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.

OMG you all have been junking up the thread this morning haven't you -

Lori - Didn't you feel so STRONG AND IN CONTROL when you told those Fritos off - I really mean this - I know for me I feel very impowered when I am in control - I guess that's pretty much why I stay in control - I'm a control freak LOL

Joyce- Sounds like you have been busy 29th is out for me as family is coming - also have these 3 dogs now is going to be a bit of a problem if I can't find someone to take care of them - Andrew has 2 so if he can/will come and watch my dogs - then there are 5 at my house ugh !!! Don't know if I can get Deb to house sit again - and Kenneling - well they have never been kennelled..

Jodi - OMG your life is too busy for me girl - where do you find the time and energy LOL

Good Ju Ju on your date tonite.

Julie ?????

Well gotta go eat - as you guys must already know (by all the receipts - I sent this morning) I'm hungry !!!!!!

Jodi...just relax and have fun on your date...unless he's a freak and then excuse yourself to go to the restroom to figure out an escape plan. LOL You know, you just do what you think is right for you and Dassi when it comes to giving gifts at the party. Sometimes ppl get just ridiculous when it comes to things like this. You are a single mom and working hard to pull off a very nice party for Dassi. Go online and type in "Kate Aspen" . I was helping with an event about six months ago that I needed to get some thank you gifts. I found some really nice quality things on their clearance that were just put with each place setting. And, got them each for $2.99.

To answer your question. We are heading out in the morning to drive to Tucson. Will be back around March 5-6. Ready to blow this pop stand! I will be able to be online some during the trip (will have to wrestle DH for the laptop to get him away from being glued to his "Ag Talk" site).

Joyce...What I know so far about going through KS....McPearson, Pratt, Federal are the three cities that DH had written down. Not sure but, knowing DH the vehicle will only veer off course for looking at agricultural equipment. Let me know if any of those cities are near you and I will see what comes.

Linda...you always have a way of making us all feel special...thanks for that.

Good afternoon. Just got home from costco, eye dr and pedicure. First eye dr, not good. The spot is still there, he now doesn't think it's a dot hemragge, but instead a micro anueryism (my medical term spelling is not good) it hasn't changed so good news, it didn't get worse, bad news it's still there. I need to get it rechecked in 6 mos and watch for any warning signs of floaters, flashes of light or worsening vision. It has me a little freaked out but am praying it's just gone next time. Maybe I will go to specialist next time to be sure.

Linda, yes I know you were joking about my travel. But then I thought I hope I didn't come across as braggy.

Jodi, have fun on your date tonight. Wow those bat mitzvahs are sure expensive. Reminds me of the 'quincineros' parties the Mexican culture around here (more in Denver) have for their daughters 15th birthdays, huge affairs, formals, etc. When DD was an event planner she said they costed as much or more than a wedding.

Joyce, nice to see you posting again. Hope your knee is better soon.

LauraK, well I think you are special too! Any more dates with Mr Filet Mignon??

I am pooped. I was leaving for the dentist and got a call from my mother's retirement place. They had called 911 for her. So I sat in the ER with her for five hours. She has low potassium and a bladder infection. I had to go get her things. She is on an IV and should be better soon. I guess you would say I am on the train. I haven't eaten yet and it is past 3pm. I know.......Focus! I think I will eat some thin sliced deli meat around a cheese stick. No......I didn't exercise. I walked a lot today. Later peeps!

I am pooped. I was leaving for the dentist and got a call from my mother's retirement place. They had called 911 for her. So I sat in the ER with her for five hours. She has low potassium and a bladder infection. I had to go get her things. She is on an IV and should be better soon. I guess you would say I am on the train. I haven't eaten yet and it is past 3pm. I know.......Focus! I think I will eat some thin sliced deli meat around a cheese stick. No......I didn't exercise. I walked a lot today. Later peeps!

Always a scare when you get those calls, Arlene. Hope your mom will recover from all of this soon. You take care of yourself. Prayers said. Sending warm hugs from cold MN

Thanks Apples. My mother is getting frail. When she gets sick she gets so stubborn and won't go to the doctor......then this is what happens......a hospital stay.

I just ate some deli meat around a cheese stick. We will probably eat fajitas tonight. I definitely am not in the mood to cook.

Okay, does anyone have a thumb or finger that keeps popping out of place? This started a week ago. My thumb is driving me crazy. Now it is sore too. My DS said her husband had a "trigger finger" and had to have surgery. I hope not. I just don't need this right now. That is my vent for the day.

Arlene, sorry to hear about your mom. Hope she's better soon. Good job staying on the wagon in midst of the stress!!!

Apples, if I don't get on later, and if I do and forget, SAFE TRAVELS tomorrow!! I think you should talk DH into taking a LBT gal route to AZ and stop by let's see, KS for Joyce, IL for Cheri and Sandy, IA for LInda, UT for me, TX for Arlene, etc. LOL the scenic route! LOL

WHew, I got another session of exercise in today if you count reogranizing my pantry. I got these neat organizer things for cans that organizes them and rotates them, you put newer ones in the top and use them from the bottom. Anyway I emptied the whole thing, wiped down shelves (found bugs in my oatmeal GROSS it'll be awhile before I ever eat oatmeal again) and then restocked it. We also have shelves in the basement we keep extra pantry stuff in (buy in bulk when on sale etc) so I was up and down the stairs getting older stuff to put in and taking new stuff down. My quads were sore already and now all those stairs they are a burnin!!

Lori - way to go on pantry cleaning and the exercise you are doing. Sore muscles for me too.

Arlene - so sorry about scare with your Mom. I'm very proud of you for controling eating in the face of this stress. Good luck with the finger problem.

Busy day for me in KC. The new printer is going to need to be replaced. The blue ink doesn't work correctly. grrrrr.......

Yeah, for Apples to come in my neck of the woods would be more like a cross country trip. Lori, where did you get those rotating can thingys? I am always looking for organizing stuff. I just bought a rotating cosmetic thing from QVC by Lori Granier. I also went to their clearance and got some black Rockport tennis shoes. They had 10w. I couldn't believe it! 39.95. Not bad.

Arlene, I got the can organizer things at costco. I think it was a 'special event' not sure if they carry them all the time. Then I got some plastic bin type things at Ikea to put in all my little things that either don't stack well or stand well in the pantry and tried to sort them. Like I have one for baking that has nuts, chips, that kind of stuff in it. I'll probably be so organized I won't be able to find anything, I'm so used to my unorganization. LOL

Never heard of the finger problem, weird, hope you don't need surgery

Cheri....where the he)) were you today when I needed you???? Would have loved to see you come up against the chicken strip chicken Soup french fry eating woman.

Apples, I think you did the right thing the way you handled her. You can't argue with someone like that and they need to have their own "Aha" moment. You can't force them. She has her own reasons for not believing you.

I remember when I was going through my divorce and my ex would call me and start to yell at me for the things I was asking for in the settlement-things which I was entitled to by law. I would tell him I wasn't going to talk about that and hang up. He would tell the kids about it and they would start to yell at me for asking for those things, particularly my one son, who would tell me I hadn't done anything to earn them. I would tell him it wasn't his business and walk away. One time, my ex was in the driveway when i came home from a walk and he started telling me I was acting like a victim in the divorce and I looked at him and said, "John, I love you, I forgive you, and I am not your victim." And I walked away and went in the house.

That was a very liberating moment for me. I really should have added, "Bless your heart." I have to remember that in the future.

Taking a lot of Zicam and zinc cough drops has really limited the impact of this cold. Nyquil gave me a good night's sleep which is just essential to getting better.

Funny thing happened when I was dealing with an ADHD oppositional child today. I laughed at him and told him that during the time he took to argue with me he could have learned all his times facts and he started to tell me he knows them and I laughed and said,"I love you Colby." Without thinking, in the middle of his argument, he responded,"I love you too." and kept arguing for a second and then looked like he wanted to to take it back and said, "Wait a..." The other kids burst out laughing and it was the highlight of my week.

Chew! Chew!

Cheri

Cheri - loved hearing how you handled your ex in the driveway.

My very carefully thought out approach (for 38 years) the few times I encounter my ex -- treat him like a fresh, steaming pile of cow manure.

Don't look at it, don't stand near it, and DEFINITELY don't talk to it.

There are very valid reasons for this very harsh decision - I am empowered and always prepared for an unexpected meeting.

Joyce, I will have to remember that.....too funny. I don't have an ex, but there are plenty of peeps that make me feel that way.

I went out for fajitas. I had Tacos el Carbon. It is fajita meat chopped up in a tortilla. I just unrolled it and ate the meat. I also ate the guacamole.....probably 1/4 cup. Now I need to get my Water in. I left in such a hurry I only had one cup of coffee and one glass of tea.

Janet, thanks for the recipes. Let me know how the casserole came out.

Tomorrow......walk in the morning, eat Breakfast.......sit at the hospital My mother sounded so good this evening I think she will be home early. It is amazing how low potassium and low sodium can really mess with your head.

Gang please say a prayer for my gf Karla from my #7 thread - she's having tummy issues (hopefully not the band) and is in the ER right now..

Arlene - Hugs on Mom issues - glad you stayed on the wagon...

Cheri I too love that story...

Great wtg on pantry - I did that a few months ago but I have baskets - I don't go to Costco on a weekly basis - In fact since it's just you and dh - you buy that much bulk stuff - even when I had Andrew - the only thing I really bought food wise was meat - veggies - the other stuff was just too much for the 2 of us..

Apples - LOL the route that everyone wants you to take - you would never get to AZ and most of the country they want you to go to is cold !!! Hopefully I can make it down for 1 night

Tonite is my non-exercise nite - got the stuff for the cabbage dish - going to go make it in a few - but I'm using extra lean beef - onion = bell pepper - jar spahgetti sauce - and I am not going to pre-cook the cabbage - will let it cook longer in the oven and got lf cheese...

Will let you know how it goes

Hey Girls!

I had a Janet moment at the grocery store today too! I was in the dairy aisle after I picked up my fat free yogurt and was walking past the cheese. You see, cheese is my absolute downfall. There were these containers of cheese spread and cheese dip. I love all of that crap. Well, NOT TODAY!!!!! I looked at it for a longing few seconds and said to myself "Self, it is not worth it! You do not want that, and it is going to make you fat!" Then I felt like I wanted to stick my tongue out at it. I didn't, but man, was it tempting. I won that battle.

I am envious of all of your travels!!! Have a wonderful time Apples and Great. Be safe but have soooo much fun. The both of you deserve it.

Lori~ Any news on your daughter and the baby? Did the test results come back yet? Did I miss something? I try to keep track of each post, but somtimes I am trying to multi-task. Also, WTG on your exercise!!!

Jodi~ That party sounds like something!!!! Wow. She is a lucky girl.

I will try to get back on for more later, but I am going to spend some time with Andrew now.

food for the day:

Breakfast~ Slim Fast

Lunch~ 1/2 of Protein drink, 4 cubes of cheese, 4 "party tray" sized slices of salami

Dinner~ 4-5 oz chicken Breast (poached in Balsamic Vinegar, low sodium chicken broth, water), mixed veg, 1/2 redskin potato

Haven't calculated calories, yet, but around 800.