momlambert

Thanks for starting the thread, Barb. You have so much going on in your life--I really admire your commitment to losing weight and realizing the importance of it with your "new life." I can't drink my food either. I have to chew to feel satisfied. Good luck! You can do it!

Good for you, Froggie! Sounds like you are doing great. Congrats on your band and good luck on your journey. Welcome!

Wonderful news on the lack-of-cancer news! Congrats. That must be such a HUGE relief. I'm so happy for you. It sounds like you have really evaluated what is important in life. Glad you aren't beating yourself up over weight gain. I'm sure you'll get back to where you want to be--all things in due time. Stay positive--your attitude as served you well throughout your cancer and lapband journey. You are an inspiration. Thanks so much for the compliment. Unfortunately, my computer crashed last year and I lost all of my before pictures. I'm sure I can find some around and get them scanned or something but I really don't have any right now that I can use for comparison purposes. I'm surprised you remember how I looked (I hardly do!). You made my day. Take care and keep us posted--it's so good to hear from you and so good to hear such great news. Karen

Thanks so much Josie. I REALLY needed your encouragement. In my heart I know it was the right decision but somehow I just keep second guessing myself. It's hard to feel confident and positive when all she does is complain. But, like everything else, I'm learning good lessons from these trials.

Well said, Whitepants! Thanks for the encouragement. I've had a better day today and that's all I'm asking of myself right now.

Hey fellow Marchies--hope you are doing well as we look at our 3-year success. I've been very slow but steady with my loss and although I'd love to lose another 20 lbs., I am not as motivated as I should be since I feel fine where I am. How about you? Where are you these days in your journey? How's life in general? Hope you check in and reconnect. Happy 3rd bandiversary, Marchies!

Thanks, Whitepants. Here's the new link: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f90/april-aint-over-113613/#post1450772

Thanks for starting the thread, Whitepants. I fear we've lost most of our original March 2007 bandsters. I SO would like to know how they are all doing! It does seem that we are all going through similar trials, though. I got out my spring/summer clothes today (the snow finally melted in our yard in the Utah mountains) and am hoping I can wear them but I think I'm up about 7 lbs from my low and some were a little tight to begin with so I'm nervous. I just HAVE to get serious again! Stress for me is a HUGE issue and I just went through the decisions and process (and endless paperwork) involved in putting my mom in an assisted living facility--she has Alzheimer's disease and would not consider living with me. She wants to be back in her house by herself (who wouldn't?) so is sad and angry and I'm so stressed about it and her attitude (so extremely negative about everything). Anyway, maybe an explanation although certainly not an excuse for my recent gain. I've got to get control of the things I can control (my mood and eating) instead of the letting the things I can't control (Alzheimer's and my mother's moods) control me. A new week is before us. Let's do our best, be kind to ourselves, but hold ourselves to our weight-loss goals and guidelines. What do you think? Good luck to you--sounds like your are on a great exercise track. Good for you. Thanks for keeping in touch--I wish you the best. Karen

I can't see what you are looking at to get the 2008 dates. Mine shows today's posts as "Today at ...p.m." and those before today have month, day, 2010 as the date posted. Not sure what the problem is for you. Sorry!

Welcome, CCBCINDY. A pb is a "productive burp." Sometimes food gets stuck going through the pouch due to big bites, too much volume, not chewing well enough, the band being too tight, etc. and the food comes back up. It's not really "throwing up" because it doesn't come from the stomach and is not mixed with stomach acid. Usually you feel pressure and need to get to the bathroom quickly and then you cough or burp and the food comes out, usually with "slime." Sounds gross, and I guess it is, but you learn how to deal with it--mostly by avoiding it! Having the band is definitely a learning process and you are certain to have some pb's along the way. No worries. I carry papaya enzyme with me and if I feel "stuck," I chew a few and they act like Drano for me. I haven't pb'd for a LONG time and haven't used papaya for a few years. You will learn how to avoid pb's and pain, for sure! Good luck to you. There is lots of info on this board. Check out the threads especially for beginners. When is your surgery date? Hope you do well, I'm sure you will. I haven't lost as much or as fast as many people here but I'm totally satisfied with my band and SO glad I made that decision to have it, even though I was self-pay. Keep in touch!

Great news! You go, girl!

Anxious to hear how your appointment went (or when it is)! Hope everything has improved and the news was good. Please keep us informed. K.

Hey everyone! I "lost" you for awhile but found the January thread and was so happy to see so many old friends posting and recommitting to success. I've had a crazy few months and have gained about 5 lbs. but hope to be back in control today. I'm exercising 4-5 times a week but probably need to increase intensity and duration. Also still eating too many goodies since the holidays. The good news is that I am about 15 lbs. below the goal my doctor set for me and I only have 11 lbs. to lose to have a "normal" BMI. Woohoo! I guess part of my problem is that I'm quite content with where I'm at--if I didn't lose any more I'd be okay. I never thought I'd see the day when I could wear a pair of size 12 jeans (or jeans at all!) and now I do. I can't imagine being able to wear a size 10--that's probably part of my problem. I need to realize it is possible to be thinner and decide I want it enough to work for it. You guys are a great inspiration--thanks for your posts and honesty. I consider you my friends! Love and best wishes to all of you.

so sorry you are struggling--I know we all do from time to time. But, GET BACK ON THE BAND-WAGON! Who cares what your dr. thinks? It's YOUR band and YOUR body. (I really don't think he will judge you anyway--he's seen it before and your behavior is no worse than others). Take charge. Go get some advice and possibly a fill--your doctor is your advocate. Glad you checked in--let us know how you are doing. It's great to hear from you. The new thread for March 2010 is at http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f90/marchies-3-year-bandiversary-month-111297/#post1427722

Great to hear from you, Janine--I think of you often and wonder how you ar doing, how your children are doing, etc. Looks like you are doing well with your new band--so glad! As far as the skin--I'm not sure there is much we can do about that other than exercise for muscle tone underneath, which doesn't do a thing for the skin. It seems most people who take care of it get plastic surgery. I'm not sure I see that in my future at my age. My biggest problem is my stomach flap. Sometimes I get sores and irritation under it but I can usually take care of it with powder and keeping it really dry. I try to buy clothes that have tummy controls in them and that helps with disguising it but I don't ee any way to eliminate it other than PS. I know if you have documented irritation you can often get insurance to cover the PS (I've read where some people put dish detergent under there to irritate it before seeing their doctor). Anyway, that's all I know about it. Hope all is well with your family! Karen

Hey everyone! So good to see you all. I started a February thread at http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f90/sharin-love-marchies-2007-a-109666/#post1410294 See you there!

Welcome and congrats on your banding! Good luck to you on your weight loss journey--it's different for everyone so (as I've had to learn) don't get discouraged if things are slow sometimes or if someone else is losing faster than you are. It's a WONDERFUL tool! I live in Midway but there are quite a few bandsters in SLC. There was talk last summer about getting together for dinner or lunch somewhere but it never materialized. I'd LOVE to do that--after the holidays would be best for me. Dr. Hansen's group has a monthly dinner for anyone who wants to come. I don't usually make it down to the valley on those nights but when I have gone it's been really fun. The location changes from month to month. There isn't one in December but I'll try to remember to let you know about it in January. In the meantime, maybe we can try to get some interest in getting together in January. That would be super fun. Happy holidays! Karen

So sorry to hear of your troubles, Orea. Sounds like the worst is over--good luck on your continued recovery. Hang in there.

So glad to hear from you, Barb. I've thought about you often and am glad for the update--you ARE a survivor! Good job getting through all your treatments and maintaining your normal life as much as possible. My thoughts and prayers will be with you next week as you go for your scans and results. We will be anxious to hear. Good luck!

I do Wii Active every day--actually it's 2 days working out and 1 day resting. I find it's more of a workout than Wii Fit, although that's really fun and I do it a lot as well. Wii active has a 30-day challenge that you can do at different levels (beginner, intermediate, and advanced) and I'm on my second round of the advanced (high-intensity) workout. Bob Greene (Oprah's trainer) runs the workout and seems to have helped designed it. There are so many ways to use the program and what seems like an endless combo/variety of exercises. They do a lot of lunges and squats and I have to be careful because I have problems with one of my knees if I over do it. You can use the wii balance board, but it's optional, and resistance bands are also used for the upper body work. I love it and highly recommend it! I've also tried the Wii Pilates a few times but need to get more serious about figuring that out--for some reason it's not registering me or giving me good scores although I'm completing the exercises so I'm not sure I can recommend that yet. I'll let you know. Good luck!

Welcome, Margie! This is a great thread--I don't post much but I read it every day. Looks like you are doing fantastically! Good for you. Tell us a little about yourself. Where do you live? etc. Welcome aboard! Karen

Hey fellow Marchies--glad I found you again. Something must have happened with my subscription thread and I realized I haven't heard from my Marchies this month--or even last! How time flies. So I just caught up and am glad you are all still supporting us all. Thanks! So sorry to hear of the cancer, Mrs. Husker. Good for you being so courageous and determined. What a great attitude you have--it will serve you well. Teenage daughters--argh! I raised NINE of them. Glad those days are over although, at times, my empty nest seems incredibly empty. But we are great friends, now, and I'm sure you'll find that once your daughter is on the other side of the fence (as we call it), she'll be apologizing to you for your extra gray hairs. It really is all worth it. I was just laid off again last week--twice in year just isn't funny! After being laid off from the US Ski team in January, I took a job in May (after sending out 154 resumes) with a remodeling/construction firm. I loved my job but, unfortunately, we ran out of customers now that winter is approaching. My boss says he'll hire me back in March when business picks up again so I'm hoping that's the case. I have a busy fall/winter ahead with a new grandbaby in CA and all the kids coming for Christmas--29 people in all! So it's okay for now but, of course, the income will be sorely missed. As far as weight loss, I'm at a standstill again so need to ramp up the exercise, etc. I'm with you Carol--haven't lost as much as others but SO glad I have the band because if I didn't, I'd be in a horrible zone right now. I'm really grateful for what I've lost and, honestly, if I don't lose much more I'll be okay. Just 9 more lbs. puts me in a "normal BMI" range so I'm hoping for that. Wishing you all the best in your life with your new bodies! Karen

It's a food tracking site--I actually prefer sparkpeople.com because I found it easier to use and like the rewards and daily emails, etc. But any of them are great tools to keep you on track. Good luck!

Yes, Long, I remember talking to you about this before. I live in Midway. Will you be at Swiss Days this year? I'm sure we'll come over on Friday. Honestly, I can't remember where I had the surgery (senior moment?) but it was out patient not at the hospital. As far as the BMI, I've found the 22 BMI to be consistent with Weight Watchers, my WII fit, and most charts. You are taller than I am (5'6") so I guess I still have a ways to go but I gotta tell you, if I don't lose another pound I'll still be happy. I feel GREAT and am surprised when I see my own reflection. How could that be ME?? It's so nice, isn't it? I honestly look better from behind than from the front (tummy hangover but no surgery in my future probably) but I still feel like I look "normal." That's certainly a nice feeling. I'm currently under my doctor's goal for me by quite a bit so I don't know what that was based on either. Maybe just being "overweight" and not "obese." Not sure. I haven't been in since October and don't have plans to go back unless I need a fill. Anyway, sorry to ramble but, again, CONGRATS! Hope to see you at Swiss Days...I'll come find you if you are there. Karen

CONGRATS, LONG (or should I say GREAT!). :thumbup:You are an inspiration. I'm curious--how tall are you? I'm still trying to decide what my ideal weight is. I still need to lose 10 lbs. to be a "normal" BMI but 30 to have a BMI of 22, which is considered the healthiest. So right now, I'm looking for "numbers" since I don't feel thin at all either. will we ever???:sad: Again, congratulations!:biggrin: