Paula Bee

I have such bad knees; I am waiting for my weight loss to help relieve the pain somewhat. Do any of the pilates or other workouts make allowances for people with arthritis?

To all my fellow bandsters and future bandsters!

Today is my 63rd Birthday and my 42nd Wedding Anniversary, and I couldn't be happier!

I've lost 45 pounds (about 30-40 more to go), and look and feel like a new person. In my wildest dreams

I could not have imagined this body change could occur in such a short time. My husband keeps asking what

I want, but I already have it (so he's going to have to get very creative)!!

Now for you Vegas bandsters, I will need your help in supporting my daughter. She lives in Summerlin and

hopefully will get banded soon. She is an attorney, single and needs 'THE BAND'.

My wish today is for everyone to reach out and obtain the goal that is within your reach!

G-d Bless you all!

Oh, Utahmom! Happy Birthday and congratulations on you and your husband on reaching such a wonderful landmark. You are right; you already have the best gift, and have given it to your husband, too.

Long lives and years of love together for both of you!

Happy Birthday, Bella!

Kim, journal, take pictures, take movies... time slips away so quickly. My oldest son will be 29 on the August 18th, and my twins will be 24 on August 13th. (Don't ask about the birthdays a week apart; that is another story for another day,) and I have the sweetest memories of those young years; I get all weepy and watch all the videos that week of August. I didn't journal... I wish I had; I have forgotten so much with the chaos of having twins.

When Bella is in her teens, and being obnoxious, read the journals and restore your balance. Let her read them, and she will understand, in some small way, (our children never really understand until they have a child of their own,) how much you love and treasure her.

You are both blessed.

Congratulations on your life changing decision. So glad you got your appointment set. I will be praying that your spouse will be receptive and possibly even come with you. If not, the clinic takes such good care of you, you meet friends there, and even the hotel staff helps with things.

I got my pedometer yesterday on my break. I put in over 3,000 steps in just a few hours. Can't wait for my whole shift!! And then added walking!! Thanks for the inspiration everyone!!

and OMG Mona...You go girl!!!

You have one of those jobs that keep you on the run all the time! God bless your heart.

Thanks to Julie and every nurse who copes with the stress of today's medical system. We would be lost without you.

WTG Michelle! You are looking so great, and I am very proud of you. You keep me inspired...ole lady chasing after young lady.. lol... I gotta rep for the over 50 crowd.

The thought of me in a bikini? Oh the eyes, how they burn!!!

Congratulations and happy birthday.

Your best present to yourself is YOU, healthy and happy.

WTG Girl!

My brother, who has severe scholiosis and multiple back fractures told me to do some weight work to strengthen the muscles in my upper back. He says this will correct some of my posture issues naturally. He should know.

I have been too exhausted from my trip to his house to follow up yet, but I will.

Two of my incisions did the same. I have never had any trouble at all with scarring, and these two incisions formed raised scars, both ugly. If I could afford plastic surgery, I would get one in particular reduced.

Ugh.. good luck.. hoping you fare better.

Crazily enough, after my second fill, Dr. So had me go out to eat solids to see if it was too much fill... I enjoyed going to meals with JulieT, and I had solids the rest of my stay in TJ. I am going to the fill center on the 12th, and I understand that their policy is liquids for a couple of days.

Half the time the directions vary from patient to patient, and I am not sure why.

Hooray for YOU! I know you were a little concerned, and I am so glad this first fill is past... the rest will be mentally effortless. I will be anxious to see how you are doing after you are off the mushies.

Big hugs! I am doing the happy dance for you!

From the penny-pinching husband of a lap-band recipient:

The lap-band is one of the cheapest things that you could go through. Years and years of diet programs are much more expensive than one lap-band. Congratulate your wife for saving you a fortune and saving her own life. Pay for the whole thing and be thrilled that you are saving so much money.

David, husband of Paula.

P.S. Go to Tijuana with her; it is a blast!

Vix, hun, how are you doing? :lb18:

My 23rd birthday was Saturday. My boyfriend got me the sweetest gift! Apparently, he consulted a friend of mine and she told him to get me jewelry. After 2 days of searching, he just couldn't find any piece of jewelry he thought I'd like or thought I needed. So he started thinking of things I DO need. His decision? A new pair of athletic shoes! Now that I'm starting to work out more, have plans to join a gym, go walking and biking, I really needed a good pair of shoes. My current ones are slip on sneakers and offer no ankle support or stability. I've hurt my ankles repeatedly over the years and needed a pair that will keep them stabilized. I thought it was the sweetest gift ever and meant more to me than any pair of earrings or necklace he could have gotten me. He really thought about my needs and my current lifestyle and catered to it perfectly.

That is a truly thoughtful gift! Good for him and good for you!

I have really missed her posts. Glad she is off the forum for a happy, happy reason.

What is her myspace page addy? Oooh.. that is another sticky we could add.

I like the small Wendy's chili if I am close to Wendy's and not driving. I also ALWAYS take a protein bar with me in my purse; they have saved me many times already. I don't do anything with bread after my HORRIBLE pb episode after getting a small burger at Micky D's.

So as I have said before I haven't told anyone about the surgery, I just say that I have been eating less and working out (both true)... Now people are starting to notice that I have lost a lot of weight... so the question has changed from "Are you losing weight" to "Oh my gosh, how much have you lost?"

Now call me weird but I don't want to say "Almost 70lbs" why? I guess I don't want people to do the math and figure out how heavy I was... maybe it just goes back to being such a private person, and since we don't have that many "close" friends and no family here in Vegas I am mostly getting this question from neighbors and the parents of my son's friends!

So I was looking up some catchy responses and found these:

1) How much have you lost? "Oh, goodness! That's like asking a woman her age! I never lose and tell ;-)"

2) How much have you lost? "Enough to add 10 years to my life!"

3) How much have you lost? "Enough for me to know I'm on the right program!"

4) How much have you lost? "More than I EVER did on Weight Watcher's or Jenny Craig!"

5) How much have you lost? "Only my surgeon knows for sure, and he's not talking."

6) How much have you lost? "Who knows, how much have YOU lost?"

Anyone else have some good replies for this question that ALL of us will be getting for the rest of our lives?

How about "enough to make me happy and to make my hubby THRILLED" wink, wink

I have a huge needle phobia and I have had 3 fills so far. It doesn't get any easier for me, but I let whoever does it know that I am afraid of the needles and they don't let me see it at all. I close my eyes tight and do breathing exercises and I do fine. It doesn't really hurt at all, but just the thought of the needle scares the C--P out of me. When I had the flouro done at OCC I came close to passing out because I had to sit up for the flouro and the needle sticking out of my tummy at the time really freaked me out and I had a panic attack and got dizzy, etc. I have had 2 blind fills since (with no flouro) and I do fine with that cause I am lying down and can't see anything. They also numb it for me prior to the stick so if it takes more than once I won't feel anything. Good Luck!

I am getting my 3rd fill on Sept. 11th, and I am hoping that is the charm for a sweetspot. How are you doing since then?

Hi Elaine, I have my first fill tommorrow..and I am not fond of needles either. Everyone has said it doesn't hurt at all, so I'll just turn away!!

Good Luck!

Cathy, I cannot WAIT to hear how your fill went and hear you cheer for yourself afterwards. You are a special woman and deserve the best.

Big hugs and happy thoughts!

I go Thursday for my first fill. It is hard to believe that it has been six weeks since I was banded, but it is time.

I have to admit that I am TERRIFIED of needles and this will be the worst part of being banded for me. How have you gotten over the fear of seeing that big needle they use for fills? I am not sure how I will deal with it. I am praying I will deal with it ok.

So far my weight loss has been good, but I don't have any restriction so a fill will be a great thing. I really want restriction. (So, I will face my fear of needles.) Any suggestions?

It is easy, peezy, hun... Just close your eyes or watch the screen. The pictures are facinating!

So have you honey!!! You got me beat by a lb!! LOL..

Yep, yep, yep! I think you are doing great!

Can we make a sticky for things that Dr. Miranda has told each of us? I am really confused about each of the discrepancies.

So sorry to hear about the death of your friend.

If you think you are busy with the engagement stuff, just wait til the wedding!

Welcome back.

Thank you for all the replies. I have definitely cooled off! We have strict HIPPA laws down here, too, so I know I could probably say something, but I don't think I will. Like some of you said, the best revenge is my sucess. Today I took special care in making sure I looked great, wore a cute dress that hasn't fit me in quite a while. I made a point to stop by her area today and was secretly smiling inside when several people around her complimented me on my looks.

Anyways, thanks, everyone! I promise, no more rant posts from this bandster.

Gotta love this! You are the bomb!

oh, and rant away... we live for ranting.. lol...