ReneBean

Wow! Chips Galore... I was going to start a warm-fuzzy thread for you Lisa - but you beat me to the chips! Congrats!! I say you are pretty tough to be giving up sugar. I am in awe. Go Betty, Go!! I guess we shouldn't do Mexican this Saturday, Huh? Congrats on a GREAT job. SuperDaddy - I couldn't do it. I gave up cigarettes, I gave up alcohol, and I am planning on giving up my "eat whatever I want" lifestyle - Don't ask me to give up my Caffeine.... I really couldn't do it. I am amazed that anyone can. Congrats!! :]

48. 41 TO 50 POINTS: Others see you as fresh, lively, charming, amusing, practical, and always interesting; someone who's constantly in the center of attention, but sufficiently well-balanced not to let it go to their head. They also see you as kind, considerate, and understanding; someone who'll always cheer them up and help them out.

You know, Jon, neither I nor Penni can figure out how to put these into a signature - so all you get is your own thread - unless Penni has had some sort of epiphany from the computer gods... Dude!! No Caffeine AND no Sugar?? You are a better man than I... That's for sure. We'll be here waiting to add another chip - and upgrade you to a 60 day for the Sugar. Way to go!!

Oh My Gawd!! I am dying!! All these names are soooooo hysterical. Greetings from CRUSTY BUBBLELIPS (giggles!!!!)

Wow. Not only wise, but poetic in the mix. Great post. Thanks so much for coming back to share. Your weight loss is inspiring and your delivery is beautiful. Irene

OK. I must get some points for doing the gym thing two nights in a row, right? It's pretty pathetic, though. I have to walk pretty slowly to keep my heart-rate on target. The good news is that my Sadistic Spouse will force me to go back and do it again, tomorrow...Wait - did I say that was GOOD news?? grrr. My knees are Not happy campers right now. I guess we'll all have to get over it... We Texans are going to have a little get-together in Irving on Saturday, so I am getting all excited about that. Now all I have to do is soothe my DH's feelings of neglect. My friend Cathy was here this weekend, and now I have a hot date with y'all on Saturday, and he is feeling a bit neglected. Aside from the obvious wife-thing, anybody have any suggestions? Cindy - Re: To Fill or Not to Fill... I have read posts from people where even as little as .2cc makes ALL the difference. Maybe just a small one? If you are hungry and feeling out of control, then go for it. Zan - cool tidbit about Carnie. It's good to know that she has kept the weight off. I expect the motivation of a public carreer would be pretty strong. Don't worry about going off topic on this thread... It's all off topic. We just come here to hang out and talk about any old thing. Seppi - How's by you? Tell us all there is to know... We love that stuff. Maybe tomorrow I will be able to check in a little earlier... I will have to spend some time filling out the paperwork for submitting to the State Insurance Board, though. I read in another thread where BC/BS of Kentucky (I think it was KY) will not be covering ANY bariatric surgeries after 12/31/05 - so my concern that the friendly folks at Blue Cross might be stalling for time is probably accurate. I can't imagine that only ONE state will drop weight loss coverage, can you?? So, now, the race is on. I will have every scrap of paper completed and a letter written to accompany it. I meet & greet with the surgeon next Tuesday - so I will have him review my stuff and give me some pointers. I still have time, but it will take a minor miracle... So much for optimism... Insurance companies are from HELL. Of course, miracles could still happen - they MIGHT approve me on the first appeal, but I will not be holding my breath for that. Anyway, I will check in with all you Merry Bandsters tomorrow... Everybody think good thoughts about SANITY prevailing over greed. :]

Wow, new folks to chat... Hey guys, I had to actually work all day. I will try an post about the ever so exciting life I am living (lol) after I get back from the Gym. Hugs!

Dang, Daddy! You're pretty energetic for a guy with no Caffeine... Here is your chip for 30 days without Caffeine. (aka "go juice") Here's your chip! Everybody give Jon a big old pat on the back!! GREAT JOB!!! chip 30.bmp

OK - so it doesn't look like the crowd will be TOO huge. We can just meet in the lobby and go someplace close. I will research for a cool place for people on liquids or not... come one, come all... It's not too late to join in. :]

Yeah - a LUNCH thing. Sorry. I will edit my post.

Hey, Guys, I posted an open invitation in the Texas Forum. Could you please RSVP there? If there are going to be a huge number of us, I will see about getting us some specific reservations someplace close-by. :]

Hear Ye, Hear Ye! Honorable Citizens of Texas (and anybody else who wants to stop by...), Bubbame (Mary) is coming to Irving.... Since so many of us live in the Dallas area, we are going to have a little get-together and meet each other and Mary. Right now, we are planning on meeting up in the Lobby of the Howard Johnsons in Irving - BUT, if we are going to be more than 10 or 15, we probably need some slightly more formal arrangements. Please RSVP to this thread if you will DEFINITELY be available for lunch at 1pm in Irving on November 5th. (That would be THIS Saturday). If we are going to be a huge group, I will see to making some reservations and stuff for us - and we can meet there. :]

How about the lobby at the Irving Howard Johnson's at 1pm?? Chime in.

Hey Sarah - I understand about just being clothed neatly and professionally... Congrats on being able to dress in your own Style. Woo Hoo!! You guys all Kick A$$!!

Happy, Happy!! Joy, Joy!! Hope your day is the best, ever! :]

So you will definitely be here for lunch on Saturday, Nov 5th? If so, we will make an official plan for a "mini-bash". :]

Hey John!! Awesome. GOAL WEIGHT!!! Who could ask for anything more? I am so happy for you. :]

Being the audacious and forward kind of gal that I am, I (a Californian, Oregonian, Texan [Calgoniexan?]) am starting this month's chat thread in the Jersey forum. Ballsy? Maybe so. Get over it. :] Good Morning Happy Bandsters!! How the heck is everybody? I hope there weren't any tragic chocolate overdoses last night. Betty - Gracious!! Candy for 300 wasn't enough? That's one heck of a party! Eileenie - how is the MIL? It's really hard for me right now - because it seems like only yesterday my Parents were - well, my Parents.... authority figures, larger than life. Now, in the last few years I have started to notice that they are old people. It's a hard mental transition, I tell you. Suddenly, the people who could always be counted on in times of need have needs of their own. I guess it's only fair - but it sucks, all the same. Anyway, I hope that your doc can help you out with the coughing. What, did it never go away?? Or is this a new cold? Oh, and if you WERE feeling restriction with Water, I would be scared for you! You aren't supposed to have any restriction with water... :] Lisa - you are a better woman than I if you can RELAX in the middle of a 500 acre girl scout camp surrounded by 13 little girls... Yikes!! That just doesn't sound like as much fun as it probably was - at least, not to me. Ira - Was Zach all pumped up about the Fire Dept demo? Did he have a good time at the parade? What's up with you? How were the Halloween festivities? JaLynn - Howdy!! Hope you are feeling better. There is not much worse than being sick in a house full of sick people that need you. ((hugs)) Pat - Fun with furniture... Is it comfy? I loved buying new furniture when we moved into our new house in Texas. It was the coolest thing ever. We avoided the Leather, though. It get's so hot here for so much of the year that we decided nice cloth upholstery was the way for us. I hope you enjoy it! Hope your mouth is all healed up and you are feeling energetic. Cindy - Those little girls grow up sooooo fast. My Granddaughter just turned 11 and it seems like only a minute ago she was a todler. Well - I have to get back to that thing we lovingly call "work". A little slow today, now that the month-end blitz is over, so I will have time to call and harass the insurance company. Yes, they have 30 days from October 12th to respond to my appeal. I have scheduled my first appt. with the doc for the 8th - ahead of the curve. I just need to get it all together so that I can have my surgery before T-Day. That is my goal... Of course, if the *&^(& don't approve me, I will be back to square one - but I am thinking good thoughts. Everybody have a great day!!

Hey Maggie! Welcome to LBT. This particular thread is just a place where some of us come to Hang Out - and, in comparison to the huge number that cruise the main forums, not very many folks stop by. You probably want to start a new thread to get the best answers from the widest variety of experienced bandsters. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and find the "forum jump" drop-down menu. Click the little arrow and scroll up to select the "General Discussion" forum. Once you get into the forum - at the top left there will be a button to "start a new thread". Click the button and type away. Your new thread will be seen by a lot more folks than come to play, here, and you will get a much better and wider response. If you need help, you can always send me a PM. Click on my screen name and you get a drop down menu that allows you to send a Private Message. Click on that and start typing to send a message for just me to read. Welcome to LBT!! I know you will find lots of important information, here. You and everyone else can feel free to join our merry band on the new and improved NOVEMBER chat.... (ooooo, ahhhhhh) :]

When in doubt - See a NUTRITIONIST. They are way more qualified to advise on proper eating habits than your doc. I seriously doubt that a nutritionist would advise you to drop below a thousand calories a day... But, hey, be sure to tell us if I am wrong. :]

If I never do more than you have done so far, I will feel like a true Band Success story!! Wowie! Thanks for posting. I hope you get past the plateau and move on to even greater success for yourself. You inspire me. :]

Yeah, Buddy... I guess there are a lot of us so-called "lone" survivors.... We LBT folks will survive... 8/10. OK I admit it - I didn't know the name of King Kong's Island... and I wasn't sure and picked wrong on the Chupacabra thing... Oh well. I can still kick Werewolf Butt. :]

Everything is bigger in Texas! Even success!! Go Becky, Go!! Great Work!

Hey, at least you didn't swear at him. I am sure that I would have.... But then, I am on an express to Hell.... lol :]

She's Ba'ack.... Hey Y'all! I tucked my buddy into the airport at about 8am this morning and crawled back across town from the airport and made it to work by 9:30. It was the last day of the month - which means lots to mortgage folk. I actually had to work until after 5pm... Cindy - don't ask me about that Punk stuff... I have never really been into it - but DH and Cathy were just chattering away. It was all good. We went to the Dallas World Aquarium - in 3 yrs here, DH & I have missed it. It was really pretty cool!... I have been to more than a few aquariums in my day - and I saw things at this one that I had never seen before. I think I would like to do it again when I weigh less... The walking was pretty tough on me - but worth it. It was not NEARLY as exhausting as our trip thru IKEA. We hit the big 20th Birthday celebration in Frisco, TX and we walked the whole store. Wowza! My legs were like lead - except they were a solid sheet of pain from the knees down. ICK. Time to hit the treadmill at the gym, for SURE. So, do I get exercise points for doing two Walk-Intensive activities this weekend? Of course, I negated any good it might have done by eating lots of good food, too. I mean, Cathy had to have Tex-Mex, right? And it wouldn't be a trip to Cattle Country without a fine steak... (sorry, guys. I will stop, now). I haven't had a chance to call the insurance company today - but every time I call them, they ask rather pointedly if it has been 30 days, yet... They have basically told me nothing the last two times I called, except that someone would send me a letter. Anyway, I have to run. DH is waiting on Dinner. I hope everyone is having a great Halloween! I sit here typing in Devil horns and a Tail.... hehehehehe muahahahahahaha