enjoylife

Hey Kim, continue to hold on and keep the faith. Your son - love him, but you are right, he is an adult and his actions do not reflect on you.

Good Luck. You can do it. These two weeks will allow you a rebirth. You are worth the hunger pangs!

i didn't know i could buy a refurbushed ipod! thanks for the info!!!

I wrote a post about my pulmonary function test, but I guess its gone.:rolleyes2: Oh well, that's the price you pay for progress and updates. anyway, I had my PFT. It was a blast - pun intended. Sitting in an office and wrapping my mouth around a wide plastic short tube:ohmy: was not comfortable. Blowing my breath out until I felt like my lungs would collapse was even less fun. Taking four pulls on an inhaler - now that was just plain nasty:confused_smile:. I feel for anyone that has to use an inhaler. I did not know that they tasted so nasty. It's no wonder my ex-boyfriend would put off using his inhaler until he couldn't stand it anymore. I was so light-headed by the end of the session. It was worth it though. I needed that PFT for pulmonary clearance. I have that appoint on the 2/13/08. I actually made three appointments - the other two are on 2/14 and 2/22. I'll have to call and cancell those two. I just kept making appointments until I could get one early. I'm trying to have surgery sometime around 3/21 or 3/24. I have that time off from work and school so that would be the perfect time. So waiting for 2/22 to see the pulmonologist was pushing it too close. At least the 13th gives me an extra week. my information was originally sent to my insurance company on 12/05/07 - it took them over a month to say, "we need more information." Specifically, they wanted cardiac and pulmonology clearance. So this is my last step before resubmission. Please Lord, let this be it. Let them say, "YES!!!!!!!!!!!":thumbup:

I wrote a post about my pulmonary function test, but I guess its gone. Oh well, that's the price you pay for progress and updates. anyway, I had my PFT. It was a blast - pun intended. Sitting in an office and wrapping my mouth around a wide plastic short tube:ohmy: was not comfortable. Blowing my breath out until I felt like my lungs would collapse was even less fun. Taking four pulls on an inhaler - now that was just plain nasty:confused_smile:. I feel for anyone that has to use an inhaler. I did not know that they tasted so nasty. It's no wonder my ex-boyfriend would put off using his inhaler until he couldn't stand it anymore. I was so light-headed by the end of the session. It was worth it though. I needed that PFT for pulmonary clearance. I have that appoint on the 2/13/08. I actually made three appointments - the other two are on 2/14 and 2/22. I'll have to call and cancell those two. I just kept making appointments until I could get one early. I'm trying to have surgery sometime around 3/21 or 3/24. I have that time off from work and school so that would be the perfect time. So waiting for 2/22 to see the pulmonologist was pushing it too close. At least the 13th gives me an extra week. my information was originally sent to my insurance company on 12/05/07 - it took them over a month to say, "we need more information." Specifically, they wanted cardiac and pulmonology clearance. So this is my last step before resubmission. Please Lord, let this be it. Let them say, "YES!!!!!!!!!!!":thumbup:

i can't even see a surgical scare! whoever did your surgery, did a great cutting job. its amazing how quickly your body is showing weightloss changes. you look good. i think i'll do this when i get mine done.

ok, i feel stoooopid. but in my defense, the first time i opened your post, the only thing i saw were the emoicons. now that i see your pictures, i get it. you look wonderful - no past wonderful - beautiful. i'm inspired.

I haven't been banded yet, but I wish you well on your journey. This is a wonderful site. You are going to get so much support and information here.

does that mean you got approved?

This is size 4 This is size 3 This is size five:eek: I have decided that I will not be submitting anymore entries with tiny writing. Nobody wants to read that crap - and only a few probably can! :rolleyes2: so I'll look assnd decide what I like 3, 4, or 5. Which do you prefer?

This is size 4 This is size 3 This is size five:eek: I have decided that I will not be submitting anymore entries with tiny writing. Nobody wants to read that crap - and only a few probably can! :biggrin: so I'll look assnd decide what I like 3, 4, or 5. Which do you prefer?

My paperwork was submitted on December 5th. It took over a month for them to say, "We need more information." To be specific, they want cardiac and pulmonary clearance. I almost immediately :biggrin: set up an appointment with a cardiologist. I'm glad I went to see him. It was very kind, yet straightforward. Apparently my fist sized heart has been working over time pumping blood through my Mac truck sized body. My left ventricle is slightly enlarged. No need for panic or alarm - just the realization that I do in fact HAVE to lose weight. I mean my knee, hip, and back pain are tiresome and can bring my spirits way down when its bad (and it can get really bad) but the thought of me having heart problems on any level is frightening. I have a five year child. Heart disease runs in my family. I have to do better. I have to start making better food choices right now. Its not fair for me to risk not being here because I like food. I like food, I really do, but I love my child. So I am going to start a food journal. Not here - I'm not on here enough for that to be effective. I would like to start tomorrow, but I think I should start today. If I ate an extra thick peanut butter and jelly sandwich for breakfast - which I did - I ought to own up to it and write it down. So yea, i will start today. Now to get my pulmonolgist clearance. I can't seen to get an appointment before Feb. 22nd. That's not good because I want to have surgery on March 21st which is Good Friday and the first day of Spring Break. So I have taken to phone stalking the pulmonologist's office. I have called three days in a row. Once to make the appointment. Yesterday to get an earlier date (no luck), and today to try to get an earlier date (got the answering service instead). So of course I will be calling back again today - before 12 noon because then they will close for one hour for lunch. Hey they've got to eat too. I hope they don't get disgusted with me. It seems that I have such a long wait because this doctor works with lung cancer patients and for some reason this region gets more than its share of lung cancer patients. SO when I think about it - my case really isn't all that important - somebody else is a battle for their life. I am too, but it just doesn't feel like my case is as urgent. Let's pray that I don't have a heart attack. I'm serious. Well, I guess I need to try to get some work done. I also need to be dialing that pulmonogist's office again. Later.

My paperwork was submitted on December 5th. It took over a month for them to say, "We need more information." To be specific, they want cardiac and pulmonary clearance. I almost immediately set up an appointment with a cardiologist. I'm glad I went to see him. It was very kind, yet straightforward. Apparently my fist sized heart has been working over time pumping blood through my Mac truck sized body. My left ventricle is slightly enlarged. No need for panic or alarm - just the realization that I do in fact HAVE to lose weight. I mean my knee, hip, and back pain are tiresome and can bring my spirits way down when its bad (and it can get really bad) but the thought of me having heart problems on any level is frightening. I have a five year child. Heart disease runs in my family. I have to do better. I have to start making better food choices right now. Its not fair for me to risk not being here because I like food. I like food, I really do, but I love my child. So I am going to start a food journal. Not here - I'm not on here enough for that to be effective. I would like to start tomorrow, but I think I should start today. If I ate an extra thick peanut butter and jelly sandwich for breakfast - which I did - I ought to own up to it and write it down. So yea, i will start today. Now to get my pulmonolgist clearance. I can't seen to get an appointment before Feb. 22nd. That's not good because I want to have surgery on March 21st which is Good Friday and the first day of Spring Break. So I have taken to phone stalking the pulmonologist's office. I have called three days in a row. Once to make the appointment. Yesterday to get an earlier date (no luck), and today to try to get an earlier date (got the answering service instead). So of course I will be calling back again today - before 12 noon because then they will close for one hour for lunch. Hey they've got to eat too. I hope they don't get disgusted with me. It seems that I have such a long wait because this doctor works with lung cancer patients and for some reason this region gets more than its share of lung cancer patients. SO when I think about it - my case really isn't all that important - somebody else is a battle for their life. I am too, but it just doesn't feel like my case is as urgent. Let's pray that I don't have a heart attack. I'm serious. Well, I guess I need to try to get some work done. I also need to be dialing that pulmonogist's office again. Later.

I used to be obsessed with it. Now I try to stay a way from the scale - not do it every day. However, I still have to weigh myself like five times back to back on the days that I do weigh in. Its like I can't trust the scale so I keep getting back on to see if it changes for the better or worse - weird I know...

God does provide. I'm a firm believer that if we just do our part, He will do the rest. Hang in there. I hope to continue reading great things in your journal. God Bless.

That's great. I cannot wait to be banded. I cannot wait to lose 59 pounds. I cannot wait to clean out my closet because most of my clothes are too big. That is awesome. Good luck and more importantly, God bless...

Rules for 2008 Make realistic goals for yourself, write them down, pray about them and try to achieve them! Go through your cell phone, caller id, calendar, and email addresses and discard all the people and events that mean you no good or don't benefit your life! Stop making excuses about your life and make changes! If you are involved w/a person, job, or circumstance that is doing more harm than good, do yourself a favor - LET IT GO! Stop being someone’s mistress; especially if you are aware that you are!!!! If you a re between the ages of 22-35 please start listening to more than Hip-Hop! Take care of your kids and devote a weekend or two when you spend "quality" time with them. Who cares if you miss out on a "mix"! You can party anytime! Get your debt in order! Eventually you'll want a nice home and car in your name! Stop spreading senseless rumors and try to get your own life in order! Listen more! Talk Less! Give without worrying about it! Tell him no for once! Tell people you love them before you hear about some great tragedy in the world or lose a close friend! Speak clearly and not ignorantly! Anyone can be a fool. If you are married, stop cheating. If you're guilty of this, ask God to forgive you and don't do it again! Remember the Ten Commandments. Stop waiting on Tax Season and Save Now! Eat what you need and not just because you can! See how long you can go without checking your cell phone wh en it's not ringing. Be more positive and stop being a grouch! I didn't do it to you boo! STOP HATIN! If you don't like my style, kick rocks! DO YOU! Start telling your children that when you're having a "grown folks" conversation, they need to go play. Remember they are like sponges. Appreciate everyone. WHY do we put each other down for the most ridiculous things?!? If you are a person of color and you live w/or work in a white environment don't be the one showing the latest dances, singing the new Jay-Z or teaching Ebonics. Be better not bitter! Men and women! Cry more! It's therapeutic. Stop tripping about not being where you want to be! What have you been doing to get there?!? If you aren't in relationship, it's not the end of the world! Self love is more valuable! Keep your opinion to yourself! We all know what others should do, but what about you? If God delivers you from a messy relationship, friend or situation, why do you keep PULLING THEM BACK? Let it go! FORGIVE! FORGIVE! FORGIVE! All of us have been forgiven for some low life things! So open your heart! Remember - God forgave you. Men, stop trying to be so hard when it comes to relationships. Let that guard down before you lose the one that's meant for you! Speak up for yourself! Learn a new hobby! Broaden your mind. If you're single, start going on more dates with different types of people. Don't just stick to the same type of woman or man! Stop forwarding all the text messages you receive; everyone doesn't have unlimited text messaging!! Stop replying to ALL! Live like today is your last day, love like God taught us, and laugh like you've never laughed before! You'll live longer. Lastly, if it's only 5 minutes a day have a little talk with Jesus! Let Him know you want to be better today than you were yesterday and watch Him turn things around for you! Top 10 Predictions for 2008 The Bible will still have the answers. Prayer will still work. The Holy Spirit will still move. God will still inhabit the praises of His people. There will still be God-anointed preaching. There will still be singing of praise. God will still pour out blessings upon His people. There will still be room at the Cross. Jesus will still love you. Jesus will still save the lost. God whispers in your soul and speaks to your mind. Sometimes when you don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at you. It's your choice: Listen to the whisper, or wait for the brick. Author Unknown

Rules for 2008 Make realistic goals for yourself, write them down, pray about them and try to achieve them! Go through your cell phone, caller id, calendar, and email addresses and discard all the people and events that mean you no good or don't benefit your life! Stop making excuses about your life and make changes! If you are involved w/a person, job, or circumstance that is doing more harm than good, do yourself a favor - LET IT GO! Stop being someone’s mistress; especially if you are aware that you are!!!! If you a re between the ages of 22-35 please start listening to more than Hip-Hop! Take care of your kids and devote a weekend or two when you spend "quality" time with them. Who cares if you miss out on a "mix"! You can party anytime! Get your debt in order! Eventually you'll want a nice home and car in your name! Stop spreading senseless rumors and try to get your own life in order! Listen more! Talk Less! Give without worrying about it! Tell him no for once! Tell people you love them before you hear about some great tragedy in the world or lose a close friend! Speak clearly and not ignorantly! Anyone can be a fool. If you are married, stop cheating. If you're guilty of this, ask God to forgive you and don't do it again! Remember the Ten Commandments. Stop waiting on Tax Season and Save Now! Eat what you need and not just because you can! See how long you can go without checking your cell phone wh en it's not ringing. Be more positive and stop being a grouch! I didn't do it to you boo! STOP HATIN! If you don't like my style, kick rocks! DO YOU! Start telling your children that when you're having a "grown folks" conversation, they need to go play. Remember they are like sponges. Appreciate everyone. WHY do we put each other down for the most ridiculous things?!? If you are a person of color and you live w/or work in a white environment don't be the one showing the latest dances, singing the new Jay-Z or teaching Ebonics. Be better not bitter! Men and women! Cry more! It's therapeutic. Stop tripping about not being where you want to be! What have you been doing to get there?!? If you aren't in relationship, it's not the end of the world! Self love is more valuable! Keep your opinion to yourself! We all know what others should do, but what about you? If God delivers you from a messy relationship, friend or situation, why do you keep PULLING THEM BACK? Let it go! FORGIVE! FORGIVE! FORGIVE! All of us have been forgiven for some low life things! So open your heart! Remember - God forgave you. Men, stop trying to be so hard when it comes to relationships. Let that guard down before you lose the one that's meant for you! Speak up for yourself! Learn a new hobby! Broaden your mind. If you're single, start going on more dates with different types of people. Don't just stick to the same type of woman or man! Stop forwarding all the text messages you receive; everyone doesn't have unlimited text messaging!! Stop replying to ALL! Live like today is your last day, love like God taught us, and laugh like you've never laughed before! You'll live longer. Lastly, if it's only 5 minutes a day have a little talk with Jesus! Let Him know you want to be better today than you were yesterday and watch Him turn things around for you! Top 10 Predictions for 2008 The Bible will still have the answers. Prayer will still work. The Holy Spirit will still move. God will still inhabit the praises of His people. There will still be God-anointed preaching. There will still be singing of praise. God will still pour out blessings upon His people. There will still be room at the Cross. Jesus will still love you. Jesus will still save the lost. God whispers in your soul and speaks to your mind. Sometimes when you don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at you. It's your choice: Listen to the whisper, or wait for the brick. Author Unknown

Rosewolf wrote: This is a free country. You have the right to be atheist, agnostic, whatever . . . and I have the right to be a Christian. You don't have to accept my beliefs, you don't have to accept my God, you don't have to accept any aspect of Christianity. Rosewolf - you are mistaken. Romans 14:11 addresses this: "For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God." Romans 14:11 That's the final word. They can deny Him now, but they will acknowledge Him before it is all said and done.

Well I thought I was done with my pre-approvals but of course I was not. I was told that the insurance company wanted Cardiologist and Pulmonlogist clearance before they would continue reviewing my application. Of So I went to see the cardiologist. Apparently my left ventricle is slightly enlarged. I had an echo done. I guess its ok because the the docotr signed my clearance form. I am psyched!!! ooo rah!!! Now for the Pulmoniologist. I have not been racing to get this done because I have homework, and work - work, and a five year old. I can't be running off to doctor's appointments all the time. So I decided to do one at a time. Now I have to find a Pulmonologist that will see me without making me wait a month to get an appointment. One wanted to me to gext x-rayed and somemore crap. I think I made an appoinment with them - but then again - maybe not. I think they wanted me to do the x-ray and other crap before they would set the appointment. Well I forgot I had an x-ray back in september. So I'f better go ahead and take care of that other thing they wanted so I can get my butt in there. I need to be ready for surgery by spring break. That will give me one week to get over the initial pain and be able to function. I mean even if I have to take two weeks to recover, at least I will only miss one week of work and none of school if I get this done during Spring break. The Monday after Easter works for me. I am trying to spend this time getting mentally geared up. Its a good thing. I don;t know how people who get decided to get it done are getting banded within a month of making the decision. Gutsy (or crazy). Naw I shouldn't say that. I should just say that I need time to get myself mentally and emotionally prepared - other people may not need that - I need that. Hmmm, I guess I was trying to make my situation somebody else's. So I'm visualizing and thinking. I can see myself looking and feeling better. Woo hoo to be free of back, knee, and hip pain!! talk about a reason to throw a par-tay!

Well I thought I was done with my pre-approvals but of course I was not. I was told that the insurance company wanted Cardiologist and Pulmonlogist clearance before they would continue reviewing my application. Of So I went to see the cardiologist. Apparently my left ventricle is slightly enlarged. I had an echo done. I guess its ok because the the docotr signed my clearance form. I am psyched!!! ooo rah!!! :biggrin: Now for the Pulmoniologist. I have not been racing to get this done because I have homework, and work - work, and a five year old. I can't be running off to doctor's appointments all the time. So I decided to do one at a time. Now I have to find a Pulmonologist that will see me without making me wait a month to get an appointment. One wanted to me to gext x-rayed and somemore crap. I think I made an appoinment with them - but then again - maybe not. I think they wanted me to do the x-ray and other crap before they would set the appointment. Well I forgot I had an x-ray back in september. So I'f better go ahead and take care of that other thing they wanted so I can get my butt in there. I need to be ready for surgery by spring break. That will give me one week to get over the initial pain and be able to function. I mean even if I have to take two weeks to recover, at least I will only miss one week of work and none of school if I get this done during Spring break. The Monday after Easter works for me. I am trying to spend this time getting mentally geared up. Its a good thing. I don;t know how people who get decided to get it done are getting banded within a month of making the decision. Gutsy (or crazy). Naw I shouldn't say that. I should just say that I need time to get myself mentally and emotionally prepared - other people may not need that - I need that. Hmmm, I guess I was trying to make my situation somebody else's. So I'm visualizing and thinking. I can see myself looking and feeling better. Woo hoo to be free of back, knee, and hip pain!! talk about a reason to throw a par-tay!

I have to say that this thread had irritated me. I wonder what type of people some of you associate yourselves with. So far I've read that people who are on welfare are hateful and demeaning. Why that is so I'm not sure, but that's what kagoscuba wrote. He also wrote that he likes to call some people white trash, but didn't bother to go into explicit detail about those people as he did with the hateful and demeaning black people. Speaking of black people - why, I have to wonder, does it bother kagoscuba what language these people speak or what they want to be called. If Kago wants to be called American, that's fine - more power to him. If African Americans want to be called African Americans whats the problem? And please find better reasoning for not wanting to call African Americans African Americans. To not want to call them African Americans because they can't speak a sentence in an African language is assinine. Check your history books to find out why African Americans cannot speak African Languages. And what makes Kago American? Simply being born on "American" soil? If memory serves me correctly, "America" was inhabited when Amergio Vespucie landed here and when that raping, robbing, murderer Columbus got lost and landed in what is now called Florida. I am not fond of the use of the N word - especially by people who do not fully understand the pain of it. That includes olive colored people who's children think they are brown. That also includes people who take it upon themselves to speak for their black girlfriends and decided that the C word is more disdained than the N word. But I guess if you all are going to have this discussion you chose the correct forum - an annonymous one. I wonder how many of you would be willing to talk about this in a forum where the participants and audience could see your faces and follow you to your cars, or recognize you from their places of employment, or the local grocery store, or the PTO or boyscouts meeting. I guess hiding behind something (be it a keyboard or sheets) is just what some people do best. Those people deserve to be called the C word. That's right - I think those people are Cowards.

hang in there.

Congrats on the band date. Good Luck and God Bless.

Well you're stronger than most - or were you being sarcastic? Congrats on your band date. I don't think I have one yet - at least not one my doctor is telling me about. According to my insurance agency my date is for sometime in March. I hope right before spring/Easter break. That would be great because it would mean not having to take any time off from work. Of course I wanted to be well on my way to thindom by then, but I'll taske what I can get. Keep us posted.