Apples2

I could tell you not to panic or be fearful but I do remember that stage. Now 18 months out, this is just a way of life and I love it. Go into all of this with as much info as you can, do research, practice all the rules your doc recommends and you will be successful. It's work to stay on task at times but having lots of energy and not having your shopping cart automatically steer itself into the plus size section of a department store is such a wonderful trade-off!:rolleyes2:

Mornin' Girls....woke up all refreshed (I promise...no rants today). Hey...that really did help to vent. Jumped in bed a few minutes after typing that rant and peacefully went to sleep...thanks for listening. I had just had it up to my eyeballs. You'd have to live here to get the true picture but I know you guys understand anyway. In fact, I am so calm this morning, I'm not even ticked off that someone searched out and ate my large Marathon Snickers bar. I even hid it so I would have it for breakfast this morning. Well...not really hidden, just in the back of the protein bar container. Great...hope you are still all snuggled in your nice, warm bed and not having to go in...not even for cleaning. Yep, I guess you could call eyelash extensions being a girly-girl. Never thought of those when I wrote that previous post. I have never been to a spa or had a massage either. Can't even tell you why not. I don't do manicures due to the work I do around here. Telling DH this morning that when farming is done, I'll give it all a try. Great...we are not done with corn harvest yet. Going to start sometime after noon today when DH catches up with corn drying. We have a few days left. Usually goes quicker but drying time is so long in between picking. We are all about ready to be done. Will talk to you all later.

I'm here, Janet....I must have been ranting at about the same time you were posting. I drink coffee right up until bed time. Always have....always will. I love my coffee! Have a great day off tomorrow!

Evening Everyone...hope you all had a good day. Great...I get the fitted. Best to go to Target and try on and then go online to get your longs. That way you will know for sure how they fit. I do that with a lot of jeans and pants. About ready to hit the hay. Long day...turned out to be another day of farmers at the table. Don't really want to get into it but by mid-afternoon I was STEAMING. I had soooooooooooo much planned for today around here. Nope, I swear DH stands out by the mailbox at the end of the driveway (it's a highway) and waves everyone in and hollars..."Come on in..she's cooking". I'm sick of cooking, I'm sick of way too many months of guys talking about nothing than farming, I'm sick of serving them, I'm sick of not being able to do what I want to do in my own home. (Maybe I want to walk around and scratch my butt..or boob or something). DH spent tons a few years ago adding two offices and a showroom onto his Morton building. He has tables, chairs everything but he has to drag everyone off the street. WHEW...that felt good to vent! OK.. thank you...it's off my chest.

Recipe sounds really good, Arlene....except for the rice. (We don't get along so well). :eek:

Hey! Proud of you, Girl, for booking that trip. Sounds like you got a pretty good deal on the flights. You know you can do this travel alone. One of us is only a phone call away. And, if you have questions at an airport, there would be many reps to help you out. You will do fine. :eek:

Almost every surgery I have had the pre-surgery rules states NO nail polish. Not only do you get to wear it, sounds like your toes are all dress up and festive. I almost hate to admit this...I have never had a pedicure or a manicure. I guess I have never been much of a girly-girl. One of these days I'm gonna go get me one!

Great...so what you are trying to tell us is that most of us have to wait till we are pushing 101 yrs of age till we kick our cravings for sweets? LOL

Thank you for the compliment. If you set your mind to it and make good, healthy food choices, with the band, you can do it too. Just go into with lots of knowledge, prepare yourself with following as many lap band rules you can prior to surgery and you will be on your way to a healthier you. I wake up every day so thankful that I don't hurt anywhere or ache anymore. I am thankful that I am on a dead run most of the day (I have a very physical job) and never have had a day in a very long time that I could say that I was tired. It's so worth it!:scared2:

Sure, Laura...go ahead...rub it in! Just took me 10 minutes to get my Sorels (boots), coat, mittens and cap on to trudge out to where my men are working to deliver them some cappacino. I have a red nose and cold finger tips. Sure...just sit by your pool...no guilt. Nope, don't feel sorry for us.:thumbup:

Anything what makes us accountable is a positive, Arlene. I've tried 'em all. Does not mean a certain plan would not work for me now, though. I think the band would help a lot with almost any plan. Maybe you can take WW and make it a designer plan just for you. Just tweek a little of the info given to you. Those weigh-ins make a person accountable. I was thankful for my weigh-ins with my LB doc. Kept me on task. Years ago when my doc warned me that I should get off the 40lbs I was carrying or I would be sorry down the road, he referred me to the nutritionist at his clinic. She was 3x more obese than me (not judging). At my appt. she would show me what a portion size with her plastic food, giggle and say "I eat 4x more than that"...giggle again. Needless to say, I gained another 100lbs after that little session. Never did anything about my weight until it got to the point where I HAD to. My point is....structured plans work for some of us and weighing in is sometimes that challenge we look forward to and need. I know that's what worked for me. When a person is feeling out of control, structure is the way to go.

You're the BEST granddaughter! Every Grandma that's 100 yrs old should have one like you!:scared2:

Arlene...I think Great sent you that cold weather. It hits there, bounces off the mountains and heads your way. Guess we'll blame her?:scared2: Too bad about the camera. DH and I were discussing our picture taking inadeqacy(sp?) this morning. We used to take loads of photos and now determined to get into again a bit more. When you're growing up your babies, lots of pics are shot. DH bought me a pocket sized Cannon SD1000 Power Shot camera last year for Christmas. So handy, small and takes fairly good pics. What I like is downloading and being able to send to family and friends. I do scan old photos once in awhile to send to youngest DS who lives in Atlanta. Just reminders. Even scanned our wedding photo on our 30th and sent to him. Not even going to whine about the cold today (-19). Working in the house and hoping for no interuptions today. Had ppl at my kitchen table ALL DAY yesterday so did not get done what I wanted to. All of the cookies (6 doz.) are eaten along with all but two of the dozen or so cranberry bread I made on Monday and most of the fudge. Hungry visiting farmers. Was a nice day and happy to share but now I need to start over with some baking. (You all know how much I enjoy baking so good to go). Remember all the discussion on the Champion pants? I think most of you were influenced and went out and got some. Well, got mine on Tuesday. I had ordered 4 pr in the talls. Always happy to find them at a good price. Well, got them and was missing my capris that were on sale but package included 2 pair that I did not order but in my size. Called Target to let them know I would be sending back and wanted the capris. Good news. They told me to keep the 2 extras and they would be sending the capris for no extra $$$. Merry Christmas to me. Back at it. Later:cool:

NY? How fun! You just do what you need to do Meredith and check in with us when you can. It's just that we miss you when you're gone. Take care and good luck on your finals. Yes, physics suck as far as I am concerned. Should have hooked you up with youngest DS and he could have helped you by phone. He used to tudor Physics students at his Universtiy. Take care! Love back at ya!:scared2:

Yep...the puppa is going to be 8 on Feb 2. He actually still has a lot of pup in him in some ways, but in other ways, he is a big ole' lazy dawg.

Do what you can to educate your DH on this. Take him to your seminar, doc appts., show him internet sites, etc. The more a person understands about the LB procedure, the better they are at accepting it. I, too, felt like you are feeling just a couple of years ago. My DH has been so supportive all along. He knew how miserable I was. I was approaching 250lbs....249 was my top weight. I could not walk any distance without getting winded, exercise was out, I had more or less given up. I had been researching the LB for quite some time b/4 getting up the nerve to do this. I can tell you that this is the best thing I have ever done for myself. :scared2:

Arlene...OH NO....you can't come to FL.....was just hoping. Next time. I get really tight when I fly. I can actually feel it tighten on the way up and I am tight for about 4-5 days after. My doc did not have and answer for it. He just looked at me funny....come to think about it...he does that a lot with me. I figured you'd have problems with adhesions when you got home. Sorry! Hang in there.

Welcome home, Arlene. If you feel like it, would enjoy seeing some photos. Questions for you...I am unsure if you said you could make the FL trip or not. If you read up, you will see that the condos are booked and there is still room for you in one of them. They are 3 BR with one sofa sleeper. Just let me know and I will write you down as going. Hope you can make it! Glad you had a good trip. Yep...my vote is water retention:wink2:

Add on...we usually have more snow by this time of the year. Sometimes the kind where the plows need to cut a pass taller than the vehicle. I'll take this amount of snow!

Afternoon Gang! Just thought I would send you some snow! Frigid here today. Guys are still out working in this crap. Harvest is at a halt now as it is too cold. Might have to leave the rest till next spring. I doubt that though. DH has way too much determination to leave it. Photos are a shot out to the bin site from my front door. Others are my shrubs out the back and my pup waiting for Christmas to happen.

Cassie...first off, congrats on the weight loss! I cannot speak for everyone but I think getting hungry in the evening is just normal for a bandster. That's why it is important to spead your calories throughout the day. Small meals and snacks...good healthy choices. I would rather forego a calorie loaded snack and have more to eat. If you band some calories during the day, they will be available for an evening snack. I am like Janet. I never miss a night of my popcorn. But, when I was in the weightloss stage, I had to make sure it was allowed withing the range I was eating per day. Some of the things I would snack on would hold me over pretty good till meal time. (In small amounts). Soynuts, beed jerky, raw veggies, a little fruit, sugar free jello. I have a coffee concoction that really does stave off hunger for awhile. 16 oz coffee, 2 tbls Divinci or Torini SF syrup and a packet of Swiss Miss Fat Free mix (25 cals) Good luck with your continued weightloss!

Jewel...as I said b/4, kudos for going back to school. You are doing so many proactive things to better your life and your health. Look at being on the mood enhancers as a positive thing you are doing to enrich your life. Too bad it is such a hit and miss thing when it comes to those drugs. I have friends that have taken a couple years of trial and error just to find the right med for them. No one here is ever going to judge you for a medical problem... Try to take as much advice that the others have given you regarding a LB menu and work on it prior to banding. You will be happy you did and very prepared for what it to come after banding. You will also be more emotionally prepared. Once it's done, it's a whole new life. Tough sometimes to stay on task, but, if you do, it's so rewarding.

Linda...was crossing my fingers that we would not hear from you today. If we did...that meant no surgery. Sounds like you are in a good place with the weather that is going to hit you over night. Take care.

Stinker!:wub:

I hear you on the cold weather, Great. It's storming here and schools are already called off for tomorrow. I mailed your box of capris today. Sorry for the delay. Did not get off the farm till now when the post office was open. But, doubt if you will be baring those bottom legs any time soon!:thumbup: