mousecrazy

Happy Birthday to you....happy birthday to you.... sorry it's a day late, but I hope it was a good one (even if YOU had to make it that way, YOURSELF!) LOL!

Weigh-in for 8-16-06: 225 J/ 220 C/ 199 G (-2 week) "A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight...." Another week closer to Christmas!

God's speed, Whippledaddy. God's speed. I know Mr. Whipple was there to meet you and what a joyous reunion it was! We exchanged a few posts about writing...he, a WRITER, and me, an English teacher with a respect for those who can string words together into a sum greater than their parts. An art. He was an artist, pure and simple. That this art was packaged in a man who loved his wife with a devotion and commitment not often found, and a person who was so generous with his knowledge and advice to those who sought wisdom here on LBT, well, that was a blessing from God himself. I pray for God's comfort for all who bear his loss. I am very sad that he is gone from this earth, and very happy to have known him, even a little.

Good morning! The class is so quiet, and they are all working, so thought I'd pop on and say hi! I'm happy that I'm in a losing streak right now...I've been at it long enough to know that it comes and goes, so it's fun right now...maybe my Christmas wish will be granted? That would be so cool! Dianne, I bet you're right...he's just trying to soak in all my vast knowledge and expertise before I take off! If that's not it, I'm gonna choose not to acknowledge it! What's that saying? I'm too blessed to be stressed! Eileen...please tell me about the cooler weather in NJ...remember how much I like fall weather, and love to hear about places that actually have fall. Down here, the prediction is 105/106 for today. Whew! I'm staying indoors! I better get going...what's everyone doing? Hugs...have a good day! Cindy

Hi, everyone! Patty, so good to hear from you! Can't wait to hear about your trip; sounds like you need every bit of that rest! Dianne...I'm now at a point of being able to eat 1 very small piece of pizza...and just barely. It is just weird. I could eat a med. pizza all by myself in my previous life. Who was that girl, anyway? LOL! Eileen, I haven't had time to go shopping yet, but you can bet I'll check out the Walmart...they always have those pants that are elastic waisted...then we hem them up. It is the shorts I am having trouble with. I"ll find something somewhere; I"m going to go tomorrow after school. Speaking of school...today was the first "real" day of class; yesterday was orientation. It went very well. Wonder why my principal wants to hang out in my room so much, though, when there are 4 brand new teachers in the building? It's getting on my last nerve... gotta run...love to all and hugs, too! Cindy

I am very happy with my decision to have a band. I have not had a single complication. Editorial comment: If your goals are unrealistic, you are bound to have negative feelings about your progress.

Ahhhhh, the Ramones. Thanks for the memory, and good luck with your surgery and recovery!

Praise to God for His guiding hand in the journey that led to my being able to begin an exercise program this week, for the first time in too many years to remember! God is good, all the time; All the time, God is good.

Dang! John, you are just Mr. Excitement! Have you ever though about giving Geraldo Rivera a run for his money? Where were you? I'm really glad you and everyone are safe.

Beanie, you look beautiful in all your pictures, BUT I can see the weight loss very clearly in your torso, especially! Funny how we can see the difference, when the person in the pictures has much more trouble seeing it...veddy in-ter-est-ing.....

Sherry, great countdown! How do we carry it forward each day? Do we cut and paste it to a new post? It is sooo cute!

Another helpful hint I was given that helped (and I agree, ignore those grumbly noises!) was to keep something going all the time...sip, sip, sip. While you are doing liquids/mushies, just make your intake a little more frequent, to keep the hungries at bay.

Hello all, We went to church, then home to the "try-on marathon" for DD's school uniforms. Let's just say we've got some buying to do. Here are her measurements: 40" / 41" / 40". She is 5'1". Interesting, isn't it? So, I have a 4th grader who needs school uniforms (khaki/navy shorts and pants, or skorts) and wears womens plus size measurements, except in length, and rise. It's a challenge! Sometimes plus petites work...the poor girl has absolutely no uniform shorts that fit from last year, so I've got to go scrounge the stores...dodging the rude shoppers that Eileen alerted us to...so I guess I need to go in the middle of the night to Walmart or something! LOL! Might as well laugh, right? Glad you're back, Darcy...hope you are feeling better! Kat, boy, it's hard when there's a big eat-fest going on, and we can eat 5 or 6 bites...we just have to make each bite count! Glad the healing process seems to be on track! Anne, hope your vacation is fantastic! Betty, where are you? I saw some couples on bikes in Sanger, and wondered if you were one of them? Were you in my little town this weekend? Eileen, wouldn't a 4 day work week be just wonderful? Let's start now! Hugs, Cindy

Just because you CAN, doesn't mean you SHOULD. You are not getting around the BAND, you are getting around YOURSELF. You said you wanted someone to say something that would snap you out of it. If you understand the above two sentences, really understand them, that ought to do it. Good luck to you as you figure out why you are cheating yourself of your success...and losing 60 lbs IS a success!

Eileen, in a weird way, we actually do get to sit together and share a cup of tea or coffee and chat, it's just that we're physically separated by long distances! LOL! I do feel like we "get together" though...but REALLY getting to do it would be so much better!!!!!! I second Eileen's advice, Darcy...some slumps just last longer than we want them to, but it will pass, and the main direction is a good one...we'll get there together! Remember we're right beside all you way! Where's Sherry, Pat, Betty, Dianne, Mary, Kat, Anne...?????? Hope they are out doing somethin' fun! Hugs, Cindy

Darcy, please be gentle with your housekeeping stuff, and your back! It might be a good idea to check on the zoloft if you think you need it...I have taken anti-depressants in the past and they were helpful. Me, I like cold weather, and rainy weather, and stuff like that, so I guess I have reverse SAD...is there such a thing? Eileen, I've got nothin' real interesting going on this weekend...the basics. Laundry, ironing, hanging out here...LOL! Right now my DD is over at my sis's helping her babysit their gbaby, my gniece. I went over there to visit this morning. We are still moving forward in the estate controversary...so we had that to discuss. We had some rain this morning! That's news around here! I can't think of anything new going on, so I'll sign off and check back later. I've got to go fold the laundry...I think that ought to be the REAL "never ending story..." LOL!

I miss FunnyDuddies....I hope her computer is back up and running soon! Has anyone heard from her? Anyone have the Christmas countdown? How many days is it? MyChevyGirl....an idea for your "giftwrap" of the Vegas trip...well, several ideas. You could give them a poker set so ya'll can "practice." Or, some CD games like blackjack, etc. You could set up a scavenger hunt present, where they open presents that have clues in them, then find them, where the next part of the present is, until at the end, the entire gift is revealed...you can have a lot of fun revealing the "gift"!

It is always wise to choose your battles. Smoking is not healthy, obesity is not healthy. You've got to be realistic, and it is very difficult to fight a war on many fronts...then again, some people find it easier to quit everything at once....you have to know yourself. I wish you the best in all of your battles! Cindy

Mary has given good advice...so many of the lifestyle and behavior changes are ones that we have to make in our heads, so that tool we have can work better. Just try making one change...and see how that plays out over time. Your exercise sounds great! Try to think of being "satisfied" not "full". Our "fullness" need has been distorted over time, which has contributed to our obesity. Read all the responses and whatever idea strikes you as a good one, give it a try! Good luck!

Becky, you may never know how helpful your courage in posting this has been or will be to others. You are a light to others, and because of your willingness to learn about yourself and help others, you will be successful in your goals. This is a fantastic post, and I'm so glad you were able to write it!

A very important point to remember while you are in the process of adjusting your band, and sneaking up on your optimal fill level, is that JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN EAT IT, DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULD. The band is only a tool, and the rest of the program depends on behavior change. You will need to work together with your band. That said, I spent most of my first year with very little fill, and still was able to lose 60 pounds, and I could eat quite a bit a time...but much less than I was eating pre-band, sad to say. Stay patient, and work on some little changes you can make to reduce the amount or calorie level of the food you are eating while waiting on the 2nd fill...hopefully, that will do it for you! Good luck!

The main in thing when introducing and trying any new foods is to start with a very small bite (think pea-size or pencil eraser). Chew that food very well. Then wait a few minutes. Personally, I have not met a food that I simply could not eat if I followed these rules. If I eat chicken or meat like I USED to eat chicken or meat, I'll get a golfball feeling every time, and it hurts. This is the part of learning "the rules" that is the hardest for some of us, because it involves behavior. So eat consciously and pay attention...you should be able to enjoy most of your favorites.

Hi, have you tried entering the term "post-op depression" or something like that in the search button up at the top of the page? I have definitely read many bandsters who post these kinds of feelings about a week or so out of surgery, so you are not the Lone Ranger, by any means. You have done a lot of work to get to where you are, and now you are going to have a lot more work to do, it's true. But, look at the Before and After pictures...read the thread about those who have lost 100+ pounds...read Bandiversary posts...read all the positive things, and learn how to make the small changes that lead to happy bandster life. You will get there, if that is where you want to go! Good luck, and you will be just fine, Cindy

Hi all you guys! Kat, I'm just real glad to hear that you and Dh are doing so well in his recovery, and you seem to be hanging in there! I think I'll carry the soap box and let YOU do the talking! Thanks for the encouragement...I just can't stand to let stuff like that just slide by without comment. It's definitely a failing of mine... Beanie, I feel like it's Christmas with you dropping by so often! Yes, I will meet you for lunch or something! Eileen, how you DO go on, girl. You KNOW you have beautiful eyes! Thanks for asking about my day...it was our "work day" which means the day we actually get to prepare for students, as compared to the other 3 days were we are indoctrinated to the district's current global philosophy. LOL! I think everything's ready for Monday. I can't wait to see my "kids" again...a couple of them stopped by today, and it was all hugs and visiting, and I just love those kids! Darcy, are you okay? Stop in and tell us how you are doing with your back? I skipped yesterday's E word, but I think it's okay...don't want to over stress any muscles with my 2 lb. dumbbells. hahaha! Sherry, did you read my posts on your picture? I think your pictures look great, and yea for you for posting! It is hard to do, but I think it is very healing, and that is very important. Go, Sherry! Who did I miss this time....Hi Diane! I didn't do my writing yet...sorry, I'll get there! Hugs, Cindy

Congratulations! You've made tremendous progress! I know you are very, very proud of your achievements!