kutia

KristiB, have you tried www.bookcrossing.com ? the people on that sometimes do trades as well.

Glory Road is awesome. I'd love to see a movie of it. My fave though is The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. Adore that book! I had never read The Last Unicorn before. I just saw the movie when I was a kid and loved it. I'm hoping my library will get in a copy of Heinlein's latest (ghost-written, obviously) book soon. Hardbacks are too expensive for me.

Why can't I make my lazy butt go to the gym? I don't know. I'm tired of thinking about it. It is hard to find the time what with my 3 jobs, errands and such. I could if I really tried, but it just seems like too much effort. Like I said, I'm a sloth. Another week gone, another 5 lbs. gone. I'm about 12 lbs. away from achieving my 3rd. goal. I hope my dress is still on sale. Unless my restriction tightens up real soon, I'm going to schedule another fill for the first part of December.

I always carry a book with me everywhere in my purse. I also keep one in the glove compartment of my car. Right now I'm reading The Princes if Ireland by Edward Rutherfurd. It is historical fiction. His books always start way back near the end of the ice age and go forward almost to the present day. Really fascinating. The last 5 books I've read are: Lord John Grey & the Private Matter Diana Gabaldon Princess in Pink Meg Cabot Ella Enchanted Gail Carson Levine Cell Stephen King The Last Unicorn Peter S. Beagle I'm an elementary teacher so I tend to read a lot of "juvenile" books for possible inclusion in my class library. I also work part-time at a library which is great. My favorite authors are (in no particular order): J.K. Rowling, Robert Heinlein, & Diana Gabaldon.

Keep it up! I quite smoking too. I know it is EXTREMELY hard but it can be done. I'm pulling for you.

Hey Candy I see a difference. I think it is just that no one sees a difference in their own photos. I'm sure I'll always think I look bad, no matter what. Has anybody heard from Faybie? She hasn't been on in awhile, I'm starting to worry about her./

I've gotten tired of typing all my entries in the same font and color. I decided it looks boring. Anyway, on to the challenge update. For those of you just joining my journal, I have challenged myself to get below 200 (199 to be specific) by New Year's Day. I started this when I had 36 pounds to go and 3 months to lose them. I'm doing pretty good. Even if I am a sloth who hasn't been to the gym in weeks. Somebody needs to kick my ass! Do they have an ass-kicking icon? Doesn't look like it, this icon will do though. :whip: This is what I need, someone standing behind me with a whip to make me go to the gym. At least until I get back in the routine. Any volunteers? So here's my challenge ticker:

I've gotten tired of typing all my entries in the same font and color. I decided it looks boring. Anyway, on to the challenge update. For those of you just joining my journal, I have challenged myself to get below 200 (199 to be specific) by New Year's Day. I started this when I had 36 pounds to go and 3 months to lose them. I'm doing pretty good. Even if I am a sloth who hasn't been to the gym in weeks. Somebody needs to kick my ass! Do they have an ass-kicking icon? Doesn't look like it, this icon will do though. :whip: This is what I need, someone standing behind me with a whip to make me go to the gym. At least until I get back in the routine. Any volunteers? So here's my challenge ticker:

Man, I almost forgot that it was Friday. I've been thinking it was Thursday all day today. I'm such a doofball. I got my 3rd. fill on Wednesday. Arlene (the nurse) and Dr. Jay were there. Arlene actually did the fill, Dr. Jay just stood there and supervised. Which I thought was kind of odd, she did my 2nd. fill without him there. Why would he have to be there this time? I got another c.c. which puts me at a total of 8. I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed that this one does the trick. So far I've been tightest in the morning but not to a great degree. Afternoons and evening have always been when I'm tempted to eat the most and I haven't had enough restriction to really curb that tendency. My eating habits are getting better though. I haven't had any soda at all since before my surgery. I used to be a major Diet Pepsi & Mountain Dew addict. I've also laid off the potato chips, another major weakness of mine. I'm still working on not eating meals in the car. I buy snack bars, like NutriGrain blueberry and GoTarts. They fit great in my purse and help keep me away from the Chick-fil-a and Wendy's drive thru lanes. Although I do still go to Chick-fil-a, just can't give that up. I bring it home and eat at the table and I don't get the fries at all. All in all, I think I'm making good progress. I'm getting closer to my third mini-goal and I may even make my Jan. 1 challenge.

Had my 3rd. fill today (11 Nov.) I now have 8cc. I weigh 222 lbs and I've lost a total of 58 lbs.

Man, I almost forgot that it was Friday. I've been thinking it was Thursday all day today. I'm such a doofball. I got my 3rd. fill on Wednesday. Arlene (the nurse) and Dr. Jay were there. Arlene actually did the fill, Dr. Jay just stood there and supervised. Which I thought was kind of odd, she did my 2nd. fill without him there. Why would he have to be there this time? I got another c.c. which puts me at a total of 8. I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed that this one does the trick. So far I've been tightest in the morning but not to a great degree. Afternoons and evening have always been when I'm tempted to eat the most and I haven't had enough restriction to really curb that tendency. My eating habits are getting better though. I haven't had any soda at all since before my surgery. I used to be a major Diet Pepsi & Mountain Dew addict. I've also laid off the potato chips, another major weakness of mine. I'm still working on not eating meals in the car. I buy snack bars, like NutriGrain blueberry and GoTarts. They fit great in my purse and help keep me away from the Chick-fil-a and Wendy's drive thru lanes. Although I do still go to Chick-fil-a, just can't give that up. I bring it home and eat at the table and I don't get the fries at all. All in all, I think I'm making good progress. I'm getting closer to my third mini-goal and I may even make my Jan. 1 challenge.

I think that's normal. Or at least I hope so, I'm going for my 3rd. fill on Wednesday. I've got a Vanguard and I'm already at 7cc. Does your doc. require liquids for a week after a fill? Mine does and that really helps the pounds to drop. Good luck with your fill.

Hey, thanks for reminding me. I'll head over there right now. Happy November, everybody!

:clap2: I don't have time for a lengthy entry right now... I'll be back later to add to this. I just wanted to put this in: :clap2: :scared: :biggrin1: :nervous edit: Okay, NOW I have time. I have been a lazy sloth this week when it comes to going to the gym. The last time I went was Oct. 23 (I think). Whenever it was, it was too long ago. Some of the days I have an actual reason for not going. Not an excuse but a Reason. I'm a substitute teacher and I also have another job in the evenings. So when I have a sub. job and have to go to my other job, I really don't have time to make it to the gym. Of course, this does not explain the days I didn't have a sub. job (or my other job, for that matter) and still didn't go to the gym. Those days I just had an excuse, like "oh I can't go today, it's raining." Yeah, like it was raining inside the gym. Or "I need to go to the grocery store." Apparently in my world it is impossible to do both. I really just need a swift kick in the ass. No, I take that back. I really just need to go to the gym. I need to keep my January goal in mind. I can't make that goal if I don't go to the gym. What's that you ask? "Am I going to the gym today?" Um, no. I can't today, they're closed.

:clap2: I don't have time for a lengthy entry right now... I'll be back later to add to this. I just wanted to put this in: :clap2: :biggrin1: :mad: :nervous edit: Okay, NOW I have time. I have been a lazy sloth this week when it comes to going to the gym. The last time I went was Oct. 23 (I think). Whenever it was, it was too long ago. Some of the days I have an actual reason for not going. Not an excuse but a Reason. I'm a substitute teacher and I also have another job in the evenings. So when I have a sub. job and have to go to my other job, I really don't have time to make it to the gym. Of course, this does not explain the days I didn't have a sub. job (or my other job, for that matter) and still didn't go to the gym. Those days I just had an excuse, like "oh I can't go today, it's raining." Yeah, like it was raining inside the gym. Or "I need to go to the grocery store." Apparently in my world it is impossible to do both. I really just need a swift kick in the ass. No, I take that back. I really just need to go to the gym. I need to keep my January goal in mind. I can't make that goal if I don't go to the gym. What's that you ask? "Am I going to the gym today?" Um, no. I can't today, they're closed.

Awesome, you're already down 20 lbs. WAY TO GO!!!!!!!! If I could add some smilies I'd add 20 clapping smilies just for you. congratulations

I'll be going for another fill very soon, hopefully some time next week. I need to call & schedule, I keep forgetting to do that. I can tell I have more restriction than after my first fill, but I can also tell it still isn't enough. On a happy,happy,joy,joy, note-I have an NSV. I was an hour early to work today.(darn time change, screws me up every time) Since I had some time to kill, I went into the nearby Avenue store. I figured I'd try on a pair of 20s just for fun. I wanted to see how close I was to being able to zip them. I could zip them, I could even zip (and button) the SIZE 18s that I tried on next! Of course I still had a "muffin top" but hey the important thing is that I actually had a pair of 18s on my body and I could still breathe, sit down and walk normally. WAHOO!!!!!!!!!!:clap2:

Hey y'all I'm glad to hear most everybody is doing well. My weight loss has definitely slowed down. It hasn't stopped altogether though, so I'm still smilin'. Mostly. I'm probably going to schedule a fill for sometime in the 1st. week of November. I'll need help to deal with the Thanksgiving turkey. Especially since I love making sandwiches with the leftover turkey.

I know, I'm a day late with this week's entry. I just didn't feel up to it yesterday, or now for that matter. edit (10-29-06): I feel up to it now. I'll be going for another (my 3rd.) fill very soon, hopefully some time next week. I need to call & schedule, I keep forgetting to do that. I can tell I have more restriction than after my first fill, but I can also tell it still isn't enough. I think I'll need a fill to help me cope with the Thanksgiving turkey. Man, I love making sandwiches with the leftover turkey. Oooh, and chocolate cream pie and biscuits with mayhaw jelly. Oh jeez, stop me now. On a "happy,happy,joy,joy" note-I have an NSV. I was an hour early to work today.(darn time change, screws me up every time) Since I had some time to kill, I went into the nearby Avenue store. I figured I'd try on a pair of 20s just for fun. I wanted to see how close I was to being able to zip them. I could zip them, I could even zip (and button) the SIZE 18s that I tried on next! Of course I still had a "muffin top" but hey the important thing is that I actually had a pair of 18s on my body and I could still breathe, sit down and walk normally. WAHOO!!!!!!!!!!:clap2:

I know, I'm a day late with this week's entry. I just didn't feel up to it yesterday, or now for that matter. edit (10-29-06): I feel up to it now. I'll be going for another (my 3rd.) fill very soon, hopefully some time next week. I need to call & schedule, I keep forgetting to do that. I can tell I have more restriction than after my first fill, but I can also tell it still isn't enough. I think I'll need a fill to help me cope with the Thanksgiving turkey. Man, I love making sandwiches with the leftover turkey. Oooh, and chocolate cream pie and biscuits with mayhaw jelly. Oh jeez, stop me now. On a "happy,happy,joy,joy" note-I have an NSV. I was an hour early to work today.(darn time change, screws me up every time) Since I had some time to kill, I went into the nearby Avenue store. I figured I'd try on a pair of 20s just for fun. I wanted to see how close I was to being able to zip them. I could zip them, I could even zip (and button) the SIZE 18s that I tried on next! Of course I still had a "muffin top" but hey the important thing is that I actually had a pair of 18s on my body and I could still breathe, sit down and walk normally. WAHOO!!!!!!!!!!:clap2:

Well I have some restriction. Not a whole lot, but it is a start. I want to wait until I'm completely stalled before I schedule another fill. It seems like the only time I manage to lose weight is the week I'm on liquids after a fill. Although I must admit, that I only stayed on liquids for about three days. I had my measuring day at Curves a few days ago. I'd lost 20 lbs. since I joined and they were all asking me what was my secret. So I pulled up my shirt and showed 'em my scars. Then I erased my name off the "Brag Board" 'cuz I'd really rather people didn't keep bringing it up. It makes me feel very awkward. I've never been good at accepting compliments & praise. I'm really very self-deprecating. Most of the time. Here are my stats from the Curves measuring day: Bust 49 in. -3 in. Waist 47in. -4 in. Abdomen 52 in. -3 in. Hips 50 in. -3 in. Thighs 28 in. -2 in. Arms 16.5 in. -2 in. Body fat 42.6% -1.9% (for stats from my 1st. Curves measuring day, see entry #24)

Well I have some restriction. Not a whole lot, but it is a start. I want to wait until I'm completely stalled before I schedule another fill. It seems like the only time I manage to lose weight is the week I'm on liquids after a fill. Although I must admit, that I only stayed on liquids for about three days. I had my measuring day at Curves a few days ago. I'd lost 20 lbs. since I joined and they were all asking me what was my secret. So I pulled up my shirt and showed 'em my scars. Then I erased my name off the "Brag Board" 'cuz I'd really rather people didn't keep bringing it up. It makes me feel very awkward. I've never been good at accepting compliments & praise. I'm really very self-deprecating. Most of the time. Here are my stats from the Curves measuring day: Bust 49 in. -3 in. Waist 47in. -4 in. Abdomen 52 in. -3 in. Hips 50 in. -3 in. Thighs 28 in. -2 in. Arms 16.5 in. -2 in. Body fat 42.6% -1.9% (for stats from my 1st. Curves measuring day, see entry #24)

kutia- total fill 7cc -1lb.

Another girl in Texas saying "howdy". Glad to have you on the boards. They are a great resource for support and information. Make sure you check out the journals too, they're my favorite part. My doc. was Dr. Jayaseelan with the Surgery Center of Richardson. Here're some links to check out: www.texaslapbandcenter.com www.aigb.com

I think I've made a good start on my January 1 challenge. Even with the minor setback I had a few weeks ago. I think my 2nd. fill has actually given me some restriction. I'm going to go to Curves 3x a week and try to ride my bike everyday. Hopefully that will help keep the weight loss going.