Apples2

Just trying to liven things up, Arlene. Can you tell I don't have enough to do?????????? OK...about time for Great to come home. Wed, right?

OOPS...didn't realize

Come on girls...last person to post on 599? Is it only me making the effort?????????

Joyce...what a girl! Your first meal out already. Way to go...and, thanks for the comment.

I even have the "Junking up the thread" song set to music in my head all day. I need to go back to therapy

OK...it's next time now. Junking up the thread...junking up the thread....junking up the thread.

Darn, it wasn't me....maybe next time.

OK...we played this game when we were on page 499....the last person to post on page 599 wins the game. You don't get crap for a prize but I bet a lot of congrats

Janet...struggling but am a believer in grief and experiencing it and the different stages it brings. I am having a "angry" day. Julie....yes...exactly why I asked everyone to share. You have such a way of expressing and that's EXACTLY what we all look forward to here. You always seem to hit the nail on the head on your feelings and the struggles you are going through. You HAVE done well to go through what you have and still have lost 110lbs. No small feat. We all learn by others experience and pick up on things others have gone through and how they handle those situations. I am so careful NOT to share certain things sometimes because I am not the norm and I don't want someone that is lurking or that does not understand my situation to think it okay to eat the amount I do a day or that it is okay to get up at 3am and eat a big bowl of oatmeal. Did you ever notice that I always say "When I was in the weightloss stage"...and then add my 2 cents. Holy Hell! If a newbie just started reading this help thread and read that a person can eat 3,000 cals a day on maintenance and spread that around???? LOL. Thanks for sharing.

Congrats!!!! And, thanks for sharing your amazing transformation.

Jessica...what a proud moment for you to complete your 5K. Good for you also for looking forward to your new life instead of back. Sh_t happens in life and the economy has put a lot of young ppl such as yourselves in situations that your might see as less than desirable. You are very lucky that your in-laws had the capability and love to make room for your family in their lives. You have shared your difficult times that comes with living with family and I completely understand where you are coming from in it all. But, just look at all the POSITIVE steps you have taken in the short few months that you have been sharing your life with us. You get the gold start for the day!

Arlene..happy to hear you are HAPPY on your bday. Excited to hear about your new plan with Doc Davis. :thumbup:

Junking up the thread...just-a junking up the thread....that's a song in my head today.....don't want you girls to get sick of me today but need to just stay busy and visit....so I'm junking up the thread! Forgot to tell you guys and Linda reminded me with her post of DSS bday. My oldest is 29 today. His GF took him out to a nice restaurant on Sat night and today I made him his bday dinner (lunch). Last night I made scratch buttermilk devils food cake with a cream cheese glaze. When I was in FL, I bought small bundt cake pans (soooooo cute). The batter made 10 cakes. I arranged them on a cake plate with 29 candles split into each. Looked so cute. Made him smile. Made applewood grilled turkey tenderloins, homegrown sweet corn from freezer and deviled eggs. No taters cuz both DH and DS watch their weight closely. Packaged up the leftover cake (9 of them) and sent with DH to take for GF's two children and to put in her freezer for later. Was a fun little dinner. Would share photos but have troubles with card reader and repair person has still not come out to repair. (It's the one in the tower). Will have to drag it to town. Anyway...so thankful for the day my son was born (other DS too) and he adds joy to every day of our life....teenage years...not so much...but still a joy to have around. I LUB him (other DS just as much). Just had to share and talk about the good things in life. I LUB you guys too!

LauraK...I'm with you on the bullet. I have one and just used a few times. My son bought me a Oster food processor for Christmas one year and that works the best for most things...especially when WANTING some chunks like salsa, etc. Laura...I hear you on the salt. I was always a big table salt user b/4 I started eating healthy. Well..........for some reason over the weekend I felt the need to salt EVERYTHING that went into my mouth. I usually reserve a sprinkle for my melon but went haywire on it in the last couple of days. I feel bloated and just plain yucky. My belly sticks out and my rings are super tight. The scale was up 4lbs (not worried about the gain) and just know that my use of salt the last few days can be pinpointed for an overall crappy feeling. Tons of fluids today to flush my system. Since March is National Nutrition month, let's all share something that works for us that keeps us on track...it can be working your butt off exercising, things you do to keep your mind off of food, tricks to reading food labels, things you cook, share a healthy recipe, something you tell your inner self that keeps you focused, etc. Just another crazy lady idea and in hopes that by sharing, we can help some of our friends here that are just starting out, struggling or who just plain are open to new ideas. I will start: I knew that when I was in the weightloss stage and still had to do a tremendous amount of cooking every day and having a husband that was just diagnosed with extremely high cholesteral, that I would need to make an extreme effort to change the way I cooked. I went online and looked up every lowfat/low sugar/fat free recipe that I could find. I spend hours experimenting to apply what I learned to my own kitchen. I also spent hours in the grocery aisle and online looking up nutritional values. I now cringe when I think about the fact I used to put a stick of butter in anything. Don't get me wrong...I do believe in certain things if a person just HAS to have them....only once in awhile and in limited amounts. OK...your turn!

Julie...sorry the pain is back. The weather maybe? It's dreary, cold and foggy here. Sounds like we are having the same weather. We did have sun for a couple of days and that really helps. DH and I had a few "old people" aches yesterday and figured the weather was going to make a change. Right on with our guess. Keeping busy? Really don't know what to do with myself today. Find myself jumping from one thing to another. Have a couple of friends stopping by for a visit today. Truly love my friends but one tends to just dump about her problems with her boyfriend. She started yesterday when I called her to let her know about my dad. Wanting me to come to her house so she could let me know of her struggles while I have been gone. Time to dump his cheating ass. Might be selfish and call and cancel. Have enough of my own to deal with. Nasty? Nope. Just plain can't deal today.

Good Morning.... Again, thanks to everyone of you for your thoughts and prayers. Struggling. Laura...so nice to see old friends, isn't it? Happy to hear you had a lovely time. Cookie solution? I would send a strong message by taking them right to the garbage disposal and giving them a good grind and then let DH know that anything that is a trigger food for you that ends up within your sights will end up in the same place. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR ARLENE HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!!!!! Have a wonderful birthday. May this new plan be a new start for you and an easing of your struggles over the last few months. We all understand and are pulling for you. Hoping this is something that will "click" for you and keep you accountable with your food and exercise plan. Hugs. You all have a good day. Jodi...will be thinking of you today as you prepare for your "hairless" surgery tomorrow. Take care and check in when you can to let us know how you are doing. You certainly have done your research and are on the path to a new and healthy you.

Just popping on to thank each and every one of my girls for the love and support I have received today. It means the world to me. Love..

A person can try to prepare for times like this but can still feel like hitting a brick wall. Just posting to let you guys know my dad passed away this morning. A massive heart attack.

Not to worry, Momma LauraK...ice melted late morning. Weather is fine and was about 40 degrees all day. St. Michael is about 3 hours from here...went through there on Thursday. Huge outlet mall there. A little bit of everything. Maybe she will get some shopping in. Is DD back here for the job interview or going to school? Can't remember if she goes to school here.

Forgot to mention, Laura....Nelson is a very healthy looking young boy and you are so smart to not push food. I did notice when we were together in FL that you had healthy food options for him. Way to go, Mamma!

Hey Laura...thanks for sharing the photos. Looks like a good ole' fashioned county fair with tractors, etc. DH has a tractor just like the one in the photo. Looks like the boys had fun. Congrats on 220! Wasn't it Meredith that you were challenging????? I miss her. Would love to see her post to catch us up on her life. Have a nice time tomorrow with your friend. Meets like that are so special.

Lady...welcome. Sounds to me like you already somewhat know the answer to your problem. Eating too fast, not chewing good enough, can cause Pbing. I would suggest that if you are truly worried about your band, contact your doctor. If you feel your symptoms are cause by the above behavior, it's time to take a good look at your eating and chewing habits. If I were having the type of problems you describe, I would go on liquids for a couple of days to try and tame things down and then ease into a soft diet and be very aware of how you are chewing..taking very small bites...putting your fork down in between bites, etc. But, as I said above, best to check with your doc or his staff to let them know of your symptoms. Pop back on this thread to let us know how you are doing or if you have any more questions. There's a load of experienced bandsters here just willing to help. Take care and good luck:biggrin:

Way to go, Jessica...go for it even if DH does not. You sure have a great "I can do this" attitude. :smile2:

Never have had them but I have friends that buy nothing but. Have you seen the new spring sandals? Saw a few of them yesterday when out and about with a friend. They are kind of cute