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Go Julie! Good luck on your run today. And I see "Onederland" just around the corner!

JulieLu, you are very wise!

Ortiz is a very secure choice. He is completely reliable, competent and experienced. I would go to Ortiz, even if money were not an issue!

Now you don't really know what your growth is, so please don't get too scared. If it is a thyroid tumor, it sounds like it could be treatable. I talked to a friend who had a very agressive tumor on her thyroid gland. She had the entire thyroid gland removed with a follow-up of radiation. She is fine and takes synthroid daily to replace the hormones lost. I can't see any scars, even though I know she had surgery. I think Sharon Stone also had that surgery. Good luck!

I had the same problem! I cut down one can a day each week, until the last week I was drinking only one a day. I had my last diet coke the day before surgery. Honestly, I don't miss it! My skin is better, but I do still crave sweets. I started by drinking flavored crystal light. Now I love Vitamin Water. The tropical citrus flavor has natural caffeine (whatever that is) and loads of B Vitamins. It claims to help with energy. I have one or two a day (frozen into a slush). Good luck!

On Oprah today, the topic will be about women who have had weight-loss surgery and then hit "rock bottom." What could that mean? And what kind of surgery is she featuring? If you watch and have thoughts, PLEASE post!

Bluehill: That is the best news I have heard all day. I was worrying about you! Your house sounds like a dream! It will probably feel like a dream come true.

Ohhhh! That is a tough one! I am sooo so sorry. You deserve to be cherished. Look at all you have accomplished. It must be especially hard because you are just getting into a new dating scene and that takes some risk. He is nuts! It is ALWAYS better to be with someone who really "gets" you. This is not about you, Amourette, this is about HIM. Please don't blame yourself!

I forgot to report my NSV: At the doctor's today, my BP was 110/51...I think that is good?

If my enthusiasm gets to you, let me know. I get a little carried away with the exclamation points!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YES!!!! I'm a happy person by nature!!

NJGirl: Come on board!! I have a question for you. Do you get the PB's? If you are, you might have gotten into a syndrome of swelling. Also, could you be drinking too fast? If the answer is "no," PLEASE get an unfill. It is dangerous to deprive your body of liquid and nourishment. We end up severely malnourished if we cannot eat a variety of foods. Eficka: It sounds like your friend is sick of hearing you tell her what to do. She wants to screw up her life. She is in a downward cycle. You have tried to be her friend, by urging her to stop her risky behavior. She does NOT want to stop! Don't let her pull YOU down, too. When a person is drowning, they can panic and fight so hard that they can pull the rescue swimmer down, too. Sometimes you have to make the painful choice to save yourself by letting them go. PLEASE take the high road! You have a better life in store for you! But you deserve to choose the highest quality friends! You are very young and need to be cautious as to who you let into your life. Especially now! Amourette: Great advice!! Julie: I feel so honored to be QUOTED!! How cool is THAT?! Thanks for the compliments. You GO for it! While I am envious of your results, I am thrilled at my own, too! Betty: I am thinking about your retreat...sounds fun! I am almost comitted to the "opportunity"! Have another offer to consider. LOVE TO YOU ALL! Gonna watch "American Idol" at the gym tonight!

I woke up talking and joking as if I had never been out (continued with the same conversation.) But then suddenly, I realized I was in pain. I incredulousy announced, "Hey, I feel like I was just knifed!" The surgeon said, "You WERE." They all kind of laughed, and then I remembered what I had done. I was then so happy to be alive, and on my way!!

Eficka, NO woman deserves to go through that humiliation. I'm just glad it happened now, before you were invested in a relationship. Don't put all of the blame on your "friend." This guy is a total jerk, drunk or not! There is a better one for you and he is just around the corner! Bluehill, keep healing! My fill is JUST starting to tighten up (after a week). Go figure!? I hope this works! As for the dreaded plateau...I've been on one for over two months now. Personally, I don't do well with deadlines on losing weight. It terrifies me and stresses me out. When I was banded, I logged some goals and wrote that I would be happy with any weight-loss at the one-year anniversary. So while I would like to drop much more over the next month, I will decide to feel gratitude for the way my life has changed, thus far. We have to look at the "big picture" of where we have BEEN, where we WERE headed, and where we are NOW headed. This is a lifetime change (even if it takes my lifetime, I'm gonna get it right!!) The band doesn't magically take care of the food demons we all still face every day. (For some reason, I've convinced myself that the way to keep food from getting stuck is to lubricate the band ...with CHOCOLATE! haha) All I can offer is to remain hopeful and be patient. And I can feel a change coming on! The day is fast approaching where we will ALL be onederlanders! That will be an exciting success for all of us!

Wow! I remember reading about your banding months ago (another Ortiz patient.) It is a relief to hear it was not caused by the surgeon. I am SO sorry you had to be the 1%!! I hope you heal quickly...what an ordeal!

Susan! Yeah! I'm glad you are up for some exercise. It is good to hear from you again. Kat, you are funny. I played that, too. "Ollie, ollie, oxen free," AND "Ollie, ollie, in come free." I have NO idea what it means! I think what you do is amazing! I was on a trip and couldn't really post due to a very tight schedule with only three hours to sleep each night. Now I am pretty beat. I ran and walked 5 miles tonight. But it did not feel good. Sometimes we just need rest! There is NO contest going on here! Please don't anyone feel that there is pressure to be in an elite group of marathon runners. We are all improving our lives on several levels. The exercise endows us with vitality, strength, and an upbeat attitude. We are here to give and receive support, and to also challenge each other to go for it! I don't want ANYONE, myself included, to feel like they have failed for not keeping up with "the group." I admire the consistency of Betty's walks and workouts! That challenges me, because I seem to fit in four workouts a week. I admire Kat's positive attitude to continue, through the toughest of challenges! I admire Julie's tenacity to go for the gold and invite us all along! Each person in this group contributes something very unique. I have appreciated every one of you!!

Good luck! You have made a wise decision! I was also worried about the band/surgery hurting my voice mechanisms and ability to support. Don't fear. There is no problem with the breathing, diaphragm, or muscle support. I sing a good 5 hours a day and the added energy from dropping weight has improved my voice!

Julie!! You are awesome! I want to officially congratulate you on your tremendous success in the weight-loss AND exercise journey. It has been a joy to share this journey with you. I also wish you the best on the surgery! You know that our exercise challenge group is behind you 100% and we'll be cheering you on. When you are healed up and looking fine, you and I will have a fun little 5-10K race! I may be there in July.

Sara, good luck over this month of pre-op! Can you imagine that you will be where we are in only a year?? Cool, huh?

I'm ba-a-a-ack! I have tonight and tomorrow to get to 16 workouts. I won't make the goal either, Julie. That is why I think we should have a few levels of achievement, bronze, silver and gold!! Then we won't feel like "losers" if we only fit in 16 workouts. So I have been looking forward to this little jaunt to Mexico as I have not had a fill in nearly 7 months. Over the weekend I ate candy, ice cream, and prepared for total deprivation. There was NO way I would run in the snowstorm, so when I gingerly lifted the other leg onto the scale I winced at what number would be my fate. I actually lost .5 a pound. NOT RIGHT!! In Mexico, I got only .2 cc additional fill. So I'm at 1.6. The doctor knows I am conservative and terrified of a slip from PB's. So he gave the most minute amount. I don't even feel it. Oh, please let it tighten over the next week! I warned him that I am ravenous 30 minutes after eating. He told me that it is caused from the exercise. One NSV is that the nutritionist was sharing with me that she could walk/run 5K in 45:00. "YES!!" I pumped my fist and bragged that four months ago I ran it in under 34:00. hahaha! I hope to beat that time next week.... Blue, you might be too weak to post, but we are all thinking of you just the same. Julie, I'm so glad you are back from your trip and moving ahead with the surgery! We'll all see how you do, then follow....Hey, isn't that what we have been doing all along?? Thank you for being our pacesetter, even though you couldn't fit it in. We are all working through stuff this month! Hugs to ALL!!!!

Bluehill, It is so good to hear from you. As you can imagine, we have been very concerned for you! Thankfully, your daughter is close. I'm sure this arrangement is not entirely ideal, but it is allowing you to heal, and you are with someone who loves you. When you do come home on your birthday, it will be a glorious day! Not only will it feel great to "sleep in your own bed" (as Julie mentioned), but you'll have a new home! Please do everything you can to think uplifting thoughts, take your medicine, and follow doctors' orders! We miss you, but are very thankful!!

That IS a relief!! I know she is not out of the woods, yet, but maybe you can breathe a little now. Much love!

I have the same weakness. Coffee Bean sells a sugar-free, fat-free powder for ice blendeds. I whip it up in my blender with ice. It is wonderful. I also freeze "Vitamin Water", tropical citrus, for a slushy treat. I like cold things!!

I was NEVER fat in my life, until about 8 years ago. BUT!!! I remember feeling terrified of becoming fat at age 6. I was keenly aware how unacceptable it was to overeat. And I felt an intense appetite that needed to be harnassed. My first food journal was started at age 9. My first diet at 10. I would write my mother letters asking for her help when I was 5'1" and my weight rose to 95 pounds. The curvy, feminine shape was confusing to me and I thought it was chunky. As an adult, many of my jobs revolved around my body (not prostitution or anything like that). Even though I was rewarded many opportunities and a great income for having an amazing shape, I was the most critical. Finally, my greatest fear caught up with me and became my reality. Becoming obese taught me to nurture and appreciate other qualities and strengths. Now I value myself in a completely different way. Even when I reach my goal, I doubt I will ever go back to a world that is only valued by appearance.

Betty, I just read the Dr. Ortiz comment...hahahaha! He is a blast, isn't he? And his mother is a stylish, petite spitfire. Ortiz lives in San Diego and crosses the border every day. He is jovial and witty every time you see him. His staff is happy, his office/surgical center is sleek and upscale. And he loves to party. I don't know that from firsthand experience, he told me. He dresses sharply and is a pretty cool guy! Poor Bluehill! That is terrible! I, too, wish I could send a card. Julie must be in St Bart's now? Maybe so many of us are on a plateau because we are supposed to be? Maybe it is the body's natural healing/adjustment. Or maybe it is because of winter. I NEVER lose in the winter! Take care everyone!!

Kat, That is heart-breaking! I hope they DO admit her!! Children are so patient and just suffer through it, don't they? I will pray for your Kinsey and all of the afflictions that are trying our group! Much love!