DivaStyleCoach

Wow - that's definately a revelation for me...Vicki was one of my least favorite contestants on BL, and I'm a bit surprised that she needed therapy after the show because of the way she was portrayed. Hmmm...guess I'll not be taking what I see on the show too seriously from this point forward. I often wondered if she (or the other contestants I disliked) knew how their behavior would be portrayed on national TV and if they ever regretted things said or done. It's unfortunate that they show sees fit to manipulate the 'reality' portion of the show to elevate the drama and make things more 'juicy'. Too bad...:smile2:

Good morning Bandsters! PJTP... Had a lovely weekend (until Sunday - see below). Took DD to Virginia State Univ for a college visit. She's already been accepted, so we took advantage of the Saturday college visit day they scheduled and went down. Rain on Friday night made getting there a bit of an adventure, but we arrived just fine, got our rental car and found the hotel, then collapsed and slept. Because of being banded, I didn't eat a lot of junk food like I would have on previous travel days... Saturday was beautiful - sunny and warm, and the college visit was a big hit. DD can't wait to get there in the fall - as a parent, I appreciated their emphasis on academic achievement and safety, and everyone I met seemed like they really wanted to take care of my DD in addition to helping her get her education. She's going to major in Mass Communications (Radio and Television concentration) and met a group of students from the Mass Comm club right before we left campus, so that was fun as well. Spent the afternoon walking the mall, finding other essential resources (bank, hospital, etc) and looking at campus buildings. Got to tour a dorm room - that was fun as well. Lots of other 'kids' there with their parents, and even met a couple from Connecticut! Sunday we were up at oh-dark-thirty (actually 4:30 am) for a 6:30 flight. Should have known better - the flight didn't leave until after 7 am because the idiots at Delta refueled the wrong plane (delay) and then had too much weight on the plane (people and luggage) so they had to take some off (another delay) and we arrived at LaGuardia just in time to miss our connecting flight. Now the nightmare begins... The staff at the Delta counter were less-than-helpful and the only thing they could offer us was a 4 PM FLIGHT! It was 8 AM IN THE FREAKING MORNING! :smile2::cursing::smile::cursing::wub: I told them no-thank-you-very-much - I could SEE home from the airport, and I was willing to either rent a car and drive it or take the train. The Delta rep then told me the most they could refund was $20 per person (on a just-under-$200-flight) because I'd already "recieved" the value for the flight...WTF??? Off I go to the rental car counters - and NOONE has any cars available for one-way rentals. :wub::cursing: This while also trying to figure out where our luggage had gone. We were told one lie after another: It's on the way, just be patient; then we were told it went to Hartford on the plane we supposedly just missed. Okay - so now luggage-less, we figure out how to ride the airport train / elevated tram to the Long Island Rail station, rode the LIRR to Penn Station in NY, and then rode Amtrak to New Haven. I'm in familiar territory, so I'm starting to relax. Of course that didn't stop me from PBing everything I tried to eat on the train! :cursing: Because I'm diabetic, I have to eat "on the regular", so I try to, but it just wasn't happening yesterday...we eventually made it to Hartford, and my hubby came and got us and took us to the airport (about a half-hour drive from Hartford, 45 min from my house). He nicely took us to dinner (he knew I was at my limit) and meatloaf and mashed potatoes never tasted so good! :thumbup: Our luggage finally made it to us around midnight last night - what a horrible travel day! DH said he was proud of me for not losing it at some point (he knows my temper) and I was happy I didn't lose it in front of DD. She said she was proud of me, so I was feeling pretty good after all was said and done. On the positive side, my DD is in LOVE with Virginia State, and since she's already been accepted, we paid her first deposit, and she's got a spot secured...:wub:

PJTP...It's gonna be a crazy couple of days!:wink: Today - prep for admissions committee this afternoon - lots of copying, collating and making up packets for the committee folks. They ALWAYS bring files back late, so I'll be doing it again tomorrow morning for a second batch.:confused: I also gotta wait for my boss to sign some letters so we can send out admissions packets. There are over 40 of them to stuff and seal, and they must be gone to Fed Ex by tomorrow, because... Friday afternoon I'm leaving work early because DD and I are off to Virginia State University, where she's been accepted to the Mass Communications / Broadcasting degree program. Leave my office at 3, pick her up at the train station, jet up the freeway to the airport and check in for our 7:30 flights. We won't stop moving until 11-something Friday night when we eventually find our hotel and collapse exhausted.:thumbup: Saturday morning at 8 am (oh-dark-thirty after the late day on Friday) we report to the college for a day-long tour and activities. We'll squeeze in a little sightseeing and dinner and probably turn in early, unless they've got a social activity planned for the visitors, or a party. It's a college campus - there's bound to be a party SOMEWHERE!:tt2: Sunday morning we fly home - pretty early. I'll spend the rest of Sunday recovering and catching up on homework, since I'll have been away from my computer for two days. And...I've still got to configure the new laptop and transfer a ton of files from the old pc to the new one so I can give DD the old pc to take to college with her. :eek: WHEW! I'm tired already, and I'm not even started yet! Vitamins, here I come!:w00t:

How's this one: Beth, you absolutely CAN lose weight and gain muscle at the same rate! Hang in there, girlfriend...it's all gonna work out for YOUR good! :wub:

Hey all, Just got in from my lunchtime walk - walked yesterday as well, no rowing (catching up on Statistics homework) and no walk this morning with DH. I think I'm trying to catch something...I feel really sluggish. Lap Band support group here tonight, so I'll take it easy the rest of the afternoon and get back on the grind tomorrow am. Hope all are having a good day! :smile2:

Hey Notorious Novembers! Just crossed the 30-pound lost threshold...see ticker below, and please update my pounds in the spreadsheet.

I'm with you on that one...WTF??? :thumbdown: WLS didn't work for Ron because HE didn't work it... Gotta agree / disagree on that one...did Tara REALLY think she was the ONLY rock star in the crew? Puh-lease! She was so threatened by Nicole's return that there's no way she wouldn't have voted her off. Yeah, she whined about having the target on her back, but she loves being in the spotlight. You have an uncanny clarity about him...he is definately hostile and manipulative. I see him as a bit of a Svengali - he will control his children's lives as well until they rebel and tell him to go jump off a bridge...:seeya: I felt really bad for Nicole - she was dropped into a snake pit with no clue as to what she was getting into. She did an awesome job at home, and none of the remaining contestants were honest about their motives with her. Poor baby - she just wasn't the game-player, and she wasn't ready for the vipers. She's made awesome progress, and my DH, DD and I all want her abs - even with pounds to go, she was looking really good! :seeya:

I'm right there with ya on that one...:seeya: Now heading for the BL thread to vent...

Thanks, Glouc! :cool2: You and the rest of the LBT crew inspire me every single day - between Luluc and Ceradad, I have jocks to chase, Tap and Beth and you keep me laughing, and the total she-ro worship I have for BBK - heck, the whole crew is just amazing! And if I failed to mention anyone, know that I :mad2: you all - there's no way I'd be as far along in my journey without you all. I'd still be sitting on my (bigger) rear end lamenting the failure of 'traditional' weight loss methods and my inability to get my arse in gear (thanks, Jachut) and get the info I needed to make a good decision on the band. Heck, I might have ended up with a bypass :tt2: :biggrin:

Note to self - oranges and grapes are off the list for now, add more apples and pears (no problems with them so far)... Having chicken-and-dumpling soup for lunch...lots of veggies, yum! Just came back from my lunchtime walk - conquered the 'big hill' yet another day...but was behind two people who seemed to be walking slowly, but kept a good pace and kicked my butt by the top of the hill...*sigh*

PJTP...I think I'm at what some might call a 'sweet spot'... My volume of food is down, and that's good, but on the negative side, fresh fruit (particularly oranges and grapes) no longer want to go down easily. I'm still chewing plenty well, but I think my "opening" is just too small now... My fellow banded folks - is this a problem? :biggrin: How do you get around the fact that fresh food (healthiest for us) is now sometimes too bulky for your opening, but pureeing the food will cause it to become a 'slider' and you won't feel full?

Hi Glouc, That's too funny - when they first brought the new sizes out, I wasn't so sure either... The Red sizes are for people with a moderate difference between waist and hip (me now that I've lost some pounds) The Yellow sizes are for people with little difference between waist and hip - mostly straight up and down, few curves The Blue sizes are for people with 'junk in the trunk' - a bigger difference between waist and hip. They all should be tried on - I know they changed the sizes recently, because I was in a Yellow 5 for a while, then a Yellow 6, and now things have stablized with their sizing. They sell a similar version at Fashion Bug at a lower price point. They have also extended the sizing to dress pants (it started with jeans). Give them a shot - especially when they have good sales, the pants are a good deal.

Mornin' Warriors! Last night's rowing session was great - I felt strong and flexible, though tired at the end. Covered a bit less distance, but my 500m split time was good. Walked this morning with family and DDog as usual, will attack the hill at lunchtime, and another rowing session tonight. Have a terrific day, all!

These are good points - it becomes a problem when one partner is hurt and feeling insecure. I still believe that talking it out is a great first strike - the insecurity might go away if one partner understands that the other is 'just looking' and not spending more time online than involved in their physical, real relationship. When the online activity becomes the preferred activity and time online is prioritized over time with your flesh-and-blood spouse, plus the act of hiding the activity from your spouse instead of inviting them to share that side of your interests is what's happening, then you are headed for trouble. Open communication is critical - even if you do not agree / approve of your partner looking at others online, that they are willing to talk about it with you and not hide it from you can make all the difference.

Mornin' CT Banders! I'm planning to be at the meeting tomorrow - looking forward to seeing everyone!

Hi Harold, You've given me hope...I walk 1.6 miles every day at lunchtime, so now it sounds as if I could do a 5K pretty easily! Now I just need to work up to running the distance...I've always envied the ease and freedom that runners seem to have but because of my weight and my anatomy (I'm top heavy) I've never really tried to run seriously. The band seems like the route for me to eventually become a runner...the benefits just keep on coming! I my banded life!

a Bodybugg is something you're willing to pay for instead of something you visit the doctor to get rid of!

instead of taking the shuttle from the parking lot to your office building, you walk because it's less than half a mile and it's a beautiful sunny day!

PJTP...it's a beautiful sunny morning in my CT neighborhood... Had to drive to work this morning because I missed the train, and I didn't even mind because it's so pretty out! New victory - lost two pounds, and on my way again...wonderful NSV - dropped another pant size! Lane Bryant will not have me as a customer for much longer if this keeps up (and it will!). I started this journey wearing a size Yellow 6 in their Right Fit jeans, and now I'm down to a Red 3, with a 2 not far behind. Once I get down to a Red 1, then I leave the store. :biggrin::w00t::thumbup: I'm even down a size in my jackets (and my bras), which is a major victory because the 'girls' never seem to want to go anywhere!! Mac - I'm sorry to hear about your car - I've got similar car issues. My beloved Red Caddy (Ruby, dontcha know) failed emissions, and the proposed bill for the fixes (several possible things) is around $3600. I can't replace the car for that, but I also don't want to spend that right now with college bills looming. I've got an appointment with the dealership on April 11th, and CT requires me to spend at least $660 to get an exemption from further emissions-fixing-related-spending. I hope that fixes it - I'm probably at least a year away from being able to purchase a newer car. I love my car, but with over 150K miles, is it really WORTH putting that kind of money into it? Decisions, decisions... Have a terrific day, everyone - I'm in a great mood and just had to share!

I think this is a great idea - I don't run currently, but would consider training for this...there are lots of runners in the area where I work (New Haven - Yale University campus) and the bariatric surgeons here are one of the 'centers of excellence' so they might help as well. Please let me know as details come out...

I didn't make it...it's plugged in and doing startup configurations as I type this...

PJTP... Babygrl - she's adorable! That smile could light up a stadium! I just got my new laptop (sending fairly new desktop with DD to college in August) and I'm itching to open it up and play with it... If I do, though, I'll be absorbed by my new toy and get nothing done the rest of the afternoon, which might not make my boss happy... Guess I'll have to try and wait until I get home today...

We'll be arriving at oh-dark-thirty on Friday night, and the college tour starts 8 am on Saturday morning. Depending on what time we finish on Saturday, we might be able to hook up for dinner or something...we leave Sunday morning. Talk about a quick turnaround! :eek: I'll also be in the area in July (after my Florida vacation, we have to go for Freshman Orientation) and in August to drop off DD. If this weekend doesn't work, we could always get together one of the other dates. With you getting ready to travel and us only being in town for a minute, maybe July would be better?

Mornin' Warriors! Had a good weekend - Saturday was beautiful! Lots of running around with DH and DD, but still got in a long walk with DDog. Have decided that though I burn more calories with walking, I like the strength in my legs that was developing from my rowing, so I'm going to prioritize it in the afternoons. My routine will be walking in the morning with DDog, DH and DD, a walk at lunchtime at work (including the killer hill), a short walk with DDog in the evening (as opposed to a longer one) and rowing for a minimum of 30 minutes, working to get to 45. I noticed over the weekend that my up-and-down from a kneeling position was easier when I was rowing regularly. I had put it on the back burner because my Bodybugg said I burn more calories walking, but I'm also wanting to gain strength, and with no time for the gym right now, the rowing machine is my next best partner for that. I can set the resistance at a level that challenges my heart rate and my muscles, so that's what I'll do. Nice to see everyone's progress, and I'm hoping for even bigger numbers as summer arrives and the days get longer.:thumbup:

PJTP... Busy weekend, now back to work...YUK! Layoffs abounding at the job - not me yet, but heard an entire department was let go...sad. Good productive weekend - replaced the faucet in the kitchen sink with DH, DD had 'Saturday school' cause she skipped some days and didn't tell us - school found out and called us in, we let her have it and then she had to attend saturday stuff. Serves her right...:thumbup: Got updated pics of DGS (Darling GrandSon) over the weekend - will have to see if I can upload them here. He's just adorable and I miss him so much (he's in Indiana, I'm in CT). DH is happy to have his truck back (transmission repair) and now he doesn't have to share my car with me...though he got a kick out of me coming to pick him up from work. He referred to himself as my "kept man"...:smile: Clothes are getting looser - gotta go shopping as soon as spring truly arrives so nothing falls off. Gotta love NSV's! Tap - hope you're feeling better Babygrl - congrats on the baby girl's dance competition Beth - "crotch of hell" I'm ROFLMBO at all those...will be in Richmond this weekend for a college visit at VSU with DD - how close are you to that? Susan - congrats on the loss, blessings to you on your upcoming surgery! Back to work before the boss-from-hell finds out I'm posting on LBT...:eek: