DynamoMini

Hi all - the audit was awful but I appreciated all the kind, warm thoughts you guys sent me. The auditor didn't want to get to any conclusions, and wanted to disallow everything. She even said that my doctor's letter that prescribed exercise at a health club, wasn't a prescription. So we are going to get her results in the next couple of days and go to appeals. It can't be worse that this b----! I was glad that I got angry and shared my frustration with her. I used to bury my emotions to deal with stressful situations, this was frustrating and crazy-making but I survived with a feeling of empowerment. Some of these IRS people have too much power with very little knowledge. My accountant was amazed at her strange mood swings and wrong information. I don't know about Red Robin. Will next Tuesday, October 9th work for people?

Green - I think each surgery has its own complexion (ha..ha) sorry. I imagine that being under for 7 hours may cause you to need more recovery time. He must have done great stuff. We'll want to see pre and post pictures please. NM Sunshine - I'm with you. But I know that Denver isn't a good place to get it done. The surgery is much more expensive here, I heard Seattle is more competative and two of my friends had it done there. Any other ideas out there? Of course at the rate I am losing I might be 90. Hugs all, Michelle

Mal, between you and Woofay, I don't know who to nominate as Mother of the Year! You are wonderful! Hugs to all - it is October, Wed. is my audit, I am as prepared as possible. We'll see. I have been eating more lately, up two pounds, but still under 190, so I am happy. I will focus on this a little more this week, as mom is home (new hip and all) and the audit will be completed. I am looking forward to Mexico on the 16th. Adios mi amigos, Michelle

Ditto Green what Momlambert said. I never heard of facial surgery taking quite that long. You will be stunning when you heal, so sorry about the pain. I hate pain.... Hugs, Michelle

Hi Everybody! Shesha - Congrats! Our own band baby, I like it. About the eater's remorse - man I go there a lot. It is part of the "head band" that Woofay so cleverly talked about. It is the pattern of not eating regularly, then overeating and/or indulging, then beating ourselves up with guilt and remorse. Even after the band, and a good fill, I am still battling this cycle. It is part of who I am as an overeater. Sometimes I hate the band because I can't grab, gulp, swallow fast and forget my troubles. Not that this EVER really worked, but I pretended that it did. So as this is a stressful week I hear my therapist saying, "Michelle be kind to yourself," my trainer saying, "Come on, you can do it." and I just feel schizophrenic bouncing between the positive thinking and knowing I can and the overwhelming I do need to be nice to myself to cope with the stress. Perhaps being nice means not overeating, but doing other good stuff, but patterns are hard to break. Hugs to all, Michelle PS - Wish me luck on my audit, October 3.

Hi Everyone! Doing ok. My mom just had a hip replacement, so it is hard to focus on myself, but I am trying to stay the course. I do eat more when I am around my mom and sis. They are very food focused, mom would rather ask me about my fills rather than deal with her surgery. She is having trouble getting out of bed, but walking ok. My IRS audit is Wednesday. Wish me luck! I have several notebooks that I hope I can dazzle the auditor with. Some of it is near and dear to my heart. My retirement scapbook, with pic of the kids I taught and their notes to me that show how much stuff I did for them. Green - You must have been a beautiful baby..... da...da... Look at you now, well, soon. You will be grateful and glad that you were so brave to go for it. Hugs. Be well, Michelle

Hi all - My mom did well in her hip surgery. Better than i did eating out all day yesterday and then coming home and binging on reeses peanut butter cups, I couldn't stop. Yikes!!!! The band is doing its job, I'm not. My therapist suggested I be kind to myself this week, guess she knows how I handle stress. Good news is that the IRS is only a week away, and I figure they won't send me to jail, and my numbers are close to my claim, but they may disallow some stuff. And I have still been exercising. Now that is a change of habit. Hugs all - this too will pass and I am looking forward to Mexico the end of Oct. Michelle

Mal - how's your fill? It is so hard to tell when? is enough. You are doing great. Just think about the fact that you haven't gained weight in several months. I always have to look at that. Because in the past if I wasn't obsessively dieting I was gaining weight. Feast....faminie....now with the band I can eat some of everything, just not too much. I do lose better when I don't eat out a lot, but I am happier when I am social, so I guess I'll just lose weight slowly. Who cares? marcy - I am so surprised that losing is slow for you. You are young, tall and active with your kiddos. Have they ever looked at you restingl metabolic rate and calories you can? Do you have a lot of snow yet? Drews - what you gonna be for Halloween? Woofay - do blondes really have more fun?? Hugs all, Michelle

Congratulations to all the newly banded and gonna be banded people out there! Shelbi - I appreciate the words of support. It is definitely my issue with authority, but my "package" is coming together. It is lots of work. I am doing well. Another two pounds gone. It is a wonderful feeling. It would help if I didn't eat out so much, but oh well, my life. Be well and don't get the bug that seems to be floating around. Happy fall, Michelle

Lap - you are exactly right deciding not to come when everything tells you not at this time. I believe in the energies of the universe and to listen to them in action is DIVINE. So, as sad as I'll be not seeing you (loved talking) we'll catch up another time. Anita - when I opened the page and there you were, pretty and vital - WOW! you are a hot mama. Getting ready to go to the accountant today, not feeling down, I've done a lot of the work I needed to do for the audit. I always was a good student when I cared. I lost another two pounds, it was funny I didn't get on the scale for two weeks, then boom. I am happy with this loss, even after lox and a bagel for dinner last night. Hugs, Michelle

NM Sunshine - Not only will exercise help you lose weight, but I am now, after 4 years, finding it truly helps me emotionally. Take care, start out slowly and wear really good shoes. I buy new ones every three months or my knees hurt. Hugs, Michelle

Hi all - Anita you are MARVELOUS inside and out. I loved seeing the changes side by side. It is so fun. I love the blonde, been there for many years. Marcy - what a hoot about your yurt experience. It is amazing what crazy experiences impress on our memories. Hugs to you. Will you be back in Denver anytime this year? Mal - cut it out with the cookies - you deserve a healthy life! You have a wonderful family who loves you, just love yourself, too. I think you are great. You know a cookie just doesn't really do it, however, after my awful date last month I ate 4 and "needed them" so I get it. Hugs hope it is smooth sailing now. Lap - Are you saying you won't be here in Oct? Let us know. We are the ladies of "magic" with the magical thinking to go with the "divaness," When I went to therapy six years ago, my first words to the therapist were, "I just don't have any more rabbits to pull out of the hat." smile... Well the IRS and I are getting ready to rumble. I am pulling stuff from I don't know where. A word of advice.... save your receipts, even if they are in a shoebox, you might need them. My creative memories are consuming me. I keep thinking, now didn't I go here and there - well did I count those miles????? Michelle

NM Sunshine - Don't worry about a slow start. It has taken several months for me to lose, but then the skin isn't hanging 10, I don't feel deprived. I really believe I can do this, and you will too. I continue to lose a pound every week or two. The inches are firming up. I measure once a month with my trainer. I do think exercise is the only way to go. I feel great working out, it only took 4 years of fighting it to get here. Hugs to all, Michelle

Hi all - Sorry about the post op stuff, it is really an individual thing. I think Benefiber is great, however, now several months later I don't need it any more. Lap - I hate to tell you but the trees in the mountains are peaking this weekend, hence Mal's yurt trip (how fun!). I am frantically working on my audit. I hate the IRS. yadda....yadda. Hugs all, Michelle

Lap - You have journeyed far. Beautiful photos. The leaves are turning in the mountains this weekend, and should be good for two - three weeks. When are you going to be here? Is Red Robin on your calendar? I seem to be in a much better emotional place these days. Good activity level, good eating, man , I am doing it. Hugs, Michelle

Wow - What a lot of weekend traffic in the posting section! We rock! Good luck to NM Sunshine in court. I hate lawyers, they go for the jugular and I am just a nice person. I hope you clean up! Red Robin - either October 10th or 11th - PUT IN YOUR VOTE! want2bemeagain - I wasn't very creative on the full liquids, I think if you can down the stew from the blender, the world is your oyster, however, I can't imagine. You might try pate or something fun. I was boring with soups from a box. This stage won't last long. Smoothies are great. Woofay - I think your hair looks great, I hate paying so much for color, but then I had five different shades when I did it. mal - please post your new picture, sans hat! I bet you look fabulous. Hugs all.....working on the audit.......I hate the IRS.........it is hard to recreate four years ago (2004). Oy! (a little Jewish there) Michelle

SuzyGayle - I am happy to say that I am coming off my diabetic meds. I was diagnosed about 10 years ago and have taken up to three different meds twice a day. I am down to 1 1/2 pills, with the 1/2 pill the newest reduction. I am hoping that in two months I will be off that pill. Perhaps in the next 30 pounds I'll be able to get off the other one. so you may be really happy with the results, I am. Denise - how is the fill doing? You have to be able to drink at least, so you may need a little unfill, I was right where you are after my last fill, and it did loosen up just enough. I am at a really good spot. Hugs and best wishes, Michelle

want2bemeagain - you know you are really you again, right now. You are closer to who you really are than you have been for years. When I read your analysis of why we doubt, questioning our decision, it was clear to me. You are there. Thank you. Mare - congrats on your weight loss. Releasing the weight is only part of the journey. Realizing that I have a RIGHT to a healthy life and DESERVE a healthy life have been harder lessons for me. Losing weight is hard work, even with a band, the head work is a significant stretch for me - just knowing I can have a healthy body that lives at a healthy weight is a revelation. Hugs to all you and happy weekend, Michelle

I feel like a lapevangelist! Okay I loved the bra story, want2be. Taynuh - I also had beans and cheese as my first eating out experience. Mexican food generally is easy on the band, but can be caloric. Tonight I tried Crab Pad Thai, but it didn't do very well. I spent part of dinner in the bathroom. We went to a play and my "dinner" ended up being a cookie and a soy latte. Those went down fine! Go figure! Michelle

notmzperfect - I just wore a mumu housedress that came half way between the floor and my knee, no undies and slip on shoes. It worked well for me. I know I wasn't beautiful, but didn't care. Post surgery I only had to lift my arms into the sleeves and slip on my shoes and I was good to go. Nothing rubbed on the incisons this way. Good luck with your journey, this is part of the continuing weight loss/maintenance journey that you have already been on, the band isn't the "answer" to all the issues you will face, but it sure has helped me to face some emotional stuff that I never would have.

Hi Everyone - I am giggling reading about the prego bellys. I remember it was about 5 - 6 weeks for the swelling to go down. I didn't notice the swelling change during the day, but pants with any kind of waist made it worse. Walking, farting, and drinking lots of water will help. I swear by the Tylenol liquid for discomfort. I stayed away from the narcotics, I hate the way they make me feel. Woofay - so sorry your port is ouchy! It is shitty that the leak had to happen to you. Remember to be gentle to yourself. The Cub Scout stuff will happen with or without you, call on the other mommy troops and get some help. Hugs! My focus de' jour is night time eating. I have a hard time stopping grazing and lose my "will" as it gets late. Any suggestions? Hugs to the rest of you too! Michelle

marcy - thanks for the list, I had seen it before, but am looking at it again. I am a slow loser, even tho' I am doing everything "right". My doc wants me to lose faster ( like I don't) but I told him that it is going as quickly as my body will release the weight. The only thing I could change is going to very lean, lean meals, but I won't be satisfied. Oh well. Some of us would have survived the Russian winters without a bite of food, and still have a rosy complexion. Want2B- contratulations! Yeah!!!! Shelbi - good for you, next week has your name on it. Little - I have a 4 oz band - but Dr, K has been complaining about the way the tubing gets in the way when he does a fill. I saw some info about a band with a remote control. It is experimental, but wouldn't it be grand not to have to deal with "fills?"

The whole fill thing is a conumdrum (sp). It is hard to know whether the band is filled enough until it is, then it might be overfilled. Recently, I have been having problems drinking without swallowing air, which really makes the hydration process uncomfortable. So I have to really THINK before swallowing even water. I will learn.

Drews - thank you for posting the picture. I don't know what I do wrong, but then I am only semi-computer literate. We do look marvelous and smaller compared to the pictures from a while a go. Wow! Yeah, bunny ears! Woofay - as always you do such a great job getting the pictures up. Ye 'ole camera did a great job. Fun night - the rest of you, come join us. Michelle

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