JosieK

hi everyone, quick check in.... i still have my company so it's been hectic. i forgot how much kids get satisfied by little things. so we are running around a bit Kat: i am so happy for you. you are really a power of example and truly offer the best insights into our problems....you also work a great program which really shows us the way! hi judy, terri, tracyK, denise and everyone else i have my company till thursday so i will probably be sporadic in my "check-ins" have a great day

hi pre op...i ate everything that didnt eat me..... in fact i'm glad i did that...i sort of got it all out of my system. i dont crave alot of the junk i previously ate. my dr does not have a complicated pre op diet....i just couldnt eat meat (which i dont really like anyway) after the operation...everything changes. post op we do have to choose which path we want to take. before i was banded i got scared when i saw people with the band for over a year and they lost 10 lb and needed to lose 100. what i realized was...they would sit themselves in taco bell everyday. the other group of people that lost in a steady good way...followed a food plan (they did have slips once in awhile) but they went to the gym, they drank Water, etc. i did worry preband about being able to do it...but the band does help "tame the food demons" good luck

hey cookie, you go girl...thats the way to look at this...prove your doctor wrong and lose it all...and then you get the benefit of your new body. i'm like you... a statement like your doctor made would give me all the motivation to lose the weight. as you can see on this board...there are so many people who lose their weight.... i just try to follow the people who are the "winners" who eat right, exercise etc. and it can be done good luck i cant wait till your doctor "concedes" he was wrong

hi joan, i recently moved away from NY. i ended up getting my band in texas. however i did investigate it in NY and i also know people who had it done (successfully) one doctor who stands out nationally is Dr. Ren. she was part of the original FDA trials when they were just testing the procedure. i went to one of her seminars and really liked her frankness. my doctor in texas was also in the trials (there were only a handful nationwide) and he has the highest regard for her. regardless of who you choose...NYU is an excellent program and you are in good hands. i would say for me....50 pct in importance is the operation. of equal importance is how the doctor sets up aftercare. meaning does he/she have seminars, how do they handle problems, fills, etc. i originally investigated the band in 2002 and am very sorry i just did it this past march....it is one of the best things i've ever done for myself. it isnt a magic bullet.....you definitely have to work a program (good food choices, exercise) but it has made it easier in terms of taming the "food demons" good luck with your band.

good morning everyone, well we did meet as terri said and i always am amazed when 4 people who dont know each other...can get together and there isnt any lull in the conversation. it reminds me as women we are connected...and more alike then not. who would've THUNK it....a simple thing like this band (or what my brother calls "the collar") would open a whole new world to us. we did say it would be way cool if everyone on this thread could get together..... tracyK: your daughter is adorable.....have fun with your aunt. i have visitors coming today for a week and the weather is a bummer. we were going to schlitterbahn (cancelled) and then thinking of going towards your neck of the woods (kemah or moody gardens) but i guess the bad weather is there too... kat: you have sooo many good things to say. if you ever want to switch careers you could definitely become a counselor. i really like your perspective to laura. terri +haydee: it was great to meet you guys... trackinKS: your wedding hall is so nice..your wedding is going to be fun...i like the dress code idea gina: sorry about your episode....it really is quite a teacher and reminder. well have a great day everyone. of course i've left alot to the last minute to do before my company arrives tonight

good morning everyone, heading to do a spin class.....then i have to get my house ready. i have visitors coming tomorrow for 1 week. i love company but get stressed before they come. i had a semi-normal dinner last night. i feel like i am having the right restriction finally...not too much or not too little hi tracyK hi missjen gr8: thanks for posting the excerpt from the book. there is alot of helpful info in your post terri: i do know what you look like from photo's. i'm not sure what i'm wearing yet but i'm 5'8"..blonde hair. .. have a great day everyone adorable: those episodes are horrible arent they? it scares me evertime. will check back in later

hi i could spit nickels right now...i just lost a whole post with all personals on it.... i'll reconstruct.... back from washington....it was fun...lots of walking.....it was fun to be with my nieces+sister in law. my brother.....i love him but they spoil him. when he gets in a funk...he takes everyone down. the guy i met on eharmony (we didnt physically meet yet) is going on vacation for 2 weeks. so i'm getting my butt to the gym religiously. altho' i have a feeling i may not meet him in the end. he thinks i'm in shape...and while i'm getting there....definitely not there yet and wont be in 2 weeks.... i know i know...i should feel ok....but i dont. also he has degrees up the wazoo (MD, DDS, MDS and something else) and thats another achilles heel for me.... oh well i have 2 weeks to decide. kat: welcome back too! tracyinks: i'm so happy for you. what a nice surprise. he (DBF) did good....and i'm very happy you felt great about yourself around the ex...mission accomplished mdrai: your losses are great....your doctor is probably right. i'm thinking by losing more slowly we have a chance to avoid plastic surgery laura: i had the same issue. the guy whoc started this web (i think it's alex??) sent me a link to take the cookies out of my computer and it cleared everything up. it is frustrating to sign in each time. it got so bad i had to sign in everytime i changed screens. but it is easily fixed. terri and chica: see you guys tomorrow. my sister in law is drawing me a map to get there...i am horrible at directions. i cant even reverse myself. ha! hi msjen i think i got everyone. i'm afraid to add posts onto this as that is how i lost it last time. anyway have a good night

hi everyone, just want to do a drive by as i'm getting ready to go to washington dc for a short vacation. i will be back sunday it has been a hectic week. i apologize for being so light on the personals. i probably cant check in until i return i hope everyone has a great lapband week, texas girls i will be there tuesday 7/24 at 5:45 thanks

hi everyone...what a day i had half my fill removed and feel like a million dollars. in fact i had my first meal without having to walk around since i was banded. anyway just wanted to check back in and will speak tomorrow

hi, overall i feel everything is going well. i've had to learn how to work with the band but havent we all. i wil say it isnt as easy as people think. but it definitely helps me to overcome "my food demons". 1. What date where you banded?.... 3/30/07 2. How many fills have you had/how much do you currently have in it? 2 fills; going for a fill reduction today. 3. What size of band? ...not sure 4. Do you feel any restrictions?....way too much 5. exercise: 6 times a week (just for the last month. i had a hard time getting off my booty before that)

hi jennifur last night i was thinking about your situation and i'm wondering if you are eating too little. also with the working out you are doing you are using even more calories. so your body is "holding on for dear life" to it's restores. i definitely shut down losing when i cut my calories too low. many years ago i was in a rehab for eating disorder. i was not eating. they proved to me by fueling my body and exercising..it makes the machine run better what i try to do is keep within the 1000-1100 cals range and once it awhile...bump it up. i also have other days where i eat less i read this in the "body for life" book to keep tricking your metabolism and i believe it works. i've tried it. for me the hard part after bumping the calories up is to get back in line with the lower amt anyway...you dont have anything to lose (but weight hope your son feels better. the croup is nasty

good morning.... i wanted to do a quick good morning until later.... going to get the fill reduced today. of course this morning i can drink easily. but i felt like hell yesterday. and i definitely believe when i dont eat enough my body stops losing weight. i stopped weighing 2 weeks ago. i'm only allowing myself to weigh on the 1st of the month. i measure myself on the 15th of the month. i have to say exercise really really is pushing me forward. i lost 5 inches since june 16th when i went to bikini bootcamp. so even tho' the scale was my god....it is better not controlling my life. re: texas meeting. i'm still coming just tell me final place and time. i will probably do a little "shop-shop" beforehand if it's at town and country. i like that place i'll be back later to do personals

hi everyone, well i finally slept through the night without reflux. i still cant drink very well so i promise to go monday o drs. i really didnt do this intentionally. my restriction is so weird. without a fill i was becoming very hungry...altho' i havent been able to eat hard protein (fish, chicken, etc) very well since my operation. i guess i did "suggest" a bigger fill then needed. she started with 1.0 cc and i didnt feel anything. so i had her add .5 enough about this subject...i know i have to go.... chica and terri: since i'm not working make it an easy place for you guys....i can be anywhere...anytime tracyk. we will have others. where do you live? hi judy, you are so level headed about this lapband/weightloss process and make perfect sense. hi jennifur, 10 hour days are quite taxing...i gained most of my weight when i was so stressed at work. i even told my boss at the time he should pay for a spa for me to take it off ha! kat: it's funny all my friends in ny think i have this huge property down here in texas. i have about as much property as i had in NYC (maybe a little more). they think everyone lives on ranches and everyone wears cowboy hats ha! you and your DH do some pretty interesting things....thats fun where is your ranch??? chica: well today is another day of rain...so maybe you can make it a total relaxation day. make it a "homemade" spa day....luxurious bath, do nails, etc. i wish i would feel guilty about the house...i am so not motivated lately....they could do an alfred hitchcock movie about the spiders around my house. they build webs faster then i can swipe them down. look forward to meeting you anyway girls...have a splendid sunday

hi terri: oh my god terri...congrats on your NSV. the day i can shop in a regular dept i will throw a pool party. see :whip: all the cracking of the whip to get yourself to the gym really paid off...and as i told you before...you helped me to get off my butt to start going. i can do either day too so lets see what the other girls say as a preference. can you pick the place since i dont really know anyplace yet. i can come towards your way if you want. my sister in law is like a walking map so she can direct me. judy: one of my newfoundlands is from lake traverse??? a kennel called harbourlight. she was one of the best breeders i ever met please get on my back on monday to make sure i go for a little fill reduction. if i start feeling better i know i wont go. but i'm having troublem with water tonight. so i'm "telling on myself" so i dont backout wednesday. anyway have a great night everyone

hi everyone, getting to the site late. i spent all morning setting up my new phone. i ended up ditching sprint (8 days later and they still couldnt figure out why they couldnt start up my blackberry). i bought the I-phone which is really nice and very simple-stupid which i need. i'm still not feeling well and i didnt go to get some of my fill out yesterday. so i think i am going to do this on monday. we are leaving for washington on wednesday and dont want to feel like this over there. i have terrible reflux now and havent really eaten anything...only liquids houston girls near katy: should we plan to meet? it would be fun to see faces....how about monday or tuesday july 23 or 24th?...otherwise i will have to wait till august. denise: you are doing alot of great things in your program. one thing i've done to trick my metabolism. when my calories get really low...i try to throw in a much higher calorie day to trick it into revving up. you cant go to the gym more the 6 days...well i guess you can but i think 6 is great... kat. ...you should send them a check for 0.00...that would be really funny when the Accounts receivable dept opens it up judy: 125 is great.....where do you live? it's raining here in houston too....i feel like i live in london terri: i'm afraid to stop the gym....you may come after me...lol hi tracy k, jennifur, chica, househuntress, adorable, gr8 laura...you are a beautiful girl and your pictures are so nice. have a super saturday everyone

sorry judy...our posts passed each other. good luck at your garage sale.....sounds like you will make a killing with all you have to sell.

hi everyone, so for las vegas...if i cant find someone..then you guys have to wrestle up a single, funny, cute guy friend ha!!! (just joking) i had a bad night last night. i had reflux the entire night...i think my fill is too much. the thought of driving downtown again....ughhh. i forgot to eat yesterday plus it was hard to get anything down except my protein drink and water. (this is after last weekend before my fill when i could've eaten a horse if it passed my way.) so i'm deciding if i should go down and get some taken out. the devil in me is saying no so i can get down to the next size. the angel in me is telling me to go.....hmmmm Friday the 13th...i wonder who will win :heh: hi househuntress melissa: myspace is a good idea because i think a person's personality comes through. my nieces and nephews use that and facebook alot. jennifur: i would definitely say yes to working the ovens. too bad a heart monitor couldnt measure the heat and heart rate to get calorie count. tracyK: lucky you....your own bellcap Kat: what a nice story.....i love when true love eventually finds the way...like the movie seredipity janiebug: i think the key to a cruise is to have your own group. then it is total fun... terri: lets definitely get together. it's much better to be connected. it was too easy for me to "slip away" when i was "anonymous" on this site. a few days ago you mentioned a monday meeting...what meeting is it? also right near your work is the best pizza place...BROTHERS. those guys are originally from brooklyn and their pizza is exactly like pizza in brooklyn. unfortunately i cant have it right down because pizza isnt a food i can digest. have you been there? off to kickbox. i told my niece i would take her. i feel like doodie right now but i'm going to force myself to go.. have a fabulous friday!!!

hi tracy, actually when i moved here i thought a nice cowboy in 501 levi's and a cute cowboy hat would be fun. the 1st guy on eharmony that i spoke to seemed like a cowboy....i thought he was nice...but he was expanding a new business and worked 7 days a week till 9-10 at night. the one thing i have on my hands is time.... this current one...was ok to look at but i liked his profile. he got a little weird when i changed the time to talk on the phone.... then my niece (a college kid of course) asked me if i googled him and i didnt even think about it. so we did... he's a surgeon ha! but i spoke to him last night and i'm already finding fault. he was bragging (which i hate) about his 100 acre ranch and his 6000 sq foot house...blah blah blah. i could care less about any of that. so i almost sent an email today telling him i thought we werent compatible. but instead i am looking at this as a practice session since i havent dated in a long while. i did make the mistake of giving him my nbr. he kept pushing for it which i thought was weird.... anyway i will keep you posted... the dating being heavy thing is a hard one for me...my therapist laughs when i go into why i cant date being heavy and then i dont lose weight. (before banding) it's a viscious circle. oh well...if i keep on track this may become a non issue. i have to say i do feel sexier losing just a little weight. i really kept the weight on as a shield....to keep people away. anyway...i'm so glad i came to this thread. i feel like i have support for the 1st time since i was banded....i like that we talk about everything have a good night

<TABLE class=tborder style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px" cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=6 width="100%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR title="Post 514429" vAlign=top><TD class=alt1 align=middle width=125>chica chula</TD><TD class=alt2>Josie, the Houston freeway system is easy once you've driven around and gotten lost a few times! Tomball is just east of Katy but I don't know of any quick way to get there. I have to take the Beltway then I-10. So does Eharmony work? I mean do they actually pair you up with someone that is sooooo compatible with you?</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> hey chica actually considering they sent me 400..and i only wanted to speak to 2....not really altho' maybe in your age range it would. when i was in my early 30's like you....i did something like match.com and had a blast.... eharmony sends you people a few at a time...you cant "walk through the candy shop" to view all the flavors ha! i live south of I-10 off grand pkwy

hi i was just in vegas and we went to see the beatles cirque de soleil....amazing! i would go again.... we probably could get a group rate depending on how many go. i also saw celine dion but she will be gone by then

hi i'd be interested to go. i can also help out to organize if you have a job for me let me know

hi chica, i just moved here in october so i'm still finding my way. where is tomball?? i'm getting good with the circles altho' i dont get the "nicknames" for them straight ie. beltway = ??? i do know out here near katy ha! i have 2 gps's and i still get lost. ha! actually i have a funny story...i went on eharmony before i moved here just to see what type of guys are around. so far they sent me 400 guys and i've only spoke to 2. currently i am speaking to 1 of the 2. so we are just at the talking in person stage. of course i dont want to see him until i lose 40 more lbs (dont ask...i've been talking about this is therapy for 12 yrs ha!) so i wont go out with anyone being heavy. i figure i can hold him off until mid august. but i told my sister in law i was worried if he asked me to dinner. when i go out with them i have a ritual of walking around after i swallow something. oh well i guess i will worry about that if the time comes. tracyinKS...i was wondering about my own father doing an operation on me...ewwww. schexy: one look at you and your loving way with those adorable kids of yours...you wont have anything to worry about...but i will still pray... see ya later

hi tallyjohn, i couldnt get alot down when i was first banded....i got very weak and wasnt recovering quickly enough. also when the calories are so low, the metabolism shuts down and i stopped losing weight. so only drinking Water is a bad idea. try to get Protein shakes or if you cant get that down...they have these protein test tube things (whey protein) that have 42 gms or smaller ones that are 25 gms. plus Vitamins are essential as well. we have to get rid of the diet mentality of starving then binging etc. anyway this was just my experience. good luck

holy hannah.....you gals are an active bunch. they say "watch what you wish for" ha! i think i have too much restriction. i can drink water and broth. but i cant eat yet. also i have to stand to take much in. i've had a problem from the beginning in that i have to walk around to eat...weird right??? they checked my band position this week and they keep telling me...."perfect!" oh well i can deal with this till the weight comes off. last time i had a fill the saline left pretty quickly so i'm just going to go along with this. i can drink protein shakes and water so i wont be in trouble. terri: if you look at the % you've lost....you are doing great. starting out you had less to lose then alot of people that are putting out big nbrs. have you kept your measurements...i bet that is where you are showing results. you are really hitting the gym hard tracyinKS: i know i want to buy clothes half price but sizes are changing like crazy. (i'm not complaining). you made me laugh with the b*^tch slap comment teachlady: i agree with you about counting pre-op weight loss...it is definitely related to the band and probably harder to do. tracyk: the more i see of the TT operations...i am more open to them. there is a girl on the before/after pics that is having everything done and she looks good. she has been giving a blow by blow description of what she is going through. i think her father did the operations. hi lunasa, jennifur, mdrai, chica chula, bubbles, janiebug, puddy, househuntress have a terrific thursday

good luck gwhite