Anyone here?

[TracyinKS 7]

OK... so I have found that I CAN eat chicken fried steak.... tell me again why I SHOULDN'T!!!!!!! LOL

[5jacks 0]

I've missed reading all your posts more than I knew!! It takes so long for my dial-up to "get up" that I usually don't even bother. Glad to hear that all the tests came back with benign results!! That's always a good feeling!!!

I read a few of that last pages to get caught up a little and seem to be about where everyone else is right now. Was banded Jan. 18,2007 and have lost 102 pounds....still have between 30-40 pounds to lose. Am disapointed that I can't seem to lose that last bit but after this last weekend will keep reminding myself how far I've come. Made a list of all the things I've done in the last 18 months that I couldn't have done before the band:

1. Can sit in a chair in any office/store/restaurant I walk into.

2. Can wear my husbands clothes and can buy clothes in every store I walk into now!

3. Rode roller coasters with my kids.

4. Kids love the fact they can get their arms around me with "lots of extra room Mom".

5. Can make it through a very busy day and not be worn out or have ankles swollen.

6. Went to the Garth Brookes concert and was able to sit in the theatre seat (not like when we went to see Larry the Cable Guy and I had to sit in a folding chair in the handicapped section).

7. I actually got up on Water ski's a couple weeks ago (used to many years ago and had tried about 3 years ago and didn't have the strength in my arms to haul all myself up!!).

8. I'm 40 years old and have never been on an airplane because had heard it was hard to fit in the seats.....well, my 13 year old son qualified to shoot in the World Archery Shoot in Ellicottville, NY last weekend. We're from Missouri and we flew out to Buffalo and drove to the ski resort where the shoot was. I even rode in the ski lift and wasn't afraid of it breaking. Then was able to walk down the ski slope with ease!!

There are many more small accomplishments but these are the BIG ones!!

Guess I'm just trying to say that maybe we're looking at this all wrong. Maybe if we make lists of all the things we've achieved and see how far we've come then it will make us try harder to reach the next goals?!?!?

I'm going to try and keep getting back on here....I really do miss "talking" to all of you!!

[tonya66 13]

Lisa - you are right, maybe we should focus on our accomplishments or NSV vs the scales. So here is my list

1. A regular towel fits completely around me now, I no longer have to use beach towels.

2. When I take a bath, my sides no longer touch.

3. My wrist are so skinny now, my cuff watch no longer fits. By my wrist measurements, I am considered "small frame".

4. I weigh less than my husband!

5. I can walk into any store and buy something off the rack.

6. I look younger

7. I no longer have to have the lights out when making whoopie :huh2:

8. I lost my "other" chin :cursing:

9. I have collar bones now!

10.I can cross my legs

11. I can bend down and tie my shoes while still breathing - I used to have to hold my breath.

12. I am a tucker now - yep, can tuck my shirts in!

13. I feel better - Cholesteral is down!

14. I no longer GAIN weight by "looking" at food.

These are just a few things that I can do now.

[tonya66 13]

Lisa - we miss you too! Glad you popped in. The sight is dead these days so I get excited when someone post. :cursing:

[5jacks 0]

Tonya, I forgot about crossing your legs....it's still not a pretty thing on me since most of my weight is in my leg/thigh/hip area but it can still be done none the less!!

It being slow on here is another reason I don't try to get on any more. Guess that could mean it's a good thing....everyone's too busy with living life to set at a computer!! What has got me interested in trying to work on it a little more is a school teacher that I used to have called me up the other day and asked about the band. She had her surgery today and has been soooooo excited to get started on this journey. Guess a little bit of her enthusiasm rubbed off! Remember when we first started and this was all new and a learning experience each day? We were all trying so hard and didn't want to do anything to "ruin" the band!! It felt good to have a little bit of the excitement back again. Makes a person step back a bit and re-group....also makes me want to finish what I started to show her it can be done! Oh well, guess I'm tired because I keep rambling. Hope others start to join in again, I'll try to check at least once a day. Take care and talk to you guys soon!

[TracyinKS 7]

Tonya and Lisa: THOSE ARE GREAT LISTS!!!!!!!!!!!!

The bath towel... now that's a major one for me!

[Sula 0]

Hi all,

I am thinking I lost a few pounds. I weight in at my lowest yesterday and had just started my TOM so I'm hoping and praying that I may be down a pound or two when the thing is over! Inches (or fractions thereof) are coming off. That is cool. I think that it may mostly be due to a more active lifestyle right now. I helped friends roof for the past two weekends and lots of leg and arm and twisting movement. Whatever it takes.

Tonya, get back to that gym! You probably already are! I admire you for your motivation in that area. I haven't been out walking for about a month. I'm starting up with my excuses.

On another note...I went to town on Monday and bought a new gas range and micro hood. I know, I know...but I have a 1974 house with a harvest gold double oven stove in it and some parts don't work. My DH would be perfectly okay with keeping it forever..but I've been saving my dimes and voila', it goes in this next weekend after some gas is plumbed into the kitchen. I'm soooo excited.

Shawn

[tonya66 13]

Tonya and Lisa: THOSE ARE GREAT LISTS!!!!!!!!!!!!

The bath towel... now that's a major one for me!

Thanks Tracy! They towel was a big one for me too. I will never forget the moment I realized I no longer needed a beach towel, I was smiling from ear to ear!

Hi all,

I am thinking I lost a few pounds. I weight in at my lowest yesterday and had just started my TOM so I'm hoping and praying that I may be down a pound or two when the thing is over! Inches (or fractions thereof) are coming off. That is cool. I think that it may mostly be due to a more active lifestyle right now. I helped friends roof for the past two weekends and lots of leg and arm and twisting movement. Whatever it takes.

Exactly right, whatever it takes! I firmly believe that we need to focus on a lifestyle change rather than "diet" or "exercise". Just being more active constantly is so much better and it becomes a part of your everyday life.

Tonya, get back to that gym! You probably already are! I admire you for your motivation in that area. I haven't been out walking for about a month. I'm starting up with my excuses.

You caught me, I have been slacking! I am getting back to the gym, promise! Me too, NO MORE EXCUSES! I really want to be at gaol by my 2 year! I have 23 to reach the docs goal of 155 and 33 to reach my goal of 145 and slacking will not get me to either of those goals, so I MUST get back to the gym. On a good note, eating has been great for me. My restriction is pretty good these days. I think I need just a tad more, but if I don't ever get another fill, I think this one would work.

On another note...I went to town on Monday and bought a new gas range and micro hood. I know, I know...but I have a 1974 house with a harvest gold double oven stove in it and some parts don't work. My DH would be perfectly okay with keeping it forever..but I've been saving my dimes and voila', it goes in this next weekend after some gas is plumbed into the kitchen. I'm soooo excited.

Your DH sounds a lot like mine. I need a new oven too, mine probably came with the house back in the 70's too. It finally went out on me the first of the year and we still have not bought another one. Mine is white, but very old. I don't want to get it fixed, but want a self-cleaning double oven. So, I'm saving right now to get me one, plus new countertops and I want to pant/glaze my kitchen cabinets. I'm hoping to start remodeling our kitchen in January.

Edited September 3, 2008 by Sunshine2

[tonya66 13]

Well, thinks have been going pretty good for me. I had a busy weekend, it was our convention this weekend with my church, so I was gone all weekend. My daughter got baptized, so we had an exciting weekend. We went out to dinner, parties, etc.

My DH split meals each time though, and he ate most of it, I just picked at the plate here and there. I am trying to focus on listening to my body, eat until no longer hungry rather than eating till full. Very hard for me to do, but working on it.

My eating has been really good, eating lots of lean Protein and making good choices with what I eat.

Now, if I could just get back to the gym! I have a busy night tonight, but I plan on getting back on Thursday. I really need to get back into exercising in the am vs. evening. I get it done when I go in the mornings. I just need to drag my butt out of bed!

[Sula 0]

List

1. Crossing legs is soooo nice and feminine.

2. Watch band keeps getting tightened a notch more.

3. I'm with you gals on the towel size, even though I'm still over 200....just!

4. Being able to get up from a kneeling position without having to crawl up my legs or the couch.

5. I weigh less than my DH!!

6. I'm not ashamed of my eating.

7. I have so much more physical strength and energy.

8. OH, probably my biggest...I can get on my horses without having to use the bumper or the wheelwell of the trailer! This was a very shameful thing for me...I'd say, oh I have a bad back...I'm just pooped...all BS of course...I was fat and weak (physically).

9. My DH says, you sure feel thinner (even when the scale says nothing has changed.

BUT...I am still scared to try on clothes...I have that hesitation that just gets me. Happened today..went to Penney's..couldn't decide which department...back and forth back and forth..then just wussed out. Didn't want the dissappointment of being in womens sizes (which I don't think I am) but....afraid to try on the regular size. I'm nutz!!

[5jacks 0]

I can relate to the new appliance stories.....a couple years ago I wanted a new refrigerator (it was $900!!). Mine hadn't quit but shelves were broke and the seal wasn't good, and I swear it came over on the Mayflower! So of course thats "money we don't HAVE to spend" and I never got it. Father in law was getting ready to hire a man to mow, rake and bale a hay field for him.....I jumped in, mowed and raked it then paid my husband to bale it and sold my share of the hay for a little over $1,000!!!! Now I wish another opportunity would come up because I've got a stove that was a passenger on the same boat......

[Sula 0]

Morning friends,

I've decided that the reason I don't come here more often is I HATE the way the site is now. (Or has been for some time.) I used to come and browse around, read many other posts and reply if the mood fit. I can hardly understand the layout and have lost where there few people I liked to read about have gone. Maybe I just have to spend time here and get to know the site again. Sigh..but I don't like the layout!

Tough day lots of stress ahead. I've got to take a dog in to be put down. I go up and down about it. It is time for him and he is suffering. So, I'm okay with it but the grief comes and goes. I will sit with him and hold him and then when it is over, they will take him to be cremated. I can't handle the thought of them dumping him somewhere in a pit. AND then I go to work all day and put on my happy face. Is that wacked or what? My DH left about a half an hour ago...tears in his eyes...he can't do it. I don't want to be tougher, but I am.

I don't think I could eat a thing. Will do a Protein Drink just to have some energy. Anyway...send me some strength!!

[tonya66 13]

Tough day lots of stress ahead. I've got to take a dog in to be put down. I go up and down about it. It is time for him and he is suffering. So, I'm okay with it but the grief comes and goes. I will sit with him and hold him and then when it is over, they will take him to be cremated. I can't handle the thought of them dumping him somewhere in a pit. AND then I go to work all day and put on my happy face. Is that wacked or what? My DH left about a half an hour ago...tears in his eyes...he can't do it. I don't want to be tougher, but I am.

I don't think I could eat a thing. Will do a Protein drink just to have some energy. Anyway...send me some strength!!

Oh you poor girl, we had to put our dog down 5 years ago and it was so tough. My DH and kids were all torn up over it, and just about 2 years ago we got another dog. My son just can't seem to get close to our new dog since losing the other one. Its really hard losing an animal, so my thoughts are with u.

[tonya66 13]

Okay, so I get a fill on 8/6, and I actually was thinking I needed a little bit more. I could still eat without having to take small bites of food, didn't really have to chew all that great either.

OH MY, all of a sudden Saturday night, I got TIGHT. I have had reflux in the evening every since then too. I am having a hard time drinking cold drinks too. I have to sip, I have to take small bites, and I have to SLOOOOW way down on my eating, could this be restriction? Tonight, I am going to try and not eat past 7 and see if that helps my reflux. If not, I might have to head back to the doc and get a little taken out.

I just don't know what to do.

[tonya66 13]

My reflux is gone, as long as I don't eat past 7:30 or at the very latest 8. I can live with that.

Okay, guess what happened to me. This girl I work with was googling something (I'm not going to type it again because it will take her to this page) and she came across one of my post here at LBT. She called me over to ask if this was me, I denied it, but I told her the truth today and begged her not to spread the gossip around the office (no one knows at work). Hopefully she will be true to her word.

I think everyone at my office suspects I had the band, but I really have never told anyone until today, I finally told her. It felt good to get it out, and to tell the truth.

Okay my January buddies, where are ya?