PhotoNut

Guess who's sleeping in a little bed in my room? *big happy smiles* Yup, we brought our grandson back over tonight so his mom and dad could get the moving cleanup completed. I am so stinking sore from all the walking yesterday! Berks are NOT the thing to wear for speed walking when you have a 250+ lb body! *laughs* I will do 30 minutes of cardio every day. (Too too sore to try.) I will drink 6 - 16.9oz bottles of Water every day. (Way behind on water today.) I will write down every bite I put in my mouth - quantity, calories, Protein. (Yup, keeping up on this.) I will take on one realistic self or home project per day. (Dawg and I took a drive to the mountains today. I took the camera along and started working on my photography homework for the week. We also did a large grocery shop and - did I mention that we have our grandson with us again? hehe)

MmmmmmMMMmmm... cream of pizza soup. *laughs*

Hey Paula.. I'm just teasing ya. If you want to put up your weight you can, or you can just wait until Wednesday. Every Wednesday I update everyone's stats. If you want your Highest, Surgery, Goal weights up by your name, let me know what they are.

:bounce::welcomeB: :bounce: to the club ScrapKarla! You did it just right and you're now on the member's list. Grats on your wonderful weight loss and good luck with the move!

Hiyas WeightLoser! Grats on your banding! Follow your Dr's directions carefully and you should see excellent results! :eek:

MoOrLess asked me to post her introductory bio on this thread, so here it is: I have struggled with my weight since I was 13 years old. I was diagnosed with a 'slipped disk' and it has since turned into six herniated disks through the years. I also have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia recently. Both of these conditions make it difficult, if not downright impossible to exercise consistently, if at all. Some days I am lucky I can walk and get through the day without major pain sending me to bed to rest. I went from a thin pre-teen and entered high school weighing 117 pounds, to graduating at 180 pounds and getting married the first time at this weight. As my body has deteriorated the weight has just poured on. So I started researching lap band last summer, almost a year ago! I have gathered up a ton of information and know that it is one surgery I want and need. I planned to have the surgery done in January but I also have returned to college. I decided to wait until this summer so that I could focus on 'me' and not on my classwork. The homework is killing me as I just changed my major to education. I have been with my sweetie for almost 6 years now - he moved from TX to be with me. I have two grown kids, 22 and 25; and he has five kids, two who are not grown and I have the pleasure to raise! they are 8 and 16 years old. I am blessed to have such a wonderful family and they are extremely supportive when it comes to anything I do. Having been through two marriages and divorces I have greeted this wonderful man with open arms! He was well worth waiting for! My oldest daughter convinced me to go back to school and it has been a great experience! My son bought his own house at 21 years of age and is content in his work. Need I say we are a busy family with three children in other states and four children with us, or nearby. I'm excited about having the surgery and of course almost anxious. I have read almost every thread on this board and have my concerns. But after I read all of the support and encouragement that each of you have given to others on the board, I am ready! I know that I have a lap band family available to me whenever I need them! THAT is reason enough to embrace the surgery. Having the surgery will allow me to move around better and stop taking quite a bit of medication that I just hate taking. I feel like my life evolves around medication and pain treatments and I want it to end. I am 48 years old but mentally feel about 30! Physically I feel like I am at least 80 years old. I figure it can't hurt to have the surgery and see if things can't improve just a bit for me physically. Currently, I am at an all time high of 275, and I am only 5'4. I have never weighed this much and hate being at this weight. I have now also been diagnosed as diabetic, though I have actually gotten my sugars completely under control with medication. I can't wait to have my sugar at a non-diabetic level without medication. I know surgery can do that for me! I want to lose quite a bit of weight and have concerns as to whether I can more easily exercise as I lose weight. I am afraid of not losing weight even with the surgery, if I can't exercise. What then? I plan to get down to my correct weight of 140. If I get somewhere 'near' that I will be thrilled. Here's to Lap Band surgery! I plan to have my first contact with the place doing my surgery in April or May, depending on schoolwork. I want the summer off from school to recuperate. So that's me and my life in a nutshell. I can't tell you how relieved I am to finally have made the decision to have the surgery, knowing there is such a great group of people ready to support me here! So thank you in advance.

Hmmm.... pizza in the blender? It's a thought. *snickers*

Just making sure you're paying attention. *winks* I see Tricia K in the thread tonight. Hiya Tricia! *waves hello*

Hey Liana :eek: Nah, nobody gets dropped. *points to each individual in the club* This club is for you, and you, and you... it's yours. Take from it what you need, give what you can - when you can. Whether you're the vocal type that likes the social aspect of the club, or you're the sit back and watch type that draws strength and knowledge from listening to others, the GFG Club was started for you with no expectations... only hopes that it will help when help is needed. :eek:

Have you ever heard the saying, "It takes guts to get out of ruts." ? Well, there's a reason for that saying - it's not an easy thing to do! But you CAN do it. It's not forever, it's only for a short while. In the meantime, put some bean n bacon Soup in a blender, turn it to liquid and heat it up. Yum Yum. Salty, creamy, warm goodness that will fill you up. You're an addict (smokes and food) going through withdrawals, but this WILL pass. Each day will get easier. And each day that you fight your way through, you WILL feel better. I promise! *hugs* Hang in there, you can do this.

Hey Jess - I'm sending over lots and lots of peaceful and comforting thoughts for you, and I'm praying for a successful surgery and quick recovery for you as well. Can't wait to see your results. "FlatBellyKellie" looks awesome, doesn't she? You will too! I'm so grateful to you gals who are braving this ahead of me. It gives me the courage to follow after you, cause I know there's no way this bod is going to return to any reasonable shape this time. I'm too old and I've done it too many times. You'll do just fine. I'll be thinking about you all day tomorrow. *hugs*

My old dragon, still taunting me -->:croc:<--- My new dragon, determined to win!

Gotcha covered in prayers, Brenda. Don't even try to cheat. God is on alert and He will catch you! *laughs* Well my baby went home this morning and cried when I left him with Mommy and Daddy. Gosh I love being a grandma :eek: I will do 30 minutes of cardio every day. (Went to a great photography workshop today and walked my fanny off! Everyone in the group was fit except one other girl who was younger and not as fat as me, so I was working my poor little fat legs as hard as I could to keep up with everyone as we walked around downtown Boise.) I will drink 6 - 16.9oz bottles of Water every day. (On track so far) I will write down every bite I put in my mouth - quantity, calories, Protein. (Yup, keeping up on this.) I will take on one realistic self or home project per day. (Colored my hair - Yay! I'm starting to actually care again! And went to the photography workshop. Will be doing this every Saturday for quite some time. Love it!)

Right.. well, the Insert Image icon is for linking to pics that are on a server. I was talking about being able to attach pics that we upload (paperclip icon), like we do in regular posts. Thats how I did the first pics in my journal.

:bounce::welcomeB: :bounce: to the Club Wonkette and VegasWildflower! Paula, if you put your weight now you'll have a loss to show next Wednesday. *winks*

Woohoo!! I'm rich! A round of lapbands for the house, on me!!

That's it - I'm not going back for another fill now! Thanks Randy :eek: *snickers*

Thanks Vegas! I claim insanity from living with a 2 1/2 yr old for the past two days. I didn't get in my Water today, didn't walk, blech. I ate right and didn't sit on my lazy rear all day, so that's something anyway. *laughs* I'll try again tomorrow. The cutie pie goes home in the morning. I'll miss him so much!

Heyas Dawn, Welcome to LBT! Your story sounds so much like mine. Healthy in most respects - just terribly obese. I'm not a snacker, don't care for sweets, loved to cook, centered every family event around the planning, preparation and serving of food. I didn't know how to cook small or eat small. I ate huge quantities of food, and often hated myself for it. I wondered how in the world I was going to give all of that up. I've had the band since Jan 9th of this year and my entire outlook has changed. A lot of it without my even noticing it. Family events now center around family - not food, which gives me much more relaxed time to enjoy the people I love. The drive to eat and eat and eat and eat at every meal is gone. The last time I felt self loathing over the food issues was pre-banding. That's been replaced with a slowly increasing sense of accomplishment. You said, that "this is a scary, life-altering procedure". I was afraid of the changes too. I was scared to death that I would fail somehow - I've been so good at failing in the past. I didn't know how I was going to cope without my comfort (food), and for a time before surgery I was feeling remorseful about giving it up. But what I found was a very pleasant surprise. I don't feel deprived. I don't feel like I've said goodbye to what I thought was my only comfort in life. Since banding I've gone through a bored, down in the dumps time when I felt like I wasn't really going to lose this weight, and if I did manage it, it was going to take soooo loooong to do it.. yadda yadda... which typically would have been the point I would have falled off the wagon and started gaining back - but I didn't do that this time. The band kept me going, even when I didn't want to. That was a huge break-through for me. Life-altering? Yes, I'd say so. I've lost 52 pounds. I'm starting to feel stronger and more agile each day. While I'm still a bit afraid to put my full faith in the success of this venture (strictly because of my self-destructive patterns), I'm beginning to have glimmers of believe in it. That's HOPE. And that's something I had lost before the band. And without hope, we are dead. So yep, it altered my life in a big way. It brought me back from sure death and gave me another chance at really living and enjoying my life. Scary? Yes, it's never easy venturing into the unknown. But each day I keep putting one foot in front of the other (on the dreadmill.. hehe) I am finding that it's not so scary after all. In fact, it's quite do-able, and very pleasant. I was self pay as well. I felt guilty as sin about spending all that money on my lazy, self-gratifying, out-of-control, fat self. Twenty-six thousand dollars can go a long way in paying off bills, helping family, taking a vacation, etc. However, my family all agreed that they would rather have me alive and healthy to enjoy the years ahead with them, than anything else they could think of to spend the money on. I thank them for that, from the bottom of my heart. And if I had to do it over again, I would. As for Mexico - I hear only great things about Dr. Rumbaut. The others.. well, I've heard both good and bad.. some very bad. The important thing is to be sure you have a local doctor set up for follow-up care unless you can easily get back to Mexico if you have any problems. Some doctors in the states won't touch a bandster who was banded by another surgeon, let alone out of the country. I look forward to welcoming you to bandland and to hearing about how it's altered your life. :eek:

Good lookin' guys Penni! I'll bet it seems like only yesterday that were the size of my grandson!

Please pass along our sincere thanks and congratulations to your brother in law.

Honors Page for GFG Club Members :eek: (And they ask if this works!) :eek: :whoo: :first: 100 pounds or more gone for good! :first::whoo: --------------------------------------------------------------- HeatherGurly - 103 pounds Chunk - 100 pounds 90 pounds or more gone for good! ----------------------------------- Patty103 - 99 pounds Kimmcneely - 93 pounds Joe - 92.4 pounds Coyotegirl - 92 pounds 80 pounds or more gone for good! ----------------------------------- Txblue_eyedqt - 86 pounds JillS - 85.2 pounds PinkMary - 80 pounds 70 pounds or more gone for good! ----------------------------------- Kimbo - 79.5 pounds Bell - 77 pounds EmilyKaye - 77 pounds Kelliebelly - 73 pounds NaturalBeauty - 73 pounds Tricia K. - 72 pounds 60 pounds or more gone for good! ----------------------------------- LSasha - 69 pounds Wonkette - 66 pounds Paula - 65.8 pounds Daisybelle - 63 pounds Drj - 63 pounds P'Nut - 62.5 pounds Betje - 61 pounds Dawg - 60 pounds MollyMolly - 60 pounds ScrapKarla - 60 pounds 50 pounds or more gone for good! ----------------------------------- LegallyKristin - 59 pounds The best me - 58.2 pounds Anillacookie - 57 pounds Mychevygirl - 52 pounds Maggie63 - 56 pounds DianeChef - 55 pounds Kim_8 - 54 pounds Marypetunia - 51 pounds Marie485 - 51 pounds RHONDAKO - 50 pounds :clap2: Great work everyone! Now let's get more of us on this page! :clap2:

Welcome to the Gone for Good Club The members of this "club" are like-minded people who want to challenge each other to keep working toward our goal of weight loss and keeping it off! We have no illusions of the band being a miracle cure, nor do we believe that we will achieve our goals without working for them. We understand that if we continue the lifestyle and eating habits that got us fat in the first place, we will not achieve our goals. We come together in order to strengthen our determination by sharing our dreams, our struggles, and our victories with one another. Everyone is welcome to join the club - banded, pre-banded, no band - all are welcome to join at any time. To join, please post a brief introduction of yourself and list any information you want posted on the main page. See the list of members below to get an idea of what info you can post. The only requirement for joining the club is a commitment to your own success in your weight loss journey, and the ability to say NO to Girl Scout cookies! (club joke *winks*) Wednesdays are weigh-in days for those who wish to have us update your progress on this page. Please post a brief note on Wednesdays in the following format: C 265 (-42 lbs total, -3 this week) We encourage everyone to get to know one another while sharing tips, support, struggles, and encouragement... and a kick in the rear when needed! *grin* This is not a contest, there is no deadline, and everyone is a winner by being a "loser"! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (H-highest weight, S-weight at surgery, J-weight when joined this club, G-goal weight, C-current weight) AliDiane - H & S 224/ J 210/ G 120 (-14 lbs) Bell - S 300/ J 223/ G 160 (-77 lbs) Betje - H 300/ S 286/ J 239 (-61 lbs) Chameleon - H 275/ J 269 (-6 lbs unbanded to date) Cheri - H 266/ J 234/ G 150s ? (-32 lbs) Coyotegirl - H 305/ S 294/ J 220/ G 150ish/ C-213 (-92 lbs total, no change this week) Criss Kellogg - H 245/ S 241/ J 211/ G 175/ C 205 (-36 lbs total) Daisybelle - H 400+/ S 403/ J 343/ C 340.5 (-63 lbs total) Dawg - 307 (no band)/ J 265/ C 256 (-51.0 total, -3 this week) DianeChef - H 258/ J 208/ G 150/ C 202 (-55 lbs total) Dongger - newly banded! Drj - H 295/ J 234/ C 232 C-213 (-63 lbs total) EmileeKaye - H 303/ J 227/ C 223 (-80 lbs total, +2 this week *hugs*) Fee2Young2B40 - H 278/ J 230/ G 150?/ C 229 (-49 lbs total, -1 this week) FunnyDuddies - H 372/ J 340/ G 120 (-32 lbs unbanded, hoping to be banded soon) Gloria37 - H 310/ J 285/ G 190/ C 281 (-29 lbs total) Gurly - H 365/ S 329/ J 279/ G 190/ C 268 (-97 lbs total, -3 this week) Founder and Resident Hot Chick of the Gone for Good Club Jaygerl05 - H 245/ S 243/ J 200/G 165 (-45lbs) Jerseytammy - H&S 308/ J 269 (-39 lbs) Jill S - H 320/ S 289/ J 246.6/ G 155/ C 237.6 (-82.4 lbs total, -2.8 this week) Joe - H 362/ S 320/ J 269.6/ G 200 (-92.4 lbs) Josette - Joined March 28th Kaybug - S 360/ J 348 (-12 lbs total) Kim 8 - H 235/ S 218/ J 192/ C 185.5 (-49.5 lbs total, -2.5 this week) Kimbo - S 292/ J 226/ C 2231.5 (-70.5 lbs total, -1.5 this week) LegallyKristin - H 298/ S 264/ J 251/ G 140/ C 249.5 (-48.5 lbs total, +2 this week *hugs*) Lianna - H & S 229/ J 204/ C 198.5 (-30.5 total, -2 this week) Welcome to Onderland, Lianna!! :clap2: LSasha - H 340/ J 280/ C 281 (-59 lbs total, +11 this week, watch 11o'clock news for story!) Maggie63- H 285/ S 277/ J 235/ G 190 (-50 lbs) Maryb - H 219/ 1st Dr Visit 207/ S 201/ 1st G 180/ 2nd G 150/ Final G 130/ C189 (-30 pounds total, -3 this week) MaryPetunia - H 342/ S 333/ J 303/ G -200 lbs! (-39 lbs) Michelle43mi - S 215/ J 186/ G 125 (-29 lbs) Mistjin - H 304/ J 297/ C 294 (-10 lbs total, -1 this week, hoping to be banded soon) MollyMolly - H 288/ S 264/ J 230/ G 140/ C 228 (-60 lbs total) MoOrLess - Waiting to be banded this summer. Morsaille - S 312/ J 287/ G 180/ C 285 (-27 lbs total, -3 this week) Mrycrltn - S 189/ J 168.5/ G 125/ C 160 (-29 lbs total, -2 this week) Mychevygirl - H 380/ J 351.5/ C 333 (-47 lbs preband, -3.5 this week) NaturalBeauty - S 283/ J 228/ G 185/ C 220 (-63 lbs total, -2 this week) Nightingale2u - H 257/ J 219/ C 221.5 (-35.5 lbs total) Papillon - S 291/ J 255.5 (-35.5 lbs) Patty103 - (-99lbs total) Paula - Officially joining in April. Slow poke! Penni - H 296/ S 296/ J 252/ G 200/ C 251 (-45 lbs total) PhotoNut - H 307/ S 291/ J 265/ G 130/ C 255 (-52 pounds total, -3 this week) Poster child - H&J 258/ G 130/ C 259 (band date May 8th!) Pugmum - H 250/ J 240 (-10 lbs) RHONDAKO - S 270/ J 229/ G 150/ C224 (-46 total) ShackDog - (just started pre-op diet, band date April 17th!) Shauntil6266 - H 223/ J 223/ G 150 (band date March 29th) Skbiship78 - S 205/ J 185/ G 125/ C181.5 (-23.5 lbs total, -.5 this week) SkyeBlu - H 210/ S 206/ J 191/ G 130/ C 185 (-25 lbs total) Sunta - (-20.9 lbs total) Tess L - S 216/ J 195/ C 191 (-21 lbs since surgery, no change this week) The best me - H 242/ S 223/ J 188/ C 183.6 (-58.4 total, -2 this week) Tricia K. - H 283/ J 216/ G 160/ C 207 (- 67 lbs. total, -2 this week) TwinkleLil_star - J 264 (Band date May 12th) Txblue eyedqt - H 296/ S 296/ J 224/ G 140-150/ C 210 (-86 lbs total) Valhallagirl - S 250/ J 238/ G 130/ C 237 (-13 lbs total) Wendyr - H 230/ S 226/ J 188/ G 135 (-42 lbs total) TOTAL GROUP LOSS PRIOR TO JOINING CLUB: 2,352.8 pounds (over one ton!) Total group loss week ending March 08: 63.7 pounds Total group loss week ending March 15: 59.0 pounds Total group loss week ending March 21: 62.6 pounds Total group loss week ending March 29: 37.8 pounds Total reported loss for March 2006: 223 pounds Gone for Good!

Ok everyone. This is my last post on the GFG Club March thread. I'm going to be asking Penni to lock this thread now. I'll be starting the April thread tonight because I'm going to be gone most of the day tomorrow. Thanks everyone for contributing to the beginning of this wonderful thread and very special club. You all are the best! Click here to go to the Gone For Good Club - April 2006 thread.

Because you want to. *grins and holds out her hand for her million dollars*