JoanieP

Hello to all you upstaters....Although I never lived there my whole family is from upstate, NY. My parents met in school in Franklinville, but their brothers and sisters have spread out up there now, but all still in the vacinity.

:w00t: Hi and welcome....lots of luck on your surgery. Couldn't help notice you are a LIer. I was born and raised on Long Island (Hicksville to be exact) but I moved to Texas in '82. My dad still lives there so I go back at least once a year....I can't believe the changes. Some parts I don't even recognize anymore. Well anyway...welcome!!! later, Joanie )

I like the me I'm becoming and I want her to stick around for years to come.

Super advise that I, for one, tend to forget. I didn't know about the stress and anger thing...very informative...thanx!!! Joanie )

I love cheese, almost every kind, but I do try to get the low fat kind. I know the confusion...who do we listen to, right? At this point, I listen mostly to my surgeon. I figure if I have too much trouble dropping lbs, maybe I'll cut the cheese...so to speak! HaHa! good luck! Joanie )

My shoulder pain comes when I am at my best eating what I should and only 3 meals. I get very tired of it, too. It is the only bad thing I have experienced since being banded. Nothing seems to work except eating something...I suspect it is gas in my stomach from being empty.

To Slim-n-tn: I love that story, I had read it a while back, but it never fails to choke me up and realize there are angels watching us! Thanx for the boost!

DITTO!!!!

:cursing: I'm trying to think of something from my heart that hasn't been copied from something I've heard from someone else....so here goes: I have been blessed with a wonderfully supportive husband who wants only for me to be happy. He literally saved my life when I started dating him nearly 8 yrs ago. He is the reason I am happy today!

I don't blame you, I would feel like socking him too! I hope whatever problem you're having works itself out so you can continue with your weightloss journey! Just don't give up....I know, easoer said than done, right? You are not alone...we have all been there and we are all here for you now. Joanie :cursing:)

I am determined to lose my last 15-20lbs this year.

You sound like my sister....seems like she just can't lose anymore, but in her case it was because she eats out all the time. Even though she thought she was eating the right foods, she didn't consider the difference between the way food is prepared in restaurants and the way we fix food at home. (she also liked to have a margarita before her dinner) She is now eating home more and laying off the drinks and sats she is finally starting to lose weight again. Slowly, but it is coming off. All I'm saying is: Are you being totally honest with yourself when it comes to what you are putting in your mouth. Please don't take offense, I am just playing devils advocate here. Remember, I'm the same as you. I have been the same weight, up 1-2 and down 1-2lbs for several months, so I'm not throwing stones. I wish you the best of luck. Joanie :cursing:)

I feel exactly the same way...I'm better off doing without totally than to try to have just a little bit, or a substitute. I have heard, read and been told that if you crave something you should have a small taste so you can get your head back to thinking of something other than the food you want, but it has always backfired on me. I've never been happy with just a little bit. Hence the lapband! It keeps me from pigging out. :cursing: Gotta Luv That Band!!!!! Joanie )

WhooHoo....I've started losing again...only a lb, but I'll take it. I'm just 3/4 of a lb. higher than my lowest weight of 145 !/2. I was a little worried I wouldn't have lost anything since I had chili last night. Not that the chili is a problem, but the fritos that I have to have with the chili that kicks me in the ass, weightloss wise! I haven't gone to the gym yet today, but I am planning on it. Have a great day everyone! Joanie :cursing:)

I haven't lost anything in sometime, but I have done really well with my eating lately and I have been to the gym on a regular basis now, so I am hoping that it will start to come off again and soon...I'm really tiring of the same few lbs...up 1 down 1...you know the drill? Good luck to everyone and to those that are losing...way to go!!!! more later, Joanie :thumbdown:)

I'm sorry to hear about your husband being in the hospital. I hope it's nothing serious. :thumbdown:(if you have previously told why I missed it) Good luck to both of you in any case. Joanie :cursing:)

Thanks, I'm fixin to go workout in a little bit...I actually went twice yesterday. I went back with my husband after he got home from work. We have no Snacks in the house now, and I am glad since I was on the search for something to snack on last night. I know if I can start dropping a few more lbs it will be easier to stay on track. I am very determined to get these last lbs off.....NOW!!!!! Joanie :thumbdown:

:thumbup: I'm sure you have heard them all and I am also sure that my story is not new or different, so that being said ...here is my story!!! I was born with a healthy appetite and had to watch my weight from a young age. I remember putting myself on a bread and water diet in 6th grade. (What did I know about carbs then, haha) I weighed 120lbs when I was 11yrs. old. (I am only 5' tall now) I peeked at 145lbs in 8th grade. ( I felt like a blimp) At the age of 16 I went on a low carb diet and did lose weight, down to 115-120lbs. I maintained this weight (except for a few times I snuck back up to 130, but managed to get it off) through high school and college and my first marriage at 22yrs old. Most of my 20's I kept my weight between 110 and 125 lbs. , but it was an uphill battle at best. In 1982, at the ripe old age of 28yrs. I moved to Dallas and found myself at 135lbs again, so I joined a health club. I loved what was happening to my body. I was actually doing aerobics 2x a night and weight training. I was a lean 106lbs. I was hooked, no more fat body for me.....Yeah, right!!!! Two years later while married to my 2nd husband I was back up to 135lbs, then we moved to Beevile to help with his family's ranch and I ballooned up to 165lbs within 3mos. from eating his grandmothers good cooking. I got pregnant a few months later and was at 200lbs when I had my daughter. I lost that weight and was back to 130-140 or so, but alas...it didn't last. Depression saw to it that I gained back up to 200lbs. I had a friend who was doing Medifast and I decided to try it. I managed to scrape together the money to pay for the dr and shake mix and off came 80lbs. withing a few months. Yippee!!! Back to 122lbs and feeling 10 yrs. younger. (I was now 35-36yrs old.) But, alas, this too should come to pass as I had to go back on solid food eventually and the fact that my will power sucked, up my weighed soared again....this time I got up to 260lbs. (Keep in mind, I am still only 5' tall, yeah, I was a little porker ) By this time my second husband told me he didn't want to be married to me anymore and , yep, you guessed it....my old friend depression again. I went to my dr for help in late 1996 and he put me on fastin. It worked, I lost down to 178lbs, and felt great again. Well, my gallbladder picked this time to ask to be taken out and while sitting around the house recouperating I slowly started to gain weight again and was back over 200 before I knew what hit me. I was at 210lbs when I started dating my 3rd. husband, I even got down to 202 shortly after, but that didn't last since he loved his snacks at night while watching tv. I was back to 230lbs soon. About 2 yrs later I went on The Six Week program, and lost 28lbs. WhooHoo!!! By the time I got married for the 3rd time I weighed 240lbs. Which is about what I was at in January of 2006 when I joined Curves. Tryed dieting and going to curves till May when I weighed in at the same weight as when I joined I cried right there. I saw an ad for Dr. Spiegel, in Houston, about a free lapband seminar being held the next day (saturday 5/6/06) and decided then and there I was going. My husband was very supportive and went with me. We agreed it was worth the money and I made the appt. for Monday 5/8/06. Dr Spiegel said I was a good candidate for the lapband so I was scheduled to come back for my preop blood work and ekg on Wednesday 5/10/06 and my surgery Friday 5/12/06. (I was not going through any insurance co. so I didn't have to wait) Although it hasn't been easy the whole way, It was worth every penny of the $15000 it cost me to have it done. I still have about 20lbs to lose to get to my goal weight of 130, but I know I will make it and that I will keep it off for ever. I have switched to Dr. Chang in Victoria, Tx. for a few reasons...the first being the fact that I live in Beeville, Tx. (3hrs from Houston and only 1hr from Victoria) , but more important was the fact that I was pretty much left to fend for myself with Dr. Spiegels office. It was up to me to call them to see if they thought I needed a fill or if I had a problem I had to wait to see him and then it was like I was keeping him from something else. I had to find a dr who would see Joan not a number on his appt sheet. That's where Dr. Chang comes in....:cry_smile: Dr. Chang makes me feel like I am his only patient for the day and he sets me up with follow-up appts before I leave his office. He's great and I wish I had heard of him first. I am now his patient and I am following his guidelines and I am happy to do it. He treats me as if he has been my surgeon all along. Well I guess I have gone off the path alittle, but that's my story and I hope it wasn't too long for ya'll. And I hope I didn't leave anything out, since while typing it I had a few interuptions. "Live Long and Prosper" everyone!!!

I just found this thread and boy can I relate to what ya'll are saying....I have been the same weight for almost 4months...give or take a lb hear and a lb there. I too am ready to jump off this plateau. I have recently started going back to the gym, and there are no more snacks in my house and there will be no more snacks allowed in my house. I want these last 15-20lbs. off once and for all! I lost a lb yesterday and I am determined to keep them coming off. Well, on that note, I'm gonna go get ready to go to the gym. Wish me luck everyone! Joanie :thumbup:)

:thumbup: My sister has had her lapband for almost 2 yrs. and has only lost 35lbs because of her love of ice cream. She isn't even particular about what flavor it is. I still have problems with my sweet tooth and ice cream goes down so nice :thumbup: doesn't it? So ice cream has been my chosen sweet to indulge in, but it's been very hard for my sister to give up. She seems to be doing better the last week or 2. With me it's pringles. I can't seem to get enough, so I don't go near them anymore. Well, I am rambling now, so I will stop and wish you, and all of us luck! Joanie :cool2:)

Thanks so much and you have no idea how good it makes me feel that my story has helped someone. I do have some pictures posted, if you go to my page I think you can find them or go to before and after pics...I'm in there. I wish you the best of luck on your surgery Tuesday:thumbup:, and can't wait to see your progress. Please keep me posted. Joanie )