j.s.

I totally know what you mean by the endorphin rush although I never thought it would actually happen to me. I find now days I actually look Forward to going to the gym (crazy as that may sound!). I miss it if I dont go. I think its pretty nutty but I do like the way I feel after a good workout. I used to just get totally grossed out with the sweat (I man sweat, pretty disgusting really) but now I wear it as my badge of courage.... another day done in the gym.

thanks for the info. This surely is something I am giving much more thought to.

Well I am not on the bandwagon for this one. I do not feel they should be allowed to make all places smoke free UNLESS the business itself wants to be smoke free. Smoking is NOT an illegal activity and to treat it as such is just wrong. If a business does not want smoking, they should be allowed to ban it in their establishment but if they do want it, YOU nonsmokers DO NOT HAVE to go there, the same as I DO NOT HAVE to go to a smoke free business if I choose not to. I for one would love to see how angry the smoke free pubilic gets once the goverment is scrambling to get some of that tax money back (that the smokers are currently paying every time they light up).... that day will come and you nonsmokers will be crying foul.

Yes, I called every week and two different times ended up sending all my paperwork all over again because it was "missplaced". You'd be amazed at how quickly they get sick of your call. Also, take names so when you call again you can say you talked to ____ (fill in blank) on _____ date.

Can you tell me how much the membership is after that first free trial month? I couldnt locate that on the website. I too was interested in the body bugg but it was out of my price range, this seems more do-able.

I dont know if I'm right brained or left brained but both LIKE it! Great skin!

I have also been using a personal trainer for about 2 months now. I have not seen scale loss but I sure do see a difference in my body. My friends and family all see it. I am sure any day now the pounds will start coming off as it seems like my fat is re-arranging itself. I really wish I would have got him long ago as I think he is really helping me. Good luck to you!

I can eat any red meat. Fish is great too. Chicken seems to be a hit or miss for me most the time and pork- lets just say pork is not a friend of mine, I stay away from that. Just take it slow when your ready and see how you do.

Thanks for all the well wishes everybody. I do appreciate it, as encouragement still is a good thing. I know that without my band I would have been well over 300# by now and I am happy to say that is not the case. My jouney has been a long one but all in all a good one....

As of today I am 2 years banded and the time has just flew by. How have things gone? Pretty darn good if I may say so myself. I still have weight to lose. I have been at the same weight (basically, I will drop a pound here and a pound there) for the last year now so that is something that I constantly work at. Is it too many calories, not enough calories, wrong kind of exercising? Who knows... Not me for sure. I have worked out at a gym since September. Then I got me a personal trainer (I totally love my trainer and wish I would have done it sooner) in Feb. who changed my entire routine and has me doing totally different stuff. My scale has not moved yet but my body shape has changed tremendously. People are noticing and my clothes are fitting very differntly so I know it is just a matter of time before that scale starts to drop again. I am not discouraged in the band. It has done what it said it would do and it continues to do so. I have had fills all along but they have been very conservative fills. I am not a puker. Very rarely do I slime. I dont have any problems eating solids or with reflux or anything like that so yes.... I am happy with my band. I may not be losing as quickly as I like but I am not gaining - ever- and so if it takes me 5 years to lose all the weight I wanted to - I'm ok with that. I think the hardest thing for me to learn was to NOT compare myself to all my banded buddies....I want to... and then I find I am kicking myself in the butt about it. No sense to it. I'm me, your You and what works for you may not work for me. I just keep plugging away, drinking my Water, exercising every day (I actually enjoy it now, that is shocking in of itself) and I eat what I am supose to and sometimes what I am not supose to. I have 50 more pounds to lose till I am at my "goal" and I know one day I will get there, that is the beauty with my band.... I have time... I WILL get there. :clap2: Happy Easter to you all!

I eat popcorn, just not too often because it goes down way too easy.

Alex, I am so sorry to hear your band slipped. Good Luck on monday, I will be thinking of you and sending happy shiny thoughts your way.

My first year I went to curves, not the most strenuous but it did teach me to go every day and got me into the "routine" of going to work out. I also used my treadmill at home. Then I quit curves after that year was done and joined a gym (in sept). I go 5 x week. I just recently hired a personal trainer and I cant say enough good things about this guy. He has taught me so very much and I am seeing great results working with him (I only get him 1 hour a week). I definitely know for me the trainer has improved my overall effort tremendously. And because I see results.... I work harder....getting more results.... for once I am in a good circle...

I have told pretty much everybody I know that I care about, some that I really dont even care about. I am a very open person and it really does not bother me if people talk about it. The people who ask how much have you lost, that only lasts for a while, then it is old news and they are over it. I find that we make things so much more important in our own minds than they really are to the rest of the world. It becomes old news pretty quickly and they are off for the "new" news. Do what makes you feel comfortable, if you want to tell- go... tell. If you dont, then it is nobody's business but yours. Either decision is good, if it is good for you.

Hi from Hartland!

I was here before banding and as soon as I found it I informed my surgeons office so they can tell other band-wannabe's. I was totally prepared for anything my band could throw at me - thanks to this site.

I too felt the bypass was just too much. The biggest drawback for me, postsurgery, was the supplements bypass people need to take for the rest of their lives. I know I would not be very compliant with that. Since you are researching, weigh all the pros and cons and decide what YOU can live with. Be honest with yourself and that will help you decide what surgery, if any, is right for you. Good Luck!

I too have watched this show since it started. They discussed this whole discipline thing in the first season. I personally think they are a great family and I think that mouthy teenager part is no different than any other teenager on the planet. They also would get on line for chats after the show (this was during the first season, I am not sure if they still do it or not). Matts father totally cracks me up. It is a great show and worth tuning into.

Angie, Thank You so much for the great christmas package! I totally love the snowmen! The snowman who is holding the votive candle is just adorable. I am really into snowmen and that little tiny one is just too, too cute. Immediately I put him up on my computer monitor, I have about 6 little snowmen up there and I like to look at them while I do my sucky job (they make my sucky job a little nicer!) The bath salts and body butter will come in handy. And the foot lotion I plan on using tonight! You picked out wonderful gifts for me! Thank you so very much! l will try to post a pic of it all so everybody can see. Happy Holidays to you!

I sent my package out yesterday. Somebody lucky in Ohio will be getting a package that jingles all the way!

My surgeon wouldnt do it unless I quit smoking. I used the patch, the first couple of days are bad but it got much easier as time went on. I was smoke-free for 9 months and then bam.... started again and it is just amazing at how quickly you are right back to the amount you were smoking before you quit....I will give it another shot one of these days. I was also told that smokers do not come out of the anesthesia as well so I guess if you are not going to quit, you should let them know - for your own saftey.

I like anything cat. I am a cat collector at heart. I like all things christmassy, totally into snowmen. Any christmas decoration will be put to good use. Love to get flags to hang outside (the regular size not them puny kind). Bath stuff is good. Candles are good. I pretty much like anything, am very easy to please!

I have a terrible cold right now (week 2). Coughing up a lung at any moment. My husband also got the sickness this week (Uggh). I can only hope it goes away soon.

I am one of those who tells anybody who asks, and sometimes those who have not. I am a very open person. It has helped me to lose 80 pounds and if I can help somebody else I am happy to do it.

1. What is your occupation? Medical Transcriptionist 2. What color are your socks right now? White 3. What are you listening to right now? Computer hum and something my husband is watching on tv- guy talking about animals. 4. What was the last thing that you ate? Coco wheats - i have a sore throat :-( 5. Can you drive a stick shift? Im sure I could but I never have tried. 6. Favorite Color: Green, Red, Teal. 7. Music Preference: Alternative Rock. 8. Last person you spoke to on the phone? My sister. 9. Do you like the person who sent this to you? I don't really know her. WHAT HAPPENED TO NUMBER 10???? 11. Favorite drink? Crystal lite tea. 12. What is your favorite sport to watch? Only sports I ever watch is the olympics- swimming and gymnastics, speed skating, down hill skiing. 13. Have you ever dyed your hair? Yes. 14. Do you wear contacts or glasses? No. 15. Pets? 2 wonderful cats- Katie and Brandi. 16. What will you stay home to watch? Nothing really, dont need to with DVR. 17. What is the best movie you have seen? Blade - does everything for me. 18. What is your favorite day of the year? Christmas 19. What do you do to vent your anger? Usually have a bitch fest on whatever the anger issue is at that time. 20. What was your favorite toy as a child? Mrs. Beesley doll - just LOVED her. 21. Fall or spring? Fall. 22. Hugs or kisses? Kisses 23. Vanilla or Chocolate? chocolate 24. Do you want your friends to email you back?? Yes 25. Who is most likely to respond? Kim. 26. Who is least likely to respond? Jeff he has typing issues. 27. Living arrangements? House in Wi. with my husband and 2 cats. 28. When was the last time you cried? Oh just last night... Watching what about brian - funerals get me every time real or make believe.... 29. What is on the floor of your closet? Shoes and a ton of scrapbooking and beeding bins. 30. Who is the friend you have had the longest? Laurie. 31. What did you do last night? Talked to my sister on line - she lives in Australia... watched some tv afterwards. 32. Favorite smell(s)? Fresh cut grass. Roses. Fresh lilacs. Fresh towels out of the dryer. 33. What inspires you? Crafty people - the ones it just comes to naturally. 34. What are you afraid of? Heights, spiders, cows, ratcoons - i guess i have a nature issue. 35. Favorite food? Lobster on the grill- YUM. 36. Favorite car? Mine when it runs good. 38. Least favorite person right now? New supervisor. 39. How many years at your current job? 7 40. Favorite day of the week? Saturday. 41. Where you WANT to live in? Paradise Island - the name says it all.