Yvonne72

I use Care Credit... It's for medical loans. My card is in my Mom's name and they only needed a signed letter w/ a notary stamp on it stating it was o.k. for me to use her card! Just go to Carecredit.com 1st you'll want to make sure the surgeon accepts it! Good luck and what a nice thing you are doing for your friend...

I take the spironolactone and metphormine for mine...

I do this at restaurants now since I can't have my diet coke!!! They always have splenda on the table, so I just ask for water with lemon!!! YUMMY!!!

What a combo- Benjamin Bratt & donuts... WOW! Your neighbor had a great night didn't she?!?! LOL I've been going armed where ever I'm heading with healthy treats. My friend had a b-day party for her daughter and they were having Everything to do with grease and fat and junk! I brought along a McDonald's BBQ Grilled chicken wrap and apples... no one said anything to me and I didn't feel the need to explain myself! LOL I was prepared to tell them that I was on a diet, but everything worked out well. As long as you can make a choice to either eat healthy or just take a bite of the 1 thing you are truly craving- you will succeed... So if I'm craving chips- I measure out 1 serving - walk away - and that's it- craving gone! I use to eat an apple, some cherries, grapes, Water, milk etc... only to come back to those chips! LOL 1 serving didn't get you hear, it's the whole bag that did! Best of luck to you...

Hi Sally, I too suffer with PCOS and the facial hair issue. I've lost 35lbs so far and have not seen a change. However, once I lose all my weight, I'm going to try having the laser treatments again. I had it done about 4 years ago and it was successful on my upper lip and most of my neck area (below the chin) My chin, which I tweezed for 10 years is not any better. I stopped tweezing when I started the laser and just shave now- it's dark & ugly, but from what I understand- I'm doing less damage to the follicles. I'm hoping that with these years of "not tweezing"- the laser will work in that area as well. Do you have darkening of the skin? Between my legs is the worst- it's black! I have slight discoloration under my arms, on my ankles & elbows, and under my breasts... I wonder if that will start to fade as my skin stops rubbing together as much!!!!!!! I'm certain that once you have the surgery and start to see that tremendous weight loss, your confidence will be sky high... I read your story and heard myself speaking. I hated social events and running into people that haven't seen me in "ages" etc... It's very difficult to deal with... Keep me posted and I hope you have a great day! The future is BRIGHT!:eek:

I just wanted to say Hi to all and see if anyone has any additional guests they would like to bring to the support group! Bandsters or Future Bandsters that is! I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone again and meeting new fabulous friends! Please pass the invite along to anyone else in the area- the more the merrier!

Congrats Felicia!!! I'm so thrilled for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NY2LA - please keep us posted... I'd love to hear about how you feel when you see 169 on that scale!!! WooHooo...

Way to Allison! Please stop by the gift shop in OneDerLand and let us know how it is... I hear it's beautiful on the "other" side! LOL:lol:

WooHooo... I did it, I hit my first major goal today!!! I am under 250!!! I cannot believe I finally did it... Now- my new goal is to get to 220... it's been 8 years since I've seen that number... Goal #3 to go to OneDerLand!!! :thumbup: I LOVE MY BAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My doctor said the same think I said- the only thing that would possibly get stuck is the skin... I always peel my eggplant, so I didn't think to write that on the recipe! Yeah!!!!

Thank God it wasn't anything serious! Looks like you're doing great yourself... I'm glad all is well... Keep up the great work!

Thank you Hootie for all your updates on Joan... I will continue to pray for her and hope she gets to return home soon... Prayer is a powerful thing as is your friendship and support... May you all have a Blessed Day... :scared2:

Lanakila - you'll be fine and you have the right attitude about it... Best of luck to you!!! FYI- I didn't give up the Diet Coke until the day before my surgery- I just couldn't do it. I will always Love it and crave it and miss it... I've thought about drinking a flat one- but what good would that do me? Now I just try to find as many new crystal light 'on the go' packets (or similar sugar free flavors) that I can... My current favorite is: SF Hawaiian Punch- Lemon Berry! YUMMY - One packet is enough for 3 bottles for me (real strong) and I've been buying them at Walgreens for only $1 (box of 10) WooHoo... Much cheaper than my diet coke friend!

Am I reading your signature right? You've lost all that weight without being banded? You are doing fantastic- with or without the band!!! I envy you! I just couldn't do it before- I had completely given up on my body... (I have PCOS)

I'm in for the soda drinkers anonymous group sessions... I had a horrible craving the other day for it... but it passed as my day got busier and I Survived! WoohHooo

I was banded on May 20th... :thumbup:The best thing so far has been the way I feel about exercising! I use to hate it- I tried every type and hated all of it... Now I go every day to the gym at work instead of going to lunch (I just eat at my desk now!) I can swim laps in the pool and not feel like I'm going to have to do the doggy paddle! I can really really swim... The worst thing about being banded is the not being able to drink Diet Coke or anything "bubbly"... LOL Having to remember all the things you can't do- no straws, no soft bread, etc... I'll get use to it, It's only been 2 months! Good luck to you!!! :thumbup:

I do not like the down talk about the meeting that I personally am planning nor do I condone the talk about the meeting I just attending. I didn't exclude anyone & I certainly didn't do anything wrong by choosing PF Chang's and I am now so aggravated beyond belief it's not even funny. I also do not appreciate that the group that got together is being "pointed at" like we did something wrong by eating out... You weren't there- you don't know what went on- so mind your business and don't judge people. And to be perfectly honest I'm really pissed because Fran was planning on coming with us until their finances took a bad turn and had to cancel... So what's REALLY happening here is--- that eating out was o.k. 2 weeks ago, but NOW that she can't afford to eat out- the people that can are now the bad ones who are surrounding themselves with horrible food in restaurants!!!???!!! Why are you being hypocritical? {I love you Fran, but I have to call you out on this one... it's ridiculous...} And not that we need to explain ourselves, but just so you know how "horrible" we were... #1 We all had Water... #2 One of us had Soup the rest of us shared portions that were smaller than appetizers at any restaurant I've ever been to. (Tapas) #3 If you look at our photo, none of us even touched the bread on the table! Food was NOT the reason we met- food was there so we could eat, as we ALL have to do 3 times a day! We spent MOST of our time getting to know one another and asking questions. So basically, we did not meet at an IHOP- we did not spend the entire time ordering food, nor did we overeat by any means... OMG- GUESS WHAT? WE'RE ADULTS!!! Don't judge if you weren't there or had a bad experience where you "use to live"... that's not fair to the rest of us... Going out to eat is something I love to do and is something I will continue to do for the rest of my life. I have to eat- so why not do it socially? Nowhere on the menu does it say that you can't share nor does it say you have to order anything more than an appetizer or soup... No where does it say- you must overeat to enjoy eating out... If someone cannot come because of financial reasons or simply because they can't handle being in a restaurant- that's not my business- but don't put others down because they CAN handle it... It would be fantastic if every day were roses- the fact is no matter what you plan, where you plan it, or when you plan it, someone will have something to say about it and try to change it... That's why I put what I did on the invitation... The group that got together last week was from all over the valley- we decided to plan the meetings centrally so it's easier to have larger groups attend... I would love to have other events to go to in Henderson but I have yet to see a date and time actually planned out. If someone actually plans one & sends out an invite, then I will be happy to attend that one too... Support is support no matter where you are sitting or standing or eating or drinking... And by the way- I had visitors in town all month- I probably ate out 20 times or more (no exaggeration) and still managed to lose weight... Eating OUT was not what got me here, it was the choices I made- it was the exclusion of exercise- and a life long struggle with yo-yo dieting.

Try posting at the college on the message boards...

I wouldn't try it- it may get stuck??? It's not really "chewable" enough so you can break it down with your teeth, or is it??? Hmmmm

Yvonne72 Cadets71 Hootiebelle VegasWildFlower Dandy75 GeorgeBals VegasGrace This is going to be a lot of fun!!! I can't wait to reunite with my new found friends and meet more bandsters!!!

Go on Kiki- you can do it!!! I yell all the time!!!

I do not like the down talk about the meeting that I personally am planning nor to I condone the talk about the meeting I just attending. I didn't exclude anyone & I certainly didn't do anything wrong by choosing PF Chang's and I am now so aggravated beyond belief it's not even funny. I also do not appreciate that the group that got together is being "pointed at" like we did something wrong by eating out... You weren't there- you don't know what went on- so mind your business and don't judge people. And to be perfectly honest I'm really pissed because Fran was planning on coming with us until their finances took a bad turn and had to cancel... So what's REALLY happening here is--- that eating out was o.k. 2 weeks ago, but NOW that she can't afford to eat out- the people that can are now the bad ones who are surrounding themselves with horrible food in restaurants!!!???!!! Why are you being hypocritical? {I love you Fran, but I have to call you out on this one... it's ridiculous...} And not that we need to explain ourselves, but just so you know how "horrible" we were... #1 We all had Water... #2 One of us had Soup the rest of us shared portions that were smaller than appetizers at any restaurant I've ever been to. (Tapas) #3 If you look at our photo, none of us even touched the bread on the table! Food was NOT the reason we met- food was there so we could eat, as we ALL have to do 3 times a day! We spent MOST of our time getting to know one another and asking questions. So basically, we did not meet at an IHOP- we did not spend the entire time ordering food, nor did we overeat by any means... OMG- GUESS WHAT? WE'RE ADULTS!!! Don't judge if you weren't there or had a bad experience where you "use to live"... that's not fair to the rest of us... Going out to eat is something I love to do and is something I will continue to do for the rest of my life. I have to eat- so why not do it socially? Nowhere on the menu does it say that you can't share nor does it say you have to order anything more than an appetizer or soup... No where does it say- you must overeat to enjoy eating out... If someone cannot come because of financial reasons or simply because they can't handle being in a restaurant- that's not my business- but don't put others down because they CAN handle it... It would fantastic if every day were roses- the fact is no matter what you plan, where you plan it, or when you plan it, someone will have something to say about it and try to change it... That's why I put what I did on the invitation... The group that got together last week was from all over the valley- we decided to plan the meetings centrally so it's easier to have larger groups attend... I would love to have other events to go to in Henderson but I have yet to see a date and time actually planned out. If someone actually plans one & sends out an invite, then I will be happy to attend that one too... Support is support no matter where you are sitting or standing or eating or drinking... And by the way- I had visitors in town all month- I probably ate out 20 times or more (no exaggeration) and still managed to lose weight... Eating OUT was not what got me here, it was the choices I made- it was the exclusion of exercise- and a life long struggle with yo-yo dieting.

I did it... I ABANDONED 30lbs... Here's "before" and "current" photos! Sorry about the hair in the 2nd one... wanted to see what it was like to have a "neck"! LOL

Not too much of a difference, but I have lost 30lbs and feel fantastic!!! Sorry about the hair in the 2nd photo... LOL