JosieK

hi mini, i'm glad you are feeling better. i know what you mean...when they took my drains out....what a WEIRD feeling. to this day i get queezy (spelling?) thinking about it. i'm so glad the scabs are actually glue.....also thank God you are draining. it may be gross but it's better to go outside your body then stay inside. seems like you are right on track....now you are definitely on your way uphill...i'm glad! keep on keepin' on! josie

hi sweet, i thought the same thing...recently i got totally unfilled and now i can eat anything. i cant stuff anything down like the old days but i really dont want to anyway. having not eaten many of my favorite things for 3 years (ie. salad, eggs, etc) i now can eat them and dont want to give this up. it is helping me to appreciate good foods. i am not craving crap like i used to. it's the reverse of the old days. dont worry you will probably get everything back one day! my worry was subway sandwiches..i loved subway and now i can eat it. i just dont want it anymore ha! good luck josie

hi nursemelly sorry i missed your post....didnt mean to ignore you.... josie

hi everyone, i'm back from vacation.....thank god. i ate way too much.....i'm getting back on the horse. i plan to go to the gym first thing tomorrow. and start journalling again. i will go to my WW meeting on thursday but take a pass on getting weighed. i feel like i did a real number on myself. but i'm not going to beat myself up....just get back on the horse. china: have fun on vacation... lillyanne: i just had plastic surgery in may (TT and breast lift) . i saw 3 surgeons for consultation and i have to say i'm glad i did. i learned alot from each one and ended up with one i found out about on this website. he was actually the 3rd consultation i went to. plastic surgery is a big deal and well worth the time investment....good luck in your research. lilmissdiva: i hear ya' .... i'll make the same commitment about not going over my points and posting daily. i get 22. i also have to stop snacking so much in between. i stay in my points but i dont think grazing is a good idea.... katiekatiekatie: welcome..... olive: welcome ok be back tomorrow...with better news... josie

hi girls, just wanted to wish you all luck as you start your journey....it is the best decision i ever made in my life. dont worry about pre-diets unless doctor-ordered. as soon as you are banded you will get on a plan soon enough. also i thought i wouldnt be able to eat certain things after be banded...not true. so no need to "get it all in" beforehand. the day before i was banded i walked around target saying "goodbye" to peeps, twizzlers, etc. the funny thing is...i can eat these now....but really dont want them anymore. my tastes have changed. anyway best of luck josie

hi everyone, i'm going to do a quick post as i dont want you guys to forget me... Sam my fiance' is already out walking the streets of NYC. i havent taken a shower yet! he's like a drill sargeant ha! (just joking) it is 54 degrees...brrr. but it's making me feel like christmas. eating has not been good....i'm trying to just enjoy myself but the angel on my shoulder keeps telling me to "slow down" while the devil keeps saying "shovel it in" we are going to just tool around today. yesterday went to statue of liberty and ellis island. ellis island was great. i found my grandparents names there. anyway....will check in again. will be more regular when i get back to texas. josie

hi everyone, i'm just doing a "drive by" tonight. we need to head to manhattan tomorrow morning so i have to get to bed. have not been great on plan since starting vacation. i'm trying not to obsess about it.... as soon as i return i will be full on again! sorry i dont have time for personals..... josie

hey jolly...we seem to be in alot of the same threads...welcome! hey suzie, i feel bad about patrick swayze too. in fact it has me a little blue tonight. what a great guy. signing off... have a good night everyone josie

hi chele, YOU CAN DO IT!!! we all know how hard it is...that is why we needed to take such a drastic action as an operation. start small.... i know for me when i think of the "WHOLE PROGRAM" i need to do....a small step at a time. maybe start with writing down what you are eating. be totally honest because you are the only one that will look at it. day 2....maybe start small and do what mariposita suggested....15 min walk in morn...15 min walk at night. once you start seeing results...it will help you to take next steps the other thing that helps me is to get all junk out of the house. anyway dont give up...you deserve to get the results from this and you can do it... josie

hi diana, i found the group from your month. it is called "september 2009 band date" hope this helps josie

hey mini, i got very critical of my thighs after my operation. but i have to tell you since i started working out...i'm feeling better about them. i was critical because of the extra skin and the "jiggles" i dont plan on having thigh surgery so i have to work them out and accept the fact that i am 51 years old and will never have the tightest arms or legs. you are doing great!!! josie

hey everyone quick post..... basically relaxing and trying to get the house ready for showing (i'm selling it.) i want to get a lake house in texas as i think we will use it more. of course i've been going out for yummy dinners so i "hope" to maintain my weight. i'm not going to worry about it while on vacation. (altho' i probably am worried about it since i'm mentioning it). i hate the fact i was just getting on track before i left texas to be going off so soon....oh well i will be back on sunday. tracyK: how was your doctor visit? i know what you mean. my gyn actually told me i was "technically" still overweight. that comment didnt do anything positive for my body image issues. my Plastic surgeon told me not to pay attention to the weight charts from the 1950's. how was the birthday party too? oliviasmommy: great job!!! what kind of plan do you follow? hey shalee, julie, jennifur and suzie tomorrow i am off to manhattan. not sure if hotel has wi-fi. i will be back as soon as i have access. josie

hi diana, welcome to lapband-land. glad you are on the way up with your recovery. generally, in the beginning, people join the group of people that are banded the same month as you. this way you can check and see how all of you are doing and any issues rise and potential solutions. of course you can join any special interest groups but sept 09 group may be a good starting point. under the general forums, you can find the groups by month good luck with your band josie

hi mini, sorry about the seroma...but i think you're right. these are pretty common and very solvable. i had a knot from my inner stitches that were supposed to "dissolve"...... work it's way out to the surface. the doctor pulled it out and it bled alot. it doesnt look so good....hoping it goes away...but overall the operation is a success. re: granny pants. i found GREAT sexy underwear online. they are called "hanky panky" they come in vibrant colors and i LOVE them. really soft lace.... but i hung onto 1-2 pair of grannies. i still use them in the gym. i wish i saved a few more ha! i dont like the thong up my butt when i'm working out ha! glad you are loving "the new you" josie

hi everyone, made it to NY yesterday. the weather is really pretty today. i packed like i was going to the arctic....since losing weight i'm cold all the time....but it isnt that cold here ha! hi nursemelly: hope your mother is feeling better..... hi hockeyson: i'm new on this thread too....getting back on "plan" has really helped me to get back under control. i love the combination of the band and WW. it really is a "winning combination." i'm hoping to maintain my weight while on vacation. so far i've been ok....not great....not too bad. i will be online as much as possible while away. we are heading to manhattan on tuesday and not sure if the hotel has wi-fi. hope everyone has a great week!!!! josie

Hi everyone, i had trouble getting on the internet yesterday. part of the reason for my trip to NY was to check my summer house that i rented out this past summer (it was perfect...great renters this year yay!) i am in fire island which is a small barrier island south of long island. thanks jennifer for my welcome. my best friend is from schenectady near you. and i spent summers on the sachandaga lake (spelling??) when i was a kid. i'm happy for you re: your date. funny how we start to live after we wrestle our food demons. suzie... i hear ya.... when i was in the middle of the "blue bell craze" (i put on 17 lbs alone with that) i just thought i was plain crazy. just a few things i did to break it was to: -start journalling my food and being totally honest. (i used to "fudge" my journals so they looked good" -simultaneously i went to the gym. i hadnt been in 6 mos. i made myself go. i read on here where a girl said she made herself get dressed in gym clothes and just get up and walk in the door. so i made a deal with myself to do just that. i didnt even have to work out that day if i didnt want to. it made me go and i actually had a good class. so now i'm back after being away 6 mos. -i also pray for relief from my obsession. i'm not religious...but i do believe in a higher power. this all just came together in the last month. i was in a not-so-good cycle for about 6 mos. i hope you feel better. shalee: You and i are on parallel universes. we go to the same threads. maybe we are twins separated at birth ha! Glad you sent the Cookies away with your DH. hi oliviasmommy: glad you found the thyroid problem and are on the way to getting it under control. thanks for the welcome tracyK. i'm glad it's not too cold here in NY. i dont know what i was thinking but i packed like i was going to the arctic. sam (my fiance' and I are going to just tool around the island...bike ride, etc. he's a native texan (i'm the first "yankee" he went out with...yes they still call us yankees) it's fun to show him where i come from. we will head to manhattan on tuesday and then brooklyn (where i grew up) jennifur, this is the first healthy relationship i've ever been in (i'm 51 yrs old) and it is soooo easy. i always went for the difficult guys. good luck with your new date. have a great day everyone josie

great news sue....

Thanks Suzie

hi sallianne, mine is completely unfilled so my doctor said that would mimic not having one but i still have a little restriction in the morn. josie

hey everyone, i would like to join you guys. i am not homeless but have been a "drifter" on this site. i'd like to "wiggle my butt onto the couch" and have a more solid place to come to. i am originally from NYC and moved to Katy, Texas 3 years ago. i retired and moved to be near family. i LOVE texas.... a little backround.... i wanted to lose weight before i moved to texas. not only did i not lose weight...i actually started gaining and i was miserable. my brother suggested the lapband. he had seen a special on the medical channel. funny thing is...i totally investigated this in 2002 when i was 270 lbs and decided against it because i thought i couldnt eat steak (i didnt even like steak back then). i think the real reason was i wasnt ready. fast forward..... i was banded in 3/07 . i lost most of my weight in the first year after busting my butt in the gym, journalling, etc. i had many "slips" along the way. during the second year, i got addicted to blue bell (the best ice cream in the world). i started eating only junk as it was too hard to eat good food. i gained 20 lbs back. i've had trouble eating for the entire life of the band. i think i kept myself too tight....which was my fault totally...not the band's fault, not the doctor's fault, etc. i was seriously thinking of taking it out and about 4 weeks ago my doctor suggested a total unfill. he felt i might go away from junk food and start eating regular food which has happened. last week i joined weight watchers to be held accountable and i have to say it is a winning combination with the band (for me). i found a group on LBT that does both. i finally got back to the gym after PS and lost 6 lbs this week. i have 13 more to go. i'm pretty chatty today ha! i'm heading the NY for vacation tomorrow so next week i will be on/off but normally i'm on every day. so i will be checking in when i can... have a great weekend josie

haydee, last night was fun! i especially like the last course :laugh: i'm glad your wedding plans are really coming together. that's when you know it's sanctioned by someone much more powerful then us. keep me posted on any new "finds" you have for the wedding. take care joanne

hi mini, seems like you are doing well..... dont let yourself have pain. take as many pain meds as you need.... you are on your way up to being your new self!!! everyday i am getting more happy i did this. in the beginning i wasnt so sure....but now....very happy. take care and keep us posted. josie

hi jollygreen, thanks for the advice. where do you live in NY? i am actually from NYC. i moved down here 3 years ago. i was banded in texas but originally investigated it in NY....i have to say i am cold down here so i'm worried about up there. between moving to the south and blood thinning and my weight loss.....i am cold all the time. before lapbanding i was hot all the time. :thumbup: make sure you eat enough calories. i wouldnt believe this if it didnt happen to me. early on when i was banded...i cut my calories down way low. alot had to do with being too tight. i think i was taking in 800 calories at best. my weight loss stopped. my body was holding onto as much weight as it could for survival. when i upped my calories to 1000 calories...it started to kick in and my weight started coming off again. anyway thanks for the tips!!!! josie

hi these are good suggestions.....the head hunger doesnt go away when you get near goal. so it is better to deal with it as soon as we can. i'm grappling with it even now..... i'm doing everything in my power to overcome it. good luck to everyone josie

hi everyone lilmissdiva: feel better rayne: :w00t: from your lips to God's ears! china: great tracking.... well i weighed in today and lost 6.6 lbs. i was so happy because i wasnt sure how i did. i tracked every single morsel i ate. i didnt "fudge" anything in counting. i used all my extra points and swapped some of my activity points. but 2 things i did which i was happy with...i stayed away from blue bell ice cream and i worked out alot (47 activity points). i also got rid of all junk food in my house. i bought "filling foods" and food that fit in with the WW plan i really think this helped. what i didnt like about this week....i started focusing too much on food. part of it is due to re-learning the program. but one thing i would like to work on is to stop snacking between meals even if it is low point food. i need to conquer the psychological part of eating. i am heading to NY saturday so i hope i can at least maintain this when i get back i will be on/off sporadically after saturday till next sunday. good luck everyone on your week!