Paula Bee

OMG, Cathy! You are looking great! I am so proud of your progress. Can you rub some of it off on me? Hugs!

Congratulations on your pending banding! Everything in TJ will be fine... don't worry about a thing.

Gotta love those puppy eyes! She is adorable, dahling!

Welcome, welcome, welcome to bandland! :cheerleader: :cheerleader:

I have lost a hundred pounds 3 times, and each time, I would look in the mirror and still see the same ole me. Even when people gasped with surprise and delight, I kinda just thought they were exaggerating. Obesity not only kills your body, but your self-confidence. I wish I could say that your perception will change, but you will have to trust the scale, measuring tape, and friends and family. This issue is really no different than a slim girl looking in a mirror and perceiving herself as fat... thus becoming anorexic. Take a picture of yourself and tape it to your mirror. Pictures never lie or exaggerate. Paula

You just got banded recently? The period right after the liquid stage is not meant to lose weight, but to heal your stomach and not stress your band. Call your doctor and find out when you can get your first fill. Also, talk to your dietician and get her help with this. This will work... Paula

Cabbage Soup Diet - I have tried this one... I already was familiar with the cabbage soup from WW, so this seemed natural to try.. No, do not try this at home!Slim Fast - tried this one, too... Not enough self control for the other meal and snacks... Besides, I hate slimfast.Blood Type Diet - Yes, I have tried this one - for blood type O... seemed logical at the time.The Atkins Diet - yes, of course. I don't know anyone with a weight problem that hasn't tried this one or one of the hundreds of deviations that sprang up after it. I had a problem with it when I found out Dr. Atkins was about 100 pounds overweight at the time he died in an accident. I have also done Optifast, Nutrisystem, and a number of others.

Congratulations on the new addition to your family. I cannot wait to see a picture of Daisy.... tiny dogs are the bomb!

OMG! I think you have earned the name "crazy!" I am proud of you.... but still think your are crazy!

How wonderful for you to have each other for support! I am glad he is going with you, it will give him more lifetime to love you. "Grow old along with me; the best is yet to be..." John Lennon

Woot! I am envious.. looks like you all had a blast!

Will, you are the most full of crap, although I am right behind you!!

When OCC did my second fill the floriscope showed what happened to my pouch when he filled it to 2 cm....you could see it "cupcake" over the top of the band. I don't know what caused it unless it was years of dieting and binging. I really don't know if my pouch is still stretched. I have followed the rules that Dr. So gave me, and I am praying that it has worked as he said it would. This situation is why fill center is recommending St. Pete rather than Tampa, which is closer. St. Pete has the equipment to check this, and hopefully I can get some kind of additional fill, even if it is a small one. Fill center told me that it can take up to 5 fills to get where a person needs to be. Ultimately, she said I should only be able to eat 4-6 bites. Looks like a protein meal to me. Still a 4 hour drive for me, but a couple of hundred dollars cheaper.

Woot! I am doing the happy dance for you!!!

Go get the puppy! You can never replace Lucy, but a puppy will love you and soothe your heart with its love. Three years ago, I lost two of my Pomeranians in the same week. TinkerToy, my 1.5 year old died suddenly from no apparent cause. Even after the necropsy, there was no apparent reason for her death. 4 days later, my 12 year old, TigerLily, already suffering the effects of old age, collapsed. My brother was a vetrinarian for the CDC in Atlanta, and I put Lily in the car and drove like a bat out of hell to get her to Him. He examined her and her organs were failing, and she was completely stiff with pain. He said that the death of the puppy was what drove her over the edge. We sent Lily over the Rainbow Bridge the next day. I went into a deep depression, and stayed in my brother's spare room, unable to even come out, for 4 days. The next day, my sister-in-law asked me to come for a ride just to get to some air. She drove for the next three hours, and we ended up in Tennessee at a Pomeranian breeders. I have to say my heart stopped; I have bred pom puppies, and they are truly the most adorable puppies God ever created. I welled up in tears, and we went into the kennel to look at the puppies. Of course I found the one that swept my heart away. The puppies were only 3.5 weeks old, but because my brother is a vet, she let us buy one. We drove home, and I cuddled the baby, crying all the way home. The rest of the week I spent loving and caring for the little pup. My love for him was immediate, but I just couldn't think of a name for the little guy, and my brother named him for me - Rx for Happiness. He told me that the puppy was my prescription for happiness, and I cannot agree with him more. It was just the thing to help me work through my grief and comfort me at the same time. Rex is now a feisty 3 year old and the love of our family. We will never forget the dogs we lost, but we have learned to love them without grieving at each thought of them. In my dog scrapbook, I have pictures of each dog I have had since Christmas of 1964. Except for the 4 days after Lily died, I have had a dog every moment of those years. Our dogs that have gone over the rainbow bridge are Bitsy, when I was in the 4th grade, Hershey, Honey, Punkin, Lily, and Tink. We now have Rex and Pandy (a shelter corgi.) My three children grew up with these dogs, and their hearts are wrapped around their dogs now. My "grandpuppies" are Punky, my daughters cocker spaniel, Colby, my son's black lab, and Leo and Lily, my other son's beagles. Our dogs are part of our families and enrich our lives. Go get the puppy. Rainbow Bridge Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.... Author unknown...

This is a great post, Michelle! Thanks

I talked with fillcentersusa today, and I am going to have a fill in St. Petersburg the first weeks of August. I asked about the fill center in Tampa, but the Fill Center Director told me that the equiptment in St. Petersburg is newer and more up to date than that in Tampa, and because of my stretched pouch, I would need to go to St. Pete. I have an appointment in TJ for July 29th, but the plane fare is so high that it becomes nearly $700 to fly, pay the $290 for the fill special, and that doesn't include food. I will have to cancel that appointment. My trip to St. Pete will cost $375 for the first fill and the cost of gas, which is about $100, and the cost of chili from Wendy's. It seems to be a no brainer, but I am a little anxious about it. I will have to wait and see.

I definitely see a difference. WTG! Thanks for posting the encouraging pictures

I just wanted to say how very proud I am of those of you who have quit smoking. I have family members who have tried to stop smoking, and they didn't achieve what you have. You have improved your health doubly, and I support you in every way. Here's to long life!

Thank you, Lori. I had already put him on ignore, but this is nicer.

Congrats! We will be anxious to hear how it went.

No, Kidding.. we are too funny, and the posts just got funnier and funnier.. Kim.. thank you for raising the most entertaining questions!

There was some drama that Will refused to participate in, and he effectively left the forum. It has been resolved with a happy ending.

In case anyone has missed the "ignore user" option, it is one of the choices when you go to a member's profile page. It is the option pull-down under their pictures.

I get to go first! Will, you make me laugh and you offer thoughtful answers to the topics requiring a legitimate answer.