OH Juli

JC is getting lots of action right now, so he's a bit hard to follow.

Stef, There is road biking and moutain biking. There are other different kinds but those are you two main kinds. A hybrid is a mix of the two. If you have no plans on riding on dirt look up road bikes. If you intend to ride with a group look up road bikes. If you need to get fitted for a bike go to your local bike shop (LBS). There you'll also find information on group rides. Group rides have A, B, C, D rides or D often means "no one left behind". A are racers, 20 mph+, B's are 17-20, C's are 16-13, D's are slower 12 miles mph or less. OR something like that! lol! There's plenty of information out there. You'll find all of us started much like you and have gotten further along toward buying or owning road bikes. BG and JC are fans of the bike trails, like what you ride. I do them if I must, but I rather be on the road. HP and D are on the road too quite a bit. B is a poser who says he bikes but hasn't got out there much lately....

Hi Stef, I have a woman's guide to running book I bought years ago and need to open it now. What kind of biking do you do? What bike do you ride? Do you ride with a group?

Next stop Goal! Absolutely! Go Eddie, Go Eddie!

Eating out isn't a joyless experience, but it very, very different. You are there to chat with the people and oh, yeah to put some nutrition in your body. It's a lot cheaper too! If you want to meet up half way between here and Mansfield I could do it, but my schedule is rather tight. I'm a single mom and have my kid half the time, every 2 or 3 days. Like next week, Weds or Thursday would be my earliest opportunity. And meeting for coffee is a choice as well. Juli

D- I was on a field trip with my kid today. We went to a park with these giant bug sculptures. Metro Parks - Central Ohio Park System- David Rogers' BIG BUGS It was very fun but insanely hot in Ohio for October. I then did homework at a coffee shop while she went to the after school child care, because we needed a break from each other...then dinner and then she rode her bike and I ran after her!!!! Outside and in front of people. OMFG! It's just under a mile down my street and back, but the back part is an incline. And I walked and ran...my boobs were strapped down, but my shoes sucked. I'll be buying the new ones as soon as I get paid. I'm pretty happy!!! Zoe is staying on her bike more too. Which is good. Oh and about the thong, it's under the giant belly. And that just feels shitty, like, "Hey you can't forget you've got a giant pendulous belly hanging here because this elastic is a constant reminder! Hahahahah." I think the quotes belong to the panties.

Or I could have read your signature and saw when and where. Big Loud Duh

Stefanie42467, Well if you're going to hang you need to shorten that right there. We have an S already, but he doen't peep up too much these days. Welcome though. We are a bunch of nuts and there are many inside jokes, but if you are bored enough to read from the beginning or from about May you'll get the gist of many of them. Where are you etc. We want to know when you were banded, how filled you are, when did you start cycling, which state do you call home, do you have kids, are you single, JC is sorta apparently still and is in Florida. Welcome welcome.

LSzeliga- You'll do great! Pamela- I'm sorry you're feeling poopy. Rest as much as you can. Call Suzanne and make her feel like crap for not being there. I know it's not her fault, but whatever...What else is a girl to do in a LDR? We'll get it together on the phone sometime. Yeah, the time difference is a pain. Catch you soon, J

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{JU JU}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} for tomorrow.

About support groups, I'm trying to find/create something. My surgeon's office (OSU) has support groups but there's a 20 to 1 GB to Lapband ratio and most of the material pertains to GB. I went last week for the first time in 6 months and call the surgeon the next day to ask if that's the actual ratio of his surgeries. I was told no, he does many more LB than that, but by nature of who gets what surgery fewer LBers go to meetings. We are more independant and we have far fewer complications after surgery. I suggested that their material just doesn't pertain so we only go once and quit. So they are going to seperate the LBs from GBs, hopefully. If so I'll let you know about it. Or if you want something more immediate, I'll be happy to chat you up about my experiences. And Heather- After being with the GB's for an hour, I'm so HAPPY I chose the LB and mostly because my anatomy still functions as God intended. The malabsorbtion is a scary prospect. I think emotionally we all need to do the same work to figure out why we eat how we eat and make huge changes. GB is just too invasive! IMHO. Juli

Denise Did we know you had an unfill? Sorry if you posted and I didn't catch that. What's the story? How are you now? Janine I can't imagine the hurt I'd do if I got an unfill right now, because my will power is at an all time low since being banded. The band is the only thing keeping me from falling off the wagon completely. Both of you, keep us posted. Juli

Hi all You can keep the thongs. I have a few but I can't seem to get comfortable with them. It's not the ass part but the lack of coverage over giant belly part. I've actually taken to wearing little box/boy cut panties which I love. BG, you've inspired me to try running 20 pounds early. I'm going to buy running shoes next week. I need something to get me moving in the right direction again. I seem to be standing still. But my restriciton is like D's. Some days I can eat the contents of the refrigerator other days I struggle on oatmeal. Ugh. Oh, so my blood work says my DHL cholestoral is low as is my B-12. Apparently I'm not eating enough red meat. My protein is always high, but now I need change things up. Any thoughts?

Hunter You'll do well with the band. Follow the rules and don't make excuses and you'll lose weight. Keep us posted. BTW, I've only heard good things about Dr. Meyers and Riverside's program.

Have you looked at bodybug or someother way to track your calories burned? I just know that I'll eat uncontrolled if I don't put more in my mouth controlled...Like I'll wake up in the night and raid the refrigerator...I joke I'll eat my pillow. I just MUST eat. However, if I eat a little more before and after and later in the day I'm fine. Google, you google master, about training and carb loading or crashing if you don't eat enough. Maybe having the facts in front of you will make it easier. And the exercise isn't just for nothing. You are doing more than burning calories. You are building endurnace and strength. You are manufacturing new cell growth, etc. Also, you felt like shit last night and you know why. Okay stepping down from the lecture stand. I just notice that you have less than 50 pounds to go. WOO HOO

Me too! I'm on here far too much! Hope you're getting all your stuff done!

Hi Heather, I'll PM you! Of course I'll talk your ear off and these kind folks don't need to exposed to that (again) lol. BG You really might need to look at how many calories you are consuming on big output days. Like if you only increased by a 150 caloire banana you're not eating enough. JC Dude you're funny. HP Glad you got there safe. I love the rainbow picture. It's awe inspiring what mother nature can do. D If the shirt is on you like it is on me, it's on big ol' boobie fest. No doubt that's why DH is digging it. hehehehe I wish I could go biking today. We have a birthday party at a pumpkin patch from 12-3...it's such a time eater...but Z will have a blast. My house is substantially cleaner and this morning will be yard work. XO

Is there another surgeon within 100 miles of the one you are dealing with? If so start calling them now. My insurance approved my procedure but not my surgeon...so I had to start with a different doctor. But that was a breeze, the new surgeon's office was able to push me quickly though the insurance approval process. Good luck and come back here to tell us what you do...

You did not show your bare butt!? OMG. You rock though girl. You've got to be on top of the world. Did you ever guess a year ago you'd be running now? I'm amazed and inspired.

Congratulations! You're doing it! Keep it up!

Well, now if you get the new do, (And I agree that's a great treat) you have to come back and post those pics!

I went to Bed Bath and Beyond with the 20% off coupon and got a magic bullet blender. It mixed the drinks well and then when I was on mushes it did a great job with stuff like blending cottage cheese and pizza sauce, or even meatloaf. Pre-op my surgeon didn't put me on a diet, but I put myself of one, just to be healthier going in to surgery. And I couldn't think of a reason to eat poorly anymore. It was just a low calorie diet that I tracked on FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal.

Okay, Miss I've got so much going on I forgot to mention I was running a 5K. That's not okay to forget to mention! OH MY GOD!!! That's so incredible! You are going to great. You're amazing and it's going to be awesome. Please give us the details when you are finished!!! You are amazing!

I have a coworker who had gastric bypass a few years ago. She's kept most of her weight off. We talk WLS. I love her. Today, she comes into my office saying, "Hey there Skinny!" and I visable cringed. It had to be discussed, because I didn't want to hurt her feelings, but damn, I don't want to called, "Skinny" either. Not because I'm not or anything like that, but because it's not the sole thing that defines me. I guess I didn't want to be called, "fattie" either. Or, "half way there girl!" Anyone have any insights?

Awesome awesome awesome