JudiM

You are welcome Pizzicato66! Yes, it is sooo wonderful that we REALLY can eat anything.....just LESS OF IT. Whoever invented this Lapband was a genius!!! You know, I feel sooo silly that I am so ga-ga over this revelation when it shouldn't be a revelation at all! I should have just KNOWN this! And, it's so wild how I have conditioned everyone.....and I mean everyone....into thinking that I can't eat "regular" food. Yesterday, our Admin in the office was planning a luncheon for this coming Friday. She came into my office and said that our boss asked her to check with me to see what I can eat these days! When I told her that I was fine with anything, she figured I was just being my agreeble self so she said "okay, I'll be sure there's soup there!" When I told her that she didn't need to do that , she laughed "what, did you get rid of that band of yours?" Too funny!!! Judi

Wow Jody....Thanks so much for reading my blog and for telling me that you enjoy it! Honestly, I just love doing it. Today (I took the day off) and this weekend, I'm on a bit of a hiatus from writing it. We're doing a dining room re-do that has had our entire house in a pig-pen state since after the holidays. I'm loosing my mind over it. And, because I love doing my blog so much, I can spend hours on it. And I do!!! So, in order to focus myself on all of this house stuff, I have to forgo blogging for a few days. I promised myself that I would! I am one of those people who can become consumed with things!!!! So, I'm "trying" to get consumed with housework (I've been taking multiple internet breaks but I haven't touched my blog....). It's not going all that quickly, though!!!! Oh well...at least I haven't been eating like a crazy woman!!! Again, thanks for reading my blog and for letting me know you enjoy it. Even though I write it for me.....who am I kidding? I love it when people read it and tell me they enjoy it!!!! Keep up your good work!!! Judi

Thanks Becky for reading my blog! I always love to know who reads it! As for my neighbor.....well...it's winter....so I don't see her as much. Come summer...she'll be sunning herself, gardening, mowing the lawn and just hanging out in that darn bikini or hers!!! My only revenge these past 5 years (that I've lived here) is that my garden definitely beats hers any day!!! But.....this year....I might just have to wear some shorts......!!!! Thanks for sharing your experiences about living and eating with your band. Yes, it's taken me awhile to get to this point. Better late than never!!! Judi

YIPPEE! Wow! Everyone's enthusiasm is soooo contagious! And, hey....I know exactly what you mean about NOT TRUSTING the scale. Here's my blog entry when I hit the -50 lb mark...... Stories from the road.......: I am a SCALE WHORE........ Congrats to you for a job welllll done! So much more fun ahead!!! It's just so wonderful that we all "get off" on each other's success!!! The Crazy Ates ROCK!!!!

Thanks Frangapani for the compliment on my blog! No, I do not really write professionally. But, I do write a lot for my job and I have an undergraduate degree in communications and writing (yes, I was going to write the great American novel!). I'll be totally honest with everyone.....this Lapband has not only given me a way to beat my weight struggles....it has also given me back the great joy of writing. Who knew? Not me! Life is just the funniest thing! Right before I went in to have my surgery, I found myself jumpy and anxious. I had been thinking about doing a blog about some of my creative endeavors and kept bugging my son (who is in a PhD program for Computer Science) to help me set one up. But, of course, he was waaaay to busy for that. So, on a whim, I decided to investigate doing a blog. Hey....I didn't need a computer whiz afterall!!! Old mom could do it herself!!! When I finally got it set up....I started out with my original plan. But, I never posted anything to it....it's still out there waiting for me. Then, on a whim, I thought I'd set up another blog just to document my Lapband progress. And, before I knew it....my blog became a very important piece of my Lapband journey. In the early days, it kept my focus and it continues to do that for me. It's the one part of the day when I sit down and focus completely on me. I didn't mean to go on and on about my blog but.....well.....it's really been a great experience for me! A very happy accident. I invite everyone to visit my blog....if they so desire. And, please feel free to post to it or email me. And, I also encourage anyone who enjoys writing to consider doing a blog....it's very rewarding....in more ways that you can imagine. Even if no one reads it.....for me, it's just a joy. Judi

Thanks everyone! So, I'm on a mission now......no more safe eating! Last night.....I made Pasta aglio oilio. One of my family favorites. Hubby and I would down 1 lb of it ourselves every time I made it. So, last night....I made it....with asiago & feta. Yum. Three forks full later....all done. Absolutely wonderful!!!! Today, I went to lunch with a friend that I meet once a month......she said "do you want to go where they have Soup?" "Nope, I'll go anywhere...." I told her---much to her surprise. So, we ended up at a wonderful little Jewish deli "Look they have soup!" she said with great enthusiasm....since I've had soup during every one of our monthly lunches. "Yes, and they also have grilled cheese!" I yelped with such excitement that the man behind the counter said "gee, I better not tell you the specials today, you might have a heart attack!" So, I ordered the grilled cheese......oh whole wheat bread with very sharp cheese. It was the best grilled cheese I ever had (honestly, it was!). After 3 bites.....I was full& satisfied. THIS is what my Lapband was meant to do!!!! It wasn't meant to doom me to soup and all things soft or pulverized the rest of my life!!!! Wow.....I love you Lapband!!!!! (even more now!)

I was banded by Dr. McCloskey at Magee in August. I'm very happy with the decision and feel good about the staff at Magee (where I go to get my fills). As for Magee.....eh....it was okay. I had 2 C-Sections at St. Clair (85 & 91) and was treated like a queen. Magee is a beautiful hospital for sure and thankfully I wasn't sick-sick.....just miserable! I do not know about support groups but you may want to check with Dr. McCloskey's office....they may be able to refer you to one. Also, this board is a wonderful source of support and motivation. If you haven't joined your monthly group in the MONTHLY GROUP section here.......you should do so now! It's filled with people who are at the same point as you. It's very helpful. Also, I maintain a blog.....I started it when I got my Lapband and keep it up fairly regularly. It's not exactly Lapband "heavy" but I do have a fair # of readers who correspond with me because of it and consider it a form of support. You are more than welcome to stop by and see if it works for you. The door is always open!!!! :biggrin2: You will also find others who have a blog about their Lapband journey. Congrats on your decision. Honestly, I know it feels kind of miserable now and you wonder if you made the right choice. But, I promise you, you will see that it may have been one of the best decisions you made!!! Good Luck!!!

Well, now I have to chime in here! I've been working so much the past 2 months that I haven't had a lot of time to pop in here. And, believe me.....in my my real world, I only know one other banded person on a personal level. And, she's not even in my everyday world....it's just that she lives close by. It was a pure treat to meet her and share our journies. We email regularly and hope to get together soon. (BTW, I met here somewhere on this board). Between my blog and this group---that is how I stay connected to the "banded world". And, I truly believe these things keep my focus. I have many regular readers to my blog who email me or post there on a consistent basis. And, I feel very responsible to them. They are friends and in many ways--confidantes. And, it's always nice to come here and see the same members and hear about their successes. And, you know, I believe that the reason why The Crazy Ates are so darn successful is because we all got together here very early on---meaning that we were motivated from the very beginning. And, motivation is contagious! And, when we had success, we shared it. Success is also contagious. There's no mystery here.....we're just a bunch of motivated, successful, giving and nice people! Period!!!! And, of course---very good looking, sexy and smart! Judi

Hi....Chiming in here....my dr mentioned the same thing during a conversation about my travel plans the next few months. Good to know others heard the same....! Judi

Had my VERY first PBing episode last night! And, let me tell you....I DO NOT want to ever do that again!!!! OMG....it was absolutely awful! Thank God I was in my own home! I did not even make it from the dining room table to the kitchen sink! And, I scared my daughter half to death! I made steak salad....the steak was very tender, I sliced it VERY thin and did my usual chop-chop with my scissors (that's how I cut up my salads to get them into manageable pieces). I had not overeaten....I was just on my 3rd or 4th bite. And, whoa....the pain, the pressure---it was AWFUL! My natural instinct was to take a sip of water. But, of course, that started the whole PBing.....! Oh my! Nasty! Nasty! For me, that PBing episode is definitely an apetite suppressant!!! I can't imagine how anyone has been able to withstand those episodes more than once! So, now I can say....yes, I had a PB and lived to talk about it.....!

Hi....I'm Judi. Banded on August 10, 2007. Best decision I ever made for myself! Married for 25 years, 2 children--22 year old son in grad school, 16 year daughter---high school senior. Live in Pittsburgh PA. I started a blog to help me through this journey! I'd love for you to visit with me there......address is in my sig line. Loved reading about everyone!!!! Judi

Hi....I'm Judi. Banded on August 10, 2007. Best decision I ever made for myself! Married for 25 years, 2 children--22 year old son in grad school, 16 year daughter---high school senior. Live in Pittsburgh PA. I started a blog to help me through this journey! I'd love for you to visit with me there......address is in my sig line. Loved reading about everyone!!!! Judi

Hey all..... I only have 363 days to stay here I have to make sure they are GREAT ONES! Yes, I turned 49 on Jan 23 so I'm in the "home stretch"! After that, I'll be crashing the 50's party! I'm going to poke around and see what we're all talking about! Looking forward to being here! Judi

But, the real question is......will the world be READY for me to wear that costume this 4th of July?????? I'll need a few little patriotic stickers to cover my scars. And, I'm sure I'll need a few other tweaks....ha!ha!ha! I'll have to try it out here at home first...... You are all right....seeing a pix really makes me believe that I am doing this! Day-to-day I really never see the difference. Keep posting your pix everyone!!!! Thanks! Judi

Hi all..... Thank you so much for your kind compliments! And, thanks for teaching me how to add pix! Wow....I got it on the first try! pizza.....you asked about my dressed up dress form! Nope, that's not my stripper costume! She's my alter-ego! :smile::smile: Ha!Ha!Ha! No, not really! Actually, I have a dress form that I dress up for holidays....yes, I know, kinda weird. In that pix, she was dressed up for 4th of July. We had been on vacation for 3 weeks prior to my surgery so I never got around to undressing her. The morning we were leaving for surgery, she was standing there and my sister made the comment that soon I would be wearing THAT outfit. So, when we went to take my "before" picture, my sister put her in the shot. Thanks for asking!

JudiM August 10, 2007

-Day of Surgery -October -November -Dec -Jan (I'm on the far left) Crossing my fingers that I post these properly.......

Hi all....I really do need to figure out how to post pix......posted my latest pix on my blog over the weekend....... WOW! You are all looking soooooo amazing!!!! What a beautiful group. Best looking crew on LBT!!!! Judi (my blog is in my sig line)

Hi all! Like everyone else, I endured every diet out there---including the infamous phen-fen. Several years later, I started using Ionamin....which is phentermine. Initially, I had alot of success loosing weight with those prescriptions. But, of course, gained whatever was lost and then some after that. My story, I'm sure, is the same as everyone else's...diet, diet, diet! One of my favorite things about Phen was the bursts of energy it gave me. It definitely did curb my apetite too. But, the energy and endurance was what probably kept me going back to get more even when I wasn't loosing weight! That's what I miss the most about that darn drug!!! :redface: Anyway.....here's my question......has anyone used or know of someone who used a non-prescription weight loss product called Phentramin-d???? My coworker ordered it off the internet and told me that it is the same as the prescription medication. She has not received it yet. In doing some online research, I find that it is not the same as my beloved phentermine. But, many reviewers online claim that it gives the same type of "feeling " as the prescription med. Can anyone verify or refute this? Thanks for any info you can provide! Judi

Hi all.... Everyone is really zooming along. I'm feeling a little bit discouraged. Today I went for my 3rd fill. Previously, I had 1.7. I am now up to 2.1. So, let's hope that is a good number! From the scale in the dr's office, I am up 1/2 lb. Which, I suppose is NOT bad news. Last week, when I weighed myself at the gym, I was up 3 lbs. I admit that both of those gains are significantly better than what I would have done WITHOUT my band. It's just that the whole plan is to LOOSE! This got me to thinking about all of my efforts to loose weight in the past. Here I am eating significantly LESS than I have ever eaten and I gain 1/2 lb. So, no wonder I always struggled so badly trying to loose weight. So, even though I am banded....I still have the same metabolism....right? It's a thought that came to me as I was driving home from my appt. Is there really a way to rev up metabolism? That may be an absolutely ridiculous question and perhaps I know the answer. But, right now....I just can't think of a way to do this! Supplements? Certain foods? Exercise? Vitamins? Thoughts? Help!!!!!!!!!

Happy New Year and Congrats to all on your success! :clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2: As for me....I made it through the holiday parties, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and then on Dec 26...when my guard was down.....cookies. :faint:Then, I turned to dips and cream pies. Now, I did not eat the enormus amounts that I would have devoured in my pre-Lapband days. But....still!!!! Why did I do that? ***Luckily*** I had a few close calls....food being stuck and having terrible pain. So, I have not weighed myself. My after holiday letdown is bad enough without having to deal with the fact that I may have gained/or not lost any weight. So, I'm easing back into my Lapband lifestyle, returning to the gym this weekend (working late every night this week....yuk!). I suppose I need to be thankful for the fact that I could return to work wearing regular clothes and not elastic-waisted clothes like I always had to do after the holidays!!! I really am having a severe case of post holiday blues this year.......not sure why. Hopefully, getting back on track will do the trick! Good Luck all!!!! Judi

Hi all! May all of you enjoy the best Christmas EVER!!!! We deserve it! Thanks for all of your support!!! Waiting for Santa........ Judi

Hi all.... Not sure if you know what I am talking about....they are called Spanx....they are the 21st century answer to a "girdle". A bit more lightweight....perhaps a cross between the girdle and support pantyhose (best I can describe). They have a few different versions of them....hi-wasted, brief, etc. One of the saleswomen at the store where I shop was telling me that she loves them and highly recommends them. Since they do not sell them there, I know she was not trying to make a sale! Anyway, I am considering purchasing the high wasted ones to go under a few outfits I want to wear to holiday events. But, I am concerned about them hurting me near my port. Is that a silly question? I wonder if they hold you in so much (which would be a great thing!) that it would make that area uncomfortable. Anyone have any insights to share????

I'm not sure if my situation means that I am soooo lucky or if everyone could not stand looking at me expand in front of them!(probably both!) All of my friends were ecstatic that I was having it, my sisters were overjoyed, my 87 year old father was sooooo encouraging (he said "that's the best idea you've had in a long time!), my children were great, my husband was "yeah, go ahead" and even my staff was thrilled! All of my aunts (ages 80-92) and cousins were so excited too! It got to the point where I was sure they were going to throw a party! We did not tell my mil, bil & sil until after it was over.....they didn't say much except how very hurt they were that we didn't tell them beforehand (to be expected---they are always the "victims"). So, I haven't had to deal with any push back. But, I know I would be so hurt if anyone behaved the way some of your friends and family are. Concern is definitely fine....I had expected to have that with my father and aunts (but no......!). But, downright mean behavior (due to jealousy no doubt....) is just unacceptable and so very sad! Shame on them!!!

Yes! These are the small victories that we must count! In thinking about this---I always beat myself up for eating that piece of cake, that burrito, etc. Why? Because I ate that piece of cake or that burrito IN ADDITION to everything else! So, now----eating that piece of cake or that burrito or whatever the special treat is NOT a "beat myself up" moment. It's a little victory because I'm conscious of it BEFORE I eat it and NOT after! Right? Great post, Salsa!