donali

(((((Francesca))))) Unfortunately I have a pretty good idea what you're going through. Congrats on your insurance paying for the removal - wish I'd had that!! :mad: And the good news is - There IS life after the band! We're here for you! Please keep us posted, and stick around - this is the most well-rounded board I know of, and we need EVERYONE. <3 <3 <3

Here's hoping the 10th contains the magic you both need. (((hugs)))

I should have been a little more clear: I am not only looking for stories from people who are at goal, or "successful", or those who've had problems. I'm interested in stories from ANYONE who would care to share - I LOVE reading peoples' stories, and I think the majority of us do! I haven't thought much about testimonial length, but intend to reserve the right to edit as I see fit without changing the intent of the story. You don't have to be a stellar writer! Here's a little insight into my thoughts: I will be creating either a pdf form or something structured for the testimonials to be sent so that the basic information can be standardized, and then you can go to town on the story part. My intent behind the testimonials and the book: 1. To provide stories of ALL types - researching, newbie, mid-journey, success, complication, struggle, loss of band, etc. 2. No doctors/hospitals will be mentioned by name - there will be no bashing/no pedestals. 3. No "spin" will be put on the book. Although I am pro-band, I do not intend for the book to come off as selling the band. At the same time, I do not intend the complication stories to overshadow the positive stories. I want to have someone who reads the book to feel as though they REALLY know what they're getting into - good, bad, and in-between. 4. To have some stories from people who have lost their bands and what they've done to keep their weight off (if anything). 5. To present a lay-person's point of view with as much compiled "reliable" info as I can get. 6. To provide a relatively comprehensive resource for common practices, support groups, and informational websites. 7. To provide people who share their stories an opportunity to have a link to their website included in the book if they wish. 8. To provide as many strategy ideas and tools as I can think of to help people win their war against obesity, banded or not. Don't think that your story is boring and not worth sharing! Believe me, there are hundreds of people just like every one of us who think they are the only ones who feel a certain way - remember how liberating it was when you read someone's story and realized you weren't alone? YOU can be that person for someone else! I have never submitted my story to any of the previous people looking for stories because I felt it was unremarkable - but I know now that the way I lived/perceived my journey was interesting to at least a few people. And of course now I am in the unique position to give a first hand account of one person's experience with erosion, and how I came to terms with that and everything it meant to me. So don't think you have nothing to say! You are ALL important! The form will include a place where you can designate how you want to be identified in the book, so your desired level of privacy is guaranteed. Email me today at testimonials@newhealthdawning.com and I will send you the form as soon as it's ready! :banana :mad:

So the light now shines again through the darkness! Whip, I feel like I just got wrapped up in a fluffy blanket with a cup of steaming hot chocolate while soothing music flirts with my ears. Life seems right again. Hugs and love to both you and Patty - so glad she's on the upswing and that hope is burning bright. A bizillion congrats on the shedding of 100 pounds!! :banana Have I mentioned lately that you ROCK?!?! <3 <3 <3

CAN IT BE?!?! Is it TRULY our beloved WhippleDaddy?!?! Oh, happy day!! Rejoicing commences!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE Halloween!! :banana :banana :banana

I am currently in the process of collecting success and complication stories to include in a new book about the Lapband. If you're interested in having your story included, please email: testimonials@newhealthdawning.com for more information. I'm so excited about this project! :banana

Congrats! And great kangaroo costume...

1. Ordered the extra drink thing. 2. Covered my lap to hide the seat belt that wouldn't fasten. 3. Buried wrappers deep in the trash. 4. Ate before a party so I could attempt to eat ONLY a "normal" portion at the party. 5. Had a full drive through meal and then regular dinner with the family. 6. Would hit 2 or three fast food places in a row, instead of ordering three meals for myself at the same place. McD's, Taco Bell, and then across the street at an A&W type place. 7. Fabricated an elaborate story that I had a rare disease that if I missed even just one meal I would lose weight so fast that I would starve to death immediately. I loved perfecting this story. lol I never told it to anyone, but I loved working on it... hehe 8. Fantasized about starting to wear a "fat" suit 24/7 while I actually lost weight, so that one day I could go into work and I would be miraculously skinny. Then I would tell everyone that I was never really fat - it was an experiment to see if I would be treated any differently. HAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAHAHAHAA And yet ever so sad, at the same time... lol

Whoo hoo!!! Congrats!! Heads up - after 7 days you will most likely be feeling more like yourself - DON'T OVER DO!!! Otherwise the next week will feel much like the first. Voice of experience... lol

Since you have posted MANY times that you have more muscle mass than the average girl, it seems OBVIOUS to me that you need to be eating more calories! You GO, VINES - I know you are going to find what really works for you! Of course, you have no idea what lengths we might go to keep you as the turtles' spokesmodel... lol

I LOVE this list!!! Thanks, JohnQ!

Believe it or not, plateaus are a good thing! Being on a plateau has nothing to do with "failure" - in fact, being on a plateau helps ensure success. Why?!?! I thought you'd never ask... I've been meaning to make a post about my hypnotherapy session last week, and life has just been too crazed at the moment - I will still make one to chronicle the sessions, but a little bit here, for the moment. Did you know that our bodies use something called "neurolinquistics"? This is basically our psyches embedding/associating meanings for certain words. More on this later. In addition to internalizing certain word meanings, our bodies have an energy field that it "imprints" upon itself. This "imprint" makes us feel like "ourselves". You have all heard of people losing lots of weight, and STILL not recognizing themselves in the mirror? Their energy imprint has not yet caught up with their new body size. They still FEEL like a "fat" person. So... Plateaus give us TIME. Time for our new size to make an imprint on our energy field. Time for us to recognize the "new" us. Time to adjust physically and mentally to our new size and shape. WITHOUT this time to adjust, subconsciously the body keeps trying to recapture its remembered "imprint" - which for most of us is larger than where we are today. PLATEAUS give our bodies a chance to reset our image imprint - to remember our current size, to identify with it. A lower setpoint, if you will. A word on neurolinquistics: LOSE What does the word lose/loss mean to us, deep down inside??? Who lost their purse a week or so ago? Wasn't she FRANTIC??? Wasn't she searching high and low??? Didn't she spend a lot of time and effort REPLACING what she lost??? You bet. GAIN What does the word gain/gaining mean to us, deep down inside??? Don't we GAIN status, GAIN power, GAIN insight, GAIN understanding, GAIN respect, RE-GAINing what we've lost??? GAIN is a powerful word. So what do these two words have to do with body fat? When we think of losing weight, there is a real sense of loss - half the person I used to be, a shadow of my former self. These images imply a loss of power, a loss of standing. Subconsciously we try to regain what was lost, return to the status quo. See if you can change your thoughts about body fat to "letting go" "getting rid of" "releasing" - change your mindset so you aren't "losing" something that you will subconsciously try to find again. And as always, be gentle with yourself. Our self-programming tapes play themsleves 1500 times a SECOND! That's a lot of programming to re-do! Consciously create the thought that you are a success, you are releasing weight, everything is going according to plan - eventually your tapes will catch up, but you have to be vigilant about the reprogramming. Your public service announcement for the day...

OMG!! I have GOT to use that on my SO. ROFLMAO! Oh, I remember the days when I actually had time to play here at LBT, but now I'm so busy here at work, I've been reduced to a form of seagull management - I fly in, leave my cr**p, and fly out... lol Megan, do you honestly believe we are going to let you get away with the statement that you need punishment without SOME kind of explanation?!?! We need to know WHY, with WHOM, how MANY, how OFTEN... etc... And the busting up laughing in the bathroom - can't count how many times that's happened to me! lol Oh - Lis - here's a bone for your desire for attention. Hey girl! WHAZZUP?!?! <3

Hear, hear!! :clap: What ChiChiGirl said!!

FABULOUS work! 100#!! Whoo hoo!! Happy bandiversary!!

Whoo Hoooo!!! Megan is two years old!!! :banana Happy band day to you, Happy band day to you, Happy band day, Dearest Megan, Happy band day to you!!! You are such an amazing person, and I am so grateful that you found your way back to the life you were meant to have. NEVER settle for less than the absolute very best, because YOU ARE PURE GOLD. I adore you - <3 <3 <3

Debbie - ARGH! How awful for you - I am so sorry. Keep hanging around here for support, anyway. ((hugs))

I'm so happy for both of you!! Whoo hooo!! Here's the link I think you were looking for: http://lapbandtalk.com/archive/index.php/t-4972.html I was looking for the thread where you talked about almost overlooking your DH as a partner because of his weight, but I can't find it - I don't remember enough about the post to search. I remember the above because of the title - My DH is T-Bone. xxoo

I can't believe it's been a year already!! Whoo hooo!! CONGRATS!!! :banana

Sue - Fabulous post, and thanks for taking the time to share. From one whose journey with the band ended without choice, to one who is choosing to start on a different path - I know how disappointing this bump in the road must be. I admire you for persevering, and for taking a step back, evaluating your options, and then moving forward for what is best for you. No matter what you do, though, we will always be banded sisters! I hope we can meet up again someday, and please stick around and share your progress with the DS. I know you will be more than welcome here, as am I - these people are so AWESOME! Best wishes for a speedy recovery, and that all goes smoothly, and that you get the results you want. xxoo

OMG - Paula, there are simply no words... So glad you are safe. (((hugs)))

I got all teary-eyed when I first read your responses... Have I told you lately I LOVE you guys?!?! Truly, this is the BEST group of people EVER! I am so excited for my group hypnotherapy sessions that start tomorrow. I don't know what her program entails, but these are the top three things I want help with: 1. Motivation to exercise 2. Ignoring free food 3. Adding more veggies and lean meats to my daily fare I will keep you posted! xxoo

Thanks, Rene! I didn't really expect for the nominations to be reopened, but I was CERTAIN NO ONE would mind looking at those take-your-breath-away hot pics of Connery and Brolin - am I right, Ladies?!?! And I agree - WAAAAAY too many hotties to choose from. As far as your list goes, I guess I'd have to vote for Mel... <3 <3 <3 :D Oh, YUM!!!

Congratulations!! You look fantastic!! Healing thoughts and white light being sent to your little one - please keep us posted!

WOW! Chris, I love those! Do you use anything to hold the glass together on the box besides the metal solder (?). Where do you buy your stained glass? When I was a kid I helped make stained glass windows for our church - it was a fabulous project, and I always thought I'd like to work with glass. Have always been fascinated with glass blowing, and those glass balls/pendants for loved ones ashes are beautiful - it seems like it would be a fun thing to do.