TerriDoodle

Kat, I meant to say earlier that I'm proud of you for un-volunteering your house for the birthday party! You're darn right you paid your dues and it seems like you're hosting a party every other week!! You work hard enough....let the youngsters handle it!

Here it is Tracy: Veggie Beef Crock Pot Soup

Ok, Pam....here's what I made last night and had for lunch today (w/o the tortillas): Chicken Tortilla Soup 1.5 pound skinless, boneless chicken, cut into bite size pieces 2 (11 ounce) can Rotel tomatoes w/ green chiles (might be a bit much for some) 1 (10 ounce) can enchilada sauce 1 small onion, chopped 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 quart chicken broth 1 teaspoon cumin 1 teaspoon chili powder 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1 bay leaf 1 can niblet corn (Some people use fresh mushrooms, squash, black beans and/or sliced carrots for their veggies) 1 bunch cilantro, leaves removed and finely chopped 2 limes, cut into wedges 2 avocados cubed (optional but good!) 8 oz mild cheddar or monterrey jack cheese, cut in small cubes 7 corn tortillas vegetable oil Serves 6 DIRECTIONS Place chicken, Rotel tomatoes, corn enchilada sauce, onion, and garlic into a slow cooker. Pour in chicken broth and season with cumin, chili powder, salt, pepper, and bay leaf. Cover, and cook on Low setting for 6 to 8 hours or on High setting for 3 to 4 hours. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly brush both sides of tortillas with oil. Cut tortillas into strips, then spread on a baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven until crisp, about 10 to 15 minutes. To serve, sprinkle tortilla strips over soup, and offer chopped cilantro, avocado, lime wedges and cheese to add to soup as desired. (The cilantro and lime is essential)

VERY well said!!!

OMG Tracy -- how FUN!!!!!! I wish I had the time to garage sale...I love bargains!

Where did you hear about the artificial sweetener as a possible cause? That's so interesting. Is it aspartame or splenda or both?

I think you've just lost a LOT of weight in your face!! It doesn't look nearly so round! And your hair looks darker. And your glasses look different! I just wish we could all meet so we wouldn't have to rely on these pictures to know who we're talking to! :car: Either way....you're so beautiful! Ah, to be young again!

Man, does THIS ever sound like my life story!!!

Well, you do need to ask how long the dr. has been doing lap band surgeries, and how many he has performed. You might also ask what his complication rate is for the various ones (slippage, erosion, flipped port, etc.).

BetsyJane - I seem to remember reading somewhere that tasting bile is a sign to head to your doctor.... Does Dr. Spivak know you're having these symptoms?

Ok, Laura...that avatar is really throwing me off!? That is NOT how I picture you!! Is that a recent pic??? What do you mean you'll never look like that again!? Are you kidding me? You're going to look even better!! You are so gorgeous!!!

It sure doesn't take me an hour! I only brown the meat if I feel like it...and most of the time I DON'T! I just cut it into small bites and throw it in there. The other veggies I chop into pretty large chunks so things don't get too mushy and cutting larger pieces goes faster too. I think I'm going to make Chicken Tortilla Soup today. I'll cut up all the stuff and get it all put together tonight then let it cook tomorrow. I don't have a favorite recipe, but I'll find one. I use All recipes – complete resource for recipes and cooking tips as a resource. Next week I'm going to try Italian Sausage & Lentil soup...I had some at Carabba's the other night and it was delish! TRACYK- (Hugs) I think that we're all going to have to make some adjustments in our attitudes and thinking as our weight goes down. (Except for Judy!) Remember that as your weight goes down you will need fewer and fewer calories....so you can eat the same way but now it's not coming off as fast. So it's just something we're all going to have to be ready for! And besides...how long has it been since you dropped that last pound? It doesn't seem that long to me! Do you keep a chart? I've hit 3-4 week plateaus twice already! I expect there will be more to come! I eat very similarly to Kat....when I'm really diligent I'll lose a pound or so, then relax a little bit and maintain. Are you tracking calories?...maybe you're eating more than you realize? One way or the other, you'll figure it out! This is a process, remember??! The process is not always perfect or reliable...there's so many factors at play here! Don't be hard on yourself. Enjoy your day! It's nice out! Laura - Hope you're feeling better today! Well, I gotta get back to my closet, laundry and kitchen chores!! Sheesh!

Gosh! You, me and Texrose ought to get together...we really live close to each other!!

Yep, drinking ALWAYS makes it worse and it's ALWAYS what I want to do! LOL OY!! I've been in the kitchen alllllll day. Got DD in there cooking dinner now!! I went to Sam's and loaded up on meat & veggies and I've been dividing it all up and sealing it up in my new FoodSaver. Tomorrow I clean my closet!! How long have I been saying that???

GET OUTTA HERE!!! FOR REAL? I want a report in 2 weeks!

Kat - you are just so wise! I just love your sweet philosophies. You really warm the heart and I would LOVE to meet you and Rick sometime in person. (I'll call first :eek: ) I think your artistic child sounds so interesting!! My DS kinda walks to the beat of a different drummer too, but I love that about him. My DH (his stepfather) thinks he's just weird. His kids were all 'perfect'....if you know what I mean. Mine are more like me....very flawed!! I love DH's kids, dont get me wrong, but they were athletes and cheerleaders, now they are professionals with high salaries. My DS will probably be a bartender or a tattoo artist! LOL No, I hope not...but even if he is, he's got a beautiful, sensitive heart and treats all people with kindness....and that's very important too. If he could only love himself as much as he loves others.... Laura - How are you feeling today? Stay on top of the pain by taking your meds as prescribed for a couple of days. By Monday I bet you'll be feeling much better. After all, you're a veteran!! I'm sure DH will take good care of you, so you're in good hands. Remember all your 'rules' from the previous surgery?? We're here to remind you if you dont!! LOL As of today I have officially lost 30 pounds!!We all have our little threshholds that we look forward to and mine is coming up....the halfway mark....33 pounds lost. That will also mark my previous all-time high that I reached in 2001, 182#. I am relieved that I am still able to lose weight while not smoking. Whew!!!

My favorite is the garlic peeler roller and I think I'm going to have to break down and buy a Food Saver (vacuum sealer).

Well, I'm going in next week for my 5th fill in 6 months! It just takes a little time and patience. I'm only going to ask for about 0.1cc because I've been too tight before and I don't want to do that again! The adjustments now are so tiny but make a big difference!

In my experience 15-17 are the dangerous years!! Ugh. I haven't seen 17-20 yet!!?! They might be worse!

Houston has some GREAT medical schools!! :waytogo:

Not for facial work, I'm not waiting!....but then again, I "only" have 35 more pounds to lose. Well, I won't be doing this until next summer, anyway....so I better be at goal by then!

Jenn - Cheese is a dairy product and has lactose!! silly girl! Jen - Careful with the fills at this stage. 0.1cc can make the difference between sweet spot and way too tight! You don't want to be too tight, trust me! :phanvan Eating the last of my vegetable soup :hungry:. I'll have to try something different next week. Maybe tortilla soup?! Pamela - If it's any comfort to you, my kids are exhausted, too!! Getting back into the school routine has not been easy for either of them and there's just not enough hours in the day. DS (17) is having a fit 'cause we want him to get a job to help pay for his car. He was working but quit right before school. He got caught smoking a little doobie on Tuesday and now has his car, cell phone & computer taken away from him for 3 months! :tired What a dummy. I hope it was worth it to him. He's such a good kid....and makes such stupid choices! Seriously, did he think there would be no consequences?? Duh! Did he think we'd pay for his car without him taking any responsibility?? Duh!! AAAAAACK!!

I hear ya. Artificial sweeteners are my last vice!!! (well, almost :waytogo: ) My next step is to swear off of sugar alcohols....they just don't agree with me. Splenda & aspartame make me hungrier, but don't mess with my blood sugar beyond that. I'm very happy that you've got yours under control. Just awesome!

got this in my email today....don't know if it's true or not, but I wish it was!!! -------------------------------------- This is the message that the Pacific Palisades High School (California) staff voted unanimously to record on their school telephone answering machine. This is the actual answering machine message for the school. This came about because they implemented a policy requiring students and parents to be responsible for their children's absences and missing homework. The school and teachers are being sued by parents who want their children's failing grades changed to passing grades - even though those children were absent 15-30 times during the semester and did not complete enough schoolwork to pass their classes. The outgoing message: "Hello! You have reached the automated answering service of your school. In order to assist you in connecting to the right staff member, please listen to all the options before making a selection: * To lie about why your child is absent - Press 1 * To make excuses for why your child did not do his work - Press 2 * To complain about what we do - Press 3 * To swear at staff members - Press 4 * To ask why you didn't get information that was already enclosed in your newsletter and several flyers mailed to you - Press 5 * If you want us to raise your child - Press 6 * If you want to reach out and touch, slap or hit someone - Press 7 * To request another teacher, for the third time this year - Press 8 * To complain about bus transportation - Press 9 * To complain about school lunches - Press 0 * If you realize this is the real world and your child must be accountable and responsible for his/her own behavior, class work, homework and that it's not the teachers' fault for your child's lack of effort: Hang up and have a nice day! *If you want this in Spanish, you must be in the wrong country. "

Oh!! LAURA!!! .......... THINKING OF YOU TODAY!!!