Great2BThin

Well the celebrations are done and I am exhausted! The brunch went super well this morning as well. She got lots of nice things and over $1000 cash already and isn't done opening yet, they had to leave for the airport. My niece did bring over a few pics so I am attaching a couple. The first is of DD before the ceremony, note her veil she remade that from my veil of many years ago. The 2nd is me and DH. The 3rd is my DS toasting DD and her new DH and sortta cut off is her new DBIL. The last photo is DH toasting them, it's a horrible pic of me (I was a little teary eyed) but it better shows my MOB dress, there was no good photo of that in the pics she brought but it gives you an idea.

Good morning! I only have a few minutes, I have 20+ family members coming for a wedding brunch and DD and her DH (seems funny to say that) are coming to open wedding gifts. Everything was PERFECT last night. It was the most beautiful wedding if I do say so myself. So many people said it was the most beautiful and fun wedding they've ever been to. DD said it was her dream wedding. And I got so many comments on my MOB dress and how I looked. I felt like a princess myself! Only thing that went wrong was it was 5pm and the DJ still wasn't there. And so many folks weren't there yet. Come to find out there was a huge traffic jam on the freeway, we ended up delaying the wedding til 6pm. Know what delayed everyone? A loose horse on the freeway! DBIL and some S Dakota relatives got there just as the vows were being said. I will post pics when I get some, but thanks for all the well wishes!! Apples, I already have my MOB dress LOL 15 MOB's that is funny. Linda, I am the oldest of 3 daughters. Both my sisters can do no wrong! After all they work hard! LOL

Quick fly by, leaving for rehersal in one hour and I still gotta get ready. Wedding is tomorrow night at 5pm. Thanks for the support in my saying no. Things have worked out for the puppy, DD's future BIL said he'd take her if nothing else. Whew!! Will check in tomorrow if I can otherwise see you after the wedding! Oh got DH's tux today, they goofed on his pants, 2" too short, so had a rush around to get those fixed right.

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO There I am taking Eva and Apple's advice and practicing my no's! I got a big no to give today too. DD and soon to be DSIL have a puppy. DD's future MIL offered to dog sit while they are on their honeymoon. Well seems she has changed her mind and wants to share the duties with us. And wants us to do it over the wedding brunch? Are you kidding me? I am fixing brunch for 20+ folks on Sat. morning, have out of town guests staying here and she wants to add a puppy? I don't think so. I just can't have a 3rd dog in the house wiht my folks staying here as well. It's a good dog, but something about when it's here with my 2 they chase and get wild all over the house. It affects the balance or something. I don't want to leave DD in a bind but am going to stand as firm as possible! My folks got in about midnight last night and spent the night here, just made the meet and drop off with one of my sisters that couldn't drive to pick them up last night. She had the nerve to act ticked at me for not telling her they spent the night here and not the airport. Because she woke up in the night feeling guilty. Well she should!! Okay that's my vent for the day. Thanks for listening gals, if I didn't have this outlet I'd go nuts. But the thing I am most proud of, these 'issues' in the past would have me eating my stress and emotions away. I can't say I am totally innocent in that, I have had my indulgences but I am in so much control too and I am not feeling like I'm not good enough, etc. You gals have helped me so much and just to be able to vent here helps. And I am beginning to see all my 'problems' weren't really all me all this time. I'm not a bad person after all!! Perfect? heck no! But not the bad daughter/sister/etc. I always felt I was either. Well DD is taking me and the bridal party for pedicures or manicures this afternoon at a wine bar type place. I just might have to have me a glass of wine! Tomorrow rehersal, Friday wedding, and Saturday brunch. One week from Monday....WAIKIKI baby!!!

Meredith!! Welcome back, you have been so missed. I am glad you are resolving to check in more regularly. It helps so much with the journey. Julie, I am so glad for you to get that MRI, I hope they find what it is causing the pain and that it's not too serious, something easily remedied. Wow, are we getting a snowstorm. I am so ticked at my sisters. My folks finally got on a flight this afternoon, with the connection in Atlanta they are due in here at 11pm. They are staying at my sisters and they were to pick them up. Well they didn't want to drive in the storm and told my folks they had to spend the night in the airport after they land (there are no hotel rooms available). So DH offered to pick them up, when I told DD about it she said she and DF will be going by that way tonight anyway and they'd get them. They will bring them to my house and sleep in DD's bed she will sleep on the couch and then somehow they'll get to my sister's tomorrow. I knew all day long they were hinting to me to pick them up and bring them to their place. Why is it that I always get the hard stuff?? I get all the work, my sisters get all the praise and when it comes to holidays and special occassions they get all fun stuff too. Okay just venting. Guess I won't have family around in a month or two when I move and then I will maybe miss them??? that might take a few months though. LOL

Apples, you pegged my SIL well!! She's family, sure I love her, but there are times........

What I see as the difference between my SIL's comment and food advice here is my SIL's was totally unsolicited and I even told her I didn't want to hear it and she told me I had to. Here we are all in the same boat so to speak and watch out for each others plates and bobbers, in love! SIL was just pushing her own agenda whether I wanted to hear it or not. Goodness we are getting another huge snow storm. We are having 'thunder snow' right now. Earlier in the week they said an inch or so, now they are talking a foot. Still saying almost 60 on Friday for the wedding.

Thanks, Apples! I will enjoy my nuggets guilt free! On my way out the door now! Back from my nuggets, enjoyed them. Only could eat 5 today. I call it the nugget test on my restriction Sometimes I can eat only 4 and others 6 isn't enough. When 6 isn't consistently enough, then I need a fill. LOL About my SIL, it just bugs me when someone has to preach t their diet or food beliefs on me (or anything else for that matter). We are all entitled to our opinions, we can share them, but the decision is up to the individual. I disagree with so many things she does but don't preach it at her, and besides, I think i've proven I have a handle on my 'diet'.

I've never heard of a stoma spasm either and have never experienced anything like what you described, Apples. Hope I don't! I got a bit of a reprieve today. My parents were to arrive at 1005 this morning and I was to pick them up, take them to Grandma's, lunch etc. Well, Dad being a retired airline employee, they fly standby like me, and they are stranded still in Florida unable to get a flight. The earliest they will arrive now if they get the next one is 7pm tonight and my sisters are off work and they can pick them up since they are staying there the first week. Suddenly I have some free time today and DH just called and now I have a hot lunch date! Just Mickey D's but I'll take it! Gotta have my mcnuggets you know. Speaking of mcnuggets, I was so ticked at my DSIL they other day. She is a self appointed food police I guess. She likes to preach lots of more holistic type herbs, foods, etc. She's always on some new fad (but overweight). Anyhow some how the discussion got to fast food and how bad it is, and yes I agree but am not obsessive over it. I believe everything in moderation. I commented on how McD's McNuggets were my thing and addiction from before surgery and since surgery I have allowed myself mcnuggets each week as my 'off plan choice'. It's worked for me, I've lost 126 lbs doing it. Well......she asks if I heard what is in them. I said no and I don't want to know. She said you have to know. DD said no we don't (she takes after her mother and many times when we get nuggets we order a 10 pc and split it). She insisted on telling us anyway and is now always preaching at us to give them up. Granted, they aren't healthy, they probably have crap in them, but don't spoil my splurge. Is that the wrong attitude for me to have? I'm not a drug addict, alcohol, but I love my nuggets. I know a stupid food to have a thing for, but still, let me enjoy them. That's my thought. Once a week isn't going to hurt me.

I'm still doing good. I've maintained my loss for 10 mos now within a 5 lb range. I'm at the top of that 5 lbs now and need to get that off. Been real busy right now with my daughter getting married on Friday. On top of that DH got a promotion/transfer and I will be moving soon to Utah. We haven't put the house up for sale or anything yet as I can't deal with that and the wedding at the same time. Plus I have been taking care of my 100 yr old grandma. So my plate is pretty full. Oh and finally recovered from 2 knee replacements, one in Oct and the other in Dec. Debbie, you will do great when you get your new knee. I won't lie and say the recovery is easy, it's tough. But so worth it in the end. I just went on a tour of the HOly Land 3 mos after my most recent knee and walked miles and did great. Also, through the whole 6 mos of recovery I never gained weight even with no exercise. Maybe it was the pain pills affecting my appetite or smoething. I've struggled more with those 5 lbs recently. Good luck to you, when is your knee surgery???

OMG, the crazy times have begun. Haven't had time to check in over the weekend, things have hit full speed ahead with wedding planning, moving, DH out of town (he's back), parents coming tomorrow, etc. etc. etc. But Apples, you gave me the laugh of the day. I was reading really fast trying to catch up and in your last post you said you were protecting your soynuts. I read that you were protecting your boys nuts. LOL Okay i am a little embarassed I wrote that, but it was funny here anyway. Things I eat now that I didn't prebanding: BREAKFAST! never ate it eggs yogurt protein bars Deb, I am getting a techie in the family on Friday, my new SIL is a computer geek by profession. Sure is nice to have all our electronics working. I feel like my parents were VCRs first came out and theirs always blinked 12:00 because they didn't know how to set the time and I laughed at them. Please forgive me as I feel that way now! LOL Apples, have fun shopping for the MOB dress. I am anxious to wear mine. I also actually purchased a dress for the rehersal dinner. I don't own a dress at all til now. I actually have 3 to try on and am letting DH pick out the winner and will return the others. They were 50% off til noon on Sat. so I couldn't decide and brought them all home. Hate my legs and my knee scars, but what the heck. Melissa, there is such a fine line between too tight and not tight enough. I am right there now. I am .50 cc's away from where I was at my tightest but it was a tad too tight, had refulx issues occassionally. But where I am at now is too lose, I can eat way too much. So I am debating on compromising with .25cc's. I am wondering though if that is even enough to do anything. I have an appt in April. Well gotta go, here DH coming home, haven't seen him since Thurs. I will be scarcy and just flying by for the next week or two!! Send me good wedding day vibes please!!

Janet, I love Red Robin. I rarely go though. I get a plain burger with no bun and eat about half of it and bring the rest home. Forget the fries though. I take my Grandma there once in awhile as she likes their hamburgers. Joyce, you must be getting our snow, it's slowing down here. Sun is supposed to shine tomorrow. Hopefully the roads clear off quick.

My taxes were done the first week of Feb., Laura, get your noodle away from me!! Refund deposited and spent! (wedding)

I like the Marriott Waikiki so hopefully there. We never rent a car when we go, just take a taxi and I just want to chill by the beach or pool so no need for further transportation really other than my new knees and walking. DH won't rent a car either.

Weather update: Yesterday 70's, right now 22 going down to 13 tonight. BRRRRR Starting to freeze on the roads and rush hour a mess. About 6" so far, supposed to stop at midnight. Thanks for the info on the SUV's. We were going to start shopping this weekend til DH got called to Phoenix but am sure the cars will wait. I just hate car shopping and dealing with salesman, I always feel like I am being taken advantage of. Due to the weather DD & I ordered pizza as we were going out to dinner. Have not had pizza in a long time and we are getting a thin and crispy as I think I can do that crust. Hoping one piece is all it will take! If not it's my little splurge, sounds so yummy!

Weather update: It's STILL snowing!! bigger flakes now and starting to accumulate more. Isn't it spring tomorrow?? I hope next Friday is more springy! Tax Season: here Frito consumption goes up Okay here's a totally off topic question: Part of the 'bargain' of us moving is DH promised me a new car. I know I want an SUV, was thinking big too like an Expedition as we are always so crowded when we load up and go camping with the dogs and all. But prices are outrageous so may scale down to an Explorer Anyway do any of you have any of the newer SUV's if so do you like them or not and why?? DH wants a truck but not sure I want my primary car to be a truck even though driving an Expedition would be truck like. I do know I want 4 wheel drive though and not something small like the Escape. Okay, discuss.......:frown:

Joyce, even if you aren't ready to post a full body shot, be sure you take one. It's fun to compare after you lose more weight. Also having those full body shots helped me start to see for myself that yes I really was losing weight. I still even after almost one year at goal have a hard time seeing my weight loss in the mirror, I still see the 305 lb version of me looking back. But in photos I am beginning to see it. And now once in awhile usually if it's more a quick glance in the mirror I am actually seeing it. But the photos helped a lot. You will get used to eating out. It's a vice I love and now many times DH & I will order one entree and share it. I'm a cheap date now. He was gaining weight as he was eating his entree and then finishing mine. We are learning to either share or actually get those doggy bags. I got hopeful for a moment this morning it looked like our snow was stopping and the sun was trying to come out, but it was a brief illusion, now it's coming down worse and starting to stick to roads. guess I will hunker down at home in some comfy sweats, turn on the fire and have a down do nothing day!

Welll dang it all, I didn't get email updates about new posts since yesterday afternoon. By this morning, I just knew you couldn't have been this quiet and had lots to catch up on. Well after 74 degrees Wed, and 70 yesterday it looks like a blizzard out there this morning. Cold, heavy wet snow. How fast it can change, still not sticking to the roads but I called Grandma and said we'd stay in today. Don't want to chance her slipping. DH left for Phoenix and I did not go with him, now I am rethinking that with all that wet stuff coming down. LOL But thought I'd stay home with DD her last weekend living with us and the pre wedding jitters and all. DS, her fiance and the groomsmen are all in Vegas for a bachelor party. I don't even want to know what they are up to there! :thumbup: I finally tried on my shoes with my dress and they look fab so shoe problem solved. Don't remember if I mentioned but a week or so after the wedding poor DH has to go to Honolulu for work. Well he sure ain't going alone! Free hotel room? Yep I am tagging along, will be nice to just destress after the wedding and before moving. I've asked a friend from here to go along, her husband works for a different airline but she flies free as well so we may just have a girls trip and take over DH's room! LOL I've not been to Hawaii in over 5 yrs (used to go much more frequent) and definitely not since losing weight. New body and new knees, look out Waikiki! Apples, glad the support group was good. After we move I may try and find one in UT just to get to know some folks and 'network' a little there with the band. Eva, I too think it's worth it to pay to have my hair colored. I've tried it myself many times and it comes out okay but after awhile gets too dark as it builds up and I miss too many spots as well. It just looks more natural when I have it done. And I hate doing it myself, worth it to feel pampered for a day. Julie, glad you are trying some harder proteins, I think that will help you in the long term with hunger issues and snacking. Blackdoll, in order to know what to do, kindda need to know what you are doing. Are you eating small portions of hard proteins? or are you doing slider foods? exercise?? how's your restriction? Congrats on your loss thus far! Arelene, yep the cold and wet is coming! Laura, I think I do need to tell DD how lucky she is to have me! :frown: She's already stressing how much she'll miss me after we move, thought that was sweet.

Good afternoon 'chickies' (stealilng Apples word of the day). Bummer DH just called and has to go out of town tomorrow again, I think this is going to be the new way things are. Once the wedding is over, I hope to be able to pick up and go with him a lot. He's off to Phoenix again and I am sure I could find some sunshine and a pool with a lounge chair by it at a hotel some place. Apples, you go to that support meeting with your head held high. I know some of those comments come from pure jealousy. I stopped going to mine for some of the same reasons. I was a 'newbie' as well and way past many of them in terms of weight loss and most of them were bypass as well and would make comments all the time about how slow I was going to lose my weight with the band. Well look who's laughing now, I'm at goal and it took only a year to do it. That and the fact that after being asked to be a leader for it, going through the Obesity Help training etc. the gal over support groups decides she wants someone else. So I got ticked and stopped going. Of course, when this someone else said no, she came scrambling back but the damage was done as far as I was concerned. I have thought of going back and was actually going to go this week but totally spaced it out on Tues. night. Our weather is gorgeous today in the 70's the past 2 days but they say 5 to 10 inches of snow tomorrow. EGADS!! Maybe I will go with DH to PHX!

Julie, I thought you were done with therapy? Are you sure it's not that or the massages that are flaring things up? How about if you let things rest a bit, have someone else take care of Mimi for a few days and rest your shoulder?? Hope you get to the bottom of this. Do you get hungry more often by eating the soft proteins? I'm like your DH give me the meat and forget the potato etc. So this protein diet stuff is right up my ally. Janet, missed ya! Glad you are back. Melissa, have you posted today?

Thanks Apples, I have tried the chews before but they only came in the calcium carbonate and not citrate at the time or something like that. They want me to take the citrate so have been doing the Citracal petites and jsut swallow them. I don't do much fruit, so maybe that will help.

Good afternoon. I am feeling so exhausted today for some reason and a light headache, hope I am not coming down with something, that's sort of what it feels like. I took some Emergen-C, vitamin C stuff this mroning hoping it helps. I did go do my volunteer duties at the hospital today since I really don't have any symptoms of anything. I am getting a little frustrated with my volunteering and am thinking of giving it up sooner rather than later since we are moving anyway. I just get this stuff to do with no direction and they are so unorganized I redo the same stuff each week. No more responses from DD's future MIL, not sure what was up with her, I just pray she doesn't do something stupid at the wedding. Guess her fiance is going to have a chat with his mom tomorrow. Jessica - I know how overwhelming moving can be. Iam faced with it right now myself. But remember, it will happen no matter if you stress out about it or not. So try and remain calm and just do what you can, the rest will wait. Get help and since it's an in town move what you can't get one weekend, get the next. One step at a time and you'll get there. Laura, hope the neck is better. Apples, glad DS's basement is going to be okay. Your story about the note in the lunch reminds me of when we were first married. I packed DH a lunch but inside teh sandwich I put a note that said I love you. Well he bit into in the lunchroom with about a hundred other guys and then had this paper in his mouth and trying to discreetly pull it out and see what it was. LOL Phyl, hope your friend is better. Okay, nurses, anyone get a chance to read my question as to whether calcium is constipating???

Happy Birthday Joyce! So far no more responses from DD's future MIL. When DD first got engaged she sat them down and listed a whole list of 'concerns' she went so far as to say my DD needed pshychiatric help! So yes she has voiced issues to her and her son before. She has gone far enough that she may lose a relationship forever. I just don't get what she thought she was going to accomplish by dragging me into it 10 days before the wedding. The woman has infuriated me and it is goign to be hard to be civil to her at the wedding. And now I am worried what will she do at the wedding. Apples, sorry to hear about your son's flooding, hope they got it cleaned up okay and that the repairs aren't too costly. Arlene, hoping for good test results.

Chicken nuggets are not a mushy. Please don't push it, this 6 weeks is commonly referred to here as Bandster hell, you had surgery to get restriction and lose weight but you are feeling nothing but hunger right now. This will pass after you heal and start getting fills. This 6 weeks is for healing, you just had major surgery, please don't do anything to affect your band. Follow your docs orders, call the office for help if you need to. Some docs are strict about no fills til 6 weeks others prefill them during surgery. One point of advice I got ehre that helped a lot as so many docs have different opinions, 'Follow the advice of the one that will take care of you if you have complications'. Congrats on your band and remember these 6 weeks though tough will pass. 12 lbs in a month? That's over 3 lbs a week, pretty darn good! Check with the doc on the pain. Is this where your port is? Probably just healing but never take any stabbing pain for granted Okay you nurses, I got a question today too. I started back up on my full vitamin regime today. I had stopped it when I was on blood thinners from surgery, etc. Question is, is calcium constipating? I've had no more issues with that after getting off the vicodin and now it's back. Only thing I can think of is the vitamin as that is all that has changed. And I am thinking i heard that about calcium before. I am doing benefiber, lots of water, etc. I know calcium is important especially since osteoporsis is in my family but heck, it almost makes me not wnat to take it. Got a response from that future MIL of my daughters. She has seen red flags for their marriage since the beginning. WTH, why now does she chose 10 days before the wedding to want to bring this up to me? what's her motive? ruin the special day? this woman likes to be the center of attention and by gosh she is going to be it no matter what. It's all I can to be civil in my emails back to her. DD and fiance are furious as well.

Is vertigo contagious like dead batteries? I battled taht yesterday and to a small extent this morning. I am being lazy and still have not started on t his house, now my excuse is I have to leave in 20 min for my hair appt. so guess it'll still be here this afternoon. DH is gone today to Phoenix so I have lots of time. Eva, is Phoenix near you? I almost went with him but have too much to do with wedding coming up.