Melissa Lea

Pokerprincess -- Congrats on your upcoming banding. I am no longer in charge of the group meetings as I have recently moved out of state with my job. However, I know the person that is now scheduling the meetings. When you or anyone else would like to attend, please private message me and I will give you the email to the person in charge. It's a great group and would love for all of you to attend. Melissa Lea

Glad to hear that your DH is doing well Barbara. Keep us posted. Melissa Lea

Hey everyone! I just wanted to pop in and say hello. Glad to see that everyone is still trecking along. I am glad to report I'm slowly recovering from my ankle injury. I am in regular shoes now and walking pretty good. Barefoot, still not so good. I'm sure it will take several more weeks (or even months) to get full function of my ankle back. Barbara465 --I know how you feel with the messy house. Mine is still in disarray from my move. I'm planning on working on it this weekend. Have lots to do. Too much to even think about. Well, off to veg out for a bit and watch t.v. before I start all over again early tomorrow. Talk to you all soon. Melissa Lea

Regina --glad to hear your on the mend. You will be back to normal in no time. MommaTrammel --I do not know what "rep power" means in the corner of our post. WOW, they really have changed the site. Have to learn my way around again. Well, off to work. Melissa

Barbara12 ...let me know the next time your headed to Shreveport. We will have to meet for lunch. Melissa

Best wishes to you Regina. Let us know how your doing post op when you feel better. Melissa Lea

Regina-- sorry to hear that you are going to have to have your gallbladder removed. Keep us posted. Weather --glad to hear that everyone made it through the bad storms. I pretty much slept through everthing this weekend. Total exhaustion and trying to heal my ankle. Speaking of sleep ...off to bed I go already. I'm exhausted. I finally go the cats here to Shreveport, La and I can say I'm officially here now. I have no residence in Texas. It's bitter sweet for me. I know this is a good stepping stone career wise but I would have much rather staid in Texas. My colleauge that lives a cross the street from me has been a savior this past week with me on cruthces. She has helped take me to the grocery store, etc. and she barely knows me. I think we will be fast friends. We are going to meet tomorrow so she can help me with some work stuff. She called and offered. That makes the transition a little easier having someone near by that seems to care. Barbara465 or Pinky --will you please email me the dates for the Vegas trip. I haven't forgotten about it, just not for sure about the dates with everything that's been going on. I need to get plane tickets. Talk soon. Melissa Lea

Hey Everyone! Well, it's been a week (from hell) I think. I finally got moved to Shreveport, La and started my work out in the field. On Sunday though, I fell and pulled some tendons on my ankle and have been on crutches this week. It's been exhausting. I have no idea how my weight is doing ....I've not been able to weigh in a month and I have no idea where my scale is. I will try to catch up on all the reading I've missed. I hope everyone is doing alright. I wanted to pop in and say hello. Melissa Lea

Momma -- I hope that you get the fill you are looking for. Hey everyone! I had a chance to sit for a few minutes and drop a quick line. It's been crazy, busy here at training and it's notslowing down. Hummmm, I wonder what I got myself into at times. But I know it will be well worth it. I have no idea how my weight is doing. I have not had a scale to weigh in over 2 weeks. Maybe that's good and maybe that's bad. I haven't been eating 100% healthy with all the stress but I am managing to keep it to a minimum. I was actually abl to get out last night and take a much needed walk. Well, I have to go now because we are moving onto the next phase this morning. Melissa

Hey everyone! I haven't had time to pop in. I'm at corporate training and barely keeping my head above water. I just wanted to say hey. Also, dad was finally discharged from the hospital. He's at home with home health. Well, have to go. I'll catch up some other day. Melissa

Hey Everyone! Just popping in to say hey! I'm going to be MIA for a few days (or next week). I have the movers coming today and will Be flying to Corporate for Training on Sunday Morning. Gosh I'm so tired!! Have a great weekend. Talk to you all soon! Melissa

That really sucks about your fill policy Barbara. I wonder why he changed his policy. Hummmm. Well, I think you will do just fine on .2 cc. You said that you have been pretty open recently. Keep us up to date. Well, need to get back to cleaning for the movers. I've been throwing so much crap out. It's amazing how we accumulate things. I'm also trying to clean the closet out some as well. Trying to get out the oversized clothes. Melissa

I guess I am experiencing the opposite of some of you regarding food. I am enjoying my meals/food more now than ever. I think in part because I am forced to slow down and can enjoy and savor the flavor. I have been expriementing with more seasonings making sure everything I cook or order has great flavor. I do not feel deprived. When eating out I'm am trying foods I would never consider in the past (most are helathier options). I still sometimes find my thoughts "obsessing" over food at times but I do not give in to he urge (99% of the time) --ice cream is still a weakness but I have to crave it 3 or more days before I go buy a scoop (1 scoop). Glad to hear that Barbara and Pinky had a great weekend trip with friends. Congrats Aimee and CutieRN.

Congrats Cindy!! I know that it can get frustrating during the slow times. Barb and Pinky --have fun shopping!! I'm going out this afternoon too. Should be at home all day working but sometimes you just need a break!! Have a great weekend everyone. I've got a very busy one ahead of me. Talk later -- Melissa

Thanks for all the congrats to onderland. It is a great feeling to have seen 199 on the scale. I need to clean out my closet too. I haven't had time. Since I will be moving, I hope to do the closet clean during that time. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers for my dad. He's still the same, stable, but has a long way to go. Well, back to the books for me for my home study. Talk to you all later. Melissa

Hey everyone! I made it through my first week at my new job. Not too much time for celebration as next week is even harder. I will get through this. I will get through this. Update on my dad ....he's going to be in the hospital for at least 2 more weeks. He did not qualify for transfer to the "speciality" hospital because he is too healthy (meaning on no IV's etc.). They may consider a transfer to a nursing home for extended care then discharge home from the nursing home when he's able to take care of his wounds on his own. We will have to wait and see how it all goes. They may place a colostomy but still unsure about that. In the mist of all this craziness in my life right now, I MADE IT TO ONDERLAND!!!! I do not know when, I do not know how (because I have changed nothing --meaning I'm eating the same as I have been since day 1 of the band). But I discovered it today. A new number, 199# Yipppeee!!!!! Well, I'm off to do some packing and resting. I need a bit of a break. Have a great weekend everyone! Melissa Lea

:omg: oopps! didn't mean to post this. i got click happy and posted before i was done typing. sorry! :tired Melissa Lea

Hey Everyone! I don't have much time to respond to everyone but I wanted to pop in and let you all know that I'm still around. I'm drowning in my new job (home study). I just have 5 weeks and 2 more days of this. Whew! I can do this!!!! Barb4 --I agree with Pinky, if you had an infection or Hernia you would have more problems. First of all, the hernia would show on the fluro. Pinky --Hang in there. You sound a bit discouraged right now. I don't know about the WW group. That is for some people, some people it is not. Maybe there is a different kind of support group out there for you. Lisa --honesty is the first step to recovery (so they say). The most important thing is to be honest with yourself. You don't need that stress in your life. No one does. Poodles --All I can tell you is, carb addiction is like any other addiction. The longer you go without the less you will crave them. I don't believe you have to give up all carbs. Infact, you need carbs to keep your body functioning in an appropriate manner. Whatever your sin is, chips, cookies, bread etc; you must go cold turkey. I won't lie to you, the first 2 to 3 weeks will be hard. But I can promise you, the longer you go without them, the less you crave them. I had to give up my wheat thin addiction. The first week sucked!! Now, I don't even notice they are gone. And no, I did not pick up another addiction. By the way Barb4 --that sucks you can't get on here from work anyomre. Did they block the site?? hummmm, mean IT people. Have a great day! Melissa

Hi Aimee -- I had a cold/sinus infection back at the end of January. I was tighter with the infection. Not sure what really caused it but yes, I was. Perhaps it's the sinus drainage. Pinky I hope you don't have to have surgery anytime soon. Let us know how your appt. with the doc goes. Update on my dad --he's doing better after surgery. However, when I got there on Friday night he was so overmedicated on narcotics for the pain he didn't know what day of the week it was. His nurse said they had noted more confusion with him. Well, I had to have a "come to jesus" meeting with the doctor. Let's just say I had to put my medial hat on and get things fixed! I was professional about it, but please....narcotics every 3 hours??? Jeezz!! I've had patients with worse injuries and less pain meds. Anyways --me and my dad really need your prayers for his health right now. They were able to remove all of the fistual but it has left many open wounds that I know will take many months to heal. We are keeping our fingers crossed they do not get infection over this long process. He's having changes with his dressings 2 times a day right now. I think they might discharge him next week (to home or a rehab hospital) with continued wound changes. I'm actually praying they send him to the speciality rehab hospital for wound changes in patient. For now I know he would do better there. He's not able to take care of these himself. Hell, I wouldn't be able to do it myself if I had what he had, not at this stage. Started my brand new job today. I had to set up all the computer/printer equipment they sent me for my home office. Well, long story short, had to buy a router to communicate with my lap top and the instructions that were in the insert with CD, did not work!!. After 2 hours I was so "pissed" I finally went directly to the website (the brand) and saw loading insturction there. It so eaisly communicated with both computers. Why didn't the instructions just say go to the website?? uuuggg!!! Sorry for babbling. I have been working home alone all day with my 2 cats. It's kind of weird not talking to anyone today (face to face). That will all change after training. Good night!

Barbara465 --sorry to hear you had to cancell your trip to Florida. I know that you were looking forward to that. Well, all things happen for a reason. Let us know how your appt with the doc goes and what he says about your fills. Pinky--congrats on your new found tightness. I say, don't question it, just enjoy it (if it's not causing problems). Lisa-- I hope you get to filling better. Melissa Lea

Glad to hear that things went well for you. Melissa

The next North Houston Bandsters meeting will be: March 8, 2007 6:30 p.m. to ? Cafe Express Cafe Express 9595 Six Pines Dr., Suite 150 The Woodlands, TX 77380 All are welcome! Melissa Lea

Congrats on the weight loss Pinky! I haven't gotten on the scales since I've been back in town. Maybe tomorrow. Lisa --hang in there, you will get back on track. I think a lot of us have had a hard time getting back on track after the holidays. Lurkers --so glad to hear from you. Please drop in more and let us hear what's going on in your life and how things are going with your bands.

Hello everyone! I'm back. My dad's surgery went well. It was scheduled out patient but he was admitted because the surgery was more extensive than origionally thought. He will be in the hospital for 2 or 3 more weeks for wound care (they left the wound open to clean/heal the infection). Needless to say, I am back at work for my last 4 days here and completely exhausted! I have so much to do and so little time. It sounds like many of us have hit a small plateau. I'm still sitting at 201 but I lost I think 1.5 pounds last week. Onderland is still just one really poop away!! LOL Glad to read that everyone is staying healthy and continues to be moving forward with our weight loss. Let me catch up on reading the board. Melissa Lea

Well --although many of us didn't exactly make our Valentine's goal we all came pretty darn close. I think that's good. If we set our minds to something, strive for something, we can acheive it! I don't think I would have done as well if I didn't set my goal and strive for it and have all of you looking out for my best interests. Enjoy the party tomorrow Pinky. You will do just fine. I will be out of town the next few days as my dad is having some outpatient surgery. I'll catch up with you all next week. Melissa Lea