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CUTE outfits. And you look amazing! He is an idiot. Don't worry, you'll have plenty of time for romance. Just keep healing.

Did you see we can rate each other's reputations!!! HAHA!!

Tracy, I know it is scary! Any surgery is scary. After having the lapband operation, I truly wondered why I was nervous. It is NOTHING like childbirth or C-section!!! The recovery will be a piece of cake. (oops, forget I mentioned the c-word) You will do GREAT! Okay, so I just realized that I am probably doing this backwards?? I ate 1201 calories today. It was cool to see the pie chart (oops, there I go again) showing percentages of protein/fat/carb intake. SO, do I try to tally during the day? I'm not near a computer until evening. I am off to the cross-trainer.

Eficka! Happy Bandiversary! No matter where we still want to go with our weight-loss, this first year of banding has been a huge success for our group. Jenny, I was off work for two weeks and then was still tired. Maybe the anesthesia is still in your system. Also, drinking Clear liquids does not give you much in the way of nutrition. It won't be long until you are feeling better than ever! Still not sure about calories. When I got the fill, the doctor wanted to put in more, but I was scared. So while I have some restriction, I'm not tight at all, yet. (Maybe there will be a delayed reaction) The kitchen is closed for me for the day. I'll count up my calories and report back. Just got home and still have to go to the gym!

Okay, I'll try it. I don't want to miss out on the fun. :girl_hug: I'm the type that hasn't balanced the checkbook in years. I just make sure there is enough money in there so that I couldn't come close to an overdraft. So figuring out calories is gonna be a challenge. I did better on getting my protein for today. Has anyone heard from Bluehill?

This is a silly question, but where do you go to find your calorie counts? (I told you I was never good at it.) I want to figure out how many I am consuming.

I have restriction! NOW I remember what that feels like. Honestly, if we are struggling, the fill amount needs to be adjusted. My goal for this week is to exercise every day, cut down on quantity (3/4 cup max) and sugars, and to make protein a priority. Let's see what happens for one week!

Just think, we are FAMOUS! Hahaha! By the way, Gig Harbor and Lake Oswego are two BEAUTIFUL places to live. I have family in both cities. While I love California, there is sure an extra sparkle there on sunny days! NSV: I brought my trophy to Mexico to show Dr. Ortiz. He came out between surgeries and was so excited. He took a lot of pictures of the two of us (eat your heart out, Betty;), his hand was around my waist. ) I am his FIRST patient to report winning a trophy in a race. haha! Next time, I'll be hauling that giant first place trophy across the border. I ran an easy 4.5 miles today in a little over 45 minutes. Hey DAWN, you are shrinking by the minute. Hey, JULIE, how hard is it to maintain without being able to run? I'm tempted to have the surgery, but am scared to be immobile. It is worth it, right?

Interesting, Julie... For some unknown reason, I have a "liquid day" about once a week or so. It is an instictive feeling that when there is any pain or discomfort while eating, I need to go on liquids. It seems to work. So it makes sense. We also "fast" for religious purposes. While issues become clearer and there is a heightened spirituality and gratitude, there is also a physical benefit.

Sheila, I am echoing Molly. Please don't jeopardize the healing process. It is normal to crave the same old junk and to be tempted to cheat. It is crucial that you stop and think it through instead of indulging. Remind yourself how badly you wanted this surgery, how much it cost, and how much pain you will be in if you need another one. It truly is a critical time that will effect the longevity and usefulness of the band. This is not the time to expect weight loss or restriction. Drink milkshakes rather than solids, if you need to! When your restriction comes, then you will understand how this process works. Now for me, I'm with Kat! That darn chocolate has a hold of me. I'm not sure about counting calories. I was never good at it. But maybe I can learn.

Tracy, you are doing great!! Going into surgery, you will be healthier and will have already dropped quite a few pounds. WTG! Alan, I'm so sorry about the dizziness! That is not fun! Hold tight and it will hopefully get better soon. KAT: I WOULD TOTALLY PRESS CHARGES!! They will hurt someone else and need to be stopped. Even if you drop charges later, at least their parents will know what they are up to. There might be one nice kid in that car that will see it as a wake-up call and change friends. It is horrific to think of what might have happened. I can't believe the police shrugged it off.

Melanie, That is wonderful!!! Congrats!

Betty, I think you DID make your goal. Your BMI is listed as 30.1. Don't you think that is close enough for your first-year goal?? I think it is awesome. Plus, you workout consistently, so your muscle mass is higher. That is the trouble with BMI. You can have 13% body fat, but be considered obese if you are a body builder with a higher density (not that you have any resemblance to our governator!) We have to be very careful to not hate on ourselves! I am super-proud of you! With that being said, I suppose I shall have to check out fitday. My weight is just stubborn! A fill appointment is definitely in my near future, though I am weary of a repeat performance of uber-tightness. This is a lesson to all. There comes a point where we cannot rely on the band to do the work for us. While we are committed to the exercise, good eating choices must always continue to be a priority! My BMI is around 28? Not sure where I want to end up.

Don't feel too bad! Help is on the way. It won't be long until you get a fill and then the real fun begins. As I recall, I was starving not too long after I woke up from surgery:rolleyes: ! I kept asking if I could have juice or a popsicle or something. I stayed HUNGRY until my fills kicked in. You didn't get banded to feel the way you do right now. It is an adjustable band, and when it is adjusted, you will get the relief you seek. By the way, as much as we all want to think our lifestyles have changed, take away the band and we will all be starving. Hang in there and good luck!!!

Hey, thanks!!!! Tracy, my arms are useless because I never work them out. So you definitely get an ovation from me. Kat, your life is just a dream to me. How rewarding it must be to help deliver and "imprint" the new colts. Terri, I already joked to my family that my trophies will be all over the house soon. haha! Molly, I desperately need a fill, too. I was unfilled, then filled to a minimum. I don't feel it and get hungry every thirty minutes. Betty, I completely understand. When I was unfilled, my weight was fluctuating like crazy. It shot up eight pounds, then down four within a two week span. Although I do have a little fill now (1.4 cc), it is not helping much. I've not had a good restriction since last year. So, I'll go down at the end of the month for a .1 cc. Hopefully that will give me some relief. I really want to get losing again, but without the choke hold feel. We can do this!

Okay, today was the day! I signed up for this 5K through a friend at work. Because of my inexperience, I assumed it would be similar to the one I ran in November...wrong! The November 5K was casual, no trophies. This race was serious!! There were over 700 entries in the race. My alarm clock did not go off. Weekdays have a 6:00 a.m. alarm, but on Saturday, I usually do not set it. So when I looked at the clock and it was 7:45, I jumped out of bed and rushed to get to the 8:30 race. When I arrived, there was no parking. I had to park nearly half a mile away and SPRINT to the registration. Luckily, I got my number and into this huge pack of runners that all looked twenty years younger than me. While tying my shoe, the gun went off. My heart was already beating too fast from sprinting and from the fear of the competition. The route was also different. It was a large group, so the entire race was run on asphalt. There were three good-sized hills and the temperature was fairly warm. I was tired just getting through the first uphill kilometer. I thought it would never end. While younger runners were sprinting by me, I just kept jogging, trying to calm my heart down and slow my breathing. While I was running I felt discouraged! I was worried that my time would be slow, and how could I possibly post a defeat to my LBT friends here. So I just kept moving. On Monday, I set a new banded, running record. I reasoned that my time today would not matter, because I already reached my goal. After pressing forward to the finish line, I received a number #139. That meant that I finished 139th out of 700+ runners. The times were posted and when I checked mine, it read: 30:48 !! I was in shock! I shaved off two seconds from Monday, WITH hills, a huge slow pack in the beginning, an elevated heart rate, AND at 8:30 in the morning! I BEAT MY TIME!!!! I am sooooo happy!! NOW HERE COMES THE GOOD PART: I got a TROPHY!!!! (2nd place in the 40+ division) You would think I won a Grammy!!! It is on my mantle, haha! NOW, for next year, I will win FIRST place, and will be thirty pounds lighter!

Sheila, YOU DID IT!!!! Oh, I completely understand the "What did I do to myself??" phase. It will take some time to heal and then you will begin to feel so grateful. I have a beautiful ring on my left hand that I love to look at every day. But the ring around my stomach is my favorite "bling" right now! (Even with minimal restriction) Julie...WOWEE!! You are major va-va-voom! The shape of your body in that blouse is so pretty. I think I saw a little white bow in your hair, too. Gosh, you are lovely!! I am thrilled for you. You are one determined, disciplined, wonderful woman! Congratulations on the "fruits of your labors." And it will only get better. (I am posting about my 5K next.) Betty, Dawn, Terri, Kat, Molly, Eva, EVERYBODY!!!! Thanks for all of the inspiration!

Julie, this is a beautiful post, from a beautiful person. Thank you!! You are a true inspiration for good.

Betty, I studied French for six years and I STILL have not been! Jobs have taken me to many other places in the world, but never France. We will get there!!!

Sheila, you truly are beginning a "new life," both physically and spiritually. I think you will find this a safe thread to share your feelings and opinions, as well as your exercise goals. As we get to know each other better, we can understand and empathize. It really helps on both sides. We are all healing from some unexpressed wound. Julie, you are working six hours already? Wow, you are talking me into it! I DID run for you! Actually, the last lap was difficult because I wanted to slow down, but needed to speed up to improve my time. So in my head I was saying, "Pick it up...Julie would...she chanted 199, 199...you can do it...thirty minutes!...thirty minutes!..." So the last lap I pushed a bit and shaved off a good amount of time. Thanks, Julie! When I looked at the clock and it said 30:50, my heart jumped! (Now, I just need to keep working it so I can get UNDER 30:00...Dawn, I'm in!) . Bandiversary: Here I started this thread for our bandiversaries, and have loved reading all the responses. When my day came, I just did not feel like writing anything reflective, either. I wondered if something was wrong with me. I just wanted it to be a fun day. So I spent it with a friend, buying jewelry. I'm going for an easy jog and hike tonight. I'll add it afterwards.

Sheila, I just want to wish you luck!!!

:update: MY NEW 5K RECORD: 30:50 !!!!!!!! I did it! It is a miracle! Soon, I'll be under 30:00!

Okay, gals!!! Let's get tough! I threw away the final pastel colored goodies around my house. That is it for me!!! (Hope my kids aren't mad at me:angry ) It is just too big of a temptation for me! Oh, yeah, I still have weaknesses...the band didn't take them away. Easter was wonderful and full of music! Very moving, indeed! I know Julie is not up and about right now, so I'll try to put on that sweet south'n charm of hers. Y'all have been doing great! On holidays, the postings drop off, but now we are off and running. What are your plans today? I will probably run and try to match/beat my time from Saturday! (Can't go until evening, PST) Hey...Fresno????? I drive up there about once a month.

Julie, I hope it is NOT a seroma. But even if it is, you can feel confident that your dad can take care of it. I ran a little faster on Saturday, knowing how frustrated you are at sitting around. It won't be long and you will be back in your running shoes. Just think how much easier it will be to run with less weight, and a tighter body!!

Hey Dawn, how did you get your daughter diagnosed with Asperger's? Maybe it is possible in Canada. Here it is extremely difficult and expensive. My niece suffers with it. The backwards writing happens occasionally with younger children. By age eight (third grade?) the students are already learning cursive. The left-to-right, and top-to-bottom concept is taught in Kindergarten. Thanks for the kind words, everyone!