lisah25

I think doing it now, and avoiding many more years of being obese, would be wonderful. I wish I could have some years back. Don't worry about what other people think. This is not an easy way out, just a way that actually works. We start by deciding to have surgery. We research and pick a surgeon. Do all the pre-op testing and diet they may require. Have major surgery. Recover from it. I was on liquids for 2 weeks, mushie foods for 2 more weeks. Now, I have to think about what I choose to eat. I have to make healthy and band-friendly choices. I have to get my butt moving. Sound like an easy thing? Would we tell someone who got a pacemaker that they should have just worked harder to keep their heart healthy?

Oh yeah. And I still have almost 100 lbs to go. I think a big part of it is body language on our part. I'm not longer trying to just get through the day not being noticed. I'm looking people in the eye more, smiling more, and then of course I get feedback for it, and want to do more. I think it's not only that I'm looking better, but that I no longer feel ashamed. I am doing something about my body and health.

I'm having a cranky day today. I can't figure out a problem at work, and I've got a raging case of the munchies.:hungry: I tried my usual things, a nice cup of tea, water, a small orange, they didn't do it. So, I found myself standing in front of the vending machine at work, with a pocket full of change, and nothing looked good. It wasn't even that I was struggling to be good, I lost that battle when I headed down the stairs. But even candy that had been my favorites before banding didn't sound appealing. I came back up and found some peanuts in my bag and ate a handful of them. It's another of those amazing, unexcepted post-band moments I love. :clap2:

That sounds good Surby! I'll look for it next time I'm there. I got some almonds at Target last night I like, they have a salty/sweet/herb coating. I just have to leave them at home, and only bring in a small portion, or I'd be eating them all day.

I beg to differ. You have gotten answers, you just haven't accepted them.

You covered it pretty well. I felt tired and sore, esp. my shoulder. A heating pad was wonderful for that. I wondered what in the world I thought I was doing when I signed up for surgery. It took about 3 weeks or so to start feeling better. And now, I am beyond thrilled with my decision and what the band has done for me.

I did answer your question in post 626. You seem to be confusing belief that every word in the translations we have available now is to be taken literally with an overall belief in the Bible. I can believe the main things in the Bible, what I think is central to my faith, and realize some of it isn't meant to be taken as I read it in my NIV. Ron uses the example of Jesus being the bread of life. When I take communion, I don't believe the bread becomes Jesus's body, nor the wine His blood. I do believe He came to earth and died for our sins to rise 3 days later.

Can I ask what you are looking for at this point? I know I answered, I know other people did, and it doesn't seem to have changed anything. I guess I'm wondering why you are asking.

The CPAP isn't that bad. And like Terri said, you'll love feeling better.

The problem with having such a thread is that we would all post on it obessivly...

I've always been a lot more bothered by things like violence presented as entertainment then sex being so. And in this case, the "treason" is disagreeing with Bush. That scares me.

Read a lot here! There is a wealth of info. I'd check with my insurance. If they cover it, they may have certain surgeons they will cover, so that would help guide you to a surgeon. Find surgeons in your area who do lab-banding and attend their seminars, if they have them. Most do, and they are mostly free. Also, I think there are forums here for different states, look and ask in yours for names. And welcome, this is a VERY helpful place.

Not at all. I just think joking about executing someone for daring to disagree with the president is much worse then joking about a BJ. That's just me, other's won't agree. I'm OK with that.

You can say something like this, and still get bent out of shape about a joke about a BJ? Wow.

I guess I just don't know how to get across what I'm trying to figure out, so I'll drop it. Thanks Ron.

I'm not really looking for more examples Ron, I get the idea. But what I don't get is why you tell me I can't pick and choose, or you ask what I base my beliefs on? When from where I'm standing, we have pretty much the same approach.

You keep saying that I pick and choose what to believe, while you seem to just know when context affects meaning. That's what confuses me. I'm doing the same thing you are, and yet you question me for it. I'm not trying to sarcastic or anything here, I am really and truely baffled.

I don't know. I admit, I'm very confused. You seem to be saying that if I say I don't take every word of the bible literally, I don't believe in it, yet also saying that context matters where the bible can't be taken literally. Honestly, I'm stumpted here. :help:

Where are a couple of comments you've made in this thread. How do you reconcile that with what you know say above? “The rule of interpretation used by virtually students of the scriptures is that you take everything literally except where the context makes it obvious it is not literal, as with the above examples.” “The rule used by Bible scolars is that you read the Bible literally, except where it is obviously not literal based upon the context and the whole of scripture”

Where did he say that?

You have said more then once that the Bible is to be taken literally, expect when it's clear it's not? Or have I misunderstood you?

Perhaps you need to be more careful about your impressions? I never said I didn't use the Bible as the basis of my faith. I do think, as do you, that it can't always be taken literally.

Can't speak for Carlene, but for me, responses like that are pure frustration. What Clinton did was wrong, but thousands of people haven't died for it.

Where did I say I didn't base my faith on the Bible?

http://archives.cnn.com/2001/ALLPOLITICS/stories/01/26/whitehouse.pranks.02/index.html WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Though President Bush said "there might have been a prank or two," a Clinton administration official Friday denied reports of last-minute vandalism at the White House by workers with the just-departed Democratic tenants. Mark Lindsay, former President Clinton's assistant for Management and Administration, told CNN he toured the White House just before George W. Bush's inaugural Saturday and "did not see one instance of vandalism, not a single one." He said he saw some 100 computers during the walk-through of the West Wing and the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and has no recollection of the letter "W" missing from the keyboards, as was reported by Republican sources. Lindsay conceded some offices were in disarray, but he explained, "If people are working around the clock, their first priority is not keeping it the neatest." There are other reports also that the "trashing" of the White house never happened. http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/t/trashingthewhitehouse.htm http://archives.cnn.com/2001/ALLPOLITICS/stories/01/27/w.h.pranks/index.html http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2001/05/19/MN169709.DTL http://www.wsws.org/articles/2002/jun2002/gao-j14.shtml