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.

Julie...not sure about when I will head to the lake this week. Still knee deep in bookwork today but hoping to finish it all by tonight. Thinking it will be tomorrow night b/4 I take off or even maybe Friday. Have a birthday party for a special 5yr old neighbor girl up there on Sat. evening. We are known as Uncle and Auntie up there. 90% of our fun up there is adopting the kids. We have a load of them under the age of 5. They all know where my treat box is and respect the rule of 1 a day. (OK...I'm not that strong....I sometimes sugar them up and send them back to momma!). We sometimes have a housefull of kiddies. We watch movies with them (I keep a supply of updated kids movies), put puzzles together, play ball with the dog, etc. If my two DS's would provide grandchildren, I will be prepared. We have already informed them that they will be spoiled rotten and then we will return them to be straightened out by mom and dad.

Love bookwork but I'm off and cannot find it. (Banging head against wall). Later.

Laura....I promise that if you and Julie make it for lunch, I will not try to feel you guys!

Poor little Nelson. He most likely isn't sick. Just wants to hang out in his "normal" home. We always noticed that if we upset our kid's schedule, they (and us) paid for it for a couple of days. Having all the company yesterday was most likely fun for him but he needs time with mommy. You'll get back into the swing of exercise when he is in school. Try to go when you can until that time.

I freeze cheese and butter all the time. If I get a good deal with coupons or sales, I buy ahead and throw in freezer. Not a big deal. Just make sure to use freezer bags or freezer paper.

Hey...you sound like me. I LOVE to clean and organize. It's my de-stresser. I always feel so good about an organized closet, drawers, etc.

Hopefully your weather does not turn wicked. My DH and I always laugh about our DS when he moved to Daytona from Santa Barbara. You would need to understand this kid to laugh about it. When he was younger we called him the "Happy Wanderer". Followed thru to adulthood. When things got quite, I had to run to find him when he was little. Anyway, his name is Charlie....he is a whirlwind of activity. Always setting his sights high on things and somehow achieved them at a young age. Well, he flew from SB to DB the day Hurricaine Charlie hit back in 2004. That entire year was filled with hurricaines. We always rib him that he started it all.

Well, time to go feel the guys!

Laura...omitted anything about your dad. Happy to hear that things are taking a turn towards the positive again. Take care and don't worry about not being there right now. Put a fire under your sister's A$$ (in a sweet way) and let her handle it right now.

I'm going to put this out there as long as I am thinking of it. We have all talked about trying to get together at some point. We talked Vegas but have not heard anything at all about the conference out there. Have sent Coach Cheryl a couple of messages but have not recieved a reply so I take that as it is not happening.

How about a meet in FL in Feb? This gives everyone time to plan.

I'm going to put this out there as long as I am thinking of it. We have all talked about trying to get together at some point. We talked Vegas but have not heard anything at all about the conference out there. Have sent Coach Cheryl a couple of messages but have not recieved a reply so I take that as it is not happening.

How about a meet in FL in Feb? This gives everyone time to plan.

Ooooooh! Sounds great! Count me in!!! We could do it in Orlando- then you'd be nearby. It's not far for me either, couple hours. Just outside of Orlando we can rent a 6 bedroom house for like $150-200 a night. If enough folks were coming it would cost next to nothing. Or we could plan on meeting at a hotel and get a block of rooms. Once we kinda know how many are interested, get a vote for the preferred accomidation- I could help organize it. I wouldn't mind doing it in my town either. Lots of little hotels on the Water that would make a nice meeting spot. Some examples...

Lake Buena Vista Florida Vacation Rentals - $79 New House 5/3 w/pool 5 mins to Disney World

Orlando Vacation Homes 2008 Nightly Rental Rates

I would happily help to organize, Laura. Some of us have talked about this so often and think it's time to get together with the people who can make it. Not sure if I am interested in the Disney thing (been there way too many times) but could certainly work around it.

Let's see how many are interested and go from there. (Hyperventilating....so excited)!

Good Afternoon - just a quick ck in..

Apples - I should be able to swing Feb and fab that you will orginize

Watermelon - ya I can eat it more than 1.5 cups (w/salt too!!) but I have gotten stuck on it sometimes - but that's usually cuz I eat too fast and don't chew :0) But again I am not so tight as some are - Like you I can eat just about anything..

Meredith - Congrats on the loss - You will learn during this journey how your body is going to lose it's weight - we are all diff and I don't think it's too early to share your story...

Eva - I never went to college - did upper bacularrett (sp) classes for my designations (I have intial's behind my name AU Associate in Underwriting & CPIW Certified Prof Ins Woman - but these were home study programs and then you went to a college and took 9 essay questions test that each had 3 parts to 1 question) I was in my 30's -

Right now I don't have the time to study/learn - I guess I could on my own - Like you maybe when I retire :0)

Laura - you just go to the lapband site and sign up - I did that along time ago (1st banded) have been back once or twice but in 6/08 I was invited to be on a advisory council and went to las vegas on them :0)

Glad your Dad is doing better - Hugs with Nelson and yes the babies sometimes are more grown up than the older ones

Great - I got these wonderful cookie from Baratric Choice Peanut butter 160 cal and they are huges & soft with 15 grams of pt - Proti Diet - I orderd choc & oatmeal yesterday - I keep them at work - they are my pre-workout snacks

Also got some pt bars double peatnut butter (barwise) again 15 grms pt & 150 calories again to die for - ordered choc yesterday... Again I don't know if I will keep these at home cuz they are too good and during the day I have will power and nite - it's not so good - so I don't want to tempt myself..

Larry - Thanks - I feel great !!! It's normal to be nervous we all were - but as you can tell by reading the post here - we all feel it's the best damn thing we could have done for ourselves - and pretty soon you won't be able to sign off with your Fat Friend Larry :0)

Well gang gotta get back to work - ttyl Hugs

OMG, OMG, OMG....Janet can make it to FL in Feb. Now, who else is going to jump in?????????? As soon as we can get more stating they can make it, Laura and I will start taking suggestions as far as dates, etc. and start looking for a location that will work. (Breath, Apples, breath!).

Janet...thanks for responding on the watermelon. I just worry sometimes (even though I am not tight) when I can eat more than the 1.5 cups that I will expand my pouch. I guess I am far enough out that I shouldn't doubt myself and should trust my "full" feeling.

OMG, OMG, OMG....Janet can make it to FL in Feb. Now, who else is going to jump in?????????? As soon as we can get more stating they can make it, Laura and I will start taking suggestions as far as dates, etc. and start looking for a location that will work. (Breath, Apples, breath!).

Janet...thanks for responding on the watermelon. I just worry sometimes (even though I am not tight) when I can eat more than the 1.5 cups that I will expand my pouch. I guess I am far enough out that I shouldn't doubt myself and should trust my "full" feeling.

If its a weekend I might be able to swing it. Sounds wonderful. Sunshine in Feb.

If its a weekend I might be able to swing it. Sounds wonderful. Sunshine in Feb.

All Right, If! I am thinking that we would get more of a crowd if we did the weekend thing. Cannot wait to meet you!!!!!!:biggrin:

I would happily help to organize, Laura. Some of us have talked about this so often and think it's time to get together with the people who can make it. Not sure if I am interested in the Disney thing (been there way too many times) but could certainly work around it.

Let's see how many are interested and go from there. (Hyperventilating....so excited)!

Oh my... oh my.. oh my! I am getting excited tooooooooO! I said Orlando b/c it has a big airport and always has tons of cheap flights. I too have been there, done that, WAYYYY too many times. We had season passes last year to Disney and Sea World and Space Center! <yawn> There are a gazillion places to stay. Janet, when you guys did your lucky 7, did you stay in a hotel or a house? How many of you were there? Hell, if we only have 4 of us- I will still do it! I am soooo serious! If we did it in my town, we would fly into West Palm Beach and then have to drive about 50 minutes north. Wow! Can't wait guys!

I made a middle eastern lentil Soup for dinner tonight. yum. Meredith keeps talking about her Lebanese place and I have had that soup on the brain! It came out really really good.

Spoke to Mom and Dad just a sec ago. Creat is down to 5.0. His kidney is making beautiful urine, even though it has blood in it- we will take it. He sounds a little better spirits. He did get up and walk today with a walker for the physical therapist. progress.

Have a nice night!

peasout!

Oh my... oh my.. oh my! I am getting excited tooooooooO! I said Orlando b/c it has a big airport and always has tons of cheap flights. I too have been there, done that, WAYYYY too many times. We had season passes last year to Disney and Sea World and Space Center! <yawn> There are a gazillion places to stay. Janet, when you guys did your lucky 7, did you stay in a hotel or a house? How many of you were there? Hell, if we only have 4 of us- I will still do it! I am soooo serious! If we did it in my town, we would fly into West Palm Beach and then have to drive about 50 minutes north. Wow! Can't wait guys!

I made a middle eastern lentil soup for dinner tonight. yum. Meredith keeps talking about her Lebanese place and I have had that soup on the brain! It came out really really good.

Spoke to Mom and Dad just a sec ago. Creat is down to 5.0. His kidney is making beautiful urine, even though it has blood in it- we will take it. He sounds a little better spirits. He did get up and walk today with a walker for the physical therapist. progress.

Have a nice night!

peasout!

Laura...I am fine with Orlando area. Might make it easier for those flying in and the flights would be cheaper also.

Any ideas from anyone else are welcome. Please, please...each and every one of you....say you will come!

Good news on your dad, Laura. Hope the #'s keep going in the right direction.

Tilapia (sp?), sweet corn fresh out of the field (:crying:makes my stoma spasm), homemade whole wheat english muffin bread and watermelon on the table tonight. Oh yeah...cherry cobbler.

Apples - President's weekend would be good time - that way I could like take Friday off and don't have to be back to work until Tuesday..

As far as full I usually get full on my hard Proteins - then wait a bit to eat my veggies then my starch... Like you said you know your full - and sometime it takes more to feel full than others...

Laura - when we went to Mall of America we stayed in hotel (homewood suites - loved those they were like a studio apt)

When we went to Canada - We stayed at Candice's house - she had a basement so there were like 2 other bed rooms down stairs and 3 up stairs.

Well I have gym tonite - arms - I didn't tell you all earlier - but grandson came home late - and woke me up (2:15 ish) and I couldn't go back to sleep - I stayed in bed til like 4 then got up and colored my hair - can't believe I am not exhausted - but will see how my workout goes - I bet I fade fast...

OK...out of here until Monday. Will catch up on the FL thing when I get back. You all have a safe weekend! oxoxo

Laura...I am fine with Orlando area. Might make it easier for those flying in and the flights would be cheaper also.

Any ideas from anyone else are welcome. Please, please...each and every one of you....say you will come!

Good news on your dad, Laura. Hope the #'s keep going in the right direction.

Tilapia (sp?), sweet corn fresh out of the field (:crying:makes my stoma spasm), homemade whole wheat english muffin bread and watermelon on the table tonight. Oh yeah...cherry cobbler.

OK. I don't want anybody going on a busman's holiday and spending their time cooking for us, but I'm telling you, Laura and Apples--you guys make me want to try your food.