NewBeginnings2018

Bean I make two different types of calzones. Spinach & cheese (with lots of garlic) and Italian meat (salami, capicola, pepperoni & cheese). I probably won't really be able to eat much of the calzone, but since my mom is banded we are going to have plenty of foods we can eat. She is making sweedish meatballs, cheese & crackers, scallops in bacon and shrimp cocktail for us. I am going to just eat one small plate of appetizers because later that afternoon I will be heading over to my friend's house and I'll have a small dinner plate of turkey & sausage stuffing (my favorite!!). My mom will cook a turkey on Friday, and I've already put dibs on the carcass so I can make a soup. Yummy!! Kat I've been cooking Christmas dinner for my family since I was 26. Luckily for my mom I have a big mouth and make sure to tell my sisters what to bring and then after dinner I make them do the dishes. Hey - I cooked and Mom deserves a break, right? lol

Oh giggles that is HYSTERICAL!! I would do the same thing. I get sooo nervous. Glad the date went well, and it sounds like there will be another one! Wahoo!

Hi Kay! Welcome to the board and congratulations on your band date! I'm glad you posted! We're always looking to make new friends!

Hi everyone! It's late so I can't stay long. Congrats Cassie, and welcome to band land! I had some bleeding from my incisions for a couple days, and they were ok. Just watch them. If you don't like how they look, go in and have them checked out. We have all the regular stuff on Thanksgiving, but I don't have to bring anything but my calzones (for appetizers). I get a "pass" for Thanksgiving becuase I cook Christmas Dinner for my family. I'm the only single gal, yet I'm the one that cooks! lol. I started 4 or 5 years ago as a gift to my mom, and she loves it. Well time to sleep. Dancing was a blast with Sherry tonight. We now know how to push our tushes!

That's ok Mzsmartypantz - Christmas is still a long ways away!

Oh Diannie Lucy is soooo cute! I love that she winks. Hysterical!! The picture with your grandmother is very sweet. I miss my grandmother so much, especially during the holidays. No one can every take the place of a grandmother!

I could do either nights or weekends. I work in Natick, but I get back to Mansfield around 6pm, so if we were to meet up at the Stoneforge in Foxboro I could be there for anytime after 6pm. If we were to meet up on a weekend, would more people be interested in coming??? I'm so excited!!!

JimBoss I'm sure that is very frustrating. I'm lucky - I live by myself so if I don't buy it, I won't eat it. I found if I do buy it though, I will eat it so I can only imagine how difficult it must be for you to continuously have willpower of steel. I'm sorry I cannot offer any advice on the relationship end but here's some advice on the food. Try using a site like FitDay, which will track the nutrition and calories of what you eat. You'll find that some foods that seem healthy enough, are far too dense in calories. Also, it will help you track your protein so you can make sure you are getting enough. And you may even be able to have the occassional piece of candy or ice cream if you have the "room" in your day. It's impossible to change the years of bad eating habits overnight and in the beginning it seems like we don't really have to work for the weight loss, but we do. WE do the work, the band is just a tool to help. Just keep working at it Jim, and you'll get there!

Good luck tomorrow Cassie!! You'll do wonderfully! Make sure to post when you're back home. Darcy - what a beautiful quilt! My mom was a quilter when I was little and I never appreciated it. Now there really is only one quilt left that my mom made and I have put dibs on it. I told my mom I want it as a wedding present. Now I just need to find the groom. lol Eileen - yeah, my appetite is getting bigger and bigger. Ugh! I am definitely not eating as much as I was before the band, but I am very much so looking forward to my fill. It's the Wed after Thanksgiving. Hopefully I'll feel some restriction. Cindy - congrats on the weight loss milestone! I wanna see some pics!! Mandy - your posts the past couple of days have been so funny! You've got a great sense of humor. Oh, and I can't wait to see Abi's pics. Sherry - man I talk to you almost every day and look at all I missed! lol. I ran into Glenn tonight at Stop & Shop so I knew about Rob and Belle. By the way we're going to go out for drinks with Glenn and Kristin after the holidays. lol Oh, and he also mentioned how skinny you were getting!! Hey now!! Hi Kat, Mary, Betty, Beannie and everyone else!

OMG Sherry - 8 more pounds! I think I may cry!

1 down 9 to go!!!

Not sure aaamom! We are very close! Sherry W lives in Taunton. We should all plan on meeting up sometime! Then I can see how amazing you look in person!!

MarySue what a beautiful post! It's funny - we all say that there are many others who accept us as we are, but we never seem to fully accept ourselves. Big lesson to be learned here.

I say we start tomorrow if everyone is game.

Oh nana sorry to hear you're not doing well! But you're right - it is important to find out what is causing your low blood count. Your health is what's most important, and why you're getting the band in the first place. Keep us updated on how things go. Dez - great to hear from you! I'm game for a meet up. I'll have to check and see about Dec 2nd, but I think Boston would be in the middle. Sherry and I can take the train in from Mansfield. And - I'll be meeting Rainbow the Wed after Thanksgiving when I go in for my fill. I can't wait!!

Starting on Sunday works for me! That's my regular weigh in day anyway.

I had a reduction 13 years ago. I agree with DrewsLou that it was one of the best things I've ever done. Recovery was tough, but you can function after a week. But you are sore for a long, long time and really it took a few months for the soreness to go away. But man, oh man - I love them! Sunsett I think you would be fine getting your reduction now. Especially when you look at the fact that your back size went down but your cup size actually went up. To me that says that your breasts don't get much smaller when you lose weight. I think you would be fine to go with whatever final size you want to be. At the time of my reduction I still wanted to have a chest, just not so much of it. I was a full C or a D, and I'm thrilled with the size I chose. I am proportionate and no longer feel like a freak.

Guin I totally agree! Missy - nothing better than a man who smells good. Yummm! lol

Oh Kristi I lust after our WB Mason delivery man. He is so HOT!

Wow Mandy - when it rains it pours, huh? Favortism is very hard for children, and even adults to understand. Seems like Abi understands quite a bit about her grandmother though. She is lucky to have a lot of other love in her life! Hi to everyone else!

In the spirit of better late than never, here is a pic of me and my neice at our town's Halloween parade. Doesn't she make an adorable Cinderella??!!

Beautiful pics! I love NY City!

Hi Sunflower. I'm not sure about doctors in this area who will see patients who have been banded elsewhere, but there are a TON of places in the area that do banding. It's probably worth some calls to check into things. There is Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham and Womens, Lahey Clinic, NE Medical Center. Those are just a few off the top of my head. Best of luck with your search and welcome to Boston! Chris

*shaking index finger* roxy you bad bandster, you! haha - just kidding. I think the dreaded PB is bound to happen to us all and how we learn. I know I eat too fast and if I don't slow it down I will be paying for it once I get my first fill!

Deb I have a 1:30 appt w/Dr Jones on the 29th!!! Looks like we will be able to meet! I am so excited!! If you're still losing with no fill - good for you! Especially if you're feeling restriction. Go with it!