Apples2

As long as I'm sharing... DH and buddy at our USA vs. Canada hockey game...first game. Had a big potluck and watched the game outdoors at friend's place. We went to thrift stores and found red/white/blue apparel, hockey sticks and DH cut hockey pucks out of wood. Looked for shin pads but no go. DH used farm magazines to protect himself from angry buddies (we won that game)

Oops...#3&4 are how we feel about being home

First one is part of the FL group Next two is 2 "old dogs" in hotel room on the loooooong trip home Last is how we feel about being home in MN and coming back to crap weather:tongue_smilie:

Just remembered that I never did post my FL meet pics:eek: Pretty maidens all in a row!!!!!!!!!

Mishay...was going to mention. I know you addressed your post to Janet and others...she's really good about responding but she was out and about yesterday.

Hey Mishay...(we visited a little on another thread late yesterday). Welcome and if you are looking for buddies, you have jumped on the right thread. We are a very diverse group of banders in every stage. I am hoping you stick around for support and just so that we can get to know you and follow you along in your LB journey. I think we have ALL been through what you are going through. Before I made the commitment to a healthier life, I felt like a slug. I could not walk 50' without becoming winded. I was ready to move my laundry room to the main level of the house. I was embarassed to go out in public and have everyone stare at my "back fat". I was heading for a 4x tops and did not even KNOW what size jeans I was in because all I wore were black elastic pants. Etc., etc., etc.,. 21 months out and I feel FANTASTIC. As I told you in the other thread, I feel as if I can run circles around any 19 yr old. And, I run the stairs to and from my laundry room just for the fun of it. Again, welcome and hope you will stick around for some companionship and support. Preparedness is the key and from what I gather from the other thread you posted in, you have done and are doing your homework. Congrats and looking forward to getting to know you.:frown:

Thank you for the compliment, Mishay. #1. Preparedness #2. I could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. After years of dieting, losing and gaining more back than I lost, I KNEW I would have a tool to help me keep it off. #3. Determination #4. Following EVERY rule my doctor set for me. #5. Journaling my food intake which included calories, fiber, protein grams, etc. Hope this helps!:frown:

I made a lifetime change in my diet about 8 months b/4 surgery. I truly feel that it was one of the crucial steps that I made that helped me most after surgery. I was not required to do Medifast. I did do a 14 day Clear liquids.

Welcome Beth and Mishay...first of all...congrats on taking the first steps towards a healthier you. Just want to share with you that whatever hoops you need to jump through to have the surgery, it's well worth it. The most important advice I can give you is to do everything you can to prepare yourself physically, mentally and emotionally b/4 your LB surgery. I believe being prepared and well-informed plays a huge role in the success of a LB person. Follow ALL of your doc's rules. I found that the band will be there to help you but most of the "work" is up to YOU. Making good/healthy food choices, getting adequate fluids on a daily basis, documenting everything you eat to keep track of calories, Fiber and Protein intake will help you along your journey and make you accountable. I was banded June 17, 2008. I am 54 yrs old (damn) and feel as if I could run circles around any 19 yr old. Wishing you both the best. PM me with any questions you might have or ask them on this thread and I will respond.

Jodi...thanks for the update and so good to hear from you. Sorry your for your setbacks after surgery. I am wondering if your issues could not be attributed to the anesthesia? That sometimes happens. Take care of yourself and post when you are up to it. Sending healing throughts your way.

Great...thanks for the info and the photo of your dress. I KNEW it was tough on you not to make the trip to FL. Yes, we bonded and had a very nice time. Visited, ate, visted, ate. Had a wonderful time. But, I have to tell you...We ALREADY knew each other and I don't think there were any surprises. You would have fit right in and walked away after the weekend feeling like you just had a visit with a long-time friend. Don't feel bad, Lori. There will be other get-togethers. Each and every one of us was sitting at that condo wishing you could have made your flight. Guess the point I am trying to make is it was just like the visiting we do online with the advantage of seeing everyone in person. I do like your Vegas idea. So much to do and great places to meet and eat, etc.

Great...a couple of ideas where to look for shoes. Zappos.com has EVERYTHNG and in every style. There is a dressy and oh-so-comfy shoe that I have bought in stores and order online. Azure is the brand name. Not sure what they have for flats (and tend to be a little spendy). But, worth it because you can slip them on and not even have to break them in....just a thought

Good Morning... Got a good night's sleep. Slept the whole night through. And, Janet, was not up eating oatmeal so could not have an early morning visit with you. I feel somewhat refreshed. Arlene...good luck at the doc and in your new plan. Hope this is something you are able to grab onto and that it works for you. Sorry to hear about your friend. So nice that you are there for her at this difficult time and hope her test results are negative. Laura...your visit to your parents will give your mother something to focus on. She will be prepping an Easter basket for Nels and meals, etc. that will take her mind off her daily caregiver routine. You are a good daughter. Thank you for the update on Meredeith. I miss her posts and her spunky personality. MEREDITH...can you hear me? Come back!!!! Great...try to blow some of that warm weather and sunshine up North. We have had rain and fog for the last 5 days. Just plain dreary. Just adds to the funk I am in. As far as shoes for your MOB dress...there are so many cute little ballet slipper type shoes out there this spring. I've seen every color and fabric. Even silky black ones. Hopefully you will find what you are looking for. Wish I could be with you for the day and shop with you. I am doing a overnight trip with a friend of mine in a couple of weeks to help her find a MOB dress. She's drawing a blank with what she wants and color. I was trying to explain yours to her. Would you mind sending me the designer name? Maybe I can find one online so she can see it. I am one that would choose separates over a dress. I am short-waisted and long-legged. Can buy tops in petite and bottoms in talls. Not too much going on here today and very few plans for the weekend. Going to head out tomorrow to get some building supplies for a table DS is making for our new deck at the lake place. He made me one for our new patio at home out of ceramic tile and metal. Ppl are always wondering where we got it and want to buy it off of us. This deck extension DS and DH are building is really cool. I have one that they built 7 yrs ago on the lake place now. It's 14x20 and not big enough with all the entertaining we like to do. The extension is 24x24 and has a fire pit in the middle. Has bent metal railing. Actually, both are made out of the frame of stripped down mobile homes and are painted black. Made out of expanded metal so just a rinse with the hose when needed. Lucky to have both DH and DS be innovative and talented welders to be able to come up with the idea. Both decks are portable and on wheels. Fold up for travel and have electric jacks to level them out. I'll post a photo when complete and in place. I have been at a HUGE standstill the last week and have not accomplished crap. I start a project and don't finish it. I did get some organizing done but have a couple of rooms ripped apart and not completed....not like me. Gotta force myself to get going and get on with things. And, I am not dressing in a sloppy sweatsuit today. I'm going to put on my nice jeans and sweater and pretend like I'm cute. That should make me feel better. And, again, I need to mention how special you guys are to me and how much your support has meant. It's helped tremendously! Now I just need to work on helping myself out of a funk and be me again.

Congrats Scotty...you deserve the recognition!!! Here's to continued success and a happy band life!

You girls have a great time together....:blushing:...wish I was joining you all for shopping, visiting and corned beef and cabbage. A dish that I had to make at least once a week during harvest. Had a lot of retired farmers that would work for us during that time. I would ask them to give me ideas of what to cook (cooking is the easy part...coming up with new ideas, tough). They would give me great ideas like bread pudding, homemade banana pudding, custard pie, Sh_t on a shingle made with dried beef and creamed peas....just a lot of dishes that I grew up with and were some of their favorites.

Tell Earl that he could most likely win the chili cook-off at Cactus Jack's establishment in Salt Springs, FL. I love lime in so many different dishes. I have a homemade mango salsa that I throw in my chicken stew sometimes. Do your guitar glasses have flashing Elvis images on the lenses?

You're not known to have a history of back problems, are you? I'm one of those that does not tolerate any narcotics by mouth. Makes me projectile puke. I hear the "bubbly" can pretty much ease any troubles :blushing:

Phyll...trippin'? I'm on a sugar high

Awww, Phyl...so kind. I'll make it and come out smiling. I am already. I'm a survivor. My friend that I was talking about that needed the intervention with her diabetes....she was on her way out. Ended up in Rochester Mayo for many months. They were at the point of doing feeding tube because of neuropathy (sp?) in stomach, legs, feet. She has it turned around but still struggles. She does not feel her feet/calves and has no hungry feelings in her stomach. But, she does relapse and will make fudge and eat 1/2 a pan then will clean her act up. We all have our struggles and have made decisions to change to a healthy lifestyle to be around for awhile. The trouble with diabetes is that you need to take care of yourself EVERY day and stay on top of it. I believe denial that the disease can actually take your life is a huge factor. Getting ticked because they have the disease. A lot of factors play into it. My friend LOVED the honeymoon stages of the disease because she got deathly thin. Then, she ballooned and does not lose even when she starved herself. A vicious disease when you are not taking care of yourself.

Deb...have you tried the marinated turkey tenders from Walmart? They come in shrink wrap packages almost makes them look like those little Hormel pork loins. They are so nice and tender and do well in the crockpot. Just a suggestion. Also, if you are having trouble with breast meat, maybe try the following recipe. 6 boneless/skinless chix thighs or leg (legs...use 12) 1 tsp powdered garlic 1 tsp powdered onion 1 TBLS lime juice 1 tsp ground black pepper 1 tsp sea salt 1 can of diet Sprite Works great in crockpot or oven

Hey Linda...sorry to hear your DSS is once again back in the hospital. I have a friend that would never take care of herself and pay attention to what she needed to do with her diabetes. She ended up going into an in-patient facility(kind of like a rehab for diabetics). It seemed to hit home with her. We really thought she would never get it. Do you guys have anything like that in your area? Thinking of you and the struggles. I'll take GD for a few days....or weeks. Meet you in Spirit Lake?

Another scenerio... We are all out at a bar and I'm going to sing kareoke. We are all teathered together by one rope. I am all excited by the fact I'm next and have am going to get up and sing "Crazy" by Patsy Cline. You yank the rope and I come back to my group. I will thank you for saving me from a very embarassing moment. Then, Janet gets aproached by a guy with green teeth...5 green teeth. We throw her the lifesaver.

The way I see all of us and this journey we are on together is: We are all in our separate boats just floating out to sea. But, we are all teathered together with one rope. When one of us floats out too far, one (or all of us) yanks on that rope and pulls your boat back in closer to us. And, when one of us eats so much that the boat begins to sink, we throw out the lifesaver. That's call LOVE

You have a full plate to deal with right now, Lori. Just make sure you don't have the crappy snacking stuff at your fingertips and too easy to grab. Make your cupboards and frig things you have to actually prepare in order to eat them. The only thing that bothers me with the eating I am doing is that it is mostly crap the last couple of days. I have had a menu the last two years of strictly healthy because I FEEL so much better. Even though I get a high number of calories a day, I usually choose healthy. This too shall pass. Sure has been fun though. I don't think a diet of Cheetos and trail mix over the last couple of days is going to kill me. I usually get my chocolate and peanut butter fix from protein bars.