Dianechef

Hi Vines!! I'm not sure there's anything more I can add except to let you know that I am thinking of you & wishing you the best as you go through some very difficult & hard times. Sometimes life just really seems so hard when you get dealt with so many blows at once. As far as a gift for you mother - write down all the wonderful things you love about her. Whether she lives another week or 25 more years, she would always appreciate knowing those things. Even if there's only a handful of things you can think of - she would appreciate it. Hugs to you Vines. You can do this.

Pinkmary - LOL I just figured out what gams where! (Thanks Renebean!) So, if they're actually shanks, then I still have no idea what you're talking about!! ROFL I'm just going to assume you're tellimg me I have nice legs!! So.......THANK YOU MARY!!!! Thank you everyone for all the very nice compliments!! I'm going to look at my legs in a whole new light.

Hi Julie! You look absolutely beautiful & you inspire me. I will never forget when I first joined LBT, I saw a post from you where you posted pictures of you when you hit your year mark. You had your cute hat on & looked so beautiful!! We are about the same height & I really looked to you as what I wanted to be when I hit goal. THANKS!! I am so sorry you're having these issues. I am just wondering about something. You said that your band migrated & that your pouch had a dilitation. Can you explain what a dilitation is?!? Is it kindof like a slip?!? I also retain water during my period & can hardly drink. If I ever get a reduction, I'd like to stay safe. Thanks Julie!!

Hey Heather & Tricia - my legs were the first place I lost weight. I am 5'7 1/2" (gotta have the1/2 in there!) I've always weighed more then I looked!! When I was married I weighed 175 & I really looked like I was much thinner. Not sure what's up or why my body is that way?!? But, I'll take it!!!! PinkMary - I am racking my brain trying to figure out what gams are?!? I'll take it as a compliment!!! ha

David - You will get lots of good advice here. I always have!! YOU WILL LOSE WEIGHT!! The first 6 weeks are really for healing. If you happen to lose weight it's a bonus. You won't have any restriction at all until you get a fill. Once that fill happens, your whole band world will change. Promise!! Are you on liquids right now? I didn't read that in your statement. What are you eating? Maybe that will help us if we knew a little more.

Hey Everyone!! Just had to check in here with all my friends!!! I'm not sure I even need to weigh in because you all petty much know my weight!! 199!! 199!! 199!! (You can't tell I'm happy,can you?!?!) :biggrin1: Funny - I am so excited for you to have your apron surgery!! Thanks for posting those pics! My guess is that you'll lose 20 lbs when it's all done. Is there a prize for the person who guesses the closest?!?! Can't wait to see AFTER pictures. Good luck!!! I don't have any tips here for those in a funk. It's definatley NO FUN. I've been there too many times. All I have to say is that I've learned a whole heck of a lot of patience along the way. The scale DOES eventually go down. It's good to have a cry & get it all out! It always makes me feel better. chocolate helps too, but then you feel even worse.....dont' go there!!) P'Nut!! You can change me to the -60 club now. Yeah!! Have a great day everyone!!

Thanks Everyone!! You are are so nice to me!!! I was going through some old pictures & found this one in the stash. Thought I'd post a BEFORE picture so you could compare the OLD me to the NEW me. I didn't like pictures much & this was a rare occasion to actually get me to look! Here's me as the boring mom who always sat next to the food so I could keep nibbling. And then there's the NEW me who love pictures & could care less about the food!!

Telly! You crack me up!! I just love you!!!!!!!! You are right, those smiles were for YOU. My husband was gone & I coaxed my 10 yr. old daughter to take the pictures. She did a pretty good job. It was quite funny because with every outfit she'd say - "Wow Mom! You look good!" She's a great kid.

I'm back!! Here are my outfits!!! I went a little crazy! But I had lots of fun!!! What a difference a few pounds make!! My size 16 fit so much more comfortably!! My boobs are even smaller!! fashion show3.bmp fashion show4.bmp fashion show5.bmp fashion show.bmp fashion show1.bmp

Yeah Heather!! 67 lbs is A LOT of weight - especially in 6 months!! YOU GO GIRL!!!! Can't wait to see the cute pictures of your new hair-do!!

WOW!! You guys are fast!!!! I left my chair to go get ready for my big shopping trip & look how many posts there are here!! YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!! I just love this place. :biggrin1: :biggrin1: :biggrin1: :biggrin1: I'm heading out the door & when I return, I'll have new clothes in my hand & a husband with a camera waiting to take pictures. See you all very, very soon!!!!! I love Lapbandtalk!!!!!

I am jumping in the car & heading to Walmart right now!! They sound absolutely yummy!!! Thanks for sharing! Diane

P'Nut!! I'm out of my funk too!! Shew...... It was getting a little depressing! :rolleyes I'm not sure what brought me out, but I'M OUT!! I hadn't weighed myself in quite a while & about died when I stepped on the scale. I thought for sure it would have shown a BIG weight gain, but I actually weighed 200 lbs!! I LOST WEIGHT!! I am only 1 lb away from ONE-derland!! :biggrin1: This band works better then I thought. I don't feel like I'm on a diet. I eat normal foods, just stop when I'm full & I'm losing weight!!! :faint: NOW I AM SOOOOOOO BACK ON TRACK!!! I'm only 1 lb. away from hitting a very big goal & I am not going back to anymore FUNKS! Pretty soon you'll be seeing a big picture of me stepping on the scale reading 199!!! (Tricia, I'm right behind ya girl!!!!!!!!) I have been reading here everyday & you all keep me motivated!! THANK YOU!!! I'm giving everyone a big hug!!!!! :hug: Can you feel it?!?!

Hi Kiely, I saw that you decided not to get the fill. I think you made a great decision!! "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!!" Sometimes when you get a fill it only causes more problems by being too tight & you just don't need it. You are doing fabulous just like you're doing. Congratulations on the 50 lb. loss!! WOW!! I am impressed.

You made my day!! I have been in a little funk the last few weeks & I'm not sure why. Reading your great story has really lit a fire in me to KEEP GOING!! You are living the life you always wanted to live & I am so very, very happy for you. I am inspired by you. I love reading positive, happy posts like this.

Hi Catchup! I had my surgery in MX with a different doctor & didn't have any problems with their staff not speaking english. Everyone spoke very fluent english except for one small, cute lady but she understood everything I said to her & there were no problems. I don't know anything about Dr. Rodriguez to be of any help. I was banded by Dr. Ortiz & was very happy with him.

Wow!! I never would have know what you were talking about had I not seen those pictures!!! I had some nail problems where they had white spots on them & was told it was a deficiency in iron. But, I have never seen anything like that!! Sorry, I don't think I am any help.

This question is right up my alley. YES, I am afraid to be thin!!!! But, if you were to ask me that question when I was 260 lbs. I would have told you that I would be thrilled & excited to be thin & that I would NEVER be afraid of it. Things change.... I have lost 60 lbs. & am now starting to be noticed by people. I'm getting compliments & lots of head turning. It's all good!! However, I am just not certain of who I really am right now. I don't have a identity anymore!! I am feeling very strange & out of place. I haven't lost any weight in 6 weeks & I truly think this little delimma is what's causing my plateau. I am so unsure of what's ahead & it freaks me out!! I feel like I need to find out who this new ME is. I'm not THIN yet, but I'm sabotaging myself to not get there!! UGH!!!

Delarla - you & I could seriously talk!! I ran a thriving, successful business with The Pampered Chef for 10 years. As I'm sure you know, The Pampered Chef is a part of the Direct Sales business just like Slumber Parties. I quit my full-time job to do Pampered Chef full-time & it was the BEST decision I ever made. I moved up to a Senior Sales Director & my team led in Sales & Recruiting for a very long time. I had over 400 in my over-all downline. I was the area trainer & developed a total of 12 Directors under me & I taught them to train their teams. I had several consultants under me who were #1 in the company!! I earned the Top Performance Award several years in a row for Recruiting & Sales & got all the jewelry, prizes & all the fun stuff you told us about at your recent Conference. I've been on every trip you can imagine!! I was making quite a good income too!! Direct Sales is a great way to go & I applaud you for deciding to leave your Paralegal job & take this on. There's lots of work a head of you but it is so worth it!! You'll take a drop in pay the first year, but if you really kick it in gear, you'll make it straight to the top!!!! 6 months ago I retired from The Pampered Chef & gave up my title, BIG pay-check & my large down-line. Everything moved up to my Up-line Director. It was a hard decision to make, & I still miss everything about it. But, I have 3 little kids who desperately needed a mother who was THERE for them. Several people thought I had lost my mind & I've been criticized for my decision, but I knew that no amount of money could take the place of my kids. :phanvan It was the right decision for me!! But boy, do I miss the MONEY!!!! I have helped a lot of people in my area who want help in starting a Direct Sales business. I have lots of tips on managing a team & helping them RECRUIT!! If you are serious about wanting some help, I'd be happy to help you. We can talk about payment!! Maybe you could pay me in products!! WAHOO!! (My husband would love that!!)

Wow. I didn't realize how different each doctor is. My doctor doesn't have any problems with eating before your fill. My last fill I ate a sandwich 30 min. before going in. (I knew I wouldn't be eating solid food for awhile.) HA!! I got a great fill & no problems!

Have you lost a signifigant amount of weight since your last fill? I found that with every 20 lbs. I usually need a new fill because it just stops working & I feel like I can eat the house.:faint:

When you get a chance, come back & post some updated pictures. I have loved your pictures that you've posted in the past. They are so motivating. You look sooooo good!! Way to go!! I am jealous!!!!!!!!

I saw that Oprah show & continue to think about it every day. I had no idea how much crap is in our foods!!! The first 5 ingredients of all my food is all on the bad list!!! I am amazed!! The girl who did the 3-month life change looked absolutely beatiful. She didn't even look like the same person. Oh, I love Oprah. Dr. Phil is right up there with her.

Heather - JUST DO IT!! You will hate it at first, but love it after a while!! You WILL get some stares & rude people who won't make you feel very comfortable, but really......this is about your health!! It is the absolute best thing you can do for yourself. I think I've shared my story here about the first time I went to the gym. I weighed 250 lbs. My trainer had a hard time even looking at me in the face - she was emberassed for me!! :eek: She was nice, but I think this was a first to have a larger woman to work with. I left the gym bawling & wondering what in the world I had gotten myself into. I still remember the feelings!!! But, as hard as it was - I wouldn't have changed a thing. Let me share something with you that has made it all worth while. I was working out a few weeks ago & a very buff woman walked up to me & said - "I have been watching you from the 1st day you joined & I am so motivated by you! You are working inicredibly hard & look so good! You keep me going. I am so proud of you!!" I can't even begin to tell you how good that made me feel. I have never worked out in my life until now & it's still difficult to get my butt out of bed & get to the gym. But, I do it & feel so much better when I do. YOU CAN DO IT HEATHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I LOVE cereal. I'd rather pour a bowl of cereal then eat a candy bar!!! I have so many favorites & it's been one of the hardest things for me to give up!!! I will still eat it for breakfast sometimes, but I just eat it in a VERY small bowl. I chose the healthy stuff, but everyone once in awhile I give in to my kids Peanut Butter Captian Crunch.