JudiM

YIPPEE! Wow! Everyone's enthusiasm is soooo contagious! And, hey....I know exactly what you mean about NOT TRUSTING the scale. Here's my blog entry when I hit the -50 lb mark...... Stories from the road.......: I am a SCALE WHORE........ Congrats to you for a job welllll done! So much more fun ahead!!! It's just so wonderful that we all "get off" on each other's success!!! The Crazy Ates ROCK!!!!

Thanks Frangapani for the compliment on my blog! No, I do not really write professionally. But, I do write a lot for my job and I have an undergraduate degree in communications and writing (yes, I was going to write the great American novel!). I'll be totally honest with everyone.....this Lapband has not only given me a way to beat my weight struggles....it has also given me back the great joy of writing. Who knew? Not me! Life is just the funniest thing! Right before I went in to have my surgery, I found myself jumpy and anxious. I had been thinking about doing a blog about some of my creative endeavors and kept bugging my son (who is in a PhD program for Computer Science) to help me set one up. But, of course, he was waaaay to busy for that. So, on a whim, I decided to investigate doing a blog. Hey....I didn't need a computer whiz afterall!!! Old mom could do it herself!!! When I finally got it set up....I started out with my original plan. But, I never posted anything to it....it's still out there waiting for me. Then, on a whim, I thought I'd set up another blog just to document my Lapband progress. And, before I knew it....my blog became a very important piece of my Lapband journey. In the early days, it kept my focus and it continues to do that for me. It's the one part of the day when I sit down and focus completely on me. I didn't mean to go on and on about my blog but.....well.....it's really been a great experience for me! A very happy accident. I invite everyone to visit my blog....if they so desire. And, please feel free to post to it or email me. And, I also encourage anyone who enjoys writing to consider doing a blog....it's very rewarding....in more ways that you can imagine. Even if no one reads it.....for me, it's just a joy. Judi

Thanks everyone! So, I'm on a mission now......no more safe eating! Last night.....I made Pasta aglio oilio. One of my family favorites. Hubby and I would down 1 lb of it ourselves every time I made it. So, last night....I made it....with asiago & feta. Yum. Three forks full later....all done. Absolutely wonderful!!!! Today, I went to lunch with a friend that I meet once a month......she said "do you want to go where they have Soup?" "Nope, I'll go anywhere...." I told her---much to her surprise. So, we ended up at a wonderful little Jewish deli "Look they have soup!" she said with great enthusiasm....since I've had soup during every one of our monthly lunches. "Yes, and they also have grilled cheese!" I yelped with such excitement that the man behind the counter said "gee, I better not tell you the specials today, you might have a heart attack!" So, I ordered the grilled cheese......oh whole wheat bread with very sharp cheese. It was the best grilled cheese I ever had (honestly, it was!). After 3 bites.....I was full& satisfied. THIS is what my Lapband was meant to do!!!! It wasn't meant to doom me to soup and all things soft or pulverized the rest of my life!!!! Wow.....I love you Lapband!!!!! (even more now!)

I was banded by Dr. McCloskey at Magee in August. I'm very happy with the decision and feel good about the staff at Magee (where I go to get my fills). As for Magee.....eh....it was okay. I had 2 C-Sections at St. Clair (85 & 91) and was treated like a queen. Magee is a beautiful hospital for sure and thankfully I wasn't sick-sick.....just miserable! I do not know about support groups but you may want to check with Dr. McCloskey's office....they may be able to refer you to one. Also, this board is a wonderful source of support and motivation. If you haven't joined your monthly group in the MONTHLY GROUP section here.......you should do so now! It's filled with people who are at the same point as you. It's very helpful. Also, I maintain a blog.....I started it when I got my Lapband and keep it up fairly regularly. It's not exactly Lapband "heavy" but I do have a fair # of readers who correspond with me because of it and consider it a form of support. You are more than welcome to stop by and see if it works for you. The door is always open!!!! :biggrin2: You will also find others who have a blog about their Lapband journey. Congrats on your decision. Honestly, I know it feels kind of miserable now and you wonder if you made the right choice. But, I promise you, you will see that it may have been one of the best decisions you made!!! Good Luck!!!

Well, now I have to chime in here! I've been working so much the past 2 months that I haven't had a lot of time to pop in here. And, believe me.....in my my real world, I only know one other banded person on a personal level. And, she's not even in my everyday world....it's just that she lives close by. It was a pure treat to meet her and share our journies. We email regularly and hope to get together soon. (BTW, I met here somewhere on this board). Between my blog and this group---that is how I stay connected to the "banded world". And, I truly believe these things keep my focus. I have many regular readers to my blog who email me or post there on a consistent basis. And, I feel very responsible to them. They are friends and in many ways--confidantes. And, it's always nice to come here and see the same members and hear about their successes. And, you know, I believe that the reason why The Crazy Ates are so darn successful is because we all got together here very early on---meaning that we were motivated from the very beginning. And, motivation is contagious! And, when we had success, we shared it. Success is also contagious. There's no mystery here.....we're just a bunch of motivated, successful, giving and nice people! Period!!!! And, of course---very good looking, sexy and smart! Judi

Hi....Chiming in here....my dr mentioned the same thing during a conversation about my travel plans the next few months. Good to know others heard the same....! Judi

Hi all! For the past 6+ months, my wieght loss has been okay. Not amazing. Just okay. But, I've been happy with that. Yes, I've had moments of dissappointment. But, hey, after years of gaining weight as long as the scale is going down and NOT up....I've been okay with it. But, I had a light bulb moment this past weekend...:cursing:...I think I get it now! Here's what my light bulb moment said--- I'm NOT supposed to be a SAFE eater. I'm supposed to be a HEALTHY eater. Right? Up until the past few weeks, I have been proud of myself that I never PB'd, never had that horrible painful feeling that I ate too much. And, you know why? No, not because I had little to no restriction or because I've been eating oh so healthy. It was BECAUSE I ONLY ATE SAFE FOODS!!!! What I mean by that is that I never really went too far beyond a "relaxed mushy" diet. I cut my salads and other foods up into the most minute pieces. No bread. No Pasta. I ate alot of Soups, tuna, eggs, thin sliced cheeses, crab cakes, salmon cakes, etc. And, I pulverized everything!!!! So, what happened? In the past month, I had 2 bad PBing episodes....both at events where I did not have control over the menu that was served. Once on a steak salad and once on a Caprese Salad. Both of them "normal" foods. After that....of course.....I went back to my usual relaxed mushy diet at home and at restaurants. But, this past weekend, out of desperation and needing something to eat while on a car trip through horrible snow and ice, I decided to take one of the BP&J sandwichs I packed for my daughter and my niece....it was made on a very grainy Panera wheat bread (not something I would have "planned" to eat). I took 2 reasonable size bites. And, guess what? I was full. I did not want to eat any more. That's it. That's what I was waiting for.....all this time.....the moment that I felt completely, utterly satisfied. And, it happened! I was eating and I stopped. BECAUSE I WAS FULL!!!!! :thumbup::thumbup::hurray::party::Dancing_shocked::thumbup:

Had my VERY first PBing episode last night! And, let me tell you....I DO NOT want to ever do that again!!!! OMG....it was absolutely awful! Thank God I was in my own home! I did not even make it from the dining room table to the kitchen sink! And, I scared my daughter half to death! I made steak salad....the steak was very tender, I sliced it VERY thin and did my usual chop-chop with my scissors (that's how I cut up my salads to get them into manageable pieces). I had not overeaten....I was just on my 3rd or 4th bite. And, whoa....the pain, the pressure---it was AWFUL! My natural instinct was to take a sip of water. But, of course, that started the whole PBing.....! Oh my! Nasty! Nasty! For me, that PBing episode is definitely an apetite suppressant!!! I can't imagine how anyone has been able to withstand those episodes more than once! So, now I can say....yes, I had a PB and lived to talk about it.....!

Hi....I'm Judi. Banded on August 10, 2007. Best decision I ever made for myself! Married for 25 years, 2 children--22 year old son in grad school, 16 year daughter---high school senior. Live in Pittsburgh PA. I started a blog to help me through this journey! I'd love for you to visit with me there......address is in my sig line. Loved reading about everyone!!!! Judi

Hi....I'm Judi. Banded on August 10, 2007. Best decision I ever made for myself! Married for 25 years, 2 children--22 year old son in grad school, 16 year daughter---high school senior. Live in Pittsburgh PA. I started a blog to help me through this journey! I'd love for you to visit with me there......address is in my sig line. Loved reading about everyone!!!! Judi

But, the real question is......will the world be READY for me to wear that costume this 4th of July?????? I'll need a few little patriotic stickers to cover my scars. And, I'm sure I'll need a few other tweaks....ha!ha!ha! I'll have to try it out here at home first...... You are all right....seeing a pix really makes me believe that I am doing this! Day-to-day I really never see the difference. Keep posting your pix everyone!!!! Thanks! Judi

Hi all..... Thank you so much for your kind compliments! And, thanks for teaching me how to add pix! Wow....I got it on the first try! pizza.....you asked about my dressed up dress form! Nope, that's not my stripper costume! She's my alter-ego! :smile::smile: Ha!Ha!Ha! No, not really! Actually, I have a dress form that I dress up for holidays....yes, I know, kinda weird. In that pix, she was dressed up for 4th of July. We had been on vacation for 3 weeks prior to my surgery so I never got around to undressing her. The morning we were leaving for surgery, she was standing there and my sister made the comment that soon I would be wearing THAT outfit. So, when we went to take my "before" picture, my sister put her in the shot. Thanks for asking!

-Day of Surgery -October -November -Dec -Jan (I'm on the far left) Crossing my fingers that I post these properly.......

Hi all....I really do need to figure out how to post pix......posted my latest pix on my blog over the weekend....... WOW! You are all looking soooooo amazing!!!! What a beautiful group. Best looking crew on LBT!!!! Judi (my blog is in my sig line)

Hi all! Like everyone else, I endured every diet out there---including the infamous phen-fen. Several years later, I started using Ionamin....which is phentermine. Initially, I had alot of success loosing weight with those prescriptions. But, of course, gained whatever was lost and then some after that. My story, I'm sure, is the same as everyone else's...diet, diet, diet! One of my favorite things about Phen was the bursts of energy it gave me. It definitely did curb my apetite too. But, the energy and endurance was what probably kept me going back to get more even when I wasn't loosing weight! That's what I miss the most about that darn drug!!! :redface: Anyway.....here's my question......has anyone used or know of someone who used a non-prescription weight loss product called Phentramin-d???? My coworker ordered it off the internet and told me that it is the same as the prescription medication. She has not received it yet. In doing some online research, I find that it is not the same as my beloved phentermine. But, many reviewers online claim that it gives the same type of "feeling " as the prescription med. Can anyone verify or refute this? Thanks for any info you can provide! Judi

Hi all.... Everyone is really zooming along. I'm feeling a little bit discouraged. Today I went for my 3rd fill. Previously, I had 1.7. I am now up to 2.1. So, let's hope that is a good number! From the scale in the dr's office, I am up 1/2 lb. Which, I suppose is NOT bad news. Last week, when I weighed myself at the gym, I was up 3 lbs. I admit that both of those gains are significantly better than what I would have done WITHOUT my band. It's just that the whole plan is to LOOSE! This got me to thinking about all of my efforts to loose weight in the past. Here I am eating significantly LESS than I have ever eaten and I gain 1/2 lb. So, no wonder I always struggled so badly trying to loose weight. So, even though I am banded....I still have the same metabolism....right? It's a thought that came to me as I was driving home from my appt. Is there really a way to rev up metabolism? That may be an absolutely ridiculous question and perhaps I know the answer. But, right now....I just can't think of a way to do this! Supplements? Certain foods? Exercise? Vitamins? Thoughts? Help!!!!!!!!!

Happy New Year and Congrats to all on your success! :clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2: As for me....I made it through the holiday parties, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and then on Dec 26...when my guard was down.....cookies. :faint:Then, I turned to dips and cream pies. Now, I did not eat the enormus amounts that I would have devoured in my pre-Lapband days. But....still!!!! Why did I do that? ***Luckily*** I had a few close calls....food being stuck and having terrible pain. So, I have not weighed myself. My after holiday letdown is bad enough without having to deal with the fact that I may have gained/or not lost any weight. So, I'm easing back into my Lapband lifestyle, returning to the gym this weekend (working late every night this week....yuk!). I suppose I need to be thankful for the fact that I could return to work wearing regular clothes and not elastic-waisted clothes like I always had to do after the holidays!!! I really am having a severe case of post holiday blues this year.......not sure why. Hopefully, getting back on track will do the trick! Good Luck all!!!! Judi

Hi all! May all of you enjoy the best Christmas EVER!!!! We deserve it! Thanks for all of your support!!! Waiting for Santa........ Judi

I'm not sure if my situation means that I am soooo lucky or if everyone could not stand looking at me expand in front of them!(probably both!) All of my friends were ecstatic that I was having it, my sisters were overjoyed, my 87 year old father was sooooo encouraging (he said "that's the best idea you've had in a long time!), my children were great, my husband was "yeah, go ahead" and even my staff was thrilled! All of my aunts (ages 80-92) and cousins were so excited too! It got to the point where I was sure they were going to throw a party! We did not tell my mil, bil & sil until after it was over.....they didn't say much except how very hurt they were that we didn't tell them beforehand (to be expected---they are always the "victims"). So, I haven't had to deal with any push back. But, I know I would be so hurt if anyone behaved the way some of your friends and family are. Concern is definitely fine....I had expected to have that with my father and aunts (but no......!). But, downright mean behavior (due to jealousy no doubt....) is just unacceptable and so very sad! Shame on them!!!

Yes! These are the small victories that we must count! In thinking about this---I always beat myself up for eating that piece of cake, that burrito, etc. Why? Because I ate that piece of cake or that burrito IN ADDITION to everything else! So, now----eating that piece of cake or that burrito or whatever the special treat is NOT a "beat myself up" moment. It's a little victory because I'm conscious of it BEFORE I eat it and NOT after! Right? Great post, Salsa!

Hey all..... The only things I've really been shopping for lately are for specific events---1 formal outfit for my husband's company Christmas party and 1 for my girlfriend's annual Christmas party (a bit dressy). When I'm out there shopping, I realize that the most exciting thing is that I can shop ANYWHERE since most "regular" stores go up to a Size 16. But, still Coldwater Creek is definitely my all time favorite place! I just love the fact that they have all of their clothes in all sizes. So, if for no other reason but that, I want to shop there......they have got me through "thick" and they can get me through "thin" fashionably!!! Oh, by the way---Spanx are my new favorite undergarment!!! Love them and very comfy! Someone mentioned that Target carries the same under a different name and they are less $$$....haven't tried them yet but the next time I get to Target....I will!!!!

No, no Nana! You are really an ace at this. I still have my house guests here.....my sister, my BIL, my niece & nephew. BIL, nephew, my hubby and a few cousins got tickets to tonight's Steeler game (the rain is falling....yuk!!) so they are not leaving until tomorrow. Today was "girls day out" shopping...a very rainy and grey day but fun. My sisters, my niece and my daughter got some great bargains. I got a few Yankee candles and a Christmas table cloth at Williams Sonoma (could NOT pass it up.....to die for!) so after that, my budget was blown!!! We're all headed to Bally's gym now to get in some post holiday weekend exercising before we settle in to watch the game. I just had to check in here before going to get my head back in "LapBand world" since I really wrecked my eating plan today picking at pumpkin pie (crustless) and some tortillas with spiced pinapple salsa. AHHHHHH! Thanks for keeping up with your "getting to know you" job! If I get a break later.....I will definitely come back to chime in! Sounds like you are a fun person to hang out with!!!!

Yep....due to years of dieting and a penchant for fashion---I've got an entire attic cedar closet filled with clothes......down to a size 14. A few years back, I gave my 10's& 12's to a friend who was returning to work! Like several of you mentioned---I have clothes with tags on them---great bargains at the end of the season that I could NOT pass up (thinking I'd definitely get into them the following year.....). Most of my clothes are "work" clothes---suits, blazers, skirts, pant suits, blouses, sweaters. So, I'm having a wonderful time re-visiting my Size 16's at the moment. But, I do plan to buy a special dressy outfit for my husband's business Christmas party. I am even taking this coming Friday off to do just that!!!! Look out Coldwater Creek....here I come!!!!!

Got a membership to Bally's over the weekend....tonight I have my first appt with MY personal trainer! I feel so diva saying that! So, I am hoping this is the beginning of a successful relationship! Like you Nana, I am prepaid for 3 years (DH insisted that I "commit"....LOL!). To be honest, I never had anyone show me how to exercise, what to do and what to focus on. So, I do not know what to expect. A friend at the office said today "why would you want to start this right BEFORE the holidays begin?" I looked at her square in the eye and said "that was exactly what I would have said to myself a year ago". For some reason, that exchange has really fueled my desire to succeed! Oh, BTW....has anyone ever seen the show "Inside the Brookhaven Obesity Clinic" (it's on Discovery Health)? While I was folding laundry last night, I landed on that station and found myself unable to stop watching.....4 episodes. Oh my......it has really an eye opener! I know that I could have been there if I wouldn't have made this decision to have a Lap Band. I know it's true. Off to meet my personal trainer....I sure hope he is a hot, hard bodied cutie!!!!

I bought them tonight (since the first event I have to attend is next weekend) at Coldwater Creek. I bought the ones that go from under my bra to my knees. I will give you all a review after I wear them!! Thanks so much for all the info! From the info I received from the "general" board, spanx at Steinmart cost the least. But, we do not have one on my end of town. With the price of gas, I didn't want to travel to the other end of town. I paid $26 for them. However, I spent over $100 in the store (can't help myself in that store) and they have a special giving $30 off of $100. So, with everything I bought...let's just say I got them for -$4!!!! Got my fingers crossed that my "bargain" will get me into my formal attire! I have to attend an event for my DH. And, part of the deal when I had my surgery was that I would "show up" for his business events. For the past few years, as my weight ballooned, I had soooo many excuses as to why I could not attend all of the events that went along with his position. So, now, I have to hold up my end of the deal......! If spanx can help me adhere, I'll love them forever...........!!!