lunasa

Laura...don't loose that ring whatever you do!!!

MICHELLE....Mdrai You are TOTALLY normal & justified in your pre-op jitters!! You will be so fine & delighted when you get done... Your worries will seem like a distant memory!!! You will be relaxed & happy...well done so far girl...eXcellent!!! As for consuming the worlds water sources with your flushes...let me quote Gaylord Fokker's dad "If it's yellow, let it mellow If it's brown, flush it down!" LOL !!! Oh and KITY...this is just for you....I know how much you like it!!! :eek: :P :P LOL.....Have a GREAT day!!! P.s...haven't seen Christy on here in a while!!

Hi Triona!! How did you feel after your consultation? What are your doubts? I will try & help you think it through. I can say that I have no regrets at all and am very happy with the decision I have made to have the band done. I went with healthier weight centre in th UK & was banded 16/ april. I'm doing very well, learning a lot. I am still on mushie foods til next week, but am counting WW points as well to get into an eating routine & to record my intake. So far it is great...My WW allowance would be 25points. Pre band I would strugle with this, trying to get the MOST for my points and still feeling deprived but I find now that getting 18 points in at all is actually a BIG eating day these days...it's fantastic. I still have a bit of chocolate now & then but my sweet tooth is not the problem my savoury one was. I was a crisps FREAK!! and I was also a binger..The band is REALLY helping me be consistent in staying on track SO much more freely than EVER before. I haven't had a bad day really since April 6th...that's amazing. I still have a few drinks too, I drink Guinness and find that a good choice for me. What I am learning & want to learn most of all is how to live my life without all or nothing behaviour & learn how to balance my attitude by watching my intake as well as making room to eat out & socialise. Before I would always turn into a hermit when dieting & make it utterly depressing & impossible for me to attend any social gathering without feeling like I couldn't cope & being miserable that I was counting points while everyone else just had their night out. I would then go over my points limit & freak out & actually be angry that "ONE NIGHT" could cause the rest of my deprived week to be in vain. I also had no patience, which is another thing I have to learn. I am finding myself much more relaxed in my approach right now. My ticker below says I've lost 24lbs..I reached that target 2 weeks ago just before moving on from the liquid stage and I gained 3.5lbs back the next week. In my previous experience this would normally be enough to drive me up the wall & throw the towel in but amazingly I was able to face it & accept it (as I had prepared myself to LEARN from my past struggles) This week that regain is down 1lb (I wouldn't have been happy with this either) but again, I am dealing with it and will continue to focus on the other 2.5lbs until I am back down to my original first goal. Then I will focus on my second goal of -22lbs. I plan to have this off by Mid September...I have never given myself so much time & room to loose weight... I hope this show's you why the band has made such a hugh difference in my life. I think of it more as a tool to help me get away from all the negativity & frustration I have gathered over the years throught dieting, and to free me from the mental anguish of YOYO-ing & what it done to my self esteem. The most positive thing for me is the change in my approach, confidence, conviction, belief that I can loose this weight again & it has REALLY helped to quench the fear of loosing weight only to regain it again. the band helps force you to be consistent so that you CAN learn & develop new positive behaviour, that will become GREAT habits to have May I suggest an EXCELLENT book, get it on amazon..it's called THIN FOR LIFE by Anne Fletcher..and it documents & profiles YOYO dieters who FINALLY overcame their YOYO issues & how they managed & maintain their weight.

Hey..I'm quoting myself!! what I mean by this is great is that this is GREAT that I can be so aware of the small things that don't agree with me & that I can be so much more mindfull in my choices when it comes to eating.. I'm so happy with my decision to have the band!! My WW points are working out great!! I'm well within my daily limits & coping really well, before I would always use right up to my limit & still feel deprived..Not now...I feel like a NORMAL person!! LOL JOY!!!:clap2:

Hi folks... Firstly..I had scrambled egg for breakfast this morning with cherry tomatoes...I have the slime/peanut sensation again... I'm guessing this was the skin off the little tomatoes!! This is great!! Anyway...KAT my dear violet..I have a beautiful suggestion for your parents wedding celebration.. It's the lyrics of a song called "THE VOYAGE"..you could incorporate it somehow.. My father sang it to my mother on their 25th Wedding anniversary & there was snots & tears all round!! LOL I'll post it now... THE VOYAGE (Christy Moore) I am a sailor, you're my first mate We signed on together, we coupled our fate Hauled up our anchor, determined not to fail For the hearts treasure, together we set sail With no maps to guide us we steered our own course Rode out the storms when the winds were gale force Sat out the doldrums in patience and hope Working together we learned how to cope Chorus: Life is an ocean and love is a boat In troubled water that keeps us afloat When we started the voyage, there was just me and you Now gathered round us, we have our own crew Together we're in this relationship We built it with care to last the whole trip Our true destination's not marked on any charts We're navigating the shores of the heart :cry :cry :cry :cry :cry Kleenex anyone?

Thanks Terri....yes there was fruit in th yoghurt...I guess that would explain things...I don't remember chewing them!! LOL That's what that is so...mindless eating....CHEW FOR GOD'S SAKE!!!

Okay...after doing a search I found a thread on sliming.. Some users reckon it's from drinking with food..others get it from eating too fast... I still eat too fast....I think I should move on from mushies because there's not much to chew and I prob need to chew more to slow down... I'm not due for solids until next monday!!! Oh...the joys! Anyway I suppose slowing down & paying more attention to the fluids after food will see... Hey...I answered my own question!!! LOL :heh:

I forgot to ask... I think I am "sliming" but what is this? I have extra saliva, ant it's kinda frothy?? Is this smiling? I don't know what would be the cause of this...I have it right now and have only had a LF yoghurt so far today...(mullerlite) Any ideas? I also feel like I've a peanut stuck in my chest...but I haven't eaten a peanut!! LOL What's going here on ladies? please ...:kiss2:

WOW terri...that did take time!!! Good point though, in seeing a passage of a journey, in hindsight, the rollercoaster for better or worse & that "this too shall pass" is true!! EVERYDAY IS A SCHOOL DAY!!....see?

Mdrai... I second terri's response... I made my decision based on an honest stock take of my past experiences with WL... I made my decision quickly also because if I had hummed & hawed about the pro's & con's I would probably have wasted a lot of time... Remember you are in control of your behaviour with the band...If you are a good band girl, you won't or shouldn't have many if any problems, you determine your successes and or failures... I freaked out with questions & possible complication scenarios and I stopped reading negative threads, as they are after all threads discussing "complications"!! What you are going through is your bold self trying to talk you out of a discipline you are going to have to adopt... It is your "inner binger" fighting for things not to change You will be fine & you will be happy you made the decision.. If you did give it one more honest try yourself, how far would you get before you hit the inevitable bump again and you'll find yourself either regaining & devastated of you'll find yourself wishing you had gotten the band and your BMI may be below what qualifies you to have it.. What is your history? What can you learn from it?

Hello everyone... Can't remember if I last posted fri or sat but I feel like it was a week ago with all the catching up I've just read!! I'll have to officially change my ticker now...I am up 2.5lbs from my firt goal.. Last week I had gained 3.5lbs and this week that's only come down by 1lb....is this my first plateau? I don't like counting calories but to keep track I am counting WW points.. My allowance is 25 per day..but I stay around 20.. I have no problem reaching my daily points limit and I havent come caross any problem foods yet...although I am still sticking to the mushy varieties..ie TUNA, eggs, potatoes, yoghurt etc.. I guess the powers that be are teaching me right now that I have to earn my success!! I was ecstatic 2 weeks ago when I reached my first goal weight but that was also the last day of liquids and the weight had really just fallen off during that time. This is so challenging for me, normally this regain would drive me up the wall and I would SOO give up & complain that "I can't live a normal life & loose weight" "One night out in a week juat makes a loss impossible" etc etc...I caught my old self fleeting around me this week as I felt partially drawn into that frame of mind. But there is a new voice now, offering reassurance belief & patience telling me that I can learn to live & loose and I can have a life and loose this weight, I don't have to be a hermit or be a ball of frustration. I have to honor & aknowledge this voice & thank it & when I get back down to my original frist goal weight I will reward this voice with gratitude & love and make a stronger bond with it against the old one. I find it hard to know that things have slowed down and started to bounce but I also have to remember that what I am learning here is for life. And for the first time I have put PATIENCE and CONVICTION and BELIEF at the top of my priority list in learning how to cope and succeed at something I have done blindly, ingratefully and bitterly my whole life... So today I am Up 2.5lbs from my 1st goal weight and I still love myself enough to accept that...xxx I am for the first time ever in my life in love with me!!! LOL!! (DH better watch out!!)

Goodness haydee...That's more than a bummer. As much as I am in no place to cast judgement on your situation what I read kinda made me want to get mad at your fella!!! Is he playing mind games with you? He says he's surprised you're taking a stand...When I don't think you've taken a stand at all!! You're gonna wait n see what he has to say when you get back, if you were taking a stand for YOURSELF ...YOU would have the last call, no? I'm sorry girl If I sound cruel or insensitive but it sounds like he calls ALL the shots and you've left the ball in his court again. As for confusing his family...that just makes me wanna slap something...what about confusing you for God's sake?? He is gettin the best of two worlds here, with nobody on his back. You need to up your self worth & ask yourself what you value. In a choice of husband I value honour, security, respect , responsibility, loyalty, trust , affection, someone who works hard and loves his family. What qualities do you value & want from your life partner and compare them with your guy, how does he stand up to your expectations? Could it be that he doesn't make the grade with you and maybe deep down somewhere you feel you have set your hopes too high and may never find a guy with all the qualities you value so you settle with him & his conditions for now? I'm so sorry to be "on your case" about this but I suspect you are and have been selling yourself short.. you said for years you were demanding either marriage or break up..Haydee you've given him power over you. You have let him dangle a carrott in front of you for all this time and now you are still looking for an ANSWER from him. This is not taking a stand and don't let him convince you that it is...if he wants you to think you are calling the shots, and you think you are but still waiting for make or break time then that just gives him more time to mess with you & your dreams. This may be the hardest thing you'll ever do Haydee but it looks to me like it IS time for you to move on, and I don't know if consulting him on your decision would even figure if that's what you really wanted to & were ready to do. Search your soul Haydee...you have a very brave decision to consider taking..xxx I wish you luck

terri...we were posting at same time!! Do I get credit for my tennis? LAURAJ....oh girl, you're in for a rollercoaster this year with your wedding plans. Let me just say something to you I wish someone had said to me in my wedding year! Everyone says your wedding is all about the bride & groom...THIS IS DECEPTION!! The day itself when it arrives THAT is your day alright and you can finally relax & enjoy & let everything happen around you. Up until that day, it's all about EVERYONE ELSE!! Everything else you're planning & you're choosing...ie food, drink, wedding party dresses/ suits / hair / make up / menus/ accommodation Time of day etc etc is with your family & guests in mind. You will be stressed, P*d off, resentful at times (when you feel DF or you're family/ his family are not doing their part) You'll feel like calling the whole thing off, running away and taking your girlfriend on the honeymoon at times also.. The thing to remember is THIS IS ALL NORMAL...the planning can drive you off the deep end too!! You won't hear this from a lot of brides because as USUAL with women, we don't want others to know we are not always "ON TOP" of life & the decisions we make. This is also because, once the wedding day comes, you forget all the stress & fighting and the day itself sweeps you & everyone else off your feet and so you all have a ball and remember that it was the best day EVER!! So, go for it...enjoy every minute of thge planning, don't sweat the bumps when they arise...every wedding is STRESSFUL in the planning stage. The day me, dh & my family went to the menu tasting we had all fallen out in a terrible row on the way to the venue (a screaming match actually) ...we tasted the menu in silence (hindsight allows it to be funny now, but it wasn't then) But we got there and it was great. So remember that and you'll do just fine!!

Hello ladies in tights!!! Thank God this is not a skype situation or we might not find it so funny! LOL Anyway, first of all Terri- I got off my Ass last night intending to go walking & asked DH would he come with me, but he didn't want to walk so I suggested he give me a tennis lesson instead (he's a member & quite good) So we went to the court & knocked the balls around for about an hour!! I felt great after it...big red face n all!! I met someone afterwards who thought I was sunburnt!! LOL (poor thing, not so bright, it had been raining all day!!) So, hence my first bit of physical movement since ages!! I'll have another go at something tonight. TracyInks...That's a dilemma you got on your hands there. I would prob say no. I know you cannot protect him from his bio & extended family for life, but for now you can. A young mind will ponder so much more than we can remember doing!! and for him to start confusing issues, identities and picking up on conflict could generate feelings he won't know how to translate and instead he could lodge them and grow insecure in his own little way, not knowing why. Innocence is so precious, and I'd let him have his for as long as you can without loosing your own piece of mind!! No one knows a child like a mother Tracy & you will do what's best for your son no matter what you decide as you will know how & when to handle this. I do know that my own insecurities stem from my childhood, and I was stressing in my own little world, before I even knew what stress and insecurity was!! As children we do try to make sense of the world around us & fit in & be accepted before we have the tools to know why if & how we should. Love is the most important thing for a child, and if you feel he won't get that from the others in question, then that is where your decision could ultimately lie? For now anyway. There is obvious conflict from the email sender in her relationship and as someone above stated, that is a red flag. Also, remember, you are loving yourself now too. So are YOU ready to take this on? What's best for you?? Remember to put yourSELF in this equation too..xx You deserve a priority in consideration too!! I wish you strength, Serenity, courage & wisdom in your decision..xx

Well done JUDY!!! :clap2: Of course we're interested in your drawers!! LOL

Terri...You're right I know..thank you for your advice!!! I won't get pregnant now however, I will wait..just that I decided last year that this would be my pregnency year (I thought I would have gotten hold of the weight prob by now...but time flies when you do nothin about it!! LOL) As for excercise..I promise you I'll walk tonight ok..xx BTW I am a LIBRA...the scales being my zodiac sign...how fitting!! But very fitting also that I tend to tip one way or the other in so many areas in my life, always searching for balance.. I guess this year is my mind body soul balance year!! Jennifur...Babies don't end or mend conflict I agree. I have seen it happen with a friend!! THIS YEAR I WILL BE MY BABY!!! LOL

HORMONES Mdrai!!! As I said I'm just thinking out loud!! The musings of a pre-menstrual woman!! LOL

Hi again everybody... OMG...another 4 pages to read to catch up!! laura..I just visited the annabella website..is it Cedar point or something? If I was on the right site it's beautiful!! I can't believe how excited I am thinking about your upcoming plans!! LOL!! Happy times!! Anyway...I never thought I'd say this but I miss my liquid stage!! I find it harder to deal with mushies & food. I guess it's because I'm back to planning meals & being organised and having more choice!! Plus eating out and eating in company again...I tend to be very unorganised on OFF days...and they're the most important. I still feel I'm doing well, I did have a sneak peak today & am up 3lbs, but I don't record until Monday so we'll see if that will be registered or not, this I expected when moving food stages. (plus I went a bit mad on guinness tues night LOL!!) Drinking like that though wasn't on my plan, I broke my four drinks rule!!! Shouldn't have done that, but for my sins I got shoulder pain back as a result, so there is my lesson & motivation to learn from it!! I did however take extra Bvitamins & omega wed to combat any food cravings I might encounter as a result of the indulgance (TERRI...I think that counts as a back on track tactic?) Usually a hangover sees me eating my way through bread & potato chips & that kinda stuff. THAT didn't happen. SO I am happy that I learnt to deal with an over indulgence positively & not freak out about it & slip following it. I don't think I ever learnt this before, I am very pleased that I can except that I am human and not perfect. I'm not even upset about gaining weight, becuase I know I can cope with it & turn it around...It'll actually be more of a victory to get rid of a 3lb regain than if I had continued to drop the lbs EASILY as I had up til now!!! I don't think I've dropped a regain in 1 1/2 years!! So that will be a victory...stay tuned!! I also haven't started walking yet coz til now I felt too HUGE to do so, that puts me off. But I do have more energy & drive so I think I can face starting to get off my ass now to keep things moving. My next mini goal is to loose those 3lbs to get back down to having reached my first goal of 224lbs...then on to my 2nd goal of-22lbs, I will feel truly into my 2nd goal once I see about four gone into that!! NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT...AND STRANGE!!... I have DISCOVERED a WANT in me to get pregnant!!! (or as they say here "up the pole") Now, this is because I had wanted to start this year anyway, and having decided to have the band, I put it off again until next year. I visited my doc yesterday for my BCP prescription...which I will start anyday now. Some of you are probably thinking...hang on, was she not cotemplating divorce last week? LOL...I'm just sharing my thoughts. I think it's just that in my mind I had planned on having a BUMP by Christmas 2007!! Do you think maybe I'm looking for distraction? Could also be that, not that I'd use motherhood as a distraction, but now that my surgery is over am I looking for the next big thing in my life? I do want to be a mammy soon!! And I know DH would be a great daddy, but Patience I guess, one more year!!

LOLOLO...I meant Pics...not pis!! LMAO

Terri...you Beauty!! How did you get my pis?? I thought I deleted them B4 anyone got a look!! Thank YOu...xx I LOVED our wedding day & all the planning & work that went into it & It was a fairytale..I had Horses & Carriage and fireworks and everything in a castle. I don't have the photographers pics on my computer but if I can I'll transfer so you guys can see us in the picture too!! Laura, the purple was just lighting. We had a friend do the lighting & it was really amazing, it went from purple to blue & he did dry ice for us too, so it was enchanted looking..those photos were taken before he let loose with the dry ice. I'd love to send you the DVD of the day...But the fomat wouldn't work for you there!! I'll see if I can get it re-regionalised (I made that word up) would you like it if I could send it to you? It would be good for ideas..it documents the day from the moment we started getting ready at home until the dancing into the early hours!! The memories make me so happy!!

laura...I know what you mean, but believe me, getting someone to help decorate your venue will take a lot of stress from you. Yes they can be expensive, but wedding venues have to be decorated the night before or day of your wedding...can you imagine yourself up a ladder 24hrs before walking down the aisle? I found my girl at a wedding fair, she had her stall set up with the fairy lights, flowers candles & ivy & I saw it a mile away, it was beautiful. I knew when I saw how she presented her work that she was the one for the job!! The florist was amazing, she adopted my & DH & done an AMAZING job...our whole town was talking about the flowers in the church for weeks!! LOL, you could smell them from out side!! As I said before though weddings in IRELAND are VERY different than those you guys have and a typical wedding goes something like this 1.30pm...Church cermony (I highly reccomend having a choir and pick your own songs & Readings) We're catholic 2.30pm...Everyone goes to the "local" for a drink or two while the wedding party get photos 4-5pm...Everyone arrives at the reception venue for more cocktails & canape's and a general mingle. More Photos 6pm..everyone is called for dinner & when seated the bride & groom are announced & seated last 6-9pm...Dinner & speeches & more drink 9-9.30..everyone gets up to move around while the room is cleared for dancing. 9.30-10pm..The band start & continue until 12.30pm where either another band or a DJ takes over..music til 2am!!! 2am...some people go home but most go to the residents bar and have been known to party until breakfast (this was the case at every wedding I've ever been to!!) Breakfast..A lot of sick people skip this part. And by lunchtime we all meet up again to spend the rest of the day seeing the bride & groom off and curing ourselves with a hair of the dog...this has also been known to last until the following Breakfast time! Our wedding was on a Friday...we partied with everyone until Sunday before flying off into the sunset. Most guests also returned home on the Sunday but our wedding party continued celebrating until the following Wednesday!! I love Weddings!!!

SHIT!!! I knew I'd get it wrong!!! Help!! I posted with photos but they were MASSIVE so I deleted the post.. I'll wait for the instructions for me & Jennifur!! LOL P.s.....yes, LBT is giving me trouble too when I submit post I get server error page and have to go back to LBT homepage!!

:faint: :faint: :faint: OMG!!! Everytime I go missing for a day I have PAGES to catch up on... All up to date now!! Hello Everyone!! Tracy...Lovely Photo...you are glowing with health energy & happiness!! KAT...You are so kind thank you..xx That story about your friends is so sad..OMG. As for us, well after keeping a silent & respective distance for a couple of days we both contemplated on the questions we had of each other & although the silence was TERRIBLE we ended up having a very good chat in the end. We shed some light on things and it turned out to be a very productive bump! We have a very good relationship and we're very affectionate & lucky to have each other but as with all couples there are always areas that are harder for us to communicate in. So we made a breakthrough and are both happier that our one particular problem has been made clearer & we now understand what it was that has been in our way the past AGES!! It really was great to finally get through that. Anyway...((((PAMELA)))) Please remember to be good to yourself during this hard time. My mother lost her mother in FEB this year and it has been very hard on her. It is a very sad time & I see what my Mam is going through and somedays we worry so much because she is so devastated that she seems almost out of it. My nana was her rock. Just know that although those days will happen there is still room for happiness & joy & love in your life and let those who love you provide that for you in their support. We do it for our mam because she is our rock and someday soon please God she will become the nana..The circle of life. Don't hold back Pam, you will survive this and always remember to love yourself everyday too..xx Sara...Good luck with your exams!!! Laura..Wedding plans!!! I put my wedding together myself, I had a scrap book, I filled it with ideas from magazines & planned everything from the bouquet to the menu to the table seating & the accommodation for my 240 guests PLUS the following days' festivities!! (Has anyone ever been to an Irish wedding? they can last anything between 3-7 days!!) I did however hire someone to decorate the reception venue & the church for me. But it was magical & fab & I got so much pleasure out of it!! I'll see if I can post some photos!

Yes Terri...we're living in an atmosphere you could cut with a knife at the moment..I am sad about it...but what can I do? We're only married 2 years and I get scared that we're having difficulty so early in!! I dunno what to do, but I'll see how the rest of today goes

Me ANXIOUS today!!! Haven't much to say but am reading all the posts...great to see so many of you excercising!! Well done..and the fills are coming up too!! I'm due my first for mid June. Anyway...stay strong everyone!