Nancy B

I have a new co-worker who calls everyone "sweetie" or "honey". I really think for some people, it is just a habit, or a term of endearment. I'm not sure they mean anything condescending about it. I think it depends on the TONE.

Chelle, You don't have to wear the arms "tight". You could easily alter this with a contrasting fabric. Just cut the seam and sew in the the piece, smaller at the top and flared at the bottom. Would be cute! They don't always measure these costume pieces true to size. Sometimes they just cut and sew! Don't give up on your idea!

I love your line at the bottom about your mother. I lost my mother when she was 49 too, from breast cancer. I totally understand what you're saying about goal weight. It's as individual as we are. I also get frustrated with people just starting out, who think they know how it's all going to end for them. It's a long way to the finish line, with many detours along the way.

The goal for most doctors is to get you to a place where weight is not risking your life anymore. Out of the Morbidly Obese and Obese categories. If you do that, this is considered a success. They also want patients to be realistic. Not everyone (hardly anyone) is going to achieve the weight they were in high school, no matter how much you want to. However, it seems that you can take this wherever you want to go. There is no limit, and no reason to stop when you get to your doctors goal weight. For me, I'm tall and would be just fine at 165-170. I would be a size 10/12 and quite happy there. Would I love to weigh 145? Hell yes! Will I? I doubt it, unless I give up the foods I love and my wine....

My DH was just telling me about a conversation with a co-worker today about Band vs. Bypass. Of course, he thinks he knows all about the Band! His co-workers sister had bypass 5 or 6 years ago and is very ill. She is thin, but has had so many complications! Right now she is having trouble with her bowels. Because she has lost the enzymes that break up the food, her body is trying to expell food in it's almost solid original form, causing horrible blockages, requiring surgery. She's severely malnourished. Her doctor told her that if you get past 5 years, your odds are still 1 in 350 for survival with bypass. He thinks it's down to 1 in 25 or 1 in 50 for the first few critical months. Scary huh???

She's absolutely beautiful!

I can only imagine. Yesterday I went shopping for a baby shower and ventured into the girl stuff. Walked by the size 4-7 and could not believe what they were making for little girls. Black, slinky, cocktail dresses! I don't care for the pageant dresses either, but there should be something in between, just sweet looking.

I know this is not earth shattering, or of world importance, but..... What do you think of her and the decisions she keeps making? I can't even imagine being her for even a day, but is she enjoying all the attention? I have noticed that she seems to bait the reporters and photographers every chance she gets. I mean, why not go through the drive-thru at Starbucks? Do you really need to get out and have them follow you? When she was arrested, they offered her the chance to go out the back way, but she declined. Out the front of the jail she went, where there were hundreds of photographers. What gives???? Why can't she get her life together?

That was my first thought, post-partum depression. She did have 2 babies in a very short period of time. Gotta do a number on your hormones. You might shave your head if someone was plucking your hair for a drug test.

These are the same people who stand in a 12-deep line at Subway, staring at the menu, then get to the front of the line, and say, ......"Uh, let me see.....". What have they been staring at for 10 minutes? Or when a carload is in front of me in the drive-thru at Starbucks. They've waited their turn to get to the speaker, then when they are asked what they want, they poll the other 4 people in the car. Couldn't they have decided before they get there???? Answer.....they don't care. It's all about them.

Rain, You're a very wise mother! Let's remember too, that Britney's mom allowed her to portray the "naughty school girl" in her first video, at the age of 16. What kind of message did that send to her?

That was the best thread ever!

You forgot the other important decision of the day....frappacino or cappacino????

No, he wasn't exactly "husband material". BIG RED FLAG: If your fiance has a pregnant girlfriend....

She almost needs a complete do-over.

I actually want to see her turn out to be a decent person. She has those 2 babies to worry about. It's so sad. I just think she needs to go away, really away, for a while. If that is possible.

Whoever our next president is, I hope he can say "NU-CLE-AR". Mispronouncing that makes my skin crawl.

I have a 21 year old son who is playing drums upstairs right now...I feel your pain!

I hope you still like me...just trying to add a little humor!

How about an esophajaculation....okay that was bad...

I vote for BB - Bandster barf

You may not. It took me a year before I had my first, and have only had one other besides that.

PB is a phrase that a Bandster coined years ago and it stuck. It stands for productive burp, but we use it to describe anything that causes you to bring up what is in your pouch. Jessie A, one of our Banding pioneers, calls it vomiting, plain and simple. If you ate it and it comes back up, you vomited, and you should avoid that if at all possible. We usually refer to PB's as a gentler version of a vomit...although they can be kind of violent. This may or may not include food. They can also get easier and easier, just sticking your toothbrush on the back of your tongue and coughing. Doesn't mean they are any less dangerous. I am not saying she's bulimic, but ask any bulimic how easy it is for them to vomit. It becomes VERY easy. Who knows if she is ultimately causing damage, but I've yet to meet a slipped Bandster who did NOT PB or vomit a lot.

I actually got sucked into that post! She seemed more concerned with what to call what she was doing, than what she was doing. Call it a "chocolate chip cookie" then, it still won't change it. It's still a PB.

That makes one of you.