ladykcusa

Welcome back, Karen - you were missed. Hope you made it thru lunch and can rest until the vertigo passes. Jessica - those grades sound wonderful. Hold on this week and you can take a break. Congrats on NSV. Julie - I'm also mad at the lady? who loves to criticize, but won't step up and take charge of a project. grrrrr....... Jodi - happy belated b'day. What a bright daughter you have - to see the family drama exactly for what it is. Slimnole - hang in there. The fills will help. And 13 lbs. is a nice beginning. Janet - love how you "lay it on the line". We all want to think that once the weight is off, we can splurge. Sadly - not true. Moderation and minimal treats are the reality. I'm off to the gym. Hi to all. Joyce

Laura - love the pictures - you are such a fun mommy - I might have to come and play too. Darn that donut - one thing about the bad, if we eat, we suffer. That won't happen again.

Jessica - sounds like an unfill is needed. Wish I could give you some extra energy to make it thru the last week of school. Hang in there, my friend. Julie - I've been praying and thinking of you. Can't bear to think of your pain and frustration. Have you considered a second opinion? Might be good to have a new physician explore your symptoms and review your history. Sending hugs. Had a nice lunch with my daughters today. Nice walk with my puppy tonight. After 5 weeks of PT, the walks are easier.

JerseyGirl - Congratulations on WL and good luck on your bowling. Have a blast and show off that healthy, lovely body. Phyl - thanks for sharing the xray. Very interesting.

Julie - I'm so sorry your appointment was discouraging. I'm praying for you. Eva - wonderful on those smaller size capris and shorts. It's new underwear time for me too. 23 lbs. less makes them very baggy. But I don't think Victoria Secret will be asking me to model. Have a great weekend, ladies. Joyce

Laura & Arlene - congrats on WL PT again today - so better get ready.

Congratulations, JerseyGirl - What an accomplishment. So happy for you. Enjoy your trip. Raining in KC for the next 3 days.

Spartan - Love your humor. Well done.

Jodi - what an interesting story about the little girl and what a beautiful heart you have. How exciting that after working without pay, good karma brought enough money to pay your way thru college. Good works always bring joy. Altho - sometimes delayed in in disguise. I'm so proud of another day at the gym. Burned a whopping 153 calories in 45 minutes. Oh well........ Interesting to see how different costs are in other parts of the nation. My gym dues are $66/month and personal training is $80/hr. It is a first class gym with indoor/outdoor pools, child care, camps for children, yoga, all equipment, TV's, cycling, showers, spa, etc......towels furnished - I like that - and lockers. Ladies, tell me about your gyms so we can compare. Beautiful 80 degree, very windy day in KC. Have PT tomorrow and one more on Monday, then I'm on my own again to attend gym. yippee

Lori - Regarding communication while you are traveling, I do alot of international vacationing. My phone works worldwide. Just contact your provider & have them change your setting. I have T-mobile and can check on-line to verify cost per minute whereever I will be. My husband wants to be able to reach me when I'm gone. So he can call my phone anytime. The rate can be as much as $3.50 a minute, but it's worth it to be in touch. Eva - My best friends daughter just accepted a job with a TV station in Tucson (sp?). I promised her I'd visit with her once her daughter is settled. So perhaps we can meet. Karen - enjoy your lake weekend. Wish I was going. Another trip to the gym for me today. Scale is moving again and want to keep it going.

Jessica - I agree that your visit with your brother reopened some of the doors to painful past. Karen has the right idea - talk to someone about your feelings and you will find peace again. That is definitely what is triggering your hunger, but you already know that. Good luck and congrats on your test. Lori - can't wait to hear about the offer on your house. Hope it is high and firms up. Laura - love the idea of first job reflections. I was a swimming teacher in the morning, then rode my bike to the country club and life guarded all afternoon. Had a great tan and toned body. Karen - can't believe how much work was placed on you in your childhood. Wow.

Debra - In response to disclosing lap band to friends and family, I elected NOT to share with others. So much educating is involved in explaining how the tool works, and I decided to keep my decision to myself. Family knows, but others - not.

Debra (Froggie) I thought I recognized your screen name. Dr. Malley performed my surgery on 2-22-2010. Self pay - so no insurance issues. My son-in-law had Dr. Hoehn for gastric bypass in June - and has lost from 427 to 245 and is thrilled. He speaks at the support meetings occasionally. Welcome again. You are really doing wonderfully.

Welcome Debra. You are doing outstanding, congratulations. Lots of wonderful ladies here with great experience to share. Joyce in KC

LauraK - you are truly a loving Mom to include ex's. What we will do for our children never ends. Lori - I loved Karen's idea about the condo. With all your traveling, that would certainly simplify life and allow for early downsizing. Julie - prayers do work -- I had prayed for an earlier date with your doctor (as had others here). Now lets hope some relief is in the very near future and permanent resolution. Karen - I love to hear the dog runs for the truck when the phone rings. My beloved yorkie used to stay with neighbors when I was gone and always ran for the door when the phone rang. He sensed it was me calling to announce I would pick him up. Maids were here today. Their business is 30% off with this recession. So, I offered to increase their business by allowing them to wash all the windows in the house. Leave it to me to support the economy. We have a sunroom that is more enjoyable with sparkling windows. Off to the gym - first time in two months. Cutting down on PT will allow gym time.

Julie - I'm so angry at the doctors for putting you off until May 14th. It's just not fair. Please feel free to complain - since that seems to be your only relief. grrrrrrr....... Sorry to hear Mimi is having difficulties also. Karen - welcome back. Sounds like a lovely lake weekend. Sending hugs to all other ladies. Joyce

Arlene - Sorry about your mom's hospital stay. The shakes will wait. Sending prayers for her. Jewell - your transformation thru your pictures is truly amazing. Rock on.

Lori - good luck with eating choices tomorrow. Very exciting that you will be looking at houses on Monday in SLC. And also wonderful that so many are looking at your current home. Fingers are crossed for you. Phyl - I love my Blackberry too. But I hear such great things about the iphone. Maybe the next one. Movie was a B-. Better take daughter and let husband miss it. Had a tough Pbing episode tonight. Hope to master chewing better and eating more slowly. My husband doesn't know what to do for me when he sees me miserable. Guess he will have to learn, this is a part of banding. Sleep well, ladies.

Cheri - congratulations on losing more weight. I read your first paragraph twice. Very interesting that you are able to loosen your band, by losing more weight, without getting an unfill. It is comforting to realize that we have more control over the band. This is such a journey. So many changes - early on. All good. Taking DD#2 to see "The Backup Plan". Gloomy, rainy Saturday in K.C.

Lori - thank you for very logical and sensible advise about eating after a fill. Sleep well, ladies.

Julie - congratulations on compliment. It means so much to have hard work recognized. You have a great attitude. Question: my doctor advises 24 hr. liquid, then 24 hrs. mushies after a fill - before returning to normal food. What is the reason? Has anyone seen Food, Inc.? I just watched it and found it very disturbing. Wonder how much is true. Cold, rainy and dreary in KC today. Good day for a nap.

Linda - Happy, happy b'day. Lori - Happy Anniversary to you and DH. Hope upper GI test went smoothly with positive results. Julie - loved the pictures and girls do look like sisters. Hope you slept well last night. Karen - loved the description of the farming techniques. I'm a city girl - thru and thru - and have no idea how to grow anything. Had second fill today and discussed my desire to proceed slowly. Had 1.5 cc first fill and another 1 cc today. So nice that he will work at my comfort level. Jewell - your new home is so exciting. Doing things "your way" makes life calmer and more stress free. It was such a challenge to make the move happen, and you did it. I feel so blessed to have such a support group. Joyce

Cheri - I agree with Laura K. Please keep writing. We all enjoy your very intellectual, loving, and generous messages explaining your passion (your career). And your love of your family. The Meyers-Briggs research explains our fellow humans. Figuring out which categories they fall into, helps us interact. One of our daughters is the training director for the Four Seasons hotel in Houston. She uses M-B as she works with the staff. A blessing I was given is a natural compass in applying those principles with our employees. I could be an ambassador and deal firmly, yet efficiently with others. My husband - is demanding and aggressive. Absolutely no filter and many don't care for him. We have been married for 36 years next Monday and compliment each other professionally. Have worked together most of our marriage running businesses. Deb - way to go - consistent weight loss. I'll be delighted to take off 1 lbs a week - and, as, Karen said - 52 lbs. in a year. yippee Julie - love pix of Mimi. Please go easy and take care of yourself. My husband had back surgery about 4 years ago and is so happy with the results. Hopefully you can avoid it, but, if that is the answer - time will tell. Time for bed - second fill tomorrow. Joyce

Cheri - Fascinating to hear about your students and programs and about Chicago. Blessings will come to you for your generous heart. LauraK - congrats to you and DD with her new position. Kansas City might be on your mapquest for a dropby lunch or dinner. I'll treat. Julie - please don't overdo with the packing up for remodeling. May tonight bring restful sleep free from pain. PT is aggravating my knees - after discussion, we have decided to cut my sessions from 3 to 2. I will keep a record of my home exercises & present for approval (my suggestion to keep me accountable). I'll also go back to my own gym for aqua aerobics and elliptical to build endurance (and help weight loss). Ready to break free from PT and return to my real life. Sleep well, ladies. Joyce

Welcome back, Karen. Lake house (and hugh deck) sound lovely. Glad it was a wonderful time.