IndioGirl55

Cheri - Hugs on the whole family issues - prayers. So I take it you aren't in the public school system - Hugs on those issues to - that's pretty messed up that admin wasn't paying taxes and now teachers ck's are bouncing - Oh Lori - Hugs GF - maybe it's just the trama of the knee surgery that cause you to tightned up like that - You will be fine til they can get you filled again - you have changed what you eat and the amounts too - You are of a new mindset now - I don't think you will have too tough of a time - One day at a time... Apples - Can't beleive you are going to veg lol... Good for you.. I agree - we can figure out what we are going to do once we get there - I'm like Linda - a little shopping ok - hang out and getting to visit with each other is what I am looking forward to.. Well I gotta feed the dogs and GS and self - cbl

Ok - Now I understand - I hadn't read anything on this thread that would offend anyone - so I was lost.. What caught my eye on this thread was - Relax Eat what you want.. I don't want newbies to think that they can eat want the want cuz like I said - that's how most of us got fat in the 1st place.. I also eat healthy and I have a starch every night for dinner and have never considered this a diet - but what I want to eat and eating healthy are 2 diff things I still want those Cookies and candy - but now I know that they are not healthy for me and once I start I can't quit - I know my limitation - I think I remember reading that you have the same ones - so why start if you can't stop

Oh heck ya Ruthie - there are failures with any WLS - the key word is it's only a tool - that is - that's the most important thing to know going in - It isn't going to lose the weight for you - it doesn't make your food choices - it doesn't exercise for you.. Cause of failure - not changing your eating habit - thinking that it's the magic cure all to our issues with food.. Company just got here - so I gotta jam - will post later.. Ok - I'm back - for the most part it's not the bands failure but the person who failed - Like I said before this is truly about making a lifetime lifestyle change in your eating habit and adding physical activity in to you life.. They band our stomachs but the majority of our problems lie in our heads. I am at my sweet spot - but I can eat around my band if I chose to... Candy, ice cream, gravy, adult beverage all slide right thru (slider foods) so the band has no affect in stoping you from eating large quantities of these foods.. Which are full of calories It's about eating low fat - limited carbs & sugar - The band will stop you once you get proper restiction from eating a bread basket - salad - baked potatoe loaded and 16 oz steak and dessert Now I eat 4 oz of the steak - a little salad and a few bite of my baked potato (not loaded) and I am physically full - but even being physically full - I can still want to eat - I still crave more food - the band doesn't take away your cravings it doesn't deal at all with our head hunger issues. I say I have done 75% of the work by changing my habits (eating & exercise) and the band did the other 25% by providing restriction. Even with the band it's still work - it help make a hard job a little easier - but it's still work - so just don't go into it thinking that it's a breeze - you will have to do alot of head work in order to truly understand that it is about a lifestyle change this is the way you are going to eat for the rest of your life - this isn't a diet - cuz what happens when you go off your diet - you go back to eating normal - Well our eating normal is what got us fat in the 1st place.. Once I understood that - it all fell into place for me - had my ah ha moment - the band has made me be able to live that new lifestyle change -

Good Evening Gang.. Phyl - How was Guy's & Riverside Karla - How has your hookie day been Kari - You haven't posted - but I know where to find you :0) Candice - One more day.... Steph - How has the rest of your day gone today... Well am waiting for GF to come over to cut my hair - she use to work at my job - she use to be a hair stylist - but is allergic to the chemicals - She does a better job than the girl I was going to - but this is her side job. Andrew said why are you getting your hair cut again - I don't like short hair - well dude it's not your head and I look better w/short hair - I guess he doesn't understand the words shape up.. Well I guess I would grow it out if it was nice and thick but I have fine hair and not doing the whole extension thing - plus I think as you get older you look better in shorter hair Heck I was 27 and had medium hair got it cut shorter and this lady said - oh you look younger (kinda rude - I was old to begin w/at 27) and you know what I did get carded after that.. Well, not much else going on - will ck back after hair cut

Well we wouldn't want that to happen ElfiePoo lol... Be care full - I have don't it a couple of times myself :0)

No regerts at all - only that I didn't do it sooner - I feel 10 yrs younger - have tons more energy and hopefully added a few more yrs to my life... Icing on the cake - I love going into a store any buy size 4 pair of pants (was 18/20) Catherine55 gave you great advice - WTG Catherine 7lbs to go - Congrats !!!!

It depends on your DNA mostly - how much weight you have to lose - how long you have been over weight - your age.. The way I looked at it - was the excess skin isn't going to kill me (they make good foundation undergarments like spanx for those issues) but the excess fat was going to kill me and limited the quality of my life..

Yep my crazy daughter wants to do a 3k one day then the next day 1/2 marathon and on the 3rd day a full marathon - yes she is certifiable - but I love her and her determination. Ok I would go on a GF trip with you - that's another good part of being single - someone can say let's go and I have the freedom to do it - but hell we live to far apart - go get Karla and do something - how far do you guys live from each other... What happen w/your church group that you were going to join.. I can get hermit like if I stay in the house too long - I am glad you are going to see your PA - I want you to tell her everything that's going on - so that she can adjust your meds to help you deal will all thats going on.. Candice - get your RV - go pick up Karla - then Steph and head to Vegas ) Phyl & I will met you there..

Who did a fake shudder ?? I am lost by your post...

Count yourself lucky - cuz my band doesn't stop me on pie crust nor cake or cookies I alway say that I have done 75% of the work by making better food choices and exercising and my band has done the other 25% by providing restriction I focus alot more now a days on the nutritional value of my foods - I don't count calories or pt grms any longer (I did keep a food diary for the 1st yr until I got to goal) I do make sure that I am getting healthy food - some days - I want a quesdilla (sp) I will have one for lunch - not often (may every couple of month)- cheese is another one of the foods that I have very limited quantities of - it's too high in fat and calories I also limit my starches - but include some every night with dinner - I can't do an adktin type eating plan - it's to restrictive for me.. Yes once a month or every couple of months is a good plan - I went to a bday party when I was like 2 months out - had 1/2 slice of cake - What I do is look at the calorie content of the cookie I want - 2 cookie 300 cal - well that's an hour on the treadmill - then I ask myself - is it worth it - usually it' not but some times it is :0).. I measured & weighed my food for the first few months - I needed to understand and know what 4 oz of meat looked like - I needed to know what 1/2 cup of something looked like - These were learning tools - I counted calories and kept food diary for the 1st yr til I got to goal - Again another learning tool - now I know for the most part the # of calories in the foods I am consuming - where as before I had no idea that a slice of cheese cake from he cheese cake factor (low carb one) has like 500 calories - a regular slice has like 1000+ The whole weight loss thing isn't a race - some of us are stricter with our food choices than other - some of us keep out bands tighter than others - some of us have slower metabolism than others and some spend more hours in the gym than other.. We all do it a little diff than the next person and that's fine - nothing is written in stone - I feel that you have to find what works for you and do that - cuz this is a lifetime lifestyle change - and for it to truly become that for you - it has to work for you and be livable..

Deb gotta say gf you fit right on in - I would love to sit around your table making bling bling decorations and chatting - that kind of stuff is fun... Ya wanta come and join us in Florida you are one of us... I also ck often during the day to see what's going on from work = I'm lucky the IT person is my friend :0) Joanne Sorry you can't make it- Yep a great time to teach her to knit Laura - I get you 67 is cold for us pple use to heat :0) - It's sweater weather for me to.. If I were in your Dad's position - I would take quality of life over lenght.. Hugs .. Great - I had a crappy nurse at night when I had my lapband - but glad to hear you are doing so well - don't worry about the typos we understand what you are saying. Linda WTG on throwing the cookies out There is a thread on here somewhere "Relax Eat what you want" I posted that I respectfully dissagreed - cuz that's how we got fat in the first place - I still want to eat like I use to - that hasn't left me - I love the taste of food, sweets & fat.. So I know that for me this is going to be a life long battle - I am not satisfied with one cookie and a dozen isn't enough Well jsut a drive by - like Deb i'm at work and should be working :0)

Back from MRI & lunch - OMG a MRI is nothing !!! The put head phones on me (well with all the clanging - you couldnt hear much) I sorta power napped.. I'm w/you Steph the clanging sorta like white noise.. I don't think it would bug be at all if I had to have my head done. I won't know the results till they call me for another appt - but Steph & Candice - it's nothing big my right knee was hurting while I was on vacation - I think it's a muscle thing from over use (well shopping shouldn't be that hard on it) anyway - could be a torn mensucusi (sp) nothing major - an in & out surgery and 1 month pt... But hopefuly it's nothing - in fact it has bothered me since I was on vacation and going to the gym every morning - then shopping in the afternoons - Like I said it only acts up if I am on my feet for 5 - 6 hrs.. Steph - You gotta get your little ones presents - even Michael something - I could see donating for Grown ups but not kids - My sister takes buspar (sp) for her social anxiety - when did this start - you didn't seem like this was an issue in July 08.. Sweetie I don't nor can't run - so it's not a rejection of you - it's just something I don't do.. I'm old enough to me your Mom - am in decent shape for an old broad - but am not a runner and if I am going to spend $$ going somewhere to exercise :0)- I want it to be fun - even though I exercise alot - doing it for 3 day walk or run - No fun imho - give me get to gether time w/my Girl Friends - then you will find me - We are going to WA this yr - for our reunion - so you better show up and bring Karla w/you..

We are going to Orlando FL 2/11-12-13th - flying home on the 14th - Apples put it together - We have 3 - 3 bedroom Condos - and we have room - so I hope maybe you can make it :0)...

Eva - Don't feel bad - I couldnt' post and do card either :0) I had to just sit down and do them with the computer off - the computer can get in the way of me getting things done that need to get done - I rather chat than work :0).. I'm with you on being able to sit and chat - My 1st Lapband visit with my #7's we went to the Mall of America - the problem was we broke off in diff groups and shopped - we didn't have enough time sitting and actually talking - and that's what we missed the most - so this last year we met a one of our pples house and so we did have alot of time together as a group - ya we still did stuff and again would break off into groups but - we did have the time together to actual talk to each other.. Will they let you take food on the plane?? I have taken snack type food but not real food - Your tamales sound more healhty than mine :0) - hope you get to bring them I would love a taste :0).. Jewel - glad school is over - I have a 5 yr old Grandaughter - yes they are a handful :0) glad I had my DS young - cuz I sure in the heck couldn't keep up with a 5 yr old 24/7 now a days - I love my quite time. Eva back to me being an inspriation - well gf - I still struggle and right now I am fighting w/myself over all the junk in the lunch room right now - All I keep telling myself is it's not healthy food - you will have your treats - it's not like food is going to dissappear from your life and it's not going to kill you to pass up on those cookies and candies in the lunch room - but the fat that accumulates from eating them will sure enough kill you - limit the quality of your life - so for today I am saying NO.. It's a one day at a time thing.. It's really all about the mind games we play withour selves. Yes restriction helps - but as we all know usually our fav foods just slip right on threw our bands - so we do have to make up our mind that we will allow some treat - but say no to others.. Make the best choicies that you can..

Sally What I do is make deals with myself - I work and my office gets tons of cookies candies etc - well my deal with myself is that I don't eat any of the junk here at work so that I can have a few Xmas cookies that I make w/my granddaughters every year... I guess what got me was the title of this thread Relax - Eat what you want - Well hell - that's how most of us got fat in the 1st place. I know that a few pple who have the band - didn't eat all that unhealthy prior to banding - they just ate too much food - (I wasn't a fast food eater - I ate too much home cooked food - that was high fat and I ate tons of carbs and sugar) would say for the majority of us weren't eating healthy.. here's a link that may help w/the holiday temptations 10 Ways to Avoid Weekend Weight-Gain You can do this - you really can - If I'm doing it you can - it's work but your health is so worth it - it's hard at time and easier at other - But it's do-able.. Wishing you success on your journey

Remodel - I totally agree w/you - this has never been a diet for me - it's all about eating healthy - I like healthy food - always have - I just ate way too much of it - plus too much sugar and high fat - I was never a fast food person - I ate too much good home cooking and I sat on my but 24/7. I am right there w/you on the head hunger issues - I ate dinner last night was physically full but still wanted to eat (and my body was physically craving food) - this is where my addiction kicks in - once I eat I don't want to stop. So between my band and my brain - I pretty much have this whole thing figured out for the most part. If I have extra treats - it mean extra exercise - If I'm going to a party - I eat light during the the day. This is what skinny pple do - yep they eat a pint of ice cream when they have a bad day - but they don't eat a half gallon every day ..

Hi Rb99 - Congrats on getting back on the bandwagon :0) As far as flab goes - at our age its to be expected - not much to do about it until the weight is gone and plastic surgery - I have some but not that bad - I don't have the whole apron thing going on - so my insurance wouldn't cover it - but if you get rashes etc under the flap then yes most insurance will cover to have it removed. Remember - the extra skin isn't going to kill you but the extra fat will for sure :0) Lori - So good to hear from you - you have been in my prayers also... Glad you are doing so well.. Last yr when all the xmas cookies we made were gone gs said that his cousin didn't get any - so I got the pre-cut out ones and frosted them - Ya I agree they tasted good to me too :0)..

Good for you Karla - it's a great way to treat yourself - you need a hookie day... I love napping.. You are up early today :0) - Good luck at tops. Pizza omw well they always have a salad - It ok to be a turtle - hell it's the holidays - today was my weigh in too - 143 - I got to 141.5 when I was on vacation last week - haven't done too much else diff - I think I moved more while on vacation - where I work I am on my butt more. Have a safe drive - talk to you tonite :0)

Hey Gang - It's not all about the fills - yes you need restriction that's why we got the band - to reduce the volume of food that we can eat. But the band doesn't make our food choices for us.. It's also about what you are eating - losing weight is about reducing the # of calories you consume in a day vs the amount of calories you burn. This is where I find keeping a food journal is helpful - it tracks/shows you the # of calories that you are consuming in a day - it could be you aren't eating enough - it could be you may be consuming too many calories depending on what you are eating. Exercise is key too - every couple of weeks you need to up your intensity - In the beginning I only had to walk 1 mile to burn 200 calories but now I have to walk 1.5 miles at a higher speed and incline to burn that many calories - I weigh less so I burn less calorie than I did at 250. During my weight loss phase I kept my calories between 800-1200 and varied then daily and like I said above - I increased the intensity of my exercise every few weeks and this for me this worked - I was banded 7/07 and by 12/07 I had lost about 55 lbs if I remember correctly..

Thanks Charlene - it's my first MRI experience - so I am curious about it - the funny thing is it really hasn't bothered me lately and I have been on the treadmill - so I think it's something to do with over use or a muscle thing - who knows - I guess that's why I am getting it ck'd out - hopefully that's all it is.. Well off to the shower - gotta get ready for work..

Good Morning Gang Well I guess since Karla isn't going to work today - she is sleeping in :0).. I slept really well last night - I didn't wake up once and that's a rarity for me.. Had 2 ck tacos for dinner and some popcorn and that was it.. Oh I wonder where in Banning you are going for lunch - Have fun in Riverside. Well have my MRI today - work and gf coming over to cut my hair tonite - CBL

Melissa I am not 100% on this but the way I understand it we have 3 - 3 bedroom condo's - I don't know the bed sizes - so you and your Mom would share a room or depending who doesn't come I would guess that you could each have your own room I think as of right now its Me Apple Eva in one Condo - Laura - Linda - Meredith in the other Condo - You & Your Mom and Julie in the other condo - I think these are all the pple coming to florida. Jewel said something about coming down for the day.. So if I have it right you and your Mom can each have your own room or share OMW I don't think I could work those hours - Hugs you are going to be pooped... Good Morning Gang... Not much to report since last night - had 2 taco's for dinner and some popcorn and slept very well - didn't wake up at all last night - that's rare for me. Have my MRI today - I gotta take off all my jewelry - I feel naked ;0)

You are so right Karla - 3 is an OMG where as before - we didn't think about what we ate or how much we ate.. I know that when I think I have over done it - in all reality I haven't - Yes I do love the new mindset..

I respectfully disagree - I can't eat what I want and keep the weight off Sugar & Fat are my drugs of choice.. I am at my sweet spot but these foods are sliders - My band isn't going to stop me from eating a box of See's candy.. Ya my band stops me from eating a 16 oz steak and a loaf of bread- but it doesn't do anything for the sweets, adult beverages.. So yes pple who are addicted to sweets you do have to be diligent in keeping their guard up against these foods.. I can't eat what I want to eat - I want the candy and Cookies and at night I have no control - so I don't have these foods in my house - I am a food addict - I am no diff than a crack addict - you can't leave a bag of crack on the kitchen table and not expect them to smoke it.. This isn't to say that I don't allow myself an occasional treats but I can not eat like I would like to - if I did I would still weight 250 lbs So for those of you who are sugar addicts - be careful during the holidays - Allow for some treats - but be mindful and aware of what you are eating..

Well just cking in - back from the gym - have the animals fed including GS lol... I wonder how Great did?? Laura how was your DH's homecomming