Northernsun

I buy the bottles during the first week of the month sale at GNC. My favorite is the blue rasberry and i drink about a third of a bottle every morning to take my pills and vitamins just so i get that boost of protein with my breakfast. Can't imaging doing a full bottle at a time- too much and it is expensive.

there is a company that came out with a label that goes over the labels that is soft and silky so you can save the "designer labels" or the care instructions. They have to come off before you wash but you just put another one on when you want to wear the top. Handy idea. I thi nk the company is Hollywood fashion tape.

I am the last person to tell anyone to quit smoking- i did a yr and a half ago after over 40 yrs only because i was told smoke or die after blood clots in the lungs. I hated to do any excersize also but what got me out everyday at least a few blocks was the difference in my 4 legged baby. Excersize is really important for any dog but as much as we walk for excersize we also walk for mental stimulation. He was just plain bored and getting out everyday even for a little while helped us both. Now we are walking just over a mile a day everyday except rain ( which he hates - I can barely get him out to pee!) or ice because my knees would not handle a fall very well and jake was never programed for stroll- we power walk. So think of doing it for the babies and you will be suprised after awhile how much you really enjoy it. There are many days after work when I just don't want to go but by the the i come home, I feel much better and less stressed. Also, what helped was I bought a recumbant excersize bike- the position you ride in- leaned back- is so much easier on bad knees and backs and the seat is b ig enough!

WHEN: FEB 7 2006 WHY: bad knees, couldn't do the things that make me me,heading down the path to ill health, and lost my joy in life. WHO: Dr. Lederer, Fairview Riverside, Minneapolis, MN HOW IT FELT: Surgery felt weird but after not too much pain & after, just tired. Relearned to love naps! WHAT CHANGED: Knees are much better and I can walk the dog again and climb ladders and do the things I love. Life is fun again and i look forward to each day! It is amazing what a confidence builder it is when someone tells you how good you are looking! PICTURES: Not quite ready for that yet!

I really dislike the fact that there are a million people out there who are looking for a quick fix that will work and are being taken advantage of. I know, i was one of them but I am also a skeptic and don't believe any of the commercials- but i really wanted to and wanted something that would work. the one size fits all approch is as missused by the medical community as by the commercial marketers. How many times have you heard " why just eat less and excersize and you will loose weight. Why can't you do that?" It is just not that easy for some and there are other reasons for weight gain. Neither drs. or weight loss "experts" can push a one size fits all approach, that is why i like the band- you have a tool to work with that works- if you work with it.

Sizes has always been the top of my bitch list. I hate trying on clothes in stores- part of the problem was some of the dressing rooms were so small that I could hardly turn around. I am finally accepting that as long as it fits I will wear it no matter the size but that was hard. I like the clothes and prices at kohls but they run small.I bought 2 prs of pants at walmart today- stretch black boot cut jeans in a 24 and cords in a 22 from different makers and they fit almost the same. ( that i could even get the 22's on was a big NSV!) I really hate buying bigger size clothes- it feels like a failure but I really hate running around with out any clothes so I buy what fits and swear that someday I won't have problems buying what I like. Just problems affording it!

It was a very close thing. the only thing that stopped me is she is my bosses boss and i must play nice. One winter day she will fall when it is way below zero and she will just break apart.... and i will laugh.....

The story of the winter coat: Once upon a time there was a woman that lived in the north in the cold state of Minnesota. Every night after work she would go out in the cold to walk her over energetic American Bulldog - unless there was ice because he never slowed down and the woman was way over sized and had bad knees. Buying a winter coat to keep warm was a challenge. All she found was a big grey ugly man's parka. It was very warm and VERY UGLY! and had room for a flannel under it for extra warmth. One day at work a very skinny woman ( who is always on a diet) looked at the ugly coat and sad she didn't know they made them so big ! ( size 4x) The woman was mortified. I am now down 92 lbs and I burnt that ugly parka. Shopping is so much more fun now!!! Who needs a style when you can fit so many more things! New body, new style - what ever it turns out to be!

As a voting person in Ellisons' district, i can tell you even tho i did not personally vote for him i will stand behind him because the majority said he was the best person for the job. I tend to vote more dem. or independant because frankly, republicans scare me. I did not vote for him not because he was Muslim but because I personally liked a different candidate better - that is my choice. But the way it works in this country is the majority rules and in Minnesota I can proudly say that we have a higher voting percentage then most so the majority is really the majority. Is anyone else old enough to remember the brewhaha over a Catholic president? ( Kennedy for you youngsters!) I am sure we will all survive a Muslim congressman as we did a Catholic president and the first Jewish senator or congressman,and also for that matter the first woman in the senate or house. This country is all about "firsts". Keep 'em coming!

I am a "whatever is comfortable" person but have not had much choice so have had to be a "whatever fits"person. I complained to a clerk onetime at a store for plus sizes about all the sequins and appliques and she said she always pictured a short guy with a cigar walking through the factory picking bits and pieces of scraps off the floor and yelling at the help to put them on the big sized blouses cuz there was more room and they would have to buy them anyway! Kind of soured me on shopping for awhile! Never did understand why they thought we would all like that but everyone is different I guess. Ask me to show you my tied dyed janis Joplin shirt i got for Christmas this year! Now that is style!!

After being on Atkins for a few yrs and loosing weight I gained a lot back when I quit smoking and my knees about gave out and i kind of gave up on everything. After being banded, just buying anything carby was really hard! We went crazy for a bit before the band with noodles and rice and potatoes ( baked not french fries- couldn't even do that!)- our favorites we hadn't had for awhile and lots of fruit of all kinds - even banannas. After the first bit we tapered off of the noodles and rice and and now we barely touch them again. No white flour, no sugar only splenda, no bread just lo carb tortillas. It is just we both feel better limiting the carbs. More energy clearer heads, better sleep and no heart burn.

What you are getting is making it's way this way to Minnesota and may insure we do not have a brown Christmas. Who ever would imagine such a thing- a brown Christmas in Minnesota! It is supposed to start with rain and freezing rain this afternoon and turn to snow tonight. I am not a winter fan ( yes, I stay in Minnesota anyway- the other 3 seasons are wonderful!) but even i would like a white Christmas. Then the snow can go away!

Hey all Feb 2006 bandsters! Month and a half or so till our anniversary month and I am curious how everyone is doing. This seemed to be a pretty big "class" so lets have a 1 yr anniversary party and see how we all are doing and how things have changed for us. For instance, i am, as of today, 9 lbs away from a hundred. My goal for me was 100 in a yr and i see no reason I won't make it - if I can get past the cookie burage in every room at the office today. So far so good- after 1 the sugar makes me sick and seeing as i allow myself 1 I take my time picking it out! My knees aren't constantly hurting and my energy level is way up. I am back to walking the dog daily and riding the excersise bike daily also. I still have a long way to go but the change is incredible. My dh is glad to have me back-says he missed the sarcastic, wise ass he had learned to love! Would I do it again? In a heart beat! the only downside i see coming up is i think i can become a bit of a clothes horse as i get thinner! Shopping CAN be fun!

Wow! Congrats to those who lost that hundred so fast! that's fantastic! I promised myself 100 in a yr and i am 9 lbs away and my anniversary is Feb 7 so i think i will make it. Wait- i KNOW i can make it!

I use my credit card for emergencies and internet shopping. When i can't use paypal, I just feel safer using my mastercard then my bank debit card. I pay it off each month - except this month- I went a bit over on internet shopping for the holidays so it may take me 2 months but never any longer then that. I have a new problem tho- since I have gotten a bit smaller i seem to like clothes shopping more then before............

Tried the liquid from GNC and forced myself for awhile but really couldn't get past the smell. Now taking chewables from GNC and they seem to be doing the job and they taste good. Do the choc chewable triflex glucosamine from there also.

Call the hospitals up there and ask them if there is a bariatric surgeon that does surgeries at the hospital. I can give you a great dr but he is in Mpls- kind of a drive for fills and appointments. ( tho the drive to Duluth is still one of my favorites and one we do quite often. Can't say the same for the ride home tho!!!)

I do love our holiday! It is just the 3 - myself, husband and 25 yr old daughter. She comes over Christmas eve and we drive around and look at lights- been doing that since she was a baby- and we have some interesting conversations. She spends the night and in the morning we open presents, play with toys, watch movies all day and have a good dinner. Very restful very peaceful.

I also have a history of PE and dvt and am on coumadin for life. It was a major reason i chose the band- much less intrusive surgery. They took me off of coumadin for a few days before surgery and after I went right back on and also did the lovenox shots for a week till my level was where it should be again. Just be aware that the levels will change a lot in the first 6 months- I was having INR's almost weekly for awhile.

Ask as many questions as you want! Yes, the people there are great. As for cost, do ypu have any insurance or is this self pay? I am not sure what the total was- I believe it was near 20,000 but don't let that throw you off the whole idea. My insurance coovered most of the costs but there are extras like seeing the shrink, the nutritionist, and my reg dr for the pre-op. When you asked about fills, I thought you had already had the surgery. If you have not, go to the informational meeting and meet Dr Lederer and find out all about what you have to do and all. This is a really big decision and the better informed you are the better you are able to decide what you want to do. Feel free to ask me as many questions as you need to and read the posts here - I sure learned a lot from these posts!

Yes it is. great people and Dr Lederer is the best. If you are in the southern suburbs I know there is a clinic at Fairview Southdale doing the surgery now and you could try there also.

Call the Riverside Surgery Clinic 612-672-2992 and ask if they do fills for people they did not operate on- i am not sure but you can try.

As someone who tried to quit a few times and always went back to it, i think the reason we fail is because someone tells us to quit and we really don't want to. I didn't. I still don't after being smoke free for 1 yr 5 months and 4 days ( give or take!) I had the 2x4 upside the head with blood clots in both lungs and a 4 day hospital stay. Dr said smoke and die and after 4 days without, it seemed kind of silly to restart ( and die!). I did tell my dr i would start smoking again on my 90 th birthday and she told me to live a little and start on my 89th! Hopefully, by then i will no longer want to! My dh still smokes but is polite about it and doesn't smoke in the house or car and has cut down quite a bit. I can't say i don't miss smoking sometimes but most times i find the smell awful now. Good luck to all who are trying! Don't be too hard on yourselves it is possible!

I no longer drink, I no longer smoke - anything- I use splenda instead of sugar ( actually i really do like it better) I eat very small amounts of all the foods I love and stay away totally from all the salty stuff I love but I can not give up my gum! I am a pack a day chewer. Never had a problem with swallowing it tho. Does the extra saliva go towards my liquid intake??!!

My DH andDD- can't imagine life without either. Jake the wonder dog who can always tell what kind of mood i am in and licks my face. My job- as much as i complain, I guess i thrive on stress and as my co is a non profit it is nice to know we are doing good. Coffee, coffee coffee Sliding into a pair of jeans i couldn't have even looked at last year at this time!