StephC

you all made my day! What good memories! I was raised in Grand Rapids, Minn, I don't know if they still do it or not. They don't do it here in PA

Sassy I couldn't eat cereal either, not sure why but a couple bites was all. BK I think eventually we will get the slow, little bites right. Nat, glad you're back. We missed you. I had a nice compliment yesterday. I was at work, we're closed Monday so I'm the only one here, one of the guys who work here came in to golf, I haven't seen him since last fall. He said he didn't know who was sitting in my desk. First of all the car threw him off (new car) and then he said he had to take a double take at me. First thing he said was wow you look great! Did you change your hair? I said no, I LOST 40 POUNDS! He said I thought so but didn't want to say it. We laughed about how people think its rude to bring up the subject of weight, and when you do lose weight you would like people to notice. He has also struggled with weight. So I swore him to secrecy and told him about lapband. He said why dont you want to tell people, do you think its 'cheating' or the easy way out? Cause its not. I said no, I just don't want to be the topic of conversation, you know how people are. He said he thinks I should tell my boss bc he is overweight and smokes, he could really use this surgery for his health. He said why don't you tell him at the end of the season, I said maybe. So it was nice. Happy May day! I remember when I was a little girl we would make May day baskets and put them on the step of our friends in the neighborhood, then we would knock on the door and run. Did any of you do that? I know, I know, I'm older then all of you and it was a different world back in the 60's.

Kirsten I'm excited to hear how things progress with the new guy! Keep me updated. And WTG on the weight loss and smaller size! I love getting into something that has been too tight. Don't worry about the fill, I think you need it, and it'll be ok. Just bc he's so far away I would consider asking him for a fill needle in case you would have to have an emergency unfill. Just a thought. I doubt you'd need it and I'm thinking he'll most likely do it under fluro just to double check your band since you're a new patient so I really doubt you'll get too much. I don't feel much difference in this fill. Kay, kinda scarey getting stuck like that, hu? I went to lunch with dh yesterday, a buffalo (grilled)chicken salad, I had watched dh eat his dinner salad and this place has the best, freshest salads so I know I started out too fast. I had to set my fork down and sit there a few minutes, dh looks up from his prime rib and grinning says - you ate too fast didn't you? - I said YES! jerkhead! - I didn't call him a jerkhead but felt like it, I had to sit there until gravity took its toll and all went down ok. I ended up eating 1/3 of my meal. This is the hardest part of the bandster rules for me. I always just start out fast or too big of a bite. Anyway I'm sorry you had to pb, I know it sucks. I also know about being spread too thin, I went through that when I was your age... hehe...but live and learn to say NO - also its just a more stressful time of life, having young kids who need you, and then everything that revolves around the rest of the family seems to suck you in too. I am fortunately past most of that now. Life has slowed down a great deal for me. Little things like working the concession stand isn't such a bother now. But there was a time when I just said I'll donate $20 rather then work it.

Everyone must have been enjoying the spring weather this weekend. Jill - it was good to hear from you. The bike riding with the family sounds great! You sound so up, thats great. Sounds like you may have a little post traumatic stress, which is normal after going through such a traumatic time! Time heals all. I'm glad this fill is working for you. I think I'm doing better now. Still around 1000-1100 calories and I'm walking! Talk to you all soon - its a busy monday.

I woke up at 4:07 this morning - thought I'd get on for a few minutes. Transformer - nice to hear from you! Once life settles down for you check in more often! Bk - sorry to hear you've been sick, I hope you're feeling better now. Good luck with the job, I'd hire you. Kirsten - told you so! See patience paid off. Remember men are from Mars, they don't see things the way we do - I'm glad he got back to you. I did so much better yesterday. Bk, I used to get the hungrys a week before my period, and that was really what it felt like but now that I'm in menopause I never know if its the week before or not. Sometimes I have a period every month sometimes its every 2 or 3 weeks and sometimes its 3 months! If I went by that I'd be binging all the time. LOL I felt like crap when I ate the stuff but really 1400 calories isn't so bad, I could probably still lose weight on that. I was thinking about ww and how they give you those "bonus" points, I just used all my bonus points in one day. Today is my weigh day and the scale hasn't moved. I guess I'm just at a plateau. I'll just keep walking and watching my calories and its bound to move eventually. I wonder sometimes how our bodies work. When I went on ww the lowest I got was 192, I'm at 191 right now and just can't seem to get into the 180's, I wonder if my body is saying let me stay here for a little bit before we go any farther. I guess my first goal should have been 189! Even tho I didnt' write it down, in my head my first goal has been 180, I kinda feel like if I can hit it then the rest will come in time. I really wanted to be 170 by July when I go on vacation. Sorry I was babbling, I guess I'm going to go lay down again and see if I can sleep in on a Sunday morning!

Brandi - have a good weekend! Try to relax and remember you'll get through the worst of it and be back to normal before too long. I ate horribly last night! I broke all my rules! I ate chips, cookie, more chips and popcorn. I was over 1300 calories. I felt like a binge eater - I know WAY less then I normally would. But I knew I was tight and as far as my meals went I did fine, well under 900 cal. but then I was at the track meet and dd had nacho/cheese - I ate half of them, then she had cookies so I ate one of them, then she had chips so I ate half of her bag, she looked at me and said mom stop it you're gonna make yourself sick. I said the bad thing about it is this stuff just melts in the band and doesn't bother me at all. So I get home and I start rummaging through the cupboards, I ended up eating a little bag of fritos and some popcorn. I feel like an alcoholic who just fell off the wagon! I know in the past I couldve ate 3000 calories easily and 1300 isn't as bad as I'm feeling right now but it just makes me so mad that I just get a fill, I want the scale to move and then I pull this crap. Sorry for the vent... have a nice weekend - I'm off to walk the dreadmill.

I found this topic very interesting because we are at the age of weddings. Last summer my son was married and now that the kids are in their 20's we get alot of invites. I remember a span when I was thinking - wow I haven't been to a wedding in years - ha! thats over! As for the invite, it is VERY hard to know who to invite and who not to. My son's wedding was set at 300 guests - since I live 1100 miles from my side of the family you'd think it would have been easy, we had about 12 come in from my side, but my dh's family all live very close and although we only see each other at weddings, funerals and 75th b-day parties, we still like to see each other. I don't find it a bit suprising that your friend got the invitation. I remember my son crossed a name off the list and I said no way, thats your dads 1st cousin he grew up with and her family (ds didn't recognize the name) - it was very hard. As for gifts, I agree with Suntra. My dil had a gift card shower. It was wonderful for the kids, who had just bought a house and both had lived at home before marriage so they needed EVERYTHING. It was worded very nice, I think in a poem, I didn't think it sounded tacky at all and of course there were a few people who brought gifts just bc they had something special picked out. So if you know where they are registered and theres nothing left in your budget I suggest a gift card from that store. Carlene said you never bring a gift to a wedding. I agree and disagree. I think its all in the locale of the wedding. A country wedding with the reception at the town hall, take the gift, a reception held at the country club, send it.

Alexandra we lost my great neice to neuroblastoma 3 years ago, she was just 4 years old. My niece was only 20 when Sierra was diagnosed, can you imagine that? She was just a child herself! She fought for 2 years, she was 2 when they found it and 4 when she died. But the joy she brought to us in those few years! In Oct they were on the way to the dr and Sierra told her mom, very matter of factly, mom you know I'm going away. Mom of course played it down and said we're just going to the dr, Sierra said alittle more adamently mom I'm going away and I won't come back. It was almost like she was preparing her mom for her death. In Dec she lost all feeling from the waistdown, I would stop in everyday (they live next door to me) and she was sitting in a chair with the bible laying open on her lap (this is a 4 year old child) I said she's got the bible, my neice said yeah she likes to hold it, when I looked it was open to Psalms. I'm not sure who got more comfort from that opened bible, her or me. It was a horrible time for all of us, the treatments, bone marrow transplants, experimental treatments, it was tough and somehow we got through it and we all just thank God for the time we did have with her, she is sadly missed but always always always in our hearts. My heart goes out for this family and all familes who have to deal with childhood cancer. Lord be with them.

Good grief! do you see the ad in the middle of the page between me and Claudia's posts?

I just had lean cuisine panini for lunch - I was wrong, my fill is working just fine! I ate about 1/3 of the first half and thought I was getting stuck. I set it down and waited then I ate the rest of that half and felt satisfied. I slowly at the other half over the next hour and a half. I stuffed myself. I guess the fill is working. Did I mention I got flowers yesterday, administration assistant day (secretary day) - my boss, that was cool. Real pretty Thomas Kinkade vase. Hi Kaydoll!

Annie you are doing awesome with the exercise, I have done horrible this week, 2x rather then 5x! Kirsten - I probably would have been mad but I wasn't rushed to get anywhere so I sat and read a People, and then Dr Dreamy is so sweet that I would never stay mad at him. LOL I'm a sucker for a nice guy. I don't feel like my fill has kicked in yet. I haven't really felt restriction yet but then I've been eating pretty mushy foods - I guess its keeping me full tho. I'll just have to wait it out and see how things go. I have NO plans for the weekend, maybe I'll get something done around the house. Its rainy and yuky here again.

Annie - how old are you?

Hey I tried to edit my signature and I got the same crap about too many lines. I had to take a bunch off to get it to save. I forgot to ask if any of you watched AI last night? The Elvis thing was TOO cool! I loved it! I thought it was pretty darn crappy of them to do that to Jordan, she was crying and everything, I think if they were going to pull something like that they should have given her a heads up before hand. So now they are dumping 2 of them next week - who do you think it'll be?

good morning! The fill went good - I had to wait about an hour and half for the dr but he's so friggin sweet that I always totally forgive him. He did do it in the office - I really didn't want to go down for the fluro - so that was good. He was undecided on whether to give me .5 or 1cc - he said what do you think? I said er..umm..I'm scared. He said ok, we'll do .5 and then if you need to come back next week we'll give you another .5. I'm very fortunate my dr is just 20 minutes away and my insurance pays all but $35 - if I had to pay $200 I was allowed mushies last night and regular food today. I ate rice pudding - yeah I know great choice - and then chili - I didn't have a problem with anything, I think I ate about a cup of the chili, it was thin. The good thing was I didn't even think about snacking last night. Its funny but it never crossed my mind until just now and I was up until 11 (thats late for me). Annie - I try not to drink anything for at least an hour and like you sometimes I forget and it pushes up to 2 hours. At work I like to have tea so I have to be careful in my timing with that. I was eating the same way before I decided to get this fill, but I also don't think fruits stay with you as long, I would almost consider them a Fluid - what do you think? Other then apples. They always question the length between hunger - I told them yesterday that I had a zone Protein Bar (its pretty big) at 9:30 and by 12:00 my stomach was growling. Thats only a couple hours, and when I had first gotten that last fill, a month ago, I was STUFFED when I ate a Protein bar and it would last close to 4 hours. Kirsten don't give up on him yet, like someone else said guys dont' think like girls. I have to say I admire all of you for focusing on "me" - I'm finally to a point in my life where I'm gettting there, slowly. Raising a family has always pushed me to the back burner, I'm getting there tho. The lapband has been a big step in the "me" direction. Brandi - wtg with the promotion, I'm sure you'll do great. Life will settle down and it will all become 2nd nature. Bk - wow a job at a spa - sounds like it could have some great fringe benefits! Good luck! Sassy I'm glad you stood up for yourself and that you'll be getting a fill soon.

I go in at 2:00 for my fill so I'll probably not be able to get on until tomorrow to let you know I'm too tight I think we'll be ok - its not like too tight will kill us - may make us miserable but we'll live through it. Brandi & Claudia - I know its hard - and only time heals. I think I told you my oldest daughter broke up with a long term bf - it took 2 years for her to get over him - well 2 years and a new guy. She was like you, Brandi, in that she didn't want a serious relationship right away but she did want companionship. It was really hard for her and to make it worse he had a new girlfriend a week after they broke up but he still kept calling her so it was like she didn't have any closure. Ok so wheres Nat - good grief don't tell me she's MIA again! Kaydoll - I just can't get into the dailyplate - I tried. Brandi whats up with the milk? I've never been a big milk drinker but lately I've been craving it too - and before I was drinking the milk I had been eating icecream - our bodies must be needing the calcium like you said. This last statement made me laugh bc I thought how I'm kinda lactose intolerant - makes me poop - and I was thinking its kinda like men - when we have 'em its the shits, but when they aren't around we crave 'em.

Claudia - welcome back sweetie! Boys suck. Ok so not all of them but alot of them and I'm sorry that you got hurt. But its always better to find out sooner then later. Kirsten - he sounds so nice - and he is definitely interested! Don't blow him off if he doesn't respond right away. I'm one of those who only checks my email about once or twice a week. I get on everyday to chat on LBT but never bother checking my email. In fact I check my work email everyday but not my personal email, so I'd give him at least a week or better. You just never know whats going on in a persons life. I'm a little nervous about my fill tomorrow. I'm just so iffy on whether I really need it or if I'm just not trying hard enough. I'm going to go through with it and then I'll probably be on here whining about being overfilled. Are you guys counting the calories? How many are you eating in a day? I was keeping it below 1000 - an losing - and now I'm between 1200 & 1400. Like right now I'm almost up to 1200 and I just ate 4 oz of steak for supper and I'm thinking about a glass of milk - So that'll get me up to 1300 and if I even eat a little snack before bed I'm up to 1400 - pisses me off.

Truth is the needle doesn't bother me at all. But I do prefer to be laying down when he sticks it in. (ever said that before? LOL I crack myself up!) My port is tilted a little bit so it just makes it easier to get it right. I've never had a problem with needles, I just can't watch, if I watch it hurts.

Bk - I'm glad you're getting a fill, 3 slices of pizza is too much, not that I think it would stretch your pouch bc I think its going on down through the band otherwise you'd have that full full feeling. Kay - soup is not a bad food, unless its creamy its pretty low cal but it doesn't stay with you as long. The same goes for salad, its just not gonna last 3-4 hours in there. I had a lean cuisine panini (kinda like a grilled cheese but with alot more stuff) for lunch yesterday, it went down good and actually kept me full 3 hours. It had around 20g protein. The whole bread thing is why I try to keep away from that stuff but I think I'll eat them again, I think half of it would have been great with a good fill. Speaking of fills... Sassy I've never been numbed, not an option at my Dr. I asked once and they said the same as Annie, you're getting a needle either way so whats the point? I made an appointment for tomorrow - I hope I'm doing the right thing, just a little tweak. Nate said about doing it under fluro but I said I really don't think thats necessary, so he's going to ask the dr if I can just have it in the office again. I'm really trying to eat foods that will stick around for a while and yet not get stuck. I hate being at the same weight for 2 weeks - it irks the poop outa me! I got on the scale again this morning and its still hovering in the 190's. I had myself psyched for the 80's and it feels unachievable. Even tho I'm a bit discouraged that the scale hasn't moved I still have to tell you a huge NSV - we ordered t-shirts for the track team and parents. I ordered a large - not x-large or 2x - just a plain old large - I haven't worn a large in YEARS! And I guess I was just hoping for the best. Yesterday I put it on and my size 14 jeans - jeans that weren't squishing my fat up and over the waistband - and I went out into public like that! Without a big shirt or sweatshirt to cover my rolls of fat. I honestly can't remember the last time I wore a size L - I've been trying to hide behind big baggy stuff for so long. One of the things I'm really going to try to do is get out of the baggy stuff. Theres a girl who lost a bunch of weight in town and everyone was saying she's lost too much - the whole blah blah blah bs - and I said well she apparently doesn't feel thin yet bc she's still wearing those big baggy t-shirts. So thats what made me decided I'm really going to work on that issue. Sassy - I just re-read your post, I can't believe they didnt' weigh you! Thats crazy! If I call in they ask my weight and chart it. I bet that you'll have to be aggressive with them over everything. Kay when is the wedding? The way you are exercising and with this new fill you could probably fit very comfortable in it within a week. Ok I haven't gotten on the dreadmill in 3 days so I guess I better get my butt moving and rev it up. Have a good day.

Good job! She did great! Also the Jesus painter - I actually saw another Jesus painter at the national fine arts in Orlando last year - he was AMAZING! He was a little different then the guy in the video but still such an amazing talent.

Good morning my beautiful banded babes! I slept in this morning and didn't work out - AGAIN! dang I need to stop doing that. I haven't walked all weekend. And it was so nice out. :wave: Hi Natster! Jill - WTG! Onederland feels great! Did you get another fill? Bman - your looks have changed so much - its amazing. I'm very proud of you. Weight really makes a difference. Last year I ran into an old boss, he always had a little crush on me, flirting and stuff, well I said hi Sam, he gave me this blank look and said oh Steph I didn't reconginze you.... I know he was thinking since you gained so much weight. At that time I had put on 70 lbs since I had worked with him. I remember leaving the store with this aweful sick feeling. I can't wait to lose another 30 lbs and run into him again. Hey I hear ya about the closet cleaning! I had so many clothes that I had packed away that after I cleaned it out I filled it up. But they are old - when I get to goal I'm trashing the whole lot and going hog wild! I've got this little thought in my mind that if I hit goal this fall, then get a tummy tuck in Dec or Jan, by the time income tax returns come I'll be ready for a whole new wardrobe! Sassy I gotta agree with Brandi - its your band the dr should respect your thoughts on it. I remember the first time I called for my 2nd fill, Nate talked me out of it and I didn't know what I should be feeling. I actually just called to schedule another fill, I'm hoping I'll get in this week. I just want "tweaked". I only got .5 the last time so I was thinking just a point something will do it. Nat the zoo sounded fun - I loved having babies and doing all that stuff. I think the bike sounds like fun too. I wore slacks to the wedding I was just at, but there were alot of cute dresses there. VaKirsten your weekend sounded so fun! I love sightseeing, I love greek food, and I love wine tasting! It sounded like a great time. Before you know it you'll be telling us about the 14's that you're wearing. I guess I better get to work - I have a ton of it to do. Its quarterly tax time too - ugh - a favorite part of my job. Can you believe I actually whined about being bored? <---- wacko

Sassy why did she say it was too early? Have you had a fill recently? I like the Zone protein bars. I don't do the shakes, yuk. Its hard to tell if you really need a fill or not. With myself I try to see how I'm doing calorie wise and if I'm following the band rules, how much time between eating before I feel hungry. My PA asks me all that before he will schedule the fill so I track it myself too. I don't think getting "stuck" is the same as needing a fill. Getting stuck or pb's, sliming all happen to me when I eat too fast or too big of a bite. Nikki we all go thro the disappointment in ourselves. Don't be embarrassed to get a fill bc you haven't lost anything! Thats all the more reason to go in. Just keep checking in with us and you'll get on track again. 30-35 lbs is great!!! BK - wtg on the measurements!!! It feels great doesn't it? And yes the scale is the evil one. It told me today that I haven't lost a pound this week! A couple days ago I was down 3 - but today was my tracking day. I actually think I need alittle more fill now. Its been 3 weeks and I'm beginning to feel hunger alot faster and its harder to keep my calories below 1200. I went to the wedding yesterday and I did pretty good, no alcohol (wasted calories) but I was so hungry before the food started and I drank 2 ice teas they were sf but then I had all this liquid before I ate, I think I ate more then a cup - but its so hard to tell. Yummy food, flank steak, chicken alfredo... CAKE.. I just did a little bit of it all. The groom was chef at the club for a few years and he created some of the recipes - he was amazing when he worked with me, and he knew I loved food so he'd always bring me samples to try - any wonder I got fat? Anyway I took a bite of the steak and went uhoh! Sat my fork down and waited for gravity to do its job, then I took the tiny little bites like I should and it was great. There was a man at our table who we thought we should know and just couldn't place him, through conversation we realized we did know him... when he was 240 lbs heavier! He had been 500 lbs and had gastric bypass! So then the topic turned to my lapband. I was the first person he'd ever met who'd had it done. His brother died from the bypass back in the late 70's, his other brother almost died, but he still went through with it. He said his dad died at 47 so he knew he had to do something. It made me very thankful for the lapband. Its supose to be 78 here today - there's still snow in the shady spots! Anyway I'm going to church then I'm going to get my flower gardens ready for spring plantings. Have a good day!

I just tried to edit that post bc I saw a if in there that shouldn't have been - well I hit edit and the post comes up with a smilie in between every letter! LOL I was also going to add that with all the banders you've met on here Brandi that you shouldn't have to rent any hotels, just stop from bandster to bandster to visit.

Huge NSV for me today - or well.. a nice compliment. One of the lady members was just in for the first time this season and she said oh Stephanie you look so nice and then in a whisper .. are you losing weight? ROFL!!! I whispered back .. 40 lbs! She's like 85 y/o - love her to death! Then she took me out into the dinning room and chattered away about diets for half an hour! I expect to get more like that when the members start rolling in from the south. I had another lady in today and she said Stephanie you look so nice, you got your hair cut didn't you? I said um well er..yes I did. And then she said how much easier it is when its short. If you recall from my before pic, its about the same as I've always kept it. Just funny how the weight has made a difference but they just can't really tell if what exactly it is. Or they are just to nice to mention it... except in whispers. LOL Brandi its always been a dream of mine to go cross country and camp along the way. No highways only side roads, stay 2 nights and then hit the road again. How cool would that be? Have a great weekend ladies. I have a wedding to go to tomorrow.

Hey Annie - girl you rock too! I just noticed you've already lost 69 lbs!!! WTG! Kirsten I'd love to be doing a tourist thing in DC this weekend - I wonder if the cherry blossoms are done. I love DC - I love history so its a fav of mine. Brandi I do count from my highest - which is 5 lbs higher then my pre-op. But my before pic is from pre-op not my highest. I was just wondering, do we all have desk jobs? I think its funny that we are all online while we are at work.

OH hey NSV - wearing a shirt I haven't worn in over 2 years! Oh yeah I'm hot! And yes its old but its a friggin golf shirt - the kind that never goes out of style. LOL