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GREAT NSV, and I LOVED the "God Smack" story!! I retold it on one of the Christian threads... a lady was lamenting the fact that she was craving chocolate and using it to self-medicate. Hope you don't mind.

Cool...I never knew you were in N.O. I never got to go before the hurricane and so wished I had. I was living in Pensacola during Katrina and got the hurricane end of it. Hubby's uncle lives in Gulfport/Biloxi area and we went back for a visit in Dec. Things are still tore up there. Is N.O. starting to get back to normal then? I am a nurse and wanted so bad to go to N.O. to help but with my name I couldn't bring myself to do it. We got lots of patients from there shipped in to our hospital and their reaction was so horrific when I would walk in and write my name on the board that I nearly started going by my middle name. So I never went. We had enough problems ourselves trying to run a hospital without water and electricity for days afterwards. But by that time we had become pro's since Katrina was our 4th big storm in a year. Needless to say, that was all the reason I needed to move back to my home in Tn. No hurricanes can make it across these mountains. You have lots of fun at Mardi Gras this year! OK...I have an announcement Drum Roll Please (tadatada) I hit Onderland today!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yay me!!!!! Yippee!!!! Can't you tell I'm excited. Haven't seen that "1" since 1993. Wow...14 years ago. Now, grant it, I am .2 lb away from fluxuating back up to that horrible "2" but I won't let that bother me. Oh, I found the neatest place yesterday. I refuse to pay big prices for clothing while I am loosing and my big clothes just fall off of me now so I am always looking for some "temp" clothing. I was driving home yesterday and passed a new Thrift store and just out of curiosity, decided to check it out. Most Thrift stores don't have very good quality clothing so I did not have my hopes up but I walked in and went "WOW" This store was filled with brand name, many brand new, style clothing that believe it or not was mostly in my size. Can you believe that? I am talking about in style, georgous outfits. Could you imagine walking into a store that carried just your size? There was, of course other sizes but the majority of the clothing was my size. That was soooo cool. And I am talking about beautiful suits and things for 11 bucks or less. I wracked up...Bought $76 worth of things and the lady owner was so excited when she found out that I had a band. She questioned me the whole time I was there and even gave me some of the things. Is that a NSV? I would never have been able to wear any of that clothing before..... You ladies have a wonderful weekend. LIFE IS GOOD!!!

Ruby - you had me cracking up on this... Heck we patrol the whole lbt site :0) 1) I am just really nosey now... what is everybodies Marital status...??? single/divoriced 2) Does everyone live alone and cook for one?? My 16 Grandson lives with me - I cook for him most likely 4 nights a week - I prepare separate meals for him most of the time - he does eat fish with me sometimes if I have lemon. 3) Who prepares family meals and who eats what they cook their family? ' I prepare most meals - my GS will make his own a couple times a week - last night at 10:30 p.m. he is making cupcakes - OMG - NSV I didn't eat any when I woke up at 1:30 - just had a bite of cold hamburger patty... I sometimes eat what I cook for GS but not often - sometime I take the hamburger when he is having taco's and make myself something diff with the meat. 4) Or... do you prepare special meals just for your bandster self? 98% of the time I make my fish rice and veggies for dinner.

I happened to be flying back from Vegas on the weekend that all the liquid restrictions went into place. My flight left around 8:30 am, and I had to get to the airport by 4:00 am just to make sure that I could get through security. That was the last time that I have flown but it was adventuresome! By the time I got through security I only had to wait for my flight for less than an hour! Congrats Janet on the HUGE compliment. That will be lots of fun for you and they couldn't have picked a better person. Another NSV! My size 10 jeans are too big! I haven't tried any size 8 jeans yet. I have a couple pair of size 8 dress pants but I seem to be able to wear smaller dress pants than jeans. I might go to the thrift store tomorrow and see if anything fits. It is 50% on Fridays so that is when I go. I refuse to buy many new clothes before PS because they figure I will go down 1 size for certain possibly 2. The doc asked me if I would faint if I was able to put on size 4s after surgery. I said probably...right after I wore them inside out and posted the picture on a bulletin board! Well off to eat dinner. We are having homemade LF coleslaw and crabcakes. MMMMM good!

In the case of that I have a legal obligation to step in and report to child welfare services because I am a mandatory reporter. Hopefully this will be my last year as a teacher. I really don't like the job. It is thankless and I am noticing that I just don't have the patience that I used to. I don't want a job where I have 5-6 hours of "homework" after I am finished at my job. I would like to come home, workout (of course) and then just spend the rest of the evening with my BF doing whatever we want. I have had to give up our season tickets to the symphony and the theater because I just don't have time to go. Plus we just moved to the central oregon area in June and I DON'T LIKE IT HERE. The people are rude and the landscape looks like nothing can live over here. We are trying to find jobs so that we can move to Western Washington (even though right now they are under 8 feet of water!) because that is where my family lives. Only problem is this lap-band bill that I pay every month makes the income that I need very high. Oh well...it is worth it. Even if the dang scale isn't moving. Good NSV though...the last three shirts that I had in my closet this morning are all too big. The scale has not moved but I am losing size like there is no tomorrow. I will take that over the scale not moving any day! Have a good day. My kids are state testing today so it is nice and easy for me!

Hi 7s :wave: I haven't been on since before Christmas and thought I'd come back because I "need" this group. You all help keep me in check and I've been lacking lately. Some of it is self pity, some of it not, but I'm tired of finding excuses so I'm here to get back on track again. Just before Christmas I was having some pain problems with my left breast. As you know I had a lift and implants in November. Well in early December one of the incisions under the breast opened a little. My surgeon stitched it up and put me on a week worth of antibiotics. Two days after that script ran out I was feeling some pain in my breast again. When I went to clean the area, I noticed there was a milky white discharge. The stitches were still in place but it was oozing from behind them. I didn't want to do anything wrong so I called my surgeon spoke with him about it. He asked if I was running a fever or if there was swelling or redness in my breasts, to which I said "no". So he told me to meet him at his office the following morning and not to eat anything after midnight just in case he needed to go in and take a look around to see what was happening. So Christmas Eve at 8am I'm in my surgeons office and he has his emergency team with him. He tells me he'll need to go in and take a look around and if he finds anything out of the ordinary, he'll have to remove the implant. This news upset me as I'd waited such a long time for them. Not only that, my mind was already tallying up how much this surgery was going to cost and how much it would cost me in the future to have it replaced. He told me if he did have to remove it, he'd only be removing the one and leaving the other there. The implant would still be under warranty so I wouldn't have to worry about the cost of that. At that point I was almost in tears because I was still worried about the addition costs; bringing him and his team out on a public holiday, the anesthesia, the post-op drugs, the follow-up surgery; everything was mounting up in my head. Then he told me the best news ever. It would all be done at no extra cost to me. I could have kissed him right then and there. After all the drama I've had to go through with the insurance company for my lap band surgery, (oh and I'm still having drama with that, but that's another story for another day) I couldn't believe what he was telling me. But I digress..... So he went in to see what was going on and it turns out I'd developed an infection. There was good news and bad news. The good news was he caught it early and there was minimal damage to my natural breast tissue. The bad news was he had to remove the implant and clean out a protein build-up that was causing the infection. So now I have 2 different sized breasts. It's been emotionally draining and if I'm honest, a lot harder to deal with physically than my lap band surgery. I've been very moody. I've had to keep in constant contact with my surgeon and visit him sometimes twice a week. He's been very protective, and while I certainly appreciate that, it's tiring have to visit him so often on top of trying to heal, trying to enjoy the holidays, trying to keep my eating in check, trying not to be a total biatch!!!! It's been a battle I've lost more often than I've won. My weight has been up and down. Thankfully it's not gone back into the 200's yet *touch wood*. I've been down to 194 and up to 198 and it's hard trying to keep out of the fridge and pantry when I haven't been able to head off to the gym and walk those thoughts off on the treadmill. But I got the all clear to exercise again yesterday and I've been able to get my gym fix (albeit a little more slowly) the past two days. I never ever thought I'd miss exercise! :confused: I guess that's a very unexpected NSV that I'm proud of. Anyway ladies, it's good to be back again and be able to get all my frustrations out. Thank you all. You're the best. :kiss2:

Oh I guess my post went to cyber land too.. I got off the computer about 7:45 last night Candice - You did very well on your holiday !!! CONGRATS ON YOUR 2.5 LBS WTG GIRL Yea on the exercise and gum or altoids will take care of the breath issues:wink: That was a great nsv :ohmy: Karla - how did you cut your finger I missed that one. Breakfast - yogurt - fruit - granola - lunch meat & cheese - eggbeaters on the weekend (omeletts) - hard boiled eggs - I have even had 4 oz of fish, chicken or meat for bf Lunch - one pot wonders - left overs from the night before usually just protein and veggies sometimes a litte carbs Dinner fish fish fish ( you will learn I have eaten cat fish for the last 21 months - still not sick of it) but do change it up to steak - chicken - turky meatload - one pot wonders - and 1/2 c rice and veggies. Snacks - choc fix - jello sf dark choc pudding cups - WW fudgecicles - hand to mouth feeding 100 c snack pack popcorn. - SB ceral bars or Fiberbone bars I still use regular dressing - but my salads are smaller and I do try to stick to the 2 tablespoon serviing - I had the top of a cobb salad for lunch on friday ... Try diff kinds of food you will find what works for you I hate it when my angel gets me up at 4 - to go out - when I get up at 5 !!! Ok back to work - TTYL

Linda - don't know - when i find out i will let you know - it use to be just counted as a veggie (all six muffin) back in the exchange days - You are too kind - I will be needing these pep talks in 6 months - just warning you all - this is how i am all gun ho and then slowly the motivation wanes.... MsPris - is your doctor going to do the surgery for free since she injuried you... I would be real pissed off - has she done anything to make this up to you?? Jackie - Thanks for the fyi on the bugg - so if i burn 2500 c a day and only eat 1000 - thats 1500 thats truely getting burned so that would equate to almost a 3 lbs loss in 6 days. Yes I would like to see biggest lossers #'s too - I would DIE if i had to work out 5-6 hrs a day at the intensety that they seem to - but this is all t.v. too - those guys (producers whomever - cut that stuff up so much to make you go wow) Brandy Congrats on the 4lbs Ok Sunny - NO MORE ICE CREAM !!!! I am glad your infection is clearing up - NO MORE ICE CREAM !!!!! Janet the dreaded food cop is on the prowl.... Will try and call later in the week - This is going to be short i gotta go watch Dancing with the Stars... Linda Congrats on the nsv - i am off 1 bp med but still on the antenoal sp Ruby - I MISS THIS TOO - I think i need to call for another fill I am back to eating 1 -2 cup food - and do you all want to know my wiggle room was this weekend - 2 lite beers & 1/2 of a slice of cheese cake... Bet the scales don't move on thrus day... Lynette - CONGRATs on getting back in the 100's - that is just too friggin fantastic..... Jeannie - Shout out to you - we haven't seen you in a while. Appleblossom- I don't count point - I count calories and Protein only - i just use the WW balance food groups way of eating I also weight & measure my food 90% of the time - veggies i don't worry about...- I am not into this low carb stuff - I gotta have a little carbs - rice - potatoes - Pasta - bread - can do whole grain etc - but gotta have those carbs - I just limit myself - I only did the point system once on line - I think i would get like 29 pts a day for the weight i am right now (215) - Truely - I take a litte from WW - Dr OZ - Bob Green - really anything on weight loss issues and digest it and keep what i want and get rid of the rest - just like everything else "EVERYONE IS AN EXPERT" Ssankofa - My exercise buddy Great on the walking - i know how those periods are - back when i had mine the first 3 days i bled to death.. Glad those days are gone for me. I walked 3.5 miles in 1 hr today... OK gang - this will be quick - I just wanted to ck in real fast - had to pay bills tonight UGH and stopped by for a sec to see how everyone is - since i wasn't here this weekend - Saturday (my wiggle room day :0) not cheated did you all get that - but my wiggle room ) I was at a charity bowling thingie - that included lunch - my 1st game w/no beers 25 score - 2nd game with 1 1/2 beers - 95... did ok at lunch little salad w/dressing - about 7 penne pasta w/red sauce not the white and about 3 oz chicken.. Sunday felt like i was getting a cold (Phyl glad you didn't) so made ck Soup... Well its 8:42 gotta go watch my danceing w/the Stars... Will talk to ya'll later OK Food Police going off duty :speechles- fooled you - i am on your shoulder watching you.... Remember healthy choices !!! xoxox Sweet Dreams

Ok GF the 1st thing you do is go buy a stupid scale - then you weight 1st thing in the morning after you have peed & pooped (i know tmi) and weight totally naked !!!! If you aren't weighing in the same clothes then there is no way to tell.. Just keep on keeping on - what the carbs and drink your water - how's your restriction doing - it's not going to come off over night - some weeks I only lost 1/2 a pound - but all those 1/2 adds up each week and each month... I think it's the full moon !!!! Kari - Wii Fit & EA are my new transfer addiction - spent 6 hours yesterday playing the diff exercise games - alot better than sitting 6 hrs in front of the computer on my butt.... Yes I went today and ck'd my crops - see I have lost ALOT - well it's just a stupid computer game - so no biggie - I am loving my Wii - and have been too busy at work to play there since Karri is coming to visit on Friday - So no can't say I have quit forever - just not my main priority right now.. Since you aren't going to the gym you should invest in one ... It can become your new transfer addiction too... And it's alot more healthier for you... You will reap real benefits not imaginary ones :0) Have you gotten your passport yet !!! OK girls - run to my house !!! We can swim - plant flower- play Wii and all eat healthy together - it's not really about losing 5 lbs in 2 weeks - that's a big big amount in 2 weeks - it's about staying on track or getting back on track if you have fallen off.. That's all - who care if you only lose 1 lbs - its a loss and that's what truly matters... Phyl - sorry that Earl's being a butthead - wish I had some advice there - but alas I'm single for that very reason don't want to put up with the 3 days of bad - even for the 4 days of good - I can do that all by myself Weigh in isn't till Friday anyway - and I don't think I will make the 5 either and I hiked on Saturday - played 6 hrs of wii yesterday and 1 hr today and have been eating well.. So don't sweat the 5 lbs - just keep on track - we all know that some weeks the scales aren't our freinds no matter how hard we work.. Hugs - Tomorrow will be a better day !!!! Ok 23 months out and I get to report a NSV !!! Today was legs w/trainer - he had us do walking lunges - Well guess what - I can touch my back knee on the floor !!!! it's taken 15 months of working out - but I can do it - I can do it !!! Well it's 9 I haven't eaten - my spinach is draining and so I am off to eat... Keep up the good work girls - you are worth it - the scales might not show it today - but in the long run they will... Hugs & Sweet Dreams

Good that you took some time for yourself! And, celebrate those NSV's! We'll all have to work on the "fat girl thinking"!! We went to the Navy support facility today... I had my heart set on these shoes I saw two weeks ago and didn't buy! DH intimidates me about buying shoes... he thinks all anyone needs is two pairs of shoes! So we go back today to do some grocery shopping and now the smallest size they have is 7 1/2... way too big for me. AND, I wanted to look at clothes. First couldn't find anyone to help me, then only a guy. He says "how can I help you?" I say, " Do you have any clothes that aren't size 2 teeny bopper clothes???" He says they don't have any plus sizes anymore. I'd already figured that out so I had an attitude!! So I told him he also didn't have anything that anyone over 30 would wear!! So I went home frustrated, and with nothing but cauliflower, lettuce, etc.!! I did get some Tostito Queso in a jar.. only 40 calories for 2 Tbsp. Figured I can use 1 TBSP in my eggbeater omelet in the morning. I found something called "Coromega" Orange Flavor Omega 3 Supplements.. about the consistency of yogurt or pudding, in squeeze tubes that you can either squeeze directly in to your mouth, or onto a spoon, or into something else like yogurt, etc. Only 20 calories, once a day, no sugar or artificial sweetner, colored with beta carotene, no dairy, yeast, wheat or gluten, tastes decent. I found it at Costco.. but Janet & I were told about it at a support group meeting we attended at her dr's office. All these body image issues you gals are dealing with are getting scary!!

So...just got back from Anchorage...I didn't have good access to the internet and I don't have the time/patience to read everything that I've missed...I hope nothing BIG, but if there was something big I expect that someone will fill me in. So I had my second fill on Wed. afternoon. Put another 1.0 cc in = 2.5cc. I didn't feel any restriction and that afternoon I was able to eat a baked potato and small salad (Wendy's has internet access so I was there for a few minutes checking some email.) :huytsaoI called him and said that I'd like more so I went back in on Fri. and got another .5 cc put in. he did a check and pulled it all out to make sure there wasn't a leak and it all looked good. :)So now I HAVE RESTRICTION! And GOOD restriction at that! I was getting a little jealous that everyone was only eating a little bit and I could eat...well, more than that. So now I've been cut off! Now, I just have to get over the "head hunger"! :hungry:I had lunch with a friend the other day and we had chicken legs and salad. I got through the salad, had two bites of chicken and got stopped up! I had a real hard time with having food still on my plate and I hadn't eaten that much! I even picked at it for about 15 minutes, but just got more and more uncomfortable so finally I stopped. Carbonation doesn't bother me though (tried a diet Coke yesterday and was fine, but I didn't drink it fast either). So, maybe I'm on my way? We'll see. I head off for my cruise in a few weeks and I definitely won't feel all sexy, but definitely better about myself.:biggrin1: OH.....NSV! I went to get some jeans (mine are FALLING off of me) and I had to go down TWO sizes! It was AMAZING! I felt good having to go back to the racks for a SMALLER size!:clap2::whoo:

Linda - You are such a wonderful person for all the community work you do.. How's the mentoring of that girl?? How's the spanish going? Congrats on the NSV (and yes it was) that's pretty cool and nice that DH asked you - don't know if he gives you props often - but that was one imho -------------------------------------------------------------- Good Morning Gang I got my packing done last night - do you know that this whole liquid crap in a QUART size bag - OMG - I don't know how the expect a WOMAN to get all her makeup (face mascara lipsticks eyeliner)- hairspray - gel - lotions - wrinkle creams - eye cream - deodorant - toothpaste - shampoo - perfume all in that little bag. (Yes gang I am a makeup junkie - beauty junkie) Yes I know that this rule is only for carryon - but I am just going for the weekend have a small bad no need to check - this is just a dumb rule imho.. My quart bag is stuffed - I hope they don't make me throw stuff away.. Well, plan on going to the gym in a bit - since I won't get to exercise tomorrow - but I am not as addicted to it as our darling Karri - I am sorta tired this morning - went to bed around 11:30 last nite up at 6 so hopefully this coffee kicks in. Sorta getting nervous about this weekend - I really don't know anyone and we have a whole group who knows each other coming from KS - I will do fine I know it - but you guys would never ever believe this I am a little on the shy side.. I know that I don't come across that way - but that's my cover up - I play like I am the confident women - but really inside I am a 2 yr old.. Also here is another interesting fact about me that you wouldn't know - I am an introvert - yes me - after all this play like a grown up - I am going to be wiped out.. And again - it's the whole thing about still being a fat chick in my head - But I will plug forward and over come these issues - I do practice what I preach - Fake it til you Make it :w00t: Well - it's 7 need to get my butt in gear - well maybe another cup of coffee - I have to leave here around 10:30 -11 to get to airport by 11:30 - plane leaves at 1 - this whole thing about getting to airport to sit around for 2 hrs - again stupid... P S airport isn't big and this time of yr shouldn't be busy - but this was the first place that made me take my thong sandals off - ya right like I had a bomb in them OMG I am turning the news off - stock market tumbles - gas $7 - this is the reason that everything is such a mess - if the news would report positive stuff then maybe things would be at least a little more positive and not so negative ... OK - going to get dressed - will cbl:tongue: If I don't - I love you all - will miss you guys (will go thru withdrawls 2 day without lbt)

:tongue2:Karla, YOUR quilting retreat sounds like HEAVEN to me!!! I chuckled when I read about the skinny dipping - sounds like something I'd do. OHHH the food sounds wonderful too... this year you won't be able to eat 1/4 of it... what a NSV that will be eh? Someday, I would love to visit Montana it sounds lovely.. I love rugged out of doors.. guess that makes me a natural born Canuck hey!!! Back from my bike ride with DH, I thought we were gone 45 mins. but DH tells me no, it was more like 1/2 an hour:frown:

It's been awhile and I'm sorry that I've not been on here more, I love reading the motivated posts that people put here on a daily basis.....and right now, I need it. I know my eating is no where near where I once was, but it's been getting harder and harder to stick to it. Even with one fill, I got little to NO restriction and find that meal time can be larger than I want. I don't snack most days, between meals, and I don't eat sweets at all, but when it comes to food....and sometimes not all the good kinds of food, I find I can eat more than when my stomach says, "OK, you are full, you can stop now!!" I hate going down that road again. I want to feel the motivation and excitement once again......my only saving grace is that tomorrow I go for me second fill and pray that the restriction is more noticable this time!! I thank God for this band every day, because knowing my past history, I would have sabotaged this "life change" once again. Now when I fall off the wagon....I at least have the band to rein me in. I admire all of my fellow bandsters and their stories and personal successes and feel your pain when somedays are not as good as others. I enjoy all the NSV's that each of you are experiencing more and more!! CONGRATULATIONS!! I knew with my second fill that my eating would dramatically change, so I ate good all day until dinner and then went to Red Robin for my "usual" and it was good.....but my stomach is saying, "Was it really?" I'm feeling stuffed and uncomfortable. Why don't I know how to say, "No more?"....ughhhhhhhhhhh Anyway, I will quit whining and get back to my Quantitative Methods book......take care!!

I AM SOOOOO JEALOUS!!! I want one now!!!! I've been wanting one for a while, but I have others things I have to buy first...you lucky duck!!! Marcy, first, congrats on reaching 238!!! That is wonderful! As for what you mentioned above, I think you're talking about sliming and not PBing. Neither one is fun, though. Appleblossom, I am loving the fall colors/theme you've got going on w/your posts! Citygirl, I'm sorry about your fill drama. I go tomorrow for my first fill and I hope it is pretty uneventful. I'll let ya'll know how it goes. Chris, YAY!! You got your fill. My first is tomorrow. And look at all those NSVs!!! Congratulations. Sorry about the bill. That bites, but I'm sure you'll be able to appeal it and win.

Good Morning Gang.... Marcy - Happy Bandanniversary !!! 1 yr 50lbs way to go - You look great - keep up the good work and we do miss you !!!! Karri - Well, I am not as lucky as you I still like fat - sugar etc - can't say that my taste buds have changed - haven't had a brownie in a year - but I really think I would still love them so - I just don't start- poor GS he likes them - well I guess I could make him some (I have a box of fat free in the cupboard) and have just 1 and make him keep the rest in his room :confused: I just hate it when I can't sleep - but at least you will be able to nap during the day - go put your chair infront of the a/c - have a high calorie protein shake and take a nap while listening to your new book on your ipod.. Kari - Congrats on your NSV - that's great ! You are doing wonderful - sure going to miss you at our M of A trip - well maybe next year you will be able to swing Vegas - Ok boss just walked in - gotta split - will be back later:tt2:

Thanks, I needed a little support. Yesterday i just felt ugh, for lack of a better word. I really do think that most of it has to do with the fact that I have to go back to work tomorrow. As for eating out, we go out a lot. My BF and I just share a meal and I never eat very much because I can't account for all of the calories. He does most of the cooking and most of the time he will fix things that work for me. It is just the last couple of days that he has done nothing but gorge himself and it is probably due to the fact that he is very very sick. He seems to be back to normal this morning. But Janet you are right, I know the struggles that I am going through because of my unhealthy eating habits and it frustrates me when other people just sit there and stuff an entire medium pizza down their throat. It will be better after I get through the first day back to school. Also, I am not craving anything specific, especially ice cream. I love ice cream but ever since surgery I can't eat it. If I do I have a lactose intolerant reaction to it. I can't drink milk either. cheese, cottage cheese, and yogurt are alright, but milk and ice cream are a NO NO for me. It is more that I just want to get to a point that I dont have to over analyze every single thing that goes in my mouth. And actually it does get easier. I was on Atkins for 2 years and I guess it did start getting easier for me. I am sure this will too. As for my body type I have 2 VERY distinct rolls with my belly button tucked neatly between them. I would really like to lose that damn top roll. All of the shirts just seem to cling to that one roll. So I can't wear my pants at my waist because otherwise my top roll sticks out like a sore thumb. So I have to find high waisted pants that will help mold the two rolls into one! Camp shirts are my favorite too, but again mine are all too big. I really don't have many clothes left that I can wear and I can't really afford to go buy new clothes right now. I need to go get a presser foot for my sewing machine and see if I can attempt to tailor my old clothes. I usually go through my clothes on Sunday's because I try to lay out my clothes for the week. I am too tired to make decisions at 4:45 am. And you are right about the thin material that just shows off everything. I really need clothes with structure. My back fat has almost gone away I have a few little bumps around my bra line, but most of my weight is front and center. My skin is starting to take a hit too. Yikes! My belly looks like my grandma's belly did when she was 95! I have read and heard that it can take up to a year for the skin to catch up, so there is hope. There is no way that I can afford to have plastic surgery nor do I really want it. As long as I can find clothes that make me look alright I will be fine. Here is a funny NSV. I told my BF to sit on my computer chair last night because I thought there was something wrong. I thought there was a lump because my butt hurt when I sat on it. He said, no there is nothing wrong with the chair, and I realized that it was that I had lost so much fat off my butt that I was sitting on my tailbone. I didn't even think I had that much fat on my butt, but I had to fold up a blanket on my chair because it was painful! Well I have to finish getting lessons ready for tomorrow so I will talk to you all later.

hi everyone, i was banded 3/30/07 by dr spivak. getting the lapband was the best decision i ever made. it is one tool of many we need to lose weight. i am still a work in progress trying to maintain. enjoy the ride. it is exciting when you have the NSV's in addition to the scale victories. such as getting into a smaller size, seeing my collar bones for the first time in years (this was big for me), not shopping in lane bryant. i lived until recently in Katy. since beeing banded i met a great guy and we are getting married in october. the best gift of the band is to get my self respect back... anyway best of luck to all my texas sisters and brothers. there are alo of us on the site which is nice... josie

Howdy! I am so thrilled that the plateau of the last 2 months is gone! I am finally in the 250's! YEAH!!!! The best part is that it was mostly all me and relatively little band. It is motivating me like nothing else has recently. I am afraid to eat the wrong things or too much because I don't want to ever see 260 anything again! In less than 3 pounds, I will be at 30 pounds lost since February. Woohoo! I even will have another fill at the end of the month. I can't wait. I don't really want PBs or slimes, but I have very little restriction. I can eat anything and I do mean anything! Fenton- thanks for the super nsv comment. You sure can make me laugh.

Well sais, Fenton There will always be ups and downs. And we will learn to deal with them. I had a great NSV the other day. At the dentist I could never lean over to the "spit" sink and hit it, I usually had most of the yuck on the "bib" they strap around your neck. But this time!!!!! I leaned over and had no problems. I felt like jumping out of the chair with glee :smile: It felt fabulous.

Have fun! I can never get out on the Water enough. Where abouts are you sailing? Puget Sound? My brother lives in Bremerton. It's wonderful you have so many supportive friends! What a great NSV

Boy, I sure wish I had your dedication Lynn! Exercise is my weakness right now. I try, really get on a roll, and then I get busy for a day or two. Once I miss one day working out, it gets very easy to miss day two. And so on.... What's sad is that once I start working out, I love it! I feel great afterwards. But just getting dressed and actually walking down to the basement to get on the treadmill, man, that is harder than actually working out! I try to talk myself out of it at least 5 different ways. I have yet to understand why. Very nice NSV potatie! I can't wait to buy myself something obnoxiously expensive when I hit goal. Maybe a hot, very expensive pair of stilettos???

Lynn, you can't let yourself sweat plateaus! They're going to happen, they're a natural part of weight loss, and while the weight may be staying the same, you're still losing fat. You have to keep that in mind when the needle becomes lazy, and focus instead on NSV's. Like how good you feel, or a suddenly useless belt! My brother's overweight too; I'd like him to get a band. I didn't say that Tuesday night, but I talked about how important it is to lose weight, and how the band is pretty much foolproof. He didn't say anything about the bread; he had the same amount of bread as I did, but he had a bass ceviche appetizer and then a big steak entree, while all I had was half of a crab entree. I'm going to work on the band idea with him next week. He's one of these high-powered businessmen, huge salary, millions of dollars in bonuses, and that's all very well, but it comes with huge amounts of stress. I think it might be hard for him to take a week off to get banded. He's talking about going back to the famous medical weight loss center where, after his last visit, he lost 60 pounds. But statistically, supposedly, when you have more than 25 pounds to lose, it's almost impossible to keep it off without surgery.

I think I have plastic surgery in my future. I'm sure the tummy will have to be done. I'm young enough (and vain enough) to want to have the girls done too. The girls have never been very attractive, at least to me anyway, so I think I'll treat myself. I have a long way to go though. Excellent NSV this weekend. Went shopping for my birthday and bought some new summer clothes. I'm down 5 sizes. I haven't been this size since college. It was very inspiring. Sounds like everyone had a good Easter. Mine was nice and quiet. I didn't cook, so there was very little temptation. Lisa - I hope you get those pics working; we'd love to see them. Scrappy - you have to cut yourself a break. You're top of the class when it comes to this lapband stuff. You deserved a reward. I do however tip my hat to you for being so hard on yourself... it's probably why you are so successful. Kudos to you!!!

Hi everyone! Christine - I am sorry for your loss. It sounds like you have a good handle on things. It sure is a lot! Harley - I thought your dress was beautiful. I bet you looked great! I have a picture of a dress I want to wear on my bedroom door. I look at it daily. Mostly, it is inspiration! SpecialK - Way cool about the NSV. I love it when stuff like that happens!!!! Tess - lol, my birthday is April 15th. We are birthday mates! Well, I went to the party and had a fabulous time. I took a nibble of some rum cake. (holy cow was that stuff potent) and took a tiny bite of carmel apple cake. (yummy!) and drank 1/2 glass of wine. The rest was all good stuff. I felt wonderful. I actually didn't want any more of the cakes or booze! I had a little, enjoyed myself a lot and danced the night away. I can't think of a better way to enjoy the party. Last year, I enjoyed it, but felt so huge and like my skin was too tight. This year was so very much better!!! Another good thing was that the scale didn't go in the wrong direction. I am a little nervous about the 22nd. It is my official baking day. I bake tons of Cookies and make this stuff called "white trash". The white trash is sooooooo good. Most of the stuff will be out of my house by the next day, so that is good. I just have to maintain my willpower for one day! It is very sad that cookies can just slide right through the band! But, I anticipate that I will eat only one cookie. I'll allow myself one and then put all the goodie bags in my car. (hopefully, it will be as cold as it is today and no way will I go out there! lol) Have a great day fellow bandsters!