valstar

I needed to hear that Salsa. No need to apologize, I also needed to hear it a little harshly! Val

Another 1 down, 3 to go! Does it count if you do 2 in one day?

Great job on the weight loss Salsa! Becky, you are so right! Last year it was eat and lay on the couch! We should all be proud! As we near the new year, I want to also thank everyone for sharing their stories and words of wisdom and support! I know I would not be as dedicated as I am if it were not for the Crazy Ates! Another workout down, 4 to go! Val

I agree with Iharriet. I would only add, make sure you drink Water. Sometimes when you think you are hungry, you are really thirsty. Drink water and wait before you eat. That usually makes a difference for me. I need a fill also. Hopefully my doc will get me in around the 15th also. val

Same here! This is the rest of our lives! We are going to have a goodi now and then. The lesson learned is to just have a little to satisfy the craving and then to let it go, get away from it or get it away from you! I have pushed cake and pie on everyone who has visited and encouraged them to take it with them! I feel good about my choices this holiday. I had a little of eerything I wanted. 1 serving. I didn't feel stuffed. I didn't feel deprived. I got up and worked out. My family didn't focus on the big meal this year. We enjoyed each other's company, played games and watched movies. All and all, this was a great way to spend the holiday. Now we have New Years to get through and we host a big all day brunch! :help: I think I will be O.K. Take care all!

I got another workout in today! 1 a day until 12/31 and I will make my December goal! I am not weighing myself until 12/31. I was 5 lbs from my New Years day goal a little over a week ago and I want to see the big drop on the 31st! We are really doing this guys! Can you beleive it?! Val

Merry Christmas All! One of few holidays when I didn't feel stuffed from having eatten way too much! Even needing a fill, I was able to control my intake! I enjoyed my day! Drinking plenty of water today and going to the gym. Trying hard to meet my exercise goal! Val

Jenncore, I had the same rollercoaster experience - 7 years ago! I swore every summer that next summer, I was going to get on a rollercoaster. I began using my younger son as an excuse not to get in line so my family wouldn't know the reason I wasn't riding was because I was too big! Well, my youngest son is now old enough to ride and next summer, I am getting on a rollercoaster with him!!! The other thing is I was always healthy...just fat. That's what I use to say. I watched people have different surgeries and said well if I ever have health problems... Last spring I was diagnosed with pre-diabetis, pre-hypertension and sleep apnea. That was it, I began the process. I had surgery on 8/30/07. It was hte best decision. I only wish I had made it sooner. I was down 45lbs. as of 12/17 I have a 50lb goal for 1/1/2008 (don't own a scale so won't know if I made my goal until 1/2). I am currently at my lowest weight in 13 years. When I get to 75bs, I will be at my lowest weight in 25 years. I plan to be there in time to ride the rollercoaster!

I found my ring!!!:clap2::whoo::clap2:

Hey All! 45lbs down as of Monday! :clap2: My 1/1/08 goal was 50! I think I'll make it 2.5 lbs a week, I can do that. I saw a picture of myself yesterday and almost didn't recognize me! I am feeling great! Just looking forward to the winter break which starts Friday! Val

If you haven't done so already, have your rings adjusted! I lost a diamond ring today. I felt all of my rings getting loose but did not think any would slip off. I looked at my hand this evening and one was gone!:think I took the others off until I can have them adjusted. Thank God it was not my wedding or engagement ring! I'm sorry I lost the ring but I'm glad I'm losing the weight. I gotta make some lemonade out of this lemon! :)Take care all!

I've lost a a sperm whales brain, a rack of baby back ribs and a 3-gallon tub of super premium ice cream. :hungry: yum!

Ladybug, it's one day. Don't beat yourself up and don't make it two. You know what you have to do and how to do it. We are all here to support you as you do us. The shame is not in falling but in not getting back up! Princessst, I am amazed! That is wonderful progress. I am struggling to get to 50 (6 lbs to go). I hope to be there on January 1. I need another fill I've gotten 2 for a total of 2.2 CCs. They seem to only be good for about a month which worries me because if I get a fill every month, the band will be completely filled in about 5 months. Then what? That's why I am trying to work with what I have for the rest of this month. My thinking might be wrong because I feel a little confused about fills. If anyone understands this better, I'd love to hear. Val

Thank you, all! You are right because last year I would have two peices at least and then followed up everyday until it was gone with another! I have not touched it since that day and that is success! Val

Candle, You go girl!

Things are definitely slowing down. I also have to admit I ate a peice of chocolate cake for my B-day. I am still 7 pounds out from my goal. I am trying not to beat myself up. My new phrase is be kind to yourself. Got a good work out this morning and have upped my water intake. I think the scale should move by Friday. I am writing my last paper for school (due 12/12) so my time and schedule should go back to normal for the last weeks of 2007. I am launching an all out assault on food and workouts for the last 19 days of this month! I am still determined to meet my goal! Hey Candle, Who says you can't ake the pictures and the measurements now. And, do you have a belt that you used to wear. You could estimate your starting waist size by measuring the belt. Take care all! Val

I'm 5'6. Started at 319 a size 26. I lost 23 in total pretty evenly with the extra inches in my waist. As of 12/2, I am now 277 size 20. I am buying and requesting 18's for the holidays. I think a size 12 would be grand! Val

My kids were 11 nad 6 when I had the surgery. I didn't tell my 12 year old until about a week before. She had a lot of questions which I tried to answer. The morning of the surgery she told me, "Mom you know, you don't have to do this, you are already beautiful." After thanking her and writing a check for all the money I have to her I explained that this was not about how I look but how I feel. I explained my health issues and my desire to just feel better. I also told her what I tried in the past. It took a minute but she understood. I didn't tell my 6 year old until the day before. He was not much interested until I came home and he wanted to see the scars. Your kids are worried because any surgery has mortality risks. I talked to my 12 year old about that also and explained the safety of the surgery. You have to deal honestly with them when they are old enough to understand. If you haven't done so, take them to an information session or let them read some prescreened posts. Good luck to you. Val

I had been very dry also. I increased my Water intake and that has helped. My dietician says by the time you feel thirsty you are already beginning to dehydrate. So don't wait until you feel thirsty to get the water in. Also, my scale has slowed considerably, so I took my measurments and there has been a loss! When I was losing on the scales people didn't notice as much but since the scales have slowed I get comments about my loss. Muscle weighs more than fat and toning changes how you look sometimes without much change on the scale. When the scales aren't moving, sometimes inches you're still losing! Either way, we are doing well. Most of us are on target or ahead of the game. I am learning to not be so hard on myself through this process. The scales and the measuring tape will eventually catch up with the eating, exercise and mind set changes I've made. Val

Riotgrrl, Your husband sounds like mine did when I first brought it up with him. He later acknowledged that he was afraid that something would happen to me or that I would lose weight and leave him. He would not go to an information session so it was difficult to get him to understand what I was feeling. He said I just needed to get out and run and exercise, drink water or just don't eat! I wanted to smack him! I left an article in the bathroom that i found about Muhammad Ali's daughter who had the surgery. He read it. Then I left some other information about the procedure. He read that also. He finally came to me and said if this is what I want, he would support it. I told him I want to be healthy and here when our kids have kids and we are rocking in rockers! He has been wonderful since the surgery. Be patient with your hubby, give him inofrmation and tel him why you are considering it. What is the benefit for him? I won't be graphic but less weight, more energy, more variety! Good luck to you! val

Hey Riotgrrl, I remember being there. I had LB surgery on 8/30/07. Once my insurance was approved I remember think Ohh S**T, this is real! I'm really going to do this. It's scary. I thought about the possibilities of what could go wrong and Lord forbid if I should die what would happen to my children. I prayed hard on this. This is not a decision to be made lightly. You need to talk with a couselor and go to an information session and ask these same questions. Ask questions until you are comfortable. I was not healthy so I had to take off the weight or my children would have been motherless sooner anyway. 3 1/2 months later, I have more energy, I feel better, I sleep better and my kids can tell the diference. Looking back, it was the best decision for me. I am so much more in control. Good luck with your decision. (BTW, you poop, you vomit, your body adjusts.) Val

4jin, I'm in Phila., Pennsylvania, sorry. The support groups are tough. I don't want to bash RNY, it just wasn't for me. I have friends who chose that route and they are doing well and look great. They are 4, 2 and 1 year out from surgery. they tried to encourage me to do RNY with the regular arguments but I explained I had to do what was best for me and my family. The loss is slower but I am also changing life long habits. It takes time but I am willing to wait and do this hard work. I know the group that I have gone to is not the norm but I'm glad that it is serving its intended purpose. One good thing about this group is some are years out from RNY and are talking about the struggles they now have with keeping it off. Some did not do the work to change their heads while their bodies were changing. They are now doing that work so we are in the same place they are just smaller (). I try not to feel I need to justify my decision to anyone beyond it was the choice for me. Finally, this place is the best support, encouragment and education I have found. I encourage anyone considering either surgery to log on and read some of the posts. You guys are awesome and great examples to me. When I need a boost, I pick some threads and just read!:ranger: Val

I had a good experience with the support group I went to. There were only about 7 of us. Only two of us lap banders, one all time permanent bander and the rest Gastric Bypass. It was very encouraging and I got good info and support. As a counselor, I recommend if you aren't getting what you need from the group, speak up. Most times, you are not the only one feeling that way and maybe it can change! I do agree though that this si one of the most supportive places you can go! Good luck! val

Hey Kayla, Be kind to yourself. It is tough and it's O.K. to feel a little irritable while you adjust to the changes. You don't sound like a complainer you sound like a newly banded lap band person! We've been there and guess what for various reasons, at various times, we may be back there!:faint: Just keep your eye on the prize! You can do it. Think of how easy it will be at the end of this to make good healthy choices. Continued good luck to you Val

I'm not sure what a NSV is but I assume its some good news! I have two: 1. My darling husband after hearing someone remark about my weight loss replied that he is happy for me because I am happy but that my weight had nothing to do with how much he loved me. :kiss2: 2. I have lost 22 inches! When the scale slows down, reach for the tape measure!:clap2: 319H/314S/277C/200G Crazy 8's December exercise challenge 1/16 down! :car:On the road to health! Riders welcome