phyllser

Yeah, it's pretty nice to have the warm weather finally show up. I hope I don't have to go north!! My aunt is very ill... at Roswell in Buffalo. Had surgery to remove mass today and is very critical... 79 yrs old. Talked to my sister several times today and she said it had "warmed up" to 14 degrees this afternoon! Yeah, I can't imagine that Brownie stuff!! Good thing I don't have anything around like that! The most I can do is snag a little cottage cheese out of the refrig! Last night I jazzed it up with some Splenda and a sprinkle of cinnamon! Woo Hoo!! My biggest baddest thing I do is too often have more than one of my teeny glasses of wine! Only one today, though! Tomorrow we have a Ladies' Luncheon here. I will have to be good! DH is making me macaroni & tuna salad to take. I told him not to because he always makes too much and then I have to bring home leftovers and that stuff talks to me just as loud as your M&Ms until it's gone!! So he agreed to make half what he normally makes! Hopefully, the ladies will eat it all! Okay, Janet... you didn't fall off the wagon... just a little momentary madness! We just can't have ANYTHING around that tempts us!

Everyone's experience is different, but for me, Medicare was a breeze. My doctor's office said from the beginning that it wouldn't be a problem... they were a Center of Excellence, my BMI was high, I had multiple co-morbidities. They took care of everything. They didn't require supervised diet... I had a long history of that & probably my primary care doctor's records documented that. also, they did not require a psych eval, which surprised me because most have had to go through that. So my first appt with the surgeon was the first week of May and my surgery was July 20. I haven't paid anything except a $200 co-pay for the surgeon. I have Tricare for Life secondary because my husband is retired military. They paid all the co-pays except for that. I haven't paid anything for fills so far either. One strange thing that happened is that Medicare rejected the hospital portion of the bill... $17K... absurd since I didn't even stay overnight... So I called them about that and they told me the hospital had coded it incorrectly and if they would change the code and resubmit it they would pay it. But when I called the hospital they told me my balance was $0 and they'd already written it off!! Huh?? So I guess they didn't want to get paid! Go figure!

We didn't miss it!! We're all afraid to yell at you!!Actually, it was too scarey to think about you falling off the wagon!! Okay, so if you'll hold my hand, one day I'll try it... but where do I go??? Certainly not "Juniors"! Petites, maybe!! No old lady clothes for me, though!! Right now I want some capris with bright, flashy colors... print!! I might think about making some! Then they won't be down to my ankles like most capris that I buy! I can buy Lands' End cropped pants & they're the right length! I gotta get out of here. It's now 87 degrees inside the RV with all the windows open! going out to read my book... honest!!

I've been having bad headaches lately, too. I think I might have a blocked tear duct or something because it seems to be in my left eye. I don't like taking Ibuprofen, but nothing else seems to help. I honestly can't picture myself shopping in the NORMAL people section!! I won't know what to do!! I went from the kids' chubbies to what they used to call "half sizes" and from there to the "Women's" or Plus department!! I'll need someone to hold my hand if I venture into NORMAL!! Yikes!! Did you fall victim to the Sunday paper VALENTINES ads???? The power of suggestion can be so strong!! I felt like I was being bombarded with temptation!! I didn't do too well over the weekend... had too much wine yesterday. Usually limit myself to one 3-4 oz glass of dry red, but we were over at the neighbors' and it's easy to overdo when you're sitting visiting!! How do I cope with those "urges"... try not to have anything tempting around! I snacked on beef jerky last night, and then I had cottage cheese and fruit. Should have had one or the other but not both!! Oh, well, the beef jerky is gone now.

Isn't that great!! I don't care much for sweets anymore either. I don't want to waste my calories on stuff like that.... I want my meat/fish and veggies! We are truly making lifestyle changes!! Hooray! I looked at all those ads yesterday and felt bombarded with chocolate!! But, you're right, it doesn't really tempt me now!

That is a real bummer!! Men just don't have a clue! That's why I was so happy that my sister was able to be here for the weekend of her 60th. We had a great time & the men just came allong for the ride. They tried their hardest to talk us out of going up the Palm Springs Tram for dinner but we weren't budging!! And they actually enjoyed it once they got over their grumbling & complaining! Next year you plan your own birthday party!! You tell THEM what's going to happen and where they are going to take you!! And you know what else..... BUY YOURSELF A REALLY NICE BIRTHDAY PRESENT!!! I did that this year.

Try Lane Bryant if you have access to one!! Hasn't been my favorite store in recent years, but I sure did well yesterday. I was so delighted to find someone who would actually help me, and then they were on sale, and I found such a variety of colors and prints and stripes,even!! Whoppee!! You are right.... black, white, beige.... what we've been restricted to!!

Hope you find what you need!! I'm so happy with my new boob covers!! Can't wait to wear my red hearts on Valentine's Day!!

ATTENTION: DO NOT look at the ads in the Sunday paper today!!! They are FULL of chocolate TEMPTATIONS!! Think THIS: NOT THIS:

ATTENTION: DO NOT look at the ads in the Sunday paper today!!! They are FULL of chocolate TEMPTATIONS!! Think THIS: NOT THIS:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KARI!!

I started out just about where you are.. well, i'm 5 ft tall, first weigh in was 326.6! Lost down to 308 on pre-op diet. I'm doing really well... slow but steady progress! You can do it!! Best of luck to you!

ATTENTION: DO NOT look at the ads in the Sunday paper today!!! They are FULL of CHOCOLATE TEMPTATIONS!! Think THIS: NOT THIS:

Okay, gang, I told you I needed new bras, right?? I just didn't know how bad! Went to Penney's today looking for front hook, no wire bras. Found one style, didn't care for it, didn't know what size I needed, couldn't find anyone to help me!! So I left and went down four stores to Lane Bryant... can't remember who suggested that. Maybe it was Janet. Anyway, I found an actual living, breathing sales person in by the "intimate apparel" and asked her is she was the "bra lady". She said she was and asked me what I was looking for. I told her and she said Lane Bryant has discontinued their front hook bras but she thought I could find them at Kohl's. So I told her it's impossible to find anyone to help you in any of the department stores these days and I have no clue what size I need. So she measured me and said I measured for a 42D!! I laughed and told her I thought I was wearing about a 52D!! Actually, it was probably a 48D. All the bras I have are so old you can't read the size any more but I know they range from 48D-52D. At any rate, I was shocked at the 42D!! So I decided to try on some of their bras even though they were not front hook. So I found a style I really liked and found I actually COULD reach around and hook them (arthritis in my shoulders and previous rotator cuff surgery on one had kept me from doing that). AND, they were having a sale... buy one and the 2nd is 1/2 price. So I decided I'd buy FOUR!! Then she told me that if I spent $75 then she'd give me a coupon for another $25 off! The four bras came to more than that, so I picked out matching undies!! Okay... I know... I"m 64 yrs old!! But I got one bra that is white with red hearts all over it, and matching undies, one black & white striped w/black undies, one grey, one pink, each with matching undies. And one more extra pr of undies and all five of them were basically FREE!! I am SO HAPPY!! I have four new bras & five undies and they are all really cool colors!! AND THEY FIT!! Also found 2 prs of jeans at a yard sale for 50 cents!

If you have any type of photo studio software you can use that to "stitch" pictures together.

Elaine, This is THE best place to hang out! You might check out the Lucky #7s thread... those of us who were banded in July 07, but we welcome ANYONE and we have one gal from Dec and I think a couple of Aug & June.. Best of luck to you!!

Not too wordy at all!! Great NSV!! Congrats to you!! We need encouraging news like that.... some of our gals are getting discouraged. Each one's accomplishments are encouragement for ALL of us. Thanks for sharing that!! I love the new photo, by the way. What a cute little guy!! Sorry about your cold weather!! Not to make you feel bad, but the past two days have been the best so far this winter and today it's supposed to be near 80 degrees!! We actually ate dinner out on the patio last night! It's been such a chilly, rainy, windy winter that we are overdue for some warmth and sunshine!!

Good to see you back!! Sounds like you're making great progress!

Glad you're back, Cece!! Sorry to hear you are having problems coping. Have you talked to your doctor about this? Maybe you could benefit from being on some medication. But you know, you shouldn't stay away when things are going badly... this is the best support group there is! We care!!

Sorry you're having a downer tonight, Kari! Seem to be quite a few getting discouraged. You are down 8 lb in a month... that's GREAT! I know it seems like you're working hard, and you are, but like Janet says... we have to do 75% of the work, the band only does 25%. But it's worth it!! Keep on truckin'!! Here's a piece of chocolate for you!! Sorry I took a bite out of it! Hugs!!

I had my surgery at Virginia Mason in Seattle, Dr. Jeffrey Hunter. All of my appointments, pre-op and post-op have been at their clinic in Federal Way. I live in Everett, so it's a drive, but not that often, so I just deal with it! I like Dr. Hunter a lot. He has a very busy office and his staff can sometimes be a little difficult to deal with. I've found that I just have to be persistent and sometimes not take "no" for an answer. They are very dedicated people, knowledgeable, etc., but BUSY and sometimes that comes across as impersonal. Yes, Dr. Hunter told me he wanted me to lose 10% of my body weight prior to surgery. So I put myself on a serious pre-op diet that closely resembles the required post-op diet. I used the Costco EAS protein mix for breakfast most mornings. Usually had a salad at lunch time, with a little protein of some kind... tuna, cheese, etc. Dinner... about 4 oz of meat and lots of veggies. I lost 18 lb in about 6 weeks.. which wasn't 10%, but did get my BMI below 60 which made Dr. Hunter happy.

Hi, Della, This site is kind of hard to find.... try this one: New 60+ Thread It's under the age specific listing and we're trying to all gravitate over to that one. They revamped the whole LBT site a couple of weeks ago and our 60 thread wasn't there. I had my surgery about 6 1/2 mos ago and I'm doing great. I'm feeling good, losing consistently, etc. I have high BP and cholesterol, joint problems, sleep apnea. BP seems to be down, I'm walking better.. not so much pain, etc. Hoping to get off one of my BP meds when we go home in the spring (we are "Snowbirds"), and maybe get rid of the CPAP machine! This is a great place to get your questions answered. What did you mean about the liquids? supplements? I take quite a few meds... BP, cholesterol, etc. Don't have any trouble getting any of them down. I have always had trouble with Calcium, so I found some chewable...calcium citrate chews... Rite Aid sells them, and liquid sublingual B-Complex (Target or Wal-Mart). I like to take fish oil supplements and they are quite large, but I found some smaller ones, also at Rite Aid, GNC brand and they go down fine. I use Centrum Silver chewables for Multivitamin. Haven't yet found Vitamin C that i like. I don't like the chewables.

I'm too old for "hormonal issues"!! Hope this helps. I was very glad to find this thread... didn't know what happened to the old one, but stumbled on this one today!

Someone probably already asked you this, but, remember... I'm old and I forget things! Are you sure you're getting enough Potassium??? Notice at the SuperBowl they had slightly over-ripe bananas on a table for the players to combat leg cramps. Slightly over-ripe, the potassium gets in to your system really fast. I avoid bananas becuase #1, they're fairly high calorie and sugar content, and #2, they seem to upset my stomach. But, maybe 1/2 banana before bed might help.

You're just BABIES!!