approach. I mean I'm not eating LF cottage cheese, turkey slices, brocoolli, and tuna all the time!! I don't WANT to eat diet food....ever again!! But I DO want to eat healthy foods!! I don't want to feel deprived...and eating 1/4 of what everyone else is eating is "deprivation" enough. I do exactly as my doctor said...."Don't diet. Diets have failed you numerous times in the past. Eat what you enjoy, just less of it." I'm 49 and have a notoriously slow metabolism...so I am losing 'slowly'. But how many times have we read that it's better to lose slowly??? So this is a GOOD thing! We are NOT gaining. This is a VERY GOOD thing. We are going to the gym like regular gym rats....and this is probably the VERY BEST thing we can do! So don't go beating yourself up....not for ONE MINUTE. You just keep doing what you're doing and the weight will come off eventually. This isn't a race. This isn't a race. This isn't a race!! XOXOXO Denise - DID YOU MAKE THAT LIST UP YOURSELF?? That is hilarious!!!!!!!! I loved the one about your husband saying "I didn't think you could eat that." It's so true... it's hard for them to keep up because what I can and cannot eat changes almost daily!! LOL Poor guy is very confused. If I added one or two it would be something like... ....if you've learned how to spit like a pro (when nobody is looking, of course!) ....if you find yourself scraping food of your plate into the trashcan and saying to yourself, "Ah, to hell with all those starving children in China" Ya'll have a good morning! Life is GOOD!