ShelbiCallie

((((((Fatwidow))))))) I can't add any more to what our dear Dee has said so beautifully. Just know that I'm sorry that you've had to deal with so much loss and I'm glad you're here. If there is anyone here who's a food addict, it's yours truly. It is still a struggle, even with the band. I can't lie. But it is doable. For the first time, I have some control. You deserve to be healthy and you deserve to be happy and your children deserve to have you for as long as they can. Make your reservations -- take a chance; you won't regret it. People with addictions (like me) need tools to stay clean -- sometimes it's friends, sometimes therapy, sometimes faith, sometimes medications, sometimes a message board, sometimes a lap band, sometimes all of these and more. It's ok. And if God puts the right man in your path, go for it!! Mini - hubby's surgery is Tuesday and I wish I could fly Munchkin down here to take care of him (and me) afterwards!! Good night my banditos!

Hey Michelle! Ain't love grand??!! It is so good to hear from you. Enjoy NYC with your man. I am so happy for you! Don't be a stranger, ok? He eats 2/3 and you eat 1/3 -- sounds like a perfect match to me. (By the way, I hope he knocks your socks off :smile:-- you deserve it!! )

Green, Kuddos on the weight loss -- you're doing great! For the first time in my life, I'm look forward to my GYN visit in July -- can't wait to see my labs and get my doc's reaction. I love kitties too -- Shelbi and Callie are my girls (thus the screen name or whatever it's called). Callie is a lap kitty lover and Shelbi is a hunter, on-her-own-terms kinda gal. Completely opposite. They both love on Barkley (my lab) which is hilarious, because he seems so embarrassed by it.

wonderful!!!!!!!

Hey Sidann, Glad your fill went well and you're back home safe and sound. Our Dr. K is the best, isn't he! I so want to come to the BBQ (or "cook out" as the NC natives say) in August, but I know it just not in the budget this year -- too many medical co-pays, co-insurances, un-covered expenses, etc. this year. I hate it, hate it. Mini -- Father's Day will hard, but make it the best ever. Write your Dad a letter and tell him just how great he is. You have a fabulous way with words. I wrote one to my mom for Mother's Day a few years before she died and found found it after her death among her "treasures" and she had written on the envelop "don't throw away ever!". My mom and I had the ultimate love/hate relationship, but when she passed there was nothing left unsaid.

Brandy -- I was thinking the same thing about BOTH of you! IAMAHOTMOMMA1 and IAMAHOTMOMMA2!

Dee -- Wow! What a difference between your pre-op shot and your RR pictures from last night -- amazing! You look so good -- happy and healthy and shrinking! I am so happy for you AND a big thumbs up on your lab results you posted a few days ago. ((((((Mini))))))) I'm sorry about your dad's illness. You are in my thoughts as you go through the days to come. Please feel free to come here any time with your feelings. I love your honesty; your being here makes this thread all the much better.

Gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous! You all look wonderful -- it does my journey good to see your smiling faces every month! Bandy! Congrats on your bandiversary ~~ you are rocking' that band, young woman! You are doing so amazingly well. Mal, How's the Buster boy doing today? I am dog sitting my two Golden nephews while my sister is on vacation for the rest of the week, so it feels like a mini-vacation for us, too. She lives on a lake and my son and I have been all over the place in the paddle (peddle?) boat today. Great workout for the legs. I did 50 minutes on her treadmill this morning and 35 minutes last night. I'm going to try for another session tonight after we fish for awhile. I am doing better food choice wise this week, but I am getting hungry far sooner than before. I am hoping to be down some for the Saturday weigh-in. I'll take anything at this point. Way to go Anita -- let go of all of your old clothes; you'll never need them again. I'm certain of it!! My big fear right now in this process == that I've lost all that I'm going to lose. I've got 35-40 pounds to go to get to a healthy BMI and I fear that I'll never get there because I will not be satisfied with eating so little food. (Spoken like a true addict, eh?) My goal weight is ~164, so I know there are plenty of people walking around who are at that weight and are perfectly content with the amount of food they can eat. I need to do some more head work, I know. Have a good rest of the week, beautiful people!

Aaahh, poor Buster! Bless his bones. He is such a cute boy and I'm sorry he's feeling so bad. Hopefully, he'll be on the mend in no time with mom's TLC. Mini, that it so cool about the documentary! I look forward to seeing that! Lap, so glad to hear that baby Clara and her mom are ok. This last trimester in the TX heat has got to be bad enough, but add a kidney infection on top of it and I know she's miserable. Dee, I think #6 was my biggest challenge and also the most helpful practice for me. Eating slowly was a huge, huge learning process. You helped me with that one after my last fill, remember? I mentally count through my meals and it makes all the difference in the world. I've got to cook supper for the boys now, so I'll sign off here. Have a great evening, everyone.

Made it back from the beach in one piece -- and brought 2 extra pounds with me! Boo Hiss. Put me down for a 2 pound gain this week, Dee. :smile:. I am not really surprised though. I ate pizza and Klondike bars and Cheetos -- insanity, I tell ya. I PB'd TWICE. I'm back on the band wagon starting today -- no salt, no sugar. Munchkin -- To start over with a ticker, click on your current ticker which will take you to the Ticker Factory page. Click on the "create a new ticker" link on the right. Then on the next page, go to middle of the page, left side, and click on the "Weight Loss' link. That should get you going on a new ticker. I've read all the many posts that you've done while I've been gone. Congrats to everyone on the fabulous losses this week. Yowza!!! For my fellow gainers -- we'll be on the losing side this week for sure. Congrats to those who have new surgery dates! You'll do great and it is SO worth the investment in your health. If you can stay an extra day, do it. I wish I had -- not so much because I needed to but because I didn't really see any of Denver. But if you're traveling alone, especially if you have any plane changes, make sure you stay that extra day to ensure you'e up for the challenge of the trip home. Welcome Bikini -- we're glad you've found us and Dr. K! It is going to be HOT (and not a dry heat!) here today -- up to 98 degrees. I am glowing. :tongue2: We had a good weekend at the beach. Weather was beautiful, water was warm, but the fish weren't biting. My dog, Barkley (black lab, unsure of his age but he's more than 10, closer to 13 or so -- he was a rescue) did great at the beach -- stayed in his beach tent drinking his bottled water most of the time, with occasional swims. No major meltdowns from either child and didn't have to take the hub to the ER. Mom didn't take a Valium. though I wish I had had one on the trip home -- Mini, I'm with you -- I no longer do well in a car on the interstate, if I'm driving or not! Happy week everyone, ya bunch of losers!

(This is gonna be a drive-by post, because I haven't had a chance to read everything yet. But when I do, I'll be back with my usual verbose self!) Fat Widow and Munchkin -- Glad you're back with us!! Don't stay away so long -- we worry about you when you're not around. LAP!!!!!!!! WTG, woman!!!!!!! Mini -- That is wonderful news about your son! People living with the pervasive developmental disorders are near and dear to my heart and I am beyond thrilled when I hear about their successes. What most of us take for granted as an everyday event is a major, major effort/accomplishment for someone with Schizophrenia. You must be so proud!! I need to pick your brain sometime about the process of getting a your child ready for independent living -- I'm going through that right now with my son. Dee -- I just love you. Your posts mean so much to me. Thanks, my friend. Deb -- A vote for Holiday Inn here. Mal -- I'm so proud of your running!!! Bahot -- Stop running, let him catch you -- enjoy that new body!! Hubs is having a cardiac catheterization done on 6/17. Test results indicate that he has had an MI and that he has a blockage. So, we'll do what we have to do to get him healthy. I'm off to the beach for a few days. My baby's turning 11 and he wants to celebrate at the beach. Cardiologist said ok, so we're off. I'll weigh on Monday when I get back and hopefully won't have a gain. Happy Weekend everyone!

Thanks everyone for all the prayers and positive thoughts for the hubs. I got them to move his f/u appointment to this Thursday, the earliest appointment available as his cardiologist is out of the office until then and his partner is slammed. Mal, hubs had chest tightness and shortness of breath one morning a few weeks ago (day after his birthday!) and agreed to go to the ER. Of course, when he got there and had some oxygen he felt better and wanted to go home. His EKG strip said otherwise -- he had tachycardia and atrial fib, but very luckily he was able to convert to a good rythmn on IV medication and then stabilize on some oral medications and was sent home after a night of observation for rest of his testing could be done outpatient. (His instructions were to go to the ER if he had any more episodes which, of course, he did the night before the Fossil trip but he didn't tell me :thumbup: because he said it was over in 15 minutes. Truth be told, he would have rather had a heart attack than miss his fossil hunt. (Insert smiley of me beating the crap out of hubs here.) ) Anyway, his stress test results came back and here we are waiting for the next step. The positive side of all of this is that he is now managing his diabetes, eating better, taking his medications and exercising! All good things, so I'm feeling positive and trying to be a good support for him (Read: I'm trying very hard not to nag, even though its one of the few things I do well.) I am so glad I've got the band to help me, so I can support instead of sabbatoge his efforts!

YIPPEE LA! YIPPEE Brandy!!!! Yeah, baby!!!!!!

Congrats on Onederland, Tina!! :thumbup: You're cracking me up about the hair on the toes! I've got that Hobbitt trait, too. Welcome, Deb! Thanks for the recipe, Green! Sounds yummers ~~ I'm off to the grocery today and I'll let you know how it turns out. Mal -- WTG on the walk/run! Are you doing the Couch to 5K program? So glad your Dad has Tofu now-- everybody needs a dog in their lives; its good for the soul. Well, per the nurse at the cardiologist's office, hubby has mild Ischemic Cardiomyopathy -- may have had a heart attack in the past, may have a small blockage. I'm trying to get his appointment moved up from the 16th, but I think there may be a cardiac cath for him on the horizon. :frown: I don't know what to say about any of this right now. Thanks to all of you for sharing your thoughts/experiences about dealing with the family stuff. I have a sister who knows about my band (thanks to the impulsiveness of my youngest son) who I had intended to keep out of the loop because she is an attention whore (there, I said it) and will probably spill the beans in a very dramatic way. But ya know what? So what!! Negative things will be said and my feelings will be hurt AND I WILL STILL BE HEALTHIER THAN I WAS AND I WON"T GAIN BACK THE WEIGHT I'VE LOST. Right? Words only sting for a bit, they can't take any thing away from me. If I spend anymore time on this, I'm giving her my power and I won't do that anymore. Enough. More later, gotta go walk. Happy, healthy Tuesday my dear banditos!

Dee, You are the best and you are so right on the money. I'm printing your post out and putting it in my top desk drawer so that I can keep reading it when I need it (which is often these days!) When I start getting anxious, my rational thought goes out the window -- thanks for helping me pull it back. Now go to bed, missy! :laugh:

Way to go, Sidann! You're doing great. :laugh: (Note to self: call all local pizza delivery places, thank them for their poor customer service, and request that they put a block on my phone number.) The peanut butter cookies sound wonderful -- I'll be trying them this week! Thanks, Dee! And Green, I would love the Mediterranean Sweet Potatoe Pizza you mentioned a few pages back. That would probably go over really big at this house! Mini -- I had a therapist who once told me that even though the brain has so many neurotransmitters yet to be identified, at some point in our lifetime when we go to our annual physical we'll be able to have a blood (or some sort of screening) test, as with our cholesterol, glucose, etc. and physician will be able to treat based on the results. Like, here's some Lipitor for your cholesterol, take this Metformin for your blood sugar, and here's some XYZ for your low XYZ brain chemical. Was she feeding me a line or is this realistic?? If so, what an amazing breakthrough for treating mental health issues! I am starting to get so anxious about the upcoming summer extended family gatherings (father's day, pop's 91st birthday, 4th of July) and how people will react to my weight loss. Very few people know I am banded and I want it to stay that way -- unfortunately, there are some pretty vicious relatives who would love to give me the "oh, so you took the easy way out" line. I can avoid them during the rest of the year, but I won't miss what may be some of my dad's last holidays because of my fear of getting my feelings hurt. There may be less of me physically now, but my sensitivity is just as large as ever! How do you guys handle situations like this? I am so loving coming here and reading the posts lately (Actually, I always do. But, it just keeps getting better and better!). You guys are cracking me up.

Lap, I agree with your husband 100%. Everyone -- We will all have our up,down, even weeks. Think of where we were last year this time and how we were living -- we are so much healthier on all levels. We're still on the day-by-day journey and I couldn't imagine better traveling companions. Bahot -- Take care of yourself this week. Focus on to the good memories. Hugs to you. LA -- You are doing so great with your running!!! I'm still struggling to increase my running time from about 30-60 seconds; I walk the 5k and really enjoy it, but I am so off track with the progression to incorporating more running/less walking. My original plan was to run the 5k in the October Autism Run, but I know realistically I'll probably still be doing the walk/run combo at that point. If I'm running a continuous mile in Oct. and walking the rest, I'll be satisfied -- at least I'll be doing more than I ever have, right? It's a brand new week, everyone! Off we go!

Thank you all for you thoughts/prayers/well wishes re: hubby's stress test. He received the results by phone at work yesterday afternoon (Friday), so he didn't ask the questions that I would have (and will be asking come Monday morning!) He said that the nurse said there was a "minor problem" and which he can discuss with the cardiologist "at his appointment on 6/19"! Hellooo??? A minor problem? With his HEART?? Geeze Louise! Give me details, woman! I think that my hubs so wants nothing to be wrong that he is minimizing/denying/avoiding. But you can bet your bottom that I'll be on the horn bright and early come Monday. Mal -- WTG with that bike! You've got a light for the night rides, yes? Mini -- Your consult is done and your on your way -- so very cool!! LA -- Ice cream is my vice, too! Have you tried the Breyer's Carb Smart? Only 4 net carbs in a serving. Not too bad on taste. Dee -- Things happen for a reason --that house wasn't the right one for you right now. Big, big kuddos to you for riding your bike to work out your stress!!!!!!!!

Down 2 pounds plus .4! Yippee Skippee!

Dee -- The depression monster sucks out loud. Mine has always been worse when my PCOS is at its worst -- there's a connection, no doubt. I'm on a combination of Prozac and Wellbutrin right now and it seems to be keeping the monster at bay for now. But I'm sure it will rear its ugly head again. Please know that you are not alone. I'm sending you a great big hug, along with everybody else here who loves our Dee, just the way she is. Lap -- Girl, you're singing my song. Our children are lucky that we have the "mother's unconditional love" thing going for them; at times I feel like my son is literally sucking the life right out of me. I am so feeling you on this with your daughter. A big cyber hug and virtual glass of wine ( wish I had real one right now!) are coming your way. More later my banditos; the kids need mom.

Thank you all for your very kind words! They mean so much to me. Smooches all around.:heart::wink2: Sewpfun2 -- Welcome! Michelle, Ami, Taynuh -- How are you?? Clucky -- Dr. K is your best bet. I shopped around and I have no regrets! Mini -- 7/2 will be here before you know it! I can't wait to hear about your consult tomorrow! Dee -- I would love to be built like this banana :thumbup: but the girls just won't cooperate! :biggrin: BTW -- I think you'd make a most excellent Grief Counselor, so I can see why you'd score high on the Funeral Director scale! LA -- WTG on getting back to running! You and hubby are darlin' together. LOVE his shirt! And congrats on the new bathing suit size -- you are rockin' that band of yours! Bookholder -- Congrats on joining the gym! I noticed on your ticker that you're already half way to goal -- AMAZING!!! Lap -- So glad mommy and baby Clara Jean are ok!! Let me say again how fab you look in your new pictures! Mal -- I'm so psyched that we're all going to make our challenge goals! My boys have the DDR for either the Xbox or Play Station, can't remember which -- I need to dig that out again and see if I can do it without sustaining a major injury. Can't afford a Wii right now, but you guys sure are making me want one! Woofay -- I'm so glad that summer's here and your schedule's letting you post more often. It's not the same around here without you. Can't wait to hear how you like the Wii Fit! Bahot -- Congrats to Rachael on being Huskie of the year! BTW, you are doing great and will be rockin' those Daisy Dukes in no time!! What's Eliches? John -- How are you and how 'bout posting more often? We can use a little more testosterone around here! Marcy -- How are you and how are the chicks??? Green -- I know the phrase "Let's get fast food" all too well -- from my kids! Let's just say I have a history of being rushed/tired and have not set the best example of nutritious eating for them -- just one more thing I'm working on forgiving myself for. Anyway, I told my boys tonight that one of our summer goals is to have them plan/cook dinner once a week -- hopefully to start some better habits. Healthy kid recipe suggestions, anyone? Brandy -- I know the kids are keeping you hopping, but keep on posting -- you keep me motivated! I've tried to read all the posts:eek: and get caught up -- this is a busy group, no doubt! I've got a 12 hour shift ahead of me tomorrow and I'm falling asleep now! I SO want to get my walk in before work so I better close for the night. Oh yeah -- Hubby has a cardiac stress test tomorrow, so please send any prayers or positive thoughts however you are so inclined. Thanks and good night, banditos!

Here is the promised shot of my flat size 11s in ONDERLAND! (Couldn't get a pedicure Monday, so I ended up doing my own Monday night -- I need some lessons from Lap Dancer, our residence nail artist!) Then my digital camera broke,so I used a disposable, then with that the numbers were too dark, so I got the digital fixed, then FINALLYgot a wonderland shot worthy of sharing!I wanted to do an outside shot, but soon realized the neighbors might think we're an odd bunch (like they don't know already or something) if mama is outside in her birthday suit taking pictures of her feet. ANYWAY.....here ya go! I just wanted to share my excitement withmy banditos -- since very few people around here "get" my thrill with 199! Yippee, I haven't seen less than 200 in around 20 years!! I am beyond excited and motivated more than ever to get to a healthy BMI. I figure that if I can lose at a rate of 2 pounds per week, I will be at goal for my bandiversary. I know that this is a long shot for me, but I am going to put my heart and sweat into it. Dee...About my fall UP the stairs... we stayed on the fourth floor and when we arrived we were waiting for the elevator when my youngest son suddenly remembered the story that was making the rounds on the internet about some dude stuck in an elevator for 2 days. So he decides to take the stairs (Read; Run up the stairs as quickly as possible to beat his dad/brother. Of course, mama is on his heals with arms full and is looking up to make sure he takes the right floor door. When bam, I miss a step and scrape the front of my flip-flopped left foot down the face of a cement step. No real skin break or bruise, but ruined my polish that I was protecting for my onderland shot. The Grace Fairy has never visited me, so I'm without. You folks are the best -- thanks for letting me celebrate!

Lap-- Amazing transformation -- you look so beautiful! I love your toe shot, too! Dee -- Count me in for 20 pounds in the challenge, hope it's not too late to chime in. Woofay -- Glad to see your post; I've been wondering how you've been. Grammy Mini -- Congrats on the grandbaby! I just got in, so I haven't had time to go through all the posts since I've been away. I did have my toes all ready for their onederland debut, but after scraping all the polish on my big toe while falling up the stairs (long, ungraceful story there) I'm going to have to get another pedicure (oh darn ) before the picture. I have avoided the scales since my choices weren't the best this weekend -- but I did good on the portions, so we'll see at my weigh in tommorrow morning if the scales are going to be my friend! Have a good night everyone!

You guys are cracking me up tonight! Way to go AMI on those crunches!:confused_smile: Denise -- Viewing the rep thingy is a complete mystery to me. I can give rep, but I have no idea how to read it! So wierd. Mal -- You are SO not a failure. "Mal" and "failure" will not fit in the same sentence. No way. No how. Anyway, my kiddos INSIST on on having Hersey bars and they sit in the pantry and call my name, so I keep a stash of the South Beach high protein cereal bars handy -- 140 calories, 15 carbs and 10 grams protein -- love 'em just as much a Hesey bar. (Ok, I'm kinda lying, but it gets me through the craving.) The other "treat" that I have is Stoneyfield organic yogurt (22! grams of protein with 0! fat) mixed with a little lemon sugar-free pudding powder. This tastes very rich and so good. Everybody have a great Memorial Day weekend. We are going out of town to a fossil festival (*cough*..nerd..*ahem*) so I should be walking, walking, walking to onederland by the time I'm back. Happy Memorial Day, banditos!

I'm working on my bench behavior. Honestly. I am. :biggrin2: :out: I like sappy! No apologies required for sharing your emotions here. :smile: Everyone -- I've got my toes ready. Need to get new batteries for my camera. (They ran out last night at school awards thingy. :wink2:) And need to get the scale to cooperate. Hold on to your hats everyone. Husb has joined me on my morning walk for the last four days. This is an amazingly big deal for us. He has also lost 14 pounds in the last 2 months. I am so happy for him! (It took an ER trip with a MI scare and new blood pressure medication and a eye-opening changes in his lack of blood sugar control, but whatever, we'll take it.) Have a great day everyone! I've got a 12 hour shift ahead of me. Yippee!