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Hi...again have no freaken idea....how to navigate this site....and no time to fiddle with it....so sorry everyone for the typical font and reply style. lol so unlike me which is the reason for the apology. Its been a week since posting and well.....it hasnt been a great week for food, exercize or Water....but am getting back on the saddle tomorrow AM....rather the seat of the cycle at the gym. Foods havent been horrid just eating Proteins and shakes and not enough vegetables and water.....Ive been so busy running around buying presents and supervising that I have no idea if im coming or going.....I thought this would be the easiest holiday to deal with but......I realize its so much easier to shop, cook and have off from work but nooooo going to work run around after looking for presents in a million different places and going to one party and celebration at this ones house or that ones...or dinners out etc has taken its toll and im just plain tired!!! Of course its a wonderful holiday...but all the running....and partying and its only just begun...eight more nights!! I am just thankful there is school all day otherwise...in addition to busy and tired Id be totally broke with a babyisitter in addtion to all the presents and goings on...lol This weekend we are going to our synaguage for chanuka dinner tomorow night....that should be fun and nice. Sat lunch is at another shul. That should be fun too....if course this means I wont have anything to eat good for me....but I have prepared one of Phyllis what I call famous BBQ chickens!! Thanks again..saving me. So at least I know ill go home and eat if there is nada...and I know what shabbos dinners are about soooo I know there wont be anything for me. Sat night im the car pool mom, my turn to drive to and from Bat Mitzvah about 45 min away....where I will be twiddling my thumbs wating around for three hours....probably go shopping for more presents at that time.... Sunday is our family chanuka party at my brothers house....I am hoping for some serious alcohol or other to help with the drama that im sure will happen at that party! Of course its all in the spirit of chanuka ....so im sucking it all up and running, running, running!!! I see everyone is getting ready for Christmas....and I love reading about all your plans....jealous of the great decorating and table settings and the gettings ready....cant wait to hear about all the fabulous christmas eve and morning stories with everyone and their families.... well... must run its late and exhausted.....welcome to the newbys....and have a great holiday...and remember WHEN YOU FAIL TO PLAN YOU PLAN TO FAIL (like me this week) Okay....have a great night...... Jodi

Thanks, Janet. I get down on myself sometimes. I see all the tickers of other banders and I feel defeated. I know I have alot of "head work" to do. You know my father was an alcoholic.....now I understand how hard overcoming an eating addiction can be. I believe I have that addiction gene. I guess admitting it is the beginning of this new journey.

Hi gang! Joyce, Good on getting rid of the sling! Go ahead and whine about the snow. I almost feel guilty that it is 85 and sunny outside. Yeah, on the weight thing. 5 down- 1 up after the fried seafood dinner. I am not giving up. I am getting used to this eating plan. LInda, Awesome news on the MRI. I would imagine that neck pain is real bothersome when you type. I typed almost every day for 35 years. At one time I thought I had carpal tunnel. I went to Walmart and got braces for my hands and wore them at night. They worked. It was a good investment for me. Wow, you hit the Jackpot with the meat. Happy Cooking! Laura.....Safe Travels. I know you and Nels will put a smile on your dad's face. Prayers and HUGS! Cheri........enjoy your Spring break. We had ours last week. All the schools are finally on the same page and everyone was out. Still praying for your daughter. I just got back from my DGS's two year old B-day party. I won't even tell y'all what was on the menu. Not good. Thank goodness I ate boiled eggs before I left. I went grocery shopping for my mother. On my way to her house there was a man with a "I am Hungry" sign. I do not give money, but I did have some of my mother's Famous Amos Cookies. I gave him a snack bag.....he was grateful. I see these signs every time I go to Houston. I think I am going to keep a case of Water and Snacks in the car for these men. Yeah, I know most of them are drug addicts and alcoholics, but these are hard times for everyone. Don't worry, I only crack my window.....and No Money! Later peeps! Enjoy your weekend!

Charlene, one of my uncles who wasn't there is an alcoholic and a number of us think my aunt has a problem. My uncle who died could also drink large amounts of beer, but I only saw him at big gatherings so I don't know what he was like on a day to day basis. They're all huge men (6'5"-6'7")and that makes a difference in alcohol metabolism. I actually participated in my alcoholic uncle's intervention. He's still very active in AA. I never see my youngest uncle who was 4 when I was born. He lives in Montreal and hasn't been out here in years and years. He's in his 60's and still competes in decathlons. My aunt ran until her joints wouldn't let her anymore. The uncle who was there at the party has also always prided himself on staying in shape. The other two uncles, the alcoholic and the deceased uncle, were more massive, like football players not basketball players, and developed guts. My brothers are also very tall and one has the massive build and struggles more with his weight, and the other is more like a basketball player and has continued till recently playing basketball and swimming and has had less trouble. I noticed he's finally getting a gut. I've got the bigger frame of me and my sisters. They are taller than me and have the leaner frames. I am the shortest (5'9") of all my aunts and uncles and my mom and I'm the shortest of my siblings. My mom got the heavier frame but my dad who was 6'3" before starting to shrink has a very lean build. All big people but all highly coordinated and athletic. Huge ADHD tendancies running through us all. Very restless, unable to sit unless focused on a project. I find family characteristics to be fascinating as you can tell from all I've written. I've noticed a lot of similarities in what goes wrong with us as we're aging as well. Laura, sad news about your dad but not unexpected on your part. I'm glad you were able to have such a great Thanksgiving with them. Had trouble viewing your pictures when I clicked on them because they more than filled my computer screen. What's up with that? But you all looked so happy. Nels looks like he could be you and your husband's physical child. I have to go trim back all my geraniums which are currently in my basement. I keep them all alive in my living room windows all winter. Keeps my living room amazingly cheerful. But right now they're full of dead leaves since we left them out until frost. They're messy but worth it. Cheri

Hi peeps! Whew! I had four g-kids today 6,2, 18mos, and almost 3 mos. I did something in my lower abdomen when I got up with the little one. I just hope it is a catch. It is right where I had my last surgery four years ago. Hopefully it is just scar tissue. Anyway, we had a good time with the kids. Then my DS came over and finally picked up the rest of his clothes. He still did not get the deer head. UGH! I guess this girl is a keeper. Being a major in the Air Force she is keeping my DS in line. He is crazy about her. I know they are talking marriage. LauraK.....yep it was a good day with the kids. Three in diapers made for a poopie day too! lol Nope, didn't get the decorating done. My granddaughter that helps was a no show......she is coming tomorrow to get the stuff out of the attic. I can do it now, but why take the chance of pulling something when a 16yr old has offered. Cheri, thanks for sharing about your family. It is interesting to watch how those characteristics run throughout the family. We have lot of ADD in the family. From you talking about it I have been able to notice those symptoms in my ADD kid and now in one of my grand. I even see it in me. No one in my family ever sought help for alcoholism. They just got old and quit drinking. Joyce, the weather is pretty now so your DD will be able to enjoy a little of it before it gets nasty in a couple of days. Water aerobics is the only thing that does not hurt my back. I love it. You are so limber. It won't take long till you have a trainer. I even forgot you had a knee replacement because in Vegas you never favored your knee. Melissa, Zumba sounds fun, but I would have to borrow it before buying. I have so much exercise crap I have never used. Glad you found something to make you sweat. lol Okay gang, I am going to go soak in the tub then watch a little TV.

Cheri......thanks for sharing your life with us. You are such a bubbly person. I just loved watching you dance. Apples....I hear ya on trying to make things normal. Living with an alcoholic made things predictably chaotic. I promised myself that my kids would have a sense of normalcy, but I didn't know what normal was other than" Leave it to Beaver". You know that wasn't real, but that is what I thought was real. Oh well, all in all, my kids turned out pretty good......except for inheriting my bad eating habits. Janet.......Whoa Hass! Don't get on my A$$ today. I didn't eat right today or exercise. Tomorrow......then you can stay on me. Water aerobics in the morning. I am sitting my GS too. We should find out tomorrow if he placed in the baking. Laura.....glad you got to hear from DH. I bet he is having a wonderful time. Post a pic if you can. Melissa......you are a beautiful woman. Take it from us old farts......we all wish we had lap band ten years earlier. You have an awesome opportunity to turn it all around before you are forty.......baby steps......one day at a time!!!

Thanks, JM. What's the scoop on your banding? Are you getting closer? After tomorrow, I am getting serious again with my new lifestyle. I really need the support from all of you. When I am not reading the posts, I get off track. I was thinking about joining the food addiction group starting at the Methodist Hospital. I think I am really addicted to food. My dad, Lord rest his soul, was an alcoholic and maybe I have that gene. It is a day, by day, battle. Well, I will post when I get back from the fill.

Congrats Kathy - WTG You gave up sugar for lent - so no alcohol - it has sugar:lol: The eroded issue scares me - I know one lady here who had it happen like in 6 months.. Hope you have a good weekend too.. -------------------------------------------------------- I guess everyone else is having a hard time getting to LBT site... I have tried all night - (well got home around 6) but from 6 to 9:10 - I couldn't get here - been playing pathword on FB.. Now my eyes are dead... Well not much to report on - and as I said I guess no one else could get here today... I don't know what's up with that... Well, I am going to go watch some tv... Talk to you all in the morning

Good Evening Peeps - think this post on my #7 thread needs to be re-posted here - it's about our issues with fear and maintaining an waking up fat tomorrow.. Good Evening Gang... Ok I can speak to the fear - I have been maintaining for almost 2.5 yrs now - Like you said I am moving into my 4th yr of being banded and my 3rd yr of maintenance Dropping off the site doesn't always mean that pple have lost their focus as we have one person who pops in every now and (beth??) the one who moved (you won't know her but Candice & Phyl would) and I think for those pple who have been successful and who's light bulb has gone off they have a hard time dealing w/pple who just don't get it.. But I would say the majority drop because they feel like failure once again. But these pple haven't gotten that this is a lifetime battle - they think it's a quick fix - the get cocky - they go back to eating their normal It really is about changing our eating and how we look at food and about moving. It's not about dieting or keeping your band so tight that you can't eat.. Will you ever lose the fear - I dont' think so - Idrise has helped a lot in understanding that I do have control - Remember about 6 months ago - he and I got in a big disagreement - about me being a food addict - he says there is no such thing - well this pissed me off and he and I went around and around - I told him if there is a bag of candy or fried chicken in the house I would eat them I have no control So one day he said Janet are those foods in your house - I said No - He said who does the shopping - I said I do - he said well are you buying those foods that you have no control over - I said No - He said well then Girl you do have control - AH HA MOMENT !!! We are not physically addicted to food - we are mentally addicted to it - Yes our bodies have a physically reaction to our trigger foods - but it's not like a physical addiction like drugs or alcohol - It's a mental flaw that we have (genetics).. and for some they don't have that full sensation - As adults - we go to work every day cuz we have to we have responsibilities - do we like going to work - I would say for the most part nope - do you like paying bills - do you like cleaning house - nope. But its all things we have to do. Well we have to apply that same mentality to being healthy.. So what do you say to someone lt who tells you - I don't like exercising and I don't want to watch what I eat Well just like the rest of our lives 80% of the time we are doing things we don't like to do - but there are the things that we have to do as being responsible adults So to be healthy - you have to eat healthy & exercise - suck it up and be a responsible adult and just do it.. Ya you may not like it all the time - but if you want a better quality to your life - if you want more energy - if you want to extend your years on this earth then - ya gotta do it - just like you gotta go to work every day to put a roof over your head It's ok to have treats - that's where our thinking is screwed up - we think we can't - that if we eat a giant candy bar one day - or a Reuben sandwich - Omg - we are back to the road of being morbidly obese - no we aren't - that was a treat - it's not something we are going to do every single day - we did it one day - not 365. This is why I usually eat pretty healthy at home - but when I am gone on our vacations - I have more treats - but again I try and watch it too.. I don't pig out 24/7 for 5 days. and if I come home and have gained a couple of lbs - I know that those lbs will come off with a little extra exercise and with my normal healthy eating.. We all had surgery to help us - and the band does help us but it doesn't do all the work - but what we have to do is give ourselves credit for the times that we are eating clean and exercising When we find ourselves slipping back into old habit - We realize it - hell look at Jane - ate 2 cups of grapes and had a freak out attack - oh tomorrow I am going to wake up weighting 250 lbs - you ate grapes - you didn't down a gallon of ice cream and then a bag of Cookies - That's when you need to freak out - you need to freak out before you eat them - you need to exercise control when you are out shopping and not to let those foods ever get in your house - it you are in a mood - you want to say "f" it - go buy a pint of ice cream and eat the whole damn this - go to the bakery buy 4 cookies and eat them all - if you want a candy bar go buy just 1 giant one - eat it - and then when it's done you say - Ok I did that - I'm done - I had what I wanted now it's back to the real world. Yep the candy & ice cream still call my name - but when I walk down those isle - I say "F You" I really do this ... Those things that call my name - they say "I know that you can control it " (that devil talking to us) but I know I can't -- So I will pick it up look at the calories and think Oh I would love to eat you - but I know I won't stop at one - so I am not buying you - I feel to damn good to go back.. I wake up every morning - and when I go to put on a pair of my pants - I am still amazed that they fit.. I have fear - but it's a healthy fear of my mental addiction to food - better yet - I don't have fear - I am have awareness I am aware that if I eat candy - cookies - ice cream - high fat foods - tons of cheese - and I don't go to the gym - I am aware of what the results will be - I will be 250 lbs .. I don't want to be 250 - I want to look cute - I want to have a longer life more than I want to eat a 1/2 gallon of ice cream every nite.. I want to have the muslces - to help my body do the things I want to do and to help me as I age - to have stronger bones - to have better balance - I like being able to clean the house without breaking in a sweat - to go shopping for 6 hrs without my feel killing me after 1 hr.. As we all know being morbidly obese limits the quality of our lives Since most of us are 50+ we know that we have less years in front of us - and if we want to extend those yrs - enjoy the yrs that we have left - we have to lose the weight - we have to get and stay healthy.. And to get those results we have to eat healthy and exercising - is it fun - nope not all the time - but just like life - it's not a bowl of cherries either - we just have to take those lemons and make lemonade w/splenda and we have to pick the lemons - squeeze them - instead of going to the store in our cars and buying it already made and full of sugar Our addiction never leaves us - it becomes a little easier as time goes by - but it's still always in the back of our minds - When we do have those treats - we have to tell ourselves - it's ok to have a treat - what's not ok is to have the 24/7 365.. We do have control - we truly do and we will relapse every now and then - it will happen in all our lives - but what is the most important thing - is that we are now aware that we have lost the control and say STOP - PULL UP THOSE BOOT STRAPS AND MOVE FORWARD.. So if you want those new shoes - you save for them - you work for them - If you want a nice house - you work for it - you do what it takes to save the $$ for it and then once you get it you have to maintain that house. Getting healthy is no different - you have to eat healthy - you have to exercise and once the weight is gone - you have to keep up that work to maintain the new healthy body.. As the saying goes - who said life was easy... Laura - Yep page 1000 is getting close ;0) Hugs on your Dad - yep once you have been diagnosed w/it - every test after wards is scary - Prayers & Love to you and your family for good results.. Kelly - Like I said you don't know my family - picker was suppose to be bicker o) Chris - sent you the recipes Cheri - I need to give up FB games too - but it keeps me out of the kitchen ;0) Sandy - One Thanksgiving the kids couldn't come - I went to bff's house - this yr am looking forward to some down time - like I said - while you are all feasting on turkey - stuffing - taters - pies - I will be having Lobster Veggies ;0) Julie - Hope the shots help - and TRULY I will be just fine - I am a loner (family trait) and just think I am spending an entire week w/my family ;0) Ok gang gotta feed the dogs - cbl

Meredith...there are just times when it is impossible to weigh and measure EVERYTHING. It is a good habit to be into. Teaches us a lot about portion size, etc. Helps us to eventually eyeball what we are eating. I now just automatically know portions sizes by looking or know my limits as to what to eat by how my tummy feels. I had some of the same feelings you are having when I didn't weigh and measure. It's a good habit but so is choosing everything that is healthy at this stage of the game and it will teach you to make more healthy choices throughout your life. It will all come together for you. I think that as long as you don't overdo the dressing put on the salad, Protein and lettuce/veggies are a very healthy choice. At first I did not like filling up my new pouch with lettuce as there is not a lot of nutritional value in it. But I always craved it so much so I would just throw a handful on my plate with my meat/fish/etc. During the weightloss stage, I used Walden Farms zero cal dressings. I really like the taste of them but have heard others stating that they did not. I still have them on hand for DH and he really likes them also. Worth a try! On those occasions when you cannot weigh and measure, try to eye things up. It's actually a good way to learn to guesstimate what you are eating. You will know when you get to the stage when you trust yourself with the amounts you are eating. My pouch has always been good to me. I have never pb's, don't really know what it is to slime, and it tells me when I am full. I get hungry every 2-3 hours but I don't mind that. But you will find out, as all of us banders did, that there are days that your band is lose and you could eat your lips and your fingertips off and there will be days that your band is tight and you WISH you could feel hungry. It's all a learning process and that's what us experienced banders are here for. I relied on everyone here for many months. It's important to plan any Snacks that you have and also important not to let yourself get too hungry and have the urge to binge. Make sense????? Hey to the rest of the gang (man, that really sounds Gomer Pylish!). Had a VERY long day yesterday. Left home b/4 daylight and did not get my people home till after 10:30pm. Stayed up visiting until 1:30am. DH's butt will be dragging in the field today. Letting Aussies sleep in. They have been on an "around the world tour" for close to three months and are shot. We have made no plans and will leave it up to them what they want to do. I am sure DH will not take a break with the workaholism and I will be entertaining 24/7. Did insist guys come home for dinner (lunch) so at least DS has and hour today to get reaquainted with his big sis. It will all fall together and DH will just have to catch up with us when he feels he can pull himself away from the work. Cannot remember who mentioned about lifting and band getting tight. Linda????? I have noticed this from the very beginning. That, flying and stress. Now, I KNOW I don't get stressed when I fly so I know my band just tightens on me and have to be very vigilant of my eating days b/4 I fly so I get enough cals and do not lose weight the days after flying. I try not to lift much anymore as to not tighten up my band. Fickle, fickle, fickle band! Just as I explained above to Meredith. Laura......hope your dad is doing better. Anxious to hear. DH's mom has been on dialysis for over five years and functions quite well with it. Sad if your dad has to give up his pilots license but he will adjust if need be. Great..........(seems weird writing that) Smart not to buy a MOB dress now. I predict that you will weigh less a year from now. The body goes through so many transformations after a person gets to goal. You will be happy you waited. A couple of months ahead of time should be sufficient time to find one. Keep looking and trying on different styles. By the time you need to make the purchase, you will know exactly what you want and what looks good on you. I love separates due to the fact that I am long legged and short waisted. They just look better on me. Janet....sound like you had and "Apples" day on Sat. I tend to start a small project and it turns into an all day deal. Good example is the past week when I was getting ready for company. My house was basically already clean but when I started I didn't quit for three days and then started again on Sunday until I couldn't find anything else to do. I was cleaning, painting, hanging pictures, rehanging pictures, recleaning, etc. I swear I cause work for myself. And, as I mentioned the other day...I am way too picky about my house and am trying to make a stab at changing that. Would like to be a little more free and easy about that. Think it has to do with all the traffic we get through here and always having to have the house ready for extras just dropping in for a meal. Julie....hope you are feeling better each day. You have been through the wringer and it will take some time. When we are so used to taking care of others, it is difficult to accept help. Linda...I pray for your little grand daughter. I think of her often and think of what you are going through. Issues such as these are never easy and wear on a person. Take care. Doodle...what a good granny to be the "mom" while your daughter is away. Damn all brownies. Funny you guys mentioned them cuz my Aussie daughter talked about my "special" brownies most of the five hour drive home from the airport. She was begging me to make some and I kept just putting her off and saying not sure. Well, when we walked in the door I presented her with a pan all for herself. We stuck them in the freezer and she says she will have only one a day. She is a police officer and needs to fit into her uniform when she gets home. OK...know I left some of you out but not on purpose. Just a little brain dead this morning. 4 hours of sleep does not do it for me anymore and only 5 hours the night b/4. I am a believer in 8 good hours of sleep. Keeps life nice and mellow. Going to have to catch up this week. You all take care and will check in when I can. Think we will hit a casino a few hours south of here this week and stay over one night then off to the lake for a couple of days and a weekend full of parties. (I love a good party but, no, do not always have a drink. Maybe have one drink once a week on the weekend.). I have to be quite careful. 1/2 ounce vodka, crystal light and Water and I am a PARTY ANIMAL. Can't handle much. Never had much tolerance for alcohol b/4 banding. 2 drinks and I would slur so for 30 yrs of marraige I have been the D.D. Don't mind a bit and parties are all about the cooking, visiting, games, etc. My friends love me cuz on girls night out, they have a built in ride home. Gotta go plan dinner and supper. Need to make a blueberry dessert, making chicken strips on the grill, scalloped corn and homemade mac and cheese. Have no menu planned for supper yet. You all have a great day! :smile2:

Wow! Great stories! This is exactly what we need to keep ourselves on track. Having gone to Alanon for many years and attended open AA meetings to hear special speakers and having hung out with a lot of recovering Alcoholics, a lot of their phrases stick in my head. When someone relapses they'll say, "It takes what it takes. There but for the grace of God go I." "They're not ready yet." "They haven't gotten sick and tired of being sick and tired." Many of them refer to themselves or others as "rehab rangers" because they relapsed and went to rehab so many times. A hospital in Dyer, IN had an emergency short-term rehab known as the "Dyer dryer" mostly for falling down drunks. Some of the recovering alcoholics I'd met had been there several times. Over and over again, every alcoholic who spoke was willing to tell his/her story in jaw-dropping detail and honesty. Helping other alcoholics recover was the key to their own recovery. Honesty about one's past and present is stressed to the max. That's got to be part of our recovery, too. We have an addiction. It brought us places we never wanted to go. We didn't grow up thinking, "I want to be a morbidly obese food addict when I grow up." We are horrified to find ourselves there. And we can never forget. To do that we need to share our stories in all their embarrassing details. How about having trouble wiping your butt or getting all your parts clean? Wondering what that smell is and realizing its you? Trying to clip your toenails with your stomach hanging between your wide spread knees? This is a serious life-threatening-shortening illness. Embarassing. Gross. Ugly. We think we only affect ourselves, but what about the children we robbed of quality time with us? The $ we spent on food that could have been spent improving the lives of our families and beyond? The employer's and insurance companies and the government (the American people) we ripped off with our inability to do our jobs to the best of our abilities and the ailments whose cost got absorbed by our families and the rest of society? Take your bands seriously. Treat them right. Take your disease seriously. Are you ready to do whatever it takes to be "clean and sober?" Cheri