Apples2

Thanks for the well-wishes. Hey...I think any Bandster would love to be tighter at night. Lucky you! Finger and toes crossed for your Mega-Millions, LauraK:thumbup:

Great...I think that might just qualify for a scholarship! And, yes, Jones NY, Saks and Neiman Marcus will do me just fine!

OOPS...that'd be "unrelated"

nonrelated

OK Great...we will give you a job to do in the next couple of weeks. It looks like two of the Primier Outlets are not too far from Buena Vista but ya never know. They all have maps that show where they are located. The one I mentioned this morning does not have the best of stores. Try to see if you can get the addresses and info about which stores they have in the nearest outlets and bring that info with you. It's overwhelming because there are so many. We don't want to waste time going to crappy stores. LOL

Diligence!

I'm 54 yrs old and have struggled with weight problems for many years. Lapband was not an easy road to take but it helped me to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's work. A person has to be very diligent in making good/healthy choices, follow the band rules set up by their doctor. We need to set our sights on our goal and work until we achieve it. And, when there are setbacks, get back to basics and restart the plan. Not always easy but doable. Good luck!

I'm in! Surgery

OK...my take on the extra calories to get the scale moving again. I truly believe that every couple of weeks a person needs to "shake it up". But, don't "shake it up" with snacks or junk. If you are eating 900-1100 cals a day, that should be adequate for a normal day. Sometimes I think you need to trick your metabolism. On the shake it up days, up your cals but only by adding extra protein those days. Get my drift? Have some soynuts or beef jerky in your purse. Pick a day every two weeks and increase your cals by about 200 by eating the protein snacks. When you want to kickstart your weightloss, also really watch your carb intake for a couple of weeks. This is a plan that really worked for me during the weightloss stage. It was difficult for me at first to think of upping my cals. But, what it taught me was to not be so strict and mix it up a bit. If this doesn't make sense it's because you are getting advice from a certifiable crazy lady. Crazy from being cooped up for days on end. Believe it or not...have not left this house since Sat morning. Except for walking the 100 ft to the shop once yesterday. Come on, Janet. You know you are going to talk to that puppy. You'll be loving it up by the time dinner is over and sharing your popcorn with it on the couch tonight!

I'm not a "meany" but DH is so easy to pull one over on. How is your week going, LauraK? Got the urge to just say forget work and hop a plane to FL????

Hey guys...just continue to stick to your doc's menu and rules and don't look at the scale right now. Your body just went through surgery and is most likely in protection mode and most likely retaining fluids. Just make sure to get enough liquids, get your rest, make good/healthy choices with your food and you will soon see results. Take care and good luck!

Linda...I would have more dogs also. DH says the same thing about our Tanker. He says it wouldn't be fair to him. Heck, it would be company for him. We have the black lab and I would really love to get a chocolate. I tease DH all the time. He was a little concerned at Christmas time cuz I typed up a fake invoice and stuck it in a place he would fine it. $350...chocolate lab pup, listed shots, vet, etc. First his neck got red and it moved all the way to the top of his head. I didn't even crack a smile about it for two days. He honestly thought I did it. I, too, wish you were joining us, Linda, as I am sure everyone else does. We'll take lots of photos and post when we are there. We have our first sun in about two weeks. It's just so nice to see it. It's below zero but seems so warm with the sun shining. Hoping that it melts all the snow off the roads so we have clear roads when we leave in the morning. Hope we don't have too many "dog" stories to tell at the end of this trip. Our dog has never stayed in a hotel with us. He usually goes to his doggy spa when we take our trips. He is very fearful of white walls. Not sure why..just developed in the last couple of years when we painted our hall white. That and white garbage bags. DH will be picking up that 100lb baby and carrying him to our room. So many things to think about when taking a trip like this. Told DH this morning that never again. We will fly from here on out unless we go in a motorhome.

Jewel...I checked out the site. Very nice peices of jewelry. If you have read any of the posts from Janet and others that are reading the Beck books, it sounds like planning is the key. That has always been one of my things throughout the LB process. If I don't plan, I don't do as well. I ALWAYS have a green bag with me that has the necessities in case I am in a situation that is not band friendly or if I just need a snack. So good that you have caught on that planning is key.

Great...if makes you feel any better....I might REALLY appreciate a little early get away by that time. Hmmmmmmmmm...almost 3 weeks of 24/7 with DH....can you fly in a couple of day early?????LOL

Don't sit and worry about being troublesome:scared2:. No trouble for me to take that drive earlier to meet you at the airport. I will shoot for about a 10am arrival time at the airport and if you are later than that, not a big deal. I did not go back to attach the link but just type in Tuscana Resort at Lake Buena Vista. Address is 1395 Tuscana Lane, Champions Gate, FL. You are not going to want to take a taxi or shuttle. Lowest price for that is $85 one way. Just know I DO NOT MIND meeting you at airport. Now, calm down and just figure out what kind of Coach purse you are going to buy on our trip to the outlet!:confused:

Great...gotta remember I won't have cell phone service in the forest. I have to drive out quite a few miles to pick it up. I do have internet access though. I will just plan on leaving the resort fairly early on Feb 11 and pick you up. I will have service on the way down to Orlando so you will be able to get me when you get into the airport. Can you book your tickets now or do you have to wait? For all you shoppers...I went online and printed coupons for the stores that caught my interest. It's the Lake Vuena Vista Factory Outlet Stores. You might want to go in and print your own. There's no Coach store but I noticed there is one at another outlet. Actually, the other outlet looks a little better and we could hit both if we wanted to. Laura has all flight info on Eva, Janet and Julie and her and Nels will be picking you up. I know...I'm repeating myself but just want things clear on what is going down. Lori and I should be at the resort and checked in when you get there. She will be the one in the Ann Taylor sweater and be carrying a Coach purse.

Hey Jodi...it's so great to have you added to our mix. Another professional to pop in with advice. We have a P.A. (Laura), a nurse (Phyll), a commercial insurance pro (Janet), a teacher (Cheri), an engineer? (Eva), an accountant (Julie) and someone who will turn the lights on for you all to find your way (Linda). Hey...I totally get you on the needing adult stimulation. It's me and my dog almost 24/7 during the almost 9 months of farming season. He has a very large vocabulary. I hope you get as much catch-up sleep as my DH and DS get with their CPAP's. They are both average sized...no weight problems but were diagnosed with a rare sleep disorder. It's been two years for DS and about a year or less for DS. I can really tell the difference in them both. Makes such a difference in how I sleep also. DH would wake me up almost every half hour with his stirring, jumping and talking. I just hope you get as much peace from it as we have in our household. Anyway, Jodi, I just wanted to tell you that I really enjoy your posts. You are so cute and full of life. I really, really hope you continue to visit and that we can follow you during your LB trip. Good Morning everyone else. Went to bed about 9pm. Up at 4:30am. No reason...just wanted to get up and greet the dark, wind-whipping, snowy, painfully cold day! I will be so damned happy getting out of here tomorrow. And, you guys will get a break for me B&Ming about the cold. Any, you will also get about a week's break from my rambling. OK...plan is that I will be picking up Lori at the airport. Her flight comes in early and will just head to Orlando a bit earlier to get her. So, it's Janet, Eva and Julie that Laura will pick up. Lori and might just have to check out an outlet mall or two cuz check in isn't till 4pm. Oh Darn.....Lori...better check first...do you like to shop????????? I don't get the best internet connection at our cabin so posts will be iffy. If you don't hear from me, DO NOT send out the forest rangers. There is always service at the lodge so will try to get up there at least once a day IF I can steal the laptop from DH and run. He is so attached to his Ag Talk forum. Any another problem I ran into last year. Those 80-something guys at the lodge think that it's free game when a woman walks in without a man trailing behind her. Excited to be taking this trip with DH, FINALLY seeing our son after a year (he's too busy..he picked up the workaholic syndrome) and I am super excited to be finally meeting you guys. I just wish you could all be there. I really, really do.

Welcome and congrats on your banding and the weight you have lost so far. It really is a battle b/4 you get to the right amount of restriction for you. Sometimes it takes just 2-3 fills and sometimes many more than that. All depends on the person. Just wanted to wish you luck. :wink:

Janet...you are so right. I do think that our head hunger can actually turn into a real hunger feeling in our stomachs. When I was in the weightloss stage I used a trick that I learned in therapy. When I went to therapy many years ago, I wanted to be able to have a way to push the icky crap that happened as a child out of my mind. Therapist taught me to "talk" it away in my mind. So, when I was soooooooo hungry I would just say over and over to myself "You are not hungry". You know, there really were times that would work. It's kind of like you using the visual with the peanuts. It's kind of got to hit us in the face.

Julie...can only speak for myself here, but, handmade gifts mean the world to me. Just that ppl took the time to make them. When our DS's were born we got a number of them and they are all in a special spot and waiting to be handed down. For Christmas this year, "mom's" DIL made me a handmade quilt to put at the end of the bed. She carefully picked out just the right colors and it is perfect. It is something I will enjoy forever and every time I look at it, I think of the fact that she loved me enough to make it for me. Sucky weather!

I have always wondered about the hidden calories, added fat, etc. in restaurant foods. Just the butter and extra oils they put on steaks and seafood when they grill them. Any sauce is "to die for" when a stick of butter is added:sneaky:.

Hey Jessica..are you taking your daily Vitamins? Getting enough Protein per day? Hope you are not coming down with something. Get your rest. I see your ticker moved to 25lbs gone forever. Good job!

Linda...have a good day back at work. Careful on the ice. Sorry about your parking spot. I am not going to get started on Tiger Woods but just have one thing to say. He had the world by the tail...can anyone say huge ego? He let it get to him and flitting all over the world using women. I hate the "S" word and don't use it because it is usually used to degrade women but he is the male version. Also could be described as a male "W".

Janet...I wouldn't even consider going to the end of the driveway with what we are getting outside. There is no way I would even be able to see the road. We live by a lake and our landscape is very flat. The wind is so bad that there is nothing but whiteout conditions. Clinics, stores, banks are all closed in town anyway. With you talking about the Beck chapter you are reading about recognizing when to stop eating. To recognize when you "should" be satisfied. Don't you think that is the biggest challange ppl have that get banded? Sometimes it is so difficult to recognize. That's why having limits (setting up your amount of calories per day and trying not to go over, journaling, just being fully aware of what's going into the mouth) is maybe even a bigger tool than the band? Any of us can make it a daily struggle or we can make it a way of life. You are already mindful, but, like you said, you were telling yourself you were still getting the same amount of calories. My point...your honesty about not being as diligent as you usuallyl are helps us all see that even three years out, we still need to do the work. It's back to basics every once in awhile to make us see what we are doing.

Brett did a great job this year with the Vikings. I just don't get into the "hype" and crap. Ppl retire..ppl sometimes choose to come out of retirement. Happens in real life without notice. Just too much is made out of it all. Don't worry asking about those bras. I'm glad you asked. Now they won't be staring at me when I open that drawer. This blizzard we are having is really, really bad. Absolutely no travel advised. I walked out to the shop and bit ago and the wind just took my breath away.