heartfire

So sorry your struggling, LJM. An no, you don't suck! Hang in there. OH MY GOSH!!!!! How exciting!!! I'll be praying for a FANTASTIC outcome!!!!! NO WAY!!!!! If DH thinks it's funny, he needs his head examined. Sorry Slim, I know you love him but really! What a way to start the day! :drool: PJTP: gotta go grocery shopping today. Actually need to plan a few dinners for the week beforehand. YUCK! I'm cold. Have been all week. Supposed to be summer and the weather has been really mild, which I like but I am tired of being cold. It's 70 degrees out and I'm wearing sweats and long sleeves! Last year I would've been in shorts and tank tops the instant it turned 65! And normally in this weather, I'd have all the windows open, but I'm just too cold! LOL!! I still have the flannels on the bed! :eek: Okay, putting off the whole grocery thing. Better go jump in the shower and get moving. Have a great day! TTFN!

Very true. If it upsets you then you definitely need to take a break. Give it a week or two and see how you feel about it. You can always come back if you want too. You will be missed tho. However, if you find yourself learning or helping others learn, then it's not a bad idea to stick around for awhile. There are a lot of days, and I am by no means an expert on the band and it's process, that I find all I want to do is check my subscribed lists and PMs and move on to something else for the day. I get tired of a lot of the same posts, especially the ones about being stuck and can't keep anything down, what do I do, or the ones that say they are just days out from surgery and ate something, did I mess up. Granted, if they are truly wanting help, I will post up but if they are wanting validation for what they did, they aren't getting it from me! Anyway, way off topic but I think I get where you are coming from, especially with Green's passing. It's just not the same for you here right now. I would encourage a break and see where you stand with things later. You need time. Take care!

*Misty, good for you for staying accountable. I find that's really important. An idea, take a look at the sodium content of the not so great food choices. I find that there is a TON of sodium in most of my go to not great food choices and that ALWAYS causes a gain for me! Try to drink some extra Water today and see if that helps. And eating more of your calories earlier in the day is a great idea. Some camps say that your biggest meal of the day should really be lunch. Some say Breakfast and some say it doesn't matter! LOL! Try one and see if it helps! *di, Congrats! You are SO close to goal! WhooHoo!!!

Thank you! And I will, I promise! Thank you! Enjoy the wolf whistles! Woot! NO!!!! FANTASTIC!!!! No way! I went and read it. Person needs some manners! I thought about responding but it wasn't going to be nice and I don't need to lower myself to their level. You were much nicer! Okay, battery is going on the laptop. Better say good night! TTFN!

Yep, this place is horrible that way! LOL!

How exciting, Jenny! You'll have to let us know how it goes! I sure hope you have a safe trip! Is it going to be long 'cause none of you want your oldest to be gone or.....? Keep in touch!

Good job, Lana! And 2 weeks behind is not that bad. Keep forging ahead, you CAN do this!!! As for me, I had a loss of 1.6 this week to put me at 181.8. I'm shooting for 179 by July 4th. That would be almost 3 lbs in 3 weeks. I actually think I can make this goal for once. I've never been able to make my goals. I think I go into sabotage mode. Pitiful but I know it's coming from within, not without. I'm tracking my food again on dailyplate and I really think that's my new MUST. I MUST track or I don't lose. I just started tracking again a few weeks ago so it's a little early to tell but so far, so good. Have a great week everyone!! TTFN!

Thanks for starting us, edel! And great job on your loss! I had to go back to tracking as well. It's proving to be very beneficial and it's something I'm always going to have to do. Last week: 183.4 This week: 181.8 Difference: -1.6!!!! Lost the 1.1 that I had gained last week with NOT tracking, plus another 1/2lb! WhooHoo!! I sure hope this sticks. I've been bouncing the same 3lbs for WAY too long. I think tracking is what is helping. I gained when not tracking. Simple as that. If any one else has been struggling like me, please, I encourage you to start tracking your foods again. I'm finding it important for me to do this. As important as exercise, if not MORE!! Yes, I know, bold statement but for me, true!!! Have beautiful week!! TTFN!

Hi! I think it sounded positive and he probably told you more about what he's thinking than he did with any of the others. He is confused as to what he wants to do but maybe after speaking with you, it will help him define it better for himself. Best wishes!! Revision? Are you okay? Hope you feel better soon! Congratulations!!! If you want it bad enough, you'll work to get back on track and get as much of that off as you can. I know you can do it!!!!! Sounds like it went well! And a thank you email is a great idea! Best wishes!!! Sorry you have to wait but good that you'll get to see your own doc. I'd rather wait too. Unless I just can't for some reason. Best wishes on getting those steroid lbs off! I know that's frustrating. We call it short-timer's disease here! LOL! You and DH are very smart. Money isn't everything, tho it does play a HUGE role! LOL! But yes, when it's a small step pay difference, being happier in your job is worth the pay "cut" that comes with it. So all of you are on my prayer list. Jobs, health, happiness, safety in travels, etc. Speaking of travel, Tap should be home tonight or tomorrow, right? Hope she had a good week and it wasn't too horrible for her. Beth, since I've been tracking my food again, I've been losing! I lost 1.6 this week, even with a couple of higher calorie days and no exercising. Still haven't got out for any walks. Yuck! Hope everyone has a great day! TTFN!

BEST WISHES, EBONY AND BETH!!! Fingers and toes crossed, prayers being said, ummm, no nekkid dance tho. Might scare the kiddo. I'm trying to NOT have to pay for therapy later, or at least put it off as long as possible! LOL!! Thanks. Had one blow up on me last night. I've never passed out or thrown up, tho have gotten nauseated and have had to go to bed with them. They suck. UGH! I'm going to have to get back on the bookworm site and see if I can get it for my ipod then. GREAT pics Fanny! Love the one with your folks. :smile2: :lol: :lol: :lol: That was a good one, Fanny! Cool! Hope you have a wonderful time! Maybe start hinting about a road trip to Yosemite and then you could meet up with me while here! PJTP: okay, just had one of those "no one is there" phone calls and now my portable phone is blinking and telling me that I have a new voice mail. Only problem is I don't HAVE voice mail and I answered the call!!!!! Now I can't get the dumb light to stop blinking!! I even popped the battery out to see if it would reset it. I'm going to put it back on the charger and see if that works. So strange, no voice mail, no call waiting, simple plan with only caller id and now this! UGH! I'll check in later to see about Beth and Ebony. Gotta go try to fix the dumb phone! TTFN!

I'm sorry to hear that. I've also enjoyed many of your posts. But you need to do what's best for you. Maybe just a break? Take care of yourself, what ever you decide.

Evil, evil game! It sucks you in and you can't get out! <I wonder if I can get it on my ipod touch?> SO glad you're feeling better! Think you were a little full? YIKES!!!! Take it easy and enjoy eating again when you go back to solids! Ebony and Beth, Many prayers, best wishes, special good vibes, and what ever else I can think of! LOL!! Let us know how things went AS SOON AS YOU CAN!!!!!!! PJTP: Still migraining a little but was able to get all of my work done today. Offering totals got entered, weekly financial reports got generated, payroll and bills got done and mailed, monthly payroll taxes got figured, posted and paid. Whew! DH made chili verde for dinner. Sat in the slow cooker all afternoon and made the house smell so yummy! Dinner was great and DD and I have leftovers for a day or 2! If I wasn't so full, I'd still be eating! LOL! Okay, off to PM a friend then it might just have to be a game of Bookworm! TTFN!

BJean, I just wanted to thank you for taking this on... letting us know that she's passed, relaying our prayers and good wishes to her family, etc. This must be tough on you as well. I know that it still upsets me and I didn't know her nearly as well and most of you. So, again, Thank You!

Feel better soon! And don't stress over the ice cream It may actually help some b/c it's thick and will coat the stomach. Bah! Best wishes on the job front! How are your shingles? Yea, I'm the church's bookkeeper, I guess you'd call it, but I'm not actually a bookkeeper! Never been trained! I do all of the bills, payroll and taxes - monthly, quarterly and yearly, and generate weekly, monthly and yearly financial reports for the Council. When I started as secretary there, we only had a few employees and did strictly 1099s! Now, no way can I get away with that! Too bad. Life was so much simpler then. Tho if it was that easy, I wouldn't have a job either! I take Maxalt for my migraines. Usually my clusters are due to PMS. I'm on Depo shots but I still PMS thru them. Sucks but at least I'm not laid up for a couple of weeks like I was before Depo! WHOOHOO!!!!!!! I am so incredibly excited for you!!!! Congratulations!!!! PJTP: a friend told me about a computer game that she's addicted to. Should NOT have looked into it b/c I'm now addicted to it! It's called Bookworm. Yikes! Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone! TTFN!

So Cool, Mac! WTG!! And good for DD for getting her butt out there too! She sounds motivated now! Hooray!!! OMGosh!!! Beautiful pics, Fanny! Have you thought about getting serious about your photography? Your pics are always amazing! I love all the rock pics and you don't realize how big they are til you see the lady in the pic next to some of them. There is one I may have to purchase. It's towards the end of the 2nd set of pics and it's one of the sunset ones. It's only the sun and the water/shore. Beautiful! I also really liked the last pic too in that set too. Don't know why, it's just a rock but it really caught my eye. Susan, I'm so sorry. Prayers that you feel better soon. Lu, have a great secret vacation! How fun! Ebony, you're welcome! LOL! g4e, let us know as soon as you can! Thanks. Feeling a little better this AM. I can tell tho that another migraine is going to hit me later. I need to get some paperwork done for the Council Meeting tonight before it hits me again. I hate having to deal with numbers when I hurt. I can't think straight! Better get to work! TTFN!

Congrats Fanny!!! And don't ever apologize for having good news! We always want to hear good news! Yea, you need to be stopping by more often! LOL! Where ya been? Ummm, yea, that would be a little creepy. Of course the comment DID come from Plain! LOL! If I remember right, g4e has an interview sometime Tuesday. Best wishes on your interview, g4e!!! Knock 'em dead! Thanks, Lu. I'll feel better by the weekend. I'll probably cluster migraine for a few days and then be fine. I just hate when this happens. Knocks me off my feet and yet I still have to function somehow. And thank GOD for spell check b/c I can't spell for shit right now! Fingers and brain aren't on the same page! I have payroll taxes to post this week too. Should be fun! DH should be home tomorrow for a couple of days, so he'll take over with DD so that will help. Off to bed. 'Night all.

So glad he's doing well! Now you need to focus on YOU! Good for you for taking the first little steps. Every little bit helps. You'll start doing things and remember how good things felt and how motivated you were and pretty soon, you'll be back to eating and exercising like you want too. Have you seen the bandiversary challenge thread? Check our August 2008 board. It's just working towards your goal by your bandiversary. There are little goals of, well Memorial Day, then July 4th and then our bandiversary dates. I just signed on for it. I missed the MD part of it. I'm in the same place as you are with foolin' with the same 3lbs for the last few months and I'm sick of it! I want OUT of the 180s already!!!!!!! :thumbup: My goal is to be 179 by July 4th. I honestly don't know if that will happen or not! How sad is that? Take care and hang in there! We're here for you!!

So scary but so exciting! I sure hope it all works out well for you! Hey, maybe you'll get another buyer, that's PRE-APPROVED and be able to move forward, without the extra hoops! Don't go too long with the PB'ing. Be careful, 'k? Think about a slight unfill til this all gets resolved. Too much stress and a tight band do not make make for good things! ) Let us know what happens! Prayers!! Oh my gosh! Beautiful pics, Fanny! Welcome back! I think your plans sound wonderful and will make life SO much easier for you both! UGH! What the hell is the point if you can't enjoy the fruits of your labor???!!! He probably worked so hard for so long that he just can't figure out how to have fun so he does nothing. Very sad! PJTP: I feel like crap.

Hang in there, Gilta! I'm sorry I didn't jump on sooner to offer you support but I just saw this thread! You've gotten some great advice. You know what you need to do. I had to start tracking again too. I track on livestrong. I've been bouncing the same 3 lbs for the last few months and I was very frustrated! Found out I was snacking all day. Didn't even realize it. I mean, I knew I was eating the food but just didn't really pay attention to it. According to livestrong, based on my height, weight, exercise, and per week loss goals, they have me at 1600 calories a day! Seems high but it's working! I tracked for a whole week, lost 2lbs. Didn't track the next week, gained 1 back. I'm tracking again and just MUST do so or I just eat too much! I'm not at my sweet spot but hope to be soon. You've got to get it together if you want this to work. I've just learned that. It's a tough lesson. I don't like it but there it is. How's DH been? His health doing okay? I know that's what started it. Now that things have settled down with him [i hope!] you've got to re-focus on yourself. You are very important and you need to do this for yourself! Take care and hang in there! Hugs!

I totally recommend logging your food online. I use livestrong.com, it's free for the basic, which is plenty for me. Like Jacqui, I eat what I want, just in smaller portions and for the most part, it's pretty healthy BUT I stopped logging my food after surgery. I just restarted after being VERY frustrated with bouncing the same 3lbs over the last few months. Guess what? I've been mindlessly snacking. Didn't even realize it! Not hungry when doing it. I have a toddler and every time I'd get her something to eat, I'd grab a handful of whatever on my way thru the kitchen! The first week, I lost 2lbs. Didn't journal last week, gained 1lb back! I am one who MUST log my food. I'm trying to stay under a certain amount of calories, higher than most but it's also based on my exercise output, and the mindless snacking bonks those calorie levels right out of the park! It also helps me get my Water in everyday since it asks you to log that too. I lose better when I'm drinking all of my water. And with the exercise, it's REALLY important. It's also making me think twice about what I'm about to eat. If I had a calorie loaded lunch, I go lighter at dinner. I also, if I'm at home, decide what I'm going to eat, then log it in BEFORE I eat it! Sometimes it's changed my mind! There have been a couple of things I thought would be a pretty decent choice, only to log it in, see the calorie load [be shocked!] then decide on something different! I told myself that once I had surgery and got off the post-op diet, that I would NEVER diet again! And I'm not but I AM paying closer attention to how much I'm eating and it's paying off. Making sure I am hungry before eating something. Getting all my water in. Exercising virtually everyday. Etc. AND I'm NOT at my sweet spot. I'm hungry and if I really want something, I eat it but I also log it in, whether it's going to put me "over" or not. You've got to stay honest with yourself, as hard as it is and sometimes ugly, it's most important. Best wishes!!

:thumbup: Thank you so much for letting us know. I was just thinking about her yesterday. I hadn't seen her post in awhile and knew she was terminal but didn't know at what stage she was at. Guess now I know... She'll be greatly missed on LBT. Prayers to her family and friends.

:thumbup: I just PM'd Tap to let her know what page we were on when she left! She'll have a little message in her box, letting her know what page she needs to start on to try to catch up with us for the week! Aren't I helpful? Actually, I shouldn't be laughing so hard. I always forget what page we were on when I was last on. I always just click on "last page" and look at the date and time of the first post at the top of the page to see if I need to go back a page or two, [or three, or four or...] or can just scroll down to where I left off before reading on! Quiet day today. Went to church. DD and I met DH and his crew for lunch at the lake afterwards, then came home. Gotta get a load of laundry in [yuck!] and start a veggie soup recipe that I'm making for dinner. Migraine never got full-born last night but I'm working on another one today. I'll be in to my meds here shortly, then be clustering for the next few days! Oh joy! And just in time for mid-month IRS payroll tax deposit time! Yeah me! :thumbup: Okay, gotta get that laundry in the washer then get in the kitchen and start chopping veggies! "See" ya!

Go get thee a good food scale. You don't need to spend a big load of money, but get one that you can "tare" [put a dish on and clear it to zero], one you can easily switch between grams and ounces and that goes to several pounds. I have a nice Chef's Mate that I got at Target. Spent a bit more on it than I should have, comes with a book of codes and already has foods in it that you just put a code in for and it comes up, but I NEVER use that part! Could have spent less and gotten the same thing without that part and it would have been fine. It's low profile and pretty flat on top so can easily put a plate or bowl on it to hold food to weigh. It's digital and the buttons are all easy to get to right on top there. It also doesn't take up much counter space tho I do keep it handy on a cupboard shelf above. You will find yourself more and more weighing things. Especially at the beginning. If your doctor is telling you 4oz of this, that or the other, it'll be easier to just weigh. Don't eyeball things, especially at first, you'll not get it right! LOL! I still have to weigh stuff, or measure it! And this is after YEARS of WW and then pre-op and now post-op, etc. Best wishes!! Oh and it's totally time consuming but until you get a food scale, the container should say how many servings are in it. Count it out. If it says says 8 servings, start with 1 almond in each of 8 spots and make piles til they're all gone [like when dealing cards for a good game of Go Fish! :thumbup: ], then bag up the piles in snack bags and you'll have your approximate ounce. It'll make it easier at snack time too, just grab a bag and go! Now, if it's a huge, mondo, costco bag, then it'd be quicker to get in the car and drive to Target, WalMart, Kohl's or wherever, buy a scale, come back, unbox it and it start weighing your portions! LOL!!

Well, heck! Aren't you the Queen's Bee?! LOL! Best wishes on this one too! Prayers that it goes well!!!! Thanks. I'm sure we'll be ok, it's just going to be tight and it's a little scary. Puts me back to the days when he'd get laid off as a seasonal and we were living on next to nothing. Back then we didn't OWN anything tho! Or have a kid! DD starts summer preschool in a week, 3 days a week, 3 1/2 hrs a day. That alone is going to cost $100 a month for 2 months. DH is working overtime this weekend so it's covered now. Then it's on to regular preschool in Sept. That's a little less at $75 a month, 2 days a week, 2 1/2 hrs a day. The summer session came up unexpectedly but we'd already planned for the Fall start. Ummm, STAYING at the house? Hope not! You make me tired Tap! LOL! I'd love to learn to quilt but don't know that I have the patience for it! Next time put the scale away BEFORE you leave the house that evening! LOL! UGH! So sorry! I've been feeling crappy all week and realized I'm PMSing even tho I'm on Depo. I hate PMS! The migraines seem to be trying to start tonight. Yea for me! I sure hope you feel better soon! Nah, you're not alone in your thinking. We're getting a lesson learnin' right now! I'm thinking that there's a lotta learnin' needin' to be done! World's going to hell in a handbasket it seems. Ouch! So sorry! Take it easy and be careful. Grumble away! I'd be grumbling too! Did you ever get a chance to spend a little time in the garden? Sure hope so! Have a safe trip!!! Have fun! Be as gentle as you can with your poor tummy! PJTP: Went to a potluck - celebration - party - thing at church today. Pastor has been at the church for 25 years. It was fun. They "roasted" him and that was pretty funny too. He's a good guy and deserved all of it today! Rained again tonight. It was sunny this AM and we got out for a walk. Feel like crap and headed to bed shortly. Night all!

Unfortunately I can't tolerate most tree nuts. They make me nauseous. BUT I can eat peanuts, pine nuts, pistachios and cashews. :tongue2: I need to incorporate them more. I like to eat them but after so many years of dieting, it's hard to change the mindset that they ARE okay and in the smaller quantities that we are eating, aren't going to do any "damage," weight-wise. Gotta love that dieting mentality. NOT!!!