BethFromVA

You'll do great! But honestly, I think to some degree we ALL compare ourselves, and that can really hurt us. I know I've done it -- I look at somebody who either got banded near the time I did or look at how well somebody did in the same number of months and start doing the math... It's not good for us to do that because we aren't competing. I know you know this, but I just wanted to reiterate it. That's what I mean by it's a journey, and you correctly said it's YOUR journey. though it's not dieting, I find that I go through a lot of the same things as I do when dieting -- plateaus, temptations, etc. So even though it's different, a lot of the underlying issues are still there.

Sorry, I saw the word "bigot" and lost track of everything else that was said. My fault.

I have a Victory Vegas and just rode it for the first time today since last fall. Of course, I live in an area where it was put away for the winter (I'm still a fair-weather rider), but today felt good. Nothing strange or weird at all. And it felt nice fitting in my riding clothes so much better. Went from size 24 to 20 jeans, and my riding jacket (mesh with protective material) is LOOSE now, baby! Oh gosh, sorry! You already know how it feels. I didn't notice this thread began last year. *blush*

Nothing to bear with, we all do it. Sliders are fatty foods like cakes, ice cream, chips, etc., which are easily tolerated by most.

Any pounds lost during this phase is a bonus only. Don't stress it. And remember, this is a journey, not a race. That's what helped (and still helps) me.

Well, I just asked my Majik 8 Ball and I hafta tell ya... it's not looking good for you. Sorry.

Glad to hear that may be all it is, Susan! At least you're not talking another surgery just yet. Keep us updated.

That may be, Jachut, but it is how some believe. And they're entitled to have a nation the way they want it via voting, etc. I wholly believe that partners should have rights, legally and otherwise, to, say, visit their SO in the hospital, make legal decisions, own joint property, etc. I truly don't understand that, where people who have been together for years are then treated like a stranger if their loved one is in the hospital, for example. I have a great set of neighbors who lives right near us. They've been together as long as DH and I have. If gay marriage passed, I wouldn't riot in the streets or anything like that, but if ASKED via a vote, I could not in good conscious vote for it. It's my right to vote as I believe, and I won't be bullied by the PC police into doing otherwise. The last time I checked, I was entitled to vote with my conscience and believe what I believe.

I just tried to respond to a couple different threads using the quote feature, and all I ended up with was a blank box to begin typing in. In other words, no quoted material transferred to the box. Thanks!

Perez Hilton is a shameful little flit who is, what? Anybody? I have no idea what he is besides a bitter little gay man. I too am all for Miss California and how she stuck to her beliefs regardless of how one feels about the topic in general. People like Hilton ask one's opinion and when it's not the "RIGHT" opinion, chooses instead to show what pond scum he is and calls her derogatory names for giving an HONEST answer. I personally don't care what Hilton thinks of her answer at all. He had an agenda, and it blew up in his face. I believe more people are supporting her than him at this point.

There's a new format?? :thumbup:

I could tell. HEHEHE!! Lived there for 27 years myself, though people HERE seem to think they are in the south. lol

For me personally, it got ugly when we who choose not to announce it to the world were told we were socially and morally reprehensible and misleading. :thumbup:

By stirring wheel, do you mean steering wheel? :laugh:

IS NOT IS NOT IS NOT!! :laugh: :thumbup:

It's not sounding anything different than just being a parent. I would bet every single one of us has felt that way one time or another, even with great kids. It's totally normal to have feelings sometimes of needing our own time to ourselves and not be somebody's "mommy" for an hour or two. Remember that commercial for Calgon? "Calgon, take me away"? Yeah, that was a mom too. :laugh:

Oh WOW, you are officially my new hero! CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!

So that's the trick?!

Omg, what about "we had went..." Just shoot me now.

Absolutely! It's a loss, no?

She's probably on the pre-surgery liquid diet.

Hehe, I still say y'all and fixin' ta...

I disagree with you about the false expectations. On average, I am losing exactly the same per month (about 10 pounds) as I did on diet and exercise alone a few years back. It's not like I'm losing like on The Biggest Loser, where in 16 weeks they are down 130 pounds. The people I tell may be inspired by my weight loss and be able to keep it off better than I could. However, that said, I am not my brother's keeper. My closest few friends and my mom and dad know, but beyond that, nobody else does. If my best friend was struggling, I would tell her what I had done and answer any other questions she has, but if it's somebody on the street or a coworker, maybe my weightloss alone could inspire them, but it's not up to me to bare my soul for somebody else. If somebody else wants to do that, I give them much credit. But for me, I don't tell people all my business. Nor should I be shamed into doing so because somebody out there feels I'm being "socially and morally reprehensible" or "misleading" by not telling people personal things about my life.

I just tell them perserverence. I STILL have to make good choices. The band (as Lulu said) does not do that for you. My issue was usually the amount of food I ate. I didn't snack that often, and I didn't have a huge sweet tooth or eat fast food all the time... I just ate huge amounts. The band helps me with that, but I STILL have to choose to bypass the ice cream and Ho-Hos at the grocery store. I can still eat badly and put on weight. The band doesn't do anything for you in that area. So yes, it IS us who are doing the hard work.

I'm SO glad I read forward and saw that you said this. I LOVE this quote of yours and have used it often with others (giving you full credit, of course ).