Road Queen

Oops, I forgot - mine cost $12,500.

Okay all of you people who live in warm weather, I have decided to get out my camera and take pictures of the turning leaves this weekend. I will start a new thread and post them next week. The trees right by my house are golden and burgandy right now. I'm riding to visit Alatina on Saturday/Sunday (up by the Canadian border in NE North Dakota) and will be through Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Williston (NW ND - and visit JoLynn), and Dickinson for work meetings next week. That should give you guys a good taste of fall colors here. Especially since the highs by mid-week will be in the 40s. I'll be wearing long johns/chaps/etc when I leave Saturday morning. Celeste

Cindy, I think I lived on egg drop (strained), hot and sour soup, and cheese soup with mashed potatoes added. To the point where I haven't been able to eat any since! I remember your surgery date is coming soon. I'm in Bismarck too so if you need moral support or something, pm me and I'll send you my cell phone number. Celeste

I have a new song I sing while walking on the treadmll 99 pounds of fat on my a## 99 pounds of fat Lose some fat, gain some muscle 98 pounds of fat on my a## and so on...

To me losing my weight is a war. Changing habits is always going to be a battle. You (or at least me) are motivated at the start - like exercising religiously, adding new challenges to your routine, etc. Then, you go somewhere for a few days and don't exercise at all. Coming home, you start sluffing, exercising only 4 days a week, not changing routine, etc. The battle is lost,,,then a few months later, you begin the battle again. Maybe it works, maybe the battle is lost again. But now you have a tool to help you win some of the food battles. You eat less (major battle). You chew your food and have to concentrate on what you are eating, instead of tv (battle). Winning these battles gives you strength to re-fight the battles you lost. (exercising for me) The band helps you retain the ground you have won in your war. (pounds, inches, nsv). It gives you incentive to win more battles. Is it ever easy to change? probably not but having some wins under the belt makes it easier. Also for me, the payments for the surgery are a call to action - for me to do my part in this process - not just rely on the troops (band). Eventually, I will win this war!! (hmmm this is the first time I have ever thought of it in this light) Celeste

You've done great losing. Maybe you needed a mental/physical break to get adjusted to a new year but now you are ready to go on. I'm glad to hear your strategy because I expect to go through the same thing at some point. Good luck on your continuing losses. Celeste

Happy Birthday to you Happy Birthday to you Happy Birthday dear Delarla Happy Birthday to you

Good luck in your workings with your attorney and losing weight. Maybe this was the incentive you need. Wishing you the best. Celeste

Here's sending you our morning temperatures (30-40s). I am so excited to see that it is supposed to get to 80 Friday. Then back to highs in 60s. I am not meant to live in this cold place. Celeste

Monday - 60 minutes walking Tuesday - 60 minutes walking

Erin, sorry that you have had these problems. I was lucky because I had no problems. I'm sure you will hear from others who can give you guidance and suggestions on questions to ask your dr. I hope you get better soon. Celeste

I know this sounds mean but this is your beginning of accepting who you are and how you need to change to become the person you want to be. I was one of those people that never knew I was fat. All of my pictures around my house showed me wearing size 7 or 9. The 'bad' pictures didn't look like me so I never put them out. Only recently have I noticed that I missed the end of the 80s, the 90s, and the beginning of 2000-2005. Hmmm, 20 years unacknowledged because I couldn't accept that the pictures were me. Take a deep breath. Think about why you want to change. Think about what life will be like after you lose weight. Now start creating that life. You may not be the size you want to be in your life picture but it will all come together. Waiting for the dr, waiting to have surgery, and having the patience to lose weight slowly are all part of this process. This isn't a quick weight loss plan. You will notice that many people take years to lose the excess pounds. You are also changing your life as you change your body. That way you are growing while your body is shrinking. Don't worry about what the outcome will be when you get to the dr. Deal with it when it happens, not before. Okay, I hope this doesn't sound too lecturey but you need to sit back and take a breath (and stop flipping out and expecting instant reactions). Life takes time and so does this process. Good luck and keep on posting. It will help. Celeste

If you are losing yet, you can wait to get a fill. I didn't get my first fill until 8 weeks after surgery. I'm sure several people who waited months to get their first fill will send you a response. I wanted a little more fill last visit and the dr said no. Every time you get a fill, there is risk from infections and too much fill. I would err on the conservative side, especially if you are still losing.

I refinanced my house and my car. Put all of the surgery on credit cards with mileage accumulation and then paid off the credit cards from the refinancing. Just booked tickets for myself and two friend to go to Mexico for 11 days in January (using miles accumulated). I love to vacation so I will always be poor in money and rich in foreign cultures and knowledge. Celeste

Okay, you asked what we could do that we couldn't do before surgery. I am sure you meant work but I am lazy. I am wearing low cut jeans today.....!!

Sorry you have to go through this. I have been in 2 long term relationships that went down the tubes and life was vicious afterwards. You don't just lose a boyfriend at that time, you lose your best friend. But life does go on. Pull out your list of dreams that you two didn't share - travel, amusements parks, zoos, riding motorcycle (one that many of us bandsters enjoy) and find a way to make them part of your new life. I remember crying sporadically for months and feeling that it was like a death and I was mourning the loss of the relationship and the person I had been in that relationship. Keep your head up and post here when you need someone to 'talk' to. We are all here for you. Celeste

Congratulations on your loss and good job taking on the responsibilities. You are doing great and I bet you look awesome. Its not always the size but how you carry yourself that projects to others. Keep up the good work. Celeste

Lately,I'm losing .6 of a pound per week - looking for slow loser company.

Sorry I missed this thread yesterday. Robyn, I remember our emails when we were in the pre-op and protein shake stages. You have done great while dealing with your other issues. I will think of you in my prayers. Good luck and keep us updated. Celeste

Lisa, talk with your dr about how much to unfill. I have a 4 cc band. At 1.5 it was too much - he took out .25 and it was too little. The next fill he brought it up to 1.4 and that seems to be pretty good. The thing I found when too full was that Water was terrible and painful. Milk and Protein shakes went down better. I think it might be due to the viscosity or something. Good luck and keep us updated.

Okay, you guys are so much better than me. I have a bad of potato chips in my office yet - but I opened it weeks ago and it is half full. I have a few when I need to cope.

Yes, I think it sounds like you need to get your saline reduced. When I was too tight it was like listening when you put a bottle of soda pop upside down and it is trying to go down the tube.

Since you are only eating 1/3 of what you used to, I think you might be good. I wouldn't want to get over filled. I have 1.4 cc in a 4 cc band and that is all I can handle. You also just had your fill 6 days ago - I could handle alot more types of foods right after the last fill (in August) than I can today (5 weeks later). I don't think any of us can make the call for you but eating 1/3 is a drastic reduction already.

Sorry you have to go through this. Just keep on losing and smiling and life will get better. Celeste

Keeping them updated and making them aware of issues can only help you and their other patients. Celeste