Melissa Lea

Congrats with the house Pinky. Sorry, I've been so out of the loop. I love my new job but it takes up A LOT of my time. I will be glad and happy to spend this weekend at home. I hope to enjoy the cooler weather out doors some and the usual chores. Socalgal --glad to know that you are safe from the fires. Have a great week everyone. Melissa

Hey everyone! I've been kind of out of the loop the past week. Poodles, sorry you didn't get your fill. I do believe that everything happens for a reason. I agree with Barb4, get as many test that you can to better make your decision for your weight loss plan. Barb4 --welcome back from Cali. I hope you had a great time. Sorry to hear that you are still having problems with your band. I hope that they are able to find out what's going on once you are able to have the test completed after the new year. I'm working very hard to avoid all the Halloween candy that is out there. I've decided that I am not even going to try one because I know you can never stop at just one. At least that is my plan. We will see how that pans out as we get closer to Halloween. I hope that everyone else is doing great. Melissa Lea

Regina ---that's a beautiful picture. I am glad that time has allowed you both to find each other. Melissa

Pinky and Lisa -- You both look great!!! Thanks for sharing the photos. Pinky I hope your pb's stop soon. Melissa Lea

Hey Everyone! I am finally back in town after a week of meetings and conferences. Trying to get caught up on the boards as well to see if I missed anything. The 5 pound challenge sounds great, but I agree, pics at 5 pounds of loss will not show much difference. Pinky --as for the healthy foods everyone eats on the biggest loser, I have no problems eating those foods. In fact, I have no problems eating any food. I have a fill appointment in about 2 weeks. I can not wait!!! Have a great day everyone. Melissa

Happy Bday Barbaras. Have a great one! Melissa

Poodles, Pinky and all the others are right. We will support you in whatever your decision is. You must do what feels right to you and your situation. I am starting my Saturday off pretty good and healthy. I just finished a 2 hour walk. I have no idea how far that I have gone since I am still learning the new neighborhood. In past measurements, 2 hour walk typically means somewhere between 4.5 to 6 mile walk (depending on how steady I keep my pace). I will drive my car around later to check it out. My pedometer's batter is dead so I couldn't use that this morning. Well, I hope everyone is starting off to a good Weekend. Melissa Lea

I am so out of the loop. What the hell is a bodybug? I saw the people on biggest loser wearing something on their arms and just thought is was an ipod. Oh my. I need to try and read the boards a bit more often. Been so busy lately. Congrats to those that bought the bug (not sure exactly what it is). Have a great afternoon everyone! Melissa

Congrats Pinky!! I know that this is a burden off your shoulders. I am happy for you that it is done. I've been off the boards for a few days traveling with work. It's been very busy the past few days. I am happy for everyone's successes. There are too many for me to individually note, so please accept my DITTO on all the other replies noting your successes. This is the first day in weeks I have been home this early. Still have about an hour worth of work to do. Have a great weekend if I don't get back on before it's over!! Melissa Lea

Hey there everyone! Glad to hear from some of you that have been out of touch for a bit of time. Leila and Cindy, you look awesome!! Keep up the great work I had a NSV this weekend. I went shopping for some Fall clothes for work. I was able to get in a size 14 pant without effort. However, they are still too tight in the butt and croch, but they buttoned and zipped with no effort. I bought size 16's for the last season!!! I got this little tidbit in my email. As we are all struggling with our own food demons, I thought this might give some of you a little chuckle like it did me. Enjoy! Melissa Lea A good piece of chocolate has about 200 calories. As I enjoy two servings per night, and a few more on weekends, I consume 3,500 calories of chocolate in a week, which equals one pound of weight per week. Therefore... In the last 3 1/2 years, I have had a chocolate caloric intake of about 180 pounds. I weigh only 165 pounds, so without chocolate, I would have wasted away to nothing about three months ago! I owe my life to chocolate!

Congrats on the house Pinky!!

Hey everyone! It's good to hear from you Barb12. Wished I could join you 2 for lunch but won't be back in Houston for a couple of weekends now. I was there this weekend and had a very low key weekend, something I really needed. I actually ate really healthy this past weekend too. I haven't weighed though and will probably hold off a few days since aunt flow has been visiting. I always gain fluid weight with that. I hope everyone has had a great Labor Day weekend. Talk to you all soon. Melissa

Hey Everyone! I hope that everyone is still doing well. I had my second day of physical thereapy for my ankle. It actually went pretty well. I actually showed slight improvement in flexion already. I was happy. I hope to gain full recovery of my ankle in the near future. Hope everyone has a great week. Melissa

Helmss -- First if you can, I would recommend that you wait for your new employer and see if that insurance will cover it. It sounds like in the next couple of months you will have a new job. Second, I fianced through capital one. It was easy. I applied online and found out if I was approved that day. Just go to their website under healthcare finanacing. I know that their are other companies out there. I say shop around for interest rates if you have time before your procedure. Best wishes! Melissa

Hey Everyone! Sorry been out of the loop. Just got back from Phoenix. Glad to see that everyone is doing ok. Have a great weekend. Melissa

I am a cash pay patient so I didn't have to fret with all the insurance stuff. However, to answer your question, I was approved for surgery 3 weeks from the day of my first consultation and they wanted to schedule right away. However, I put a break on things to make sure this is what I wanted to do and scheduled my surgery date 4 months after approval. I say go with the flow and do what feels right to you. Best wishes. Melissa Lea

Hey there! I received some good news today. I do not have to have surgery on my ankle (yet). First we are going to try physical therapy. If that doesn't help it then we go to the second option ....cast me up for 6 to 8 weeks to keep me completely non-weight bearing. If that doesn't do the trick then they may need to do surgery but that's last resort. Thank God!! I start PT birght and early Monday morning (7 a.m.). I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed it works. Melissa Lea

Hey everyone! Just popping in to say hello. I've been crazy busy with work. I can't complain though. Croatica --thanks for sharing the pics...you look great! Mommatrammell --sorry to hear of your son's accident. I hope that he's doing well. I will keep him in my prayers. Barb465 --sounds like your doing much better after your unfill. I'm glad to hear that your not having problems anymore. Well --on my quick lunch break and off to have my MRI of my ankle. I should find out the real damage by the end of next week. I hope I don't have to have surgery. Talk to you all later. Melissa Lea

Spring into the NEW YEAR and join the North Houston Bandsters at their next support meeting. If you are thinking of being banded or already banded come and join us. Round up your friends and family and bring them too! The next North Houston Bandster meeting is: January 18, 2007 6:30 p.m. to ? Cafe Express 9595 Six Pines Dr., Suite 150 The Woodlands, TX 77380 All are welcome! Melissa Lea

Sorry to hear of your ordeal Barbara465. I hope that you are feeling better soon. I'm a bit under the weather this weekend. I have a nice summer cold. Only positive thing is that my appetite sucks!! Hey, I'll take improvement almost anyway I can get it. When you can't taste you don't much feel like eating. I hope everyone had a great weekend. Melissa Lea

Hey Poodles. I have the opposite problem. Everything goes down with no problem. Including bread!! I seriously need another fill. I am planning the month of August for a day off and hopefully a fill. Regina --Count me in for the Dallas meeting. Let me know what time you are thinking. If it's in the evening (that's cool), I just want to book a hotel near the area you are planning. Glad so many of you are checking in. I'm glad to also hear everyone is doing well. Have a great evening. Melissa

Wow Aimee --sorry to hear about your scare. I'm glad that you are feeling better. Barb4 --I hope you continue to keep your food down. Maybe you need just a few more days?? Regina --Labor day is out for me. But I am game for meeting in the DFW area. Melissa Lea

Hey there! Thought I'd pop in for a minute. Wow lot's of activity today. I'm glad to hear that everyone is doing great. Cathy --congrats on the new job. You have a wonderful raise (2 hours of your life back everyday from your soon to be previous comute --awesome!!) Aimee --your wedding pics are beautiful. Congrats and well wishes to you and yours as you have begun your new lives together. Barbara4 --sorry to hear your still having problems with your recent fill. I hope it resolves soon. Socalgal --glad you had a wonderful time on your vacation. You will have to post a couple of pics for us to see when you have a chance. Also congrats on your new scale victory. As for me getting a fill, I think I will try to when I get a chance to get back to Houston. Sorry if I missed anyone. Just incase --Congrats to everyone and all that you are accomplishing. Melissa Lea

MommaTrammell & Barbara4 --sorry to hear that you are having trouble with your band at this time. Hopefully it will pass soon. I went for a walk this morning. First time since pulling all the tendons in my ankle. Ankle is a little stiff. I didn't enjoy the walk very much and cut it short because there was a stray dog that kept following me around. So very cute dog. If I had a yard and were home more I would have brought the dog home. Not an option right now. Melissa Lea

Hey there! Since we are all in the mist of summer, vacations, and fun, please take a minute to check in and let us know how you are. Hope everyone is having a great summer. Happy Loosing! Melissa Lea