Great2BThin

A PM is on it's way to you about the capris. I'm interested, I think I can wear Mediums now. I tried some on today and they fit but I bought large as I wanted loose for my swollen knee after surgery. I won't be coming to FL my trip to Isreal is on for Feb 28th and just not sure I can work that out so close. But oh how I am going to wish I was there. I do fly free though, hmmmm, I'd have to sneak into Orlando w/o my mom knowing. LOL Goodness now it sounds like the cold virus is contagious around here. I came home from S Dakota with it, Laura's got it and now Julie. No sneezing on your computer screens! LOL Julie, my surgery is Dec 16th, I am praying for a sooner date if they get a cancellation but it's looking less and less likely. I am anxious for it to be over, not looking forward to that first week post op again. that was pretty miserable. Got my Christmas tree tonight. We are going to start putting it up tomorrow night and Sat. DH is home from Atlanta and promises by Sat. afternoon we will have it all Christmasy around here. It sure was cold looking at trees, I went with a real one this year and it's about 5 degrees out. May get to 5 below tonight which is a record low temp. BRRRR

Good afternoon. My surgeons office has a PA, a NP and an RN and then RN does the majority of the fills, in fact most people prefer her as well. She's great and a lap band patient herself. Dang, I just got home from buying some workout pants, wish I had read here first about Champion ones. I was in Target yesterday and just wasn't sure. I had gotten St Johns Bay at Penney's before and that is what I got but I think I like them will keep Champion in mind for next time. Jewe1, you need to remember this is your decision number one. It helps immensely if those you live with are on board with you. You've gotten some good advice. Sounds like your MIL does cook protein along with the carbs so you should be able to take just that. Don't even tempt yourself by putting the other stuff on your plate. Is your living situation temporary? Meredith, hoping you don't have a leak. Keep us posted. Janet & Phyl, have a wonderful evening!

Good morning, home from work already and playing with my new lap top. SIL to be got it all set up on the wireless and networked it to my desktop. Whatever all that means all I know is it is working. I still need to get my antivirus stuff on here. It is so cold out today, high is only supposed to be about 15 and low about zero. BRRRR And if DH gets on the earlier flight and gets home about 530 we are going out tree shopping. Might make me make up my mind on a tree faster. LOL Think I will run up to Penney's or Kohls this morning and look for some new workout type pants. I need knit pants for my knee after surgery as I can't get my jeans on over the swelling. All mine are looking so ratty. Maybe something new to wear will make me feel better when I get home from the hospital. As for presents, Santa puts some out on Christmas eve but I always had others out when I got the tree up, like someone else said it looks so bare.

HOpe you are feeling better soon Cathy! I am just getting over a nasty cold. No fun. But I gotta say since banding, I have been much healthier, I don't seem to be getting stuff as easily. Not sure if it's related or I am just being more cautious with hand washing, hand sanitzers etc.

HMMM,I wonder what part of major surgery, pre op testing, fills, diet, exercise, etc is the easy part? But you know, I gotta be totally honest, before surgery, I tended to think along the same lines when I heard of someone getting bypass surgery (I had never heard of the band yet). Just shows how uneducated about it all that I was.

thanks for the potassium advice! No my blood test wasn't fasting. However, I have had ummmm, very loose stools for a few days. While taking the vicodin for my knee pain it constipated me so much, I started taking miralax and colace every night. Well I stopped the vicodin a couple weeks ago but not the miralax, so possibly I loosened myself up too much! LOL I have not taken any of it for a few days. However the foods listed I do not eat much of, so maybe will go get some bananas, DD is picking me up some otc potassium all she said on the phone when I asked her about strength is 99?? I don't know what the levels were, she just said slightly low. Laura, so sorry it's not going well for your dad. Yes cancer sucks! Your new pic in your signature looks great! Janet, are you meaning snail mail addresses or email addresses??

Good evening, just got home from my pre op check up appt to get clearance for my knee surgery. They just called and said my potassium is los and I need to take some OTC potassium pills. Jut curious what causes that? Could it be band related? anyone know? I will resume my volunteering tomorrow at the hospital unless we get the snowstorm they are predicting and the roads are bad so will try and ask then as well. I know when I used to have high b/p and took a water pill I had to take potassium as it depleted my potassium but I don't take anything for blood pressure now since it returned to normal with my weight loss

WOOHOO!! don't you love that it's working?? I have the larger band that is 14cc's and it took me 8 fills and one slight unfill to get to my 'sweet spot' however I felt it working throughout the journey, but as I lost weight it loosened up. I am at 10.5 cc's in my band but everyone is different, don't compare your's to anyone else's. Go with how it feels for you and the restriction you feel. I am at the higher end of the spectrum in number of fills it has taken, others, including our Janet here, only needed one or two fills. EACH BAND AND PERSON IS DIFFERENT! Can't stress that enough.

Yep I am tall but that being said I am the shorty in the family at 5'9". DH is 6'6, DS is 6'8 and DD is 5'10 and then wears high heels too. And in my in laws family the short sister is 5'11 the other is 6' so I am even short there. But in my family I am the tall one besides my dad of course. Also, the big footed one! Size 11's. GRRR I was hoping they'd shrink at least to 10s with losing weight but though my shoes are loose 10's tend to be tight and they don't make 10 1/2's often unless they are the more expensive shoes. Some shoes I will pay the money for but some that I know are just a fad or I will tire of fast I won't. I'm the same way in my clothes, I will invest in classic pieces but trendy stuff not so much. Cathy, I asked about your dating, glad you are having fun and hope your cream of the crop stays that way! Congrats on the losing!

Good morning! UGH! 'Today was back to work day for me. Acutally it wasn't so bad other than getting up so early. That's the only part I hate about my job. So much so that I debate whether it is worth it or not as it ties me down so much. Thanks, Apples, for the fudge recipe, my daughter wants to make some with her future MIL on SUnday for their 'annual bake day'. It's not a redlight food for me, I am like you give me a bag of chips and they are gone, can leave sweets along except for M&M's. Just got a phone call from AIL (aunt in law) in S Dakota that we stayed with. One of the hunters that was there from Mississippi's dog got sick and it's parvo. Put me in a pure panic because our dog also got sick but just verified with my vet she is vaccinated against it and getting better now anyway. They think she got giardia from drinking out of a slew or some stagnant water. She loves water. Today I go down to the hospital and get my pre op check up for surgery. I pray that this cold doesn't affect anything, it's starting to clear up though. Meredith, glad you are getting your fill taken care of. Cheri, liked that stores website too. Eva, that all sounds too technical for me. Heck I bought a new lap top and haven't even taken it out of the box yet, I'm afraid of messing something up and am waiting for future son in law who is a computer geek to set me up. I got so spoiled with DD's laptop while recovering from surgery I got my own yesterday only $279 at Best Buy they only had 4 per store, couldn't believe they had one yesteray as the ad came out on SUnday but I got the last one and there were 2 people behind me wanting 2 each. It was meant to be! Janet, cute Santa pic, Andrew is one handsome dude!

I would do it again, drive to meet ya that is, too Apples. Well worth it, it was the highlight of my trip. Now I know if I go next year I have someone to meet! And the trip won't be all for DH! Yep, Allie, we talked about how great you looked! Also talked about how we miss the rest of the Junes!

Your baby is very cute Apples. Looks like my dog. I should've brought you out to my car Saturday and introduced you to Lucy & Hunter. They were in the car, both black lab mixes. Dan had lunch at Godfathers. Sounds like he had quite the feast, it was all you can eat. We had a Godfathers when we lived in Utah but none since and he used to love their pizza and found out he still does. That's probably why he decided we needed our 'girl talk' and didn't join us for lunch, he saw the Godfathers on the way in. LOL Any chance for the fudge recipe?? And thanks so much again for the goodies you gave me, I totally didn't expect that. Well just 'graduated' from therapy on my knee! I got a 128 degree bend today too. Feel good about that. I will continue working it at home. I have a break for a couple weeks then start up on knee number 2. Back to work tomorrow. I am sortta looking forward to it and more dreading it. I hate getting up that early. Like the job otherwise, just don't like being tied down. DH goes to Atlanta tomorrow and Las Vegas the next week and I could tag along if I didn' thave to work my 3 hour shifts. As I am off for the 2nd knee am going to do some soul searching if this is what I want to do or not. But I did spend my last check on a gift for me. I got me a laptop!! I got spoiled recovering from surgery using my daughters. Best Buy had one for $279 with a case and 'optical' mouse (whatever that is), I am sure it's not the best laptop but for what I will use it for it will suffice. I have no idea though how to get it to talk to this computer and online via the wireless. Good thing DD is marrying a computer geek! He said he'd get it up and running for me and 'network' it.

Allie, I've been out of town for Thanksgiving. Just saw your photos and you look amazing. Looks like no swelling so if there is, you are goign to be so tiny when it's gone! Did they say how many pounds they removed? I bet you go down a couple sizes in clothes. Shucks, more shopping!

I am back home from S Dakota, got in about 2am last night. I am soooo tired and picked up a good head cold. I started feeling kindda blah on my drive to meet Apples and by that evening it really hit. I am so sorry Apples if I was out of sorts and hope I didn't expose you to anything. In fact my lunch just wasn't going down well, the burger was a little too done, and before we ever got off the main street in Watertown Dan had to pull over so I could, ummm....PB or whatever you call it. And then I did the next day too but maybe I was irritated from the day before. I really struggled with food while gone as most things we had were pasta based and not much meat or protein to them. Pasta doesn't sit well with my band. I was hoping that would translate to a loss of a few pounds but maintained exactly. My meeting with Apples was wonderful! What a gracious, generous wonderful lady! I was so afraid of not recognizing her and did right away as I walked into the restaurant. I could've sat there much longer talking, but Dan came with me and I promised we'd leave by 1:30 so he could be back for hunting by 330. One problem though, I HATE my picture. I always do. I still see an overweight person in them most of the time. Apples looks amazing! And the jacket she had on (she's not wearing it in the photo) was just gorgeous, it was turquoise-ish in color and beautiful on her. Thanks again Apples for lunch. And Dan just loved that fudge. He wants me to find out if I can get the recipe. Is a secret? or can you share? He's not too into sharing it either, he's rationing it out. LOL And this is a guy that usually doesn't care for fudge! Meredith, my advice on the unfill would be to give it a day or so and see what happens. I've had it before where it got really tight a day or so afterwards but then settles down. I am wondering if sometimes I swelled a little bit after a fill, then the swelling went down and then I was fine. But if you are so tight you can't even drink then never mind.

Good evening, a quick check in. My bags are packed and I am ready to go, more or less. Yes, Apples, an hour and a half is time for a potty break especially if driving my with husband. He knows where every rest area is! LOL Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! Janet, glad the pickle passed through.

Great to hear from you Allie. You look so tiny in the picture! Sorry about the infection. Hope all is well soon.

Apples, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! I hope you have a day as special as you are! I can't wait to meet you on Saturday, so far the weather forcast is looking good! Julie, I use frozen peas for my ice on my knee all the time. I bought the big family sized bag, it conforms so well around me knee. I had my 2nd to last therapy session on the first knee today. I got my bend to 126 today. I was thrilled with that as I've been stuck at 120 for 2 weeks. My 'good knee' is at 130 and I know this knee didn't bend that far before surgery so I am thinking I am beyond where I was pre-surgery. I have a 2 week break from therapy after my next session until I start it on my other new knee. Like Apples, my day should be pretty much like the chicken with the head cut off running around. I got my laundry done, groceries done, now I gotta pack, DH coming home early this afternoon and he wants to load the car all up so all we have to do is crawl out of bed in the morning and get in and drive. We are meeting the others we are caravaning with at 4am about 20 mins from the house. So if I don't get a chance to check in later, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! And again HAPPY BIRTHDAYS to Phyl and Apples.

Let's see we've spread dead batteries around here as well as falls down stairs. Please, let's not spread fires around. Glad your fire and damage wasn't worse, Apples. But a loss is a loss and no fun. DH's uncle doesn't have his corn in yet in SD either. Though I know he intentionally leaves one field in until after Thanksgiving for the pheasant hunters. Eva, glad you are home safe and sound. Sounds like a great weekend. Got my last load of laundry in the washer and tomorrow I can pack. Whenever I go some place I have this thing where I have to have all my laundry done and then I can think of packing. Guess that way I don't have to wrry about wanting to pack something and then discovering it's in the laundry.

Wow, Debbie, eventful is right. I hope your car is up and running and so sorry to hear about your home, but glad you were able to have such a support system around you. It's exciting to see some JuneBugs checking in!

Meredith, Congrats on being into the 'normal' size stores! That was the most exciting thing to me. I usually only shopped Lane Bryant and from the day I hit a 16 and could buy clothes off the rack in other stores, I've never crossed the threshold of that store again, even though I still could wear stuff in there for quite a while. Anything new on the house buying front? Thanks for the safe driving thoughts, Apples, just checked the weather and as of now it looks good for the entire trip. Think I'll pass on the French Silk pie too then, I am not into super rich things either. My favorite pie is Banana Cream, followed by Apple ala mode, if there's no 'ala mode' then no pie. LOL and it must be warm so the ice cream gets melty. I've made many a turkey in my day, in fact this might be the first Thanksgiving in my marriage that I didn't cook one. My daughter took a class at Williams and Sonoma and recently made a brined one, it was really good.

It is a 9 hour drive however, my knee dr made me promise I would stop every hour and a half to get out and walk around a tad, guess for 3mos after surgery there is still a blood clot risk, so it is going to take longer. We are caravaning with 2 other cars and I've warned them but they still want to all caravan. So we will stop in Ft Morgan, CO for breakfast, a rest stop on the CO/NE state line for a potty break, walk around break, N Platte, NE for lunch, another rest stop or two, gas station or two, etc. Dumb question: What is a french silk pie? Looking forward to meeting too. Think I will go check the long range forcast and see if they are talking any storms!

And what kind of pie are you, Apples? Apple perhaps? :thumbup: Linda, glad you are getting your hip taken care of, if it's like my knee so far it's been worth it. I am not pain free yet but am in less pain than before surgery on my left knee. Now to get the right one done. It would've been so cool, had it been closer and you could meet us! Phyl, nice beadwork! I see all the pretty beads in Michaels and wonder how to make them into something pretty. Melissa, glad you are hanging in there. Good luck with the Thanksgiving dinner! Janet, Phyl, Eva, great photo, looks like a fun time! I am busy doing laundry and stuff so I can pack tomorrow. DH wants to load the car tomorrow night so we can hit the road just before 4am on Tues. I am going to miss checking in here, not sure how much, if any computer access I will have while gone.

Phyl, since I will be gone on your Birthday with probably no internet access, Happy Birthday in advance!! Thanks for the Wii Fit Plus info. I looked for just the disk w/o the board at Costco today but no luck. Busy day today getting stuff sortta organized to pack the car on Monday for our drive to S Dakota. Going to dinner tonight with DH's sister and husband to a Joes Crab Shack, haven't been to one of those in years but I think I should be able to find something band friendly there. I will have to be careful as I love deep friend seafood especially shrimp. I get stuck sometimes on shrimp. Quiet around here today, everyone must be busy. have a great weekend!

Good afternoon. Just got home from another day with Grandma and this one went much better than the last. She must've just not been feeling quite right the other day. We were just going to lunch but then she asked to go to Kohls and Bath & Bodyworks. We came out of the latter real smelly trying on all these scents. LOL We must've had 6 to 8 different scents on various parts of our arms all mingled together in the warm car. :thumbup: Apples, I didn't know I was meeting a Jungle Goddess next week. LOL Coconut, Dr S's office is pretty aggressive with fills. My first fill was 3 cc's and they will give one as often as 2 weeks. Their philosophy was a little different than some docs. Some docs say if you are losing good you don't need one. They tend to say if you are losing a lot you probably do need one as you lose the fat pad between your band and stoma. I know as I was losing rapidly I lost my restriction rapidly. I had I believe 7 fills, you can see them in my siggie. However, Janet, is very right, everyone is different. Janet got to goal on 2 fills and it took me many more. Be mindful of how much you are eating, every time you go in for a fill, you have to fill out a questionaire too about the portion size you are eating, how often etc. and they decide from there if you need a fill. Never just get a fill for a fills sake because you think it will jumpstart your weight loss. You could have perfect restriction and still overeat because you are eating slider foods etc. And then you'll get overfilled and that's not good at all. PHyls, so when is your bday?? I know you do the Wii, have you gotten the WiiFit Plus? Was wondering what was different about it.

WOOHOO!! Glad she came through just fine. Hope the pain subsides too. Thanks for the update.