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Morning Violets~ Judy...you look amazing!!! Everyone else, I had to speed read through the thread this morning. I am trucking along, and yes, for the first time following the rules (except last night at dinner). Since we are eating out a lot I am saving lots of money not ordering ice teas w/ my meals, lol. I will pop in later...today we start at 8 and out at 9pm...tomorrow as well:faint:. BUT IT IS MY LAST SEMINAR!!!!!!!!!!! So we are having a bit of fun here and there too (3 in a hotel room, lots of giggles). Sara~ where are you????? Laura~ If I don't get a chance...congrats, have fun...may God bless your union!!!xoxox

Morning Violets~ I am in the hotel room, up early for some coffee, and listening to the roomie snore. Thanks for the kind words on the pix...I was bored watching her type her paper, lol. I wanted to comment on what Lunasa was saying, I don't know if there is damage, I doubt it. But my comment is on the "old ways of eating". Just yesterday, we went to Applebee's for lunch. I had my protein shake for breakfast, and was ready to eat by lunch. I ordered a steak ceasar salad (like chicken, but w/ steak) and I asked for a half order. When the plate arrived, I looked at this little salad and was disappointed. My first thought was, man o man, I am gonna be starving at 3pm. It was wonderful, and I was soooooo full after. My mind still has not caught up w/ the body in how I view food and meals. I thought about this as the day went on. I need to downsize my mind somehow...looking at smaller portions and being or feeling content. It is a weird experience...I was actually disappointed in the amount of food. On the same note, I realized I am drinking w/ all my meals. That is a hard on. And worst, I've been drinking the whole time since I was banded. Today, I am going to really try not too. I know the rules, and just didn't want to "participate" in them. This is something I do w/o thinking. WOW. Maybe if I can not drink, I would feel restriction. It is gonna be hard here at this school seminar. 1 week of eating out, some 12 hour days, no gym (I miss it already) and the pool is freezing! So I've got to rely on my "willpower" to eat as best as possible. I don't want to gain 5 pounds this week:faint:. Have a great day Violets. And Judy, for the first time, I will remember to practice the bandster rules.

I am in the hotel room, waiting for my friend to finish her 25 page paper, so we can go to the free happy hour. I was playing around w/ my cell, and took these pix...thought I'd show you all. They look much better on the phone screen (smaller). xoxo me.bmp me again.bmp

OMG...they look so much better smaller on my phone!

Hi Violets~ Well, I am in La Verne for a week of school. My friend is trying to finish a 25 page paper (I think she is on page 14) and I am waiting for her so we can go to the free happy hour! I think she is not gonna make it, but she is insisting. I was playing w/ my cell and took these pics of me. Thought I'd post em, just for giggles. Have a great weekend, I will be popping in and out in between assignments! xoxo me.bmp me again.bmp

Hi Family~ Well, after not seeing each other for 2 1/2 weeks, and being very stressed from her job...we finally got to see each other today! I was so nervous driving in (about 80 miles from home), she and I were not getting along the last few days. But once I saw her...all the shit went away. We had lunch, went up to Padua (this beautiful little spot in the mountains) and we held hands, drove around looking at houses, and then I dropped her off at the airport so she can go home to Phoenix to see her mom. She and I said that part of the stress was from the absence... anyway, thanks for letting me vent this morning, and Eddie, xoxo for the kind words. I love this thread and my "family" here. Have a great weekend, I will pop in between assignments.

Hello Family~ Well today starts 2 weeks of madness. I leave today to go to school for 1 week in La Verne (80 miles from home). The good thing is I will see Susanne, for the first time since June 12...the bad news is we are not getting along too well. So, instead of being excited, I am nervous. We've had some pretty ugly phone conversations lately, but I am trying to stay positive. I hope now that she is not at work on her exercise, she can relax w/ her mom. I will only see her for 2 hours today, but I guess I'll take what I can get. We are leaving for our vacation next weekend...I hope we are back on track by then. Anyway, that is the plan. Sorry this post was so disjointed, there is just so much going on. I'll try to clarify later. Peace

Eddie~ That is great, 6.5!!! Wow, I'd imagine that you have pretty good restriction now. I am at 1. and some days I do, and others I can eat a pizza (almost ate a whole one on Sunday, took all day, but I almost got through it). I bet the weight will drop off you now! I go back on the 18th for more, it was too hard w/ my 2 week vacation and his 1 week, so we decided to wait! Anyway, congrats and good luck. I'll post more later! xoxo

Morning Violets~ Lunasa~ As I read your post, my first thought was this girl needs a fill. And as I continued, I thought about how my psychologist has been invaluable in my journey of getting to know myself, and how to deal w/ "why I got to be this big in the first place". So I second what the violets who have posted before me say. You've always been such a great cheerleader for all of us...now please accept our help and love. What about exercise? Not just for weight loss, but when I exercise I am elevated out of the Ho Hums for the day. Not just "taking a walk", but getting a good sweat in each day. It will help in your outlook so much! Hang tough sweetie...your not alone. Please keep coming back to LBT and this thread. You'll read some of us are doing amazing, but most of us are struggling. The thing of it is, we are struggling together!!! Oh yeah, call your doctor, your doctor, you need a fill! xoxoxoxoxo

I have my homemade protein shake: 4 oz low carb yougart, 1/2 cup of froozen straberries/blueberries/raspberries mix, 1 banana, 1 scoop of Unjury and 1/2 cup skim milk...yummy and 310 cal. Then I have cottage cheese around 10am w/ tomatoes!

Michelle, Your looking great! You can see a big difference in your face. Your look so happy! Nice to put a face w/ the personality!!! Congrats!

Hey Violets~ I am amazed at how the body works. I didn't work out for 4 days, and felt bad about it. Then today, I went and I was down 2 pounds! All told, I started my preop diet at 280, so I am using that as my baseline. I got down to 257, then up again to 263. Today it is at 258! So, I am technically down 22 from the start, but I am not changing my ticker, lol. I still only have 1 charm on my lonely bracelet...but I keep working on it. Next week, I will be away from home and they gym:(. I am hoping to use the pool for exercise each day at the hotel. Then the following week, I'll be in Vegas, then Reno/Tahoe for a mini vacation w/ family. I'll have to walk to get my exercise in. My concern is to get out of the habit, just want to stay the same if not lose. Then the fill on the 18th! I really wanted to be down 40 pounds before school starts. Oh well, keep on keepin on. Laura~ congrats on the new pad! Just think, in a few months you'll be bored, lol. Hang in there! Where has Terry been, or have I missed something. OK...ttfn!

Morning Family~ Juli...welcome home. So glad you had a great time. How did it go w/ the GF's mom? Thanks for the wonderful and kind words. I agree, I am part of the shrinking violets thread from my April group, but it is here that I can really be myself. They know I am gay, but I can share different things here. This is a great thread. Thanks Eddie for starting it!!!! I just saw this...this is me now...:ranger:, haha, that is great. Although the dancing banana w/ the big boobs is still my favorite.:Banane20:I just love her. Have a great day family. I went to the gym after a 3 day break, and lost two pounds...WTF??? Who knows, who cares, I'll take it! xoxo

I too was taken off my meds right after surgery...I was so low and very very low in hospital. I am still down 22 pounds since I started, but have not moved except up and down a couple of pounds, yet my BP raised back up. So I am back on the meds again. It is hard to gauge, but we need to be aware ourselves, and not wait for doctors to make the needed changes! Thanks for starting this thread! Good luck!

Hey Violets~ Wow, this is the first time ever that our thread fell off the first page. BUMP!! Wembledon is on, and I am happy happy! Any tennis fans? I am a "ball mom" at the Indian Wells tourney (5th largest in the world). I love love love it. There are the cutest boys in tennis (boys of summer) (haha, pretty good for a gay girl, huh?). TracyinKS~ Welcome back! Hope you had fun! Judy~ Enjoy your "day off", you deserve it. The pics were great, you looked fabulous (I too am a blonde and love red). Very classy, and a little sexy too. TracyK~Good for you! Life is too short to sit and watch it go by. Laura~We are waiting for a post! Hope all is well. Terry~Hope your feeling better. It is good for the soul to "tie one on" from time to time. Everyone else, have a great day. I did not work out today, and yes, feel bad about it. Gotta go tomorrow! xoxox

Sara~ LOL, if you asked someone Hablan Espanol in Mexico, they'd look at you like you were crazy (asking a Mexican if they speak Spanish). And if you say, "uno mas cervesa" and kept saying it...you'd be drunk from so much beer! Make sure you drink Patron tequila...mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! Have fun! We thought about a Mexican vacation, but decided on the gay friendly Provincetown, MA!!! We plan on eating great sea food, relaxing on the beach, and riding bikes...then doing it all over again.

Thanks Mark~ That really meant a lot to me. I've been meaning to ask you when you stayed in Fiji? We went a year and a half ago and stayed at Tobera Island. The entire island was our resort. We kiaked (sp) around the entire island in 7 min. It was soooo lovely.

:happybday2::happybday2::happybday2: Judy!!! Glad to hear the party was a success. Sara~ So good to see you back here! Mexico will be beautiful. Hablan Espanol? Uno mas cervesa is all you need to know, haha. Have fun. I haven't worked out for 2 days...bad bad band girl. And I feel like shit too. But, I am back to the usual tomorrow. It is this cute dogs fault...he is too sweet to wake up so early, haha. Yeah, I'll blame him! Denise~Glad your pain is gone. When I had my shoulder pain, it was the weirdest thing. It was the first night I got in bed (after 2 nights in the recliner). As soon as I laid down on my right side, the really bad sharp pain settled in my left shoulder. It was really bad all the next day, under a heating pad and lots of pain meds bad. Then the next night when I returned to bed, again on my right side, it disappeared. Just gone:cry.:cry I don't know where it went, but I was glad it was gone. Glad yours is too! Well, today is a slow day for me. Gonna do nothing, that is the plan. Have a great day violets!!!! Laura~ hope the move is going well, and that your back online soon...we miss you! xoxo

Michelle~ I love ice cream!!! Hence my lovely current figure. Have fun! I have sent you a pm asking a question. Janie~ Good luck w/ the surgery. When is this? PS...I don't know what Edy's ice cream is. I know, I know...I am a Ben and Jerry's fan. Damn, wish I had some now!

My hair is leaving my head too. I am not too happy about it, and am planning on getting a shoulder length bob on thursday. But, hang in there, remember, we didn't get banded to be skinny, but to be healthy. I know your thinking, "oh shut the hell up"...but this too will pass. Just think in a year, your gonna be healthy and have hair. xoxo...stay strong.

I eat salads. I have 1cc in my band, and have so so restriction. Some times I can eat lots, other times not so much. I have not had any trouble.

Hey Family~ Just wanted to share a story w/ you. My partner, Susanne, is in the bay area on a military exercise that lasts for 2 weeks. She was telling me that everyone is making all these gay jokes as usual, but especially since it is Pride Weekend. She has to always listen to the shit, even in her own office. The jokes and snide remarks are ongoing. Well, she is having a hard time up there, the usual assholes at the helm. She told them today, "You know, the gay people are not going anywhere, so you might as well come up w/ some new jokes and move on." She wanted to say so much more, but couldn't. I feel so sorry for her. When we started dating, I told everyone at work. My principal is gay and so are many teachers, even "big wigs" at the district office...but of course, this is Palm Springs. Everyone was so supportive and happy for me. I can't imagine what it must be like for her to have to "hide" who she is. This is the career she picked, but her being gay doesn't change her ability to serve our country. I feel proud of her...serving in silence (to coin a phrase). Anyway, I thought I would share w/ some friends. Have a great night! I worked on homework all day, and am looking forward to doing "nothing" tonight! xo

Hey Everyone~ Just needed to bump the thread. I hope everyone is having a great day. I spent the morning by the pool w/ my Ipod, rocking out to Janis Joplin...great morning! Then this afternoon, I worked on homework, something I haven't done in a long time. Felt good to get back at it. I did not make it to the gym this morning, but havent eaten much at all. I will be at the gym early in the morning...gotta go before it is too hot. Have a great night and Sunday! I hope Judy is having a lovely time.

Judy, Judy, Judy~ Your home and garden are soooo cute. You've worked hard, but wow, wonderful! I love the bench covered in green, ooooo so cute. And just when you thought it couldn't get any cuter, you have a beautiful birds nest complete w/ a baby bird w/ her mouth open. OOOO my, I loved it. Enjoy your family and your weekends. You are very blessed!

I had a sip of Pierre today...won't ever do that again. Gave up diet coke in March and last weekend, I had a sip. You'd think I'd learn...no bubbles!