Bright

I just had my first proper fill at the begining of February - I was banded over a year by then, and the shock of first time restriction has really hit! I have PB'd twice, ON SALAD which I think is hilarious....but emotionally, I am finding it really hard! I have found the past three weekends really depressing without my food treats - I had been dieting during the week for the past 14 months, and then joyfully, going out for pizza/chinese/indian over the weekends (which is why I have "plateaued" for so long!) - now the weekends seem meaningless - I know that's pathetic - I have a great husband, wonderful kids, and tons of fun things I COULD be doing but after sitting in pizza hut without pizza, and in a movie without popcorn, I was fed up and sad! I don't smoke, drink (rarely), or have any worthwhile hobbies - I have just realised over the past few weeks how intrinsic food is to my life - for treats, for rewards, for relaxing etc - I feel "hungry" in my head, and miss actually putting stuff in my mouth (easy, Lulu....!)!!!! I feel disfunctional...so much so, that to my husbands amusement, I have reverted to sucking my thumb at night when I'm asleep!!! Not nearly as much fun as when I was 6 and didn't have fake nails!!!! It is classic oral fixation (see Freud!!) and I feel like a sick freak, standing over the toilet, chewing stuff and spitting it out... Sigh.........any thoughts on this?

hey Marie, did you get my PM?

ohmigod.....!!! Please tell me I'm paranoid and I'm not guessin right what you guys think you're thinking....??!! Someone PM me, I'm a bit dim.... :ninja :eek :eek

woo hoo - welcome to bandland! Hope the next few days aren't too uncomfortable for you xx

thanks marie, that means a lot to everyone

Wahoo! Donali - Alex - Penni - Bright for defo....any other definites? Harleynana, we're thinking about NYC/NJ now, does that suit you? I'm so excited...my friend Debbie, (non-banded but very up to speed!) says she'll come with me too so I won't get lost!!!

same from me! Good Luck!

aw shucks.....

oh thanks penni - me too you!!! If anyone can think of anything they'd like brought over from Ireland I'd be glad to bring it by the way! Except for leprechaun hats and guinness.... or sheep..... I don't know what you guys would want from here actually... maybe umbrellas?!!

Donali.......any chance you could use up some of Indiana's airmiles and come too??? Please???

Hold on...a walk??? Couldn't we just vigorously shop?!!??? Alex - it'd be very cool to meet that quack face to face....

ok wow - that sounds fantastic - Alex, I would be totally led by any of your suggestions - just talked to David (hubby) and he says it's a brilliant idea to stay in NJ - he stayed in some Old English type hotel with steakhouse and he may be able to get some corporate rate there??? I have to fly into JFK but can bus it to wherever...

Wow - I'm thrilled! Yay yay yay!!!! Penni, those dates sound perfect!!!! Well for me anyway - I would love NYC as I've been there a few times - my hubby does a lot of work in Morristown, NJ too (Hello Alex!) so there would be good too - Wouldn't New York be the handiest for everyone to get to? So central and all? (grasping at straws....!) We stayed at the Roosevelt Hotel which is really handy - I have an uncle in NYC too (everyone Irish has a relative in New York!) so I could meet him too! Oh I can't believe i could actually get to meet you guys! I am so excited! Going to look up flights for those dates now............

Yeah Ryan, please come back! You are so valuable here - poor greg and Leo will be all alone, drowning in all the girl talk!

((((((((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))) from me too - big lump in my throat - I'm a sap!!!!

yay - delighted you're home safe and sound, and all fixed up!

fabulous!! This is what I got: Congratulations, you're the bubonic plague! You're infamous. You're usually deadly when left untreated. You're spread by a flea. That's how cool you are.

Zoe - love your pictures - you look great - about 10 years younger than your "before"! Well done! Rica - you look amazing too - well done xx

Me too...we have all achieved so much - I don't think anyone was starving themselves in order to make up the last few pounds or lying awake at night trying to cope with the stress!!! So amazing to see all our weight loss together - wonder what weighs 4000lbs? A truck? 5 elephants? I'm useless with weights........!!!!

well it's back to being green and wet here! Snow all gone but still pretty cold - I miss it now that I've forgotten all the minor trauma it caused!!

Ok, I know that you guys get TONNES of snow over there, but we were thrilled to see a gorgeous white blanket of snow this morning here in Ireland! Well I was anyway! It was only two or three inches but we hardly ever get snow that stays on the ground - it looked so beautiful! I walked my son to school and it was such fun - even tho I ended up with my new suede boots all wet and actually fell on the way home (!!) - despite soggy boots, sore knees, wet jeans, I love it!!!! Sadly it's melting already but I took some pics..... (sorry to bore you Alex, I know you're sick of snow already! )

oh dear god penni that pic is too funny! Its morning here and I just sprayed my protein shake all over the screen - and how different you look now!!!!??? Wow! Bet you can only store shot glasses in there now!

Is it wrong I feel strangely attracted to Mr Smokey Joe Sheppard???!!!!!!!!!

Barbara - I'm thrilled for you - wow! I'm so proud for you!!!!!!

just couldn't believe you could BUY pb bags!!! To think I have been shamefully using the toilet all this time! I could have been accessorising the bows on the front of the bags with my shoes.....