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I've had lunchables before. They're just so darned handy! My lunches (when I remember to eat ) might be tuna salad - I'll either make it the night before, or buy the 4oz puches and add mayo at work... plain or I too eat them on Wasa (sourdough or multigrain are my favs). We have a Green Acres near my work so sometimes I will make a salad from the salad bar that consists of grilled chicken breast, tofu, feta, bleu cheese, chick peas, sesame crackers, cottage cheese, and about a quarter of a scoop of balsamic vinagraitte. Or I will get a Soup and some of their tofu egg salad... mmm. In case I forget and can't get out, I always keep tuna cups and a few cans of FF refried Beans in my desk, and usually a packet of turkey pepperoni in the fridge. That way I always have something. If you cook, just bring leftovers from whatever your dinner was. If you have a fridge, you can bring a whole week's worth of lunch and leave it in there. Sometimes on Monday I'll bring in a tub of cottage cheese, some sliced meats (I've found that "Boar's Head" brand deli meats are very close in nutritional value to homecooked meats), some Wasa, etc. -- and I'm good to go for the week.

Fab day for you Suzy! Today so far and my plan! B: apple S; cambridge bar L: tuna salad D; poached salmon with mange tout, new potatoes and baby carrots. S; cottage cheese with pineapple total calories 965 Total Protein 72g Not bad, having my eat junk day tomorrow, which WILL be appalling!!!

A little more information. I noticed some blue squares (in addition to the red and green) and thought we might get some questions about that. When you view your rep, you will see a little red, green, or blue/gray box next to each one. These squares indicate the effect that the comment had on your reputation score. If a member left you a positive rep (and themselves had a positive Rep Power), the square will be green. If the member had no Rep Power the square will be blue. And if the member disapproved of your post, the square will be red.

Hi! Just checking in to see if we heard from any of the newly bandeds---and I see we have---hope the rest are following along as well!!! WooHooo welcome to bandland!!!! Pamela, you can check out the syrups on the website www.davincigourmet.com they have tons of SF flavors---I have used several, and am hooked!!! They ship quickly, fairly inexpensively, and I have never had anything come in broken. I am a huge toffee addict, I love the English Toffee, and the Caramel. The Dulce Ce Leche is similar, but reminds me of the caramel used for caramel apples at Halloween. I too love Mexican food, and had enchiladas as my first food, refried beans as my first mushie....still it is the easiest of all food for me to eat. Sorry talking about those things to liquid dieters, is referred to as "food porn"----I'll behave! My 2 year old granddaughter has croup. Poor little darlin' sounds so horrible! When she coughs and makes that horrid barking sound she looks so confused as to why that sound is coming from her!!! Then she very meekly says "scuse me" she cracks me up!!! The best with her lately is when she wants to go to Fudruckers for a hamburger---do not ask a child who just turned 2 to say Fudruckers!!! Well ladies, I hope all of you are hanging in there---I am hoping the rest of our new banders are ok----will check on all of you in the morning. Sleep Well! Kat

Sherri Jo: First of all, you have done FABULOUS!! It was bound to slow down some from the beginning weightloss. And the inches you've lost/sizes you've lost are something to celebrate. So, don't beat yourself up!! CELEBRATE (just not with goodies)!! It sounds like you may be on a plateau here, which I believe is normal. It happened to me in Dec./Jan. then all of a sudden I lost some more. Since then, I can honestly say that I haven't eaten right. But, even though I haven't seen any weightloss, I have continued to shrink some in inches and I think it's due to my skin catching up. I don't know medially if that's what happens, it just seems as though I look smaller (I am smaller), but the weight is the same. I know that I don't have good restriction, but that doesn't seem to be the issue with you. So, I would just be sure to eat that protein (as you stated in an earlier post) and your green vegetable, then anything else if you can eat anymore, which it doesn't sound like you can). You may need to supplement your protein with a shake if you are not getting in enough. Doesn't sound like you are feeding your body enough calories so maybe there is something to that "starving the body" deal. Remember, we don't want to lose muscle when we lose, but fat. Muscle weighs more than fat. All of us have a lot of muscle as we've carried around all that extra weight. These are just some things I'm throwing out there. I know that Barbara (Dr. Rod's assistant) has stressed so much with me NOT to go by weight but how I feel, size, measurement, etc. due to the muscle thing. She also stressed that I may not end up at the same weight that I was in the past due to this. I may be heavier in weight but get to the appropriate size. Does this make sense? Maybe you need to move that scale out to the garage and just quit getting on it. Keep track of your protein and food choices. Make sure you aren't getting in extra liquid or soft calories (as Kari talked about) and just RELAX!! The band was not a mistake. You've done well. It's so easy to try and compare ourselves with others. There are some on here that have lost extremely fast and large amounts. We are not all the same. (I'm reminding myself of this right now too). We are different ages, reached obesity in different ways, different metabolisms, etc. Remember the band is a tool and the typical weightloss promised with the band is something like 1-2 lbs. a week (that would be 4 lbs. a month- 8 lbs. a month). If you've been on pain meds and need them, I think you should take them. I don't know how they affect your weight, but if you can't move due to pain, that certainly isn't going to help you any. You can always talk to your doctor and read up on any side effects of the medicines you're on. But, you were on these previously, I'm thinking, so that shouldn't be hindering anything. I think the "slow down" is normal and we just need to remember that the band is to help us lose the weight and keep it off. I've always thought that it would be 1-2 years for me to get it off (approximately 115 lbs.). I have a goal of being under 200 lbs. by my bandiversary date of 7-28-07. Will this happen? Time will tell. But, I must do my part, too, and be patient. Our bodies are readjusting now, too. I have a feeling that my metabolism is going to get messed up if I don't make sure I'm eating properly and getting in my protein. I refuse to look at this as a "diet". The band is a lifestyle change. Since I've been struggling, I'm seriously thinking about getting some counseling or going through some inner healing ministry through my church. With my dad passing away and some other family issues, I just may need to address these in working with my band. Since I went to Mexico, I didn't need any type of eval for behavioral stuff. Well, I've been on enough boards to see that counseling can be a big help in dealing with stress and reasons for overeating to begin with. I've seen that many have gone to counseling or are going to deal with "life". Whatever it takes for me to be healthy, I need to do. Well, I've written a book here and guess I needed to get some of my own feelings out here, too. Sherri Jo, I hope you've gotten your medication by now and feeling better. I hope and pray that you are encouraged by what I've written. I'm just a fellow bandster that has struggled at times, too, so remember, we are here for one another and this is a journey, not just a trip...!! (Boy, didn't know I was so wise, especially after not knowing who Aunt Flo was)

I clicked on my User CP, I didn't see anything like that?

or should I say last big day. Either way, this is it. I have my surgery at 1pm. I am pretty calm. I do miss my morning coffee. My mother is pacing back and forth, poor thing, she is more nervous than me. Thank you for all your kind words and wishes. I was freaking out a bit on Monday nite but I'm good now. I was a pleasure to meet Jurema and Doddie at the seminar. Doddie you have the most beautiful smile and the warmest heart. Thanks for the big squeeze. Next time you have to come to Toronto you can stay with me. I'm leaving soon...................I'll see you on the other side:scared: xoxox

Congrats, Crabcake! That's right around the corner! Tami

Other members give you positive or negative reputation, e.g. you get one rep point per reputation that someone gives you. It was part of the board a while ago, then removed, then recently added back in. Reputation is usually given when someone strongly agrees/disagrees with something you've said... a sort of thumbs-up or thumbs-down kind of rating system. What good is the rating? Well, one benefit is that it's able to help users identify who to listen to and who to ignore. That sounds harsh, but there are people on boards who spew all kinds of misinformation, and do it intentionally. As another user recently put it, it helps you figure out who to listed to. BTW, to add reputation to someone, you click the little scales icon next to their online status. You'll notice that if you hover your mouse over this icon, it will read, "Add to X's reputation", X being the poster.

But the OP tried it and it didn't work. :cry