June 2006 Band Crew

[barbara465 2]

PinkyLee your PM inbox is full. OK gal let us know you are OK. We miss you around here.

[lucymann 0]

Barbara12 I also agree with what you have said. I do need to reflect back on last year when I get discouraged and remember how different this holiday has been! Thanks for the reminder.

Barbara465 I'm in on your plans for the weekend of the 8th of June. Sounds wonderful to me! Thanks again for your work on this.

[Pinkylee 7]

What a great bunch of posts! Sorry I've been away. Been dealing with back pain, x-rays and my holiday recital. I was a bit grumpy.

Pain is subsiding and the recital last night was fun! (I have a little different slant than most piano teachers on what a successful recital should be like).

Regina - get on ebay if you have to. My vice is looking for expensive items (Longaberger baskets, Laura Mercier makeup, James Avery jewelry) at garage sale prices. Send me a PM. DS is also giving up cigs (he is 25 and lives with us). So far so good.

Barbaras - I am looking forward to next Wednesday. The cruise pictures look fantastic. I finally cleared my inbox. Don't know why it registered full with only 30 real messages? I'm all in for June 9 weekend. Swimming pool? Can't believe I'm actually looking forward to buying a suit this summer! I have no illusions about a great looking body (excess skin issues), but my new energy and health will prevail.

I've discovered a secret for those too tight moments. Drink a hot tea before your meal. That one new habit has helped me enjoy the kinds of food I should be eating. Preferably wait five minutes after sipping the tea before eating. Unfortuantely this can also be used as a cheat.

I overdid it on treats this season too, but I'm back on track and seeing some progress. This has been an amazing 6 months. You guys are my rock! Thanks for reading and posting!

You guys are such great friends.

[barbara465 2]

Glad to hear from you PinkyLee. I used two of your tips on the cruise - hot tea and alcohol! I was really getting into cosmopolitians. I could drink them like Water and feeling little effect. No effect, except I could eat after drinking.

Glad the recital went well. I have to tell you I have so much skin hanging down from my arms that I have to be real careful I don't get them flapping and take off in the air. Really I never noticed this before. I must have lost 5 lbs in each arm and now all this flapping skin is left. Guess I will have to have my arms done when this is all over.

Can you imagine, for most of us, June will bring us to goal. Or at least close to it. I know some of you are only a few lbs away. I hope to be down 100 lbs by the time we meet in Vegas. If not, I'll be pretty close to it. WOW I can't wait.

[Barbara12375 0]

Welcome back PinkyLee, we were missing you bad!

All this excitement about Vegas is great. Come on Junebies it will be a ball! I'm all in for the weekend of the 8th and all the fun things that Barbara4 has suggested. No golf for my husband if he decides to go. He can entertain himself quite easily in the casinos.

Loose skin you say? Oh my. My inner thighs are disgusting and the thought of a swim suit makes me shudder, but if I'm with a group that is all suffering from the same problems, I can rise above it. We will be so proud of ourselves by then there will be no stopping us!

Junebies rock!

[Melissa Lea 1]

Glad you back Pinkylee!!

Barb12 I'm all in for Vegas too. I'm excited to meet my fellow Junebies. I too am noticing lose skin. In 45 to 50 more pounds I will start to research my options.

Melissa Lea

[lucymann 0]

I haven't even considered wearing a bathing suit! My legs are UGLY!!! But I have a date for surgery for my vericose veins of May 24th so maybe they will be a little better. I was reading up on the procedure and it says it takes between one and two years for them to disappear. What a disappointment! I was hoping it was instantaneous. But I do feel that if I am with this great bunch of people who understand the issues I will just relax and have fun and not worry too much about my loose skin problems.

[ladypitboss 0]

I would love to go to Vegas in June but it just doesnt look possible for me right now. My DH has been out of work for 6 months and his new job didnt work out so we are so tight right now I cant even think about a vacation. But he has an interview Monday so hopefully things will turn around by then.

As far as last years holiday...that is when I made my decision to research lap-band. My father had passed away in November and I made the second trip to Alabama in 2 months to spend Christmas with family. Between those 2 trips and the holidays I gained 30 lbs. My father had had to be helped by 6-7 firemen/medics when he fell. He was nearly 500 lbs and couldnt even get a much needed PET scan because he was so large. He was so week the last week that he couldnt be gotten out of the hospital bed because my mom and sil couldnt work the lift. That was when I decided to go see him and help out. I got there 36 hours before he passed. Between seeing him suffer and seeing my unhealthy blind mom stuff herself with sugar made me decide that I needed to do something so I could remain healthy.

You guys talk about loose skin and vericose veins and swim suits and it takes me back to last years vacation. We rented a house boat in KY and 5 couples went. There was a hot tub on board but I didnt need to feel self concious because 4 of the people had had RNY. One woman hadnt lost much weight and hadnt owned a suit for 20 years or so. I had brought an extra suit so I gave it to her. Now she goes to a friends house to hot tub all the time. One woman had just recently had her surgery and was down to a 16 and now I am getting her suit from the boat trip. lol

So I think it is a great idea to surround yourself with people in the same boat.

I still haven't had a chance to go back and read all the posts yet but I will. I want to get to know everybody before June just in case.

[ladypitboss 0]

Lucy what procedure are you looking at?

[Barbara12375 0]

Ladypitboss........keep the faith. I understand financial concerns but you never know what tomorrow holds. You sound like you deserve a getaway celebration of life and health. I am so glad you recognized your need for this surgery. Sounds like your family history had you heading for major problems.

After having my unfill last week I have been relearning what my band will do. I've found that I can eat most Mexican food with no problem. I still have morning problems but later in the day I don't often feel restriction. Then last night for dinner I had Alice Springs chicken (Outback Steakhouse) and within 20 minutes I was throwing up. I only ate about 6 bites and one bite of asparagus. It was one of the worst pbing experiences I've had (and in the last month I've had some bad ones). I'm not sure what this is all about considering I only have .5 of saline in my band. So it's back to square one. Everyday is a new adventure.

DH and I are going to make our first venture out this weekend to our favorite passtime. We are going to Biloxi. I usually lose weight when I do a casino trip as I have lots to distract me from food. Hopefully it won't be spoiled by pbs.

Regina, hopefully you've kept the cigarette cravings under control. Please don't give up. You've made so much progress toward better health and giving up cigarettes is huge in your fight to regain control of your life. We are all here for you.

[rroswelltx 1]

Good morning everyone! I did slip yesterday and had 1 cig, but I decided to do it like the bandster life, and not just say oh well might as well smoke again, i jumped straight back on the non smoking bandwagon and said NO MORE!!!! Listen guys I need your support, and if there are any men on this forum I wanna hear from you too! I really want to go to vegas but my hubby says no. The reason why is, the more I lose the more he gains. I love my hubby dearly and he has severe heart disease in his family, in fact his dad and his uncles all had there first heart attack around the age of 40, well this year my hubby will be turning 40. He is 6.2 and weighs probably 330 if not more, he wears a 5X shirt, and carries it all in his gut, which is more stressful on the heart. The more my self confidence rises the more i see his decrease. He works 3rd shift and he is tired all the time, he has problems sleeping during the day, i think mostly due to his weight. He has mentioned several times he wished he could get the band. But he is a normal man that doesn't ever go to the doctor, and can show no history. Nor would he go enough to do the required supervised diet by a doctor for the insurance to pay. Ok so now here it is, I went to Dr. Fox (my lapband dr.) yesterday for my checkup. I talked to him about my hubby. He said that my insurance has started a new program, it's 3 months long. You go 1 hour a month for 3 months, they have all the staff at this facility to do everything, sleep test, physic evals, blood work, etc. The insurance company says that if you complete the program they will pay for the surgery for sure!!!! I talked to him about it last night and he is seriously considering it. He just doesn't know if he can handle the lifestyle change. I told him it would be easier for him, because I am already doing it, and we could support eachother. He is concerned because he is a man, and that pride things tells him he should be able to do it on his own. I am so worrried about his health. Please everyone, his name is Kevin, I need prayers, good thoughts whatever you can send our way that he will take this step for his health. I want him to see our beatiful daughter grown up. Thanks for listening!!!!

[Melissa Lea 1]

Regina --I will keep you and Kevin in my prayers. You tell your DH that he needs to come to vegas to meet fellow bandsters (other than you) so that he can see, yes there is a lifestyle change but it's not about food!!! It's about being healthy, being happy, and being able to LIVE!! He should sign up on the forum and talk to other men that have had it done. I saw a thread somewhere on here at one time (men only).

Lucy --can't wait too meet you in vegas. Don't fret over the swim suit. We are not here to judge only support. I will have to get my spray on tan though. The glare off my very white legs might blind someone.

Ladypitboss --I too can understand finiancial concerns. But like Barbara said, you never know what's around the corner. Who knows, we might meet this year in Vegas. If not this year, there is always next year. I will pray for your husbands job interview.

Melissa Lea

[barbara465 2]

Oh Reginia your problem is a touchy one. First, you know from experience that harping will not make anyone lose weight. So it is a difficult tightrope you must walk. What got me to stop smoking may be the thing that helps your DH. My son told me he hated my smoking and it was yucky and not good for me. I looked at his sweet little 6 year old face and realized that I was also harming him in second hand smoke and risking my life. I stopped cold turkey on my birthday in 1985. The way to your DH may be through the eyes of your child.

I also remarried several years ago after being divorced 27 years. I wanted to spend more time with this man and decided I had to lose weight for that to happen. Plant the seeds, give him the information, and hopefully he will take the lead. That's all you can do.

I would also tell him you are going to Vegas - with him or without him. Why? Because this is a celebration of what you have done for yourself for the benefit of your family. This is your celebration. Tell him you would love for him to come, but that if he chose not to, that is his decision. Stick to it. Sometimes it takes a little touch love.

Ladypitboss - I agree with Barbara 12. Somehow I think there will be a way for you to join us in Vegas. It's still 6 months away so anything is possible.

Barbara 12 - Good luck on the side trip. Stay away from aspargus. I think that's what got you. Its to tough to eat, even on good days. I now have asparagus in cream form in Soups. I won't touch it any other way. I only eat brocolli flowers for the same reasons.

I heard back from Bally's. Right now I'm not getting good rates. The rates are $89 for 6/7, $149 for 6/8, $189 for 6/9, and $129 for 6/10. That's pretty average for the strip, but I usually get some deals. Its probably too early to get them. I'm going to plan on flying in on Thursday evening and going home on Sunday afternoon. The spa reservations need to be made directly with the spa. Once I know a better count I'll make those reservations.

I guess if you don't want to stay at Bally's make your hotel reservations. All activites can be coordinated from Bally's and I'm sure we can arrange to get those into the pool that aren't staying there. I might also see if I can get a suite so we will have a better place to meet and gab. I'm monitoring airfare now as it is $400 from Houston at this time. That is a little higher than I'm used to paying, but maybe that's the going rate right now.

I'm really excited about our trip. It will be great to put faces with names and to be able to see and talk with those that have given so much support over the last 6 months!

[Pinkylee 7]

Regina - You have my prayers for both you and Kevin. Congrats on attacking the "slip". Keep on keeping on.

Ladypitboss - We've been through job loss too. Sounds like your DH is staying on track. Good things happen when you keep trying! We're so glad you joined us.

Lucy - I'm not sure how long it's been since I've swam in a hotel pool, but it is a goal that I will meet in June in the company of friends who understand. Do you have much pain in your legs?

Barbara - Did you feel anything while you were eating the chicken or did it hit suddenly after the 20 minutes? Have a great weekend in those skinny jeans and watch out for the chicken. I pb more often on chicken than anything else.

Melissa - how many grams of Protein do you eat in an average day? I find it difficult to get 5 veggie/fruits in if I eat the 40 - 50 grams of protein suggested. (even with my protein shake).

[Barbara12375 0]

Pinky and Barb4........I felt fine while eating. It hit me later. I have been eating asparagus all along since banding. I only eat the tips and have never had trouble. The only thing about the chicken is that I normally eat dark meat and this was breast meat but was very moist and slimmy with cheese and mushrooms. Who knows. This band has to show us who's boss occasionally and that's ok. Keeps us on our toes.

Regina.....one cigarette is no big deal in the big scheme of things. Getting back on the wagon is what counts. I am so proud of you!