Great Idea - I will do it right now !!

Hi

I am Janet and I am a recovering food addict :wink2:

I was banded 7/17/07 - My starting weight was 250 - I'm 5'4

Today (just over 10 months out) I am 154 - size 8 pants (was 18/20) Medium tops (was 22/24)

I got banded as I wanted to extend the years that I have left on this planet and to do that I knew that I needed to lose weight.

The band has been the tool I needed. For the first time in my life I have been able to achieve this goal (actually getting to my goal weight)

If you want a buddy - support - help - suggestions - Please feel free to call upon me - I will gladly share my journey with you - the journey is still on going and by helping you I will be helping me (staying motivated and accountable) and then one day you can pay it forward and help someone else.

Quick post before I head out - lost ability to change font - don't have time to clear cookie cache etc... Sorry about the small print

Charlene - When my parents died - I told all my brothers - Bank of America is not written on my forehead, so don't come asking me for $$$

2 of them did and guess what my answer was - NO - in fact that was my last conversation w/my bro Jimmy right before he died in 99 - Wasn't a happy conversation - but I know that it was the right thing to do cuz none of my bro's are/were fiscally responsible...

Hug on family issues...

Well off to do my normal weekly shopping and to pick up a few gifts for gf at work - then gotta come home and bathe the dogs so they are cute for Zoey tomorrow ;0)

CBL

Hey gang, I am so excited. My first 5k is tonite. I am trying to study for exams next week but I am struggling to concentrate. I have 3 finals mon, tue, and wed. I already received one grade and it was an A! The other classes are looking like B's. I had a mock up of the licensing exam last week and scored really high on it. Much higher than the first time I took it. Also took some current photos today and compared them to my before's. That is always a good boost to my confidence. Not sure how to get them on here for you to see. I feel great and am so pumped. I am still at 204. Thought I would have lost some seeing as I am sticking to it but my body is holding onto it.

Ok I figured it out. This is me preop and today, dressed for my 5k.

Julie, So sorry to hear about your still being in pain.

Jessica........Awesome! WTG! and we are running with ya tonite! GO JESSICA! GO JESSICA! GO JESSICA!!! GO! GO! GO!

Julie, vicodin keeps me awake. Maybe you should try the muscle relaxers and xanax like Charlene suggested. The meds for my Sjogren's Syndrome gradually reduced my pain considerable. Need a lot less anti-inflammatory now. Seldom take Tylenol. Just the SS med's and one anti-inflammatory.

Hope you get to the bottom of it.

Cheri

Hey gang, I am so excited. My first 5k is tonite. I am trying to study for exams next week but I am struggling to concentrate. I have 3 finals mon, tue, and wed. I already received one grade and it was an A! The other classes are looking like B's. I had a mock up of the licensing exam last week and scored really high on it. Much higher than the first time I took it. Also took some current photos today and compared them to my before's. That is always a good boost to my confidence. Not sure how to get them on here for you to see. I feel great and am so pumped. I am still at 204. Thought I would have lost some seeing as I am sticking to it but my body is holding onto it.

Ok I figured it out. This is me preop and today, dressed for my 5k.

Julie, So sorry to hear about your still being in pain.

Jewel, you ROCK! You look like you are almost 1/2 the size you were! Way to go!

Jessica, congratulations on everything. You do, indeed, rock! I'm actually sitting with my feet up for a while before guests start arriving. I've been cleaning all day. I actually did a lot of vacuuming, something I never do because of the fake knees. Just took some Tylenol because I'm aching. Ken has been working full time and could not help me clean. Drywall powder everywhere. Still don't have the basement floor or bathroom done but that didn't seem to keep people from having fun at Thanksgiving. I did no cooking. People are bringing appetizers or Desserts and we're ordering pizza. Should be more than enough food. Can't think of anything I forgot but there always is.

Cheri

Jessica, congratulations on everything. You do, indeed, rock! I'm actually sitting with my feet up for a while before guests start arriving. I've been cleaning all day. I actually did a lot of vacuuming, something I never do because of the fake knees. Just took some Tylenol because I'm aching. Ken has been working full time and could not help me clean. Drywall powder everywhere. Still don't have the basement floor or bathroom done but that didn't seem to keep people from having fun at Thanksgiving. I did no cooking. People are bringing appetizers or desserts and we're ordering pizza. Should be more than enough food. Can't think of anything I forgot but there always is.

Cheri

Good Evening Everyone....Well, got the color to work but not the size. Tried everything. Going to just give up on it....not one to give up easily but no use wasting my time.

All plans canceled for today. Had some good ones, too. Housebound. All we can hear is the icy snow hitting the house and high winds. Cannot see very far out in the yard. Hatefully cold. AZ is beginning to feel like home. DH just might have to do some talking to get me to come back.

Stayed busy all day making Christmas goodies and getting them boxed up and ready to send on Monday. DH is snoring in the chair with a snoring 100lb black lab on his lap.

Jessica...thinking of you as you run your 5K. So proud of everything you have accomplished. Way to go on the grades and good luck on the rest of your tests. All this schooling will be behind you b/4 you know it. Great photos. Thanks for sharing. You look like a totally different person.

Cheri....have fun hosting your party tonight. Good way to do it with others bringing things. Don't worry about your house. I bet it is just perfect and ppl are more at ease when the hostess is at ease...so...just relax and have fun.

Julie...wish you could figure out what would work best for you and allow you to sleep. There's gotta be a solution to the problems you are facing. Just gotta be. Don't give up. Keep on trying to find that doctor that is willing to dig into this for you.

OK>>>>been missing so much this week but caught up on posts. Just a really draining week and just cannot take the time right now. Love ya all...just spent.. Have to get the kitchen back in order. Looks like a bunch of 4 yr olds were baking for the holidays. Talk to you all later.

Kelly, if you do the size before the color it goes back to 2. Color then size on "fast reply".

Apples, I saw your weather report. The whole state is covered in snow. I heard it was going to be a bad winter, and I thought last year was the worst in years. Stay Warm.

Cheri, doesn't it feel good to get the prepping done early? Have a great party!

I did not cook chicken. We went to a mexican restaurant. I ate fish and veggies. The last bite of fish got stuck......we had to leave so I could pb. Ugh! What's up with all the getting stuck? I think it is the cooler weather. I rescheduled my dr's appt for the 30th, but I don't think I will need a fill. Oh, Apples, you state is on the news right now......20inches of snow and the airports are closed. Warm HUGS going your way!

Kelly, if you do the size before the color it goes back to 2. Color then size on "fast reply".

Apples, I saw your weather report. The whole state is covered in snow. I heard it was going to be a bad winter, and I thought last year was the worst in years. Stay Warm.

Cheri, doesn't it feel good to get the prepping done early? Have a great party!

I did not cook chicken. We went to a mexican restaurant. I ate fish and veggies. The last bite of fish got stuck......we had to leave so I could pb. Ugh! What's up with all the getting stuck? I think it is the cooler weather. I rescheduled my dr's appt for the 30th, but I don't think I will need a fill. Oh, Apples, you state is on the news right now......20inches of snow and the airports are closed. Warm HUGS going your way!

Yep, Arlene...this sucks and is not our first storm of the year...really lose track after awhile. Thanks for the warm hugs, BTW.

I don't think I would be getting a fill anytime soon, Arlene....at least not until these PB episodes pass. Just fill up on more veggies when you are hungry to get you through when hunger hits.

Went to DS's GF's 8 yrs old's dance (ballet) recital last night. So, so cute. It included 2yr olds through Seniors in high school. Our dear little girl was the lead dancer in her age group (8-10). All I know is she is very coordinated and graceful and we enjoyed ourselves. Her 5 yr old brother was there with us in the audience. He let us know that the Santa that walked up on stage at the end of the recital was "Definately an impostor...cuz real Santas don't carry their gifts in black garbage bags". I'm just having such a tough time not loving these two kids up too much. They are so much fun.

Thank you all you sisters and mommas. It was an awesome experience and I finished in my own record time 45 min. I am amazed at how far I have come. So is hubby. He told me he used to have to walk slow when walking next to me so I could keep up. Now he struggles to keep up with me. My brother fished in 19 minutes! My dad showed up with his girlfriend and another friend to cheer me on. I had quite a cheering squad as I crossed. I posted a video to you tube, You can click on the link in my signature if you wanna see me cross the finish line. I am walking on cloud 9 right now. There were 3000 runners there. I never saw my doc but that doesn't mean he wasn't there. I will ask him about it on my next visit.

Good evening. Just got home from taking DD back to the airport, we had a nice weekend. I'm a little behind in the posts here.

Not sure why some can't get color and some can. Also I can click on size first in fast reply, then I choose my color and then bold. I use the Fast reply at the bottom of the posts, if that helps anyone.

Was so hard to see DD leave, but I've been very lucky to see her as much as I do. Today is the first day of her third trimester she said and she is finally looking pregnant. Hard to believe she's as far along as she is.

Julie, sorry to hear you are having so much pain. Can't you go back to Mayo and say what they told you to do isn't working and what's next???

Jewel, congrats on the 5k that's awesome!

Julie - so sorry you are in so much pain.

Jewel - Congrats on the run WTG

I started working at Sams today just had orientation so far I love the company they do alot of stuff for there employees that I have never had from another company. I am tired so I will talk more about it later. I am so wide open still so I am struggling to not eat so much but it is so hard

Thank you all you sisters and mommas. It was an awesome experience and I finished in my own record time 45 min. I am amazed at how far I have come. So is hubby. He told me he used to have to walk slow when walking next to me so I could keep up. Now he struggles to keep up with me. My brother fished in 19 minutes! My dad showed up with his girlfriend and another friend to cheer me on. I had quite a cheering squad as I crossed. I posted a video to you tube, You can click on the link in my signature if you wanna see me cross the finish line. I am walking on cloud 9 right now. There were 3000 runners there. I never saw my doc but that doesn't mean he wasn't there. I will ask him about it on my next visit.

Jessica...saw your last blog entry and the video. Way to to, Little Girl! Sooooooooooooo darned proud of you! Gold Star day for you!!!! Sending the love.

Hey Great, figured you were busy with DD. Hard to believe she is that far along already, Grandma!

Jessica, congratulations! Awesome job. Think back a year would you, in your wildest dreams, thought you would run a 5K? That is such a huge accomplishment.

I haven't posted in a few days. I have been very busy physically and emotionally. I got a call at work on Thursday that my 85 year old Dad had fallen and was being taken to the hospital. Well, the good news is, even though he broke his arm, the break does not require surgery. They sent him home with a sling and vicodin. It has been an emotional time for me. It is difficult watching a parent become helpless. I know, I know, it is just a broken arm. Unfortunately, he isn't acting like it is just a broken arm. He is acting like he had major surgery. Granted he is 85 and in a lot of pain. The bruising is just starting to come to the surface. I am just torn. Yesterday he was able to get himself up from the chair and the couch, which he hadn't done since the break, so he is making progress in his independence. He has been independent until this point and I hope he can regain that independence. He has lived by himself and has fought giving up the house. He won't hear of assisted living and he doesn't want to come live with me. The doctor says it will be 3 weeks until physical therapy can start and 6 weeks before the bone heals.

What I am struggling with is where to find a person to come by in the daytime to give him a hand and whether or not he will even accept having someone come in. I guess we will just have to sit him down and talk to him. I can stay home from work a little longer but I, like all working people, can't stay home forever. Has anyone been through this? Where do I start to look for day care help?

I apologize for unloading on all of you. I am just not sure what to do.