Twilight

Cerrin! You are doing an awesome job! Maybe not where you EXPECTED yourself to be 10 months ago, but you have lost an average of 6 pounds a month...right on track! It is terrific! That would be like me carrying my 4 year old and almost 2 year old around all the time. I can hardly carry my youngest for 5 minutes. Don't discount your losses. They are amazing. Time is on our side in this case. Every week we feel better, we get stronger, and we lose more. Work the band and the band will work. You should chant that every time you feel like you aren't where you should be. You may have a long ways to go....but the journey is so worth it!!!!

Morning ladies. Just a quick check in. I'm at my mom's house and we are going to Missoula this afternoon. Was traveling here yesterday and didn't even get on....so I just got caught up on all of your messages. Karri, isn't it crazy how we can lose our lunch hour to our students? For the last 2 years I didn't have a prep because I had kids that needed to make up courses and that was the only time they could do it. Was never possible to do anything over lunch because it was only a 22 minute break. I guess there are positives about that...didn't think so at the time, but I can see it now. Phyl, they had better extend your service to make up for the time they didn't have it up and running. That is the cost of doing business. I'd fight really hard for that. Candice, sounds like you had a great Thanksgiving. Glad to hear! You did really well calorie wise with that too. I'm actually really impressed. Good for you!!!! As for Janet's horrible news. My heart is hurting for her. She is of course in my prayers. It is so sad that people in this country are dying because they don't have the chance to go to the doctor. Bronchitis shouldn't be fatal for a 50 year old! We have to do something about the condition of our health care system! Not to rant because the focus should be on the family now. If you talk to her, please give her our love. I don't want to call her because I'm sure she has a ton to do. Do you know if she has text messaging? I have her cell and maybe a quick text would let her know I'm thinking of her. She is always there for each and every one of us. I hope our thoughts and prayers comfort her in this time. Okay...off to get ready to go to Missoula. We are going early enough to go see my dog today!!!! I can NOT wait!!! I get tingles every time I think about it. Have a good day ladies. I'll check in from the hotel tonight.

Good morning ladies!! Hope you all had a great day yesterday. I have to say I didn't. Yesterday was my son's birthday party. He invited about 15 people...figured about 8 would show up. My biggest fear was realized yesterday....but not for me. No one showed. My heart broke for my son. I know he has problems but it's not like no one ever talks to him. He has a couple of girls texting him all the time, 3 or 4 boys that he pals around with. And no one. I can't even explain the hurt. And after that I turned to my old standby. I honestly tried to eat my pain away. I knew I was doing it while I was doing it and just didn't care. I had no desire to stop. I know it didn't help. I know all I did was make myself more miserable. But yesterday at least there was some sweetness in my mouth. Today I'm feeling a little better. I don't think I will be overcome again. I hope not anyways. Okay...off to get ready for church. I will talk to you all later. Just had to play true confessions.

:crying: Yeah!!!!!:eek: Everyone do a happy dance!!! Celebrate the HUGE success.

Way to go Ruby!!!!!! I'm dancing with you! You are GREAT!!!! Feel really really proud. Don't give yourself the ifs and the it coulds. Just be great and proud and excited! I am for you.

Ladies, you really don't give yourselves the credit you deserve. 1. I am younger and you have to admit that in this case, age does have an advantage (not usually, but in THIS case). 2. I started lower than the two of you. 3. I have 2 very young kids who keep me moving ALL the time. Sghatl, I wish I could be leaving for a cruise!!! I'm so jealous. Enjoy the wonderful southern exposure. It's supposed to snow here tonight. Come back and share all your stories. I'm sure it will be terrific. Chris, that new insurance sound horrible! I was always lucky with my insurance I thought, but 4 months after the surgery they started covering the banding. Of course, it wasn't retro-active, but it's been worth every penny so I'm not complaining....and everytime I think about the cost I put out it makes me feel determined again. On the size issue, I think I lost almost 30 pounds before I dropped a size...maybe more. But as I've gotten smaller, a few pounds makes a size difference. It's amazing. It shocks me all the time. I went almost immediately from a 10 to a 6...and I only tried on the 6 because I wanted to see how far out from them I was. I never thought I would fit. So don't think you're never going to get there. You might. Not saying you need to, but as you start getting into the <35 bmi area you'll be surprised how much easier it is. Honestly that was when things really started to pick up momentum. Alright...now I'm off. Have a great weekend ladies! I'll make sure I look for you all soon.

Morning ladies! Phyl, if you go haunt the recipe thread and leave us here, we'll just come hunt you down over there. You are NOT allowed to disappear. We miss you too much. We love you too much. Your losses right now are making us all so excited and we get to cheer for you! Your having so many great NSVs that we get to celebrate you. Don't be taking that away from us. Kari, you are going to have such a great time at the reunion. You should strut your stuff! As far as feeling old and haggard....it's always hard to tell about yourself. Remember the stress I was going through a month ago about how much more to lose. Posting pics here and letting the ladies see and give me their opinion really did help. Maybe it would help you too. Just a suggestion. You'll probably get some great pics at the reunion this weekend so worry about it when you get home. This weekend just enjoy being beautiful. Janet, I love the costume idea. I wonder if it wouldn't go over a lot of people's heads. Maybe an AIG id badge or something? I just don't know. But the idea is amazing. Ummmm...there are other things I want to say but I'd better go wash the kidlets hair...they are in the tub. I'll talk to you ladies later. Hugs. Have a great day.

The ones who matter will be here. That's my thought. Maybe those that have disappeared are off living their lives as happy bandsters....at least I'll hope so for them. SgHatl. You're doing great. I know that the clothes now days can be a little frustrating but I find a better selection in the national chains like Sears and JcPenny. They seem to have "adult" clothing and not just crap for 12 year olds. You should be enjoying shopping. I know I've picked up a shopping addiction, but as my sizes have shrunk I have had a harder time finding things that I don't think make me look 12. Chris, I was wondering how you were doing today. Now I'm wondering about your docs philosophy. I was up to almost 6 cc's worrying about maxing out my band. You are finding your sweet spot at a much lower number. I wonder if his ideas aren't good ones. It trains you to eat much healthier I think. I am still getting stuck all the time. You on the other hand are finding new eating habits that you may be able to work through your entire life. I would suggest that maybe he's smarter than my doc. I know you were very frustrated but I think it's paying off now. Celebrate that success!!!! I'm really excited for you. As for me....I was up to almost 6cc's and had some taken out 2 months ago...then a couple of weeks ago I went back and had some more removed. now I'm down to around 5 cc's and I feel much better. Most days I can eat. Today I struggled with salad and rice. Go figure. Those have never been struggle foods for me. I am down at a size 6 and would love to get in a 4, but know that it's going to take exercise and I've been really bad about that lately. If I stay at 6 I can't say it will kill me because I really am smaller than I've ever been as an adult. I feel good. I think I look good. Men now look at me like I'm something. I'm married and my husband loves this new look, but I have to say the other attention does my ego good. Have a great month ladies. I check in almost daily to see if there are any new messages from you all and try to reply if there are. Keep plugging along....this is forever, remember. Good job to the two of you above me. You really do inspire me!!!!

Don't feel guilty. There is a difference between following and supporting a single candidate. Some people have strong ties to one or the other candidate and feel very strongly that they have made the "right" choice. If we want to have a lucky 7 political debate I think it should go to another topic. I don't want to say we can't discuss any issues here, but politics can get so heated. I'm not the thread police and do whatever you wish, but I hope you can remember to attack the idea and not the person. Okay...went out this evening with dh and didn't get a good meal first...lost most of it....and now those few drinks are really sinking in. I'd better go because it's really tough trying to find all my typos and I'll probably say something I regret. Have a good night ladies....i was down 1/2 a pound this week....thing huge but better than not down. Talk to you later ladies.

Go Phyl! Go Phyl! Go Phyl!!!!!! :biggrin: Sleeveless AND and XL!!! What two better things could have happened to you today??? Glad you are having such an awesome day! Nice to have you settled in Cali I'm sure and enjoying the warmth. It's supposed to snow here this weekend. amazing! I'll bbl

Hi ladies. Hope your day was wonderful. Still not sure what I was doing today to spend all day doing it but mom and I did get the storeroom and the basement toy box cleaned out. I got the go ahead to order new carpet for the downstairs family room and Michael's room. It's better than I could have even dreamed of and I'm so excited! Hopefully by the end of next year I will have new floors all around. These were nasty when we moved in 7 years ago and my family has definitely not helped matters any. Between babies, dogs, and now a teenager...I'm thinking plywood all around might be the way to go. A nice country feel ya know. hmmmm...there was something else. Not sure. Oh....as for the dog. Most racers have never really been called by their kennel names. I've heard that they change names easily as many have really bizarre racetrack names. I will stick with Roman if he seems to be attached to Romeo. I think 2 syllable names are better for training. That's the reason I'm not crazy about Romeo. But...he may LOVE it and we'll adapt. I've read in a lot of the sites though, that its as easy to rename a greyhound as train a puppy of his name. Okay...off to watch some tv. I'll talk to you later.

Hi ladies. Hope you are all having a great day. Busy busy here. I am going to list my dog name ideas here and see if you all have some ideas. Not necessarily the only ones or one that I'm going to pick, just some ideas..... Meeko (the name of the raccoon in Pocahontas) Kona (strong Hawaiian coffee) Loki (Viking god of mischief) Griffin (mythical creature body of a lion, wings of an eagle) Bonsai (an ornamental tree -- okay, here's this thinking, they are trees, but are calming influences and they are just to look at...sort of like this beautiful calm do nothing dog is just to look at) Roman (in case he's attached to Romeo, I think it's close) Any thoughts ladies?

Forgot to address the doggie comments. I have two wonderful puppies right now. They are two beautiful shitzus. Gonzo is 8 and Lily is 4. If I lost one I would not "replace" them. They cannot be replaced. Maybe I am taking that too personally, but that is how it hit me. Maybe it seems like I'm replacing my cat...but I wanted the greyhound before Pickles died. I still miss her. A dog won't make her death any easier. It's just that being able to help a dear dog that could have been put down without me stepping up, makes me feel good. I feel like I'm making a difference in the world. That's why I'm getting a greyhound. Not because of replacement issues. Again, sorry if I took that all wrong. No hard feelings. Just wanted to get that out.

Just finished with the debate and getting the kids to bed. I'm not sure who I thought won...I'll have to think through everything they said. I'm getting more and more excited about my dog. I've been thinking about changing his name. I'm not crazy about Romeo. I don't think it has a strong correction factor. I haven't found one I like better though. Something 2 syllables. Something strong. Something regal. Had a much better food day today. Cleaned out the kitchen and rearranged everything. It might not look alright on the counter but the cupboards are awesome! Going to watch a little tv and look for names. I'll talk to you later ladies. Have a great evening. I'll check back in before bed.

Hi ladies! Hope you all had a good night's sleep and are having a great morning so far. Kids are off to daycare and I'm starting to plan my day. I have a million things I should do. Just have to decide which I want to. I worked really hard yesterday to push the liquids and not munch like I had been. I pretty much stayed on track. I don't know why I am not getting the liquid in. It seems just crazy that I have to TALK MYSELF INTO IT everyday. What is up with that? Ruby, I'm amazed at how active you are. I've been thinking about it and came to the conclusion that if all that exercise is what is making you happy then as long as you are staying healthy I say go for it. I just worry about you staying healthy. We have all spent a long time doing a lot of unhealthy things....now you have found some much more healthy pastimes. Good for you. Phyl, how exciting for you to fit in a size 18 swim suit! I know that when I fit myself for a swimsuit I always size up for them. So you are really going to be dropping sizes like pancakes in the very near future! Super you!!!! Okay....I'd better go get something accomplished. Have a wonderful day ladies!

Greyhounds must have martingale collars and they have size ranges. I will email the rescue group to have them measure his neck. Because they can't have just any collar and it has to be ordered I want to get them on their way as soon as I can. At least one. Here are some that I've found online Our Favorites - 2 Hounds Design and eBay Store - NEEDLENOSE NECKWEAR Greyhound dog collars and collar sets: dogs martingales, show greyhounds sighthounds that I like. But I will have lots of fun with lovies. The dog will not sleep in our bed. It will kennel each night. Our other dogs sleep in a kennel too. They sleep so much better when they do. Okay...off to look at more collars. I'll check back in.

I haven't gotten him yet. Yesterday I got an email from the rescue place that they had chose Romeo for me. They think he will fit perfectly in my family. In case you haven't seen pics of him yet you can see him at GPA Rocky Mountain - Available Hounds I will get to see him next week and bring him home after the teacher's convention. I can't wait. I'm dying of excitement. I've spent hours trying to find the perfect collars. It's like finding out I'm pregnant...only I only have a week until I'm due. Okay...gotta go. I'll check back in later tonight.

Hi ladies!! I told you I would get here today! Phyl, I hope you have a great trip down the coast. I'm sure you are getting excited to "get there". Or at least I would be. I like to travel to a point but after a couple of weeks of it constantly it would be time for me to stop. I hope you enjoy your winter pool. I'm sure it will be nice to meet up with all the people down there too. Drive safe....and don't let Earl be too pushy. Karri, good job on your run. It had to be great to run in with everyone cheering you on! And cheering just for you. I can't even imagine how it must have felt. I hope this week you get back on track and get a little more sleep. You need it. Candice, great job on joining the gym. I wish I had one here. It would be so nice to have somewhere to go to and get to work. Here at the house just isn't motivating for me. I know you can get to your next goal in 2 months. And as you are smaller now the sizes will start dropping much quicker. I'm with Janet. You'll be in size 10's in no time. Jackie, good to see you again. It sounds like you have definitely had your hands full. I'm sorry you have had to deal with so many issues. It's got to be hard. Soon you will hopefully have the aide of the new meds and feel better. But teenagers are just ugly no matter what I think. My 13 year old is going to be 14 on the 13th....if I let him live that long....and daily, it's questionable. I do understand. Every word that comes out of his mouth sends me through the roof. Breath deeply and repeat the mantra, "Killing him/her won't fix it." The fantasies are nice though. Come here and vent. It will be good for your psyche. You need to be able to let it out. And we do care. Haven't heard from Donna very much lately....what's going on with her? Linda better hurry back....Candice knows where she lives. We may have to have an intervention there. As for me, my weigh in today wasn't great but it's not Thursday so hopefully by then it will be better. But I'm eating again, so it was bound to fluctuate with that. I'm going to be very careful this week about everything I put in my mouth and making sure I get in my water. I have to be more cognizant of that. The bbq was good. There were just 2 couples, but it was a nice quiet evening of good company. It's been cold since, so it was probably the last one of the season. I'll have to pack away the bbq one of these days. That's always a sad day. I got an email from the greyhound people and they have decided that Romeo would be the best fit for the family. I go next week to get him. I can hardly wait! Okay...I'd better go get something done. Have a great day everyone. I'll be back tonight.

Hi ladies. Wow I planned on spending a whole hour or two catching up on posts. I can't believe it was less than 15 minutes. You all must have had a great weekend without us. I have finally been able to eat a bit this weekend. It's been so nice. I do still have good restriction though so I'm not able to over indulge. Rose is here for a week ladies. I'll make sure she gets on once in a while and checks in. I'll be back tomorrow morning. I just have a lot going on right now. I will find time tomorrow. Good night ladies!

Good morning ladies!!! Karri, I was startingto wonder about you. I am glad to see you back. I wish you weren't so overwhelmed, but glad it isn't another round of depression keeping you away. I love the idea of your own run and you get to be the winner! That is beyond awesome. I'm sorry you are feeling so behind. If it helps, my house is always a mess and I'm here all day every day. Yesterday was not a great food day as I made bad choices. I'm still tight. I just don't get it. I am .4 lower than I was when I went to MoA and I'm still getting incredibly stuck. How can I be tighter now than then? I've lost weight so there should be less fat around my stomach so it should be LOOSER shouldn't it? Who knows. Whatever is happening I think it is weird. I think we're having a bbq tonight. The last one of the season probably. It's supposed to be beautiful. We got a new grill last night and I guess I will be christening it. Going to have a little of this and a little of that again like I did last time. I have some new york strips, some pineapple bacon sausages, I'll try some more scallops, and some burgers. I'm not sure what else I will have but I'm sure it will be yummy, whatever it is. Maybe some grilled potatoes and corn on the cob. We'll see. I don't know how many people Jeff invited so I don't have any idea how much food to cook. Good thing I have all day to figure it out. I'll talk to you ladies later. Have a great day.

Lisa, When I started this process I had so many of those feelings. I read of those losing twice as much as I did on the pre-op diet. At one month my weight loss was on the lower end of everyone in my month group. I kept reading and reading and feeling very deflated. When I mentioned that I was frustrated there were always those people telling me what a great job I was doing and trying to pep me up. The problem was that no matter how much they tried to prop me up, the voices in my head kept me down. In light of all of that I don't want you to think I'm not wowing over your loss so far. It is very amazing. You ARE right on track. 6 lbs a month is the AVERAGE loss. Very frustrating when you think how much less you are eating and how much more you are moving. However, there IS a set limit for our time of surgery. We can't compare to other surgeries or diets. It is MEANT to take time. 5-10 pounds a month means it will take time. Don't give up. Keep plugging along. As the months pass, so will your weight. Slow and steady wins the race. Just keep going. As far as fill level, I was right there with you. I had 3 at placing, then she added 2 and then she added .5 and I was beginning to panic because I felt NOTHING so then she added .5 more and all of a sudden I was HORRIBLE tight. I went and had .2 taken out....still tight. Just had .4 taken out on Tuesday. Still feeling miserable a lot of the time. So the difference between 5 and feeling nothing and 5.4 and REALLY tight....night and day. You will find your sweet spot. It WILL happen. Don't let those voices in your head tell you that YOU will be the one it doesn't happen for. They are DEADLY to your weightloss. Ignore them. Hope that helps.

Ruby, you should get some pants that fit. It is so nice to look in the mirror and say to your reflection, "Damn! You look good!" I have to admit I've become a little vain in that respect. I like what I look like in clothes. Most of the time I can't believe it's ME, but I am proud of how I look. As far as the being tired...it's because I obsess. I think I may be related to "Monk" in that respect. I just can't let this go...even for 10 minutes. It's more than I DO think about it, it's that I CAN'T not. Frustrating. Okay....off again. Talk to you all in a little while.

Janet, I saw your pics after I posted. You must have been posting while I was busy figuring what I wanted to say. You looked wonderful. I'm with Ruby, the white pants looked wonderful...and the blue top was much softer than that black. It looked wonderful on you. I really can't wait to see the commercial. On the soda issue, it isn't the cals that I worry about. I always drank diet before. And now I have soda in my mixed drinks. It's the idea that the carbonation could damage my stomach. I know there are different thoughts/approaches/guidelines on that, but I just don't want to chance it. I am very stressed out today. Maybe it's just what is going around. I really shouldn't be stressed. I have NO reason. I wish I could have one. Maybe it will get better. I hope so. But....my point....I'm with you Ruby, I'm with you Janet....and this too shall pass. I'm feeling like I want to stop thinking about my band. I want foodd to no longer be my focus of every waking thought. I want to go back to being "normal." When I was fat, I didn't really think about food and my weight constantly. Now it seems to be the only thing that is in my head. My size, what I ate, have I drank enough, when is weigh in, what will my weigh in hold for me, dod I look good enough in this outfit that people won't stsart talking about me faultering. It's just crazy. I'm tired of it all. But...that's just my feeling for today. It will pass. I'm sure. But it might be a tough issue for me today. Okay...I'm off.

I think what you are describing is what some people call their "soft stop". It's exactly what you talk about...the point where your body knows that another bite or two will send you over the edge. I wish I had one. I know as soon as I eat that one bite over my limit, but nothing tells me not to put that bite in my mouth. It would save me a lot of pain if I had a soft stop. Consider yourself lucky.

Oh my goodness Kari! You make my body hurt just reading what you wrote. Are you trying to kill yourself? I'd say good for you, but it hurts too much. As for kicking yourself for the snacks....I wouldn't say GOOD job, but when you use that much of your bodies fuel for exercise, you should expect your body to crave. I'd say over 3 hours of exercise compensates for the cookies....as for the soda...I'd say shame on you but I indulged a week ago in one of my own. Try not to do that again. Thanks for all the good thoughts everyone. I do appreciate them. Janet, I can't wait to see the commercial and I am also dying to know what you decided to wear. You are now the official Lucky 7 celebrity! I bet you feel special!!!! I'm sure you did spectacular. Gonna run. I'll talk to you all later. Hurt my back jumping on the trampoline with the kiddos and need to lie down.