Dragonwillow

Glad curtis is feeling better, Kristen went to the doc this morning and its officially the flu....We have went through the gament of illnesses this January...its got to stop. Yeah on getting into a 18, I have a couple of 20's I found that if anyone wants give a yell. Kathy your picture doesn't look bad. Geez...we are all too critical of ourseleves. I couldn't see a difference till I found a old picture and put it side by side with saturdays. The difference is still not shocking unfortantly, but I can tell at least. Karen, I still have yours and Dianes picture I think to email...Kim I wish we had of gotten you before you left. Send me a message you guys with a email I can send the pictures and I'll send them along. I've discovered how to edit and do the side by sides so if anyone wants to put a side by side together for them let me know. Melissa

This time of year, I'd suspect a cold. If you are worried though call your doctor in the morning. Hey thats what they are there for. When I was sick recently I called because I was sure I was going to cough up my band or knock the port loose. They were really comforting and even gave me some good suggestions on how to ease my symptoms some. Hope you are feeling better. Melissa

Congrats ...that has got to be a wonderful feeling. Just think you are truelly into NORMAL sizes now. I think I read somewhere that the average women is a size 13/14. Melissa

I was just complaining about this at my lapband meeting today. People can get almost smothering in asking "how much have you lost?" too often. I even have some that get the look like......thats all? LOL I told everyone I was having the surgery...so I open myself up to alot of this. Even my boss said when I told her I was going to schedule a fill. "Good, looks like you can eat alot" Geez, I even say that I can eat alot, but no one else is allowed to say it! LOL Melissa

I too can offer a lift, don't know how close I am, but being where I am in charlotte, I'm pratically in Gastonia. I forgot to ask if any of you wanted to borrow the ps1 dance dance revolution, or the xbox one. Let me know, I can always meet up to get you the game to try if you want. Melissa

And let me know if you want me to come see you next week. I'm off Thursday. Melissa

The first picture is before I had my lapband surgery. Not my highest weight, but my highest over the last few years. The second is today at our NC get together.

This months picture. Back row: Jennifer (jttaurus), Kim (gordonfamily3), Karen (mrs. sabre), Kathy (the best me) Front seated: Angie (bondgirl) , Diane (sunsett), Debbie (Diane's support group friend), Melissa (dragonwilo) Melissa

Your look alot better than mine...I had two slices of pizza last night....crust and all. Yesterday was just one of those days for me....and it sucks since I had a decent day the day before. Oh I think the worst was the ice cream sundae I had at the mall. What kinda of brain fart lets me order an ice cream sundae? Melissa

Ah Diane, do try to make it...and if you can't just let me know. I can do lunches usually tues-wed-thurs easily. Mondays and Fridays I work. Ewww love some of the pamper chef stuff....garlic press is wonderful, there is a measuring thing I want...but haven't gotten yet. And I love the stone wear stuff. Melissa

Do you know if you are bring Chloe? I still haven't mentioned it to Karah....only plan to bring her if you bring Chloe. Karah will be ready to go at a moments notice if she finds out there is a possibilty of going somewhere and food. LOL Melissa

If you are bringing chloe I will defiently bring Karah and maybe some colors for them to color. Just let me know. They can entertain each other. I won't mention it to Karah though until you know if you will be bringing Chloe. Melissa

:hungry:Breakfast : coffee with 1/2 cup carb countdown. 23 cal 4 protien egg beaters 1/2 cup 60 cal 12 protien 1/4 cup 2% cheese 80 cal 7 protien --------------- total 163 cal 23 g protien :hungry:snack : coffee w 1/2 cup carb countdown 23 cal 4 protien Pb 1 tblsp 100 cal 4 protien --------------- new total 286 cal 31 protien :hungry:lunch: fish 200 cal 31 g protien --------------- new total 486 cal 62 protien :hungry:snack: pack of crackers 180 calories, 4 protien coffee with 1/2 cup carb countdown 23 cal 4 g protien ------------------------ new total 689 calories 70 grams protien :hungry:Dinner: fish 100 cal 21 grams protien lima beans 1/4 cup 40 calories 2 g protien mashed potato 2tblsp 120 cal, 4 g protien ---------------------- new totalL 949 calories 97 grams protien Obviouslly the crackers were a waste of calories...and I wouldn't have grabbed them if I hadn't of let myself get over hungry. I actually got in more protien than I thought I was getting. Maybe too much? It's also only 630pm and I still have to get through 3 hours without snacking.

:hungry:Breakfast : coffee with 1/2 cup carb countdown. 23 cal 4 protien egg beaters 1/2 cup 60 cal 12 protien 1/4 cup 2% cheese 80 cal 7 protien --------------- total 163 cal 23 g protien :hungry:snack : coffee w 1/2 cup carb countdown 23 cal 4 protien Pb 1 tblsp 100 cal 4 protien --------------- new total 286 cal 31 protien :hungry:lunch: fish 200 cal 31 g protien --------------- new total 486 cal 62 protien :hungry:snack: pack of crackers 180 calories, 4 protien coffee with 1/2 cup carb countdown 23 cal 4 g protien ------------------------ new total 689 calories 70 grams protien :hungry:Dinner: fish 100 cal 21 grams protien lima beans 1/4 cup 40 calories 2 g protien mashed potato 2tblsp 120 cal, 4 g protien ---------------------- new totalL 949 calories 97 grams protien Obviouslly the crackers were a waste of calories...and I wouldn't have grabbed them if I hadn't of let myself get over hungry. I actually got in more protien than I thought I was getting. Maybe too much? It's also only 630pm and I still have to get through 3 hours without snacking.

I lost the most on the liquid diet...about 15-17lbs and then about averaged out a lb a week. Some weeks I don't loose and some weeks I loose 2...and some really bad weeks I gain a lb or two. I went back to the gym one week out, and did elliptical and treadmill alright. The spin class was a bit uncomfortable in my port area, and salsa class was a bit more tiring than I remembered. I started walking in the hostpial that night, and walked for 10-15 increments throughout the day until I went back to the gym. I didn't start weight lifting again until 6 weeks out. I started working in a daycare 2 weeks out from surgery and did fine. Just be careful about lifting over 20lbs. My energy level is way up, I'm not doing so good with couting calories now, but when I was still on liquids I was getting about 600-800 calories a day. I was so amazed I didn't feel tired even with this low amount of calories. I haven't had my first fill yet, waiting on the dr office to schedule it. I don't have restriction in the true sense either. I just keep telling myself to hang on and stick it out and eventually it will get easier when I have restriction. Good luck, and just keep in mind the band is only a tool, its still work to loose weight, the band is just there to remind you what you are all about. Melissa

Kohls has some of those Italian Charm Bracelets on clearance. They are Stainless steel and not white gold, but they are only $1.50. They even had some charms for .50. I bought a few of them, so now each of the kids and I have one. I have extra links if anyone wants to give it a try. I'm making mine for my weight loss. I figured if I had a physical reminder staring at me all day of what I've accomplished I would remember to strive for it more. I even found a set of charms at the icing store at the mall, they say "dream it", "believe it", "become it". Thought they were the perfect message to myself. I've decided to put a new charm on for every 5lbs. Right now I have 6 and the 3 insperational ones. They even sell Mega charms so that you can link two rows together to form a double bracelet. Or you can get watches that can do two rows. When I get to goal I will defiently need two rows...though I have PLENTY of room on the single row right now. LOL I can lose another 55lbs before I need a second row. :cake: And the cool thing...is if you really want a "nicer" white gold like they sell at the booth at pineville mall, they work with this bracelet too. So you could gradually change your bracelet from a cheap one to a nicer one. Melissa

:hungry: 1-25-2006 Breakfast- whole Luna bar 180 calories, 10g protien Lunch, snack and all the way till dinner :help: I ate Sausage and cream cheese rolls. It was low fat sausage, fat free cream cheese and reduced fat cresent rolls. I don't know how many I actually ate...its all a foggy blur. I have no idea how many calories it was...but I'm sure it was too many. Dinner, about 6 oz of tilapia. Yep...a fill is defiently in order.

:hungry: 1-25-2006 Breakfast- whole Luna bar 180 calories, 10g protien Lunch, snack and all the way till dinner :help: I ate Sausage and cream cheese rolls. It was low fat sausage, fat free cream cheese and reduced fat cresent rolls. I don't know how many I actually ate...its all a foggy blur. I have no idea how many calories it was...but I'm sure it was too many. Dinner, about 6 oz of tilapia. Yep...a fill is defiently in order.

Had my nutrition appointment yesterday, and even though I'm loosing weight I really think I'm eating too much. So waiting for the office to call me back to schedule my first fill. Feeling much better cough wise, and think I may finally be over it. I actually slept all night last night. Going to go back to exercising tomorrow, today I'm just going to take it easy and get some laundry done.

Had my nutrition appointment yesterday, and even though I'm loosing weight I really think I'm eating too much. So waiting for the office to call me back to schedule my first fill. Feeling much better cough wise, and think I may finally be over it. I actually slept all night last night. Going to go back to exercising tomorrow, today I'm just going to take it easy and get some laundry done.

Thinking of Curtis today, update us on how things went when you can. Don't worry too much Curtis is going to be fine, he has been a tough little boy this iin comparrison is going to be a cake walk. I'm with Diane, hopefully this is his last surgery. Melissa

I sent hubby home and he came back the next day. It's not too bad of a drive, it is all interstate. I live at Little Rock Road exit...so I'm as close to Gastonia as you get with out actually being there I think. You probally won't feel much like watching a whole movie...and they do have cable there at the hospital. The first day you will be sleeping alot. The nurses where great coming and helping me get up for the bathroom and I went EVERY 2 hours like clockwork. LOL They had to take off my leg compression thingies, unplug the machine and help me up. Then after pottying and walking a bit (do that as much as possible the walking) They came back in and helped me get hooked up and get my pillows just right...all to do it again in a couple of hours. Melissa

Kathy can't wait to see you in your new "wears" . You are doing so good, you need to treat yourself to a pair of JEANS...come on...you know you wanna. Melissa

Congrats. I saw plenty of kids down in the waiting area. It'll be a long couple of hours for hubby though. Can someone else go wtih him so when you go to presurgery prep they can hang out with the little one until you actually go into surgery? Hubby will be in the waiting area during surgery and they will take him up to your room when you are in recovery usually. Children should be alright in the room. Melissa

I'm am glad that we got at least 2 touchdowns in so it wasn't a total shut out...but :cry. Karah will be so disappointed that the "leathers" lost. LOL Melissa