I am so thankful and fortunate. For a million reasons but, I will stay connected to the WLS thankfullness. I have met some of the very best people. These people have supported me and changed my life forever for the BETTER! Thank you!
My sister is the BEST! She has supported me the entire weigh. She is struggling right now with her band and I am trying to support her the entire weigh. I love ya Chele.
My bestest friend Vicki...YOU ARE SO STRONG and SO WONDERFUL. I know you are not perfect BUT, YOU ARE DAMN CLOSE! You as a wife, mother, sister, daughter, and friend just blow me away. You teach me how great life can be even when you are in turmoil, struggles, challenges! THANK YOU for teaching your children what being a great person is! You and Mike just continue to amaze me! You two are the foundation of your family and WELL JUST AWESOME! Thank you for all you do for me. The texts just brighten my day and you spoil me rotten as a friend. Thank you! As a weight loss buddy you are fantastic. You support me in my food and exercise struggles. Love ya! I pray for you and your family all throughout my day!
Thank you Dr. Owens for this surgery that jump started my life again.
Praying for the man of my dreams to continue this transformation into a great woman.
Thank you Coach Scott and my running buddies.
Thank you OH
Thank you and may each of you that struggle accept the challenges of water, protein, and exercise. Be good to yourself and share that goodness with others! Woo hoo
Love ya

Hey beautiful peeps,
Just wanted to pop in to say woo hoo. Lori C and I are 2 years out today from WLS she is an RNY and I am a band gurl. I may not be where I wanted to be but, I am so much healthier and better for my lap band surgery. My thyroid stops me a lot of the weigh but, that is Aok with me because what I have achieved and will achieve are far more important.
I thank Dr. Milton Owens for his tremendous talented hands. I love my lap band. I have not had a fill since June of last year and I still have great restriction. I have to water load to get any food in especially in the morning or during my period. I get in my water, vitamins, and protein daily. My exercise is off but, I have been taking a break. I am back in the saddle next week. I still move weigh more than I did two years ago. Two years ago I could not walk across the street without sitting down to catch my breath. Two years later and (2) 26.2 mile victory marathons and a half-marathon. Marathon training and a few 5Ks and 10Ks later I am moving. I park my car farther away from the building I am going to, I take the stairs when I available. Things have changed and I am super grateful.
I am sitting at 80 plus pounds gone and the daily battle is well worth every victory! I was in tight tight tight 24s/26s and now 14s and a few 12s! woo hoo YES, IT IS A DAILY BATTLE! WELL WORTH EVERY MOMENT OF BLOOD SWEAT AND TEARS!This is a lifestyle not a diet IT TAKES DAMN HARD WORK daily to keep the grazing and sugar/carb demons aweigh!
Ok, peeps enjoy your tool and DO THE WORK!
Be COMPLIANT BE BE COMPLIANT! :) I am sorry if you are offended by my posts or thoughts but, I believe in education and as Stacie said so well today whatever a health insurance company asks of you (all are different) is well worth a virtually free $100,000 operation AND ALL THE EDUCATION AND WORK WILL MAKE YOU A SUCCESSFUL postop.
Again my cheer BE COMPLIANT, BE BE COMPLIANT! WOO HOO
Enjoy every moment of the weight loss journey! AND DO THE WORK! woo hoo :)
Love ya,
Lynnie

Wow, 2 years ago I was prepping for my surgery on the 5th of July! Have times changed.
Happy Surgiversary to Lori C and I tomorrow!
I am so happy to be a member of the CALI boards. Although I do not post as I once did, I love the people I have come to meet and call friends. I thank each of you for changing my life for the better by your inspiration.
Vicki, I cannot tell you how awesome it is to have you as my friend. What a treat to have you come and visit us at the beach. Each day, throughout the day I pray for Mikey, you, and your family. Thanks Mikey for being a dedicated soldier!
I don't post as much on the Cali boards because the new group of babies are driving me crazee! As a past and present educator I cannot stand to hear people complain about education! I have been on the boards for over 2 years and I see those that are educated and COMPLIANT (which means doing all that your surgeon asks of you to the best of your ability) are the successful ones! Those are my thoughts on the subject! Teacher's do the same thing bitch and moan about going to conferences basically bitch and moan about education their own profession. I love Darrol's quote on his posts the mind is like a parachute it works best when OPEN. Whenever I have an open mind I learn even if I have heard it all a million times. OPEN YOUR MINDS AND LEARN people!
The boards are for support so I will not bring this up on the board.
Love to all my peeps and I am praying for all the newbies, oldbies, lurkers, postops, nonops, and preops.
This is a tool and you only get out of it what you put into it!
WLS is a lifestyle choice and it is not EASY!
God's Blessings,
lynnie and happy 4th of July

Craig Park, the 4th year of this event was awesome. We had so much fun. We got there a couple minutes past 8:00am to set up and began that with Sheryl and Scott. Later Steve and D arrived and we began the welcome booth set up. I think the welcome booth was more like a home away from home! Thanks to Steve and D and all their totally fantastico designs. 
The picnic began slow and I think there were fewer people at Craig Park than the last year but, it was outstanding. 
Helen is amazing with the kids: she had sack races, tug a war, pinatas so much fun.
The food was weigh too much, hello WLS! But, you know we all dream of food so we had tons.
I met a few new people YAY and spent time with friends as well as making new friends. I was so dead dog tired. I had 1 hour and a half of sleep the night before. I was supposed to go to bounce to dance my booty off, which I totally wanted to but, they were going later which would put this girl to sleep before heading out. So a few of us decided to go right after (which is better for this old tired gal)
Met Lisa OH MY GOD and tami, patty, MA, Chele and I had so much fun. I have not EVER laughed so damn hard in my life.
Thank you ladies for side splitting fun! Ride Sally Ride.....Excellentante! When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie that's Amore!
Lisa is the best singer I have EVER heard in karaoke. I have heard some excellent singers before but, we could not believe how talented Lisa is, man dog you can blow! 
To all I met and to those I spent time with THANK YOU.

Finance! ARRRRRRGH! I have only pirate talk for my accounting course. I am more of a writer than a numbers gal so this course is sucking the life out of me. 
Well, I have a few great things I need to focus on....so many great people with upcoming surgeries namely Tami B and Anna! WEIGH to go ladies I am so proud of you and I am praying for you tonight. I look forward to following your weight loss journeys.
Well, tonight I was pretty stressed and frustrated. Fortunate me I have the boards always there to bring me support, motivation, inspiration, and encouragement. Thank you to my little late night PMer, you made my night. You are a special man and I appreciate your thoughtfulness. I really needed your PM tonight, thank you.
Jenn Avery and family I am so saddened for your loss. I am so proud of your son Jeff for his service to our country. He is a hero. He gave his life for our freedom, that is bravery and that is a hero. I cannot wait to get back to teaching so I can tell my students about you Jeff. I have never met you but, I will forever remember your bravery. Thank you
I pray for Jenn and her family in their time of suffering and loss.God Bless each of them.
This board is a powerful forum, I tell you. I am constantly amazed and overwhelmed by the throngs of supports and thoughtful people. Thank you all.
I look forward to meeting new people and chatting with my friends that I have made on this board. I hope people from around the state will come to Craig Park in Brea on May 5th. I am so amazed and in awe of each of you. 
I tell you just moment ago before checking the boards and reading my Pm I was so down and stressed now I am up and thankful.
I have a ton more work to do for my class and if you are an accountant or an accounting student please get in touch with me. LOL
Thank you to all my peeps and for those of you lurking step out and accept the challenge. 
Oh ya, I PBd last night when I was talking to Tami B about PBing. I once again broke my bodies/band rules and did not water load thought I was ok and up comes the little bit I got in. When will I learn. I tell you I am the worst right now with everything because of the stress of my class. So any inspirational or motivational words of encouragement are well received, thank you in advance.
Thank you to my family and my family on the boards.
Love to all Prayers to Jenn Avery's family
My love and blessings go out to all military past and present thank you so much for your dedication and service. I appreciate you.