Okay so we have been having a hard time and the thought has crossed many minds wondering if we are a dying breed. I say no way! I need you all, and I need to keep chatting away if I'm going to get anywhere near that finish line.

In one of the threads here it was suggested by another that we just create one master thread where we can communicate. Make it easier to stay in touch, and is something many of the other monthly groups do to stay in touch.

I know for me that is really important, and something we have never done before.

Please don't leave guys... check in! It doesn't even always have to be about losing weight or whatever. Just tell us all what's going on, whatever it is.

Ugh yes, the deer and rabbits have dined quite nicely on my garden this year. Grr.

Oh man, getting up in the morning is kind painful at times. I can certainly feel the weight I've put back on. You'd think that just that would be enough to keep the junk out of my mouth, wouldn't ya? Didn't eat a lot yesterday but it wasn't near as good as I wish. Focus, focus!!!

No much to say today. I'm the middle of the first bathroom remodel here. They said it would only take 2-3 days. Hope they are right. I'm gonna run away for most of the day today in hopes they will get the worst of the noise and dust done. Gonna go about an hour south of me and look at houses with my mom and a couple friends. Hopefully it will be some exercise and no munching time.

Morning everyone!

I later this morning i it's been chaotic at work, and Im feeling a bit of pressure, so thought I would take a few minutes to pop in here and have a sanity check!

Ezma - the house hunting? Is it for your mother or friends, or just a fun thing to do? But anything that keeps you out of the house when renovations are ongoing is good! The dust and noise generate endless chaos...and who needs that??

Angie - Don't say that; I was hoping the deer and rabbits might be satisfied with the lovely collection of weeds growing on my lawn....

Hmmmm......no entries since I posted yesterday?? Well, I'm still here; maybe you are all out enjoying the summer weather.

Play safe, eat healthy, check in with us....

Hmmmm......no entries since I posted yesterday?? Well, I'm still here; maybe you are all out enjoying the summer weather.

Play safe, eat healthy, check in with us....

AGAIN????

It's getting mighty lonely here...:drool::sad::thumbup:

Morning Tap. I'm here. :tongue_smilie: Tired but trying to find my "get up and go". Yesterday was busy busy so I didn't get a chance to post.

The house hunting is a combination of things. Some is just for fun, others rounds are because I'm looking for a property to rent for income. That's kinda put on hold for a bit cause they are fighting me a bit on one of the life insurance policies we had on my husband. That plus the housing market is doing weird things right now and could break either way soon. I'm hoping by the time I'm ready again it will be a better buyers market. Though for our economy's sake I hope things go in favor of the people losing their homes. I'd rather have a stronger economy and make less money from interest.

Shower time since the contractor will be here in 15 minutes. Take care guys. Be healthy.

GOOD MORNING!

Hi Tap, I'm always around. Well most of the time.

I just don't have much to report on. Well, here's a bit of an NSV you all might want to hear about. I haven't worked a Friday since early November of last year. The reason is our State is in financial crisis. I've always already gotten every other Friday off, however with us having two Furlough days off per month it just worked out to where I hadn't worked one in a very long time.

Now my Dept has been exempted during our most busy time. I work for Emergency Services so it makes good sense. Anyway, to Celebrate I decided to bring with me a dozen (very fresh) donuts, some bran muffins and orange juice. Everyone chowed down on the donuts, but the bran muffins havent been touched! ROFL!!

Well, this brings me to my NSV. Even though I put out the money for the donuts I didn't have NOT ONE! Besides that, so many other Depts around me brought goodies too. They even made waffles in the Directors Office and was invited to get some if I wanted. Did I?

NOOOOO!!!!

So, that's my story of the day!

Have a nice weekend all!!!

Hi All

Today is finally a sunny day in Calgary. So I've taken the dog for a walk been to a stampede breakfast where I ate nothing and I'm going out to dinner with my lapband support group tonight. Already looked at the menu online and know what I'm going to eat.

Also trying to gather the funds for my deposit for my bodylift , boob lift and fat injections into my bum scheduled hopefully for this time next year. So No spending or holidaying here.

Enjoy your day.

Seems the weekends get real slow around here and I guess that's a real good thing. Means we're busy having lives. Yay!

My doctor's appointment is on Tuesday and right now I've gained two pounds in the last month. Certainy not where I wanted to be and hopefully I can get those two pounds off in the next two days. I know it's better than where it was with about a 12 pound gain each month but so very far still from where I want to be.

I did get a psychological insight this morning on my weight loss, or gain, right now. I think that I've had to tun off my caring function in order to deal with the loss of my husband. Sure, I cry, I grieve but most of the time I just try to keep myself busy with things I can control just to make through the days. Because I'm in that frame of mind, it makes it very hard to consistantly say I care about what I put in my mouth. Hard to care about whether or not I exercise each day. I have moments that I care immensely but most of the time I find myself with the "who cares" feeling.

This was not said to evoke pity from anyone. I shared this to show that I am pinpointing the areas that are giving me trouble, finding the stumbling blocks to my health. For me, indentifying the problem really is a huge step in resolving it. Now, hopefully my theory is right and I can allow myself to care about that area of my life.

And Rhap, I'm hearing you right now - "Keep swimming".

Edited July 12, 200917 yr by Ezma

Happy Monday, everyone! At the moment I am listening to an alarm in the computer room ring/shriek...it is postively deafening, and so far, no help from the helpline. I will call again at 8am, and if that doesn't bring satisfaction, I think I will just go into the room and start unplugging!!!

The house hunting is a combination of things. Some is just for fun, others rounds are because I'm looking for a property to rent for income.

I'm with you Ezma, the preference would of course be that the economy turns around, but having a rental income propoerty would be good too. I hope your insurance situation gets resolved soon.

,I just don't have much to report on. Well, here's a bit of an NSV you all might want to hear about. to celebrate I decided to bring with me a dozen donuts, some bran muffins and orange juice. Even though I put out the money for the donuts I didn't have NOT ONE! Besides that, so many other Depts around me brought goodies too. They even made waffles in the Directors Office and was invited to get some if I wanted. Did I?

NOOOOO!!!!

That's great Lil Miss...resistance. Sadly, like those encountering the borg, my resistence is futile!! (for those sci-fi fans)

Hi All

So I've taken the dog for a walk been to a stampede breakfast where I ate nothing and I'm going out to dinner with my lapband support group tonight. trying to gather the funds for my deposit for my bodylift , boob lift and fat injections into my bum scheduled hopefully for this time next year. .

I've never made it to the Calgary stampede...seems like it is a BIG event though! Its great your have a lapband support group; sadly because my clinic is several hours from me, I can't avail of the support group. Hope you all engjoyed your dinner!

My doctor's appointment is on Tuesday and right now I've gained two pounds in the last month.I know it's better than where it was with about a 12 pound gain each month but so very far still from where I want to be.

I am pinpointing the areas that are giving me trouble, finding the stumbling blocks to my health. For me, indentifying the problem really is a huge step in resolving it. Now, hopefully my theory is right and I can allow myself to care about that area of my life.

You are so right; if we can find the trigger or the stumbling block we are partway to addressing it. It is great that you are working through your issues, Ezma and your 'can do' attitude will be a big factor in the success I KNOW you will have.

To all of us - keep swimming! We can do this!

Well, good news and not so good. I lost a pound this morning. That's the good. Bad is that I have absolutely no willpower when it comes to those blasted gourmet Peanut Butter Cookies from Fry's. I did fantastic yesterday until I hit the grocery store at about 6 PM. I had to go past the dang cookies to get my feta cheese. I kept saying all the things I said to myself all day to beat the other temptations but the cookies won this time. I do feel it coming back though. Feel like I can get back on track where before I wasn't sure if I could do it. Today has been better than yesterday so far but it isn't 6 yet. I'm planning on a Protein shake for dinner and I'm not going out any more today.

How are you guys doing? Tap, did the alarm stop for ya?

Morning Ezma and my other fellow VVs - I know you are out there even if you aren't posting!

The computer alarm finally stopped around 930 - many in the office were almost stark-raving mad by then!!

Re: You lost a pound - YEAH!! And you realized your weakness, and tried to resist...awareness is half the battle. It's being unaware that is a real problem. Besides, they were Peanut Butter Cookies...it's understandable (you remember my weakness for all things with nuts).

I'm having a tough morning with the band today - it just does NOT want to let me have anything...and of course, the more it resists, the more anxious I get which means the tighter it gets. So, I'm nursing my coffee and trying to ignore it...then when it isn't looking, I'll get my Protein smoothie in!!

I guess I should post an update since I'm back from my trip and getting back into the swing of things.

NSV- I had my wedding resized for a second time and it's now size 5 1/2. That's definitely smaller than it was when I got married. I think it was a 6. I know my ring size was at least an 8 before I had my surgery. So glad I have a warranty on the ring that gives me free resizing for life.

I had a very nice visit with Jaime and StLouisGal. We met at a restaurant and had dinner and chatted. It's great to see others going through the same milestones and talk about our individual battles. Thanks, Ladies, for meeting up with me. You're both looking great!

My weight is at a standstill. It doesn't look like I gained or lost much on my trip. It's good that I didn't gain. I behaved in a manner consistent with maintenance, I suppose.

I've ordered a couple of books that I'm hoping will be here today. They are the Body for Life book and the Eating for Life cookbook. The recipes are what caught my attention. They are very similar to how I have been trying to eat. I think I will read through the books and see if I'm up to completing a 12 week challenge. Heaven knows I could use some toning and shaping.

I hope everyone is having a good summer. I'm loving the evening thunderstorms and rainbows we've been seeing.

Good morning everyone!

I just wanted to post here simply because I want to announce that I'm sick and I'm tired. Sick/tired of being too tight. ...of not being able to eat a healthy breakfast. ...of not being able to eat a healthy lunch or dinner. ...of not being able to eat. ...without having to force pinapple juice down my throat so I can get some food in my stomach without that piercing pain and glob of food forcing its way back up.

I have an appointment on July 31st to have Fluid unfilled in my band. I think I want ALOT taken out! I'm truly done with this feeling. I even think I'd rather NOT HAVE ENOUGH IN! I want to be able to eat what everyone else is eating. Just not alot of it. Yes, I want to have some eggs once in awhile. Yeah, throw in some pork chops. Um, and give me some of that rice too. (My dear rice you have been vilified too long by too many!) Thanks!

Here is what I think I should be able to eat for dinner. 3 oz. of any kind of meat (protein) that I want. I don't care if its fried chicken. How about a scoop of carbohydrate side, and a good helping of veggies. That is all I ever wanted. I don't want to have to take one hour just to eat that little bit (but I do). I'm sick of bingeing on crackers and craving ice cream afterward because I know in my mind that is all I can get in without that *PAiN* !!! I just want to feel *NORMAL* again!!!!!!!

I NEVER HAD A SUGAR ADDICTION BEFORE BANDING! My main fat contributor was chips and soda. Well, I don't even think about those monsters anymore. I never cared too much for cake, ice-cream, chocolate, etc before. Now it consumes me! I have to really exercise some strict will power to stay away from it. It upsets me so much!

I tend to wonder what really is good restriction? Is it to the point where all I can do is drink Protein shakes in the morning? Is it to the point where I can barely even eat meat without the gagging and sliming and get that retchid look on my face? To the point where my family is wondering as I'm clutching my chest if I'm having cardiac arrest?

I'm sorry, but when I decided to get the Lap-Band, it was to come to terms with food and grow a *healthy* relationship with it. This IS NOT HEALTHY! I think more about food now than I ever have before! I'm constantly wondering if the food is too over cooked. If I'm going to be satisfied after eating. To me satisfaction isn't just knowing I was able to get that food down *finally*. It's eating my food, without pain or reservation and ENJOYING IT!!! NOT If my band is going to "nut up" or will it let me enjoy one meal.

I'm so done with it.

Irene,

I couldn't agree with you more! The band can be used in such a variety of ways, but I don't think it was intended to force a liquid diet on us so we can lose weight. You can just have your jaw wired shut if that's what you wanted to do!

I believe that we need to be able to eat real food in order to nourish our bodies as well as our physical need to eat and enjoy our food. Fruits and veggies, meats, all of these things should be part of a healthy diet (unless you're a vegetarian, of course) and I think the optimum restriction level is one that allows you to consume these things, in smaller portions and then feel full from that.

As I'm writing this, I have to admit that I am probably in that spot. There are times when I eat what amounts to basically a full-sized meal and immediately I worry and think that I need a fill. But for the most part, my band helps me keep to small portions and eat slowly. Honestly I would rather be not quite tight enough and have to exercise some willpower than to be overfilled and not able to eat a salad, or fruit.

I think you're on the right track and I can understand why you are so over it--rightly so.

You'll have to let us know how the unfill goes. Hopefully your surgeon won't give you any problems about it.