SuperDaddy!

Inspiring, Brother! Maybe next year my kids and I will join you at Kalahari for the annual Water pic...minus 100 pounds! Merry Christmas! Jon

yuck yuck yuck. My prayers are with you Lisa. God Bless you and keep you and give you grace and peace through this season. Jon

um...hm..wow. What would be appropriate at this point to be heard from the male bandsters out there? HOLY #%$! GIRL! You look like a supermodel. Way to go. You are such an encouragment to all. Keep up the marvelous discipline...we're all trying to catch up! Jon

You sure it wasn't just a "wardrobe malfunction"?!

Yep...you hit it on the head. The anesthesia has some pretty wicked little side effects. That smell is the chemical release coming out of you body through your pores, bodily fluids (yeah...ewww), etc. I noticed it disipated in less than a week. Jon

Sing with me... MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY......M O N E Y!!! I just got my disco freak on. The survey was up and running...now where's my dough?

Thanks for the reminder. You know...I bet there would be a lot more people thrilled and reaching their weight loss goals if we'd get off the couch and hit the gym! Let's go for it! Jon

Are you asking a forum of obese friends to how to put on 15 pounds? ooooh that's just funny! Two words: Pulled Pork...or Krispy Kremes...or...oh I kind of just drooled on my shirt. Seriously...dress heavy, drink much...and have a few big meals. OR....can you do a sleep study? I was close to the BMI 40 cut off, but I had sleep apnea, which meant my insurance paid even if my BMI was as low as 35. Not to worry...it wasn't there at the time! Good Luck. Jon

Elda...I was seriously about to post the same thing. I'm down 47 pounds...about 20 of that post surgery. I seriously have not lost a pound in a month....but MAN CAN I EAT if I want to. Not QUITE as much as I used to..but my one fill so far has not slowed me down. No side affects....no PBs...nothing. I do have heartburn when I overeat a little, but I haven't really stayed on course this December as I had planned. Start fresh! Let's not give up! You can get back on track. You have a few great months to get ready for an active summer in the sun. You can do it! Jon

Lisa- We all appreciate your honesty and candid personality around here. Keep it up. I think you hit the nail on the head: Addiction. That's my issue. I'm a food addict. I used to drive out of my way to stop at a fast food place on the way home before dinner. I love to eat alone...and in secret. It took me surgery to admit that it is an addiction as powerful as any other. But you CAN beat it...and none of us are gonna' let you give up, girl. We're all in the same boat! Thanks for sharing. Jon

On that note....let's add another: This is a SUPPORT board. Although a little excitement and drama makes for a good read...remember that the purpose of this board is to support each other. We can be full of passion, joy, confusion, concern...but let's remember that everybody on these posts also deserves RESPECT! This whole thread was very interesting, and full of good points. Unfortunately....it is loaded with blatant generalizations, stereotypes, exagerations, and sarcasm. There are lots of great Weight Watcher's employees that care, and for every doctor or patient that speaks of the horrors of WLS, I bet I could scrounge up 100 more that can sing it's praises. Weight Loss Surgery is dangerous, but less dangerous than being morbidly obese...and on a support board we hear a lot more from the 3-4 percent with complications than you would anywhere else. But remember that there is 96-97% of people out there who can show great success. As far as long term success....you gotta' use or lose it (or is it use TO lose it?!) We all have a 100% chance of dying...someday. Use this tool to improve and extend your quality of life, everyone! Use the gift of life and live it to the fullest. I appreciate hearing your struggles and your passion. We've entered an amazing emotional journey together, bandlanders! Jon

WAHOO! I was nominated for something....you like me, you really like me! It's just an honor to be nominated...I'd like to thank the academy at the "most funny center". Paul, Jack, JQ and I are gonna' host a "chunk-n-dales" dance night for the most hot. Man...I've got some great pictures from when I played college football...maybe I'll post that as the "I'm gonna' get back to that weight" picture! Delarla...she has too many categories. Let's narrow it down to "Favorite Diva". you so are the bomb, girl! Dylansmom, roadqueen (are those right?), most consistent feedback. I can always count on seeing you in a thread. Thanks! oooh, who was it who had such a great thread that should be "best eroded band epitaph?" the name will come to me. Much love to my bandlanders. You're all winners! Jon

Hey, Dear Delarla....they already HAVE a seminar to teach men to be like me...it's called Promise Keepers! I don't always get it right....but my love for life and family comes from my knowledge that I'm loved by my Creator! Want a man of integrity...send 'em to church! I love the pictures you posted by the way (saw the hot boss one, too!). I can just tell by your posts and your smiles that you must be a real joy to those around you. Thanks for sticking around and sharing it with all of us in bandland! Jon

He's pretty deep in thought for a 1 year old!

This was a favorite moment for me. This is the first time my kids saw the ocean. It was such an awesome thing. They just stood there, hanging on to Daddy, SILENT.

This was a picture that was a finalist in the Minnesota state fair. My Daughter got to ride the one Golden Dumbo with mom and brother in Disney! Have you ever seen a happier kid? Smallish bear wasn't quite as sure about the whole thing!

My mother in law has fought a bitter battle with Cancer for the past two years...and still fighting! I take comfort every day in knowing that we put our faith in a mighty, loving God. The God of wonders and miracles of the Bible is still the God of today. He knows you and your brother. What great comfort you can take knowing that God does NOT make errors. He has a plan, and he's in control. Amen for that. Jon

Ask away, Brother! For goodness sakes...for all of the bra, boob, pregnancy stuff we hear around here....we need a little more testosterone now and then. And so...I raise my Dewalt 24volt drill in the air and grunt. with my steel-toed boots stomping...ahw ahw ahw!!! Welcome, friend! Jon

Wow...talent galore around here! I'm not an artist, but I can share a song for my artwork. If you visit my band's website, "Poor Baker's Dozen", you can listen to some clips of songs I've written for them. Keep up the good work, ya'll! www.poorbakers.com Jon

Pati- You've lost FIFTY inches!?! Awesome! Do you think that you would have done that without the band? Have you made permenant lifestyle changes? Do you ever want to pull those clothes out again...or have you already burned them? With each reward comes risk. The actual amount of removed bands is less than 1-3%, according to the information I have from the hospital in Minnesota. And that's including older 1st generation bands which aren't as effective. The technology and quality of the equipment and procedure has exponentially improved in the past two years as the insurance companies have started to cover the procedure. If you were a candidate for this surgery...than you know that your health before Band was a MUCH higher risk than any complications you've seen here. Obesity -related death is about ready to supercede heart/lung conditions, cancer....it if hasn't already surpassed it. The band does have risks....but FAR LESS than any bypass, and EVEN LESS THAN DOING NOTHING. You have a 100% chance of dying someday...this was meant to improve your chances of a longer, healthier life. Here's the other truth....nobody has time to waste during this time of year. So the majority of notes posted are when stuff sucks and you need some support. NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS!!! Hey...in a way, it's like a bra! Of course I'm not one to wear one, but my wife would attest to the fact that the ugliest bras she owns are the best because they have the most support. So....maybe our posts look a little scary when we need the most support!!! Ok it's a strectch...but I've never used a bra analogy before! Hang in there! Find the positive things that you've gained from this experience! God Bless! Jon

If you're not a little nervous...you're crazy. Seriously, we all went through the emotional roller coaster. I'll be praying for you tomorrow! You'll find the strength that you need, and the docs are going to work flawlessly. You'll be sitting in recovery in no time flat! God bless you! Jon

Helloooo Nashville! I just had to share pics from one of the coolest things I've ever been able to do. I sang for one of the largest Youth Specialities events (teachers and youth pastors) in the country last week in Nashville with my band, Poor Baker's Dozen! And here's the kicker...it's the first show I've done since losing 45 pounds!!! WAHOO! I can't even tell you what a thrill it was to share music with over 8,000 people at once! For those of you who know Christian music groups, we hung out for the weekend and sang on the same stage with Chris Tomlin, Third Day, David Crowder Band, Rebecca St. James, Jars of Clay, Toby Mac....and then little ol' US! what a blessing. Take a look at the pics of the venue and the band. I'm the big guy (getting smaller!) who is usually banging on big red garbage cans while I'm singing. You may have to scroll around to see the whole picture. I think you can view all of them from our website now. www.poorbakers.com. Actually, you can pic up a fellow bandster's new Christmas album there, too! Stop in and say hello!

Your doctor is off his rocker! You have NINETY-SEVEN percent chance of regaining EVERYTHING without your band, if your a statistics person. Heart pacemakers, fake hips, bone screws, they are all foreign objects, and it is safer to keep it in. It's surgical grade and made to stay. The surgery to remove it is equally as dangerous and invasive as it was to place the band. seriously, my doctor said he won't remove them unless there is a major complication...and that is rare with the newer advanced bands. I bet you could contact Bariatric Medicine (Dr. Schwartz and Drew) at Abbot Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis and get a second opinion, even if you're norwhere local. Just a thought... Jon

Hey Cindy, Keep being a light in that public school! I also teach in a public school....what an amazing ministry you can have there with non-believing families. Let them see Jesus through your actions of compassion and fairness, instead of words that could get you in hot water. I'm pretty blessed to be surrounding by other Christians teaching with me...including my principal! I sometimes wonder if I take too many risks with what I say in class. But you know what...they can't get on you for answering any questions that the kids ask you...even in regards to the true Christmas story this season! Speak the truth! Thanks for the encouragement! Jon

Thanks for the responses, everybody! It really was a total rush. I don't usually get very nervous in front of a crowd anymore, as we've been singing for nearly a dozen years...but it was certainly the biggest venue we've sung for before. What was a real thrill was just the difference in confidence that I have because I'm more comfortable in my own skin thanks to the weight loss. Love that BAND! As you can see...I sing with a bunch of skinny little dudes, so it's nice to not look quite so odd in comparison. Unlike most rock stars, I enjoyed a nice slice of humble pie as arrived in Mpls, and had to change my kids diapers and make them dinner! What a great life! If you ever want a pick-me-up to your day, you can stop by the website and listen to us, or grab a CD. Rock on, bandsters! Jon