dee257

hello...befor banding I loved water....after banding I hated the taste of plain water...and lived on Popel.....that lasted about 2 months...now I love my pure Water again !!!

Great to be back here...I just got a new putter one I can see the text !!! ....I have to say now that summer is coming to a end......it has been my very best summer I think I have ever had.....and the main bright spot that helped me enjoy so much was first time in my adult life I was fit and healthy !!!....I was able to take my boys fishing...hiking....kayaking...swimming...amusement park slides......and just feeling so happy....meeting a special friend from LBT...love ya Terri......Oh yea...I have had a few not so good times too....my hubby had a heart attack ....but he is well on the mend now and eating right and walking with me !!!!

Hello...
I am one that has left...I loved the site when I first came...
and I learned lots...I was not in the site 24/7 like some here...I tried to be a voice to some and like many of you have stated..if you didn't say what some one liked they bashed you...and I was doing great....I knew the bashing was from ones not doing so great...I didn't and don't care who likes or dislikes me....I hated seeing the MEANESS I was seeing....
I am not a mean person and I remember where I started...I did fallow my Drs orders to the best of my ability....I was afraid not to....but then I started reading how some ate pizza 3 days out or this or that and I really worried about newbies thinking...WOW you mean I can eat that and I wont hurt my band....the ones that posted were more BULLIES then concerning friends....and I didn't care for that either...so yes I went to FB and stay with a bunch of girls..that arnt always 100% agreeable but we do listen and were are all allowed to have our own opion...
I wish you all well...
~hugs~

Hello...
I am one that has left...I loved the site when I first came...
and I learned lots...I was not in the site 24/7 like some here...I tried to be a voice to some and like many of you have stated..if you didn't say what some one liked they bashed you...and I was doing great....I knew the bashing was from ones not doing so great...I didn't and don't care who likes or dislikes me....I hated seeing the MEANESS I was seeing....
I am not a mean person and I remember where I started...I did fallow my Drs orders to the best of my ability....I was afraid not to....but then I started reading how some ate pizza 3 days out or this or that and I really worried about newbies thinking...WOW you mean I can eat that and I wont hurt my band....the ones that posted were more BULLIES then concerning friends....and I didn't care for that either...so yes I went to FB and stay with a bunch of girls..that arnt always 100% agreeable but we do listen and were are all allowed to have our own opion...
I wish you all well...
~hugs~

Hello...
I am one that has left...I loved the site when I first came...
and I learned lots...I was not in the site 24/7 like some here...I tried to be a voice to some and like many of you have stated..if you didn't say what some one liked they bashed you...and I was doing great....I knew the bashing was from ones not doing so great...I didn't and don't care who likes or dislikes me....I hated seeing the MEANESS I was seeing....
I am not a mean person and I remember where I started...I did fallow my Drs orders to the best of my ability....I was afraid not to....but then I started reading how some ate pizza 3 days out or this or that and I really worried about newbies thinking...WOW you mean I can eat that and I wont hurt my band....the ones that posted were more BULLIES then concerning friends....and I didn't care for that either...so yes I went to FB and stay with a bunch of girls..that arnt always 100% agreeable but we do listen and were are all allowed to have our own opion...
I wish you all well...
~hugs~

Hello...
I am one that has left...I loved the site when I first came...
and I learned lots...I was not in the site 24/7 like some here...I tried to be a voice to some and like many of you have stated..if you didn't say what some one liked they bashed you...and I was doing great....I knew the bashing was from ones not doing so great...I didn't and don't care who likes or dislikes me....I hated seeing the MEANESS I was seeing....
I am not a mean person and I remember where I started...I did fallow my Drs orders to the best of my ability....I was afraid not to....but then I started reading how some ate pizza 3 days out or this or that and I really worried about newbies thinking...WOW you mean I can eat that and I wont hurt my band....the ones that posted were more BULLIES then concerning friends....and I didn't care for that either...so yes I went to FB and stay with a bunch of girls..that arnt always 100% agreeable but we do listen and were are all allowed to have our own opion...
I wish you all well...
~hugs~

Hello...
I am one that has left...I loved the site when I first came...
and I learned lots...I was not in the site 24/7 like some here...I tried to be a voice to some and like many of you have stated..if you didn't say what some one liked they bashed you...and I was doing great....I knew the bashing was from ones not doing so great...I didn't and don't care who likes or dislikes me....I hated seeing the MEANESS I was seeing....
I am not a mean person and I remember where I started...I did fallow my Drs orders to the best of my ability....I was afraid not to....but then I started reading how some ate pizza 3 days out or this or that and I really worried about newbies thinking...WOW you mean I can eat that and I wont hurt my band....the ones that posted were more BULLIES then concerning friends....and I didn't care for that either...so yes I went to FB and stay with a bunch of girls..that arnt always 100% agreeable but we do listen and were are all allowed to have our own opion...
I wish you all well...
~hugs~

All I can say this morning......after being banded for a certain amount of time...being in the "Green" Zone for years, and being 100% successful and Happy, happy happy.....
This Forum can be EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING.....
I just left another Thread, and NO ONE GET'S IT !!!
I have to stop and ask "What in the World am I doing here?" Even when I try to explain things, things that are simple truths based upon my experience and my life with the band....people just do not understand....and will even debate you over it!
Right now, I feel like a stranger in in a strange land....and I know others that have moved on for just that reason....
Sometimes you just have to get away to keep your sanity.....

I've never been part of an online forum/chat group until this one, so this was a new experience for me....starting almost 5 years ago now.
When I joined, I'd get on here and just listen....LISTEN closely to what the successful folks had to say. I wanted to be like them!! And I'd also pay attention to the ones who were struggling, and try to find out why.....to avoid those same issues. There is a wealth of information that can be had from this site. Personal experiences that can never be replaced by someone who hasn't "been there, done that".
One thing I do sometimes, is go back and read veterans posts/questions from when they were starting out. It can be eye opening....we had lots of the same questions and concerns that are asked here every day.
Now for my little rant...
I was ready to leave about a month ago...Disgusted...not because of anything anyone said, but because I felt a sense of censorship coming from what I percieved to be "the site". Locking threads that are a hot topic, just because of differences of opinion? If someone violates a rule, is disrespectful or hateful, tell that person, and then ban them if they dont stop! (Which is what ended up happening in the instance I'm referring to....KUDDOS to the moderating team or whomever is responsible for how it was handled in the end.) I despise the shotgun approach to dealing with problems. We don't have to agree with someones OPINION, politics, views on issues. MOVE ON! Don't read the damn thing if it offends you....certainly don't try and limit someones OPINION just because you don't agree with it.

I don't come here as often anymore because like B52 said we moved on to Facebook. The reason we left is because of people preaching constantly. You must read this, you must do that, people who would go against their doctors orders and want to be coddled because they didn't do what they were supposed to do. There is still preaching going on from certain people and it gets old. They post and blog the same crap over and over again and think that it is a joy to read but it's not. Also if you don't say what people want to here then the get mad and attack you like you killed their mother. It gets old. You either want advice or you don't its that plain and simple. You can't expect someone who followed their doctors orders to the T not be upset about someone who is three days post op eating a whole pizza. I used to blog about nutrition because that is what I was doing before this year. People said they were sick of me talking about what I do and had a big rant on here for nothing because in the end she is the one that looked like an idiot. You either want information or don't. Oh let me not forget the person who said we veterans need to get back here to help the new people out we owe it to them. No I only owed myself to get well. It's people like this that make us not want to be here. We would love to help but too many people put their hands in the pot and stir it. I am 50 years old and don't need a mother or someone to get pissed off about what I blog or what I do for a living. Yes I have worked in the medical field for 30 years and I do think I know what I am talking about. I taught nutrition classes but when I gave my opinion or blogged about it I was told they were sick of me throwing my career around. Well I wasn't I was just trying to be helpful. I don't need someone to email me and say I still read your blogs and I think you are a nice woman. I know I am and I don't need anyone to confirm that. I was just trying to help those who didn't understand their nutritional needs. Shot down every time. So this is why we don't come here anymore. We stay on face book and have a blast. I stop in on occasion but try not to make this my daily habit because I don't need undue stress in my life from people I don't even know.

Alex...I got banded because I knew I had to take control of my weight once and for all...as Im sure many of you know I have a handicapped son who needs to be lifted all the time and my bellie was getting wider then my arms were long...but what I have gained through all my weight loss is a confidence in myself that I never knew I could have...and with confidence comes wanting to shop and wear nice clothes...makes me not embarrassed to go to functions with my husband and all sports events with my children..I cheer louder today then I ever have at football games..I walk up and down bleachers with out wanting to cry inside that my butt is hitting people in the face or scared im going to fall...
As for my arms...omg they have grown too...lol...I now lift my son with ease and have the energy to do all day to day activities....Thank you Alex for this forum ...it has helps me through many tough spots

I found this on MFP
and made them today
2 bananas mashed
1 C of rolled or quick oats
Mix together
Bake at 350 for 15 mins....

Alex...I got banded because I knew I had to take control of my weight once and for all...as Im sure many of you know I have a handicapped son who needs to be lifted all the time and my bellie was getting wider then my arms were long...but what I have gained through all my weight loss is a confidence in myself that I never knew I could have...and with confidence comes wanting to shop and wear nice clothes...makes me not embarrassed to go to functions with my husband and all sports events with my children..I cheer louder today then I ever have at football games..I walk up and down bleachers with out wanting to cry inside that my butt is hitting people in the face or scared im going to fall...
As for my arms...omg they have grown too...lol...I now lift my son with ease and have the energy to do all day to day activities....Thank you Alex for this forum ...it has helps me through many tough spots

...............Congrats so exciting for you and your wife.....I have 5 adopted children and 2 bio......I have to say I love each of them the same.....my twin sister and I were adopted at age 7 by a Man who was the world to us...he has passed on but not a day goes by that I don't thank him for all he did for us.....A lil story here...one day when I was around 20....I can remember sitting with my twin and saying to her.....can you imagine if we were bio children of Daddies...would he love us more....because we couldn't imagine being loved more then he always made us feel.....now today with my own adopted children....I know adopted or not...we love them because they are OURS !!!! Grown in our hearts not our bellies.....congrats !!!

...............Congrats so exciting for you and your wife.....I have 5 adopted children and 2 bio......I have to say I love each of them the same.....my twin sister and I were adopted at age 7 by a Man who was the world to us...he has passed on but not a day goes by that I don't thank him for all he did for us.....A lil story here...one day when I was around 20....I can remember sitting with my twin and saying to her.....can you imagine if we were bio children of Daddies...would he love us more....because we couldn't imagine being loved more then he always made us feel.....now today with my own adopted children....I know adopted or not...we love them because they are OURS !!!! Grown in our hearts not our bellies.....congrats !!!

Great to be back here...I just got a new putter one I can see the text !!! ....I have to say now that summer is coming to a end......it has been my very best summer I think I have ever had.....and the main bright spot that helped me enjoy so much was first time in my adult life I was fit and healthy !!!....I was able to take my boys fishing...hiking....kayaking...swimming...amusement park slides......and just feeling so happy....meeting a special friend from LBT...love ya Terri......Oh yea...I have had a few not so good times too....my hubby had a heart attack ....but he is well on the mend now and eating right and walking with me !!!!

I had just finished my 6 month learning to eat right phase and my nutritionist was putting in my info for my insurance to be approved when it suddenly hit me....OMG I'm finally going to get a band......so that night I did a Google search on "lap band" and I seen a chat site LBT ...I was so excited only wish I had know about it during those 6 months........thanks Alex !

I went through a rough time with head hunger...and still do many nights...what works for me is keeping most cals for night time..and always having my water bottle full and handy..

...............Congrats so exciting for you and your wife.....I have 5 adopted children and 2 bio......I have to say I love each of them the same.....my twin sister and I were adopted at age 7 by a Man who was the world to us...he has passed on but not a day goes by that I don't thank him for all he did for us.....A lil story here...one day when I was around 20....I can remember sitting with my twin and saying to her.....can you imagine if we were bio children of Daddies...would he love us more....because we couldn't imagine being loved more then he always made us feel.....now today with my own adopted children....I know adopted or not...we love them because they are OURS !!!! Grown in our hearts not our bellies.....congrats !!!

Not to hijack a thread, but this is a wonderful testimony to your father! God blessed you with him, and now you can bless others, too!

...............Congrats so exciting for you and your wife.....I have 5 adopted children and 2 bio......I have to say I love each of them the same.....my twin sister and I were adopted at age 7 by a Man who was the world to us...he has passed on but not a day goes by that I don't thank him for all he did for us.....A lil story here...one day when I was around 20....I can remember sitting with my twin and saying to her.....can you imagine if we were bio children of Daddies...would he love us more....because we couldn't imagine being loved more then he always made us feel.....now today with my own adopted children....I know adopted or not...we love them because they are OURS !!!! Grown in our hearts not our bellies.....congrats !!!

...............Congrats so exciting for you and your wife.....I have 5 adopted children and 2 bio......I have to say I love each of them the same.....my twin sister and I were adopted at age 7 by a Man who was the world to us...he has passed on but not a day goes by that I don't thank him for all he did for us.....A lil story here...one day when I was around 20....I can remember sitting with my twin and saying to her.....can you imagine if we were bio children of Daddies...would he love us more....because we couldn't imagine being loved more then he always made us feel.....now today with my own adopted children....I know adopted or not...we love them because they are OURS !!!! Grown in our hearts not our bellies.....congrats !!!

Today was a big day. We finalized our adoption and the Judge happily signed off on it making it official forever. I'm now the forever father to a precious 5 year old girl. Pretty amazing feeling. Thank you all for your kind words. It truly is one of the best experiences of my life.

I should add that our journey has not been easy. While dealing with DHS had not been bad for us (I've heard some horror stories), bringing someone else into our home has had it's difficult moments. This little girl came from a situation where she literally had to "zone out" to survive so when she moved in with us and she knew she had done something wrong, she would just be dead to the world for hours. There were several issues she had when she first came to us but in the short amount time she has been with us, she has overcome 90% of them. Which is another reason I find inspiration in her, she just continues to move mountains in her life.
As of today, I now have a new dilemma with our adoption situation that my wife and I are praying about. There is another little girl. She's 7. Blonde hair blue eyed angel. Her father has lost his rights and mother will be losing her rights next month and this girl needs a permanent home. I would do and go through everything I went through a hundred times over for my 5 year old but we are trying to decide if we are being called to this 7 year old or if its just our soft hearts and an understanding of what a child has endured that makes us feel drawn to her. Please keep fingers crossed and this blue eyed angel in your prayers.

Sincerely, thank you all for the kind words. I met this little girl last year at Halloween. She was 4 at the time. A big group of us friends all showed up to a neighborhood to take the kids door to door and she was a new kiddoe to the group. As soon as they told me who she was and what her story was I instantly fell in love with her and knew she just had to be mine and added to our family. Well, we made some phone calls and she ended up moving in with us in April. She is 5 years old now and amazes me everyday. She has overcome so much adversity and survived a walk through the gates of hell. Her passion for life and desire to unconditionally love another person is truly inspiring.