Several people have suggested a place to post on a regular basis to save time going from one thread to another! I thought this would be a good title. Like reading the daily newspaper!

We are all banded now, and I will still update the line up when new people discover this site.

I look forward to hearing from everyone as we transform!

Wow, lots of activity suddenly, how wonderful!

Jennifer you look beautiful!! I might have to reconsider dresses!

Actually I do have a dress in my future. My daughter got engaged on Saturday night. I have a mother of the bride dress to shop for. What a difference a year makes, I am actually looking forward to it and not dreading it and in a panic about my weight and going on some stupid crash diet. Hmmm, I wonder if this is how normal people live and react? A year ago I would've been panicking about how fat I was for the wedding pictures and a dress that it would've taken so much of the enjoyment out of wedding planning. Thank goodness she waited til she was 28 to get married! LOL

Speaking of bills, anyone heard of DAve Ramsey? We started taking his Financial Peace University classes and it's been awesome, it's all about getting out of debt, living on a budget, etc. We are only a month or so into it, but it's already made a world of difference in our lives. I highly recommend it. If you don't want to take his class, he has a book, Total Money Makeover and a website www.daveramsey.com. He's on TV and the radio too.

I got back into my Power 90 workouts. I hit the 170's again and I hope I never see a 180 again. Come on 169!!!

I finally go for my one year post op next Tues. it has gotten rescheduled a few times. I did get my blood test results back though and they are excellent. I have the cholesterol of a 13 yr old they said!! WOOHOO!!

Wow, lots of activity suddenly, how wonderful!

Jennifer you look beautiful!! I might have to reconsider dresses!

Actually I do have a dress in my future. My daughter got engaged on Saturday night. I have a mother of the bride dress to shop for. What a difference a year makes, I am actually looking forward to it and not dreading it and in a panic about my weight and going on some stupid crash diet. Hmmm, I wonder if this is how normal people live and react? A year ago I would've been panicking about how fat I was for the wedding pictures and a dress that it would've taken so much of the enjoyment out of wedding planning. Thank goodness she waited til she was 28 to get married! LOL

Speaking of bills, anyone heard of DAve Ramsey? We started taking his Financial Peace University classes and it's been awesome, it's all about getting out of debt, living on a budget, etc. We are only a month or so into it, but it's already made a world of difference in our lives. I highly recommend it. If you don't want to take his class, he has a book, Total Money Makeover and a website www.daveramsey.com. He's on TV and the radio too.

I got back into my Power 90 workouts. I hit the 170's again and I hope I never see a 180 again. Come on 169!!!

I finally go for my one year post op next Tues. it has gotten rescheduled a few times. I did get my blood test results back though and they are excellent. I have the cholesterol of a 13 yr old they said!! WOOHOO!!

Congratulations to your daughter and to you! That is so exciting!!! I'm so happy for you :thumbup: Have fun dress shopping. I've decided dresses are my new favorite thing to wear. Who would have ever thought it?!?! I've thought about looking into the Dave Ramsey stuff. I have a friend who did it and is completely debt free now. Is it expensive? I may have to consider it. I didn't have a one year check-up. My coverage ended at a year, so I'm just supposed to call when I want to come in. I need to figure out how much an office visit is (wouldn't you think they could run that through insurance and I'd pay a specialist co-pay?!?!). My PCP did blood work right at a year and everything was great. I was pretty excited! Have a great evening!

Jennifer

Oh, I love DAVE RAMSEY!!! I have his book and we even went to see him in Oklahoma City a year or so ago. DH drove us in an ice storm 6 hours one way. No, it not expensive, you could probalby find his book at the library. I even like to listen to his pod cast on his web site.

Well, my new fill is great. I woke up with a new excitement this morning. I'm so glad I went and done it.

lucy

Good morning!

Yeah Lucy on the new excitement and fill! I see my doc on Tues. and not sure I want a fill or not. Sometimes I can eat way too much and others i am PBing and getting stuck.

Jennifer, no Dave Ramsey isn't expensive. Or it doesn't have to be. The Financial Peace University classes are about $100 for the books and classes for about 12 weeks. And that's the best way to get the whole teaching and program, but wouldn't be entirely necessary. YOu can get the stuff on Ebay for less and do it on your own, or get just the Total Money Makeover book and get some of the basics and you can print lots of the forms off his website, etc.

Well I am hurtin' today. I got my new Power 90 Master Series workout DVDS and these are definitely tougher than the Power 90 I was doing before, these pick up where those left off. But alas, after 3 workouts one of my workout partners has quit already and we hadn't started the tougher DVD's yet. Unfortunately she's a sister of the other gal I've worked out with for the past several months and I will probably lose her too and be on my own. This sister really babies and makes excuses for the other one, who really has no commitment. OH well, DH said he'd do them with me.

Hey, my new fill is great! I'm loving it.

Long, I hope you can get a partner who will stick with you. I know it can make all the difference in the world.

I just have the Dave Ramsey book and then downloaded forms and other resources off his website.

Have a good weekend everyone.

lucy

Thanks Lucy, my husband is willing to workout some with me as is my daughter. My friend and I had such a good thing going, then her sister got involved. I like her sister a lot but she is one of those type of people that is jealous of anyone elses successes and feels left out but when you invite her she just whines and makes excuses. So she wanted to join our exercising, so we changed the time and everything to accomodate her. She gave it 3 times and now says it hurts her back and she wants to walk, well the day came for walking and it was too hot. get the picture??? Problem is my friend gives in to her all the time and almost enables her. Now she feels obligated to workout with her sister (I think the plan is walking) so will be giving up our workouts to do so. I feel I get much more of a workout with these DVD's and it's more all around, plus with my bum knee walking is tough on the pavement. She probably won't walk long and my friend will be back. The frustrating thing is that we had such a good routine and thing going and we went and changed it all to accomodate the sister and then she still wasn't happy, and I am afraid never will be. I'm trying to be understanding as I know I used to be the queen of excuses, but because I recognize all the excuses so easily it's hard to be sometimes. Know what I mean?? Plus I just spent $60 on the new DVD's that we were going to use and am a bit miffed that my friend who committed to doing them backed out for the sister. Oh well, she bought the last DVDs and I benefitted a lot from them. Glad I have them and don't have to rely on her to use them.

GOAL!!!!!

I officially hit goal today!!! I had my one year post op finally with my surgeon, it had gotten rescheduled a few times. Anyhow, he said how fantastic I looked, weighed me, looked at my frame, looked at my lab results (excellent like a 16 yr old he said) and said I was at goal. The BMI chart is a guideline and for my height and frame he liked where I was at. He wants me no lower than 176 and no higher than 185, I like that he gave me a range, he said he could tell I was a number person that would get too hung up on a single number if he gave me one. He also asked what size I was when I began and was now, I went from a 26 to an 8. WOOHOO!! I feel like a tremendous weight has literally been lifted from my shoulders. I was stressing so much about getting to 169 and that normal BMI and hadn't lost hardly in over 2 mos. He wants me to visit the nutritionist now and fine tune things in my diet to maintain. I will be changing my screen name soon, probably to Great2bThin, though that sounds odd as I still don't consider myself thin and don't want to sound like I am bragging so not sure.

GOAL!!!!!

I officially hit goal today!!! I had my one year post op finally with my surgeon, it had gotten rescheduled a few times. Anyhow, he said how fantastic I looked, weighed me, looked at my frame, looked at my lab results (excellent like a 16 yr old he said) and said I was at goal. The BMI chart is a guideline and for my height and frame he liked where I was at. He wants me no lower than 176 and no higher than 185, I like that he gave me a range, he said he could tell I was a number person that would get too hung up on a single number if he gave me one. He also asked what size I was when I began and was now, I went from a 26 to an 8. WOOHOO!! I feel like a tremendous weight has literally been lifted from my shoulders. I was stressing so much about getting to 169 and that normal BMI and hadn't lost hardly in over 2 mos. He wants me to visit the nutritionist now and fine tune things in my diet to maintain. I will be changing my screen name soon, probably to Great2bThin, though that sounds odd as I still don't consider myself thin and don't want to sound like I am bragging so not sure.

CONGRATS!! WOO HOO!!!

I am so happy for you! How awesome is it to think that you don't need to lose weight. I honestly don't know what I'm going to do with myself when I hit that point. I've been needing to lose or losing weight for the last 24 years...it's almost defined me. I've been a dieter...guess that's going to have to change. I'm just so excited for you Long (or should I call you Great :thumbup: ) I don't think it's bragging I think it's the truth...it is GREAT to be thin and in control! Congrats again! So, so excited for you!

Congrats long!!! You have done an awesome job and I am super proud of you!

I hope your friend comes back around. It sucks when one person's behavior can put a kink in your day.

I have an appointment on august 10 to most likely get a little unfill. I was doing great but with all the stress of having contractors at our house every day, my house is in chaos and being unemployed, my daughter starting college I am just so unbelievably tight I can't take it. I have been pb'ing alot. I am not eating barely anything and it's starting to wear on me. Yesterday I ate 1/4 cup of soup and it came right back up. I find that I am starving from pb'ing and then I might eat just a bit to fast it's a vicious circle. I also know that I need to now focus on not losing. It's so weird to say that. It's time to stop focusing on the numbers and start focusing on life. I understand what you are saying about being thin long, I can wear my daughters clothes and they wear mine and they are sooo tiny and I still see myself as fat. So weird. well, I hope everyone has a great day. xoxo

Allie, I am wearing my daughters slacks today! LOL She gave them to me as they are actually a little big on here, but I'll take them. She shops at better stores than me!

It is so weird to not be in losing mode anymore. I too have been a 'dieter' my entire adult life. It's hard to wrap my mind around being at goal it's still hard to say thin. I still see myself as fat, maybe not as fat as I was but overweight for sure. I am glad my surgeon gave me a range to stay in or I would be obsessing over a number every day. I'd beat myself up if I was a half a pound over it, etc. I will be curious to see if or what the nutritionist says to do differently now if anything. The dr asked me about a fill yesterday and for the first time I said I am good, I don't need one. I always felt well maybe a little one will make me lose more, etc. I am truly at a sweet spot now.

Allie, good luck with your unfill. I had to have a small one a few months ago and it was such a relief.

Good morning Junies..

I had a couple of minutes before the painters get here. It has been so crazy around here. I am actually sitting on a chair surrounded by furniture in the middle of my living room. Everything is packed in around me. The stress of living like this is really starting to get to me lol. There is not one room in my house that is ok. Why can't painters start on one room and finish it and move on? They started in all the rooms and are working on all of them at one time. It's ridiculous.. oh well, it will be over soon. The carpet comes on August 3 then I will have a couple of days to do all the finishing touches then it goes on the market. I don't know how people buy and sell a house at the same time. I would be a wreck!

I am taking my 9, 3 and 1 year old nieces and nephews to the lake today. I am getting so tan! I got asked out on a date at home depot last night lol. My hubby was down the aisle and said only if you will buy her hubby dinner too lol. He is just to much. I have been getting hit on here alot lately. It's sooo fun lol. I forgot what that felt like. I of course am madly in love with my hubby but it's nice to be noticed and I will leave it at that. LOL. Ok well I am off to pack lunches and sunscreen!

Have a great day junies! xoxox

DRUM ROLL PLEASE...... 1 POUND BELOW GOAL WEIGHT!!! 146 POUNDS LOST! I HIT 159 TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :biggrin::thumbup::biggrin: never in a million years did I ever think I would be in the 150's! My original goal was under 200 then 170 was my "dream goal" but here I sit at 159! I can't even believe it! 13 months and I am ecstatic. Now I have to definetly get an unfill next monday since I don't want to lose anymore. My hubby says I am getting to thin. Jeez I never thought he would ever say that to me lol. I will have to take some new pics. Thank you all for all your wonderful support over the past year. I couldn't have done it without you. :cool:

Hey Junies!

Once again I disappeared for awhile, so I thought I'd check in. I just had another fill last week and I'm up to 8cc in what we are probably sure now is a 14cc band (yeah, it took over a year to finally get an answer to how big my band actually is!). So far so good, but usually after fills I have good restriction for 1-3 weeks, then nothing again, so we'll see.

I'm starting to get really frustrated, I started at 444 lbs. and I still haven't been able to get under 400. I haven't weighed myself since my fill yet but I was at 408 last time I weighed in. Now that I know I have the biggest band I'm starting to have doubts about it; I'm starting to do a little bit of research to see if it's possible that my band just might be too big for me to get the kind of restriction I should have. 14 months and only 36 pounds is just ridiculous.

I'm so happy for everyone who is at goal or getting close! You guys rock!

Hi Junies!

Oh my gosh, I'm so excited for everyone! Goals met, looking skinny in new dresses (Jen I mean you!), plastic surgeries scheduled, engagements, lots of career goals,! Happy news all around!

I'm back for a quick progress report! I just got back from my Mary Kay Seminar - (which totally rocked!!!!). I jumped on the scale this morning and I weigh 260. So I don't weigh much less than I did when I went to Seminar last year (about 265), but things definitely fit differently! Last year was just after I got out of the hospital from the band-gone-wrong, and I was pretty swollen still - gained back 30lbs before I got the new band, and now I've lost that - but the cool thing is the way my clothes are fitting! I wore the same evening gown and skirts I had last year - the gown looked good, and the size 22 skirts are big on me. I bought a couple of size 18 dresses before I left - they're a little more clingy around the tummy than I'd like, but everyone said nice things about them! I felt like I looked good - at least until I saw the photos with my girlfriends. I'm not being too hard on myself - I just hate looking sooooo much bigger than them! I can't wait to see the difference next year - I'm sure I won't feel quite so super-sized next to them! But I totally know I'm making progress - and that's what it takes!

I jumped on the treadmill this morning for 20 minutes - my new resolution is to really get serious with the exercise, so I think I'll pop on here for a sec each morning just to keep myself accountable!

Mary Kay wise, I was #3 this year in my unit, and in the top 10 in the National Area - not bad for this year given how much time I needed to recover from the infection! This year, I'm resolved to really kick it in! My goal is at least 10 parties a month and to be on the National Queen's Courts of Sales and Sharing! Please pray for me!

Fill wise, I'm off today for my 3rd - probably just a little tweek. I think I'm getting closer to that sweet spot - I'm starting to feel full longer - but definitely can still eat more than 1 cup (for example - I just had one of those broccoli stuffed chicken breasts and about 3/4cup mashed potatoes for lunch - I'm full - not at all hungry, but I definitely ate all of it!). I did get tighter this time when I started my period, and combined that with a careless bite of a very melty gooey cheesey cassarole - bad! So I had my first real stuck - tossing my cookies moment! Not fun - but I think it was just the combo of cheese and rice.

I'm so excited about MK, everyone's good news, my steady progress and my new goals! Yay!

Love you Junies to bits!

Always

Joann aka Hunzi

I'll put up some photos on here & Facebook for anyone who's curious!

Allie, CONGRATS!!! I'm so super excited for you! That is awesome. Joann, it sounds like things are going really well for you! That's so exciting. When things are going good in direct sales, it makes everything in life so good. I'm relaly working to get my PC business back going to a level where I used to have it. It's hard, but I know I can do it! Gotta love all of the positives on this thread! I love hearing how great everyone is doing :biggrin: I've changed my goal weight. I was aiming for 148 which is another 30 pounds. I keep getting told I don't need to lose any more weight, etc and it's not coming off easily. I've gone from losing 3 pounds a week to maybe 5 pounds a month. I've decided to make my goal 160. That will put me at goal definitely by Christmas (especially if it continues at this super slow rate), but hopefully sooner. It's only another 18 pounds :biggrin: Hope everyone has a great evening!

:cool:

Jennifer