Melissa Lea

No problem Barbara12. I've been watching what I have been eating very carefully this week. I lost a pound to discover the pound found me again this morning. I think I should just throw the damn scale in the trash. By the way --congrats on joining the gym. It's been raining all morning here so I've not been able to go walking outside (yet). I'm going to get out and run a few errands though. That might help my mood anyways. Pinky ...I understand about the sweets. I so wanted a big glass of chocolate milk this morning. Problem is, I had no chocolate syrup. I settled for a cup of skim milk and then had some applesauce about an hour ago. Melissa Lea

Barbara4 --I'm sure that you haven't been as bad as you think you have. We are always our own worst critics. HOw's the Iphone? Have you learned everything it has to offer? I hear it's a great phone. I personally haven't been to see it yet. Maybe this weekend (just to say I've seen it). Pinky your chicken sounds really good. I haven't tried any of these marinades. I will keep them in mind the next time I cook. I just strolled through the board topics. It seems a bit quite today. I guess most people are out enjoying their summer vacations as they should be. Have a great weekend everyone. Melissa Lea

Hummm not sure what happened there. My message submitted while I was still typing above. I guess I hit a button or something. Well, I was saying ...I hope that everyone had a great day! Melissa Lea

Hey everyone! I don't have much to report or even say. Was skimming through the threads really quickly. I noticed that no one has posted today. I just like seeing our thread as close to the top as possible. Know why? Because we ROCK!! Hope e

Barbara12 --I know, I know!!! I will send positive thoughts on my weight loss and my mini goal. Barbara4 --sorry to hear that you had a PB episode. Glad that you are fairing better today. Regina thanks for the motivation. Motiviation is what I need. Melissa Lea

Hey Pinky -- I set a minigoal on my weight for Labor Day. I know that the total pounds I want to lose by LD is most likely not attainable --but it gives me something to work towards. If you or others have something in mind for mini goals/challenges...I'm all for it. I need as much motiviation as I can get to take me into the home stretch of weight loss. Melissa Lea

Yea socalgal...I told the lady my story. I think that she is new and just doesn't get it. I'm doing fine right now. Will have to do some tweaking on my own for awhile. I set a new mini-goal. I do better when I'm working towards something (most of the time). Glad to hear that you are feeling better with your sinuses. That can make you feel tight. Have fun in Canada. Barbara465 glad that you are enjoying your new toy (iphone). Melissa Lea

Hey Everyone! I just recently moved to Louisiana. I've been banded a little over a year. It's been a wonderful ride. I'm still going trying to reach my goal weight. I was thinking that I was a slow loser. But all my band buddies banded in June have lost between 50 and 60 pounds (some a bit more, some less). So I guess I'm right in the grove. I hope to make some Louisiana banded buddies. Nice to meet you all. Melissa Lea

Hey Socalgal -- They didn't and wouldn't give me a fill. Everything is different. I had to go to the docs office and he has a new nurse. She said I looked fine where I was at. I told her I was able to eat too much. She didn't seem to believe me. She said I have nothing stretched out and she also said, I have a very small pouch. Hummmm. Well, I will give it a go a bit longer on my current fill amount. Next time I'm in town I will stop by at the Surgicenter and get a fill there. The girl there will give me a tweaking. But for now, I'm going to try and follow the bandster rule of no drinking with meals. I still don't notice a difference if I drink or not drink with meals. I guess I'm down to the head game. I can win this!! I hope everyone had a great 4th of July. Mine was awesome!!!! Now I guess it's almost time to get back to reality. Have a great rest of the weekend everyone!

Hey everyone! Have a happy and safe 4th of July. I CAN'T WAIT for my fill July 5th. I feel wide open. I pray I don't have a leak. That's my biggest fear. We shall see. Melissa Lea

Momma --you look great!! Pinkylee --glad to hear the colonoscopy went well. Yes, you better keep those running shoes on for a bit longer. I can't wait for my fill on Thursday. It can't come soon enough. I feel wide open. I pray I don't have a leak. That would really suck. Have a great 4th everyone (just saying it early in case I'm not on tomorrow). Melissa Lea

skinnyirishbabe ---congrats on being banded last week. Yes, the post-op restriction will fade. There will come a time you most likely wish that you could have this restriction again just to get you over the "humps" you face from time to time on your journey. Best wishes! Melissa

Barb4 --glad to hear that your fill is progressing as it normally does. That's a good sign. I hope that you get some restriction from this fill. I can not wait for my fill. I'm so ready for it. I've seriously cut back on my own since returning from Vegas. Taking Pinky's advice ....counting calories (which I so never wanted to do again). And no more starbucks in the morning....I got into that bad habit when I was moving. So far so good this week. I haven't even missed it. But I will admit my ice tea habit has picked up a bit, ever so slightly (1 to 2 more glasses each day). Not ready to work on removing caffeine from diet. That's too darn stressful for me. Hope everyone is having a great week. Melissa Lea

pinchemayko --congrats on the weight loss. You look great!! I hope to see more pics posted soon. Barbara4 --have you had your fill yet?? let us know how that goes. Melissa Lea

Barb and Mary ---the pics are great!! Sure did have a great time. Melissa Lea

Back from Vegas and back to reality. Had a GREAT time. Missed those that were unable to attend. Hopefully next year (where ever that is). Yes Poodles your correct....too busy to post!! Melissa

Everyone who has posted pics looks awesome!!! So glad to see the faces with the names. Well, I just got back in town from a weekend trip. I will be on the road working most of this week and then vegas. My cats are mad at me because I've been gone so much the past 7 days. Well, I'll talk to you later. Have a great week everyone! Melissa

I love seeing everyones pics!! Everyone looks great!!! Love it!!! I am thinking I might need a fill. I swear I can just eat too much food (still not as much before banding so that's good). Melissa Lea

Congrats on your weight loss juliegraci!! I think everyone has done just splendid. I can't wait to see some other peoples pics. For those of us that still have a bit to loose (like me); let's use this month to re-motivate. I know I needed to be re-motivated. I think I am just as guilty to the point I am about to make ....since I haven't reached my goal in one year I was feeling a bit like a failure. I AM NOT A FAILURE. I've lost 50+ pounds this past year and DAMN PROUD OF IT! So no matter what you have lost ....be proud, stand tall! Melissa Lea

Thank you all for the compliments on my pics. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE seeing everyone's pics. You all look so great!! Seeing my pics and seeing the pics of you all has really motivated me at the time that I have needed it the most. I hope that you all will find the same motivation. I think a cruise or something tropical would be a great idea for next year. I've never done a cruise so I don't know much about them. VEGAS HERE WE COME!!!!!! Melissa

Hummmm, I'm feeling a little deprived of staying overnight. I went into surgery at 9:40 a.m. and sent out the door by 3:00 p.m. But, when it was all said and done, I was very glad to be home and in my own bed. Melissa Lea

Awww, Thank you all for the compliments. My aniversary date isn't until June 9th (7 days), but I decided to post now. I'm glad that I did. Because like I said, this was the first time I actually sat down and looked at my pics over the year. This is the first time that I can actually see the difference in me. Well, now that i'm up and ate a little cereal, going to go walking. This should be fun. Just gonna walk around the apartments today. Don't want to over do it. Snoopy, We all have our demons when it comes to food. Barbara is right, we let some bad habits go but then we replace it with others. It takes support to get through this journey. I think if the June 2006 band crew can give you any words of wisdom it would be this .....do not compare your weight loss to anyone else's. We all lose weight at our on pace. And, the band is a Journey, not a quick fix. Best wishes to all. I can't wait to see other's pics. Melissa Lea Melissa Lea

Again --sorry that they are so big ....... All of these pics were taken last week in Cabo last week, May 2007. Weight 196 lbs. Sorry this one is blury ...but you can see my shape. I have some shape!!!! Yipeee!!!! Not a butterball anymore.

Lets post ......this was actually very motivational for me. This is the first time that I have sat down and really taken a good look at my pics. First, apologies if the sizes are too big. I don't know how to make smaller (using photo bucket). This picture was taken July 2006 in Vegas about 5 weeks after surgery. Weight about 233 lbs. This Pic was taken Sept 2006 in Hawaii. Weight about 222 lbs.

I've been bad and not written in a bit of time. I've been super busy with my new job. The adjustment is slow and stressful. I hear you loud and clear Barbara --I too am experiencing some of the same eating problems, old cravings that you are having. I am at a bit of a plateu at this time. stuck at 196 lbs. However, I did buy a size 14 skirt just 2 weeks ago. I might wear it in Vegas for Celine night. CAN NOT WAIT FOR VEGAS!! Now that my ankle is feeling a bit better I am going to try and go walking tomorrow morning. I need to get back in my exercise routine (what little I did have). I think people are still around on the boards. And your right socalgal ...we need more motivation now than ever as we reach our 1 year mark. I had hoped to be aobut 20 pounds lighter than I will be at my one year mark. But I know that I can still lose all the weight that I plan on losing. Hope everyone is doing well. Will try to keep up a little better. Melissa Lea