Apples2

I would do it over again no matter what it took!

Eva..what a good momma you are. Samson will be very happy and all snuggled in. I, too, make cards. Find it to be a stress reliever and satisfying when done. Oh yeah...didn't bring up what I though on the muffin top issues that Janet mentioned. Nope, I couldn't do it either, Janet and Eva. I notice now that I am more comfortable wearing clothes that are a little more form fitting but not tight. Can't do it. Any little thing shows and I toss it off.

OK...now I'm really confused. Is it the weekend to set the clocks back or not? My computer says not, cell phone say not. Why did clock in bedroom automatically go back and get me up so early? I just looked back...I gotta shorten up my posts. I am a gabber.

Liliana...happy to hear that your surgery went well and you are back at home and ready to start you LB life. Sorry about the shoulder issues. Like Janet said, walk it off. So good for you to be up and about but also to get your rest. Make good food choices and follow the rules your doc set for you as far as taking care of yourself and your food regimine. (sp?) Janet... sounds like you had a productive Saturday. The Ninja sounds great. I was gifted a Magic Bullet by a friend when I had my LB surgery. I don't use it much anymore but came in handy back then. I, too, was up early this morning 5:20. Went to bed at 9pm last night. Two nights in a row...unusual for me. DH got up about an hour later, we had Breakfast and looked at the clock and it said 8:30. Forgot that clocks went back an hour last night. Clock in bedroom automatically sets itself. Still fighting this verdigo crap and the pills I take for it kick my butt. It will all pass in a few days. Happens every year about this time and just plays itself out. Feel like I am walking around in a daze. almost fell down the stairs backwards yesterday. I was doing laundry and running like I do. We have a hand rail on the steps but decided to bring a double load up and no free hands. Learned my lesson. Don't want my DH coming home to a horror show at the bottom of the steps! I would give up my basement in a moment! The only thing I would have would be a small underground storm shelter. B/4 this place came up for sale (22 yrs ago), we had plans to build a 2 story log cabin on the farm site where we lived. No basement in the plans. I feel it is wasted space. We have a 900 square foot family room down there with new furniture (2 yrs ago) that has barely been sat on. The only reason I go down there is to walk on the treadmill or get something out of one of the closets. Oh yeah, laundry room but that has a separate set of stairs. When the boys lived at home we used it. Their friends practically lived down there. Think I missed all of them as much as my DS's when they left. DH's bathroom is also down there and I have one in our bedroom and a guest one on the main floor. I would trade my home in a minute to be living closer to town and to have a smaller home. Five bedrooms and three baths for just the two of us. We do have DH's family xmas every few years and the room does come in handy. It's not that I'm not appreciative...just too much upkeep that is unnecessary. Made my cauliflower yesterday. Quite good. Just steamed it till tender and added a little garlic, dill weed, onion, ground sweet red peppers and a tbls of red vinager. There was a little pouch packing goin' on after that! Not really...ate my cup and then another b/4 bed. Such a nice alternative to green veggies. Cheri...good to hear you got something out of your seminars and that they held your interest. As far as my "clean" house. Actually pretty easy since I work from home. Always time to get up from desk or whatever and put a load of laundry in or sweep a floor. Julie...good goin' on the car playing. Always feels good to kick man butt! DH and I are finally going to fit our date in today. He has been sleeping in the chair for over an hour. Guess he needed the extra zzzz's. Never did get how men can fall asleep at the drop of a hat. I have never been a napper so maybe that is why I don't understand. We are heading to Alexandria (about 60 miles or more). Having brunch and taking in a movie and a little shopping. Man shopping at Menards and Fleet Farm. I really do like these stores. They have a little of everything. I will stock up on doggie treats, maybe a new puppa toy or two. You all have a great Sunday. OOOO....was thinking about any other obcessions...I think we need to get Phyll in on this. I noticed around Easter she had the cutest hat on in a phota on her avatar. OK Phyll...how many hats are you hiding in your closet?

Eva...saw the rest of the photos after I posted. What a lovely house...inside and out. You are very talented in laying tile. I LOVE all the designs. I have always been disappointed that we could not do tile in our home. We do have a good sub floor but we have a wood basement and we see where our floor "rises" and falls during different seasons. Part of living in MN I don't think your kitchen looks too dark. I also love the tile you did around your counters. Very lovely. Thanks for sharing. Also, you have a beautiful view. I bet you spend a lot of time hanging out outside. Looks so peaceful.

Hi Kids! Hope everyone is having a great weekend. Wish I was sitting outside in my shorts like Eva! Wow Eva...can really tell the difference. I like it when people show photos in the same clothes that they had on in their b/4's. I bet you feel so much better. Love your puppa. How old is he? Ours will be 8 yrs old on Feb 2. Every year DH and I make him a doggie birthday cake the night b/4 his big day and put candles in it. We make it out of chicken, beef, etc. The first year when we tried to take a photo (with the candles burning) he grabbed the entire cake candles and all and down the hatch in one swallow. Thanks for the comments on my kitchen. Yes, the white does brighten it up. Since it isn't real big, it also makes it seem larger. It does the job. Janet..our alarm goes off the same time EVERY morning. DH's thing...gotta her the damned farm report, ya know. We go round and round about it. I just get up at 5:20 not matter what. Especially with the cold and wet weather we are having and no one getting their corn out of the fields. Same old negative crap over and over. I come out to the kitchen, put the coffee on, make breakfast with some really upbeat music. DH lays and listens to the "god" of all farm reports. Did you get your gym time in? I am not sure who brought up the audio books if it was me or Eva. Anyway, she gave me the idea of getting them from the library. I tooled off this morning and picked up three. TV does not hold my interest when I am on the treadmill. Bet the books will. Gonna smoke my tennies later. Also, thanks for the reminder about cauliflower. I never think to make it mashed. I have NEVER been a mashed potato lover or really any kind of white potatoes. When I was in town this morning I picked up a couple of heads. Going to cook them up and put in portion sized container for the freezer. Julie...sorry to hear you had a rough nite. Darn that shoulder. I sometimes wonder if you don't have a rip that did not get picked up on the MRI. Just a thought. Maybe it is as others say...gotta hurt with PT in order to get better. Great...did you get out for your lunch and Ann Taylor? Something about Ann Taylor stuff. I just love it. I have been finding some in our consignment shops lately. Just this morning I found a sheer beaded/sequined (not overdone..just a few) top in a plum color for $12. Brought it home and matched to a new pair of plum tailored slacks I bought. I knew I would find something to go with them. Happened to have a tank that looks great under it. DH and I were going to have a date last night and called it off cuz too tired (big day). I was in bed early. Then, we promised each other we would drive to a larger town about 60 miles from here and take in a movie and dinner. Well, pansied out on him again...too cold and rainy. Promised that tomorrow we would go out for brunch, drive to see a movie and a little shopping. Won't poop out on him tomorrow. I can't break two promises in a row, can I? Well, think I am going to go and hit the tread mill and relieve a little stress. Put my earphones on, and "read". You all have a good one.

Just personal experience here....I was banded June, 2008 (15 mo?). I have been at goal for about a year. About 1/2 way through the weight loss stage I was in a panic about the way things looked. When attending my initital seminar on the Lap Band, my doc mentioned that it's a good idea for anyone thinking of PS to wait at least a year or more after reaching goal when considering PS. Well, happy to report that I do not have a need for it. I realize that everyone is different when it comes to the elasticity of their skin. I am very happy with the results on this 54 yr old body. (54 in a couple of weeks) Wish you luck!

1Day...I guess only you would know whether you need a fill or not. I think it is a very good idea to do the 5-day pouch test to help you get on track. See how your band feels and what your restriction level is after you do it. It might just be the ticket and will get you back to where you want to be. Sounds like you are frustrated with starting up the old habits again and are making the first steps to getting back on track. Proud of you for that. You know we are all here for you and will be there every step of the way. Go for it!

Ooops...just noticed that you are my age. If your mom is no longer with you as mine is not, call a good friend.

Me + Cold = Tight. Happens when I get a fever/flu type illness also. Just do your liquids and as someone else mentioned, liquid meds such as DayQuil/NiteQuil. Call your mom....that ALWAYS helps. Get well quickly!

Could be one of those foods that will just affect you for awhile. Have you tried Greek yogurt or just switching to cottage cheese? I can eat yogurt but certain dairy products do bother me since having my lapband surgery. Ice cream, milk, cheese. I have no explanation why. It does seem my tolerance is better than it was a few months ago.

Don't think these are made to stack, Great. These sit on pedastels that are really drawers. The drawers hold a lot and when pulled out works as a shelf to put baskets on when loading and unloading. I guess I never paid attention or timed how much time my others took. All I know is that I needed them for the big loads/dirty oily clothes I have to wash. Cuts my laundry time down by hours each week. I put the dirty clothes on 56 minute cycle. I still save time cuz the dryer is also so efficient.

Janet...bought washer/dryer cuz I have so many big loads with jackets, coveralls, jeans, etc. Farm stuff. I fell in love with the first load. Thought I died and went to heaven. Dryer drys them in 1/3 of the time of regular. I dry a lot outside also.

Just go to top of any page and click on PHOTO and then go down til you see Apples2. Or, just click on Apples2 on any of my posts and will bring you to my public profile and just click on the photo that shows down below the friends list. In the album file

Julie...hoping the stretching exercises give you some relief. Quite a few years ago I was on crutches for nine months (tore all ligaments and tendon in ankle after a fall). Well, the crutches did a number on my upper arms and ended up with chronic tendonitis. Suffered with it and could not raise my arms. Finally went to PT...within a week of faithfully doing exercises I could tell a huge difference. Hope you get the same results. Yep, a sharp knife with cut the floor. Solution...don't drop a knife LOL. Actually, the floor is pretty durable. Will be down for 9 years in March. My guys do take their boots off in entry way and but do walk down there with their boots on and don't have any cuts from stones, etc. (which are thick when I clean down there. WE have gravel in the yard where they work). My laundryroom IS in the basement. Just wanted to show you how we did the steps with the vinyl. That's why I showed that room. Have fun with Mimi!

Wooohooo...Great is out and driving in her world again. Good goin"! Yep, that's my little corner of the kitchen. In my first plans, I had a huge corner with lots of desk space. After rethinking, I decided on a smaller/more efficient space. No room for junk to get piled and I can see what has to be done on a daily basis. My two come in with completed job forms for me to do invoices, etc. and it just gets done (one of those little miracles) and gets filed and off my desk. Now you can invision my butt planted in that red chair visiting with you guys. I guess I'm not sure those floors are exactly "clean". Reason I chose the matte finish. They don't show dog drool, spilled coffee, etc. Now, the white cabinets are another story. They show every spot. Especially when DH makes coffee. I give hime a lot of days off from making coffee!

Thanks, Janet...nope, not candy on the stairs. It's 100 cal treats...popcorn balls, teddy grahams, oreos, etc. Guys grab them when they come in and out. Last year was stalked full of snickers, kit kat, etc. :closedeyes:

These shots are magnetic plates that I have situated at eye level in the mud room where the guys wash up for meals:tongue_smilie:

Last of floors

next batch

OK...wouldn't let post all at one time but here are a few, Julie. Showed you the sun porch floor..it's vinyl also. Did not replace cuz did that shortly b/4 remodel and floor was still nice.

Morning girls... Great..the eye is better this morning. Boy, did that smart. Cinnamon Spice Cider room spray. I had the nozzle about 2 inches from my eye (did not have my glasses on...stupid move) and was looking to see which way it faced. Thought it was in the right direction and pushed. Right in the eye. BURN! Ran for the spray on the sink and rinsed. It is slightly closed today with a huge bag under the eye. Does not hurt like it did last night though. Dumb. Enjoy your day alone, Great. I think you need to be just with you and you thoughts. Watch out for those stairs and the dizziness. Don't want to get a post from your DH inviting us all out for a service of some sort!LOL Try to get your daughter to go to urgent care or something. Have her check to see if her ins. is retroactive. Most are from the time of sign-up. Worth a try. Julie...will try to get a couple of photos shot today and post them here to show you the flow of the floor and how it looks when you run one room together with the next when a person does all one flooring. Have never been sorry I did it that way. Laura...thinking of your dad today and his port placement. Pretty much pain free as I remember when I had to have one. Not a fun procedure but nice to have it when he needs it. Fill us in when you can. Eva...have you been having any kind of stress in your life? Maybe band is tight because of it or do you maybe need a little unfill? Only you know but just an idea. What a bummer on that 13th disc. Kinda of like a tv show you are watching and waiting for the end and then it's continued till next week. Blech! OK...since we are on a roll. Topic for today...how many clothing items to you have that are the same brand, same cut only in diff colors? I'll start. When I find something that really fits me good, I will buy one in each color. I have 9, yes 9, Chico 3/4 length shirts. I bought one and just LOVED it so ordered eight more in eight diff colors. It washes up so nice (I never put my clothes in the dryer. I hang them on soft hangers and spray with Downy Wrinkle Releaser) It works wonders. Sanish rice with Sirloin tips for lunch today at our house. Made with brown rice. Damned cold out there today. 10:30am and still only 29 degrees. Burrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Hey Tina....I think your intitial post put it all in to perspective and how we have all felt. I would have done the same as you and refused to have my photo posted on a web site. We've all had those comments like: You have such a pretty face Aww...you're not "big enough" to get the band (WTH? 249# and 5'6"?) Come on...let's all go out on the raft...That middle part is even big enough for you to sit on, Karen. If you can lose over 50# b/4 you have this surgery, then you know you can lose it on your own. ETC., ETC., ETC........ I had seen your thread floating around the last couple of days but did not pull it up to read it. It piqued my interest this morning. Why? Last week I posted my very first b/4 and after on this site. It was very difficult for me to do. Even after reaching goal and being at goal for over a year, I still do not like to show the "real" me b/4. I chose the blurriest photo I could find and posted it. DH happened to see the post a few days later and convinced me to take the step to show more clear b/4's. Point is: I used to get that statement "But you have such a pretty face". First of all, I avoided the camera when I was obese. And, when the photos popped up on my computer I could not look at them. I had to dig down deep inside me for the courage to post my clear b/4 photos. Even at this stage I am so embarrassed by what I had done to myself and how I looked. But, reposting my b/4 photos yesterday was very "cleansing". Done, over with, get on with the new life. That WAS me back then. The after photo is me NOW and I'm going to run with that. In fact, I think I am going to print those b/4's and put them on my pantry door as a reminder. Congrats on your weight loss this far. I have said to people that questioned that if I could lose the weight on my own b/4 the surgery, then I shouldn't need it. Nope, I could do it cuz I could see the light at the end of the tunell. I knew I would have my "tool" to help me keep it off. Wishing you luck and keep us informed of your upcoming surgery date, how you are doing post-op and come back and post the success you have had with the band.

Janet...started gaining weight when I hit menopause at the age of 38. I gained and gained and gained. I got the band at 52. I would say I was morbidly obese for about six of those years. Hey Laura...will talk to you more tomorrw. Thanks for the thumbs up on the b/4 and afters. Went to bed at 8pm...slept till now. Unusual for me to be in bed that early. Sprayed myself in the eye with room spray today. What a bugger. Needed to give my eye some rest and fell asleep. Got up to eat cereal and coffee and now heading back to bed. Gnite.

Hey Cherish...congrats on your weight loss so far. As far as your questions go...#1. Thigh discoloration. I remember looking there (at about the same stage you are in now) and noticed the strange color. After a few months, my discoloration disappeared. #2. Proportion of body. I've posted in other threads on how disappointed I was by the fact that I lost weight face first, breasts, arms, legs and even at 20lbs b/4 reaching goal I was still carrying around so much through the middle and lower belly. Yep, it all evened out. Just be patient. See what you end up with when you reach goal (actually give it a year for things to tighten and settle) Good luck!