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I just had this nice post all written out and did a stupid thing and lost all of it. Boo hoo. Hello everyone...Laura, sending you love and hope. Have a safe journey. I'll writing again tomorrow. I have to get a card made for this wedding. Later, Eva

We have a black lab too! She is 10 and has valley fever, which is a fungal infection. She's had it for at least 3 years now and will probably be on pills the rest of her life. She has a very sensitive stomach...always had it. She threw up when I brought her home. If I change her food she get diarrhea, if she eats anything out of the ordinary like bones, she gets diarrhea or throws up. So she stays on the same food and we change it at our own risk. She still likes to play especially in the morning. These dogs brighten up a person's life. They are always happy to see you. Actually it sounds like the dogs are better at being family than Lori's and Janet's sisters. So sorry your sisters are stupid and don't realize how important having each other is. I don't agree with my sisters sometimes, but I certainly appreciate having them. Janet, hope you get through this day okay. Tomorrow will be better. As for the food, menudo is the only thing I haven't acquired the taste for. I've tried it many times, but it just doesn't have enough flavor or redeeming features to make it worth while.....hey that's an idea....I can go on a menudo diet. I bet the weight would fly off. LOL. Very interesting thread today ladies. I grew up with a 1/2 acre garden too. We always had fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, green Beans, corn, rhubarb, kohl rabbi, swiss chard, raspberries, squash, the list goes on. I would have to weed and help Water, etc in the morning but could run around in the afternoons after the chores were done. It was a very good life. Never killed a chicken but helped Mom pluck one. Boy did that stink. I have cleaned fish...rather have someone else do it. Had another good day today. I cooked a smoked ham hock last night in the crock pot with onion, garlic, and a carrot. I put the pot in the fridge this morning and when I got home tonight I made Soup with fresh green beans, potatoes and ham. I did thicken it with flour and butter (think I'll try the potatoe buds next time). I skimmed the fat from the broth and boy was that good soup. My sister came over and had some too. Went shopping for the wedding we are going to this weekend. I really hate most of the clothes out there right now, they are ugly. I did find a blouse that was flattering and feminine and bought it. I also bought new black pants because I really don't have any that fit right. I should look pretty good for this occasion. If we take pictures, I'll try and post one....maybe. Okay, time for bed. Hope everyone has a great night. Eva

Week 13 of weekly weigh-in 7-20-09 239.5 7-28-09 238 gained 1 lb since my last ticker update. 8-3-09 238.5 was up to 241.5 now going down again. 8-10-09 236.5 8-17-09 238 again....just got back from another vacation. 8-24-09 237.5...had my first fill on Saturday, hope to see this number go down now. 8-31-09 233 9-8-09 233 9-14-09 232.5 oh so slowly 9-22-09 231.5 ditto 9-29-09 230...not even 10 pounds in 2 months, but, I'm losing, not gaining....yipee!!! 10-6-09 231 ....so much for going down...but it's not a show stopper. 10-13-09 231 uuggghh

Hi Joann and welcome back. Sounds like you had a great summer and fall!! The baby is so cute! Had a very good food and exercise day today. I walked 45-50 minutes after work....but I'm finding I'm starving when I get back to my car though. This has happened a couple of times now. I ate some cottage cheese before I walked and thought that would help, but I think I'll have to adjust something so I don't get that drop in blood sugar. I never used to have this problem...I'd finish walking and then wouldn't feel hungry for quite a while afterwards. I like the fact that I'm increasing the distance I'm walking and feeling good about it. I see people running and I'm also thinking I'd like to do that...not just yet, but I remember as a kid how exhilarating running would be. Janet, great pep talk! I hope we do as much for you as you tend to do for us. Apples, you still thinking about the job? How's the harvest going? I think I've had that brand of Jerky from Wal-Mart before. It's sort of sweet too...too much sugar for me. I want my sweets sweet and my beef savory. Guess I'll stick to making my own. Lori...careful, it's just been a week. You probably just want to get back to normal life and that will happen, you just need to make sure your knee heals properly so you don't have problems later. Or now if you pass out and fall down. Laura, you just bypassed my weight...weigh to go!! You'll keep it off....slow and steady. Your pictures are great. Your son looks like his daddy right now. You'd never know he was adopted. Both of my parents were little, fair haired, grey eyed. I'm large, brown hair and eyes. I never looked like my parents...there was no way I could be mistaken for their natural child. Glad the visit is going a little smoother than you expected. So have you made plans to see your Dad this weekend? Sorry to those I've missed....I'm running out of steam. Hope everyone has a great night!! Eva

Okay, I'm doing this from memory....if I miss someone, I'll apologize in advance. Laura, I'm so sorry about your Dad. I completely understand about being scattered. When my Mom was going through her ordeal (of course she didn't see it that way) I was a mess. I thought I was going nuts and should have gone to the doctor, but didn't. I did get through it but can remember not being able to walk into a room and finish what ever it was I walked in there to do. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Make sure you take care of yourself too. Cheri, you are doing so well. 50 pounds is great and you are handling the parties in a very healthy way. Good for you. I don't know if I would want to be so tight I squeak, but that may come too. Lori, sounds like you are keeping your spirits up and the pain under control. The snow will go away and the grass will stay green for a couple more weeks at least. You are going to be running around like crazy really soon. Phyll, sounds like you are have a great time with your grandkids. How's your knee holding up? I bet your kids appreciate the break with you there to watch the kids. DH and I talk about doing the RV thing. We have a very very very old one now and when we have used it, I really enjoy the fact I have the same bed to sleep in and I'm comfortable. Our RV needs to be junked now though...too many things need to be done to it. Just more stuff to do in the future. Janet, I'm so sorry to hear about your break-in. That is scary and what a pain. My girl friend had a break in too and had to have an alarm installed. Meredith, good luck with the house. Keep bugging them to get the closing done in time. We'll keep our fingers crossed for you. Apples, do you make your own Jerky? I've been doing that lately too. I just don't like the commerical brands. When we travel, I'm always on the out look for different brands of jerky. I don't like the ones with sugar in them. Sorry it's so cold for you already. I'll try and send you a little warmth from Arizona. We are in the 80's during the day and high 50's at night. It's perfect. I had my hair done yesterday....and of course I look at least a year younger. I think I'm starting that "major hair loss" period that many bandsters metion. I asked my stylist to cut about 3-4 inches off my hair so it's back up to collar length and instead of layering it, he cut it a little different. I had him straighten it yesterday and it looked great, but of course today, I can never get it to look the same. This may have to do with the fact I don't put product on my hair nor do I own a blow dryer. Anyway, it's an interesting cut and I think I'm going to enjoy it for a while. I'm hoping to minimize the gobs of hair I have to pull out of my brush. We went to the Tucson Meet Yourself festival yesterday. All the different nationalities put up food booths and have dance and vocal groups that perform over the weekend. Well I didn't even want to eat anything. I had a couple of bites of my sisters spanikopita and a bite of an egg roll and that was it. That is very different for me. I did buy some organic produce and will be making some tomatillo and poblano salsa for dinner tonight. Otherwise, I've been keeping busy. I have been exercising (walking) a lot more....upping the time to 40-50 minutes every other day. I'm also working on some "core strength" stuff. Hope in a couple of weeks, the increase in exercise will show up on the scale. Okay, I have laundry to do and a couple of other chores. Hope everyone has a great SUNDAY!!!

Deann, CALM DOWN....you are not failing. I was banded 7-2 and have only lost 20 pounds since I was banded. Please don't beat yourself up. DON"T be ashamed....our bodies really don't know how to react with this new style of eating. The emotional eating is always going to be there, but you can learn new tools to deal with it and trust me, once you start getting your fills, you won't be eating the "entire" anything again. I have terrible problems with "head hunger" or emotional eating. I eat when I'm stressed, tired, bored, anxious, what ever and I love to eat. I love the taste of food. What I've noticed since the 2nd fill is I actually get full on much less food. I just have to remember to stop eating for a few hours until I'm hungry again. It's taking me a very long time to get the hang of this and I'm still not losing tons of weight either.....BUT I'M NOT GAINING WEIGHT and I'm three month post banding and 4 months with the dieting. I've never lasted this long without going back the other way. There is no cheating.......you have a mind set that if you eat this thing or that thing you are cheating....there really isn't cheating. Your body needs X amount of calories to lose and X amount to stay the same and X amount to gain. You need to figure out where your calorie level is and work within those ranges. You should be able to eat anything, just not a lot of it. Instead of thinking, Oh, I'm terrible because I just ate something bad, think...well, that really won't help me keep my calories within the level I need, but I can do this other thing for my next meal and stay where I need to. Indiogirl has great advise for eating....you should look through her posts and she explains how she lost the weight and has kept it off. She is an inspiration to me..so are several of the ladies on this thread, but there are plenty of other on LBT, you just need to take the time to find them. You are welcome to PM me if you like. Eva

Laura, I'm so sorry to hear about your Dad. My heart and thoughts will be with you throughout this time. We will all be here if you need to rant, talk, cry, whatever. I truly hope the situation with your SIL and you traveling back and forth will work out in your favor. Apples, job? Are you going to take it? Julie, have a great trip...really relax and enjoy yourself. Janet, I truly understand about not having a man help you out and working, doing, paying for everything yourself. I've been doing my own thing forever. My DH and I finally have a joint checking account but didn't do that until 2 years ago when we got married. It's used just for utilities and house payments. Everything else is separated. I am very independent and do stuff on my own with my own money, I always have. As I think about retirement, I would have to rely more on DH for trips and stuff and it's just too weird yet. Yes, you would need a hobby or something to keep you interested and occupied. I have stamping, gardening, working on the yard (making concrete blocks to finish the sidewalk on the south side of the house), and a zillion other things. I suspect I would get bored with that too. Great job on the shrimp cocktail. I love those, especially ones made with fresh tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, cilantro, and lime juice. Cheri, you are very good at writing. It's too bad you can't make a living at that, but I bet you are a great teacher too and the kids need you. Since a lot of us are in our 50's or so, our work life and the continuing of it is one of the issues we have to deal with. Most of us have to work and hopefully we like our jobs, but it isn't always that way. Okay, speaking of jobs, I need to go do mine. I'm working on a revision that involves 4 jobs going back to 2003. I have to untangle the steps and redo them to clear up some problem. Yuck....it makes my head spin. Have a good day. Eva

No, you probably aren't crazy. You enjoy the interaction and the challenge. I see you posting a lot on the thread when you are around. You like to talk (write) and need the stimulation on a daily basis. Work is an avenue to that and will keep you interested. Cleaning, cooking, errands, chores, and such can only keep you interested for a short time. Here's something to consider. I took a job in a town 1 1/2 hours from here. We have a trailer 1/2 way in between so I would stay there during the week, but came back here on the weekends and days off. It was alright for a while, but I found after several months of driving a lot, that I spent all my spare time getting ready to be at work. I had to pack food, do laundry, do shopping and all the other chores on the weekend and had very little time to do what I wanted. The 10-14 hour days got to me too after a while. Not only did I have a 45 minute drive during the week every day, I drove all over the place for my job. I ended up gaining 35 pounds with this job. A lot of it was stress, a lot was lack of exercise. So, it depends on where you truly want to spend your time. How much time will you have to spend driving each day, will it be worth the stimulation and how flexible is the job? I want to retire very badly, but I also need the income still, so I'm trying to think of ways to retire, but work at something else that will keep me busy, interested, and enough income to keep traveling. Good luck with your decision. You'll make the right one for you. Now I have to dash off to work. Eva

Happy2lose...great advise. Why can't I remember to do that when the head hunger hits me? I'm going to work on that. I have a problem with head hunger too and I'm 3 months post op. My weight loss is very slow and I graze. So...I have many issues to work on. I think the re-focus idea is great. I just keep forgetting to do that.

Janet, it seems it gets hotter in the day and cooler at night. Truly a desert isn't it. Julie, sorry you are still in pain. I really hope you get to go on your trip. It may help take your mind off the pain. What's your daughter going to do with Mimi while you are gone? Phyl, thanks for the update from Lori. Your Soup sounds wonderful. I think I'll try that too. Apples, your energy level is amazing. Congrats on the 4 pounds....in reverse. The rest of us would be depressed, but I understand it works both ways. Linda, hope you aren't going too nuts with as busy as you are. Sometimes working all day, then coming home and doing the chores and all is exhausting and takes too much time. Too bad we have to work. There are days when I'm too tired to think when I get home. LauraK, yeah, it's interesting to be in the support groups where one person is dominate. Sometimes it's good because they really do have great stuff to share, but a lot of the time...oh boy, you wish they would put a sock in it. Hey, you are welcome to rant...that's what we are for. It's interesting about the hunger issues. Some days I'm hungry (not sure I want to eat the dog tho...she is old and stinky now). I'm still eating too much...I graze when I'm stressed. Guess I need to learn how not to be stressed. That would truly be a miracle. I'm going to go ride "the bike" for a while. Have a great night folks. Eva

Deetrix, I PM'd you...you should have a message when you log in.

Week 12 of weekly weigh-in 7-20-09 239.5 7-28-09 238 gained 1 lb since my last ticker update. 8-3-09 238.5 was up to 241.5 now going down again. 8-10-09 236.5 8-17-09 238 again....just got back from another vacation. 8-24-09 237.5...had my first fill on Saturday, hope to see this number go down now. 8-31-09 233 9-8-09 233 9-14-09 232.5 oh so slowly 9-22-09 231.5 ditto 9-29-09 230...not even 10 pounds in 2 months, but, I'm losing, not gaining....yipee!!! 10-6-09 231 ....so much for going down...but it's not a show stopper.

Janet, nice pictures. Cold there? It's barely below 70 here at night....how cold is it there? Diet was good today and walked for 40 minutes. Makes up for a weird weekend. Quick post to check in. Hope everyone has a good night. Eva

Sharon, sounds like your daughter is sticking to the right track...a job is a good thing. As long as she is doing something until something better comes along is a great step in the right direction. Is Eli still in counseling? Or did that ever get started? Heidi, welcome. I was banded in Mexico too. Being nervous is normal, but it really isn't bad. You'll do just fine. There are a bunch of people at different stages that can share their experiences with you. Good luck. 1day...I wonder if there is some way we can psyche ourselves into not stressing about the eating bad, not exercising, not reaching the goal we want to be at and let it go. Then maybe we will reach our goals because we aren't obsessing about them. I haven't figured that one out either. I think the stress we put ourselves under doesn't help either. Meredith...hey there!! That so nice you and your mom had a special moment and you are doing so fabulous with your weight loss. So the house you made an offer on isn't the same one you liked before? I'm glad you found another real estate agent. It should be someone you like. Apples, sorry you are sad about closing up your lake house, I can understand that. So do you remember to use those condiments in the 2nd kitchen? I think I'm enough of a space cadet that I would forget they are down there. Lori....the best to you tomorrow and following days. I'm sure you will do very well after you get through the first couple. I think the drugs are some of the worst part of surgery. I'm sure you knee will love you in about 4 weeks, especially from what Phyl and Cheri say. Well so much for all my good intentions. We went to the Trinity site this weekend. It's in New Mexico and it's about a six hour drive from here. We left Friday night and came home Saturday evening. Eating of the road is not an easy way to stick to a diet or exercise. I didn't do too bad, but it wasn't the strict adherence I wanted to do. And today was no better. I've been snacking all day because I've been cooking all day. It hasn't been all bad stuff, but not the plan I intended again. I didn't exercise today, but I'm tired. I did a bunch of chores (everything had to be done today because I wasn't here yesterday) and I made applesauce cake, apple pie, and I'm making dinner. I won't eat much dinner because I'm really not hungry. The best thing about all of this is tomorrow I will have food for lunch and stuff set up ready for work. Okay, I have to get back to dinner. Hope everyone had a good weekend. Eva Dee, meltdowns happen...don't I know. However, it doesn't have to rule your life and you go forward.

You are doing fine....I had to lose 13 pounds and as long as you are close, they won't refuse to do the surgery...just keep plugging away at it. The surgery is a little like a assembly line. There will probably be several other people there also, so thay take you one at a time and do all the tests, then lead you off to the surgery room, poke you with needles, put compression leggings on you, wheel you off to the surgery and you wake up several hours later in lala land. At least I did. There is some pain, but for me it wasn't bad. It really is like an assembly line, so if you are really looking for that personalized service that may be lacking there, but everything else is fine. Are you using their shuttle service? I would recommend it for the first time. They take you right there, no worries. I've walked across for both of my fills and taken a taxi to the clinic. I didn't have any problem with that either. Please PM if you have any other questions....Good luck.

Dee, how are you doing...newly post op and all. You still on a liquid diet? Are you hungry?

I'm in Tucson and was banded in Tijuana with Dr. Aerial Ortiz. Good experience and I've had 2 fills there also. Both of those went well too. I went to Mexico because my insurance wouldn't pay for weight loss surgery or anything else and economically, even with travel and the cost of the fills, it's cheaper than I can get locally. I've posted more extensively about this experience somewhere else...you might look for more posts by me. The hardest part about going across the border for me is coming back to the US....long lines sometimes.

Good trip Janet..........not the best circumstances, but it will be good for you. As promised, posting my "diet" day. Exercised 30 minutes-walked, food good until after the walk. My blood sugar tanked and I got shaky, so I ate my grapes and came home and ate dates and ate olives...then went out for dinner with DH, sister, and a friend. I didn't do bad at dinner, salad, a little Pasta, sausage and potatoes. It was an Italian buffet. I think DH and I are going to the Trinity site Saturday....it's only open 2 times a year for like a 1/2 day, so we'll head to NM tomorrow night and back to AZ on Saturday. I'll post when I get back. Have a good Friday everyone. Eva

Laura K....I'm sort of waiting for winter....it was very warm again today. However, what we will get is hot weather then 1 week of really nice weather, then it will freeze or something. Sometimes the desert gets missed with spring and fall. I'm going to a wedding in Ft. Worth on the 17th of October. I was hoping to be at a certain weight by then, but I'm not making that goal. I'm about 8 pounds away. That's not bad, but I think I'm going to have to "diet". Yes, I know it's a lifestyle change, but for me that means smaller portions forever and exercise and not being obsessed by food and not eating for comfort (eventually) it really doesn't mean dieting. I think I'm going to have to "diet" for the next two weeks to get at least close to the goal. I'm posting this so I have some accountability to you here on the thread. Otherwise, I'll tell myself this and blow if off at the first difficult moment. "Dieting" means calorie counting, logging my food, exercise at least 4 days a week for at least 30 minutes a day and posting that I've got through another day for the next two weeks. Okay...now it's in writing. Hope everyone has a great night!! Eva

You were banded a week or so before me!! One thing I've noticed as I've lost weight besides my bras are a lot more comfortable is I still have the same body shape. It's not quite as big and I'm wearing smaller pants (not really tops yet) but it's still large. I think that is something we have to get our minds around....it's smaller, but it's the same shape. You are doing fine....in a few months you will have to buy new clothes because the ones you are wearing now will fall off you. It will happen. The last time I went through the diet process and I lost around 30 pounds, I wore the same size clothes....I never did change sizes although things fit better. When I gained that weight back plus a lot more I completely skipped a size. I went from a size 22 to 26. I don't know where 24 went. I am wearing a 24 now, but when I was this weight before, I was in a 22. My stomach is bigger and it's not getting much smaller yet. It's weird. Of course it could have something to do with my age too. Anyway, hang in there. You will notice a change soon and it will be really encouraging. You just need to be patient, which is hard but you can do it.

I find it interesting that even after six months the "full" feeling isn't all that clear to you either. I know I'm really full when I feel "stuffed"...not in pain, but I feel full. Otherwise, I'm know I'm probably full, I just don't really feel it. My fill doctor told me that it was too full also. I need to stop before then. I'm not great about measuring my food or sticking to a diet which is why I got banded but it's hard to really figure out when I'm truly full. I don't get hungry like I used to...I still get hungry, but it's usually 3-4 or more hours after I eat, then it comes on with a vengeance. I had my 2nd fill 11 days ago and I do have decent restriction so I'm learning to slow down and eat small bites and chew well and what I found out yesterday (I was really hungry at lunch) is I ate 1/2 a boiled egg slowly and waited a bit, then ate the other 1/2 and it cut the hunger very well. Guess it will be a learning experience from now on.

Sauerkraut must have been a show stopper since there's been no posting since the subject was brought up. Haven't tried that one yet, but I'm eating everything else, bet I could eat that too. I have been finding out that not everything goes down easy. Some stuff really needs to be chewed a lot (raw carrots) and small bites works the best. I love this because it really is doing what it's supposed to do. A lot of food isn't just slipping down mindlessly....I actually have to think and chew and chew and chew and take my time eating. Wow!!

Good Evening..... I just can't post to everyone....so much content...it's all good....but there's a lot. Meredith WTG and congratulations on the 50 pounds. You are doing amazing. Fire that real estate person and find someone else that will respond to you. I've learned with RE people, you need to find one you click with...then it will be much better. Quote: Originally Posted by Great2BThin Apples, we go to Miller, SD which is pretty much in the center of the state. How far from SD are you? Last year we drove to Watertown to go to the Redlin museum and that was about 2 hours away. Would be great to meet you. Janet, I am assuming by your post that you found an air fare to TX? I must've missed that you were going, but am glad you were able to work it out. Great...we are about 2.5 hours from Watertown. Would be worth the trip to see you:thumbup: I've been to Watertown and lived in Pierre when I was 18. I learned a lot about life in Pierre, SD. Lori, I've had a couple of friends in the 40's that have had both knees replaced. I just talked to one tonight and she is completely happy with them. Julie, brrrrr sounds so cold there. It's still 90 degrees out and it's 8:45pm here. It's supposed to cool down tomorrow. Glad to hear nothing is really seriously wrong with your band or your shoulder. Bursitis isn't fun, but anti-inflamitories should help with that and not aggravating it more.....means take it easy. Laura K....looks like you are doing very well even with will power. Stay warm. The resale shop sounds like a great idea. Phyl, I think this group covers the entire range of sizes and shapes. Glad to hear your recovery is going so well. It will make so much difference in your activity level later (I'm sure you already figured that out). Janet, Have a good trip...we'll be thinking about you....hope you find closure and peace while you are there. Apples, did you get the lake house closed up? Cheri...you always have some interesting tidbit. Not much else going on here....just trying to keep up with stuff. My computer was out last night so that put me behind. Got one of my vehicles fixed Monday and it's too hot to walk again...except that is supposed to change. I hope so. I'm sleepy...so off to be for me. Hope everyone has a great night. Eva

Internet was down yesteday and I'm still catching up on reading the posts. Hope everyone has a great Tuesday!! Eva

Bobby Lisa Unforgettable Angelic Daqui Hot Tea GREAT JOB!!!! Everyone is doing great....it may not be as fast as we had hoped, but I'm telling you it's better than not losing at all and not gaining. I have never been able to stick to a "diet" this long nor have I ever lost 35lbs in one dieting epidsode. AND I'm not really dieting. I eat everything....just not all at once l ike I used to. This last 1.5 pounds has me jazzed too...I'm actually thinking I can do this. On-ward and Down-ward to the troops!!!!