I just found out my surgery will be in July (granted my pre-op testing goes okay) SOOOOOOOOO

Here's a thread for everyone getting banded in July 07!

Does anyone have any good ideas for a neat name we could call ourselves?

Asking for a price certainly does not offend me. I am paying 8500$ But again I am going to have to travel for the surgery... only three hours this time! Around here it was 17000-22000. Couldn't afford that. I am fortunate that I don't have a lot of bills: My car, my surgery, rent, and insurance. I don't have credit cards...and I don't have a family. I don't have to worry about anyone but me. And for the first time in my life, that is who I am taking care of. It is a great feeling.

Oh and thanks again for the compliments. I tell everyone about my band, so that was never an issue for me. But my nutritionist told me not to tell anyone. I talk a lot and there was no way that I could have hid an 80 pound weightloss from my students...they would have thought I was on drugs or something!

Another on again, off again day on the computer. Sounds like lots of news today, most of it pretty good!! Congrats, Karri! Glad you're feeling better, Steph!! Janet.... SIZE 8 is pretty impressive!!

Went out to lunch with friends today. While everyone else was eating salad, potatoes, veggies, meat, gravy..... I had a Club 55+ Chef Salad! It was good but I could only eat the turkey, ham, cheese on top and some of the tomatoes. I didn't feel too deprived and DH let me have one bite of his mashed potatoes!!

I think that last weekend in July will work okay for me. Have to figure out the details... fly, drive, etc!

Have to post this quick before I lose the connection again!!

Good morning Lucky 7's!!! Just wanted to check in and say good morning. I am usually not up this early but seem to be full of energy today. That is good I guess since I have a full plate today. I am going to the darn dreaded dentist today. I HATE THE DENTIST!!! I told you all of the troubles I had last summer when I went and I am petrified of them now. I didn't sleep well and kept thinking of this impending appointment today. :tt2: UUGGGHHH Have a date for the gym today. My aunt is also going. She likes to go together. I am going about an hour before she gets there though because I just feel like I get a better workout if I am going at it myself. I figure that if I go an hour before and then when she gets there I can go at it a little slower and talk while working out. :tt2: It is a win win because I am still going to get my intense hour and then another 1 -1 1/2 hours longer. :thumbup: I think I actually missed working out for the month to month and a half that I wasn't really doing it. I feel so much more energized again now that I am doing it again and so much better. That coupled with the sunshine we are FINALLY seeing the sun in Iowa with warmer tempts (we are supposed to get to 45 today. WOOHOO it is about time!!) has really gave me a boost. I do dare to say that spring really is going to come again. I was really beginning to doubt we would EVER see nicer weather again. This winter has been a VERY VERY long winter here. We have not had a winter like this one in quite a few years so it has made it seem exceptionally long.

Janet I forgot to congratulate you on the size 8. WOW!!!!!!! You go girl!!!:thumbup: I am so freakin proud of you. Now with the trainer........whoa watch out!!! I have thought of getting one of those balls that you were talking about. Give me your input and tell me what you think of them? I seen that bender ball and really want that one. The problem is that I have bought exercise balls in the past and never used them. I think I would be better now but then again I had a treadmill and never used it and then went out and bought myself the eliptical and never used that either so I don't know. Thing is that there is no way that I am going to use one of them at the gym so I was thinking maybe here at home in front of the tv at night after I do my daily gym thingy. Give me your opinion.

Have a wonderful day all my 7's. We are all doing excellent. There are so many compliments to hand out to each and every one of you for your achievements. Just think, summer and spring are comming and think how fast the poundage will drop then. :tongue: Hugs to all!!!!!!

Karri--Where are you going for $8500? After reading your posts, I'm thinking that now is the time to start looking into it. I can not wait to see your after pics! I can see why the doctor told you to up your calories. Once you have the surgery, you'll be able to see more of the positive results of all your hard work, and you'll realize how thin the rest of you really is!

Since my doctor knew that finances were an issue he recommended that I use the financing throught doctorssayyes.com. He has sent many patients to the doctor that uses that financing program in my area, and they have had good results. The surgery fee is 6499$, 999$ anesthesia, and 999$ hospital. This company works with doctors to provide financing and lower costs, but the availability of consultations and surgery dates are limited. Aftercare is not a problem just the initial part. But since I am planning surger for several months out I should be fine.

Yes I can see that I am thin when I am clothed, but as you can tell from my belly pictures, it is a very difficult thing for me to deal with. I am sure that you can all relate! It was starting to get very frustrating that it just wouldn't go away no matter how little I ate or how much I exercised. That is why the doc really suggested that I get it. He said that in his experience he has just found that when people have my body shape and they don't get the tummy tuck they put weight back on because they can't really tell much of a difference. He did say that I could be down to a size 6 (and maybe lower) when I finished. HOLY CRAP! I am really not trying to think of that right now. Even if I stay a size 10 I would be fine. I just don't want to look down and feel like Jabba the Hut's sister!

Fill is a little tight. Forgot about it and took a big swig of my protein drink this morning and just about pb'd all over the tests I was grading! OOPS. If I take it slow I am good.

Okay gotta get back to work!

I have flabby thighs, but fortunately my stomach covers them.

I have flabby thighs, but fortunately my stomach covers them.

Tell me about flabby thighs!! If I have PS, that's probably going to be my priority!

Very bright and sunny here this a.m. still cold... -27 celcius but hey its not rain... so that's the main thing LOL

-16 farenheit for you U.S. gals....:tongue:

Good Morning Gang

Karri - After seeing your picture (Had so go back and search it's funny you can post and I read the one after the pic last night but didn't see the pic ) I think you are making a very wise decision on getting the TT. I could see where that tummy could cause motivational problems - You have lost so much weight and the TT will show you just how much you have lost. I am so very happy for you - and it wasn't that bad ok we all have the bag and sag going on - but we are so much more healthier now that when we started this journey.

Jackie - Truly I think the 8's are a fluke - cuz I had tried on a pair of red capris in a 10 - but the leg seam was messed up - so got another pair - same brand size 10 and could barely get them zipped up. But, these jean do say size 8 and I want to wear them inside out :tongue: - As to the ball - it's one of those big balls that you sit on the trainer sit on one across from me and puts his toes on top of mine and hold my knees with his hands and I lean back and do crunches/sit ups - I don't think I could do it all by my lonesome right now - I don't think I am strong enough to keep my balance and do it - but eventually I will be:smile:. So I can't say that they would be good for the house cuz I need help - I was thinking about buying a treadmill for the house but don't have anywhere to put it except maybe my bedroom - but due the the configuration I wouldn't be able to see the T.V. and I think that I need the displen of going to the gym - it's too easy to get distracted at home and find reasons not to exercise - if you go to the gym - there are no distractions.. I got some weights to use while watching t.v. - but have only done them when I first got them - so - my theroy - keep up your gym membership - I know it's costly - but we are all worth it.

I go to the dentist today too - but it's to get fitted for the permanet bridge so it shouldn't be to bad - Plus my dentist is cute -I love him - but hate the Dentist too...

Peaches - OMW you crack me up... That was too funny

Ok gotta get to work- Will ck back later

Very bright and sunny here this a.m. still cold... -27 celcius but hey its not rain... so that's the main thing LOL

-16 farenheit for you U.S. gals....:tongue:

61 F here right now at 8:19 a.m. - It suppose to be 83 with some high clouds. I think all you cold place people need to come to the Desert next winter and visit me & phyl - you need our sunshine..

Janet - If you want to use the ball without your trainer there, scoot it up close to the wall so that your knees are resting against the wall and do the sit ups. That will help balance you.

Yeah we have rain. I lived in Western Oregon and Western Washington for all but one year of my life and I miss the rain!

Peaches- :thumbup: Ahhhhh Haaa haaa, I think I peed my pants!!!! :tt2:

Karri - That is soooo wonderful, congratulations, I can tell from your pics that you have a lot a skin to get off. You are going to be soooo happy!! :tongue:

Janet- Congrats on the pants. :tt2:

My DH is outta town this week. I'm sleeping all alone. :thumbup:

Steph, I'm so proud of you! You went the extra mile yesterday to get the help you needed and I'd like to think I would have done the same, but I'm not completely confident about that. I hope my post didn't sound too much like a lecture. :sad:

Karri, you are amazing! I love watching your personal growth with each and every post. Your enthusiasm and enjoyment of life, and yes, even your rants, are an inspiration to me.

Peaches - your flabby thighs/stomach comment had me spitting my Water at my monitor. It feels so good to laugh, and I can almost guarantee I'll get one from reading the posts of the day. Obviously they sneak up on me sometimes and I spit the contents in my mouth at the computer. :laugh:

Phyl, it's wonderful to have you back! I love your drive-by posts. You can almost hear the panic in your posts as you try to fire them off before your connection dies. Too funny. :biggrin2:

I read all the posts last night and this morning, but most have them have been filed safely in my forgettory. :tongue: It's kind of a so-so day for me today. I didn't get much sleep last night. I'm excited and apprehensive about my surgery tomorrow. At least this time I know what to expect, but I still have the same old concerns. And of course I'm worrying about how my hubby and son will survive if they have to fix their own dinner and Breakfast tomorrow and Thursday! :tt2::thumbup::tt2::thumbup:

At times I don't think I'm happy unless I have something to be paranoid about.