Apples2

It's those little things in life that kids carry through with them for a lifetime. These children I am making it for will forever remember the lop-sided bunny cake that Auntie made for them!:thumbup:

Good Morning Girls.... Julie...thanks for the update. Hopefully your ins company will do the right thing and approve treatment without dragging their feet. And, once that happens, I hope the treatments recommended are what you need and do the trick. This is just a drive by post. Gotta run to town to get some parts for what my men are working on and run to the grocery store to pick up a couple of items for Easter dishes I am making. We are spending Easter with some neighbors/friends/family. (My pretend family). They are hosting and we all bring food. I am making a fresh fruit salad and pea salad just like "mom" used to make. Also making a bunny cake. I've been making this same cake for years and it's just fun to watch the little ones when they see it. Believe me, I am not a cake decorator but can fake it pretty good. I usually make a buttermilk cake and never use mixes as I love to bake. Did you guys know I love to bake????LOL So...hope you all have a great day and I had better run so am get these parts back a.s.a.p. Later

Ick..really cold weather for you guys. We getting in the 70's the last couple of days and supposedly the rest of the week. We are pretending that it's summer. Even gave the dog a bath in the pond last night. He said "Ahhhhh"!

Linda...your DH just does not know the difference between the "Want or Need" factor. WOMEN want (clothes, shoes, purses, Flexies)....MEN need (work boots, plaid shirts, jeans, plaid shirts, Gold toed sock and more plaid shirts)!

I declare today "Gold Star Award" for Arlene day. Way to go, Arlene. And, what sounds even better is that you are EXCITED to continue on with your plan with your doc. I just love hearing the positive things coming from you right now, Arlene.:frown:

Willow...hope you didn't take my "slider" comments as a lecture. I do understand where you are coming from on eating something softer for lunch. A lot of ppl are still tight around noon. Wishing you the best.

Sounds like you are REALLY frustrated with the scale. Try to put it away and only weigh in once a week or bi-monthy. Also, try to back off on the sodium. I used to live with a salt shaker in my hand. I scoffed at the fact that it would make a difference. I actually feel a lot better once I cleaned my body of it. I can tell now if I have had to much. I feel just plain sluggish and all the things that come with it. Swollen fingers and lower stomach and I also start to crave it when I introduce it into my diet again. Another suggestion...soups are full of sodium. Also as slider food. I also consider tuna salad a slider. Try to do without any processed foods if you can help it. And, if you are trying to loose, try to do without the saltines. Lots of carbs. If you feel you cannot give up the crackers, look for a whole grain but really watch how many you are eating. They add up fast and are also a slider. You sound like you are really trying and watching things.

You are doing so great, Arlene. Good luck with your weigh-in and keep following your doc's advice. Seems to be doing the job for you. Julie...anxious to hear what your doc has to say today. Post as soon as you have time. We want you to be fixed and on your way to a pain free life again. You've has such a long haul. Take care.

Willow...first of all, congrats on the 50lbs lost. There are so many factors that can make our scale jump. TOM? Sodium intake, what you ate the last few days. Calm down. We all have that happen. If you are comfortable weighing yourself everyday, you are going to notice a jump every now and then. If you know you are eating right and exercising, just be patient and you will see a decrease in your scale #'s b/4 you know it. Take a deep breath and go enjoy your day. Don't let that 2lbs throw you off track! Good luck. :frown:

Hey Debbee...welcome and congrats on making the decision to take the road to a new and healthy life. If you are looking for support and a few lapband buddies, you have come to the right place. This thread and LapBandTalk is a great place for support. There are people in all stages of LB life on this thread. Tell us a little about yourself, where you are in the process, etc.

Just noticed a thread posted by Alex titled "Common Mechanisms of Drug Abuse and Obesity". Looks very similar to the article distributed by my doc yesterday. Janet...copy it off and bring it to your trainer.

Good Morning Nice warm morning here. Already 46. Got up to 74 yesterday. I think we have turned our corner into spring. Just hoping it does not do a U-turn. Eva...you are so talented. Those invitations are so cute. And the bug...both DH and I grew up with bugs. We had 2 and DH had many including a VW van. He was a bit of a stinker and caused his momma some grey hair during his teenage years. He and his dad refurbished a bug and completed it when he was about 15. He was warned that he could only drive it around the yard. Yeah right! He took it down the highway with a friend and rolled it right down the middle of the road. He spent an entire summer staying home on the farm. No outside activities except going to church...and re-refurbishing the bug. Naughty boy. I used to get the lows with my blood sugars early morning and about 4-5pm. I detested that feeling. Now can hardly remember the last time it happened...maybe 18 months ago. It does all even out. Janet...got an interesting article from my LB doc yesterday regarding food addiction. The gist of the article is this: It is believed that a diet heavy in highly rewarding foods (cakes, cookies, fried snacks and highly processed foods) might cause changes in the brain's reward system for satiety. When that goes awry, the result is not only that ppl gain weight, but that they feel compelled to seek out more and more junk food. When researchers looked at obese animals they tested, they noted there were declines in the dopamine D2 receptor. Previous research has implicated it as similar to addiction to cocaine and heroine. Drug addiction leads to changes in how the brain's reward system works. It is believed the same thing happens with food. What they think happens is that, as you become obese over a period of time, the D2 receptors go down, which plays a major roll in becoming a compulsive eater. They also believe that there could be something in accumulated fat that alters the brain's reward threshold, setting up a vicious cycle of overeating yet not feeling satisfied. Hmmmmm....I would say food can become an addiction and can "snowball" out of control. It's not like me to not sleep well. I tossed and turned all night. Going to tough it out today cuz lots going on around here (seed corn and bean delivery...too much to mention) and I need to be available. Figure I will sleep better tonight if I don't nap. Actually, no time for a nap. First thing on my agenda is to go see my friend that lost her mom this week. Got up early and made 3 diff kinds of cookies to take over. 1st rule on the list when you live in MN. Never go visit a family who has lost someone without bringing food. You might not get in the door!

I don't see any "bragging" goin' on, Lori. I see it as you being in a good spot. Being able to except compliments is a big step in the right direction. Isn't that a great feeling when you can tuck your blouse in and wear a belt? I was so unsure the first time I did after losing weight. DH had to literally make me keep the outfit on and led me out the door so I would not change my clothes. Now I feel sloppy if I don't tuck things in. So many changes and feeling that come with weight loss. Had my 6 mo. check-in with my LB doc this afternoon. My weight is good and he is happy with where I am at. Nice to have a doctor that you can tell that his passion is helping the obese. He's a real stickler for trying to keep his patients on task. He never intimidated me but laid out what he expected. I hope he is around for a good long time. His staff is wonderfull, too. And, I know they understand things because they are LB ppl too. What I am trying to say is that I lucked out when I chose his office. Melissa...good to hear you are tracking your food and getting some exercise. Way to go, girl!

Great...been thinking of you since your wedding and what a wonderful feeling it must have been for you to see freinds and relatives that you have not seen since you have gotten to goal. All prettied up in your MOB dress, cute hair and spit shined (as my GM used to say). As others have said, you look like person that has always been thin. It must have felt very rewarding. All the hard work you have done is now being validated.

Mornin' Great....I gotta tell you, I'm relieved your mom left early. I had visions of her ruining the peace and rest you need b/4 your trip. Sorry she is ailing but she knows best what she needs. We all feel better to just be home when we are not feeling well. Try not to take her departure personal. So, hurry up and get your house done so you can get packed. We want to know what clothes you are taking, what you did each day of your trip and how good that sun felt. Pretty sad when we have to vicariously live through others!

Good Morning...Quick post this morning. Lots going on and will most likely be a little MIA this week. Linda....good going on joining the gym. You are a workout queen and bet will enjoy it. Get your $$$$ worth! YOU live in the sticks? We'll have a discussion on that when I have more time. LOL 129 population in our closest town. Don't think I could find any Flexies there! Jessica...hope you are having a wonderful time with your bro. Laura....if I don't catch you b/4 tomorrow..have a great trip and enjoy your time with family. MN Easter Bunny sent a little pkg yesterday. Nels most likely won't get it till he gets home. Julie...MN Easter Bunny sent a little pkg to Mimi. He is sooooo good about not included sugar. Charlene...when I was wanting to lose and was hungry, I would litterally tell myself over and over. You are not hungry, you are not hungry and then find and activity. It actually worked sometimes. Good luck at your weigh-in. Janet... you are like me. Love good quality clothes but if I can get a deal, I am twice as happy to put it in my closet. Joyce. That protein talk Janet had really is the clincher to this band life. I found that if I have it on hand for snacks, my day was without hunger. Eva...we had to start measuring Tanker's food also. DH would just scoop food out of the bucket and guesstimate. I talked to our vet on exact amount he should be eating for his size. DH was feeding him double that. We started last spring and he is doing well. I, too, worried that we were starving him. He's fine and he still has room for "planned" treats. LauraK...I'm like you...not into colors so much on the walls. I have a stark white kitchen, cabinets and everything but have cranberry furniture in it. All my other walls are a soft/blue grey and have kept that color for 23 yrs. So soothing. I did take the step and did our bedroom a soft celery a couple of years ago. Deb..you are so right on our weather. Can be 70 on day and 25 the next. Just a nice day once in awhile makes my life. Icecream and cake? My advice is to take yourself by the hand and throw them in the garbage or disposal. NOW. If you crave that type of thing, limit how much you bring into the house. Just a taste. Have a great trip and a nice time with family. A big "HI" to everyone. Not omitted on purpose. Just in a hurry. Eveyrone have a good one. Later.

Laura...so good to hear that you are feeling better. I think there were a few of us that made the mention of not having the band too tight. IMO, ideal restriction is still having a feeling of hunger every 2-4 hours but still having the band to put a stop to over-stuffing at meal times. I think the true trick is to have good/healthy snacks on hand and making good choices when that hunger hits between meals. Living with a little hunger is better than living with the issues that come to being too tight. There are just too many things that can pop up (virus, draining sinus, stress) and make our band uber tight. Now, that was not a lecture....just my point of veiw. You have done quite well with this whole banding thing and I bet you NEVER want to feel like you did this weekend ever again. Treat your band like you were feeding a baby this week and hopefully you will be back to normal while visiting your parents. Sorry your dad is frustrated and that he had to keep that darned tube. Julie...I bet you are stunned. I do understand where you are coming from on this. But, sounds like the kids have been visiting for quite some time. I used to scoff that the "love at first sight" crap. Well, not sure what happened, but somebody lit some TNT and the rest is history. We just knew. He knew I was good for him and I surely just knew he was the best for me. All moms are going to access the situation and maybe have some doubts when things tend to move fast. Testing the waters and not jumping right into marraige is a good thing especially where children are involved. Just do the best you can and be there for her. At least she talks to you and is not hiding how she feels. That's a big plus. I guess I am kind of excited for her and what this could mean for her and Mimi's future. Been on the run since very early this morning. Up at 5am and in town to do farm errands, bank, etc. since 8am. Now need to fix some lunch for my 2 men. Sliced roast beef with pepper jack cheese sauce and yogurt with carrot cookies is on the menu today. Better step it up a gear....Later.

Did a bit of the same today, Joyce. Took a lot of the framed photos that have been up awhile and put them away, cleaned some drawers that just had old crap in them. Things that have not been used but do not want to get rid of yet. Down to the storeroom they went. We have also been in our home 23 yrs and sometimes I just need to make a sweep through the house and do an update. Feels so good when it's done. More space for reorganizing. Jessica...have a great trip to visit your brother. Take time to relax and have fun. You deserve it. You will be in your own home b/4 you know it. Seems so strange...beautiful sunny day and we got up to 55 degrees. Put some miles on my bike...more than I had planned on. And, no jacket needed. What's strange is...we still have a huge snow bank in front of the house and most likely will until we have a few days in the 70's. Dog and I just rode around singing and talking to each other. Thank God we live 15 miles out in the country!

Trishfish...I have a questions for you...What if you DON'T fail? Think of the possibilites if you do not fail! As Besty stated in the above post...it's a process. Take it one step at a time; just as you have the pre-op steps that you have needed to go through. My personal take: After making the decision to have LapBand surgery, I could FINALLY see the light at the end of the tunnel. I was FINALLY going to have some help keeping this weight off once I got to goal. You are the one that needs to be vigilant as to making good/healthy food choices, but, with the right restriction, the band will help you along the way. With determination and the band, and following your doc's advice you have a great chance at a successful outcome. Wishing you the best!

Phyll...when DH gives me crap about shoes, purses and clothes...I just tell him you can never have enough just like the tools of his trade. I tell him he was a good teacher. I've even offered to do an inventory for him.

Yep, a little easier on the knees than jogging. We got the Target flyer yesterday and they had one on sale for $150. But, WalMart had about the same bike for $99.

Hope it wasn't a peice of cake, 4 cookies, 1/2 jar peanut butter with a spoon and 3 Snickers!!!! My dog does not pull me when we ride (though he could with him weighing 100lbs). He just trots beside me and I wear him out. He is in pretty good shape for being 8 yrs old. We are fairly strict with what he eats and he has an entire 15 acres to romp on every day. Puppies have excess energy until they are about 2 and you get their "govenors" (as my DH calls them) taken. Sounds like Grandma is enjoying that new puppy!

I make a batch of steel cut oats with raisins and freeze in one cup containers. I just take one out b/4 bed and pop in microwave in the morning. I also prepackage high protein/high fiber cereal to eat on the run. Greek yogurt works. I always have hard boiled eggs ready to eat in frig. I, too, rely on protein bars and never tire of them because I keep a variety on hand. I also always have a container of Egg Beaters egg whites on hand along with turkey sausage and shredded cheese so I can make a quick omelette. A tbls of peanut butter spread on 1/2 banana is also something I will grab that is easy. Another make ahead....eggs, sausage or ham, onions, peppers and a little cheese and bake in muffin tins and freeze. Ready to eat in just a few minutes.