babsyintx

Hiya Kara, Another Texan here! I am near Fort Worth. Welcome!!!! Just so you know, there is a local support group here. you can go to dfwbandsters@yahoogroups.com. Babs in TX 334/180 -154 New goal: 168-170

Please offer my condolences to Phillip and and all of his family members affected by this tragedy. I did not know Carolyn well, but she was always a wonderful, beautiful and supportive person on this board and she will be missed by all. Babs in TX

Hi , The smallest size I have is a 10-12 shirt. I wear 14 pants and large ladies tops off the rack at Marshalls, Dillards, Macy's etc, which is equivalent to 10-12. I dont have anything smaller in my closet at the moment, but I do have lost of stuff in 16's and a few 18's which I am swimming in , but wont throw out or give away. Babs in TX 334/180/170 -154

Hi, Welcome to the banded side of life!!!! You will do well, I just know it. Congratulations!!!! Happy Dance in TX Babs in TX 334/180/170 -154

Corgi, Everyone is different, but I eat popcorn 4-5 times a week. I share a bag in the evening with my children. I like the Orville Redenbacher 94% FF which has 110 a serving. I also by the Healthy Pop Popcorn that has 90 calories a serving. They have caramel apple flavor as well which is sweetened with Splenda. Personally, I could not live without my popcorn. It also has a lot of Fiber and helps with pooping!!! Babs in TX 334/180/170 -154

Hi Everyone, Just got back from Vegas. Got to see Lisa and we had a good time. On saturday evening, I was on on my own and after dinner, I went to Fremont street to a few clubs. Later inthe evening, I went to the Golden Nugget. I was walking around the casino and heard some excitement at one ot the craps tables. I went over to look. I dont know how to play craps, but apparently there were 3 heavy hitters at the table dropping some big bucks. I stood there for about a half hour and there was a man standing next to me in blue jeans, baseball cap and sneakers. I thought he looked familiar and he was pleasant enough. A short while later, one of the heavy hitters to my right asked me if I wanted to be the roller. I figured it wasnt my money, so why not? LOL While I was throwing the dice for about 10 minutes or so, I kept looking at the guy next to me. ONe of the heavy hitters said something to Bruce and I finally figured out who it was. I probably was the cause of at least a 10K loss for each of them, since what I was throwing didnt appear to help anyone with the winnings. Two of the heavy hitter guys told me that they collectively had already lost 150K that evening. They should have just given it to me to spend instead!! LOL Two of the heavy hitters invited me to the High Rollers private party they were having. Bruce Willis was there along with about 50 other people and I danced for about a half hour. On Sunday, when I was at the Bellagio Hotel, one of the bartenders told me that Bruce was in Vegas for a celebrity poker tournament and also Leonardo DeCaprio. (No, I didnt meet him) I did go to a couple of clubs at the Bellagio on SUnday and I was amazed that I did not have to wait on the long lines. I think because I was brave and walked right up to VIP entrance with no hesitation, the gates opened and I was let in without anyone blinking an eye. Anyway, I had fun and it certainly was an experience to remember.! Babs in TX 334/180 -154

Hi , No brainer. the Amazing Race. I want to go on with another bandster so we could say, "We lost a total of 250-300lbs collectively. They like stories like this... Any takers? Babs in TX 334/180 -154

Nancy, Donali is right. It is a lifestyle change. I have been struggling as of late to get the last 10-15 pounds off my body. I have been trying so hard and finallly realized this is a forever thing, so I have taken the time pressure monkey off my back by not giving myself a time line. (although I am still ahead of my original target) Admittedly, I stopped doing the things that made me successful in the beginning and started getting complacent as of late. And 20+ months of trying to get to goal is a long time.!!!! Its much harder now than it was for me at 6 months out to lose the weight. My body is used to eating 1100-1200 calories a day and it doesnt want to lose more at this stage. So it does just get harder and harder, so you need to stay focused and take baby steps to a permanent lifestyle change. The great part having a band is that you can always take a break and start all over again! It is an ongoing cycle of self improvement. If you know this and set up small achievable goals like Michelle suggested, then you will eventually get where you want to go. You can do it!!! Babs in TX 334/180 -154 New goal; 170 or less....

Hi Christina, I agree with Scotty. (The producer). Find out more about the time line and what stage of the interviewing process they are in to find candidates for the show. Even with an audition, there is still a big chance that you wont be picked, thus postponing your efforts to have lapband surgery. Do they pay you for your time on the show? Isnt there a big prize at the end for the winner and nothing for the rest? I have never watched the show, so I really dont know. My thinking is that in a controlled environment with personal trainers, chefs etc, all of us here would be able to lose weight, but where will you be when they no longer need you? I personally would not want to expose my formerly big butt on television, but to each his own! My sisters keep telling me I should apply for Extreme Makeover because of all the weight I have lost and my need for some PS. THe only show I would have the desire to be on now if the "Amazing Race". (Presently going through my second childhood! LOL) Find out more and then make your decision. Babs in TX 334/180 -154

Hi Melanie, You are doing great and you need to stop beating yourself up. THe beauty of the band is that it is adjustable and there is no window of opportunity to lose the weight. You need a band adjustment. The general rule is that if you are not losing for 3 weeks or more at least 1-2 pounds a week and you are following the bandster rules you should get a fill. If you are not working the band and eating high caloric soft food instead of solid Protein, you need to work on this . Let me make some suggestions though because I know what it is like to have a busy life that involves full time work and kids. I found that when I sat down and ate dinner with my family that I would get stressed out and I had trouble with meat cause I couldnt concentrate on chewing because of the distractions of a 3 year old and 9 year old demanding my attention. So now, when I make dinner, I let my kids eat first, tend to their needs and then attempt to eat my food last. This way I can take my time, concentrate and chew my food thoroughly. Also, it sounds like you are eating lunch on the run. This is not a good thing because you will gravitate to softer foods that have lots of calories when you are in a hurry. Prepare your lunches in advance. Bring things that you can nibble on during the day like hard boiled eggs, tuna, pieces of chicken breast, string cheese, yogurt, ham or turkey rollups, turkey chili from the can. Regarding exercise, it is imperative that you find 1/2 hour a day to do something to improve your cardio health and develop muscle. Walk around the neighborhood, take a jazzercise class a couple times a week or invest in an elliptical trainer. The exercise should become a habit because this will be your saving grace when you have days where you make less intelligent food choices. Kids, jobs and other responsibilities are just excuses not to exercise. If there is a will, there is a way. I did exercise for the last 20 months and for the last month or so, I have been very slack with exercise and I feel more tired and run down as a result. You will have more energy, less sagging skin and a little more leeway occasionally to have a cookie or special treat. You can do this. Up your protein, drink lots of Water and exercise if you want a quicker result. And get a fill if you really need one. Babs in TX 334/180 -154 New goal: 170

Hi Everyone, Penni was kind enough to post photos of my most recent Vegas trip last weekend under the "I met Bruce Willis post here in the lounge. They kinda got lost there and I dont think anyone saw them. Anyway, Lisa, Stacey and I had a great time and we danced the night away at the Rio. Just thought you might want to see some happy bandsters!!! They were really good pics and I am pleased that Lisa took them cause I have exactly two of them on my camera.!!! Babs in TX 334/180 -154 New goal: 170

Hi Again! Thanks Penni! Megan: I havent really lost much since last October. Only 17 more pounds, but for whatever reason, the last few really make a big difference. But thanks for the compliments! Babs in TX

Megan, He sounds like a nice guy. Take your time. You dont have to reveal your secrets until you trust him a little more. Better to go slow and get to know him than to put your heart out there yet. Give it a few more dates and you will know when the time is right to have this discussion. Just enjoy this time and see where things go. Babs in TX 334/180 -154 new goal: 170

Penni, Thanks for posting these. There are a couple of more. Could you post those too when you get a chance. I only managed to get two pics. Yeah, it was fun. Lots of dancing, flirting and I stick by the disclaimer.!!!! Babs in TX 334/180 -154

Teresa, In addition to the costs that have already been incurred, you should ask for money for future care as well. Your health insurance company will ask for reimbursement knowing it is an MVA. (Motor vehicle accident) I had a car accident in 2002. A woman plowed into me and I had some whiplash and pain in my wrist and neck. It didnt seem critical at the time and my passenger seemed in worse shape than me, so I rode with her in the ambulance. A few days later, I could not pick up anything without having twinges in my wrist. I had an MRi done on my neck and a catscan of my wrist. My neck had C5, C6 radiculopathy with a nerve impinging my spinal cord. The gel sac was completely gone and then I had to see a neurosurgeon to find out whether I need surgery or not. The wrist was not fractured or broken, but after seeing a hand specialist, it was discovered I had DeQuervains disease which is an extreme tendonitis that is cause by blunt trauma or repetitive motion. As a result, I had to have nerve conduction studies, wrist to neck, since the docs thought I might have permanent damage being caused by the neck injury. My wrist got so bad that I could no longer pick up my newborn baby and my husband had to get up and pass my son to me at night cause I couldnt pick him up. One year later, I had to have wrist surgery to resolve the pain and to this day, I still need neck surgery. There were days I could not pick up my head from the bed. I have been postponing fusion for the last couple of years despite the urging of the neurosurgeon that it needs to be done. If I ever trip and fall, I could become paralyzed. (At least thats what they tell me...) Please do not deal with the insurance company directly. They use a computerized software model to determine liability and frankly they wont care one iota if you have cost incurred as a result of lost wages, time and energy. This computer model will determine how much of a liability you are and they will offer you some rinky dinky amount that may not even cover your costs. The woman who hit me only had 50K in insurance. Her insurance company offered me 10K to settel with 17K in medical bills. This did not cover the 400 hours I lost from work, pain and suffering, the fact I had my hand in a cast for 2 months and couldnt wipe my own butt. I would have minimally lost 7K if I had settled. Twenty months later, we settled for policy limit and this still did not cover everything. I had to go to my insurance company for underinsured motorist coverage and of course the lawyer got a third of everything we settled for. Please use the lawyer. You can try to settle this on your own first, but please know that the insurance company has no desire to settle this with you. Add up all medical costs to date, future care, lost wages, pain and suffering etc. No one here on this board can tell you what your case is worth, but just know you cant predict what might happen in the future, so you need to protect yourself. Once you sign the waiver, you cant ever ask for more money if you incur more costs. Good luck!!! Babs in TX 334/180 -154

Hi, I can drink 16 oz of Water in a few minutes. If I am stressed or it is early in the morning, sometimes it can take me a little while, so I sip instead. Babs in TX 334/180 -154

Hi Madeline, I lived in Amsterdam, NL for 10 years and spent a lot of time in Belgium. This is the only advice I can give you that might be useful. The Belgians (like the Dutch) are not big on pain relief. I would bring the strongest pain relief meds that you can with you on the trip. Its hard to get anything more than an aspirin and you really have to beg at the hospital if you want something strong to take the edge off. Also, the Belgians think Americans whine a lot and are wimps about surgery, pain management etc.... So you will get more flies from honey than vinegar, so try to be nice and keep the complaining to a minimum. The hospitals are more basic and you may have to share a room with several folks. The quality of care is exceptional most of the time, but a lot more basic than what you might be used to here in the US. Unless this is a private clinic. The good news is that the costs are lower for pretty much any services you need cause they dont have the same problems with malpractice as we do in the US. Are you going to Flanders or Wallonia? If you are going to Flanders, the healthcare professionals will speak Flemish or English. If you are going to Wallonia (french speaking part of Belgium) most people dont speak English and speak French. Just be prepared for this and maybe learn a few key phrases? Good luck and if you have any questions, please feel free to email me. Babs in TX 334/180 -154 New goal: 170

Eve, This was the best decision I made for myself. I had tried dieting and just kept gaining the weight back. If I had to put a calculation on how much is band and how much is mental, for me I would say it is about 50/50. I work hard at the losses, but I know I would not be able to keep it off without the band. Physically, I cannot eat what I ate before. And if you do eat your protein first, then your veggies, you will be full for long periods of time. The temptation to eat crap food is diminished greatly. You can do this, but the band is just a great tool. You do need to work at it to be successful. Babs in TX 334/180/170 -154

Hi Megan, I was pretty brave before I lost the weight. I was always sticking my nose in somewhere and getting reactions. Yes, I am more confident now as a size 12/14/16 than I was at a 28 though. I smile a lot and people are drawn to that. No, I will never be a great beauty with my clothes off, but I think I look fair to middlin with them on! LOL. Besides, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But being fat does make you feel invisble sometimes. Babs in TX 334/180 -154 New goal: 170

Hi Lisa, OK, I just want you to feel better cause I know this is upsetting! Babs

Hi Alex: Bruce is very short. He is definitely less than 5" 10 and he looked kinda scrawny to me. He also was very pale and pasty looking and looked really old. Thats why it took me so long to figure out it was him. Penni: You can party with me anytime! I always find activity and rarely get bored. I was really glad to see Lisa and have fun with her and her friend Stacey on Friday night. Babs in TX

Hi Lisa, I know how much this has been hurting you and I felt the need to say something. I have been pretty quiet about all of this mess, but I dont like it one bit. There are a very few gossip mongers here who do like to spread rumors and come across with the guise that they are helping others. The majority here are good and peaceful people, but it only takes a few to add fuel to the fire. None of us here live perfect lives, all of us have problems and many of us have come from dysfunctional families and backgrounds that have encouraged obesity. So no one is immune here from rumors and innuendo and we could all easily become victims and have the same thing happen to us that happened to you. The truth is I have never seen anything like this happen on other boards. All the negativity and slinging mud over something which started over something very small. All of this stinks. The whole mess stinks, but its time to put it to bed once and for all. Please lets just kiss and make up already! Babs in TX 334/180 -154

Hi Lisa, Are ya gonna post them? I only took two pictures and I dont have any of you. I was gonna call you tonight to see how you were doing...... I know we had at least one good pic in there...... Your party friend til the end..... Babs in TX

Hi, I love "The Color Purple", Edward Scissorhands, The Truth about Cats and Dogs, Notting Hill, The Ring, While you were sleeping, Any movie with Bill Pullman! I also like most romantic movies. Babs in TX 334/180 -154 New goal: 170 or less

Hi Alex, I love LOST!!!! Especially last nights episode with the lottery numbers. The evil lottery numbers. THought that it was an interesting twist. I have a theory about where this show is going and what this is all really about. But I wont post it cause if I am right, it would ruin it for somebody. The writers must be having a field day with this. Hybrid Twilight Zone and Twin Peaks.!!! Babs in TX 334/180 -154 new goal: 170 or less