Kat817

That was the general feeling I got from Judy's post too TracyK----was kinda hard to tell though!!!! LOL Morning girlies! Kat

In my opinion it is SOOOOO much better to have a little cum on your coattails than all the blood on your hands our current so called leader has. Not sure exactly who I will support yet, I am still watching and considering, I am just thankful beyond all belief that the current joke cannot be re elected. Maybe now we can regain some respect, and credibility in the world, and quit acting like terrorists ourselves! Once again....this is strictly my own opinion!!! Kat

Movie was a blast!!!! There was a young couple say 16 or so. Then 2 other women with a young boy about Kinsey's age, and that was it!!! We raised the arms between about 4 seats, and made ourselves a nice sofa!!! It is stadium seating, so she could lay there with her head in my lap and watch. We got a medium popcorn and 2 small drinks, and I brought the pop corn home well over half full, for her to snack on tomorrow. We snuggled and giggled, had a wonderful time. She tells me "Granny I really love you with all my heart!" One of the women with the little boy tells me, "that just brought tears to my eyes! I think I will take her home with me!" Rick and I have been ebaying knives tonight. He collects old American made fixed blade knives....he spent too much $$$$!! Now we are off to bed. Great day here! Jen, I agree with Suzanne---we are here for that!!! We all come here to get support! That means you too! OK---I am off to bed! My resolution is hanging so far---getting more rest, and I DO feel better!!! Hugs~~ Kat

Look around---get some ideas and share them!!! Kat

Well, that seems like the million dollar question!!! When Michelle did the original vote, it ended up with a tie, so I suppose we need to hear from people to let us know if they want to fall back on another one of the originally voted on plans, or formulate a new one. Then we can move from there. Luckily we are not planning this for next week---so we can wait to hear from ones like Judy who is out of town, to make a decision. Til then we need to hear from everyone to get a consensus on what to do from here. Where we decide, will pretty much tell us whose lap this will fall in to!! And yes TracyK there are some awesome parts of NM, it is a state that has some of most kinds of scenery you would want to see....it is also very big----not as big as TX by far, but would still take a full day to drive from one end to the other!!! My area is nice enough, not the prettiest in the standard sense---very remote, and full of wide open spaces. Not sure everyone would appreciate it! But it is ALWAYS open to each and every one of you! ANYTIME! So even if this get together is not done here---if any of you are ever anywhere close---or want to plan a trip this way---you are WELCOME!!!!!! There are lots of mountains, and dessert type lands, native ruins, and petroglyphs....but many of them require 4WD to fully explore and enjoy! As for the shop til ya drop crowd.....my home is a massive dissappointment! Dirty Rotten Shame too!!! So in answer to what to do next....I guess my answer would be....I dunno! Kat

So glad it all went well Pat----was thinking about you!!! ((((gentle hugs)))) and continued prayers for healing! Kat

Well I know this will make lots of you jealous---but I am off to the movie. I have plans with a 3 year old for an encore of Alvin and the Chipmunks. She has taken an early nap in preparation without a whimper, so we are off to eat a taco, and see some Chipmunks!! Catch y'all later! Kat

If you have never been to Texas it is an experience all of its own! They are PROUD to be Texans!!! They have the state flag on everything, roofs to business' are painted like the flag, clothing, those pop up shades....you name it! But you also see almost as many confederate flags----especially if you end up passing a cemetary you will see tons of confederate flags! But as a rule, you would be hard pressed to find people any friendlier overall. And Lady Bird Johnson, saw to it that the state highways are bordered by wild flowers! It is a beautiful place if you catch it before it dries up in the summer!!! Kat

Laura the next tip in the article to make you recover from a feeling fat day was to wear a belt! So you are ok! Coming from a Granny sitting here in jeans and a sweatshirt!!! And a blue sweatshirt no less....like yours many sizes too big! I can't stand the ones that fit right now, the neckline rubs my incision, and it is hypersensitive....so it is either V necked--or too big!!! My cancer was not detected with a pap smear, although I had several abnormal ones. Mine was found in a biopsy done following hospitalization from a hemhorraging episode---I had 3 of them. My cancer was in the uterine lining. Endometrial cancer---often referred to under the umbrella of uterine cancer. I had dealt with endometriosis for years, so when they did my hysto. they took over 8 hours cleaning things up, because the endometriosis causes you to bleed outside of the uterine cavity is one of the causes of pain. So they had to clean tissue from all the way down between my kidneys, since it was potentially cancerous. I was also given a strong round of chemo followed by standard for the type of cancer I was Dx'd with. The endometrial tissue had covered most everything, so they took it all, both ovaries, everything. I told them for years something was wrong. Then one visit...ONE with a young new, Canadian Dr, and it was found and scheduled for treatment. Maybe it was coincidence, but it made me mad!!! Kat

Scratch the Gay, and you describe me....and I pay taxes there, so I hope not!! LOL Kat Yep we laugh at the buckles....in fact the bimbos running around the rodeos----we always called them Buckle Bunnies!! But I personally believe it is a tombstone for a dead _ _ _ _ !!!! Kat

***TIP OF THE DAY*** Combatting the Feeling Fat Days We all have them... Red Does Wonders Have you ever noticed that certain colors make you feel a certain way? Green, for instance, can calm you down. Yellow can lift your spirits and bring a shot of joy into your heart. And red can work magic because it is the color of courage, strength, and power. And believe me, when you are having one of those fat days, a little courage helps a lot. Only yesterday I was feeling grumpy, pudgy, and tired. I took off the beige shirt I was wearing and slipped on a red blouse instead. Just looking at it made me feel more alive. It wasn't an instant cure, but it did remind me that strength and power are qualities I already possess, qualities so near that I wear them literally on my sleeve. My mother says red is a happy color. Red also evokes bravery and the ability to separate from what's keeping you stuck, which is important to do on a feeling-fat day. The truth is, feeling fat has less to do with last night's bread pudding than it does with your old beliefs about the connection between fat and self-worth, and between the size of your body and what you feel you are allowed to do or say or be. Wearing red supports the idea that your past does not rule your life. It is a message to your psyche that says, "Though I ate bread pudding last night, and my stomach is awash with ripples today, I am still allowed to be strong and powerful. I am still allowed to be loved and love myself. So pipe down." If you've avoided everything red because you are convinced that wearing this color makes you look terminally ill, the word on the street is that with the proper shade of red, anyone's skin will glow. Consider magenta, burgundy, fuchsia, or ruby. Or try shades that sound like romance novels: cherries in the snow, forever berry, or russet moon. But if you are steadfast in your anti-red stance, or if you need to wear sober uniforms to work, remember that you can adorn your toes, nails, and lips with red. As those who have spent years in retail therapy know, the operative word is accessorize, accessorize, accessorize. by Geneen Roth --Prevention Magazine. I seriously find a difference in attitude based upon what I am wearing! Have a great day girls, and remember you ARE powerful! You ARE strong, and you ARE loved by your Violets!! Kat

San Antonio's River Walk--Remember the Alamo is totally awesome!!! We still have to figure out a way to transport Jennifer!!! If it involved a cute Texan in "Wrangler Butts drive me nuts" tight jeans---it would be even better! We go to one of the Art Fairs in the little town near where our place in TX is--I love them! If gambling is still on some minds, there is always off season Atlantic City......cheap! Kat

Pamela----IMHO, if you are not planning to have a child...HYSTERECTOMY!!!!!!!!!!! It would be a serious toss up which surgery I am most thankful for, it or my band, and y'all know how much I love my band!!! I wish I had forced the issue when I first began having problems and abnormal paps. But they balked, and wham then I ended up with the seriously bad testing and found out I had cancer! I wish I had done it years before, and saved myself the Dx and all it entailed....the fears, and the chemo.... I was not planning any more kids, I was done with the plumbing! I have not had issues with lack of hormone, that cannot be easily addressed. Way TMI for the forum--but PM me if you want!!! Feel better girls---so sorry you feel crummy!! Kat

Looks like for the time being, we are back up and running---WTG Alex!!! Kat

Laura this is posting in the wrong thread-----all of our links are sending us here by mistake! This is the introduction thread.....go figure! Kat

Michelle---if Laura's Dad cannot make plans ahead, is the cabin still an option? It would allow us to include Jenn again....and fall in with Judy's original plan..... One way or another we will figure this out. I'd be up for Palm Springs! Or y'all could head to the 4 corners!!! Kat

Laura----tell your Dad there is a Hawaiian shirt in it for him!!!! LOL Kat

Laura----tell your Dad there is a Hawaiian shirt in it for him!!!! LOL Kat

He does not want to go? He could gamble!!!! We'll figure it out don't worry--we had fall back plans.... Kat

Did I get all my work done? Well yeah pretty much! Cleaned the fridge (there were growing science experiments in there!) Cleaned the microwave---I blew up melting butter yesterday! Paid my bills--bought stamps---and mailed said bills! Carried in firewood. Read a Dora the Explorer book for the bazillionth time. Washed the storm door--it gets 2-3 foot high hand prints all over it! Grandson was here last night, and smeared BBQ sauce! Glad it was just the door. My DIL refuses to watch him. And since it was her feeding it to him I think it is her place to watch! I could go on....but they were boring, mundane household junk I had been putting off! Like the bills---how stupid is that??? I usually just do mostly online banking, but if it is something I need to write a check for I do it when it comes in, so I don't forget--I had not forgot, just opted to put it off!!! Lazy! Jenn---see you here! Whats shakin'? Any news on your court hearing??? You been in my prayers girl! Rick called and he wants chili dogs for dinner. He very , VERY seldom asks for anything in particular, and he is not picky---so I usually try to fix what he asks for.....but chili dogs??? He said someone brought one in at lunch---and it looked good. Fun! I don't do real well with chili like that, it gives me massive heart burn sometimes. Will hope for the best. Pamela--you did good today avoiding the sugar!! I have done ok with the eating thus far, nothing to brag about, but nothing to seriously confess either!!! I have drank plenty today, so that is good. Well I am going to go and refill my tea speaking of it! Will check with y'all later! Hugs!! Kat

I am all over LBT! I like the support, and the friendships I have made here. When I come here I can obssess about my weight, whether it be gain or loss at the moment, and discuss my band without boring or irritating all the unbanded people in my life to death!!!! Yeah, the Dr. actually took me to the "little room" and told me my husband was bleeding out, and would likely expire (oh how I hate that word anymore!) in the next 10 to 15 minutes. He had had open heart surgery 2 months prior for a failing valve, and the local cardio Dr's office did not correctly monitor his coumadin---which is a blood thinner, and they had him so thin, that when he vomitted due to a reaction to an antibiotic, he tore it both sides! And his blood simply would not clot! Following that he had to have 2 endoscopic surgical procedures to cut and remove stuck food, and even the Dr. said they were teeny bites! But they doubled his Nexium for a few months, and eventually proper motility returned....thank God! It has now been over a year and he has been problem free. He is also not on coumadin any longer which was the worst of the problem. I have been present at many a slaughter being a farm girl, and I had never seen so much blood! They were so surprised he pulled through it, he had Dr.'s & nurses coming in just to see if he really did survive with his faculties in tact! And he did--he is as much of a smart ass as ever!!! So glad your son is doing well also!!! And Lisa---glad the coke helped! So much better than an unfill!!! Not to mention likely a lot cheaper!! Kat

Rick just called and I had to share this with you. Since it will hit home with a couple of you! He has a promotion in the offing, and one thing that will give him a leg up over the competition is speaking a second language!!! Yep he starts his Spanish class this Wed. evening!!! There is only one other guy who has the experience plus his business degree that would be his competition, and he is Navajo, and speaks the language. Rick has his Masters in the ASE they require of their hands, and this guy does not, so he figured the second language would benefit him, plus be fun. He takes oddball classes here and there---soI shouldn't be surprised, but this one made me laugh since all of you are doing the same. I might have considered going with him, but work is paying for him!!! Well I have work that needs done.......dangit! Kat

Many times it will work for me trying to up the calories. It seems to remind my metabolism what it is supposed to be doing!!! My first fill to be honest was not a walk in the park. I had a different Dr. do the fill than did the surgery, and it was not as simple as I had hoped to find my port and inject it. I have a low profile port, so the area to hit it with the needle is small. But even with several pokes, it was less traumatic than I had imagined it!! I got some restriction from the first fill, but not a lot. I had to remember to slow down, and chew well---but if I did, I could eat without issue. My first fill I was given 1.25cc. in a 9mm band which holds a total of 4cc.'s of saline when full. I went back 4 weeks later and was given only .50 cc. I never expected much from it, I mean it was half a cc! Boy was I wrong!!! I had tight restriction for about 2 weeks, and it settled in then, I was able to eat, just my amounts were really limited. That was the last fill I had....July of 06!!! I eat pretty much anything, just less of it. I try to get my biggest part of my meal from Protein sources...then veggies, and finally if I have room, a bite or 2 of starch based foods. I am much tighter in the morning still. For Breakfast I usually have 1/2 to 3/4 of a yogurt cup with granola in it. Snack--if I have one in the morning which I usually don't---is almonds, or fresh fruit. For lunch I usually eat left overs. Today I am having left over roasted chicken, some green Beans, and a few bites of mac & cheese. I usually have some cheese or an orange, or something in the later afternoon...it keeps me in check with dinner, or I can eat too much at one sitting. For dinner my DH wants of all things Chili Dogs. So I will make him chili dogs, probably with tater tots or some other thing he seldom gets!! I will eat about half a hot dog smothered in chili with cheese and onions---probably half a bun----well 1/4 of the bun. A tater tot or 2 and I will be way full! If I get hungry or want sweets later, I will have a fudgesicle. I tried the SF fudgesicles, but did not like them, so went back to the regular, eat one, it is not high cal---and then I am satisfied! Then I begin drinking lots of Water so I can have my pouch flushed out before bed---otherwise I tend to reflux when I lay flat. But I did that terribly bad prior to banding too, so it is not a band issue----just a me issue!! Good Luck with your fill. Most Dr.s have you back on liquids or mushies for a day or 2---so be sure to stock up. Did he tell you whether to eat the day of the fill or not? Mine never said, I did, but never had an issue...I have just read on here where some Dr.'s told them not to eat prior. Hope all goes well for you! Welcome to LBT!! Kat

It's really not a trick per se, it is just that sipping tiny bits of pineapple juice sometimes helps--if the problem is not serious, and if it is "stuck" at the band. Just take a few small sips of room temperature pineapple juice---unsweetened straight pineapple juice. The acidity helps to break down the food. You might also try a Papaya Enzyme tablet. Kat ps---good luck!

I found one friend who looked apparently at life as a competition. The 3 of us were friends for many, many years, we raised our kids together. When my other heavy friend and I divorced, she said she would never, EVER divorce her childrens father. She has dealt with his infidelity, her own, and a very emotionally abusive marriage for well over 25 years now. Through it all, she remained the slim, tiny one---as are her Mom, Dad, and both sisters---none of them are big. Well the other friend and I have both been banded now. I have had more success than my friend for whatever reasons...nothing she can control it seems---and the thin friend has nothing nice to say to either of us!!! She talks behind our backs---told anyone and everyone we were banded, like it mattered! The real kicker is she has now found religion, and found new friends, who understand how important marriage vows etc. are. Both of her new friends are big... I am not anti religion---just pointing out where she went with her holier than thou attitude. Long before being banded I too had an "A" type of friend. She starved and diet pilled her way to being thin. And that was all we could talk about. Her weight---what she ate, what she didn't eat----NOTHING could not be turned around to her weight again! I was trying to lose too, so wanted her to go walking with me, she could not be bothered, she preferred to pop pills. Now the only way she maintains is to drink--hard alcohol---it makes her tired, so she sleeps, and doesn't eat. I should have known then she was not my friend!! Ended up she is now hooked up with my ex husband--just takes me awhile sometimes!! Long before that even, the woman next door began slimming suddenly. Drastically! I finally ask her if she was ok, she said then she had had bypass surgery for WL. She lost down to maybe a size 8-10. I told her often back then how great she looked. She has some issues now with nutrition as we get older! But she still looks great, she never threw it in anyones face, and is constantly telling me how good I look. She did not push anyone away. I agree it is wonderful to have this site so we can obssess over things without having to subject those unbanded to our overactive thought proccesses involved in it!!! Once again I am VERY glad y'all are here!! Kat