mousecrazy

Eileen, I love your laundry smilie! If I'm not at work, that's probably what you'd find me doing! LOL! Thanks for being a good sport about my most likely unwanted advice to slow down...or calm down. I live with a drama queen (DD)--of course, it's not me!--and we all need to take a breath now and then...I love you, girl! Pat, I figured you were teasing me...love the play on words! Like my drooly baby thing I wrote about your car and gbaby... Sherry, sorry about the fall...I hope you are okay. Rest your ankle, and if it's not better, have it checked out. Betty, keep looking for that perfect pair of jeans! And remember, your body type may be different from the women you saw, so there's no harm in just putting some on...I found a brand called Jeanstar, I think at Foley's, and I love how they fit...They are a little low (below the waist), but not all-the-way-down-to-Christmas low! ON a more serious note, if I am smarty-pants, sarcastic, or seem short in my answers, I apologize. I have just been stressed out, and am not finding a good way to de-stress. Our big state test is next week, and you wouldn't believe how much pressure is put on the kids, and thus the teachers, to perform on that test. I think I've written about this before, so I won't go into detail and will spare you the agony. Also, it was this time last year that we were all in Houston, with Mom, who was getting ready to have her aortic aneurysm/replacement surgery...her surgery took place exactly a year ago tomorrow---and the feelings of realizing it's been a whole year since I really saw "my mom", as she was, are washing over me and causing great sadness. She didn't die until July, but she was never again the mom I knew. I miss her sooooo much. AND, I know this is not over yet, because these feelings will be even stronger when July rolls around this year...I know it will get better, but it's hard to really believe it, and (Eileen!) being the impatient sort of person I am isn't actually helping in this process. Thanks for listening, and for all the encouraging and kind words you've all given me...your help is very important to me, and very appreciated. Hope I don't bite someone's head off in here (classroom!)...no patience whatsoever! Eileen, oh yeah, CONGRATULATIONS! When the cat's away, the mice will play! Hugs to all of you, Cindy

HI, everyone! So glad to see you, Sherry! Yes, that port area is the trouble spot, but it gets better...I think Eileen was the one who mentioned this, but even now, if I overeat (which is significantly less food than I would have eaten BEFORE!) my port will ache, and I think it's because the weight of the food presses down on it or something. Anyhow, hang tough! Betty, no problem with the suggestion...just reassuring you that I'm working that protein thing! Our school cafeteria puts these salads together, so they measure everything, which is helpful. Beanie, keep after it! It's always great to see your face (I mean, eyes!) around here. Pat, narcissus is the flower...narcissistic is the adjective describing people who are "all about me". I feel like I'm writing the "word of the day" entry! Remember, I'm one of those dreaded English-teacher types, so I can't resist! Eileen, hope that computer class didn't drive you to madness! Patty, the road gets bumpier, huh? One step at a time... I have nothing really new going on. The regular teaching, mothering, wife-ing, friend-ing day-to-day life. With a headache. Of course. Everyone have a great day! Cindy

OOOOh! Paperwhites, right, Betty? Maybe they are called narcissus also? Beautiful! Thanks also for the protein reminder...I try real hard to make sure I have that...There's 1/2 boiled egg and 1 oz turkey, and small amount of cheese in the salad I eat for lunch. The Zone diet isn't just the bars, though...it's a way to eat that is balanced. That's what I'm trying for...I just don't want to leave out any of the food groups! Eileen, cool your jets, girl! I know you are very impatient to get this show on the road! Now, I'm just saying this as someone who is a few yards ahead of you on the path...Betty and Pat have lots more experience. I do remember the beginning of the journey, when I had one fill and thought it was all downhill, then I hit the plateau, or wall....no losing for quite a while...then *poof*...several pounds would disappear. You'll get another fill, and probably think the same thing, all downhill (I did!), but NOOOOO....I still had to work at it, and endure a 6 week plateau. Gosh, all I'm trying to say is keep your chin up, stick with it, and you'll see results! I'm upset for you that it's not going smoother...you'll get all the kinks worked out, I just know you will. Anne, funny car story! My DH backed into his Head Coach's Trans-Am a few years ago...THAT was embarrassing! Patty, good BP! Glad that's over! Dianne - go easy on that Italian buffet! Pasta and bread can be tricky! Have fun! Beanie - great bracelet! Eileen is a total sweetie to send you those flowers! Keep getting better! To EVERYONE: Happy Valentine's Day! :kiss2: :kiss2: :kiss2: :kiss2: :kiss2: :kiss2: :kiss2: :kiss2: :kiss2: :kiss2: :kiss2: :kiss2: :kiss2: :kiss2: :kiss2: :kiss2: :kiss2: :kiss2: Love ya, Cindy

Welcome from a Texan! I live in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area, but am always glad to welcome our new members, and new Texans! Keep posting!

Good afternoon! Patty, sorry about all the bumps...Eileen's right. Everything will smooth out and it will get better. I think you're harder on yourself than anyone else is on you...duh, right? You know that already, but thought I'd mention it...cut yourself some slack. Eileen, are you losing weight? Pardon my asking, I just didn't see a ticker in your signature so if I wanna know, I have to ask. I go in and out of that impatient feeling...about the time I feel impatient enough to get another fill, I start having trouble with stuff...no PBs, just golfballs...sorry if you've read that a million times, but I forget which thread I've said that in. I can eat more than you'd think, but what I've been trying to do lately is to eat "Zone" like...1/2 apple, 1oz cheese around 7AM, a Zone Perfect bar at 10:00, salad at 1:30, Zone Perfect bar around 4PM, then dinner, around 7. That's pretty much a normal day...when I started eating in the Zone, I started losing weight again. I ordered a few books from Amazon by Dr. Sears (the Zone guy) so I can learn more about it. Anyone else using this? Zan, total bummer that you have to work when there's all that nice snow around! Sherry, I'm sure your home by now, and I hope you are doing fine. Rest and sip...that's the bandster mantra. Gotta run, more later if possible, hugs, Cindy

Cashley, PB's are "productive burps" and sliming is pretty self-explanatory...I have never had either of these things. Your MIND is ready for more than liquids, but your body isn't. This is about not making your stomach work at all, while it is healing. I know it's tough and unpleasant, but it is temporary, and worth it. Hang in there, all of us bandsters know just how you feel! Cindy

Betty, thank you for explaining the moderator's role in weird threads! I do understand more clearly now. No way was I holding you responsible, just wondering the standard operating procedure...I guess it's just best to avoid those posters...or maybe PM (nicely, of course) to ask them to be nice? Thanks, Betty! Goodnight, Eileen! Good luck tomorrow, Sherry! I feel like I'm on a re-run of The Waltons! Cindy

Besides getting fills, most weight loss is not a steady, downward course. It is more of a moguls course (shameless reference to the Olympics!). You are going downhill, but there are ups and downs along the way. It's just the standard pattern for me; don't worry. The large majority of bandsters go downhill; it takes time. Cindy

Fantastic pictures, Pat! Beautiful car...drool! Drooly baby...beautiful! (I love it when I can do a play on words!) Thanks for posting them! You must have good picture editing software...if I want to post a pic, it takes me soooo long to make it smaller.... Cindy

I think I remember the term ischemia being used in relation to a portion of the intestines...when my mom was very sick in the hospital, and had a feeding tube, and no real food for 5 months...they worried about the condition of ischemia in her digestive tract...and isn't that the same thing Sharon (Israel's PM) just had that caused them to remove 2 feet of his intestines? Jessiebear, I have no medical training, but my gut feeling is that a very tight fill and erosions may be related. I am SURE there are other factors that play into it, but I wouldn't be surprised if you are correct. Interesting question! Cindy

Anne, THANK YOU! To summarize: be nice. Sure, everyone has opinions, and I enjoy reading them; I enjoy giving mine. BUT, there's a big difference in sharing an opinion, and personally attacking someone whose opinion is different from yours. Let's try for civility and respectful disagreement...even if in the "outside world" it's difficult to find. Let's start with our little corner of LBT. Whatcha say? Cindy

Wow! Pat's back! I hear you about taking a break...I do that from time to time. I love the people on this thread, and don't want to miss anything going on with us! I suppose Anne and I will just kick a little butt, and then come back here and confess! Sorry you took a beating on the car swap, but I know you are happier. You may need your navigator sometime; you know, when you drive to Texas and let your DH play some golf while we go to a mall! I'd laugh, but I hope it's not THAT funny! Sherry, most of all, good luck to you tomorrow! You have my prayers for a safe and successful surgery, and an easy recovery. Come here when you are feeling up to it, and get a little love! Dianne, I'm watching NYC on tv, and thinking of you. I'd do exactly what you're doing...taking a walk. I love that quiet, snow-draped city thing! Eileen, you've got the big snow, too! I can just picture your dog playing in all that snow! You have a great time, make some hot cocoa...whenever it DOES snow around here, I get the urge to work jigsaw puzzles...do you ever do that? Betty, I guess I'll PM you whenever there's a crazy thread going on...sorry you missed the PDA one! I am kinda surprised it was deleted...or if it was going to be deleted, why not sooner instead of later? Or, why doesn't a moderator PM the snippy people, and tell them to chill out? I still don't agree that some groups' offenses should be taken more seriously than others...I guess I'm gonna have to run for office or something...except, I don't think I can pass the "I've had a perfect past" test that seems necessary these days! LOL! I like the cold weather, but NOT all the wind! I'm sorry for mentioning it....grin! Anne, I'm leaving to read your thread now...I'll probably add something to it, to support you! Cindy

Thanks Divaliciousdee - I totally appreciate the sentiment! I'm so happy for you that you are doing great, and I really do repeat your slogan, "Do Tha' Dang Thang!" when I need motivation! You are a fantastic motivator for me! I second your nomination for NJ Chick...she is too wonderful! ((hugs)) Cindy

Zan, can you get some liquid Tylenol Sore Throat, or Cough medicine? It's liquid, so no problem. I hate to think of you getting out in this weather, but maybe there are stores that deliver? I just got over my cold/sinus infection, but it took antibiotics to do it...hopefully, you can snuggle up and watch the Olympics...I love the Olympics, too. Watching Sweden and Russia in womens hockey right now! Hope you feel better, Cindy

Be proud of yourself for facing the facts and choosing to do something about it! Focus on the personal responsibility you are taking for yourself...you have tried and failed, like all of us here. The only real failure is just the person who quits trying. Good for you for going out there and finding out what else might work, following through, and making a decision. I am proud of myself for doing it, and my friend, family and coworkers have all been completely supportive and proud of me, too! Cindy

You're gonna get a lot of different answers here, since everyone is different, has different levels of fills and all that. Yes, for me, I feel normal. Every now and then, if I eat too fast, eat too big of a bite, or just don't chew enough, I'll get the golfball feeling; no PBs or slimes for me, as of yet. I enjoy social occasions with food, and the benefit is, I just get a little of what I really want. No wasting space on junk that's just so-so. I don't think of buffets as a waste of money, because I just enjoy the parts I have, and it's worth the $$ not to cram myself full of junk, just the things I really enjoy. I go to Starbucks sometimes, too...I love a good hazelnut mocha! I'm not big on Indian food, but I go to Mexican restaurants, and have a little of an enchilada, tortilla soup, nachos, whatever I feel like....I don't finish my plate, but my DH is happy to help! I totally understand your feelings on getting rid of the "bad vs. good" food mentality, and one thing I've done to help me with it, is to observe how my slender, normal friends eat. They eat all kinds of things on occasion, but not every day, like I used to. They also do physical activities, most of them run. I am no runner, but I know I need to get more exercise. You are in charge of how your band works for you...so get all our feedback, and take from it what you think fits for you...and experience will be the best teacher for you! Good luck, and you asked a really good question! Cindy

Zan, you make some thoughtful points...I agree with you that I WISH we didn't have to watch every word carefully, but know that we do. I do still think that the recipient of the alledged offense has some responsibility to react in an adult manner, also. So, yes, I would prefer that people be careful of what they say, but they should be able to express their opinion, and people should consider that there is more than one way to view the world. Both sides just need to chill! I think I'm just going to read the threads I know, answer the introductions with a welcome, and move on. Eileen, VERRRRY INTERESTING. I had never though about the split personality thing, but hey, I think it's definitely a possibility. I've got to hand it to you: you would make a very effective private detective. The more I think about it, my gut tells me you are right. How weird. There's so many things to do in the world, what a shame that one person turns into two and both of them do nothing but cause trouble. Sigh. Urrrgh. I'm not as good at writing sounds as you are! Sherry, one day at a time. Get read as best you can, and then give it up to the Lord. You are going to be fine, better than fine. Beanie, I have never been to IKEA, but I have the catalogue, and I love the stuff. I hear you on "clutter". We have way too many books, and it is hard to give them away...do you know anywhere who will welcome used books? Well, DH is on the way to the store for lobster and eggs...lobster omelets for breakfast! Yummy! I guess the weather makes him feel like he's in Maine! To my Nor'easter friends: stay warm. If you want to make us Southern girls happy, post pictures of snow. I guess that only applies to the Texas girls who have never lived up north - the rest of us are happy not to have snow! Have a good day, everyone...Cindy

Hey, guys...I just wanna ask you something... has anyone else noticed or felt that some of the other posts are just getting kinda petty and mean-spirited? I try not to get involved in them, but (of course! You know me...) I did have to finally say something on JQPublic's "gay men kissing" thread. What do you think is causing this flaming? I just hate to see this kind of thing happen on LBT. Any feedback? Why do people get all bent out of shape because not everyone agrees with them? Why is it perfectly okay to criticize Christians or men or *endless list*, but if someone says they were embarrassed by a PDA with two men, members start calling each other homophobes, and threaten to leave because they are not wanted....WTH?! Big sigh. What do ya'll think? Cindy

Yes, of course! I'll repost when you get a Secret Bunny exchange thread going....thanks! Cindy

I did eDiets for almost a year, and did really well. I stopped when I had my hysterectomy, and long story, but gained all the weight back and then some in the 3 years between following eDiets, and getting the band. I loved the organization of it, and didn't mind the shopping lists, because once you got used to it all, it was really a help and not confusing. Good luck! Cindy

I'm stopping in to welcome you to LBT! I spent a few days in Scotland way back when...went to Edinburgh Castle...we rode the train around the country...loved it! I'll have to refresh my memory on the name of the other little town we stayed overnight in...it was on the coast...fishing town...had a great and funny experience in a pub up there, as you can imagine when two young ladies from Texas just walk into the town pub full of burly Scottish fishermen! It's a fond memory! Good luck to you in your journey, and hope you stop by here often! Cindy

Just a general post for now...it's raining, gray and getting colder...I love it! Sorry for the NJ friends, who are getting much worse weather! Plans for the weekend: watch opening ceremonies of the Olympics tonight, take DD to grandpa's so they can go see Nanny McPhee, then meet for a pizza buffet (is there ANYTHING worse than that for us bandsters? I guess I'll eat salad). Sunday, church. Pretty simple, huh? Of course, there's the laundry...that's always fun. Maybe you noticed on my ticker...the scale is going down again, and that just gets me all excited! It's only a little, but I'll take it! Love you guys! Cindy

You won't believe how much your tastes will change. I was a cereal freak, and now, I bet I haven't had cereal in at least 5 months. Just don't want it. I'm struggling more with ice cream, but even that is changing. I don't think I've had that in over a week...doesn't sound like much, but it's a victory. Take it one day at a time, and don't borrow trouble! There's plenty of that around, anyway! Cindy

Hi to both of you! Don't worry about asking anything on here...someone will have an answer for you, and probably more than one! That's because the band is really individualized...no two people have exactly the same experience, but they are enough alike that we can relate to each other. Sometimes the weight loss seems super fast, and at other times, super slow. The point is, it will happen, and it will stay off, if your band stays healthy. I can't answer the alcohol question, because I no longer drink. I did have an NA beer last weekend, and it was okay, but a little bubbly in my tummy. Me, I tell it all. Everyone at work, my family, friends...I was so excited and proud to have this surgery, and take care of my health. I have had 0 negative response, 100% positive support. I know that is not everyone's world, but wanted to let you know my experience. There are lot of people on the boards who have chosen not to tell anyone, so I'm sure they'll be replying, also, and tell you their experiences. Be sure to use the search feature, and you can look up all the older threads on the subjects you are interested in....welcome! Cindy

Another option: Dr. John Marsden in Lewisville. He/staff are great and help out with all the paperwork/insurance junk. I haven't asked much out of him for follow-up, so can't comment on that. Good luck! Cindy