Teachlady

Kat, that is awesome news!!! Wow girl... you're gonna lose a ton of weight and sizes when the procedure is done. Just in time for the big Bash!! Then we can all ask to see your scars.:thumbup: I had a couple of NSVs today. We went to walmart to get a few things. I saw some Faded Glory stretch jeans on sale from $16 down to $9. So I got a pair of 14's thinking I can wear them later when I get past the 16's. WELL... I tried them on when I got home and they fit with plenty of room. PLUS I got a t-shirt to wear under a tunic for our New Day Singers picture tonight. The biggest size they had was a medium 8/10. I figured since it would be worn underneath something, it didn't matter if it was a little tight or not. I tried it on when I got home and IT FITS with plenty of room. I guess I just have a hard time wrapping my brain around the fact that I am no longer in 22/24 2X stuff anymore! What a great feeling! Now if I could just get a bra that fits, I'll be happy. I'm having the worst time with that. I really need to get fitted, but just haven't figured out where to have it done. I also got some new sandals for the cruise. Size 8 and 1/2 down from 9 and1/2 wide!! I'm lovin' it!!!

Love the hair!!!!!

Laura... I think I posted this link before... but I'll do it again in case anyone is interested in looking. Yes, I've been to Alaska on a cruise. It was beautiful, beautiful, BEAUTIFUL. Scenery is unbelievable and the glaciers take your breath away. I'd recommend Alaska to anyone that loves nature and beauty! Teachlady58's photos and albums on webshots

Well spoken, Mighty Mouse...errrrrrr Kat!!

Happy, Happy Birthday, Tracy!!! Good morning, Violets.. Just put ingredients for moroccan chicken stew in the crock pot. Hope it turns out ok. Today we take the dogs in for grooming, then bell choir and New Day singers. We are taking pictures tonight for publicity and I couldn't be happier!! I'm not the heaviest of the group anymore. Not by a long shot so snap away and I'l even pose this time around!! We got new tops and I got a medium. (14-16W) and it is huge, but that was the smallest size they had. Better to be too big than too small. 4 days til we head out for our cruise. The Bobster and I are finally getting excited about it. Just to get away with each other with no interruptions of kids, pets, church or rehearsals will be worth the trip! And we are taking 2 cameras and our Flip video, so expect to be bored with lots of pictures!! Kat... WOOOOOoo HOOOOOOOOOOO on the #!!! Mine has been sitting at the same number for a week now. Can't get it to budge for the life of me! I'm doing everything by the book, so I'll just have patience and trust that it will move again soon. I better go get some breakfast in before it's lunch time! BBL!!

87days til the Violet's Bandiversary Bash!!

Evening, Violets... Haydee.. I was wondering where you were. Get well, girl. We miss you!!! And as for disappearing when we get to goal.. sheeeeesh, I didn't put 10 months into this group to just disappear when I get to goal. TracyK is going to make it first without a doubt, but there are others of us darn close and one of these days, like Pam says, we'll all be at goal and even then we'll have lots to talk about! After all, it's not just weight issues we gab about. We've gone through jobs, marriages, trips, family issues, yes and even arguments and misunderstandings and we're still here each of us checking up on the other. We be da VIOLET SISTAS!! And Kat.. as for that email. Hit that delete button and put it out of your mind. Don't let a rude, thoughtless, jealous person ruin it for you. I always smile when I go to a thread and find your comments there. It's like that super hero, was it Mighty Mouse??... "she's everywhere...she's everywhere!!" And I love reading your comments no matter where I see them. You're just so down home, sensible and knowledgable. Don't let anyone's stupid email take that away from you or us!!! There, I've said my piece. End of sermon. Just got in from the hot tub and it felt goooooooooood. I'm off to chat with some friends on ispq and then to bed. Everyone sleep well. See ya tomorrow!

Who is that itty bitty girl being terrorized by that giant pink pig??? oooooooooooooooooo it's MEEEEEchelle!! Cute pic! I for one am very happy in my new body and was falling into the trap of convincing myself that I could eat snacks as long as I ate little amounts. That philosophy was totally wrong and was making the pounds slowly climb up a couple of ounces at a time. sooooo I said enough is enough and I am one of the fortunate people who can actually say it and mean it. I guess that attitude comes with the extra years along with maturity and wrinkles! :ohmy: I have been doing really great since the beginning of this month and the NSVs along with a new excitement for exercise are helping me through this mental plateau. I really believe exercise is an extremely important key along with drinking the required amount of water. How many of you can say honestly that you get the required amount of water and exercise each day??? I am sooooooooo working on that now and I find I can't even go in the living room anymore without picking up some weights, or my stretching thingy or jumping on the elliptical. Just like when food is there, I eat it.... when the equipment is there, I do it. Hearing that Tracy can get into size 10 jeans (wooo hooo girl) makes me a little upset cause I'm 20# less than her and am in 16's and 14's, BUT, I used to be in 22/24 so I can't feel sorry for myself. And even though I'm a minister's wife, I'm still human and the looks I get from guys now are flattering, not humiliating. Course most of them are in their 70's and their eyesight ain't the best, but it's the principle of the thing, right??? Well, it's been a lazy day today. No Ethan cause his daddy is home from work. Our tax man called and we owe $250 to state, but get $1400 back from Federal. Course we won't see it cause it gets applied to our quarterly payment, but that means I don't have to pay anything but the $250 on April 15th. I already had money set aside for that so guess where that goes??!! Can we say San Antonio?????:biggrin: And DD Kris called to tell me she doesn't have school tomorow. The college is closed again because of the ice and that's a very, very rare occurance. She's going nuts at home alone though. She can't get out of her driveway. I'm off to look at dinner stuff. I'm fixing pepper steak in the pressure cooker. should be interesting. The Bobster has Bible study tonight and has to leave by 5:30 so I better get going. Catch ya'all later!

Oh man, I can relate. I've always obsessed more about my nose, than my weight. But now that I've lost weight, I feel so good about my body image, that I don't pay that much attention to my huge nose anymore. However if I had the money, I'd definitely pay for a rhinoplasty over a TT any day. But I'm not doing either one. I'm the way I am and that's it! And DH loves me no matter what size or shape I am so I'm content.

Just took another look and Tracy.. you need to get smaller clothes! Those are just hanging on you, dear!!

WOW TRACY!!! You Skinny Minny you!! No one would ever guess you ever had a weight problem! Woooo Hoooooo!!!:wub::thumbup:

Good Morning, Violets.. I'm up early to greet Ethan , but his dad called and he's not going into work today cause he's not feeling well so Ethan won't be coming over. Sooooooooo I have the whole day to myself with nothing planned. The Bobster wants me to help him clean out his office. Now that is a major undertaking so I guess I'll be busy after all. The roads and side streets are frozen solid here. The newspaper said it was the worst ice storm we've ever had here. Now it's really windy and supposed to snow today. 6 days til I'm out of here to warmer weather. Pam.. the 50 minutes I did on the elliptical trainer was in 10 minute spurts. And it's not an elliptical like you see in a gym. This one is just the wheels... no front part to hang on to, but I just love it. I'll post the pic of it again. Best piece of equipment I ever bought. Oh, and Stephen King is my all time favorite author! Jennifer... when do you start the new job?? Better give yourself time to get over all your celebrating!! But congrats on the new you. When I think back on your first posts and how defeated you sounded, it's great to hear you so positive. You GO girl!! Well, the East won the NBA all star game, so I'm happy. Now if MY Pistons can win it all again, I'll be VERY happy! Off to go fix some breakfast and then get dressed. Everyone have a great morning! Will check back later.

88 days til the Violet's Bandiversary Bash!!

Awesome story. Thanks so much for sharing.

Evening Violets... Well, the ice on the trees and vehicles has melted, but the side roads and driveways are still a mess. No schools will be open around here tomorrow, but then again, I don't need to worry about that anymore! It's all the way up to 41 right now, but supposed to get colder as the night wears on and then then snow is supposed to start again with 2-3 inches for tomorrow. One week from right now I'll be just finishing dinner on the ship that is headed for San Juan. I'm sooooooooo ready for some sunshine and warm weather. I've been exercising like crazy lately. I do 40 minutes on my elliptical trainer during the day and then do lots of other stuff with my little stretchy exercise thingy (sorry for the technical terms) and hand weights. I'm going to go do 10 more minutes on the elliptical when I get done here. No hot tub tonight... it's too darn slick outside. I don't need to fall and break anything just before cruise time. Jane...glad YOU didn't break anything! Kat... take care of yourself and get better quick. Hope Laura is ok after all the bad weather in her neck of the woods. Michelle.. are things getting back to normal yet?? Any more pics to share? TracyK...welcome back and anxious to hear about your weekend. Well, not ALLLLLLLLLLl about it. You can leave out some of the details!:cheers2: I'm going to watch the rest of the NBA all star game and then hit the sheets. Ethan comes in the morning for the day. Everyone have a good evening and sleep well!!

Good Job, Tracy!!! So cute to see Robby sneaking up on you during the whole video.

Not to worry, Jane... we always purchase some internet time on the ship, so I'll do my best to keep the countdown going!! OR I could just put all the countdown days in that I will be gone and you'll have to promise to only look at them one day at a time.

Back again... no church today. Everything is getting cancelled. Police are saying to stay off the roads. So here I am all dressed up and no where to go.

Good Morning, Violets... We are in the middle of an ice storm. Churches are closing all over the place. I don't know what ours will do since we are in town, but I'm not oing to go in super early to get ready for the choir cause I don't think we'll have one today. There are too many that come from a distance and the roads are sheer ice. The Bobster is going to drive me in in awhile. He doesn't have to preach today, it's the co-pastor's week and I'm guessing they cancel there anyway. Soooooooooo on that wonderful note, winter continues and one week from today the bobster and I will be on a cruise ship headed for San Juan. Celebrity take me away!!! Jane... hope your arm is ok today. You really need to stop practicing that break dancing stuff! Kat...how's the tooth?? TracyinKS....my scale number won't go down for nuthin' this week. But both you and I will be successful. Look how far we've come! Size 10?? I don't think I'd be in that size even if I was at goal!! I'm still in 14's and some 16's. And we both have to quit looking at that scale every day. Terry...have a good day with your mom. (((hugs))) to you. Well, no cancellation of my church yet, so I better get on the road. Will check in later today. Everyone have a good morning.

89 days til the Violet's Bandiversary Bash!!

Sunday's Tip O' The Day I know it's a bit early, but I found it and didn't want to lose it! Embarrass Yourself Make a mark on your calendar every time you make it to the gym or park. Seeing your motivation,(or lack thereof) in black and white helps keep you going. Suzanne Schlosberg and Liz Neporent, authors of Fitness for Dummies, Second Edition (IDG books Worldwide, Inc., 2000) suggest "whether you write your goals on the side of your shoe or in your training diary, glancing at them on a daily basis will help keep you focused and motivated. Some people tape their goals to their bathroom mirror or refrigerators." Do whatever works to make you remember what you promised yourself. Join a Plan that Wouldn't Have You for a Member So you're not Steffi Graf. That doesn't mean you can't join a tennis team. Richard Cotton, chief exercise physiologist for the American Council on Exercise says "joining a club, team, or finding an exercise partner…provides a support system and someone to simply share the experience with. Often times just knowing someone will be asking you 'How's it going?' can be the difference between exercise success and failure." Love Thy Neighbor and Love Thyself You can't leave a neighbor standing on the corner checking her watch. She knows where you live. Miriam Nelson, Director of the Center for Physical Fitness at Tufts University, and the author of Strong Women Stay Young and Strong Women Stay Slim (Bantam Doubleday Dell, 1999) says, "When I make a date with a neighbor to go for a run I keep it, and we have a great time." She also plans a regular appointment with her neighbors. "Saturday mornings several of my neighbors come over and we lift weights together; it's a great way to start the weekend," she says. Challenge Yourself Working towards an event — like a 5K walk or run, or an overnight bike trip to a faraway bed and Breakfast — keeps you on track. Every time you exercise you'll be closer to meeting your goal. "The minute you mail in your entry fee, you'll have a whole new sense of purpose. And the feeling of accomplishment you get from completing your event is like nothing else," say Schlosberg and Neporent. Dance, Dance, Dance "Music is a fantastic motivator," says Michael Olajide, Jr., a former professional boxer and inventor of Aerobox workout routines. "It can push you to do more and to exercise longer, even longer than you planned." Who doesn't get a surge of energy every time they hear their favorite tune? Plus, it's the perfect excuse to get that new CD. Don't Count the Miles "Do not workout to burn calories or lose weight," says Emme, plus-size model, author, and columnist. "There are more important things than burning calories taking place during your workout. Newfound self esteem and stress reduction are just two positive aspects of many that come to mind." If you're always focusing on burning off your morning doughnut, of course exercise seems like a chore. Try exercising for the sake of your health, not your body. Find the Fun Forget about the "no pain, no gain" attitude. "The mind, body and soul connection is very important here, don't forget to have fun," says Emme. Pick an activity you've always loved, like biking or walking outdoors. The more enjoyable it is, the more likely you'll stick with it. Make It a Family Affair "When I go for a run I entice one of my kids to go with me — he or she goes on their bike and I run. It's a great way to be together with my kids," says Miriam Nelson. Who better to egg you on than the ones who love you best. Learn to Love Lycra "Buying snazzy new workout shorts or comfy new cross-trainers can really get you fired up to work out, " say Schlosberg and Neporent. Once you realize how much better the right equipment makes a workout, you'll be loving your sports bra as much as soccer star Brandi Chastain. Dive for Dollars Money is the ultimate motivator. Put a dollar in a jar every time you make it to the gym. At the end of a month, treat yourself to a massage. You'll be at the gym more often than the trainers. It's About Time "My mood motivates me to work out, so timing is everything," says Kathy Kaehler, personal trainer and author. If you aren't up for a workout don't feel guilty about postponing. On the other hand, exercise has been known to improve a bad mood. Work out your aggressions in the gym instead of at home or work.

Hey Kat... sorry about your tooth and you not feeling well. (((hugs))).

Yikes, Michelle!1 You got me to thinking! I only have 8 weeks until my 1 year bandiversary and I have 20# to go. At 2# a week I won't make it!! BUT....I'll be darn close and about 13 weeks til our Bandiversary Bash...yeah.. I can make my first goal by then! wooo hooooo! Let's do it!! And I too have those lovely arms that no matter how much I exercise them, they still look like bat wings. But they look a LOT better now than they did when I started so I'm not going to complain. I even am comfortable wearing sleeveless stuff and I never ever did that prior to banding. The swimsuit in the after pics is not my favorite, but I had to wear it cause my favorite is packed away for the cruise. Suffice it to say we will be taking tons o' pics on the cruise this time!

And the final two.

I take monthly pictures of myself. Here's the latest 10 months out. I can't wait to sit by the pool on our cruise in two weeks. No more hiding behind a cover up and hoping nobody was looking.