The Lounge

4,946 topics in this forum

Yeah I know this should go under insurance, but its kinda talk too right? I was wandering how long an insurance company has to make up its mind about approving the surgery? They told me the other day that it would take 30 days, I have always heard that they only had 15 business days to overturn a denial?? I am so confused? School starts on August 15, looks like another stay at home year thanks to my great orthopedic surgeon and UnitedHealthcare. I have been thinking a lot about just getting the surgery done and forwarding them the bills and if they pay they pay, if they dont then they dont. I dont know I feel so bad about my parents paying for this, its soooooo expe…

Wow, I had the coolest dream last night. Most of you know I was raised without love (my mother is a certified paranoid schizophrenic.) Last night I dreamt that Barbara Streisand was my adoptive mother. In my dream, I was obese and sloppy, and she was slender and beautiful, but she took my face in her hands and told me how absolutely, unconditionally she loved me. It was the warmest, nicest feeling in the world - like what it must feel like to have a real parent that loves you. Meanwhile, Ozzie Osbourne was laying on lounge chairs with us in my front yard giving us a private concert. We were all drinking beer having a fabulous time when the cops showed up and broke…

Has anyone taken Xango? Is it going to make me nervous or keep me awake? I just took my first 3 ounces of Xango. What's Xango? I don't know, but think, "Vitametavegamin." I was stumbling around the UPS office shipping a box when the clerk noticed how tired I was, so she started telling me about Xango. She's into network marketing and sells the stuff, yada yada yada. I was so tired that I grabbed my wallet, willing to try anything. But then she said, $37.00, so I laughed at her and gave her back the bottle of juice. Anyway, she's so convinced this product works wonders that she GAVE me the bottle in exchange for my promise to take it each and every day. I dra…

I dont know about any of you, but here in the Bayou Country - its H O T !!!! Heat index is just 110. Takes your breath away when you open the door. BTW, if any of you see your mailman, please offer him a glass of ice Water. Mike said that he was delivering mail to a friend's house the other day. The friend was in her truck, pulling into her driveway with her AC just blowing up a snowstorm while she sat there and talked his ears off. He was standing in the heat, the sun beating down on his head.... she didnt even offer him a cup of ice water. :cross-eye Friends! Anyway... its HOT!

Here's a picture of my 10 year old pup, Susie. She's lab/shepard mix, gotta love that pink nose .

Vinesqueen, let's see if anyone else compares to our circus-freak families. What was your weirdest punishment as a child? Mine was MIDNIGHT SHOWERS. My momster drank "Tyrolia" or "Spanada" wine that came in huge jugs. After a couple glasses, she'd wait till us 3 kids were dead asleep, then she'd tip toe in our room and dump the jug of Water all over us while chanting, "Midnight Showers." Then after we were all crying in the dark, she'd cackle all the way down the hall and go back in her room and shut the door, leaving us wet and crying. Please help me feel a little normal by trying to top that!

I talked to my nurse case manager and she talked to Dr Rehnkes office and I see Dr R on Monday, but as long as he says he will do my surgery, then I am a go, and will have the final approval...no later than 8/2.. WOOOO Hoo, I hope to be in band land in Aug.....

For anyone out there that has had another surgery not band related did u get the band unfilled? I have to have a tumor removed from my shoulder and they are wanting to do surgery next week, but I am wondering should I get my fill out?

I took over 170 pics, here's a few... Billy and the kids at Bridalvail falls

You are such a blessing to this place... and to me. hope you have a WONDERFUL day!

I had LapBand on 6/10/05 and my 1st fill on 7/14/05 . . . My issues is I eat a small amount less, but I have had no negative results, I eat what and have to, and have only lost 10 lbs since the surgery date. My friend had it a year ago and from day her ability to eat what she wants has been greatly limited plus she gets sick if she eats more than a few bites. I realize the band is not a fix it all and I have to eat right to help it work, but I feel now that the band for me is not working, I have seen more results by going back the things as I did before the band such as diet pills and laxatives... My Dr. says it has not slipped but I don't feel like it is working …

What is everyone doing over the long weekend? We are going up to the lake with the rest of the family and some friends. We have cabins rented on the lake. We have some speed boats, pantoon boats, bass fishing boats, and some ski-doos. I am a little scared about all the food/drinks that will be there, my family really does love to eat/drink. So, I am going to really have to watch myself! We have lots of good cooks in this family! But I do intend on having a good time!

Just woke up from trip to Brianhead, UT for Thunder on the Mountain (bike rally.) Still cross-eyed, sunburned & deaf from the 90 mph ride home in the blazing sun, but wanted to share some pics of Heaven on Earth. One word to describe the entire trip - Heaven. Or Wow! These are our best pals, Darren & Tina at an overlook on Brianhead Mountain.

Bastards. I did not know where to post this. http://www.nbc5.com/news/4758037/detail.html?z=dp&dpswid=2265994&dppid=65195

:think I would just like to say how very sorry I am to hear of the terrorist attacks in London. After having been so close to the Sept 11th event myself, I truly know the shock and the trauma involved with such a horrible event and my heart sincerely goes out to our UK friends and those involved in this horrible tragedy.

I was told that there were some great before and after pictures on this site. I can't find them anywhere! I love to look at the progress people have made and to be honest its soooo encouraging to me. Where are they?

FYI For those of us that are still fortunate enough to eat wheat bread, try Nature's Own Double Fiber - it has a purple heading. 40 calories per slice 4 grams of Protein 5 grams of FIBER 10 grams of carbs so if you eat a Peanut Butter sandwich - the bread alone will give you 10 grams of fiber and 8 grams of protein. Thats good news!!

I need some opinions here... my 2nd and last fill was in late November. From what I remember, my fill level is around 1.6. Shortly after this second fill, I started having nighttime reflux. With many different suggestions for relief, the one thing that helped was not eating after a certain time 7:30ish pm. Well, Im eating quite a bit more then I should be able to. And the reflux ONLY happens if I eat right before bedtime.... so? should I try getting a tiny fill???? whats your opinion? I already have an appointment to get a fill/discuss this with my surgeon, but I just needed some input from you

Ok here I am at 42 and got the top part of my ear pierced. Can you believe it? For someone who is really scared of needles and I go subject myself to more pain. Anyway that is my reward to me for getting this far. This Sat July 16th is going to be my one year band anniversay and besides the ear I want a tattoo right above my ankle. That I really have to think about because I want it to be something special for my new lease on living.. Any Suggestions from my Band family will be most welcome.. But remember don't want to pass out so lets keep it small. Cannot wait to celebrate this weekend I am so happy that I have finally come full circle and I could not have gotten her…

I want to offer a very simple challenge. All you gotta do is sit on a bench at your local mall and count all the young teenage girls that go by. I do this, and it's a huge eye-opener. How many of them have bulges, belly pooches or fat rolls? When I was in highschool last year (I mean 20 years ago) there were 3 fat girls in the whole school - I was the middle one. There were no "chubby" kids, just normal thin ones and Debbie, Stacy and me (the fatties.) And I came from an enormous school with thousands of kids. While you're sitting there, you'll notice that about every 5th girl already has little fat rolls hanging over her jeans, and that seems totally exceptable …

We are half way through the year and the annual christmas eve bash on our front lawn takes place.All the street turn out all friends and kids.Every year we have a slippery slide and water games.Last year my sister took her kit off and went down the slide in her bra and g-strings.This year we want to have a paddling pool with jelly in it also.However can anybody tell me how we can make bulk jelly without refridgeration as the fridge is needed for alcohol.We have thought of asking everyone to bring a made up jelly with them but that would spoil the surprise.This year I hope to be more willing to get some of my kit off anyway.Any ideas would be most appreciated.

I admit it, I was at the midnight Harry Potter party last night with my husband and 4 year old. My nose has been in the book most of the day. I am a Harry Potter addict. Anyone else??? ~Mandy

Hi all-- I consider this site and all of you my "support group" as required by my surgeon. I was in a real blue funk all winter, didn't lose much--and finally got jumpstarted again about three months ago with what is now excellent restriction(lost 10 pounds from June 15 to today!). A social worker friend at work who knows I had the band, sidled up to me the other day and asked if I would mind if she gave my name to another nurse who she knows had a band too. So, we got together--and she invited two other new bandsters to come along! So great to chat in person. I told them all about this web site and how helpful and supportive you have all been. Nice to have o…

scheduled for July 8. Just 3 days short of my 46th birthday. Over a year ago I went to my GYN complaining that my menstrual cycles were very heavy and painful. She suggested a Mirenna IUD. The Mirena IUD has a small amount of progesterone that will virtually make your period go away completely and in 5 years you'll have to replace it, by that time I should be in menopause….Great! sign me up. So last Oct I'm on the table, feet in stirrups when the good old doc tells me that I have a fibroid in the way, that there's no way she can insert it. Months go by, periods get heavier and at about January I'm getting bursts of blood about a week after my period that lasts about a d…

My younger sister has been in several honest to god bar brawls. Me, not a one. And we would go drinking at the same places. Anyone been in a bar fight?

Im on a new thread roll today.... I think this is number 4! Anne Marie (4yr old) just came to me and said, "Mommy, for my next birthday, I want to get married." So I asked her (of coarse), "Who do you want to marry?" You know, thinking its a little boy from school or someone like that. She says, "The popsickle man!" So, I asked her, "What? Why the popsickle man?" Her response... "Because I LOVE popsickles so much. I want to marry the man that drives the popsickle truck!" LMBO! So, what funny thing have your kids said lately?

I'm a huge animal lover and ever since I was a little girl I have wanted to have a horse. Since I grew up smack dab in town I have no clue how to take care of them. I've often thought that I needed to find a friend or someone that I could hang out with to learn about horses. My friend Alice and I were driving around my new neighborhood (I live out in the country as of December) and we came upon a horse ranch about 5 miles from my house. I got so excited that there was one so close! I decided that I needed to see if I could work there- not for money, but for the education. Then I got scared that maybe they wouldn't want me to work there because I weight so much! D…

I have recently been checking into DLP projectors instead of a new TV for home theater viewing and was wondering what other people who have the systems think of them? What is good? what is bad about them? The model I was thinking of getting in particular is the Infocus 4805- so if anyone is familar with this model I would appreciate any info you could pass on. Thanks, T

I thought this was kinda neat. add your weight and time spent exercising - and it gives you number of calories you burn for several activities. http://www.fatfreekitchen.com/weightloss/burn-calories.html

Awhile back threre was a thread where we all posted why we used the screen names we do. This is part of the post by NancySmiles: I chose it mainly because my Dad always called me "Nancy with the Laughing Face"....after the Sinatra song...and because I am ALWAYS smiling....at least most of the time anyway.....When he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's almost 10 years ago, he used to remember my name that way....and when I would come to visit I would say, "it's me, Dad, Nancy with the Laughing Face." And he woudl say, oh yeah...I knew that.... Well, as the years went on and his disease progressed, even more quickly after my Mom passed away 5 yrs ago, he would say it less …

I am beginning to see more and more movie stars that have lost so much weight that they are looking sick/bad. What is going on? I mean, thin is in, but they are sickly thin. Does anyone else notice this and how do you think they look? I also think they are sitting a really bad example for the younger children.

Okay, what's the most insane diet you've ever tried? As Harley Nana would say, "fess up." Mine has got to be the Schick Center for Weight Loss back in the 80's. All the other kids spent their money on Spring Break vacations, while I paid $1,000 (huge money for a teen back then) for TORTURE CAMP. The Schick Centers used electric therapy to make you stop smoking and eating. I went twice a week for "Electric Aversion Therapy." Each session I had to bring my favorite binge food. I'd sit in a sterile white room flooded with heat lamps. They'd attach a battery-operated electric zapper thingy to my inner wrist, while a Nazi drill sergeant stood over me instructing …

We recently upgraded our internet service from dial-up to DSL. But it seems that 4 out of 5 times the DSL system is down when we go to use the internet. I am grateful that hubby has the patience to continue calling the phone comp. and try to get this "fixed" - Ha! six phone calls ago I wouldve asked for dial-up again. but now Im thinking we should just go to cable. same monthly price. anyone else having frustrations with DSL???

Okay, one of the behaviors and personality quirks I have is hording. Oh sure, I come from a long line of champian horders, I suppose it's in my blood at some level. My grandfater had the largest junk yard in two counties for crying out loud. Lisa's (DeLarla) thread on Honesty got me thinking. I have to be honest about my my hording. If I want to stop hording my body fat, I have to start letting things go, physical and tangible things. Today, I took a small step. I got rid of a paper bag full of thing from my bathroom. I reclaimed a shelf in my bathroom cupboard. One small step, one step at a time.

If you go to the Suave offer and fill out a survey they will send you 5 products for $1.99 shipping. They are full sized products and the products are sent according to you answers to the survey. Here is the link : http://suave.com/country.asp ~Mandy

Thought I would share a funny on how my husband and I met. One St Patricks day, my parents, aunt and I all went to Bennigans for a party. My dad (being the wild and crazy guy he is---eg. he dresses up as Elvis for parties and sings and dances--I still get embarrassed to this day) decided to enter the "best buns contest". He was up there shaking his money maker in his purple tighties--gyrating and all--women screaming. LOL. Anyways, they loved him, he made it to the finals. It was down to three guys. My dad and two others. Well, my dad didn't win, but my now husband did. My aunt later that night tells him "honey, you have the best buns in this place" (once aga…

Hey everyone, after 3 long months...(lol)..I will finally be banded on July 18!!! My approval was so easy, I am still a bit nervous though. My operation was scheduled for June 14th but I had an ulcer to get rid of first. So, here we are a week away, any advice??? Could use all the advice I can get..

Ive been drinking distilled Water for about 5 years now. Because of a couple of reasons, we are thinking of installing the reverse osmosis water purification system for our drinking purposes. Anyone have this system? If not, then what kind of water do YOU drink? distilled...... purified....... spring........ tap.......

1. Compliment three people everyday. 2. Watch a sunrise - a sunset. 3. Be the first to say "HELLO" 4. Treat everyone as YOU want to be treated. 5. Never give up on anybody, miracles happen. 6. Forget the Jones's. 7. Remember someone's name. 8. Pray not for things, but for wisdom and courage. 9. Be tough-minded but tender hearted. 10. Be kinder then you have to be. 11. Don't forget that a person's greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated. 12. Keep your promises. 13. Learn to show cheerfulness even when you don't feel it. 14. Don't rain on other people's parades. 15. Don't waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.

My husband wants me to get one of these:

Some of this is copy/pasted from the What Not to Wear Thread. I started a new one because I could use some prayers/good vibes/white lights/whatever ya got...and we are talking about clothes over there, so a new thread is good... So I go for my 35yo mammogram 5 years ago and they find a fibroadenoma, a benign solid tumor in my right breast. I follow up in 6 months, no change, come back when you are 40. So now I'm 40, get the mammogram and, as suspected, get a call to come back and take a look...now this is pasted from the other thread... ________________________ BUT, here's the squish-o-gram update. Okay, so they do an ultrasound on the right side (just where I su…

I am going to post some of the shots we took from the film footage from our House Concert tour. These are just some of the beautiful things we experienced along the way. Enjoy!!

Okay, y'all are going to laugh so hard all y'all are fall out of your chairs.... DeLarla, you were talking about your permanent eye-liner (you look mha-vo-lous, btw) and talking about just needing a little bronzer and founation. Okay, I was raised by wolves. Wolves eat their young when they try to wear make-up. As a teen-ager, I didn't learn the whole "girl thing" because I didn't get teen-agers, especially girls. I've always thought the whole "boy-crazy" thing was ... crazy. ... ANYWAY I don't have a clue about make-up. Oh sure, I could create a werewolf make-up, including the wig-work, or create some creepy Halloween effect, but I simply have no clue about …

hey gang, I'll be in NY for a week, with plenty of free time on the weekend. Just a few meet & greet activities I have to attend. I'll be in Syracuse for a symposium in a couple of weeks. Let me know if that is close for any one. Cheers!

This was in an e-mail I recieved. I think it's supossed to be funny, but...OMG!

Junk TV:You know, the kind you're embarrassed to admit you watch, even if it's just by accident, but once you've turned on the set you're hooked. Well, I was channel-surfing late last night and found the TV sequel to "Jackass" on MTV (I think). It's called "Rude Boyz" and (like Jackass) features Johnny Nashville. The show is nothing more than a bunch of dumb young guys doing dopey stuff like playing Twister in a tub of alligators. Maybe it's because I was raised with a whole lot of brothers, but I couldn't stop laughing! But then, I was one of only two people over 40 in the theater when I went to see "Jackass: The Movie." The other geezer was, of course, one of my brother…

I need help and advice regarding one of my dogs. We took her in when she was 10 months old after she had been in an abused situation. She was a rescue dog. She is terrified of belts and any object that seems threatening but she is also very defensive and not trusting. She is also territorial and jealous of everything. We have had her for 4 years and she is one of two welsh corgis. The other we got as a puppy and is as sweet as can be. I get bit all the time by her. Its often just enough to tear a pantleg or bruise and scratch the skin but it hurts and I'm tired of it. It has been going on since we got her. She has more respect for my hubby but even then she still bites hi…

I found this quote from Andy Rooney on the Menopause Diet site, and thought you might like it. "As I grow in age, I value older women most of all. Here are just a few reasons why: An older woman will never wake you in the middle of the night to ask, "What are you thinking?" She doesn't care what you think. An older woman knows herself well enough to be assured in who she is, what she is, what she wants and from whom. Few women past the age of 50 give a damn what you might think about her. An older, single woman usually has had her fill of "meaningful relationships" and "commitment." The last thing she needs in her life is another dopey, clingy, whiny, dependen…

Do you guys remember her? She was the lead singer for Jefferson Airplane / Jefferson Starship. Think "WHITE RABBIT"!!!!!!!!!!!!! Anyway, she is a painter. John and I were invited to a Gallery showing of her artwork. And YES!! I had to buy one of her paintings. It is of a PANDA BEAR. I will post a pic when I get a chance to take one of the painting. She also signed the painting on the back and gave me a signed black paper with silver ink. This was too cool. I had my pic taken with her and they are supposed to be sending me a copy of it in a week. Only time will tell. John bought her painting of Pete Townshend of "THE WHO". He also got a pic and signed b…

I'm not sure if this will help any one, but I got approved in one week; once I made an appt with the doctor, a week later she told me I was approved. I thought that was so fast. I have Fairchoice/BCBS HMO; they just started paying for lapband May 15, 2005 more. My surgery is set for August 12th.