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.

Hi gals, I've been keeping up with the reading but don't have the wherewithal to post much... I'm not much better, but trying to get ready to leave Thursday for Ohio... don't know yet if I'll get to go or not.... time will tell..... Janet, you look lovely on the pics.... Everyone have a good day.... Prayers for Lori that she is doing well..... TTYL.......... Julie

Hope "Great" doesn't mind me sharing, but this is what she posted on FB earlier today:

Day one with my new knee, pain has been minimal and they had me walk to the door already. Having a little blood pressure (too low) and blood count issue but seems to be resolving itself. Thanks so much for the good wishes and prayer.

Phyll...thanks for sharing the news about Lori. Sounds like things are going pretty good for her. Great to hear.

Julie...hope you will be able to swing going on your trip. Wish you could get some relief from your pain soon. Maybe that shot will kick in?

Janet. You are very photogenic in all your photos. Pretty dress you were wearing.

The sun peaked out for awhile today. We've had a few days of rain and it has put the bean harvest at a standstill. Was hoping that harvest would be completed early this year. I have my doubts at this point. DH is the most easy going person that God put on this earth. He worries about nothing. His favorite saying when I worry in the spring and the fall is: "We always get it in and we always get it out". Just wish he could transfer some of that calm into my veins!

Busy with my house the last couple of days. Closets are all cleaned and now working on organizing my three freezers. Always feels so good when you open doors and everything is in it's place.

Fingers are crossed. Had not stepped on scale for quite some time and I am up 4lbs. Hoping it stays with me. Hate to even type this paragraph due to the way some might percieve it. But, we all have different struggles and need some encouragement and support. I have given up worrying about putting on the weight. I just keep my cals over what I think my body needs and we will go from there. OK...everyone clap and say "Yeah...4lbs. is good and congrats". (just kidding)

Hi gals, I've been keeping up with the reading but don't have the wherewithal to post much... I'm not much better, but trying to get ready to leave Thursday for Ohio... don't know yet if I'll get to go or not.... time will tell..... Janet, you look lovely on the pics.... Everyone have a good day.... Prayers for Lori that she is doing well..... TTYL.......... Julie

Julie - Hugs on your pain ...

Hope "Great" doesn't mind me sharing, but this is what she posted on FB earlier today:

Day one with my new knee, pain has been minimal and they had me walk to the door already. Having a little blood pressure (too low) and blood count issue but seems to be resolving itself. Thanks so much for the good wishes and prayer.

Thanks for the update Phyl !!!

Phyll...thanks for sharing the news about Lori. Sounds like things are going pretty good for her. Great to hear.

Julie...hope you will be able to swing going on your trip. Wish you could get some relief from your pain soon. Maybe that shot will kick in?

Janet. You are very photogenic in all your photos. Pretty dress you were wearing.

The sun peaked out for awhile today. We've had a few days of rain and it has put the bean harvest at a standstill. Was hoping that harvest would be completed early this year. I have my doubts at this point. DH is the most easy going person that God put on this earth. He worries about nothing. His favorite saying when I worry in the spring and the fall is: "We always get it in and we always get it out". Just wish he could transfer some of that calm into my veins!

Busy with my house the last couple of days. Closets are all cleaned and now working on organizing my three freezers. Always feels so good when you open doors and everything is in it's place.

Fingers are crossed. Had not stepped on scale for quite some time and I am up 4lbs. Hoping it stays with me. Hate to even type this paragraph due to the way some might percieve it. But, we all have different struggles and need some encouragement and support. I have given up worrying about putting on the weight. I just keep my cals over what I think my body needs and we will go from there. OK...everyone clap and say "Yeah...4lbs. is good and congrats". (just kidding)

Apples - Thanks !!! Lucky girl you - I wish I had to gain some :0)... But you are such a buzy bee - I see why you stay on the low weight side - you never stop going :0)...

Well just a quick ck in - I'm hungry today - don't think I need a fill last night pbing on 2 bites of cauliflower after I had eaten my meat...

cbl after gym

Sorry about your hungry day, Janet. Don't you just think that's the way the band is though? I have 5-6 days where there is not hunger and then 1-2 days where I could eat the dog or anything else in my sight. Even with adequate fill, I think that's just what we live with when we are banded.

I'm having opposite problem last couple of days... UGH! Not hungry! Seafood chowder that I made a few days ago for lunch.. 1/2 mug. DH is making me salmon for dinner and I am not the least bit hungry .... feel full, and don't know if I'll be able to eat it!

I'm having opposite problem last couple of days... UGH! Not hungry! Seafood chowder that I made a few days ago for lunch.. 1/2 mug. DH is making me salmon for dinner and I am not the least bit hungry .... feel full, and don't know if I'll be able to eat it!

Hey Phyll...are you willing to share your chowder recipe?????

Hi everyone, just a quick hello. I don't have any time any more to get on the computer and I miss my daily dose from all of you. I am thinking of all of you, and I try to sneak a few peeks occasionally to read, but never seem to have time to post. So, I'm posting without reading. Just wanted to say hi, i'm doing great, just busy. Had company two weekends in a row and every night I just seem to run out of time before I'm falling asleep. Sorry I've been gone so long. Janet, so sorry to hear about your aunt. Great, hope the surgery went well -- you'll be up and around before you know it. Hope everyone else is fine, I promise I'll write more soon and catch up on all your news this weekend - I have no visitors for this weekend, so I should be able to catch up. Hugs to you all. Linda

Hey Phyll...are you willing to share your chowder recipe?????:biggrin:

LOL! Well, I picked up a recipe at Safeway or somewhere, but I didn't exactly follow it! First I sauteed some chopped up celery, thinly sliced onion, finely chopped garlic (2 cloves) in a little bit of olive oil and about a pat of butter. I think I put in just a dash of balsamic vinegar, but probably didn't need that. Couldn't really taste it anyway, and it gave it a little color. I used one can of 2% evaporated milk because I was making a very small amout of chowder. So I poured in a tiny bit of the milk, thickened with a small amt of flour. Then I added the rest of the can of milk, and a small package (about 8 oz, I think) of seafood mix...it had a little bit of shrimp, calamari, etc. in it, and I'd cooked a dozen oysters a couple of days prior that i put in, too. Actually, I sort of cremated the oysters! I'm just learning to cook them and everything I read says cook until the shells open. Well, it seems to me if you wait that long they are way over cooked! At any rate, they plumped up again when I put them in the chowder. I seasoned with Old Bay Seasoning. I think what really gave it a nice flavor was a few shakes of McCormick California Style Garlic Pepper. Gave it some tang... the pepper...and if I hadn't stopped when I did, it would've been too much. I didn't know what i was doing!! Earl has taken almost all the spices in to the RV already!!

But we eat a lot of fish so the Old Bay was still there, and that Garlic Pepper.

Hi everyone, just a quick hello. I don't have any time any more to get on the computer and I miss my daily dose from all of you. I am thinking of all of you, and I try to sneak a few peeks occasionally to read, but never seem to have time to post. So, I'm posting without reading. Just wanted to say hi, i'm doing great, just busy. Had company two weekends in a row and every night I just seem to run out of time before I'm falling asleep. Sorry I've been gone so long. Janet, so sorry to hear about your aunt. Great, hope the surgery went well -- you'll be up and around before you know it. Hope everyone else is fine, I promise I'll write more soon and catch up on all your news this weekend - I have no visitors for this weekend, so I should be able to catch up. Hugs to you all. Linda

Hey Linda...nice to see you!!!! Hope you're doing well. Miss having you aroung! Hugs back at ya!

Phyll...thanks for the recipe. Gonna give it a try. Instead of the oysters (you'd have to tie me down to get me to eat them) I am going to use scallops and follow your recipe....sounds good. I use a lot of evaporated lowfat milk when making soups also. This recipe will be a hit with my guys. Thanks

Hi all, I went to a support group meeting tonight. It was to be on sleep issues but they canceled so we all talked. Was a hugh turnout. The dietician passed out stuff on Vit B but we didn't get to it. Why does there always seem to be one person who thinks everyone wants to hear them go on and on. I had my surgery in July and she had hers in Aug. You would think she knows everything. I know I'm not even close to knowing half. You should have seen all the eye rolls around the room. Sorry for the ranting.

Have a great day.

Laura K

Sorry about your hungry day, Janet. Don't you just think that's the way the band is though? I have 5-6 days where there is not hunger and then 1-2 days where I could eat the dog or anything else in my sight. Even with adequate fill, I think that's just what we live with when we are banded.

Apples - Ya our bands - our brains - boredom - stress - life in general - I find when I am doing something I enjoy - I don't even think about food - but the rest of the time - it's always on the brain ;o)..

As I have said a million times before - our problems are really in our brains - not in our stomach...

I'm having opposite problem last couple of days... UGH! Not hungry! Seafood chowder that I made a few days ago for lunch.. 1/2 mug. DH is making me salmon for dinner and I am not the least bit hungry .... feel full, and don't know if I'll be able to eat it!

Lucky Girl !!!! If you aren't hungry then don't eat - or only eat what you can - and tell him - I'm full..

Hi everyone, just a quick hello. I don't have any time any more to get on the computer and I miss my daily dose from all of you. I am thinking of all of you, and I try to sneak a few peeks occasionally to read, but never seem to have time to post. So, I'm posting without reading. Just wanted to say hi, i'm doing great, just busy. Had company two weekends in a row and every night I just seem to run out of time before I'm falling asleep. Sorry I've been gone so long. Janet, so sorry to hear about your aunt. Great, hope the surgery went well -- you'll be up and around before you know it. Hope everyone else is fine, I promise I'll write more soon and catch up on all your news this weekend - I have no visitors for this weekend, so I should be able to catch up. Hugs to you all. Linda

Linda = Hi - we understand - life does get in the way sometime - glad you are doing good... Hugs back

Hi all, I went to a support group meeting tonight. It was to be on sleep issues but they canceled so we all talked. Was a hugh turnout. The dietician passed out stuff on Vit B but we didn't get to it. Why does there always seem to be one person who thinks everyone wants to hear them go on and on. I had my surgery in July and she had hers in Aug. You would think she knows everything. I know I'm not even close to knowing half. You should have seen all the eye rolls around the room. Sorry for the ranting.

Have a great day.

Laura K

Laura K- ya there is always the one know it all in the group..

Well at least she's hyped up - and that's a good thing.. But bad for the rest who want to share...

Well just popping in while my dinner's cooking - After work was looking for a reason not to go to the gym - but couldn't find a good enough excuse - so went - did my 3 miles - burned 400 cal..

Phyll...thanks for the recipe. Gonna give it a try. Instead of the oysters (you'd have to tie me down to get me to eat them) I am going to use scallops and follow your recipe....sounds good. I use a lot of evaporated lowfat milk when making soups also. This recipe will be a hit with my guys. Thanks

Ah, yes, it would be great with scallops! I was just planning to use the dozen oysters, but I LOVE seafood of just about any kind. But I did just develop a taste for oysters this summer. That's why I'm still learning how to cook them right! I actually ate 6 raw ones this summer... it was happy hour at my favorite outdoor seafood restaurant. I'd had a glass of wine.. They didn't have the BBQ oysters that I wanted so I ordered 6 oyster shooters not knowing exactly what I was ordering. When the waitress brought them.. they were each in a shot glass with a slice of lemon and some seafood sauce... and they were raw! DD & SIL were there, so I had to eat them to save face! They were okay but I won't eat them raw again. I probably already told that story, but... there it is again!

Janet, it seems it gets hotter in the day and cooler at night. Truly a desert isn't it.

Julie, sorry you are still in pain. I really hope you get to go on your trip. It may help take your mind off the pain. What's your daughter going to do with Mimi while you are gone?

Phyl, thanks for the update from Lori. Your Soup sounds wonderful. I think I'll try that too.

Apples, your energy level is amazing. Congrats on the 4 pounds....in reverse. The rest of us would be depressed, but I understand it works both ways.

Linda, hope you aren't going too nuts with as busy as you are. Sometimes working all day, then coming home and doing the chores and all is exhausting and takes too much time. Too bad we have to work. There are days when I'm too tired to think when I get home.

LauraK, yeah, it's interesting to be in the support groups where one person is dominate. Sometimes it's good because they really do have great stuff to share, but a lot of the time...oh boy, you wish they would put a sock in it. Hey, you are welcome to rant...that's what we are for.

It's interesting about the hunger issues. Some days I'm hungry (not sure I want to eat the dog tho...she is old and stinky now). I'm still eating too much...I graze when I'm stressed. Guess I need to learn how not to be stressed. That would truly be a miracle.

I'm going to go ride "the bike" for a while. Have a great night folks.

Eva