Nathalie

Hi Ladies! OMG it has been SO FUCKING LONG since I was here the last time - I'd try to catch up n do personals, but I don't know where to start. I am almost in TEARS. I feel so bad, like I abandoned you. I didn't, my life is a whirlwind! I think of you all often. I'm doing well. I'll give you the abbreviated version to catch you up with the Natster. I'm weighing in at about 190 these days. I "shoulda, woulda, coulda" myself to death, but I am happy in my size 14 slacks. I look better than I have since I graduated college. I am 30 pounds to goal and plan to hit it by Dec 14! I actually joined a gym today - I finally feel ready to work out in public. Can you believe we're 6 months away? I am still working my same job. I have gotten a promotion and am working directly for the CIO now. My job is keeping me extremely busy, but it is going well. I am leading a huge project (which is why I'm over 190 yet again) but it is winding down, and then I'm taking a LONG vacation! DS turned 3 in June, and I turned 40 last week. I got my hair colored, and I am happier now than I have been in years. I look better now than I did in my 20's. I've been maintaining on my own, but I'm going back to therapy trying to release the negative and embrace the positive. I feel under a lot of pressure and I'm not coping too well right now. I'm feeling hopeful. That's a good sign! I'm dating actively now. Not just the minister (Steph, remember him?!) but I still see him. He no longer works for me, so we go out openly. It's so funny - he tells me he loves me but doesn't want a relationship. I adore him, but I don't want to be tied down. I look and feel normal for the first time in my adult life; why settle down now?!? I have several male friends in the area and am keeping relatively busy. I've put sex on the back burner for now and am just enjoying the company of men. I feel free and open and full of hope. I'm trying to sell my condo and buy a house. I am in the process of painting and "dressing" my condo. I am hopeful it will sell quickly. I want to buy a house nearby. We need more space. I've got bicycles in my living room. That's not cool. I expect that I'll be needing a tummy tuck in about a year. I need to catch up with Annie to see how her lift went. I may look into that as well. But first I need to hit 160 to make it worth the drama. I'm so sorry I've been away. Being a single mother with a full time job and no help has taken its toll on me. I love you all more than ever, and I truly do think of you often! I'll take time this weekend to find the last time I posted so I can catch up on your lives and truly rejoin the group. BIGGEST LOVE! Nat

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAY B'man! So glad you found something so quickly! YOU GO GIRL! *Big Hugs* I'm glad glad glad for you! I hope you are more appreciated and find greater challenges at CITI. And I hope the people there kick azz! Glad you're feeling better, too. Go get yourself checked out and let us know how you're doing. Nikkles - great news on the baby! He is a big strapping boy already! I am fine - my p'rot came today. I have never been so happy to see her, I swear! I'm off the D for now. :mad: Going to eat dinner and put ds in bed! BIG LOVE! Nat

I am SO happy it's the weekend! I'm here for confessionals and personals and to share my NSV... Personals first: SweetHot: YOU GO GIRL! If it's not too personal to ask, how far does your dunlap fall? Yeast infections are NO GOOD! My tummy is just now starting to hang, but I'm also still over 200 lbs. By the time I'm down to 170, I'm sure it'll just be a lump of soft flesh. Good luck with the loss! I'd be motivated, too! B'man: Keep your chin up. I know I asked before, but have you ever thought about anti-depressants? The're not a permanent solution, but girl, they could help to bouy your spirits during this tough time. I'm sorry your Gramma is tripping. We love you. Just keep in touch periodically. *hugs* Jill: I know all about daycare woes! You poor thing! Does your city have a county agency you can call for licensed child care referrals? Does your job have any kind of Employee Assistance Center/Program (EAC or EAP)? If so, call them and see if they can't help. If not, I can call my company for you to see if I can't get some direction. Bless your heart. And give your tummy a love rub for me! SO excited about our 2nd band baby! I assure you, if you eat sensibly, the baby will continue to grow even if you're losing weight. I lost a TON of weight when I was pregnant! I had huge fibroid tumors (14cm and 16cm) while I was pregnant! I could barely eat. Still managed to give birth to an 8lb 4oz healthy, bouncing baby boy! :thumbup: Nikki: How's our first band baby doing, you sexy mama? It's summer for you, right? How's the weather? How far along are you? You crack me up talking about your wobblies. Give yourself a love rub for me, too! Sending positive energy to you and that baby! Steph: What are you doing with your time these days? Are you doing any skiing this year at all? I remember how much you enjoyed it last year. You have company this weekend, I think. Did you get all your cleaning done? Wish you could come over and help with MY cleaning! My house is okay, but my room is a friggin disaster area! I have clothes. everywhere. *sigh* I just need to stop bullshitting and get busy! ...maybe later. VaB: How did the job interviews go? *fingers crossed* How's the exercising coming along? I haven't exercised a single day all year long. Well, not since I got back from FL. I have been sooooo tired! Well, today I am determined to get up onto that elliptical for an hour - even if I have to break it into 4 sessions of 15 minutes each. I'm so close to crossing the continental divide, I am ready and willing to WORK for it! :tt1: How's the man situation? Meeting any new cuties at all? Did I tell y'all I joined some online dating sites? *giggling* I DID! No luck yet... Claudia: So you moved to Chicago? I'm confused, I'm sorry. I can't remember if you were moving or visiting. And do you have a job there yet? If you are in Chicago, how are you finding the weather? Chicago is one of my favorite cities! I'm a huge Bear fan, too! I live across the lake in SW Michigan, about a 2 hour drive. Next time I'm headed that way, I'll let you know. Maybe we can meet up for a cup of coffee or something. :tt2: So I'm hoping to fill yall in without writing a novel. I have a raging case of PMS. Well, it's either PMS or I'm pregnant, too. And I swear to y'all I'm praying for PMS. It hasn't been this bad in months. I'm irritable, bloated, my nipples are really tender, I've got a headache, and I've got some (TMI) discharge that is making me itch. It's not yeast. If there's no motion in the ocean by 2/15, I'll be getting a HPT. Again, I am praying for my p'rot to fall. Until then, I'm struggling to keep my mood swings under control. I took measurements today! I have lost a total of 55.875" since 12/1/2006 (when I started my pre-op diet). I measure neck, bust, ribs, waist, hips, arms (2), thighs (2) and calves (2). I have lost 9.75" from my hips alone! Can you believe that? Almost 10 inches! And I've taken off 7.5" from each thigh. My thighs are under 30" around for the first time in 15 years, I bet. It's just amazing. AMAZING! I'm determined to be under 200 by 1 March. To help me with my loss I gave up sugar and alcohol for Lent. I think part of my headache and moodiness is from sugar withdrawal. So while I was taking measurements and changing clothes, DS was in my living room scribbling on the arm of my sofa with a permanent marker. OMG! I completely lost my mind! I spanked him and threw him in his room. I scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed - the marker came out of the sofa. I thought the couch was ruined. Anyhow, he's still in his room. This happened about 2 hours ago. I can't even deal with him now. I feel like BAD MOMMY, but I need a break. Not much else to report. About to get on my elliptical for a while to work off some of this frustration and weight! BIG LOVE! Nat

I compromised: margaritas and a home-made semi-healthy 5 layer mexican dip. FF sour cream, low fat cheese, onions, tomatoes and refried beans. Not bad, eh? Miss Yall! Nat

VA - Great idea. The problem is, I'm not going to a party where I can take a tiny plate and sample bites of food. If I were, it would be totally easy to get the tastes of what I want without going overboard. But it dawned on me that I'm making too much of this. There's a very easy solution, isn't there? I just won't go to the store and buy all that crappy food! If I don't have it in the house, I can't eat it! I think I will have Chinese tonight. That will be my "treat" food. Between now and then I'm getting on the elliptical for an hour and drinking TONS of water. Who knows, maybe I won't want the Chinese later on. Honestly, I feel better just admitting that I'm feeling weak and bingey today. Gosh, I have been reading in some other threads around here and given my surgery date and total loss, my surgeon is absolutely correct: I'm doing GREAT! I feel really bad for others who can't overcome their desires to eat all the bad foods and the too-big portions. I think that helped me more than anything else. (I feel bad just saying that.) We really have done splendidly working with our band and using powers of self control and moderation, haven't we? Once I was driving my sister back to school and we stopped at a Meijer (like a Super Target/Wal*Mart, but not as nice) for snacks. We were going to buy some candy and chips and stuff like that. Anyhow, we had been talking about the kind of junk food we wanted and had a game plan. Got to the candy aisle and saw this gigantically fat lady picking out different candy. She had to have been 350 lbs or bigger. And it was as if she was standing there, licking her chops and salivating at the idea of laying on her couch in the dark, watching hours of tv and devouring all that candy. My sister and I looked at each other and left without buying a thing. I felt so bad for that woman. I wonder where she is now and what she's doing with her life. But most of all I'm glad that I'm not in that position anymore. I related to her because she reminded me of myself. Earlier today, that's how I felt. Like I just wanted to sit in a room by myself and eat and eat and eat and eat and eat and eat. I'm glad I've got you guys to lean on! Just being able to talk with you empowers me and makes me stronger. My girlfriends on LBT totally rock! I feel better already - going to get on the elliptical now! BIG LOVE! Nat

Hi Steph - SO sorry DIL got her cycle. I was really hoping you were going to have a grandbaby! It'll happen. BK - What's the scoop with the new baby? Foster baby? I am too lazy to go back to the last thread to catch up. :biggrin: Did you post pictures? I love babies! jilly Jill - CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!! I am so excited for you! I'm glad you're feeling better, too. Girlfriend, I'd cry like a 16 year old girl if I found out I was pregnant right now. Steph, thanks too, for the words of wisdom. It's Superbowl Sunday and I am having a fat bitch moment. I sat and listed all the things I want to eat today. I'm having a craving for Chinese food (And I don't eat Chinee EVER)! I want French onion dip with chips and seven layer dip with tortillas. I'd kill for a pitcher of margaritas. I want a burrito smothered in cheese and sour cream. I have fallen prey to the commercials for those damn pizza rolls. I also want a bowl of tater tots (for some odd reason) with malt vinegar and salt. I want queso dip with sourdough bread. And then I want chocolate - a nice moist chocolate cake with thick fudgy frosting. I am CRAVING FOOD! And I know that I physically can't hold all that, but my fat brain is betraying me. I ate ice cream last night. A pint of Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia (over a 4 hour period). I think I'm just stressed, and it's manifesting itself in poor eating and cravings. *sigh* Instead I'm water loading and am about to go out here and get on my elliptical for a while. I'd love to burn 1,000 calories on it today - that would at least knock off the B&J from last night. What is that, 2 hours on the elliptical? ((laugh)) Fat chance of that happening. Any words of wisdom girls? Cuz if I don't get this under control, I think I'm going to have a binge! Fat Nat

In reading these responses, I'm just tickled to see how everyone handles their band differently! I am a little over a year post op. I date. And I haven't told anyone anything. I am 39, and have scars from a gall bladder removal, a C-section and my lapband. No one has asked about my scars. And when I go out, I just say "I'm eating light." So I have a house salad with mashed potatoes or something that won't get caught up in my band and I won't slime on. My band is a private thing for me. I've only told 5 or 6 people in the entire world about it! There's no way I'd tell a guy I'm just starting to date. I haven't figured out how to address it with a serious partner, but it would be months into the dating. Probably when he asked to see my family albums and "fat Nat" showed up. *laugh* Nathalie

Checking in for real this time. Last one was a drive by posting. (tee hee) Nikkles - you look GORGEOUS! Not like a big preggo at all, but truly beautiful! You were workin that dress girl!!! Jill - lovely family, and yes, I can tell a difference. The sideways 7 month shot shows off your curves like WOW! Did you post more recent pictures? I think I'm going to take some 13 month pictures today. and do the ole comparison thing. We'll see. I'm not motivated to do much. Steph - still no news on the baby front? I've got my fingers crossed for you, Nana! I love babies, too! Unless they have diarrhea for 10 days (like DS) and the doctor tells you to keep him home until it clears up (like DS' doc did this morning). So I'm stuck in the house with a typhoid booty baby til Monday. VA - Ignore him. Tell him you understand he's not ready, and then say "I'm going to pursue some other options" and ignore the sh*t outta that man. He'll be back. Trust me. Remember the guy from work I was seeing? The one I constantly argue with? The one who gets on my LAST nerve? I gave him the ole "I am pursuing other options" routine and ignored him for 3 weeks. He told me he loves me on Tuesday night. Too little too late. But not being so eager/available works wonders. Men like to chase a woman. Give him something to chase. Be a little mysterious. sweethot - rest the knee. Your running ass has gone from one extreme (couch potato) to quite the other (blowing out your knee from exercise)! I'm so proud of you, girlfriend! I wish I had more motivation to exercise. Being a single mother in the middle of Michigan winter with a hard job is no joke. I'm always exhausted. I think I am going to ask my doc about taking a prescription vitamin. Maybe even pre-natals. We'll see. But rest the knee. The more you stay off of it, the faster it'll heal. Like you don't know that already! :biggrin: Not much else to report. I bought some knee high boots. First time in EVER that I could find some to fit. I got a black pair and a brown pair. TOO CUTE! I have about 10 pounds to lose and then I'm going to wear the brown boots with a tan skirt (slit up the back) and a cream colored sweater. I also have a denim skirt I am going to wear the black ones with. I am turning into a lil fashionista! The admin in my department asked me how much weight I've lost and told me how fabulous I look! I told her the truth about the weight, but not about the HOW. I feel bad for lying, but it's not her business. I just said "Weight Watchers." I can't wait to cross the great divide. Only 11 pounds away. I want to cross it by the end of February. That's 28 days away. Do we have any other team goals set up? I really am trying to hit 185 by April (when I see my gorgeous ex-bf, DS' father). I'd be happy as a kid in a candy store to be 170 by my b'day (July). Maybe I need to JOIN WW to make it happen! LOL Oh, and exercising can only help get me to those goals. HOpe all is well. Where is Kaydoll? Where is B'man? Where is Annie? OOOH! When I was in Seattle in November, I met Annie - did she tell you? I have a picture of us. it's so funny because neither of us looks like that anymore. AHHAHA I'll check with her and if she agrees one of us will post it in Yahoo. That news is all late. LOL Comedy. Oh, also, as soon as I get under 200 lbs, I am going to join a local dating service. One of the in person dating services. That way I can say I'm a few pounds overweight. Not BBW or LARGE or any of those other euphamisms for FAT AS F*CK. ((laugh)) Love yall! Nathalie

Checking in. I posted pics in Yahoo a few days ago. I should have told yall that. Not much to report. Work is hard. Home is hard. I am eating Cookies. I am sleepy. Love you all! nat

Hey Y'all! So I am really tired and about to get in bed here, but wanted to check in. Where is B'man? I'm worried about her! jill - I pureed some taco meat to have a taco whip. It was soooooo gross. And another time I ate pudding because I desperately wanted something sweet. You don't understand. I HATE PUDDING! Steph - I'll keep my fingers crossed! If DIL is preggers, what will you have the grandbabies call you? Nanny? Nana? Granny? *giggling* sweets - how's the knee? BooBoo - hold on, sis. Or maybe you do need to leave. Maybe that's what's best for you. Life is too short to be unhappy. I had my 1 year check up last week. I have officially lost 87 lbs since my first appt. My surgeon is very happy for me - he said that I did extremely well my first year with the lapband. I am so proud of myself! I weighed in at 212.5, and feel like I've lost since then. I got a 0.5 cc fill at my appt. I've got a solid 10cc in my band, so he's reluctant to add too much more, as we max out at 11 with this band. He also got me on the first poke! Love you all - things are so so so hectic. I'll find my way to Yahoo and fill you in, as it's a lot of work stuff. Nathalie

Hi lovely ladies -- The cable is out and I got online to check email. Next thing I knew I was poking around LBT to see what all the hub bub is about! So what's up with you skinny bitches?! B'man? Fired? Do you know that you can fight that mess? With all of the items that led up to your dismissal it sounds like retalliation. And you can prove it. Go to the EEOC or call a labor lawyer. They'll tell you. How's your stomach? Do you still have your gall bladder? Brandy - what's up with you? What's wrong with your stomach? faith? Welcome! Don't be shy. Join in and use the support here to your advantage! Steph - thanks for pulling me out of my hermit's nest! sweethot - sorry about the knee, but awesome that you're busting ass on the 5k!!! I am so impressed! So saddened by your landlord's loss. And I agree, it's not too late to show an act of kindness. maurdan - how's the body bugg working for you? Tell that sugar to kiss your ass, and keep on doing right! Claudi - Good luck with your move to Chicago! And how cool that your boss was so affirming. I know it made you feel fabulous! VaB - Sorry about the guys. You know what I'm finding? The men I want to hang out with arent interested until I'm no longer interested. Then suddenly they want my attention and time. So you have to treat the ones you like the same way (or worse than) you treat the ones you DON'T like. Hard, I know, but it works! Lots to report, but I am literally falling asleep. I'll be back tomorrow or Sunday to catch you up and post some pictures. Love you guys and happy to be back! Nat

Hi Ladies! Just popping in to say HI and I missed you! We had a fabulous T'gvg. We were on the West Coast in Seattle, Los Angeles and San Diego. My DS and I are still jet lagged and struggling to get back onto East Coast time. Work is work. I came back 4 lbs heavier than when I left, but started my cycle yesterday, so I guess that's why. No worries, I'm still walking around like Foxxy Cleopatra in my size 16w pants. Working to hit "goal" by 12/14 - which is a 17 pound loss. *sigh* I'll read tonight and do personals then. Hope everyone had a fabulous turkey day! I need a fill, by the way. I am eating WAY too much food! Steph - you look FABULOUS! Nat