Bright

oh congratulations Janie, what great news - welcome to the little one :Bunny - hope all goes well xx

Aren't we humans a funny bunch? Last sunday morning, me, hubby and kids got up at 4.00am (yup, that's A.M.) to go to Tara (Ancient Seat of the Kings of Ireland!) to take part/witness the Summer Solstice Festival - I had mentioned to Donali that we would be going, and during the ceremory (mad hippy people in rainbow robes and face glitter!!) I met lots of americans who always seem interested in Irish mysticism - they were dressed up the most, and were really cheerful and enjoying the early rise, much more that the locals I have to say! I was thinking about Donali, and all of my american friends on lapband talk, and really felt happy and at peace with my banded life! Well, we eventually got home at about 9.00 am and all fell into bed until about 12 or 1.00 - everyone was asleep so I went to check for new posts here, and was completely shocked and horrified to read Donali's post about her band erosion - I was devastated that this little statistic would hit "one of us" - my heart went out to Donali, and I was remembering our last few emails where we were reflecting on sliding into bad habits and eating rubbish lately - where does my thinking end up.....? Me comparing my recent "symptoms" with Donali's symptoms, suddenly feeling a "gallbladder like attack" (which I have never had in my entire life!) I then scrolled down to see who else was online, and there were about 5 other people, all reading past posts about band erosion - my god, I thought, we are all so worried and convinced that we have the same thing going on inside! I have been barely eating in the last 48 hours, treating each mouthful like ground glass! And then I read Megan's post about never taking her band for granted again, which really impressed me - I had a decent breakfast today and got my ass to the gym, vowing too, to never take my band for granted. I was so humbled to read Donali's post in this thread, and see her pick herself up, and dust herself off, ready to face whatever is coming - I am so impressed and inspired - you are the best Donali :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny The other thing I wanted to say is, while I love my band, and I lost 62lbs with it so far, through making bad choices recently, it has been 8 weeks since I lost anything - well, I was up 2, down 3, up 1, down 4....etc but I feel I have to make a conscious effort to lose weight and cannot depend solely on the band - what DOES work brilliantly for me, is following the food recommendations in the book "Potatoes not Prozac" book by Kathy De Maisons - she maintains that some obese people have a sugar sensitivity, and the programme she worked out was originally aimed at alcoholics - they were able to abstain from alcohol longer if they cut sugar out of their diet. What I am saying is, Donali, you may find this book a great help while your band is removed/waiting for rebanding etc - I have to (controversially!) say, I reckon it helps me with my food addiction more than the band has! The band doesn't mind what I eat, but if I stay away from sugar, I don't have the screaming craving that comes with sugar addiction. Apologies this is so long, it's late here and I'm falling asleep - I promise I'll edit this tomorrow! hugs to everyone xxx

Oh Donali, sweetheart, I am so so sorry you are going through this - you are a wonderful support to all of us here and like everyone else has said, I hope we can support you now through this.... I don't know what else to say, other than you are in my thoughts and anything, ANYTHING you need, let us know xxxxxx

I was so sorry to read what you're going through, my mother was an alcoholic and died as a direct result of abusing alcohol - I find it so difficult dealing with people who even mildly change in personality (even just becoming "merry") after a drink or two.... Even when my husband drinks I get very upset if he says anything sentimental to me as I feel it's just the "drink talking" - the whole thing is just so mind-bending - makes you trust no one. I really admire you for taking such an enormous step....You too Alexandra....echoing Donali, you guys are amazing.... About me: 34 living in (gorgeous) Dublin, Ireland - with my husband for fifteen years, we have two brilliantly intelligent and fabulous sons (not that I'm biased!) aged 14 and 10. We have two cats Smudge and Pinky and now three kittens Fudge, Honey and Tiger! I worked with IBM as a Technical Support Agent Serving Northern America (yup, if you had a problem with your IBM pc, and you rang the free toll number, you got me in Ireland! Crazy huh?). I stopped working about 5 years ago and now lounge about the house....I mean, I work in the home taking care of the children..... I was banded in Paris, France on 28th Oct 2003 and have lost about 61lbs since then - I haven't lost much in the last 8 weeks as I have been snacking on Cookies too much.... I have a 9cc Inamed band which was filled with 4cc during surgery - haven't had a fill yet...probably could do with one.... Love love love my band - it has given me a whole new lease of light and the future feels so bright....

Michelle, you look fantastic! You look completely at goal! I was nearly in tears looking at your photos, I'm so happy for you!!! Well done xxxxxxx DeLarla, just because people don't mention the weight loss, doesn't mean they don't notice - I've lost over 60lbs and only about 20% of people mention it! I've just come back from a big family gathering thing, and only one of my aunts mentioned it at the end of the day - lots of other around tuned in going "we noticed too, just didn't know what to say!" Can you believe people sometimes? I told them that for future reference, if I am looking better, go right on ahead and mention it!!!!

Alexandra, you look great - much slimmer, I can see a big difference, are you mad saying it doesn't show???!!! Well done xx

seems like you've been having a complete nightmare Lisa - hope everything turns out ok - thinking of you xx

I've been wondering how she's doing too.... hope things are ok with u Jennye... thinking about u both xx

I just wanted to add to this thread - while I really enjoyed reading all of it (read the 4 pages in one sitting as I have again been away for a few days) and smiled many times at the funny stuff, I wanted to acknowledge the pain we seem to have all gone thru, getting to morbid obesity and eventually, here, to the promised land, The Lap-band....! I am happy with my band, and proud of myself for losing 60lbs but still carry the weight of an unhappy childhood, and a terrible, damaging relationship with my parents. I seem to spend most days feeling worthless, stupid, fat, and so sad.... I know it is incredibly naive to think losing some weight, and getting the band etc would change what goes on in my head, and that my dad would love me more now that I am "nearly normal" (his pronounciation of my new body!!). I only seem to have one person on my list to revenge - Me. I feel it's all my fault. Anyway - well done us, for marching on with all our wounds. I think you are all wonderful people, with brilliant outlooks, and optimism, and you lift me every night when I log on. And thanks so much Donali for quoting me - I'm so chuffed - you are very important here, ya know.... :kiss

So glad she got through the sugery safely - hope she's not in too much pain! Missin u sue, hurry back! (and bring photos!) :cool:

......loving your new hair! You look so glamorous, love the shoulder/beautiful necklace shot.... Shelley's right, you DO look like you've lost fifty pounds from just changing clothes! At least your breasts look like they're in the right place - I definitely have the sock/tennis ball thing goin on....apparently your nipples should be 18cm (about 8 inches) from your neck/collar bone - mine are 38cm from there!!!!:cool: I am now contemplating origami classes to get them into a bra.....:sick But, again, wow lady....lookin good - bet your guy is thrilled with the new you xx

I felt bad not knowing about your surgery Sue, so I have since ACTUALLY read some back posts and know all about it/you/your tum now so ask me anything I am youngish (34) with no prior abdominal surgeries yet I could out-austrian drape you any day - I can stand stark naked and yet no one could make out if my hair colour is natural or not, if ya know what I mean...... And my wandering boobs also strive to shield prying eyes from my private area..... sighhhhhhhh Anyway, best of luck - I'm sure you will be very happy with the results, and I hope you get over any discomfort really soon. take care

So sorry I'm late seeing this....what an achievement - I'm so happy for you - what a thrill, seeing the scales going a whole ONE HUNDRED pounds backwards! Ohmigod - can't wait til I get there (if ever!) (((((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))))))))))

Damn - one week away and I missed everything - Michelle passing the -100lb mark and now Sue's having surgery - wish I knew which op! But anyways, good luck, I'll be thinking of you Ps also, could you people stop meeting up without me?!!! It's not fair, any chance of a Bandster Bash in Dublin??? I have tonnes of room..... ish.......! Bunny for sue :Bunny Hope it goes well xx

loving your new avatar - you look so lovely in your Grand Canyon photos on the website, you look younger now than in your 1979 photo! On the new clothes thing tho, I am really enjoying having all the old clothes hang off me - makes such a change from those days (in the not so distant past...) when my pants would rip if I made a sudden movement, and I could easily have maimed/killed someone with a blouse button if I took a deep breath

I didn't realise, either, the serious incident which prompted your "chase my kids" goal, Alex - what a wonderful illustration of the practical and very serious advantages to losing weight - I sometimes get all caught up in what clothes fit me now etc and maybe take for granted how we are all saving our lives here, by making the choice not to be morbidly obese. And of course being able to catch up with the little ones....

Congratulations on your weight loss so far - it will slow down but is definitely a great motivator in the begining when you're fighting all those old bad habits! This is a brilliant message board with lovely people - hope you come here often Best of luck on your journey

So good to hear from you - thanks for all your nice comments - yup, hubby is kinda adorable, even after 15 years! Wow, I can't believe your weight loss so far, it's really amazing - I am feeling so frustrated with my "plateau" (ie my period of non-weight loss due to veering wildly off course ) Enjoy your vacation - we are off to France for a few weeks in July/Aug - and hey, watch out, I'll definitely be knocking on your door one of these days - should be easy to find you, I hear Texas is a compact bijoux kinda place???!!!! :D

wow - well done Audrey - what a fantastic achievement - I'm so happy for you xx

you look fantastic Jennye - love your outfit - you look so young and cute - I'm so jealous of you all in your summer clothes, and on the beach! still crappy raining here (for a change!!!) Well done Jen, you so do not look wide, you look babelicious AND you are officially passing me out! :banana :banana :banana

What a beach babe! Can't believe the difference Vera - you look great - what a change - I love the hat too! So great to see photos of you at last - I love your hair - I have ALWAYS wanted curly hair take care xx:D

Oh Jennye, I'm so sorry to hear your mom is so ill - I am thinking about you both, and hope you get good news soon. One of my best friend's dad had a series of very serious strokes a few months ago - it was touch and go for a while, he couldn't speak, eat, walk etc - he is under 65 so we were devastated for him - he had just recovered from triple bypass a few years before so we didn't think he would be strong enough to make it. His family went through hell over a week as he had a few more strokes - but the good news is, I met him last week, as he was out for a walk, he is doing very well with the physiotherapy, and has regained most of his faculties, just waiting for his arm to respond, which apparently will take a little more time. It was truly amazing to see the recovery, and I'm sure your mom will have an equally good outlook. I know how hard it is to stand around a hospital bed, and my thoughts are with you - please keep in touch and let us know how she'd doing... love and hugs xxxxx

thanks for the compliments - I'm blushin here! Shelley, can't believe how amazing you are doing - i am hereby demanding full list of your hints and tips! You must feel fantastic! So wish I was where you and Donali are - big congrats hugs from me xx And Jennye - HELLO!!!! Check out my (v badly fake tanned!) feet in the photo where I'm wearing hubby's Ireland shirt, and you will see my fave pink flower flip flops! And in answer to Marsha's jokey query, I have actually gone down two shoe sizes - you can see the flip flops are big on me - my feet are all the way " in", but they are still huge - I have had such fun buying shoes since I've lost some weight - I used to take an european 42 and now take a 38 (think that's an american 10 to an 8!) And Vera, I have my super critical mother-in-law eating bags of prunes a day - the poor woman can't be more than ten feet from a bathroom - me bad!

speaking of movies, have you all seen Troy? Oh yum. Yum Yum Yum. So many pretty boys - you americans sure do breed 'em well over there.....

Donali, Tangerine, oh my god, I am rolling on the floor laughing here - and not in a good way - in a "I'm nearly crying cos that's so me too" kinda way! I have had huge rows with my husband over the years as he always wanted to do the chinese set meal thing, where everyone shares - and he did the same at movies - getting one popcorn to share, because he wasn't that hungry - I would be freaking out, almost stamping my feet, saying like a three year old - I WANT MY OWN! He used to just wide eyed, slowly hand me the popcorn like I was completely insane (which i kinda was...) It got to the point where I would order food I know my friends didn't like just so no one would want any of mine! And it is still hard to ignore the screams for food - i still order way too much - (and eating out is really expensive here in Dublin) and my hubby goes mad when I eat 20% of what I ordered and sheepishly say "em... I'm full.... " I was genuinely terrified of BEING hungry - I ate in advance in case I'd GET hungry - how messed up is that! .............but I'm all cured now....right???