readysetg070113

if my friends on this thread read this

I love and care for you and about you

**thank you**

Thanks everyone. Feeling much better today. I had to forgo the gym the other day I just wasn't able to handle it. Sometimes I think we need to give ourselves a break. I stress myself out about not eating right and not working out enough...truth is that sometimes I just need a REST from all the stress.
So even though it's pretty darn cold here in NY I'm planning to meet the trainer tonight and get that work out in!!
I had a fill yesterday at the Dr. and I am feeling a bit more in control of my food intake and choices and that's very helpful. We had a BP meeting on Sunday in NYC and I have to tell you that it was really just what I needed to kick my butt back into gear again. Both me and the hubby. The holidays and the kids and the weather work and all those things were really starting to stress us out so much we really let ourselves get lost in it and it was great to pull our heads out of that and refocus!! It's just what we both needed.
Hope everyone here is doing well and staying warm!!!

Ten months ago today I was banded. Woo hoo! What a wonderful ten months it has been.
I'm feeling grateful for you folks today, and hopeful for 2015. My therapist tells me to dare to dream.
So today I'm daydreaming about summer 2015. Will I be at goal weight? I sure hope so! Gotta get this body moving more! I started walking the stairs at work as a planned exercise. Ten flights up and ten flights down each day. Too cold to walk outside.
Hope everyone is having a good day.

This was ME on NEW YEARS EVE , SON decided to stay up in the room , so I went out & danced & met people & before I knew it it was 4 in the morning , so I had a GREAT time in VEGAS.

Today is New Year’s Eve, and it’s the end of another calendar year and the start of a new one. I have been thinking a lot about all the events that transpired over the last year, thinking to myself and wondering if there is something magical in the changing of the year.
At midnight tonight the numbers of the year will change from 2014 to 2015. Thinking about this had me thinking about all the changing numbers in our lives….and wondering if we can find magic there as well….
We can find so many reasons to Celebrate and often those “celebrations” can be the very things that sabotage us. All the food the drink the sweets oh my!!! I find that it’s easy to lose the magic amidst the buffet tables of chocolate covered everything, roasted, toasted, glazed and sugared where even the sweet potatoes are candied.
You vow to just enjoy a bite OK maybe two and raise a glass to toast the season, and then you find yourself amidst the crowd being offered this and that and handed beverage after beverage and you really aren’t eating so much as grazing among the sugar plum fairies that dance in your head.
Before you know it someone has passed Uncle Joe and/or Aunt May just one too many beverages and you are now caught in the center of the next family drama. Your friend spilled wine on your new couch and your niece is making out with the neighbor in the basement. {{Scandal!}}
The magic of the “New Year” has lost its shine. The high of the Winter Season’s festivities has crash landed into a New Year. That slate wiped clean….or rather the sparkle and glitter have flaked away leaving behind a pounding head, a bloated belly and the weak resolutions to “eat better” and get thee to the gym!
So my friends I ask you how do you spend your New Year’s Eve? Do you set it up and time it out perfectly with the ball dropping in Times Square or some other place on the planet? Do you plan an elaborate party or plan to attend one? Do you snuggle up with your loves and quietly Celebrate? ?
No matter how you choose to celebrate, think of all the times the numbers in your life change, not just from year to year but each number on the scale, each birthday, and anniversary, each day, hour, minute and second that provides us yet another opportunity to celebrate life!!
Forget the family drama and the scandals navigate the buffet tables and beverage bars with mindful thoughts of celebration knowing that today is not the last time you will celebrate. Your head and belly will thank you in the morning and if you’re lucky you might just find that the sparkle, glitter and magic remain in your life and your resolutions are more of a commitment to yourself. To be happy and healthy and to celebrate life all through the year!!

Life does not stop when we have surgery but life can and should be better.
My wife and I have kept off almost 200 pounds for the last 7 Years . My wife 90 plus pounds and me 100 plus pound for 7 years it has not been easy but sure has been worth it.
Family issues have come and gone, lost my mom a couple years ago, my brother in law was killed in a vehicle crash while my sister was driving, she is fine but dealing with the loss of her husband, their son was next to dad but is coping with the loss as well two other nephews wee also in the car and they were Ok with only bumps and bruises, my dad was also in the car and was transported by helicopter to a hospital but he is doing fine now.
Both of my boys had to move in with us at different times, My Oldest moved to a place that he could afford but not a very good neighborhood and his 14 year old daughter was almost raped by a neighbor and their lives were threaten and he moved north to a little town called Willits California and are doing just fine.
My youngest son moved in with his family and her mother so it was quite interesting for a while and they have moved out and bought a house and are doing well.
Needless to say we have also have had to assist the two boys with financial assistant but that is part of being a parent.
This past year my wife and I celebrated our 35 anniversary and one of our celebrations was going parasailing which I would of never though of doing 7 years ago because we would of been over the weight limit.
Through it all we have been very satisfied with the band, Some would say we are not successful because we did not reach our goal. Sure I could stand to lose another 40 lbs but I am still enjoying life and have continues to do things that I could not do a few years ago.
Some of the benefits that have come as a result of the band is:
No more diabetes medicine
No more sleep apnea
No more pain in my back or knees
I actually enjoy walking
I can keep up with the grand children

My Favorite NSV’s are:
Not having to ask for an extension on an airplane
Walking down an aisle of an airplane without apologizing for almost knocking someone out.
Getting off the coach on the first try
Crossing my legs
Getting dressed without sitting down
Being able to ride any coaster at an amusement park
Not having to worry if the ladder is going to hold me or not
Tying my shoes without almost passing out.
Taking the golf ball out of the hole without getting on my knees first
Leaving food on the plate without feeling guilty
Not having to worry about going up stairs.
Riding any ride at an amusement park that I want without fear of not being let on the ride to being too heavy.
Life does have its ups and down and as long as we continue to make more good choices than bad we can continue to succeed in spite of circumstance's that we cannot control.

Struggling at the gym I suspect it's the holiday not so great eating but I'm going .... 5 x a week dragging my ass when I want to sleep in but still going. I don't rmbr it being such a struggle last time this year

Struggling at the gym I suspect it's the holiday not so great eating but I'm going .... 5 x a week dragging my ass when I want to sleep in but still going. I don't rmbr it being such a struggle last time this year

Hey everyone hair playing beat the clock this month don't know where December went Christmas next week my favorite time of year. But behind in everything shopping baking wrapping o well but wanted to check in with my people just to say hi I'm treading Water all with good stuff overwhelmed running out time to do everything but all with a smile
On my face !

Happy Chanukah and merry Christmas just stoping by to check in.
Yes as I got older i learned everyone family is dysfunctional in some way gasp it's true. It was eye opening when I realized that lol . It's how we deal with the dysfunction I guess. Also as I got older i see my relationship with family members changing some for the good and some well it's sad im losing he closeness. I also think it's part of becoming the new me I am
No longer trying to please anyone but me first which is hard and liberating and confusing you all probably know what I mean. This is the only thread I read on here religiously.
My weightless is at a stall again sigh but I keep doing what I'm doing and know to will work out.
As you knew I cut my hie and know dyed it darker and since I'm approaching the big 40 let's add my new glasses anyway ... I had a holiday party and saw some people I work with who I don't see on a daily basis anyway I go up to wishbone of theme a very merry give him a hug and kiss on the cheek and he was weird I said wow that's odd by whatever ... 15 minutes later he came up to me and apologiZed for being so rude he didn't know it was me lol he said my new hair cut threw him off and I loved it even more he didn't comment on my weight loss which was great.
Still having issues with people making a big deal of my weightless I want to throw a huge party invite everyone I know and let them make all the comments at once I cant take it anymore lol! My cleaning commented yesterday about her friend who lost 150 + pounds on HER OWn implying my loss with band was less of a loss I chuckled to myself saying you probably have no ideal if that lady had wls if she did or didn't I don't care she got healthy for herself and that's all that matters. Which brings me to my next point a fb friend commented on my pic not how skinny I look (me skinny not yet ) but how happy she is is decided to transform my life and get healthy !!! Best comment of the year.
Well my bandmily (band family lol ) im off to my last day of work for 10'wonderful days the perks of working in a school one of the very few )
Wishing you all a very healthy and holiday season ❤️

Love my nutribullet!!! Yes what is it with families and diet and food talk even with our success smh. Yes I did indulge on Christmas well as much as my band would allow. And my aunt who is 94 God bless her but her filter is gone just speaks her mind ! Me and my sis we play fighting over this dessert it was delish and my aunt turns to me and says aren't u supposed to be on a diet and watching what you eat. I know she is 94 but I replied no I am
Not I have a new lifer style and I'm gonna eat what I want its Christmas and I'll be at the gym tomorrow! Ugh same woman who earlier told
Me stop losing weight im getting to thin. Lol
Best nsv my sister saying so happy we can now share clothes !!!

Thank you for the post it could
Of been written by me this is why iam so grateful to have found this site and u

Thank you for the post it could
Of been written by me this is why iam so grateful to have found this site and u

Thank you for the post it could
Of been written by me this is why iam so grateful to have found this site and u

Thank you for the post it could
Of been written by me this is why iam so grateful to have found this site and u

Thank you for the post it could
Of been written by me this is why iam so grateful to have found this site and u

Thank you for the post it could
Of been written by me this is why iam so grateful to have found this site and u

Struggling at the gym I suspect it's the holiday not so great eating but I'm going .... 5 x a week dragging my ass when I want to sleep in but still going. I don't rmbr it being such a struggle last time this year

Hi there, I hear you on the worrying -- I am really trying to learn how not to bank anxiety for the future and just to live in this day only (there's a beautiful George Harrison song about that, by the way). food is complicated. I used to use it as an anchor but also at other times to transport myself and escape. Now I need to staple myself to the moment in other ways. I still have much work to do on old habits and of course the holidays put all of that into sharp relief. So many get-togethers, so much food, alcohol and people, people, people. Stress is stress, whether it's good stress or bad stress, and my initial reaction to stress is still to turn to food. I don't have to turn far because it's always there but never more so than at this time of year. My old dieter's mentality gets turned up high and I have to fight off thoughts of being "on" or "off" of a diet and just keep meeting myself where I am.
Meanwhile, for the last couple of months I've wondered if I need a fill. I've had sinus issues, though, and that can make me tighter so I've been waiting it out. But I feel like I'm losing ground, that I haven't made as much progress as I'd like. I'm up a few pounds when I'd like to be down a few more. This worries me and I don't want to fall into complacency. I don't want to go back to old habits, like nibbling, grazing, etc. I called the other day and made an appointment for next Monday -- the soonest I could make work. It will be good for me to re-boot. I need to go back to having a full meal with dense Protein then counting four-five hours before having more food.
Let's not forget to pat ourselves on the back for all we've accomplished this last year. And now on to the next. Another thing that comes to mind is the HALT -- never letting myself get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired. When life is a swirl of activity and there's so much going on I really have to watch out for that. Especially the Tired part.
Best wishes, every one -- for a great day.

Low calorie peppermint mocha
I used to waste hundreds of calories on Starbucks peppermint mocha, not to mention the expense.
I've been making this at home now:
Decaf coffee
Splash of half and half
1-2 drops of peppermint extract
1-2 drops of vanilla extract
Pinch of baking cocoa (1/16th tsp? Tiny amount)
Yum!

I have a better outlook today. Stop living in the future and enjoy the present. Today I have enough love, enough time with my daughters, enough money, enough therapy, enough food, enough shelter, enough cuddly doggies, enough everything. I will enjoy and be grateful for what I have. Worry is my enemy. Life is good. I just have to open my eyes.

Omgosh I went & put on a pair of night shorts on Christmas eve & got up to get a drink & those darn things fell right off of me on to the floor , well I'm SO glad no one was around to see my butt out .

Hi there and happy Boxing Day. I'm in the midst of a major office re-org -- throwing lots of stuff away, rearranging files, and right now I'm at my new stand-up desk. Kept the other just in case but hoping to convert over to more standing. This positions me nicely for the core, which I tend to let slip in an office chair. So far, so good!
Loved hearing about every one's celebrations as well as our day-to-day lives here. Joe, what a cutie-pie down in front -- looks like you had a lovely gathering even if every one could not be there this year. And Skinny Liz -- yes, he was just calling it! How about that. Hope you're enjoying the Florida sunshine. NH is just plain weird right now -- so warm and kind of English out there, like being on the moors (or so I imagine).
We had a nice holiday celebration yesterday. I served a beautiful beef stew which was very band-compatible and my husband made GF cornbread. Very easy meal and yummy. I have regifted quite a bit of chocolates and other sugary things I feel nervous about having in the house right now. Just don't want any stumbling blocks around unnecessarily. Funny how some stuff is fine -- bar chocolate, for example, I'll have a teeny piece if I want but it's no big deal having it in the cupboard. Those little Peanut Butter dark chocolate cups from Trader Joe's -- yikes. Get thee from me, Satan! In the past cheese has been a major trigger for me and I am amazed at how we can have so much and I'm not tempted to gorge. Enjoying a bit of this and that.
My son's presents for me this year were very telling. He sees me as an athlete now (me?). I received stretchie band thingies for working out and ankle weights for walking. It's so sweet that he has noticed how his Mom is an exerciser. I also got a nice gift certificate for a massage from my parents. They don't know I'm banded but apparently my self-care is apparent to those around me. Love that. My husband came through with a nice selection of gifties, including some wild pajamas (blue with black spots) that fit me perfectly. He was nervous about shopping for me and not knowing what size to get, etc. Score! I am hoping, however, that these jammies will not fit me next Christmas -- that I will have lost my last chunk.
Best wishes to all as New Year's approaches and we consider our accomplishments and goals. It's going to be a great year -- I know it.

Love my nutribullet!!! Yes what is it with families and diet and food talk even with our success smh. Yes I did indulge on Christmas well as much as my band would allow. And my aunt who is 94 God bless her but her filter is gone just speaks her mind ! Me and my sis we play fighting over this dessert it was delish and my aunt turns to me and says aren't u supposed to be on a diet and watching what you eat. I know she is 94 but I replied no I am
Not I have a new lifer style and I'm gonna eat what I want its Christmas and I'll be at the gym tomorrow! Ugh same woman who earlier told
Me stop losing weight im getting to thin. Lol
Best nsv my sister saying so happy we can now share clothes !!!