Great2BThin

Greetings from Glenwood Springs, having a great time. Spent part of the day in the hot spring pool in the snow. It was the weirdest thing to be swimming/sitting in this steamy hot water and having your head getting covered in snow. Trying to keep up on the posts, but no time to reply to them all. Jewel, I do not think that is the resort, I believe we later booked one called Toscana or something like that. Curious, you've only been banded 5 weeks and you've had 2 fills? Wow! To me it sounds like you have too much restriction. If you can't eat a piece of chicken without getting stuck. Chili and mushier food like that will always go right through the band that is why you have no restriction with those type of foods. You need to focus on eating solid proteins 1/2 to 1 cup portions and very small bites at a time. Without knowing more that's what it sounds like to me. Have you asked your fill nurse or doctor?

DD is doing okay, they are going to try and meet with the Pastor next week and discuss things. It is a great opportunity for DH but still a difficult one with having to move. WE'll see what happens.

WEll the job thing was a bust today. She got called to help do some ultrasound training or something like that. So plan is for next week though it will have to be early in the week, I did tell her I was leaving for a trip on Thurs. FL HERE I COME!! I just got home from Costco where I picked up a new cheap bathing suit. I have a very good one that I like from Lands end but it's a pain to take off when it is wet, didn't realize it was a 'figure control' one and all the stuff to suck you in sticks when it's wet. LOL Plus didn't want to ruin it so quickly in hot tubs etc. I had 2 old suits here and good thing I tried them on before packing, they were huge and some parts might have slipped out! LOL I figured they would fit as they used to be small, they are size 18's, but the one I got today is a 12. It's so hard at Costco to know what size to buy as you can't try on, but it'll do. It's a tankini and it's in my bag for Glenwood and the hot springs. Think our hotel has a hot tub too. Surfer, to start a new thread you need to be on the main page of the topic and just click on the blue box at the top that says new thread. If you are in a thread like this one all you can do is post reply. Arlene, are you sure you need a fill? I know in the past after many fills you have gotten unfills. Go slow so you don't have those troubles again. Hope the tests all come out good. Janet, glad the Sis visit is going well. Linda, I change where we go out to eat too if the kids are joining us and stuff. It gets costly. I sure wish you could come to FL, sure you can't just disappear for a few days?? LOL Laura, the restaurant sounds fun. That would be great to have our own room but I bet we are too small a group but if they don't have another group they just might. Okay who wants to split with me??? Oh, I forgot to mention, you know that possible move I've been talking about? DH has an interview for the position officially next Thurs. He'll be in ATL interviewing as I pass through there on my way to FL, he may try and meet me between my flights but doubt the timing will work out as his interview is in the hdqtrs building across the tarmac.

Good morning, up bright and early today. Maybe I'm a little nervous about my little job today. I am afraid she thinks I am more computer literate than I am and that I am not going to be able to do what she wants me to do without a lot of help. Tonight DH, DD, DS & I are all heading for the hills. DD got us a free or very cheap hotel room in Glenwood springs through her job and the guys are going flyfishing and DD & I are visiting the hot springs. It was to be our last mini family vacation before DD's wedding. Melissa, where do you live and would you be flying from? I forget. Eva, to get ready for a trip I don't do too much. My quirk is I have to have all the laundry in the basket done before I can pack. That way I have all my options and if I decide to take something it's not in the wash. LOL However, I don't pack til the night before a trip or in this case morning of. I am leaving for a weekend in Glenwood springs today and haven't even gotten out my suitcase yet. Apples, how was the flea market, did you get any fleas?? LOL Laura, maybe you are also tight due the stress you are under with your Dad many people say stress affects them. I can just see our waiter at Moonfish with a bunch of bandsters ordering dinner. And then if we are all tight. Maybe we can all share one entree. LOL What's good there? I am assuming seafood??

Melissa, I sure hope you are still coming!! I am flying standby but I am planning on trying for the earliest flight possible (which means flying all night from Denver to Atlanta) and hope to get in to Orlando as early as 830. Others are arriving in the afternoon. Apples is picking me up about 10 if I make my flights and Laura is picking up the o thers in the afternoon from what I understand. I just emailed everyone asking about their flight times home so I can co-ordinate with them. Anxious to meet everyone and see Apples again.

Good evening, awfully quiet here today. I just thought I'd post an interesting thing they said on our local news tonight. They did a weight loss study at high altitude. They studied some folks from elsewhere who came here, they kept their diets the same and exercise the same and they lost weight. They think the high altitude does something to the metabolism, however, the affect didn't last forever and eventually they went back to normal. I know many folks say they get tighter when they fly maybe there's something to it. I never do but maybe that's because I live at a high altitude? Who knows, just thought it was interesting. Well DH got a phone call today and is set for an interview for his promotion next Thurs. He will be interviewing as I am flying to FL. Also I got a call today and I am going to do some side work for the nurse practioner that is the head of the bariatric dept that I got my band at, I am going to do some data entry for her tomorrow and on an as needed basis. Cool! We may meet first at the gym in the morning, I'll go as her guest since I'm not a member there.

I vote for Moonfish! (PM also sent) Good morning!!! I am up bright and early this morning. DH couldn't find something this morning so that of course became my problem too. LOL He was going in extra early this morning as he has to hold some special briefings to inform the employees of some raises so it was good news for them, so I was still sleeping. Still no decision from DD on the wedding. We need to know soon as it's time for invites to go out etc. if it continues in March. Janet, hope the visit goes smoothly with your sis. I never put the pillows all back on my bed either unless company is coming. I eat the skin on chicken too and do go to KFC periodically to get my fix. Apples, enjoy the flea markets. When I've visited my folks I know there was a great big one either near The Villages or Ocala, can't remembe which, it's been awhile since we've gone. Eva, hope you don't have any cavities. I hate the dentist, never could get over my fear.

I read a theory as to why the band is tighter in the mornings. The article I read said it had to do with how the fluids in the body settle at night when you are sleeping and lying down. After you are up the fluids redistribute again and you loosen up as the day goes on.

GRRRR I just hit reply to post my post and poof it went away. Cheri, yes that was me in the photo with Apples, we met over Thanksgiving. Thanks for the nice comments. Melissa, I will through in my swimsuit then too, afterall it can't take much room and am going casual as well. Apples, sounds like a tough situation for your son, glad he came through it okay. Think my son is just dating right now too though getting close to wanting to settle down.

Good afternoon. Just got home from shopping. I decided I needed a pair of denim capri/crops. Do you think I could find any? Oh they were out there, it appears that the 'distressed' look is the thing this year and they all have big holes and bleach stains on them, that just doesn't cut it for this old lady. So the search continues. Maybe the outlets in FL will have some for me! Speaking of shopping I even stopped in Macy's to look for capris. Does anyone else feel intimidated by that store? I get so lost and confused in there that I avoid it like the plague. I am so used to having to go to the back corner to the large section that now that I can shop in the regular sizes I am so confused by all their various depts. I knew I liked Jones so I asked for that one, just my luck they don't carry it at that store. So then I thought I'd shop for Grandma she loves alfred Dunner, nope don't carry that at that one either. So up to housewares I go to look at the pots and pans DD wants for a wedding gift, nope don't carry them at that store. SHEEESH! Guess I will skip that Macy's for now on. Do they all carry different stuff??? Count me in for wanting to eat out in FL, I am always in for eating out! anytime any where! LOL Apples, glad you finally got some sun in FL and are enjoying soaking it in. Good thing your son got out of that relationship, is he in a new one now? Linda, I hit small plateaus along the way of about a week or two and never hit a big one unless you count now. I got to 180 (I'm 5'9) and just stopped no matter what I did. I really struggled because normal BMI for me is 169 and I was feeling like such a failure because I was not 'normal' and still overweight. My surgeon took one look at me and said, 'girl you are at goal' given my height and my frame, bones etc. he said I needed to work on accepting it. He said the BMI is just a guideline and not a one size fits all. In fact he doesn't want me to go below 176, but I so bad want to hit 176 (and not go over 185). Since hitting 180 (got to 178 a few times) I just sit here, I eat way more than I did losing and still here I sit I don't gain easily either, so that is a good thing. my body is very comfortable where it is I guess. I wonder when I up the exercise again after my knees let me if I will lose again or not. I even maintained this weight since my first knee surgery in Oct with no exercise since then unless you count therapy. I eat pretty similar to you, I have my yogurt in the morning with Kashi cereal mixed in for the fiber instead of the fruit. I haven't logged on daily plate in some time but averaged about the same calories. I am sure if I got a lower body lift especially I'd be in smaller clothes and lose a few pounds that way. I have struggled so much accepting my weight that my surgeon wants to see me back in May to prove to me that I can be happy at this weight and that I am normal. Jewel, well no one can ever say now that you dn't have a heart, cause now you can show 'em a picture of you holding one. LOL You are looking good too! Julie, no more traction for you. Glad they figured out why you were sick and hurting. We promise not to hang you up in FL. LOL

Sorry you are going through a tough time. It's been a few days since you posted and I hope that things have improved some for you. Just keep focused on how hot those legs are going to look, the whole body for that matter! Hang in there!

Good morning. I had such a great nights sleep last night, I feel great this morning. It felt so good. My knee didn't hurt much and my DD is seeming better as well. I think her and DF are meeting tonight to discuss how they are going to proceed. It's not that she's ready to get married and he's not, he is very much so as well. However, the big concern the pastor has is whether or not DF is changing too much too fast for DD or if these changes are genuine. he is a huge car (mostly corvette addict) and has incredible debt to keep a corvette, he had said he was going to sell all that so DD wouldn't have to work to pay off his debt and that they'd have money to start a family. Then suddenly he said he couldn't do it and wouldn't sell it. When DD contemplated calling the whole thing off as that was a dealbreaker for her he then sold it all. Pastor is concerned that he did it to please her then they get married and he resents her. He said there isn't enough time between now and the wedding to be sure. We aren't talking just a small debt this is huge debt we are talking about. And if he keeps the cars and debt then will DD grow to resent him. She thinks he's sincere as he's also selling stereo equipment, car parts everything, he is saying how selfish it was of him. So their decision is do they postpone the wedding (invitations are addressed and ready to go) or do they find someone else to marry them and go on with the date. Selfesteem/confidence - never had much, it's getting better. I was raised that if I thought I looked good or something I was being conceited. I am getting to the point where now I can look in the mirror and say at least it's not bad or even good. Never could I say I am beautiful or anything like that. But I am learning to appreciate my body, what it's done for me and how much better it's looking these days even with the big legs and some droopy skin. I guess what I am saying is I am not hating myself anymore. Constipation - sorry Janet you had a rough night. I have to watch it so carefully or it happens so easy since the band and really really easy while on the vicodin since my knees. It's the main reason I am hardly taking the vicodin anymore. About a week ago it was so bad I almost went to the ER, I was like impacted or something. sorry TMI. Until I am totally off the vicodin I am taking miralax everyday and colace stool softners. I am worried about our trip to Isreal and think I will even bring that stuff along, don't want to have it happen while travelling, but don't want to over compensate and give myself the opposite problem either. Eating out - Eva, I eat out a lot. It's something I love to do and since day one I have learnt how to do it with the band. I have my go to's at most restaurants I go to and bring a lot home. DH always has my leftovers for either breakfast or lunch the next day. He used to eat my leftovers right there in the restaurant until he realized my losing weight was making him gain weight. LOL Florida - yep I'm bring capris. Anyone bringing bathing suits? was wondering if there was going to be pool or hot tub time?? Also, do I need anything dressy? Well better go finish getting dressed for the day. It's going to be a lazy day I think, unless I decide to go volunteer at the hospital, I was going to start back up today but am contemplating waiting a week and giving the knee another week.

Good morning!! Another busy day today, gotta go pick up Grandma and then come way back over by my house to take her to the dentist, then think we are going to stop here as she wants me to do her taxes. She wanted me to do them at her apartment the old fashioned way paper and pencil. I said no I have a computer program to do them much easier. She's very uneasy about that, she thinks everyone is going to 'know her business', I told her no and if she wanted we could just do them and print them and she could mail them in the old fashioned way vs online filing. She didn't want me to just take them home and do them either, think she wants to watch over my shoulder LOL. Yesterday when we left her apartment to go shopping she had her taxes out and she had to put everything away and hide it as someone might come in and 'know her business'. LOL I asked who was going to come in? But she couldn't answer that. She's funny sometimes but frustrating. Last night was a very difficult night and emotional night. As you all know DD is engaged to be married on March 26th. Well they've been going to premarital counselling with the pastor and he called and asked if he and his wife could meet with DD last night, seems he has some concerns about them being ready and will not marry them on that date, he wants them to postpone the wedding. she is just crushed, part of her wants to go through with it regardless and part of her is saying warning red light, if my own pastor has concerns maybe there's something to this. Her and DF talked last night and are taking a few days to think and pray on it. I didn't sleep much knowing how upset she was, I'm even confused on this one. We like DF but do have a few concerns as well. Guess if he is Mr Right he will be Mr Right in 6 mos from now too. Apples, Dang it those 7 lbs! It can't be from getting too tight from flying this time either. How bout some milk shakes? Enjoy your company down there and the warmer weather. What should I bring? These whimpy weather gals in AZ & CA (just joking Janet & Eva) are thinking 70s is cold, but I'm thinking it might feel pretty nice to me. You are a cold weather gal, is it capri weather?? Charlene, sounds like you are reallly working through some things with your study and book. Good for you! Janet, so this fill has been a good thing for you so far? I finally felt mine yesterday. I was at the buffet with grandma and went for a little too much to eat and my band finally reminded me, that's enough. think I need a little more fill again, but am waiting til after FL as I don't want to be too tight as the only other day I could get in for the fill was the day before flying down there. Didn't want to get to FL and find out, OOPS.

Good evening. A trying day today. But the good part is that I had my last day of therapy for my knee. I got to 140 degree bend on this knee. That's almost 10 degrees better than the first knee. So that is great. It was weird leaving for the last time, I've been going since Oct. Laura, your reminiscing about when it was just you and DH and his crazy hours brought back memories of when I was first married and DH's weird hours too. He worked like 5pm to 2 in the morning. We'd sleep late then go to lunch movies, etc. during the day. Eva, yep our definition or warm is different. 70's is warm! At least capri warm, doubt I'll wear shorts just because I hate my legs but if I wore them I'd wear them. LOL Linda, go for the gold!!!

Laura, are we all going to get to meet the little guy in FL? If I remember right your DH and Nelson are going to be at the resort too??? I can't believe how fast it's coming up. I wanted to adopt years ago as well. I wanted 4 kids, DH wanted 2. He said we had a boy and a girl no need for more. I had complications with my 2nd and Dr highly advised me against me having more so DH wouldn't even consider us trying for more and got the ol' snip snip at the young age of 24 or 25 (trying to find a dr to do the snip snip in Utah at that age was difficult!) so then I got on the adoption kick to adopt and make it 4. But our life worked well with the Lord gave us naturally. Sometimes I wonder if I could've handled more. Wow can you believe in 10 days is FL, I need to start thinking of what to pack. I guess layers? a pair of jeans, a pair of capris, short sleeves, long to go over?? I hope it is warm out.

Laura, sounds like lots of thought went into that decision. Nothing wrong with having an only but very wanted child. I hope I wasn't being too nosey. I'm sitting here sortta watching the Grammy's off and on. Talk about some weird stuff! I feel so old.

Good afternoon, first chance to check in today. Got up late and went to breakfast and church. Then got out of church late as DH is on the finance committee and counts the offering and they had a hard time balancing today or something. We had plans to go to the movie and had to head straight there as timewas running out. We saw When in Rome, DH was going to see the Mel Gibson movie while DD and I were in the 'chick flick' but the newspaper had the wrong time for the movie and it wasn't playing for another hour so he sat through 'the worse movie of his life'. LOL DD & I enjoyed it and I liked seeing the sites in Rome that we had seen last May. Julie, guess no more dirty phone calls for you now that you have a squeaky clean phone!:thumbup: Arlene, nope won't be taking Grandma to sLC, she will stay here and my sisters will quickly find out just how much I do for her on a day to day basis. They will have to step it up a notch. Apples, hope you are dethawing the further south you go and that FL has a heat wave for you. Janet, I'd go for lobster in a heart beat! Eva, sounds like a fun show. Laura, don't mean to be overly nosey but do you have plans of adopting more children? Not that there's anything wrong with one, just curious since you commented. My DD could never entertain herself much, DS on the other hand was more of a loner, still is to some degree.

Cheri, sorry I missed seeing your post about hitting goal. CONGRATS!!!

Good evening, back from my night in Salt Lake City. We had a great time. A lot evolved around food. LOL We had our favorite Mexican restaurant right away for lunch. They we discovered that In & Out Burger arrived in Utah, so we had that for dinner and also for lunch today. We drove around lots, it sure has grown and changed in 10 yrs. then we went to the suburb we lived in for years while my kids were growing up. I got all weepy eyed at the elementary school they went to kindergarten, DH says that solves it, if we move back here we are not living near where we used to live. LOL I have not read all the posts that I missed but from my FAcebook I have seen that I missed Janet's birthday so Happy Birthday!! and that Phyl is on a cruise, Bon Voyage!! Hope Apples is enjoying that son of her's.

FYI, for those that like Leslie Sansones Walking Away the Pounds DVDs for exercise, QVC has them as their Todays special value. It's 7 DVD's and some cables and exclusive to QVC until March 1st so must be something new.

Good morning, just a fly by as you call them. On my way out the door to get hair done and then meet "DH at airport for our flight to 'SLC for the night. Be back late tomorrow. That's how I am destressing, getting away for a night! There's a restaurant there that we loved and am going for some fantastic Mexican food tonight.

Apples, so glad you are in Atlanta, I didn't think you could still be in Illinois today with all that driving. How long are you staying in Atlanta before heading south? Are you thawing out yet? Sure hope you don't need the replacement surgeries. Well so far I haven't noticed a ton of difference with my fill. So we shall see how this one goes. Janet, where are you? Meredith, we haven't heard from you either. ARe you coming to FL??

I wonder where Apples is today? Hope the icy roads have let up. I just got home from my fill. I got 1.25cc's putting me at 9cc in my band, I had 11. The only reason I am mentioning numbers is to show and know that I am still 2 cc's less than I was before I had to have that unfill in the hospital. So far I'm not noticing too much difference. Time will tell when I get on full solids again. The fill nurse explained to me much better what happened in the hospital and why I needed the unfill which set my mind more at ease. She said they pump you so full of fluids with the IVs and all during surgery. That fluid has to go somewhere and goes into your tissues. so the tissues around my band swelled and that cut off my pouch. She said I still probably had a little fluid in me since I was still having swelling. Interesting. She just had a full body lift herself and it was the first I've seen her, her surgery was the day before my knee. She looked fantastic. She had to have some out of her band as well. I was officially up 2 lbs according to their chart from my last weighin there in Nov. Not too bad considering the lack of restriction. It is so cold out today and snowed just tad, still looks like it wants to snow more but hasn't. Jewel, glad the dinner went well. Usually thats what they do at those work dinners, talk work. I hate going to them with DH as it all means nothing to me a lot of the time. But I know it's important to him that I go so I do. Now I hate going because when I do I am the 'boss's wife' and I know that people are just being friendly to me because of that or at least that's what's going on in my head. LOL

Too funny, oatmeal vs oatmeal cookies. You can eat bread though? Lucky! I can't do bread, maybe it's a good thing as I'd probably eat too much. I've not been able to handle it since day one of banding and even now with being more wide open I can only do a small bite or so. I guess I am the only non horse person here. When all my friends were into horses as girls I was into dogs. I wanted to be a vet to work on dogs, then when we had to bring our little Beagle Snoopy to the vet to be put to sleep I thought, I could never do that, so there went my vet dreams. Snoopy lived to be the ripe old age of 16 though but she was my first experience in life with death. She had the red dog house just like the Snoopy cartoon too. Even to this day, if I had the land and space, I'd have lots of dogs. My only experience with a horse as in SD at DH's grandparents farm, everyone knowing I'd never been around a horse had to come out and watch me try to ride, I was scared to death, I sat on the horse and DH led it around by the reins. Gotta say it was kindda cool though. I hear stories on the news a lot now about all the horses being abandoned and starving as folks are giving them up due to the expense. Poor things. I missed Idol the last 2nights. I do usually miss Tues. nights as I gotta watch Biggest Loser, but do watch on Wed. but with Obama on it was pushed to much later and I finally got to bed early and got a fantastic (10 hours) night sleep, ahh it felt so good. Well this morning is my fill, thankfully we got very little snow, just a skiff, so I am on for driving downtown to get it. I hope this one gives me a little more of my restriction back. Still not gaining but I feel like I am white knuckling it if that makes sense. Deb, I got almost my entire summer wardrobe at Goodwill last year as I was still losing and had had surgery the previous summer so was weighed much less than the previous summer and had nothing to wear. it's hit and miss for me, sometimes I find great stuff and others, nothing. Janet, how's the puppy? apples, talk DH into that chocolate lab yet? LOL Eva, my doc office has samples of the Bariatric Advantage vitamins and some other brands a lot. they are much more expensive, you can order online. They have some that are specific lapband vitamins and others that are specific bypass, etc. I took them for awhile until I realized that the daily dose was 2 per day then it really upped the cost so I went back to my Centrum Silver chewables and all my vitamin tests that the doc office does have always come back good.

sorry Arlene, but that just sounds gross! :smile2: Maybe because I am not a huge oatmeal fan but will eat it, don't like pancakes much and need some yolk in my egg. LOL Good luck, I hope it works for you though.