Hi everyone--I thought I'd listen to some advice from one of the other monthly groups and start one master thread in which we have an ongoing discussion/updates. I don't know about you all but I certainly spend most of my time on these boards on the pre-op forum and the general forum, not here. It would be nice to have just one thread to go to once in this forum.

We can maybe start out with introductions?

As for me, I'm going the "online privacy" route for now (paranoid that people I haven't told about this will somehow stumble across me on this site I guess, which is crazy, I know) but I can give you the big picture:

You can call me Penny, I'm 27, single and live in the Washington, DC area. I have a background in politics (which is why I live in DC) but now I'm a librarian which is much cooler and way more fun (trust me on that). Oh, and there's no "Marion the Librarian" thing with me either. One of the things I hear most frequently (besides the cliche "you have such a pretty face") is "but you don't LOOK like a librarian", which is another one of those bizarre backhanded compliments that you never really know how to take.

Personality wise, I'm kind of dorky, big into public radio and books and popular science. Oh, I'm also a little on the paranoid side (as you may be able to tell from earlier in this post). Beyond that I'm just kind of silly and friendly, VERY much so into traveling and I'm an aspiring "green" domestic diva (but that's not going so well).

Way to go, lacey!

OH, and just wanted to share a non scale victory with you: I bought a pair of pj's yesterday and no more 3X I bought a large in the reg. section. not even a extra large just large i'm still amazed

Congratualtions! That and onederland is a milestone I can hardly wait to get to. :tongue2:

Donna you did wonderful over the holidays. Wish I could say the same, but tomorrow is a new day. I just started a new job that I have been trying to get for the last 4 months and it should be my dream job. I am working at one of the best fitness centers in the area and one of the perks is I have free membership as long as I work there. If that doesn't motivate me nothing will. LOL

Hey Jenhay, I was just in KY over the holidays. I grew up in Radcliff, KY and still have family there. It's always bittersweet when I go to visit. So many good childhood memories but always followed by the realization that I did the right thing by leaving. Radcliff is a very small town between Ft. Knox and Elizabethtown. For those not from Kentucky, Louisville is about 1 hour north and Lexington is about 1 1/2 hours west of there.

You ladies are doing great!

I am stoked, I finally moved out of the obese category and am now just overweight!!

Woo Hoo! That's totally awesome and what a great way to start out 2009!

Hey Donna, I know exactly where Radcliff is! I am probably an hour west of there, give or take a few minutes. Next time you visit KY let me know and maybe we could do lunch (a very light lunch). My best friend in the world lives at Irvington and another one lives at Cecelia which is on the outskirts of E-Town. The weather here today is awful, gloomy and cold and rainy. Anyway, nice to chat with you and I will do my best to get online everyday because I think it helps me to talk to others who have had the band. Jenhay

Sorry Donna, I think I got my west and east mixed up! To be more specific I am 30 minutes east of Owensboro, 1 and half hours from Louisville and 2 and half hours from Lexington. Jenhay

Congratulations Orea on your breaking a barrier.

I did okay during the holidays. I didn't lose, but didn't gain and I too picked up the yummy/bad for you chocolate habit during the holidays. Now I crave chocolate (candy) constantly. I had my 4th fill on the 30th and still have not lost any. I have been stuck at this weight for 4 weeks now and it is driving me crazy! The dr did not want me to go on a liquid diet to break the plateau, but I am strongly tempted to do it. It is so hard to eat the solid protein w/o sticking that I would almost rather just drink the protein to get it in. I know...I know, I am too impatient. I need to slow down, take a breath, and focus on the longterm goal. :thumbup:

I hope everyone else survived the holidays and are getting closer to their goals. Keep up the good work.

Dianne, I went to KY during the holidays. A road trip and you know how hard it is to eat properly on road trips so every morning I drank a protein shake for breakfast to ensure I got my protein for the day. Why don't you do the 5 day pouch test? It starts out liquids the first 2 days then gradually takes you to the solid stage by day 5. It's basically what's recommended after a fill to give your pouch a chance to recoup from the fill.

Here's the link: Surgical Weight Loss 5 Day Pouch Test

I did it a coule of months ago and lost 3 lbs by the end of the 5th day and I did it again after I got my 5th fill the week after Thanksgiving. It's not difficult to do at all and you can have all the protein shakes you want during the liquid days.

Dianne, I went to KY during the holidays. A road trip and you know how hard it is to eat properly on road trips so every morning I drank a protein shake for breakfast to ensure I got my protein for the day. Why don't you do the 5 day pouch test? It starts out liquids the first 2 days then gradually takes you to the solid stage by day 5. It's basically what's recommended after a fill to give your pouch a chance to recoup from the fill.

Here's the link: Surgical Weight Loss 5 Day Pouch Test

I did it a coule of months ago and lost 3 lbs by the end of the 5th day and I did it again after I got my 5th fill the week after Thanksgiving. It's not difficult to do at all and you can have all the protein shakes you want during the liquid days.

That sounds exactly what I need. Thank you. I'll let you know how I am doing.

Congratualtions! That and onederland is a milestone I can hardly wait to get to. :thumbup:

WTG! Your kicking butt on the Valentine challenge!

Hope everyone had a great holiday. New Year's eve day I made it over the big hump and now I'm half way there.:thumbup: I was so excited. Christmas was hard, we make cookie trays for the neighbors and my sons always want candy. I cheated a couple times but rode the wheels of my recumbent bike. It feels so good to be half way there and all since July. I just wish I could see that thinner person when I look in the mirror. I've forgotten what the thinner me looks like.

Hope everybody has a great day.

Bee

WTG! Your kicking butt on the Valentine challenge!

Thanks! I have more restriction because of swelling from my hysterectomy. :thumbup: I am SLOWLY beginning to eat a little more.

i thought it would be nice to share a few pics from my journey please everyone if you are comfprtable i would love to see your progress as well it inspires me!!

the first is in july a few days before surgery

the second on labor day

the third on christmas eve

i feel so sexy now i cant imagine what i will feel like when i reach onederland!!!

i thought it would be nice to share a few pics from my journey please everyone if you are comfprtable i would love to see your progress as well it inspires me!!

the first is in july a few days before surgery

the second on labor day

the third on christmas eve

You look fantastic!! Way to go:thumbup: