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Livin....great NSV! That had to make you feel WONDERFUL! Katie...wish I could take your pain away...both physical and the stress. Hang in there. Maybe this 10 day cleanse will help readjust the tummy? Wouldn't that be nice. Also, maybe a total unfill with liquids? Not a doc but maybe your tummy needs a rest and to heal. Anyway, will be thinking of you and your test date cannot come fast enough. I worry about your situation. Beautiful day again. Cold evenings and mornings but we have some relief coming for the weekend. We are out and about anyway and much better weather than MN. Been really FULL since flying a week ago. I don't get stuck and don't even know what it feels like to PB but having a hard time getting my normal nutrition. This too shall pass. Will talk tomorrow. Life is good!

JoAnne....way funny. DH is in shape but would never catch me running down the beach. My legs are way too long compared to his. I think a couple of fu-fu beach drinks sound good. I could always stop abrubtly a LET DH catch up with me!!!! Actually, too cold for beach. Was in the 20's this morning. Supposed to warm up for the weekend. Janet......Vegas sounds like so much fun. Meeting GF's, etc. I do a Vegas trip each year with about 30 friends from all over US. Soooooooooo much fun. And, I bet you'll have the energy to keep up just fine. Play some three card poker for me. Bet $10 top and bottom bet....just one hand. See if you can get a 40 to 1. Could pay for your next trip there. Phyll...seafood recipes. Hum....last night made jumbo shrimp on the grill with a chipolte/lime marinade. Scallops I pan sear with a mango salsa. Just type in on laptop to search for these recipes. Heading out today....first to our little resort cafe for Breakfast. Already made DH strawberry french toast with berries about 6am. Now he will have a huge bowl of their baked oatmeal and then we will hit the road. Heading to a little town south of here. Want to visit a place for lunch later. Sounds like a quaint little place. Some shopping, hiking in the forest later in the afternoon. Have a great time in Vegas, Janet. Have seen Peaches on some threads. Can tell she has character just by her posts. Hope everyone else is doing good. Life is good.

Hey kids...just checking in. Hope everyone is doing well and WELCOME BAYLEE. Hard to believe a week of our vacation is already spent. It's all great except for the last 24 hours. Spent the afternoon in Jacksonville yesterday. Got to visit with our 25 yr old son and take him out to dinner. Way to long without seeing him. Will drive up to Atlanta a couple of times (7 hour drive or more) during the remainder of our vacation. Anyway, got a kidney stone when up there. Long trip home and a long night. Passed it late this morning and then crashed. Up and about now and have plans to do some things the rest of the week. We do most of our own cooking here at the cabin. I am not much for eating out. As most of you know, I love to cook. Been doing a lot of seafood which is a fav of mine. Still pushing to gain some weight back. Getting tight from traveling did not help the matter any. Went out and bought a scale so that I could keep track of my weight. I am absolutely eating as much as I can. Right now I am sitting here stuffed as a tick and dinner is in an hour. Who would have thought that this would be a problem for me? Anyway, I have a handle on it and the weight will eventually come back...just very frustrating. I am finding that maintenance has been tougher for me than the weight loss process. I feel wonderful though...just want to be sure I stay in a certain weight range. My primary doc did not seem to bee too concerened about it when I saw him shortly b/4 we left on vacation. DH is snoring on the couch. We are trying to be very curteous of each other when it comes to time on the lap top............this is my first time today. But it's OK as long as I can check in once a day. We have a difficult time getting signal in the morning. No phone service either...ever. Smack in the middle of the forest. Not having the phone limits all the business calls for DH which is fine with me. DS can handle them from his home. Take care....will check with you all again tomorrow....if I'm not out having too much fun! I just love you guys. Life is good.

Good Evening from the Ocala National Forest! Was a beautiful day here. 70 degrees. DH and I are having the time of our lives. We have traveled a lot throughout our years together (have spent a total of 3 mo in Australia) and we are voting the things we have done so far to rank right up there. Went to Mt. Dora today. Beautiful drive and quaint town. All kinds of little specialty shops. Didn't buy a thing except coffee and ice cream (planned treat) but loved all the shops. I bet we put on five miles or more. DH (who is extremely fit) had a tough time keeping up with me...he has 30" inseam...me 35". Tomorrow heading to Jacksonville to see son. He's pulling duty for Air Guards for a week. DH has not seen him for over a year. Longest ever without him. I flew in to see him in July. Hope those that are struggling can get back on track. It is sooooooooooo very important to shut down the bad habits a.s.a.p.! Those habits will play games with your mind and make you feel like you are failing. You can do it. Jump in with both feet. When I was tempted, I would jump on the treadmill and work extra hard. I wasn't going to lose what I worked for and was not tempted by the time I was done exercising. I try to keep protein in my purse. Beef jerky, protein bars (which can be addicting so I only keep one in case of emergencies). SF pudding and jello...100 popcorn, fruit. I also keep a raw homemade stewed tomato type dish in the frig at all times. Chop tomatoes, onion, cilantro, hot or mild pepper and add a good protion of Mrs. Dash. Will hold you over in pinch. I am certainly not trying to come off as perfect. I have my struggles just like the rest of you. Just suggestions. Goal feels so good and I want all of you to experience it. I feel like you are all my sisters and we are all pulling for each other. I know I couldn't have done this without the support I have gotten from this thread and a few others. You all have a good evening. I am in my jammies and ready to make some popcorn and finish a book. Life is good.

Hi Kids.... Janet...happy that I can return the favor in the help dept...even if it just one little saying. Treats can be a bugger. I think we all try to plan our meals but that treat thing can throw us off. Having just a great time here in FL. Just ready to head out for our third big walk of the day. Heading to Jacksonville (I think) tomorrow to see our son. He lives in Atlanta but has to do some duty for the Air Guards this week. DH has not seen him since last Christmas and I saw him in July. We are ready for a big bear hug. Beautiful day today. Have had some cold weather but way better than at home. Should warm up after this week. I don't mind as long as I can sit out on the porch at least for part of the day to read and can get our walks in. Cannot handle being cooped up. Have met lots of people and having a great time. Went to a dance last night at our lodge. Fun. Hope everyone is doing well and having a great weekend. Off we go to do some hiking in the forest. Take care!

Katy...been following posts the last couple of days. Very concerned about you and anxious to hear of your outcome with the doc. I would seriously think of getting another opinion if your doc does not run some tests. You cannot live healthfully with the complications you are having. I don't even know what it is like to PB and have never vomited since having the band. Just hate to see you going through what you are. Keep us informed. Hope it's nothing serious.

Sounds like you had a great time last night, Allie, but will be paying for it today. You would think they could come up with some kind of hangover meds that would work. I have to be sooooooooo careful when I drink with the band. A couple and I'm slurring...having fun...but slurring. On the "invisible syndrome"...I notice that also. For 15 years and then, boom. Not just with men. I note that the snobby type women in our hometown overlooked me when I was heavy...guess I just was not important enought to talk to. When I lost weight, I now am good enough for them to direct their conversations my way. Ummmmmm...not interested at this time. In life, I want to talk to the person on the inside...not the outside.

Happy Bday Brownbear........hope you had a nice dinner with DH. We are having the time of our lives. Ok........I'm not a shy person. We have met sooooo many people in the last couple of days from all over the US> We think we will walk up to the office and book three months for next year already! Hope all my June friends are having a good weekend. Life is good!

Christy...I want a chocolate brother for my lab soooooooo badly. My DH won't allow it....some day my chocolate will just show up at our house@@@@@@@@@@

Hello from the beautiful Ocala National Forest. All I can say is that we are having a WONDERFUL vacation. Just a lot of driving around...not touristy things...doing museums, etc. Stopped at this rustic cute bar...Cactus Jacks on our way home from museum today. Had one and visited with the locals. Lucy...you asked about flying and the effect on the band. I tighten up when I fly. Actually pretty extreme. I have never felt my band except for when I fly. It takes two to three days for me to feel normal again. Last time I flew I dropped 12lbs in a week. I was very careful this time and ate high calorie soft foods two days b/4 flying and the last couple of days. (I'm a little below goal so don't have to worry about the calories right now). It's OK but just don't want to ruin our vacation by feeling spent. Hard to believe we still have a month of vacation remaining at this beautiful place. Iteach....Do never try to explain yourself when you are worried about something like a fill. I almost made myself sick worrying over my first one. I have no fear of needles but I was convinced that I would be the ONE where the doc would not find my port. Each of us has different experiences when it comes to fills. Mine actually (have only had two) have been easy experiences. But, I have heard of situations like yours where a person almost passed out. I truly believe it's not your fault but how the doc/nurse goes about it. Happy to hear it's over with and it went OK. Hoping this fill does the trick for you. Allie....so cute you worried about me when it came to the Hudson accident. I was in a panic cuz didn't hear right away where the plane originated from and thought of my son who is a commerical pilot and is an independent contractor and flys out of a lot of different airports. Yep...we are safe, thank you very much. Love ya for thinking of me though! Long...size of your bones don't matter. It's about the body you have on those bones. I feel inadequate because I am small boned. Go figure. Wish I had some hips and a badonkeedonk butt. But, God gave me a long lanky build and I promised myself that I would be happy with what I have... Well, DH is snoring on the couch...I drove him home from after his two beers. One does it for me after the band. Time to make some popcorn and wake him up. You all take care. Will check in tomorrow. Life is good

Good Evening my fellow Junies. Long...I have dyed my hair for 28 years. I grew up with almost black hair and after a botched gallbladder surgery (over a month in hospital) I came out of it with turning white almost over night. I have talked about letting it go. I would if I could be guaranteed that it would be a nice pretty white. As far as the facial wrinkles...I am now noticing that things have tightened up in that dept. Will never be 100% but much better. Long trip for us....long story but only got less than 2 hours sleep the night b/4 flying. Slept good last night though. Cold here but enjoying our time at the cabin. Ventured out to a couple of surrounding towns today. We are goers so will most likely do something each day. Cold should move out of here by weekend. 30 degrees here this morning and expected again over night....60 today. Better than MN though! We do get wireless from our cabin. Will try to check in with my June friends once a day. I have caught up on the posts but now cannot remember what I was going to say to each of you... Allie...so happy you are feeling better. You got quite the kick in the pants. Shows that you are a strong person that you have turned it all around in a short period of time. They can't take that away from you! Hang in there, girl. Well, this old lady is going to bed. Will catch up with you tomorrow. Take care.

Whoot, Beckyo!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A new kitchen!!!!!!!!! How exciting. So sorry your daughter has had her troubles. Kids and be so mean to each other.

Flying into Orlando. Using miles from Alaskan Airlines and didn't have any other option. We were able to get first class so trip should be comfy anyway. We are just hoping we can get out of here in the morning. Still blowing and snowing. Ugh!

Would have been really nice to meet, Long...maybe some day. We are soooooooooooooo in need of this vacation. Hard to pack for a month. I did it without going over the baggage restrictions....pretty good, huh?

Hey kids! Just jumping on to say I'll talk to you all in a few days. Heading out in the morning. In the middle of a blizzard all day and has not let up yet. Another storm coming in tomorrow. Fly out Wed morning at 6am. Will catch up with you all at the end of the week. Love ya!

Hello to my buddies. Janet sounds like you had a busy weekend shopping. My passion is decorating. I love January cuz I always promise myself two new bigger items for the house with the start of each year. Still deciding what they will be this year. Have some ideas. Well, not sure when I will check in next. We are leaving early morning. Full blown blizzard here all day and has not let up yet. Another storm coming in tomorrow so we are heading out early. We fly out Wed morning at 6am. Not sure how much wireless access I will have. DH and I will be competing for the laptop. I think I will just hide it somewhere when we get to the cabin (not really). Talk to you guys soon....love ya!

Hey kids..just popping in to say...........SEE YA in a few days. Will check in once in awhile while we are in FL. Just not sure how much access I will have. Love ya all!!!!!!!!

I would try a few days of 100-250 more calories per day to see what it does. I had my last 2lbs to lose b/4 I hit goal and the scale would not move. I bumped up my caloric intake and that did it. Try putting some Fiber One in your food plan for your snacks.

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Allie..so sorry to hear you are having issues. I know things seem overwhelming right now but just by getting that second job, you are doing something positive to set it straight. Maybe you should try the 5 day pouch test to get you back on track. I have heard so many people say it has worked for them. Worth a try. Hang in there, girl. Two days till take off and counting. Have mega work to do for my guards volunteer job b/4 we go so have not spent much time online. Not sure how much time I will get to check in when we are in FL. We have wireless access at the lodge where we are staying but not in our cabin. I am surely going to miss the unlimited access I have now. Will talk more after I get these donation letters written. Have a good evening everyone!

Sounds like fun, Long. My DH gives me lectures on slowing down in that department. You'd have to be here but I am very high strung and constantly on the move. He worries that I am going to burn up what is left of me. LOL. I will have to say that I feel absolutely wonderful and I just cannot help but be on the move!

Good point, Lauralee...I get the feeling her whole "coming out party" is a ploy to increase her popularity...to make her seem more "normal" like the rest of us. I also remember when I had only 40 pounds to lose and how I felt about myself. I gained about 75 more and looked back and wished I would have done something about it at that time...it would have not been so overwhelming. I truly have sympathy for anyone with a weight problem. Oprah has definitely struggled her entire life with weight issues. I guess one the main things that irks me about Oprah is that she preaches tolerance, pats herself on the back in front of God and everyone and then does not practice what she preaches. It's not just her show about WLS...she's had others where she just completely will abase, ridicule a person for a problem they have. I caught a show a couple of years ago. It was about a hoarder. Oprah had cameras go into the home. The home was absolutely filthy. Her show was based on how hoarding is an sickness like any other obsession. Anyway, the woman (a very pretty, nicely dressed lady) was sitting in the front row at Oprah's show. Oprah ripped into her. She asked her how she could sit there with diamonds on her fingers and live in a dirty house like that. If I did have any respect for Oprah...I would have lost it that day. Point being...she needs to practice what she preaches.

Long...we will be back home on Feb 16...looks like we will miss each other again. I, too, had a hard time seeing the green but didn't want to say anything either. The blue is MUCH better.

Katy....no wonder you are in pain. I hate to lecture but you need to get to the root of your problems. I surprised that your entire system is not poisoned due to the fact that your bowels have not moved. Seriously, Katy....I'm very worried for your health. Please, do something A.S.A.P.!