ljv52

Yes, I watch Idol, Janet is right, her and I are the TV queens of this thread! Linda

Hi everyone, Congratulations to Joyce, welcome aboard the lapband train!! I bet you're glad to have that behind you. Happy to hear you are doing so well and not much pain -- just try to keep walking around if you do get any of the pain. Laura, sorry to hear about your dinner out - that just sucks. I feel very lucky that I have never slimed and have really only PB'd once. I do chew papaya enzyme immediately upon getting a stuck feeling and don't eat or drink anything for at least 10 mins. -- I've also learned it helps to walk around when I have that pain going on. So far it's always passed without any sliming. Hope you are feeling better today. Hope you took the crab cake home (my favorite!). Lori, glad you had a good time in Vegas. If any of you go to Vegas, you should go out to the new M Casino in Henderson (opened in March, 2009). They have a fabulous buffet -- it's really huge and includes wine, beer, homemade rootbeer and espresso/cappacinos, etc. It's not any more expensive than any other buffet - around $20 during the week. My favorite thing to eat there is salmon that they cook on a board - it's so delicious. They also had quite a few other band friendly items (lots of seafood, sushi, I think 6 or 8 different soups). It's just a neat place to visit off the strip. We get to go cause DS drives us there as it's quite a way from the strip. I love the blue man group show -- I was wondering if you'd do Cirque D'Soley (sp?) I'd love to see the new one with the Beatles music - I heard it's fabulous. I have to admit, it feels a bit strange to be recommending a buffet here on Lap Band Talk. Janet, hope your nephew gets better -- you know, this illness might "move" him to do something about his health. That was part of how I made my decision to get the band, when I got seriously ill with a severe kidney infection and almost had to go on dialysis. It made me realize I really did want to continue to live and enjoy life. Apples, have fun with your DS, I know exactly how nice it is to have a good visit with your DS. Mine is coming for a quick visit the end of next month and I can hardly wait! Sparkle, how wonderful that yo are working with Make a Wish -- sounds like you did a great job and you should be very proud of yourself. I agree with Janet, enjoy this holiday before your band -- cause once you have the band, it will be different. Congrats on getting your surgery date -- that's coming up quick. Julie, so sorry to hear about your pain. That just sucks. Hope you can get it resolved. Eva, you too, hope it's just fleeting and you get yours resolved quickly too. Cheri, congrats on your job being secure for another year -- I forgot to comment on that before. Glad that is going well. And, no, at this time I have no plans to come to Chicago, but I do love Chicago and will be visiting there soon (I hope). We want to take our DGD on the train there -- maybe we can do a long weekend this fall. I'll definitely let you know if and when so we can get together if I get there. Likewise for anyone who wants to get together with me -- Joyce I'm only around 3 hours from KC maybe we could meet halfway some time in the near future. Charlene hugs on the snow -- I watch the weather for work and noticed you were supposed to get snow -- hopefully it will fall and melt quickly -- stay safe and warm!! Well, that's about all this old lady can remember to respond to. Have a great day everyone!! I'm planning to watch the women's ice skating that starts tonight - that poor Canadian skater whose mother just died is skating -- I am routing for her for the gold -- bless her heart -- I'm glad she's going to skate -- it's for sure what her mother would have wanted. How tragic for her and her family. Hugs and love to all my bandsisters!! Linda

Melissa, I too am usually starving by dinner and was having difficulty with first bite syndrom cause I was so hungry. I made up a little chicken salad (canned chicken) and having a little snack around 4:30 or so (I eat lunch at 1:00 and work until 6:00 so dinner is usually late) -- I eat it with some of the multi grain Special K crackers -- it's about 150 calories total and good protein. That seemed to do the trick for me - I just started doing this last week. I think it's a better snack than popcorn cause it has the protein.

Lori, can't wait to hear how your trip to Vegas went. Did you end up seeing a show and if so, which one? Linda

Hi everyone! Congratulations to Joyce!!! Hope you're back in your room by now and ready to begin your new life as a bandster! Eva, I hear ya on the food prep license, etc. I used to do a lot of free catering for friends/family for weddings, anniversary parties, etc. and I was particularly famous for making cheese cakes and of course I used to bake tons at Christmas and everyone always wanted me to start a catering business or at least sell cakes/cookies -- too much work -- especially cause I had to also work at a day job to support my son (this is when I was single). But like Apples, I used to love cooking/entertaining. After my back surgery it was really hard on me - if I spend a full day cooking my back just kills me. So I still love cooking for the family, but no more marathon baking/cooking for me. I miss it though. But redoing your home kitchen for the license would be a pain and pricey. Janet, sorry about your IPod -- isn't it awful when a family member does something like that. Don't they realize you're going to know it's missing? Glad you replaced it. Had another snow storm over night -- truly so tired of snow, but at least the sun is out now and it is melting. I have huge drifts in my backyard -- which faces north. We live on the edge of town and our backyard runs out to a big cornfield so the wind really whips up the snow into our back yard. Can't wait for spring. Jessica and Eva, sounds like you both got off to a great start today -- good going on planning your food and packing your lunch. I pack mine everyday -- it just makes it easier. If I tried to go to a restaurant everyday it would be far too tempting for me. We bought DGD a swing set on sale yesterday -- the girl at the store was joking around saying, "are you going to put it up today?" So now we have to store this big old huge box in our garage -- why can't they wait and put them on sale when the weather is nicer? I read some really good things about plateaus in the Beck book yesterday -- really made me feel better - just knowing plateaus ALWAYS happen no matter what you do is helpful. She also mentions that as we get older our metabolism does slow down and therefore even though we may have weighed a certain weight when we were young (i.e. 130) that 30 years later we may not be able to achieve that weight healthfully and that we need to just readjust our thinking about what our goals should be. Also talks about how our lowest achievable weight may not be a healthy maintenance weight because we'd have to cut calories too low or exercise too much to maintain that weight. Really good information on the plateu problem. Julie hugs on the pain issues, I do hope somehow you can get that MRI. I know how hard it is to live with pain. It's really hard when it starts to interfere with what you want to do (like caring for Mimi). Well, I can't remember any more of what I read earlier, so will close. Love and hugs to all, hope everyone has a wonderful day. Linda

Eva, I forgot to mention congrats on the bonus!! I get mine the middle of March -- I think I'll buy a swing set for DGD with part of mine and use the rest for vacation in Florida in July -- for the wedding. Sure is nice to have that little extra $$ for the extra things we want to do. Have a good night! Linda

Hello everyone. Just lost a huge response post. It's so frustrating!!! Happy Birthday Laura and Happy Anniversary Cheri -- enjoy your celebrations. Glad your DH is well enough to go out for dinner for your b-day -- enjoy your dinner!! Sounds delish! Well, let me see if I can remember it all. Julie and Judy, hope you both start to feel some relief from the pain soon -- I know how hard it is to live with pain, but it's especially difficult when you don't know why and no one can figure it out -- it just sucks. I will be keeping positive thoughts and prayers for you both. Cheri, likewise for your DS and DD -- your DS sounds like a wonderful person -- what a rough time she's been having. So sorry for all her troubles. That's really a shame. Good going on your maintenance - keep it up. Apples, your hockey game party sounds like so much fun, wish I could come!! I guess you really did pack a lot of stuff if you even have knee pads with you!! Wow! LOL. Your menu, as always, sounds delish. Sorry you're leaving so soon -- I'd make sure you take 2 weeks to come home -- it's still so miserable here -- do NOT rush, trust me!! Good going on wearing capris!! A little jealous here!! Not really. :thumbup: Janet, good going on getting up and getting to the gym. I bought some new work out tapes -- Leslie Sansome ones -- one has a stretchy band you wear around your waist and works out your arms while you walk. The other one I tried today is with some weighted type gloves you use to do some boxing/punching moves while walking - I really liked it - it's different -- I get so bored with the same old tapes. I also did my 1 hour step aerobic one that I love -- it's a high intensity cardio work out and I have greatly increased my endurance since surgery -- it's so much easier to do now that I have no pain in that hip. I did another walking tape where you do short bursts with weights -- I've been doing that one every day -- I think maybe it's helped me break that plateau. Jessica, it's fantastic that your using your knowledge to help your family have better eating habits -- keep that up -- I feel a lot of guilt over the fact that I over fed and made family celebrations almost ALL about food -- I wish I could go back to your age and do it all over. So good going and I'm glad you see how important it is for your family's health. Phyll, I do hope you start feeling better soon - that last virus I had in January lasted almost 3 weeks - it was the worst cold type virus I'd had in at least 20 years -- really kicked my butt -- I was so glad I wasn't back at work when I had it. It's so miserable to be so sick. Joyce, 1 more day -- you'll be so glad you did it!!! Even when I was getting my iv in at the hospital I was still doubting my decision -- don't let your doubts over ride your decision - I'd do it 100 times again if I had to!! Sandy congratulations on the shopping prices AND the new sizes -- feels sooooo good, doesn't it? Sometimes I look at myself in pictures or even in the mirror and I think, WOW, I can't believe that's really ME!! Laura, that reminds me -- what gorgeous pictures -- and yes, yes, yes, what an amazing difference!! You've come a long way Baby!! Even with all the problems of the past 6 months, look at YOU!! You should feel so proud and happy and give yourself a big pat on the back. My boss went to his son's kindergarten class and he heard the teacher tell the kids to "kiss your brain" when they did something smart -- so we should all kiss our brains for making the right choices . Charlene, I noticed your new goals on your signature and I think they are great goals -- steady wins the race - you've done a lot so far, and it sounds like you're getting your motivation back -- it can be easy to lose that motivation -- I know before when I'd lose weight, lose the motivation and gain it all back -- so good for you -- kiss your brain!! Deb, glad you checked in, glad you are continuing to lose -- great job!! Well, gang I gotta run and get some dinner. I had a kinda crap day -- DSD and I got into a little this afternoon --I get sooo tired of her not wanting to help herself and I just can't keep my mouth closed ALL the time and then when I do it's bad cause she just can't take any advice or criticism of any kind - -she feels I "don't understand how hard it is!" Anyway, it upsets me cause I love her and worry and want her to dig deep to find the motivation to help herself. Anyway, have a great night everyone, I'll CBL. Linda

Laura, gorgeous pictures -- you looked gorgeous and so very happy. How long have you been married? Lori, yes, secretly I'm thrilled too, although my sister has never been like that, but my mother always used to make mean remarks about our differences -- when in reality I took after my mother (I look like her twin) she was short and fat like me and my sister took after my dad's family. My mom was pretty cruel about it. I was also teased a lot by other family members - uncles, etc. about being the "chubby" one. Always bothered me. But I'm sure deep down my sister probably thought I didn't have will power or something but she was never mean about it. She's never exercised a day in her entire life. Great buys on the plates, etc. How lucky that was!!! Linda

Joyce, It is an option, but we spent big $$ on a king size tempurpedic mattress and neither one of us wants to give it up. Guess I will have to buy one for the queen bed in the guest room but they are so expensive. LOL. I'm 57 -- been married to this DH for 17 years in July. Linda

I too have been struggling with a long plateau. I've only lost 1 lbs. since Dec. 22 and I've been working very hard -- increased my cardio, am doing more strength work -- up to 5 times per week -- and exercising at least 100 mins. per day, 7 days a week. I have not changed any of my eating at all -- I tend to pretty much eat the same foods and I very seldom eat anything I'm not supposed to -- like candy, Cookies, etc. I made a commitment at the beginning of this journey that I would eat healthy (not diet) 98% of the time. I eat fish at least 4 times per week. Some people are trying to tell me I should increase my calories, but truly, I'm afraid to do that. I have noticed the past week or so that my clothes are getting big - really big and I need to get some smaller sizes again. So, although I'm not losing pounds, I have lost lots and lots of inches so I still appear to be losing fat - I am apple shaped -- had lots of belly fat. I'm very short -- only 5'1". Since my surgery I have been so cold and I was starting to think that maybe my body was trying to hold on to the fat too keep me warm because it's winter? I notice a lot of us posting here are from colder climates. Good luck to you all, keep on working the program -- maybe Spring will bring us sunshine AND get our scales moving again. Take care, Linda

Lori, have fun at the shower and your trip to Vegas. My sister got her mother of the bride dress - it's a similar style to yours -- she got really lucky and got it for a super great price at JC Penny's bridal shop. Now, this is my baby sister who has always been tall (5'7") and thin and has never had to diet her entire life. She turned 50 last year and she was quite upset that she had to get a size 18 -- I was shocked -- she was always a 12 at the most. So for the very first time in my life I'll be wearing a much smaller dress than my sister at the wedding. It's so weird. Janet, glad you had a good visit with your family - have a great weekend! LauraK -- keep up the good work on the zumba!! I still have my DVD's but it's hard to learn those steps. Linda

Good morning everyone. Had a busy day yesterday and no time to get on to post. Julie, sorry to hear you're back to having pain again. I do wish they would let you get the MRI and find out what is causing it and get you fixed up. Judy, again, sorry you are having pain in your arm, I hope it gets better soon. Community theater -- how fun - I always wished I had that kind of talent but at this point I think I'd have a tough time memorizing lines, etc. Good for you -- I think it's wonderful. My neice (in St. Petersburg) used to be in a lot of community theater -- she loved it but she had to give it up cause she was too busy with college. I had a weird night. My DH snores and I use a sound machine to drown it out -- I usually can manage to get to sleep although some nights I just can't. I holler at him and he will turn over and that usually solves the problem but last night it was just awful and it was so loud. I had the sound machine turned up so loud but I could still hear him. And I was very tired - had been up at 5:00 yesterday morning and worked all day, had a dental appt. at lunch, so never had time to relax and stayed up till 11:20 watching the men's skating finals. Anyway, I guess I finally drifted off around 2, back up at 6:15 so got in 75 mins. of exercise this morning. He kept insisting he wasn't snoring cause his "mouth wasn't open". I said, well, I guess you were snoring through your nose!! LOL. I wanted to smother him (not really). Eva, your concert sounded great, glad you enjoyed it. Joyce, you'll make it until Monday - you're doing great!! I had to do two weeks of liquid diet before surgery -- if you are hungry be sure you're getting enough protein? If you feel super hungry, try increasing your protein -- maybe have an extra protein drink -- that's what satisfies your hunger -- i never knew that before I had the band. I'll be thinking of you on Monday -- you'll do great. Just think of all the weight you're already losing!! Cheri, so glad to hear your job is safe for next year - hope your DH is feeling better. Did he get a flu vaccine this year? We always get them - also got the H1N1 this year. Good going on your maintenance and getting your exercise in every day -- keep up the good work. Laura, sorry to hear DH and Nelson aren't feeling well. I know your mom and dad are disappointed you aren't coming, but you made the right decision. You'll make it up there soon when everyone is healthier. We had a couple days of sunshine and it's supposed to snow this afternoon - 2 to 4 inches - the roads and parking lots were finally ALMOST free of ice and snow and now it's going to snow again. I'm ready for spring. Hope it will happen soon. When we were in Chicago for Thanksgiving 2007, we saw the Jersey Boys -- it was really good. One of our little local casinos is having a tribute to the Jersey Boys and we got an invitation to go to a free show and a free night - only problem is it's on Sunday night the 28th. It's about a 1-1/2 hour drive but we're going to go cause I don't have to be at work until 9 on Monday, so we'll just get up early and head out. Should be fun -- maybe get me out of my winter blues a little. DGD coming to spend the night tonight -- looking forward to spending some time with her--she's quite the character -- she's been obsessed by one of her uncle's friends (who's 20 years old) named Jeremiah. She is constantly on her little princess cell phone talking to him -- she has a fabulous imagination -- she'll talk to him and laugh and carry on - kind of scary -- she acts like a teenager and she's only 3 -- DD thinks she must be immitating the way her babysitter's teenage daughter acts. You would swear she's really on the phone with someone. Kids are just amazing sometimes. Apples, that accident was a terrible tragedy - how awful you stumbled upon that. Charlene, I'm so glad Dr. Davis and his staff are coming up with some additional help for you. Would love to hear what they end up recommending. And way to go on the positive attitude! Janet, hope the visit is going well. Did any of you watch the men's skating finals last night -- so great -- so proud of our gold medalist, Evan - his trainer said he never worked with anyone who worked so hard -- what an inspiration that was to me - I just love the Olympics. Well, gotta get back to work. Have a great Friday and weekend everyone! Linda

Sndy, I don't run, but I speed walk I can do 10 mins. miles - with intervals of jogging. How long have you been jogging? I think maybe you just need to build up your endurance, just keep on doing what you can and soon you'll be able to increase your time/distance. That's what i had to do when I first started out. I now do 8 to 10 miles at a session-- with no break, but it took about a year to get to that level of endurance. Good luck with your training. Linda

Good afternoon everyone, Another slow day at work, so will try to post now. Welcome Joyce, Ezzie and Dawn. I'll try to comment here on some of the questions you asked. Joyce, good luck on your surgery next Monday -- it'll be over before you know it. As you can see by my signature, I had surgery 1-27-09 and have lost 101 pounds. My goal is 132. I'm only 5'1" and I started at 245, so I was literally as wide as I was tall - seriously that is NO joke, my waist was somewhere over 50 inches - I never did take the measurement before surgery. I have absolutely no regrets about choosing Lap Band surgery -- in fact I was just thinking about that yesterday -- about how having the band really helps me stay on track and not "give up" and just have a binge and eat - cause I can't do that with my band. Ezzie, I will be 58 on my next b-day in April. I think most of us felt about the same way you do. My wake up call was a combination of my first grand child being born and also knowing that if I didn't do something now before I had diabetes, etc. it would only get worse. My cholesteral levels were only getting higher and my blood pressure was getting up there and I just didn't want to die, to put it simply. Dawn, sorry to hear about your struggles and congratulatons on your weight loss so far! Sounds like you do need some additional restriction to help you out. Glad you have an appointment to get one next week. I didn't really have good restriction until about 10 or 11 months after surgery -- my surgeon does very conservative fills. Most of us here agree that the band is helpful, but we take credit for all the hard work -- the band doesn't keep cake, candy, ice cream, cheese, etc. out of your mouth -- we have to do that with willpower. Also, the band works even better if you do incorporate exercise into your daily routine. In order to get maximum benefit from the band you do need to make lifestyle changes and that includes what we eat as well as exercising. Believe me when I say that I would rather do almost anything else (like sitting on my butt) than exercise. You have to put yourself and your health first and just take the time to do what you need to do. It's not easy, but again, it's just something we have to do if we want to be successful in getting the weight off and then maintaining the loss. I hope you don't take what I'm saying wrong, it's just that so many times the surgeons and their staffs don't seem to do a great job in preparing their patients on the realities of how to be successful with lap band. It's not a magic cure, only a tool. As Janet (our fearless leader here) likes to say "they didn't band our brains" and we still would love to eat all that good stuff, and if I didn't have my band I know I would have had some by now. I can't really eat carbs -- with my restriction I cannot eat any bread and if I do try to have a little rice or baked potato, I get so full so fast I decided long ago it's not worth it. I eat my protein and veggies and I'm pretty well full. The protein is very important to maintain muscle so be sure you get all the protein in your body needs -- at least 70 grams per day. I also firmly believe in keeping a food journal and being accountable for everything we put in our mouths -- I use thedailyplate.com but there's a lot of them on the web. Another thing I think is helpful is checking in here and just venting and talking about our issues. I think you'll find it really helps to keep you on track - this is a great support group here. You can talk about anything that's bothering you -- or just how you're doing in general - no one judges, everyone here is just wonderful. You no longer need to feel you are alone in your lap band/weight loss journey! We are all here to love and support you and cheer you on! Lori, hope your knee starts to feel better - sorry and hope you had a better day today. Glad the wedding plans are proceeding nicely. Janet, I laughed so hard at your "sometimes being a tv person is hard" cause I feel the same way most of thetime -- LOL. We are a couple of spoiled brats, aren't we? I always have the TIVO going and the VCR in the bedroom going all the time and then there's no time to watch it all. I even TIVO some day time things too. OMG! LOL. Unless your a tivo addict, you couldn't possibly understand this problem. Phyll, so happy for your loss -- congratulations!! That's worth celebrating!! Coach purse? New outfit? Laura, your story was great -- wtg on getting the car in and out of the shop -- that's priceless. Have a good trip to NC, hope all is going well there. I'm sure everyone will understand about the year on the invitation -- sounds like something I would do. LOL. Jessica, sounds like you understand that you need to get back to therapy and on your meds - that just shows what a smart girl you are -- you're really doing so well -- just keep up all the great work. Your in-laws' house sounds lovely - what a great area for your son. Hope when you move into your own place you'll still be in the same area. Julie, sounds like you had a super busy day. Don't worry about the laundry, it'll get done when it gets done. Hope both you and Lori get better sleep tonight. I stayed up until midnight watching the men's skating short program but managed to get up at 5:15 to get my exercise in. Whew. Some days I don't require much sleep - I guess last night was one of those nights. Apples, hope the puppa kept you company and isn't too lonely for DH now. Sounds like you may have some time to catch up on some reading finally! Enjoy!! Well, gang, must close. Sorry if I missed any of you - hi to Judy -- glad you made it last weekend. Melissa, hi to you too -- hope your snow has melted by now and all your car troubles are over!!! Meredith, how's the house coming along? Miss you - how's school going? Cheri, hope your week is going well -- glad you got to spend some time with your grandkids!! LauraK, we'll see spring some time -- I'm sending a couple days of sunshine over to you. We've been cold, but at least it's been sunny. Eva, hope you made it home safe and sound. Take care all, I'll CBL. Love to all, Linda

Hi everyone! I'm can join in with the others and report a 1 pound loss!! Yippee!! It's been since Dec. 22 since I lost ANYTHING so I am a happier girl today. Just keeping fingers crossed that it will continue each week -- I'll take 1 pound a week or heck I'll take 1 pound every other week for that matter as long as I have SOME loss. So congrats to all of us who are breaking through the plateau barriers! Truly been tough, but think how helpful we'll be when some of the newer bandsters get to their plateaus. Eva, have a safe trip home -- my DH and I love homemade tamales. We used to have a contact in Long Beach and used to buy them from a nice lady -- sooooo yummy -- miss them a lot. I'm a wimp on spicy - I can't eat really hot peppers -- I break out in blisters - so unless it's rather mild salsa I can't eat it usually - I love the taste but my lips and tongue just can't take the heat. I already know I'm weird. LOL. Janet, you've certainly had a lot of company. Hope your sister gets better -- I have a friend who's developed some breathing problems the past year - chronic bronchitis and her docs want her to quit smoking - so tough to do (as I struggled for years). My mom had emphazemia (sp?) and after watching her struggle I finally had the courage to give it up. I was a 2 pack a day for over 30 years -- so you know how tough that was. JEssica, hope you get better soon -- sounds like everyone has what I had in January -- very miserable -- it took forever to go away, so I feel for all of you suffering. Laura, sure hope Nelson gets better soon -- gosh, I would eat a doughnut and milkshake any time, fever or no fever -- most likely he'll never develop a weight problem - I used to love to eat when I was sick - what's that old saying, starve a fever, feed a cold? Well, I used to feed both as I recall. LOL. Janet, hope you get a chance to finish watching Survivor. I'm excited, I think this season will be great - I really enjoyed it last week. And Laura, YES YES YES, please apply to be on it -- that would be fabulous to have someone we care about to cheer on!! I myself would LOVE to try out for Amazing Race -- I love that show as well. This season there's a 72 year old woman (she says she's now a triathlete - said she was a former couch potato) on it. So if she could do it, so could I. I watched some of the Olympics last night -- there's so much to watch -- I do enjoy it all though. I stayed up until almost Midnight watching what I tivo'd -- didn't get up this a.m. -- no time for exercise. That's okay I deserved a day off anyway. Phyll sorry to hear you don't feel well and the GS issues. Hope that gets resolved soon. Well, gotta run, this is my lunch hour and it's about over. CBL. Linda

Good Evening everyone! Thanks so much to all of you who were in Florida for sharing-- like some of the others have mentioned, I too feel like I was there -- and yes, I believe I would have felt the same --I alreay know you all anyway. I still do want to meet in person soon though -- so we'll have to work out the details of our next trip. I found out today I didn't accrue any vacation for either Dec. or Jan. as I missed more than 15 days each of those months - so I BARELy have enough vacation time to take 5 days off in July for my neice's wedding. I didn't realize I wasn't accruing vacation those two months so that really hurts. I just have to hope I don't have to take any time off between now and then (we don't have sick leave so I have to use vacation/personal time for that). So it makes it tough. Judy, excellent synopsis -- great sense of humor -- you and I would get along great -- so glad you were able to make it. Apples, sounds like you were wonderful as always with the hostessing duties. Lori, hope you didn't think I was being critical of you on your venting post -- I was just saying that "of course you were feeling depressed cause everything was not in your control" I didn't mean to imply that you were a controlling person -- I hope you didn't take it that way. I just meant it would be tough for anyone to go though that many changes and undecided plans all at once. WTG on the Valentine's Day presents -- your DH sounds just great. We don't do presents either really -- we tend to go out and buy what we want/need at that time -- sometimes we wrap up stuff we buy just to put it under the tree for "show" so the kids dont' feel sorry for us -- but honestly, like most of you, I'd rather save the money for a nice vacation. My DH and I bought each other fifty cent cards at the dollar store and wrote nice things in them -- he told me how "beautiful I have always been to him and how proud he is of me for getting healthy." That meant more than a present anyway. We did go out to dinner Sat. nigiht -- just our usual place up the street -- but it was nice -- I put on a top he particularly liked when I bought it -- he commented on it at the time. But no heart teddy for me -- LOL. Apples I LOVE it!! WTG girl - I'm sure you had a great time. Julie, so glad you went and also glad you found some nice things to buy and yes, congrats on the seat belt extension and tray table - it was a thrill for me last year when I got to put the tray table down all the way -- I do believe that was one of the better NSV to date. Also glad you didn't have any problems with your flights. Eva, so glad you were there for Janet and she there for you so you weren't alone in your long travel day. Hope you're enjoying Ft. Myers. I checked the weather there today and saw it was pretty chilly -- 60 = sorry you're having such crappy weather. I cooked a big valentine dinner for kids and DH and the dog's b-day -- including a cake -- also went to see Lovely Bones this weekend and shopped for DGD's new comforter/sheet set for her bedroom here at my house.So although busy, a good weekend. Got all my exercise in. Laura, hope Nelson is better -- I could tell before what a great kid he is -- plus you are such a great Mom -- so I KNEW he was a great kid. Hugs on the snow in Indiana! We just are having small flurries and wind and very cold here. Jessica, so glad you went - I'm sure this will help you in your journey -- so glad you found our group on the LBT -- I know you'll be a smashign success in both your weight loss journey, nursing and being a Mom!! Your pic is great - you look so diifferent from your first picture. Charlene, I haven't gotten much of the Beck Diet book read -- really love what it says in the little I've had time to read -- but I do think it will be very helpful. Phyll, I saw the pictures of your new Grandpuppy -- she is adorable -- I think you should have snuck her on the plane with you -- why not get a little one to keep you adn DH company? I think you should go and get one this week. You won't regret it. My little sweetie just cheers me up every day. NY, hope all is well with you and you get that surgery done soon. Let us know when you get a date. To the newbie having surgery on 2-20 or thereabouts, congrats and you will be fine on the 7 day liquid diet -- I had to do 2 weeks before surgery and it was no problem -- by the time I started I was really ready to tackle my obesity and I was sick of food at that point. You'll do just fine, trust me. LauraK hope everything is okay -- how's your dog getting along. Sorry I can't remember the name. Cheri, glad you had a great time with your grandkids -- they really brighten our lives -- wish I could have a few more. Love my little GD so much. Meredith, congratulations on the house and the move -- you'll love it!!! Well, I must close -- not intentional if I left someone out - I'm rushing cause I just got home from work. LBT was down part of the day and I couldn't read anything until tonight. Glad it is fixed now -- loved seeing the pictures and hearing about the weekend. Love and hugs to all. Linda

Good afternoon everyone!! What a great photo -- and amazingly enough Janet and Eva didn't even look tired after their long traveling ordeal - you guys all rock. It's a great pic and you all look absolutely gorgeous and healthy and wonderful. Hope the shopping trip is wonderful. Sorry the weather isn't better. Still wish I could have been there -- lemon drop martini sounds like heaven. Apples you are so generous -- what a wonderful hostess you are to have so much on hand for everyone -- you are just amazing. Lori, I'm thinking the same thing -- cause almost all the flights to Florida from here go through either Dallas or Atlanta and I probably would have been stuck too -- so it's just as well for me too. Sandy, congratulations on Onederland and all your weight loss and Happy Birthday!! Glad you are hopping on board -- we're going to plan another get together so hopefully everyone will be able to make the next trip!! Deb, wow that was a great weigh in at your doctor's! Maybe you should just stop weighing at home -- you and I are very much alike I think - I get so disappointed when I don't lose either -- I think it might be beneficial for me not to weigh every week. I don't eat though but I do tend to over exercise and really restrict myself when I don't lose which I think may be causing some of my issues as well. So maybe you and I should just make a pact to NOT weigh ourselves and I think we'd both be much happier. I want to see photos of EVERYTHING that was purchased today -- model any clothes and hold up the Coach purses for the photos. LOL. You guys continue to have fun - can't wait to hear all the stories -- comparing port scars?? Oh my!! That's weird -- cause mine was itching last night -- maybe it knew and felt left out! DSD and I are going to go see Lovely Bones tomorrow afternoon and shop for DGD's new bedding for her room at my house and for her new bed at her house - everything's 50% off this week for the holiday. Then getting together for a Valentine dinner and to celebrate dear doggie's b-day -- since we got her at a shelter we don't know her real birthday so we always celebrate hers on V-Day cause she's the love of our lives -- our sweet angel doggie. Okay, gotta get more done -- just finished cleaning the kitchen, need to dust - ugh--would much rather be sipping those lemon drop martinis and comparing port scars!!!! Linda

Glad to hear all is well --especially good to know that the luggage arrived. Have fun and have sip of one of those drinks for each of us girls!!! Linda

judy, hope you have a safe and fun time with the girls!! Give them each a hug from me!! Linda

Welcome Cindy and congrats to you on your Saints Super Bowl Victory! Hope you'll tell us a little more about yourself and stick around. We are always glad to have a new poster in here -- the more the merrier. Congrats on your weight loss - you've done great! As you can see, some of our members are meeting this weekend. I'm one of the unlucky ones that couldn't go due to my having hip replacement surgery in December (had to use all my vacation/personal time for that). But for sure I'll be attending the next one, with bells on!! LOL. Lori, vent away. I understand how you feel completely -- just too many unknowns, you're probably like me and want to feel IN CONTROL and you can't -- cause nothing right now is in your control. Just try to let go and let it all be if you can -- much easier said than done however. Your family could be so helpful, but instead they burden you with all the work and make so many demands on you -- I'm almost hoping you do move away just so they can FINALLY realize how much you do for your DGM. Of course, they will probably never tell you that, but at least YOU will KNOW they have to miss you. Glad DD is making a decision -- that should help -- now you can breathe a little and at least get excited about the wedding. Your trip should help too -- have you been there before? I can't remember if you said you've been there before. I've never been there -- so I'll be anxious to hear all about your trip and see photos. I don't have you as a friend on FB -- my name is Linda Vilcone -- there's only a few (total of 12 and we're all related) Vilcones in the world so I'm easy to find on FB. If you have a FB account, I'd love for you to add me as your friend, likewise for anyone here reading this. Wish the girls would update us again -- I'm worrying cause that's what I do - I'm a worrier. I just want them all to have a great time and hope they are together by now and enjoying it all. Well, I'll CBL - at work, so have to watch my time on here. We had free 15 min. massages here today for Valentine's Day/Pres. Day treat. Told you all I work for a FABULOUS company! It just keeps getting better every year. Had mine already and so I'm very relaxed. LOL. Linda

Jodi, congrats on the clearance -- hope you can get surgery sooner rather than later!! Linda

Lori, I know what you mean, these smaller airports (like Des Moines and Duluth) are usually much more expensive to travel to and from than the larger airports. We'll have to figure it out -- good thing about Vegas is it's cheap for everyone to fly there (usually) and it's a big city now -- I lived there for two years and I've never ever run into anyone I knew then when I've visited (probably 25 times or more since I lived there). We'll have to wait and see what the situation is when we plan. Hope Janet and Eva made it to Ft. Myers (where my mom lived for 30 years) and they have a safe drive up to Orlando. I can't figure out why a flight would leave Dallas for Ft. Myers yet be canceled for Orlando -- should be an interesting story. Gotta get some sleep I'll check in in the morning. Linda

Hi all, yes, we want photos!! So hop to it girls in Florida!!!! Get busy with those digital cameras!!! Hope all is well -- I'm so jealous, but like Lori, I probably wouldn't have made it either as I usually am routed through Dallas or Atlanta - so it was just as well!! Just wish we could get together more often! Love to you all-- take care and have a great time to all in Florida! Linda

I can't believe the snow they are suposed to be getting in the south -- holy cow! I just checked airport delays and they are saying zero delay for Dallas, so that's a good sign, hopefully Janet and Eva will get out of there today. Keeping positive thoughts!!! Linda