StephC

Bman girl you are scaring me! I hope its just a flu but don't let it go, does it feel band related? I agree I think we should just stay here now. I think maybe it will encourage others to join in if they want. Like Faith - we love having ya here with us. Maybe we sounded a little too clicky on the other thread. We can have a bit of drama now and then - but thats what I love about all of you. It doesn't have to be band related. Maurdan - wtg on the cardio - I need to get my butt moving too. In fact I've been sitting here looking out the window - at the newly fallen snow - thinking all those nice days and I didn't go for one walk! Theres not enough snow to ski but I did get a new pair of boots for Christmas, maybe I should put them on and get out there. Its crazy but when the weather was nice I was walking 3x a day, in the am 1mile, after work 1 mile and then neice and I walked the track 2 miles - now I have that treadmill all cleaned off and have only gotten on it a few times. Faith - sugar and sweets - I agree with you. I said it before about the darn Christmas Cookies, for years I baked dozens of them and only at about 3 or 4 all season, this year I ate about 3-4 a day! I finally got to the point that I picked up the tray and threw the whole dang thing in the trash! But I do find myself craving something sweet alot more then I did. I was like you, I gained my weight without eating sweets. My big thing was french fries and chips - crunchy and salty. I still struggle with chips - but don't keep them in the house so its not an every day fight. French fries are not allowed by my band. If I eat any its maybe 2-3 and thats it. No matter how well I chew them they get stuck so I just don't bother now. I've never been a Pasta eater either and still don't very often. Last night dh made some raviloi and I ate a few but I cut each one into 1/4's and chewed well. I'm learning. Guess I have to get going. I think I'll take that walk before I go to work.

I also was a bit miffed but he did stick a link in there so I think everyone should be able to find us. He unlocked it now - so do you want to go back?

Alex that was sweet of you to unlock the thread. I have to admit I was a little out of sorts with having my girlfriends locked up. I guess we are ok with change bc we are all doing ok in our new forum. You've done a great job with lpt and I owe you a hundred thanks for starting it. I've latched on to a few friends who have made all the difference in the world to my weight loss. Thank you again Alex - I think I love you.

hello ladies! I have to agree, I love my forties. My 30's is when I got fat. I'm dealing with menopause now - its driving me crazy. Not to the point of needing drugs but I just want it all to be over! Some times I won't have a period for 2 months and then it hits me full force, then I might get it every 20 days for a few months and then I'll have a month or 2 of 28 days and then its months again til it comes around. Just about the time I have my hopes up here comes Aunt Flo again. I think I'm over the worse part of the hot flashes but they rear their ugly head every now and then. Are any of you with me on this? Oh and ms band and aunt flo do NOT get along at all. Seems like that first day is spent running to the bathroom, for one or the other. Scrappy-friend - what part of PA? I also have to agree with the belly fat - or excess skin - dang it anyway! What I'd give to have that sweet elastic skin of my 20's again! I go for consult with ps the end of this month. I really want to lose 10 lbs before then but just haven't been working at it as much as I should. I don't have the money for a tt but I'm hoping the insurance will pay for the skin removal. I have decided at this point of my life I would be thrilled just to have that off. They say if its medically necessary, so I'm hoping that the fact that I can pick the bad boy up and move him to a different area might tell them something. With him gone I think I could be a comfortable 8. I can deal with that. :smile: Have a good day girlfriends.

Faith - hon, I struggle with the same "head" hunger. I also love the taste of food and just enjoy eating - but I've come to the point of not denying myself something that I really want - usually I find that a bite or two will bring me satisfaction if I allow it too and still follow the bandster rules. For instance. Today I had a cup of coffee, went to church, got home and of course everyone is always starved after church - so I made chili, which is something that I can eat very well. I was stuffed but just needed something sweet, so I took 2 bites of a debbie cake. I was fine with that. First of all if I ate anymore then that I knew it would probably ball up in there and I'd get sick, 2ndly I looked at the calorie count and 230 is alot for a brief moment of pleasure. :smile: I know I won't be hungry for at least 4 hours, if I feel like snacking in between I will drink hot tea - I have a favorite that works for me - I also stopped tracking but if I add things up in my head I'm keeping in the 1200 range, and if I would exercise like I know I should I'd lose faster - but right now I'm still losing a pound or 2 a week and I'm ok with that. I think one of the reasons its ok is bc I have lost 65 lbs and I do feel "normal" again - wore a size 10 skirt to church this morning - and although I know to look really good I should lose another 20-30 I just kinda feel its ok now to lose slowly. The bottom line is that it really is up to us how we want this band to work for us. If we use it agressively we can lose alot faster, with exercise and tracking - really work at. But if we are letting the band work for us we will probably still lose but much slower. The choice has got to be yours and how you want it to work. As for needing a fill? I would say you most likely do need one. The sliming and pb's are probably bad food choices - not necessarily unhealthy - but bad band choices - and remember each one of our bands acts differently to different foods - so I've learned if I choose to eat that food then I better be prepared to be sick or miserable. The other thing is how well I really chew my food. I think the reason I can't tolerate Pasta and breads is bc I don't really chew them as well as I should. I probably didn't answer any of your questions and you probably have heard it all before, but Faith my point is we all struggle with the same things, don't feel as if you are alone. And remember all those bad eating habits took years to develope, why should we expect that they'll just disappear bc we are banded? I think it'll probably take years until we are in the real band habit. I have to confess that I've been so hungry for a McD's burger for so long, and its been forever since I've had one, well since my very first pb - so the other day I decided dang it I want a cheeseburger, bun and all! I got the little cheapo burger and I ate about 2/3 of it and I was stuffed! The whole while I was eating it I kept reminding myself to chew it really well and it took me a while to eat it. I never got sick, I didn't pb and I wasn't hungry for 4 hours! I was so proud of myself, I was able to drive through McD's and not order fries or soda, just a greasy little cheeseburger. LOL Who'd a thought I could eat like a bandster?!

ahhhhh I remember those days. So sweet and innocent. I remember when my oldest went into 5th grade, the first day of school one of the boys said well I can see what you did over the summer. She said what do you mean? He said you grew boobs! Needless to say my girls are both very busty. I hope everyone catches up with us here on our new thread. I'm going to bed - talk to you all later.

LOL you all are too funny! Faith of course you are welcome - we are pretty accepting of just about anyone. Jill good job! I wish I were going with you on the cruise - we went to Bermuda a few years ago and LOVED it! Sweet - I can't believe how good you're doing on the running! I can't even get my butt motivated enough to walk everyday let alone run! I really miss Nat - I wish she'd come home.

hi guys! I'll be 46 next month, I've been married 28 years, 3 kids, a son who is 23 and married, 2 daughters - 21 y/o is in college and my baby is 17 and a senior in hs. I'm from Somerset county, PA - Flight 93 has unfortunatly put us on the map. I'm an office manager for a golf course so I'm partially laid off in the winter and so you see me on alot more then the nice weather months. I was banded Dec 11, 2006, so just over one year. I'm getting close to goal but I'm losing slow and steady now. Maybe a pound a week. I feel wonderful, I actually feel like I'm in the average size now. I've been a part of the steady losers group for the past year and I have to tell you the support I get on LBT can not be matched! Its nice to meet you all.

Funny one person would have that kind of power.

ok - while I was writing that novel Bman answered my question. Sorry I go on like I do - geesh! :happybday2:Happy Birthday beautiful Brandi! I love ya and wish you all the most wonderful things this year. May it be a year of love,:love: laughter and happiness! :happybday: Have a happy day. :happybday2:

sweethot - my dr's scale is always 4 lbs higher but the nurse told me go by your own scale, bc thats what you are using. So I have 2 scales, one is right on with the dr and the other is my buddy. Sometimes I forget what one I'm using. Yesterday I updated my ticker and I put higher scale read first and then as I was looking at it I thought wait a minute thats not right and remember to use my old trusty scale. We bought old trusty when my son wrestled and he felt it was right on and still gets on it when he comes over. I do set my goals by the higher one tho, like when I hover around 170 - 172 my goal will be to see 169 and then when it happens I'm thrilled. For some reason the in between numbers don't do the same for me. Kay - I think sometimes its as hard for them to adjust to us getting smaller as it is for us. I went to lunch with my neice the other day and we got on the subject. Her mom had bypass and then I'm like her 2nd mom and I got banded, we had it done about a month apart, anyway she gets bombarded from both of us. She said she doesnt' mind and she actually likes hearing about our achievements. Of course shes a sweetie and thats why I love her. But she said it has really encouraged her to lose weight, which she has lost at least 30 or 40 lbs now - she said the only thing that bothered her was one day her mom was in at her job and made the comment to Barbs co-workers that she was going to pass Barb up - Barb said but it didnt' bother me, then she says well yeah I guess it did bother me bc thats what made me decide to really work at losing this weight, but it didnt' bother me to the point of not wanting to be around her. She just didn't want her mom to be smaller then her. She said it has really encouraged her to lose the weight. I was in Wally world yesterday, they had a clearance rack and I got 2 blouses - one white and one cream - which I've been needing - for $3! And I got a skirt for $5 - size 10! I didn't even try it on, I thought well for $5 if it doesn't fit now it will someday, same with the blouses they were a large and although I've been wearing a large for a while it still doesnt' really sink in that I can wear a large, but I thought well they'll eventually fit. When I got home I tried it all on and to my great delight everything fit. I love getting cheap clothes, I don't feel like I'm wasting money if they don't fit in a few months. The crazy thing is I kept browsing through the womens dept. I even pulled out a 16W and then I had to tell myself I'm not there anymore. When I cleaned closets last week I counted the new tops I've bought this past year - not even my summer tops - bc I have them packed away - I bought 22 new tops! Omgoodness! I thought no wonder my closet is a mess! I should make a rule if I buy something new I need to take something out. Most of the stuff was cheap stuff but it really made me gasp at how much I buy. Bman - hey I hate to bring this up but whatever happened with that whole court ordeal and speeding ticket? I had forgotten about until someone else mentioned it. Did it ever get settled? Va - how's the job? Are you busy and back into the swing of it yet? How about the commute, hows that going? Nat - where are you girlfriend? Get back here and fill us in.

Crystal - thats beautiful! Love it all!

I guess I'd just say - Who are they to say its cheating? Are they banded? Why concern yourself what they think, they sound like jerks to even suggest to someone that its cheating.

First of all - welcome to LBT I also choose not to tell everyone. Mainly bc if I want to be talked about I want to be there and get the attention. I just think its a private thing and why even make it an issue of not telling. Just support him and lead him here to lbt. He'll find all the support he needs here. Of course there are alot of people who know I'm banded but the only one who has made a comment about it being the easy way out was my sister. I told her it is not easy - I still have to work at it, I still have to resist chips and Cookies and candy - all the junk food that made me fat - I can still eat. So what if you keep it to yourself, its your body, your private issue and thats that.

this is a great thread - since my dd is also planning a May 09 wedding. We will be having the reception at a nearby church camp. They have a huge hall/cafeteria they rent for about $100. A dear friend is a chef who will do the cooking for free, I will order all the food wholesale from the club I work at, I think my biggest expense will be the decorations, I love ribbons and bows and flowers. I will hire a couple girls from work to serve and clean. I could have it at the club I work at but it only holds 80 inside and we don't want to use the deck since it'll be in May - you never know what the weather will be. My wedding was on a Friday night - long story but it has to do with opening day of hunting season being on Saturday - we had a 7pm wedding with reception following in the church hall. Mom did up finger foods, the bakery will make colored breads for you, we had little colored sandwiches, hors d'vouers, that kind of stuff, my cousin did the cake - as a gift and she worked at the bakery - his mom made the Cookies - the church ladies did all the serving, it was very nice and very tasteful. My bridesmaids brother took the pictures for free - the biggest regret I had - they just don't look professional. BUT then we hired a hall for about $100 - bought a keg, the band were our good friends and played for free, which was another reason for a Friday wedding, they had a gig on Sat, it was not an invitation party it was a kegger and everyone from town was there. The next day we went over to see if it had gotten cleaned up, there were 2 kegs, and several empty bottles, girlfriends were there cleaning and they kinda made it another party fininshing off the keg - lol - we were young, it was fun, the moms were happy with the formal reception and we were happy with the kegger - we danced all night. That was 28 years ago and still have fun remembering.

I'm going to say he'll be 8 lbs even - thats what I weighed when I was born. Jill - girl you are doing great! 54 lbs is wonderful! And who says we have to lose it all the first year? So what if we don't get to goal for a while - thats ok - and now that you had the fill I think you'll be back on track. My biggest thing is the exercise, I don't do enough of it, but I'm trying. I've been on the treadmill a few times now. Boo - girlfriend - goal! woohoo! Good for you! I love having you here, its so good to hear from someone who's a bit ahead of us, it really helps. Rachel Rae had a lady on today who had lost 200 lbs, and all of her friends, even her mom. Then they talked to her mom and she said that as she would lose the weight she'd say she had to go shopping for skinny clothes, her mom would say well pass the old ones my way - and she'd make remarks like I doubt they'd fit you, I got them after I'd lost weight. Little remarks like that. She said she'd email pictures of herself, before and after to her girlfriends with headings like - size 14!, size 12! - then after hearing her mom, she realized she had put up this barrier between her and her friends. I was like omgoodness!! That could be me. I do the same thing with my mom, sister and neice - I send emails of me before and after and never think that its bragging. I just told my mom about the size 10's. My mom has been totally happy for me, but then she has said how her and sis are at their highest. I'm thinking oh no I hope I haven't hurt feelings along the way this past year. I just assume everyone is happy for me. In church on Sunday a friend said just how much have you lost, and I said about 65# and she said you make me sick! You know those 65 lbs you lost? well I found them! And then her and her sister laughed and I said about how their cousin had the surgery too. I went on to say I'm very happy I lost the weight but it has been a year, so its not like I lost it overnight or that I'm losing fast, maybe a couple pounds a month now. After watching that show today I'm replaying everything in my head thinking geesh I hope I didn't brag or hurt feelings. I don't have a big group of friends anyway, one best bud, and then my neices, sister, mom - family - everyone else are more distant friends then close. I have felt my sister kinda avoid my weight - and make comments about she has to do it the hard way - I guess I'll be more careful now.

Morning all! Kaydoll - it was sooooo good to hear from you! I understand how things get so crazy with kids, work and life - been there done that and now I only have little spurts of those days. Congradulations Nurse Kay! I'm proud of you. I don't think people realize how much harder it is to go back to school after you have a dh and kids. I hope you find the perfect job. Bman - the ps I saw last fall wanted $10,000 and that included everything, but it was at a private facility - very upscale - so I think he was over charging. My sister had the tt in Mpls for $6,000 - I want it so bad too! Especially after seeing Annies amazing results! Truth is I'm actually past the tt and I'm willing to settle for the Panniculectomy. I don't care if my tummy doesn't look beautiful, I just want the excess skin removed. Claud - have fun in Chicago! Sweet - keep on dancing! That sounds like so much fun! Ok I gotta tell ya things are weird here, weight wise, I'm still hovering within the 2 lbs I'm always at, but I'm in a size 10 now. I'm not getting it. I went shopping on Sat., returned a couple things and decided to look at the jeans. I had bought those size 10 dress slacks a couple weeks ago, but when I tried on the 10 jeans my fat flopped over the top. Now I'm thinking they were just the wrong style for me bc I tried on a pair of Bill Blass, which are found in the ladies dept not the jr's dept - and :whoo: they fit! and not just I got the suckers on fit, I mean they fit very comfortable. I was flipping happy! I can honestly say I can't believe I'm in a size 10 jeans - I just can't believe it. I'm so happy and yet I'm still not happy about the stupid belly flap hanging around. I'm praying that I'll get covered by insurance for that panniculectomy. I have to go to work today - I was there Sat. to get the mail, which I never do, but it was a good thing I did - we had a pipe bust and the men's room was flooded, it was out into the hall and proshop, I went down to the basement to turn off the Water and it was as if it were raining down there, water was pouring through the ceiling. I was frantic - it just really pisses me off that I have to deal with this crap. I'm the office manager not the club house manager believe me when I say I get paid half of what I should. I'm still really pissed off. I had to find someone to come in and get the carpet soaked up and hopefully they'll have pulled the carpet out. Today I'll have to deal with the insurance company... so much for being laid off... Have a good day ladies.

I have to disagree Derick - Anna isn't anywhere in the same ballpark as Britney. I don't think Britney compares to Diana, but I would think she is about equal to Marilyn - Marilyn wasn't a great actress, neither is Britney a great singer - but through their beauty and charm they both acheived star status. They are both very popular with the public and yeah, I think Britney is on the same page as Marilyn.

When I said get a grip - that includes medical help. She has to look at her life and see that something is wrong. From shaving her head to losing her children, where is her family, loved ones who can say, Britney this isn't normal, you need help? I somehow don't think its an actual mental illness only because she was in treatment after the whole shaved head thing, don't you think that the professionals there would have been able to see there was a deeper issue? I know a little about mental illness because my sister has 4 adult women in foster care at her home, they range from depression, ocd - at its worst - and schizophrenia. I am in complete understanding that these women can not raise children and carry on a "normal" life. I don't see that in Britney. But I'm not a doctor, I don't know her personally but I do hope this is finally the help she needs to get a grip on her life and take control of it. I do feel sorry for her and her babies.

I've been married 28 years - the first year he went to strip clubs and we fought, but then I started to go to the male strip night at a local club and he hated that too - sooooo my point is - is he willing to put the shoe on the other foot? - My dh wasn't and so that whole scene ended pretty darn fast.

Boo - maybe you'll start a new business I'm a sale shopper. Give me $100 and I'll come back with a ton of stuff. Bman - girlfriend we are all with ya. Have you not heard my woes about the christmas Cookies? I feel the same way as you but then I think ya know when we did ww and lost a bunch of weight and then we slid back into our old habits? What happened? We gained it all back and then some! The most wonderful thing about this band is that even when I ate those cookies I still didn't gain! I haven't lost like I want to, but thank goodness I haven't gained it all back! My pastors wife has lost alot on the low carb diet and she said she gained 10 lbs back over christmas. I thought thank goodness I'm not there again! I am proud to say that although I didn't track my calories yesterday as I had hoped to do, I did get on the treadmill. I did a half hour and found it pretty easy, could've done the whole hour but I had to meet someone at work. So today I plan on doing a whole hour. For the last ... several months... my treadmill has been a clothes rack so I decided when I got home I would clean the bedroom. Girlfriends I CLEANED! I took out 5 bags of clothes, both me and dh's, one huge bag of old shoes! I worked about 6 hours on it. I took out one of our dressers, downsized to a smaller one, rearranged to make room for the treadmill to be open all the time. Looks good. So I got my half hour of walking on the treadmill and 6 hours of cleaning - that had to burn some freaking calories! The crazy thing is I did the same thing last spring! I'm thinking where did this crap come from! Do I really buy this much stuff? Nikki - its so good to hear from you again! I can relate to the poop problems! I remember my first pregnancy I thought I was dying! When I finally did go I was in pain, crying and I had to flush twice! Its the Iron in those baby Vitamins, they're killers. I agree with Boo - get some papaya tabs, I love 'em, good for an upset tummy, heartburn and they help me go poo too. I'm off to the treadmill. I'm hoping that once I get my butt moving on it I'll get the energy to dig out the skis.

I also can't help but feel sorry for her. BUT she really needs to get a grip on her life. Like Valerie B and Julia R said, you have babies now, stay home and keep your panties on. I was 22 when I had my first child, previously I had smoked pot, did drugs, partied all the time but the minute I found out I was pregnant I cleaned it all up. To the point of quitting smoking cigs too, it wasn't hard to do when you care enough about that little life. I don't understand why she doesn't just focus on being the best mommy she can be. It really makes me wonder what her own home life was like. Did she ever feel really loved or did she feel like she was just a paycheck?

WOW! Wow Banannie! Like HOLY COW! WOW! You look fabulous!!!! WOW! what a knockout! Geesh! I don't think I would ever look like that - even with the tt or lbl. You have a beautiful hourglass shape! You are beautiful! You inspire all of us! Wow. Wow to all the oldies coming back to say hey! Bandiva, sorry to hear about your mom but wow to the weight loss - 2 lbs left? I'd love so see pictures! Size 8 whoohoo! Transformer - sounds like you had a nice vaca, good to hear from you. Maurdan - hows things? Nikki - how's that baby doing? Have you gained anything yet? I know you were worried that you didn't gain but the baby boy is growing. Did you get your new computer for Christmas? Boo - that little Faith is beautiful! What a doll baby! I was never much for playing in the snow, thats what dh was good at, I did as little out there as possible. I really enjoyed skiing last winter but I haven't even pulled the skis out yet. Bman - sounds like the marine is a real sweetie. Let us know how the seminar goes. Sweet - how's the bugg doing? I am inspired to get my butt moving. I'm off to tromp on the treadmill. I need to lose 10 lbs by the end of January! Wish me luck.

Happy New Year! Woohoo 2008! We had a nice evening. Went to my son's house, he had a party, mostly family and close friends. We got there early, my daughter was driving back to school - her friend was having a party so she was stopping there and then staying a couple days with her. Then we went down to a friends house, every year they have crab and shrimp, tons of food - we got there near 10 and everyone had eaten so I snacked a little but didn't pig out like I would have. I only had one glass of wine. Then we went back to my son's party and finished the night there. I was home by 1:30 and sober. The house is quiet and empty. We have no plans for today except taking the tree and stuff down. I figure I better git'er done while hubster is home and can help. Boo - the new jacket sounds cute! I have actually been thinking of going to Good Will and haven't gotten there. I guess after the holidays I'll get a chance to go. Let us know whats up with the pain, its not band related? Vicadin is good, makes me sleep like a baby. My mom, sister, niece, great niece and great great nephew will be coming to visit the 2nd week of Feb. I'm excited but I really want to lose another 10-15 lbs by then. I resolve to get my butt on the dreadmill this month, eat healthy and lose! Have a happy healthy skinny new year ladies! I love ya!

hey girls - went to church in my new outfit, so nice to be able to wear normal clothes!!!