adorable

I'm so stressed out...I had a slight fill yesterday giving me a total of 3.4cc in a 4 cc band. However I still feel like I can eat almost as much of my food as I want. Granted there is SOME restriction, and I have to eat a little slower, and I don't drink with my meals. I don't know what to do...I'm afraid that I have a stretched esophagus or even a slipped band....I wonder if I'd still have some restriction if that were the case...? I guess all I can do is wait and see if I have anymore restriction in a week or so. I hear everyone else saying how they can't eat this or that...for instance, last night I had an egg salad sandwich with 2 pieces of bread...I thought I wasn't supposed to be able to eat bread? Sometimes I struggle with meat though....I can eat 2-3 pieces of pizza...tonight I ate an entire bowl of chicken and dumplings...I feel like a pig.

Kat - I hope that Kinsey feels better soon...I know how much it hurts when your loved ones hurt.... Terry - I'm glad that today is a better day for you... Judy - looking good in that swimsuit! I was showing a gal at work my before and after pics and she saw yours and was just amazed at how well you've done. good job!

LOL this is CALIFORNIA! No we don't get these very often...and when we do it's a BIG BIG deal! We're used to hot, dry weather, occasional rain (not often enough actually - so little that we're on water meters and can only water on certain days at certain times during the warmer months)....this is so exciting for me! LOL

It's raining so hard right now, lightning, and HUGE hail!!! I took some pics of the hail... Severe Thunderstorm Warning SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY CA 557 PM PDT MON OCT 29 2007THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HANFORD CA HAS ISSUED A * SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR... CENTRAL FRESNO COUNTY IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA... NORTHEASTERN KINGS COUNTY IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA... EXTREME NORTHWESTERN TULARE COUNTY IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA... * UNTIL 645 PM PDT * AT 553 PM PDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PENNY SIZE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED 17 MILES SOUTHWEST OF KINGSBURG...OR ABOUT 8 MILES WEST OF HANFORD... AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH. * THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR... 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF KINGSBURG AND 9 MILES SOUTH OF SELMA BY 645 PM PDT... HEAVY RAIN IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM AND COULD CAUSE LOCALIZED FLOODING. THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH...PREPARE IMMEDIATELY FOR DAMAGING WINDS...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL... AND DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER... PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING BUT AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

Jennifur I think you look absolutely amazing girl! I know how you feel though - I look at myself and can't see what others see...I guess that's the psychological aspect to being fat and having a "disorder"....No matter how good we look, it's never good enough! But I have to tell you, you're looking GOOD!!!!! :whoo:

Good morning Violets! I'm at work so I have to make this quick.... I received an email update on new devices that have just received FDA approval and this morning there was one called "Realize Band"...looks just like the Lapband. New Device Approval - REALIZE™ Band - P070009 Anyway, thought I'd share! Hope everyone is having a great day!!! :bounce:

Ok here's the 6 month comparison 04/25/2007 to 10/27/2007: Not sure if you can tell how baggy that outfit is now LOL Here's some current pics - I can tell a little difference but not a whole lot. Maybe because I see myself every day LOL

TracyinKS I have to say that I am jealous....you're looking fabulous and you're melting away in front of us! Good job girlie! :clap2: I'm eating too much, and I'm not sure If I need a fill or what...When I start eating in the morning, it's hard for anything to go down except for mushy food like oatmeal, however, once I start eating (slowly), I seem to loosen up so that I can eat - too much. I've also PB'd more than I used to, so I know that I'm probably eating around the band.... Not sure if I should get a fill or not...my appt is on the 30th....I guess I'll wait and see. I'm consuming about 1500 calories, however I have been exercising. I think maybe a small fill will do it. Next week I'm going to add about 20 mins a day of strength exercise to my 2 miles of walking...maybe kick the walking up to 2 1/2 miles? It's starting to get a little easier to exercise at least....

You're right Laura, although I'm home all weekend to cheat LOL....I'll try to behave as best as I can. All this damn Halloween candy isn't helping either! I just went on another walk earlier because I wanted a piece of the cheesecake my daughter made....I'm really starting to like exercising....I would have never thought!!!

Ahhh I've hit a plateau! Actually I'm eating the wrong things and too much of them...I'm not quite sure that I need a fill because at times I'm SO tight I can hardly take a bite or two, but it doesn't last long usually - once I get going, slowly, I can eat way more than I should. I hope I haven't stretched my esophagus.... :car: Today I ate three pieces of pizza for dinner - I'm telling you, the wrong darn foods. At work I do well - it's when I come home that I always fall off the wagon because my hubby, my mom and my daughter buy so much junk food.... Oh well, I'm walking about 2 miles a day now, which is 2 miles a day more than I did for the first 5 months...and it feels SO good to walk! Next week I'm adding 20 minutes a day of strengthening exercises to my regimen. Maybe that will kick start my weight loss despite eating 1500 calories a day... :faint:

Oh damn....I just bought both of those books...I'm not going to start them until I finish the "Left Behind" series, which is 15 books and I'm only on 4 LOL....oh well by then maybe I'll have forgotten that the books aren't good! LOL

My doc said I burn probably 1100 calories a day by doing nothing...but not much more than that. I notice that I only lose weight when I'm eating 800-900 calories a day - I keep track of my intake faithfully every day, and for the past few weeks I've been around 1200-1300, I'm not gaining, but I'm definitely not losing. I'm aiming to get with the program again and keep below 900.

Eh, I've been struggling with food...a little depressed I guess. I can't eat a lot, but with Halloween and all this damn candy everywhere, I've been struggling...still can't get below 212, and I bounce between 212 and 214. I've been exercising almost everyday, but I know that I'm eating the wrong foods....I need to get back on track. Anyway, enough about me...You are absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!! Seriously, you're lucky I have a hubby and you have Susanne LOL....you are such a pretty woman and you have this glow about you. Doesn't it feel great to be healthier???? I had an appt with my Rheumatologist today and he's happy with my success so far, although I've "only" lost 13 lbs in the past 12 weeks - I don't know why I'm so disappointed with that...Hell at least I did lose! I need to get myself back on track - it's hard with my mom living here now because she cooks the foods that are sooooooooooo so bad, but taste oh so good! *sigh* Anyway, congrats on your weight loss so far...you look amazing (red appears to be your color too!) :clap2:

Kat, You and your family are in my prayers....please know that things will work out the way that God intends them to. Just an FYI so that you know how treatable this is, my cousin Kelly had thyroid cancer and they removed her thyroid, followed up with the radioactive iodine (the only bad thing about that is you have to avoid prolonged contact with people for a few days, flush the toilet several times after using it, drink lots and lots of liquids (no problems there I'm sure!), and stay away from pregnant women) - anyway, she had that done about 5 yrs ago and has had no problems since - except for getting her TSH regulated with meds, this has taken some time. Good luck hun <3 *hugs*!!!

The fires are about 4 hrs away from where I live, however it has affected us...we were supposed to attend our annual Work Comp fraud seminar but most of the speakers are from Southern Cali and can't get here....so the seminar has to be rescheduled....plus our air quality is horrible....in addition, some of my staff have family there, so I guess it does affect us more than I thought....thanks for asking <3

My bday is March 11th!

Tracy I'm so so so happy for you...I know your ex is probably hurting really bad right now, however like you said, this is what's best for Robby...perhaps when Robby gets older and Shrek grows up some, perhaps they can have a relationship then...only time will tell... Congrats on your 210 too! Yep, you passed me right on up...I am down to 212 though...so far and I finally started exercising...like I said, it's not much, but it's more than I've done since I started this journey...I've walked a mile almost every day this month (I've taken the weekends off though)...I'm going to try to up it to 1 1/2 miles...my ankles still bother me, but they've gotten a little better... As far as coming to DC with you all - well it really depends on my daughter's pregnancy...she's due in May, but you know how that goes, and I can't chance missing my first grandchild being born....I'll have to wait and see as the time grows nearer....I'd love to come meet you all...if anything, perhaps I can meet Pamela since she lives so close by....at least for now....ahhhh we'll see how she's doing then.... Ok I have a long day tomorrow...I'm going to a fund raiser in the morning for the no-kill cat shelter here, then off to get a haircut, then back home because I have some family coming over tomorrow for a BBQ.... I hope everyone has a great weekend!!! *hugs*

Good news! I got a pretty significant raise today, PLUS a $2000 bonus, that doesn't include my Christmas bonus that I'll be getting in December. This was for my annual performance eval...apparently I'm doing a great job! Terry congrats on the scale moving!!!! TracyinKS - ok girlie you've passed me up...We can't let that happen, I need a fill!!! How much do you have in your band?? I'm just not at proper restriction I don't think. In the morning I feel tighter, however by lunch and dinner I can eat WAY too much and I'm HUNGRY as a horse by dinner, no matter what I eat for lunch...I'm at 3cc's in my 4cc band....I go back to the doctor on 10/30.....I'm eating WAY too much, but I have been exercising (walking a mile a day...not much but better than I was doing and I'm doing it EVERY day!) :clap2: One a more serious note, I hope things work out with your situation...I know how it feels to be involved with a deadbeat dad...I lose and my kids lose. KAt - things with the DD's are going ok....not so sure about the oldest DD, but I saw her Sunday and she looks good...I'm sure she's still drinking, but I'm trying not to worry about it...she's an adult, and I've done everything I can...she needs to be accountable to herself from now on. My youngest DD is doing great...she is barely 8 weeks pregnant but they did an ultrasound to give a more definitive due date - May 27th it is!!! 3 days before my wedding anniversary, and 8 days my DD's birthday! Here's a picture of the little thing...you can't even tell it's a baby yet! LOL Laura - you're an animal lover like me! I have 2 dogs and 5 cats...love them all to pieces!!! They're indoor/outdoor pets as well...they all sleep inside at night or whenever they darn well feel like it LOL~! Pamela - I'm right here!!!! I have been SO busy - I haven't had a chance to respond, but I've been trying to keep up! You all are a chatty bunch! LOL mdrai - I'm SO jealous of that cabin!!! I love the mountains!!! Everyone that I missed (didn't have time to go through all of the postings) - I hope you're all doing well!!!

Oh, oh oh! Nobody has noticed I don't think, BUT I have completed 4 out of 12 exercise challenges for October so far. Girls I HATE exercising, but I have been walking (only a mile a day, but it's a mile more than I used to walk) every day since last Sunday. It's an exercise challenge that our Wellness Coach at work has created between the different departments. Last week the challenge was for everyone to drink a minimum of 48 oz of water each day. This week it's to walk at least a mile a day...next week I think it's to walk a mile and a half each day. This goes through January - so far so good! We get points and at the end whichever team has the most points wins...not sure what we win yet, other than being a little bit healthier!

Oh another asshole of the year post! The weekend BEFORE my wedding, my sister-in-law's husband left her for another woman. To top it off, we had paid him to be the DJ for our wedding because that's what he did - obviously he wouldn't have gotten out of there alive had he showed up at our wedding, so we had to scramble at the last minute to find a DJ - and it was Memorial Day Weekend! At least we got our money back from him.

My cousin's husband did that to her on Mother's Day one year. He worked for his dad in a construction business and they were being located to Southern California for 2 yrs for a big job. He went there for 2 months before they were going to move to find them a house. My cousin, Kelly, stayed here with her then 5 yr old son, to pack everything up and take care of business here. On Mother's Day, he loaded everyone up, hooked up the trailer to his truck and decided to stop in Visalia (45 minutes out of Fresno North instead of South where they were going) to let her tell her mother goodbye. When they got there, Kelly was in the house with her son telling her mom, sister and brother goodbye. Meanwhile, Chris, her husband, was outside unhooking the trailer from his truck (nobody knew). He then walked in and told Kelly in front of her family "I don't love you anymore, I want a divorce, and I'm leaving you and all of our belongings here at your mothers house". With that he walked out. She followed him begging him to talk to her, to explain what happened, etc. He wouldn't say a word except "I'm starting over". Got in his truck and drove off. It wasn't until 2 months later that she found out he had a girlfriend that he met in his 2 months away from her, that he had moved in with him...several years later he married her, only to divorce her a few more years later. I believe he's still single....although I could be wrong. Everyone was pissed at him for the longest time....not because he left her (if I were married to her I would have left her years before that - she treated him like shit)....but because of HOW he did it. That was wrong and unfair to her, her son and her mother.

Fatigue is what made my daughter check to see if she was pregnant BEFORE she even missed a period....she was soooo tired all of the time, and her face started to break out, breasts were tender like she was going to start. She took a pregnancy test and BAM! She was pregnant LOL

AmwLady - 04/02 Maizemommy - 04/02 SFeliz001 - 04/02 CJulzGO - 04/02 Sara Mos - 04/02 Adumont75 - 04/02 Darla - 04/02 (mother to Panda) Panda - 04/02 (daughter to Darla) SienaK45 - 04/02 Squale(Pat) - 04/03 Kity - 04/03 Sparkette(donna) -04/03 Jennifer - 04/03 RVingDi - 04/03 TerriDoodle - 04/04 TexasP - 04/04 SkinnySomeday -04/04 Wannabethin - 04/04 ShineOn - 04/04 LJWILGeNHOF - 04/04 OnlyMe - 04/05 BandedMe - 04/05 DaveinToronto - 04/05 Cred - 04/05 AlexR - 04/05 gr8ful gal - 04/05 (also her BDay) HouseHuntress - 04/09 Day3447 - 04/09 Cmarie - 04/09 Gr8 (GINA) - 04/09 Chica Chula(Haydee) - 04/09 MsPruett - 04/09 BigAsLife (Di)- 04/09 Tekymom- 04/09 TeachLady (Judy) - 4/10 Vlander - 4/10 TracyTX - 04/11 ElizaJo - 04/11 Bubbles - 04/11 Bwaydiva - 04/11 KCQ -04/11 MaltoMeel-04/11 TinyBelle - 04/12 StaceyLynn - 04/12 Lucy22884 - 04/12 Horns10 - 04/12 Ihomeschool4 (Christy) - 04/12 Ross (husband to Christy) - 04/12 Tater Bug - 04/13 MS_Jen - 04/13 ChicaChula (Haydee) - 04/13 Collector - 04/13 WarpedPegasus- 04/14 ShirleyBee- 04/14 ARD - 04/16 PsWashburn (Phil) - 04/16 DynamoMini (Michelle) - 04/16 Margi - 04/16 Jennifur - 04/16 Lunasa - 04/16 SchexyMomma - 04/16 Laura23 - 04/16 JanieBug - 04/17 LapDancer - 04/17 Keluliana - 04/17 Tigeriffic - 04/17 Angie - 04/18 pinkybar (ellen) - 04/18 Jullee71 - 04/18 FloridaGirl - 04/19 AREELlady - 04/19 Michelle731- 04/19 Katschai - 04/20 NWJenny - 04/20 Sherri - 04/23 GonnaBeFree(Tammy) - 04/24 Galati25- 04/24 Actg1rl- 04/25 Adorable(Denise) - 04/26 -52.2 lbs gone forever!!! TracyinKS -04/26 -57 LauraleeD - 04/26 Brennens - 04/26 BeckyNtN - 04/26 JDarnwest - 04/26 Flax - 04/26 Kathy - 04/27 NBJen - 04/27 Jenn- 04/27 Rachel675 - 4/28 Wolfmaydn- 4/30 Drekagirl1976- 4/30 AnnieMac- 4/30 Mary (MEW) - 05/23 MICHELLE (MDRI) - 05/29 Kat817 - 4/17/06

Hi Haydee! Her name is pronounced Shannon. We were trying to be different when she was born and she's struggled with it all of her life because people can't pronounce it. Most people say after we tell them that it's Shannon, they can tell then when they read it...who knows? lol Many say it looks pretty the way it's spelled though!

Heyyyyyy my hubby is Joe too!