Apples2

My doc used to say to not drink anything 30 minutes b/4 meals and 1 hour after. He now states that a bandster should drink right up to the meal and wait 1 hour after. He states a person is less likely to break that 1 hour after rule if they drink right up to their meal. I know it can be difficult to stick to this rule but believe that it's self-defeting to drink while eating due to the fact that food washes through. Just give a good try for a couple of weeks and try to break this habit. Set a timer to see if it helps, find things to do to take your mind off of that hour wait, etc.

Sooverit...sorry to hear of the troubles you are having. Sounds like you are dealing with a lot right now. I would call your doc and get in to see him. Here's some iron rich foods that might work for you: Oysters, clams, mussels, sardines, shrimp, cooked beans or lentils, pumpkin seeds, blackstrap molasses, dried prunes/raisins, artichokes, watermelon, prune juice. I have heard that eating Vitamin C enriched foods along with iron rich foods will allow iron rich to better absorb. Hope this helps and hoping things settle down for you soon.

Hey Janet...I have switched to Truvia also...about a couple months ago. I was sitting here typing to 1day and could not for the life of me remember what it was called so just typed Splenda. I like it a lot better than Splenda and I though that wasn't too bad at the time. Hope you get over being tired....we know your tired when you only work 1/2 your A$$ in your workout!

I am showing your post to Kim and also the one asking for help

Janet....I have not had trouble posting (as you can see I have been quite active) but I have been having trouble brining up quite a few threads. I shut my computer down for about 10 minutes and came back on. I think it might be a LBT problem. Hope it gets resolved so we can hear your words of wisdom!:tongue2:

OK...send me the part of your calves you do not want. Heck, I'd be so happy to have it that I will even pay the postage!

1day....I think if you took a poll, eating too fast would most likely be the number one trait that is so difficult to change. I know that I have to make a conscience effort with everything I eat to slow down, wait in between bites, etc. I LOVE strawberries but I have to be very careful while eating them. I do know that they go down a lot easier if I cut them up a few hours b/4 eating them. I put Splenda on them when I cut them up and they get a little more juicy. I also keep fresh blueberries, blackberries and raspberries on hand. Have no troubles with them. I also love cantelope but have to be careful that it is ripe and that I eat slow. Mixing my fruit with FF Cool Whip also works well with getting the fruit to not stick. I sometimes make a mix of fruit and put SF syrup on it. My DH loves it and does not know it's SF. Just see if you can cut down on the sugar by replacing it with fruit or maybe SF jello or pudding. I am a true believer that the more you have, the more your body will crave it. Another thing I do if I am craving sugar...I cut up a Pure Protien bar into about 10 pieces and pop a piece in my mouth while drinking coffee. Gives you a "fix". I then wrap the remainder and put it away for times that I have a craving.

Long...you are so right about the more you wear shorts, tanks, etc., the more accepting we are. You know what? People notice their own body flaws more than they do the person next to them. I used to be self conscience of my calves also. Too skinny (11.5 inches). But, I truly believe we all have ways of dealing with what God gave us....and by choosing styles that compliment our body, we have not a thing to worry about!:rolleyes2:

I do want to clarify...it's not that I judge anyone that has PS...when I was in the weighloss stage, I was certain that I would need PS. The farther along I get in maintenance, the more accepting I am of how I have ended up. It's all what you feel you can live with. I think back to when my oldest DS was 8. I was getting ready to go out on a date with DH. I was in my bathroom putting my makeup on and he happened to come around the corner and caught me in my bra and panties. (This is when I was a normal weight). Well, got dressed and came out and asked DH if I looked "fat" in my outfit. DS answered for him..."No, mom. not with your clothes on". I think back on that now cuz a person just has to remember that even though I was a normal BMI at that time, I still would ask that dreaded question. "Do I look fat?" Most of us look good with our clothes on. I think there's not much of the population that looks really good naked. I know people that have had PS and are not happy not matter how much they have done. Julie... how many I cook for depends on the day. Some days I have 3-4 extra...some days I have 6-9. Depends on what the guys are doing. Tonight I have 6 and know that most of the pork loin will be gone. any leftovers will be made into sandwiches for when I am gone. DS is really good about getting lunches packed when I am gone so I don't need to worry about it. I make up as many sandwiches as I think they will need for the days I am gone, make cookies or bars and they are set. I have three dozen eggs boiling right now to make into egg salad. Have two roast beef in the oven for sanwiches also. I find it easy to do it this way and have my freedom to run at the same time. Good going on the pounds lost. You CAN do this. Hopefully this fill will help.

Funny you say you hate your legs. I had a note to myself to include that you looked nice in your shorts but by error omitted it. I know you have mentioned that b/4. I made a promise to myself when I started this journey that I was going to accept the body I ended up with. It's been a struggle at times but I have come to a very good place with acceptance. Thank God for 3/4 length sleeves and skimmers! I am not willing to go through PS for a few little wrinkles on my upper arms and thighs. I am venturing out and going sleeveless once in awhile. I look at my "skinny or normal" friends and you know what? They have the same flaws and wear shorts and sleeveless. It's kind of like accepting what our bodies do with age. It's all part of our journey and hopefully you will overcome!

Hey Girls......finally got caught up with this thread...took me awhile. You have all been busy posting. Was hoping Meredith would have posted to let us know how she is doing. Looking forward to hearing some news! Had a nice weekend and , yes Janet, I am running around like a chicken with my head cut off today. Have spent most of it in my truck running to different fields for the guys, doing laundry, etc., etc., etc. Gotta get started on the evening meal pretty soon. Never know what time everyone will be in to eat or if I will deliver to different fields so will need to make something that travels well. Think I will throw a pork loin and potatoes on the grill, still have sweet corn in the freezer from last summer and make a chocolate cake. Sound good???????? How many bedrooms at lake? Enough to accomodate as many friends that want to come. Overflow is handled with air mattress', tents, etc. Love when friends come and can always make things work. Hosting a GF happy hour/appetizer party on Wed night. Thinking of doing shrimp cocktail and grilled lime chicken fajitas. Will see how it goes around here and what time I am able to take off. That will be the deciding factor in what I serve. Long........congrats on the climb. Scary incident with the bear. Have a similar bear story while camping up by Duluth when we were kids. About 2am and he just would not leave. Had to all huddle in the bathrooms (8 kids, 2 parents). I think of that often. We don't have Bass Pro around here. We have Cabelas and Gander Mountain. I am looking for a new tent and $40 sounds like a really good price. Will have to look and see what Bass Pro offers on line. Joanne...what a nice new photo! You are sooo pretty and DH is handsome. Your hair has really grown since your last photo. We've always done the "convenience camping" also. We took our boys to every camping spot in the state. We loved the North Shore Drive and did weeks of camping in our travel trailer for many years. Now just happy to be in one spot. I LOVED pulling the travel trailer and giving that opportunity to my boys and we have plans for a motor home when we retire. Sounds like you are having some hot and sticky weather. We were in the 90's most of the weekend. It would have killed me last summer. I laid out in the sun for a couple of hours two of the days. It didn't get the best of me. I used to sit in the house with the air on. Not anymore. (Not humid here yet so I might complain in a few weeks). PJ..enjoy your time off of work! Laura....great photo of you on the Inca Trail and look forward to seeing your next photo and hearing about you crossing that feat off of your bucket list! Happy Nelson is OK. We had a jumping on the bed incident when one DS of 5. Ended up in ER and a goose egg larger than a goose egg. You are so lucky to have a good relationship with your family. Enjoy it! Charlene...thinking of you and DH and hoping to hear good news about his tests. Sending hugs your way! 1Day...Sweets are the pits. I have never been one to crave them but have friends that live on them. All I know is that the less you have, the less you will crave. Maybe try to replace them with fruit????? Just want you to know we all have a struggles and understand. My downfall is anything salty. Linda....hoping that GD's rash turns out to be something that is not serious. Keep us informed and thinking of you. Stressful time for you, I'm sure. Hey Phyll....I have FIL that LOVES flying remote control planes. I cannot tell you how many he has crashed. I, too, have pilot son. I remember how I worried when he would fly out in Cal. Now I don't even think about it and he is in the air from morning till night most days. It's in his blood and love that he is doing what is his passion. His mother never got that chance...(I would be in the air every day if I had that chance). Julie....I think that Bible reading was a message. I remember sitting in church listening to a reading about 15 yrs ago and just knew it was meant for me. Was trying to make a HUGE decision with a career change, etc....I took it to heart and still am thankful today that I did. OK guys......gotta run. Hope you all have a great week and no food struggles. Sending loves and hugs. I truly miss you guys when I am gone and wish I had Wifi up north. Oh well, maybe soon.

How about: Long&Lean Longtobethinnomore :thumbup:

Aren't all you "farmers" just the cutuest thing! I signed up for facebook, welcomed some friends and that's it. Haven't a clue about it but would like to get a start on it. I've been exposed to this farming stuff for over 30 yrs....would you guys accept me? Or, would you consider me a pro???????????????

Thanks for the congrats, Charlene (and anyone else I forgot to thank). Our MN summers are actually quite warm and humid but most ppl from the south would think they were heavenly. Have Aussie friends coming to visit for a few weeks in Aug and was telling them how warm it gets.....should have saved my breath. Been over there during their summers and they are HOT and HUMID like we don't even know. Our closest Goodwill is about 3 hours away. We have Salvation Army stores but I am so hard to fit that I rarely find anything. The best is this shop we have in our little town. The owner goes to the cities and buys things in bulk (overstock from last year). All new items and wonderful name brands. I have 4 Ann Taylor dresses in my closet that were all under $20. Pendelton winter items, etc. that are new but under $20. Owner can never find slacks for me (34-36'inseam). One of the reasons I enjoy summer....capris and shorts. Never have to worry about "high Water pants"!

I belonged to that club about a year ago!!!! Now I am just involved in a few threads where we are a close knit community and visit on a daily basis. Not to worry.....you will be so busy with your new life a few month down the road and have absorbed so much knowledge from this site that you will slowly move on. Good luck to you on your journey!

Good goin' on the cake, Linda. The band sure makes it easier to pass all that stuff up. It's not going to make food choices for us but just having it is a reminder of our new and healthy way of living. I hope and pray that it is with me (and works as well as it does) until I leave this world. Also, great NSV with the co-workers. Isn't it fun when people really start to notice???? VERY warm this week in MN also. Crops look good though with the rain we had over the weekend. Mornin' to the rest of the gang. Hope everyone is having a great day. Running around getting caught up so I can leave again in the morning. Have a bunch of GF's :wub:joining me for a few days. Floating rafts, foo foo drinks, movies, board and card games, etc. :smile2: Big celebration over the weekend in the little town close to our resort. Should be a fun filled weekend. Wish I could snap my fingers and all of you could join me. I am fun....honestly....I would make sure you all had plenty to do, drink and eat. Ohhhhh, maybe next weekend?

OMG....went and read the old 50's thread. I bet (Janet and Phyll) it brings back lots of memories for you. Was paging through....caught a statement by Janet saying she would be more than satisfied with size 10 slacks. Now look at her! Little Miss Size 4! And, look at Phyll....has come so far. And to think...you were newbies at one time. Hard to wrap my head around that.

Janet....I, too, enjoyed Green's posts. She was straight to the point. I had heard a couple of weeks ago that she passed. Didn't know that she was one of the original 50's. So sad.

Meredith...nice to hear that you are hanging in there. What a special Papa you have. Looking forward to walking through this jouney with you. It's people in all different stages that keep me coming back. I love "meeting" and visiting with all of you. Julie...whew.......done with the pie social for this year. I have to commend you on not eating the pie. I LOVE pie and make it quite often. Cannot tolerate the crust.

What a wonderful story, Laura. I went through the infertility thing with my BF for years. She had tubal pregnancies and finally was able to adopt 2 children. They are 24 and 19 now and she was a very good momma. I don't care how kids come into our lives...they are just ALL precious. I think that the most wonderful thing about our large group of friends is that we get to enjoy all of their grandchildren and children. They all know where "Aunties" treat basket is and "Auntie" always has a kids puzzle or movie for them. I would have had 1/2 doz if God would have let me.

Fly By Post.........Just jumped in to say "Hey All"! Took me awhile to catch up with my threads. I see we had a little debate going on in the 50's thread? Poster forgot to leave his negativity at home? Congrats to all who have lost...especially Long for hitting first goal of under 180lbs. When do you see your doc, Long? Soon, right? Laura...Nelson is adorable. Makes me miss those days. I was a stay at home mom till my two boys went to school. Happiest time of my life. They were the funniest, smartest, etc., etc.....I am a true believer that all parents should see their children that way! Ok...been home for 2 hours and on my way out the door again till this evening. I'm AWFUL!!!!! Give me a little freedom and this is what happens!

Do it Long!!!!!! 5 day pouch test. When I get back on Mon or Tues I would LOVE to hear you telling us you made it to the 70's.

Thanks VZ...Nope didn't think you were not accepting where you are at...just making the statement that it would be impossible to compare since we are all so different. Yep...a year ago I was wearing a 3X and not even sure on the bottom. Depended on the elastic. I know I was at least an 18-20 on the bottom. Now a 0-2 and a small top. DKNY, Calvin Klien, NY&Co were not even in my range a year ago. I was drifting around in the large ladies section on the verge of tears.

Thanks for the wishes, Laura. Too bad after troubles with fertility that you have to even deal with TOM. I am no help to you, girl. Have not experienced it for about 5 yrs. I remember after my second child and being told that there were just not going to be any more babies carried in my ripped uterus that I just wished the TOM would not longer exist. Not that lucky. Tubes were tied at the age of 27 right during C-section and accepted the two beautiful boys God gave me (even though the plan was to have at least 5 children). I do consider myself lucky to have had easy and right-on-schedule TOM and also lucky that I hit menopause early at the age of 38 and done with it all by 48. Heading out the door...house is clean, all the farmers meals are made for the next three days. Just have to grab the dog and go! I will be sitting on the lake shore with a book and a dog shaking his wet fur all over me. But, that baby boy can get away with anything!

Mornin' Girls! Well, one year ago today about this time I was heading for the hospital and ready to be a lapbander. Best thing I ever did. It's been a great year and do not know where that time went. No complications to speak of (except losing a little more than I wanted to). I have learned to accept where I am at, feel good and look good. No crap...I could run circles around any 19 yr old. I was on the track team in college and I truly believe I could do it right now at 53 yrs old. I did get a Happy Bandiversary this morning from DH. Want to take this opportunity to let you girls know you are special to me. I know I was not always extremely active on this thread but always felt like coming home when I was looking for support. And....I thank you all for that. Wish we could all find a common meeting ground, meet and spend some time together. Maybe some day. You guys let me know what works for you and I will arrange it. I am thinking we could all meet somewhere in Missouri. Kind of a mid point? Strike...I'll have to get one of those kiddie seats and haul DH behind me on my bike when I get it! Sounds like you are doing the right things. Just need something to kick that metabolism back into gear. Like I told Long on another thread...maybe the 5 day pouch test to give you both that start again. I know it can be frustrating. The closer I got to goal, the more the lapses in weight loss. I would sit for weeks without a loss. Hang in there. VZG...Woohoo!!!!! Water skiing! What a girl! I notice so often how people compare their sizes to what others are wearing. By the sound of it, we are all different shapes and sizes. Not fair to yourself, VZG, to compare your size to someone else's. I am sure you look just great in your size 12's. I am the reverse...long, skinny legs (34-36" inseam), long skinny arms and carry everything in the middle. Lost some of the boobs but still carry enough to make me look out of proportion. But, you know what? I decided going into this that I was going to be sooooooooooo much more accepting of myself and my body. I accept what I have ended up with and am very happy. Allie...congrats on the daughter's graduation. Having a party for her? If you did it like we do around here you wouldn't be finding time to post. We all cook a meal...beef, pork, appetizers, cake, salads, etc. My 28 yr old had 275 at his party and 26 yr old had 490 people. Everyone just shows up to wish them well. Better get going. Bday lunch with a friend today, going to fit a tanning session in, visit my 89 yr old friend (she is actually my best friend in the world and can talk to her about everything) and then back home to pick up my dog and then off to the lake. You all have a great weekend and thanks again for being such a great support system. Love ya all!!!