niecyrenee

They are the best!!! You can skip the things that are corny and useless while watching your favorite shows and never once get tempted by all the food commercials. I can't imagine how I watched tv before I had mine!

I am very thankful for every pound I have lost and I have worked hard to get them off. I decided that if I was going to do something as drastic as surgery, I was going to make it work. It is only by the grace of God that I am doing this well. It's so funny because I have lost count of all my weight loss attempts because there have been tons but when I actually started praying that the Lord would help me lose weight, it started coming off. The power of prayer never ceases to amaze me!

I, for one, don't have any problem with you not releasing the name of the winner. That really is none of my business. And I don't blame her for not telling. It really is a private matter. I think it is fantastic that you were in a situation that you could help someone else make a wonderful change in their life and I commend you for it! Bless you and your husband for unselfishly giving to this person. I can understand that you are upset but would really hate to see you leave LBT because of some strangers opinions. Please reconsider staying. We can all use each other in the journey.

I am one of the lucky ones who is married to this guy as well! My husband is so wonderful when it comes to things that I am sensitive about. I was heavy when we started dating and he has watched me grow over the years and has always treated me great! I can't say that he hasn't been concerned for my health because of my weight and family history but he has never belittled me because of it. When I started exploring the band he wasn't certain of it because he was afraid that something would go wrong and he would lose me. After we discussed it a lot and researched it thoroughly, we decided to go ahead with it. He made it very clear that he loves me just the way I am but that if I needed to do this for me, that he would be right there for me.

It does help! Thanks so much! What I have thought about doing is what you do Avilla. I have tried it a few times and it seems to work well but I haven't committed to anything long term. I am really interested in what you are doing Tann. I think I may give it a try and see how it works for me. Thanks again!

I think most everyone has feel into this trap at one time or another. If it was easy for us to give up all the "bad" things and lose weight, we wouldn't have been banded. There is more to it than that. A lot of our eating is directly related to how we think and what food has been to us. For me, I was an emotional eater and once in a while, it rears it's ugly head. When this happens, I have to pick myself up and strive to do better because if I focus on it, it will only become more destructive! Keep your head up! You are doing great!

So you only actually eat one meal a day? I have contemplated an idea similar to this (but with two meals a day) but I didn't know if it was "good". Does that make sense? I want to be sure that I get in enough nutrients. Your weight loss is amazing so I know it is working well. Do you struggle with hunger or are you a bandster that doesn't really get hungry? I get hungry but I am able to ignore it. I just wonder if I tried something similar to yours if I would get really hungry? Any insight would be greatly appreciated! Oh! Another question. How many ounces is your protein shake? Weird question, I know, I'm just trying to get an idea of what you are doing exactly.

When my weight kinda stalls, I change my calorie intake around. I will eat less for a few days and then raise my intake. It keeps my body guessing and always seems to get the scale moving again. Exercise is always wonderful too because even if the scale isn't showing it, you lose inches. I don't know if you are still doing protein shakes every now and then but it wouldn't be a bad idea. If I see that I'm wanting to graze and eat more than I should, I pack a protein shake or two and have them in between meals. It's enough to take the edge off and get me going again. Also, watch your water intake. My nutritionist said that a lot of times when we have troubles staying away from food and think we are hungry, it's because we are actually lacking in our water intake. I hope this helps....?

I agree totally! I hate to have to feel this way but I would want to make sure that any money I may be able to give goes for the intended purpose. Unfortunately, our society is so that we can't trust people like we wish we could. It sucks, but it's reality. Everytime I see someone struggling like I have been all my life, I want to run up to them and tell them about this amazing miracle that I have discovered to aid me in my weight loss journey! I also would love to help people that can't financially afford it but that is just not a luxury that I have. We know how much lapband has done for us and how it has changed our lives and we would love to give someone else that blessing, but we can't. Man if I could, my sister would be scheduling her surgery right now!

Where are all the November Bandsters? It sure has gotten quiet around here! I hope everyone is too busy losing weight and enjoying life to post! MIA's: We would sure love to hear how your doing.

Fantastic! :clap2:

You mean his surgery? Sylvia told me that a buddy of his did it for him.... He says he has only lost about 30 lbs. but he sure looks like he has lost more. I can really tell he's lost. Problems as far as surgery, none. My surgery went smoothly. Dr. Pitt told my hubby that the surgery went really well and not long after surgery I was up making laps around the hospital and went home at about 5:00ish (surgery was around 11:00). I never had to take any pain meds. The only pain if you will that I had was the gas pain. It was mostly uncomfortable so I was up walking a lot to move it out and it didn't last too long. I have only been to one support meeting and that was this months. I live north of Columbia and it seems like the weather has not be favorable for me to go before now. I really enjoyed it and would love to attend every month but it takes me over an hour to get to Columbia so I get home late so I probably won't make it as much as I would like. I'm sure you know they have a clothing exchange before the meeting starts which is a really good idea since we are changing sizes so often. Pre-op diet, that something I don't want to do again anytime soon. But seriously, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. After the first few days, it got easier. I experienced headaches the first few days that were difficult but that eventually went away. I bought up a ton of SF Jello and bought some broth and SF Popsicles and thought I would just be inhaling them but I didn't. I used to love Jello but I can't stand the stuff now. I started out eating at least 6 little cups a day and ended up eating only 1 cup the day before surgery. I don't care if I ever see the stuff again! :speechles I went through my fridge after surgery and gave all of it to my sister. While the pre-op diet wasn't a walk in the park, I was determined to get through it. I knew it meant the difference between laparoscopic surgery and open surgery and I didn't want the big incision. I was really happy I stuck to it like I did and I lost 29 lbs! That was a huge benefit! This journey, although it has only been about 3 1/2 months, has been awesome! It was the best decision I ever made (short of marrying my dh that is!). My dh was really reluctant when we first started discussing it but now, he is as big an advocate for lapband as I am. He sees the amazing changes in me daily and we both couldn't be happier! One thing that I don't remember being told (although I probably was but with all the info, I forgot) is that the first 6 weeks after surgery is for healing. If you happen to lose weight during that time, it's a bonus. Your body is needing to heal so don't get discouraged. When my weight loss started slowing down a few weeks out, I was disappointed but after my first fill, things started going great guns again. I have had 3 fills and one unfill. My band got too tight right after Christmas and we had to remove some Fluid but now I have lost enough weight that I actually needed the .5 cc we removed, so he put it back in last week. Dr. Pitt is an excellent surgeon! I haven't talked to any of his patients that aren't completely satisfied with his work. You are in great hands! And Boone County Hospital is great as well. The staff was phenomenal! :biggrin1: Whew! I'm long winded this morning!

Hey Sharon! Dr. Pitt is my surgeon as well! He is an awesome doctor! In a weird way, it made me feel better to have him as my surgeon because he knows EXACTLY what I'm going through. Good luck with your upcoming surgery. If you have any questions, just ask. Something good about insurance....in my experience, I thought my insurance company was going to be difficult to deal with but they really weren't. They did say they had a cap of $10,000 that they would pay for WLS but when it came down to it, they paid more. I walked away only paying $1,000 which to be is amazing! Good luck on your journey!

That is awesome! :biggrin1:

What, if anything, is too serious to joke about? Abuse such as in children, elderly, mentally handicapped, etc. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained one quality or one ability, what would it be? Patience.....as well as the ability to stop myself from making stupid choices. Whom, if anyone, do you envy enough to want to trade lives with them? Nobody. I have my share of hardships like everyone else but overall, my life is great! If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what woud it be? Hmm...don't even want to go there. If there were a public execution on tv, would you watch it? Probably Would you rather arrive at a party underdressed or overdressed? Underdressed What's more important: actual experiences, or the memories that remain from those experiences? Memories In real conversations, do you tend to talk more or listen more?If you had to chose one, would you rather be blind or deaf? Talk more. Deaf.

When I read your post I thought "We have that horrible practice here too". Then I remembered that we were "neighbors" and got to wondering how it got started. (Probably all the rednecks!) They are becomming more and more popular and I for one, don't care for them. I want to remember someone for who they were and what they did, not for their tragic death. I know a lot of people put those shrines up along side the road and it helps them heal so to speak, but I don't get it. I certainly wouldn't want to remember a loved one by the place they died in. Around here some organization or something must put them up for everyone who dies in a MVA because they are all alike. Then people come and put the added things up. The DOT leaves the crosses up but most of the other things are removed after a period of time. I find them very distracting and after a while, an eyesore.

I was at normal weight as a baby but that quickly changed. I can't ever remember being thin. I was always the "fat friend" of the group. It really sucks to always be the largest one. Needless to say, I (as many others here) have battled depression because of it. I remember being 230 as a freshman in high school. :mad: And I was active and my meals were never different from my friend's but I was always bigger. Looking at me now, people would never believed that I played softball growing up and was a star pitcher. Most summers, I played on at least 2 teams if not 3 but I was always larger than the other girls. I can't even imagine what I would look like thin but I will someday! I can't wait for the day when people don't recognize me!! :heh:

Good morning all!! Spring is getting closer and closer! Those 6 pesky pounds that snuck on last week have left and taken 6 of their friends with them! I am ecstatic! It's so nice to see your hard work pay off! Sarge, don't be too hard on yourself. You feel off the wagon but it's because of that pesky bump in the road called sickness. Sounds like you are already determined to pick yourself up and dust yourself off. We all have those bumps. They are inevitable. But you will come out strong, I know! :heh: Keep up the good work everyone! We have to remember that we are in a much better place than last year at this time! And think about next year when we enter bootcamp! It's exciting to think about!!! :clap2:

Congratulations on the beautiful baby girl! Keep us updated on how everything is going.

Pennst8er-40 lbs!! That is fantastic! Keep up the good work!

I LOVE Survivor!! I'm a total addict too! I set my DVR to record it every week just in case I'm not home. :heh: Sad, I know. I just can't help myself. Sign me up! I wanna go! And I love goat! It is delicious. :hungry:

I am freezing all the time anymore!! FREEZING! I wear two, sometimes three layers of clothes. It's unreal. But of course I do live in North Missouri where we have been lucky to reach double digits lately. Right now my computer says it is 2 degrees! That is freaking cold!!! Next week they are forcasting 40's and close to 50 for one day. I am so excited! I may have to cut my layers down to one. :heh: We have a wonderful blanket of snow now as well. We only got about 5-6 inches of snow the other day so we were not hit as hard as others. They are calling for another inch tomorrow but I hope they are wrong. I have to travel to the doc. I think I need a small fill because I am getting hungry again and can eat more than I should. Thankfully I am not allowing myself to. I am just a little afraid to have a fill after getting too full last time but I am going to stay positive that it won't happen again. Has anyone heard from prbrooksie for a few days? I was wondering how she is doing.

Tom, what a day! Sometimes it seems like such a chore to eat out because a lot of servers just don't get 'special orders'. It always makes me want to look at them and say "What about this don't you understand?" UGH!

I wish I could say the scale has been nice to me but alas, it has not. According to my scale, I have gained about 6 lbs. since this weekend! :mad: I assume it is Water retention or something like that but it is depressing. I haven't been eating as much and have kicked up my exercise so I wonder if that can be part of it? Any ideas? I am trying to not focus on it. I will remain positive! I am trying to beat that into my head. What a day to be down in the dumps. :think

I work in soil & water conservation for Missouri Department of Natural Resources and I love it!!