Apples2

Welcome, Reece. Fire away with any questions that you might have. There's always someone with the experience and an answer to your questions. What part of Australia are you from? We have many friends from there spread out all over your great country. Sydney, Canberra, Melborne, Adalaide (sp?), The Entrance, Gold Coast, etc. Never met an Aussie I didn't like! There is an Aussie thread here. Just go to the home page and arrow down till you find the group. (Not that you are not welcome in any area of LBT). Being 15 months out, I can tell you that lapband was a very good decision for me. No regrets. Wishing you luck!

I think you were most likely somewhat mature at 28, as was I. I also had young ones with a ton of debt and knew we had to keep our noses to the grindstone. I also have a 28 yr old. See him most days...hard worker and does the 15 mile drive to work and is on time. But Holy Hell...weekend comes and he is the "social coordinator" with all his friends. He does come out and work on the weekends when he has to and does give up nights out if it is going to be a big day the next. But, kids that age are really into the social scene. It will wane. I can see it happening with my son. I have always wanted my DS's to have a good balance...know how to put in a good day's work but also want to get out and have a social life. MY DH was/is a workaholic and he put us through some tough times with me and the boys doing everything alone (even Christmas at his family one year while he worked). Ended up that I decided to either put my foot down or continue to put it up his butt. He finally did listen and we met half way. (Boy..did I get off subject).

Allie...so sorry you lost your GF.. It's been fun watching you transform. Looking forward to you posting photos of your final results. Stay strong, but have a pity party those first few days. Any of my friends that have had TT, breat lift, etc. have said anything they went through with the pain (some say they really didn't have a lot of pain...just that the drain bags were hard to deal with) was worth it. It should be considered the final step in your transformation. Good for you for taking that step. You will definately be in my prayers. God Bless

LauraK...things really do change for us a lot when we live the LB life (especially at first). So many different things involved...as you talk about your family and all. Don't let your life with the band change your family traditions. Jump in and still make the food you have always made. Don't be afraid of it...be strong and base it on the fact that your family is looking forward to the things you have always made. Great....you were talking in your last post about how you have this fear that you will turn into mothering like your mother does now. I had a friend about 15 yrs ago that used to make that statement all the time. I did not understand it cuz I had pre-teens then. But, she did not turn out to mother her daughters like her own mom did. Her mother was really a toxic force in her own life. Just by acknowledging it, she watched for certain signs...in other words...she broke the mold. You sound like a very loving mother. Having a 28 yrs old living under the roof after being on her own (even though I understand the circumstances of her living there) has got to be very taxing. I am sure there are days were you have to hold your tongue (or maybe not hold your tongue). Hang in there...it's only a few months. Count to ten b/4 you know you're going to BLOW!

LauraK. You are lucky to come out of your fall with only a aching arm. I am always in such a hurry and it the stairs get me in trouble. Maybe I need to apply the same rules to using the stairs as I do to using the LB. Slow down...baby steps...baby steps. Posted the holiday stuff cuz I sure could have used it going into them last year. I LOVE EVERY HOLIDAY and feel like I truly wasted them last year getting stressed. I am one to not brush things under the rug but I need stress to NOT be in my life anymore. Stress is a killer people and relationships. I tend to try and figure out early on what I am going to do to get rid of it. Like my DH says...."When you think about it, what is stress, is it real?" Made me think. Do we make our own stress? Yep, I think we do. That darned DH is always right. There are times it really pisses me off!:w00t:

With all this talk about the holidays coming up, I think we should all post how we FELT last year with going through the holidays during the weight loss stage (for those of us it applies to) and how we handled it and got through it. If we slipped with all the food around, how we got back on track. I truly feel these "real" stories can help someone that is anticipating the holidays with dread or stress because of all the food around and feeling overwhelmed about how they will handle it. I am sure we all have certain tips that could help someone get through the holidays without food overriding the true meaning of the entire season. I will start with my take on how I feel about situations like holidays and social situations....soooooo many people, worries about who is watching what you put on your plate, how much you put in your mouth and the amount of food left on your plate when the meal is done. Who cares? Isn't this LB trip all about you? I have learned to let these feeling go. I can tell you that last year I had myself in a tizzy. Worked up all morning going to DH's celebration on Christmas day. 99% of his family had not clue that I had LB. 99% of them had not seen me since I started the weight loss process. I got myself into such a snit that it ruined my day. I was watching for the "looks"...waiting for the comments. I have just learned to become very mindful of slowing down when I am around ppl when there is a big meal or I am eating in public. I usually never have problems at home but when I would get in a social situation I became a twit. I have really worked on this the past year. Now I look forward to these situations. It's about family and the reason we are celebrating. I look at the lovely display of food as an act of love. Tradition and the variety of "family foods" is something we should enjoy as much as we can on these wonderous occasions. Yes, I get stuck on stuffing but I LOVE DH's family silly red sweet salad that makes it to the table every year. It seems to turn out differently each year because someone different gets chosen to make it with the SAME recipe. I attempt to take a bit of each of my favorites, eat slowly and savor all the great dishes. I have to also pass up the scalloped corn which was always one of my favorites but there are so many "favorites" on the table that it does not bother me to pass certain things up. I think we get to a point where we learn to savour each bite and appreciate what went on behind the scene to get that meal to the table. Before, the plate would be piled and the mindless eating would begin. I always think of Peter Boyle...the guy that played the GF on Everybody Loves Raymond. As soon as the meal was over, he would unbutton and unzip his pants. Well, I am not wearing elastic waist pants (except for my yoga pants) anymore. Only so much you can dress up a pair of black stretch pants. I tried year after year. My advice for all of your holiday social situations is to be very mindful. Know you are going to induldge in some things that you normally would not. Do not beat yourself up for it. Just make sure you watch very carefully the days b/4 or the days after. No, you should not have to totally deprive yourself or put yourself into starvation mode just to accomodate a few meals or appetizers. Enjoy them in moderation....we all need our treats once in awhile. What's so nice is we now have our tool to remind us and help us keep things in order and not out of control. But, it does all come back to us and our choices. Moderation is the key and picking yourself right back up after a few splurges. OK...stepping down from soap box.

Janet...didn't know you were having knee problems. Do they bother you once in awhile? Cheri...those last 20lbs b/4 goal are a bugger. It's almost like your body is preparing you for maintenance. Letting you figure out where you should be when it comes to intake. That was the time when I used Janet's advice and shook up my diet at bit and it kicked me back into losing after a plateau. I think I bumped my cals up a couple of times a week by about 300 cals a day. (can't remember...either 1 or 2 days a week). Off to bed...we have a 4am morning...

Laura K...hope the back thing is nothing too serious. I took a fall down the stairs a couple of weeks ago. I lucked out. Just jammed my wrist but it could have been much worse. I also did some major reorganizing this afternoon and evening. Always feels good to get those things done.

There's a thread I came accross today (it's been around since 02/09) and have read it b/4 but it's quite inspriational. By Coach Cher and titled "Self-Sabatage"...everyone should give it a read.

Flying is a big one for me. I flew a lot right after banding and that's when I dropped most of my weight quickly. I could not imagine what would happen if I had more fill than I do now. I try to plan ahead when I know I am going to be traveling. For me it's "free" 20oz cappacino time!

Welcome Baybek....wishing you luck and a successful lapband journey. I'm 15 months out and would do it all over again. Just a little advice.....follow all your doc's rules, etc. Wrap your head around the fact that this is a lifestyle change and try to make the necessary changes earlly on in making good/healthy food choices. You will still be the one that makes the choices of what goes in your mouth and the band will be there to help with portion control. When it comes to hunger...listen to what your stomach is telling you...not your head. Take care and much success!

Janet...are you sure you are not running a restaurant that weekend? LOL Menu sounds good and what a good mom/GM to make what everyone likes. I'm so lucky with no picky eaters (with the exception of onions and walnuts for my ppl). I love stuffing also but gets stuck. Go figure. So soft you would think it would slide right on through. I have been more stuck the last couple of weeks than I have the entire 15 months I have been banded. Just the stress. I am always careful with chewing, etc. but band has been tight but has started to loosen up again today. Just finished eating a chicken leg and thigh and all is well.

Don't sweat the knee bend, Lori. You seem to be doing really well. I am sure that Phyll will post later and say the same thing. Amazing how far you have come in such a short time. Keep plugging away at it. Funny you talked about the Christmas music. Had my 2.5 hour beautification today and they were playing Christmas music in the salon. There was a discussion (which I did not participate) about how early it was....I'll take it. Christmas is such a happy season and I throughly enjoy it. Bring it on. I have stacks of beautiful Christmas music (favorites being Nat King Cole, Bing, Beyonce...too many favorites to mention). Got my Bose system today and anxious to try out my CD changer. My last Bose only had room for one CD. Feel like I am forever changing them. I can sit at my desk and hit the remote. Had a remote on the other also but not like this one. :tt2: We moved to our home 22 yrs ago this Thursday. I go through the closets at least once a year and donate what has not been used and de-clutter. Makes life simple. Was lucky a couple of years ago to be able to pass a lot of things along to DS when he bought his home. Those college dishes and pots and pans that he had needed replacing...not even a chance Sal Army would take them! Was able to furnish his entire house with furniture from the basement and replaced with new. Kind of a shame cuz we do not use our basement very often and I think the only one that has ever sat on the new furniture down there is the dog when he is in trouble and goes to hide or when I am on the treadmill, he is in the recliner urging me on. He used to try and get on with me but was flung off to many times. Just couldn't keep up with momma. :biggrin:

Janet...sounds like an action-packed couple of weeks. I, too, am a Christmas girl and try to decorate early. Will post photos when I am done. I display my santa collection in the kitchen, snowmen in the foyer and have three Christmas trees...one in foyer, one in livingroom and one in familyroom. Sorted through a lot of the Christmas decorations last year and donated quite a bit to Sal Army. DS's has a cute Cape Cod style house in town. His GF (who is my beautician) and I have a sneaky plan. He does not decorate for Christmas. We are planning a morning when he is farming to go in and "Christmas it up". Everybody needs that Christmas feeling. Got "mom's" nativity set that she made. Made me cry when the siblings gave it to me. Came home and set it up right away. It is such a great reminder of her...will hate to take it down after the season is over. OK...back at it!

I have a very easy chicken chilli I will share. I LOVE to cook and do so on a daily basis. Feed a lot of guys on the farm and they love it. I do get it if you don't like to cook or do not have the time, the processed would be a good source of protein and quick. I make and throw in the freezer. Ready to grab. When I make chicken and there are leftovers, I just dice and throw in a freezer bag. Always diced chicken in the freezer to use in this chilli. 6 stalks celery diced 6 large carrots diced 2 Tbls chilli powder Add a couple of cups of water, cover and cook till tender (a diced onion is optional) Do not drain. Use a larger pan so it accomodates all ingredients. Add a large can of V-8 juice. (1 quart 14 oz size) 3 cups diced chicken 1 can garbonzo beans 1 can butter beans 1 can navy beans 1 can chilli beans Heat on low, stirring often.

Janet...what fun things are you doing on your two week hiatis???? A trip? Down time? Yep, we have packed, packed packed. I am the pack and stack queen. Since everything is going three or four different directions, I have let the others decide WHERE it goes and I am the one that wraps and packs and tapes and marks names on all the boxes for travel. It has taken time but 89 yrs worth of a little bit of everything. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel and are actually done with the sorting. I love that kind of work though. Heck, a fun day for me at home is to organize closets and drawers. A great destresser for me. Almost embarrassed to say that every closet is color coordinated and my soups in my pantry are alphabetized as are all my spices. OCD?????? Julie...so happy to hear you more upbeat than you were last week. We all have our meltdowns. Had one this morning. Are you guys ready for this???????? I caught one or your "dead battery viruses". Not sure which one of you gave it to me.....think Meredith was the last one with it. I will quarentine myself as to not pass it along to any of you. Anyway, got a new one installed and ready to rock. On the job front.....I was a few minutes away from meeting with owners of the new business when I got the call about mom's accident. Canceled and have not had the time to meet since. Friday I have an appt late afternoon and we'll see what's up. I am really back and forth on it. Being such a busy time of year with the farm and tiling makes me see why I just work from home. I really do have the best of both worlds but need some outside stimulation. DH is free with the checkbook so it's not like I don't have my "own" money. Just need to be out and about more. I do have the volunteer thing but it got to the point that they needed me for doing medical records and I was working back in a corner in a cubby and I see NO ONE. Don't get me wrong....volunteering is important to me but I need to change it up a bit. Better get my clothes changed and hit it. I have bins of things to go through and put away from the apt. Just need to find a place for it all. Tired of tripping over it and have a pickup (front and back) to unload also. I love my LB girls! (that includes each and every one of you).

Mornin' Gang, Didn't sleep....I usually sleep and make sure if I don't I am headed for bed early the next night. Well, I am just shot this morning. Ate something that kept me up. Extreme gas pains for about 4 hours. I ate cantalope right b/4 bed. Was nice and ripe but noticed that I must have cut some of the slices too close to the rind and they were a little "crunchy". Lesson learned. Meredith...don't beat yourself up. Be strong, get back on track today and don't let the chocolate (or anything else) "draw you in". I know what helped me during the weight loss stage was to set aside a certain treat every week and plan on when I could have it. Total deprivation is not a good thing either. Sets us up for having too tight of control and then feeling like failures if we eat a "naughty" food. I think the out of control thing is what bothers most of us. A fear that this will become habit. Don't let it get ya! Just put to bed that you put away a few candy bars and move onto kicking it in the butt and starting with a healthy plan today. And, Meredith, thanks for the comment on my posts. Don't think they are anything but just talking about my experience and life. I spent too many years swinging my feet over the bed in the morning feeling disgusted with my healthy and the way I looked. No room for negativity in my life any more. Ya just never know the time you have left and gotta live it! Off to get younger this morning. Color and a cut and maybe highlights (do them evey other time). I have way too much hair and hoping to come out of there with less of it. Then off to Sal Army with a few loads and hoping to get home here by 4pm to get some things done in my house. Sent all the guys off this morning with coolers and need to make sure they have a hot meal tonight. They are "playing" in the mud today (field drain tile installation) and will be cold and tired. I am going to fake my baking today and pick up a dessert at the deli. Julie...good to hear you had a nice weekend with bro. Fill us in on how you are doing. Better hit the shower. Talk to you all later. Hope everyone has a great Monday and to those who have had their little struggles lately....you can get do it...just put the little slips out of your mind and start anew.

Betty...just want to wish you luck and a successful band life. Just follow your doc's rules, exercise (when you cleared to do so by your doc), make good/healthy food choices and keep a food journal. I think if you would ask any of the ppl here what worked for them best it would be sticking to the above. Just think how you will feel six months from now....a year from now. Isn't it exciting? Keep us informed on how you are doing and come back often to visit and ask any questions that you might have. Take care of yourself.:biggrin:

Good Evening Girls, Just got home a bit ago from packing, sorting, etc. Had a full 12 hours. We have ALMOST everything in boxex and ready for travel. Just have some of "mom's" jewely to go through next weekend. All the siblings will be home TG weekend to get their stuff. 89 yrs worth of collections, photos, a little bit of everything. Lots of antiques. Her mother and MIL shower and wedding gifts, her shower and wedding gifts, her prom and wedding clothes, even her christening gown. Like I said...a little of everything. Heading back in tomorrow for a hair appt and then to get another few loads to Sal. Army. I figure about 4 loads in my truck. Janet...your closet looks like mine...I'd be the true definition of a clothes horse. I love clothes, coats and shoes. Melissa...sorry you are having troubles getting back on track. Hope you can switch things around for yourself. You know that we are all here for you. You took the first step in admitting things are not going the way you want them to and that you are not on track. Hope this week is a good one for you and you can hop back on the LB horse. Laura...that Nels is the cutest thing. Dh is pretty handsome and you look really good. I swear your face is thinner than the last time you posted photos. Anxious to hear what the results are on your dad. Have said an extra prayer each night for him and your family as you deal with his illness. Would be nice to talk this week about our FL meeting. Would like to narrow this down so that ppl get vacation days etc in place. Great, hard to believe that it's been so long since your surgery and that you are almost done with PT. Good job! Well, I'm off to bed. Was up b/4 5am the last couple of mornings. I believe that a good 8 hours of sleep is the best thing for the body and warding off the crud. You all take care and will talk tomorrow.

Great..good news with GM finances. A relief. Have a good one!

Good goin' on the shopping, girls. Cute purses and shoes. Also, nice photos of both of you. Janet...my doc recommended the weights and the size of the weight. I do eat some kind of form of protein every two to three hours throughout the day. I have at least six meals a day and each one includes protein. I only do my treadmill a couple times a week or when I want to relieve some stress. During weight loss stage I was doing 5-6 times a week and walking 3-4 miles at a 20% incline. Doc only wants me to do light workouts. My metabolism was pretty good till I hit menopause at the age of 38. Had tests done about a year ago and pretty much done and they think my metabolism kicked into the way it was b/4 menopause. I used to be fairly thin and could diet and lose on about 2500 cals a day (b/4 the age of 38) Spent most of the evening at the apt with "mom's" daughter. Sorted, etc. and will be back there early in the morning and most of the day tomorrow and Sunday. Most likely will not be checking in...just so you know. Have a great weekend.

I have a quick fix for you in a situation like that. It was taught to me years ago. Will never forget the time or place....I was so humiliated. A friend and I were eating in a restaurant that was having an "All you can eat" chicken dinner. There was a couple sitting next to us that kept staring. Finally, the women says in a very loud voice "Neither of them need to be eating fried chicken, let alone all you can eat". I know I turned ten shades of red. My friend told me to calm down and watch. First my freind spent about 15 seconds and just stared at the woman's shoes, then moved up to about her middle and then started back down again to the shoes. The women got so flustered that she got up and left. I have done this in situations where ppl have blurted rude comments. Try it, it works.

Good Morning All! Julie...have a safe trip and a nice time with your family. I know they will enjoy your baked goods. I think I will always miss certain things that were baked when I was growing up. Frosted cinnamon rolls, layer double fudge cake with homemade fudge frosting, Grandma's soft, cakelike molases cookies, etc. Brings back special memories from GM's house. She was such a sweet and kind lady. So gentle. My mom put her in a home (cuz she wanted GM's house for one of her daughters) and GM started swearing like a sailer and continued till the day she died. This was a lady in evey sense of the word and NEVER swore b/4 going in the home. GM could have lived her entire life independently but her daughter did not want to take the time for her. Her health was good, her mind was so sharp right up till the time she fell asleep and never woke up. She spent 10 yrs in a place she did not like and lived her last 10 yrs just begging us to help her get out of there. I wanted her to come live with us but we were newly married and did not have any extra space. I have a great admiration for ppl that make it work to have their loved ones live independently for as long as they can. There are certain things you can do for them so they can live their life the way they want to. Don't get me wrong...nursing homes, etc. are needed. Had our LB group meeting last night. Lasted longer than usual but OK cuz it was so interesting. We had a speaker who is a life coach and personal trainer. So inspirational. Have her card sitting here on my desk. I am going to make an appt with her. She focuses on our internal dialog. She gave us exercises to do when negative issues pop up. Meditation first thing in the morning and last thing at night b/4 going to sleep. She says our subconscious does not sleep and it continues to digest what is on our minds. If we go to sleep with a positive mind, we have more of a peaceful mindset. I am anxious to have her help me set up a good weight bearing program. I do weights for arms (3lbs) and legs (6lbs) but I'm not sure if I am doing what is right for me. My LB doc has told me not to do workouts that are terribly strenuous. I do my treadmill and if I overdo on the cardio, I tend to lose weight I do not want to lose. Anyway, going to give her a call to see if she can fit me in and teach me some techniques to build some body mass in arms and legs. Bottom and abs I don't have a problem with. I have stick legs and arms and want to work on them. On the go today. Have some shopping to do, errands to run this morning and this afternoon have eyelash extension touchup and going out for dinner with a friend. Looking forward to my day. Expecting rain again today. We are getting to the point where we think it just might be spring b/4 we get our corn crop out of the field. Ugh! This has never happened b/4. DH is the one that hold it all together. He is sooooooo calm and worries about not a thing. Me, on the other hand, could worry for hire. You all have a great day. Later.

I lost that 4lbs last week, Phyll, AND I WANT IT BACK!!!:thumbup:

Julie...you have me speechless (not and easy fete). I am so sorry to see that you feel the way you do. Do you have someone you can trust that you can sit down and talk with about how you are feeling? The way you describe how you are feeling, with waiting for the other shoe to drop, cannot be good for you. I know you have been through so much in the last 6 months or more and your pain has not been managable at times. Have you thought of just making an appt with your primary doc and just pouring out how you feel about all of this to him? He could maybe help calm your fears about having recurring health issues. Just a thought. I don't know what else to tell you