PhotoNut

How about the size of your liver being a dictating factor in your life? Check out this article that I just read: http://www.womentowomen.com/nutritionandweightloss/splenda.asp?id=1&campaignno=artificialsweeteners&adgroup=splenda&keywords=splenda I am an avid Splenda user as well. It's in the sugar canister instead of sugar. But as soon as I finish typing this, I'm going to go dump it into the garbage. It's mostly chlorine!! The reason it has no calories is because the body cannot absorb the sucralose.. but it CAN and DOES absorb the chlorine! Ack!! I don't care if they take it off the shelf. I'm not buying it anymore. What good will it do me to reduce my calories if I end up with life threatening liver problems??

Txblue_eyedqt - I'd be happy to send a copy of my food log to you. Do you have Excel, or should I put it in something else? Penni - Awww.. so sorry to hear you're still sick. At least you have company now. You and John can drink chicken Soup together. *hugs* Kimmers - Great big huge grats on your NV and NSV! Size 14!! Yee haw indeed my friend!! :clap2: Marypetunia - Grats on hitting the -50 pound mark!! You'll be added to the GFG Club's Honors page!! :clap2: LShasha - OMG! I'm so happy to hear this!! Musta been Water weight, yeah? Skbishop - 7.5 pounds!! :faint: Thebestme - I can't wait to see your bandiversary picture thread! One year.. wow! :huggie: :drum: Vegaswildflower - I laughed so hard when I saw your siggy!! Love it! Jbabat - Welcome to LBT and to bandland! You're doing very well and yep, it's possible. As Jack says - Get in, sit down, buckle up and HANG ON! It's a great ride!

Good morning everyone, and welcome to the first GFG Club weigh-in of April 2006! It's another beautiful rainy day in Boise, Idaho. I think it's been raining for two weeks straight - very unusual for us, but I can hardly wait to see the explosion of color when the sun returns. Boise is usually filled with flowers in the springtime. As soon as it happens, I'll be out with my camera to capture some of the beauty to share with you all. We need an infusion of Spring fever around here! I'm changing my weigh-in days back to Sundays, but I'll report here on Wednesdays as usual. Because of that, I have only a one pound loss to report this week. I'm dying to get on the scales today, but Dawg won't let me!! *laughs* C 254 (- 53 total, - 1 this week)

You changed your name!!! Yay! Our daughter's name is Kelly, and I've always called her Kellybelly. :ban: My goodness, just look at your face. The glow that's shining from deep inside of you is so beautiful. You really are radiant, Kell. I'm so happy for you! I know I'll be facing PS after this is all said and done. Thank you for sharing all the details about your own PS. It's really helped me relax about things and even look forward to it! *big happy hugs*

I think all love is true love. How can you love someone and say it's false love? Even if your motives are wrong, they do not make your feelings invalid. If you are asking how do you know if a love will last, well that's something noone can truly say. But I'm a firm believer that love only dies when we put ourselves before others. When we are self focused, others become less important and then they end up feeling rejected, bitter, disappointed, used.. which all works together to form a vicious cycle that usually brings a relationship to an end. I once heard that counterfeit experts are trained by studying only the real thing. They know each and every detail of the money they study. That way, when a fake shows up.. it stands out like a sore thumb. I would say that determining what is NOT love, or rather what is NOT a healthy relationship would be the best way to look at this. All of us know when we have little red flags and alarm bells going off in our heads, and the danger of ending up broken and hurt typically arises when we choose to ignore those warnings and proceed to try and develop a relationship based on hopes that things will change. They change alright... typically for the worse. The trick is listening to your instincts and having the patience to wait for the right one, rather than settling for something you know isn't right - but you wish it were. A lasting relationship is built on a selfless commitment to cherish, protect, and care for one another. True love is something you give, not get.

Happy Belated Bandiversary, Kellie. I'm so happy for you. The look on your face in your before picture, compared to the look on your face in your recent pics, speaks volumes about the changes this has brought to your life. You are radiant. I'm so amazed that you're dressing up and going out so soon after your PS. Does it still hurt at all?

Dawg's birthday was yesterday, but I wasn't around to do this. Thought I'd make it up to him today! Happy Birthday Honey! I love you! :ban: :rockon: :love: :party: :rockon: :love: :party: :rockon: :love: :party: :rockon: :love: :happybday: :happybday: :happybday: :happybday: :happybday: :happybday:

Best wishes for a pleasant experience and speedy recovery to both Angelu and Brneyezz. Let us know when you get home and how you're doing. Happy Bandiversary, Ddiedre! Welcome to Bandland, Picardy3! w00t! Lots of good stuff in one post! w00t!

Gosh, I'm so thrilled for each of you 100 pounders!! Can't wait to join you, but in the meantime, I'm riding on your wave of enthusiasm and determination! That's just freaking awesome! :clap2: Seventy more to go?? You're at 254 now, you want to be at 184? Won't you be skin and bones?

Sally69 - I have seen many experienced bandsters on this board respond to posts like yours and they always say that when a band is as tight as you say yours is, we often resort to eating soft foods or liquids in order to get anything through the band. The trouble with soft foods and liquids is they usually tend to be high in calories and sugars. So you'll actually be gaining weight, rather than losing. You should be able to eat hard Proteins like chicken, fish, possibly some red meat and also veggies and fruits. This balanced diet of proteins and good carbs is what will help you lose those poiunds. I would suggest that you go talk to your doctor and let him know what's going on with you and have him check your band and your esophogus. I would also suggest getting an unfill. Having the band so tight, and putting yourself through this is only going to produce damage to your esophogus or possibly cause your band to slip. Don't put this off another day.

Skye - getting the antidepressants was a very smart thing to do. The emotional strain on you must be tremendous and they will help see you through. I think about you and your hubby every day. You guys will make it through this... I know you will. *hugs*

Congratulations JoLynn! Amazing job!! PM your addy and DVD choice to me so I can send it to you.

:cheer2::wow2: :cheer2::wow2: :cheer2::wow2: :cheer2: Congratulations on reaching the -100 pound mark, Gurly! Congratulations on reaching the -30 pound mark, Skbishop! :cheer2::wow2: :cheer2::wow2: :cheer2::wow2: :cheer2:

:bounce::welcomeB: :bounce: to the GFG Club NotSo Bigbellykellie! (aka KellieBelly)

RHONDAKO and Skye - How are you two doing? How are your hubbies? You are both on my mind so much, and still in my prayers. LegallyKristin - I've been thinking about you too for some reason. How's the battle with the hunger going? ShackDog - How's that pre-op diet treating you, buddy? Pugmum - You asked about a meal plan in the March thread. Have you come up with something that's working for you? If not, tell us more about what you were looking for in the way of suggestions and we'll see what we can come up with to help you. As for me, I have a set variety of foods that I enjoy and am very comfortable with. I know their calories and Proteins, and I know how to choose the right combinations to get what I need for the day. If you'd like, I can email you a copy of my food log. Let me know. Coyotegirl - Did you happen to see Anywn's thread about the Onderland challenge? If not, check it out.. I think it's perfect for you: http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=16775 I hope everyone's having a great week!

I fully agree with BandsterHopeful!!! How are you feeling, Karen? Have you contacted your Dr yet?

Heyas Shanna.. I just read your latest post. So sorry to hear you're in so much pain. That just sucks! I hope your Dr. has good news for you tomorrow and that things can be easily remedied. *hugs*

So THAT'S what happened! This has really puzzled me. Prior to the band I loved coffee, green olives, and yogurt - after banding I can't stand any of them!

Heyas Penni. Everyone usually reports on Wednesdays. Prior to this club, Dawg and I were weighing on Sundays and I really liked that. We switched to Wednesdays because the club started on a Wednesday (I believe) but I'm an odd duck - it seems like far too long to wait (Wed to Wed) so I've gone back to Sundays! *laughs* But even though I weigh on Sundays, I won't report it here until Wednesdays. This week is going to be a small loss for me, since I weighed after only 3 days. Next week should look good though. *crosses fingers*

Guess who's sleeping in a little bed in my room? *big happy smiles* Yup, we brought our grandson back over tonight so his mom and dad could get the moving cleanup completed. I am so stinking sore from all the walking yesterday! Berks are NOT the thing to wear for speed walking when you have a 250+ lb body! *laughs* I will do 30 minutes of cardio every day. (Too too sore to try.) I will drink 6 - 16.9oz bottles of Water every day. (Way behind on water today.) I will write down every bite I put in my mouth - quantity, calories, Protein. (Yup, keeping up on this.) I will take on one realistic self or home project per day. (Dawg and I took a drive to the mountains today. I took the camera along and started working on my photography homework for the week. We also did a large grocery shop and - did I mention that we have our grandson with us again? hehe)

MmmmmmMMMmmm... cream of pizza soup. *laughs*

Hey Paula.. I'm just teasing ya. If you want to put up your weight you can, or you can just wait until Wednesday. Every Wednesday I update everyone's stats. If you want your Highest, Surgery, Goal weights up by your name, let me know what they are.

:bounce::welcomeB: :bounce: to the club ScrapKarla! You did it just right and you're now on the member's list. Grats on your wonderful weight loss and good luck with the move!

Hiyas WeightLoser! Grats on your banding! Follow your Dr's directions carefully and you should see excellent results! :eek:

MoOrLess asked me to post her introductory bio on this thread, so here it is: I have struggled with my weight since I was 13 years old. I was diagnosed with a 'slipped disk' and it has since turned into six herniated disks through the years. I also have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia recently. Both of these conditions make it difficult, if not downright impossible to exercise consistently, if at all. Some days I am lucky I can walk and get through the day without major pain sending me to bed to rest. I went from a thin pre-teen and entered high school weighing 117 pounds, to graduating at 180 pounds and getting married the first time at this weight. As my body has deteriorated the weight has just poured on. So I started researching lap band last summer, almost a year ago! I have gathered up a ton of information and know that it is one surgery I want and need. I planned to have the surgery done in January but I also have returned to college. I decided to wait until this summer so that I could focus on 'me' and not on my classwork. The homework is killing me as I just changed my major to education. I have been with my sweetie for almost 6 years now - he moved from TX to be with me. I have two grown kids, 22 and 25; and he has five kids, two who are not grown and I have the pleasure to raise! they are 8 and 16 years old. I am blessed to have such a wonderful family and they are extremely supportive when it comes to anything I do. Having been through two marriages and divorces I have greeted this wonderful man with open arms! He was well worth waiting for! My oldest daughter convinced me to go back to school and it has been a great experience! My son bought his own house at 21 years of age and is content in his work. Need I say we are a busy family with three children in other states and four children with us, or nearby. I'm excited about having the surgery and of course almost anxious. I have read almost every thread on this board and have my concerns. But after I read all of the support and encouragement that each of you have given to others on the board, I am ready! I know that I have a lap band family available to me whenever I need them! THAT is reason enough to embrace the surgery. Having the surgery will allow me to move around better and stop taking quite a bit of medication that I just hate taking. I feel like my life evolves around medication and pain treatments and I want it to end. I am 48 years old but mentally feel about 30! Physically I feel like I am at least 80 years old. I figure it can't hurt to have the surgery and see if things can't improve just a bit for me physically. Currently, I am at an all time high of 275, and I am only 5'4. I have never weighed this much and hate being at this weight. I have now also been diagnosed as diabetic, though I have actually gotten my sugars completely under control with medication. I can't wait to have my sugar at a non-diabetic level without medication. I know surgery can do that for me! I want to lose quite a bit of weight and have concerns as to whether I can more easily exercise as I lose weight. I am afraid of not losing weight even with the surgery, if I can't exercise. What then? I plan to get down to my correct weight of 140. If I get somewhere 'near' that I will be thrilled. Here's to Lap Band surgery! I plan to have my first contact with the place doing my surgery in April or May, depending on schoolwork. I want the summer off from school to recuperate. So that's me and my life in a nutshell. I can't tell you how relieved I am to finally have made the decision to have the surgery, knowing there is such a great group of people ready to support me here! So thank you in advance.