Lauracat

first off welcome . I must admit the normal person would not understand why we would do this. They see it as an Extreme thing to do after all your having surgery. If i had listened to those who did not believe i could could I would never be living the life i live now. Being scared is normal after all you need to be willing to do what it takes to make it work. The best part of a lap band is it all you. Yes it helps you but you can still be you it not the magic bullet people think it is . I had some bumps along the way but you take the good with the bad. I never regret any of it. For once in my life i am the picture of heath I do things i only dream of.

i get asked all the time about working out so i thought that i tell you my story with it. i am uncoordinated and can not balance ( i am much better now) even as a child i hated gym class. I was always the last picked but i loved to dance i would go to dance class all the time. Well till 13 when my dance teacher told me "i need to learn my place in life and it no were near the dance floor" that ended my love with dance.. I went to feeling like i could not. I joined a gym because my husband worked there Then i picked up body pump something about the music I worked out with Dave a trainer for 2 years however i never lost weight and never rely loved it. I bought the Zumba videos I was not a fan at frist. I thought i never were those silly paints. But the more time i did them the more i kind of liked it. I started taking body pump on Sunday and the teacher was also a zumba teacher she invited me to stay. I SUCKED. I would not have come back if penny did not tell me it would get better i get better. The next week it did get a little better and it keeped getting better till i loved it. Then i was hocked and those silly paints with the but strings i own 7 pairs So why do i love Zumba well it dose not matter if your fat thin green black old young one leg in a wheel chair you can do it. They have a zumba for everyone. I love to dance and I just get lost in the music. I get asked all the time for my best advice. So here it is My Mottos: If you think you can't you can if you can you will if you will you must if you must you do!! I wear a neck less it was a gift from my zumba mentor. it has 3 charms 1. dance like no one watching - to me this means let go feel the music if you not doing a step right and trust me i even mess them up it dose not matter were all going to have fun. 2. a tiger eye for strength if you no this lap band journey you need this to have go though surgery fill change you eating habits it more than just pure muscle strength it about being strong enough to change your life. The 3rd is a butterfly it the transmutation a butterfly starts out a a caterpillar and then go though a change into a butterfat is in all of us. Dance, walk move just be free to do what you like, Be Strong and in the end Become the butterfly that lies with in each one of us

I work out with a trainer every week I love love love her. She is so supportive of me and everything i do. She become like my mother she looks more like she could be my sister. She the most amazing person i ever met. She pushes me when i need to be pushed gives me a hug when i need a hug. She helps me with the up and down and always make sure i can do things and feel like i can. She told me quitting is not an option. she makes me smile and Laugh and always want to try harder. She even was the one who told me i had to be a zumba instructor to inspire others. She given me more than just training. she made me a deal when I could fit into Lulu mon clothing she wanted to bye me my first pair . Last week end we went out and did just that. The black outfit is one she picked out. She an amazing trainer person and now i am glad to call her an amazing friend. It so much fun to work out when you love who your working out with

I had an appointment for a fill yesterday I am 163.7 Not bad i am about 13.7 away from my goal of 150. He commuted on my great ab mussel he said he could feel them the problem was that they were covered up with alot of skin and said it time to talk about plastic. He said normal he waits one full year but in my case since i am so active he did not think he had too. My main probelm is my upper arms the skin rubs every time i move my arms and is very ichy and i have a nice little rash. It gets worst when i sweet so i would relly like to have my arms done. I am going to Fl for 3 weeks in Jan and I just relized i have no summer cloths my shorts were a 14/16 along with my swim suits and now i am a 8/10/12. I guess i have to go shopping down there and pick up a few pair of shorts. I have now lost 75% of my exess weight he said the last 25% will be the hardest he said that alot of it is Skin and till that remove it might be hard. I landed up with a fill. I also saw the great fellow who took care of me in July when i got too tight because of kindeny infection and then prolapsed my band. She said I gave her a very interesting first week . She also commited on my port sticking out now so it not hard to find when she last got it she had to go under floro to find my ports she said nope now you so skinny i don't have to even look for it. I also found my hip bone. This is huge I was laying on my side and i felt the bone I had no idea what it was but then relized it was bone. I look at how my life has changed I could not walk up my own stairs in April and now I teach Zumba and I work out all the time. I have a new creeer as a personal trainer / group exercise teacher and I would never been able to do any of this with out my band. I love my band and I am very thankful for this chance to live my life.

Lets fae it I knew it would happen when i gave up mr twinkie but yet it still sad. Mr twinkie has been a part of my life for so long. When i was in grade school i would trade my lunch for it. When i was sad Mr twinkie always used to cheer me up. If you deep freird mr twinkie and coverd it in glaze it was so good. In 3rd grade i decoved mr twinkie would great with a parchoot for egg drop off the 3 floor building and then a yummy snack after. After My band I broke up with Mr twinkie and have not looked back . But it still sad that Mr twinkie has to go. I knew it would happen sooner or latter when i stoped eating them. Also My great aunt and i would spend hours eating ho ho and cup cakes. She was one those who "could never gain weight" but it was okay becuse i could gain enough for the both of us. So Mr twinkie I am sorry you going but it for the best becuse mr twinkie now i relly no longer need you. I know you will be missed by meny but Mr twinkie it time for you to go

This may sound silly but i just reized something. A few weeks ago i was doing an abbs class but not only were my abbs hurting but also my butt. I relized that i was no longer sitting on fat but there was a bone there thats what i am feeling. I know it a small thing but to me this was huge it been coved in fat for so long i did not know there was bones there. Then a few days ago i was doing yoga the other day we we doing this thing were you bed your back back and i relized that i had ribs and i could feel them they were not coved in fat they were sticking out. I then spent a good 10 min feeling my new decoved ribs. it funny how small things along this joury make you so excited

Thank you I have dylexica and speelling and grammer have always been a problem for me. I been made fun of for it even on here for my whole life. I belive that was one of the reson i was fat was i would eat away my feeling of feeling baddly when pepole made fun of me

Yes it is olnly on line they say with in 7 days but i find they are very speedy i mostly get it with in 2

as alot of you probley know i have a cake issue. The issue is i love it. I never met a cupcake or cake that i have not liked i love frosting i been know to eat 6 cupcakes in one sitting. Okay not since band. But there it was in a dreem red veltet cake how do i take it and modfiet it for me. Make it low carb low fat low suger. so this is what i came up with Serves 4 For the crepes: 6 oz fat free cream cheese, softened 5 eggs 1/4 cup SF chocolate flavored syrup 2 Tbl SF cocoa powder 1/2 tsp red food coloring 1 tsp stevia or splenda Combine ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Line 2 medium or 1 large cookie sheet with parchment paper (I used reynolds parchment on one side, foil on the other, parchment side up) and spray with nonstick spray. Pour the batter onto the paper and tilt the sheet until smooth and uniform, should be about 1/8 inch thick. Bake in preheated 350 degree (F) oven for 8 minutes or until firm. Remove from the oven, cool and cut into squares or circles for your "crepes." For the cream: 4 oz cream cheese, softened 2 Tbl vanilla (or white chocolate) flavored SF syrup 1 cup heavy cream Combine the cream cheese and syrup, blending/whipping until smooth. Whip the cream until peaks form. Fold 1/3 of the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture. When fully combined, gently fold the cream cheese mixture to the rest of the whipped cream. Chill for 15 minutes. To assemble: Place one crepe on a serving plate and spread a thin layer of cream onto it. Gently press another crepe onto the cream, try to get it as flat as possible and make sure the cream is to the edge. Repeat for as many layers as you want. You may have to chill for a few minutes during the process to keep the layers from sliding around. When finished layering "frost" the top and sides with cream. Decorate with piped cream if desired. Don't overdo the cream like I did or it's just too rich. Chill for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight before serving.

i was long it was 2 nights 3 days

we can take etther most take like Victive the cramlem/ choclet chew ones becuse lets face it there much better tasting that is Carbate calcium citrate is better for those with kideny stoes it also cased by unrinc acid. I never had them eather before my band but my dr was not suprized.

the same thing happend to me it happens to 5% of all WLS pepole i had to have my blasted out it hurt alot. It also has to do with the type of calimum you take crabate virs cistrate also unrinic acid

congrats on fitting into your jeans i love when that happens. I had the same thing happen to me with a pair of seven jeans size 14. Second time around stores are good also ebay can work. I sold some of my bigger stuff on it for cheep. My hospital has a clothing swap twice a year. good luck with you weeding shopping. I just got size 10 jeans i never been a 10 in my life.

When i walked into BIDMC i was told that i would probley land at 190. At 249 lbs that seemed like a dreem. Well i am happy to report that i have hit that goal. I emailed Kate my nurstionist the picuter of the scale this morning ( note to self get cute pedicure you earned it) But it more than the scale it about life being active doing things i only dreemed of in april. I have a masterbed room on the 3rd floor of my house. we have the most amazing view we over look a pond and it is stunning form the 3 floor master bedroom. I was never able to uses it Now not only do i use it but i run those stairs and sometimes during comershials just for fun. I was not able to do zumba i never made it past 10 mins with out losing my breath. Today I teach zumba and it has change my life. I love it not a day goes by where my love to dance dose not come back and i think about how lucky i am In april i had a dog walker because i could not walk my dog the full walk she wanted. Now i walk her my self at least 2 miles every day. Yes my favorite coffee shop is on the way to the dog park and i do get my coffee with skim milk and spends that i enjoy at the dog park. I love to walk. and i love walking in pretty places In april my kids used to always say mama will you play with us and i would get out of breath very easy. Land up stooping now my kids and i play every day. They have a game were i am dragon and i chance them and they have safe places on the playequemnit in are back yard. Evey day I hear form my kids how much they love the new me. In April i had size 24 jeans a few 22 that were way tight today i were a 14/12 I can shop any were i want i have a list of new stores i only deemed of walking into and now i have things form them i love my new cute outfits everything is so great.to have cloths in normal size when ever i feel sad i look at all my cute stuff and feel happy again. I love white house black market banana republic, the loft anne Taylor and more. Such a change from Lane Bryant , In April i only dreamed of horse back riding now i take lesson every week with my four year old and we all love it I could have never done that before I was past the weight limit. I fell very lucky. I was given a great gift and i have a great team. I love the new me. Thank you all my friends and family and most of all the team at BIDMC and Dr Jones your the best i could never done it with out you

dear stop and shop, i would like to thank you for putting invidilal sized suvering oh red velvet cake in the main illil of the store and putting red velevet wooopie next to it. This used to be an issue for me as i would eat them and maybe by a seond or 3 for my ride home . But now i love my self more than i love red veltet. This took alot of work for me to be able to say it. So thank you for giving me this opertutiey to be able to say that. I also like to tell you that the water bottle is mighter then the cake. As I always make sure that i bring that with me and i know cake and water do not mix sinceerly Laura

i have a freind who has watched my success and she has desised to have a band. But a band is not an easy way out the way she thinks it is. It is hard work. She is refuseing to give up soada she said i hate protine shakes and will not drink them. Why would any body get this done like that, She said becuse you were so successful yes i have been but i work hard at it i watch what i eat i work out like crazy. This is not a quick fix I do uses protine shakes I also do not drink soda. This is sugery i mean real sugery why on earth would you do this to fool your band I did this to be heathy and recalm my life. If that means no soda so be it I live find othre things you like to drink deit snapple crysltal light tthere are other things. Please do not put your self though sugery if your not ready to change you life. As this is a LIFESTYLE CHANGE not and easy way out

So what dose a ralph laren Cable knit swetter have to do with anything. Last year at a size 24 all i wanted was a Ralph Laren cable knit swetter. I tryed it on it was to tight. I cryed thinking i just a fat slob i never fit into anything like this. So i hit my dr goal and I was told to celbratte victororys. Well to me this is a virctory how to celbrate. I already had my zumba party I done my mani pedi ( note to self i need another my toes are a mess) So I knew when i saw it Ralph Laren Cable kint sweeter it was ment for me. I proud to say i did not need the EX Large eather. I love my new swetter. I love my new life I love my new closet full of cloths.. I love the fact that I can do things i never dreamed i could.

Yes It here finaly the date all my freinds and family and support pepole are comming both of the trainers i worked with and all my freinds from the gym. I got my cute outfit in hot pink ready to dance in and my new zumba shoes given to me as a gift from penny who is hosting my party. All my freinds have told me that i going to love all my new cloths they got me. I can't wait It finaly a day to cellbrate me that i am front and center and all i done since lap band. It my day. So meny times in life we put other frist. I always do but now it time for me to cellbrate being a onester. I getting ready to shake I have my music picked out the dance ready to go It all about me and me being the star and doing somthing i used to not do but now love. One of the gifts given to me was a rainbow collored barclet. This was the card were this and rember to uses all these things in one day you have a succful day Black - Activty Red- Love ( tell my family i love them) Yellow - Happness (doing things that make me happy)\ Green- Apprate nautre - ( i do this when i walk my dog or just by having flower in my house) blue- Iner Peace ( not to beat my self up over everything) Puple - self decovery Learning something new Black - Nurtrion

So i been watching that show extrema makeover weightloss addison and I have a few thoughts. Dear weight loss Fairy. I would like a trainer to follow me around at all times. I would like you to take my couch in retrun please leave me a treadmill, an arc trainer and a stair climber and a zumba floor so i can partice my dance moves. I promice they will get great uses in my house and i will enjoy them more then my couch I would like my exsess skin on my back lower stumic and under arms removed and i also like you to make the TATAs perky again as now they are saggy and lost there pep. Thank you please great my wishes Laura

The other day I sent Kate my nurtioist a whiney email about gaining 2 lbs I then followed up that email with a vist to her and she said you look great then sent me this. The number on the scale will not tell you * what a great person you are * how much your freinds and faimily love you * That you are Kind, smart, Funny & Amazing in ways numbers cannot define * that you have the power to choose happness * Your own self worth So just relex take a breath it just a number your doing great

Well I did it I saw my brother the frist time in a year. Not sure i want to be freinds with him or even like him as a person but I did eat dinner with him. Frist thing is he did not say anything on how i looked. Part of the reson i wanted a band is i was tired of pepole making the fat jokes. Well no fat jokes tonight. He gained the 50lb i lost. He looked awful he had a ripped teashirt on and ripped jeans and looked like he not showed in a week. He smelled funny too. He ate all his dinner then he looked at my left overs about 1/2 of the small plate and said are you going to eat that. I said no i am very full with what i ate. He then ate my plate pluse he got desert and Becuse then my husband order a desert for both of us that i ate one bit and he ate about half then my brother fisehed that and my moms. My mom was telling him about my zumba stuff and all i do now. I in the end said Roger I had weight loss sugery I was not going to tell you but my Dr. Dr jones is amazing with what he can do I think you need his number. He said yea we see who gets the last laugh lets see you keep this up

congrats don't forget to cellbrate I had zumba party I invited every one and invite i put my new sizes for gifts we had a blast.