TerriDoodle

Still no word from Sara Mos, huh? I forget, maybe she had to travel or had an overnight stay or something? I wish she'd post!! Okay, I've been pretty calm up to this point, but I have to say that I am indeed pretty nervous now. I don't know how I"ll ever sleep. I'm loading up on water and (since I'm not on liquids) went out for a nice LC dinner but only ate a small portion. I really am OK, but nervous. Not overly so, but nervous. There is no argument that this is a life-altering surgery and I suppose I'm as ready as I'll ever be. I guess I'm not exactly "excited" at this point...not like I was. I only want this next month or two to be over with. I made the FATAL mistake of browsing the "complications" threads last night only for a short while and that's what got me going. If I weren't 1000% confident in my surgeon I'd probably be having major apprehension now. But he is the best there is and I live in a city that is home to some of the best hospitals in the country. I'll be fine. No, I'll be better than fine. I just need to get this part over with. How am I going to sleep??? ShineOn and I have the same surgeon and the same date....but different hospitals!! Can you believe that? Shine--I go in to Park Plaza at 8:30...so I'm after you. I wish we could be in together...that would be very comforting. I hope you'll check in tomorrow afternoon so I'll know you're ok. I can't believe how our "family" has grown!!! Thanks everyone for everything. Ya'll are just the greatest.

I would definitely call your doctor and see if you can take it two days before instead of one. Most doctors don't even require that prep, so surely there is some flexibility here!

NOW I REMEMBER WHY I WANTED THE BAND: This morning I had to change my freakin' clothes THREE TIMES before I found something that didn't make me look like a sausage. (This is a difficult season in Houston--too early to wear Spring-y clothes but too warm to wear the winter ones) I would have definitely been in tears if I wasn't getting banded tomorrow. If I had to sum up my feelings in one word on this day--the eve of my surgery-- that word would be HOPE. At least there is HOPE. Tracy - thanks for your flattery but, trust me, it's not pretty. I don't see "beautiful" when I look in the mirror....but I will soon! I am glad that the band became available to me before I reached my sister's weight....that was clearly my destination and I was moving rapidly toward it. (I've gained 60# in 3 years and no indication it was slowing down.) Sara Mos??? WHERE ARE YOU??

I love Dear Abby -- according to her the perfect response for any question you don't want to answer is "Why do you ask?"

Kat - where is your ranch in Texas? Being a city girl, I'm very impressed with your work! How in the world do you find time to post?? LOL

Sure, Ellen! It's just a group of people who set goals for exercise for the coming month. We've kinda globbed onto the April 06 Bandits because they are very inspiring. They've been kind enough to take us '07'ers under their wing and invited us to join their challenge group. The link to their thread is here: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/april-bandits-exercise-t32404.html?t=32404 Basically you just commit to the challenge and then do your best to meet or beat your goals! It must work because I actually DID exercise when I got home tonight. (Nobody faint!!) JENN - I am so glad to hear that you're taking your laptop!! I'd really miss you around here! I hope you have a WONDERFUL time on your vacation. You deserve it! Keep up the good work with that diet, ok? You're doing so great! Thanks for your kind words. It's not me I'm worried about getting sick, it's helping to take care of my mom if they put her in the hospital. But it's looking like she'll be OK...crossing my fingers and toes. Well, I notice that it is not possible to post photos to one's journal . I took my "before photos" so I'll post them here just so ya'll can see who you're talking to! Now, keep in mind that I had just "Walked Away The Pounds" (yeah, right) :pound: and I DO clean up better than this! These were taken tonight. (Check out those JOWLS!)

(((Panda))) So glad to hear ya'll are home and doing well. I've been anxious to hear from you ALL day! Take good care!....and thanks to hubby for posting! Ellen & Gr8ful -- we are SO happy to have you here with us. We've got a wonderful group here and you are more than welcome! ALL MY BEST WISHES (AND PRAYERS) TO THOSE GOING IN TOMORROW: SQUALE (PAT) KITY SPARKETTE(DONNA) AND JENNIFER ((((HUGS)))

Pat - First of all, best of luck to you with your surgery tomorrow. I know you'll be glad to get it done and over with. The only thing I can suggest is for you to find something to keep your mind and hands very busy.... stay away from all your normal triggers. Yoga, meditation, relaxation tapes....those also come to mind. You should find a way to relax and divert your focus away from your stomach and on to something pleasurable. Half of it is the mind game, y'know.

HEY! Except for the green hair & lips, she looks just like ME!!! (not)

Tracy - why have you gained weight?? Was it your famous Farewell to Food Tour? I have been doing a *little* bit of that, really not too bad, and I'm bumping up at my high, too (215)....I seem to be gaining and losing 3# over and over. Story of my life for the last 6 mos. Water Water Water. More Water. Tonight I take photos and measurements. I'd rather have my hair set on fire. I'm thinking of my sisters out there getting banded today...and have been all morning! Sending lots of positive energy your way! Can't wait to hear from you and hope you're all just peachy-keen! I'm also a bit nervous. My mom is pretty sick (she has COPD) and I'd say there's a 50-50 chance they'll put her in the hospital in the next few days. What timing, eh? Especially since I haven't told her or my sister about my surgery....and surely can't postpone it without some type of penalty. I'm really wringing my hands over that one. Should know more this afternoon or tomorrow. :help:

No, actually my great-grandparents are from Czechoslovakia, my grandparents were born here in Texas but lived in a Czech community where all the traditions and language were (and still are) very much alive. My mother spoke only Czech until she was about 5 and ready to go to school. After that time, English was spoken in the house 98% of the time. Hajovsky is our family name. We have Czech radio stations, cookbooks, societies, newspapers and, best of all, Czech festivals! ....LOL....and NO, I don't speak Czech. I never really had an opportunity to learn or practice it! Yes, I know my kolache days are over. But I can lick one!!

Lunasa - You crack me up!! :pound:

((Julie)) I've been reading your posts all over the board and I just want to say that I've really enjoyed them. I'm very glad to see you home and doing well and I'm wishing you the best for a very speedy recovery. Looks like you're doing very well so far!! That's just great!

Good luck to all of us going in this week... I'll be praying for you!

Hi Ya'll -- I'm in for the Bronze! Getting banded in 3 days so I'll be doing good to get in that much exercise....but I'm thrilled to be part of this great group! Thanks!

Well, you April bandsters need to check in at the April 07 Head Start on Spring thread -- It is a wonderful source of support!!

Wow, Julie -- that post could have been written by me!! I'm being banded by Dr. Spivak on Wednesday and have the same type of history as you. I'm also self-pay. I signed up for surgery before I left the seminar. You will love the Dr. and your confidence in your decision will go up 500% after you meet him and hear what he has to say. Then, you visit this board again and again and you know FOR SURE you're doing the right thing. Good luck to you!!

Sara & Panda -- Ya'll are both such beautiful women!! I cannot wait to watch you bloom! This is gonna be a FUN ride! :confused: Lunasa - Let me know what you think of the book, OK? I'm glad to have someone to bounce the ideas off of...maybe we can 'work it' together! And....BTW....I definitely agree that each of us should try to remember to say a little prayer every morning for our April sisters (and brothers). That would mean a lot to me!

There is a thread that explains it....here's the link: How to put a ticker in your signature

I really am feeling connected to all you girlz, which is pretty strange considering I have never met or probably never will meet any of you. We just have these keystrokes and these common experiences between us. But I have to say that I find this to be the nicest people I've ever shared a support board with and I think it's because (for one) we can finally TALK about our real feelings of what it is like to be overweight....with people who REALLY understand what we deal with on a daily basis. I'm sure most of you are like me, and keep it all bottled up inside 99.5% of the time...pretending we don't care....or that we have "accepted" our bodies just the way they are. I think we all share the tremendous sense of relief of the real possiblity of HOPE. I am so very tired of this battle that I have been fighting since the age of 10. I just want it to be over once and for all. I'm sorry some of you are not getting the support you deserve from your DH's. That breaks my heart. I am quite sure they don't understand a damn thing about what it's like to be us. I wish you girls the very best luck of all and I hope that our support is enough for you for now. We all understand everything.

I haven't been banded yet, but I can't figure out why people should have problems with eggs...in any form!? I mean, they're soft! ...just can't figure that out....

My girlfriend who has smoked for 30 years was able to quit in 5 days of using the drug and has not smoked for a month now. She says it's a wonder drug. Her husband is also successfully using it... he had a 2+ pack/day habit and is in an office with 3 smokers ....and he has quit also. The only side effects that they complain of is slight nausea for an hour or so in the evenings.

My movie is very simple: I'M ZIPPING UP A SIZE 10 PAIR OF JEANS!! :clap2:

Lunasa - I'm familiar with the movie and the concepts that you're sharing here. My spiritual beliefs are centered around the concept of "creating your own reality" and I've done tons of reading in that area. So NLP doesn't sound so far out there to me. Thanks for the synopsis...I guess I could have saved you the keystrokes and just gone out to the internet and done my own research!! (lazy bum) ....so thanks again. Remember in the movie they talk so much about neuro pathways and creating new ones to modify behaviors?... I was sitting in the salon last night waiting for my hairdresser and picked up the March 07 issue of Good Housekeeping. There was a great article in there by M.J. Ryan called something like "So you Want to Change..." It is based on a book called [ame=http://www.amazon.com/This-Year-Will-Finally-Resolution/dp/0767920082/ref=pd_ybh_1/103-6120406-6808645?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0TY1GWJ9ZBKNYESZTAZ4&pf_rd_t=1501&pf_rd_p=280800601&pf_rd_i=ybh]This Year I Will: How to Finally Change a Habit, Keep a Resolution, or Make A Dream Come True[/ame] (link to Amazon.com). I immediately came home and ordered the book. Very solid advice in there based on hard science of how the brain is wired and what we need to do to REWIRE it. I can't wait 'til it gets here. She has a website too,...it's not great...but it does contain a section called [ame=http://mj-ryan.com/files/tyiwsections/keepresolutions/]12 Ways to Keep a Resolution[/ame] that briefly outlines her recommendations. Interesting stuff.

Thanks Eficka! I love coming here and reading your thoughts a year later; it's very encouraging. And thanks for dropping by the April 07 thread. We're all very HYPER (excited) right now!!! I am of Czech ancestry too....I'm 1/2 czech. There are lots and lots of them here in Texas and I'm proud to be one! I miss my grandma's kolaches and klobasniks-- can't get a decent one for miles and miles around here!!