tapshoes

athlete I know Im late joining in, hope I can play!

Oh no! Things I've not thought of. Now I imagine my thinner self looking like a lollipop covered in fur....not a great mental image!!! Thighs looking longer - I could cope with that. Not recognizing my clothing - that's ok. But a hairy big ass head?? Please excuse me while I run to the bathroom to check....:thumbup:

Tapshoes hangs her head in shame, and mumbles "no ma'am. never again."

What a fabulous NSV!! Congratulations!

Don't you just hate it when a subliminal message is transmitted and understood by one group of people (in this case, drivers) and yet those of us who will be impacted by this (pedestrians, cyclists) are not informed? There are very few bike lanes where I live, and many of them are part of the sidewalk, not the road - do you suppose that was a design characteristic by a cycling survivor or a selfish driver???:thumbup:

Congratulations on getting another apartment that meets your needs and has some character - and a little garden patch too! The friend's father's 13 page lease gave me a chuckle - wouldn't it be easier to write one that says 'you can't do anything until you talk with me' rather than listing all the things you can't do? :thumbup:

It's 331 am, and I can't sleep...I hate when that happens.

have flown several times post-banding. No issues. I do have a card that I could show, but I don't know that the security personnel would be knowledgeable about the band and that might just set off a whole other set of discussions. I haven't had to use it, and don't anticipate this changing. Have a great holiday.

Congratulations! You should be so proud of yourself! Like other posters have stated, successes like yours help us as we face our trials and tribulations. It can be done - thanks for being the 'proof'.

Just posting to say I've been absent from LBT for 12 weeks and have a lot to catch up on....

RSG you look fabulous! Honest, the difference is noticeable, and you should be so proud of yourself.

I agree with the 'feed your hobby' idea. For 50 pounds gone, I'd spend that much money in either fabric (I sew) or books...in fact, that just gave me an idea for my next goal achievement. Whatever it is you do, make it something fun, memorable, something you normally wouldn't treat yourself to!

OK - after another night of the 'battle of the bedclothes', I decided to ask this diverse and large (in number, no relation to physical size) group, your opinions on 2 issues: pillow-flipping; and foot breathing. Taking the first one: I have to have the cool side of the pillow next to my head in order to drift off to sleep. This means that before drifting off, I will 'flip' my pillow several times - apparently disturbing DH (who in my observation is usually fast asleep but likes to have reason to complain). The heat from my head will warm the pillow therefore making it less likely I will relax, as soon as that happens, I must 'flip' it to the cool side. Foot-breathing: and yes, I know we don't breathe through our feet (well, unless there are aliens among us, and that's another topic). By this I mean that no matter how cool the bedroom is, one foot must be out from under the sheets/duvet exposed to the air. And before you ask, there is no heat on in the bedroom - ever, and frequently the window is open a crack, and yes, I live in a place where there is a real winter with snow. But despite this, one foot must be outside or else I feel like I am suffocating. In the dead of winter and early spring (such as now), when the exposed foot becomes rather chilled, I change position so the other foot can 'breathe', and of course then snuggle into the thermal generating station that is DH placing my foot next to his- sometimes jolting him awake as I am (to him) freezing him! Both of these are normal, right?

Whoo Hoo! Finally, a NSV for me! You have no idea how it irked me to read of everyone dropping a lot of weight, and buying new clothes in sizes I can only dream of, etc. However, I finally HAD to buy some new 'frillies' (as DH calls them) and last night went shopping. I got measured and for the first time in decades, I was a C-cup...WOW!! (I am also a few inches smaller, but it is the 'C' which has me almost giddy).:cry_smile: Perhaps the new body which is slowly emerging from underneath the blubber won't be ice-cream cone shaped - there may be a proportioned person there!

No, not from the band! I really am going on my first vacation in several years - I am flying out tomorrow am.:eek: Seeing friends that haven't seen me in years - and we are going to have a rockin' good time!!:biggrin: Of course, the chances are I will also see my ex :frown: and although the ex and the new missus might be initially an awkward situation, we are all adults, and I am SO past it. I will however not be accessing any computers, so I will miss all the conversations, laughs, NSV's and pity parties of the VVs. So, here's the deal, you guys bravely face the next 11 days without me...I know, I know, but you CAN do it! And then, when I get back, I will read each and every post and get caught up on all the news. you won't forget me, will you??? I will let you all know my experiences with flying with the band, vacationing without good restriction, encounters of the ex-kind, and seeing friends who don't know about the band. Take care, keep up the Protein intake, watch for those insidious 'just one taste' devils, and repeat after me "I can do this; I will do this" Tippy tappy away....

Maybe just maybe while I am on my vacation, I will get someone to take a 'she's started her journey' picture. If I get the nerve. But you guys are so inspirational, part of me longs to post a pic ... then I see myself in the mirror - EEKS!!!!

Hey, my DH is 13 years older as well...I don't suppose, nah, it couldn't be...we wouldn't be sharing a DH???

But it's not my eyes I want on him!! Did I say that out-loud? Oh my!!

Thanks!! And yes perky smaller boobs would be nice, but that's a dream for another decade....

14cc band currently 6.5 (have had 3 fills) still hoping for restriction.....had a slight restriction the last fill which lasted about 1 week. Next fill not until mid -June...watch your food, because I may swoop in and steal it!

I've done a lot of public speaking - but not about the lap-band. But that's because I am relatively new to it, and no one has asked me! I love to talk. I am a freak of nature - I enjoy public speaking. However, to me the issue is not the subject as much as your comfort level in talking. If you are comfortable with doing so, and are prepared for people to ask questions, then go for it!

Given you are getting ready to show the house, you need fast and easy. Go to the local garden centre/walmart/cheap store and get tons of colourful annuals and some cheap plastic planters/hanging baskets . Rock courtyard - spray the rocks that are there with an effective 'kill everything green' chemical; pile the rest of the rocks back on. Put one or two nice plants with colour off-centre - maybe put a child's chair or table out there so that you can place them at different heights. Key - keep the weeds down, decorate with strategically placed bright colour floral arrangements at different heights - and keep the arrangement away from the centre. Concrete slabs - RSG has a good idea with the lawn chairs, OR depending on the size, put more plants there, stick a few tiki lights in a few other pots filled with some of your white rocks or earth. Again, colour and different heights. Urine spots - that's where I'd plunk a chair or two. You want the yard to look inviting and flowers and colour and texture and different heights keep the eyes moving....theoretically, they won't focus on the 'why are there concrete slabs there' but rather on the splashes of colour. Good luck.

I always remember at least one dream, frequently several; I always dream in colour. There is frequently music and I have woken previous partners by my humming and singing out loud while sleeping. I frequently wake myself up singing...and yes, I hum and sing all day at home and work (much to the chagrin of those who may be outside my door). In fact, when I was a baby (still in a crib) my father would shut the bedroom door because my laughing and giggling while asleep was annoying to my parents. I still laugh and giggle in my sleep. No TV no electronics other than a teensy-weensy -tiny alarm clock which never rings...I awake the same time (530) everyday - weekends or post late-night parties or work day -it doesn't matter. It is there for one purpose only - on the rare occasion I need to get up earlier than 530, I set it...but invariably I wake before it rings or buzzes or whatever it does. No alarms, no TV no computer no phone- no no no. Bedrooms are for amorous encounters and sleeping only. Have sloped low ceilings so no ceiling fans - else one of us wants to be de-capitated. Nothing under the bed but dust critters.

I feel so sorry for you. I was together with my ex for 13 years. I thought everything was good. I too was hit 'out of the blue' with the revelation of the affair. It took me several years to get over it. Oddly enough, the confession was phrased with the opening words " I love you, and want to be honest with you"...and then the truth almost destroyed me. Yeah, right. Honest about the affair AFTER it was over. What about the frikin' honesty before and during...how about then??? Counselling - I strongly recommend it but NOT to save the marriage, but to help you deal with betrayal. Only after you deal with your pain, can you possibly deal with the marriage...and then, only if you want it. My belief is that someone who cheats is no different than someone who beats animals or humans...if they do it once, they will do it again. Maybe I am wrong; unfortunately in every single instance that I know of (and sadly I know way too many), the betrayer has done it a second or third time...sometimes not until years later but inevitably they do. Do not stay in the marriage 'because of the kids'...the kids will sense the falsity of what you are doing, become confused etc. You can have a stable healthy relationship with the children, as can their father, without being 'married'. Children are amazingly resilient...yes they will be confused upset etc, but staying together because of the kids perpetuates the lies. Be strong.

Thanks Ezma. gotta say, this is the first time 'the girls' have participated in my weight loss. In my many previous weight losses, they have hung (and I use the term intentionally) around - mocking me. This is a first...band and cup size!