Teachlady

Michelle.. you look absolutely GORGEOUS!!!! The dress was obviously made for you. STUNNING!!

Good morning, Violets.. Been up for awhile, Tracy, just now getting to the computer. Had to let the garage dog our for her potty break and a little running. Got to tell you it's like a fairyland out there today. It snowed last night and all the branches are covered with snow. Everything is fresh and white and beautiful. Took some pics for you to see what it's like in this neck of the woods. We have company coming for dinner again tonight and I have a little cooking to do this afternoon. Most of the stuff is ready. The table is set and the entree is marinating. Just have to make the spinach pie later on this afternoon. My newest angel charm is sitting in my purse. Hopefully I'll be able to wear it on Tuesday when I weigh in. Monday we are going to a Pistons basketball game. Can't wait!! Tracyk....... great job on the pounds.. you're just melting away!! And Jennifer.... I've been bypassed by almost everyone on here as far as pounds lost, but I'm still so happy at what I've accomplished since April. I LOVE my band and I LOVE the new me!!! Right now I'm trying to get half an english muffin with peanut butter down my throat, but it's not working. I'm stopping at half of a half. A year ago I would have had two whole muffins and still have been grazing all morning. At dinner last night, I set the table with my Christmas dishes and when I sat down to eat with company, I couldn't believe how big the plates were! I haven't used a dinner plate for myself since April. I definitely could tell what size portions I eat when it's sitting on that great big plate! A year ago the plate would have been filled to overflowing. I know I'm not the only one that feels these things. I know we are all amazed at how differently we view food these days. And yes, the temptations are there and yes, we do indulge, but then we THROW THE STUFF OUT and get back on track.. right Denise?? RIGHT???? Tracy.. I'm so glad my kids are grown and I didn't have to fight with DD about her clothing. She has always been level headed about fashion and not into the sexy, in appropriate stuff. I was blessed. She's grown into such a terrific young woman. Now, if she can just get pregnant, she'll be perfect!! Well, better get out of here and get showered and dressed for the day. Everyone have a good one!! TTFN.......

Woooooooo hoooooooooooo Tracy!!! What great pictures. sure shows how much you've lost.. a whole Macy!!! You're closing in on goal and it will be here sooner than you think. 2008 is gonna be the goal year for lots of us Shrinkin' Violets!!!

Throwing out the stocking candy was a super victory for you, Laura!! Way da go, woman!!!! I'm proud of you!! We went to the open house tonight and I had one slice of summer sausage. I'm guessing it was the size of a very small potato chip. Other than that........... NOTHING.. I ate NOTHING!! AND I even sat by the dessert table most of the evening. There was a pumkin roll, cheesecake and a huge chocolate cake. I kept looking at my bracelet and also at my minister's wife who used to be quite slender, but she has put on about 50# and she had a piece of cake AND a slice of cheesecake. As I sat there with my legs crossed realizing that she would not be able to cross her legs, I felt empowered. Bless that little band!!! We're under a winter storm watch for tomorrow afternoon and evening. They are saying about 6 inches of new snow. It will be nice to have some fresh snow on the icy stuff that is there now. I'm headed to the hot tub and then to bed to read for awhile. Everyone have a good evening.. Sleep well!! Kat.. I have to take my digital picture frame back. It won't do a slideshow and tech support has had a busy signal for 2 days now. HOpe yours works better than mine!!

No pre op diet per se, the doc just said to try and lose some weight to shrink the liver before surgery. I did a lo fat , lo carb for 2 weeks before. Never have had a protein shake before surgery or after. Very thankful for that cause I know I personally would have gagged.

WE are so twins!! I never drank water, only diet pop or juice. Never thought I'd be able to do this, but Crystal Light has been my saving grace. I drink 8 glasses of it a day, sometimes more. It does the trick for me in between meals. I carry the to go packets with me in my purse all the time.

Afternoon, Violets.. Back from getting my nails done. I put in chicken in the crock pot for Greek chicken pitas for supper. We're having company on Saturday and I wanted to try them out first. We're having spinach pie, Greek chicken pitas, greek salad and greek cookies. Do you sense a theme here?? Laura... ***Bullhorn wailing, sirens screaming*** STEP AWAY FROM THE CANDY!!!! Give it away or ditch it. You've had your tastes and one day won't make or break anything, but continuing will. I was soooooooo glad when all the fudge left the house. The Bobster was having a very bad time with it. Luckily I'm not a fudge eater so it didn't bother me that much. I finished 2 glasses of Crystal light this morning and have the next 4 glasses slushie and ready for me to start on in 45 minutes. yummy. Ethan is due to arrive any minute so I better get off here. Everyone have a great day!! TTFN....

Good Morning, Violets.. I've been up for a bit, showered and dressed, one load of laundry done and taken Jetta out for her morning constitutional. I have a nail appointment at 11 and Ethan coming at 1. Suzie.. so sorry to hear about your encounter with the idiot mom. Kids can be brutally honest, but it was the mom that was prolonging the incident. BUT the good news is, it will never happen again and maybe, just maybe that child is going to think before she opens her mouth again. Tracy.. you WILL be 199 by New Years.. guaranteed! Just keep getting your water in.. mine is freezing as we speak. 10 more minutes and I can get it out and start drinking. I had a half english muffin with peanut butter and mango jam for breakfast and it took a half hour to get it down and I was still uncomfortable, but it sure tasted good!!! Jennifur.. enjoy your time with your friend!! Pamela.. hope your back is better and enjoy the kids today. TracyK.. congrats on the -1#!! Sorry you had to head to work today, but like Pamela says, it's Thursday already! going to go get my Crystal Light and get my hair curled and make up on for the day. Everyone have a good one!!! Make wise choice and drink, drink, drink that water!!!

Wooooooo Hoooooooooooooo, Laura.. you're looking GREAT!!! Just got in from the hot tub and my exercises there. Ethan comes again tomorrow so I'm going to head to bed to rest up. DIL apologized for not being here Christmas Eve, but I don't believe her excuse and she could have called. No excuse for not doing that. But I just grin and bear it and I'm happy as long as I have Ethan. Gave Joe a bunch of the Bobster's old sweaters.. size XXLT. I also gave him a ton of stew that was left over from Christmas day. I couldn't get the meat down this afternoon for lunch so no need to keep it just to eat all the carbs in the potatoes. The Bobster and I went to Applebees for supper. We split a rib eye with a baked potato and creamed spinach. I didn't have much meat, but did eat the 1/2 baked potato and about 1/4 C of the spinach. Tomorrow we are going out to a birthday party open house for one of the pastors in town. Should be interesting as they will have lots of fancy foods. Course since it's an open house, I really don't have to eat any of it. Not like it's a sit down meal and everyone is watching. We'll see how it goes. Just have to remember WWJD?! Everyone have a great evening. TracyK.. sleep well, I know you must be exhausted. Cindy.. we get our kids Pez candy dispensers for every Christmas for their stockings. It's a tradition in our family and even though the kids are grown, they still look for their Pez and the candy cane rod in their stocking. nighters, everyone!! Patience, Trust, Purple Power, WWJD??!!

I fill my two DeJa Blue bottles each night.. put two in the freezer in the morning, take them out 1 hour after breakfast, drink one and put the other in the fridge for after supper. There is rarely a day I don't get my 2 quarts, 3 oz. of water in. I LOVE my Crystal light lemonade, raspberry lemonade slushie mix. And Michelle.. the SS gift is being chug a lugged as I type!!

#1 having lap band surgery #2 finding the Shrinkin' Violets!!

Just click the link and join us!! http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f91/shrinking-violets-april-07-bandsters-29472/index652.html

Good morning, Tracy!! Hope everything goes well for you today and it's a smooth move!!

Good evening, Violets.. Just got in from the hot tub and letting Jetta out. It's a beautiful night with lots of stars, no wind and no snow coming down. Did my hot tub exercises and then just laid on my back in the hot water and watched the clouds go by. doesn't get much better!!! Well, another Christmas has passed and it seems like you prepare for weeks and weeks and it's over in a flash. The bobster is loving his Flip and his Zune. I have to call about my digital picture frame.. I got all my cruise pics downloaded on it, but it won't show a slideshow for some reason. Everything else works, but not that, so I'll be calling tech support tomorrow... oh joy. We're going to head out early to JoAnn Fabrics, Peebles, K-Mart and Walmart to see what deals we can find on things we just couldn't do without. The Bobster got his first Social Security check today so we'll probably blow most of it shopping! After that we hunker down and get ready for our Florida trip and our cruise. I want to be down to 173 by New Years, 170 by Florida trip time and 163 by cruise time in February. Lots of mini-goals so we'll see how that goes. I'm loving my fill right now and hope it stays good for a while. We go back on the 21st of January for our next one, if needed. Well, time to go chat on ispq and then head to bed. Everyone sleep well. We're back to reality tomorrow!! Patience, Trust, Purple Power, WWJD??!!

Welcome, Nancy!! Woooooooo hooooooooooo another Violet joins the ranks!

Good Morning, Violets and a very Merry Christmas to you all!! It was a nice, quiet morning here. The Bobster and I exchanged gifts and it was so neat to see his reaction to the Zune and the Flip camcorder I got him, not to mention all the sweaters, jammies and shirts! AND the sweaters are XLT instead of XXLT or XXXLT!!! He got me the Hairspray DVD, a couple of neat things for the mantle of the fireplace we are getting next week, (QVC..woo hoooo!) my Dean Koontz book and a beautiful pair of boots for ice fishing! DS got me an ice fishing pole and the ribbon candy I love... and ration out! DD and SIL got me an angel pin and a digital picture frame. Soooooooooo kewl!! They are coming over for lunch today. My stew has been in the crock pot all night and the house smells yummy this morning. Got the jello/yogurt pie made and only have to make salad when they get here. I didn't hit my mini-goal of -3# for my angel charm, BUT I did lose 2# this week so only have one pound to go. I'm happy and will get there by New Years. Then a whole new mini-goal after that. Off to make breakfast and start reading my book. TTFN........

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

10 more minutes until the offical day of Christmas. It was an interesting evening for us. Everyone made it to church, but something got screwed up afterwards. My daughter in law has 3 sons.. each by different men. My son is the one who married her after she had Ethan. It was not a decision I was in favor of, but kept my mouth shut. Anyway... everyone was supposed to come here and open gifts. Son Joe and Ethan were here, but DIL went to the grandparents of her middle son and never showed up until 2 hours after we got home. Ethan was tired beyond words. We ended up helping him open his gifts and Joe was packed up and ready to leave when she showed up. He just put the gifts in the car. I didn't even go out, but Bob did and she wouldn't even look at him. I don't know what's up, but it sure spoiled Christmas Eve here. Then when they got home, they called to see where the gifts were for the two other boys. I don't consider them my grandkids cause I rarely see them. Mind you we have never gotten a thank you from them for anything and last year, they pouted after they opened their gifts here. I told Joe where I put their gifts and that was it. No explanation for the evening.. nuthin'. Suffice it to say it certainly wasn't what I expected Christmas Eve to be this year, but tomorrow the Bobster and I will open gifts and that will be special. May you all have a wonderful Christmas............. in 4 minutes!!! God bless.. Patience, Trust, Purple Power, WWJD??!!

Michelle... I will be at a Detroit Pistons basketball game on New Years Eve. I'll be wearing a long sleeved Pistons shirt and jeans. AND I'll be in the 4th row, VIP section thanks to SIL snagging some excellent tickets someone had posted. Life is VERY good!!!

Good afternoon, Violets.. I'm just about ready to head to church. Wearing my size 14 black pants, my black size 16 top with a red sequin poinsettia and some candy canes on the front and my black , knee high suede boots. Last December at this time I never, ever would have thought I could print those words!! Life is very good. Everything is ready here for the gang after we get back from church. I'm sure I'll be checking in before the night is over. Everyone breathe deep.. smile and stay away from those goodies!!! TTFN.....

You two need to come over to the Shrinkin' Violet thread. Lots of us April bandsters there and we have a great time!! Join us, please!!

Good morning, Violets.. Jenn.. so sorry to hear of your loss. My prayers are with you and your family. To all the Violets.. may you have a blessed Christmas and my heartfelt thanks for being such a wonderful group of women who share their hopes, dreams, defeats and victories with each other in such a loving way. God bless you all.

Denise, I had cramping and bleeding way back when I was pregnant for the first time. Doctor told me that often happens right about the normal period time. Everything was fine with me and I had a baby boy 32 years ago this month. Prayers going to your daughter that everything turns out fine for her too.

Wowiee, Shannon!!! 85#?? That's amazing!! Way da go girl! Glad you've joined us. There can never be enough Violets!! I'm on my way to church. Didn't lose anything when I weighed in, but I still have 2 days til Christmas. I'm gonna lose those 3# if I have to chop off an arm to do it!! Well, maybe not quite that drastic. But those 3# ARE going to be gone soon!! Everyone have a great day. Catch you all after church. TTFN.......

Now that is just awesome!!! Loved it! All I got when I was pregnant was a little black and white still photo. Blake is already a star on Youtube!!! Loved the music. What a great Christmas gift for you!! Congrats, Denise!!!!