StephC

Brandi - you are Atypical! LOL Seriously you do so good! We all are proud of you! Kay I know what you mean about the tinge of guilt. I haven't told anyone from work and I'm afraid I'm going to get found out at anytime. Oh well - bottom line is its none of their business.

Kay - add me too - stephc - let me know how to connect to your group - maybe I'll want to switch over too. I like the idea of better foods and resturants. Va - my son is 22. He was a very good wrestler in hs - placed in states a few years and had tons of schools wanting him - alot of Ivy league schools BUT he is not a book person - he kept a b average and that was just for me. Anyway the only reason he was even going to consider college was to wrestle, he ended up dropping out after about 2 months - so he became an apprentice with my husband, they are union ironworkers. He does good financially and he's happy. All that said to get to my point. I wasn't crazy about the whole UFC thing but for wrestlers its the closest thing to being professional. Even if they have a full ride in college and all american, what then? He loves it, he goes a couple times a week to work out with other guys and they've invited him, now that he has a fight, to the extra workouts. He said he's going to fight until he wins, and if he wins right away he's going to fight until he loses. LOL So he'll fight at least 3 times.

Good luck ladies! How exciting to be having it done with your best friend!!! I wish I had someone to do it with - thats why LBT is so important to me. Anyway you guys will do great and keep each other going. Are you self pays? How'd you get insurance to ok so quick?

Are you tracking your calories? I use www.fitday.com and it really helps keep me on track. Also I know chips and crunchy stuff goes down alot easier then the "good for me" foods - so you really have to watch what you are eating. I don't do protein drinks - gag me - but I do eat Zone protein bars almost everyday. They stick to my ribs, I was hesitant to use 200 calories on a protein bar but now I know they keep me full alot longer. Lastly I walk for 30 minutes everyday, when I'm in a rut I think the walking keeps me on track. Good luck.

Happy Birthday Bandiva!!! Hello my fellow December Bandsters! I'm sorry I lost this thread - I check in to the steady loser thread everyday and when I've tried to find an April thread I must have missed it. Anyhoo.. it sounds like everyone is doing great and meeting their goals. Ibreham you sound great! I had my 4th fill 3 weeks ago and its been going great. I still have a hard time getting the rules down. I have to remember to eat real solid food or it doesn't last as long, absolutely no drinking before or after I eat - and of course chewing and slowly eating. I think my goal for April was 10 lbs - and I have about 4 more pounds to go. Keep up the good work and I hope to check in more often .. now that I've finally found you.

Survivor was the best ever tonight! I've been watching it since the 2nd season and I think tonight was the best ever! Any of you watching got a fav? My guy is Earl - and Yaman, my lady is Cassandra. What they did tonight was great. Now I can't wait to see whats gonna happen next week. The preview showed the "other" guys had found yaman's idol. I actually thought this season was a little boring, even missed a couple weeks, but tonight turned it around for me, I'm addicted again. I did very good today. I kept the calories below 1100. As long as I'm below 1200 I feel good. No more ice cream! Boo I have to tell you again you look great! 100 lbs is amazing. I'm praying for you, only good reports. VA - I'm glad you found a new doctor. You'll be back on your way down now. Kay I checked out that new website - took a peek, the only thing is I've been doing fitday for so long now and I check my reports out all the time - if I switch now I'd lose all that data. I like seeing my graph going down. So I guess I'll just stick with fitday.

Boo you look great, but I've told you that before - hot mama! I decided to post a before/during pic. I'm down 40 lbs but its not that big of a difference - although I feel 100% better - maybe not 100% but alot better. And FYI - I threw away the ugly sweater!

Nat - don't do the plastic suits. My son did that stuff when he wrestled, all it does is make you lose Water weight. Its just a temporary fix, he used it just to make weight then he'd drink a gatorade and be right back up there. I know its not healthy. He also does the belly band and thinks I should too - it doesn't make alot of sense to me tho so I never have gotten one. Speaking of my son, I've told you he's into the UFC stuff. He has his first fight in July in Stubenville OH, he's so excited. I had a horrible call this morning. From my bank - I was $1200 overdrawn! @#$%&*$%# All my fault too. So I had to run to another bank and take from our savings - don't think I want to tell the dh about that! I'm trying to devise a way of paying it back before he finds out... Lord help me. What a wonderful day it has become!

Me too - about everything, tummy tuck, Sanjaya, everything. I was so happy to see him go! I had started to feel sorry for him bc I thought how humilating it must be! Tummy tuck - you betcha! I never had a flat tummy even at 110 lbs! After 3 kids I had the overhang right away that never went away. I KNOW even when I hit goal I'll still have the overhang. I do the same thing Kay, pull it all to one side and think I could be happy like that. Then it flops back down and I stuff it in the jeans. Speaking of jeans another peeve of mine about this blubber is they slide up over the thighs and arse and get to the belly and snapped and everything falls over the top. It just irks the poop outa me! I'm glad all of you are back - feel like my girls have come home. I had a over the top day yesterday - around 1400 calories! I was doing ok until that dang Rachel Rae made ice cream with the peaches w/br.sugar and butter sauce - dd got the hungries for it and I had all these apples in the fridge - so she ran to the store and got the ice cream and I whipped up the caramelized apples - I tried to eat a 1/4 cup of ice cream with a little of the apples but ended up going back for 2nds! I was so mad I went to bed at 8! Maybe a sugar induced sleep. Dh came in to bed at 9 and turned on AI so I got up to pee and get a drink and turned it on in the living room, and proceeded to make another 1/2 cup of ice cream with apples! So today I'm back on the bandwagon. Why is it that the junk goes down so easy?

Sassy - thats the start. I pray for us all everyday, Lord knows we all need it.

Nat - LMAO!! I hope the guys in IT kept it down. LOL You're a hoot girl! As for the bullets, I didn't check out the shipping - and I actually wondered about that when I was on Bariatric Eating. Thanks tho - I'm gonna keep checking around. Do you think GNC would sell them? Sassy - ditto what Nat said. I would also say get a fill asap! Its good to hear from you and you must keep in touch bc it really does help keep you on track when you check in with us. We keep ya honest I can't wait to have a tummy tuck. I just went potty and we have a full length mirror on the door, I think if I just didn't have this fat jelly belly I could handle the rest! grrrrrr

Nat - I found the protein bullets for 29.95 for 12, and then on ebay they have them for 21.95/12 - is that a good price?

wow - this looks different! I am also one who isn't keen on change, it always takes me a while to get used to something new. Bk - never hurts to lock doors, better safe then sorry. But I'm glad all is better for you. I don't track carbs - but I think I'll do a report on fitday and see how I do. I have noticed I'm averaging 49g protein/day and my Iron is about half of what it should be. I take Vitamins but they don't have iron in them - flintstone gummies - I'm gonna have to look at some others next time I go to the store. VA Kirsten - Nate told me they charge around $250 for a fill - he said $200 - $300 is the average. He said they have an associate that Dr Marley trained in Richmond, and they could get you in there. If thats any closer for you. He said they take anyone who has had surgery in the US but won't take anyone who went to Mexico. So if you are interested I'm to email him for the info.

Went to support group tonight - I enjoy going but they aren't anything like all of you. Blah - some of them have been banded since Sept and only have had 2 fills and wonder why they aren't losing. I told them get your arse in there and get an adjustment! Why be happy at 2 or 3 pounds a month when you went through this to lose the weight!? Right? Nat I'm going to order some of that bullet stuff. I didnt' go to the site bc I'm on dial up at home so I'll check it out tomorrow at work. I have trouble getting ALL of my Protein in and I really gag on the shakes. Claudia have a blast in Chicago! Later gaters.

mmm.. eggs Benedict - my favorite - but never have them for breakfast! If I get up at 5am I have a cup of coffee, about 10am I have a peice of fruit or a protien bar, then lunch between 12 and 1. I also try to drink a couple glasses of Water between 5 and 10. If I sleep in I don't eat until lunch. After reading all of your posts I'm wondering if I should try to get in a Protein drink.

I picked 140 bc at 5'3" it was the highest weight on the charts for a "normal" BMI. I still am kinda iffy about it. My 20 year dd is 5'2" and 145 - she looks great and wears a size 10. I might be happy at 150 or 160, who knows? I guess when I get within 20 lbs of goal I'll be able to figure it out a little better. Someone said high school - ha! - I weighed 103 in high school - if I got there now I'd look worse then anorexic! My 16 y/o dd is 5'2" and 115 - she's very thin, a size 5 - I really can't imagine at the age of 45 wanting to be there.

My last post on this thread was 3/14, I went in for my 3rd fill that day, 2 weeks later I was in for my 4th. I finally have a good fill and feel like the band is working. I know its hard but you have to throw out the cheetos, tortilla chips and anything else in the cupboard that is working against you. With this fill I am able to make healthy choices, eat that and be satisfied. I just had a conversation with my sister yesterday who said she wished she could get the band but she'll just have to do it the "hard" way. Boy did that tick me off! I told her the band isn't easy, I - yes, I - have to make good food choices bc chips and candy, cakes and sweets all seem to go down easy. Good foods are the ones that I have to work on. Just bc you have a band doesn't mean you suddenly no longer enjoy all the good foods you always have. Now I still enjoy the good foods, but I pick the healthier foods first and thankfully with this fill they are satisfying. Nurse - my suggestion is that you try to choose the healthier foods first, solids and see how it works - get rid of the cheetos and try to follow the bandster rules - journal - if its still not working take your journal into the dr and show him that you need a fill. But you have to be honest with it, if you are choosing cheetos over an apple I would have to side with the dr.

Hello! Kirsten wow that shooting at Va was horrible - even tho my dd goes to school in Philly I was still on the phone with her - twice! Scarey! Bman - omgoodness I couldn't believe how much Eric looks like Steve-o! Too funny! Cute pics. When I looked at Erics pic I looked at the pic of my girls, Olivia - Princess Olivia - she weighs 114 with her clothes on and is a size 5, bmi of 21. Raquel is 145 and a size 10, bmi 26.5 - which is considered overweight. They both are 5'2" - my point is the whole body shape and BMI is CRAZY! I put my goal weight at 140 bc its in the "normal" BMI but what is normal? I'm like the rest of you - yes I'm doing it for myself but also for what society thinks we should look like. Fortunately my husband has finally grown up now that he's about to turn 50, and no longer expects me to or wants me to look like a teenager. Bk - thanks for the info on Cosmo - I can't wait to get it. And I hope your day is going better today. I know the whole copycat thing is scaring ALOT of people. I just got off the phone with my dd, she said that her school really needs to up the security. They have chapel everyday, hundreds of students in one room, and there are 6 ways to enter. She said its really scarey to think a couple guys like Columbine could come in and start shooting at them. Of course you need fire exits too but a campus is a scarey place to be. Hey Natster - glad you're back, we missed your antics. You wondered why Bk would want a fill when she pb'd, my guess (BK,correct me if I'm wrong) is that she took too big of a bite or didn't chew enough or maybe was just stressed out. And I have to agree with Annie, get off the mushies and onto solids to get the most out of your band. I just bought the toaster strudel things with egg and sausage, one of them STUFFED me. I think you'll get more out of the band if you eat more solids. What did you mean you took a shot of protein - as in a shake? I'm thinking hey if I could get 45g in a shot glass I'm there! I know how hard it is to get the butt moving in the morning. I actually came into work 2 hours late today - - love my job! No one to care. I woke up at 3 and couldn't sleep so I got up and did some stuff, went back to bed at 5:30, when I would normally be getting my butt moving and I slept til 8 - then I got up and did my 30 minutes. I know 30 minutes isn't alot but for now its something I can stick with. And it helps to have something good to watch - I'm watching season one of House. Love it. Claud - have a fun safe trip. Guess I should work now that I'm finally here.

yep - I gotta agree with you.

Bk - sweetie things only have to get better. Keep looking for a fill dr and it'll work out. Thats crappy that they decide they aren't accepting your insurance. Dang that wind! Its a stinking blizzard here! You probably got stuck bc you were upset, that happens. Don't worry about the scale we all know its the monster from hell. Whispers sweet things in your ear one day and the next he tears you to shreds! Va - thanks - its good to hear other people see something. I've been saying a comfortable 12 but now I'm thinking an 8 - haha! are we ever going to be happy? Seriously I think its more about your body shape and height then just a size. Someone 5'6 or 5'8" in a size 12 is going to look alot thinner then a 5'2 or 5'3" person. This crappy weather was driving me crazy at work today - we have a chime on the door so if someone comes in I can hear it, well the wind kept blowing the door just enough to make me jump - I'm alone on Mondays, so its alittle creepy anyway. So I left. I came home and cleaned my closets! You all inspired me! I have a ton of clothes that are still too small - but hopefully by summer they'll fit nicely. Or.. they'll be too big!

My last 3 fills were 2 weeks apart. I was determined to keep going back until I felt good restriction. And when this fill stops working you can bet I'll be back in asap.

ok - who said Shih Tzu's aren't smart? We've had an Irish Setter, golden retriever, blue tick, 3 labs, chesapeak bay retriever and 2 shih tzus, each one was a lovable sweetie BUT my shih tzus are by far the smartest! They can retrieve with the best of the big dogs, do tricks just as well and they eat alot less! They are also just as good at mousing as a cat and guarding the house as any of the big dogs. I've often said if a thief came to my house the big dogs would wag their tails and say come on in and the little girls would bark, growl and threaten to attack if they dare come in the house. And the personality! Gigi - thats Queen Gigi - is the typical I rule the house and Sandee is the love you love you love anything for you mom - I take them to the groomer - a saint with clippers - and they come out with bows, Gigi says get this damn thing out of my hair, within an hour its gone. Sandee says are you sure you like it? Its bugging me but if you like it I'll wear it, as long as you like it, ok I'll keep it in. It stays in her hair for weeks.

I think it must be so humilating for Sanjaya. Seriously I think I would be so embarrassed that I'd take myself off the show. BUT then it was Simon, Randy and Paula who put him through to the top 20, so if they thought he had no talent why didnt' they put one of the hundreds of others through? I think he's a cute kid who has a huge following of 13 y/o girls. I just chaperoned our church to a convention and all the teeny bopper girls loved him and told me they vote for him every week. Anyone over 16 with an ear isn't voting unless its to sabatoge the vote.

Thanks Annie - so how are you doing? I know you were kicking some butt, is everything still going good? Brandi - just looking at your stats and you went down a size in one month. How much did you lose that month. We were talking about it the other day and I was wondering how much weight is a size. I'm wondering if I'll hit a 12 in 10 or 15 lbs or if it'll take 20. I know I know I always over analyze everything.

Good morning ladies I just got off the phone with my sister - whom I love dearly, she's been very supportive through this whole thing but something she said today just irked the poop outa me. I know you all have probably heard something like this too. She was asking about the weight and blah blah blah, conversation is going well, she's excited for me - she lives 1000 miles away so hasn't seen me since Feb. - anyway she's doing nurtrisystem and I'm asking her about that then she says how she wishes she could have the lapband but she'll just have to do it the "hard" way! :mmph: So I told her I still have to work at it, its not like I can't eat chips or candy bars - that stuff goes down real easy but that I have to make the right choices and keep my calories down, the only thing thats 'easier' about it is that I get full faster and stay full longer, its still up to me to make it work. Pissed me off. I also told her its not easy to get up at 5 every morning and get on the treadmill for a half hour, who in the heck wants to do that? Not me! But I'm doing it for me. Sorry - I had to vent. Kay - sounds like you have your hands full today. Its so yucky out here today - the winds are up to 50 mph! Can't imagine running a marathon in it. Are you still running? Do you run out side or on the treadmill? How far are you up to? Brandi - thanks, I know theres a difference bc I've lost 40 lbs but I see the pics and still see a fat face. And yet I have days were I get that glance of myself and go wow is that me - I guess its just these strange minds we have that screw with us. It kinda makes me understand anorxia a little more. Nat - whats a California Closet?