maryb

VBS Group Photo Costa Rica food Above left to right, chicken Breast covered in cheese, Plantain, Salsa, Tortillas, Mashed Black Beans Above left to right, Mashed Potatoes, Fried Yucca (a root), BBQ Pork Chops, Lettace with White Rice inside, Corn on the Cob Above Left and ride sides are Mashed Potatoes, top of middle Grilled Veggies, bottom of middle Tilapia - Fish. Just One More...

Orphanage in Atenas VBS in Palmares Waterfall & Water Park More to Come....

Catamaran to Tortuga Island Husband Bob & Me lunch on the Beach Ready for a Nap! More to Come...

Marc, You have to love yourself to love others! It doesn't matter if you are gay or straight, fat or thin, black or white! Love and accept yourself for who you are, then make improvements! If your head isn't in the right place, nothing including the Lapband will make things better! I spent most my life hating everything about myself. I didn't start living until I got the guts to change my attitude and change myself. It is easier to lay down in self pity then to boldly go for what you want at all costs. I feel your loneliness and fear of losing the only person in your life. Faith can bring you strength and comfort. God doesn't make mistakes. God loves and accepts you just the way you are! God accepts you, but also wants you to be the best you can be. God cares so much for you that he sent his son to die for you! Yes, YOU and a sinner like me. Isn't that wonderful?

Funny & Mysherrijo, I pray that you have complication-free surgeries, speedy recoveries, and healthy happy losses while I am away. I will be thinking and praying for the both of you. God Bless Y'all!

Wonderful Wonderful Onederland! Super Job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

C164 (-55 lbs total, -2 this week) FYI - I am leaving for my mission trip to Costa Rica on Friday. I will not be able to weigh in and post next week... So next post will be for two weeks. I hope I work my tummy off (the butt is already gone)! I will miss my daily LBT support!

Way to go!!!! Your are shrinking!

Thank you all! I really am still in shock that I have lost so much so fast. I have a plus size body in my brain and a normal size 12 in the mirror. I bought me a full length mirror and hung it up on my bathroom door. I still can't get use to that image looking back at me! Of course my eyes still zero in on the areas I like the least. Forever the critic!

I put my capsules in my mouth and let them disolve to the soft mushy stage before swallowing with water.

When I was first banded I could not comfortably wear a bra for at least 2 months. It is a lot easier now, but I am down to a 36C. I sometimes feel like I can't wait to get out of my bra... so I move it to the last set of hooks. You could try putting a bra extender on your bra to see if it improves.

Today I went back to Kohl's to get me some more of those size 14 Capris pants for my mission trip to Costa Rica coming up this Friday. If you know Kohl's, you know how you have to look in several places for what you are looking for. Well I had been all over the clothing department and couldn't find any 14s. I finally in frustration grabbed up a pair of 12s and headed for the fitting room. Well they fit...WoooHooo! So I found me 5 pair in different colors. I also bought some cute $5.00 Tshirts to take in as size Large...Not XLarge, but Large! (FYI In March I was wearing size 20 pants and 2XL T-shirts)

Since you are just starting on regular food, I would start with 1/4 cup servings. I usually eat 1/4 to 1/2 cup of any particular food on my plate.

2 Pictures Taken June 29, 2006 at VBS

C166 (-53 lbs total, -1.5 this week)

I feel your pain Melissa! My husband has decide now that he is unsure of what color to order. He also wants to pick it up in SC so he can tour the plant. He has waited so long now that they will probably stop making the 2006 and start making the 2007. Of Course this means different color options and who knows what else that he will have to over analysis to make a decision. All this wouldn't be a problem except he has already sold his Navigator and promised it by the end of July. So, we will be short a car until he makes up his mind....I mean I will be short a car until he makes up his minds.

I called and scheduled my surgery to be in 2 weeks. I then had to take a paper to my Primary for a mini physical, get pre-op blood work, and get a chest xray. I went and got my blood work before going to Primary and chest xray after. All finished in plenty of time.

Good for you, Elisabeth! I did tell the nice lady in the salad bar line to not give up after one denial. I think she was discouraged because she was told she had to have at least 5 years of documented weight loss efforts in the past plus the extra six months Doctor supervised diet. How many people have this kind of paper work around? Not me...even though I have been on and off diets since I was 13... That is 35 years of diet failures!

My daughter takes ReQuip as need for RLS. Works better then Naproxin she was taking. She has lost 30 pounds since being banding. She says she hasn't had to take ReQuip as often lately.

This is true....BCBS of Texas is the worst! My Best friend has BCBS of California and was able to get hers approved in just a few weeks... of course she has had 4 back surgeries, 2 knee surgeries, 100+ pounds overweight, 3 co-morbities and is on disability because she can barely walk. She had letters from all 5 of her current Doctors.

Best $15,000.00 I every spent! In just 3 months I have lost 40 pounds, my allergies are better, my osteo-arthritis is better, I sleep better, I am no longer border-line high blood pressure, and I feel great.

I met a nice lady today in a line at a salad bar/buffet. I was behind her and picked up only a small plate. She picked-up the platter and small plate. She said your not having much, why don't you get in front of me. I said I am getting a baby plate of food. Then I thought the way I said it she might think I was getting it for a baby, so I confessed to having lapband surgery. She asked my how it was going for me. I let her know it was going great and that I had lost 40 pounds in 3 months. She asked me if insurance paid for mine. I told her no that my BMI was under 40 and only one co-morbity. I told her if I had two they would. She asked me what insurance I had. I told her United Healthcare. She said her BMI is over 40 and she has 2 co-morbities, but BCBS denied her. I felt so bad for her! :angry What is wrong with BCBS! With just losing 40 pounds, my osteo-arthritis has improved, my allergies have improved, my sleeping pattern has improved, and I no longer have border-line high blood pressure. I got all this by investing $15,000.00 into my lapband. We all know the insurance companies negoticate for a better price. Don't you think it would be a good investment for their company to cover this surgery? We are reminded all the time of the billions of dollars in health care costs related to Obesity. Let us have some Preventive Care!!!!! OK, I am through venting now!

I have gone from a 42B to a 38C. Right now I am pleased with size and shape, but I still have almost 40 pounds more to lose. I have large nipples which I hate, but wouldn't have PS just to reduce or move them up. I do have loose skin falling over my bra on my back and under my arms. I don't like that at all! My arms are also very saggy and loose from my armpit to my elbow. I definitely will need a tummy tuck. My butt has fallen down into my thighs. Right Now my boobs are the best thing I have going for me.

Carne did gain 50 pounds with her pregnancy! I think this would be a normal weight gain for a lot of pregnancies, and we all know how hard it is to lose weight after having a baby. I think she is wonderful and a great role model. She is REAL! I hope she does lose the excess 40 pounds to prove to the world she can do it! I think my Doctor at my seminar said that Dr. Spiegel in Houston will lapband a gastric bypasser that has gained weight.

C167.5 (-51.5 lbs total, -1.5 this week)