Great2BThin

Judy, I struggle with that same 5 lbs. It drives me nuts but at least it is just 5 lbs. and doesn't turn into 10 then 20, etc. I think as long as we can never go over that 5 lbs mark we should be good, maybe this is what maintainance is all about? I'd rather struggle the other way with losing 5 lbs LOL

I'm back from Vegas! I had a great time. WE arrived about 11am on Sunday morning and I hung out at the airport while DH worked. Then we got checked into our hotel which was near the convention center. We walked all the way to the strip and then down the strip as far as the Bellagio, in a straight line that was just over 2 miles but we zig zagged through lots of casinos and a mall on the way so all in all walked at least 5 miles. My knees held up pretty good. I was worried that night as my most recent new knee was very swollen but it was fine. My leg muscles hurt more than the knees as it's been awhile since I worked out much. We had dinner at the Bellagio buffet, had Kobe beef there wasn't that impressed, tried Ostrich didnt' like the texture, and had lots of King crab legs, well lots in bandsters terms. LOL Then we went and saw the Blue Man Group. It was very different but we enjoyed it. I put $4 in a slot machine and lost it, that was all for my gambling. Then yesterday morning it was back to the airport, where I had a CA Pizza kitchen breakfast pizza. But couldnt' do the crust so just had the eggs, sausage and bacon off the top. DH did more work then we tried to come home. Had much trouble with flights, first one was oversold, we didnt' get on. The 2nd one was an hour late, got the last seats on it, but then missed our flight from Salt Lake to Denver due to the delay, got home late last night. Today I am off to take Grandma shopping. I dont' feel like it but gotta go, she is out of so many groceries and misses me. I did read all the posts but no time to comment right now. Did want to say Congrats to Joyce though!! Welcome to the banded life!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU' HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR LAURA HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! (good thing you can't hear me sing, my dad used to tell me I needed to carry a bucket to church to carry my tune!) Just a quick fly by post. Already been to breakfast, got my oil changed in the car, and got DH fitted for his tux. I am getting ready now for DD's bridal shower and thought, OMG I haven't checked in here yet today! I can't complete my day w/o you gals! Have a good one!

Linda, my mom was so like that too, so cruel about my weight. Thing is when I was growing up I really wasn't overweight, but I was larger than my sister. I wore a size 11 and she always said my sis was the perfect size, a 9. At 125 lbs (I am 5'9 remember) she told me I could stand to lose 5 more lbs. and I was compared to her athletically too. Of course my sister ate it all up. It was tough. Now I am smaller than all of them! LOL Well I definitely can tell I got that fill yesterday, just got painfully stuck and then PB'd on some pork chop. I had gotten so used to not having to be so careful in my bites and portions or something. I only ate half a pork chop but the bites were evidently too big, also I have had problems with pork in the past when I had my restriction. As much as I hated the experience, I was thrilled to get stuck and PB, that means it's working again!

Laura, looks like a beautiful wedding! how neat to leave the reception on a boat! Thanks for sharing. Hope everyone is feeling better soon.

Guess it's the day for Walmart runs, I went there today too. Was so excited over my bargains. The mornign after the wedding we are having a brunch at the house while DD and DF (guess he'll be a DH then) open wedding presents. Well they had this row of clearance Valentines stuff, i got some hot pink plain square paper plates for 37 cents a package (and pink is her color) and I got some napkins with hearts on them (thought totally appropriate for a wedding brunch) also for 37 cents and some pink silk rose petals i thought I'd spread on the table around the dishes. After the expense of a wedding, I was thrilled with 37 cents! Linda, congrats on being a smaller size than your sister. Truth be told it's one of the things that thrills me the most right now, being smaller than my sisters. You see, I was always the 'fat sister' and they were not nice about it even in adult years they were very condenscending. When I first had my band surgery they were very supportive. Then one day they asked what size I was now, and I was a 14/16 at that time and they even said, 'now you are pissing us off' and from that day forward, never once commented on my weight loss. I don't have many size 8's that fit but I do have a few, you can bet when I last saw them I had on an 8. Then DD, gotta love it, asked me in front of them, 'mom, are those your size 8's'. I'm sorry, I am not usually so catty, but my sisters and I well, we don't have the best relationship and it just felt good. My guilty pleasure! LOL Now if they asked me about the surgery, or for advice, help, anything, I'd be there for them in a heartbeat! Joyce, I remember one of the things that helped me the most just before surgery when I was having all those 'what the heck am I doing' thoughts was something I read. It said to remember that I researched this surgery, had numerous preop tests to be sure it was safe, and made the decision with a level head, right now it's just nerves talking to you. You'll do great.

Good morning, Allie, I am still here. I am doing well. I am still working on getting my band filled back up to where it was before my 2nd knee surgery. I had to have an emergency unfil of about half (5cc's) of my fill while in the hospital after my surgery, I couldn't keep a sip of water down even. I am up 3 lbs which ticks me off but it will come off. I've allowed way too much snacking while my band was wide open. I am back to within 1 cc of where I was pre surgery. I am hoping this does it for me as I was pretty tight before and not sure I want to stay that tight, but I will if that is what it takes to maintain my weight. I have a couple trips coming up that I am excited for. This weekend DH has to go to Las Vegas for a night for work so I am tagging along. Then in 10 days I am leaving for a tour of Isreal with a group from my church. can't wait for that one. I have all sorts of new vacation clothes too!! So next Junies.....where are you? how are you do ing??

Good morning. Woke up to all white outside, more snow last night. I am waiting for it to melt off the roads some before I head out. I volunteered to pick up a cake at Costco for DD's bridal shower tomorrow and a veggie tray. I invited my Grandma to go with me but she decided I would rather go without her. GRRR bugs me when she does that, I tell her if I wanted to go alone I wouldn't ask her. I am anxious for my overnight trip to Las Vegas on Sunday. We used to live there and I enjoy going back though being back for such a short time and DH having to work at the airport part of it, won't leave any time to get together with anyone we know there. I'd love to maybe see a show but wow are they expensive. The good seats for Blue Man group are $153 each! I slept so good last night from 930 last night til 730 this morning. Feels wonderful! Not sure why my knee pain was flaring up the previous few days but it seems better today, maybe it has to do something with the change in weather? Apples, are you getting any hot weather down there in FL before you have to go back? Janet, how's the visit with your son going? Eva, sounds like you really enjoyed the show. Joyce, hang in there, you are doing great! LAuraK, good going on adding another day of Zumba to your week! Laura, hope everyone is well soon, sorry you had to cancel your trip. Julie, hope you slept well last night.

I used Dr Snyder in Denver and was self pay as well. He is great, but very busy. I would recommend him in a heart beat. Good luck to you!

Good afternoon, just got home from my fill. I got another 1cc back in my band. I am now at 10cc which is one less than I was at surgery. She offered to give me both cc's to put back there but I opted to go conservative as I dont' want to get too tight while I am out of the country later this month and have issues. i've never had problems with tightening up and flying but hear it can be an issue. Plus I thought I was possibly a tad too tight then so will see how this goes. I am scheduled for another fill on March 10th. The bummer part is I gained 3 lbs since my last fill. I had maintained so well for so long and suddenly am struggling. time to go back to logging my food, watch the snacking, etc. DH called and his boss wants him to go to Las Vegas for a night asap. So guess who's going to Vegas this weekend? We are going on SUnday to Monday. He's supposed to take me along and buy me a nice dinner! I can do that. DH couldn't go today and on Saturday is my DD's bridal shower, I didn't want to miss it. Cassie, you need to eat more solids during the day so you aren't so hungry at night and don't have cookies, etc. in the house! Good luck. Sam, luckily I didn't have to do a pre op diet. Not sure how'd I have handled that. Julie, my knee has been a little better but still more achy lately than it's been. Thanks for asking. Janet, goodness girl you are busy! Hope you get some time to relax soon. Apples, how scary to be in that situation. Did you hear how the guy is? Was hoping to catch some curling on the Olympics this afternoon, but no such luck!

RUn??? ha ha!! Me?? Seriously though, I just had both my knees replaced and I know have doctor's orders not to run. LOL For once a doc's orders that will be easy to follow! I am only allowed to run if from danger. But I can and should walk a lot. I feel like I now have to start from square one on the exercise but I'll get there again. As most of you know I volunteer for the bariatrics dept. at my hospital. Today I put together packets for pediatricians. They are starting a teen program. Interesting. Tomorrow I am getting another small fill, I hope this puts me back at my sweet spot. Well gang, my DH interviewed for that promotion/move we should know something in a week or so at the most. Arlene, did you ever do that 5 day pouch test?? Eva, sorry your back flared up. Glad you got some relief.

Good morning. It looks like a beautiful day out, bright blue sky, sun and the snowcapped mountains but it must be cold out. I am sitting here wrapped in a blanket. Today is my volunteer day at the hospital and will be leaving shortly for that. Last night we had our final tasting for the wedding, the menu is set there will be 2 choices: pot roast and chicken marsala. We also ordered the cupcakes, she is doing those instead of a wedding cake. I stepped on the scale this morning and am up 1.5 lbs. GRRR Gotta get a grip on that, I've maintained so easily but that little gain has me freaked out. yes I have made a few poor choices here and there and they seem to be more often than in the past so time to rein that in. My dress has to fit for the wedding! Jewel, why did you stop taking your meds? Can you just start them back up again as you wait for therapy? Please take care of yourself, you've made amazing progress. AQT, welcome! Sounds like you need more of a fill to get more restriction. Did they have to completely empty your band with the reflux? I had trouble with that once and they only took a half or 1 cc out of my band, the reflux went away and I kept some restriction that way. Hope they figure out just what works for you. Congrats on the amazing loss so far!! Ezzie, my only regret about my band surgery is why didn't I do it sooner? It has totally transformed my life. I had surgery in June of 08 and lost 126 lbs in a year and have maintained that for almost a year now. It feels wonderful to have my life back. I think it's only natural to be nervous and scared for surgery, I know I was. And I got more so as the date got closer and closer. I just reminded myself that I did lots of research on this, had many preop tests and made the decision with a calm rational mind and not the scared to death one just before surgery. I can feel my port, in fact mine sticks out some, more so than most. Dr says it's because I had a small stomach (never thought of my stomach as small when I weighed 305 lbs), but I carried most of my weight in my butt and legs. The nurse practioner told me I could get a lower profile port but to me it's not worth another surgery. It's not bothersome or anything I can just see it when I am naked in front of the mirror and taht doesn't happen too often. DH says it feels weird and catches him by surprise sometimes. This is a great place for support and feel free to ask any questions you have, there is no such thing as a silly or stupid question, we've all been there.

Forgot to comment on the Lent tradition of giving something up. I am not Catholic and have never done that. However, Julie, I think it would be great for you to give up the white bread, especially if it is a weakness of your's. Might just jumpstart your losses as well. I had a tiny piece of a roll at lunch today and that is about all the bread I've had since banding. I just don't do bread well since my band. And even that one taste I knew it was a good thing i can't handle bread well as I would've loved more!

That's great that you are feeling so much better. Have you posted any new pics??

Is it bedtime yet??? :biggrin::sleep::thumbup: Gosh I am tired today, probably doesn't help I was up half the night last night. My dang knee was bothering me and it hasn't done that for some time now. What's up with that? I didn't even over do it or anything. Then was up at 6am this morning and did my errands with Grandma today since yesterday was a Monday holiday and DH was home. It was a challenge today with her too, sometimes they are, and the fact I was so tired didn't help my patience level. I went and got a pedicure after to just relax. I just love getting a pedicure, i feel so pampered. Sounds like we got some good losers here today!! Congrats to Linda & Laura for breaking those plateaus! Janet, hope your sister is okay, enjoy your visit with your son! Eva, hope you are having an uneventful flight back home. Jewel, awesome that you are such an inspiration to others already with your band! Phyl, hope you are feeling better.

Linda, heck no didn't think anything negative of your post to my venting one. Sounds like you've been busy. That is too bad you are goign to be missing some vacation time. sounds like you work for a great company until it comes to vacation time. I just cooked a yummy dinner, Prime Rib. I found this at the bottom back corner of my freezer, it was dated Dec 2007!!! I remember buying several because they were marked down so much right before the holidays. I thought for sure it would be yucky and so freezer burnt but thought I better cook it anyway as they are so expensive. It was wonderful! I ate way too much of it! It must've gotten pushed down and to the back of the freezer and I just never saw it. Tonight I have a meeting with our Isreal trip group, we are getting all our travel docs, etc. Very anxious, we leave 2 weeks from yesterday! WOOHOO!!

Good afternoon. Sitting here watching my DVR'd American Idol. I am loving hearing about the FL trip, I feel like I was there shpping with you. I just got me a Coach bag not too long ago so probably wouldn't have gotten one this trip anyway. That would've been funny, Apples, if you sent that bag. Phyl, glad you had such a good visit with the grands (puppy and kids), hope you are feeling better. Apples, would love to spend some time with ya! Hopefully our SD trip works out this year again, probably not over Thanksgiving though. Julie, I am so glad you had such a good time and made the trip alone. I remember how apprehensive you were about it, I think this will go a long way in building up your confidence as well. Isn't it great to not need that extender anymore? Thanks also for the comments on my vent post. I vented when most of you were away from the boards. It was just as much for myself to get it out than it was to get help. Things are much better. I more or less let go and let God. I realize none of the issues I was so worked upa bout were in my control anyway. DD's wedding is going through on track, we should have an answer on the moving in another week or so, DH has an interview on Wed. What is the goal or hope you are working on that you 'promised'?? Jewel, sounds like you are making progress on lots of areas in your life. I hope it works out for you to be moved by june 1st.

Okay Laura, Karen & Janet, how do I get to be a sister too? Well I must be the oddball, I love when DH gets me something for Valentines! I love flowers!! I went year and years without ever getting that kind of stuff. Think as DD got older she cued him in that mom likes that stuff and lately I get flowers or something. This year beautiful pink roses. And he took me to lunch on Sat at a restaurant up in Loveland that we don't have here for Valentines yet still took me to dinner last night. I loved it all. DH is off today, not sure what we will do, he's talking about wanting to work around the house. He loves to do little projects around the house so I am lucky that way. I think in the back of his mind he wants to get everything in tip top shape in case we have to put in on the market.

LadyKC, I had my band in June of 08, and I had one total knee replace in Oct 09 and the other Dec 09, the band is NOTHING compared to a knee. You will do just fine. It is scary reading all the warnings etc. but they have to tell you everything. Heck I was scared to death after the warnings on the knees too, but am glad I did it now. If you have any questions ask away! FL gals, so I read a few times about comparing port scars and placement, are they really much different? My port sticks out so much they said someting one time when I got a fill about getting a lower profile one but to me it's not worth another surgery to do it or the cost. It doesn't bother me any. Heck when they put it in there it was buried in fat. LOL

All those places sound great. Savannah being harder to fly to though. You mean next May, June or August? I will have to learn patience!! That's over a year away. I feel like that old Mervyns commercial...OPEN OPEN OPEN!! Only I am wanting to meet you all.

Gosh now I am sitting here crying again because I didn't make it. Glad it was such a wonderful time. When's the next one?? Janet, the reason a flight could go to Ft Myers and not Orlando was just the luck of the draw and what American chose to cancel. When the weather gets bad airlines have to thin flights, the airports can't handle as many take offs and landings. They try to balance what they cancel and it all depends on what crews they have to fly them and where the airplane is needed next and what will affect ultimately the least (hopefully) number of people, also how much flying time the crews have left before they time out in a day. Hope that makes sense. DH gets calls all the time here at home when the weather is really bad from his operations people in ATL saying he has to thin flights and what would he like to do, etc. Also if they plane got delayed earlier in the day or stranded somewhere it may not have been available for your flight in DFW.

Love the pictures!! One thing wrong with them though. I'm not in them!!! Looks like a great time had by all even Eva's husband was looking like he was having a great time with all those women! Meredith, congrats on being a homeowner now!! If you had to do it all over again, would you do a short sale? If we end up doing our move there were so many short sale homes and apparantly good deals but I've heard how difficult those are to do. Hope the gals flying home today are having much better luck than the flights down to FL.

OK Florida gals, I want to hear about all the purchases and hopefully see pics of them!!! It is 520pm here so that means 720 in FL so you must all be at the Moonfish restaurant. Am thinking of you!! Today DH & I took a drive up to the mountains to Rocky Mtn National park, I was curious how it looked in the winter. Surprisingly there wasn't that much snow though it was snowing. We saw 2 huge bull elk, one was missing half his antlers though from a fight it broke off. Then we saw a huge herd of over 200 females and spike males but that was all. There's thousands in the park so not sure where they were hiding. Also saw a coyote. Then we came home the long way through Loveland andwent to On The Border for lunch. I love their nachos and there isn't one close to us, thankfully. I only had about a third of the nachos though. DH saw there was an Ann Taylor Loft in the shopping center and offered to stop for me. AHHHH what a guy. Then he liked the suitcase I bought last week for FL so much we stopped at Costco for another one and I got to pick out roses for Valentines day. LOL Jewel, glad you were so inspired by the gals in FL, sounds like a great time. Great new pic of you too!! Deb, congrats on the 6 lbs!!

Oh, I can't wait to hear about the shopping trip! Sounds like a great time is being had by all. I guess there was a reason I was meant not to go. I woke up this mornign all stuffed up and also Atlanta has cancelled over a thousand flights due to that storm moving east. I'd have been stranded for sure coming home. DH is taking me out today for a drive, we are going to Rocky Mountain Nat'l park, I've never seen it in the winter and thought it would be neat and hopefully the animals are all down low for the winter. Sandy, CONGRATS ON ONEDERLAND AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! and WELCOME!! I am glad you have enjoyed reading about the trip, too.

Now I am wondering what I am missing! :thumbdown::thumbup::lol: Glad you are having a good time! What's on the agenda tomorrow? shopping?? Deb, congrats on the 6 lbs!!