Thursday Roll Call

I should be back in town from business trips by April 19th!  Please send me the details for the potluck.  My email is [email protected].  I love to cook, and I have a freezer full of really high quality grass feed beef that I need to use up before my surgery in May!  I'm not terribly far from Wheeling, and I'm sure my wife would love it.  There is a great folk festival in Willow, IL in July.  That's just east of Stockton.  Depending on schedules and dates, maybe we'll come by Rock City's fest and then do the Willow fest as well.  Although I don't perform on stage much these days, I usually take the family to Willow for a weekend of camping.  I've played that festival for almost 20 years and it's a real nice time.  Maybe this year I'll be able to surprise everybody with a body that is similiar to the one I had the first time I played there!!!  By the way, I realize that the pictures are tiny, but you do not look like you are old enough to have a 2 year old granddaughter!  You must have been one of those child brides!!!

Hi Paul: I decided to post here since we have so many newbies that have expressed interest. Here is the link to the post that talks about the party: http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/IL/a,messageboard/board_id ,4816/cat_id,4416/topic_id,3559141/action,replies/page,1/#27 992300 RSVP to Lucy there, and I'm sure that final plans will be forthcoming soon. I also have a freezer full of meat as I live in the sticks and buy it straight from the farmer.  I once ran out of hamburger and my kids could tell the difference.  No more store meat for my family! As far as being a child bride, yes, I was married the first time at 15.  I DO NOT recommend it to anyone (especially my 14 year old son.....)!  The good news is that my little ones were great birth control for the older one! Thanks for the compliment though!  Funny as I have been losing weight, I hear how much younger I look all the time. I'm going to try to check out the Will Folk Festival too.  Is there a link for it? My family attended the Mud Creek music Festival the 2 years that they had it in Rockford at Camp Winnebago and we had a blast!

I will go to the link for the potluck and respond there.  There isn't a site for the Willow Festival but I found this one for general info:  www.folkjam.org/festival/us/illinois/stockton/willow-folk-festival.  I look forward to meeting everybody at the potluck! Paul

Hi Paul,  Welcome!   I can tell you from experience that the band does help with the diabetes.  I was/am type 2 also.  Before my band I was on glucophage and avandia.   My sugars basically sucked.    I was banded 3/15/07 and I am happy to tell you that within 6 months I was off all meds.   I feel great.   My Hba1c's have all been around 5.6 or so.  My endocrinologist is thrilled with my progress.   It can happen for you, just keep the faith.   Being a nurse I see all the ravages that DM can do to your body.  I am just happy that I finally found a way to avoid them.  Now the chocolate bunny I ate yesterday may not be the best answer......... I checked my sugar just to see what it was after and it was 94.  Not too bad considering.  It is nice to know that every once in a while I can have a little bit of sweets and not freak out about my sugars.  Now I am not advocating eating a chocolate bunny with the band, in fact I threw the rest of the candy out.   I was sicker from the guilt of eating it than the sugar level.    Good luck to you. Gina

Good morning everyone.

I am sorry once again that I have been more of a lurker than a joiner these past few weeks. It just seems hard to get everything under control. To be honest I really never realized how hard mentally this surgery was going to be. I have to force my self to eat but I WANT to eat everything I shouldnt and that is hard. I feel like my weight loss has been slow but the dr tells me it is right on track due to the fact that I only had about 100lbs to lose to start. The hardest thing for me now is to find the time to exercise and get into it. I know that I have to. You guys on here are such an s inspiration to me. I get on here and see how you are all doing so good and it makes me feel like I can.  Good luck to everyone you has had the surgery lately. It is an awesome journey. Take care Measha

Hi Measha, You are so right......this wls is mentally challenging!  And not the easy way out like a lot of people think.  Believe me it will get so much better!  I was in my 4th month post-op before I started to appreciate my surgery.  I'm loving it now even though I'm still sore at times.  I am even able to figure out how much to buy at the grocery store now! Pam

Good afternoon everyone, (I can't say my Illinois ladies anymore,can I Paul :)  ) Well today was a day in court for me, with another one tomorrow.  Once again I win.  I have yet to lose in court going against my soon to be ex wife.  I am just happy that we finally have a visitation schedule set up.  That is the best thing and I win on how it was for me.  50/50.  I feel that is only fair, and I won once again.  I am on a roll, and I just hope it keeps going my way. As for the weight loss, well it hasn't been that good lately, but I have not been doing anything I should be at this point, so a pound isn't bad I think.  The official weigh in is tomorrow morning, so I am hoping that I can at least break even for the week.  Next week should be a lot better for me. I hope you all are keeping dry.  Talk to you all later!

Hi All...seems like everyone is going through something or other....Just keep the faith and know I am praying for everyone.  I do every evening.  I know one thing for sure this band was the best gift I could possibly ever done for myself.  I have gone down 40 pounds and 3 sizes.  I went to get a new top yesterday and was a wow moment for me had to keep going back for a smaller size.  I haven't felt this good in years.  I thank God for giving me the courage to go after help for myself and for this board of such good friends who stand by you no matter what.      Barry you have done so well you are an inspiration to us bandsters.  I am so happy for you that you have won the 50/50 battle for your daughter.  I will keep you in my prayers that it all works out for you. Everyone have a good evening. Blessings to All   

Hi Everyone, I know this is late, but its the firstchance I have had to get on for any lenght of time. Barry, good going, keep it up. Good luck for the official weigh in tomorrow. I have been in a stall for almost 2 months. I won't weigh officially until 4/10, but I know I haven't seen my scale go down.  Paul, please try to make it to Lucy's, It will be fun. The rain is falling, but like Pam said,at least it isn't snow. Paul, your blood sugars will be getting better, you will be eating alot less.  Theres a break in the rain, so I am heading out, probaly go to Krogers before I go home, that way, tomorrow morning I can stay home and do some stuff. Lisa

Hi everyone! I had  to be in Itasca for a workshop and so we went to McCormick and Schmicks seafood restaurant. Oh my goodness-the best and I mean best salmon I have ever had! We asked to have the entree split and the answer was "of course". So you Chicago folks go support them. Fabulous! I have to be in Hoffman Estates next Thurs-Sat for another workshop and I think I'll go again, even if I go alone!

Connie