shellyj.

i should clarify that this did not happen around my period. i had been off it for a week. i think i am weird also in the sense that i dont have "period fluctuation" normally.

a great gift: at local malls they usually have a tree for the needy (angel tree, tree of giving, etc) make a donation in the other persons name. this is the best gift of all! its feels good to pick a person who REALLY needs something.the person giving the gift, getting the gift and the recipient of the donation all benefit. i do this for my mom (who has everything) and in the future i am asking ALL family and relatives who feel compelled to buy me a gift to do this. its just a better use of there money. i HATE recievings gifts from family that dont know me and my taste well enough to by me a decent gift that i will like and use. i am not being rude just honest. i would appeciate a card with a little note in it more than a gift i dont need/wont use/dont like/ etc. maybe a bird will poop on her!!! j/k

hey megan!! i hope its nothing i guess i just worry sometimes. it does seem SO odd that i require 1 whole cc less in my band now to close me off when before it just gave me restriction. it also bothers me that sometimes i am tighter at night than in the day? should be the opposite?!? my new dr just has me a little scared cause he thought for sure last time i was prolapsed so one PB has me all freaked out! it has only be the one PB since sept. i havent had much restriction up untill now. but i also have been off work for the past month and they just sent me a *$hitload* of work on tuesday so maybe thats stressin me. no i havent had a stitch of reflux so thats atleast a good sign. if things dont improve or get worse i WILL get it checked under flouro for the 3rd time this year! i know they must think i am a high maintence patient! i need to just be observant and quit freakin!

for ME the only i reason i work is for the $$$ i have had 2 GREAT jobs: United Way- marketing and communications coordinator fresh out of college i had just moved. signed up with kelly temp service cause i needed some quick cash. they place me with the U.W. as a secretary. the day i start is their marketing persons last day. i pipe up *i just graduated in that field* kelly has to send out someone else for the secretary job and i get hired on full time. *BEST JOB I EVER HAD* Environmental Graphic Designer: the job i have now i interviewed for and they ended up not hiring and one for it then 6 months later they call and offer me the job. they liked me so much when i moved 2400 miles away they let me keep the job and work from home. i do graphic design and in my field its all about your portfolio and how you perform under pressure. i however dont *LOVE* my job but it pays GREAT and i can work from home. i plan to work hard and save save save till i have enough to quit and be a stay at home mom or just retire. then i can do what makes me feel good (volunteer work) and wont have to worry about the $$. i worked at CNA insurance while i was in college and it was a high pressure job. if they paid me 100,000 a year i couldnt do it for long. MAYBE a few years- so in that sense i can see where it would be hard to put up with that! DO WHAT FEELS RIGHT!

i think my main concern would be that he hasnt had much hands on experience. if you let him get a few bandings under your belt the chance for surgical error would go down (i would think) i would come up with an excuse of why you need to wait a few months, let him do a few bands and get some experience before you go to him. i would spend the next month or 2 or 3 DOING MAJOR RESEARCH on the band. if you go in there and are able to ask him questions (like how he would handle worse case scenarios, complications) and get a satisfactory answer that lets you know that he *KNOWS* his stuff then i would go for it! are you all gonna be in saudi long term? if you EVER have complications it would likely be an out of pocket expense so you NEED to have a plan as to where that $$$ would come from...just in case. good luck!

i just read Running with Scissors and Dry by augusten burroughs (sp) they were EXCELLENT... my aunt gave them to me, they were so good as soon as i finished i mailed them to my friend to read.

CONGRATS!!!!! you both look great!

you guys are CRACKING ME UP!!!! i still have SOOOO FAR TO GO!!! i am not even near 200!!!! i do REALLY appreciate it though! i am 5'-7"...i used to be 5'-9" but i must be shrinking cause my dr assured me that its 5'-7"!!! YIKES!

hey lisa! i LOVE the melting pot! for future reference you CAN the big night out for ONE and split it! calvin and i did that (he's and RNY'er) and we STILL had to much food!!! YUM YUM though, when we left my stomach was hard as a rock where i ate so much...the only way i'll ever have abs of steel is by eating to much fondue!!! ya'll look like you had a blast!

penni, thanks for sharing your story. i too have that feeling that somethings just not quite right. in september i shelled out over 2,000 to have the band checked TWICE and was assured ita all good. but i still wonder. originally it took 3.4 cc's to have restriction, now 2.6 closes me up? just doesnt sound right! anyhow, you have a come such a long way and are such a strong woman. i know you can make it! you also have all the good folks at LBT here for support. you are in my thoughts,

THANKS jq! i have seen your pics too and you really look great too! FANTASTIC JOB!

thanks everyone for the encouragement! i still feel like i have a long way to go. this is a ever changing journey thats for sure! dont worry alex i wont forget the wedding pics! i am not gonna buy my dress till may or june because i dont know what my weight will be in 7 months!

hi i just wanted to thank you for posting your story. i have had a lot of problems with to tight/to loose and have actually been contemplating a .1 cc fill. you have given me some food for thought. i also want you to know that i am sending you well wishes and healing vibes. all the best to you and your family. michelle

when i was a kid, about 5 or 6, we had a 'pet pig' named porky, we used to bring him 'slop' every weekend (he was kept at my dads friends farm) i had so much fun over there looking at all his animals, feeding them, petting them. they were my friends. then one week we had eaten good ALLLLLL week then friday the parents had a party, they had everything, eveything PORK that is, the next morning, i exlaim with glee "WOW look at all the slop we have for porky!" i still love pork though. as a little league cheerleader we had a cheer, this is to funny to NOT post: (picture 5-6 year olds cheering) PORK CHOP! PORK CHOP! greeezzzzy greeeezzzzy!!! we can beat your team EASY EASY! hehehehe now i want some pom poms!

i'll be in laurel,MD visiting family the 12th-19th! michelle

1 chocolate 2 french bread 3 butter 4 cheese 5 chicken breast 6 mayo 7 onions 8 tomatoes 9 eggs 10 new york strips thats wasnt so hard. lots of different things i could make too.

i have lost 140 but had a little regain after not having restriction for a year (being to tight or zero restriction). i am now at a comfortable restriction spot and working to lose the few i gained (1/2 way there!!!) i am 2 yrs and 2 months post op. michelle highest 350 lowest 207 current ??? but my 16's wont button!!!

i love looking at everyones art work! sarah i looked at your website before (and again today) and you are GREAT! you should come out with a lapband comic book or cartoon! i have a whole slew of things 'arty' things but the are all in TN since i have to careful in transporting them. these are two that photographed decently. i dont know why they dont just show up? oh well. the one 'birds' was an assignment using all the different techniques with pen and ink, you cant see it but there are stippling, cross hatching. my theme was flamingos. the one of the girl eatin a peach was the first portrait i ever did. hence the man hands! the last one is a progression of tiger lillies opening i LOVE THE CAKES!!! your making my hungry!

hey lisa, what about getting the endo in vegas, and sending the films to billy or whoever to review. the films are yours. you can request they be sent to any dr. all you have to do provide written notice that you want them transferred and the dr's address that you want them sent to. michelle

YOUR CLEARED FOR MARGARITA'S!!! if they are 'frozen' go slow since the ice in the slush can make you a little tighter. michelle

i did a modified atkins the and thats when i lost the most of my weight. it was DR approved. my band dr said he wished all his patients did because you get results. now i still have a pretty good amount i would like to lose but i am not doing ANY diet. i do log my calories on fitday a lot of days and have goals for my calorie intake but i am not following a diet. the main issues i had with atkins or atkins like diets was CONSTIPATION!!! yuck! as bandsters we eat smaller amounts so some people get constipated from that and when you add a low carb diet to that it can really back things up. i never thought about poop as much in my life. i still eat low carb Pasta (dreamfields), use low carb wraps, low carb bread and buy the south beach 100 cal. packs of crackers but its because i like the taste and they are better for you than the original version. another side effect is you become accustomed to the higher calorie rich foods you are allowed. this becomes a problem when you start introducing carbs back into your diet. a diet is a GREAT way to use your tool. the 'non-diet' is also a GREAT way. at first you will have so many restrictions with HOW to eat that it will seem like a diet on its own! michelle

GO TITANS!!!!! (still a loyal fan from 2,500 miles away!) calvins team is the vikings. we had to get 'nfl sunday ticket' so we could both watch our games! with all the food and 'tight ends' WHATS NOT TO LOVE!!!!!!!!!!

this site is giving away free samples of their new Protein powder...if your interested: http://www.wheygoldstandard.com/form.asp

"Just the hummmm of my widdle bunni rabbit..." well at least the bunny sets off bells and whistles!!!!

i like free to! FREE and CLEARANCE are my two favorite words... ENJOY!