Apples2

Long...I have PM'd her and notice that she has not been active since just two weeks after her LB surgery. Was just curious. We stayed in touch for quite awhile.

Strike...good so see you back and that you are somewhat settled in your new place. A big life change along with the lap band life change. Yahoo...the scale is moving for you too. Best of luck in your new city and new life.

Cher...already looking forward to next year's conference. Wanted to make it to the one last weekend but had some surgery on Tuesday of last week and that would have been pushing it. From the sounds of the reviews, most people walked away with it being a positive conference. Trial and error...it can only get better. Would be nice if you could put a definite time and place out to us...sooner the better so that we can all make plans.

I have two "bibles" that I keep on my reading table at all times. I bought them b/4 surgery, read them from front to back and still pick them up at least once daily for ideas and to recheck on lap band methods, etc. Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies and Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery. I just ordered these off of Amazon.com.

UMMMMMMMMMMMM..yeh, nice boss to give $500 for new pants but toooooo NICE....would freak me out if my boss tugged at the seat of my pants.

I noticed that the brand of coffee I had drank for years tasted different after LB surgery. It took me awhile to find one that did not have an off taste. But, found it. Texas Pecan using no tap Water, only bottled. Now I'm hooked on it. I also notice that I only crave food that I CAN have. Weird, huh? I used to love, love, love popcorn. Well, tried one of the 100 cal bags awhile ago and got stuck. Nope, not eating popcorn anymore....it doesn't even sound good to me. Part of my job is to cook for our hired men. I bake and cook ALOT every day. I think I love cooking and baking more now than I did when I used to taste everything. I have no desire to have anything that I shouldn't.

So happy for you, Kat. Sounds like your PS did a great job. Relief for you not to have to have too much lipo. Lipo scares me. I think I am going to come out of this weight loss without having to do any cosmetic surgery. I am now in a size 6 jeans and don't need to "tuck" any extra skin in to zip them up. I don't have a muffin top or the back fat thing going on (where the fat sticks out where the bra lays). 6 months ago I was almost sure that I would need to go under the knife. Why go to all this work just to be disgusted with the belly? I admire you for going the extra mile and for sharing it with the rest of us.

Oh...the mom friends. Aren't they cute? They are usually on a "need to know basis". I just have to toughen up and learn to not be so sensitive. I am almost wishing people would have said something when I was struggling and really heavy. Maybe it would have pushed me into doing the LB earlier. All I know is I am very happy to be where I am at and where my doc wants me to be. I just have to have some "canned" responses ready where I hear certain comments about not losing too much. Kat, are you satisfied with your TT?

Good Monday morning everyone....Ellen...hope you find the right machine for you. I just do the treadmill. Had to quit for awhile because of my knees but now good to go again after the weight came off. I do walk outside when I can but with our cold and snowy (and icy) winters, I love having the treadmill to fall back on. I did a lot of walking this past week. Was absolutely full of gas after my surgery. Had 7 incisions in the belly and was really swollen. Never laid down once during the day last week. Only at night. Just walked as much as I could. Figured it would help me heal faster. Still have a ways to go. See the doc for my post-op tomorrow. My belly is still quite swollen and is really stiff and sore. I don't give into it though. Just have to be careful not to lift anything. Can be a challenge around here with harvest going on and all these farmers to feel. I have a question for all of you. Did any of you ever talk with Kerry Conner? She used to PM me once in awhile and posted a lot for awhile. I PM'd her awhile ago and have not heard a thing for a few months. Does anyone know why she dropped off? Anxious to hear how she is doing. Better go see to lunch for the guys. They'll be in b/4 I know it!

Ellen...you have earned the right to be proud of yourself. You've done quite well so far. We all need to learn that taking care of ourselves is not a selfish thing. If we are happy it will rub off on those around us. I don't think I have been this happy in years. Yes, sometimes I feel a little guilty for some of the "selfish" things I have done for myself lately (i.e: permanent eyeliner, eyelash extensions, new wardrobe, etc.). But, I keep coming up with the same answer in the end. I deserve all those things. I hid from the mirror and everyone else for 13 years. I'm done hiding and done not taking care of me. I have "served" everyone else in this family for years and years. Time for me now!!!!!!!!!!!

If you get really miserable, try Glycerin suppositories. I've only had to use them twice but worked for me.

Another one here just a few pounds from goal. Last week was 4# from goal, had some surgery on Tuesday and walked out of there 12# from goal. As of today I am 6# from goal. Full of energy, looking good in size 6-8 jeans and happier than hell! Bought a new wardrobe and ready for the new world.

Great new photo, Susan. What a pretty woman

Hunzi...sounds like you have been through the wringer but have a great attitude. Congrats on your Mary Kay accomplishment. Hope you can be rebanded soon!

Still not wanting to eat much since my surgery Tuesday but trying Today: B - Greek yogart L - 2 oz grilled chicken and 1 bite of pickled beet D - 1 egg omelet with FF cheese and one turkey sausage/only ate 1/2

When I had LB surgery surgeon noticed that I had some hernias. One had been repaired 4 yrs ago but the mesh was wadded up and giving me trouble for the entire 4 yrs. He went in and repaired the hernias and cut away some adhesions. I can see where you got confused. Too much info on me in a short time frame! I love this thread...going to stick around

Janet...misunderstanding...I started 6 mo pre-op diet Nov, 2007, dropped a little over 50# on that diet, was banded June 17, 2008. On Tuesday of this week I had 4# to get to my goal of 100# lost. I had surgery on Tuesday and when I got home, I had gained 7#. My stomach is quite swollen so I am sure that extra weight will come off within the next few weeks. No worries about me being anorexic. I am one the likes to get all three meals in, I pay attention to nutrition and love feeling healthy.

Congrats Juno, what pretty girl (you and your new daughter). Also, wonderful that your baby weight has been lost. Way to go!!!!!!!!

Thanks newlife...so sweet. You should be proud of your loss after just a little over a week. You will find along this road that is not always the scale that gives you the boost to keep going. Going through closets and discarding too large clothes, comments people make, being able to roll over in bed without trying for five minutes, etc. But what makes me most happy is how I feel physically. I have more energy than two people half my age. Even with going through surgery this past Tuesday, I have been up and around doing things in the house (carefully) the entire time. I am sore but I have energy. If I would have had this surgery a year ago it would have taken me weeks to heal. Good luck to you. You are off to a great start!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Band Day, Hollie. You have done so well.

Gail, so sorry for your loss. Take care.

Allie...you are not too far away from the 70# mark. Not too long from now you will be posting about it. Great NSV....getting whistled at!!!!!!!!!

Way to go Long....good work! I bet you can make your mini goal by Halloween.

Does anyone have some good recipes that includes different kinds of beans? Anyone know which beans have a higher protein count?

You will do just fine with your daughters leaving to go out on their own. A little adjustment period but you tend to get used to the empty nest quickly. We got a 100# black lab after my kids left. He is our third son. So funny what you said about your DH not sitting on your lap. Our big ole dog sits in the recliner with my DH in the evenings. They try to out-snore each other. We are lucky to have one of our sons back and farming with us. He bought a house in town last January. He spent a year in Iraq and I think he did some thinking about how nice it would be to farm. B/4 that time he always said farming was the last thing he wanted to do. My youngest left home at 18 to go to basic training. From there he moved to Alaska. Just two duffel bags and off he went. I worried for a few minutes and let it go. I figure if you raise kids that are independent and WANT to be out on their own, then you did the job you should have done. Both my sons waited 2 yrs after high school to go to college. I made them promise me that they would. Youngest is now living in FL. He has his commercial pilots license, sea plane license and is a flight instructor and a ground school instructor. When you let them spread their wings (literally) they will find their niche and be happy with what they choose to do with their lives. Guess I kind of got off on a tangent ... sorry.