mousecrazy

Jack is definitely on to something... If you don't have your "drug of choice" or food in our case, then you must find another outlet for the feelings. One obvious choice is to examine those feelings...what are they? Why? Is there some action you can take to change those feelings into something that does not cause stress? Stress. We all have it. I like to play some silly computer games to relieve stress. I have a couple of hobbies I enjoy. I stepped these up when eating had to take a back seat in my stress-reliever hall of fame. Try to find a way to relieve inevitable stress...bubble bath? Walk? Read? There are so many possibilities. It's time to do the head work that is so necessary...(((hugs))). It's not pretty, but there it is. The (((hugs))) are there because it's just darn hard, isn't it? But, you can do this! People have posted some good ideas, and I hope at least one of them seems like a good idea to start you out on this next part of your journey! Cindy

Love the picture! You are looking fantastic!

Funny you should mention the calorie range issue, Mandy...when I retired and started staying home, I realized I wasn't eating as well as I should be, AND I had gained a couple of pounds...I recently corrected the eating, and lo and behold, dropped the two pounds immediately. So, I think I'm a lot like you that way...if I don't eat enough, I will not lose. Also, years ago, I took depo, which didn't work out too well for me, but that's not the point. I just wanted to say you will lose weight, but it might take longer than you think for it to leave your body altogether. My body did not like depo, and it had some ill effects that took longer to leave than the length of time I used it! (I like having my one "perfect" child, as I like to say!) Sherry, I'm glad you had a better night last night...and glad you are not throwing shoes at me (or anything else!) It is so hard to be patient! Keep repeating to yourself that you weigh 195. We might as well try that, huh? Darcy, good luck rehabbing your dreadmill. I think I missed the part where you were training for a half-marathon. Dang! That's a long way, but you can do it! I like that idea where you ask around for one that's collecting dust somewhere... keep an eye on the classified ads, too. Betty, wish I could smell that roast cooking in my oven! I just recently did a pork roast, and we really enjoyed it! I used a mustard marinade....yummy! Eileen, spring's coming...hang on! You are welcome in Texas, just anytime you can escape! Bring the DD, they will have fun together, I'm sure! Chrispy, hope you are feeling better today, and bummer on the cancelled date. If he's any good, he'll call you pronto for a make-up date! Beanie, how's it goin'? I really enjoyed your comments on another thread, the one about the girl who got dissed by the canucks...you are really helping a lot of people out there! Way to go! You, too, Betty and Mandy! I can never say "thank you" too often to all of you here on the NJ thread! You are all some of the best gals in all of LBT, or anywhere at all, for that matter! Thanks for being the wonderful friends you are! Gotta go pick up DD...see you all later on this evening! Cindy

Hey, just chalk that one up to "it says more about them than you" and move forward. I have wandered into threads without looking what category they are in, and thankfully, nothing like that has happened! Sorry you had such a bad experience, but truly most of the people I interact with her at LBT are supportive and helpful. One of the threads i accidentally posted in over a year ago, I still go to today...and have made great friendships there! (Hi Kat, Betty, and Mandy!) Cindy

Way to go Darcy! I know you would make it...but shopping for a new treadmill isn't so bad. You're doing great with your exercise! Sherry, I'm so glad Kat and Mandy had some great feedback for your acid reflux problem. I hope something helps...and if you need an unfill, just do it. If you get to your goal later, you still get to your goal, right? Patience. Courage. (is any of this helping at ALL? or should I just duck to miss that shoe you are tossing at me?) Eileen, I hope you have some "down time" today, and not just all cleaning! How's the weather up there? My toes are frozen from standing outside selling those dang cookies! Oh, and it's only 38 outside here...I know, I'm a wimp in NJ terms. Glad to hear that Pat is just busy, and is doing fine...I hope the same is true of Patty! I bet Anne is tired, too...all that work, then weekends catching up at home! Shoot, I don't work, and I'm running around with my hair on fire most of the time! DD is spending the night with my sis again and taking care of the baby cousin...and we just found out that my niece is having another baby in late September! Joy! Mary, good luck looking for your jeans! Hope you find a good deal! Okie dokie, gotta run...time to play some POGO! Hugs to all, Cindy

I am 51, and have had my lapband for about a year and half. I doubt that age is a problem in and of itself; at least, it hasn't been for me. I also would like to add that I do not see lapband surgery as the "easy way" to weight loss. Even with the lapband, there is a lot of work involved...it certainly no magic bullet. If it was that easy, then I don't think there would be so many people on here for support...they would just be sailing through their weight loss journey's. I say this to help those of you who are suffering with guilt for taking the supposed "easy way" out...it is not. You have chosen a tool, a much, much better tool than the silly diets, the pills, the crazy scams, and the snake oil we have bought into in the past. I hope this will give at least one person a clear conscience! And good luck and happy weight loss to all!

My vote is "definitely worth it"! If you are unsure of the negatives of the lapband surgery, try writing a list with the negatives of surgery on one side of the paper and the negatives of being morbidly obese on the other side. That should clear things up. You have to be brutally honest. He is very young now...you have to consider what obesity will do in 10-20 years, IF he stays at this weight and does not continue to gain. I think lapband surgery was the best health decision I've made...no blood pressure medication, much less pain in my joints (although the years of carrying around all that weight have taken a toll), and I am much more active and much, much happier!

Good morning! I don't know about fun, unless you think standing in front of Walmart with some Jr. Girl Scouts selling cookies is fun (it is, kinda!)...LOL! I'm gonna go load some more cases of cookies in the truck, Beanie...gotta make another delivery, and stock up for the booth sale tomorrow. I have not eaten one cookie so far! I'm with you Kat, on the incredible slowness of these last 3 pounds on the way to onederland. I am pretty sure it's a mental block. I am probably not ready to go there yet. That's how it's been on every "milestone" so far...has it been that way for you? One thing I have done to help myself through those blocks is to start telling myself I already weight "whatever". In this case, I say to myself, "I weigh 195 pounds". I think it helps me get used to it. I am getting a system error right now, so I'm gonna post this, and come back later before I lose it...hugs.

Very interesting, Kat! I will provide updates as I find out more. There is an opt-out clause, but you have send to the capital for a form from the Health Dept., and claim religious grounds or something. I guess I'll do what I have to do, but there is a big push for the gov. to rescind his executive order, so I will keep working toward that. I mean, you can't get HPV by breathing the air, or touching a shopping cart. Beanie...never fear! The cases are all sealed, so I can't very well drive and pop open cases of cookies at the same time! LOL! See ya'll tomorrow...hugs! Cindy

Sorry, Mary, that you are being subjected to all this. Mandy is right, of course. They want to know if he is contagious; he is not. You have your doctor's word on that, give it to them, and that is that. Down here in Texas, our governor (who I held my nose and voted for, just for clarification) has signed an executive order MANDATING that our little girls, aged 11-12 must be vaccinated with Gardasil, against a STD (HPV) that could possibly cause cervical cancer...do you even THINK I am taking my DD in for 3 shots at a cost of over $300 in case she has sex in 6th grade? You gotta be kiddin' me. Except it's not a joke. Stay vigilant, folks. The government wants to make too many of our decisions for us. My counter proposal: since it is a medical emergency that 4,000 people die of cervical cancer/year (not that each and every one isn't a tragedy), then the 40,000 deaths of young people 16-24 who die in auto accidents should be truly appalling. Let's not allow them to drive. Perhaps our governor will sign an executive order outlawing drivers licenses for young people. Okay, sorry about the soap box, but Mary's run-in with the school and medical things just brought that back up to my conscious level.... Bye for now! Cindy

I prayed for you today. Just stopping by to check in on the battle plan!

Good morning! Today is the big Girl Scout Cookie Pick-up Day! That means, I have my DH's truck, my dad is meeting me with the van, and another girl's dad has his SUV, and we all go to the warehouse, and get our troop's order: 127 cases of cookies! And, it's trying to rain. This is my first year as "cookie mom" so I'm a little nervous about it, but I'm sure it'll all work out....right? Betty, sorry about the trashy posts. What is wrong with people?! What a waste of time...of course, I'm sure you can find some other people who would defend their "right" to free speech...urrrggghhh. Mandy, sounds like a good idea to give it a little more time...and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! You are such a young thing! (no, me....jealous?) Have a good one! Sherry - you are definitely going to have to pave the way to onederland for me...I'm having one of my "weight adjustment periods" commonly referred to as a plateau around here...it's gonna happen, I just don't know when exactly. I am aiming for before Easter, which is about 8 weeks from now. Darcy - way to go, girl! You are safe with the truth here, you know that. We know how it goes, and we know you are going to make your goals...we just have to stick together! One thing for sure, we are good at that! Beanie - you are really hitting that exercise! I won't even recognize you at our next meeting! I've gotta get ready to go...see ya later! Cindy

Ooops, sorry guys! I've been missing a couple of days...just busy, nothing wrong. Our date was fun...dinner was good (steak) and it was so tender, even I could eat it! Of course, DH got half of it, which made him happy! Chris, I love your picture! Kat, what a story! Reading your posts was better than watching TV! I sure hope that whole thing gets worked out, and also that your DH gets some rest from work! Mandy, when is your unfill? It is so touchy, these fill...I'm leaving mine right where it is, even if losing weight is slow. Beanie, glad your dr. visit went okay...just stick with it, you'll get where you want to be! Betty, sorry you've been feeling bad. Are you better? Eileen, what's shakin' chickie? Sherry, how'd the big meeting go? I hate cleaning, but have to do it, so I do a little at a time...it fools me into thinking I haven't done it! Ha! Mary, glad your little boy is getting a little better... I better go get something done...I'm gettin' lazy these days! Hugs, Cindy

Mary, so sorry about Cristian...hopefully the antibiotics will kick in real soon, and he'll start feeling better. Take care. Anne, you survived! I know it's gonna take some "gettin' used to" as we say in Texas. I'm a Pogo addict, too. I only like games I can play by myself...I guess I'm anti-social about games. I feel like there is too much pressure when I play with other people. I gues that's why...I just like the single player games better....they seem more relaxed to me. Sherry, I pay a fee each month, but it's not very much, like 6.95 or something. It keeps me from wandering around the online stores buying stuff, so it's a savings, actually! I've gotta get dressed up tonite. We are going to a dinner thing...DD is at my dad's and they are going out to eat and stuff...we never dress up and go anywhere, so it ought to be a nice evening, if only because it's different! Everyone have a good evening...see ya tomorrow! Cindy

Yes! Your "justify game" is the same idea as my perfectionism idea! It all involves..."I might as well_____(fill in the blank)." You've made a fresh start. Well done!

Kat was taking her MIL to Denver, if I remember right. She was talking about the bad weather and they were putting new tires on and everything. Does that ring any bells? Mandy, I do that meatball thing, too, but I use cocktail weiners (okay, that just looks wrong when you put in writing! LOL!). I also use a combo of barbeque sauce and whole berry cranberry sauce, and use that in the crockpot with meatballs. That's yummy, too. Sherry, earlier you asked about Valentine's gifts for our sweeties. Mine is odd, but good for my guy. I saw on Road Tasted this sausage company in Missouri that made great stuff, so I ordered a big sampler package (I got to choose 6 types of sausages) for him. I think it was called Swiss Sausage or something like that, but you can find it on the Food Network website, then you have to go to their show, and then to the MO episode. Not that easy to find, but I finally found it. He'll be surprised! Pretty romantic, huh? More food talk: right now I have a pork loin roast in the oven and smells soooo good. Then I am making a dish called Ruby Pears, which are pear halves cooked in the oven in a sauce of cranberry sauce (whole berry) and cinnamon and some other things....I love fruit dishes like that. If it's good and anyone is interested, I'll write out the recipe.

Hi, and welcome to LBT! I know you have a lot of questions, and I encourage you to read everything you can. Use the "search" feature, and look up whatever you need to learn more about. I doubt you're gonna get a lot of positive feedback about gastric bypass here...we all chose the lapband procedure, and more than 90% are successful with it. Are there a few complications? Yes. There are complications with ingrown toenails. LOL! Are there serious complications if you do nothing at all, and remain obese? Certainly. For me, it has been without a doubt one of the best decisions I have ever made, and THE BEST decision I've made regarding my health. Much, much better than choosing diet pills, crazy diets, diet plans, weight loss competitions at work, etc. Much, much better than feeling guilty that I couldn't lose weight, and then gaining even more. Is it a magic bullet? No. It gives you some big help, though...BIG help. Then, if you work with it, and parner with the tool you have...well, it's a magical thing. It won't solve all your issues with food, but it will give you the basis of finding the solutions. Please, learn all you can before you make your decision. Read what other people say, go to some meetings with doctors and surgeons...the mroe info the better! Good luck with your decision. Cindy

You've had the power all along. I'm sorry about your mother; I lost mine a year and a half ago. One new trick: don't demand perfection from yourself. I think it sets us up for the failure complex. If we can't be perfect, we might as well just go ahead a blow it big time. Does that sound familiar. Maybe let it be okay if you do just 80% of the things you set forth as goals...consider it a good thing, and keep going. That's all I've got for you, but I think it's important. Much love to you...mind if I check in on you once in a while? (((hugs))) Cindy

Fantastic! Thanks, Missy, for reporting on a great meeting. Sorry I am a big weenie about driving. So, 1st Thursday of the month...same place? Or is it changing from month to month? I'm so glad ya'll had a good time! Cindy

Thanks for the egg muffin recipe...I wonder...what if you did the mini-muffin pan, would they be kinda like those little quiches you get frozen at Sams? But the no-carb version? Hmmmm. I wimped out and decided not to drive down to Denton. I am a fearless crusader in many ways, but driving in bad conditions is, alas, not one of them. I'm sure I would have been okay, but something in me cannot convince myself that it is worth the risk. Sorry for missing it, Jules. Please report on it...who was there? Mandy, glad you are starting to feel better. Don't you just hate when the daily things interfere with vacation money? Dang it. I don't think we are going to Maine this summer, for a similar reason. Cass, I'm sure we'll have the opportunity to say it again, but happy birthday! Hope you are doing well, and have fun on Sunday! Hey, Eileen...I'm making your famous Spinach Dip for the Super Bowl "party" at my house this Sunday (DH, DD, FIL and me!). I'm also making what we call the Tom Landry Memorial Cheese Dip (Velveeta, Ro-tel tomatoes and sausage)...maybe some chicken wings, too. I don't really have a favorite team between the Colts and the Bears; I like both teams. I'll just pull for whoever has the ball. And Prince is the halftime show? That should be, er, interesting. I love his music, but Prince and NFL just don't often find themselves in the same sentence. DD is home "sorta sick" today. Sore throat, touchy tummy...headache. No fever. She's just laying in bed, watching movies. It is still snowing a little here, it actually piled up on the grass, maybe an inch or so. Wow, right? I love looking at it. Sherry, you take care of yourself and that cold. You've had it sooo long! Maybe that burst of energy was a sign that it was "breaking" and leaving you? I'm going to check on DD. I'll check back in a while...take care, everyone! Darcy, did you get my miles? I think you did; they are in my signature line. Hugs to all! Cindy

Hey, Jules, just in case you check in here...I may not get to the bandster meeting...it is sleeting/snowing here north of Denton...and you know I am the biggest chicken about driving on slick roads, because of THOSE PEOPLE who will not behave themselves. Sooooo, I'll be watching the weather and we'll see.

Update: Right now, it is sleet/snowing up here, north of Denton. If this continues, I will not drive down to Denton (I am a big chicken on slick roads). I just wanted to let you guys know this...please post on this thread if there are any other updates...

Everyone has given you great feedback. It is different for each person. I was getting back to "normal" in a week or so; I know I was driving. The pain where the port is, well, even now sometimes I feel it, but I wouldn't call it pain now...it just IS. So many of the fears about your banded life will turn out to be unfounded. As you find your way, you will adjust and change, and it will all work out. I am very happy, 17 months out, and still losing weight. Hang in there, it WILL get better!

Good for you, Mary. That is a wonderful thing for you to do. I never feel better than when I am doing something to help someone else...I swear it helps me more than them. Bless you!

I will pray for sanity for the American public. What a refreshing thought.