vinesqueen

scales lie, lie, lie, lie. They lie like a dog. They only give one things: numbers. And no context for those numbers. There is no account how much of those numbers represent bones, muscle, blood & fluids, and fat. To get a much more true picture of your body composition you need to have your body composition done. Usually done to check your fat free mass, your FFM. Get it done, you will be so much happier knowing the true picture. Did I mention that scales lie?

For me it obviously has nothing to do with being Catholic. Never was, never will be, 'cause it doesn't work for me. Lent for me is sort of mixed. On the one hand it is about thanksgiving, and appricatiating all that I have. I do this by giving up a favorite vice to show my apprication for all that I do have. And i think a little volentary deprivation is good for the soul, it builds strength and resilliance. It also builds willpower and character.

That's my problem, I'm not finishing everything or anything for that matter

welcome to the Banded Gentry!

Oh you poor thing! I'm so sorry you had to go through this. I'm so glad you did what Capt'n Jack suggested, it is exactly what I would have told you to do. Here's hoping you get your answers you need, and next time, DO NOT WAIT. Be assertive in what you need. This is your health, and you have my permission to be as assertive as you need to be. (well, it isn't like you actually need my permission.) (((((hugs)))))

Oh, now I'm laughing, my sister used to work with a woman who would use words she didn't understand... Her mother was very sick... she had a genital heart failure. My sister couldn't help but burst out laughing. This same woman wanted to know if someone was going to drive to Hawaii from Washington. I have a friend from New Mexico, and I thought he was pulling my leg about people telling him he was from a foreign country... when he tried to get tickets for the Atlanta Olympics, they kept telling him that he needed to use the international line for either Mexico.

Welcome to the Banded Gentry!

I don't have a niche either, so I carved one out and made it my own. I don't believe that the newbies are being specifically or even generally ignored. I think anytime you join a new group there is an adjustment period, time where you figure out what exactly is going on. We have our own way of talking and doing things, and that is part of creating a culture. I'm not saying that it isn't frustrating for any newcomer anywhere, I'm fully aware that it is. Another thing that gets my nose out of shape are TV shows that have snotty kids, or snotty parents. Kids see that behaivour and think that is how things are supposed to be, so they emulate the snotty behaivour. Civility is the glue that holds a polite society together.

I only watched one episode, but I'm not a huge fan of reality shows. I do, however, LOVE ballroom dancing. I'm hoping that this show will be monsterously popular, spawning a whole new ballroom dance craze. I just can never get that time change right for the fox trot, just can't do it.

Hey Mvpo, I haven't really had any tests yet, they did one test, but according to what I've read, and what my aunt said (she's a doctor) they did the test wrong, so I'm not being treated in any way for the Cushings yet. I didn't know that weight gain was one of the primary, but I"m still learning about it. Not much that I've found, other than one support board that isn't like LBT, and a few other sites that just rehash the NIH site information, or quote it directly. I think being able to maintain any thing has been amazing.

I've given up coffee several times. It was sort of funny, when ever I would forget that I'd given it up, I would always spill the cup, knock it right over. Interesting that.

Ah, see, I don't view this as a diet, the band is not a diet, it is a lifestyle change, as far as I'm concerned. I too believed that if I worked this hard enough, that I would be one with stellar weight loss, because I worked the hell out of my band. Which is why it didn't make sense. I know my fellow Turtles are also working the hell out of their bands too, and I just want to give a voice. I want us to use our collective strength to find answers. To not just view this as yet another failed diet gimic, because there has to be a reason. Which is why I'm putting out this Call to Action!

Nykee, my dear, you have come such a far way! I remember your early posts where you were in so much heart ache, wondering if you had done the right thing, wondering if you could do the right thing. You have come so very far! We are all so very proud of you, not just for the weight you have lost, but for the amazing ability to change your lifestyle. I am so proud of you. Well done Nykee!

Wheetsin, I think if you were NOT worried I'd be worried. You are about to embark on an entirely new lifestyle that no one can prepair you for until you actually experinece. I think it must be the same way for astronauts. They have read everything they could get their hands on, they talked with other people who've been to outerspace, but until they actually go, they can't grok the experince. And that's sort of what banding takes, you cannot grok it until you do it.

I've lost two sizes at most. I was in 22/24 and now I'm in 20/22. I use a belt for my jeans, so that's a bonus. I've lost a lot from my legs and arms, all my pants now look like I'm wearing clown pants becaue there is so much room in the butt and thighs, but my waist hasn't changed that much. I've lost something like 6 inches off my bust and 8 inches off my hips, but only 4 inches off my belly. I have amazing muscle definition to my legs and arms (especially my forearms), but I'm still amazingly fat through the trunk. It's one of the signs/symptoms of Cushing's. I was also stuffing myself into cloths that were too small, so I had that oh-so attractive Michilan Man look. Very sexy...

Hi Kelli, yup, I really am doing the deal. And certianly no offense taken! It doesn't make sense, on any level. Logically if you consume more calories than you expend, you would gain weight. If you expend more than you consume, you would lose weight. " If you were to burn 500 calories more than you consume each day, you would lose approximately one pound each week" http://www.caloriesperhour.com/faqs_pound.html That would seem to be a law of mass convertion or something. But I guess I'm living outside the law... Yes, I have done my utmost to be a model banster, and I have worked my band as hard as I can. But I don't lose weight. I've tried everything to try to lose weight. I was too tight for a month but refulesed to so any soft food, it wasn't until finals week that I started to add a can of Atkin's protien drink. I lost 1.5 pounds that month, and when I went back to 1000 - 1200 calories I gained 10 pounds. I'm not sure exactly what you are asking, other than saying my story doesn't make sense? You are absolutely right, it doesn't make sense. That's why it has taken so long for it to get diagnosed. I have been diagnosed with Cushing's and now comes the long testing process of determining the treatment.

Yay! Double Woot!

265 pounds, 11 months 2 weeks, 5%, 120 minutes, 5 fills & 2 unfills, no diet drugs, caucasian, 32 pounds lost.

Well, I'm a year out, shy a couple of weeks, and I still wear everything I wore pre-op. Man, I sure am whiney today.

Kellie, I've watched my older sister quit and quit and quit. My other sibs have no intention of ever quiting, but I've watched her struggle. They say quitting nicotine is harder that kicking any other drug, and from the struggles I've seen, I sort of have to believe it. I wish I had something sage to tell you, but all i can offer is support from afar. If my sister can finally manage to quit, if my mother could quit chain smoking, I know you can too. I know that you are motivated and you can do this.

Hey Gang! I'll be home for Spring Break, March 10 - 17, and would LOVE to get together. I live in Bellevue when I come home, so I'm hopeful that we can meet at the usual Starbucks or somewhere else...

I'll have to second the NWWLS clinic, and everything else that MollyMolly said!

No, this is the first time I've heard of it. I'll still be in SE ID, but I'll be there in Spirit!

Ah, you posted under the TN forum. That would explain some things. Personally, I only visit the Idaho and Washington threads, since I figure I might find something local to me. So sorry you were freaked out, I can see how that would have been a bit of a shocker. But Blossom is the only bandster I can think of who's died, and she died in an accident when her tractor rolled. I know that many boards have memorial pages or even entire forums dedicated to memorials for members who've passed on. The most we have at LBT is several beloved pets that have passed on. I think the only way to get noticed is to scream and shout. Thanks for shouting Dody. We cannot know what people need unless they tell us. I don't ever expect my husband to be a mind reader, no "if you loved me you would know what was wrong" BS games. Thank you for telling us what you needed and what you need.

I order off the kids menu quite frequenly. And I"m never embarrased about it. Good for you! excellent work.