janiebug

Love the new avie Terry!!
I look at 'lolcatz' all the time, they are too funny. Saw this one, and thought of you all and the washing hands thing :thumbup:

11 Days Til The Violet Bandiversary Bash!!:sad:

What is pomade?

WOW! it's so close now! I can't believe it's almost here. I haven't started packing yet but I will this upcoming weekend. I've been setting stuff aside to bring with me to share. I've got two full bags! lots of cute stuff...

Here are the phone numbers if you want to call the hotels and ask them any questions:
Gruene Homestead Inn
Phone: 800.238.5534 or 830.606.0216
http://www.gruenehomesteadinn.com/index.htm
San Antonio - River Walk Drury Inn & Suites
P: 210-212-5200 · F: 210-352-9939
http://www.druryhotels.com/properties/sanantonioriverwalk.cfm

Morning all!
As soon as I posted how to give rep power---they moved all the icons!! But it still works the same. Try it out!

Well today is my 1 year bandiversary! In fact one year ago this time, I was being wheeled in to surgery, and was a nervous wreck!! A year later--life is so different! 90 pounds---not a record by any means, but one helluva record for me! I cannot begin to convey the changes, it has brought about. I hang out here, excited to see all of you go through it, your enthusiasm keeps me motivated! The only pictures I have availabel right now are my before and my 50 pound loss pictures. I took a 75 pounds lost, but it was at Christmas, and the decorations on the door behind me, made it difficult to see. I intend on having Rick (DH) take my 1 year photos tonight. I will attach the 50 pound loss pics, just imagine, it is almost that much again---that just blows me away!
I had several little things I put on a list on a thread a year ago that I wanted to accomplish with my band---I have almost met them all in a year!
* I can cross my legs--squat-- sit on the floor and get up with ease
* I rode rides at a local carnival, so know I'll fit roller coasters this summer
* I buy clothes in Misses, no more Plus sizes!
* I no longer feel like people stare at me due to my weight
* I actually liked the family pictures we had made---I ALWAYS hated them before!
* I wanted to be able to share clothes with my DD---and while that has been accomplished, so far it is a one way street, she borrows mine, hers a still a bit small!! But the knowledge that she can wear mine, thrills us both!
* I take NO high blood pressure meds, NO diabetes meds---NOTHING!
* My cholesterol numbers are so good they make my Dr smile!
* I am able to ride my horses again, without feeling like the ASPCA is going to come after me for animal cruelty.
* I hike the farm with my husband, I no longer sit on the edge of a pool, or make excuses to avoid physical outings.

This list could go on, I no longer remember what all was on the first one. There are things I could not have foreseen a year ago, that I find to be awesome success. First of all the friends I have made on this board, have taken on such importance to me. I discuss you in real life, my husband asks about you! I thank each and every one of you for the support and friendship given me this last year--and look forward to the continuation of it! Another amazing aspect of this, was the ability to continue weight loss, or at least maintain during times of HUGE stress. I went through a time back before most of you on the Head Start on Spring board were around, that my stress levels were off the chart! Within a month of my banding, we found out my DH's mitral valve in his heart was failing, and he required open heart surgery. Before he could get it done, he got a blood clot, which took awhile to clear, and his heart kept getting worse. Finally in August he had surgery, successfully---and we thought all was well. But in Oct. He got sick and simply threw up---and due to al the blood thinners, he tore his esophagus, where it attaches to the stomach, and began bleeding profusely--I have never seen so much blood. The Dr. took me to a small room in the hospital, and told me due to the blood thinners, they could not stop the bleeding, that he would likely expire within the next 15 minutes. They were trying an experiment on him, but would I like to be with him as he passed? To tell you this months later makes me cry---I have NEVER been so scared in my life--this man is the love of my life! He was dying! Through some smart Dr.'s and a well timed experiment, they saved him! He ended up with almost 30 units of blood, and half again that of platelets--for the clotting factor. And he has no serious side efects from all of that. Now before my band, I would have been up a minimum of 30 pounds, I would have eaten everything in sight, I am a stress eater! I eat, I cannot sleep---I would have been out of control. The band was a such a blessing, it sat in there and did its job even when I couldn't! And I could sit in the ICU waiting room, waiting to see him without stuffing my face---thinking only of him. It got me through huge stresses---I love this band!
I tell you this long story, so you know that as you head into this next year, you are no longer alone in the weight battle. That little silicon fist is in there wrapped tight around your belly helping every day! And the friends you make here will be there praying for you and for anything that comes your way. I fully believe the prayers that went up from all corners of the USA and 3 different countries for my DH made a difference.
The first month is not always easy---but neither was walking around with the weight---and as you heal it gets so much better!!!! 90 pounds better for me!
The big deal for me today is a 3 way combo----#1 it is my bandiversary, #2. I am down 90 pounds, and #3 that puts me into Onederland!!!!! At least for today!!!
Thanks for listening guys!!!
Kat

GOOD MORNING ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2 more days, 2 more days, 2 MORE DAYS!!!
Thanks for all the kind words and ENCOURAGING words about my short recovery schedule... So at 7:30 a.m. CENTRAL TIME on Thursday.. I want all my LBT buds to cross their fingers and throw up a prayer to your higher power and WISH ME LUCK!!!!!! and NO GAS PAINS! LOL (and hoping that my hospital room will get CBS so I can watch Survivor, oh and ABC for Greys! LOL :girl_hug:
Ok.. I've really got to get serious about my office today....... I am going to MAKE MYSELF FILE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have a wonderful day!!!
p.s.............. I walked a mile last night too!!!! well ok.. ALMOST a mile.

WARNING....MAJOR LONG POST



:faint:


(But hey...I've been missing all weekend again!!!)
Hello Again
BRENNERS...wow that came around fast! Good luck to you...I hope everything goes well for you. Funny I got a head cold before I was up too & it made no difference.
I have to admit here , SOMETIMES i feel a bit down about not being able to pig out!! Not eat normally just my binge days!! Why is that? I suppose I'm just getting use to not having it to depend on maybe? Apart from those fleeting moments I feel I'm doing well.
I have lost 17 lbs so far since today (i will weigh once weekly on mondays) This is SO FABULOUS!!!! I hhaven't experienced weight loss in SOOO long...:clap2: :clap2:
Thougts & musings....
The old me is hanging around in the background haunting me a little bit, I feel a bit anxious about unrealistic goals hanging around... ie I'm worrying that next Monday I'll be dissappointed with my weight loss... this has always been the case for me, I always wanted the weight gone NOW overnight & anytime in the past I would get to week 2-3 and the weight loss would slow down to 1-2-3 lbs in a week I would freak!!
These are the demons I have to face now.
I am reading an excellent book called THIN FOR LIFE... it's a few years old but it's all about successful maintainers & I'm finding it very helpful as it documents how weight loss 'masters' have kept their weight at bay & the struggles they finally had to overcome to do that.
It profiles 'masters' that have lost their weight numerous times only to regain & have had to start over again. This is what happened me, this is why I got the band.
The most helpful thing about this book is their stories & their strategies, and one thing they ALL have in common is that they all have a PLAN.
they ALL gave up being unrealistically strict, perfectionism and made plans to include & make way for occasion including reasonable allowance treats.
And THEY ALL LIVE IN MAINTENENCE MODE once the weight loss is over
In otherwords they eat like skinny people do.....give & take. I always had selective observation when it came to the women around me who are in control of their weight. I was so jealous...I HATED them...BUT I chose only to observe them eating sweets or drinking alcohol or going out for an Indian.
I chose to never aknowledge them when they took their coffee black or went walking or drank skim milk or counted points or had salad for lunch & a baked potato for dinner. WHY? Because I wanted to BELIEVE that they didn't watch their weight. I wanted to believe I was the unlucky one who had to count EVERYTHING... I wanted to believe there was a world where weight management didn't exsist & that I just happened to be from somewhere else!
I WANTED IT TO BE UNFAIR...I Still do
I had a friend down for the weekend & I made a lovely dinner for her & my DH, I sat with them & had my Soup & although the old me on my shoulder was there secretly salivating for the crostini I had made...everything was ok.. I even made dessert (a fruit one!)
But my friend is slim & works at staying that way EVERY DAY... she has a PLAN... she sticks to it mon-fri and if she can she'll be good at weekends too but if something comes up she'll make room for it & she'll go out & eat & drink but when it's over she's BACK TO PLAN...
I NEVER mastered that... I NEVER did moderation. I always set up rules that were unyielding, no allowances and so impossible to adhere to that when I would have the bottle of wine I had not planned on having, into the nachos & dip I would go...then I would proceed to nibble my way through a lapse and on to a relapse the next day by eating crisps (potato chips) Mcdonalds, bread, fries, Ice cream and all the way to eventual & inevitable bingeing Collapse.. all the while being cheered on by my bold self... rebelling against this world of calorific responsibility.
I got something out of my binges...there was a pay off... I searched & searched for this because I found it hard to believe this eating was benefitting me in some way... but it was..
here is my list of payoffs
1. I got to be spontaneous
2. I got to be irresponsible
3. I got to be 'like everyone else' who was ordering bannoffee ( selective
observation at play here)
4. I got to moan about how unfair it was that I was fat
5. I got to be lazy & not have to do anything about it because I had
failed before
6. I got to be poor me & I got sympathy for my 'struggle'
I got recognition for my struggle
On further realization being overweight was a result of positive intentions for me...I was benefiting from it. I just had placed too much importance on those benefits...to look at them on paper now seems pathetic.. they seem like such weak goals in life. But they were easier..and hey...I realised them!! I was successful
I then made a list of the sacrifices I had made in order to reach & maintain these goals. I won't list all here but to give an example of these sacrifices, I'm sure you can relate
1. Self Esteem, Self Worth
2. Social life
3. Happiness
This list is typical & also very personalised.
It might be a good excercise for us to do, to journal who really is inside driving us & how we can get to know that person & help that person prioritise & really look at the goals in life.
These lists are still being compiled... maybe I shoud start a thread so people can reflect on the reasons why keeping excessive food in our lives benefits us in some ways.
Good luck to all who are getting ' done' this week....
As we come to the end of April
MAY we finally begin to be our best:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: