MeganA

After half an hour I finally found it. I'm so happy for her. She really deserves to be happy. I am constantly amazed at how the band changes people's lives. Way to go Shelly!!! Megan

Thanks everyone. What a great place to share good news. ...and yes Alexandra- the bad guys leave an impression. Hopefully time will help me figure all of this out. Lisa! No, I haven't named it yet...any more suggestions? Btw- things are fantastic in that arena. Let's just say he isn't at all selfish. :-) Megan

I CAN"T FIND IT...someone help me! Shelly- come and tell us!!! Megan

I HATE SUSPENSE. Do you think she's engaged? Maybe she won the lottery. Or maybe it's that she's pregnant with quintuplets. yeah, that's probably it. Never leave me in suspense...my imagination goes nuts. Megan

Hee hee. Naked avitars? Honey... not all of me would fit in that little square. Might be fun to try though. M

Keep your eye on the prize, Lisa :-) Megan

I wonder if we are missing people who may be interested in posing because the title of this thread is only about Lisa...can someone change it? Can I ? Someting like- Hang in there Lisa and New fundraiser idea. Or maybe we should start a new thread. I am LBT slow. Megan

OHHH I'm going to be a naughty pilgrim!!! A little corn here, a little pumpkin there...oh how fun! Megan

Oh my gosh I've been meaning to update everyone. Thanks for asking, Lisa. Things are fantastic. The guy just does everything right. For example- he's totally allergic to my cats and has tried a bunch of allergy medicine and some work ok...but Monday he told me that he is going to the allergist today to see what else he can do. This really means a lot to me...and I find myself thinking that it just can't be real that this great a guy is so into me, and I'm into him, too! We have a lot in common, and can sit and talk and talk and talk...and laugh...oh how my cheeks hurt sometimes. I get an email from him every morning wishing me a good morning. He usually calls me at lunch to check in, and if we aren't doing something in the evening, I usually get an email saying goodnight. I love that one of you brought up the whole "have you seen his house, etc" issue. That's what true girlfriends do for each other- a little reality is good for a girl. That comment really made me think, and so I asked him if I was ever going to see his house. So, we have a date Thursday to go to a movie and then I'm going to go over to his house and meet his roomates. I asked him if they might make fun of him for dating a bigger girl (some guys friends are real pigs!) and he said, "heck no, they'll probably want your phone number". I feel very safe with him...every time I've had a concern he's been open to it and honest in his reply. I was worried that he was still looking on match.com (can you tell I worry a lot?????) and so I wrote him an email and asked him. I said that I had noticed that he was still active on match.com, and that I had gotten a few emails but hadn't done anything about it. But I was wondering if he was still looking? And he wrote back. "I've gotten a few emails myself but haven't done anything about them either and my membership is up at the end of this month and I won't be renewing it". I've found that my past relationships have made me a little more cynical than I thought. I keep looking for a lie or a manipulation but so far he's totally clean. It's amazing that a crappy, bad relationship with a two-timing loser feels more normal to me than this one does at the moment. I know what to do with a guy that plays around..I don't know what to do with one who shows me respect, kindness, and unselfishness. Isn't that just sad? I'm learning though...and I have to say I will never accept that kind of bullshit ever again. So anyway...that's my update. Anyone want to know more details...I'm an open book :-) Megan

Wait, I'm too young to be a Mrs. Claus. How about a naughty elf? M

I want a month! Which ones aren't taken? Would someone with superior organizational skills please put together a month listing and who is assigned to that month? If no one has December I want it so I can dress up like a naughty Mrs. Claus. Megan

I forgot to mention that Penni- some pills shouldn't be taken with milk...check with your pharmacist or dr. Good catch, Nurse Penni. Wait, aren't you supposed to be resting your eyes???? Megan

I've been thinking about you all day Lisa...and trying to put myself in your position but I just don't think I really understand everything you've gone through. I just hate the idea of you without a band...sure, your results haven't probably been what you expected by now (mine sure aren't and I have a port and no teethmark scar, even). But you still are a success in my book, and from everyone else's comments here, in their's too. I just think if you can get over this rough patch you'll be see the silver lining. You still have a band that restricts you. You aren't gaining weight back. You have some control over your eating. You fit into smaller clothes and get new attention from strangers. You've proven to yourself- and us- how strong you can be when you need to be. I wonder if you've had to be so strong for so long that it's time to take some time to grieve and rest and be sad. I would think it would be perfectly normal at this point. You'll get through this and your story will inspire those who are just starting out, and those of us who have ports that need moving, tubing that leaks, or a band that is tough to adjust. I hope you've seen by this thread that you are a very well supported friend to a lot of pretty nice folks. Megan

I just discovered something...if I take pills (even big fish oil ones!) with milk they slide right down...but if I take them with Water they almost always get stuck somewhere and eventually go down. It doesn't hurt when they get stuck, just is uncomfortable. Just thought I'd share. Even after a year and a half I'm still learning! Megan

Norma... I'm so glad to hear that things are ok with your band and the port. Thanks for letting us know...you've been on my mind. It sounds like you are really learning a lot about yourself and your attitude is sure great. If you can make it through the rough patch you're going to do terrific! Heck, you already ARE doing terrific! Oh- and to keep the nighttime hunger at bay, I usually have a glass of milk before I go to bed. Megan

Glad to hear you are on the mend and that surgery went well. Rest those eyes! Megan

I'm game...I call I get the bigger swedish band to pose in back of. I need all the help I can get. M

Way to go Kara...I love your attitude! Megan

Lisa, I've noticed in a couple of posts that you seem down and out about your band. I don't blame you a bit-- you've gone through so much. You've earned every single pound that you've lost and then some. I just wanted to let you know I was thinking of you and I hope that you feel better soon. Megan

***WARNING**** Tough love ahead...read with caution if you are sensitive... Norma... What you are going through is normal. If you are just a few weeks out of surgery you are in the WORST part...it gets easier after this. The farting goes away...you get used to those stomach noises and actually enjoy them because although it is growling, you don't feel hungry. You know that when you hear those noises, your body is burning fat for fuel. You can hear yourself losing weight. You need to buck up and toughen up sister. I know you are struggling and scared and feel all weird...but this is truly your chance to find out what you are made of. I'm afraid that with your current attitude, if you have your band removed you'll feel like an even bigger failure and eat your way up the scale. I'm a year and a half out. I have to struggle to remember the hard times because they don't last very long, and losing weight feels so good. So...there's my tough love for the evening. You can do this...it's worth the pain and the farts and the discomfort. Those things are fleeting...the weightloss is not. Megan

I tell EVERYONE...my family, friends, business clients, people I pass on the street. I have NEVER had a bad reaction to the news. In fact, almost everyone I explain it to thinks it's just the coolest thing and they wish they could have one- even thought they might not have that much to lose. There is only one small group of friends I did not tell- they are my friends from high school that I get together with once a year at Christmas. Most of them are overweight and pretty sensitive...and I felt that they might feel bad if I told them so I haven't. I'm sure I will at the next Christmas...it's getting hard to hide 63 pounds gone. I just have always been "the fun fat one that makes it ok to be fat" and in some weird way I feel a little like I betrayed them. Everyone is different. And the people you have around you may or may not be supportive...you probably can tell. Trust your gut...and know that you're making a decision for yourself that will better your life, and sometimes that scares people. You, and they, will get over it...or you'll be living your new life and not have time for such nonsense. Megan

Donali- you are the best :-) That does bring back memories- and puts it in perspective, doesn't it? It seems like I've been banded my whole life until I read that. It's interesting to see the juxtaposition of my old post with my current weight loss stats. I was so scared I was going to fail with the band...and here I am with a totally new life because of it. I have a new living arrangement, a new guy (yippeee) and a new direction for my business...all because my success with the band has given me the confidence to take risks and know that I'll be ok. I love seeing all the posts from the old timers- we were all so new back then!!! We've all been through so much together it fills my heart every time I check in here. The terrible accident that took away Blossom really reminded me how close I feel to all of you here and I just don't know what I would do without any of you. Donali- I so often think of you and how hard it must be to not have your band, yet your constant presence helping and directing others here is so valuable I'm glad you've had the strength to stay with us. You are such a cheerleader I wonder sometimes who is your cheerleader when you get down. "Just call my name, and you know where ever I am...I'll come runnin'...yeah yeah yeah just to see you again..." I'm serious...you need anything...you know where to find me. I'll step away from the Karaoke machine now. I love you guys! Megan

I volunteer for a group called Mothers and Daughters. There are girls in the program who are between 12 and 14, and over half of them are obese. Most of these girls come from very disfunctional families and many have been in foster homes or in treatment or in other facilities. Most of them are being treated for depression and/or anxiety disorders. I watch these girls eat the Snacks we have at the meetings- and I feel like I am watching myself at their age. They eat and eat and eat and don't taste anything. One of the girls ate so many carrots that she was sick. We try to give them only healthy snacks but it doesn't matter- they eat handfulls of popcorn or fruit- it doesn't matter. I see in their faces the sweet numbness that I have felt when I used to eat like that. I envy them on one hand, and feel intense sadness for them on the other. I suppose it's like a recovering alcoholic watching other people drink. Megan

I'm so, so sorry to hear the news that one of my beloved LBT family passed away. It's been weighing heavily on mind since I first read about the accident. My condolences to her family and to those of you here on LBT who knew her best. Megan

OH MY GOD. Guess who just suprised me by stopping by? He wasn't supposed to get home from Denver until tonight but thought he'd suprise me when they flew home early. Am I dreaming? So, I told him about the band, and then we did it. I don't have the energy to type. Must rest. I'll fill in the details later. Oh, he had on a shirt that matched his eyes perfectly. mmmm Megan