Apples2

So amazing, Twinkles. I can "hear" the excited in your post. Good luck with your next goals and working towards your runs. Isn't this just a fun journey when everything clicks? Sounds like you have the rountine down and have made all the right changes to live a healthier life. Don't ever lose that determination. It takes just as much and a little more when reaching that ultimate goal and it looks as if you have developed the tools to make it all work. Way to go!!!!

I did things for myself along the way as I hit mini-goals. I had permenant eyeliner put on with one goal. Bought a few pair of new skinny jeans, got eyelash extensions (that lasted about a year...maintenance too fussy for me and I found out my eyelashes are not so bad). I have always worn makeup and dressed nicely...it's just more fun now. I filled up my closets and am in need of nothing but get a thrill out of going to upscale and regular consignment shops.

First thing I did this morning, Arlene, was call my boys and thank them for their service to our country. Proud of them for their commitment and sticking it out 8 yrs for one and 10 for the other son. Yes, a lot of the funerals we have had this year are for our friend's parents. At the late 70's and 80's age. Death is the part of life that sucks but going to funerals is what a person needs to do to support friends that lose loved ones and to honor the person that has passed. I don't ever "report" my workouts on the thread...but...boy did I get one this morning. Scrubbed ALL my floors on my hands and knees this morning...upstairs, lower level and basement. Now, that was a workout. Now this stinky girl is getting in the shower.

Good to hear...thanks for the info. Shortly after my post on this thread, I went to Amazon and order The Vita-Fusion brand. Nice to hear they are a nice flavor and easy to eat. I sometimes can pick up the the Vitamin flavor and it turns my tummy.:rolleyes2:

Humming Bird...I really do get tired of my Viactiv and have been looking to take something different for a change (2 yrs...three caramels a day...bleck...even though they taste good..sooooo need a change). My question...does the D-3 gummie include all the daily required Vitamins???

Good Morning All.... Sandy...congrats on going for new goals on exercise and 10K run. You rock! Sorry for your issues at work. That's one thing I don't miss...office drama. Laura....if Nel's BFF mom agreed to take him for the day, don't worry about it. You have extra kids a lot so see it as her turn to do it. I know when my boys were Nel's' age, it was always a pleasant day when they had friends over. Played their little hearts out. Admire you for the volunteer work you are doing. I am sure it is very interesting and rewarding. Kelly....you have a great attitude about food and getting some exercise in. Good going! DH and I had a nice anniversary dinner together. Work got rained out about 1pm just as they were finishing up a 2 week project (yeah). They moved all the equipment to another site and were done with work at 3pm. We just hung out at home, did some job billing and then just vegged. Funeral this afternoon for friend's mother and pretty sure another working weekend for my guys...gotta keep ahead of the weather. Hope you all have a good day! Later

I am in an over 30 yr marraige and hubby thought I was cute at any weight. Sometimes I think the acceptance of ones own body is a reflection on being in a loving relationship.

Wren...on the boobies issues. Give it time once you get to goal. I'll be 55 in two weeks and after losing all the weight they looked like tube socks with tennis balls in the toes. I made sure that every waking hour I wore a good stable bra. Two years later they are sitting up nice a pretty. Never thought it would happen but I attribute it to a good underwire and 3lb weight exercises each day. And, on the skinny thing. (Not offended, thank you). I am actually at a pretty good weight for me. I am very smalled boned and weigh about what I did 31 yrs ago today on our wedding day. After getting to goal and upping my calories, my body just got back to it always used to be. I had such a sucky metabolism during menopause and now it's freakishly the other way. I'll take it though.

Kelly...I have made consignment shopping one of my hobbies since being banded. I am sure if you do it also, you are aware of some of the exclusive brands a person can find sometimes for little money. I stopped into our little one in town while I was there yesterday and found a brand new Gallery black quilted winter jacket. It is really exactly the style I like to wear with jeans. I also found a a royal blue plaid Jones NY wool jacket. My favorite color. I love the "thrill of the hunt" and don't mind taking the time to search and go through many items to find a good deal. Hopefully, you will get a better restriction with your next fill. How much can/do you eat at a meal...a cup????

Janet...thanks for anniversary wishes. DH wanted to know if I wanted to go out for dinner. Nope...can't see him dragging his butt home like he did last night, driving 15 miles and making it through dinner. He had the shovel in his hand all day and will today and just can't make him go out. And, thinking of myself also...don't want to have dinner with a man that's asleep. Been there, done that. So, I bought some lobster and will cook. I love your last sentence....think we should make that our thread motto. Also, I love it when you share your daily food plan. I just think it makes it easier for ppl to visualize and campare to what they are eating. And, you are on maintenance so it gives an idea of how to handle maintence once they get there. Thanks for that.

Eva...good going on your recomittment to food journaling and your plan. When the hunger hits and it is not time to eat...stamp a card. Thanks for the photo comments. It's so fun to get old photo albums out and go thru them. My favorite of all the wedding photos is one of DH with the biggist smile as I was walking down the aisle. Banana bread made and in the oven. Back to my plate painting.

LMAO!!!!! Remember a couple of days ago Laura and I were complaining about all the food ads on LBT???? Well, I knew all I needed to do was go to my browser and block ads but I didn't. There has not been ONE food ad since but now all I get is ads with photos of really cute BOOTS. I have a real boot weakness and these ads are way more enticing than any of the food ads. I am heading to my browser right now.

Elpie...if the pain has intensified, I would make a visit to my doc about it. I'm 2 yrs out and it's the same. Just an itch that needs to be scratched and once scratched, all is fine. Weird.

You know what is really sad, LauraK? The day of our wedding I felt like my waist was way too big for that style of dress. I weighed 119lbs (about what I weigh now). I am waaaaaaaaaaaay more excepting of me now than I was at the age of 24. Scewed body image.

Oh Laura...such a cute song. That would bring any mom out of a funk. My youngest was always just a smiley/cheeky little boy. When we ate dinner and we someone was in a bad mood, he would start singing his "Diarreah Bees" song. It would make us laugh every time. It was a song he learned on the bus (along with the "F" word) when he was in kindergarten). Can't remember all the words but the moral was that things can be tougher when you have the Diarreah Bees. What cute photos of Nels. Did you spit shine that little face this morning????

Need glasses, LauraK? But thanks for the comment

Attached photo....the end result:tt1:

A walk back in time......... I always get the wedding album out and put it on the table so when eating our anniversary dinner we can say "Oh yeah, I remember when I had hair" and "Oh yeah, I remember when I did not have to deal with gravitiy". While digging through the album, I came across a photo of me in my last year of college. Just threw that one in.

ElphiPoo...I, too, got looked at like I was nuts when I mentioned my little symptom I have had since the night I had surgery. Nothing too irritating but I KNOW is related to the installation of my band. I would swear it's related to nerves in that area. Anyway, whenever I lay down, I get a itchy left shoulder blade. Weird, huh?

Awwwww, Chris, what a nice post. See, Janet, you do make a difference and help others. You cannot scare the tough ones off! Good going, Chris, on getting things out of the house that you know will trigger impulsive choices....like the donuts. Sometimes things like that are just sitting there staring us in the eye and can be much stronger than we are at the moment. And, you don't want to be shoving things down in there that will cause you to PB and cause irritation. After a stick I need to really baby my band and have had to switch to liquids for a day or two. Another positive....you talked to your doc about your slip-up. Good to be open about or shortcomings and deal with it and learning from it. My first stick was on a deviled egg. I ate it too fast and swore I would never eat another one. I thought they hated me. I just did not chew well enough cuz it tasted so darned good. Well, ate one very carefully a couple months later and now I eat them weekly. Good Morning Everyone! Another nice day but expecting rain later. My guys are panicing cuz they have at least another month of work they want to get done if not more. Hoping it is just a sprinkle and does not slow them down for too long. Baking day today. I had nine brown bananas so decided to make a low fat/low sugar banana bread for my (very young) neighbor guy who loves it and my FIL who is also diabetic. My own family cannot tell the diff so they eat it as well. Arlene...your WW muffins sound really good. I don't have much fill but for some reason the consistency of muffins does not work well for me. Cake is the same. Sits in my throat. But, cookies slide right down. Phyll....I know the feeling you speak of. DH and I do not have a lot of time together from March thru the first of December and then December thru March it's 24/7. I set up a lot of GF things during that down time. Coffee or lunch in town, a shopping day (even if it's 20 below zero just to get out of here). Love my DH dearly but worry if one of us doesn't make plans to do something, one of us wouldn't make it. LOL. Been married 31 yrs as of today and we actually mesh pretty good together but if he sits his A$$ down at my computer when he has one of his own up and going at the time, that's when I lose it. Haven't done a topic or a tip for the day for awhile. Let's see.....something that will give some LB insight to our newbies.... OK...with the winter months upon us and there will be more hours of boredom and boredom leads to temptation, name the thing that helped you the most to pull yourself away from the kitchen, the food that's tempting you that you KNOW you shouldn't eat but it's calling your name. I'll start....I would either go brush my teeth, chew some gum and if that didn't work, I would grab a SF jello and put a dab of FF Cool Whip on it. I found that to take care of craving for quite awhile. Better get after it...will junk up the thread later.

I LOVE Scottish eggs. Had my first one at the age of 17 at a festival. I make them every once in awhile. Never thought of using 1/2 sausage and 1/2 ground turkey. I do blot them with paper towel once they are done to get excess fats out. They are well worth making.

Congrats Wren...way to go! My BMI was 40 and is now 21.

OMG...sooooooooooo good to see your post, Linda. I missed you and your participation in the thread. Sounds like you have had a crazy/busy last couple of weeks. Congrats on maintaining during your challenging food times. Take care.

Kelly....the key word in your post is when you said you are "determined" to do this. There are going to be those bad days even with restriction. If a banded person can stay away from the sliders, those bad days would not be so frequent. Sounds like you are looking forward to a bit more restriction. My advice to you, and I am sure others on here will agree, take it little by little with the fills. You don't want to be too filled. My guess is that most bansters with what they consider good restriction, have days when they are hungrier than most. Just be prepared for those days. Planning and having good/healthy choices on hand really helps in situations like that.

Kelly...looks like you have done great so far in the weightloss department. Did you lose some prior to surgery? Do you feel like you have some restriction or are you getting hungry? Just me being snoopy....