hugger1021

Welcome back. Mary hasn't been on here in a long while. I called her a month or two ago after my wedding to check on her and things weren't so great. I know that I have had the same problem. I have been banded for 2 yrs now and have fallen off the wagon and am having a hard time getting back on. I have gained weight back and haven't had the money either to go in for a fill. I hope that I will be able to get one soon and get back to working out. Good luck.

Hi...Hope everyone had a good Valentines Day. I worked. It is my first tax season and boy is it busy and stressful. I just checked out the support group website to see if anything has changed and the website has but the fact that they are only doing the one there and at 3:30-5pm is still the same. Not a thing about Nola anymore. I won't be able to make the meetings at all they are at an inconvienent time. Most people don't get off of work till between 5-6pm. It is sad for me to say that I hope that no one really shows up and they rethink the times and put it back to the 6:30 time. I hope all are in support of this. Hope everyone is doing well.

Happy New Year!! Hope everyone is doing well. I know things have been busy. Tax season has started so I am busier than ever and working longer hours. Just wanted to see if anyone else has looked at the kcbariatric site to see that Nola is leaving. She has been there for many of us and I am sad to see that she is leaving. I am hoping the best for her. Hope everyone is doing well and back on track with eating and protein. I know I have been struggling. Hope to see everyone at the next meeting (Feburary). Jeanette

Nancy- Yeah!! Good to hear that you have a date. The feeling is incredible. I am happy for you. Hey to everyone! Sorry I haven't been on. It has been a very difficult month. My brother is in stage 4 kidney failure and has been in and out of the hospital. We are trying to get him to start dialysis and hope that it will start in the next week or so. Sorry I missed the meeting but I was staying with him in the hospital. I hope everyone is coming to the PARTY tonight. Don't forget to bring something good to eat. I am bringing turkey deli meat and cheese. See everyone later. Jeanette

Hey, sorry I haven't been on but we have had a rough month and it is only getting worse. Won't be able to come to tonights meeting. This will be one of the first meetings I am missing. My brother is in stage 4 kidney failure and in the hospital right now. He only has 10%-15% of his kidneys working and now may have heart problems. So, I hope everyone has a good meeting and we will try to be to the holiday party on Dec. 4th.

Hello, I live in Kearney and Dr. Hohen did my surgery. They only have support groups for people that he has done. Did you go to several different places before picking Dr. Malley? When I was first going thru and finding a place I didn't get a good vibe from his "program" or lack of one. I was given an exam and told I was a good canidate and then they wanted to know when I wanted to have it done and wouldn't tell me how much it was going to cost to have it done. There was no nutritionalist or psyh eval or meetings to attend to at the time for support. I have heard that he just pushes you thru. I didn't like that. I know that he has a support group and that is open to anyone but it is in Kansas. I went a few times and wasn't very impressed. The diet that most of them were eating was high in carbs and not much protein and they didn't all seem to be losing weight as quickly as people in Dr. Hohen's group. They seem to have more bad habits or unhealthy ones that almost seemed like they were encouraged and not told to stop. Everyone must pick a program that works for you. That is why I chose Dr. H's program. He seemed to have a better success rate and patients seem to lose more and keep it off longer on his program. Hope this helps.

Just wanted to let everyone know that my wedding was gorgeous and we had a beautiful day and had a great time. It was great to see you there Lisa. Thanks for everything. We are leaving the cabin in the moring and heading home. We will see you at the next meeting. Not sure if we will have any pics yet. Jeanette and Jarod Muncy

I was self pay and once I got the appt with Dr. Hoen, my surgery date was set for within a month. Of course that was in Feb 2007 and there are a few things that are different now because of the other dr. leaving. I think thou that they have gotten everyone scheduled as best as they can with the situation. I know that everyone says to just be patient but it is true that is all you can do. Your day is coming and we will all celebrate with you. See you at the next meeting.

Hey, I am going to be there tomorrow. I have been super busy with the wedding. I just got done with my final dress fitting and have it at my aunts house just waiting for the day of the wedding. It is getting down to the wire and if anyone attending from group needs directions let me know. We got the license and have met with the Rev. and photographer. Can't wait to see everyone tomorrow. Jeanette

Yes I have red and will wear it. I can't remember what it is at the moment but I have something red. Can't wait to see everyone at the meeting. Jeanette

Hey Everyone, Lisa- great to hear that everything went great. Have you lost anything yet? I can't wait to see everyone at group. I am sorry that I haven't posted in a few days. Baby has been sick and I have been trying to get wedding things done. I had the gas starting that night after sugery. I was blowing them all away. HA HA!! I am glad to hear that you are up and walking some. I went to the air show and we walked around for like 3 hrs today. I am exausted and my legs are killing me. I am going to try the RenFest next weekend and maybe SantaCaligone Days. We shall see. I am trying to get some more weight off before the wedding. I am willing to wear a color (if I have it). Pick something simple. If anything I can borrow a shirt from someone. I shall see you all this Thursday. Have a good week Jeanette

I can't say that there is anything that I would do different on my post-op. I wore loose pj's around the house unless I had to go out. Most say to wear a comfortable sports bra. I couldn't wear one at all. I slept in my recliner because it was to hard to lay flat and get back up. Have a small pillow to hold against your stomach when getting up and down. Practice taking small sips of water and not gulping. Start your walking the very next day. Get Gas-X strips, they help get rid of the excess gas that they pump into you. You will toot with the best for a few days. Have plenty of sugar free popcicles on hand. I can't think of anything else but if I do I will let you know. Getting excited for you!! Jeanette

Yes, I have made it home. The trip started out ok but ended on a sour note. I will have to tell you about it at the meeting. I didn't gain any weight but didn't lose. I am happy about that. as long as I stay or lose weight from here on out I am ok. I hope that I can lose like 20lbs before the wedding but I need a fill and can't afford it. I am trying to come up with the funds but with not working and paying for wedding things it is a struggle. Thanks for the support while on my trip. I was really having a hard time. I am posting the website for RSVP one last time. This is an open invitation to all the lapbanders who have been a great support to me. I would love for you to come and share in my special day. Please get all info at www.unionofjnj.com and RSVP. Thanks to all. Good luck next week Lisa

Thank you Joann. I can't wait to meet you at the next meeting. Please seek me out so that I can give you a hug. I go to all the meetings. I also go to the one in the northland. I also go to the gastric because my finance had the gastric. The encouraging words are working. Everyone else is so busy for my cousin's wedding and last min. details that today I am being left alone. I am just relaxing in my hotel room at the moment and trying to think of something to do. I shopped yesterday and bought myself a bathing suit (yikes). I bought a cute two piece. By no means a bikini but something that was fitting. Couldn't find a size that really fit (still a little big) but it works for now. I am just drinking my protein shakes for breakfast and trying to have 1/2 a one for lunch with a little bit of meat and then dinners for the next few nights aren't until late and by that time I am ready for bed. This is all totally east coast fancy for this wedding. I am feeling all emotional. I miss everyone at home and I am the only girl out here besides my cousin who is getting married. Thanks again Lisa and Joann. Can't wait for the next meeting. Jeanette

Thanks Lisa..I really needed that. I just got back to my hotel room and they wanted to go out to dinner again and I told them I am just going to stay here. I can't take anymore eating that they want to do so I sd I am removing myself from the situation. I have found that my cousin's wedding is going to be like that show "Platinum Weddings" on WEtv. I am going to look like a hick. It is supposed to be fancy gowns and I don't have one. Talk to everyone soon Jeanette

Hey everyone. Lisa thanks for the photographer info. We are in contact and he may or maynot be able to do it. Right now I am in New Jersey for my cousin's wedding and am having trouble with not wanting to eat everything in site. All the rich Italian food that my family cooks or eats out at all these places. I am having trouble not wanting to just keep eating and eating. I made sure that I brought lots of protein shake mix and bars and nuts to snack on in the car (since we drove out here) and I made sure that I brought my magic bullet to make shakes. They are all eating really bad(my dad, and 2 brothers) and plus all my family is like "eat, why can't you eat that". It is really hard to keep telling them that I just can't, but they all see that I look good and are happy that I have lost so much. I need some encouragement to keep going the good route and not eat all the bad. Thanks all Jeanette

How is everyone's summer going? I just wanted to invite all my support friends to my upcoming wedding. It is Oct 12th 2008. I am needing RSVP's by Aug 17th. You can go to our website www.unionofjnj.com and it has all the details. Can't wait to see you there and to see you all at the next meeting. Jeanette Santucci

Hey, I was at the meeting and we had a guest speaker from Dr. Sabapathy's office. She was great. She talked about the cycles that we put ourselves thru when it comes to our relationships with food. How even if we don't think we are some of us are perfectionists and set these goals that are unrealistic and then we go into a depressed state for not making that goal and put ourselves down. Then we set another more impossible goal and the cycle starts all over. It was very eye opening for me and so true. I hope this was a good explanation. See you soon. Jeanette

Hey, Thought that I would let everyone know that I am now ENGAGED!! Yes, it is true. I am getting married. I am very excited. I would not be where I am today if I hadn't have had the band. I wouldn't have gone onto eHarmony.com and met someone wonderful. I wouldn't have even been dateing. I am so happy, thrilled and excited all at once. My future hubby to be is also a weight loss patient. He had the gastric bypass in April of 2006. Todate he has lost 270 lbs. Yes, 270!!! I am so proud of you (Cheeze). Together we are working on the weightloss together and a healthier way to live. We support eachother by going to support groups and keeping in mind that we both are different with the same needs. The wedding is on Oct 12, 2008 and I am putting out an invitation to all my weightloss support friends. Please visit our website www.unionofjnj.com . Please come and celebrate with us. You will find all the info you need. Directions, RSVP and more info on how we met. I would love to see you all there and to share in this stepping stone in my journey. It would mean a great deal to me. Thank you to all for the support. Jeanette

Hey everyone...I can't believe that today is my 1 yr bandaversry. I kept reliving the day over and over again in my mind. I am so happy that I had the band. I am doing things now that I would not have been doing a year ago being so heavy. I am going out to a club tonight for a Valentine's Day party with co-workers and I am DATING!!! Gonna see him again tonight and have plans with him for the weekend. I am LOVING LIFE!!!! Thanks to everyone in support group! You have all made the journey so much easier. I go on Friday the 15th for my visit and weight in. I will let you all know how it goes. Love to all and HAPPY VALENTINES.

Welcome John!! Good to see a guy on here. If you have any ?'s ask away. Wanted to share a great moment with everyone. I went shopping the other weekend for a new outfit for a job interview. I was in the Women's section in Kohl's and could not find anything. Everything was to big. I gave up and was starting to walk out the door and spotted a top that was cute and thought that I would see if it would fit. It was in the Misses section and didn't think it would. But I got an XL and went and tried it on and it DID!! I havn't shopped in the Misses section since I was probably under 12 yrs old. Then I went to Lane Bryants to try out some pants and was able to get into a size 16!!! It has been 15 yrs or so since I have been in that size. I am loving this. I am so glad I made the choice to have the Lapband. Good luck to everyone else. Can't wait to hear about everyone else's awwwwe moments. Jeanette

NEWS FLASH***NEWS FLASH***NEWS FLASH*** At last nights meeting there was a special guest!!! Who you might ask? Easter Bunny?!? Santa?!? An Elf?!? No, It was BILLIE!!! And the best thing of all is she is back!!! Not with the Dr.'s office but with Shawnee Mission Hospital. She is the New Bariatric Coordinater. She took Linda McDonalds place. Welcome Back Billie!! Good Luck on the new position. I think it is a perfect fit for you. I hope that you can come back to visit us at more meetings. We love seeing you. ***NEWS FLASH***NEWS FLASH***NEWS FLASH***

Yes, that is what she had sd when she left is that she accepted a position at Coventry. Hope to see many of you tomorrow night at the party. Don't forget to bring a little something for all.

Hey everyone!!! Just weighted myself and down 90lbs!!...Can't wait to see everyone. I am coming to the meeting this saturday as long as my sister isn't in labor. She is due at any moment!! Diane...I hope your plastics went well. I hope you are feeling ok and can't wait to see you again. I have lots of clothes that I can pass on. Some coats and lots of spring and summer. Sizes 22-28....I will bring in bags to the next meeting and anyone can help themselves.