CoachCher

We sure are. I have a closet full of clothes I will be bringing with me. If you can bring the clothes on hangers that would be wonderful. I am so glad Ike didn't slow you gals down. I can't wait to meet you!!

Hey Rhonda, I received your registration and you are good to go. Pssst we will get your husband on the dance floor with you, don't you worry about that :confused: I am looking forward to meeting you and watching your husband tear up the dance floor *LOL*.

To make your reservation please call 877-999-3223 use "Banded Together" for the discount. Wyndham DFW Airport North 4441 W. John Carpenter Freeway Irving, Texas 75063

Several folks are coming solo. Don't let that stop you, we will all be there to support and encourage each other. We hope to see you there!!

Yes you can register late, that is not a problem.

The show is available 24/7 via podcast, so hopefully you can catch it at a later time. I am hoping to be able to change the time, I have requested a time change from Blog Talk Radio.

Band Banter Talk Show is a Lap Band Talk Show designed to help Lap Band patients create a more successful Lap Band journey. Tune in each week to be part of a positive and supportive Lap Band network providing you with expert knowledge from top Lap Band Surgeons, Nutritionist, Personal Trainers, Successful post-op Lap Band patients and much more. Cher Ewing is a Lap Band patient herself; her mission is to give her listening audience a new way of looking at their Lap Band experience so they don’t become overwhelmed throughout their Lap Band journey. Cher Ewing is a Certified Life & Wellness Coach; Motivational Speaker, Author, Blogs at WLS Lifestyles and LapbandTalk and maintains a private practice in Dallas, Texas. Cher has mentored hundreds of Lap Band patients and is the Author of "Transformation Caravan", a blueprint for all Lap Band patients. Band Banter Talk Show debuts tomorrow on Blog Talk Radio, be sure to tune in so you can hear how you can be apart of this life changing show. Date: 09/15/2008 Time: 6:00 pm Et, 5:00 pm CT and 3:00 pm PT Where: www.blogtalkradio.com/bandbanter Call-in Number (347) 237-4004 Please contact me if you are interested in sharing your Lap Band journey on the air tomorrow or on an upcoming show. If there is a question you would like me to answer tomorrow, you can leave it on this post or you can call in ask me live on the air. I look forward to hearing you there!!

*LOL* You are the first one to notice it said buffet. I don't even know why it says buffet. It will actually be happy hour/appetizer food for the meet and greet. I am meeting with the Chef today to plan the menu and trust me the food is going to be healthy and band friendly. I will update the post and remove that dirty nasty word

Hello, How sweet of you to want to gift this for your daughter. Use the link above and follow the instructions on the page. When you fill out the registration form just put your daughters information on the form. Let me know if you have any questions. Please email me directly.

Hello Sugarbear, I am sorry you were having so many issues. I found out my website was not working properly. I now have it corrected, please try again. If you are still having issues email me directly and I will email the registration form to you directly.

Hi Sugarbear, I am sorry you are having issues getting registered. Please use this link www.bandedtogether.net then click on the Conference link. Let me know if you have any more problems.

This is the first annual event. My hope and goal is to increase this conference to 4 times a year throughout the US. So I do have plans of adding a East Coast Conference, just don't know what the time line is looking like right now. I will keep you updated as I know more.

Hello Chantay, The "Conference Only Special" is for $45.00 with no additional cost. The "Conference Only Special" does not include the "Fall Fling". If you want to do the "Conference Only Special" you can pay at the door "Cash Only" or you can register online. I hope that helps clear up some confusion.

Wow the response to a National LAP-BAND Convention has been amazing. I am going to go forward and plan this event. I already have Mary Jo Rapini from "Big Medicine" confirmed as a guest speaker. The dates for the convention will be October 3-5 2008 Oct 3rd will be a meet and greet from 6:00pm until 9:00 pm Oct 4th will be the main convention guest speakers and break out groups Oct 5th will be successful bandsters sharing their stories Saturday evening we will have a Fall Fling dinner, dancing and socializing. Special guest will include Surgeons (Bariatric and Plastic) Nutritionist Chef- Chef Leslie (Banded Patient) will be there to discuss healthy band recipes with us. Psychotheropist- Mary Jo Rapini (Big Medicine) will be discussing Body Image and Sexuality Stylist Personal Trainer Motivational Speakers A photographer will be there to take pictures of the event. We will have a clothing exchange and let the stylist help us choose the right clothes for our body. We will have people volunteer to receive a make-over and then we will choose 3 people via random draw to receive a make-over after the Saturday event and before the Fall Fling (should be fun). You will also receive goodie bags with lots of good band friendly goodies. I will post more information as I get everything hammered out. I'm excited to host this event and look forward to you guys making it a success!!

Hello Sugarbear, If you look on the page right under the pay now button you will find the registration link. Let me know if you have any more questions.

Julie, Click on the link for the conference so you can look at the registration form. There is a discount for your spouse. Saturday is the Conference only special.

There are two options to choose from. 2008 National LAP-BAND Conference cost for this three day information packed weekend is only $150.00 ~Conference Only Special~ 2008 National Lap-band Conference Only Special (Saturday) We are offering a "Conference Only" Special. For those who can't attend the whole three day life changing event, but still want to be a part of this amazing conference. ~Conference only~ includes Conference Goodie Bag lunch Eligible for Drawings Your Cost: $45.00

~Lap-Band Conference Only Special~ 2008 National Lap-band Conference Only Special Due to the overwhelming response, We are offering a "Conference Only" Special. For those who can't attend the whole three day life changing event, but still want to be a part of this amazing conference. ~Conference only~ includes Conference Goodie Bag lunch Eligible for Drawings For more information please visit 2008 LAP-BAND CONFERENCE

Join for me as Amelia Brazell interviews me on my book "Transformation Caravan" a look into my own lap-band journey. "Transformation Caravan" by Coach Cher Coach Cher founded Banded Together to help Weight Loss Surgery patients create a more successful weight loss surgery journey and experience life on a whole new level. Her mission in life is to give her clients a new way of looking at their weight loss efforts so they don't become overwhelmed. Cher has mentored hundreds of Weight Loss Surgery patients and is the author of Transformation Caravan, a blueprint for all Weight Loss Surgery patients. Unlike other "Weight Loss Surgery" books on the market; "Transformation Caravan" focuses on the "emotional" side of Weight Loss Surgery. Coach Cher knows first hand that obesity is a terrible disease and as a result can rob you of self-esteem, self-confidence and self love. Throughout her book and her work, she invites her readers and clients to: "Dream" like they have never dreamed before, "Hope" like they have never hoped before and "Live" like they have never lived before. During this 60-minute virtual book tour, Coach Cher will inspire you as she shares her transformational journey - pot holes and all. If you can not attend the live call, register anyway so that you get the replay. Date: 09/09/08 Time: 5:00 pm PST 7:00 pm CST 8:00 pm EST Cost: FREE Register at http://strategytalks.com/coach-cher I look forward to answering to your questions.

I know when I signed up for my surgery I had all sorts of high hopes this was the be all-end all and my life was going to be what I finally wanted it to be. Well as many of you know that's not what happened to me. For those of you who are not familiar with my story, I'll give you the brief overview. I was only half commited to my post-op lifestyle, I had expected my surgery to do a lot more than it actually did. I really believed I had found my "Magic-Bullet" and I would be on the road to losing weight and getting fit. Well I did the first year, very little effort on my part and I lost sixty pounds. After the first year everything came to a screeching halt, no weight loss or weight gain in a year, not bad uhh? After two years of staying the exact same I finally had to have the "Heart to Heart" with myself. Are you happy with who are now? "NO!" If you don't lose another pound will you be happy? "NO!" Are you willing to commit to a completely new "LIFESTYLE"? "YES" What are you going to do to make it happen? "Adjust my eating and exercise" I'm sure you have "Played this game"! What kind of talk did you have with yourself? Did anything change after you had the talk? I'm asking you to be very honest with "YOU" not anyone else. I can honestly say I have had that talk with myself on more than one occasion, but this time something stuck. Maybe it's because I'm in my forties now and have really embraced the gift I've received. Here are some other things that I've learned that have helped me to stay on track: · Get plenty of rest. · Eat slowly and chew my food thoroughly. · Eat until I'm satisfiedl, not "Thanksgiving full". · Find an exercise program I really enjoy · Drink more Water. · List all of the things for which I am grateful. So, here's my challenge to you: Try these suggestions for 1 month and notice how differently you feel, physically as well as emotionally. If you find that you feel better, and are experiencing some new sensations in your body and attitude, then consider extending this experiment for another month. This time, add one or two things that would introduce a small degree of change to your life. This last one is key: introducing too much change too fast just sets you up for failure, so keep it simple. I like the KISS acronym: Keep It Simple, Silly. I would love to hear your feedback. How are you feeling about the changes you are experiencing?

2008 National LAP-BAND Conference- LIVE and In Person For Pre-ops, Post-ops, Family, and Friends... Dallas Texas, October 3-5, 2008 We'll focus on "Living the LAP-BAND Lifestyle" so your Transformation gives you more Results, Support and Success: Friday 6-9pm- Meet and Greet at the hotel -(buffet included)plus cash bar Saturday 8am-5pm- Registration and Conference (lunch included) Saturday night 8pm-midnight- "Fall Fling" (dinner included) dancing plus cash bar Sunday 9am-11am- Successful Post-Op's share their stories Wyndham Hotel is our host hotel- We have made arrangements with the hotel to only charge us $99.00 a night for single, doubles or quads. To make your reservation please call 877-999-3223 use "recipes We will also have people volunteer to receive a make-over and then we will choose three people via random draw to receive a make-over after the Saturday event and before the Fall Fling (should be fun). Other exciting events planned Clothing Exchange <LI class=style41>Raffle for a LAP-BAND Surgery <LI class=style38>Professional Photographer <LI class=style38>Dancing with Too Smooth Before and After Slide Show This live event is going to be life changing; you will meet people who are taking the same journey you are, meet professionals who want you to be successful. After the conference you will feel rejuvenated, inspired, and empowered to embrace every change you are going to experience during your LAP-BAND journey. Don't delay book today!! 2008 Lap-band Conference Sponsors Lap-band Talk WLS Lifestyles Magazine si03 nectar

It’s like when the new car smell leaves and we start treating our Twenty Five thousand dollar car like a Five hundred Junker. It’s the same principle the newness of it all has faded and we feel like we can revert back to old eating habits. I don’t think we set out to do this on a conscience level; but we do it none the less. So how do you get it back, well we have to start with being honest with ourselves. Ask yourself “What changed?” to make you want to revert to your old eating habits and exercise habits. Does your job suck, and you hate your boss, Are you fighting with your spouse/boyfriend/girlfriend, does the price of gas have you freaking out? All of these could be triggers that are leading you down a road of destructive behavior. If you are reaching for food to help take away the “feeling of being overwhelmed” you are “stuffing” what you really feel. This is a behavior we were used to doing, it’s familiar, and it’s our safe haven. This is the time to say “NO” I am not going to reach for food to stuff what I’m feeling, this time I am really going to feel what I feel and work through it without reaching for food. Trust me others are freaked out by the price of gas, a lot of folks think their job sucks and they hate their boss and guess what they have fights with their significant other. But there is a difference they don’t all reach for food to help get them through their tough times. You have adopted a new “Lifestyle” and with this new lifestyle is a new relationship with food. Food is fuel, it’s just that simple. The only way to avoid reaching for food; is to have a plan or multiple plans in place when these occurrences present themselves. Instead of reaching for food to take away the “feeling of being overwhelmed” decide what your plan is. It’s your plan; so make it be something you know you will do. For example when a trigger strikes plan on taking a walk to clear your mind, or you could go to the movies and get lost in someone else’s problems (skip the popcorn with the vat of butter), schedule a manicure or a massage so you can relax (this works for guys too). Or find a hobby that keeps you busy and your mind off of food. When you are in a state that is ripe for triggers, you have to remember why you had your surgery in the first place. You wanted to become healthy, strong emotionally and physically, you were sick and tired of being sick and tired. Reaching for food is what led you to the OR to have surgery. Reaching for food is what got you to size 18,20,22,24 and so forth. Reaching for food is what made you depressed and angry at yourself. Reaching for food is what left you with that lonely isolated feeling. Reaching for food is the “LIE” everything is going to be better. Reaching for food is a band aid to the real problem. We can make food whatever we want it to be; we can justify this in our minds. But guess who suffers in the long run “YOU DO”. You have a new lease on life, Reaching for food was your “OLD” way of doing things. Now that you have a “Plan” there is no excuse to reach for food to stuff your feelings. We did that far too long and we know where that got us. Each one of you deserves to have a successful “WLS Journey”. It’s ok to remind yourself why you had your surgery in the first place, remember where you came from and where you want to go. Is it hard “You bet it’s hard” but if it wasn’t hard where would the reward be in it? You want to feel like you have accomplished something, you are successful, you overcame the fear and you crossed the finish line.

Hello fellow lapbanders!! I have created a blog where I will be updating all the Conference information. I have also secured a hotel for us, it is listed on the blog. I want to "Thank" everyone for your suggestions and ideas. Trust me I am taking them to heart and will do everything I can to accommodate as many of you as I can. For more updates about the Conference please visit 2008 National AGB Conference ((HUGS)) ~Cher~

Hey Leslie, You sound like someone who is driven and have taken the time to map out your course. Having your band, support, and self love is a recipe for success. Stay the course and you will do amazing!! Remember if you do veer off course you can always readjust and get back on course, we all have had to do it at some point in our journey.