minidriver

Yes Brandy! I was just making dinner and realized how late it is and wondered where the heck you are! Don't you know you need to check in before you go off doing heaven knows what??? Dee - that would be great if I could try one of the Protein shots. I'm going to see if we can find a GNC in Denver on my pre-op day and buy some Isopure. Can't bring liquids on the plane, ya know. And I love that 5 calorie cranberry juice. It's my beverage of choice. Sometimes a shot of vodka sneaks in too. Tasty tasty. Oh, but not while I'm on my pre-op. I have been one obedient patient. Thanks for the tips on Vitamins. I need to get on the ball with that. My doc just tested me for Vitamin B12 deficiency (a side effect of one of my stupid meds) so I'll be interested to see how that turns out.

It is hard work. You need to rewire your brain, and those neurons are stubborn little suckers. Here's a trick I try to use . . . whenever I start thinking maladaptive stuff, I ask myself "Is this how you want your brain wired?". Then I try to think about something that would be more productive. I think rumination is really bad for your brain. It creates a neural "rut" that is really hard to get out of. I have been checking out a few things, mainly Protein Drinks. I think I like the Slim-Fast low carb the best. I tried some powders, etc., but they were kind of gaggy. I haven't checked out broth yet . . . I'm thinking miso Soup broth would suit me just fine. I need to find vitamins this weekend for sure. I'm really excited but kind of can't believe that it's almost here. And I keep thinking "wow, next year at this time . . . ". Well, I'm off for a bit but I'll check in later and see how you're doing. Remember . . . you're in charge of your own neural wiring. Sculpt your brain to benefit YOU, not anybody else.

Yep, there are lots of reasons why we wrap ourselves in fat, but I think feeling unloved is one of the biggest. We love you Dee. I know it's not the same, but you are obviously an incredible woman who touches many lives. If ex couldn't love you for who you are, he has a screw loose.

BASTARD!!! That might get censored or something, but I don't care. My first hubby was a cheater. We were only together for 5 years but I remember how much it hurt. My current hubby was also married to a cheater. I think that we're both really careful with each other's hearts because we've both been hurt. We've been together for 23 years now, and I have never worried that he has strayed. Sooo . . . sometimes the second time around can be a whole lot better. You deserve a whole lot better. Don't settle for same old same old.

Oh crap. Okay, unasked for advice- don't try to feel better by eating. You know it won't help in the long run. And maybe you need to let yourself mourn . . . REALLY mourn, as in accepting that he is gone and never coming back. Maybe all this contact is preventing you from reaching that point. If he really cares about you as a friend, he should understand that. And if he had affairs . . . well, you don't owe him a damned thing (IMHO). I know he's the father of your DD and that you care about him deeply, but he done you wrong. Big time. And you don't deserve that crap from anybody. Hope you're not mad at me. I'm just saying this cuz I adore you.

Ahhh, dee, I'm sorry. I was worried about the ex thing. I can't imagine how tough that must be for you. Anything we can do to help? ~Sending you big gooey cyber hugs and kisses and tissues if you need to cry a little~

DEEEEEEEE!!!! You're back! How was your trip?? Did DD have a blast? Are you caught up with all the posts?

Are you feeling better today? One more hour to see Dr. K, yes? I have been telling everybody. I just have a big mouth. Besides, I'm such a failure at weight loss that there's no way anyone would believe that I am doing it on my own. I really don't want my mother to know, but since we haven't spoken in two years I guess it doesn't matter.

I don't think there is a right or wrong answer as to how to handle this. Whatever works for your family is right for you . . . And good for you for not wanting to put your issues on them. I hate it when I see a mom nagging her daughter about her weight or modeling unhealthy weight obsessions. Is your doggie a corgi?

Doncha' just love that? Teenagers are such fun. NOT.

I can't help you with the kid question either . . . mine are 29, 26 and 26! Geez, Mal, you thought yours were old! We live in SLC full time, but have property in Cedar Mountain, Utah. There are lots of red rock canyons but also a mountainous area with pines, etc. It's quite pretty . . . not as pretty as the four corners area, but the mix of pines and red rocks is pretty stunning.

ROFL!! The story about Tom is hysterical. Don't worry about the 1 lb . . I'm sure it will come off next week.

Hey Shelbi! We had the tent custom made by a local company. They're a big time tent maker and sell canvas tents and springbar tents worldwide. The big screen windows across the front have canvas that zips down over them for security. There are two more 4' windows in the back and a stove-pipe opening so we can add a little sheepherders stove if we'd like. The front and back doors are huge and also screened, so lots of airflow and no bugs! The peak is 11.5' high, so it feels REALLY spacious inside. I'm very excited by it. I feel like we built a cabin in a weekend! Poor Barkley. Good point about vet care vs people care. And I already received my first bill for my surgery and I haven't even had it yet! ARGH!

Okay, I know exactly the area you're talking about, cuz I grew up in Moab! I LOVE the 4 corners area. We would have liked to purchase property down there but just couldn't afford it. So we're in the Southwest corner of the state instead. It's beautiful too. Yes, I'm so excited I can't stand it. I'm a little scared, too, but not so bad. I can't believe that a week from today I'll be in Denver having my preop visit. WOOHOO! So, watcha' doin' in Alaska?

I started my pre-op diet last Wednesday and have lost 3.5 lbs. Does that seem about right? I know it's just water, but that's okay, still feels good. Hopefully my liver is just shriveling up into a tiny ball.

Hi Jill. Yes, this is one active thread. I don't really post anywhere else, as these are my peeps! I'm on the computer all day anyway so it's easy for me to pop in and read, but if you don't keep up it gets overwhelming pretty fast! You'll love Dr. K. He's a fabulous guy. Where is Nucla, CO?

Same in our neck of the woods. We won't be able to go back until the weekend of July 11th (due to my banding, yay!) so my good vittles will be strictly of the mushy sort. Oh well. The full moon, bonfire, and music will still be in place. There are a million stars and it's about 20 degrees cooler than it is in the city. We overlook Zion National Park so it's just gorgeous up there. It's at 8000+ foot elevation, so we're way up in the mountains.

Well, I didn't actually carry any of the blocks. They were waaay too heavy. I was the chief engineer :thumbup:

Bahot - that is so freakin' cool that you waterskied. Amazing what getting rid of that unwanted weight you're always lugging around can do for you. When DH and DS were carrying the 45 pound concrete blocks up the hill and complaining about how hard it was, I was thinking that I have to carry an extra 85 pounds with me everywhere I go. I thought about naming my extra weight "the concrete block" but then I settled on "the parasitic twin". And I started thinking about all the things she keeps me from enjoying in my life cuz she just hangs off me and sucks the life out of me. So my weight loss is going to be "shrinking the parasitic twin". You were able to get up on skis cuz your parasitic twin is no longer weighting you down. . . I want to be able to hike a certain hike at Bryce Canyon without stopping every 2 minutes and gasping for breath. Mal - where do you go Yurt camping? That's what we originally wanted to build, but the zoning and logistics of our lot made it a bear. So we went with a big tent to get around the zoning. Yurts are so fabulous.

Ok guys, here are some pics. The first one shows all the concrete blocks we had to lug up the hill and set into place. The second shows the deck nearly completed. That's DS standing in front, and DH working in the background and dog Keeley in the dirt. Pics 3 and 4 show the tent! We still have tons to do (decking, rain fly, etc) but we can sleep in it now. It's like being in a big treehouse!

Hello Lap Band Ladies!!! I'm back from my loooong weekend and trying to get caught up. Brandy and LA - are you guys okay? Geez, that's awful. Hope things get cleared up soon. Lap - size 20!!!!! That is fantastic!! Green - wow, families can be so tough sometimes. But you did do this for you, and YOUR approval is really all that matters. DEE!!! I spent the night in Cedar City Thursday night too! Where did you stay? Oh, that is tooo weird. Okay, I'm crackin' up over the minnie driver thing. I always wondered if anybody noticed that. I'm not British, but I sure do love my MINI. When I was in Southampton, UK last year leaving on a cruise the whole dock was full of brand new MINIs waiting to board a ship go to their new homes. Everybody else was on the deck waving and celebrating and I was snapping pics of all the MINIs. I even named mine (Penelope Anne Cooper). Yep, I'm a dork. So my DH, DS and I spent the weekend constructing a deck on our property and then putting up a 16 x 20 canvas wall tent on it. It is so awesome! It's huge inside! It has a wonderful window wall all along one side. It's kind of like sleeping in a tree house. I'll try to post pics tomorrow. But we worked our a%%es off. That's so sweet that you guys missed me. I missed you too! I couldn't wait to come home and get caught up on my reading. t minus 9 days till I'm banded. WOOHOO!

Drive by . . . .literally. Well, out of the car for the moment. We're spending the next four days at our southern utah property, so I won't have my internet. sniff, sniff. I'm sure I'll be in serious withdrawal. HI EVERYBODY!!! Dee - have a blast! Welcome jillypoo, I'm sure you'll have a lots of good advice and you'll find out everything you need. TTFN!!!

Yep! You're a MILF. You look fantastic!

Thanks sweetums. You always know the right thing to say. And I won't tell anybody about the 33 lbs . . . xoxoxo Ahhhh . . . . just had a huge rush of oxytocin. Feel much better . . .

So I'm starting my preop diet tomorrow and I weighed myself today for the first time in six weeks. I fully admit that I have been eating with abandon. Ummm . . . I've gained six pounds. YIKES. Guess I'll have to update my ticker - and not in a good direction!!!