NewBeginnings2018

Oh my goodness Beanie. Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!

Glad you stopped by streetracer! Definitely pop by and throw in your two cents. We need testosterone-based opinions and stories too! lol Kristi I love your avatar! You are so cute! Congrats on a date with one of the construction workers!!! I've never dated a blue collar worker, but have him on my list. Yes, my friends and I made a list of the "types" of guys we have never dated and since I'm the only single one left it's my duty to date them. lol Serious congrats on your fill! I know what you mean about ordering a big meal still. Last night I barely ate a quarter of what I ordered, but it felt great. Like I was almost normal. lol I too have stopped thinking about food so much between my meals. Don't get me wrong, I still do think about food, but not too the extent I did before. lol

Hi aaamom!! :wave: Glad you popped in to say hi!! How have you been. Stormbrewing - look at you rocking the weight loss already! :rockon: You are really doing a fantastic job and are just melting away. I'm sure we'll see a big difference at our next get-together. Deb - I should be around that week in February, although I'll be working. Maybe we can grab dinner one night?? You'll be in the Canton area, right? Maybe we can get some others to join us!

Hi rainbow!!! So sorry to hear about your finger! Ouch! Glad it's starting to get better though. Nana - good luck with the liquid protein drinks. I hope they work better for you. You'll find something. And in case you don't I'll be honest, but don't ever tell June this (lol), but I was barely able to get down my protein drinks during the first couple of weeks. I mostly got my protein from milk, carnation instant breakfast, etc. Dez so good to hear from you! It was great to be able to meet you a couple of weeks ago! Sherry and I usually go line dancing on Tuesday nights. I'm battling bronchitis right now though, so no dancing for me for a while! I can barely walk up a flight of stairs without losing a lung! Not sure what to suggest for the weight loss funk except maybe going back to basics and tracking your food. Use fitday or sparkspeople and eat your protein first, then fruits/veggies, with carbs last. Try and stay away from the oh-so-yummy junk that goes down all to easy. I would say do this for a week and then show your journal to June or Kelly. They may be able to offer suggestions, or if you're eating right and still not losing, you may need more of a fill. One thing is for sure - this is NOT easy! We're all right there with ya! Hi to KayDot if you're reading!!!

Ok John, here's the ticker factory tutorial. Go to tickerfactory.com and make your ticker. Then you want to copy the "bbc code" and come back to LBT, select "User CP" at the upper left hand of the screen, then select "edit signature" and then paste the bbc code here. This should work!

Wow Kat, what a beautiful post. Sometimes we do take the little things for granted. We need to stop more and be thankful for the things we do have, because you just never know what tomorrow may bring. Your brother is a true survivor! Eileen and Beanie - love the pic! You two are so cute!!

Thanks for posting the pics puddin! You look amazing! I love your belly button - it's so cute! Everyone I've spoken to that has had a tummy tuck, etc has been THRILLED with the results and said it was the second best decision they made, the first being the band of course.

Great news Stormsbrewing! Not only that you got your date, but you'll be banded on my birthday!!! It's a lucky day! God love you for doing a pre-op liquid diet. I don't think I would have made it. lol You're doing fantastic so far and I can't wait to watch as things progress. You'll be breaking those hearts left and right!

That darn appetite! You're doing great so far - good luck with your fill!

No apologies needed serious! We like you too. AND I'd like to add that I plan on being a success story too! How long have you been banded?

I hear what you're saying serious, and agree whole heartedly.

Puddin, good to hear that you're doing well! I can't wait to see the after pics!!! I'm sure sitting around and thinking has been tough for you these past few days, and it's easy for all of us to say that if you needed the body lift to have this guy like you, then he doesn't deserve you. He doesn't, but when you're living it, it's harder to put into perspective. Just stay strong and know that the man you're meant to be with is still out there!!

Missy C - good for you for stepping out girl! Let us know how the meeting went! Serious - I hear ya girl! I enjoy my life and have a great, great life. I know if I'm single forever I will still have a wonderful life. But I also enjoy dating and being in a relationship, but it is not my life's mission anymore. It's wonderful to be in a place where you are comfortable being by yourself! Oooh Jodie - an ex stripper? At least you know he's got the moves. haha! Let us know how it goes!

Go Betty, go Betty, go!!!

Hi Bandida! I did not have to go on a liquid diet, but I did have to eat very, very light the day before. One word of caution - make sure you drink, drink, drink your water the day before surgery. I didn't drink that much so I was dehydrated by the next day and they had a HORRIBLE time trying to find a vein for the IV. Also, I did stay overnight and didn't have a choice. I was so out of it from the drugs, I couldn't imagine going home. Not to mention that the next morning they had me do a barium swallow to check out how things were working. I was released about 6pm the next day (after being able to get down full liquids). Best of luck, and keep us updated on your progress. Luckiluvr - no date yet??!! I hope you get your date soon!

The Pats just won a nail-biter!!!!! Wahoo!!!!! Kat - no real run-ins with my psycho neighbor when I moved out. When I went back on Sunday to vaccuum, he did his usual yelling/turn up the music bit. I have to say that I have never been so happy to leave a place in my life. lol Beanie - all unpacked? I wish! I still have half a spare bedroom worth of stuff to unpack. It will get done though - I hope. lol. Sherry - I didn't realize I had to go on liquids after a PB! Oh man, I had freakin broccoli with dinner! lol I'll do liquids tomorrow and then go from there. The PB wasn't bad, and it didn't take long. I could tell it wasn't going down, I got a naseous feeling and did like you said - bent over and coughed. lol. Some came up, and then I did two little throw ups within the next three minutes. After that - fine. I was even able to eat a little something. I think TOM is on it's way so that may be why I'm a little extra tight. I've had a very tight feeling in my chest the past couple of days, but I've had a hard time distinguishing whether it's the band or the chest congestion. The pharmacist recommended Robitussin DM. We'll see if that will help at all.

Oh, and for those of you who heard me say that I haven't had any problems eating anything and that I haven PB'd....well that streak ended this morning. I jinxed myself!! I was laughing the whole time. I kind of have a sick sense of humor, I know. Overall it wasn't that bad, but it certainly wasn't pleasant. I think I tried to eat something that was too heavy to early in the morning. Yuck!

Good morning everyone! Well it finally happened. This morning I had a big 'ol PB! And just yesterday I was telling people that I've never had a problem eating anything. haha! I think I tried eating something too heavy too early in the morning. It wasn't that bad, but I certainly will try and avoid having one again. Yuck! Mandy - I'm glad to hear your meeting went well. We met up with a group in MA yesterday and it was a lot of fun too. Two of the girls that came had just started mushies, and we had a couple of pre-surgery visitors too. We all agreed we had a great time and are already planning a summer BBQ at Sherry's. lol. Darcy - congrats on quitting smoking! Almost a year? That is so great! Hope everyone else is doing well!

Hi Deb!! Yeah, I think Sherry and I were planning on attending the reunion in March, and perhaps maybe a couple of others from BIDMC will be able to as well. Hopefully you can make the next meeting. It was a lot of fun! And look at you still rocking away without a fill! Only 6.5 lbs away from Onederland. You go girl!!

It was so great to meet everyone today!! My only regret is not being able to have more time to talk to some of you individually. We definitely will have to do this again!! And John - maybe we can find another guy to tag along next time. But then again maybe you didn't mind being the lone guy among a sea of women. haha Thanks again aaamom for setting up today!!!

Hi everyone!!! I'm alive!!! haha. Sorry I haven't been around in a while - close to a week I think. My internet was down and Comcast just came to fix it today. A lot happened while I was gone. lol. So Sherry and I met with some MA Bandsters today. It was a lot of fun! It was great to put faces with screen names and to hear about people's journeys. I think it helped give me a little extra motivation too. We can always use that! So otherwise things are good here. I'm just really tired these days. Still fighting a little bit of a bug, but nothing some extra sleep won't cure I think. Sorry, I just don't have the energy for personals tonight, but I love you all. xoxox

Good luck Puddin! Let us know how you're feeling.

haha KristB, here I am! Sorry I've been absent lately. Thing have been crazy at work and I just moved last weekend, so I'm still trying to get settled. My internet connection isn't working (I'm hacking onto someone's signal by my laptop - lol), but hopefully that will be fixed soon and I'll be back full swing! Not much new on the dating end with me. I re-joined Match last night for 3 months, and I guess we'll see where that goes. I'm sure I'll at least have some stories for ya all. lol. I want to date and have fun, but I'm ok with being single right now if that makes any sense??? Well I've gotta run off to work. Hope everyone enjoys their Friday!!!!

Hi everyone!! I've been reading along, but don't think I have the energy to write personals tonight. lol. The move went great, but many I am just sitting down now, and I started at 6am. I guess I shouldn't feel guilty about the pizza I had for lunch, huh? lol. Sherry's DH helped me move, and he was a big help. We were all huffing and puffing though. lol. So tomorrow I have to go back to the old place and vaccuum and pick up a few last minute things (like the food from my fridge), then that is the last time I will ever have to worry about psycho. Yeah!!! The new place looks great and I have about half of my stuff unpacked. It filled an ENTIRE room. I have a lot of stuff and clothes, oh the clothes. lol. That's basically what I have left to do and I'll make a good dent in that tomorrow. Well ladies, my bed is calling my name. I am so excited to be sleeping in peace finally! Thanks for all your support through this!

Deanna I think it's great that you are putting a lot of thought and research into getting the lapband. You should make sure that this is something you really want and that you are ready to make the changes necessary. It's hard, I won't lie. But in the long run it will be worth it. My first appointment was in June I think and I was banded on Oct 2nd, so 2-3 months seems about right. Others have gone through much quicker, depending on when you can get your appointments.