Pattman

Ok, this is my first of any kind of journal, so if your reading this, feel free to comment, point out spelling mistakes, or reduce my grade for grammar! I refuse to grow up, still trying to have fun as life goes on!! I'm 41, was banded 7-28-04 at a weight of 268. Now down to 220. "My" goal is 200. My Dr. wants to see me at 175 .... I think that would be pushing it, but if I happen to get past 200 I"LL TAKE IT!! Been kind of bumming the last year. My personal life sucks (not trying to bring anyone down, just jawing) and if it weren't for my new job (go Geek Squad) don't know what I'd do! Anyway, haven't anything to really say today, but can't start the journey without opening the door and taking the first step .... no, I would not consider myself religious (might be an interesting topic for another day, though) ... L8R

I know this sounds like a contradiction in terms, but every pound you loose, no mater how long it takes is worth it, and you are a better person (physically) along the way for it. I got banded in July of 2004. While my loss is a sinificant amount (76 pounds) it has taken me over two years to get there. I still have a ways to go (my Dr wants to see me at 175). My wife has not had as easy a time with hers. She was banded in January of 04. At one point in time was close to 80 lbs down. Due to Acid Reflux, worries of band slippage <thank god it hadn't done so>, having to get her gall bladder removed, and other complications she gained it all back PLUS <they had to unfill and refill her a couple times along the way>. While this has saddened her along the way, and added more stress and strain then I'd like to our already "at the breaking point" marriage; I continue to give her the same words you see below "One step at a time, you'll get to your goal" I also remind her that it took her some 30+ years to get to the weight she was/is, if it takes 2+ years to get to the weight she wants to be, I could care less if the Dr's are unhappy with the speed of the decline - SHE SHOULD BE! And I say the same thing to everyone one of you "slow losers" - we may be loosing at a slower pace then what is expected, but each one of us is unique, with our own set of cercumstances, needs, fears, troubles and goals. It's the long term goal we have to keep in mind, not that short term bridge we have to cross. Just because the bridge was there for others to cross, and we had to wade across the stream, does not mean we didn't still finish the race! It may take longer, we may have to fight harder, but we can do it. Your not in a race with anyone, not even yourself. You have a goal, and one step at a time, one pound at a time, you will reach it and find the person you are along the way, mentally, physically and totally!:clap2:

Congrats and good luck to all the "soon to be" bandsters!!

Not even a question! Would do it all over again, wouldn't want to be without it! Although there are some foods I've had to give up along the way, it has been worth it. Also, in the long run there's very little of those foods I've given up that I truly miss and wish I could eat again . No other way I would've been able to loose the 76+ lbs I've lost.

Missyc, Just to see what you were talking about I tried to add you to my buddy list. I also don't think it is working; or at least not correctly, or it's not described properly. Let me know if you get any kind of an alert advising you that I was trying to add you to my buddy list (never used it before so have no idea how it's "supposed" to work. I would suggest that if you do get an alert letting you know I was tying to add you, for now say yes, and let me know. If it works I can always drop you or you should be able to "reject me" at a later date, but would be cool just to try to play around with to see if we can get it to work, and what steps we had to go through to do so. Then we could do a prper write up and post it to help others in the future. Just a thought, hugs and happy trails :-)

RICE is probably my personal death promise. Only time I miss it going to Chinese restuarants, which doesn't happen much anymore seeing as my wife has finally figured out she's alergic to MSG. Bread I just generally stay away from (a small bite now and then, but it does not bode well for me). I miss my occasional piece of Med-Rare steak, but not enough to cause me pain :-) Pasta I stay way from, doesn't get stuck, but just feel too full too fast and would rather fill that space with better foods.

Our doc (wife and mine) told us they'd prefer NO soda, period, end of statement; but with that being said, that if we MUST have a soda, flat, in a cup, not out of a bottle or can and NEVER use a straw. Since I was banded (July of 2004, now down 76 lbs +) I can probably count (maybe using 2 hands) the number of times I have had a soda. Never did like ANY kind of diet soda, and giving up soda (almost) completely, since banding was easier on me than I had thought it would be!

Not to worry about offending, if I didn't want to hear "other's ideas and suggestions" I never would've grabbed for the keyboard! {grins largely}. It just seems (as was already noted) that she seems to be "in love" with the idea of not coming home to an empty house. While I have come to feel that I am a 'guest' in our house, and I am there to bring home a check, and insurance kind of thing. We've talked about it often over the last year and a half, but it's like trying to get the kids to take out the trash. Thanks all for your thoughts. HUGE HUGS TO ALL!

Bettina - there are many factors involved ... From a radically different work schedule (she gets up at 4am and works 5 to 3 m-f with weekends off. I work 10-6 sat & Sun, 9-5 mon & Wed, 7am to 8pm Fridays's, and my days off are Tue & Thus. Other factor's include: She's never been good about receiving compliments. She always gets them from me since we've been going out. Now that she has started to lose weight, she's getting noticed even more. Some notice is (from some people) has been unwanted, making it even harder on her. The biggest reason {found this out 1.5 years ago, when I finally 'put her feet to the fire and refused not to talk about it'}. She no longer has an emotional connection to me - but yet 'she still loves me'. I realize I am a neanderthal, and a man as well (isn't that one in the same??) but last time I checked love was an emotion - if she no longer has any emotional ties / connections to me; How can she love me? Ok, so I know I am a DA with the Geek Squad, and realize I am far to literal (at times) for my own good - but come on?

No scales in our house! We both agreed to that!

Losing the weight has made a big difference in our lives as well. It's made us further apart. :-(

I am 2 years out this past July 28th. I've lost 60 lbs so far. All my jobs (previous and since surgery) are farely sedentary. I KNOW I would've lost more had I been excercising, and know I could get rid of those last few lbs, and feel better as well even if I started now. My biggest reason for not going so far has been the lack of funds to expend on the gym. But I just finished up with court and am doing paying my ex-wife money, so that'l mean a nice chunk of change back in my pocket ... now maybe I can go and finish chiseling out this rock!

OMG! Sitting here this morning laughin my ass off! I've got to copy that and email it to a few friends! Then I need to get off my dwindling butt and get some house choires done - I'd say it's a Honey-do list but I wrote it, not her ..... would it be wrong to blame her?? Don't bother - I already know the anser to that! <DON'T class=inlineimg title=Peep alt="" border="0" src="images/smilies/peep.gif" <THEN class=inlineimg title=Peep do alt="" border="0" src="images/smilies/peep.gif"

A guy falls asleep on the beach for several hours and gets a horrible sunburn. He is taken to the hospital by ambulance and is promptly admitted after being diagnosed with second degree burns. With his skin already starting to blister and noting the severe pain he is in, the doctor goes ahead and prescribes continuous intravenous feeding with saline, electrolytes, a sedative and a Viagra pill every four hours. The nurse, who is rather astounded, asks, "What good will Viagra do for him now, Doctor?" "It'll keep the sheets off his legs." :faint: :clap2:

My bigggest "no-no" to date is fried rice {god how I miss it, not even so much as a small spoonful :sick . I also (which is a good thing) can't do most breads - an occasional piece now and then is ok sometimes, but it's a case-by-case basis). I'm sure I'll edit more later. Speaking of foods, time to "strap on the feed bag" {just kidding, but I do need to go find Breakfast and then get ready to go to work.) :Banane56:

way too funny!!!!

Haven't yet put any of the pic's of My Bug on my site yet, but yes .. this is what I drive during the dayAt night you can find me in a 2004 Saturn ION {and no, that is not a 10-N. Actually had some lady ask me that while at the dealership getting mine serviced. I was kind enough to correct her, and yes (truthfully and reluctantly I tell you SHE WAS BLONDE! - no, not bashing blondes, some of the smartest women I have known are blondes, and some of the dumbest <take my ex ......PLEASE, take my ex ... far away and strand her some where remote :clap2: >

Poplar Tree

Have to agree - all the 'post racing' greyhounds I have had the pleasure of being introduced to are very loving friends.

We have 2 dogs (and 4 cats - I'm mostly a dog person, don't tell my wife but the cat's are starting to grow on me). My wife leaves at 5am and gets home at 3:30pm. I am mostly 9am to around 6pm. This leaves the animals (cat's are self sufficient, dogs aren't) 'alone' from 9 am til 3:30 pm. As long as we get them out before we leave and as soon as we get home, it no trouble. Both our current dogs came from the pound. I recommend "pound pups" mostly cause the good part of them are good pups that just need a good home, some love, and attention. The reason they are there are they didn't get it at thier last home. Better to take in a good dog, then to have it put down. Besides they'll already be house broken (most times), you can still get a 'young pup' (most times) if you wanted to, or you can make an old dogs "last home" his most memorable, and provide yourself with wonderful memories down the road. Just my $0.02, you can always tose it in the wishing well (he he

count me in the crew as "Voodoo Fowler" Kind of fitting in many ways: 1: I perform Voodoo magic on PC's for a living (check the avatar). 2: I've been known to be fowl <grins, don't ask> 3: Mystery sorrounds me (spent 4 years in the Navy, 3 of them on submarines). Guess I better quit now ......

I was thinking you could probably make something (using watermelon) to make it go down even smother and easier - Like Watermelon Sorbet???? <how yoummy would THAT be?????> Tried to do a search on www.foodnetwork.com, under watermelon sorbet (only found 1 recipe under Emeril's page for Spiked Watermelon Sorbet http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_30405,00.html otherwise if you do a search there, you get 144 results for sorbet <can be found here http://web.foodnetwork.com/food/web/searchResults?searchString=sorbet&site=FOOD&searchType=Recipe Hope this gets the brain 'perculatin'

Unfortunately I've had less time (and less good days - take your pick, high heat and humidity or rain) to get my bike out of the garage. It's been so long I am sure I'd look like a goof ball starting out on it again, but I know I need to. We also need to go out and get my wife a new bike and replace the seats on both with 'something that has more cushion'. Since loosing the weight I have even less of an ass then I used too (I'm still as much of an ass as I was before though ). I've come to find the 'normal' seats sold on bikes, kill my butt and make my back hurt all the way up (of course mt falling off a rough in '89 tends to be an attributing factor there as well). Getting back to the point, I need to get back biking!!:faint:

Self manipulation only does so much!! I've got the energy, and no one to burn down the town with!

Reeizbooje - Don't know how I missed your post earlier, all I can say is .......OMG, excuse my while I step out for a smoke! I've been known to "pen some good stories", but THAT rocked my socks!