the best me

Good Luck Chief! Keep us posted on your progress! Thanks for the info for your area, you might could post your link in the state forums, in case others are searching there.

Good idea to welcome the newbies! Does this mean I'm not a newbie anymore? There are so many of you I have a hard time keeping up, just don't let yourself get lost in here, okay? Don't be aftraid to SPEAK UP! and get your questions answered. LBT is a hopping place, jump on in! And do lots of searches...by the way, a PB is a productive burp, well, you'll figure it out. hehe!

Okay, 9 central means it's almost over, how'd it go? Man, you guys were johnny-on-the-spot today! Way to help a friend! The potty hands worked for me, too. Good one DeLarla! Did you ever eat the pizza? Fess up if you did.

All the folks here who are in their 30s and 40s think wer'e still 19 or at least try to act it, so you fit in just fine. The Navy? God Bless You. Sincere Thanks to you for your wish to serve this country in the armed forces. I hope you can go! Good for you. Age 18 is official adult, right? You should have no problem, particularly with your BMI being over 40. You will be able to find a Doctor. There is one gal on here who recently had a baby, do a search on "pregnant" and the like, you will find her, and she would love to talk with you and reassure you that having children on the band is possible. I think her name is Brandi? Anyone correct me if I'm wrong, but she did solicit anyone interested to contact her about her pregnancy. There is another thread in here somewhere titled "Any regrets?" (do a search) and one after another, people said their only regret was that they didn't do it sooner, or that it wasn't available when they were your age... If your doctor is in agreement, you have done your research and are fully prepared for the lifestyle changes, the risks, the everything, I say go for it, but not until you know all you can find out about life after the Band. Read, read read, here and other places too. Welcome!

Oh the smoking dilemma...I quit and gain, I start and lose, but only a little. Right now I am "ON" and this has been the biggest factor for me deciding to get banded. I know for certain that I will gain when I quit, but if I can get way down below 200, I am more willing to gain the 20-30 lbs, my hope is with the band, I will gain much less when the time comes. When I give up eating as a coping mechanism, I smoke, what happens when I can do neither? Better for me to lose the weight first, then cross that bridge. If you have it in you to quit, Bret, don't look back! It's reassuring, though, that I will not damage the band by smoking, just my lungs! Unless a hacking cough just after surgery could cause problems? I feel so foolish smoking...any other advice here would be greatly appreciated by me, as well. Anyone quit while banded?

So, how'd it go? Just searching for an update on your surgery. Hope you are well and recovering nicely. Your avatar it small and I can't tell which ManiAAC you are...I think you are cool.

Thanks everyone, and you, Greg. I'm happy the service was beautiful. These customs and ceremonies are so important for the living. Your cousin and my Nana are not looking back, are they? The preacher at my Nana's funeral said something that made us all crack up at the service, he said, "She might have been a Baptist, but she's dancing now!" The grief is lifting, I hope it is for you as well.

Wow, I love all the yucky stuff, and sat for 30 min seeing all the interviews, the pre-op, post-op and ole Roberta's before and afters. She did great! Awesome site, thanks!

Wow Kelly! I'll bet you DO get the double takes! What a difference! BTW, you look better in your recent pic...IMHO (Can you tell I'm figuring out the lingo...LMAO! Hahaha) editing: Oh, the thread...no weights in NC, but if I had to, I'd go at least 50lbs under and say 170, without a doubt.

Spill the beans, please! Hope you ae recovering well!

Helllooooooo! Don't be shy, give us the SCOOP! Hope you are well.

Megan, yeah, everyone wants a piece of me, and my taking a few moments to concentrate on me, distracts me from my caregiving...little bit a guilt, I am aware of my neglect of others normally not neglected, guilt, and feeling guilty is what's leading to the resentfulness I feel. Saturday's WalMart trip was, on the one hand, typical, and on the other, not, because that day...DH had to work(he couldn't watch the kids, stress), we had been out of town (stress) at my grandmother's funeral (stress) and it was my youngest's 2nd birthday (stress) with 12 people to feed for dinner (stress). So yeah, looking back it was probably ALOT more stressful than a normal trip to WalMart. That "feed me" chatter is very loud lately. Perhaps it will settle soon, but even with the band, like Pam said, I am only treating the symptom. I will still need to deal with the eateateateat...gimme some of that Chinese food, Tina! DH gives me good quiet time, plus I exercise at the gym (with child care there, whew!) and I go to a ladies Bible Study weekly, which is awesome, and I have a gift certificate from my Mother-in-law for a facial I need to schedule, like you said, this too shall pass, so thanks for the encouragement. You all please keep discussing this OCD line of thought around food, it's interesting and is leading somewhere, I can tell... Obsession leads to anxiety, which triggers the compulsion of eating to relieve the anxiety, right?

Please don't go. It will be okay and back to normal soon. I can see the healing starting to happen...thank you.

Okay, I think I may have it, too. i have the eateateateat chatter, and the desperate grab it and shove it now so I'll feel better eating. I'm afraid the Band may make it worse, since I will lose a real coping mechanism, shoving food and lots of it fast. Another thought, the spotlight is on me, and it doesn't feel good. I'm on sensory overload. You should have seen me with 2 kids in the Wal-Mart today. My DH called, "just to see how your'e doing" and I said "Fine, I'm trying to shop and I can't concentrate with the little one and daughter riding on the front of the cart and everywhere I turn I'm in someone's way and I'm trying to push the cart and talk on the phone (insinuating he's part of the problem) and, can I just call you later?" Someone PLEASE give me a SNICKERS!" If I can take some weight off, the spotlight may not be bad...the problem is that now my focus is all on me with upcoming surgery and that everything else; DH, kids, phone, obligations, perfect strangers, are resented interruptions. I can't afford "real" therapy either, so gimme all you got for free, I'm in!

I have returned from our trip to Virginia and my Nana's funeral. It was a lovely service, and she looked beautiful there...she would have been happy to see her hair set so pretty. It hadn't looked that good in years, Nana being pretty well bed-ridden. And so the family were all together and it went nicely and Nana would have been very happy to be among us (and not just in spirit) as we laughed and told stories and as her great grandchildren played together. I often wondered what the day would be like when "it" happened and we had to take the trip, I never dreamed that I would have the opportunity to share about my Nana with cyber-friends! It has been very healing for me, and I appreciate all of your prayers and good wishes for me. Thank You. Greg, how was your cousin's service on Saturday? I hope it was uplifting and brought peace and closure to your family, as I'm sure your cousin would have wanted that. God Bless You.

Way to go Tina!!! I'm very proud of you and glad you got over your hump..."I super glued them to my backbone" Ha! Well said! Dont' you love LBT?

Okay, I can hardly take it! These stories are so sweet. My Nana wore White Shoulders cologne and Shower to Shower powder and Secret deodorant. My other grandmother...well, I guess I'll save it for next time since it's kind of long. When I can stand another dose of sentimentality...wow. Thank you all for your stories, I hope there are more to come! Grandparents are so special. Thank you for this thread Paula!

Yippee!!! Tammy pick the first choice, not the second, and see if that works, also close/save your signature, then post something and it should come up. Then we need to go out an delete all this hijack from this poor thread

it's official, I have no idea why the ticker thingy won't work. Going to reaserch other threads. Tammy, we WILL get you that ticker!

I'm working on it, hold up............and might want to edit out all the white space...hehe you crack me up. WE WILL GET YOU A TICKER! Hold up again, DH is expecting a call on the home line, gotta free it up and get off the 'puter. Back in a bit

Hugs and prayers, update us as soon as you are able!

Ooooo, something like that would be handy to have posted here! I'm sorry, I wish I had one, but someone out there has to!! Anyone?

Greg, so sorry...this thread has been such a blessing. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have recieved from God." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV God Bless You and thank you.

you are so easily forgiven here, DeLarla. I'm sure Jammin Jamie will post soon and make you feel silly for being ashamed, and as soon as she does, you have to promise to let it go. OMG if only I could take back some things...we all feel that way My stripper name would be Jenny Kenny. Or Sissy Kenny. My DH would like something like Conchita Bonita, since he likes that spanish "Caliente" show and big ethnic (spanish or black, he's not picky) butts. He has his trashy side. Thank GOD he likes big butts, cuz this Band I'm getting will help with every part of me but that. I could weigh 110lbs and still have a big butt.

Here's a cute Nana story I just thought of, since she's on my mind a bit these days. Over the last 5 or so years, she has been hearing singing in her head. All kinds of hymns, mostly, and once I asked her what was playing. She listened to herself, and said "In the Garden" then sat and sang along..."and He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own. And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known." It was so sweet. I asked where the music came from, and she said she thought it was from the wires outside (electricity poles?) that someone must be playing music on there. Hmmm, she was never mentally ill and had her wits about her to the end, but noone could ever explain the music she heard. It brought her comfort, so it doesn't matter. That hymn will be sung at her funeral...better bring the tissues!