Apples2

Wishing you all the best, Elayne. Black Labs...the best most loyal and loveable dogs in the world. We have a 7 yr old "empty nester" lab. DH and I were just dicussing what we would ever do without him. Take care and get as much rest as you can b/4 your surgery and after.

Julie...I will try to get some magazines together and sent off to you. Will mail them on Monday. Take care.

Long......you look ONEDERFUL!!!!!!! Julie...sending "hugs" your way. Thanks for keeping us updated. I think of you often throughout the day. Hope everyone is having a good weekend and wishing you all a Happy Easter!

I am so jealous of anyone that lives close to a shopping mall that have NY & Company, Ross or TJ Maxx. I am 2.5 hours away from any of these stores! But saw your posts on NY & Company and thinking I will be making a trip this next week and pay them a visit!

Welcome to the group, Sharon...here's wishing you many, many POSITIVE changes in your life. You can do this. A year from now you will look back and be thankful for anything you went through to get to goal!:drool:

So, in other words...you are trying to break it to us gently that Susan is CHEATING on us?????????:drool:

HELLO JOANNE! Can you hear me from way over there? I am missing you!:drool:

Welcome Meredith....write this down "I will succeed" and hang it on you frig, you mirror, in you car and repeat it to youself many times a day. I think everyone of us had the same feelings as you are having right now. Sounds like you've done your homework and you know what to expect. Best thing you can do for yourself is to be well-informed ahead of time. Take care, good luck and keep us up-to-date on you surgery date and how you are doing post-op.:drool:

I miss LIVINFORJESUS...Where are you, Susan???????????????

Laura...in this journey you will find that those 2-3lbs bouncing back and forth is something that will always occur...our body weight is somewhat fickle and will never stay exact, even when in the maintenance stage. Did you check with your LB doc on taking Aleve. I am not sure if that is one that is not good for our new stomachs but maybe Phyll (or resident RN) can update you on that. When I was in the weight loss stage I shot for about 900-1200 cals a day. Everyone is different but when you don't eat enough the body protects itself and goes into starvation prevention mode and plateaus. I am maintenance now but not the norm. Had a tough time taking off the last few pounds b/4 goal and then broke the plateau and matabolism really kicked in. I am now eating 2500 cals to maintain and have been for quite a few months now. Like I said, everyone is different. I actually am tired of trying to get that many cals in. Who would have thought? I am now maintaining at a lower weight than my goal. I am VERY active and always have been so know that has a lot to do with it. But cannot be a slug and sit on the couch either so I just deal with it. On the premenapausal thing....have fun with that!!!!!!! Lots of fluctuations, moods, etc. But if you read up, you'll kinda know what to expect. I am far-post now (started full blown meno at 38) and so happy to be flat lined. I could go from zero to bitch in 30 seconds flat!!!!

Laura..welcome. Janet IS a inspriation to all of us and gives great advice. She does not mince words and has helped many get back on track. Sounds like you are doing just fine and are watching what you are doing and following LB rules. I'm a believer in only weighing once a week. Fluid retention, etc. can play a role in the scale bouncing around. Set a day once a week that you hit the scale. Weigh buck naked on that morning. You will get a more acurate reading that way and not tend to obssess with the numbers on the scale. Wishing you luck and happy to hear that you will be participating in this thread. :thumbup:

You CAN do it Lizalee!!!! You can...you really, really can!!!!!!!!!! We'll be here to help you every step of the way!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good Evening Girls! Thanks for the compliments on the photo. Not even my fav but sent it anyway. Hope everyone has a Happy Easter. We will take DS out for Easter dinner. It is also DH's bday so that makes it extra special. He will be 55. I will hit 54 in Nov. I never think of age as a negative thing. Just doesn't matter to me. I'm happy, healthy and livin' life. Nothing holds me back and I feel good about where we are at in life. Have a great trip to see your family, Janet and I hope everyone has a wonderful time with family. Kind of sad when younger (25) DS cannot be home for a weekend like this but not possible. Starting up a flight school in Atlanta and time and $ are tight for him right now. He moved to Alaska at 18, Santa Barbara at 20, Daytona Beach at 21 and Atlanta at 25. He makes my head spin! The Easter candy thing will not bother me. Not a sweet eater. Just put Easter popcorn (no such thing) in front of me and it would ALL be gone. Easter cheetos, Easter fridos, Easter bagel chips, etc..............................................

Well Long...not sure you were looking at the photo I sent you. I wouldn't say that I am beautiful but I will take the compliment and run with it! Strike....I think it's a great idea that you are doing the 5 day. I've always thought that is a great way to get back on track and get things working the way they should. Now, stick to it so you don't disappoint yourself. Then when you are done with it you will be soooooo proud and will feel like going the distance! Lucy...will send you a photo when the computer guy shows up to load the computer. He took our old computer last night (and installed a new one) so he could do his thing and load crap back on tonight. As soon as he leaves I will email you. Had a full day of volunteering at the hospital. Two different jobs today so worked til 6pm. I love it cuz I don't have to think but still enjoy it. Gets me off the farm and amongst people. I worked for so many years and had my own businesses so some days feel dead way out here. Things just don't mesh here when I work every day. Just a sacrifice I made for DH and our sanity. Hope everyone had a good day. Have a good honeymoon, Allie. We want to hear all about it...minus SOME details!

Allie...you will need to PM me and send me your email address in order to get the photo. I can't seem to attach it here. You are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay off, Allie. I am close to 5'7", dark short hair with legs all the way up to my A$$.

Hi Junies...I am so sorry...I just cannot remember the last time I posted on this thread. I have been following it but a crazy time of year for us....I am BOOKED! Great going on the weight loss VZ. Hunzi...sounds like this time it will stick! So happy to hear good news from you. Allie...so sorry about your friend. Even sadder when young kids are affected. I am sure everyone is still in shock over such a death. My son called me today about a friend and student of his. DS is a commercial pilot and has a flight school outside of Atlanta. He has been training his friend who was about 1/2 through pilot training. He called DS Sunday night and told him that his sister was killed in an accident over the weekend and that he wanted to fly Monday morning to just get away to take his mind off of everything. DS was the last to talk with him. He committed suicide and did not show Monday morning. DS is pretty torn up. Death is so difficult to understand no matter what. Just had a new computer installed tonight. Got the huge flat screen. Going to take me a little time to get used to it. I am soooooooooooo going to appreciate the entire set up. Hope everyone had a good day. I posted in a couple other threads that if anyone wants to see photo of me...just PM me with your email address and I will send. I know it's not fair that I don't post here but it's a long and complicated story. Well...back to the New York and LA Times crossword. Usually have them done by now but unusual evening around here. Take care and, again, so sorry you lost your friend, Allie.

Nope, Janet, didn't get out of the KP duties today. No reprieve this time of the year. Was up at 4:30 making the noon meal and Breakfast so that I could be gone today. Everything was made and in the 8 quart slow cooker by 7am. Peeled 5lbs of potatoes, cubed ham for scalloped potatoes, made cinnamon bread (3 loaves) and peach cheesecake for dessert. No complaints from the guys when I got home about 4pm. In fact, their tummys were still stretched! Feeling so much better about everything and the weight I am at now after my doc visit yesterday. I can tell you all that I was mystified by my sudden weight loss of 14lbs at the end of Jan. Worries were going through my head that something was drastically wrong. Nope...got all checked out and just metabolism in high gear. So...looks like 2500 cals will be on the menu for awhile. See, Long, plateaus can be broken. Hang in there. You are doing so great! Gotta go get supper on the table. I can hear the marching coming from the shop to the house! Then computer guy is coming to set us up with new computer. Everyone have a great evening and thanks to all for the compliments on the "Old Lady" photos!

Good Morning Girls.... Congrats on the scale moving, Charlene! Sorry about your reflux problem, Long. Probably the scariest thing to keep in check with the band. Pay attention to it, get an unfill and prevent problems. I have been luck with that. I have continued to take an OTC Prilosec every day since banding. Just insurance. I lived with it for soooooooooo many years and very paranoid about it. Saw my doc yesterday and he still cannot believe I have lost on the two small fills that I have had. That goes to show you that everyone is different and truly feel I am at my "sweet spot" and happy with getting hungry every couple of hours and being satisfied with my small snacks to quench that hunger. I believe the body works better when we eat more often in smaller amounts. OK...posted this on the "help" thread also. People have been forever asking me to post a photo. Anyone that PM's me with their email address, I will forward you a photo. How does that sound? Just have never felt comfy posting a photo worldwide.

Hey Long...I don't know how it is for all but my last 20lbs came off the slowest. Try to be patient. That plateau will break and you will be "Yahooing" again. Try to be patient until that time. You WILL reach goal. Look how far you have come! No, I haven't posted photos but if anyone wants to see the results just PM me with your email address and I will send them to you. Hope everyone has a good day. I'm heading off doing farm and personal errands, have a appt. at the salon, need to drive 65 miles to hit Walmart and then this evening have our computer guy here to set us up with a new computer. Ready to throw this one in the trash!

Phyll and Janet...I FEEL the luv! Yep...I sleep. I'm a true believer that sleep has a lot to do with body chemistry, weight loss, moods, etc. I have always striven to make sure I have not been sleep deprived. Phyll...I have a feeling that sharp-tongued PA would be in for a "Phyll ass kick'n" if she got too far out of line!

Good Evening Ladies...and any men that lurk. I had a great day. Have not seen my LB doc since early Nov. when I was at goal. As I've talked about previously, for some odd reason my body did not want to quit losing when I put the brakes on and more than doubled my calories. I again increased my calories and I am now up to 2000-2500 cals a day. It's absolutely difficult to fit it all in. But, for some reason that is what my body needs to maintain. Well, long story short...I was sooooooooooo worried that my doc was going to kick my butt and be ticked at me for being almost 20lbs under my goal. Needless to say, my appt. went fine. I am still within a normal weight range...on the low end but he was not concerned. Asked me if I was happy...yep. Said he was happy and said that he was impressed by me. Whew...I worried myself sick over this. Time for me to quit worrying and get on with life. Janet...your recipe sounds so good. Problem I have is that I cannot swallow rice without knowing it's going to cause me troubles. I can eat wild rice so I am going to try that in your recipe. Julie...happy to hear you are doing better. A little package is on the way to you. Something to occupy your time and just a way to let you know I care. Great advice Phyll and Janet to the new girls. It's always nice to have a soft place to fall and just fit in. That's what happened to me with you girls. I lurked for awhile with this thread and then knocked and came in. You guys were so welcoming and continue to be who I come to. Love ya!

Lucy...I feel it in my chest and my stoma...it's like my stoma is trying as hard as it can to stretch. My chest feels like someone it twisting it inside. I think this is only the third time in 10 months that this has happened to me and it never feels like it has to come up and doesn't. Not pleasant...lasts about 1-2 hours. Such a relief when it moves. I have papaya tablets in the mail and will have those nearby for cases like today. As I said, only happens when I am stressed and we had a VERY stressful last couple of days.

Orea...sorry to hear of your troubles. Happy to hear you are back home and recovering. Katy...hope you get that spurt of energy soon. You deserve some normalcy in your life for once.

Holly...congrats on Onederland! and...wishing you continued success on your weight loss journey. Becky....sounds like you know what you want with the tile and just go for it. We live on a farm and I have white everywhere. We remodeled 8 yrs ago and I love, love, love it every day. My floors our a light grey and the upkeep is not too bad. My kitchen dining set is a cross between cranberry and burgandy. Adds a lot of color with the white. I even found a Kitchen Aid professional mixer in that color along with a toaster. The Kitchen Aid toaster has so many features I swear it would butter the toast for me! We did 16' car siding on the walls and the ceilings in all the remodeled rooms and painted white. You just gotta do what seems right for YOU. They make such good grout cleaner now that you shouldn't have problems. It's so hard to have the house ripped up (especially a kitchen) for so long but so worth it. The first time you cook your first meal for company, you will be so proud!