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Quickie post..Hi Apples...have fun with your friends. Did my aero pilates this morning and logged my food. Off to a wonderful day at work. Hi Jodi....jump those hoops, in the long run, it's worth it. Arlene, hang in there...I don't think it gets easier. I'm going to buy the book because I'm not getting through it very fast. It will be good to have on hand. Okay later Eva

Oh, I was going to try and work...and still will do some, but the day is getting away from me. I went for a walk this morning and stopped by my girlfriend's house (she lives 1/2 mile away) and it was almost 1pm when I got home. My how the day flies by. Arlene, great deals at wally world! It's too early for the peach trees to be budding isn't it? They are going to get their little buds frozen off. And remember according to Beck, there are no "bad" foods...they are foods that aren't on plan. Gotta keep that positive spin on things. Linda, you certainly will attain a GOLD medal with your exercise. And yes, you do work for an amazing company. How's your DSD? Great, if you would have had 4 kids you would have handled it fine. I believe we get what we need to learn what ever lesson we need to learn. So I have no kids...must mean I need to learn something from that. I think your definition of warm and mine will be different. I'm still cold at 70 degrees...I started laying out clothes too and I will probably put the shorts back on the shelf. I think I'll be too cold for them. I wonder how the mosquito population is this time of year. When I was on the east coast in May one year, they were horrible. I hate mosquitos....we had lots when I was growing up in Florence. Laura...I bet you would be wonderful with a little girl. But as I said to Lori...you have what you need for the lesson in this life. Nelson is a lucky lucky little boy and you too to have found each other. I'm adopted too and I knew I was very lucky to have loving parents. Do you not sleep because DH's hours? It has to be crazy with him being on call. Julie, hope you got the sleep you needed. I swear, it's the only way I get rid of mine....a good sleep seems to fix it for a few days at least. I'll probably be up with you too....maybe...depends on how hard Janet and Apples make me work out. Janet...I get that love/hate thing. My one week honeymoon with the fill is over. I'm starting to think about things I shouldn't. So I'm reading the Beck book and working the steps I've covered so far. My fill is still working....but my want is back too. I am trying really hard to sit when eating...I'm finding out how much I do eat standing. Not a good thing. Okay, back to work stuff............ Eva

2-1-10 7-20-09 239.5 8-24-09 237.5...had my first fill on Saturday, hope to see this number go down now. 9-17-09 232...2nd fill 10-10-09 226 no control, no weight loss 3rd fill 1-23-10 1-27-10 225.5 2-1-10 223

Really rather quite today. I've actually started working on work stuff today. Supposed to have this job done tomorrow, but they're going to have to wait until Tuesday. I'm playing hooky tomorrow. I'm taking a couple of hours off and then I'm staying home to do a few more trench details. I also have a little field work to do. We have another show to go to tonight. It's a very obscure group that I've never heard of, but our friends wanted us to go, so we are. It might be a late night since the show doesn't start until 8pm. This is why I'm taking time off tomorrow. Have a good evening...I'll be able to check in tomorrow during the day...how novel. Eva

If you cannot eat or drink...you need an unfill. You can damage your stomach and it is unhealthy not to be able to take nourishment. Call your doctors and get at least a little Fluid taken out. I just had my 3rd fill and believe I'm at my sweet spot. I can drink...any temperature....slowly, no gulping. I can eat slowly and small amounts. I do get a little tighter in the am and have to drink coffee slowly, but I can drink. You need to be able to drink and eat. Get an unfill. Call your doctors. He/she may only need to take out .5 cc, but you shouldn't be hurting yourselves this way.

Good for you in checking your statement. No wonder our health care system is such a mess. You are paying part of that over charge too aren't you? Since you still pay 20% you are paying 20% more for things that shouldn't be there. I applaud you for checking and following up with it.

Although I told my friends, I didn't tell many people at work. People have expectations of rapid weight loss and miracles....it just isn't happening that way. I guess I'm lucky that no one has really asked how much I've lost. I think they've noticed....but I'm still very large, my stomach is still large and I'm wearing a lot of my old clothes and it hides my weight loss pretty well. I also haven't lost any weight for a little over 3 months. I'm just now starting back down the scale and hoping in another three months to be lighter. Enough so to buy a few new clothes. Sorry....I digress.....so tell people this isn't bypass and the weight doesn't come off quickly. It truly is a diet and exercise program with help and the weight will come off slowly. It is what I tell people that do ask. I'm dieting and exercising. It's exactly what I'm doing. You've done very well since December. Good luck in your journey

Laura, thanks for the link...it's sort of like this thread but with different people. So I take it there aren't too many kids in your neighborhood for Nelson to play with? From 5 yrs to 10 yrs I lived in a neighborhood filled with kids. It did provide some distraction, but I played by myself a lot too. Glad to see there are other white shirts out there too.

Morning all, Cheri, congratulations on reaching your goal. It is truly an accomplishment and I know you much be proud of yourself. Deb, yucky house cleaning....I don't do much of that right (while I'm working I have a cleaning lady), but I finally got through all the paperwork in my office. You would think that since I don't have a house to clean I could at least keep up with the junk mail, but no.....it piles up. Apples, thanks for the tide tip...I haven't tried it and think I will. I just got a new long sleeved white T-shirt from Lands End and it already has a stain on it. It's very nice that Wal-Mart is right next to work so I can bop over there on break and pick up stuff. Jessica, so sad for your nephew. I really hope the situation resolves itself in a positive way for all of you. I wonder if the same thing is going to happen with all her kids. Robbie's mom (my DH's boy) had 2 kids taken away. I had to send my renters an eviction notice today. It really made me feel crappy, but they are more than 2 months behind and now is another month. I've really cut them lots of slack, but I just don't want to deal with it anymore. It's hard to be an absent landlord too. The house is my parents and is in Colorado. My brother is in Ohio, so he doesn't really help with it. Like Linda said about her Mom's dog...this house is the last connection to my parents and it will be weird selling it. I guess I better get to reading this Beck book. I'm doing good with the eating and really want to keep it up. Later Eva

Evening everyone A Prairie Home Companion was great tonight. Garrison read my friend's greeting....it was Michael from Cindy and Eva, don't forget to close the gate so the javalina's don't eat the pansies. So if you listen to that program...listen in the 2nd half for the greetings....that will be one of them. Julie, bummer about your phone. Sneaky little thing, what was it doing sneaking back into a pocket. The tast of Washburn sounds like fun. We have Tucson meet yourself...of course we call it Tucson eat yourself. It's individual vendors from the different nationalities in town and restaurants. You buy from the vendors. It's a good way to try new stuff. Yes Apples, I wore a white shirt to the show today. Didn't get my dinner on it either...maybe because I'm not eating so much anymore. Wow a side benefit to banding. 1day..glad you had a nice time in California. Welcome back. Laura...sounds like a nice Saturday to me. Hope your Dad perks back up. Driving in the snow might be a little taxing right now. The roads will clear up soon and they'll be out and about again. I think the show high is finally wearing off. Guess I'm off to sleep now. Have a great night. Eva

Jodi, if you click the multi at the end of each post...when you go to respond, it will bring up each one of the posts and you can respond to them after each one instead of making a new post each time. I just learned that and I've been posting here for 5 or 6 months. Arlene, you know despite my size, I rarely wear black. Black is HOT here...I do in the winter, but not all that much. I have a lot of white shirts....in fact, I just tried several of them on and most of them fit or are a little big now. But I really like white shirts because in the summer, they are cooler. I also end up staining most of my white shirts because my food lands on my chest....most times. Even when I'm particularly careful. I refuse to wear cutsie shirts to hide the stains...so I go through a lot of white.

It looks like people are getting back on track and starting to lose again. Glad to see I wasn't the only one struggling. I finally got another fill last weekend and what a difference it made. I actually get full, can't eat too much and am able to stick to my plan. I just need to continue for quite a while longer. I've never actually had enough restriction to understand how it works, well my my...it does work....I definitely have restriction and it's doing what it's supposed to. Now it is totally up to me to put the right food in my mouth. I too am glad I did this...I've never lost 40 pounds in one dieting session ever. Yeehaww...

Hi Arlene, sorry missed your post. What kind of jacket did you get? Do your adopted kids appreciate you now? I bet they do. We've tried to adopt Robbie, but his Mom will not let him go...he is just a manipulation device for her. DH does see Robbie every week if not more and they talk, so at least we have access to him. He's 16 and is working at a movie theater. He's finally getting it together a little and I'm really proud of him. (Robbie is DH's boy...not biologically, but emotionally and DH's name is listed as the father on Robbie's birth certificate). BBL ee

Jessica....I'm so sad for your nephew. I can't imagine how he's feeling knowing his mother doesn't want him anymore. I applaud you stepping up to take him in. He needs to know someone loves him and will not abandon him. I'm also glad to hear you have plans to move into your own place. It's great your in-laws have been willing to help, but it's so much better to be on your own. Good luck! Cheri, congrats on the 3 lbs. I think mixing things up really helps with the weight loss...so a few days of carbs probably confused your body and it let go of the weight. Linda...sorry about your mom's dog. I guess that sadness from losing your parent never really goes away...but becomes easier to deal with. I'm pretty sure I'm not over my mom's death. It's was very nice for your sister to take her dog...not everyone would do that. I'm sure Daisy Mae had a wonderful life and was better for the love your family gave her. Wow your DSD really doesn't weigh much. I hope they figure out what is going on with her. Apples, DS doesn't have a self cleaning oven I take it. Although with self cleaning, you still have to wipe it down and "clean" it. So you are heading south tomorrow? Seems like you just got to Atlanta. Will DS visit you in Florida or will you stop by on your way north again? Laura, one of our friends is a PA and she actually lived in Haiti and just left to go back to help out. It's great you are able to do what you always wanted to do. It's even better that you are able to spend time with Nelson right now. When I was very young, both of my parents worked and I had to go to various baby-sitters...I remember some of that. It's great Nelson has you. Hi Julie, wow sleeping in to 10:30 that's amazing. Of course not getting to sleep until 3:30....ugg. You are lucky that you can sleep in when you can't get to sleep early. And who says we all have to go to bed at 9 or 10 or whenever and get up a 6 or 5 or 4 as some of you do? Given my own proclivities I would stay up late and sleep late too. I was up until midnight last night and slept until about 7:30 this morning. It was very nice. Phyl, have a safe and very fun trip. Hope it's warm on the cruise. I'm piddling today. Soaked the baby tortoises...they need to be hydrated about once a month. They are very slow moving now because I keep them cool and their metabolism slower for winter, but they tend to wake up a bit after soaking in a warmish puddle and start crawling all over. They are cute. Hopefully by April, they will mostly have new homes. I have to work on work stuff today and we are going to A Prairie Home Companion at 3...so that kind of shoots the day for any big projects. Guess I hang out and watch the thread until we leave. Not too exciting. Talk to you later. Eva

Janet, did you get your card? Happy Birthday. Hope you had a very nice day....and don't let those dogs stress you out. Just like your relationship to food, restrict the puppy to certain areas.....Andrew's bedroom, garage, outside and have Andrew walk it. No puppies allowed in "Janet's" area. It might be tough in your house, but it might give you some peace and quiet. Laura...how nice to send your Dad some cigars. Sounds like it's a "bad" thing, but you know if he enjoys them, why not. He needs to get as much joy from life as he can. I hope he starts to feel better soon. Guess this will be a short post...it's SciFi night, so I'm going to watch some TV. Eva

I haven't learned to deal with stress well yet. It is one of my triggers. Although I do things for myself and always have and don't feel guilty because if I don't take care of me, who will? Walking is thing I've used to get through a stress filled time. I just don't do it enough...I usually reach for something to eat. I really need to stop that. Really good question.

Hey Apples glad you made it to your sons. That much sitting would make me nuts too. Did you get the truck unloaded? Bring the kitchen sink too? Okay two weeks and counting. I can't believe it's getting that close. Yeah, I know Garrison is from your neck of the woods. Hope he doesn't bring the cold with him. Back to the book.

Without Apples there isn't the constant interaction all day long. Well, she'll be back in action shortly. What we need to do is find another topic of the day. It's a little hard for me since I can't post from work, but I bet one of you could come up with some topic to entertain us with. I just picked up the Beck book and started reading it at lunch. Didn't get too far with it. I ate bread (toast) again this morning and it went down without too much problem, but it certainly isn't the easiest thing to eat in the morning. I might have to save my bread allowance for night time. Yes, I still eat bread...one slice a day maximum. I still believe it's part of a balanced diet. If it's not bread, it's oatmeal, or rice, or Pasta...some type of carb. I didn't have any rice at the sushi bar today. That was different. The fish was delicious. Okay...here's a topic for tomorrow or tonight. What did you want to do when you grew up...ie, be a stay at home mom, work (where did you want to work?) be a professional dancer, etc. Are you all working in the field you wanted to be in. When I was in high school, I wanted to be a research scientist, but my parents said they wouldn't send me to college and that I should be a secretary because I would always be able to find work. I'm not such a good secretary...I hate filing and I'm not always nice. But working at the phone company was a good job and that was acceptable to them. And here I am almost 34 years later and I'm working at the phone company. I did go to college, worked full time and went to school part time for 11 years and graduated with a degree in communications. I don't work in my field even though it sounds like I do. My degree is in a behavioral science field, my work really isn't. It's kind of technical, but not really. Oh well, I'm too lazy to go back to school to become a research scientist, so I'll just retire and loaf around. Guess I'll go read my book for a while. Eva

Morning....as Janet said, drive by. Lisa, I lost my parents 3 months apart but that is a story for another time. I've also been heavy all of my life. I'm bringing pictures to FL...so when I look at my much younger self, i'm wishing I was that weight now. Sick isn't it. Okay, gotta go...it's raining again!! Eva

Arlene, now that's funny....oatmeal pancake with egg whites is no substitute for an oatmeal cookie. I like oatmeal okay...steel cut now...but I too prefer an oatmeal cookie. It's raining here again. We can always use the rain. 3/10's of an inch so far. A Prairie Home Companion is going to be here on Saturday and we are going....it's going to be fun. A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor | American Public Media Guess it's time for bed...have a great night ladies.

LSE64 welcome! I love animals but I've never wanted to be a vet. It would break my heart to treat some abused animal. I have a dog, cat, 13 tortoises, and goldfish in a pond. Working with horses has to be tough...do they come to you or are you a traveling vet? I have a brother and niece in Ohio. Interesting state. I was banded in July too..just hit the 40lb mark today. Cheri...sorry about the cold...drink more liquids and go to sleep. I'm a big advocate of being hydrated. That way you are replenishing your snot factory. Lori you are pretty funny. So if you go to SLC and when I lose this flab...maybe Janet and I will visit you and we can go shopping in Utah. Actually Utah is such a beautiful state, maybe a camping trip would be in order. Good luck with your fill. I'm just learning the true value of it. Deb, I've heard of stuffing lots of things...teddy bears, pillows, bread, pork chops, but this is the first time I've heard of stuffing rocks. Hope you didn't get too many cuts from the chert. So do the kids have to ID the rocks? Janet, sorry about the funeral, so sad for your co-worker. What's the update on the puppy? Where do you get the Vitamins? Do you order them on line? I'll bring a couple of these for you to sample, that way you can tell me I'm full of stuff or yes, these things are horrid. Jessica, you've already heard most of us eat leftovers--reheated food. Chew a lot and eat slowly. As far as bringing left overs home from a restaurant....I can't imagine anyone thinking that is a negative thing. They should be impressed that you didn't snarf down the entire meal and will savor it again the next day. You'll do fine. Linda, what is a purse party? I've never bought a Coach purse either...we'll have to see. I haven't seen one that I'm totally gaga over yet....but that may change under the influence of our shopping therapy group. Hope you sleep well. Phyl, your pictures are too funny. Cute hats!! Julie, you don't have a hat? Guess we'll be shopping for a hat for you...that should be fun!! Glad the appointment went well. Maybe the Doc's letter will have some effect on the ins. company. You can only hope. 3 lbs since November is more than I've lost....so don't knock it. Any loss is better than gaining. Hi Arlene, how are you doing today? Laura, I don't know about the rest of these dedicated bandsters, but I sure understand about your food issue today. It's that switch in our brain that turns off our common sense and lets us eat so much more than we planned or need. Nelson's party sounds like fun, can I come? I lay my laundry on the couch until I can get to it to fold. It sort of forces me to deal with it because we actually sit on our couch so I don't want someone sitting on the clean clothes. The socks on the other hand sometimes don't get folded for a day or two...DH will actually fold socks and put them away. Small victories, you know? The Beck book must be in at the library...got the automated call that my reserved book is ready to pick up. I still have 2 audio books that I need to rip so I'm getting that done now so I can take them back to the library and pickup the Beck book. I have to make sure I have enough alternative stimulation for the FL flight...book to read....book to listen to. Of course Janet will be on that 2nd flight...so maybe I won't need a book. It's taking me forever to eat my solid Proteins. This must be what it's all about....finally....I can't believe it. It really does restrict the amount of food I can eat and want to eat (at least so far). I really hope it stays this way for a while. I can't say it's easy, but it's better than being able to eat most things without thinking. I'm sort of hyped up about it now. In other words this was the kick in the backside I needed. I suppose I should tackle some more of this paperwork. Later ee

Good morning!! Laura, at least we will recognize you when you pick us up...we've seen so many pictures, you won't be hard to find. PM me with your cell phone also please...thanks. The scale is finally moving in the right direction. Yipee!! I bought new multi-vitamins yesterday...Vitamin Warehouse...and they are supposed to be good ones, no sorbitol or other really weird fillers. Well they taste like crap. The aftertaste is lingering and hard to camouflage. I usually take my pills at night before bed....all of them, and after trying those vitamins...decided to try and take them in the AM so I could eat something to hide the taste. Not sure if that is working. I firmly believe a multi-vitamin is necessary for me. I know I don't get all the nutrition with what I eat either now or before banding. I rarely get sick so I think they help. I may have to go back to Centrum Silver chewables. They didn't taste good either but they were manageable. Okay so much for the petty worries of my life. Off to the pay check producing machine. Oh Janet, I can dress better, but I just spent 2 years in oversized big shirts because I couldn't find t-shirts that fit comfortably. I'm thrilled to be able to wear that huge collection of t-shirts. I also spent that time in stretchy pants, not necessarily jeans and I'm thrilled to be back in my jeans. I am looking forward to that time when I have to buy new clothes because nothing I have fits. I'm thinking that may be a while, but it's going to get here. Then, we are going shopping my friend. I'll meet you in Phoenix or Indio and we'll do a shopping spree. Gotta go.

Haven't posted in weeks and weeks and weeks because I haven't lost any weight....but the scale finally moved in the right direction. 7-20-09 239.5 8-24-09 237.5...had my first fill on Saturday, hope to see this number go down now. 9-17-09 232...2nd fill 10-10-09 226 no control, no weight loss 3rd fill 1-23-10 1-27-10 225.5

Oh my, the Orlando Prime Outlet has something for everyone.....Julie, you'll like Dress Barn for Women...they have some really cool stuff. Yes, I want to go shopping.

Evening ladies... Linda...if you truly were a chicken, you'd have something to worry about with that bobcat...but since you are merely human, I don't think you'd have any problem. My two hours of exercise before work. You are one dedicated person. Try bumping up your calories for one day....maybe by 200 or so calories....just one day...and see if that helps. When I'm really in a good losing mode, if I have one day of higher calories, it seems to trigger something and I lose right after that. It logically doesn't make sense...calories in calories out, but it worked. Great & Apples...all this talk of shopping...all I want is kitchen stores and maybe linens....sick isn't it? Haven't reached a place where I need new clothes yet. I'll be keeping Julie company for some of it. I do like to look though. I think I'd be more thrilled with clothes shopping if I like the styles, but I really don't care for a great deal of the styles or fabric. I'm just an old fashioned girl...jeans and t-shirts....oh and a nice blouse now and then. Did I mention sandals? I do like those. Julie, never fear, there are lounge chairs by the pool and other stuff to do. Oh and I just read that there might be stores we like. Yes the bobcat was that close....we've had 2 in the yard at the same time....one walked across my front porch. They just have no respect for people's houses. LauraK....come on I like it when you encourage Apples....I think she needs a puppy too. Hope you have that winning ticket. Jessica....so many puppies...so much doggie doooo. My black lab is really showing her age, but I don't want another puppy until I retire and can spend time with one. We are gone from the house for 9-12 hours a day, so it's not fair to the dog. Glimmer is used to it but I don't want to subject another dog to that now. Nice jewelry....if you enjoy beading and jewelry made with stones, you should check out the Tucson Gem and Mineral show....thousands of beads, stones, findings, etc...all over town. Well I had my first PB today and it isn't anything I care to do again. First off I got sort of stuck with my toast this morning...didn't PB but I sort of wanted to and I have never seen so much slime. Had to avail myself of the rest room at work. Well that passed and I finally ate my breakfast (scrambled egg) at about 10:30...that went down fine. So about 1pm I started with lunch...salmon and didn't even get through 2 1/2 ozs...stopped eating and waited. It seemed like it was going to slide down there but it didn't. I finally went for a walk and started sliming again. I was going to Best Buy and had to duck in the rest room again and this time the salmon made an unpleasant appearance. Okay... now I'm getting it...6 months later. I ended up drinking my protein and ate salad (chopped romaine) for lunch. We went out for dinner and all was fine...ate slowly and chewed well. This was such an unpleasant experience, I don't really want to do that again. I didn't think a body could produce that much saliva...geeze. Okay I had pizza for dinner...we tried a new restaurant and the pizza was one of the best I've ever had. I ate 1 piece....I never eat 1 piece. This was a small pizza and normally I would eat 2-3 pieces. Yep, the fill is working. And even with the pizza, my calories are at 1000. I also did my aeropilates today and walked. I also got into a fight with my boss....I could have slimed on him...it was during that time. Boy would he have been surprised. I'm going to check out the "mall" sites. Hope everyone has a great evening. Apples, have a safe and fun trip to Florida. Eva