guysis

I'm reading and keeping up with all of you bandits.................but, am busy with all the grandkids this and next week...........so, don't have a lot of "extra" time - also, they've stolen the computer from me..........I have to beg to "get on". Am getting in my daily dose of exercise, either walking or the gym, but the food situation has not been great............I do need a bit of a "refill" also............I'm up a couple of lbs and angry at myself! It's hard with the kids around...........too much junk around and it's finding "my trunk"! I woke up this morning and have been doing self talk........like get it in gear Betty..............Boo, I think the PS is sort of right in a way and yes we do have to work much harder at this point to prove him wrong! Boo, by the way, please let me know your plans for coming up this way. Molly, welcome back and keep up the good work. Amourette, Effika - thinking about you both.................Dawn, you're probably on your way already..................sounds wonderful.................Julie, yes, we are at the hard part.............getting that last 20-30 lbs off..............I am fully at fault tho - I've been bouncing for months...................don't know why it's so hard at this point to just go back to the beginning and follow my rules that worked so well? The exercise part is good..............I've made that a part of my life that I miss - if I miss -....................dealing with food is another thing entirely - as we all know!

Julie - 5 miles of running in any time sounds good to me! I'm going to try to get my little sprints in when we do our walks on Tues and Thurs. Just got back from a great Father's day dinner at my daughter's...........had fun with all the kids/grandkids. Well, I've been to the gym 2 days in a row............I'm back in the groove..................and happy to be home.

I'm so happy to be home! Arrived last eve after a 11 hour car trip with a couple of the grandkids....................yippee................slept in my own bed for the first time in 2 weeks.....................love to go places, but guess it's a sign of growing old when you love to come home more! Thought I'd hit the gym this morning, but I can't face washing all those loads of clothes and the gym in the same day. "Rhett honey, I'll think about it tomorrow!" Have a great week-end all. Julie, have fun on all those runs.....................I did ok on our trip (with food)....................did almost great until we hit our kids house on Monday..............they have "junk" in every cranny................I did gain a couple of lbs in the 2 weeks......................back to home and "normalcy". I promise - today, back to "my" bandster rules, tomorrow NIA!

It is so great to see this thread so active! I was supposed to be home on Sunday eve............but, we had a little glitch getting out of DC back to NYC - our plane was delayed and that caused us to miss our Jet Blue connection back to Portland (only plane of the day).............so a long story later....we flew into Oakland, CA, rented a car and drove to Sacramento, CA visiting with our set of kids/grandkids here...........on Thurs we're packing a couple of the grandkids into the rental car and driving home to Portland - they'll visit with us and their cuz's and fly back home in a couple of weeks..........nice to be retired so that the unexpected can happen.........the grandkids are happy and so are we............although a bit exhaused because we were up a solid 2 days in a row...........could not have done that before April 2006! To answer your question Boo - about the Julie/Betty/Alan meeting........ I loved being able to hug Julie and sit next to her in the restaurant and have the face to face experience.............but, it was it a bit more awkward than I thought it would be............Julie, I think I'm in a bit of awe of your accomplishments - your are so bright and articulate! Hope we can get the chance to meet again in a slower pace situation (NW bandits get together).........and have the change to relax and just gab..............with maybe just us bandits around! I can't wait to get home and get to the gym on Friday.........my body is crying out for some upper body work...........my buns and knees and ankles are very sore from all the walking...........got on my kids scale and it looks pretty good - no gain at least - I was very good (not great) on our trip!

I'm back on-line.............just realized the hotel we are staying at in Washington, DC has free internet............anyway in just one more day we will be on our way to our northwest home - I'm ready.......it seems like eash trip we take is about 3 days too long! But.........we've had a great time.........spent a couple of days in Hoboken, NJ at Alan's 50th college reunion...........I even had fun............a few really nice "wives" who hung out while the guys "talked old times". Then into NYC where it was great to meet Julie........................recognized her immediately - she is so pretty...................and YOUNG...........Alan and I are almost old enough to be her grandparents..................thanks Julie for taking the time to meet up..............hopefully you'll make the trip out to the northwest soon and we'll get to know each other even better! We've been in "our nations capital" (Alan used to say that to our kids when he traveled to Washington, DC on business) since Wed.................heading home tomorrow eve (Sun). WELL - we have not stopped walking since we left home on the 31st........so, I'll have 10 days to post when I get home! I really mean walking............like 6 - 10 hours a day! Everything I own hurts! Welcome all you new 2007 April baby bandits. I'll write more when I get home.

OK - here goes my last post (probably - I might get one in before I leave) before vacation................... Julie, just quickly I figured you lost about 80% +/- of your excess body weight and I lost about 65% +/- (some say what we can expect with the band - we've both exceeded that number) ...................and I think we both have it made at least to maintain at this weight - right? So, how do we get back that original umph? I don't know about you, but for me it's pretty easy at this point with the exercise I do and the way I eat to stay at this weight.................too easy and comfortable I guess which is nice for a change in my life...............to maintain and have it be easy! Never felt this way before. HOWEVER, I want more off and I know you do also! Got an idea - why don't we meet and talk about it? See you Sunday! The rest of you - have a great couple of weeks............keep moving those smaller butts...................I plan on walking the streets of the east coast..........maybe even getting in a sprint or two every few minutes!

Good luck on the job interview Molly! Oh my gosh you running girls listen up! Alan has been having some hip issues and has been slowing down on our walks - not good for me. So today on our walk home from the breakfast walk I tried doing some 1 minute sprints every 3 or 4 minutes....................OK Julie what was that "getting into running" site/book you were talking about. I've had knee and ankle problems, but I'm in so much better shape today that I might give it a try???

I ate too much yesterday! Nothing "bad" just too much volume! I was afraid this would happen after the unfill.............I'm still ok in the mornings/afternoon, however we went to a salad bar with our kids for dinner and I was wide open (trouble)! Molly, wasn't it you I told "just follow the rules, we can diet for a while"...................I'm a fraud! Gotta get back to my "instruction to others" for myself! I promise to you all to do this - I'm almost on vacation and need to come home at the same or a lower weight! OK, OK................I will follow the rules and measure out my food on a small plate in the evenings! Speaking of - Alan and I are on our way walking our 3 miles to and fro breakfast (where I am always a good bandster grammy!).

I changed my sig line - the Grammy Gold will have to wait for next month! Don't tell anyone!!! I will tho make the Grammy Bronze!

Julie, that sounds like a great time to me! We walked to the movies - 2 miles in 45 minutes..............sure have us beat with that 66 min 6 miler! That "d..." scale - I hate it - at this point it's such a strugle - our bodies are used to all this exercise............guess, when I get home from my trip I'll try upping to the next level (gulp)............sure glad I won't have to face the scale for 10 days when we're on our trip! Dawn, happy to hear from you and that all is well.................your European trip sounds great! Have fun. Boo - look how close to 24.9 BMI you are - you know what that means???? Normal weight for our Boo coming right up! Goooooooo Boo. Did NIA this morning - an extra hard class and then a bit of a core class following, then ran out of steam...............home now washing clothes, cleaning house for the doggie sitter, and starting to pack.......still have a couple of days before we leave on Wed late - taking a red eye.

Hi Josie, I'm almost 14 months out from surgery and have only great things to say about Dr. Neal and his staff! I'm down 65 lbs, have become the exercise Grammy Queen - feel great, look pretty good - still would like to get down another 20 +/- lbs, but if I stay at this weight (and I have no doubt I will never get up there again) I'll be happy! I am so happy that I had the band surgery - wish I would have found it sooner! Water is your friend with the band - they want us to drink tons of it - just not with meals! I think maybe you heard something like right after surgery you get to sip little sips - that only lasts for a couple of hours! If you want to ask me any specific questions - please feel free to PM me (send me a personal message). Betty

Wow! When you meet Alan, I just might make you "show and tell" so that he'll let me do it! (Just kidding - I think!). You look great. Would I love to wear itseybitsey undies like that (even at my grammy age)!

Had a great day yesterday.............walked to the movies, met friends for dinner who offered us a ride home - we declined - walked home the couple of miles in the dark - was romantic! Good for you Boo - keep that slide going - great inspiration! Good for you Julie - again - your run times sound awsome - I have no idea what is good, but it sure sounds good!!! I just got back from the Grocery store after my NIA class, loaded up on veggies and fish and some fruit.................Goal by Xmas sounds great to me too! Thank you all for being there........the togetherness is such a great boost! Julie, a week from today is our date in "the city".............so, don't make any other plans for the afternoon/eve.....will be "in touch".

<p>Julie - you sound like me with the food, etc.............told you we were related - think all of us are? I think it's bandiversary illness! I was definately in trouble with the amount of fluid in my band for the past 6 weeks - way too much - but I kept pushing it to get myself in "bad" trouble! Don't know how this is yet, I can eat, but yes like you I need to also get back to basics................thanks for the challenge yet again - we can count on our Julie. I'm up 3 or 4 lbs from all the liquid calories (not good ones that I "had" to drink the past few weeks) necessary because of getting myself so irritated. </p> <p> </p> <p>OK - even with my trip - I'm going for 160 by July 4th l - gotta keep up with Julie!</p> <p> </p> <p>Fionna - keep up up to date - hope all is well with you!</p>

Had a great day..............walked to the movies with Alan - 2 miles each way............then met friends for dinner........a beautiful 75 ish day! Summer is coming to the NW. Yipee, finally! Julie, was that pilates on the machines? I've done some Pilates classes - sort of mostly core work. I can eat again. Still have my band - can't eat "too much"......hopefully this will be a good fill level.........so nice to be able to keep down food! Heading to NIA in the morning - already counted it so, I can't change my mind!

We did a quick trip up to Olympia this morning - left at 7:30AM and was home by 1:00PM.....................got .4 taken out and so far - great. I'm taking it easy today, but was able to get some Yoplait light with a bit of high fiber cereal down this eve...............yipee............have not been able to do that for days! Alan is happy that I don't have that "look on my face"!...........and I'm happy that it's not coming back up into my throat! Now, if only she did not take too much out??? If so, I'd rather just be careful on our trip and then go back and get a bit more put in when we get back..............of course the fill nurse said............"don't do that again"! It's hard being 2 hours away from the dr's office. Have a great holiday week-end all! We're stickin around town - last minute clothes washing, etc.........getting ready for our east bound trip - we're excited. Didn't get to exercise today, tomorrow I've got a commitment in the morning and will have to miss NIA again............I'll go on Sunday and Monday and we'll walk on Tues..............have to pack somewhere inbetween.........................so, for the first time in months I will not make my challenge....................PROMISE TO WALK, WALK, WALK, WALK on our trip and do better next month!

Yipee! Alan had an echocardiagram today................all is good, he's off the coumadin and can begin cutting down on the betablockers............yeah..............our lives are getting back to normal! I had another bad day with food today and called and made an appt for Friday to get a bit of an unfill - never had to do that before............hope they don't take tooooo much out, but I knew I just could not go on our trip not being able to eat solid foods! Ivonea and April21............happy to have you join our exercise support group - welcome and get those butts moving! Julie - how did the date go? My daughter Amy has been dating a man for a couple of months now that she says is a great guy............I'm excited for her - but she says for me to stay calm..............lots of things to work out (especially the fact that she has 2 kids and he has 3 - the Brady Bunch! - they have not introduced each other to the kids or the kids to each other yet.............they don't want to put them thru all of that if things don't work out..........it's not so easy when little kids are involved). Didn't get to exercise today because I went to the Dr. with Alan this morning and then played Mah Jongg the rest of the day with my girly friends (exercise my fingers).

Yeah for you Tracy.............you are doing amazing! Proud of our "kiddie"! Did our Tues walk to and fro breakfast - got a bit of oatmeal down - mornings are very tight.........but, had no problem with it......yeah! Getting very excited about our east coast trip and my meeting with my band child Julie!!!!! Kat - where are you?

Feel energized - did my marathon gym day.........hour of NIA, 1/2 hour of core, and then another hour of strengh and conditioning! Back to being super buff grammy. I've had a bit of a rough time with this last fill.............been having trouble eating solid foods............trying to wait it out........today was pretty good...........got thru the day and got some solids down..........I'm really reluctant to get an unfill............never had to do that before......usually in the beginning with the other fills I've had the same problems..........but, in a few weeks all settled down.........this time it's been a bit longer, but I think the past few days have been better........the only problem is that we're going on our trip to the east coast next week and I don't want to be in trouble............I'll decide before the end of the week if I need to drive up north to get a bit of an unfill.........

Julie - multiple good luck................with the new job, enjoy............with the great training month, enjoy..............with the loss of the last 40 lbs, yipee...................go Julie!

Amourette - what is happening? Maybe we can help? Molly - try "acting as if" - until you can get your fill............for me, at least for a little while, I can diet and act as if my band was there for me...........try just putting the "rules" to work...........like Protein, veggies first...........keep away from the white carbs..........I know that is why we got the band because we couldn't do this before - but, just tell yourself you only have to do this for a week or 2 and then the band will hopefully be there for you to help!.................. I've had a hard time getting back to my "normal" exercise routine after feeling like poopie for those couple of weeks..................I'm going to NIA this morning and have promised myself I will follow thru this coming week with my routine that I do love! Lazyness can settle in so fast - amazing isn't it? I feel so lethargic and blah and know it's because I've had these couple of weeks of "rest"! It's much easier when you are "on a continuous roll".

Eva - I count everything, including walks!!! - Greece - what fun! Our friends left for France yesterday - the trip we were supposed to go on -----------before Alan had to have his surgery -------------a little sad, but happy to have my guy healthy again.........and we leave for the east coast on the 30th.........and I get to meet Julie and give her a hug!!! Yesterday I did go on our walk to and fro Breakfast and then came home and worked in the yard for hours and hours..........the weather was 70ish, sunny and it just felt so good.........came in, took and shower and got in my jammies and vegged.............a great day!

Julie, it's probably all that salt in the Mexican food - I'm sure it will fall right back off! When we meet in the city - it's Protein, veggies and maybe a little "healthy red wine" ok (we're so boring). Eva - I'm no doctor, but can't you even walk with the antibiotics? I've never heard "no exercise because of antibiotics" - you must be taking a heavy duty one! Keep up you spirits tho, May is almost gone! Boo - you can relax - my scale went back up a couple of pounds - I hate scales...............I was able to eat "normal" again and see what happened! I am a bit down in the tooth about how hard it is to lose at this point............anybody join me here????.............it seems I've reached the 65 - 75% loss of extra body weight (normal they say for WLS) and here I sit! Oh well, Alan just brought out a picture of me gardening a couple of summers ago - and it made me happy again........I guess a size 12 is pretty good for a Grammy who was a 3X a little over a year ago..........dear G.. (and my band), let me stay here forever and I'll be happy - I promise! Off for our Thurs morning walk!

Happy and healthy once more! Alan and I did our Tues walk this morning..................I got a bit "stuck" this week-end and continued to eat (wrong) and really irritated myself...........yesterday only was able to drink hot Clear liquids.......today a bit better.......got some liquid yogurt down and some thinned Soup...........I've done this a couple of times before and know I will be ok in a day or 2! I have a really tight fill and just have to be a bit more careful............chew, chew, chew, chew and not very much!!!!!!! One good thing...........got a bit lower on the scale! Dawn, you are awesome! Julie, enjoy the down time...........soon, you'll be up to your ears in new work.............Kat, what fun!!!, Boo - you're about the same weight as me, but about a foot taller..........you must be a stick!!!

Well, I'm back to "almost normal"........feeling pretty good again, the drippy nose is almost dry (TMI)............ Got to NIA yesterday, but this morning I stayed home to wash clothes and clean up after our gang from Sacramento's trip to visit this week-end.......................we had so much fun with all the kiddies...........had all 8 grandkids over most of the time..................I'm pooped, but with a happy Grammy glow! I now have to think about our trip to the east coast............getting excited about that! Hope you all had a happy Mommies Day! Will get back to being serious about exercise starting tomorrow......not sure if I'll be able to make the my goal this month, but I'll give it my all.