ShelbiCallie

Hi Brandy, I'm trying to work on mini-goals too at this point. It seems less overwhelming to me that way and I am so easily overwhelmed only looking at the "big picture", ya know? I'm trying to set up mini-rewards for each goal, too. My next goal is onederland -- 10 pounds away. (Haven't seen a 'one" first in 25 years!) When I get there I'll set the next goal, my ultimate goal being to reach a healthy BMI by my first surgiversary date. My biggest obstacle is getting my arse moving and exercising -- just can't seem to get my head (much less the rest of me) around it and make it happen. I have started and stopped more exercise plans in my life than I have diets, if you can imagine that! :confused2: So, I'm setting Memorial Day mini-goals to 1) "move around"* for 30 minutes daily and, 2) get to onederland. (* doing anything is better than nothing, right?)

Mare-- Good to hear from you! Please, please, please tell us that you've got a fabulous reward in mind for yourself for accomplishing so much (both weight wise and work wise)! You deserve some pampering.

Lap -- Love the rhyme! :thumbup: Such a fun, creative bandito you are!

Skyeblu! I've only been banded 6 months, so I can't speak to getting the band checked after a year. I've been using the FillCenter doc in Denver NC and am pleased with him, but the FillCenter price without fluro is now $175. I've always been tempted to see if he'd do my fills without the middle man, so to speak, but just haven't had the nerve to ask yet. Also, wanted to mention..... how 'bout those TARHEELS --- final four, yeah man!!!!:puke:

Dee I am so sorry about Sandra. Grief is such an all-consuming process and human touch with others who are also grieving can be comforting (at least for me, it is). Do you get to see the children very often? I'm thinking they could probably use a Dee hug. Their mom lives on in her friends, like you, and your touch helps them keep in touch with mom. Maybe seeing Sandra's smile, eyes, expresions, etc. that she has passed on to her children will give you comfort in knowing that parts of her are still living, just inside her children -- a different vessel. I agree, death seems so, so final. Here in the South, we frequently use different terminology saying someone "passed" instead of "died" -- kind of like seeing it as a transition instead of a finality. I am sending you a cyber hug; I hope you can feel it. Your posts are always like hugs to me, but I don't think I can come close to your way with words. So I'll resort to the smilies :puke:.

Mal -- Glad you're back! Missed you muchly, girl. Mama23 -- Welcome! You can't go wrong with Dr. K -- and the costs Bookholder mentioned are an exceptional deal for a great aftercare doc! Cara & Dee -- Thanks for the encouraging words about the smoking. I am hard at work on it, some days are better than others. I keep reminding myself of the oxygen masks on the plane -- good mental picture for me, Dee! Woofay, Brandy, Ami, Marcy -- how are you? Linz -- I hope you husband is all well now. Tina -- I know what you mean about the sagging. Wish Dr. K could provide a package deal and do the breast lift/ tummy tuck, too. Maybe he could spread out a payment plan for multiple procedures? A girl can dream, right?? Dynamo -- Ah, a springtime romance! The most wonderful time! I hope that this man is the best -- because you deserve no less. I cannot wait to see the upcoming RR pictures when Lap visits! I love to see the ongoing transformations! A happy, healthy week to all with good choices all around! Karen

Thanks Tina & Dee! Oneder land is getting closer, I can almost taste it. But I must say, I haven't been making the best choices and need to get back to the bandster way of eating. I've been PBing more than ever from eating too fast (so I'm just not absorbing my poor food choices :wub:) and smoking like a chimney. This is not the way, I know. I've got to get my emotional stuff in check. I've been so hyper-focused on family stuff and I know I've got to get myself back to some therapy. I think I'm going to get a tiny fill soon since I'm hungry all the time. I feel like a failure for picking up the smokes again -- quitting was a big milestone for me after many, many, many unsuccessful attempts. So, starting tomorrow--Easter-- (today,actually) I'm going to try the nicotine gum again. It worked very well for me last time. Monday morning I'm calling to get a therapy appointment -- for me. Everyone have a good week and Happy Easter!

Yeah Brandy!!!!!! Congrats to you! :thumbdown::thumbup:

Lizzie -- I have sleep apnea too. I think most of us who battle obesity probably do, so Dr. K and his anesthesia team are very used to dealing with the situation during and after surgery. I didn't bring my CPAP, because I'm like Lap -- I can't tolerate it. I agree with everything Lap and LA have said, just voice your concerns to Dr. K et al. The beauty of this surgery is that my sleep apnea has improved greatly -- you'll be amazed at how much better you sleep in a few months! Marcy, Ameriu & Bookholder -- congrats on your milestones!! Thank you all for your very kind words, support, ideas, resources and for sharing your personal experiences with me. We are making progress here, but have so very much to do yet. Unfortunately, my very poor coping skills are rearing their ugly heads -- smoking again, for example -- but I am at least recognizing them for what they are and that's the first step, right? I sure wish I would PB on cookies and not brocolli :tongue: Love to all and hugs back at ya, Karen

I've been occasionally reading and am thrilled with all the bandito progress I'm reading about. Can't wait to see the RR pictures! My son had to be hospitalized last week against his will. Teen hormones + 6' 300 lb son+ autism + mom attempting to restrict his computer activities = a very dangerous family crisis. I have learned that the mental health/developmental disabilities system in my state is a heart-breaking nightmare to navigate when one has an advocate, and is impossible when you don't have the mental/cognitive resources. As one of the police officers told me, it's obvious why 90+% of the homeless population have mental issues. After 24+ hours in the ER trying to find a decent hospital to treat him, and sending him 4 hours away to a supposedly "great" facility and traveling back and forth to participate in his care as requested, I can see why some parents give up. But I won't. Even when the hospital physician won't communicate with me; even when no one will accept our insurance -- I will keep advocating for my child. Thank God for FMLA -- even when the physicians pass the buck on who is responsible for completing it. On a positive note, my husband is finally seeing the light and participating in his son's life in a healthy way and my sister has been there for my younger son. Now that my son also has a depression diagnosis, we are hopefully getting access to services -- some one-on-one social skills time for my son to learn coping skills, medication changes and extensive individual and family therapy for us, even if the insurance company refuses to pay. FINALLY. We are starting to pick up the pieces. Anyway, guys... you keep me going. Even if I've never met any of you, I live vicariously through you. Lap, I am thinking of you and your hubbie as you go toe-to-toe with the prostate cancer. Taynah, you're doing so good with your weight loss-- you inspire me! Dee -- you are so positive in all you do, no matter what comes your way. I feel hugs from you in your words. Thanks! Mal -- the rock of the thread with a heart of gold. You are the bomb. Woofay -- hang in there with the job and the family -- it's ok to say "no' sometimes and go listen to Josh Grobin and take a bubble bath, you deserve it! I swear I'm gonna learn to take my own advice at some point tee hee. Want2Be -- how are you and where have you been?? Michelle - you are so committed to taking every road necessary to a healthy mind and body; I have learned more from you than you'll ever know, just from the way you approach life and deal with obstacles. Brandy, LA, Green, Diva, Nicknaknut, Drews, John, all of you -- I am not out of words, just out of time and have another appointment this morning before work starts. If I don't post, you know why. But keep on keepin' on, my dear banditos. You are in my heart. Karen

ANITA ROCKIN' THE ONDERLAND!!!!!!!!! You go girl!! That is onderful! I'm so proud of and happy for you! What are you going to treat yourself for reaching this milestone??

Brandy & Tina -- how are those 3rd fills working out for you? I'm going to my local doc for my 3rd fill on 3/3. (Maybe the 3's will be lucky and I'll hit that sweet spot? Maybe I should ask for .3?) I really just feel like I need a smidgen (is that a word?) more to be really good. I can eat too much at one sitting and get hungry too soon, but I still PB very easy....so, maybe just a little tiny bit would do it. Maybe the third time will be the charm:thumbs_up:

Amieru, Wishing you a safe trip and a smooth proceedure with speedy recovery! See the CO sites while you're there -- I wish I had! You are in good hands with our beloved Dr. K -- no worries. Don't forget to check in & let us know how you're doing next week. :thumbup:

Dee -- Sandra was lucky to have you for a friend. I'm sure she is smiling down on you and is appreciative of the efforts your making for her children. The journal is a wonderful idea. You've probably got stories about their mom that no one else knows and that they will treasure in the years to come! Staying in touch with the kids through their high school, college, wedding, grandchildren years will give them a much needed connection to their mom. You're a good egg, Miss Dee, I hope you know that. We need more Dees in the world.

[Life throws us all kinds of curve balls, some good, some bad... but even our losses are good in a way, because they remind us how lucky we were to have had those people in our lives even if not as long as we wanted... our grief is proof of how well they touched our hearts and our souls and how much they meant to us. I see grief as a way of honoring them and their memories and also of keeping them alive within us... even when it hurts and we want them back with us and it feels unbearable. Beautifully said, Tina. BTW, you're son is a cutie patootie for sure. I could just squeeze those sweet cheeks! Mal, I hope you're doing ok. You've had some hard things come your way lately. Love to all, Karen

Welcome Tiny & Cara! You've selected a great surgeon and are making a wonderful investment in your health. Glad to have you aboard!

:cursing: Mal & Dee, I'm sorry for the loss.

'morning all! Just popping in to say hi. I'm still around, just reading mainly. Doing ok, but stalled on weight loss for now. I seem to do better when I post here -- maybe it's something about accountability? -- than when I just read your posts, so I'll try to be more of a participant than a lurker. I'm not making the best of food choices -- old habits die very, very, very slowly for me. I'm glad to see everyone's doing well and I love the latest RR pictures!! You all look marvelous! Have a great Tuesday everyone

I am scheduled for my first fill under fluoscopy 10/29/07. If you are a current or former patient, I'd love to hear about your experience. Thanks!

Marcy -- I like your posts about your life in Nome and hope you'll continue to share. I find your very self-reliant way of feeding your family very interesting and pretty cool, specifically because it is so different from my own. I am pretty dependent on the local Walmart supercenter for our eats and am fascinated that you can raise, harvest, dress, cook your own. I like talking to my kids about what I've learned about Nome from you and, in turn, it's made them curious and lead to their researching the Iditerod. So, thanks! Has anyone heard from Dee? Woofay -- Sounds like you've found a great position! Of course, they'll love you --- you're too wonderful for them not to! Lap -- Aboslutely love that Carolina Chicken Salad at Ruby Tuesday's. You are so right! I am also lovin' that Kashi crunch high protein cereral that Michelle( I think) speaks of on this thread -- very, very good. Happy Wednesday folks!

LA -- If that pain persists or worsens, I'd absolutely call Dr. K. I'm 4 months out and experience some port tenderness occasionally after working all day (I sit at a computer) because my poor posture puts pressure in the area, but after it is always gone after I'm able to get up and about. But experiencing sudden onset of port pain at 1 week is something to consult with the surgeon about. Tina -- Good to hear from you and the babies and glad that you're all on the mend. I promise, it gets easier after the first few years when you feel like you're at the MD office every week with colds, ear infections, stomach bugs....... Woofay -- I hope the strep is gone and you're enjoying your new job. Sounds like you've got the best of mommy-friendly schedules! Mal -- Bless your heart! I hope that's the first and only stones you have. Everytime I ever heard anyone talk about kidney stones they always start out with "I thought I was dying..." I can only imagine!:tongue: Dee! Dee! Dee! It's your week, girl!!!!! Positive thoughts and quick healing vibes are going out to you! :smile: Sending all of you good wishes and hope for the best of weeks. Trying to get back to the exercise this week -- I've put it off long enough and want to experience some of those "exercise highs" that you guys are feeling -- it's never happened before for me (probably because I've never, ever exercised consistently :eek:)

Lap -- I love your new picture -- you look so beautiful and happy! The caption should be "Life is so good". This tool is wonderful, for sure. :rolleyes2: LA -- I love the pre-op shots! You are such a cutie. I absolutely love seeing pictures of Dr. K -- I feel like he's family or something, who I don't get to see often. I just love the man. For Fatwidow -- One of my regrets about coming to Denver is that I didn't take any time to see the sites. But I really didn't have a choice at the time. Take a week if you possibly can. I flew out the morning after surgery and did fine, but I don't feel like I've really been to CO. I am looking up now and the world is so much clearer these days; quite a change in my outlook and I SO don't want to go back there again! Have a great Tuesday, peeps. :tt1:

LA -- Good luck Thursday! Last minute jitters are normal -- you're making a big committment to change and a big investment as well. Look back at my pre-op posts here. Major freak out, I'll tell ya. BTW, I had some very happy years in Tucson some 20+ years ago when my hubs was stationed at DMAFB. The people there are great. Mal & Woofay -- My son is doing ok. He is not in school at the moment; I withdrew him because he wouldn't go and I couldn't continue paying the private school tuition when he wasn't attending and wouldn't do the work at home. On a more positive note, I've found a new therapist for him who will accept him and our insurance! I'm also working with a local agency trying to get him involved in some sort of part-time job, he needs some social interaction for sure. Everyone have a great Tuesday and here's to all of us making healthy choices today!

Hey Kelly, Thanks! 5 more pounds and I'll be half way to goal. I've maintained recently, but need to get my focus back on health. Seems that so many other things have taken priority and I've been lost in the whirlwind. But, I'm trying to turn that around. How are you doing these days??

Hello everyone! Thought I'd pop in and say hello from the East coast, since I haven't in awhile. I've been reading about all these accomplishments -- you ALL are doing awesome!:myscared: Please keep adding the pictures -- you're shrinking before my very eyes and it is so cool to see your smiling faces! Lots of family issues (old and new) and work issues going on here and I'm trying to hold the depression monster at bay (some days better than others), but if there is a positive in this situation it's been that I'm not eating my way through it this time (thank you, thank you, thank you my dear lap band!) and feel like at least I've got some control over food, when everything else is out of control. It picks me up every time I come here, gives me hope,and re-directs my focus onto something positive. I bet you didn't realize the power of your posts, did you? :smile: Thanks. Take care and have a wonderful week everyone.