METALBAND

Yes, I too can feel my hip bones...they still have some padding on them but they are under there. I found it yesterday when I was standing with my leather binder sort of resting on my hip. I was in a customers office. They were talking to me and I was not listening at all, I just wanted to say "feel this..its a hip bone"!!! That wouldn't have been good!

Today I looked in the mirror and had to look again because there in the mirror was the first sign of.......collar bones!!!!! Not totally visible but a slight hint!!!

Good for you Ragdoll.......onederland forever!!!

I have only lost 2 lbs in 18 (yes 18) days and that is not enough. I need to work harder!

That is wonderful! I am so happy for you and your daughter! Maureen

Neveragain, You need to think about this as health, not vanity. The all you can eat pizza is the road to bad health not bad vanity. I feel for you because sometimes I fell the same way but for me (much older than you) I think about wanting to live longer. Good Luck.....you can do this!

Manatee, what did I miss? Why did you have the band loosened? Did you need an unfill? Do not beat yourself up, just refocus like you said. Today is a new day! Good Luck!

50 lbs was a big deal for me ( I am only at 56 now). It was such a huge milestone, I did the happy dance all day!!! Good for you, just think about 50 lbs of butter gone for good!

Chris... Great job on the weight loss! Good luck in Iraq. I had my lapband done at a teaching hospital in Boston (part of Harvard Medical) anyway there was a doctor that was doing his fellowship and assisted in putting in my band, he was also in the military and wore his uniform in the hospital. He left the hospital to be deployed to Iraq. I know this is a long shot but there is at least one doctor in Iraq that has done fills!!! I would suggest not getting a fill or an un-fill. If what you have now is working. I would just wait it out, you do not want any complications over there. Again....best of luck!

I loved the docs at Beth Israel Deaconess in Boston. There is a thread called BIDMC under the Massachusetts bandster chat. My Mom had a bad experience with Dr. Randall in Medford/Melrose just an fyi. Good Luck with whomever you choose.

Way to go Hoosier!!!!! Yipppeee.

I am Metalband and I approve of this message.

I am staying on plan today only if plan includes warm apple crisp with with vanilla ice cream!!!! Actually....it won't include 14 other deserts like in the past, this year just one!

Go to the support thread and check out Just for us guys.... Good Luck, Maureen

I have had enough of Christmas already and it is only Thanksgiving!!!! It loses all the magic when the crappy decorations are up before Halloween!

I am thankful for my family, our health, our happiness, for this great country, our freedom and the people who have sacrificed to keep it free for us. I am thankful for all of the "old timers" on this board that have inspired me and helped in ways too numerous to mention, and the newbies that have made me feel like I can give back a little now. I am thankful that I mustered up the courage to have this surgery and reclaim my life! I am not a very religious person but somehow I feel very blessed everyday! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Well I feel better knowing that I am not the only one who takes a perk at the first sign of a hang nail!!! I woke up today with a head cold and my period!!! Can you say cranky!!!! Maybe today would be a good day for one of Mommies little helpers...LOL Happy Thanksgiving to all. I am glad your back feels better!

Legster-Great Job 1/4 of you gone! Delo- I started losing my hair really fast and now it is much slower. Don't panic, it will eventually stop but I agree it is a little unnerving. Allure-restriction is a double edge sword!! I too have to go to lunch with clients and I always have the fear of slime. It happened at my first business lunch after my band, now I am very careful. Congrats! Melissa-great pictures.....you looked so beautiful! Mini-Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

Congratulations Sue!!

Name...........Chall. Start Wt........Current......Chall. Goal...........To Go abckids..............303.........................3 03...........270..................33 alwayscurious........245......................245. ............212...............33 Amelia40...............270.................... 270................240..............30 areellady...............232....................226 .5...........212...............14.5 argon..................162.....................148 ...............142................6 Ariel....................207.................... 199 ..............182................17 aussie_jode...........212......................212 .............190..................22 BabygotBack..........164.....................164. ............145..................19 Babygrl1234...........215......................201 ............190.................11 Becky42................253.....................248 ...............220...............28 bekafina.................225.....................2 25.............199................26 Cherrybomb...........311....................306 ..............291................15 chickatee..............203.....................193 ..............175................18 chocolate_snaps......344....................342... ...........299................43 cQQlgirl..................225...................21 8................185..............33 Chris_NJ................284....................250 .................247...........-3 cindyluhu...............194....................193 ...............180.............13 dacer123...............243....................239. ..............223................16 Denise...................170....................17 0...............155...............15 Denise..................244.....................24 4...............220................24 Desertbunnee.........232....................207. .............180................27 DonnaD................185.....................185. .............170................15 eclipse..................215.....................2 12..............199................16 faithmd................303.....................303 ............ 283...............16.7 glindab................ 277.....................258...............250..... .. .......8 gonnabfree............231....................231.. ..............205................26 Guinessgirl77.........241...................241 ..................210..............31 gweniper..............253.....................225. ...............223...............2 hf2havefun...........240......................240. ..............210................30 ihadenuf................216....................216 ................190................26 itsjustducky...........317....................317. ................297...............20 james2539............235.4.................235.4 ................220.............15.4 jfran………......……….212……….............196.......... .........19 6………………0 jglong54...............206....................206. .................195.............11 jadrad7.................224....................224 .................200..............24 jazzystouch...........246......................246 ...............220...............26 Jeni 85.................237....................224.... .............207..............17 joisey....................307....................3 07................290...............17 josiebies...............188......................1 69................165................4 JulieNYC................155.....................14 9.................136..............13 Kaelin's G-Ma.........272....................272............. ......220.............12 KarenG................. 240.....................221...................215. ...........6 katalin.e................230.....................1 79.................150..............29 Keekahari..............230......................21 8..................215............3 Kellymovingon........207......................196 .................187............9 Kimmie.................296.....................285 ..................270.............15 ladydi............. .....233.....................228.................2 08...............20 legster..................261....................23 4................228...............6 LeslieLee...............216.....................19 9................186...............13 LifeLover..............289.....................268 ..............259................9 LilMissBandAid.......276.8...................276.8 ............265...............11.8 lisa_in_toronto.......180......................160 ................160...............20 losingjusme...........273.....................263. ...............238................25 luvinke..................225.................. ..223..................195..............28 maddog.................230.....................230 ................205..............25 marcar35...............277.....................259 ................250.............9 mcgreen...............236......................210 .................210..............0 METALBAND...........187.....................174... ..... .......167..............7 momlambert..........207.....................194... .............185................9 mpalen.................229.....................229 ................200................29 Peache8887...........330.....................306.. ...............275..............31 pmmegm..............248.....................248... ...............228..............20 Rainer..................298................... 264..................258................6 robgoblin87............279...................279.. ................250...............29 SC2VA..................233.....................233 ..................200..............33 sdakotaRN.............254.....................254. ................225..............29 Short C................. 166....................166.................146.. ............20 Soniacan...............198.5..................198. 5.............175.............23.5 Stacy73.................259.....................23 4...............230...............4 Sunny112..............215.....................151. ...............140...............11 Suzzzie. ...............349....................312.6....... .......320............-7.4 sweethot143..........197....................188... ...........175.................13 tanderson..............231.....................231 ...............199................32 teacher.................236.....................23 6.............200................36 ToniaPatt …..........286……….....……......283………......... 243.… ........…40 UK-Lady...............255.....................223.... ...........210.................13 Wannabthin...........231......................222. .............211................20 want2beme...........225.....................225.. ............195................30 wen.....................288......................2 84..............255................29 Whosyadaddy.........388.....................369... ...........335................43 __________________ Happy Thanksgiving everybody!!!

Check out this link....it should be very helpful. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f15/thread-super-sized-bandsters-starting-bmi-over-50-a-16168/ Good Luck with your surgery, Maureen

1. I can tie my shoes without losing my breath. 2. My eyes don't shut when I smile. 3. My big hips have less bruises. 4. I can see my feet. 5. I can see my cheek bones. 6. I can walk much further without getting tired. 7. I can cross my legs. 8. I can shave my legs in the shower! 9. I can get out of the bathtub without 911 on speed dial. 10. I can bend over and..... GET BACK UP! 11. I can shop......anywhere!

Wow.....Well Done!!

This was posted in early May....anybody want to tell us what you have checked off? A list of all the reasons I would like to lose 100 lbs. 1. to be able to bend over and tie my shoes and breathe at the same time 2. to lose my apron (if you know what I mean, say Amen) 3. to stop giving Lane Bryant so much money 4. to be active with my kids 5. to feel like being more "active" with my husband 6. to set a better example for my kids 7. to not always be the largest person in the room 8. so all of my pant will no longer have those lovely worn spots where my thighs rub 9. To wear a skirt and not get a rash on my thighs 10. to be able to cross my legs 11. to be able to pass by someone and not feel like my huge @ss is gonna knock them over 12. to wear "cute" undies again... shop at Victoria's Secret again! (no more granny panties) 13. so I don't have to suck my stomach in all the time. 14. So I won't have to constantly be re-arranging my clothes to make sure all of my lumps and bumps are covered appropriately. 15. so I can fit comfortably in an airplane seat 16. So I won't have to wear a full-length trench coat to the beach (exaggeration, but you get what I mean) 17. So when I want to walk at lunch with the girls, I can keep up with them and not feel self-conscsious because I'm breathing heavier than they are. <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->18. So I can give myself a pedicure! 19. not be ashamed to be in a FULL LENGTH picture! 20. So I can ride roller coasters. 21. To maybe be able to wear a sexy nightie for my hubbie and look good in it..... 22. To be able to wear a pair of jeans that zip and not be pull-ons 23. So I will be willing to have my picture taken again. 24. Dance again, it wears me out right now. 25. Play with my children till I can't play anymore. 26. Scuba Dive, waterski, volleyball, hiking 27. Look cute in clothes. 28. Be more outgoing and confident. 29. Be comfortable with this body to show it off a little. 30. Have a glamour shots session. 31. Lay out on the boat in a bikini while cruising the lake. 32. I want to be able to tuck in a shirt again....I know its not the style but I still would like to have the option. 33. I want to walk up stairs and be able to talk when I get to the top. 34. I want to live long enough to drive my kids crazy and spoil the grandkids! 35. Enjoying snowboarding, wakeboarding and hiking without it feeling like a chore. 36. To be in pictures and not hide behind someone (like that helps). 37. I want to get out of bed without the feeling of rolling out of bed. 38. Dance at parties.....in a dress!!! OMG 39. I would like to be able to hug my husband real close without my big belly getting in the way. 40. I want to be able to buy a 'girlie' souvenier t-shirt when I go to theme parks, carnivals, shows, etc... instead of boxy tee shirts because those are the only ones that fit. 41. Shopping in "normal" stores. Avenue gets OLD! 42. Having normal looking backs of my knees (odd I know) 43. Doing things with my kids without guilt or worry that I will injure myself or get too tired. 44. Feeling good about myself 45. riding dirt bikes and my dh's motorcycle 46. being able to go go more than 2 minutes on a stairmaster without stopping 47. being able to use step stools and chairs without worrying they will break <!-- / message --><!-- sig --><!-- / message --><!-- sig -->48. In case of emergency, I want to be able to go into a normal sized clothing store and buy whatever I need. And one more - 49. When I go on vacation and forget to pack something, again to be able to go into a store and not have to worry if they will have something in my size! 50. I want to be able to go clothes shopping without getting depressed. I want to be able to ride Roller Coasters with my family. 51. To not freak out when the waiter wants to put you in a booth. Am I gonna fit?!? 52. All the good clearance clothes are in small sizes.<!-- / message --> 53. To not be the fat one in all family pictures. 54. To not be so stinkin tired and achy all of the time. 55. To have a lap for my daughter to sit in again! <!-- / message --><!-- sig --> 56. To get into and out of a canoe or kayak gracefully and without fear of sinking the vessel! 57. To sit in a chair with arms and not fear it will come with when you stand up! 58. To quit having to stretch my shirt over my knees while squatting, just so it hangs a little looser (and then have trouble getting back up!) 59. So the top of my pants stop flipping over, because my belly is so big and lops over the top. 60. So the bed will stop making noise when I get in. 61. So I can stop putting powder under my "apron" everyday. 62. To be "active" with my hubby during the day or with the lights on and not freak out about it the whole time. <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->63. I want my WHOLE BODY to stop moving when I stop moving (not 2-3 seconds later when I stop j i g g l i n g).. 64. I want to be able to shower without having to *ahem* 'lift' any body parts for cleaning. :-) 65. to have more hot water & my honey in the bath (less of me), really tired of sloshing water out when I get in 66.<!-- / message --><!-- sig --> I want to be able to shave and not have any missed spots because I couldnt reach or see it.....<!-- / message --><!-- sig --> 67. I'd like to be able to garden again w/out my back killing me! 68. I'd like to have room in a booth to put my napkin in my lap. 69. I'd like to be able to enter a room and not have to scope it out see all exits and paths with enough room for me to go through.

I was banded in May (a-May-zing bandsters) and we had a started a list back then that was called 100 reasons to lose 100 lbs. It was a great list....lots of rollercoasters, dancing, skirts, shoe tying etc. You make me want to go back and look again at what was on "My list". I know one was wakeboarding which I did this summer. For you future bandsters.....It is sooo worth it! Good Luck!