TerriDoodle

YEP! I could have written this myself. Well, maybe just try to maintain for awhile, pay attention to the negative self talk and try to be more positive about your ability to get control. Be patient with yourself and just keep visiting LBT.

:Yawn:Hi Carson!!!!!!

For those doing the 5-day Pouch Test, I found a couple of recipes for full liquid soups that sound awesome! Just thought I'd share one of them: Black Bean and Chorizo Bisque This is not a typical black bean soup, as it is not chunky in the least. It's completely smooth, which makes it more of a bisque. It uses chorizo, a Mexican sausage, but it's the uncooked, loose ground variety, not the hard salami-type sausage. As for chicken stock, the best kind out there is Imagine Free Range Organic, available at Whole Foods or other specialty markets. Good stock leads to good soup, and this stuff is truly delicious, even on its own! ingredients: 1 lb. package Mexican chorizo sausage 1 medium white onion, peeled & diced 1 tbsp ground cumin 3 cloves garlic, peeled & minced 1 quart chicken stock 2 bay leaves 3 28 oz cans black beans, rinsed & drained 1 lime, squeezed of juice handful of cilantro, chopped extremely fine equipment: two large stock pots or Dutch ovens blender NOTE: do not use a “boat-motor” style immersion blender for this recipe; it does not blend smooth enough to remove the finest pieces or lumps. 1. Brown the chorizo sausage in a deep Dutch oven over medium-high heat until cooked. Remove from the pot with a slotted spoon, and set to drain on a thick bed of paper towels. 2. Return the pot to medium heat with the sausage drippings still in it, and sauté the onion until softened, about 10 minutes. Add garlic and ground cumin and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add chicken stock, bay leaves, and drained beans, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer about 30 minutes. 3. Add the browned sausage back to the pot, stir to combine, and simmer another 10-15 minutes to meld flavors. 4. Remove the pot from the heat, and remove bay leaves. Transfer soup to the blender using a ladle until the blender is no more than half-full. Put the top on, but allow for some venting (hot soup + blender = explosion, if not vented). Starting on low, puree for about 10 seconds, then move up to medium speed for 10 seconds, then high for 30. Once completely smooth, pour into another empty pot, and continue with the rest of the soup in batches. 5. Stir in cilantro and lime juice, serve with a dollop of sour cream.

I found a couple of recipes for full liquid soups that sound awesome! Just thought I'd share one of them: Black Bean and Chorizo Bisque This is not a typical black bean soup, as it is not chunky in the least. It's completely smooth, which makes it more of a bisque. It uses chorizo, a Mexican sausage, but it's the uncooked, loose ground variety, not the hard salami-type sausage. As for chicken stock, the best kind out there is Imagine Free Range Organic, available at Whole Foods or other specialty markets. Good stock leads to good soup, and this stuff is truly delicious, even on its own! ingredients: 1 lb. package Mexican chorizo sausage 1 medium white onion, peeled & diced 1 tbsp ground cumin 3 cloves garlic, peeled & minced 1 quart chicken stock 2 bay leaves 3 28 oz cans black beans, rinsed & drained 1 lime, squeezed of juice handful of cilantro, chopped extremely fine equipment: two large stock pots or Dutch ovens blender NOTE: do not use a “boat-motor” style immersion blender for this recipe; it does not blend smooth enough to remove the finest pieces or lumps. 1. Brown the chorizo sausage in a deep Dutch oven over medium-high heat until cooked. Remove from the pot with a slotted spoon, and set to drain on a thick bed of paper towels. 2. Return the pot to medium heat with the sausage drippings still in it, and sauté the onion until softened, about 10 minutes. Add garlic and ground cumin and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add chicken stock, bay leaves, and drained beans, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer about 30 minutes. 3. Add the browned sausage back to the pot, stir to combine, and simmer another 10-15 minutes to meld flavors. 4. Remove the pot from the heat, and remove bay leaves. Transfer soup to the blender using a ladle until the blender is no more than half-full. Put the top on, but allow for some venting (hot soup + blender = explosion, if not vented). Starting on low, puree for about 10 seconds, then move up to medium speed for 10 seconds, then high for 30. Once completely smooth, pour into another empty pot, and continue with the rest of the soup in batches. 5. Stir in cilantro and lime juice, serve with a dollop of sour cream.

SueSue - I'm starting this pouch test diet tomorrow, too. I'm in a mental place similar to you. I've been choosing slider foods to help it go down rather than solid, healthy foods. What this translates to is things covered in cheese or other fats rather than going back to the bandster rules of small bites of solid Protein and chew, chew, chew. this pouch test is only 5 days and it might help me to lose a few pounds which would do my head an enormous amount of good. Maybe you should just follow http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f178/starting-holiday-detox-early-anyone-wanna-join-me-84070/'>this thread for awhile and see if it inspires you at all....that's what I did. Oh, and by the way...I haven't lost any significant amount of weight since 8 months post-op. Good luck to you and know you've got lots of support here.

I'm reading [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Financial-Peace-Revisited-Dave-Ramsey/dp/0670032085]Financial Peace Revisited by Dave Ramsey[/ame]. Any Dave Ramsey fans out there? What a Godsend!

GO LESLIE!!! Good luck!! Stay strong and keep your eye on the prize! What's on your menu? I start tomorrow with some of the other Violets.

KAT - I'm sorry you're feeling so blue :Yawn: No matter what, you're so much better, thinner and healthier than you were a few years ago...and these hives & steroids will be history soon enough. You'll perk up when that baby gets here, for sure!

Hey Girls -- I got a text message from Jenn and she's been admitted to the hospital and her surgery is scheduled for Friday! Keep her in your prayers! Maybe send her a text to let her know you're thinking of her! Jenn - WE LOVE YOU! :Yawn:

Tracy -- is it hot to the touch? red in any area? could be an infection...but that's a stretch. This is from WebMD: Breast Pain (Mastalgia) - Topic Overview What do I need to know about breast pain? Many women have breast tenderness and pain, also called mastalgia. It may come and go with monthly periods (cyclic) or may not follow any pattern (noncyclic). Cyclic pain is the most common type of breast pain. It may be caused by the normal monthly changes in hormones. This pain usually occurs in both breasts. It is generally described as a heaviness or soreness that radiates to the armpit and arm. The pain is usually most severe before a menstrual period and is often relieved when a period ends. Cyclic breast pain occurs more often in younger women. Most cyclic pain goes away without treatment and usually disappears at menopause. Noncyclic pain is most common in women 30 to 50 years of age. It may occur in only one breast. It is often described as a sharp, burning pain that occurs in one area of a breast. Occasionally, noncyclic pain may be caused by a fibroadenoma or a cyst. If the cause of noncyclic pain can be identified, treating the cause may relieve the pain. Breast pain can get worse with changes in your hormone levels or changes in the medicines you are taking. Stress can also affect breast pain. You are more likely to have breast pain before menopause than after menopause. Does breast pain indicate breast cancer? Breast pain is not a common symptom of breast cancer. However, sometimes painful lumps are caused by breast cancer. What can I do for breast pain? You may be able to relieve breast pain by using nonprescription medicines, including: Acetaminophen, such as Tylenol or Panadol. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), naproxen (Aleve or Naprosyn), or aspirin (Anacin, Bayer). Be sure to follow all labels and instructions. If you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, talk to your doctor before using any medicine. Do not take aspirin if you are younger than 20 because of the risk of Reye's syndrome. Danazol, bromocriptine, and tamoxifen citrate are prescription medicines used for the treatment of severe cyclic breast pain. These medicines are rarely used because they have significant side effects. It is important to determine whether the benefits will outweigh the risks of taking these medicines. You may also be able to relieve breast pain by: Using birth control pills (oral contraceptives). These may help reduce cyclic breast pain and breast swelling before periods. But breast pain is also a known side effect of birth control pills. Taking magnesium. Magnesium supplements taken in the second half of the menstrual cycle (usually the 2 weeks before the next period) relieve cyclic breast pain as well as other premenstrual symptoms. Reducing dietary fat to 15% or less of your dietary intake is likely to reduce breast pain over time. A small study has shown that making this long-term dietary change significantly reduces breast pain. Studies have not shown that avoiding caffeine relieves breast pain. But some women feel they have a decrease in breast pain when they decrease the amount of caffeine they consume.1 Can I prevent breast pain? You may be able to prevent breast pain, tenderness, or discomfort by wearing a sports bra during exercise. It is important that the sports bra fit properly. It should keep the breasts almost motionless and allow them to move together with the chest, not separately. It is important to replace your sports bra as the material stretches and become less supportive. A young woman with developing breasts may need to buy a new bra every 6 months.

No, I'm on a NEW budget and try to make do without buying more STUFF!! There's enough recipes and info on the website to get me thru a few days (I think!).

Suzie - the liquid portion is not CLEAR liquids.... look more closely at the plan, I think you'll be surprised!

The 2nd is fine for me, too. I need to stock up on groceries and make some soups...I don't like protein drinks. Ok, let the game begin!!!

Hi Girlz, I'm posting so I can subscribe to the thread and keep watch! I plan on starting this weekend so I can cook some soups and such...I detest any kind of protein drinks. I think this is what I need to give me a kick in the ass. Good luck to all of you!! :-) Thanks BBK!

Anyone want to do the 5 Day Pouch Test Diet with me?

Where is Laura??

Really! I would think that a metropolis like St. Louis would have more options for you, Jane.

That's horrible! :tongue2: Makes me glad we all chose the band. I can't imagine ever regretting it to that extent!! AND......GB is irreversible. Not Good.

Sorry, I don't remember that. Perhaps I wasn't "ready" for it then.

BTW, here's the direct link: Surgical Weight Loss 5 Day Pouch Test

Looks great, Heather! Y'know I never had to do 'liquids only' except for 3 days after surgery. I don't know if I could SURVIVE !! Aaaack!!! I hate protein shakes. :tongue2:

Yeah, that's the kinda talk that got you fat in the first place!! WE DO NOT SUCK AT ANYTHING!! We are awesome, empowered, strong-willed, omnipotent, determined, intelligent women!!!!! ROAR!!!!!!!

JANIE - No, I don't have any I can send you right now because I just bought his book today! I've been watching him on TV (Fox Business channel) and I listen to him on AM radio sometimes. His 2 biggest selling books are Total Money Makeover and Financial Peace. His website is www.daveramsey.com

:cheers2: :thumbsup: :party: :clap: :huggie: :youcandothis: :drum: :Banane20: :Banane20: :purplebananna: :Banane48: :Banane27: :Banane36::Banane34::Banane45::Banane23::Banane44::Banane33::Banane03::Banane13::Banane13::Banane57:((( PAMELA ))) :cheers2: :thumbsup: :party: :clap: :huggie: :youcandothis: :youcandothis: :drum: :sad: :Banane20: :purplebananna: :Banane48: :Banane27: :Banane36: :Banane34: :Banane45: :Banane23: :Banane44: :Banane33: :Banane03: :Banane13: :Banane13: :Banane57:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b--HwXE3064]Dave Ramsey[/ame] Anyone a Dave Ramsey fan? He's a personal finance guru who preaches "Say No to Debt!" I've been watching his TV show a lot this week (he also does radio and has a few books). I'm in this groove now of seeing how much money I can save and getting out of debt in 2 years or less. Certain things I will not ever give up....like beading or my housekeeper...but otherwise I'm gonna do this thing!