the best me

I got the same smilies when I edited. Keep posting these things...the big guy (alex and staff) will monitor and make changes if needed. I now know why the new post list is 20 pages. a Line came up in the new post list that says...these posts have not been read but no replies have been posted since your last visit...something like that. There's another thread about Board Changes...I'll go check it out too. I love the top 5 lists!!!!!

No no no! You have to keep in touch here on the boards so we can all read! Michelle, you and Francesca are just as banded without the band...don't go underground, we need you! On the other hand, Paula is a sweet friend and sends funny e-mails when you are on her list...go for it!

Way to put your foot down, Mom. I agree. See noone till noon!!!!! We are fortunate...we have the youngest kids on my side so everyone comes here. I just need to get the house clean and do some cooking. Hubby's family always gets together the week before, so we are all on our own Christmas Day. Works perfectly! We will leave for worship Service Christmas morning (11am) this yeart, then everyone is coming over. Perfect! It isn't mean, it's right. good for you! Can you get away with doing that this year? Let us know about Curtis. Bless his little heart. Don't ever let me complain, ya know? He is inspirational. And so are you! I'll have to check my insurance on the Chiro. I think I need to save my $$$ though. happy Wed!!!

I felt like I had a huge sign on my chest that siad "This person is a loser. This person is out of control, has no self-control, isn't any good at much, despite her potential, needs help, needs encouragement, you should question this person's perspective and validity, she certainly does, and all her faults are showing on the OUTSIDE, even though the rest of the normal-sized world has the SAME faults, but hidden." My FAT was my sign. I was miserable, unhappy, couldn't get past it all. It's slowly getting better. As the weight comes off I feel like me. It got so bad I had WLS. I honestly never considered suicide, just went back to eating tons when it got unbearable. Even the eating wasn't suicidal FOR ME, it was just coping. I can see how the eating would be an intentional slow death though.

Dianne, don't worry over the prednisone. My daughter had walking pneumonia (at age 6!) last month and the doc gave her the antibiotic and liquid pred. She was much better in just a few days! It really helps. Take it like the doc ordered, and please don't stop now! You have 11 people at your house over the weekend...you need to feel your best! Throw out the scales until you have been on and then off the pred for a week. You will pee like a racehorse for a few days after the pred is done and then you will know it's safe to get on the scale. Your weight loss journey is for the long haul. A little temporary Water weight gain won't hurt you...really!!!!! Warning: long and complicated plans ahead... I got a call today from my sister-in-law from Texas. Shhhh...it's a surprise! She, my brother and my 16yo niece are driving in to Charlotte late tomarrow night! Yay! Our Christmas is complete! So noone knows but me. Geez! Talk about pressure! I have my dad coming over for coffee tomorrow night, then I gave hubby the heads up that me and dad need to go out and do something secret after 11pm. Please don't freak out...we'll be back. Fine. So I'll wait for the call, load up dad, stop and get my sis, and meet them at the Cracker Barrel on Billy Graham. They will be so happy! We will get my bro and bring him back to my house. He'll go home with my dad and stay there with him. My SIL and niece will drive on to her sisters house in South Charlotte for the weekend. THEN! My Mom and her fiance (yes, drama at our house this Chistmas...lets just add the new fiance to the family pic this year, huh? sigh. Wish I didn't like him so much, right? He's a great guy.) Anyhow, Mom still doesn't know. I called her today and said..."I just talked with Cathy. Her Mom is coming into town from Tx with our gifts so she doesn't have to ship them. Can you come have hamburgers Friday night and stop by the sister's house to pick up our gifts? We'll send ours back with her when she goes back after Christmas...they'll be late but it's okay" blah, blah, yada, yada, yada. So Mom will go to the sister's house and find her Daughter-in-law and Granddaughter there...Get in her car and come up for burgers. Surprise! And we'll all be together Friday night. With the new fiance. Let's just add to the plate! Then we'll be together again on Christmas day here. That's 14 people Friday night and Christmas day. Time to go grocery shopping? Karen: I'm so glad your Christmas musical is going so well. God is so faithful, I love to see His Spirit move. Bless you for using your talents. Angie: I posted about your surgery on the other thread...keep us updated! Melissa: you sound like me with appoinyments. It's a busy time of year to be scheduling these things! But, they are important. I wish I had a nutritionist following along with me. Ya'll all be thankful for your insurance! Me and Sherrie will ride your coat tails, okay? Kim, I really hope your back feels better. Yuck. Do you like the Chiro? I have always wanted to get adjusted several times over a month and see if I can just get a better feeling of well-being. They say so many things can be out of whack and cause problems all over...sinuses, allergies, digestive system issues, foot pain, etc. I hope that works for you. If I were desperate enough, I'd drink an adult dose of the liquid and wash wash wash it through with plenty of water to keep it off the stoma, ya know? I wonder if your doc would allow that? You don't need it everyday, right? Might be worth it? Pat, that sounds so nice...even just one night away at the beach with the girls would be worth the drive! How fun! How far is it to the Outer Banks from here...isn't it an 8-9 hour drive? Yowza! I'd love to do it. It doesn't even have to be summer! Okay, I need to wrap one gift tonight...then I'm hitting the sack! Night all!!!

Answers are wonderful. glad you know the source of your discomfort. Keep us posted on your surgery (I know you will) so we can be praying and thinking of you! It's gonna be fine, and you will feel sooooo much better! Drink your water!!!!

Wow...I'm in a hurry or I'd respond more fully...but just wanted to let you know that I'm pretty sure desertmom is in Saudi. I'll try to scare her up later if you don't find her.

I ended up using the Richard Simmons food Mover for about a week and it helped me to see where I could improve my food choices. What is odd, though, is how much easier it is to follow a healthy diet when banded. You would probably do well on something structured for a bit...just to teach yourself how you SHOULD be eating. I like the WW Points Systems. With young children, though, it's hard to make the meetings. I have the plan info from last time I joined but the meetings can be very helpful. I wonder if there's a WW meeting for folks with WLS? Wonder if that would be good? You could always start a "weekly meeting" here? Just to weigh in and discuss banded WW issues? Someone on here doesn't like WW at all...I can't remember who. I'm sure she'll check in and you'll get another perspective.

Did it...thanks for the heads up!!

Larae, I THINK prolapse simply indicates what kind of slip you have...where the bottom part of the stomach (front or back?) has lapsed over the top of the band and your pouch is now "oversized" and the wrong shape for working properly...anyhow, it's a slipped band. Not good, but maybe not the end of the world. Here's hoping your unfill and meds keep your band healthy and no more surgery is in your future. Anyone who knows the real scoop please post in case I'm wrong.

Yay!!! I'm excited for you. Congrats on getting in under the wire! Post when you are home, just a quick line. We'll be thinking of you!!!! YOU...get a banana...:banana

Misty, slow down, take smaller sips, keep your liquids non-acidic (ie: no tomato soup, orange juice, etc), occasionally chew a Tums, too. Don't go barrelling back into drinking so soon after surgery. Slow down and go easy on your new little band friend. You stomach has to learn a few new tricks. Make it easy! And congrats!

Wow Larae, are you completely unfilled now? And still having heartburn? Yes...I see you are empty. Maybe with an empty band and the Prevacid you will see a huge improvement. I'm not sure about a prolapsed band...it's a classic slip, yes? It's possible to unslip, stay that way for a good bit till things settle down, then fill again later. Hang in there. Thanks for the update. And do your research well before any surgery to make sure you want to convert to bypass, and more importantly, which one is best for you. It's a whole other world from banding. Just make sure. Whatever you need to do , we support you!!!

Okay everyone, no hard feelings on the Slow Losers thread. Life is hard enough. Group hug...come on now, let go of hurt feelings and lets get back on track. Jorjet, you and I were both banded in April, and I went through my diffucult period gettng beyond 208...a number I hated and one my body loved. I know how you feel. Just because you have lost more than 1 pound per week since banding doesn't make your journey any more difficult for you. I KNOW how frustrating it can be. PM me if you'd like. You really do have support here, even if you can't put Slow Loser on your sig...I know it's a silly little thing but it's important. Please be okay and don't regret reaching out.

Wonderful Jonathan. Megan is lovely and I wish you both all the happiness in the world! Thanks for sharing your special day with us. Congratulations!

December 2005 Dianne (sunsett), Kim (gordonfamily3), Kathy (the best me) Karen (KarenMcGregor), Melissa (dragonwilow) holding DD Karah, and Angie (bondgirl)

November 2005 Back row: Dianne (sunsett), Kim (gordonfamily3), Melissa (dragonwilo) sherrie (Sherrie) Front row: Kathy (the best me), Kami, Karen (KarenMcGregor)

September 2005 Left to Right: Kathy (the best me), Kim (gordonfamily3), Melissa (dragonwilo), Dianne (sunsett), Karen (KarenMcGregor), Starr (StarrW)

This is August 2005. Angie (Bondgirl) is front and center. Surrounding her from left to right is: Kathy (the best me), Melissa (dragonwilo), Kim (gordonfamily3), Starr (Starr W), and Dianne (sunsett).

This is our first get-together at Concord Mills Mall in July 2005. Kathy (the best me), Kim(gordonfamily3), Melissa (dragonwilow) and Angie (bondgirl) Oy Vey! No more pics with Kathy's camera phone...too fuzzy!

Okay gang, look for a new LBT Charlotte Bandsters Picture Thread...I'm working on it NOW! I'll post a link here when I get one. Whew! Okay, I'm done for the night. The thread still needs some work...ya'll post some links to where these pics are!!! I left room for the ones missing so they will be chronological. Heck, I may have them in my 'puter? I'll check tomorrow...anyhow, enjoy!!! Maybe we can get this Stickied in the NC forum?

Keep in mind there are two gasses...one gas is in the bowels, and I'd imagine a good cleaning out would definately be helpful during recovery. The other gas is the gas they use to blow up your abdomen for the laporoscopic surgery. this is the gas that settles into your shoulders and causes so much discomfort. I have heard, though, that the shoulder pain could be referred pain from the band site, but I have heard too many nurses say that no matter what surgery it is, the abdominal gas causes shoulder pain. This is most helped by walking it off. Fleets away, my friend!

Mine includes tidiness in my home and more exercise...I'm thinking about pouncing on Kare for one of her CD's, just in time for New Years, right? It's time to get my butt moving. Yuck. Exercising is like going to church. When you are in the habit of it, you miss it terribly if you skip! But once you get out of the habit, it's sooooo hard to get back into it.

Yay! It's cissy's birthday! Hope your day is fantabulous!

If I have any voting priveleges attached to my membership, I'd say Yay!! You are a good candidate since you are so hard core on rule following. I'm a softie and would let anyone in who identified with turtleness... That said, Smooch, look at my numbers. I haven't seen 187 in about a week, but you could put my average weight at about 189, safely. I have been banded for 36 weeks and 2 days...that makes a 34.4 pound loss...still a turtle. Okay. Never mind for now. I have a feeling if I can manage to be remotely successful getting down below 185, I would be at risk of graduating. I hit plateaus so frequently, I don't think I'll be graduating anytime soon though. That's okay. I love you guys and I'm fine with staying here for now. Jorget...your loss is wonderful, please don't be discouraged! Hang in there. I swear, I think our bodies just need a minute to grab onto and maintain our current weight before it wants to let go of more. Keep at it. I'd love to talk about what you think is keeping you from losing more, wanna fess up? I could use the brain work...go ahead, just because you can't be a turtle doesn't mean you can't join us. Bandster Hopeful...I like that link. I am considering some of the CD's but, honestly, I want to research this hypnosis thingy and make sure I'm comfy with it before plugging in and zoning out on God only knows what. Know what I mean? I doubt the CDs will have me dancing like a chicken or stripping in public, but, ya know. Anyhow, thanks for the link. Maybe I'll start a link about hypnosis and see what folks have to say about it?