j.s.

I do curves 3 x a week and on the other days I walk on my treadmill at home. Right now I am doing 3 miles/day on the treadmill and try to run at least twice during my session as long as I can. For curves I go early in the morning before work (5:30 am) and the treadmill I do after work.

Kare, Thank you so much for the CD! I used it last night and did have quite a sweat going on. Thanks!

How very cool!!! I will be wishing you luck!

Sherry, I was told my iron level was pretty low too, not anemic but right above that. I was taking two childrens vitamins daily at that time and had been for 6 months (give or take). Anyway I had to start taking Fergon (high potentency iron supp.) I had been taking them with the vitamins. Then I was told by a pharmacist not to take the iron with vitamins. That I was suppose to take the iron with vitamin C (OJ) because of iron needing to bind to vitamin c. So now i take my iron pill with my glass of OJ and i have graduated to one adult chewable vitamin per day. I asked my doc how long I had to do this for and he said until my next blood work which will be in a few months. I was told that my levels being so low was probably the reason I was tired a lot and that I had probably been really low for quite a long time.

my doctors office also has monthly support meetings, although it is with everybody (bypass, bands, ds). First hour they have a speaker which has been very interesting each and every time and then the second hour we split off into groups and do support group. I really enjoy them and look forward to getting together with banded people. We do our own group so for the support part it is just the banded people in my group. I enjoy it and will keep going until I find them no longer useful. I have met some really great people there!

I too have told anyone who cares to listen. I have had only support and I find that support very helpful. If I feel I need more support I can talk to anybody. I don't feel people are watching what I do or don't eat, the same as I don't watch what others do or don't eat.

I had the same problem of the hair falling out, I took biotin and drank one protien shake per day and that has cut it way back but I know what you mean, you freak in the shower, and it seems the more you freak the more falls out. I seemed to lose mine for a good month and a half before it stopped. Dont worry, it will stop and you wont go bald.

Im not a vegitarian but sure do like my veggies. I eat em all, salads included. The only thing I have had a problem with was slow-cooker carrots and I think that is just because I ate them too fast. Brussel sprouts go down just fine and stay there. I have eaten quite a bit, matter of fact that is what I started to eat when I was first allowed solid foods.

I wish everybody a happy and healthy New Year! J.s.

I have been doing Curves three times a week since August and this week being vacation for me I have not gone once - feeling a bit guilty but that has not made me get my butt in there. I do notice a difference and will be there bright and early monday morning. Also starting sunday will walk the treadmill on my off days.

congrats Jonathan, I wish you much love and happiness! Your rings are totally beautiful!

I was banded April 8, 2005. So far I have lost 67 pounds. I seem to plataue for a long time then lose a couple pounds then plataue again. I dont go back in until January for a fill. Think my restriction is still good tho as I get slimey now and again. My last NSV was finally - I hit my weight on my driver's license. Do you think that 67# cheat was noticable??

1. What does your handle mean? My Initials. 2. What book are you currently reading, or did you last read? The Happy Birthday Murders. 3. What do you do for a living? Medical Transcription. 4. For what in your life are you most grateful? Having a husband who loves me no matter what. 5. What's one thing about you that you think would surprise other people? I am extremely shy. 6. One word to describe yourself? Smartass. 7. One word others use to describe you? Happy. 8. Would you rather play a game with someone better or worse at it than you? Worse!!! I like to win and gloat (it doesnt happen very often!) 9. Favorite movie? Favorite show? Really like horror movies. Fav show would be survivor /nip tuck. 10. Something unusual about yourself? I am chuck full of useless bits of information that I like to share with EVERYONE.

I love looking at all your pets! Its a shame I cant figure out how to post a pic. I have two cats, Katie (short for Katilin) who is brown tabby 2 y/o and Brandi whose nickname is porkchop because she is much too large in the midsection. Both our cats come from the humane society and are just the sweetest things on this earth. Love them both to peices!

This year I am so thankful for so many wonderful things in my world. I am a day or two late but wanted to add to this thread all the same. First and foremost I am thankful every day that my husband loves me and takes care of me as well as he does. He is my best freind and I am always grateful that he is here with me. Secondly, he just got reunited with his child whom he had not seen in 35 years (this past august). His son was 5 when he saw him last so now he has a wife and 4 children and they have come into our life and for that I am totally blessed. We have bonded with them totally and my husband is so very happy to have his son back. They have accepted me into their life as well. This has been the happiest Thanksgiving we have ever had because now we have a family all of our own to share these times with and it dont get no better than that! Happy Thanksgiving everybody!

Bruce, Another thing to look at is family history. I did reach the weight factor but am healthy with no comorbidities of my own but I used the family history factor. My family history is incredibly bad with both parents having heart disease, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and the list goes on. Now in my immediate family starting at the oldest, working down the chain there are 6 siblings who have diabetes, high blood pressure, one brother with cardiac disease, diabetes and high blood pressure at age 46, so that was my main medical "reason" for this surgery and my insurance did pay for it. And I documented all this stuff in my "surgery packet" in explicit detail.

Andrea, Good luck and heres hoping you have a speedy, uneventful recovery!

My band is great and has changed my life..... because it allows me to feel in control for the first time in my life of what I put in my mouth. It has allowed me to feel that I can beat this fat. It allows me to feel that I CAN do this!

I will keep you in my thoughts and hope all goes well for you. Good luck and keep your chin up!

I got 8 out of 10.

I didnt have to do any test or anything. Just sat and talked with the therapist, asked about my family, friends, what kind of support network I had, what my expectations were, that kind of stuff. It was actaully quite pleasent. I liked the woman I talked with. Dont worry about it, it just sounds so intense.... its not really.

Way to go margo! Am I gonna recognize you next month?!? Cant wait to get together again.

My total favorite at this time in my life is Bono - love the man, got a whole fantasy world happening around him. Then.....George Clooney, Johnny Depp, Mathew McConeghy (cant spell his name but he sure is hot!) Mel Gibbson, oh and a young clint eastwood.

I had to see a pulmonologist but that was because I was a smoker and flunked the pulmonary function studies. After quitting for a month (while I waited for that pulmonologist appt.) when I did get in to see her she said I was fine, just from smoking and since I had quit, my lung function was already much better. Think they just like covering all bases. Even the pulmonologist said it was foolish to have sent me to see her. oh well, what ya gonna do?

I too have a treadmill at home that I do use sporadically, by that I mean I am really good for like 2 months - every day, then i let it sit for a month then I get back at it. I also joined curves in August and have gone 3 times a week since. I like going first thing in the morning before my workday starts. I get there at 5:45 and am done by 6:15 am. That is my must do exercise. I was a little worried about curves because I heard it got very chatty and it does, difference being I go to work out, not chat, so i will add my two cents every now and again but for the most part I think people realize I am there to work out and they pretty much leave me go to it. Just remember, any exercise is better than no exercise. Do what fits for you. and from my own personal experience, once I started doing more I was suprised at how much better I really did feel, I know everybody says that .... but it really is quite something!