Hello Junbies ......

I haven't seen a June Band Crew thread yet so thought I would start it .

I'll be banded on June 9th in Texas. I'm getting very excited about it. I know that the band is just a "tool" to aid in my weight loss journey and it will take a lot of hard work on my part to make it successful. I've been overweight my whole life with the earliest memories being around age 4. Although no one else in my family is overweight, I am extremely fortunate to have full family support in my decision. I know that there are many people who's family doesn't offer the support they need. I would love to meet other pre-bandsters being banded in June to walk with me to the banded side of life and offer each other support.

I wish you all the best.

Melissa Lea :hippie:

Pre-bandster 240 lbs

June 9, 2006

Spivak

self-pay

Avilla - welcome back.

Guess I better remove my mini goal ticker. The reunion came and went and I was 190. It was so much fun seeing so many friends from high school (DH and I went to same school). It's so refreshing to get older. Wrinkles and a larger waistline are a non-issue! I have to admit it was a lot more fun than if I had been in my size 22's.

OUr move will come soon. We close on new house 10/31 and our present one 11/5. I'm leaving a new 2500 sq ft home to move to a smaller patio home built in 1978. We're buying a lifestyle more than anything. Golf for DH and walking and biking for me. This home pulls at our heartstrings. WE plan on it being our last!

I'm glad you found a place you love Pinky! I'm off work today due to fires in the area. Nothing too close to me, so I'm safe. I've actually been 162 for 3 days in a row, so I'm claiming it. I bought some size 12 pants! I hope everyone is doing well. Have a healthy week!

Socalgal - I haven't forgotten our challenge, but I have changed my timeline a bit. I've been at 189 - 190 and my goal is to stay below 190 until after our move!!! Being too tight never has helped me lose much of anything and I seem to go from loose to tight in the blink of an eye.

I am soooo proud of your resolve to finish this job. You've inspired me to get to that 175 mark as a minimum and I will! I'd like to change my 10/31 goal to 187 (down 2 pounds). Is that ok with you? I need something to work on - otherwise I'll use stress as an excuse.

Congrats with the house Pinky. Sorry, I've been so out of the loop. I love my new job but it takes up A LOT of my time. I will be glad and happy to spend this weekend at home. I hope to enjoy the cooler weather out doors some and the usual chores.

Socalgal --glad to know that you are safe from the fires.

Have a great week everyone.

Melissa

SoCalGal3..........please keep us updated. The fires are so terrible.

I am home and have been all week. I am off work due to poor air quality. My cousin was evacuated, but not me. They are getting a handle on the fires and many people have gone back home. However, MANY homes were burned, so many people have no home to go to. Several thousand are still evacuated and fires continue to burn. Bush and Schwarzeneggar are here today. There are fires in L.A. too. This is a regular occurance here, which doesn't make it easier, but we are familiar with the situation. Thanks for your concern.

Pinky-Of course you can modify your goal. You are so busy with the move, etc. I haven't been exercising due to the smoke in the air. I do have asthma. But that is probably just me making excuses! I had a huge bloody nose yesterday. The worst I've ever had in my life. Probably just the extremely dry and smoky air.

I have another possible roommate coming to look at my 2nd bedroom tomorrow.

Have a good rest of week/weekend.

This is the latest photo of me from last Saturday with my 2 cousins. I am on the left(the tallest one) in the size 12 jeans! I'm trying to see a difference from my morning of surgery pic.

Socalgal, you look awesome. You are an inspiration to us all, especially the Vegas group, since we can see the continued progress you are making.

I have "finally" dropped below 180. I saw 178 once but I'm staying around 179. I have set a personal goal to be below 175 for Christmas. I am actually considering an unfill. I know I would eat more healthy if I wasn't so tight.

Melissa, did you get another fill while you were in Houston? How are you doing?

I have been doing some traveling again. We bought a new car three weeks ago and have put over 4K miles on it so far. I am enjoying being home right now and loving the fall weather.

My brother passed away last week from diabetes and heart disease. I am hoping his passing will motivate me and others in my family to take better care of the bodies we were given.

Happy weekend to everyone.

Barbara- I am so sorry for the loss of your brother.

Congrats on the new car and the scale movement and thanks for the compliment!

Lots of changes going on. First, sorry Barbara12 for your loss. As you say, it makes us stop and think about what we are doing to our bodies. Time to rededicate.

Socalgirl, glad you are not in direct harm's way with the fires. Take care about the breathing. When the fires came over from Mexico in 1999 I came down with bronchitis and that began some pretty bad immune problems.

Your picture is awesome. I can see a big change from Vegas. You have to be at goal or very, very close. I am so happy for you and your success.

PinkyLee I can't wait until you are living up the street. It will be great having you in the neighborhood.

I have had a sinus infection for the last few days. I had to stay off of work for 2 days and with the weekend that has given me days to get better. I am on the mend and will go back to work Monday.

The good news about getting sick is not wanting to eat. I think I lost a few lbs so maybe I can keep this up and get back on track. I need to get back to exercising as well.

So many of you are at goal or close. Congrats.

Hey everyone!

Socalgal --you look awesome!! Keep up the great work. Also, very glad that the fires are staying at bay from where you live. Hopefully the air will clear out very soon.

Barb12 --so sorry to hear of your brothers passing. And yes, I did go to the surgicenter for a fill. It's nice to be back on track. I am down about 6 pounds since then. WooHoo. But that was the 6 pounds I had gained the past several months. For the first time in a very long time, I am feeling very confident that I can do this. I will win this battle.

Barb4 --sorry to hear of your sinus infection. Glad to hear you are on the mend.

Pinky ---hang in there with the craziness of the move. It will be well worth it!!! Touch base when you get settled.

Melissa Lea

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!! I hope everyone's day has been filled with plenty of friendly tricks and a few treats.

This year --the "candy" hasn't been a problem like last year. I just decided not to buy any. I did have one small treat today at one of my offices. I was satisified with that.

Pinky --I hope that your closing and move is going well. It's almost over !!!

Have a great one!

Melissa Lea

Where is everyone? I had a NSV yesterday. I went to the post office to pick up a registered letter and I had to show ID. The clerk said "Are you sure that's you?" when I showed her my driver's license. She said "You look much thinner, you must have lost a lot of weight". I didn't think I looked fat in my pic, but I guess I did. I'm still having trouble with my body image. A co-worker told me yesterday I was REALLY THIN. I still feel plump! I wonder how long it takes to realize you aren't so fat anymore.....

SoCal that is a really neat NSV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are looking great.

I haven't seen PinkyLee yet. My husband talked to her on Friday when the moving truck was there. Hope to see her soon in her new house. I'm sure she is really busy with the new house and closing on her former house I think tomorrow.

I've been just maintaing. I'm getting stuck more so that's scary for me. I don't do that unless I'm overfilled. I think its stress. I've been extremely busy at work, working long hours. I'm taking a little break from all of this. Hope to hit it hard in Jan., but meanwhile trying not to do too much damage.

Sounds like many of you are so close to goal. That is terrific.

Hi all,

Well after several months of intentionally staying a bit loose so I can enjoy life, I have decided to break down and get a small fill. I am still losing ever so slowly (2-3 lbs. a month), but with the holidays approaching, and starting to feel hungry sooner after a meal, and able to eat quite a bit at a sitting, I think I'll just head off two months of plateau, and hopefully avoid temptation like I did so successfully this time last year. My BF has put on 20 lbs in the year since we met (mostly finishing off my restaurant dinners!) and he's ready to get serious now, too, so we can support each other. I've got 30 more pounds to goal, and April 1 is my target date. Time for a jump start. How are the rest of you doing? Seems awful quiet lately. Are we all slowing down as we inch closer to goal? How are you going to get through the holidays? Who is too tight and who is too loose?