mousecrazy

I was not expecting "my last straw." I thought I was going to an orthopedic surgeon to get some relief from chronic ankle pain. He is the one who was brave enough to tell me that if I was going to weigh 290 or so, there wasn't anything he could possibly do that would actually help. As I sat there stunned, he referred me to a lap-band surgeon. Something in his straight-forward approach finally opened my eyes. At that time, my mom was in the hospital, still in the hospital after 5 months...and though I didn't know it then, was in the last week of her life. They say God works in mysterious ways...it all came together for me. I knew I had to do something to improve my health, that I was not doing it "on my own." I had my family's full support, and even though my mom passed away, I went ahead with the surgery two weeks later. Sometimes, the last straw is a true blessing.

Just saying hello and wishing you good luck on your journey!

Hahahaha! Sherry, that cracked me up! I'm trying not to be so "helpful" this week. Sometimes my mouse wants to click on a thread and I say NO, and make my mouse just move right over it! LOL! Dianne, didn't mean for my response to be so abrupt. Someone walked in my room right then, and I had to bug off the post...sorry! But seriously, a cruise and a fill? As my fave NJ girl says, WTF? LOL! OH yeah, Sherry...apparently TOM can cause havoc with a fill...I don't have that prob. anymore due to a hysterectomy a few years ago. Darcy, just saying hello...whatcha doin? Everyone else, forgive me...it's bedtime, and I'd love to stay up and play, but it's time to call it a day and listen to DD read to me! Hugs, Cindy

Mandy, I only read this today, so will pray now for the best for Abigale and your family. You are a great mom, and your dedication to her will carry through it, no matter what it is. God will give you all you need to be to her what she needs. To those facing surgery...I will pray for your swift recovery, and more importantly, that you will face the challenges to come with wisdom and patience, and respect for yourself. Good luck to all of you! Thank you for the news on Isaiah...all in all, great progress.

You GO, girl! No, that SKINNY girl...yes, YOU! Congratulations! I'm so happy you can finally see you!

Hi, everyone! Dianne...you are going on a cruise? And thinking about a getting another fill? Uh..did I miss a big logical leap here? LOL! I'd hold off...but that's me! BBL!

I love cross-stitch, or any kind of needlepoint, or handquilting...and just to add another twist...find a project that you can do for a community group...like cross stitch some things for your neighborhood nursing home...or make small fleece blankets for children who are crime victims...something like that. You'll be helping yourself, and helping others, too!

Sherry, I'm just checking on something here...are you cutting your solid protein (chicken, meat, whatever) into really little tiny bites? When I do that, it really helps! If I forget and eat like a "normal" person (LOL!), I'll get a "golfball." I've never PB'd. Otherwise, if I eat carefully, I can eat a reasonable small meal. Nothing like I could in the "good ol' days" though! Darcy, it sounds like you are feeling, well...back to normal? LOL! Thanks for being a good sport! Ya know we love to tease, and you had such a good subject! Patty, I swear these hoops are getting out of control! Look up that denial letter of Mrs. Sabre. Beanie did a good job of it, too. Just keep after it. I'm sorry to hear about your back...you've sure got a plate full of problems right now! ((hug)) Dianne, your show sounds like it was great! Wish I could have seen it! Pat? How's your friends' family? Eileen? Your nephew? Enjoy your week's vacation! Anne? Whatcha up to? Allison? How was your weekend? Betty, okay...so sometime toward the end of September or the first of October we'll try for a Babe's date...I hope your foot will be better. If it's not, I'll drive to meet you. We've GOT to do this...we live too close not to! So, we start another week...Haven is totally loving 4th grade so far...8 students in her class! (that's what we're paying for...LOL!) Her church choir and chimes start up this week, so we're kinda sneaking up on our regular schedule. Still don't have a firm schedule for athletics...not that she's looking forward to the first sport: soccer. She's never played, and doesn't like running. But with her build, I'd predict goalie for her...and if the coach offers her some chocolate for every goal she does not allow, NOTHIN' will get through! LOL! Good night, all! Hugs, Cindy

I thank God today that two American journalists were released by their captors in Gaza, and they are safe! Praise God! I praise God for the opportunities He has been giving me to minister to others. I ask for the willingness to follow where He leads.

Hi! I lose weight like that, too! You know, I just accepted it, and figured my body needed that time to adjust. I have to admit, that at different times, I started getting antsy about it, but I've learned to use those times to adjust to my new weight/size, and wear the new clothes I've had to buy! Basically, I'm just saying to go with flow...it will be a happier journey!

Oops! I wrote a LONG post to everyone, and then it didn't work! boo hoo. I've gotta run now, so I'll catch up on the post later...but wanna send hugs to everyone, and I'm watching the posts for news of Eileen's nephew, Pat's friend's family...and send a special hug for Patty! Hugs, more later, Cindy

Everyone is different...but if you plan for a week of rest, you should be good to go after that. Whether or not you'll need outside help just depends on the energy level of your family and how much help your DH is! I was driving, carefully, after a week. Your incision at the port site will be sore/tender for quite a while longer than that, so you'll need to be careful of that area. It is major surgery, even though it is laproscopic and day surgery...and you should be sure to take good care of yourself!

thank you, Santa Claus!

Welcome Ann K! I'm in Texas, too...north of you, north of Denton! I know a lot of people who have been successful with the 6 meal/day plan...making sure the little meals are no more than 200 cal. each. I think you are on the right track, and you should just stick to it, and you'll see results. Sorry it's been a rough journey so far...hopefully that is all behind you now! Check in here for support and help along the way! Cindy

You made my day! I'm glad you are back!

I have been very up-front about my lapband. I wouldn't do it any other way, and have had no problems with negativity...nothing but support. At least two people where I work are going to seminars to check out the band because of what they've seen happen with me during the last year. Either way, it's your choice. I like being open about this decision; it fits for me.

Congratulations! The best advice I got was walk, walk, walk, (only a little at a time!) and sip, sip, sip, (again, a little at a time!). Take your Gaviscon. Get your rest! Glad you are doing well!

I have family in Baytown! What a small world!

I've always gone with the theory that it is "better to be safe, than sorry." I do liquids for 2 days, then mushies for 2 days. Then softer solids for another 2 days. Definitely, you do not want to begin a cycle of PB's and irritation. Also, your stomach tissue will swell whenever an adjustment is made, and depending on the time of your cycle, or if you have any other inflammation in your body, that can be a factor, also. Better to be safe, than sorry.

So much to read this morning...I laughed, I cried... I want to add to Sherry's comments directed to our own mod here, Betty. THANK YOU!!!! It must be the biggest pain in the hiney sometimes, and I appreciate the work you do for us on LBT! Betty, when the weather cools off, why don't you and DH come to BABE's and we'll meet there! Or, I'll drive up to your place and pick you up if you wanna meet, just us girls. Darcy, girlfriend...YOU are the smart one! I'd be a lot better off if I just stuck to this thread, too! Stay here...it's safer. Most of the time I just lurk on those threads, for the same reasons...What! A trainwreck! I wanna see! I wanna see! It's sick and wrong, but that's me. Kinda embarrassing, really. Then, the teacher comes out in me, and once in a while, I have to give a lesson! WTF! LOL! Glad you have a happy butt! Pat, thank you so much for updating on Jae and family...that's the crying part. He is a brave guy and I know they are all suffering. I always pray for our troops. It's fightin' words around here if someone disrespects our troops or their mission...disagreement, that's one thing...but out and out disrespect...nope. That makes little mousecrazy go FIREBALL! Please, let them all know that you have some internet friends who are praying hard for them, okay? I've gotta go now...be back later....hugs, Cindy

Hi! I'm in Texas, too! Just wanna say good luck, and congratulations to you! LBT is a great place for info and support...just skip past the family squabbles that pop up here and there...and ask anything you need to know! Also, use the "search" feature located on the top of the page, across the top, where "User CP" is on the left. That way you can find info you need that has already been posted! Nice to meet you! Cindy

Finding yourself will be part of the weight loss journey. This is why, sometimes, it really IS better to go slow. Along the way, there will be pauses for you to catch up emotionally, and I hope you will welcome those times and not reject them. Come here and ask these questions. There are lots of us who will give you honest answers, and help you get through these things. Don't be afraid to get some professional counseling also...if you think it can help you to become the person you already are, but are afraid to be. That's the whole point of the banded journey...healthy, happy, whole. Good luck! Cindy

Hello to everyone! Dianne, love your surprise story...I bet ya'll had a really great time! Glad you found the prayer request thread, too...(I just read it a little while ago). Allison, what's going on? I couldn't tell if you were having a computer glitch, or if that's just all you wanted to say! LOL! Anne! Great to see ya! Sounds like a great trip, even if there wasn't any internet...thanks for noticing the loss thing...that last fill seems to have been a winner. Congrats on your big casino win, too! That's too cool! I didn't know you were a twin, either... DD is starting 4th grade, waaay excited to go back; in fact, today was her 1st day of school! Beanie, enjoy the gkids visit, then enjoy the rest from the visit! I really understand where you are with the journey right now, and I'd just go with the flow...you will get your groove back when it cools off, I think you are right about that. Sherry, you GO girl! All I did was report a thread to a moderator and asked that certain people be prohibited from posting. They are ridiculous and ruin the boards for everyone. (pssst...it isn't the first time this has happened, unfortunately). Also unfortunately, those same people will just re-register as someone else, and we'll be back here with the same pitiful behavior in a few more months...still, I enjoy seeing a little backbone and courage once in a while. That said, I am another grateful person that we have LBT for the information and support. Some of the posts were simply appalling. Eileen, hope mr boss man gets out of the office tomorrow so you can post something... Betty, glad you could stop by this morning, and hope you got that shower! Seriously, when are we gonna get together? You are really always so busy, but there's gotta be something we can shoot for (as in a goal, not that we have real guns...) LOL! Pat, how's the friends' SIL and family? Patty, what's going on? Donna? I'm wondering about you, our Florida friend! Gotta run...meeting...not that I care, but I still have to pretend I do! Cindy

DonnaB did a great job in explaining everything. I'm just here to "second" her advice that you should not expect more than 2 lbs/week weight loss. In fact, that would be exceptional. Losing faster than that could cause some problems you don't want, if you think about it...skin that doesn't have time to adjust...muscle tone that doesn't have time to catch up...emotional issues that you won't have time to deal with. I have lost fairly slowly...especially during my 1st year, but still, lost around 60 pounds, which made a big difference! Check out all the "bandiversary" posts---use the "search" feature up at the top of the page.

JMO, thank you for standing up for Christ and God. I was very upset with all the mess going on here the last few days. I believe that there is an epidemic of spiritual emptiness in the lives of many people, and that drives the kind of behavior we have seen posted on the boards. For those of us who are Believers and who are praying men and women, I hope we pray that spiritual emptiness and self-absorption can be erased by God's love and spirit.