mousecrazy

Hi, I'm not sure exactly what your question means...I eat ice cream, and I maybe shouldn't eat that! LOL! Nothing happens, except my weight loss is slower. Seriously, if you are asking if I eat some of the foods that are sometimes listed as no-no's on the bandster lists, the answer is yes. Knowing that some people had problems with them, I ate them very cautiously the first time. I made sure the bite size was small, and that I chewed it very well. I have not found a food I just cannot eat...I alter some foods so I can. For example, if I want a hamburger, I order it, then take off the top bun, and eat the meat and toppings. Is that what you wanted to know?

Happy Sunday...it's so beautiful here, that I feel bad knowing that you guys on the East Coast are getting the big Nor'Easter. How are you doing in Jersey? Is it really bad weather? Darcy, everything sounds great for the cabin, and I'm very happy for you! Beanie, glad you are relaxing today. Kat, how exciting about Kismet! I love the name, and if my DD were there, she'd probably never, ever leave that baby! Mandy, you've got a lot of work to do, and I'll think about you this week, while I'm motivating myself to get my bedroom office/scrapbook area set up. It's just one of those things I've put off (like the Christmas tree...yes, it's down!). Tonight is the Food Network Award show, and DD and I are going to watch it...she really loves those shows (so do I!). Oh! Kat...we have the same rule...three days in a row before changing the ticker...I had to wait forever to change mine to 200...and I've only seen 199 once...so it'll probably be another "forever" before it's official. Hang on, we'll get there! Hugs to all, Cindy

I enjoy going out to eat! I met friends for brunch today, and ordered a crab and avocado omelet, which came with fried potatoes and a muffin. I asked that the muffin be brought to the table in a to-go container, which I brought home for my husband. I ate about 1/3 of the omelet, and a couple of bites of the potato. I have been conservative in my fills, and do not have PBs (some people are more prone to them, and that's what the bathroom references are about). All along, my goal was to enjoy life as a "normal-eating" person...and I think I have done that. Everyone knows about my band, and I guess I know some exceptional people, because I do not receive stares or weird comments; only positive praise and compliments. I imagine they were staring and making negative comments and thinking negative thoughts when they saw the way I used to eat...piles of food, not one or two cookies or donuts, but half a dozen, etc. I think it's strange that we worry now about what people think about how little we are eating, when we were apparently not all that worried about what people thought about how much we were eating? Isn't that kinda weird? Like many things, the band is what you make it. It's great for me. I enjoy social occasions and visiting, and the freedom the band has given me, in many different areas of my life. Good luck to you!

Good luck to you, Krystal. Just a tiny little idea, and you may have already thought of it, and made a different decision: you could divide your goal into smaller parts, so on your ticker, you could have 25 lb goals, or 50 lb goals...or put two tickers...looking at 160 lbs goal could possibly become a bit overwhelming. (NOT THAT YOU CAN'T DO IT!!!!!) You are well on your way to making a success! Cindy

Welcome, Jenny! Animals, motherhood, and Disney...that's a great start right there! Oh, and the band thing...LOL! Glad to hear you are doing better, Mr. Pat! It will get better and better, every day...and then you'll be like us "oldies"...you'll be coming up on two years, and wonder how that much time has gone by! Deb, dang, those kids are having so much trouble with illness. I hope they both get well, at the same time! Glad to see you here today! Darcy, I'm thrilled on your cabin success...and the sleigh! So exciting! Patty, you're amazing, lady. Glad you are having a nice weekend...and where did you get the idea we hate Californians??? You're silly! LOL! One of these days, I may even take you up on that offer, and then you'll be sorry! Ha! And, more good news today...CONGRATULATIONS EILEEN!!! Way to go on your promotion, and the big raise! You certainly deserve it! And you have been soooooo patient waiting on this to come through! What did your hustband say? Did you have fun celebrating, by cleaning the house? WTF? hahha I don't have any news...DD's going to a slumber party tonite. Nothing else real exciting, and that's not exciting for me, either (except some quiet time tonight, wink). Check ya, later...where's Kat? Cindy

Another Christian here. I don't think God minds if people turn to medical help in dealing with alcohol or drug addictions...or cigarette addictions. My thought is, why should food be treated any differently? If there is medical treatment available, and it leads to better health for you, I do not see a conflict in your faith. I see it as very different than plastic surgery for purely vain purposes. I am not a very good scripture-quoting person, but have strong faith. I hope perhaps some of this makes sense.

If the whole big mess does nothing but reveal that Sharpton/Jackson are racists, promoting racism so they can promote themselves, it will have been worth it. I had only a passing knowledge of Imus before this media-created crisis, and wish it were still that way, actually. The 15 minute fame period is over.

Urrrrrgh. I just wrote a long post, and when I hit post, I lost it...irksome. Dang it. The basics: I am jealous all of you are going to meet in WDW, but at least I have a trip planned for June, or I'd be absolutely green! Welcome to our new friend...FYI, I'm in Texas, north of Dallas. Haven got another hit yesterday in her "at bat" in the softball game, so that's one hit at each "at bat"...yea for Haven! She is enjoying playing, and is truly more suited for this game than basketball...lots of fun! Gotta run, have a meeting with DD's school staff on reorganizing the parent association...hey, it's exciting (to me). Cindy's on a mission! Hugs to all! Cindy

Mandy, God bless you! I hope the test results get back good and quick, and you can go about making your decisions. I had a hysterectomy 3 years ago, and feel great. I took Depo for a year, and had nothing but problems ever afterward...until finally, the hysterectomy. All is well now. I was all acne all over my arms, for one thing...I probably had a high testosterone level also. There's plenty more problems that I believe were caused by depo. Not that yours are, but... (have we talked about this before?) I'll pray for your health...gotta go to bed now... Hugs, Cindy

Even though our discussion had some deep divisions, it did not sink to juvenile levels until recent posts. Even though Laurend and I do push each other's hot buttons, we do not use terms like "neener neener" with each other. We also don't end our sentences with "K?" when we have a question. I am not offended by atheists or humanists. As stated earlier, I think they are people, just like all other people. I am not offended by the use of Christian terrorists in the hostage situation...it just makes me wonder. The discussion is about whether or not choosing this particular group was for the purpose of "political correctness" and to avoid the outrage that would have occurred if another group had been chosen. Not whether or if Christians can be or are violent. It's about why the ACLU doesn't jump out and offer to defend the group chosen, like they would if another group had been chosen. Or, do only certain groups actually have civil liberties? Of course there is disagreement in this thread. Please, participate without reverting to kindergarten playground behavior. The temptation is understandable, but it's just annoying. (I only offered to pray for Laurend...so no one else has to worry...)

Just two little attacks...that killed THOUSANDS. No biggie. And who's counting those other pesky little problems that have killed thousands of other Americans overseas...just nothings, really. They don't count, you know, because they weren't actually in the U.S. Sure, that makes sense.

Republicans???? Plural? Are you sure of your statement? I'll give you one, and he is not the Speaker of the House, and 3rd in line of succession to the Presidency (thus, no particular clout). Back to the subject...how about those amputations? How about all the examples Jack has given of Sharia justice? See, no matter how many examples of how Sharia law promotes, encourages and teaches violence, they are ignored. That's why I used the term "selective outrage". Yes, Jack...I wonder how that hostage situation would have been treated if it had been "radical atheists" who were the hostage-takers? Be honest. If it had been "illegal aliens" or "black Americans" or "Cuban refugees" or ANY other group, there would be an uproar from the ACLU. The point Leatha made in the beginning is still valid: since it was radical Christians, the silence is deafening. NO ACLU lawyers jumping out there to protect those rights, huh?

I will just be very clear. It is my personal belief, and I believe I am still entitled to have one, that it is delusional to think that Christians, as a group and as a belief system, are a violent group...and even more delusional to think that Christian teachings are more prone to violence than are Islamic teachings/law. While Pelosi was conducting foreign policy in the Middle East, they were chopping people's hands off for stealing, for goodness' sakes. Examine your selective outrage. That was part of the point of this thread, and my questions asked along the way were meant to highlight that. I see they have fallen short of their purpose, at least for some.

:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: Happy Birthday Sherry! :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: Hope you have a fantastic day, and all your birthday wishes come true! (Especially the "onederland" ones!)

Is that question bugging you? Enough to really look into it?

Thank you. I do feel free to pray.

Nope, no magic number yet! You know how it is...a watched pot never boils.... Monday was a holiday for DD, and I had a parent conference with her teacher. All is well...I just had to beg the teacher to mark her spelling errors and stuff...WTF? They are worried these days about damaging their little egos and all; I said I'll worry about that, that's MY job! LOL! You mark the papers. When I look at them and see the errors, and show them to her, then she tells me they don't matter, since the teacher doesn't mark them. Urrrgh. We'll work on some of that this summer...don't worry. Not too much. I'm not that mean! LOL! DD had a softball game this afternoon, and got another hit! Yea! Batting a thousand! And, this time, she made it all around the bases, and scored (not on her hit, another player got a hit and she scored on that one). So, she's doing pretty good for a gal who was scared to play the sport! Darcy, I love your cabin! It looks so cozy! Patty, good to see you again! I know all of you get more miles in than you think...just wear a pedometer, and you'll see! Let me know if that grapefruit makes you skinny, Darcy...I'll do that, too! Hugs, Cindy

Good grief. Okay, Laurend. Have it your way, like Burger King. Still, I am going to have to pray for you, because I am very sorry that you live in fear of Christians. I am very sorry that you have not been extended the loving care and grace of Christian fellowship. We have had some spirited debate and discussion, but the crazy stuff that a few nutjobs have done should not be attributed to all of us. I see in many of your responses a true fear, if not hatred, of those who love Jesus Christ and believe in the teachings of the Bible. The disregard of logic is frustrating. I, too, attempted to research some incidents of violence in the name of religion, particularly in abortion clinics (of course, we are conveniently ignoring the fact that these fetuses are being treated in a, well, violent manner to begin with...but let's not get all confused here....). The last incident I found was sometime in the late 60s. I think there have been some since then. Does anyone want to wrestle with statistics of secular progressive violence? Atheist violence? Would that be an interesting pursuit? Or would that not be at all politically correct?

No, not in the case we are discussing, which is that some type of Christian extremists/radicals would carry out a terrorist attack. True, 90% of the American public believe in God, but not all of them are Christian, and CERTAINLY a very small percentage would be considered of the type who would plot violence. This is unlike the reality that radical Islamists have taken control of that religion, and literally hundreds of people, if not thousands, die each day due to that. I am concerned about the violent Christians in your part of the U.S. Where is it you live? What makes these Christians in that area so violent?

I'm sorry, but I'm calling bigot on the above post.

Presumably, and I use this qualifier hopefully, a crisis preparation activity is based on the "presumption" of realistic risk. Thus, the post was started with the question raised: are Christians being used as the terrorists simply because this is an acceptable group to choose? We should all be able to agree, based on the responses of this thread, that if Muslims were chosen, all hecky-darn would break loose. I asked the question about numbers as an illustration of probable risk. If you were going to make a bet in Vegas as to which group you might exact some damage to your person...which group would be most likely to harm you...who would you put money on? That's a crude way to put it, I admit, but it is a way to put a point on it, and keep it out of the theoretical. I would like to speak up for myself, since I am apparently being interpreted as a Muslim-hater. I deplore both types of hate-driven killing. I simply understand that I am at greater risk of being hurt currently (simple odds) by a group who is killing, maiming, and attacking at a greater rate. I have friends who are Muslim (imagine that!). They are wonderful people, truly. I am a Christian, and I have no plans whatsoever to bomb anyone. Nor do any of my Christian friends and acquaintances. I don't know anyone who ascribes to the values I heard about in Jesus camp. Yet, each and every day, you can find scores of killings perpetrated by those who are killing for Allah. I am sorry if this is a truth that some of you do not want to acknowledge. For some reason I am able to separate this fact from the Muslims I know, and understand that not ALL Muslims are of this mind set. I also know that this explanation is not necessary to those who understand already what I am explaining (again), and will not matter to those of you who are determined to believe that you are at the same risk from Christians as radical Islam, regardless of facts (numbers) to the contrary.

Chalk this up to a theory, but I believe it's pretty sound advice: be careful about being "overfilled". Having very aggressive fills, and relying on the band for all your self-control seems to be a recipe for some kind of problem. Whether it is that the band is so tight it invites erosion...or whether all the constant PBs cause problems in the espophagus, which lead to slipping and erosion...whatever the causal chain...kep that in mind as you proceed through the banded journey. It's probably a better idea to meet the band halfway...partner with it, don't lean on it so heavily. And like I said at the beginning...this is a theory, of course.

Hmmmmmmm. There you go...ALL bigotry is wrong. My point, exactly.

I'm not so quick with the quotes, but I will just refer back to my questions, regarding asking for stats on HOW MANY people have been killed by insane Christians bombing abortion clinics, and HOW MANY people have been killed in the name of Allah. Somehow, these questions were interpreted as my calling for increased bigotry toward one group over the other????????? I am obviously not interested in bigotry of any kind, but in truth. Not exceptions to the rule, but in probability or likelihood. This is the kind of blindness that causes great frustration in otherwise straightforward debate. Yes, I am asking the questions to lead the discussion. Honest answers would, hopefully, reveal some fallacies in logic that might cause some enlightenment.

I'm here...just doing the cooking and stuff for our Easter brunch! Some church things, too. Mr. Pat, the gas is the worst thing, but after a couple of weeks, it is much better. I notice that SF everything makes me have some gas problems, so if you are sensitive to it, take it easy on that. I used those simethicone drops that baby use to help with gas. Congrats to you...you will feel better each day! Chrispy, you and Sherry keep us updated on that Disney trip! Guess what, the coolest thing...this morning when I weighed, I actually saw the numbers 199.8.....then, it flipped up to 200.00! BUT, I saw those magic numbers! It shouldn't be long now...maybe a week...considering my Peep intake at Easter time! LOL! I just wanted to share this wonderful moment; kinda like a preview! Everyone enjoy your EASTER....even if it is freezing cold! I haven't seen any snow, but I hear it's around, like Betty says! Hugs, Cindy