OH Juli

I've seen this thread before, if you want to do a search you might get some immediate answers. Just sayin'. I have a smallish tat on my upper arm and it's gotten noticeably smaller and brighter. I don't know about the small of the back...I bet that would tighten up as well.

They want you to be at a stable weight before having surgery. That means losing about a pound per month for the last 6 months. It's never too soon to start planning your future.

Jeni, Girl, don't let what you think other people are thinking about you to limit your potential. Those people at the gym don't care about how you look, etc. or if they do, they are so shallow you shouldn't care what's in their narrow minds. I know it's easier to type than to really believe, but it's as easy as turning it off or on. Forget about em! I'm glad to hear your friend will be joining you though.

I say what the others say. Make sure your bad is properly funcutioning and at the same time get to therapy so you can work on your head. It's 90% about how you behave. Therapy can impact your behavior big time. Let us know what happens.

Where were you missy?! Missed you!

Bloom I have a problem with all three of those things. Ham, eggs and salad. I also struggle with fruit peels, like apples and grapes. Bananas are rough too. I can however eat bread and Pasta. You'll get it figured out. Best of luck!

lunch meat is hard for me to get down. Always has been always will be. What about trying out different textures, like tuna salad, chicken salad, etc. When all else fails go back to eating soft food for a day or two and slowly try new foods. Good luck.

My opinion. Minimally you should get all your muscles twice a week, three times max. Three sets of 15 what ever you are doing...and you should be fatigued by the end of the third set. If it's too light then add more weight. You need to bust your butt to really grow muscles like body builders, don't worry about over doing it. There are all kinds of ways you can hit your muscles groups and ways to rest between sets. Google it. Good luck. Also, if you want to really to knock yourself out look up Crossfit. It's cardio and strength training at the same time. There's lots of jumping and crazy stuff, but it's a great time saver.

Sounds like to me you need to eat more. Make it healthy food like good carbohydrates. When I work out like you're working out I try to get around 2000 to 2300 calories. The weight will come off! Promise

Government is part of the problem because it is massive and when things get big they get hard to oversee. Are there checks and balances in place? Some. Do we need more? yea. Does that mean more government? Well sort of. Unless they finesse the business model where people strive to be economically prudent and make good fact based decisions. The most promising thing about Obama's campaign, and I'm a supporter but I'm also and MBA student, is that he ran it like roll out to a start up business. And a smart one at that. It gives me hope that he can put some of those similar strategies into reshaping how parts of the government functions. We may be R's and D's but we are all capitalists. We all deal with money and understand how it can be used for good and bad. If he taps into that, and I think he will, things are going to change.

I'm actually going to be able to make it this time!!!!! I might just to a drive by, because I have a friend in from out of town, but I will come by!!! I can't wait to see everyone.

Happy Thursday people. Eat well and exercise!

Oh, I've avoided this thread for EVER, but I've got to hop in on it just cuz. As for paying taxes and donating to charity and making money or the "shame brush" Rock on for making money and spending money. Woot and all that good stuff, our democracy/economy is only helped by people who make and spend. As for paying taxes, in our democracy do not forget the the government is created by the people for the people. We give money so we get. We get plowed roads, we get roads. We get education, we get and get and get. I just reread The Constitution. It's pretty powerful. If you want to be inspired to pay your taxes read that document. Some other contries get more from their goverments and some others get less. But what makes us unique is that we choose what is coming to us. It might take decades to make changes but our three branches make it possible. The only last thing I'm going to say is regardless on money/taxes/economy find joy in your life that is not money-polictal related. Be it through God or walking in the grass. It's really quite an amazing place and it's great to be alive.

Jeni, Thanks for the new thread! I'm thinking diet mode now. I know that will get me flack, but I mean I've got to put food and how I eat into the front part of my brain. Now between Halloween and New Years there are so many food temptations that I'm scared to just coast through. I guess I'm lucky because on Tuesday I ate 10 (TEN!) fun size candy bars and the next day the scale fluxuated up. I knew it was going to be up because of other food choices too, but I attributed it directly to eating like a pig. It kept my hand out of the candybowl since then. But damn it hard. We have Thankgiving looming, then Christmas and New Years! There are too many parties and opportunities to eat like garbage. My goal is to be pretty strict with my self 90% of the time so I can have some once a year treats, like pumpkin pie WITH whipped cream...because we all know that WILL go down. Let's do it. Minus 10 by 2009!!!

Give it Jahut and Jack, again. I have to concur that this is a huge step and no one changes anything until what they are currently doing doesn't work for them anymore. So if you are not ready, you are not ready. However, I eat normal foods all of the time. Some things are trickier than others like fruit peels but aside from that I can't say that all I eat is twigs and berries or chicken and shakes. My diet is well rounded and sane. Also full of flavor because I too cook. I love me my foodie pals. Keep poking around here and ask all the questions you can think of. Look to the folks with a zillion posts to be the voice of experience. They've been committed to the band for years and are actively still participating in the community. Rock on. I hope you find some peace. J

I suppose it was the "whatsoever" that made it a sweeping and absolute statement. Regardless, I'm not interested in arguing over samantics and you've not offended me particularly. It wasn't my intention to get you riled and I feel bad that this thread about binging got hyjacked by me. Sorry initial poster!

The kids meals have applesauce and hamburgers. When I was there this summer I was all about eating the bugers with out the buns. There are decent choices. Bring oatmeal for Breakfast in the hotel and Snacks that work for yourself. Don't fret, look at it as a learning experience. OMG, have so much fun!

One day at a time when it comes to the band. Don't worry it. That's called borrowing trouble. Behave well and treat your band with respect and believe it will be okay...Be mindful of changes and get them checked out if you have issues but goodness focus on the positive. I was banded in March 07. Chickie and Jahut were old school when I started here. Check them out.

There are no absolutes about how the band is with different people. My point really is that making sweeping statements is a tricky thing. You even mentioned that out of three people you know one is not like the others. Many people experience restriction with the band only on their stomach.

what they all said. Love thy self. Wear clothes that flatter. Ask a cute boy out, it is 2008 afterall. Be kind to yourself.

I did discuss this with my doctor when I took up long distance cycling. I starving. I was worried that I was eating too much, but if I didn't eat as my body told me to I'd wake up chewing on my pillow. My calories were around 2000...his perspective on it was so long as I was losing and I was, and the quality of my food was appropriate, not pure fat, then it was all good. Listen to your body and check your calories if you stop losing. Other than that you're golden. Being an exerciser you'll lose well.

Walking is a great option. Every time you can take a few more steps it will help. If you can force yourself to something in the morning, perhaps having it out of the way will be helpful? Even if it's getting on a stationary bike as soon as you get out of bed. I work a lot too but I get sweaty and stay gross through the remainder of my work day. No one seems to notice. But I don't have an office job.

So not true. There are people who go months without their first fill because there is ambple restricition from simply having the band on their stomachs. It was 6 months for me. But about binging. The band puts you more in control of your life and food. Many of the binge feelings go, but they do bubble up when times are emotional needs to vent, at least for me. But a binge now is NOTHING compared to one before. You simply can't put that much food in with out it backing up. I'm saying the mess that causes the feelings are there you just can better manage how you react to them. Good luck.

Hi, I don't want this to come out negative, but I'm concerned Sailor girl that you talk about being banded as the "last chance at life". I know we have to get really low with our weight out of control before we will consider WLS. And that's a better place to be at to make this decision than to act like it's the diet of the month, because it is hughly important decision. Many things that were typical before surgery are impacted by the decision. Even 19 months later I'm like, "Damn, damn, damn, I can't eat with my coffee!" after taking a bite of food. Like you'd think I'd know that by now. But let me caution you that if you're like me, you'll wake up in the same bed with the same bills showing up and the same yard to mow and the same family members who love and annoy you; like you have always had. While WLS does cure the weight (if you follow the rules) weight isn't the only thing going on in our lives that gives us trouble. Those things will still be waiting for the skinny you. The up side however is that skinny you will have more energy and determination to handle those troubles. Best of luck and keep us posted. Thanks BTW, to all you Mt. C people who let me hang out here. I'm OSU.

Just a head's up to the crowd that while we are past the typical half way point on the three year journey to goal, we still have much time ahead of us to lose weight. I say three years because that's what I remember reseraching...that's how long a typical bandster takes. So chin up everyone. The fight's not over.