X-Post: EWB: Tri-Cities Bandsters Mtg report

[Guest guest]

We had 6 folks attend our meeting last night @ Columbia Center Mall

in Kennewick, and several new faces: Dick and his wife Sue,

(pre-bandster), Audrey, Kathy and . I'll say it again: We're

small but we're powerful!

Kathy shared some experiences from the Seattle Bash, and said it was

alot of fun. She danced for well over an hour and commented that she

could never have done that a year ago. She loves her band!

I was very impressed because the new folks joined our discussions and

shared personal stuff with strangers in a way you don't see very

often. I asked the generic question of whether we have shared our

band decision with others, and got a wide variety of answers we can

all relate to. One person was guarded because they didn't want to

field alot of weight questions, one said they tell everyone, one said

they wanted support from friends because there was no family.

There was some discussion of friendly and not so friendly band food,

and bread, uncooked veggies, and the like were confirmed by most to

be difficult. One thing that suprised me was that steak and chicken

were voiced as difficult foods, as that hasn't been my experience.

One or two folks said they have modified their diet to include " soft "

foods, and that sparked some controversy. Solid food is very

important to use this tool correctly, and any problems with solids

should be taken seriously. As a group, we tried to encourage a varied

diet with solid food, and remember to chew chew chew. Solids are key

to getting that full feeling that caused so many of us to overeat in

the past. Cherish the feeling.

I went once around the table looking for scale victories and NSVs.

is getting banded in Kirkland next week, so let's all keep her

in our hearts. Dick has lost 80#, but regained about 8# over the

holidays, so he's rededicating himself to getting back on track, way

to go Dick! Audrey says she's lost 2# and 2 sizes in the past month,

now that's a victory for sure. Kathy says she lost 12# (due to excess

dancing) but also said she wearing a size 16 for the 1st time in

years, and that she recently ran up her stairs without using the

handrail. Again, she says this is progress thanks to skillful hands

and this wonderful tool.

Personally, I've had some SVs and NSVs over the past month. I've lost

19#, and nearly fell off the scale in shock. I haven't been as

dilligent as the scale indicates, so this was a nice surprise. But, I

will say one NSV was that I have used up all the notches on my belt,

and I need to drill five more! I take great pride in my " belt-o-

meter " which is tangible evidence of the incredible shrinking .

In fact, I may need to do some more closet diving to find addn'l

clothes I can wear.

Oh, and this last news is of interest to everyone east of the

mountains. I don't like rumor or gossip, but Dick says Dr. Fox from

Tacoma will be opening a practice right here in Richland. Dick says

Fox told him it would be full service, consultation, surgery & fills.

If realized, this is obviously wonderful news for people from CDA to

Yakima and all places in between. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

Thanks for your attention. Sincerely,

in Tri-Cities, Wa, USA

Dr Kuri, 1/27/04

535/507/403/235