JudiM

Hey all..... Today marks my 10 day bandiversary. And, I am here to tell you that it doesn't take long to get back to feeling good! And, possibly even better than good! Although I still have tinges of discomfort, I feel like the weight of facing a life of obesity has been lifted off of my shoulders. It's a peaceful feeling. It definitely overrides any discomfort or pain or inconvenience. Good Luck to all who are getting banded this week and I hope everyone who is recuperating is doing well!!! I go for my first follow up dr appt tomorrow.....can't wait to MOVE MY TICKER!!!! Wonder how much I lost......! Can't wait to see!!! We are all in this together! Judi

Hi all..... I'm heading into Day 5. I'm on Clear liquids until Day 7 when I enter full liquids. Two more days of this tastebud hell is unfathomable! I never thought I'd say this but having a red popscicle for Breakfast is just not my idea of fun. Honestly, it's really NOT the liquids thing. It's not even the head hunger. It's just that I have no interest in eating/drinking the things that I am allowed. Add to that the fact that I really am not hungry, I could just stop eating/drinking all together. Water is fine. It's tasteless. It hydrates. No problem. But, everything else....the crystal light, the sf popscicles, the sf Jello, the watered down juices, the Italian ice, the broth......yuk, yuk, yuk. Am I missing something? Is there some amazing food/drink that I haven't found that would at least get me through? I do not want another SWEET thing.....unless of course, it's mind blowing! This whole feeling is so foreign to me. Today I made my Famous French Toast for my dear daughter (who has been such a sport and a huge help through all of this) and then I made her favorite Tuscan chicken with Rosemary Potatoes for dinner. I didn't want any of it. And, trust me, I love those foods! I was not hungry at all. So, I heated up a little broth so that I could sit down to dinner with her. Two tablespoons and I just couldn't do it. And, this is MY OWN recipe broth.....not from a can. So, I pulled out a little Rita's Italian Ice....one little teaspoon and I was done. I wasn't full, mind you. I was just yukked-out!!!! Is there anything that is working for any of you? Any suggestions? I just spent another $$$ at the grocery story preparing for the next week or so. But, honestly, other than adding some Protein shakes and maybe some yogurt....what is there? I also stopped by the bookstore and picked up a WLS Cookbook too. I'll be sure to let you know if I find anything good. But, so far, I haven't seen anything for the liquid stage. Am I just a spoiled gourmet? :help::help::help::help::help::help::help::help::help::help::help::help::help::help::help:

Hi Alexandra..... Oh, I am soooo jealous! Duck is the cutest little area. Our place is further north (straight up the road) in Ocean Sands (towards Corolla). Duck is a nice little area to ride bikes along the side of the road. They have a bike trail--which makes it nice with kids. As for what not to miss.....I'm probably NOT the best person to ask since I love to do nothing, nothing, nothing. For us, it's a beach vacation....the beach and not much else. We have been going to OBX for 21+ years. We have stayed in Duck before so I am very familiar with it. In the early years, the whole area was so remote that there wasn't much to do anyhow....which suited us just fine! No big food stores or Walmarts either at that time! So, we had to drag everything with us. And, the kids were little anyhow so we could not go out much even if we really wanted to. We have had the place in Ocean Sands for the past 8 years. My 2 sisters and I and our families own it together. We always go together for 2 weeks a year, try to get there at least once on our own and keep saying (for 8 years!!) we are going down there for Thanksgiving but it's never quite worked out that way. We rent it out when we can.,....helps with the bills!!! But, here's a few ideas....things we have done in the past and enjoyed as well as a few inside tips. There are a lot of other things that we did that were okay and we would not do them again. Can't wait to here about your trip. Feel free to ask me anything..... FOOD STORES Shop at Harris Teeter (so much nicer than Food Lion)--new one is down near Nags Head. There's also one further up near Corolla but that's a bit of a hike. Tommy's Market--in Duck--very nice but pricey. You can find some excellent dips, seafood and special ingredients Chip's Beer and Wine Market--A must for anyone who really enjoys beers. They also have a good wine selection. EATING OUT Tip--Sunset Grille in Duck is popular so it get's pretty crowded. It's okay but not wonderful. Elizabeth's Cafe & Winery--in Scarbourough Fairre* (see description below). Very nice, good food and wine. Might not be very child friendly, though. The Blue Point- Duck--Our favorite place to go when we are down in Duck Ocean Blvd--Kitty Hawk--A little pricey but good food. Not sure if kids would enjoy this. Black Pelican Ocean Front Cafe--good food, good for all ages Run Down Cafe--Southern Shores/Kitty Hawk--Caribbean Food. We have enjoyed many lunches there Kelly's--A good place to go with family. Only open for dinner. It's a little pricier than some restaurants but the food and service is consistently good. Duck Deli--good place for lunch if you want to go out (and miss beach time!) Sam & Omie's--DH and DS rate this as a top Breakfast place. Flying Fish Cafe--in Nags Head, not a far drive at all Red Drum--we like this alot for lunch when we are down towards Nags Head Big Al's--50's themed place that's great for the kids. We took my little nephews this year....they like it. Owen's--in Nags Head. Old Nags Head Restaurant that's held the test of time. Good food. A little pricey. This past year, our friends went and suggest that you go as early as possible to avoid waiting. Fat Boys Ice Cream-in Nags Head--hands down the winner in ice cream. But, the line can be soooooooo long....especially at night. THINGS TO DO GO TO THE BEACH !!!! BUILD SANDCASTLES!!! READ BOOKS!!! RELAX! Take the Ferry to Ocracoke--this beach is rated the top beach in USA 2006. It is beautiful. Plan to spend the whole day on this trip. My sister and her family do this every year. We do it every few years. Jockey's Ridge--Kill Devil Hills....do this in the evening with the kids. Big sand dunes.....the tallest sand dune on the East Coast. Beautiful place. Check out the offerings at the Professional Theatre Workshop--an outdoor theatre Firehouse Wine Cellar--fun place for foodies & wine lovers to go. Wine tasting all day long *Scarbourough Fairre--this is a quaint little shopping area in the heart of Duck. As long as you enjoy shopping and have patience (since it can get crowded) you will enjoy this. Parking is a little rough so if you can walk, that would be great. That's all I can think of now....but, feel free to ask me anything about OBX. What a great choice for a vacation!!! Judi

Hi Crazy Ates sisters & brothers........ Becky mentioned my Lap Band Journey BLOG in a post. Thank you TexasB!!! Since then, I've received numerous messages for the the address. Here it is: Stories from the road....... Although I had wanted to BLOG for sometime, I never got around to it. On a quick whim, I decided to use my Lap Band surgery as a topic for my blog. And, I have to admit that it's been a wonderful and fun diversion for me! p It's really helped me to focus in a positive, upbeat way and it has also occupies my mind when things get a little rough. I am someone who has always loved to write. And, I'm a huge proponent of getting your thoughts and feelings on paper. Many years ago, when I was counseling full time, I suggested this to my students and clients as a great way to focus. Finally, I am taking my own advice! If you are interested in visiting my site.....I'd love to have you! Feel free to leave messages.....I opened it up to anonymous visitors since a few people mentioned a concern in sharing their email addresses in order to set up accounts. And, I'd also suggest to anyone who is interested and think it may be a good activity for them to set up a BLOG. It's easier than I ever thought it would be. I use Google Blogger. But, there's a world of sites out there that can help you set yours up. Happy Blogging. And, I hope that you get a chance to stop by. We're all in this together! Judi:ranger::ranger:

I WAS BORN IN: Pittsburgh, PA AND GREW UP IN: Pittsburgh, PA I MOVED AWAY FROM HOME WHEN/BECAUSE: We live within 5 minutes of where I was born. Left for undergrad & grad school but I always came back home....... SINCE THEN I'VE LIVED: Since we've been married......we have lived in 2 different communities within 5 minutes of where my DH and I were both raised. I TRAVEL AS OFTEN: I traveled extensively up and down the East coast for about 5 years for work. Some places I would never return to...other places I love. DH travels non-stop for work....far and wide. We have a place in the Outer Banks of NC.....heaven for us! I am a beach, beach, beach person. With the hectic pace of our daily lives, we love to just kick back and do absolutely nothing. We also travel to my family's place in Florida about once a year. We tacked that on to a trip to Disney this past Spring. That was a "working" vacation if there ever once was! We've done our fair share of vacation/travel--Canada, Mexico, Italy, Bermuda, Bahamas, California, Boston, NYC. When we can't go to the beach.....we enjoy little trips (within 2 hours)...quaint B&Bs, wine festivals, concerts mostly. Girlfriends and I like to take little trips for special craft fairs or big market type places. My sisters and I and our daugthers like to go on at least one big shopping trip a year---the local changes each time. DH and I are planning a trip to Napa Valley for a wine tour to Celebrate the 50th birthdays of my DH and a few of the others in our group of "Wino" friends. I am so excited for this trip.....mostly because I know I will be THINNER. It's in May 2008. FARTHEST I'VE EVER BEEN FROM HOME IS: Calabria, Italy--birthplace of my husband's family BEST VACATION EVER, THAT I'D REPEAT IN A HEARTBEAT: Honestly, I just love the Outerbanks of NC. If the weather is good, I love it. And, even if it isn't, I still love it. If I am with my family, I am happy. WORST VACATION EVER, THAT WILL HAUNT ME TIL I DIE: A trip to Erie, PA in the late 1980's. We still talk about it...... DREAM VACATION IF TIME AND MONEY WERE NO OBJECT: A very romantic, 2 week trip with DH.....someplace with a beach. Those are my only requirements. SPECIAL PLACE I NEVER GET TIRED OF GOING BACK TO: Outerbanks, NC

Hi all!!! EVERYBODY CALLS ME: Judi MY PRIMARY RELATIONSHIPS INCLUDE: Married--25 years to high school sweetheart 2 children--DD is 16 entering Jr year of HS, DS is 22, received undergrad degree in May, off to grad school tomorrow.... MY NON-HUMAN FAMILY CONSISTS OF: Dust bunnies! I LIVE IN: Pittsburgh, PA OCCUPATION(S): University Administrator/Director. Today I am celebrating my 27th anniversary of working at this wonderful, prestigious university! My educational background is in career counseling. But, I burned out from that 13 years into my own career. Fortunately, I was able to obtain another degree on campus (Higher Education Management ) while continuing to work there. It's really been a wonderful life for me there....I have been soooo lucky. AVOCATION(S): Writing, gardening, gourmet cooking, wine enthusiast, movies, reading and many other creative endeavors.

Melbart01....Yes, you are right....it is discouraging to hear how frustrated some of us are with the liquid phase. I feel so badly if I may have discouraged anyone. That was not my intent at all. I know very well that I should just grin and bear it. I knew that this would be my life at this point. So, perhaps all of this is part of my frustration. Like I said, it is NOT really the liquid stage. I am just not hungry. But, then again, I do have to eat/drink. And I don't like the constant tastes of those things that I can eat/drink. As I said....this is just me. But, I've carried on. Perhaps that's just part of the whole thing here....I needed to vent in some way and it came off as me causing others frustration. Yet, I still think the liquid phase is not easy. Call me spoiled....which I am. But, that's exactly WHY I think the lap band is good for me. I'll be able to enjoy foods....good, well prepared, wonderfully delicious foods. Just not now. I graduate to full liquids on Sunday.....yahoo! I have myself ready.....I hope!!! Good Luck to all!

Wow, Jim! Back to work? Between you and Alexandra, I am feeling like a high maintanence wimp! Congrats on the 50 lb weight loss! That is fantastic! You have to be in Lapband HEAVEN!!! All the best to you on your continued success and on feeling so great!!!! Judi

Alexandra.....You went back to work already???? I have a high stress but very low activity job and I could not imagine it....even now at DAY 6. Even when I have to respond to emails and take a small number of phone calls right now (from home), I get tired out! But, wow.....you....3 days out and back to work! You definitely had yourself in a better "healing" mode than I. Which, of course, may definitely be the case. How's it going for you? Seriously, I am still sitting here with my jaw dropping!!!! You go girl!!!!! Judi

Hi....Each day is an improvement. But, I MAY have overdid it last night....went grocery shopping at our huge market, went to the huge mega bookstore and then watered my flowers. I ache everywhere! But, I got exercise! Last night I bought a Cookbook.....looks good so far. But, considering I am doing Clear liquids (only days out), I don't want to be tempted toooo much! Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery Patty Levine & Michele Bontempo-Saray While I was at the bookstore, I learned that there a WLS Lifestyles Magazine. So, I want to get a subscription. You can only get them online from what I hear. Also, there are several books dealing directly with WLS. Alot of them walk you thru all the stages....from making the decision to after. Thanks so much for taking this on!!!! Love it!!!

Hey Crazy Ates...... It's time to jump start our activity calendar! Please sign up for the activity that you would like to lead.....first one to sign up gets the job! And, each leader can set up the rules, the times, the deadlines, the process. In other words....they will run the show! Instead of replying to this post...just start a thread with the heading of the activity you plan to head up! I'll try to keep us all on task....with a gentle hand and the knowledge that we all have lives......!!!!! Also, I volunteer to do a newsletter for our group to keep everyone updated on what's up with the Crazy Ates. Sunday Night "Drinking Sessions"---a chance for all of us to consume our liquids together, to salute our team mates that will be banded that week and to give strength and support to those of us on liquid diets! Sessions begin as soon as the leader decides! Idea--maybe a chat session....leader can decide. Facebook (or other social networking site) Chair--set up a page for our group to post pictures, leave messages, post announcements or whatever else we can do there......! Sunshiners---announce who will be banded that week and be sure to check in with them via private messages. Birthday Wishing--Collect team mate birthdays and offer opportunities to Celebrate their day.....even if it's listing them each month! Calendar Keeper--send out announcements on what activities are happening with the dates, times, etc. Exercise Challenges--come up with the challenges, the goals, etc. and keep keep tabs on progress, etc. WLS Joke Book--solicit jokes, funny stories and other not-so-serious aspects of WLS and share them periodically Membership Chair--find new members who may not have found us! Welcome Wagon--Welcome new members Recipe Book---collect recipes/share recipes, maybe put together a monthly/bi monthly recipe collection Award Chair--come up with the award categories and decide how the awards will be awarded Social Chair--decide on and coordinate social events...online or in regions or however you want! Maybe we can have a mixer with another group. Oh, hey...a Lap Dance might be fun.....:eyebrows: Life Expansion Chair--expand the horizons of your team mates...suggest web sites, books, vacation spots, magazines, TV shows..... Get to Know You Chair--post questions designed to get to know others in our group (not looking for real personal info....maybe things like....what's your Astrological Sign? what's your favorite color? ....) AWOL Finder Chair--hunt down team members that may have gone AWOL. What have I forgot???? Feel free to come up with your own and appoint yourself the leader!!!!

Surgery was Friday. Everyone is right.....it does get better. Not like 100% but definitely better. I slept through the night last night....I dug out the body pillow that I used when I pregnant....that definitely helped with sleeping in a bed (which is what I prefer). I'm pretty sore.....almost like I have the flu. Wierd little pains....neck area, shoulder, back, etc. Also....lots and lots of crazy rumblings in my stomach with some diahrea. I also have a monster headache. Come to think of it.....I feel like I am hung over. So, I think I might stop the pain meds and use tylenol if I really need it. I have been walking but I am not sure if it is enough. What is enough? Liquid intake has been okay. Yesterday I got sick of the sweet stuff (dilluted juices, sf popscicles...) and had some of the broth that I made last week. That was heaven. This morning I am trying an herbal tea.....someone said to try a few warm things to loosen things up. I know there are some folks who only stayed down a few days and/or were even shopping the day after surgery. As much as I love to shop.....I could not imagine! Honestly, I am not a wimp!!!! This board has been a huge help. If I had not read about all of these things....I would have been calling the doctor every 15 minutes. Good luck to all banders this week!!!!

Hi all..... Had surgery on Friday August 10. I'm very sore. Lots of gas pain, lots of rumbling in my stomach (which I guess is a good thing). Can't tell one pain from the other......which concerns me a bit. Did I drink too much? Did I drink too fast? Is it just gas? Is it just pain from surgery? Also, I am feeling a little loopy and out of sorts. From the way I am feeling, I have a hard time believing ANYONE could go shopping, to work or anywhere at all at this point! I'm sure it's going to get better....... I'll keep checking here as I can.......

Hi all..... Surgery is at 7:30. Have to be there at 5:45. Today was a lllllllllloooooonnnnnnngggggg day. I'll check in on Saturday when I get home. Good Luck to all my August 10 band mates. Hope everyone who has been banded is doing great! I still can't believe I'm DOING THIS!!!!!!! Wow.....

Hi all..... A few questions..... 1. During the pre-op and initial post-op phrase....do you think Rita's SF Italian Ice would be considered a "clear liquid"? If so....what do you think about mixing in some of the flavorless (if I can find it!) whey Protein into it? 2. Has anyone had a glass of wine while banded? My husband and I belong to a wine club that meets monthly. And, honestly, it's really been a wonderful experience for us to do this together. We will be missing the one on August 10 because I am being banded. But, we don't want to miss any more than that! We do plan to go on the wine tasting tour (2 days) over Labor Day weekend---which is only 3 weeks after banding. Can anyone share their experiences with drinking wine while being banded? I'm especially concerned about the wine tasting trip since it's only 3 weeks after banding. Thanks!!!!! Judi

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Hi all.... I haven't seen this topic discussed. If so, forgive the redundancy....I must have missed it. Being less than a month away from banding, I find myself concerned as I read all of the posts about the real hunger that people are dealing with during the liquid stages....pre-op and post-op. It got me to thinking about the prescription "diet"/appetite suppressant pills I was taking while on a medically supervised diet. (Being the " big time dieter" that I am....LOL!) I believe they were Ionamin (sp?). They really did suppress my appetite and kept my mind off of food. I did loose a great deal of weight on the program....only to regain it plus quite a bit more once I stopped (story of our lives, I know!). In my case, the expense of the program and the cost of the meds and the constant appointments required during the week (work hours) made it prohibitive to continue. These were prescription drugs that I got through the doctor. But, I know that there are many OTC meds that tout themselves as appetite suppressants as well. In the past, I had tried several (not sure if any of the ones I used are still on the market). But, I never really did any one of them long enough to champion a particular one. In any case, during the pre-op stage when you are not banded and during the post-op stage when you are not restricted, appetite suppressants may be very helpful to get through those really rough Patches. There may be the issue to taking the pills (swallowing) once the band is on....not sure if they can be crushed or if they would be as effective crushed. Never heard of a liquid diet drug. But, who knows. Anyway, on one hand, I can understand why doctors would not suggest it. On the other hand, I wonder if it's ever an option. Maybe even suggesting it to a WLS surgeon would be cause to kick us out of his/her office...dont' know! Anyone have any thoughts/experiences with this? It would be interesting to hear..... Thanks! Judi

Hope you are doing well today! I need all the positive and encouraging surgery and post surgery updates I can get today!!!! I can't believe how "out there" I am right now.......!:whoo::whoo::whoo: I know it's this damn liquid diet thing that's really making me into a lunatic!!!!:omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg:

It's encouraging to hear this. Did you have any problem tolerating it? Did one glass of wine have more of an effect on you banded as compared to pre-banding? I'm guessing you used the "small sip" method of drinking and did not have it with food. But, considering the much smaller amounts of food we are intaking, one glass is probably the most we can drink. In the summer and early Fall, I prefer whites. But, in the colder months, I choose deeper reds. I wonder if there is any difference in which ones we choose after we are banded. Not even sure if that's a silly question or not!!! Thankfully, I am not a beer drinker.....one bad experience with it as a freshman in college at a nasty basement frat party and I haven't touched it since. Even though our son is a master brewer (not as an occupation at the moment), I can't even stomach the thought of drinking his concoctions. Guess I'll have a good excuse once I'm banded!! But, in the summers I do crave a Tanqueray Gin & Soda with double lime every so often. I guess those are out.......:think:think:think DH drinks gin martinis. But, I never quite acquired a taste for them. Plus, they can be potent. I sure do like martini glasses though! Maybe I should start drinking my Protein shakes out of them.....that might help me through the next few days of my pre-op liquids!!! :paranoid:paranoid Although I would give up all forms of alcohol if that's what was necessary, it's *NOT* my preference. DH takes wine to an art form....both in making it and in selecting it. Wine is a big part of our life and is definitely a staple in our home. It's often the center of our entertaining and our travels. Sorry for all the rambling about alcohol! I think this pre-op diet is making me more loopy than any glass of wine ever did!!!! Tell me a few more wine stories everyone!!!! :paranoid

As the clock ticks away and the days slip by, my thoughts are running wild....... This just IS NOT the way I typically handle things!!! I *NEVER* let my thoughts take control of me to the point where I'm fretting over every little detail and feeling scared. It's not me. Not me at all. I'm a glass-is-half-full kind of thinker. I refuse to dwell on things that have no positive impact. I prefer to turn the cheek and grab the brass ring. I never bring an umbrella on vacation and I always expect a White Christmas. In fact, I'm so PollyAnna that I can sometimes make myself puke!!! I am 100% sure that this liquid diet is making me quite out of sorts...... I'm fretting......

My banding is on Friday. Given that, I really do not have the same perspective of those who are banded. Even after doing many months of research, attending classes and reading this board, the best I can do is *guess* what it must feel like and *guess* how it will support my own efforts. In fact, I am SOOOO ready to do the work....with the help of the band. Without the band....as during the pre-op diet.....not so much. But, for the sake of this disucssion here's *WHAT* I do know (from many, many, many previous experiences) ---how I feel when I am on a restrictive diet. Of all the hundreds of diets I've been on, I have NEVER been on a liquid diet. Naturally I was quite concerned about my ability to do it. Given my experiences and the anxieties I had about being on this pre-op liquid diet, my problem solving skills kicked in. As I frantically tried to figure out how in the he## I was going to do it, that's when the appetite suppressant idea kicked in. Essentially, I was looking for something to get me through it so that my liver would be less fatty and I could loose a few pounds. In my estimation, the pre-op liquid diet is not about learning how to eat. In fact, you don't EVEN EAT!!! LOL!!! Even though I am on Day 11 of the pre-op without the pills, I am still convinced that they would have helped. Let me tell you.....I am hanging by a thread here! With 3 more days to go....things are NOT really getting any easier. Head hunger is one thing. I know that feeling and I have given in to that feeling sooo many times! No, this is real hunger. But, of course, none of that matters now. I'm here, I'm doing it and I am going to do it until Friday. And, then I'm doing to do the post-op liquid diet....with my band. The band is a tool. A much better tool than drugs. But, still....... In any case....why am I not using appetite suppressants during the pre-op diet? Because the surgeon said *NO*. Done deal. Would I have liked to use them? YES!!!! Would I willfully disobey my surgeon? NO. But, I think I would be much less miserable, cranky and out of sorts if I could have used them!!!

:help: We've been on vacation since July 19. First the good news....we're with our regular beach group--lots of fun people, we're in the same huge, gorgeous house on the beach that we've rented for many years, the weather has been fabulous, the ocean has been beautiful. We've had amazing meals, luscious beach drinks and the most delicious, exotic snacks. Heaven on earth.....for 11 days. August 1 began my pre-op diet. I did okay up until TODAY. I mean, I struggled a little but found solace in a smoothie place up the road that puts in protien boosts and in a small seafood shack that makes wonderful broths and soups. BUT....TODAY. It's our annual Farewell Pizza Night on the beach. :hungry: We do it with friends that we made who rent the houses in around us (they have been coming here for years also). So, there's about 50+ people. Each couple develops a pizza recipe....we grill them on the beach, everyone makes their version of Sangria and the teens are in charge of making cookies and brownies. Even though I picked up a quart of excellent seafood broth....I'm miserable. MISERABLE! I just can't take it. Everyone in our house is putting together their pizzas, sangria and treats. My 22 year old son and my husband are in charge of our contributions.....with recipes I came up with. I just don't know what I am going to do!!!! Honestly, I never thought it would be this hard.....I am literally going nuts!!! So, I figured I'd sign on and bang on my keys with the hope that somehow, someway, I'd find the strength to get through the night....... I'm STARVING, I'M FAMISHED......I WANT PIZZA, SANGRIA and my daughter's CHOCOLATE CHIP MACADAMIA COOKIES!!!!!!!!!! I never thought I'd say this but I can't wait for this vacation to end tommorow!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. :whoo::whoo::angry:angry I know all the mind games I can play but I just can't do it.....I JUST CAN'T.

It's OUR WEEK......we're doing it. Yep, we are doing it! Yessirree, we are doing it! Yessirree, for sure, we are doing it! What????? Are we REALLY doing it?????? :phanvan:phanvan:phanvan:phanvan YES! YES! YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow......I guess we are doing it......:bounce::bounce::bounce: Good luck All Crazy Ates banding this week! I'll be picking up the rear end of the week on Friday. :omg::omg::omg::omg::omg:

Hi all..... Thanks again for your support during my little meltdown!!! Surviving that pizza party was a major accomplishment!!!! Whew...I don't want to do that again!!!! Like I said, I just wasn't expecting to feel that way at all. After that, all of a sudden, I started second guessing my ability to live through this pre-op thing! There were moments on the 12 hour drive home that I wanted to grab the twizzlers out of my daughter's hands and the popcorn off of my son and the pretzels off of my husband and throw them out the window. Then, when they bought a huge vat of french fries at a rest stop.... I imagined myself jumping out of the window on to Rt 64 and running through the traffic yelling and screaming! Imagine the news reports...."Obese woman with a deep tan and a sun burned nose causes major backup on Route 64. Video and interview with the tanned but not toned runner at 11...." But, inspite of all of that....we all arrived home in one piece.......:) As soon as we got home....the first thing I did was run to the grocery store to stock up on some treats that might help me through....sf popscicles and Jello and ingredients to make good stocks (broth)--vegtable, seafood, chicken, beef and french onion. As soon as I walked in the door from the store, I put a popscicle in my mouth, gave fair warning to my family that they were not allowed to have my treats and then I started cooking the stocks for my gourmet broths. The house smells heavenly, my anxiety over being able to make it until Friday has lessened and I feel like I am doing something 100% for myself for the first time in 30+ years!!!! Of course, I still have not unpacked a thing.........:cry Thanks again!!!!

We'd love to have you join the August "Crazy Ates".....we're in the monthly support group....August 2007. It's a great way to connect with people "in the same boat" as you....!