Lap_dancer

Hello All Good People! My daily check-in here. Roto Rooter has been cleaning my pipes with the new medication, green tea and water water water. Dork, great to see you. I see you had a procedure in August. Hope your recovery is going well from that. It may have had something to do with whatever pace your weight loss was at. You DON'T want to read the volumous 'War and Peace' length size story of my back/abdominals but I do know it has probably impacted how my food is going down (slowly). Be well and jump on it the challenge. We're only on our second week. I'm back at work today. Not killer pain but dull and throbbing nonetheless. Glad it is Friday. Had two days of brief excercize. My suck and hold tummy cores 25 at 5 seconds ea., leg lifts leg straight out and slightly off the ground, hold, draw up to chest, extend back out, switch. 5 each leg. Isometrics on arms. Yoga lotus, breathing ten minutes. I'm rolling with impressed for myself. Weigh day tomorrow!

Jaime Happy Anniversary! Dee I will forever relate to you as being uber large like I was. Something about having DOUBLE the amount to lose as the average losers can feel daunting. I have a goal of wanting to become a grand cook. I love fresh flavors, ripe fruiits and quality meats. I want to learn how to cook like the some of the great ones on Food Network and around the planet. Just to not be afraid of food is a goal. As for eating calories at 2000 a day....I am wary of generalities. I'd rather work with a nutritionist, doctor, one on one and see the pattern that's happening with my digestive system and weight loss and gradually contour a diet plan for ME. What works for me may not work for another person. I'm with you all on the band. Great tool to keep the feast beast at bay. PANNICULECTOMY- Needless to say having insurance pay for this is not going to be an issue. My primary care physician said to let him know when I'm ready. I'm not ready. My back could not sustain the added pressure required while the front part of my body is healing. Our goal is to get more weight off me. Build my core muscles so I can handle the added stress and then I'm going in for a lower body lift. This way they can cut up the hip line and deal with the back side and liposuction/remove lax skin/ pull in and contour my body like a well fitted dress. I'll wait. The recovery time for these procedures is months. I really want a team who has done this before so I am having this done at the Cleveland Clinic. If it was just breast lift or augmentation I would go to a trusted plastic surgeon but at four hundred pounds there are other things besides stretched skin and fat that can happen. Like my hernias. I still have to explore the repair of the hernias. I also learned through the hard way that just because someone says they have had experience with extreme morbidly obese WLS patients doesn't mean they have had successful experiences. Do background checks. Lucky for us the web is full of places where you can see patient feedback. If you read long enough, search enough sites you can spot the difference between a pissed off patient and someone who had a very serious experience. I just went to a doctor I checked. The biggest complain people had was he didn't smile. So what. I went and learned he was a partner as well in a surgical center for WLS patients in Venice, Fl. IMAGINE! So here is a doctor who I went to for something not related to my band but gave me a more fine tuned medical plan because he did have that experience. How long will this take? AS LONG AS IT TAKES and shorter than it took me to gain all the weight. Everyone have a successful day whatever your daily goal may be. Patty

Perhaps someday it can be a goal, a vision, to select a region through doctors willing to donate their services, and offer one person a chance for a new life. A scholarship of sorts. I believe in giving back. I'm sure I'm not alone. Again...best to you doctor. Things that are truly worth having never come easy.

Congratulations to us all for having a stellar first week. Mini this is me. I'm quite certain my metabolism is skewed. Something I want to share because I just came from the doctor I am seeing for the pain. The pain meds I began on 12/31 caused horrid constipation. Today, the doctor I saw was quite familiar with gastric patients. ( We are becoming more and more the norm than a rarity ). She explained that with the restriction, she used the word 'restructuring' of our digestive system, everything we intake digests differently. She referred to the meds I was on. I may take one medication that is LA..long acting but it may take longer to enter my system because it takes longer to digest. Same thing with food. She said specific foods may digest differently for some than it does for others. Some may get 'dumping' until their body acclamates but each person is different, each person's body takes a different amount of time to adjust, accept, react..whatever. The same with losing weight. She emphasised the need to eat. I am horrid to skip meals. She said it was not at all good for my body as a whole to skip meals. Paramount was Protein. If you can't eat that much make sure you do eat protein. She recommended yogurt for Breakfast with steel ground oats sprinkled on top. It's quick, it's got protein, Fiber and dairy. The bad news I got was that my entire spine is diseased. There are three points where it is especially damaged. So core building is my number one focus on exercise. The doctor recommended Tai Chi. She said it is good at core buidling, non strenuous on the joins and good for the mental health side. She said movement of any kind, walk ten minutes but do something atleast twice a week if you are a a non exercising person, and increase easily, five minutes more, ten minutes more until you are working out five days a week 30 minutes to one hour. I'm full of information and feeling very good today. I did get to fix the problem I was having and feeling better now. I am awful to self diagnose. I promised her I would CALL THE DOCTOR should anything go amiss. That's my gift to you all today. If you do not feel well, feel that something is wrong, call the doctor. Again, congratulations to everyone for a great arm in arm commitment to our Valentine's Day Challenge:thumbup::laugh:

What is the one thing that you find most discouraging? Friends that let you down?, betrayal?, false hope?, for me it is discouragement. The thing I find most discouraging is discouragement. After all the journeys, Colorado for the Band, I had hope of finally feeling normal. Just when normal started touching my skin something else felt abnormal One year later I sit here with another narrative from a CT scan of my spine: Findings: Alignment abnormality is noted with mild levoscoliosis (isn't that what Herminone Granger said as a spell articulate?) and straightening of the cervical spine alignment. *and if I was wondering within myself that it didn't sound too bad I could read on** There are multilevel mild facet disease changes and mild/moderate disc disease changes with moderate disc disease noted of the mid and lower cervical spine from C4-5 thorugh C6-7. Mild canal narrowing and miltilevel mild neuroforminal disease* *Google this for definition changes are seen thorughout the cervical spine. No fracture of subluxation is noted. There are mild anterior/posterior spondylotic changes from C4-5 through C6-7. Impression on the next two pages: Mild Alignment abornmality and mild diffuse face and disc disease as above. So the pain in my back is worse than above and there are more Latin words. The medication worked until I didn't crap for five days. Nausea, lumps in my stomach and around made me think the medicine that took the pain away left something. A tradeoff. Back to the pain doctor tomorrow. http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/pain-medication/narcotic-pain-medications

What is the one thing that you find most discouraging? Friends that let you down?, betrayal?, false hope?, for me it is discouragement. The thing I find most discouraging is discouragement. After all the journeys, Colorado for the Band, I had hope of finally feeling normal. Just when normal started touching my skin something else felt abnormal One year later I sit here with another narrative from a CT scan of my spine: Findings: Alignment abnormality is noted with mild levoscoliosis (isn't that what Herminone Granger said as a spell articulate?) and straightening of the cervical spine alignment. *and if I was wondering within myself that it didn't sound too bad I could read on** There are multilevel mild facet disease changes and mild/moderate disc disease changes with moderate disc disease noted of the mid and lower cervical spine from C4-5 thorugh C6-7. Mild canal narrowing and miltilevel mild neuroforminal disease* *Google this for definition changes are seen thorughout the cervical spine. No fracture of subluxation is noted. There are mild anterior/posterior spondylotic changes from C4-5 through C6-7. Impression on the next two pages: Mild Alignment abornmality and mild diffuse face and disc disease as above. So the pain in my back is worse than above and there are more Latin words. The medication worked until I didn't crap for five days. Nausea, lumps in my stomach and around made me think the medicine that took the pain away left something. A tradeoff. Back to the pain doctor tomorrow. http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/pain-medication/narcotic-pain-medications

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thebandbantertalkshow

good listen here http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thebandbantertalkshow

Perhaps there are many who think it is too good to be true. If it is true, blessings to you and those on your team who have the love of medicine and ambition to HEAL.

put me down on the challenge as -1.04 dare I challenge the Fates to throw one, more, thing my way? Someone on here warned me about the medication and constipation. This past week, and after hitting day 5 with no BM, I stopped the pain medicine. There is an over the counter liquid you can drink that tastes salty that the pharmacist recommended that did not budge anything. Day 2 of no meds things started getting back to normal. It's Day 4 no pain meds and I am home and not working. I spent the morning crying. Did you ever feel like you needed a break from your break?

Cheryl you will love having a new road to travel on and feeling like there is the real chance of getting healthy. Congratulations. I went back to Colorado one month post op for a fill and to just look at it as a check up. I do not think it is too soon for a fill. Best to you on your new life.

I was at a family picnic. My family up north has huge gatherings with up to 100 people attending. One person is a friend of the family who is loud in a Boss Hog kinda way. He saw me for the first time after about ten years and from across the yard hollared, "Girl, you sure ain't missed a meal!" I was mortified. BUT... I have some *&^ on him. Years ago, when I was in high school, I hung out with a girl whose brother was friends with a guy we'll call Rick. Rick's father was this same guy I am describing above. We went to Rick's house one day to get some pot ( why lie here) and I was going into the house but saw his wife at the door. His wife was not the biological mother as they divorced and his new wife was actually the daughter of the pastor at my parent's church. I knew her WELL but at the time I was so stoned I did a quick spin around and went into the car and hid. They all came out, Rick, my friend, her brother, and got into the car and we drove around to smoke one. I said to Rick something like "I know YOU" and relayed the story about his stepmom, her dad and the church. Rick proceeds to tell me that his parents divorced because his dad (the same guy who ten years or so later is screaming across the yard at me I sure ain't missed a meal) had come home from one of his 'fishing trips' with an STD (sexually transmitted disease) and gave it to his wife, Rick's mother. She left him and they divorced. So standing there in my uncle's backyard I almost bit my lip till it bled trying to not say anything at all to him about what I knew. NEXT time I go to an event and I see this guy, I will no doubt be at goal. I WILL have my voice and dare he say anything to me, I can't promise I will hold my tongue. Should I be terribly ashamed?

It's Wednesday, January7th. I woke up this morning (with a wine glass in my hand, whose wine? what wine?...-Frampton) I woke up and got out of bed. I slept well last night. This is a big treat for me. For years the other person that is attached to the front part of my body in the form of fat prevented me from sleeping on my stomach. If I tried, my head would not touch the pillow but would hang precariously shoving my breasts up under my already tripled chin. Not comfortable. The first part of my body that noticably changed was my chin. I lost one chin, and believe me I'm not looking for it, another chin and now remains a slight flop. The stomach dropped as well. Although still there, it no longer swings from side to side and I'm not embarrassed to trot when I find the strength. In the past, a trot or slight increase in momentum caused my stomach to swing like a pendulum back and forth. So last night I had the good grace of sleeping on my stomach. I'm definately losing volume. It's because of all the rehersals. Every day I rise and I practice the habits of slow chew, no liquids with meals, protein first, avoiding altogether the things that use to fill my pantry and my stomach. By now it is habit. I'm not so fooled by the smaller sizes in clothing, the compliments which come as a nice change in my life. I know I haven't arrived and though I see the friend in the front of my body disappearing, part of her personality will remain with me and remind me of what we have been through together. The rehersals and daily habits I'm developing will some day lead me to The Really Big Show. That day when I wake up and I step on the scale and there it is...that number. It's a simple number but it represents so much. It represents the end of a long journey. It SHOWS me that I can do it. That I believe in myself enough to know that this obstacle can be overcome. By then I will be able to pick up Christopher and swing him around. I'll be able to place him on my lap and go on Disney rides and walk the park without becoming breathless. By that time I will be shopping with my sister :grouphug: and putting on clothes that are stylish and fit (and are not made by Coleman or bought at REI ..think: camping and tents...kidding). It is going to happen, this show that I am rehersing for. I believe. I know. I will succeed!:iagree::confused::sorry::biggrin:

It's Wednesday, January7th. I woke up this morning (with a wine glass in my hand, whose wine? what wine?...-Frampton) I woke up and got out of bed. I slept well last night. This is a big treat for me. For years the other person that is attached to the front part of my body in the form of fat prevented me from sleeping on my stomach. If I tried, my head would not touch the pillow but would hang precariously shoving my breasts up under my already tripled chin. Not comfortable. The first part of my body that noticably changed was my chin. I lost one chin, and believe me I'm not looking for it, another chin and now remains a slight flop. The stomach dropped as well. Although still there, it no longer swings from side to side and I'm not embarrassed to trot when I find the strength. In the past, a trot or slight increase in momentum caused my stomach to swing like a pendulum back and forth. So last night I had the good grace of sleeping on my stomach. I'm definately losing volume. It's because of all the rehersals. Every day I rise and I practice the habits of slow chew, no liquids with meals, protein first, avoiding altogether the things that use to fill my pantry and my stomach. By now it is habit. I'm not so fooled by the smaller sizes in clothing, the compliments which come as a nice change in my life. I know I haven't arrived and though I see the friend in the front of my body disappearing, part of her personality will remain with me and remind me of what we have been through together. The rehersals and daily habits I'm developing will some day lead me to The Really Big Show. That day when I wake up and I step on the scale and there it is...that number. It's a simple number but it represents so much. It represents the end of a long journey. It SHOWS me that I can do it. That I believe in myself enough to know that this obstacle can be overcome. By then I will be able to pick up Christopher and swing him around. I'll be able to place him on my lap and go on Disney rides and walk the park without becoming breathless. By that time I will be shopping with my sister :thumbup: and putting on clothes that are stylish and fit (and are not made by Coleman or bought at REI ..think: camping and tents...kidding). It is going to happen, this show that I am rehersing for. I believe. I know. I will succeed!:sleep::confused::eek:

Part of the joy in my life comes from a group I call my "Bohemian Brothers and Sisters", the artsy fartsy musicans, painters and potters that I share my muses with. There is Dave, an amazing musician that despite a lifetime of diabetes, he is a career musician, makes a living at playing guitar ( just like a ringin' a bell), there is Glenn, a photograher who captures the money shot in less than five frames. I have Lia, she moved to Florida from the Pacific Northwest and with her she brought the aroma and eloquent love of coffee. She turned me on to Kona, roasted and freshly ground on the spot and then brewed for a cup of coffee like no other. All the memories I have of this collective has nothing to do with food. What binds us together is our passion for creating be it music, art or the promotion and support of artists in my community. It was my withdrawal from this group and socially that was my first indication that something else was goin on besides aches and pains and a depression leeching into myself that seemed to come from no where beginning about five months after my Lap-Band Surgery. Where do all the emotions go when you cannot stuff them down? The question I journaled to myself one day was this: "what do you do with all of the emotions you use to eat over?" It opened up a cave of pain that I decided to explore. From my artist group there are writers and one afternoon amid books and coffee and conversation came a discreet one on one topic between a writer and myself. She said two words: "Lavender Sisters" and Lavender Power and the story of a woman by the name of Angela Shelton. Angela Shelton was doing a short film documentary on women named Angela Shelton (her name). She was travelling the U.S. and stopping randomly, getting the phone book and looking up the Angela Sheltons all across America. What she discovered in that process was that many of the Angela Sheltons she met had something in common, many of these women had been abused. This lead to Angela's shifting her documentary theme to that of women and abuse. She documented her story/their stories. From this grew an organziation called Lavender Power which encompasses survivors of Domestic Violence, sexual abuse, rape support, survivor, child abuse, addictions, violence, healing, trauma, and features recognized individuals who reveal their own abuse stories and ways to help overcome the past. Mo'Nique, comedian and actress, was recently featured in Essence where she revealed abuse at the hands of her brother. Her story reads: The comedian says her brother molested her four times over the course of four years. He often used candy to lure her into the bathroom, where much of the abuse took place. ¢®"He still acts like he doesn't know what I'm talking about. So screw hurting your feelings. You need to get your feelings hurt, and you need to get some help." "My father was very upset, but it never got mentioned again. I'll never forget my mother saying, "If" it's true, it will surface again, and I remember thinking, Why would I lie? Why is there even an "if" in this? I was angry with them for so long, because I felt as if they should have seen what was happening Her brother, she said went on to serve 15 years in prison for sexually abusing another girl and never made amends for the abuse." As I began to journal my own pain, the hazy memories of my six year old self became clearer and then I knew their names, where they lived on my block, the hook (candy), a pup tent, some boys and myself, a little girl alone, afraid, and fleeing froma pain that left me wetting my pants as I ran through the neighbor's backyard to the safety of my own home. It doesn't matter now that my jumbled words could not find the adult vocabulary to describe to my mother what had happened to me or that soapy hand of hers coming out of the sink of dishes she was washing just long enough to slap my face for ' playing with boys'. The event remained painfully hidden until one Saturday afternoon when I was fooled into believing my friend, the brother of one of the boys, was downstairs waiting for me and he had, I was told, new toys, candy and when i got to the foot of the basement stairs I was coaxed further into the darkness only to find four boys and my friend no where to be found. Therapy helped. So did joining the Lavender group. So did finding out that 40% of depressed/morbidly obese women had some type of abuse experience. Myself included. So when we stop stuffing down the pain, it rises to the surface of our memories. From there it goes where? It comes out. It manifests itself still only this time we must face the ugly memories or face a lifetime of relapse into the old ways we relieved ourselves. for more information: Lavender Wikipedia http://www.freewebs.com/mypainfulsmiles/lavenderwikapedia.htm http://www.freewebs.com/mypainfulsmiles/index.htm

Part of the joy in my life comes from a group I call my "Bohemian Brothers and Sisters", the artsy fartsy musicans, painters and potters that I share my muses with. There is Dave, an amazing musician that despite a lifetime of diabetes, he is a career musician, makes a living at playing guitar ( just like a ringin' a bell), there is Glenn, a photograher who captures the money shot in less than five frames. I have Lia, she moved to Florida from the Pacific Northwest and with her she brought the aroma and eloquent love of coffee. She turned me on to Kona, roasted and freshly ground on the spot and then brewed for a cup of coffee like no other. All the memories I have of this collective has nothing to do with food. What binds us together is our passion for creating be it music, art or the promotion and support of artists in my community. It was my withdrawal from this group and socially that was my first indication that something else was goin on besides aches and pains and a depression leeching into myself that seemed to come from no where beginning about five months after my Lap-Band Surgery. Where do all the emotions go when you cannot stuff them down? The question I journaled to myself one day was this: "what do you do with all of the emotions you use to eat over?" It opened up a cave of pain that I decided to explore. From my artist group there are writers and one afternoon amid books and coffee and conversation came a discreet one on one topic between a writer and myself. She said two words: "Lavender Sisters" and Lavender Power and the story of a woman by the name of Angela Shelton. Angela Shelton was doing a short film documentary on women named Angela Shelton (her name). She was travelling the U.S. and stopping randomly, getting the phone book and looking up the Angela Sheltons all across America. What she discovered in that process was that many of the Angela Sheltons she met had something in common, many of these women had been abused. This lead to Angela's shifting her documentary theme to that of women and abuse. She documented her story/their stories. From this grew an organziation called Lavender Power which encompasses survivors of Domestic Violence, sexual abuse, rape support, survivor, child abuse, addictions, violence, healing, trauma, and features recognized individuals who reveal their own abuse stories and ways to help overcome the past. Mo'Nique, comedian and actress, was recently featured in Essence where she revealed abuse at the hands of her brother. Her story reads: The comedian says her brother molested her four times over the course of four years. He often used candy to lure her into the bathroom, where much of the abuse took place. ¢®"He still acts like he doesn't know what I'm talking about. So screw hurting your feelings. You need to get your feelings hurt, and you need to get some help." "My father was very upset, but it never got mentioned again. I'll never forget my mother saying, "If" it's true, it will surface again, and I remember thinking, Why would I lie? Why is there even an "if" in this? I was angry with them for so long, because I felt as if they should have seen what was happening Her brother, she said went on to serve 15 years in prison for sexually abusing another girl and never made amends for the abuse." As I began to journal my own pain, the hazy memories of my six year old self became clearer and then I knew their names, where they lived on my block, the hook (candy), a pup tent, some boys and myself, a little girl alone, afraid, and fleeing froma pain that left me wetting my pants as I ran through the neighbor's backyard to the safety of my own home. It doesn't matter now that my jumbled words could not find the adult vocabulary to describe to my mother what had happened to me or that soapy hand of hers coming out of the sink of dishes she was washing just long enough to slap my face for ' playing with boys'. The event remained painfully hidden until one Saturday afternoon when I was fooled into believing my friend, the brother of one of the boys, was downstairs waiting for me and he had, I was told, new toys, candy and when i got to the foot of the basement stairs I was coaxed further into the darkness only to find four boys and my friend no where to be found. Therapy helped. So did joining the Lavender group. So did finding out that 40% of depressed/morbidly obese women had some type of abuse experience. Myself included. So when we stop stuffing down the pain, it rises to the surface of our memories. From there it goes where? It comes out. It manifests itself still only this time we must face the ugly memories or face a lifetime of relapse into the old ways we relieved ourselves. for more information: Lavender Wikipedia http://www.freewebs.com/mypainfulsmiles/lavenderwikapedia.htm http://www.freewebs.com/mypainfulsmiles/index.htm

Lighten Up Resolution: Lose weight Make it stick: This resolution seems to make its way on the list every year. But in 2009, you can easily make room for fitness in your life by simply making room for it in your house. Any extra bedroom or den can be transformed into a mini fitness studio. Bring Sexy Back Resolution: Increase my sex life Make it stick: To keep this promise, start from the ground up. Help set the mood with a bedroom that is free of clutter, kid’s toys, and other distractions. 1. Clean Up Your Act Get rid of all the junk that accumulates in your bedroom. Don't use it as a dumping ground for kids' art projects, laundry, newspapers, and magazines. No one feels sexy going to bed in a warehouse. First, get everything up off the floor. Store the things that warrant it and trash the things that don't. Clear of the surfaces of chests and tables, and only replace what is meaningful or pretty. You don't want to see anything that reminds you of chores or obligations. Everything your eye lands on should make you feel relaxed and confident 2. Can the Can Lights Overhead lighting is notoriously unflattering. There's nothing sexy about a well-lit room. You want shadows, highlights, and the soft glow of filtered light. Place lamps with ivory shades on each side of your bed, and make sure the bulbs are no more than 60 watts. For even more impact, replace the white bulbs with pink-tinted bulbs. Everybody looks good in this light -- the only thing more flattering is candlelight, and pink light bulbs don't pose a fire hazard. 3. Scents and Sensibility Take the same approach to smell that you took to sight. Get rid of anything that doesn't smell great. Remove the laundry hamper to a bathroom or closet. Evict the dog, just for one night. Wash everything, down to the mattress pad. And make up your bed with the sheets folded back invitingly, the way they do in fine hotels. Choose a scented candle with care. One that's too floral may be off-putting. A better bet is one that smells fresh and clean, like Jo Malone's Grapefruit. The flicker of candlelight will enhance your sexy lighting scheme. 4. Soundtrack The "Law & Order" theme song is not sexy music. Turn off the television! Better yet, remove it from the bedroom. The bedroom should be for two things only: sleep and sex. Put a small stereo in your bedroom and play your favorite music -- it's a great mood enhancer. If you're worried about being overheard by children or neighbors, add sound insulation. Hang curtains and roll out a thick rug -- fabric absorbs sound. Next: 5. Ban the Beanie Babies 5. Ban the Beanie Babies The bedroom is your own private sanctuary, but beware what message you're sending by using it as a display case for your hobbies. Stuffed animals are a no-no, as are too many tiny pillows. What looks good in a bedding store can appear fussy and high-maintenance at home -- not the message you're trying to send. 6. Take a Look Add a mirror somewhere. It doesn't have to be attached to the ceiling, but a cleverly positioned mirror, or even a mirrored piece of furniture, can really spice things up. It will add glimmer and shine, both sexy qualities. A closet door left "accidentally" ajar, with its inside mirror angled toward the bed, can give you a thrill without risking embarrassment. By Lydia Somerville, Senior Editor

Lighten Up Resolution: Lose weight Make it stick: This resolution seems to make its way on the list every year. But in 2009, you can easily make room for fitness in your life by simply making room for it in your house. Any extra bedroom or den can be transformed into a mini fitness studio. Bring Sexy Back Resolution: Increase my sex life Make it stick: To keep this promise, start from the ground up. Help set the mood with a bedroom that is free of clutter, kid’s toys, and other distractions. 1. Clean Up Your Act Get rid of all the junk that accumulates in your bedroom. Don't use it as a dumping ground for kids' art projects, laundry, newspapers, and magazines. No one feels sexy going to bed in a warehouse. First, get everything up off the floor. Store the things that warrant it and trash the things that don't. Clear of the surfaces of chests and tables, and only replace what is meaningful or pretty. You don't want to see anything that reminds you of chores or obligations. Everything your eye lands on should make you feel relaxed and confident 2. Can the Can Lights Overhead lighting is notoriously unflattering. There's nothing sexy about a well-lit room. You want shadows, highlights, and the soft glow of filtered light. Place lamps with ivory shades on each side of your bed, and make sure the bulbs are no more than 60 watts. For even more impact, replace the white bulbs with pink-tinted bulbs. Everybody looks good in this light -- the only thing more flattering is candlelight, and pink light bulbs don't pose a fire hazard. 3. Scents and Sensibility Take the same approach to smell that you took to sight. Get rid of anything that doesn't smell great. Remove the laundry hamper to a bathroom or closet. Evict the dog, just for one night. Wash everything, down to the mattress pad. And make up your bed with the sheets folded back invitingly, the way they do in fine hotels. Choose a scented candle with care. One that's too floral may be off-putting. A better bet is one that smells fresh and clean, like Jo Malone's Grapefruit. The flicker of candlelight will enhance your sexy lighting scheme. 4. Soundtrack The "Law & Order" theme song is not sexy music. Turn off the television! Better yet, remove it from the bedroom. The bedroom should be for two things only: sleep and sex. Put a small stereo in your bedroom and play your favorite music -- it's a great mood enhancer. If you're worried about being overheard by children or neighbors, add sound insulation. Hang curtains and roll out a thick rug -- fabric absorbs sound. Next: 5. Ban the Beanie Babies 5. Ban the Beanie Babies The bedroom is your own private sanctuary, but beware what message you're sending by using it as a display case for your hobbies. Stuffed animals are a no-no, as are too many tiny pillows. What looks good in a bedding store can appear fussy and high-maintenance at home -- not the message you're trying to send. 6. Take a Look Add a mirror somewhere. It doesn't have to be attached to the ceiling, but a cleverly positioned mirror, or even a mirrored piece of furniture, can really spice things up. It will add glimmer and shine, both sexy qualities. A closet door left "accidentally" ajar, with its inside mirror angled toward the bed, can give you a thrill without risking embarrassment. By Lydia Somerville, Senior Editor

People become protective of the babes of the world when it comes to things like smoking while pregnant, or drinking, using appropriate language and otherwise setting a good example. I don't ever recall once hearing anything about setting a good example for my family but eating healthy choices. Where were the articles, WALK-A-THONS, bumper stickers and billboards advocating the wise choices of food? How about a "No Sugar Saturday"? It's January now so of course the channels are filled with weight loss tips, diet promotions and being morbidly obese since 1992, this year is a little bit different. Looking at close to 100 gone off this body, my frame can now feel the efforts beginning to shed. Unfortunately, while compiling some digital photo files, I came across recent pictures of my two adult children and both of them are now morbidly obese. They are only in their early twenties. I am feeling terribly guilty for serving way too many soup casseroles and late night meals. I also wish we had done much more physical activities together. Bike riding, swimming, but it wasn't a priority...work was. My late nights out earning extra income and pulling into the drive-thru at 10 PM for dinner did nothing to promote a healthy lifestyle as a priority for my kids and THAT is what rubbed off on them. Aside from a game show or reality event I hope in many homes across America there are families sitting around watching the biggest loser and learning. I hope mom and dad get some tips that show up in conversation or on the dinner table and the lives of more than a few are changed to a healthier one. As for me, I will join the Discovery Challenge this year as part of my tools to discovering yet more about the me within that is crying to get out. I have the keys and I'm going for the door.

People become protective of the babes of the world when it comes to things like smoking while pregnant, or drinking, using appropriate language and otherwise setting a good example. I don't ever recall once hearing anything about setting a good example for my family but eating healthy choices. Where were the articles, WALK-A-THONS, bumper stickers and billboards advocating the wise choices of food? How about a "No Sugar Saturday"? It's January now so of course the channels are filled with weight loss tips, diet promotions and being morbidly obese since 1992, this year is a little bit different. Looking at close to 100 gone off this body, my frame can now feel the efforts beginning to shed. Unfortunately, while compiling some digital photo files, I came across recent pictures of my two adult children and both of them are now morbidly obese. They are only in their early twenties. I am feeling terribly guilty for serving way too many soup casseroles and late night meals. I also wish we had done much more physical activities together. Bike riding, swimming, but it wasn't a priority...work was. My late nights out earning extra income and pulling into the drive-thru at 10 PM for dinner did nothing to promote a healthy lifestyle as a priority for my kids and THAT is what rubbed off on them. Aside from a game show or reality event I hope in many homes across America there are families sitting around watching the biggest loser and learning. I hope mom and dad get some tips that show up in conversation or on the dinner table and the lives of more than a few are changed to a healthier one. As for me, I will join the Discovery Challenge this year as part of my tools to discovering yet more about the me within that is crying to get out. I have the keys and I'm going for the door.

I can tell you my own fill experiences and maybe that might help you a bit. I'm quite certain I relied heavily on my fills to 'stop me from eating'. Once I healed, I found that my tastebuds had changed and I was also unable to eat foods that I call my red light foods. Foods that trigger me to eat more. A red light food for me is anything with a punch of carbs like pasta fazule (sp?) soup, angel hair pasta. Even in very small amounts I am so carb sensative it pushes me into a hunger zone. So I've become aware that certain foods are foods I need to completely avoid even if they are only in minor amounts. The second thing I learned was how to recognize hunger. I'm a person who started this process as a compulsive overeater so knowing what true hunger felt like was a new experience. Because of that I copied what I was told to do and went forward on faith that eventually I would learn. You said you are not hungry for 4-6 hours. That tells me you are pretty close if not right where you should be. Try eating something for breakfast that is low in bulk and easy to chew and swallow like a boiled egg. Eat that slow because in the morning I know that my stoma feels like it shrunk half it's size. I also don't drink anything first thing in the morning or intake anything with artificial sweetener. For some reason that false sugar puts an edge of hunger moreso than if I had not intaken it. When you say you can eat more than 1 cup is that more than 1 cup of soup or more than one cup of steak? Some things you will find go down easier than others. If I tried to eat one cup of steak I'd be running around in the grass in my backyard sliming and hacking like my cat with a fur ball stuck in her throat. Lastly, study. I am constantly reading articles and trying out new things. Eating the same thing can get boring. Dr. Kirshenbaum's website from the homepage has a link called "Weight Loss Resources", drop the box and go to resources, Weight Loss Resources | Lap Band Of The Rockies - Dr. Gerald Kirshenbaum a book is listed there resources Lap-Band for Life by Dr. Lagardere. It's a good read. Hope this helps. Patty

Everyone have a great week!

I love watching those shows as well. They are so educating. It also gives us sight into what we have to look forward to. You know after this journey of finding out what is wrong with me, why the slow weight loss, why the pain in my body...and I had no doubt it had nothing to do with my Lap-Band. I come away from this reinforced with the confidence in Dr. Kirshenbaum. The Cleveland Clinic has a large bariatric center. They do gastric surgeries there and have a full blown bariatric center that I just happened to visit as part of the diagnostics process to my pain, I do have occasional pain in my stomach, groin, but I have pain everywhere. The neurologist just wanted me to see the bariatric center to rule out any abdominal problems. I met with the doctor who is well known in southeast Florida/Miami. I found them all very professional but did not have the ((vibe)) that I got with Dr. K. Dr. Kirshenbaum, to me, comes across as a physican who loves to heal. So this is a new year and the timing couldn't be better because the 30th I saw the pain doctor who switched my medications to a higher dose. The difference is already noticeable. So again I'm reinforcing the belief that it's all for a purpose, timing. If things seem not to go according to our own timeline, maybe it's because there is another event that is suppose to take place. Is there a lesson to be learned? If so search for it. To all my fellow bandsters, I wish us great achievement in 2009. I believe so many of us are going to have successes in ways we never dreamed possible. And now...reflections from my journey. My work IDs. You can see me getting larger and larger. First ID is 1997. I had lost weight when this photo was taken over the summer. I was beginning to really put on the weight here I had lost weight when I this photo was taken. Couldn't find my ID so I had to go out to have a new photo taken. I was waiting there to meet with the school insurance committee to discuss having a rider added to my insurance so my surgery would be covered. (this didn't happen and eventually I went to Colorado and had my surgery with Dr. K)

FLASHBACK! First Gathering of Dr. K bandsters.