NanaRenan

I just posted this on a general thread, but I had a nice NSV today when hubby pointed out his arms go a lot farther around me now than they used to!! It was quite sweet. Golly I love that man!!!

Best POSSIBLE NSV: I keep shaking my head and saying "I can't see it!" when people tell me how much they can tell I've lost. Today DH was hugging me and said, 'Oh, yeah -- look how much farther my arms go around you now!!' As he turned me to look in the mirror! I think I might get someone to snap THAT shot for my Before and After photos....I like using him for my 'tape measure'!!! Nana<----still DOESN'T SEE IT, but can't seem to lose that silly grin today!

Thanks for the recommend!! My oldest son is 6'4" but only has a 30 inch inseam -- finding shirts that are long enough has ALWAYS been a challenge!

Miss Mona -- unfortunately, I'm going to recommend that you keep the memory of that awful experience fresh as long as you can. ~You're gonna need it if/when you're in pain post-surgery and start wondering if you made a huge mistake. ~You're gonna need it if/when you plateau before you've even had a fill. ~You're gonna need it if/when you "get stuck" or even PB in a resturant with friends. There are more possibilities but you get the point. It doesn't seem fair -- that after all we've endured being fat AND what we've gone through to get the surgery -- it seems like we ought to breeze through with no problems and lose 20 lbs a month without trying! But -- like everything else worth having or worth doing -- it's a process. And some days you'll just tired of fighting it and think about giving up. But that's when you need to pull out this memory and give yourself a little head shake and snap your fingers and go, "OH, HELL NO!"

What did I skeer ya off with all the food talk??

I'm a SAHNana. I take care of my 18 mo. grandson on days his mom works (and his 9 y/o sister after school). When my hands aren't full with them I design and sew clothing for women and children and I also do custom scrapbooks and accoutrements and make and sell greeting cards locally and on eBay.

That's me!!! Found a really cute top the other day that will do nicely for Christmas parties with just the right skirt. Rather than torture and tempt myself shopping for it -- cause we all know how the search for that one perfect item can be -- I'm bought fabric and a pattern and am going to make it. AND I'm making it so I can wear it for several sizes -- it should take me through all the winter. That brings me to another question -- and I wanted to get your opinion... The clothes that are too big, some we hate, but a few we love... Do you get them tailored so you can wear them a little longer? Do we go ahead and pass them on (to a friend, to Goodwill, eBay, etc?) so some other large gal can get some use out of those larger sizes??

Hey -- it finally moved!!!!! 275 this morning!

Anyone else a sufferer? Is there a cure?? My daughter's nail tech asked me months ago to make her two formals for December weddings. I said "Yes.", thinking she would bring me a pattern and fabric. Instead I get a photo out of a magazine of a designer dress! I've put it off til the last minute and am avoiding working on the first one like crazy -- (Anyone notice how much I've been posting the last couple of days?) -- haven't even THOUGHT about the second one. Now I'm considering doing something I've never done in over 25 years of sewing -- I'm going to add in an UPCHARGE for having to come up with a pattern and track down the fabric myself! Is that reasonable? I mean any other 'custom' job you do, there are premiums you pay for. I only quoted her a BASE PRICE anyhow. My husband says I'm just bitter because I realize she charges more for two mani-pedi's that take her a couple of hours than I quoted her for a dress I've spent weeks avoiding, days researching and hours just getting set up! Will someone KICK me next time I take on a custon job? I've quit it more times than I can count!!!!!

Hi, Diva -- I wanted to look at your blog....can I get an invite?

I found my first chin hair about a year ago -- seemed like it was an inch long. I got very upset with the family and was going off, "Why did ya'll let me walk around like that!!!???" But in all fairness, it wasn't as much LONG as it was stiff. But very light -- as are the fine hairs on my upper lip. I'm pretty sure the laser thingy wouldn't work for me, otherwise, I'd go tomorrow. I know a couple of dear hearts I'd love to give them an anonymous gift certificate for laser treatments, but just don't have the heart to bring it up face-to-face! Please God, let someone always love me enough to tell me when its time to tweeze and to do it for me or take me to get something done if I can't afford it!!!!

Ack!!! I hear ya! I just got done firing off an angry letter to a company for the poor design of their product and the total absence of any instructions in the box!!! And what is up with ARGUING with the customer....? Whatever happened to the customer is always right?? I went to the supermarket a couple of weeks ago -- rushing up to the deli counter -- (I have a love-affair with Boar's Head Rosemary Ham which I can get at only ONE store!!) -- only to hear "We're closed!" "Oh, okay. What time do you close?" I asked politely, trying to hide my disappointment! "Nine o'clock. It's 5 til." I'm told curtly. "Well, guess I'll just head to Wal-Mart cause I can get everything ELSE I needed there." As I'm walking out, literally tearing up because I'm so annoyed, I think "8:55 is NOT 9:00!!" I pull out my cell phone to give hubby a "can you believe this..." call and see, it's only 8:48, which means it wasn't 8:55, but 8:45 when she told me they were closed!!! I went back in and asked for the manager -- by then the deli girl had clocked out and was in line checking out with some things she needed to take home -- she was sent back to cut my meat. And I hope she got a stiff reprimand. I'm usually really nice, but, by golly, when I go OUT of my way to make it to the store just in time, I don't deserve to ignored!

Yesterday was the assessment, and I was a little unsure at the end of it. I tho't, "That wasn't fun at ALL and will I really DO this?" But today was the first workout. And it was good not too strenuous and actually quite pleasant -- with just enough pain and sweat so that you know you've actually DONE something! LOL He's cognizant of my age, my recent surgery and my fibromyalgia, so he had me do the treadmill for 5 to warm-up, two sets on four different weight machine and then 5 more on the treadmill to cool down. I'm pleased. Not sure if I can make it up there today or tomorrow, but he's giving me another free session on Monday -- then I have to bite the bullet and find out how much it co$t$ to use his services. I might can only afford once a month!!

<p>Melissa -- you're absolutely beautiful in BOTH shots, but I just know you FEEL divine in the 'after'. Kudos!!!</p> btw -- if you were 45 instead of 29, I wouldn't be able to like you for being insanely jealous of your tremendous progress!!

I was down to 250 a scant five years ago and got rid of everything bigger than a 22......so, for 5 years I've been accumulating clothes up to the 28s I was lapsing into this time last year! So, I'm good for another 25 lbs, pro'bly. All I've bought so far are some smaller camis and tanks to go under jackets and shirts and only really because the ones I have are showing their age, not because I didn't have any. But sometimes I just get a real bad ITCH to buy something NEW -- when I do, I just dig through a box in the closet or a Rubbermaid bin in the garage until I find something I'd forgotten I had. I just don't want to spend $$ NOW -- when I don't HAVE TO. So there'll be more $$ to spend when I do! Nana<----wearing 22s and smallish 24s now, the 26s and 28s are goin' bye-bye!

My apologies for being remiss in my job -- I haven't started a thread in a while.....but here's one to get us busy 'getting to know each other' again! Cut and paste and change your answers: WHAT ARE YOU MOST THANKFUL FOR? Hands down, I am thankful to the Lord for the life He has given me on this earth and the eternal life He has promised me. I'm also thankful for a wonderful husband, four awesome kids that I adore, their partners/spouses and two phenomenal grandchildren. DO YOU STAY AT your HOME OR DO YOU GO TO VISIT FAMILY? We're homebodies, whenever possible. My daughter and her family are in Michigan visiting, but everyone else will be here tomorrow. Growing up I spent more than half of my holidays AWAY from home, and though I had fun and they were great memories, I just like it better when we can stay home. WHAT ONE THING ARE YOU GOING TO ENJOY TOMORROW (AND THE CALORIES BE DAMNED!) One small slice of Caramel Apple Pie from Sam's Club WHAT ONE food ARE YOU GOING TO WISELY SKIP, BUT MISS INTENSELY? Pecan Pie, I'm not even gonna make one, so I don't have to deal with the temptation! DO YOU HAVE A SET MENU? We're keeping it fairly simple and old school... Ham Turkey Mashed Potatoes with Gravy Cornbread Dressing Whole Kernal Corn Green Beans Sweet Potatoes Brown N Serve Rolls Assorted Desserts including the aforementioned Caramel Apple Pie WHAT TIME OF DAY DO YOU "do" THANKSGIVING dinner? 1 pm -- but the grazing continues all afternoon during commercial breaks in the football games! DO YOU DRESS THE TABLE AND EAT "FORMAL STYLE" (Would Martha be proud?) OR GO AT IT BUFFET OR BOARDING-HOUSE STYLE (Would Roseanne feel at home?)? We're VERY informal around here -- all the extra prep and clean up is pretty, but its less time to just have fun and hang out. WHAT EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES (non-eating!) DO YA'LL DO? The guys watch football. The gals chat, plan shopping excursions, play cards or dominos and there's always a jigsaw puzzle to piddle with. Last year we busted out of the routine and went to see Marie Antoinette at the movies.

I'm SO excited -- we just booked on another cruise! This one is next October -- I'll be 14 months P/O and hopefully about 100 lbs lighter!!! We're sailing from NYC to Nova Scotia with stops in St. John's, Boston and Martha's Vineyard -- it's called a Fall Foliage Cruise. I can't wait -- I'm counting down the days already -- literally, with a ticker on my MySpace page!! 10 months, 21 days and 12 hours!!! :whoo:

I want to give these a try..... Lipo in a Box® Provides Body Shaping, Slimming and Control Undergarments

"Gosh, Jack, that sounds like a really bad PB!" (doing my best John Pinette imitation. I'm like several others -- it varies from day to day, according to the time of day and common extenuating circumstances like how big of a hurry I am in, etc. I have to put everything down on a plate and eat it with a fork. If it's anything HAND HELD, I canNOT seem to slow myself down enough to prevent getting stuck or even PBing. I've had great difficulties with grits -- but I'm super restricted in the morning and they are a Breakfast food. Any sort of flaky white fish -- cod, catfish, etc., or shellfish -- crab, shrimp. -- Have to go SUPER slow and take teeny little bites.

I think Bandsters have the right to slice-to-ribbons with a killing dirty look anyone -- albeit spouse/child/neighbor/doctor/trainer-at-the-gym -- anyone who tells you you're not losing weight because you aren't eating enough. True or not, I'm sick of hearing it!

Juli -- looking at your stats, I don't see where there was time for a "trickle" -- looks to me like the fat POURED off of you!

I had fantasized extensively about being able to do it with the band alone, but it wasn't to be. I was eating more and more and hungry all the time....the only thing that kept me from gaining back some of what I'd lost pre-op/post-op was the fact that I was being super-careful about what I DID eat. But the fill was virtually painless and I had restriction immediately -- even though he said to give it a couple of days!! And the only time I have pain is if I take bites too close together and get 'stuck'. You'll be fine. Just don't over-think it.

That is AWESOME!!! I'm looking forward to escaping that prison, too! Thanks for inspiring me!

I'm here, just not checking in as often or as thoroughly. I need to get some work out of the way so I have more time to play!! I finally got the scales to budge after being stuck for WEEKS! Yay Me!

Nana joined a gym! Nana joined a gym!!! Can you believe it?? I had a 7 AM appt. with a personal trainer this morning and I was so excited I was up at a quarter til 5! It is a little humbling to find out just how UNFIT and UNFLEXIBLE you are, but it can only get BETTER right??