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Denise...I did some SF products during the weight loss phase and did not notice that they made me crave more sweets. I used SF flavorings in my coffee every day also. Was never a big sweet eater b/4 banding. But, I have noticed that after indulging in sweets over the holidays...I now crave sweets more than ever. I have tried to just grab fruit but do allow one sweet thing a day. (Usually my Pure Protein bar or a small chocolate kiss or something). It's almost like you have to cleanse your body of it and not have it in the house. Yep...the band does not take care of some of those cravings. Darn!!!

I thought it was in you HIGH opinion! LOL..Have to give you crap!:tt2:

Strike...hope your next fill does what it needs to for you. Great that you didn't gain over the holidays. Livin'-our original plan was to take 2 months for FL vacation. Long story but our son moved from FL to GA and will go there a visit also. Decided that next year and continuing years will be for most of the winter. Just not sure if it will be in FL or other states. Don't want to commit to being in one place. Thinking of the motorhome thing for future years. That way we can go wherever we want. No plans for the weekend. Another winter blizzard warning out for tomorrow and Sunday. This is our fourth weekend in a row with storms. Needless to say, we are ready to head south.

Welcome back, Allie. Good to hear you had a great holidays. Always good to get back home again. We are anxious to get out of here for a month. Record snow fall and cold already this winter. Just looking forward to being in our cabin, in the warm weather, in the National Forest. There's hiking trails, etc. and cannot wait to have the freedom of spending time in the outdoors again. We leave on the 13th. Suit cases are all packed (except of internet deals that I got on some clothing that is yet to be delivered). My DH will freak when he sees how much I have packed but not over the limit for the airlines. Guys can get by with so much less than us women. Doesn't every woman need one suitcase designated for shoes?

Mornin' Kids! Sounds like you have had a very successful bandster holidays, Cathy and Linvin. Isn't it a great feeling to make it through the holidays, have some treats and walk away from it with a loss? Good going. Cathy and Long...I am the opposite of you guys. My legs and arms are too skinny. Even when I was heavy it was carried all through the mid section. I wish I carried more on the bottom and legs but I decided b/4 goal that I would just be satisfied with the body God gave me. After losing all the weight I did and getting to goal, there are no negative body issues with me. A lot of that comes with age but I don't pay attention to a little wrinkle or whatever. I lucked out with getting a flat tummy back. My thighs look like melted butter but the only person that sees them is my DH, and, if he doesn't like the way they look, he won't be visiting them much! He's so supportive though. He loved me when I was FAT and he loves everything about me now. He just knew how unhappy I was carrying all the extra weight around and he was unhappy for me. I wear a size 4 pants but have to special order because I need 34-36 inch inseam. All arms and legs and short waisted. There are always ways to dress to pull the eye away from a figure flaw though. Never works for me to tuck in my shirts. Pretty distorted image when I do. Please do not think I am bragging when I disclose size of pants I wear. I am VERY small boned and lanky. Even when I was heavy I could wear a woman's medium pants but was really close to getting into a 4x b/4 I started this process. (I am sure your guys are all drawing this freaky picture in your mind of what a mess I must have been!) LOL. Anyway, my point in all of this is...accept where you end up. Appreciate your shape...love yourself.

I guess I would just try to find a pair of tights. They make the patterned ones now that are so cute. Take your dress and ask a sales lady in a dept. store (hose/sock dept.). They are usually up on the current styles. If you don't like the idea of tights, just buy some black pantyhose. You'll be cute no matter what you do, Strike!

DH and I brought in 2009 with smiles on our faces and nothing but positive aspirations for the new year. Had a great NYE with friends at a hotel and all met for a buffet Breakfast this morning b/4 heading home. I don't do buffets so just brought my Pure Protein bar along and had coffee. Don't get into that heavy eating anymore and do not miss how I used to feel after eating like that. Also happy that most of the holiday food is out of the house or in the freezer. Just don't like the way I feel when eating the "ucky" carbs. Ready to convince DH that he should be eating the healthier carbs with me. He watches his weight and eats healthy at meals but is such a sweet eater. I try to not have any of it in the house but it is around at times. He's not a child and no longer a young pup so pretty hard for him to break the habit. He never seems to put on a pound though....I just want his innards to be as healthy as he looks outside. That's one of my goals for 2009...getting him to kick the sugar habit. Happy New Year to all. Sounds like we are all starting out the year with the right attitude.

How did everyone usher in the NY? We had 15 rooms with 15 different families at a hotel. Was great. Waaaaaaaaay too much food, of course. I grazed and ate more than what I am used to but tried to go for the more healthy foods. We are ready to start a brand new year. 2008 carried a lot of stress for us but we got through it. Nothing terrible or anything....just a lot with managing the farm and business, 2 surgeries, kids buying homes, kids moving, etc. I am packed and ready to hit FL! I had to do some last minute shopping on Amazon though. (Probably not a NEED but a WANT). Just hoping all the goods come b/4 we leave on the 13th. Didn't break the bank though. Found capris for anywhere between $4-$11...not a bad deal. My fav shoes are Born so ordered three pairs of sandals. My 2 pair from last year are stretched from my fat feet. We have this store in our little town. Not consignment but prices of a consignment shop. The owner buys overstock items in higher end brands. There is no item more than $20. I did damage there a couple of days ago. Found a couple of Jones NY dresses, Ann Taylor coat, tops, etc. I was hyperventilating going through the racks. LOL. Me thinks that Long, Allie and myself have that shopping bug embedded in us!

Hey, Addy, welcome. At least you have a loss instead of a gain. Looks to me like (as you said above) you need to measure and weight your food for now until you can gauge what your portions sizes should be. I bought a "Salter" scale about 6mo. b/4 getting banded and started right away with weighing my food. Even though I am at goal, I still weigh the proteins and measure my other foods. Just a habit and helps to eyeball portions when I am eating out. It would be a really good habit for you to get into and then there's no doubt of what your intake is. Take care and jump into the New Year with your new habits!:Yawn:

Living...I knew you seemed special. It takes a certain kind of person to work with Hospice patients. God Bless you for the work you do. We were unable to have our memorial celebration this evening. We have a full blown blizzard. Our third already this winter. We are so looking forward to going south to FL for a month!:wink2:

You're almost there, Long....you should hit your goal within the next 6 months with the rate that you are going. ANN TAYLOR....HERE SHE COMES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:wink2:

Hey Strike...how ya doin? Yep..love to have my girls in place and looking straight out instead of at the floor! Congrats on holding steady with your weight over the holidays. I hear ya on just wanting things back to normal again. I will be going to NYE overnight party tomorrow afternoon and taking all the candy, cookies, snacks, etc. and they will not be coming home with me. Even though I am trying to gain a few #'s back...I just don't like the feeling I get when I eat junk. You all have a safe, but fun, New Years Eve. I'll do a little private toast to all my LBT friends! Wishing you everything you wish for in 2009. I also wish you health, happiness and continued friendships.

Yep, Katy, Aussie's have the best sense of humor and are thr friendliest pple ever. We have traveled to your country a few times and we were able to stay for a month each time. I LOVE my Aussie friends. We had 2 exchange students by in 1994-1995 and then they came back to visit many times...often bringing their family. Both girls stayed months at a time when they would come back to visit. One of our girls is will be on a world tour next summer and will stay with us at our lake home for a couple of weeks with her new DH. (not d*ck head!). One of my best friends in the world is one of the girl's mothers. I wish she was my next door neighbor or even lived with us. We are like sisters. Take care, Katy. Will be thinking of you. My son's friend did not get very good news. They started chemo immediately. I want to stay optimistic but the results sound way too scary.

It's nice that your mind is at ease when it comes to where your mother lives and that she is well taken care of, Charlene. One of my best friends is 88 and lives in a wonderful apartment building. Just a call button away. Last time she fell she "didn't want to bother the EMT's" so she got another "old lady" (in her words) to give her a ride to the hospital.

Minnesota state law: It is illegal to cross over into Wisconsin with a chicken on your head. No sh*t!!!!!!

Speaking of bras...After reaching goal decided that I would treat myself to a Geiger red boiled wool coat. The only place to get one within a 100 miles was this high-end store in the mall quite a few miles away. Well, loved the coat and decided to buy it. But, also got talked into two bras. Tried on the Spanx bras but not enough support. Sales lady went and got me what she called "the best and most comfortable bra made". Heck, ended up buying two of them after trying. I would usually never spend $79 on a bra but these things are like wearing nothing and they support and have some padding (which I have never worn padding b/4). The brand name is: Mysterey Rouge. I know I am hooked and will most likely be my bra of choice for life. I have never owned a VS bra...just never had them to fit me. I think I will try and Ipex the next time I am in a mall that has their store. Just for the fun of it and to see what you girls are so excited about! LOL We have a full blown blizzard again today. Cancellations all over the place. I AM A PRISONER IN MY OWN HOME!!!!!!!!!!

Denise....pat yourself on the back for taking such good care of your father. People don't realize what it takes and the stress a person is under when it comes to taking care of their elderly parents. I remember you talking about having to take care of his home, his belongings, etc. and having to travel to do it. It's a lot to deal with. I am sure it would be somewhat easier for you if you did not have the miles between you. Hang in there. :party:

Hi reportergirl...sending good wishes your way and in hopes that your DIL gets good results with her tests. This is a very friendly thread and if you need support, you've come to the right place. Check in daily, get to know your new friends...you should fit right in with the 50's gang! Welcome

I am 53 yrs old. Started gaining at the age of 39. I feel like I wasted some really good years. I would try to take the weight off...lose 15lbs and then give up. I cannot tell you how many times that happened. My health was shot. Had this morbid feeling constantly that I would not wake up in the morning. Worked really hard to get the Lap Band. Lost 54# on the six month medically supervised diet pre-op and have lost a total of 128 and feeling like a 19 yr old again. Have never PB'd and have just had to learn what foods my band will tolerate. Any work I have done to make this band work for me is well worth it to have my health and my life back. I was born a social butterfly....went back into my cocoon when I was heavy. The Lap Band has freed me from so many things. It's NOT the easy way out. It's work! But...it's such easy work cuz I have my little buddy inside me as a reminder. There is light at the end of the obesity tunnel. Just make your decision on what is right for you and focus on the positive from that point out. All the best to you.

Good morning ladies What a sad thing for your friend's family, Katy. My father was in the funeral business and it seemed that there were so many deaths during the holiday season. The loss at this time of the year just seemed so much more intense. My DS (27) best friend is sitting in a hospital for three weeks. Just diagnosed with leukemia. A young wife and two babies. Such a worry. Cold and windy day today. We are right on the edge of the snow. Talking 6" today. Hopefully we will not get that much. We have PLENTY. Makes a person feel like a prisoner. Need to go out later to work one of my volunteer jobs. The drive is always a worry when it's snowing. Have a memorial party later this evening for a friend that died a month ago. It's her birthday today and a bunch of her riends (many) getting together to remember her. Died of breast cancer at the age of 43. She was diagnosed less than two years ago. She was such a trooper. Worked up until 2 weeks b/4 she was taken. She was one of the people that EVERYONE loved. Her DH is a dip sh*t and made her life not so great. A very self-centered ick. I'm sure she is in heaven after what she put up with. Well...back to the books. Hope everyone has a great day.

Not sure what bars you have on hand, Charlene, but watch the calories. I have the Pure Protein from Walmart. Do not eat them every day...just as a meal replacement when needed. Also throw them in as a snack about once a week when my band is being fickle and I am hungry all day long. They seem to keep me full for quite awhile. They have 180 cals. and 20g protein. The beef jerky also is handy for a quick fix to hunger. 80cal per ounce and at least 11g protein. I sometimes make it a meal with 2oz and 25g. protein.

I fell so bad for you having to deal with your loss and stress issues. Just try to concentrate on taking care of you mother right now and do what you can to avoid the slider foods. Try to keep one serving size cheese sticks, beef jerky, Pure protein bars, etc. on hand to get you through those times. Sending hugs your way, Charlene!

The best holiday NSV for me was the baking and eating a "normal" amount of treats without craving more. This has NEVER happened during the holidays. I was satisfied with one little piece of whatever a day. Years past I would be shoving things in all day long for two weeks and feeling sick...physically and emotionally. Another NSV...the after Christmas sales. Could walk in a store and just pick out small tops and size 4 pants (pants I needed to try on cuz I have a 34' inseam). My closet loves being full again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Kids! CRAZY week here. Always is just b/4 the end of the year. Doing year end for farm, other business and personal books. I keep them up to date every day but so much to do this last week of the year. Ready to usher in a new year. Also preparing for HUGE NYE party. Get together with about 20 other families from our lake resort. We all get a room at a hotel, bring food, visit, play games and cards, etc. Was busy most of the morning preparing some food, getting supplies together (I coordinate it so make sure we have paper products, eating utensils, etc.). Been bringing in the New Year for many years in this manner. Love the fact that it's "family" thing and love being around the kids. Us adults can partake in a couple of drinks and not worry about driving. Back to work. I will smile again on Friday after this is all done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Livin....that's so sweet...thanks for the compliment. I see myself in the same pot as everyone else. We will all have good days, bad days and and every day to be thankful for our bands!