lunasa

Apologies...I posted the wrong website for the MBT footwear...here is the correck link http://www.swissmasai.co.uk

That's right on Christy!!! Well done !!! :clap2: Well I'm back in my office safely away from the creature that totally ruined my night. Would you believe I got my shoulder pain back after that last night. I imagine it was because of the contorted position I managed to get myslef in to (feet on desk) and I compressed all the gas (it's still there) inside me!!! Boooo...I just went home to bed and managed to sleep soundly.:notagree KITY....Congrats on the competition!! Can I come to your naughty girls party!!! My birthday's Oct!! LOL AREELLADY.. Welcome & congrats on getting a bike for excercise!! Has anyone heard of MBT shoes? Masai Barefoot Technology... They're great for posture & working "forgotten" muscles. I had pain in my heels and when I wear the MBT's I don't have it. www.mbt.com Dynamomini... I understand the need for us to vent our frustrations here on LBT and as I said I didn't want to belittle anyone who is experiencing issues...we'll all have times when we feel doubt and this forum is where we can let it all out, it is our backbone. I just wanted to stress how fear is seductive and it is the secret & devious sabotager in ALL of us. We base some our subconscious & most stubborn beliefs on fear & that is why we fall into our old patterns of self doubt & comforting habits that inevetably keep our negative cycles of failure active within. Have you ever observed a fly trapped in your window? Here's an analogy I like. It keeps banging on the glass trying to get out, because it believe's it's going somewhere. It doesn't know there's a window in the way coz it doesn't know what a window is. That fly will eventually kill itself using all it's will, might & determination to get out. Willpower was never it's downfall, it never gave up. But if it had've known to fly through the door, it would have had survived, because knowledge is power. Belief is Knowledge and knowledge is power. The essence of my theory on the difference between success & failure is what you believe. Not what you suspect, it is a deep ingrained truth in you that you must seek & find. That's where doubt comes from. That is why I failed before, because I was deeply convinced that I would be fat again. And so I was...every action I took led to my subcionscious proving my belief to be true. It's amazing what we do subconsciously, we prove our beliefs. We may not even realise we have certain beliefs, but we have. Life is so strange, it is magnetic. We are magnetic, we magnetise our beliefs into reality in our lives!! I have no doubt that I am on the right road now, I truly believe this is it for me..I can see my life changing already in the direction I have chosen to want.

I can't take it!!!! I'm gonna be brave now and RUN outta this house..I had hoped to use computer for a while...but NOOO thank you.. OMG it's so creepy...can't see anything but they're makin horrible noise!!! Ok that's it...I just did a big girlie scream...feet glued to desk.. Bye for tonight...wish me luck..xx

OMG... I am posting from my mother's house as she is away & i'm using her computer. I AM NOT ALONE!! THere's something in the room...a mouse or something I can hear it near me, behind either the desk or filing cabinet...OMG!! THERE IT IS AGAIN...scratching & clawing... I have my feet up on the desk...EWWWWWWWWW I HOPE it is a mouse...sounds massive...I'm FREAKIN OUT HERE!!!!

KITY....kick yo azz salsa...LOL!! I've never heard so much talk about salsa!! LOL I'm looking forward to muchies next week. I had soup for dinner tonight, chicken & I actually gagged onit b/c it tasted yuk!! Luckily for me I had a back up of mexican tomato soup (there's those tomatoes again) and that was much nicer. It was not as liquidy as I've been doing so far, had sweetcorn in it...actually was it salsa? Anyway...I haven't choked, and it was substantial. I guess I'm ready to move on to more substance. Oh, and HELLO BM!!! Where have you been!! Got caught on the pot for a while tonight. I had taken a "gentle" liquid laxative this morning and as I was home this eve I bent down to take laundry out of the dryer and For a moment I thought it was all over. for a split second I though I would be getting into the washing machine myself. Thankfully not...I made it outta there.

Hi allure... I did read about the support group meeting in DUB, maybe I'll PM holly to find out more. I just want to say something to you. Get the fear that the band won't work out of your head. That's your current or previous self (the one who keeps regaining) trying to trick you into thinking you will fail so that it can have it's bingeing back!! I am the secret eater too...I eat in the car almost non stop. If I am home alone I have hidden crap for my private party too. Having the band in is not going to change any of this. It will make your portions smaller but it won't stop you grazing or eating stuff that you shouldn't or have hoped you wouldn't. You are not alone in your behaviour allure...Just know that. You have to make this time more about the behaviour & understanding why you turn to food when you do. Don't put all your focus into it being another diet & what the scales is gonna do after monday. I tell you thins because like you I lost 7 stone on my last attempt and it absolutely broke my heart & spirit to gain that back. I couldn't face loosing it again..I went about it numerous ways and I just hadn't the heart to face it again. So I began working on what was going on with me, getting to know myself, my triggers & patterns. I made lists of what worked & what didn't work. I also got very real about what if anything I could possibly be getting out of maintaining my fatness & I actually came up with answers. I never believed that I could be benefitting from it, but I was. I had placed a lot of importance on negative things like it not being fair & comparing myself to others. A lot of soul searching really, until I decided to have the band & that I was in the right frame of mind for it. I found a very good book too...called THIN FOR LIFE by Anne Fletcher.. It's all about people like us who yoyo'd forever but profiles those who finally got to the bottom of things, got it right & maintained their final attempts. there's a lot of talk on here about bandster hell...banders seem to get it between surgery & the first fill. They all describe it as having no restriction & that they're starving & desperate & eating too much or the wrong things. Be very wary of this in your thoughts, don't let it happen.. it is as much a frame of mind as anything. Don't let yourself believe you won't succeed or that you are relying solely on the band. You are obviously a very experienced & successful dieter and there's no doubt you can do this for the last time & learn this time from your history. Don't try to be perfect, and find out why you regained each time. That is the key. for me, one thing I have always done when dieting was my all or nothing perfectionist attitude. I would BAN EVERYTHING and make it almost impossible not to fail. When I would "go off the tracks with whatever little thing it was, that was it. Licence for an all out binge & eventual collapse. Then I would eat ANYTHING!!!! I'm sorry if I'm being a bore but this is something you really need to work on...your self. Forget the number on the scales. Check out that book on amazon and if you haven't already heard of the motivation weight loss clinics check out www.mla.ca ... that programme has books & tapes on motivation, behaviour & emotions & all that. We'll keep in touch too...Did you say you're in Dublin? Where?

Hi girls... I'm just reading back through this thread & see all your posts. I'm so sorry I didn't check this thread in so long. When I started it I got no new posts so I guess I assumed nobody was here. I just delete all emails from LBT coz I check the posts here instead. Thank you for wishing me well on my procedure...In my absence I will be 3 weeks post op next tues!!! How are you all? (I feel bad!!) :rolleyes

Hi Jenn... Sounds to me like you may be dehydrated. I got some rehydration sachets from the chemist yesterday. You mix them with water. Taste YUK but you only have to stomach 200mls at a time. Angie...I'm sorry I dunno what's up with the ticker... Somebody will help...hang on there!!

Sorry Allure, just reading back there & see you're due for monday? Very good!! right after a bank holiday too!!! any plans for the weekend? Did you do a pre op diet? Anything I can help you with just ask

Hiya Yeah, I'll take the pain thanksI can hardly believe I've spent nearly 3 weeks on fluids and the week pre op! It's mad I'm having a Protein shake in the morning, usually with Water but sometimes with milk as I need to boost the calories so I don't start to Starve &have my body store fat. For lunch I either have Soup or a glass of whole milk And then at dinner time I have more soup. Supervalu have a georgous red thai chicken soup. It has bits of chicken in it but nothing I haven't been able to handle. I've also had the avonmore Soups in basil &tomato &their cream of chicken, which are nice. Minestrone (strained) and once I had a bowl of custard & once I blended avonmore creamed rice with milk. I try to have something different every night so I don't get bored smoothies are good too...I have had varying consistencies in everything with the thickest being a chicken & rice soup which was fine but I only did that once. I am taking advantage of this liquid stage by sticking to it to maximise my start off point Next week will be different as I move to mushies I may gain or stay but I'm prepared for that I also Blend leftover brewed coffee with milk lots of ice &1/2 tsp sugar (if needed) to drink for a change or a hot latte if I'm in a cafe or whatever (milk milk!) , and I keep Green & Blacks organic chocolate in the fridge. I use this chocolate becuase it's bitter & I don't need anymore than a square in the evenings. I just suck on it if I'm watching TV getting nancy..it does the trick. A bar lasts me a week. Much better than cadbury's as it's not as addictive. And satisfies the sweet tooth. I have drank once, last week. I had 5 gin & cranberry, slowly, one an hour. Won't be doing that again, just didn't know what else not fizzy to drink. Gin is sickening & the cranberry juice is full of sugar. I'm going to try glasses of Guinness next. I can drink guinness, but will limit it (or any other session) to 4 drinks How's that? What stage are you at? And where are you in Ireland?

Sorry Terri...forgot to answer that I keep my lavander with me to sniff if I need a Calm..:notagree Or to save me from "smelly stuff" LOL It's mostly for calming the mind and I don't know if the fennel will have the same effect as ingestion but I'll let you know what I think when I get my paws on some. P.S...it's kinda like a sucky blanket, just a nice habit to have. And So portable!!

JUST IN CASE... I wouldn't know what to do with juicing a fennel ao here's a tip When choosing fennel from a grocers look for bulbs that are white and firm to the touch When juicing fennel the fennel bulb (which forms the root of the plant) is used. Simply remove a thin end at the root of the bulb and then wash the bulb. Chop the bulb into quarters and feed it through your juicer. The plant also produces stems with fronds on that can also be juiced. .

Thank You Terri, You are so kind!! yes you could drink Fennel as a cold tea but here is a juicing recipe you can make at home you may be more interested in & I can guarantee because you are juicing it fresh you'll get the most benefit. NB...don't "store" fresh juice, it will loose it's power, you must drink it as you juice it PURE Veg juice can be hard to take but when freshly juiced at home can be powerful.. So here's what you do (obviously you'll need a good juicer) A generous slice of fennell 1 ince slice of lemon (leave the skin on if unwaxed) 2 Golden delicious apples Juice the lot & pour over ice...(I hope it's decent) Try anyway COURTESY OF JASON VALE www.juicemaster.com Let me know how that goes..xx

BTW everyone... I take lavander essential oil with me whereever I go...I use it for numerous reasons. When I can't sleep I put it on my PJ's or Pillow. When I'm on an airoplane & sitting beside a smell loo I sniff it (like smelling salts) Or when someone lets off a "bum noise" I use it in the bath & burn it in my room it is definately very calming & I wouldn't leave home without it. So I believe in essential oils...Check this out. I haven't tried it yet as I didn't know Fennel came in an essential oil, but I'm gonna try get it. What if it does help during those Hard Times? This is a bit of Info I collected on it...loads of reading again..SORRY!! Fennel is traditionally known to cleanse and calm the digestive system, freshen the breath and may also supress the appetite a little! This calming effect is one of the benefits of the ever popular Fennel tea. There are many different brands of Fennel tea or infusion, sometimes combined with other flavours. The lovely aniseed flavour makes fennel tea really pleasant as a drink in any form. Aromatherapy and essential oil use <DIR><DIR>When you are feeling timid and in need of courage and strength, fennel essential oil may do the trick. (lunasa says it may help when passing on doughnuts?) RE: TEA It detoxifies the body and is useful when suffering from a hangover. (Sounds Good!) Not only does it act as tonic for the liver, kidneys and spleen, but also helps to reduce cellulite as well as easing constipation and flatulence. It has a cleansing and tonic action on the skin and also helps keep wrinkles at bay. laxative properties. </DIR></DIR>It is also used in cases of obesity, as it promotes that 'full feeling' and has a diuretic effect that helps to disperse cellulite. For the mind, it adds courage and strength in the face of adversity. It has a cleansing and toning effect on the skin, helping with bruises, sorting out overly oily skin and to fight wrinkles in more mature complexions (possibly due to the estrogenic properties of the oil). It has a toning effect on the spleen and liver, that helps with the results of excess drink and food. Different uses <DIR><DIR>Burners and vaporizers Blended massage oil or in the bath <DIR><DIR>Fennel oil can be used as a blended massage oil or diluted in the bath for helping to fix a bloated stomach, excess wind, colic, constipation and other digestive problems. It also acts as a diuretic, to remove excess water and to start breaking down cellulite. </DIR></DIR>Creams and lotions <DIR><DIR>Used in a base cream or lotion, fennel oil can be helpful for general skin care and especially for dispersing bruises, livening a dull complexion, clearing an oily skin and fighting wrinkles in mature skins. It is also useful for removing cellulite, to fight rheumatism and helps with edema. </DIR></DIR></DIR></DIR>Fennel oil blends well with It blends well with geranium, lavender, rose and sandalwood. P.S...if you wanna check it out remember to ask for SWEET fennel oil. It may just be a handy bottle to keep in your purse!!!

I must PM Brenners...She popped into the April thread recently & I know the pains were bad for her too...must find out how she is now

Hi Allure... Sorry I haven't been to this thread in AGES... How you gettin on? I'm doing great. It'll be 3 weeks since banding next tuesday & i'll be moving on to mushies then... As you can see from the ticker the weight is going really well too. I had bad shoulder pain for just over a week but back to normal now... On the senecot today as I'm totally gridlocked!! LOL

Sara...wouldn't that be great!! To meet up!! I just imagine us all there with our LBT names on Stickers & finally getting to do real hugs!!

Ok...I fixed it...That was SCAREY.. Anyway...now that my mammy's finished lecturing you all.. Tracy...You are very adept in your computer skills..I loved your photos..you're such a cutie!! You look much younger than your avatar & I can see a difference already!! Kat....amazing about our Fat cells storing estrogen..That's GREAT to know!! And thank you always for being our support & projection! I am always thinking of you & Rick..I am wishing for you..xx P.s....I second the pink Cowgirl hat!!! (((Sara mos)))...don't beat yourself up.. you are doing fine & I think you should get yourself a special charm to remind you that bad days are just that..xx Laura...Be patient with yourself. You're young & beautiful and you & DF are starting out in your new home soon, a new page & you will be so happy. At work the enquiries will die down and just keep telling them you are doing better every day..xx

OMG!!!! What happened that script???? I'm so sorry taking up so much space...I can't edit it either...it comes up as a load of smiley faces!!! I'm so embarrasses!!:cry

Ok Ladies.... My Mammy's here with the wooden spoon to spank some asses!!!! :fish: To quote Kity...There is a general bad vibe violating our Violets!! I think first & foremost we need to banish the term "Banster Hell" How do you explain banster hell to someone who has been refused the band or just cannot afford it? WE HAVE OUR BANDS... We have all started our journey & we all have lost something even if it's not weight we have said goodbye to SOMETHING. "QUOTING" Househuntress "Bandster Hell? Just a mind set..it's MY LEARNING CURVE" Terridoodle….Ok Girlz -- we are all freaking out and I think we're jumping the gun just a tad, don't you? If several of us are basically going thru the same thing, then surely this is "normal". WE'RE OK!! Just keep on keepin' on!!! Chica Chula…..Violets - I think that right now we need to focus on things other than losing pounds. I think we are obsessing on the pounds right now and that's not healthy. Let's stop beating ourselves up and focus on the good that we do each day. KITY....We still have lots of learning to do. Learning about ourselves and our bands. But this is the beginning of our journeys ladies...we have our whole lives ahead of us...our healthy lives. We can do this Teachlady…When I made almost the same comment a while back, someone said to me.... this is not a time to focus on weight loss... this is a time to focus on healing. The weight WILL come off. :cool: :cool: :cool: Look at all this support & positivity we have to draw from.... You are not having a bad day with your food...You are not messing up, you are learning how to cope. Everyday is a school day. Feel good about your self...look in the mirror & see who it is you are living for...Say...Hello...I LOVE YOU...EVERYDAY we are all better selves...Give yourselves the CREDIT you have denied yourselves before...Please be kind to your self, you are always listening. Think of your self as a child, be gentle & loving. Be your own favourite grown up!!! I really don't mean to belittle anyone's struggle..Please know that..I'm just trying my best to move on & to heal & I want for us all to heal. As I said before food was rarely the issue, the reason I got where I am was because I was mean to myself. Don't be mean or hard on yourself. I know in reality it's hard to be Mrs Motivator all the time & keeping your chin up is not always what you want to do, but you do have to learn to force yourself in a more positive direction. that is how we fail, because we give in to our dark emotions, our sulks, we indulge, not in food, that's what happens next...our first indulgement is in our thoughts...catch them & push them out with better one's. Be mindful of your thoughts I don't really browse LBT much because I'm happy here with you...I want our thread to be the best. I have thought so many times that I'd love for us all to be able to meet up somewhere, sometime. I have pictured you all in person already...I think about you all when I'm at my blender in the mornings!!! :bandit :bandit :bandit :bandit :bandit :bandit BEEEE- AUTIFUL

Wow Darla..that's great...you two are the first!!! I don't get mine til kid june..8 weeks post op. So far so good, am still on full liquids (3 weeks) moving to Mushies next week...I better arm myself with some meal ideas now to be prepared. This is the first time in my life I haven't had potato chips (crisps) in a whole month...EVER (hello, my weakness...SALT FREAK!!!)

Hello again...just wondering if anyone is SE Florida?

Hi Gurls!! I'm so sorry..another major post..I just can't help it..I think it's part of the healing proccess (verbal diarohea?) Laura...Congratulations on the house!! I remember you saying you hope to be in by July. We're building too and hope to be in if not July then August. I must take some photos too. It's sooo exciting. Where I live now we can hear EVERYTHING through the walls...And to all of us who are sexstarved let me tell you that my neighbours aren't up to much in that dept either!! LOL... KITY...is that tattling too? Seriously though, have you ever had a fight with DH where you whisper abuse coz the neighbours are home!!! KITY...about the M&M's...try to imagine they're actually made from rabbitt shit..in a crispy coated shell...LOL (I don't know what else to say) AND SPEAKING OF RABBITT's...SARA!!!! (Me too!!) Girls, let's try to perk up about our lives.. there's great sense of humour & so much support & honesty here but there's also a lot of fear & disbelief. Some of you fear your "old" selves are creeping back & that's a totally justified fear, it's your nightmare after all you've been through. I just want to be honest with those of you who need it and suggest that you actually don't believe you're gonna make it. Take a good honest stock of your core beliefs & selves and you will find a core belief that has convinced you you will always struggle with food & your weight. It really doesn't have to be like that. If you truly BELIEVE in your ability, the chocolate & ice cream may just stop calling your name...not always but it will stop haunting you. This is not any easy thing to change. here is just a very simple example. For a long long time I believed I was spoilt, because people use to tell me I was. So I carried on like a spoilt person. This was all subconsciously. Once I recognised that belief I took a different perspective on it & realised I was not spoilt I was Loved, very much. That had an enormous effect on my life, I began to feel loved instead because I had changed a core belief about my self. I became different in my attitudes too, becuase I had nothing to be ashamed about. If people were jealous of me, it was not that I was priveledged or above them, they just stuck to their one perspective. Maybe it was that they were lacking in something I so obviously was getting. It stopped becoming my problem that they were so bitter toward me. I still meet this type of person every day. One of my parents is famous here in Ireland and I've always had to deal with people having pre conceived notions about me. I've had my circle of true friends for a long time & yes I've been lucky in life but people sometimes can't handle that. They choose not to see your struggles but only what you have and they look for weakness in you to make themselves feel better. but I've never stood on anyone and I've never belittled anyone or rubbed anything in anyone's face..I'm a modest & sensitive person & couldn't understand all this bitterness towards me. Is it not amazing how all our lives can be so similiar in areas? You see here we can be more honest because in a sense we're anonymous and free from judgement. Whereas in our everyday lives we mask ALL this stuff and go around thinking we're the only ones who eat in the dark or cry at night or have no intimate relations at home. But The people you meet everyday are masking their problems too & we all portray an "image" of togetherness, satisfaction & security. Does it really exist though? Of course it does, but not as much around you as you think! Then you retreat & beat yourself up about it in the privacy of your own thoughts battling with emotions!! Its no wonder we're all so emotional & reaching for food / drugs / alcohol!!! We're TIRED of acting..that's hard work!! I'm gonna nominate myself for an oscar here...in the category of "best performance of person who doesn't get upset about what you, or anyone else thinks about me" that's my acting skill, utterly perfected. But of course I do get upset, because I'm caring and sensitive and I like to be nice and I like to be generous, and while those I "don't get upset about" are at home getting dressed to go out on saturday night where am I? At home collecting my reward of a box of pringles, 2 bowls of cereal, a couple of sandwiches, toast and whatever else I've harvested and SOOO not going out coz nothin fits!! Eh, no thanks...not anymore, I'll pass on the oscar thanks... What's your oscar category/ies?

oh...nothing happened my post...my bad....sorry LOL

Hey!! what happened my post!! Anyway..i was saying ((((Tracy)))) am in the same boat as you... My DH is lacking in libido & I agree it's psychological. His parents had trouble, and I believe it led him to blank out in that dept. And I also said..that I don't know how he & his DS came to be unless they were found under a head of cabbage.... thats mean though but hey...True!!