Zoe

Ah, yes, insulting compliments. Here are two that have become cliché; I bet lots of you have heard these from someone: 1. You look like a different person. 2. You look so good, I didn't recognize you. Gee, thanks!

Cute picture, Vines! And I love the O.W. quotation.

Nancy, Sophie thanks you for the extra belly rub and gives you a big slobbery doggy kiss with peanut butter breath. Hope you feel better as the days pass.

Janie, the Great Dane in your after picture really gives a clear idea of the scale of your loss. Congratulations!

Hey Greg, do you have to be a cop to enter that donut eating contest? Because the smart money would be on me. Tell your doctor to move to a lower floor so you can get in on the fun.

I'm glad you checked in with us, Ryan. I hope Patty recovers soon, and that meanwhile you can find someone to help with her care so that you can take a breather. She might be your top priority right now, but please don't neglect yourself. We're all thinking of you both and hoping for the best.

What an inspiration! I'm going to lie down for a minute and think about getting a trainer myself.

I'm crying for you, Nancy, and my heart goes out to everyone who has lost a dog. After I put my beloved Labrador, Lola, to sleep five years ago, my mother gave me a copy of the Rainbow Bridge (below), which still makes me weep every time. It may give you comfort. Warning, sentimental dog lovers do not read on unless you are prepared to cry. "When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge, just this side of Heaven. There are meadows and hills for all our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, Water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill or old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; his eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling to each other in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life, but never absent from your heart. Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together........" Author Unknown

If there's any way I can be there, I will. Maybe I can work in a Grand Canyon Colorado River trip if my butt is small enough to fit in a kayak by then!

Great idea, Vines! Bring back the WCTU! Those Mormon Elders wouldn't be too pleased with my bandster cuisine anyway.

Sorry I'm late to this thread -- couldn't resist jumping on that big scale: Betty 54 Paula 43 Kelly 65 Becky 77 Carol 102 Alex 110 Nana 49 Rich 20 Larae 22 Maureen 73 Marie 56 Wyld Blu 73 Penni 54 Vera 60 Darcy 59 Kelly 39 michelle 135 mary 65.4 greg 77 Sharon 35 Tricia 60 Darcey 23 cindy 88 Melissa 39 Michelle 80 Jonathan 27 Lisa 70 Lauren 23 Babs in TX 150 Bright 82 Jamie 5 Megan 60 Katie 29 Bobby H. 46 Estela 23 Angela 37.5 Terri 43 Teresa 86 Kristie 187 Pat 26.5 Carmen 98 Rica 60 Deniseg 35 Sue 101 Nancy 71 Nancy Smiles 67 PamRN Teresa 100 samy 22 Zoe 50 --------------- total 3097.4

For over ten years I've taken medication that requires me to stay away from all alcohol. Now, with the band, I have yet another reason not to drink. Most of my co-workers think I'm a recovering alcoholic, and I haven't told them otherwise. I decline all drinks and they exchange knowing looks! Now that I'm banded I don't even drink diet ginger ale anymore, and I am allergic to caffeine (have not had a cup of coffee or a cola in over 20 years). When people ask me about my abstemious ways I have started to tell them that I'm a Mormon. If you want to silence a conversation (in Chicago, anyway), it works every time. Bandsters tired of answering questions about eating and drinking, take note. I should mention that other than my drinking habits I am not a good advertisement for that particular faith!

Don't hate me -- I lost three pounds last week, no thanks to good behavior. The flu robbed me of my appetite. I actually ate a Krispy Kreme donut on Wednesday because I was afraid my calorie count was getting way too low! Well, now I'm feeling a lot better and ready to eat again. I see a plateau in my future -- sigh.

Hi Tmarie -- I think most of us here can relate to your fear of failure. We're all veteran dieters, and veterans too of all the frustration that comes with losing then gaining weight. So there's no need to feel silly around here. I bet your brain has already given you a signal or two about your body. Do your clothes fit a little differently than three months ago? Is your face thinner? Has anyone told you that you look slimmer? I thought so. But you just can't believe it's really happening. Ask yourself what you were expecting when you got your band. For a lot of us, the band was a final desperate attempt to get control of our bodies after long histories of disappointment. A voice inside us kept saying, "Look, this really works. And you can do it." So we did whatever it took -- challenges to our insurance companies, booking a flight to Mexico, convincing a husband, wife, or partner that we needed the surgery, not to mention ourselves. We have invested a lot of hope in a little piece of silicone. You are not alone. How about jumping on the scale Monday just for the hell of it? At least then you will have some information about yourself: just a number, but one way to tell what your progress has been so far. Give yourself some time for the number to sink in. And whether it's higher, lower, or about the same as you expected, you'll have one tiny fact to help convince your brain that something is happening. Good luck -- let us know how you are doing.

Good luck, Sammee! We have a few Aussies hanging around on this board from all over the country. Let us know how your surgery goes -- we're all cheering for you!

Gunnar and Maggie are a cute couple! Here's a picture of my Sophie dressed up as a super-sized order of fries. I'm not sure this picture will show her off; it's hard to photograph black dogs. Now if only I could find that shot of her Carmen Mirandog costume, complete with pineapple headgear. . .

LMAO -- Scotty, it sounds as if you've given serious thought to post-band social situations; you should do fine (as long as your friends don't do an intervention and send you to Cocaine Anonymous!). Congratulations on receiving your band.

Happy birthday, Gunnar! He is adorable. I love the devil costume. I just got back from taking my Lab mix Sophie to the beach; she had a wonderful time rolling on the ice drifts (Lake Michigan in February) and frolicking with the other pups. Dogs are the best!

Michelle, a cross-country move, how romantic! If the guy loves your three dogs, he must be a keeper. But will you let all four dogs get on your bed?

Aww, come on. Maybe just a little teeny tiny fight? No? Well, there are a lot of angry women out here -- and a few men, too -- who are mad as hell and will be glad to do the fighting for you for a change. (I think if someone could harness the power lying dormant in years of anger in all of our fat cells, the US could stop worrying about dependence on foreign oil.) Kim is right: you are a big help and inspiration to a lot of us out here in bandland ether, so if you need support you can rely on us. Get some rest -- and here's hoping the wound looks better tomorrow.

Aha! You're on. When's that Bandiversary, May something? Let the challenge begin -- just remember, I am starting with an advantage because I am still stoned on cough syrup and have lost my appetite... eat my dust! By the way, my current size 20s are too big, but I dragged out some size-20 Talbots pants from the 1980s and I can barely squeeze into them. More size inflation and funky brand sizing, I'm afraid.

Congratulations on a great loss! Not to be trite, but you really do look like a different person in your "after" picture. Love the red hair. Does your screen name Iluvsammys refer to Samoyeds?

Only three pieces, Estela? That's not much, certainly not enough to beat yourself up over. An entire five-pound box might be a different story. Don't think of chocolate as "cheating"; you're not dieting anymore, remember? Think of it as a little present to yourself -- not something you want to make a habit of, but OK as an occasional small indulgence. Meanwhile, you've lost 23 lbs. in just two months. Fantastic!

And here's something to help do it: My size 11s headed toward Dr. Fisher's bony behind.

I have been galumphing around the house for the last week, coughing, sneezing, and feeling sorry for myself, unable to work or finish grad school assignments (yet strangely able to log on to LBT). I decided I needed a pick-me-up a couple of minutes ago, so I looked at all three pages of before-and-after photos. You all are amazing! What an inspiration. I will take my next swig of cough syrup with a big smile on my face, thanks to everyone who posted pictures. I hope to post my own later this month -- but no bikini for me. Ever. Keep up the great losses!