Apples2

Laura...good goin' on the 2lbs and for getting back with your trainer again. Structure is always good to getting us back with the program and sticking with it. 1-Day...darn those coffee drinks and their hidden calories. Try to go online and find nutritional values if your coffee shop lists them. It's surprising how loaded up they can be. I used to make my own with skim, SF flavors and coffee. Heading out at 6am in the morning to help a friend who is doing food for her son's wedding which is this weekend. Helping cut potatoes for potato salad for 450. Will give us a chance to visit. She is having WLS (bypass) in a few months. She looked into LB but her doc thought she was a better candidate for bypass. She's overwhelmed with it all and worries cuz she feels she has no self-restraint. Hopefully she'll have her head wrapped around what she is in for by the time her surgery rolls around. It's half the battle or more to know what's coming and what changes need to be made with lifestyle. DS showed up for work today and still has not passed his stone(s). Insisted he head back to doc to see what is going on. Hoping he does not have a double ureter like his momma. Mine will get stuck in the "V" sometimes and they have to go up and get them. Always nice to pass them on your own though. Will catch up with you all on Monday. Hope everyone has a great weekend. I have a few books calling my name and a lounge chair waiting back up at the lake.

CJ...omitted one very important piece of advice...make sure you get plenty of fluids in each day.

CJ...fire away with any questions you may have. You will find that there are quite a few people with a lot of experience on this thread and also people who are sitting where you are right now that you can relate to. Congrats on the steps taken to make your life a heathier one. It is difficult the first few months and being banded is not and "easy fix". But, the Lap Band is a great tool to help you along your way. One of the best little pieces of advice I can give you is to make sure to keep a food log and document everything you put into your mouth. Make good healthy food choices. Clean your pantry of anything that might be a temptation for you. Make sure you get your hard Protein first with a meal and then if you have room, fruits, veggies, etc. When you feel overwhelmed with thoughts of food (head hunger) try to find and activity to take your mind off of it. Brush your teeth, take a bath, pick up a book, take a nice long walk, etc. I found that making a cup of coffee or tea helped to head off that hunger. Welcome to the group. Hope you come back here for support. You will find that this a very accepting and supportive group. I was trying to find a place to fit and had many questions when I first took a look at this thread. Now I feel like it's home to me and have formed some wonderful friendships. :thumbup:

Laura...thanks for the link regading the stones. Poor Nelson...life is tough sometimes. Hope things go better for him here on out!

Phyll...Way to go on getting out and to Cosco and out in the parking lot. You are welcome for the package....you will notice some of the mags are pre-read but tend to read the same. One the kidney stone issue...I have been to every specialist...body produces a lot of calcium. Nothing they can do except blast them once in awhile if they build up. Cheri...happy you have the restriction and you are comfy with it.

Phyll...are you saying that stress can cause stones?:mad:

Omitted something I was going to share with you guys. As some of you know, I suffer from chronic kidney stones. Something I have had to deal with since 1994. Not fun but accept the fact that every 6 weeks or sooner, one or two are going to fall off the tree. I don't go in to doc anymore when I get them. Just push the water and hang on tight. Well, one of the things I have always wished for is that my two DS's not have to suffer with them. Oldest DS got them after returning from Iraq four years ago. We chalked it up to dehydration while he was there. Well, a week ago Sunday youngest DS called and was in ER out in Atlanta. Had a stone....passed it Tuesday and has been suffering with gravel ever since. When I was sitting waiting during "mom's" surgery last Thursday one hit me and did not pass until 2am Sat morning. This last Sunday oldest DS called on his way to ER with kidney stones. I would like to know what the odds are of stones hitting like that with three family members? Weird, huh?

Way to go on the self-restraint with the sweater! I stocked up on sweaters, vests and zip up fleesie jackets last winter. I should be set for a long time. In fact, I am in need of nothing when it comes to clothing. What's good and bad about getting to goal is that you need everything. Takes the $$$ but also nice going out and buying outfits that you know will fit and be in the closet for a long time. I tried to buy things that would coordinate with many different items. I am a self-confessed clothes horse. Had fun building my wardrobe but know I'm done building now. Shoes are my big downfall. Should have enough of them till the day I die!:mad:

Poop...mixed Phyll's comment in with Great's.

OOOPS...left Linda out. Hi Linda! Hope I didn't miss anyone else!

Hey Everyone! Hope you all had a nice weekend. Ours was great. Packed with activities, spread thin but was a very wonderful time. Some of our friends closed their places up for the season. Hate saying goodbye to them till next May. Usually stay in contact throughout the year but don't see many of them during winter. Phyll...good to hear you are coming along fine and getting out some. I don't know where I got it from but thought this was your 2nd knee replacement. Good going on the 5lb from onderland. You will be there b/4 you know it! Great...figured you were busy last week and was missing your posts. Good luck with everything with your knee replacement. Try not to be nervous about it. Just think about how much better you will feel once it is done. So nice you have your GD at a close university. Bet she loves being close to granny also. Cheri....congrats on moving into Onderland! Laura....do you think your virus could have affected your band and that is the reason you were tight? I have read other posts stating a bandster was tight, especially when sinus were draining...just a thought. Hope Nels had a good "show and tell" day. Such a nice mom to go to so much trouble for his Snacks. I make those cute little muffins all the time, throw them in the freezer. Sorry your sister is going through so much. Hopefully things will get back on track for her. Don't know how many times I thought about our FL get-together this weekend and thinking that we need to get going and get the planning underway. Let's get a definite count and get started. I will PM you with my phone # and email address. Does not matter to me where we stay...just would like a happy medium for everyone. I will have my truck down there (not a big ole' bumpy farm truck) and can fit in 5 ppl and willing to drive where ever we need to go. Janet....you talked about working from home....DON'T DO IT EVER. If you are used to being out in public and working with clients, it's a killer coming home to work. Believe me. It's been since 2000 since I came home to work and I miss it every day. I was one of those people who sang on the way to work and looked forward to Mondays so I could go at it again. There's a lot to advantages to being at home working (like sitting at computer in jammies) but I would rather be out and working. Makes DH's like less stressful to have me here so I am willing to do it. Eva...sorry you have been struggling some with head hunger. I think we all go through stages with it and have to climb back up on that big horse and get our healthy eating habits back in check. I believe we all have it in us to do it and I also believe that we all have it in us to fall off every once in awhile. That's why we are here for each other.....we ALL need that support. Just keep in mind your ultimate goal and you WILL succeed! Charlene....buy those flat buns all the time. DH loves them. That's all I buy anymore at our house. I do not tolerate any breads. Not tight but band just doesn't like. Thanks for well-wishes on DH's finger. He is back in at doc this afternoon. It's hamburger but doing better. He goes back every two days for the next couple of weeks to have it checked out. Has slowed him down quite a bit. Gitrdone....thanks for mentioning my "Mom". She got through the surgery just fine and is recovering. She's a very active 89 yr old. We know the cancer is back and waiting for results on whether tumors broke through wall in bladder. Treatment will depend on results. Sharon...Thanks for sharing your photos. GS is a handsome young man...sooo cute. Granny is a pretty lady also. Julie...sorry to hear of your drama with the stepkids. Hope it can only get better. Hope Mimi is better today. So tough to watch them suffer. Meredith....lovely photos. You look so happy. Grandma is so cute. She reminds me of the "mom" I was posting about earlier. Willing to try anything. That lake photo was amazing. Thanks for sharing. Good luck with your semester and try not to work too hard. Laura and I will get going on the FL thing. Well, girls, gotta get back after it. Trying to get a head start on some baking for harvest. Like to have things I can just grab out of the freezer. Have two pans of bars and some Cookies ready to put away and plan on making a couple other things this afternoon and then I am done with it for awhile. Hope everyone is having a great day! XOXOXOXO

Julie...good to hear you are sleeping better. Don't get discouraged...at least you are walking. Just add a little bit more every day. Every little bit helps. Give it a couple of weeks to see what that last fill does for you....you never know. If it does not provide more restriction, go for another fill. Take care. Have a nice lunch with your friend. Our weekend is jam-packed with activities. Carnavils for the kids, three potlucks, I am sure a campfire every night unless it rains, a 50th bday party, bean bag tournament, etc. Looking forward to it.

Eva.....have a game you can play with DH....read my previous post!:thumbup:

Rose....so good to hear from you. Sorry about your mother and MIL. So nice you are available and willing to be a caregiver for both of them. I will be thinking of you as you go through these tough times. Hang in there!!!!! Your photo is absolutely beautiful and DH is a handsome bugger. What a striking beauty you are. Keep in touch and let us know how things are going. Sounds like you have a handle on band eating. Keep it up! You will be to goal b/4 you know it. Meredith....You are so pretty and have done such a great job on your weight loss. Like I said to Rose...you will be making your goal weight b/4 you know it. Andrew is welcome in FL....we'll just sit and drool over him! LOL Great job on the JOGGING! I was on the college track team and do get some running in but not like back then. Walking seems to fit better with my 53 yr old body. Sharon....your story of prejudice in your city makes my stomach turn but hopefully you are right that things are turning around. In our area there is a better acceptence and do not notice much prejudice. People tend to be MORE accepting of mixed marraiges, children, etc. My father was the most prejudice person in the world. All eight of us siblings grew up to break that pattern. Just growing up and watching and hearing some of the things said by him and being soooooooo devastated and embarrased by his outbursts turned us to acceptence. I remember thinking that if we had the KKK where we lived, he would have joined up. Was not proud of his actions. If we could just pound it into people that we are all cut from the same cloth. I know I wouldn't want to live with only 20 white T-shirts in my closet. A mix makes for a more well-rounded world. How the "H" does a person get stuck on melon????? I get up during the night at 1am and 4am to eat. Ate cereal with soymilk at me 1am feeding and mouth was dry at 4am so decided to do cantelope. Needless to say, I didn't get back to sleep cuz it didn't go down. Chewed good but miserable. I am a person that can count on one hand how many times I have been stuck. Don't think I even know what a PB is. You would think that melon would be a slider? Oh well, got through it. Gonna take things easy today and eat soft. Heading out about 1pm. Have a 10 ton beef stew in the oven to deliver to my Dear Fake Mom's family. They will all be with her the night b/4 her surgery (tonight). Going to drop it off and head up. Going to grab my book, a drink and off to bed early since I didn't get much sleep last night. Need to be up by 4am in order to get to hospital b/4 she goes into surgery. Thanks to everyone on the well-wishes for her. Was going to stay home because of DH's finger but he would not hear of it. He was able to button his jeans this morning by himself (Heck, I was looking forward to making a game out of it)! You all take care and have a safe but wonderful Labor Day weekend. Do something fun!!!!!!!! XOXOXO

Awww, Janet. How nice of you to help that girl out. That's what life is all about....a helping hand when needed. An extra pat on the back for you today for initiating the deeds of kindness and also for being a good mom to DGS and DK (Dear Kitties)!

Julie...DH really is the sweetest man in the world but work ALWAYS has come first. He was in a bit ago asking if he could help finish up the corn with me. Told him to keep away from the knives....hang onto the fingers he has. Painkillers and knives don't jive as far as I'm concerned. Laura...must be the year for crappy flower beds. I usually have a green thumb but this year they just look sick. I always start seedlings in my sunporch in the spring and plant about Memorial Day. This year they just did not take off like usual. I'll chalk it up to the cold nights we have had.

Janet...could you email me Phyll's address please. Want to pop something in the mail to cheer her up. Thanks!

Linda...Aylah could not be any cuter. I bet she is a load of fun!

Linda....OMG, what a difference!!!!!!! I saw some collar bone showing! You would never know it's the same person! Great job! You get the "Thumbs Up" award for the day! Love your eyes and DH is an awfully handsome man also. 1-Day...no advice on any food journals...I just had a small spiral notebook that I carried with me and just documented what I ate and calories. My doc required it the first year of the process. Now I just jot down my cals without writing the type of food. Keeping track really does make things easier as far as staying accountable for what goes in the mouth. Sorry to hear you are not feeling well. Well, my earlier post had mentioned something about keeping all my fingers and not cutting them off while doing corn. About 2 minutes after I typed it, DH came in the door and asked for a ride to ER. Three hours later we are home and he is drugged up. Smashed finger to smithereens while hanging off a scaffold 20 feet in the air. 2 breaks and 12 stitches. After doc did the best he could to stitch it up, it looked like the stuffed pork chops that I am making for supper. Oxecodon and antibiotic. He says all is fine after popping 2 Oxecodons and the DA (you can all take a guess at what that stands for) is out in the field again and his DW is not real happy with him for not taking a break. Back to doc tomorrow for a check and to put a guard on it. Thanks for your supportive posts about comments from ruddy faced, morbidly obese woman from the grocery store. I get it all the time. I have learned to turn and walk.....sometimes just helps to stare at their shoes...trick I learned years ago from a professor in college and makes a person real nervous.

Julie...we must have been posting at the same time. Sad about DD daughter but sounds like DH stepped in and took over. She's lucky to have you guys watch over Mimi. Not sure how long I will need to wait for the little ones....I just adopt and spoil others kids and that's OK for now. DH and I both love kids. A typical weekend at the lake is filled with little ones in our house. They feel so BIG when they can walk over to Auntie's (fake aunt and uncle) all by themself and spend hours doing puzzles, watching Scooby Doo and Tom and Jerry, and baking cookies to take home. I cut my corn off with a knife. Still have my fingers and hope to keep it that way. DH has given me too many rings and I want a place to put them!

Laura...what wonderful photos of your mom and dad. Your mom looks sooooooooooo happy in those photos and is a real beauty. Pop is handsome also. Your mom's smile is just radiant in those photos in the nursery. Can tell she must have just loved those babies. Dream job. Thanks for sharing. Eva...yet...I do the corn all by myself. I blanch on the cob in a huge stock pot, cool down right away in cold water and cut off. I am almost done, plus fit a trip to town in the middle of it. IF....sorry your kids didn't notice your weight loss. Me thinks they should get some detention!!!!! I would be willing to bet most of us have had that experience during our weightloss process. I am at the point now where I WISH people would not notice. I got another lecture in the grocery store this morning about being too skinny. Old Bat! Janet...hope your dentist appt goes well. Sounds like you have a busy day ahead of you. Good morning all others....hope you have a great day and hoping for all of you a healthy eating band day. How ya doin', Phyll?

Arlene...you have done so well with losing what you have in the time that you have been banded. Given the fact that you have a slow working thyroid, your loss is even more amazing. I would be willing to pay the price of the test just to see what the results would be. It would be great to have some idea what my resting metobolic rate is.

I just use whatever I have on hand. I make a trip to store about every 2 weeks to restock pantry. Pick up milk whenever in town. We live 15 miles from the closest grocery store. My few days at home are making meals ahead so that I can drive my A$$ to the lake and de-stress the other days of the week. It works for us and I would work around the clock in order to get those days up there. One meal a day is out of the lunch box when I am gone. I just make the sandwiches up ahead of time and DS just has to grab them and whatever else I leave for them. It all just comes down to being as organized as I can be. I had sooooooooooo many years tied to this farm, even on weekends. After hiring DS, my life is so much easier and I have more free time. He has picked up where I left off and has been here 3 yrs. I love my newfound freedom and the fact that DH is so easy going!

I have never checked our clinic to see if they have the equipment to do this test. I have seen others post about doing it and thought it would be really interesting to find out the #'s. Anxious to hear how you turn out with it and what you think of the outcome. I'll have to remember to check with my doc the next time I'm in for a checkup to see if it's available at our clinic. Did your doc talk at all about the accuracy rate?

Janet...this is what the band has done for me. Brought me back to the energy level that I had when I was young. I attibute some of my energy to the way I am eating now compared to b/4 surgery. Think I am getting the proper combination of nutrition for what my body needs. 3 yrs ago I never would have guessed I would feel this good. No aches or pains. I lived in pain b/4. :biggrin: