Oregondaisy

There are a whole bunch of recipes to make Protein shakes taste way better. Look in the food section under Protein Shakes. There is also a list of which kind of protein powders or Ready to Drink protein that people really like. Adding something like some flavored Greek yogurt or the sugar free syrups and a little bit of fruit can make a world of difference in the taste. Blending them with ice makes them more like a frosty.

I always tell them after I know it's getting serious. I've been sleeved for 5 years now and I didn't tell my bf that I was with for the first 3 years for at least 6 months. I just avoided going to dinner at places where I knew they served huge portions. I always said I had a late lunch. I can eat quite a bit of salad, so like CCJ said, I order salad and usually they will add chicken or shrimp on top.

East Coast Swing is definitely my favorite. It's really fun. Once you learn the basic step, there's so much more little embellishments that you can add , or as my dance instructor says, add musicality . I'm really glad I went back to classes. I've really been missing dancing and I feel so happy when I am dancing. I'm glad you're having fun with it too!

Popsicles, and freezing some of my Protein drinks were a life saver for me in the beginning. Are you on an acid blocker? That could be a problem if you're not. Hang in there. When your clothes start falling off you, and you have to shop for cute new clothes, you'll feel better!

Florinda, you can take it off. You know what you're doing. It's hard when your life is so up in the air. how have you been feeling? Are you up to exercising? Protein veggies and water! You know the drill! Keep those jeans around where you can see them every once in awhile so you can stay motivated. I sure wish we could go and dance together!!

Sheryl, I love your hair too. What products do you use on it? I'm lucky because I can use curl spray. I like Redkin right now. and get it really curly by scrunching it. Also I can blow dry it straight with a round brush. . It's never really straight though, more like not frizzy, not curly, not straight, just with more body and the ends curl under when I blow it dry. Sometimes I will use Keritan shampoo and that will make it almost completely straight for one day. I really have no style of dress. I hate wearing bras and I have no boobs so I pick tops that will not look horrible without a bra. That's how I choose clothes. My dress up clothes are all the same color, peach, red or various shades of pink. Guys treat me differently since I had a face lift. They are so used to women in their 60's my age group and theirs, looking like their mother. I'm glad I am not online dating too, because they all look like my grand fathers to me. Bill got a job. It's going to be so good for him. He's going to be a teacher and counselor at an alternative school for at risk kids. They are all around middle school age. He will only do this part time, but it will give him focus for his life, and he can meet new people as well. How is everyone else doing? We have not heard from Brown in a long time!

Candy is so evil! It takes a lot of willpower for me to look the other way and tell myself that all it does is make me fat.

I am only 5'2" . I have no idea the height of anyone else, but for me, 5'2" 135 would be way better. I have no hopes of staying there though. Sheryl, just for fun, have you ever thought about using Keritan on your hair? My daughter has these treatments that last 3 months. You could have straight hair for 3 months, if you wanted to. Florinda, if you can Tango, you're a goddess! I wouldn't even attempt it anymore. The other dances are so much fun and take way less concentration. I had so much fun at dance class today. I was very excited to see my old dance teacher at the dance last Friday. I thought he moved to Eugene. He's back for awhile, and I am going to take some more private lessons. I love dancing so much! It's the one thing that makes me so happy while I am doing it.

I did lose most of my weight with the band, but starting putting it back on when I needed a revision. I probably put 20 back on which I lost on the post op sleeve diet, plus 15 more.

I'm having a hard time with the fasting portion of 5:2. when I did it last time, I was not dating as much. Isn't there a version of it where you only eat between certain hours but no fast days? I'm having lower calorie mon and thurs but I can't really call any of them but one a real fast day. I am maintaining at 141 and I would love to maintain at 135. I did a lot of crap this weekend.

Kelly that is just awful that you feel like your mom wishes you were never born. We are shaped by our parents, so I am sure that really hurt you, I had a lot of fun at the dance. I danced with some really good dancers and I did pretty well for not remembering very much. It's so much easier to follow if you have a good lead. We've been having some usually hot weather and it's really been nice.

That sounds great Sheryl. You really enjoy him and as long as you don't get hurt, I am all for doing what makes you happy. The reason I told you about the ballroom classes, I thought you had asked Florinda where to take lessons. I'm doing the same thing with Bill, by going out with him. I do enjoy him but not when he's so intense. We are going to go up the coast for both of our birthdays at the end of the month. I really enjoy Jim too . He's a lot of fun, I just wish he wasn't 69, wasn't broke, and wore nicer clothes. I know I am shallow. He definitely can't have sex and I don't really care. He's one of the best kissers I have ever kissed and we spend a lot of time kissing. He will make sure I am satisfied if I want him to. I feel sort of bad that I'm dating 2 people, but there are things I like about both of them. Jim knows about Bill and I am glad about that because otherwise I would not go out with him. Bill and I usually only see each other once a week now, since we split. That's enough, other than this weekend at the end of the month. There is a dance tonight. I am very excited. None of my ballroom dance friends know I am going back to dancing. I'll just show up at their dance with Jim. I think I forgot to tell everyone I sold my house. I had to sell it for 30,000 less than I wanted, but that headache is gone at least.

Sheryl, you can google USAA dance and see if they have a chapter in Seattle. They must. It's nationwide and we have one here in our small town. I'd look up dance studios in the yellow pages or google it and you'll probably find a bunch of places to take lessons. I do salsa, swing both west coast and east coast, cha cha, waltz, foxtrox,night club 2 step, and the hustle. I can't think but there's probably more. I don't do tango because it stresses me out and I don't dance to get stressed out. It's way too complicated for me. Swing is my favorite. I am very excited that I'm going with Jim tomorrow to a ballroom dance. When I danced before, I didn't have a regular partner and it was rather a pain. I'm having fun not being committed to anyone. I have to be really careful though, because men want to feed me.

I'll be 62 this month. I can't even believe I am 62. I've been sleeved over 5 years now, and had the lap bad before that for 2 years. It's been a long time ago when I was fat. I am so glad to have lived the last 8 years at a normal weight.

Kelly, You are so cute! Thanks for sharing those pictures. Everyone seems to be doing very well, getting back into 5:2 or some form of it. I managed a fast yesterday myself. Now I am down 2 lbs and don't feel like going to the gym. I know I need to, cause that's probably why I lost 2. I am getting so lazy now that I'll be 62 soon. I started my ballroom dance classes last night. I've taken these classes before, but I need to brush up since it's been a long time since I've gone ballroom dancing. I can shake my butt to rock and roll any time, but these steps on some of these dances have to come back to me, before I can go to one of their dances. It was really fun though, and I hope I can get good again. I am not sure I'll have enough time to practice.

No,it's Kim that knows everyone's real names . I do well for awhile and revert back to screen names and forget again. I swore I was going to write it down last time Kim was nice enough to make the list again. At least I should have memorized the page number. I don't think Bill and Jim can find out. Bill has no friends and hardly ever goes to town. He really doesn't know anyone in my town, as crazy as that sounds. He's really mad at me right now, and I really don't care. I was done with him trying to control everything a long time ago. He was trying to do it again, and I said "see you next week" Jim knows about Bill. He doesn't care if I date Bill . He said as long as I am willing to date him too, he will give me whatever space I need, in hopes that I will give up completely on Bill. There are things I like about both of them, and things about both of them I dislike. This way, I can have the best parts of both of them. I don't know what else to do. I need to find a counselor. I can go again now that I have better insurance. i want Sheryl's counselor!

It's hard. There is no doubt about it. It's no different than before when we tried and tried to keep the weight off. I am glad I am not battling it at 237 lbs, but I am still constantly dieting so that I don't gain . Life is fattening. Everywhere I go, there are candy bowls, or friends eating chips and guacamole, etc. If I want to stay at goal, it's 3 smalls meals and 2 small Snacks for the rest of my life. It's not always easy to live that way. It's definitely easier than having no tool at all, but its not easy.

Yes, I was screened for it when I had a bunch of other blood work done when I changed doctors a few years ago. I have no idea how I got it. The doctor said way back when I was a kid , the dentists didn't even sterilize their equipment well enough. It scares me. I am not supposed to drink but I have started to have an occasional cocktail and lately hard raspberry cider. I really don't want liver cancer. I'm really pushing my luck. It's been really hard to be sociable since I found out about 10 years ago. Friends have wine with dinner, and when I go out with my friends there are usually cocktails involved.

Hi all, On the subject of anxiety, I was diagnosed with general anxiety disorder quite a few years ago. I am sure it's because my mother was so anxious and nervous all the time. I took Seroquel for 10 years, and it helped, and it helped me with my sleep.Then they took it off the market because it causes liver failure. I have Hep C so I worry all the time that it damaged my liver. I take Valarien sometimes and it calms me down. It's not good for the liver either. I'm looking forward to going to Portland this weekend. It's always a treat to get out of this small town. You guys are rockin 5:2 . I can't seem to fast. I can eat way less, but can't really call it a fast day. I need to . just 5-7 lbs and I can't wear my pants. I am down a few now, but the big weekend is here.

Wow! I've missed a lot! I went out of town for a few days to the Crosby Stills and Nash concert and then shopping in Eugene. It was good to get away. I am going to go to Portland to see my kids and granddaughter this weekend. Kelly, glad to hear you found a job that you're going to enjoy. Seems we are all doing 5:2 again. I need to start too, but it seems every time I try a fast, I get invited out to dinner. I decided I am going to date both Jim and Bill. They both keep calling to take me places so I figured why not? I don't want to be in a relationship with either of them, but I enjoy their company in short doses. Bill really doesn't know anyone in this town, so it should not be a problem, Kim , I hope you're feeling somewhat better. Grief comes and goes. I always had good and bad days. It takes awhile before there are many good days strung together. Sheryl, I didn't know that Theo ever told you that. If he finds many women that he feels no chemistry with, the problem is with him. Hang in there Dee. We are all here for you. I've been feeling a lot of anxiety. I hate it. Going to the gym helps but he seems like every day there is much going on, I can't fit it in. I went yesterday and it felt really good. We did this before, and we know 5:2 works, so lets cheer each other on! Florinda, how are you feeling?

I am fine if I take my Protonix. It works well. I feel a little acid in the morning, but it's time to take it. I should switch to taking it before bed. I think the directions say an hour before a meal though. I tried to go off it , and there is no way I can.

Not happy hear the ap is causing problems. I hope we can figure out a time and day when some of us could chat . It would be fun. I had a candy attack which caused a severe diarrhea and gas attract today. The candy was yummy but I suffered from this craving. I hope I can keep a handle on snacking now that all the holidays are coming. Anyone have a time on Tues they would be able to chat? remember time change

You know girls, I realized something! We could all chat in the chat room. We could pick a time, a day, and however many of us could chat at that time, click on chat below. There doesn't ever seem to be anyone using it. I used to chat all the time, when it was verticalsleevetalk. I chatted every night when the web site first started after band talk.

Miralax is not safe to take on a regular daily basis the way some people do. The best thing to do if you can stand it, is to drink Metamucil every day. You can get the store brand of it, but you have to drink a lot of Water every day. It's very safe to use every day, because it's adding fiber to your system. This is not a problem that is going away. I have been struggling for 5 years with constipation because I have to take Iron. I eat fruit with the skins on, prunes, etc and the metamucil works the best.

I am originally from Chicago too. I spent a lot of time in AZ when my parents were snow birds and eventually moved to Mesa. They lived there for 15 years before they died. I miss Arizona a lot . I got to go to Chicago this past summer to see my brother. He has gained so much weight. I never told him I was sleeved and now that it's been 5 years, I think it's too late to tell him. He would be upset that I didn't tell him when I went to MX and was sleeved by Dr. Aceves. My dad was not doing well at the time. I love being sleeved. I am single and I get so many compliments from men all the time that say I don't look nearly 62. It's very flattering but they don't like it when they take me out to dinner and I eat such a small portion.