sunsett

Angie, I'm so sorry. It must be so sad. I just got back from NJ to be with my grandmother for her 97th BD. My heart aches for you.

Kim let me if I can do anything. My prayers are with Curtis and you and your family for peace and a real fast recovery.

Hey NC over achievers! I love that idea! I spoke with Loretta last night and we are hoping to find 2 or 3 more people who would be interested in group therapy with a professional counselor who has had WLS, (the slow way), and is a professional. If any of you are interested please let me know. As we all know this is a heart, mind and soul process. To learn from someone who has been trained to counsel, and has been where we are is truly a gift. This is in no way to replace our monthly meetings.

It would be in the Stonecrest Ballentyne area, which is the Rea Rd exit off of 485. Most likely it would be every 2-3 weeks. I have to check with Debbie on that it maybe only once a month. She told me she would keep the cost down around 15-20 a session. I can let you know next week sometime the exact details.

WTG I'm glad you liked him so much!

Do you watch the clock when you eat/drink? I thought I was eating slowly to find out what I thought was slow really wasn't. Tonight I was really hungry. I make myself some chicken, rice, greenbeans and applesause. I now put the timer on for half an hour. Half way through I was still hungry, at the end of the half hour satisfied. Now I have cleaned the kitchen and it's been at least a half hour since I finished and I am very full. I haven't had a fill yet either. This is also totally a head thing. If you have faith in God ask him to help you, and he will. It does get easier. I hope this helps.

How very nice of him! Talk about caring!

You both will do great and you'll be so happy! I painted a mural, a wall mural, the day before my surgery. I didn't talk to anyone on the phone, just wanted time with myself, hubby and kids. You both are doing a wonderful thing for yourself. I do not regret it at all, and I'm sure you won't either. Thoughts and prayers are with you both.

In 2 weeks from now, even if you do feel like crap tomorrow you will be singing! In 6 weeks from now you will be jumping up and down! Congrats and welcome to our land!

Ok this slow eating thing is interesting! Last week I was starving and went to a chinese resturant by myself for lunch. Ordered chicken and veggies like a GG. I started scaffin..Then I was like duh slow down you fool! So I put my fork down and wathced my watch! I waited a full minute before taking the next bite. So now I'm on the slow down kick with everyone in my house. I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW FAST THEY EAT! I don't always make it a full 1/2 hour, but I make it at least 20 minutes and then wait 1/2 hour to drink. How about you?

I have a real bad cough and a cold. The cough is the worst! Is there anything cough/cold meds you can recommend?

WTG with the jammies! I got one! Went to see Elton John Saturday night at the bobcats area. You know how uncomfortable those seats are and how you have no extra room? Well I was so excited it was the first time in I can't remember how long that I could fit and put my hands next to my hips to make sure I wasn't dreaming! I was so excited my eyes filled up again! Today I tried on a 14/16 top, a bit snug so I didn't buy it but I'm sure in a few weeks I will! Now I want to try an airplane seat!

Thanks, I have such a bad cold right now that I'm just having my protien shakes.

I sound like I smoke! Thanks, hope you all are feeling better soon. This stinks! Is there anything that we should not take with the band?

I'm so excited for you! That is awesome! WTG!

OH I'm sad I missed you all! And I'm sorry that I haven't gotten Kim the group picture yet I will this week I PROMISE! Lunch this week would be good downtown, but I really only like nice days maybe Thursday?

I bet you'll get it! It's good you don't have to use a machine. I haven't used mine for a while I need to get a new mask. It is a real drag.

My therapist had her stomach stapled and a band around her stomach back in 97. She is just wonderful. She said she'd be willing to start a group if I could find 4-5 people. She really is helpful since she took the slow weight loss route also. If you are interested let me know. This is something I think would be a great support. We all support each other which is wonderful but to have a counselor lead a group who has gone through all the same stages we are going through! How great would that be!

Hi and welcome! Hope to meet you soon. Dianne

Hi Dbanner, I like your name itls a cute one. I had my surgery on 9/26. less than 3 weeks after we went on a 9 day cruise! I have a therapist who I see now about once a month. She is wonderful ! She has been there done that! She had WLS, stomach stapled back in 97. So she has helped me tremendously before my band and now after. I like everyone else has failed the "scale" over and over agian. I have an eating disorder and have over the past 20plus years tried every diet out there, nutritionist, and therapists. I even went in patient for 6 weeks back in 91. It was there that my self exceptance began, I learned to except myself the way I was. That was the begining of the end of being "good or bad" with food. Now thats not to say that I don't think it or feel it once in a while, but I accept myself easier now. I also learned during that time that the scale is NOT MY FRIEND! So many people like I did, have there day go according to the scale, your either going to feel god or bad today depending on what that # says. I have litterly thrown out 3 scales from the 3rd floor of my house. After the 3rd I have not brought any more. I just know how it effects me. I am tired of the emotional feelings from the scale. I had to learn to accept myself today for me not for what the scale says. Oh are there days that I REALLY want to go on, you bet, but for me it is a step into a dangerous obsessive life which I have worked to hard to stay away from. I now only go on the doctors scale. Once a month is good for me. But remember, that is me and it is from years of therapy and self acceptance. I don't know how often you go on it. That is up to you. I'm just hoping that if those #'s effect your day, perhaps it's time to not look so often at them. Judging yourself by that # is not what you are all about. Yesterday when I went to my therapist, we talked about the freedom! We now have freedom to make choices. I really hadn't thought about the band as freedom, but she made so much sense to me. We all have to freedom to have a bite of cake or a cookie, we have the freedom to choice healthy or not. We do not have to restrict ourselves from goodies, we are all adults, we need to deside what is right for us. Sometimes it will be the salad sometimes it will be the cookie. What ever the choice, we are not bad, we have not failed. Today I went to costco starving! I did have a brownie, just 1, not great to do but I did. They had ham and I went back twice for that because of the proitien. So have I flunked today? I don't think so, I made a choice. Will I gain from the brownie, I dought it. But I do know that 2 months ago I would have gone back and had 2 more brownies. You can start over. Everyday is a new day. I strongly encourage you to eat Breakfast, if it;s a protien shake or a bowl of Cereal eat it. Time yourself. Try to make it last AT LEAST 20-30 minutes. If your still hungry drink some Water. Whatever you chose, taste, you know when you think about food and how fast we eat it, we really don't taste it. But when you chew slowly and really taste it you enjoy it a lot more! You are not a failure!!! You have made a huge desision to change your life. Everyday and every step is a learning experience. Today is the first day of the rest of your life! God Bless

It is really something you have to think about! I NEVER thought about it before! When I was on liquids my nutritionist told me it should take at least a half an hour to have a whole can! I was in shock. In the early days that ws no problem, but now! I have P shake every morning for Breakfast. I try to take at least 20 minutes though. Good luck! The second hand on my watch has become a good frined of mine now too!

YOu know we are all going through a process, and if we don't feel these emotions, how can we succed? Our lives have changed, but we now have freedom to make choices! Choices that in the past would have messed us up. We don't have to deprive ourselves from things, we have a helper to help us with our choices. I have depression also, sometimes, like last week. Hang in there it will pass, your not alone and with support and trust in yourself, you will get through this.

Let God take care of it. I'm sure it will be fine. As my son once told me, God would have never given us the vision if it wasn't the right thing for us to do. This had to do with moving here, however I believe it in all things. I'm excited for you!

Happy birthday. Keep smilin

So glad you made it all the way down...GL with the fill...I have a while to wait but I really don't feel I need one at this time. Let me know about painting...my work schedual is a little better to work with the next few weeks. January will be nuts. I had fun on Saturday!