bluehill

Thank you, Betty! I can't wait to get back to some "normal" activity, including exercise. Although I do have to go slowly on that...

Dear Amourette and Eficka: My thoughts are with you as you work through these life disappointments. They may feel bitter now, but there are positives to the experience as well, in terms of self-growth and understanding. Embrace that, and you will reap the benefits. I'm finally off IV antibiotics, and the PICC line was removed from my arm. So now I can take a proper bath and wash my hair. Hooray! And better yet, the doctor gave me the word: I'M GOING HOME ON FRIDAY!!! I can't wait! It's been a very difficult month, although some very good aspects, like the valuable one-on-one time with my daughter (21). But home is the best. And waiting for me will be a brand new staircase, stained to match the other natural woodwork in my 1910 house in the New England woods.

I feel that I'm working with the Band successfully (down 105 lbs in 10 months) in two important ways. Although I have not yet achieved optimal restriction -- by which I mean that I am still able to overeat -- I try to make wise food choices, i.e., the only thing I "allow" myself to overeat is salad. I eat a high protein, low carb, low fat diet, and I exercise portion control by using a kitchen scale when I'm at home and eyeballing it when I'm not. Do I ever screw up? Of course. Do I lose it when I screw up? Nope. The other thing I do is exercise. I didn't even start until Month 5, but I'm here to say that it makes a major difference. And gives you that extra push toward success. My thing is movement/stretch class, yoga class, and lap swim. But really, anything will do, just so long as you do it regularly. My goal is daily. I'm not there yet, but I sure am addicted to my yoga class. If you haven't yet added exercise to your rule book, er playbook, I highy recommend it. Start with 20 minutes a day and then increase gradually.

Hello, everyone. Since I'm using my daughter's (college) laptop, my computer time is extremely limited. But I wanted to let you all know that I continue to improve. I'm still holed up in my daughter's bedroom. The visiting nurse will be here shortly to change the dressing on the PICC line in my arm. Mostly it's an endless round of sleeping and television, kind of boring. But the lighting here is not conducive to reading, plus I'm in an awkward position for that with my legs elevated. Thank you for your continued good wishes, and I look forward to rejoining y'all later on in the March challenge.

Maurdal: My experience, for what it's worth, suggests that you have not yet reached optimal restriction. I have experienced many PBs caused by careless eating, but still I am easily able to overeat. Thus I continue to get additional fills, and each one has brought me closer to ideal restriction. My doctor says it takes [him] an average of six fills to achieve that. Some peope are fortunate to achieve this from surgery alone, with NO fills! But that's not me. Everyone is different. I just know that I will not be satisfied until I feel that the band is limiting the amount of food I can eat. So, yes, I will continue to get fills until I know with certainty -- and I think I WILL know -- that I have achieved optimal restriction.

I'M BAAAAACK! Well, in a matter of speaking, yes, I'm back! First, I've only this morning been able to catch up with all the posts since I last had access to a computer, on Feb. 12. So much has happened to everyone! Please excuse the fact that I don't have the energy to address each and every one of you dear ladies. But please know that I have held you all close in my heart. So reading about your successes -- and personal challenges -- has been nothing short of inspirational. And I so very much appreciate your good wishes for my continued improvement. I left the hospital, two days ago, and am continuing my treatment at "home" -- in this case, my daughter's student apartment. Not ideal, but she's wonderfully loving and devoted, and I am receiving good care. I have a PICC line in my left arm for daily antibiotic medication. Yesterday the visiting nurse came to help us, and now we're on our own. I'm feeling pretty good, no pain or discomfort, and can walk around and do things for a short period of time but am required to elevate my leg -- still somewhat swollen -- as much as possible. The plan is to remain here in Burlington, VT, until I have completed the course of antibiotics and then return to my home in Great Barrington, MA, on March 9 (ironically, my birthday). I am hopeful that everything will go well. Eating properly is a challenge because I am so dependent on my daughter for shopping and food preparation in a student kitchen with few resources. I have such longing for comfort foods! (read carbs....) Yesterday I had some Soup and couldn't stop eating the saltines. And I'm desperate to resume my exercise regimen, particularly yoga. But I have to be patient. It will all come in good time. I'll try to stay in touch when I have access. Thank you again for your wishes and prayers for my health. I can't tell you how eager I was to reconnect with this group, you all mean so much to me. Thank you.

Those words spoke to me deeply, Boo. Thank you. The death of your friend, how very sad. But a blessing that "she was at peace with her decision." Whatever is going on? We're really getting a workout as a support group -- both in the giving and the receiving. So thank you all for your support. It always feels very healing to me. The infection in my leg is only slightly improved, so I'm off again to the hospital for another IV treatment.

I feel like I've spent my entire adult life dealing with weight issues. I have tried dozens & dozens of ways to lose weight. Twice I was successful, via liquid diets. And both times I was unsuccessful in maintaining that weight. In fact gaining back +50 lbs. The LapBand is my savior because it completes the other half of the equation. I can lose weight AND I can maintain that weight. LapBand is a lifetime tool.

((((Betty)))) My thoughts and support are with you in this new medical crisis for your dear Alan. I'm sort of out-of-commission exercise-wise. I have been nursing a very minor abrasion on my left shin for over a week -- so minor that I have no memory of doing any damage -- but it gradually worsened. On Tuesday I woke up feeling no energy but went off to my regular yoga class anyway. By the time class ended, I knew I was sick, but imagine my surprise when I discovered that my entire left leg had turned bright red from knee to ankle. I immediately went to the ER and was diagnosed will cellulitis, the same stubborn infection that I suffered four years ago in the other leg (and had to spend a week in the hospital). This time, luckily, I was not hospitalized, but the treatment is IV antibiotics, so today will mark my third day in the ER for that treatment. I'm very nervous about the response time because I have unalterable travel plans for next Tuesday. Hopefully by then I'll just be on oral medication. For the rest, I have to stay home with my feet elevated. So my exercise regimen has been suspended for now. Sigh

HOORAY, JULIE!!!!! Great news that you ran such a terrific race this morning, Julie! And the fact that you so far exceeded your goal, establishing a personal best, is an auspicious sign of all the success that will be yours in future races as you qualify for the 2008 New York City Marathon. You're officially on your way, girl! Roberta, your fall down the stairs sounds painful! However did you manage to exercise yesterday with those injuries? Please take it easy! I'm such a wimp when I don't feel well. In fact exercise is always the first thing to go! I wonder if that will change as I become more & more commited to a DAILY regimen. I took a friend with me to yoga class this morning, then we did lap swim, took a sauna, washed our hair, and now I feel on top of the world. April 2006 Bandits February Challenge: 2 days of exercise completed

Who the *@&$ would call you a "failure"??? Surely not on on LapBandTalk.com, I hope! That is sooooo not acceptable!

APRIL BANDSTERS -- OLD & NEW -- COME TO CHAT (Does anyone know how to make a dash rather than two hyphens?)

Maybe we could dump the year refs completely: APRIL BANDSTERS COME TO CHAT or ALL APRIL BANDSTERS COME TO MEET