piercedqt78

I'm on there now too. There was not a single Chicago spot taken yet, so I had to represent. LOL~Mandy

weight 185 underbust 35 Waist 38 hips 38 I am going to miss checking in each week. The challenge has helped me be more faithful in doing weekly weights and measurments though, I think I will continue to do that for myself. I have a journal that I have updated each week along with the challenge thread. Thanks Nana for doing all of this, it has been fun. ~Mandy

One day, in line at the company cafeteria, Joe says to Mike behind him, "My elbow hurts like hell. I guess I'd better see a doctor." "Listen, you don't have to spend that kind of money," Mike replies. "There's a diagnostic computer down at Wal-Mart. Just give it a urine sample and the computer will tell you what's wrong and what to do about it. It takes ten seconds and costs ten dollars . . . A lot cheaper than a doctor." So, Joe deposits a urine sample in a small jar and takes it to Wal-Mart. He deposits ten dollars, and the computer lights up and asks for the urine sample. He pours the sample into the slot and waits. Ten seconds later, the computer ejects a printout: "You have tennis elbow. Soak your arm in warm Water and avoid heavy activity. It will improve in two weeks. Thank you for shopping @ Wal-Mart." That evening, while thinking how amazing this new technology was, Joe began wondering if the computer could be fooled. He mixed some tap water, a stool sample from his dog, urine samples from his wife and daughter, and a sperm sample for good measure. Joe hurries back to Wal-Mart, eager to check the results. He deposits ten dollars, pours in his concoction, and awaits the results. The computer prints the following: 1. Your tap water is too hard. Get a water softener. (Aisle 9) 2. Your dog has ringworm. Bathe him with anti-fungal shampoo. (Aisle 7) 3. Your daughter has a cocaine habit. Get her into rehab. 4. Your wife is pregnant. Twins. They aren't yours. Get a lawyer. 5. If you don't stop playing with yourself, your elbow will never get better! Thank you for shopping @ Wal-Mart

I believe GMT is general mountain time, am I correct? Anyone? ~Mandy

ickytazz, can I come and kiss all of those puppy faces? I just love the droopy lips and the teeth are just too much for me, I am in love. We are waiting for a pug, a dear friend has a male and his mom bought a female this summer, as soon as they are ready to breed, I have 1st choice. I care for their furbabies when they go on vacation so they are giving me choice. I can't wait. Like I said the thheth are just too much for me, I fall in love. ~Mandy

I take my sister out to lunch each year and she does the same for me in feb. I took her to Baker's Square today as that is where she wanted to go. I order a kids lunch, chicken tenders and mashed potatos, water and no dessert. I order my little one a kids meal and my sister orders a sandwich, I feel bad that the order is so "cheap" and order an appitizer for my little one and sister to share. When the bill comes to the table I pick it up and look it over, she brought the wrong check the first time around. There was a "misc. food charge" $2.00. When I asked what that was she said it was a service charge for an adult ordering off the kids menu, even though I had to show my band card to get the waitress to allow me to order it. If I had know that there would be a $2.00 fee I would have ordered the adult portion and shared it with my daughter, it would have been the same price as my kids meal and the "service chare" but I would not have had to pay for her meal. When I pointed this out to the manager she said it was company wide policy and she would remove it if $2.00 was that important to me, she was quite loud and rude about it, I told her that I would indeed pay their fee but would never return to Baker's Square again. It's not the fact that they charge the fee it is that they didn't tell me about it and then slip it on the bill at the end. I also told the manager that the adult portion is not even healthy for the adverage adult and that is was a shame that they were charging people more $ for the same amount of food, if they were trying to cut portions. Just sucks and I thought I would let everyone know about it. ~Mandy

I called corporate yesterday and they didn't call me back. I called again today and talked to a man that said he had never even heard of a "corporate policy" of charging $2.00, he understood it to be that adults could not order of the kids menu at all, no exceptions at all, even medical reasons are not considered. Then he proceeded to tell me that they barely broke even on kids meals and sometimes they even lose money on them. They charge $3.00 for a grilled cheese and a few fries and they say they are not making money on that? I had 3 small chicken nuggets and a small scoop of mashed taters and it was also $3.00, drinks are extra. They claim that they just cover cost on these meals, I don't buy that, if that were the case they could increas kids meals to $4.00 and make money but they don't, why? He was a real asshole too and promised me a call back today with the official policy on kids meals and guess what? He never called back, what a surprise. We won't be going back there ever again, I also want to find out what other places they own, as I am sure there are others owned by the same chain. I told him that I felt it was unfair to not only charge me the "fee" but it was downright wrong to slip it on the check hoping it would be unnoticed. I also told him that if there is such a charge, it should be posted on the menu. He says he will get back to me, we shall see. ~Mandy

Also check out www.allearsnet.com this is a wonderful disney info site, not sure what is there on the cruise, but she covers everything else so I am sure there is some info. ~Mandy

If you are going to park hop also remember to get a reciept for your locker and then get another locker in the next park, if you show the reciept you get a discount on the second locker rental in the same day. We were there in October and it was still hot but, my mom goes in Jan and she wears a short sleeve shirt and hoodie in the mornings and then removes the hoodie and ties it around her waist during the day and puts it back on at night, the night air can be chilly. Have fun and have a dole whip for me~Mandy

2 co-morbidies to consider are migraines and irregular periods, something to think about. ~Mandy

When I was banded I shared a room with a woman that had a different surgery then I did, she was watching FoodNetwork and then asked what I was there for. When I told her WLS she couldn't have changed the channel any faster. I told her that it didn't bother me and that I was actually enjoying the show. I watched it everyday of my liquid phase and it never bothered me. I have actually made several of the meals for the 30 min meal show and they were quite good. I love to see people enjoy life and if a chef really likes what he/she does then great for them, I figure just cuz they make it don't mean I gotta eat it. Like Emerial says it's a food of love thing, some people really do put love in every dish. I know that make my family meals with extra love and care, so I guess I see that in most of the chefs on Foodnetwork. ~Mandy

I am a Disney nut but have never done their cruise. However, there is a website that has a forum on the cruise line, www.disboards.com towards the bottom the of the list is the DCL. That list is set up just like this one so it is pretty easy to use and you can read without having to join. If I am online and not on LBT I am there, usually on the budget board, lots of deals and freebies listed there, also we talk about ways to save on a disney trip. We are either in Disney or planning a Disney trip, we go 2 times a year and I put a ton of time into the planning, I LOVE Disney, can ya' tell? ~Mandy

The only things about my band that really get to me are 1) nothing super cold to drink anywhere near meal time, pandora (my band) hates cold anything and she locks down like a little Iron fist 2) 1/2 of a mixed drink and I am DRUNK I was never a big drinker but I would have a mixed drink with dinner or at a party, if I do that now I will make an ass of myself 3) my tummy is noisy, it is funny most of the time, but during Thanksgiving prayer was not the time for Pandora to speak up. Other than that I should be a poster child for Inamed, I love my band and tell anyone that is interested about it. I am totally happy with the changes that I have made and my family has noticed a difference too. I smile now, and I don't need a mid afternoon nap anymore. My daughter says I had a happy band installed. (She's 4) Just last night the woman that cuts my hair said that I had a beautiful smile and she has been cutting my hair for 5 years and has never noticed it before? I guess she has never seen me smile a genuine smile before. So do I ever wish it was not there? Nope Do I ever wish I could remove my restriction? Nope, my doc even offered to drain my and for my vacation and I declined, I made myself a promise the day I was approved for surgery, I would never abuse my body with food again and I haven't and don't lpan on it. ~Mandy

Can you tell the difference? Check your knowledge here: http://www.malevole.com/mv/misc/killerquiz/ I got 8 out of 10. ~Mandy

I have a crazy sister as well, I guess there is one in every family. My oldest sister is totally negative about my band and weightloss (she is MO herself but not able to be banded for $$$ reasons) Then there is the middle sister, I am the baby, the middle one is on and off meds like most people are on and off diets. She calls at 4 in the morning just to talk and then says she is tired and will call later. She spends her money on video games and then calls crying that there is no food for my 9 year old nephew to eat. She battles drug addiction and mostly wins but there are times..... She has a husband that makes sure she has no money and then leaves for 8 or 10 days at a time and she puts up with this repeatedly, again calling me for money to pay for gas and food. I just don't get it. I am sorry for what you are going through, nutty sisters can be hard, you love them, but still you wish they were more sane. ~Mandy

Underbust: 34 Waist: 37 Hips: 38 Weight: 185

My mom asked about the "gastric stimulator" I am guessing this is the same thing? It shocks the inside of the stomach to make you feel full? If it is in deed the same, I did not read the article, here is what she was told: The stimulator makes about 30% of the people that have it feel nauseous (sp?) all the time, others feel tired and crampy like they have to have a bowel movement or are overfull most of the time. I was also told that it has to be replaced every 5-7 years. (depending on the model and settings used?) And some people feel the shock instead of just feeling full, I think this device needs to be tested and maybe have some bugs worked out before being made totally public. I know it has been overseas for a while but there still seem to be some issues with this. And if it is the same price as the band (is it?) and it is only going to last 5-7 years with a higher complication rate, is it worth it? ~Mandy

NSV = Non scale Victory (something great that does not have anything to do with weight/numbers) Here is a link to a post with other helpful terms: http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=7959

If you are planning on shopping that day here are the ads, do your homework and get some great deals, I know I will ~Mandy www.bf2005.com

I have a HUGE long haired black cat, 7 years old, named Hobbes, he is almost 25 pounds, I think he needs a band too. Then we have a hemi kitty named CoCo, he is 4 years old. )(he is my hubbies kitty) Both of the boys are from the same shelter, adopted at different times. I actually call CoCo the Karma kitty as I had adopted him just 10 minutes before I was finally approved for my band. I guess what they say is true, what goes around comes around. I saved him and now my band is saving me. We also have 2 sugar gliders, if you are not aware of what they are do a google search for them, they are really cute and sweet. Gipetto and Slider (gliders) were also a rescue, I drove to Detroit in a snow storm last year to save them, it took me almost 3 hours to get there and then over 5 to get home, they are totally worth it. And hubby had a 55 gallon fish tank with assorted fishies in it, not really my thing, but it is really pretty. ~Mandy

Those are all great NSV's, I am so happy for you. I am always telling my band that it's ok and it doesn't need to cry, I am aware it is there, I am the opposite of everyone else, I gurggle when I am hungry.~Mandy

Makes me want to go cook something, something decadent. ~Mandy

1. What does your handle mean? * my tongue is pierced and one day my best friend said well aren't you just a pierced cutie? and it just stuck, the 78 is the year I was born. 2. What book are you currently reading, or did you last read? * I am currently rereading the entire Harry Potter series, I know I am a total dork, what's worse is, this is my 4th time reading the whole series and I can't wait until the last book comes out. I have a theory if anyone wants to hear it just PM me. 3. What do you do for a living? *I almost typed "I am just a stay at home mom" I really need to get past that mentality. I also work with special ed kids at my local grade school and I do crafts with my 4 year olds preschool class as often as the teacher will let me. Oh and I sell Homemade Gourmet, but I am not active. 4. For what in your life are you most grateful? * There are so many things that I am greatful for, the main one is that my daughter has both parents, my parents divorced when I was her age and my dad was never around. He dien when I was 12 and I never knew him, I have a wonderful step-father that I love as if he were my natural father. I am also thankful for my daughter's health, she was really sick when she was tiny and we almost lost her at 8 months old. Lat but not least I am thankful for my lapband family, I don't know what I would do without you all sometimes. The kind people here have really been there for me even when my family doubted my decision to be banded. I am happier then I realised was possible now that I have my band and my life back, losing almost 50 pounds really makes a difference. (ok, now I am crying, I feel so emotional this time of year) 5. What's one thing about you that you think would surprise other people? * I have lost count of my tattoos, there are a bunch of them and they are pretty big. 6. One word to describe yourself? *disney addict (I know that is technically two words) 7. One word others use to describe you? *true 8. Would you rather play a game with someone better or worse at it than you? * someone better then me, I love to learn new things so maybe I could pick their mind while playing? 9. Favorite movie? Favorite show? *Movie? Nightmare Before Christmas and Corpse Bride *Favorite show? anything on food network and shhhhh Spongebob Squarepants 10. Something unusual about yourself? *I am a professional Body Piercer

4 days before our wedding my hubby and I camped out at Circuit City for the Playstation 2. That was terrible, late october in Chicago is very cold, wet and windy. We got one but the people that were waiting in the walmart line (same shopping center) got a bit unruly and the police let the police dogs out and threatned to release them if the people didn't settle down. My friend won the new Xbox bundle on evewry10minutes.com it was a mountain dew game and he got his LAST saturday, and of course called my poor hubby that had to work and told him how cool it is. Now hubby wants one, but he can wait until after Christmas, I would hate to get one for a 30something grown man and have a little one not get the only gift that they asked for. I will keep an eye open for you, I live pretty near a big city and you just never know what I can come up with. I also have several firends at Circuit City and Best Buy in high up places, Hubby used to manage for CC. I will put the word out that I am looking to make a kids Christmas wish come true and see what my little elves can do. ~Mandy

My friend that had GBP was with me today and he was picking hair off the back of my shirt. I joked that it was on the front too He asked how long it had been falling out and I told him just a little over a week, his response was that it would be over in a few more weeks, don't stress over it or it will be worse for a longer period of time. I am not stressing at all, I even did a color touch-up myself, my hairdress didn't want to do it and make me lose even more hair. I am going for a cut tomorrow so I look good for our Christmas pictures. I am not going to stress over it, it is just hair and it will grow back, eventually. If it gets too thin I will shave my head, anybody care to join me? ~Mandy