Hey all.

So there's a bunch of us in this group, all split up into our different banding days. I was thinking that it might be a good idea to have one master thread as we move through the month, in which all of us could post as we go, from the pioneers going on March 1st to the finalists on March 31st.

I'd love to talk about our anticipation and any worries as we approach our banding date, for people to talk about exactly what happened from the moment they walked into the hospital door until the second they walked out, about how recovery is going, about weight loss and plateaus, about non-scale victories and challenges.

I was thinking that if we all contribute to one thread, it'll form a more substantial channel for information and support. At the moment, I was thinking that we might be too spread out into individual date, and that a central thread would be a really good backbone for the group, in addition to the date-specific threads.

What do you think?

Fenton

Harley, those are GREAT! Thanks for sharing them.

I won't be able to attend the NY bandster conference, but don't weep for me: I shall be in Hawaii.

I really a little jealous... I can't eat lettuce... not one bite since being banded... even when I didn't have restriction, lettuce made me sick.

Wow Harley. That post was wonderful. I plan on printing that out and using it frequently. How many times do we forget so many simple ideas. I've heard of all of those little tidbits, but have forgotten most of them. Looking at food with those mindsets will allow any and all of us to modify our eating habits for the better; banded or not. Thank you for that.

I'm feeling a little motivated!

hi folks... anyone attending the lapband conference in nyc at the end of march? http://cts.vresp.com/c/?MadisonAvenuePlastic/9cd9e4f44a/94e98ef0a7/c71d7c1444

i admit, i've always been more of a reader than a writer on this thread. still, it would be great to put some faces to some names and have coffee with a few of my fellow march bandsters. i can't believe it's been nearly a year. oy.

glad to see everyone doing so well. i'm stalled just outside "onderland", but i do have a fill skedded next week. it's annoying how one will last me 4-6 weeks, then it's like poof... no restriction at all. does that happen to anyone else?

Is that the conference from ObesityHelp.com? I had looked into tha tone March 20, 21, even if I drove up and shared a room the $$$ at this time would kill me. Lay-offs predicted at work...a hospital, no less!!!!!! So have to watch the budget. I was really looking forward to it though.

Yes, we are all ready to celebrate out band-aversary..yippee!!!! We all can say we are a success, choosing to go for the surgery, following the guidelines, making lifestyle changes. WTG for all of us!!!:mad2:

I was just checking in and reading your post Harley(very good points!) when Margaritaville came on. Now there's a sign if I ever got hit by one. Number one Buffet fan (yes?) passing on great info and Jimmy singing "It's my own damn fault".

Yep so true.

welllllll.....maybe not number one fan....but definitely top 10....I'm borderline obsessed.

Okay....something cool happened and I have to share it with my bandster buddies!

We're doing an event in March for a ladies night....the boss wasn't happy with the ad copy.....so he asked me and one of the other girls to model for the ad. I was resistant, but hey when the boss asks....what ya gonna do?

Well, the copy came back today and it was one of those 'aha' moments where I realized how far I'd come.....looking at the picture, I couldn't believe it was me.....I felt like a big ol' idiot because it almost made me tear up....which is totally unacceptable in the middle of the harley shop.....but anyway, it was cool.

Aww! I love that story!

Great NSV Harley!! Had to lol about crying in the HD shop:)

Harley

are we going to have the pleasure of seeing the pics too?

Im sure Jonathan would love seeing pretty babes on big bikes.

I wanna see the ad too. Congrats!

Great NSV Harley.

I also vote to see the ad..

When I get the final copy, I'll scan it......thanks you guys!

Harley

Thanks for the tips on mindful eating and congrats on the picture moment. It must have felt great to finally see how far you've come.

Fenton

I really like the idea about the weekly exercise group and maybe the claw could get us if we don't exercise. LOL

Hi guys. I am going through a super stressful time on my job right now, working incredible amounts of hours and I'm pretty exhausted but I know I can't eat to deal with being tired or eat to deal with feeling stressed so this really is putting me to the test of whether I've learned my lapband lessons or not. I slipped yesterday and saw a free bag of kettle potato chips and scarfed them down one by one, yes grease and all, and was then ashamed I'd done that. I did log it in and the calories went on paper in my bodybugg food logger so its not that it was mindless but it was surprising how fast those greasy chips slid right on down. Ugh! So it was a blessing this a.m. to see a new number on the scale I hadn't seen so far. I did do better this week of protecting my workout time, getting either to the gym at our work for my lunch hour or leaving so I had enough energy left to work out at the gym outside of work after work. I'm going to put in maybe 8 hours of work from home today on Saturday but I'm planning to hit the gym at the end of it to work out those stress things.

My sisters had got me some new clothes for my birthday at the end of January and for Valentines and I took some pictures and emailed them to them -- they live in different states and haven't seen me in person since I lost 90 lbs, and they are so encouraging and so proud of my progress. They can't believe the transformation. I am looking forward to the day when I can see them in person and let them hug me and be able to put their arms all the way around me and give me a really good hug! Ahhhhhh

Take care,

SpecialK

That's a real special story about you and your sisters. I can't wait for them to hug you and get their arms around you also.