Visionary444

I have read the more you lose - the less "tight" your band is hence the reason for additional fills after you have experienced restriction for a while. And yes, I am on MyFitnessPal daily. I have went from 233 pounds to 173 pounds ON MY OWN. I was just recently banded and looking forward to that "Green Zone". MyFitnessPal only shows an 11 pound loss because I started it one month before my surgery. There are many banded people on there - and I have many of them "as friends". I couldn't do it without them If you want to sign up....my user name is MsLadyLisa. Look for me and I would be happy to encourage you!

Joy, would you let us know why you personally chose the band over the sleeve?

I know! Right!!? Out of over 200,000 members on here! THAT is how RUDE that receptionist is! LOL Oh well.....I'm still sending her good energy

Lori, I just sent you a PM in the event you didn't see this post! Did you know that when I posted that "we must have the same receptionist" that I was just trying to be humorous and THEN when I got online and when to your profile I realized we DOOOOOOOO have the same surgeon!!!!! I didn't know if we were even in the same STATE, let alone that we actually DO have the same SURGEON!!! lol CrAzy huh?!

We must have the same receptionist. lol She is always rude to me....and it annoys me at first....then I just think "If she is rude EVERY time I call (which has only been twice and I paid out of my OWN pocket $17k for this) that she must have a really bad life.... Then after I think about it for a while I realize those old "annoyances" I used to have was probably a big part of why I have a weight problem. I have to let it gooooooooooo <3 I hope she is nicer to you (and me) in the future - but if she's not....well, I'm not going to focus on it and send her some love (because she OBVIOUSLY needs it)

Beautiful!!! So happy for you!!

Hi Friends, Part of what I do in my career as a presenter is I create and share meditation exercises in my workshops. Even though the audience is usually experiencing this with soothing angelic music playing in the background, eyes closed and hearing the words being spoken to them - I believe many of you may still benefit from simply reading the words and allowing yourself to focus on the experience. I love using meditation! For those of you who enjoy meditation as well - I created a "Guided Meditation" to share with you today! I hope you enjoy! Begin breathing and relaxing. Now picture yourself in a beautiful meadow, surrounded by trees, with brightly colored flowers all around. The grass is a lush green, and comes up to your ankles. As you make your way across the meadow, you see something at the far edge, next to the trees. As you come closer, you realize that it is a wishing well! An old-fashioned, magical wishing well, with a pitched roof, a round base made from stones, and a rope suspended down into the depths of the well. As you start turning the crank handle to pull up the bucket on the end of the rope, you hear the creaking and banging as it swings from side to side as it makes its way to the top. When it gets to the top, you set the bucket on the side of the stone base, and look inside where you see an envelope with your name on the front! You take out the envelope and prepare to open it, knowing that when you do, it will have a picture of you at your healthy weight. Open the envelope now, and look at the picture from your subconscious. As you gaze upon the picture, other images, words and phrases come rushing to your mind to help in the feeling as you experience your self as this person. Welcome to who you really are. Know that you will easily be able to recall this image of who you really are when needed throughout your day, however that may be. Before you leave, you thank the wishing well for its gift, lower the bucket back down for the next person, and start back across the meadow. As you near the edge of the meadow where you began, slowly bring your attention back to the moment. Breathe more deeply. Stretch, begin to move your arms and legs, and take a moment in gratitude, knowing you may experience this vision of you at a healthy weight, living your life as you were meant to live any time you choose throughout your day. Blessings, Lisa

As I was walking this morning - I saw the fit woman ahead walking toward me. "Just keep your head down....don't look her in the eye", I thought. I was hot with bright red cheeks and my hair was drenched with sweat and actually, I hadn't even been walking for very long. Here she comes and I can't help myself....I glance over and I see it in her eyes and without saying a word she spoke to my soul: "Don't you be embarrassed....keep going....you're doing great....I'm proud of you....you're worth it!" I returned home and remembered a fellow writer who shared one of his writings titled "Hey, Fat Girl". I feel guided to share it with you with the intention it will bring you the inspiration it brought to me: Hey, Fat Girl! Yes, you. The one feigning to not see me when we cross paths on the running track. The one not even wearing sports gear, breathing heavy. You’re slow, you breathe hard and your efforts at moving forward make you cringe. You cling shyly to the furthest corridor, sometimes making larger loops on the gravel ring by the track just so you’re not on it. You sweat so much that your hair is all wet. You rarely stay for more than 20 minutes at a time, and you look exhausted when you leave to go back home. You never talk to anyone. I’ve got something I’d like to say to you. You are awesome. If you’d look me in the eye only for an instant, you would notice the reverence and respect I have for you. The adventure you have started is tremendous; it leads to a better health, to renewed confidence and to a brand new kind of freedom. The gifts you will receive from running will far exceed the gigantic effort it takes you to show up here, to face your fears and to bravely set yourself in motion, in front of others. You have already begun your transformation. You no longer accept this physical state of numbness and passivity. You have taken a difficult decision, but one that holds so much promise. Every hard breath you take is actually a tad easier than the one before, and every step is ever so slightly lighter. Each push forward leaves the former person you were in your wake, creating room for an improved version, one that is stronger, healthier and forward-looking, one who knows that anything is possible. You’re a hero to me. And, if you’d take off the blaring headphones and put your head up for more than a second or two, you would notice that the other runners you cross, the ones that probably make you feel so inadequate, stare in awe at your determination. They, of all people, know best where you are coming from. They heard the resolutions of so many others, who vowed to pick up running and improve their health, “starting next week”. Yet, it is YOU who runs alongside, who digs from deep inside to find the strength to come here, and to come back again. You are a runner, and no one can take that away from you. You are relentlessly moving forward. You are stronger than even you think, and you are about to be amazed by what you can do. One day, very soon, maybe tomorrow, you’ll step outside and marvel at your capabilities. You will not believe your own body, you will realize that you can do this. And a new horizon will open up for you. You are a true inspiration. I bow to you. ~Flintland

I'm holding a vision for you that it will be approved!! Good luck dear!

Loved this! Thank you for sharing it! Boy....I have had the same thoughts about so many of the same things!

OMGoooodness...I've been craving Spam too (bowing my head in shame) lol So glad I'm not alone! My surgery is right around the corner too! We can do this!

Love your post pkb!

Sending love and light!

FABULOUS!

The first three days were really tough for me - but it does get better! And it helps to drink a lot of water!

I just finished Week 1 with one more week to go before surgery. I have heard that after surgery you won't even want food for a few days.....so.....I just keep thinking about that every time I think I am going to lose my mind. lol

So proud of you!!!!!