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Janet...started gaining weight when I hit menopause at the age of 38. I gained and gained and gained. I got the band at 52. I would say I was morbidly obese for about six of those years. Hey Laura...will talk to you more tomorrw. Thanks for the thumbs up on the b/4 and afters. Went to bed at 8pm...slept till now. Unusual for me to be in bed that early. Sprayed myself in the eye with room spray today. What a bugger. Needed to give my eye some rest and fell asleep. Got up to eat cereal and coffee and now heading back to bed. Gnite.

Hey Cherish...congrats on your weight loss so far. As far as your questions go...#1. Thigh discoloration. I remember looking there (at about the same stage you are in now) and noticed the strange color. After a few months, my discoloration disappeared. #2. Proportion of body. I've posted in other threads on how disappointed I was by the fact that I lost weight face first, breasts, arms, legs and even at 20lbs b/4 reaching goal I was still carrying around so much through the middle and lower belly. Yep, it all evened out. Just be patient. See what you end up with when you reach goal (actually give it a year for things to tighten and settle) Good luck!

OK...shoe count...57. Good attitude about the furlough, Janet...enjoy those days off. Sorry you will miss out on some vacation days. Your coat situations is why it is tough to order online and in catalogues. If the medium is huge on you, I would try the x-small. Did they have like a small petite? Arlene...wish I had the patience to sit and do beading. I do love some of the handmade stuff even though I cannot wear it. Allergic to nickle. A lot of docs scoff at the band. I know they most likely have had patients that maybe have had troubles or whatever. But, wouldn't you think they would encourage a person who is being pro-active and actually losing weight? Good goin' with the knee movement, Lori. You and Phyll should be the poster child(ren) for knee replacement. OK Girls...I got brave and posted some really horendous b/4 photos on the b/4 and after thread. When I posted on there last week I chose a photo that was really blurry and really could not make it out too well. DH saw the post and talked me into putting some of the "real" b/4 of me. I cringe when I look at them but it's what I was. I actually gained another 20lbs after those photos were taken. Plugging away at the books. COLD and WINDY here today...I think I've said that every day for quite awhile. No sun, which does not help. Just took my shop men out an afternoon snack. Had my hood on my parka tied tight!

I tried aspargus for lunch today. Roasted them just till tender (about 20 minutes at 375 degrees). Actually, like them better than my sweet potato recipe.

I have had numerous surgeries and have been pleasently surprised by a few of them and how I did not have the pain I expected. Just take it as it comes and let the pain meds your doc gives you help manage if you do have pain. Try not to worry too much about it ahead of time. Just look towards the end result and why you are doing this.

OK...so I posted photos here last week. Was not very brave in showing the b/4. I chose a blurry photo cuz really did not anyone to see how truly huge I was. DH saw the post and talked me into posting the b/4 photos I have that are clearer. The b/4's were at my 50th birthday party four years ago. I had gained about 20lbs after these photos were taken. I was sooooooooooooooo out of shape and embarrassed by the way I looked and even more disgusted with myself for the way I felt and what I had done to my body. I will NEVER go back to that!

Hi LLK! Janet...I would love to work in claims...just not the WC...sucky. Sorry 1Day..don't want you to feel anymore depressed about it. Just MO.

Goodness....a bunch of Chatty Cathys since I was here yesterday! Love it though! Eva...you asked the question...how many purses does a person have to have? I took a break and went and counted in my "purse closet". I think the answer is 23. Yep, 23. The telephone company we have is a coop and provides phone, internet and cable all on one bill. Not sure how it works but the phone line was dug in years ago, then the high-speed for internet and then they dug in the other lines for cable (maybe that last line has an all-in-one purpose..unsure). I love to read suspense novels, I love Michael Crichton, no romance novels, please. One of my favorite authors is Ann Rule. She was a police detective for many year out in Seattle and writes true crime novels. She has a way of writing that just grabs you from the beginning and keeps your interest piqued throughout the entire book. I try other true crime authors but they just don't have the talent that she does. As far as clothing sizes go....I KNOW the manufactures size clothes differently than they did and think it all switched in the early to mid nineties. Eva, you asked if we thought maybe they were trying to accomodate all the people in the U.S. that are now larger. That could have something to do with it but I think mainly they are accomodating our egos. Let's see...would I feel better if I was in a size 4 jeans for a size 8? (guess with me it would depend how I filled them out). The different times we visited Australia I did some shopping and feel that their sizes are true to what we used to have. I could go in a shop and KNOW what was going to fit by the size. Now a medium is so many different sizes. I can wear a small, medium and large tops in U.S. sizes. Just depends. It really does suck. Not doing us any favors. You are mind kind of girl, Eva! Kitchen gadgets? My favorite shopping. We have an outlet mall about 3 hours away from here. When DH and I stop I RUN for the Kitchen Aid outlet. He says he has a hard time keeping up with me anyway due to the diff in leg length. (29" inseam compared to 34"). He always says I speed up about ten miles per hour when I spot that door. Says I get out of the pickup at a dead run. I also get a real thrill of spending a couple of hours in one of our restaurant supply stores. I have one drawer in my kitchen that is just red Kitchen Aid and no one better think of putting anything else in there. I love that drawer. It seems that I like the same type of clothes as you also. Anything tailored with straight lines and that will stay in style without worrying about it is my kind. Nothing fluffy or lacy. I do like a top or a pair of sandles or shoes to kind of dress it up. Only diff is I love to iron. I find it to be a stress reliever. Phyll....darn. I was wishing that by some miracle you would show up in FL. Guess and cruise and seeing family would take the front seat and understanable. I'm sure it won't be our last get-together....unless I get voted out on the first trip! I read Disclosure the year it came out. I was complaining yesterday that I need new books. Think I will just go down to my bookshelves and reread some of the good ones. Thinking of going on Amazon.com and ordering a few audio books to listen to on the treadmill. Any good suggestions? Meredith....a crappy day, huh? You'll have to fill us in. DH always says on days like that "Should have stayed in bed. Everything I touched to day turned to sh_t." Some days are like that to begin with and just snowball. Good goin' on getting that battery thing started again. Who's next? Linda...nothing more beautiful than Alaska but understand the isolation thing. Better now. My youngest moved up to Homer right out of basic training when he was 18. Was in the guards and worked full time. He loved his guards weekends. Spent a lot of time in Valdes (sp?). They did so many interesting things. We spent some time with him in Homer. I really wanted DH to buy farm land in Palmer and move there. We did consider it for quite some time. Went through a realtor and everything. Julie...hey skinny! Happy to hear you had a good bday. Good going on getting rid of the cake. DH always would come home with this HUGE cake on my bday....just cuz he thinks everyone should have one. Was never a cake eater but always a nice gesture and would make me cry. Most of it went into the freezer. He would find the biggest honking cake he could find. Sweet. Hey, on the remodel thing. I wouldn't do ceramic tile either. Really wanted it when we remodeled nine years ago. Was talked out of it and am happy I was. Have a friend who has built houses for years and he built one for himself 5 years ago. His DW insisted on the ceramic. Well, in MN with our shifting foundations, it all cracked. They pulled it up and put vinyl. I have tons of vinyl in my house and love it. It goes from the front foyer and on every floor throughout the house except bedrooms. I just have area rugs in living spaces. I did all one pattern and love the look. It just brings all the rooms together. When ppl first see it, they ask if it's ceramic. Nope..not even close. I got the dull finish. Does not show the dirt like glossy. OK, gotta get back to the books. I'm already working on year-end and believe it or not have a tax appt already set up. I am up-to-date with entries but need to do all the tax prep stuff. I like getting everything done and then can be stress free through the holidays. You all have a good one!

I roast them for about 35-45 minutes...depends on how tender you want them. I do a 350 degree oven

Yep, getting a fill is a different sensation. I didn't really mind. The only side affect I had with my first fill was that my stomach was a little stiff and tender the next day. Didn't take much for him to access it...think it was just because it was about six weeks after surgery. Second fill I felt nothing as far as any pain. I just feel fortunate to have some restriction with the two fills. Like I said b/4, I like to be able to eat most things without getting stuck. Thanks for the compliment on the weightloss. I feel that I have been very lucky throughout this entire process. No complications to speak of and wish the same for you!:thumbup:

Ewww....anything to do with Work Comp is tough (IMHO). Worked with ins for so many years and ins. co.s had gotten so tight when it came to making people with claims jump through soooooooooo many hoops. I don't envy you and the job you have but I admire you for the work you do. It would be stressful.

Potatie...just want to wish you the best of luck with your PS journey and kudos for taking this step towards completing your journey. :thumbup:

Hey Laura....I look forward to your updates. Keeping fingers crossed that your dad's weight gain is a true gain from his diet and not water retention. A little tip on the muffins made from applesauce. I have found (after failed/runny/not rising muffins), that if you throw in about 1 cup of steel cut oatmeal it will soak up the additional moisture and you still come out with healthy and moist muffins. I was going to say "Poor DH" on having to do the extra chores, but I can't. Like you said, he will have a new-found appreciation for what you do. You needed to leave because of your family issues but he is in this with YOU and I am sure he understanding of it. He most likely really misses you. A brother dealing with sister's cervex issues would keep any man's mind off of how much house work and child care stuff he has had to do. Not a good thing to hear she is leaving because of health issues but a good thing you can come home to Nes and DH and just be your own family at this time. You and they will need that. BTW....boiled wool is not my only addiction. Let me name a few: Coffee Housecleaning and organizing Baking Coffee Reading LBT Coffee Myoplex Protein Bars Black Labs Coffee NY Times and LA Times Crosswords Cooking ETC., ETC., ETC. Enjoy the last couple of days with your folks. You are a good daughter.

Good luck, Liliana, and try not to be nervous. (Yeah, right!)...Make sure to check in with us when you feel up to it. We will be waiting to hear how you are doing. If you have any questions, there's always someone with an answer or their own personnal experience to share. I remember that from the time I was certain I was going to have this surgery, what went through my mind was: "I'm going to wake up from this surgery and there will be no turning back"...on to a healthy life is what I really wanted and got it. Wishing you all the best!:crying:

6 months into my weight loss journey was little tougher when it came to body image issues. The progression of my weight loss went like this: face first, neck and collar bones, breasts and then arms and legs. I swore it would never come off around the middle. It was the very last to go and I had issues thinking that I would be thin everywhere except my lower stomach. Was an iffy body image stage.

Boil up some eggs and mix up an egg salad with FF mayo. If you find it bland, add some salt free seasoning or dill weed.

When I look in the mirror or think of my size, I think I am fairly realistic. But, I know where that comes from. I was thin (5'6" and about 119lbs) through my 20's and 30's. Hit menopause at 38 and continually gained to get me up to 249lbs. I think because I KNEW what it felt like to be thin and very healthy it was easy for me to accept my size because I had been there for so many years. Make sense? At the beginning of this process I made a promise to myself. That promise was to ACCEPT the body I ended up with and be happy. I think my body image is much better now than it was 20-30 yrs ago and I had the cute girlish figure. Go figure!

Oh Eva...thanks for the reminder. I had Julie on my calander but have not taken the time to looke at it yet. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR JULIE HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! Sounds like an intersting job, Eva. The company that digs the cable in around here is Ripleys. We got cable to our house way out here in the country about a year ago. Nice to switch from Dish TV to a cable company. Was $79 for dish and $29.99 for our cable coverage. Huge difference. Maybe that's how I can justify those three coats???????????????

Here we are...back to the shopping topic again. OK...I'll jump in. I LOVE shopping. But, as I've said b/4, the bargain shopping really gives me a thrill. Not to say that I haven't spent too much on one item a time or two but when I do that, it's an item I know I will wear a very long time or it's a color and a cut that is just "Me". Last year once and this year twice I was just plain naughty but it felt so nice. When I got to my goal weight I went and bought a red boiled wool Geiger knee length coat, $700 (shocker). Then the lady from the shop called me and said they got in a Geiger hooded black zip boiled wool that "is just so you". I fell for it and ANOTHER $650 later that coat was mine too. Another call from the lady. Light aqua spring jacket/blazer type...yep, it jumped in my truck when I went to look at it. The way I see it...I don't get paid for what I do (yes I do but I just don't "see" the paycheck) and that was my pay for a really, really, really long time and I know I will wear those coats until they are completely worn out. I had a Geiger coats, I think about 25 yrs ago, and wore it out. My confession....I did it and I'm taking responsibility (lol). I have hit consignment shops and are in awe of the items that still have tags on them. Just lately I have found 3 pair of Ann Taylor capris in 3 diff colors in my size with the tags on and paid $6.50/pair. I love this kind of shopping and can spend hours just looking through the racks. Another windy, really cold and rainy day here. Soybean hauling day (men are trucking dry beans to elevator in town). I will be making them homemade alfredo pizza today and just pulling some baked goods out of the freezer. That's a lazy woman's lunch but have their supper to prepare and also knee deep in doing the books today. Hope you all have a good one! A big "Good Morning" to EVERYONE!

Linda...just saying "hi". Sorry about DSD's issues. It must put quite the load on you in time spent and emotionally. Hopefully she will figure it out soon. She has the DD to think about and her future with her. I am sure you and DH are a great support system for her.

We live west of Morris (or Alexandria). We farm south of Alberta, MN. You're doing well with your weight loss. Carefull with the fills. Go slow. Maybe you have a conservative doc and you don't have to worry about it. I have only had two fills. I don't mind being a little hungry and want to be able to eat certain foods without getting stuck. It works for me! Stay in contact. PM me if you want. Good luck!

Hey PD...not all the way up north but more West Central. Are you banded? How's it going?

Phyll....was going to comment on your shopping trip last night but never got back to the computer. (My book put me to sleep...need some new books). Anyway, my first exposure to Ross was last year when we were in FL. Had never even heard of it. I am a big TJMaxx shopper and I think I like the prices and brands even better at Ross. Even though I am sure I will not NEED anything when we are there next Jan and Feb, I will make a few trips to Ross. I don't know if you have ever talked about or considered meeting us girls in FL? I know you will be south in the RV and all settled and everything but could it possibly work for you?

OH NO, Janet! It would be so disappointing if you could not make FL but I understand with the furlough crap. I have heard most of you over the last year or so talk about your QVC shopping. I ordered once from QVC and that was online....not by watching it on TV. In fact, I don't even think I've ever stopped on that channel. Guess what the one thing was that I ordered? Jenny Craig. Did it work for me? Nope. Looked and tasted like dog food to me. It ended up going in the trash. What a waste. Sorry about your furlough though. It sucks but like others have said, you have a job and are not getting laid off. I am sure you appreciate that but never fun to do the same work load with less money. Been there done that with my last job. Eva...happy to hear you had a good trip to TX and that the wedding was fun. You will have to post some photos even if it is not from the wedding. Thanks for the compliments on my photos. Much appreciated. And, you girls have been so supportive and honest. You all know that I had so many negative comments and the positves are what I run with. Saw my LB doc today and he is pleased. From what I could tell he was not a bit worried about where I am at. (I see him every 3 months). I am in the healthy BMI range. Anyway, I think it took you girls who have never really seen me to get me to let go of the negatives going through my brain. People that love me and are with me know what I eat, how much and that my diet is very healthy. When I see my signature photo pop up I do a little question in my mind if it is egotistical to have my photo there. Nope, I worked hard and am proud of how far I have come. It's my reminder to stick with this on a daily basis and not go back to my unhealthy ways. Eva....what do you do for a job (if you can tell us)? You maybe have mentioned it b/4. Just nice to know what people that you talk to daily are doing in their lives. Lori...good to hear your knee is having a great day. Hopefully it continues from here on out. Arlene...thanks for the update on hubby. Sounds like he is making progress. Happy to hear your stomach is feeling better. Really sucks to be affected by the weather. Used to be that way for me until I lost my weight. Now not a pain in my body. I feel very fortunate. I can work out really hard for the first time and don't ache or am not stiff a bit the next day. What is with that? Not sure. Good luck with your endrocrinologist. Maybe some answers for you? 1Day...what do you do in your job? Cold and rainy day here. Thank God the guys got the beans done last night. They all had to be dried this year. Don't remember a year in many years that we have had to dry beans. Now if we could only get to the corn. Have about 1500 acres that are not ready yet. We are going to be working in the freezing cold/snow crap. Oh well, it's all because that DH was just so adorable. Swore I would never marry a farmer. Not a bad life...just so stressful sometimes....alot of the time....most of the time....OK...pretty much every day!