TerriDoodle

JennR - I hear you loud and clear. I just went for a partial unfill after going thru this same delimma for 4 months! Did you happen to see the thread I started? Let me share what happened with me and maybe that will help you make a decision. I could have written your post above back in February. I decided to 'hang in there' and see if I could just adjust my eating behaviors and food choices to accommodate my much tighter restriction. I had good days and bad days... but honestly, there were more bad than good. Because I couldn't really ever get in a 'full meal' I found myself snacking more. I could get junk food down (nachos!) but I couldn't eat an orange or a salad to save my life. I resorted to 'safe' and mushy foods 85% of the time, if not more. I started eating ice cream every night just to 'fill in the cracks' and resorted to milkshakes as my meal-on-the-run. (NOT good.) I began experiencing some symptoms of GERD and/or reflux. I began also experiencing esophageal spasms (OUCH!!!!!!). I panic'd when faced with just about any restaurant menu and wasted a LOT of money. I PB'd an average of about once/day, maybe more. I came to rely on the foods that didn't ever give me problems: chips, cheese, ice cream, cottage cheese, Soups, enchiladas, crackers, etc. This is SO not the way I enjoy eating, and I certainly didn't see this as a long-term way of life, that's for sure. I got an unfill and feel soooooooooo much better. Go ahead and stick with this fill for awhile if you want. Just be honest and pay attention to what foods you end up relying on. In my opinion, if you can't eat healthy foods, then you're too tight. I don't think any doctor would disagree with that.

Well, I FINALLY went in for the unfill and they took out 0.5cc. I went from the dr's office straight to a vacation with friends and I cannot tell you what a relief it was to be able to eat ANYTHING I wanted! Salad! Grilled chicken! Corn! Steak! Cantaloupe! Sandwiches! It may end up that this is "too loose" now....but I needed a break from this band more than I realized! I'm gonna eat salads for a week solid! I missed them so much! Yea!!!!

Y'know there's nothing that makes me madder than the x-bf calling to "see how you are doing"!!!....like they just want to make sure you're falling apart like they expect you to ...to build up their ego!!! I'm soooo glad to hear that you didn't call him back! Can't you just imagine that your silence is driving him crazy??!! Good!!! HA! A friend came to me one time whining about an ex-bf that called her from time to time over 2 years after HE broke up with HER! Just about the time she'd start feeling better and moving on, WHAM, there he was....calling "just to see how she was" or if she "just" wanted to go have dinner, etc. He didn't want her back, he just wanted to feed his ego, plain and simple!! Anyway, she was telling me how hard it was for her to talk to him (because she really did still have feelings for him). So I asked her, "Well, then why are you allowing the calls to continue?? Why haven't you asked him to stop calling you? Why are you giving him your power?" It was like a total Ah Ha! moment for her and she went home that evening and called him to ask that he stop making contact with her once and for all.... that she had no need of his "friendship". (She's a perfect lady and am sure she handled it with perfect grace.) He got MAD!...and HUNG UP ON HER! LOL!!! Now, what does that tell you??!? She was sooooooooooo glad she made that phone call because he really showed his true colors, not to mention that it really did free her to finally move on. She's now extremely happy with a wonderful man and I feel sure will be announcing an engagement any day now. Just food for thought, m'dear!.... You're doing great! Keep up the good work! ((Hugs)))

Hi Everyone! Well, we're back from the River G and I am sooooooooooo tired I can barely get my fingers moving to type this post. So forgive me if I make no sense!! We had a great time as usual. Everyone had comments about how much my son has changed over the last year and I agree!! DD brought a friend and they got into some mischief that kinda put a neg. spin on things but I didn't let it ruin our weekend...they just had to clean everyone's kitchens! LOL Worked out for all of us! The weather was perfect and the river was cool and quiet. I wish I was floating right now. My pina coladas were a big hit with the girls (Thanks TracyinKS!) and the food was incredible. One night we had filet mignon and grilled shrimp and the next night we had BBQ chicken, ribs and brisket ...with all the trimmings! Not to mention that there was always food out on the tables... Cookies, chips, salsas, etc., and full breakfasts...pastries, fruit, bkfst tacos, etc, etc, etc! Nothing but eating, drinking floating and laughing. Don't think I got a whole lotta exercise! Speaking of which, I got a 0.5 UNfill on Thursday and I can eat anything now. Portions still are somewhat under control but I can't tell you how nice it is to be able to enjoy a wide variety of foods again! I am very, very happy about that! NOW I'll be able (in theory) eat healthy foods instead of crap. Let's see how that works out, shall we? I googled it and looks like Sugar Land is about halfway between Tomball and Dickinson (~43 miles). Of course, Sugar Land has just about every restaurant you could ever want. Cheesecake Factory? Carrabba's? PF Chang's? Cafe Adobe? Pappadeaux? Cafe Express? La Madeline? Berryhill Tacos? Ragin' Cajun? How does that sound? Yeah, ya'll hear me talk all the time about what an expensive hobby it is! The start-up costs are a KILLER and beads are ADDICTIVE = very, very dangerous!! HA!! I read that part about the "wire that's the best on the planet"...OMG, that's for people who do things like beaded evening bags and bracelets made of tiny seed beads! I can't believe she tried to sell that to a beginner! You could have made do with the $4 wire just as well. You can tuck the ends of the elastic back inside the beads and glue them in place. She didn't show you how to finish it off so that it looks nice? Uh, that's supposed to be an integral part of the lesson! You, my dear, are freaking HILARIOUS! (Uh, where are your neighbors?? Or do you care? LOL) Your daughter looks so sweet...but professional!...in her portrait. We share your pride, Judy!! We wish her well! Where will she be working? My vet told us to give our thunder-phobic dog Benadryl. She weighed about 75# and we gave her 3 capsules ...so adjust accordingly. I feel so bad for them ...they just seem so miserable during a storm! The benadryl worked well for our doggie. Laura - sorry about the horse race, but I'm sure you had a wonderful time anyway! What a thrill! Kat - Hope you're doing well and improving every day! Looking forward to getting your update! Janie - Got Batteries? Suzie - You are such a sweetie. I wish you could be "aunt" to my kiddos... it takes a village, y'know. Jenn- Where are you?? Michelle - I know what you're feeling now...I really do....and its not easy! Be gentle with and love yourself! Big deep cleansing breaths....one day at a time, ok? It's all good. TracyinKS - You're quiet!? How's things with you? Did you read any of that Brat Camp stuff on DrPhil.com? You're a great mom and don't you forget it. Don't EVER doubt that about yourself, ok? Glad to hear Robbie is not needing a cast! That's excellent news!! Nighty-nite, all. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

I need to forgive my father...or at least forgive him totally. I have made progress,but there are moments when I realize I have not yet done so. I wish I could forgive him the way I have forgiven others and myself. I have found that forgiveness is most definitely something I do for myself to free myself from the bondage of bitterness that sometimes grips me...and it IS bondage....of the spirit. As I get older I am proud of what the practice of forgiveness has given me and am grateful for the message as it was delivered. Some people hold on to their bitterness like an old friend and find that it ultimately becomes their only friend. I never want my life to end like that.

Suzie - I can honestly say that I don't harbor any bitterness towards anyone. A few years ago I learned to forgive an abusive xbf and it was liberating. I do sometimes have a hard time forgiving my father, who died when I was 8, because he was very cruel to my wonderful mother. He spent more time in a bar than with us at home and because of all those circumstances I didn't have much time with him. I'm still pretty pissed about that, but deep down I do forgive him for being human. As I always say, we do the best we can with the tools we have. Yes, I have noticed on numerous occasions that ice cream DOES go better with chocolate!! Wow. How weird is that?!

YES!! We need a countdown of some sort!! Get it going! :thumbup: We also say "chilrens"....as in "All My Chilrens" LOL Love it. Oh, and I meant to tell you that I ALWAYS laugh when I see the "I Hate Manuel" under your name.... cracks me UP!!! Suzie - I sure wish you'd send some rain this way!! The people behind us had their pool built in record time. I'm sooo jealous! It's hot as HELL here. Ya'll can just get used to that...I'll be saying it a LOT over the next several months. Haydee - Wanna shoot for Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday? Any one of those is good for me. I can't WAIT!!!!!!!! That makes me vewy, vewy happy!! Oh boy!! 3 things to look forward to now!! :thumbup::biggrin::thumbup: It's what gets me out of bed, girls. Love you all!! See you Sunday night!

I had that too. It turns out that it was a stitch poking thru! What I ended up doing was getting a new CLEAN shaver, soaked in alcohol, and I actually very carefully shaved it flush with my skin. It worked! But since you're going to the doctor, I'm sure they'll take care of it for you. The fill is a piece o' cake.

I went thru that at one time too, Carrie. I'm sorry for the pain I know you are going through...but it'll be okay. I told myself that in a divorce one parent has to be unhappy (w/o the kids), so it might as well be me...and it is simply a consequence of divorce. $20 says he'll be back in a year or less. Eeyore...hope you're doing okay! You've got lots of support here!

Oh, and I'm not going to Gruene. I'm going to a teensy weensy little town called Hunt. It's outside of Kerrville, about 70 miles west of San Antonio. Beauteeeeful hill country!!

Ok, I'm going to pick a weekend... how about Labor Day? We'll figure something out. I'll look at my calendar when I get back to work on June 16th. I can't come during the summer...I have the kids (Evan's in school & working) and am taking a bunch o' vacation June & July. But by the fall I'll be ready for sho! :thumbup: Oh, yea!! I'm sooo happy now! C'mon Violets!! Let's go to Pam's house! We can all sleep in her closet!

That is the coolest!! ...and you're gonna make me cry with all this mushy stuff you guys!!! Then I look at that picture below Tracy's signature...Then I think about how it's gonna be like FOREVER before we can get together again...Then I just want to cry. :thumbup: I do!!! Let's plan something. I've got to have something to hang onto!! You tell me when. Jenn - Glad to see you posting again!! If you're interested, I got a employee discount flyer for a Dell laptop that was something like $680?! I c I'm gonna be out of touch after tomorrow morning thru Sunday...going to the River G! I'll be thinking of you all!

TracyinKS -- When are you going to Vegas??? Can we ALL meet you there??

you went to your regular doctor or your band doctor?? How far away is your band doc?? Scary stuff but so glad you're ok! Just think how bad it would have gotten by Saturday!?!

We'll look for a room that sleeps 3.........:cursing:

Good deal, Eeyore!! Thanks for letting us know you've made it home! Hugs.

jennifur!!! I see you online!! you better be preparing a post, girlfriend!

Ahhhh.... very good point, Grasshopper. PREPARE THE WHIPS!!!

Laura, Why am I beating Haydee??

Ya'll might want to check out this tip o' the day.... very zen... http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f91/shrinkn-violets-tip-o-day-51081/index4.html#post862668 Haydee & Tracy - I'm off all next week....and my 50th birthday is Friday!!! Can we get together sometime during the week? I'm out of town this Thurs-Sun. Haydee - I also meant to mention that maybe if you try eating more fibrous foods (esp. raw fruits/veggies) that you'll stay fuller longer. Have you tried that?

Thoughts and feelings rise and then they pass away. Buddhism teaches that you don't have to act upon them, you don't have to cling to them, you don't have to push them away. They simply arrive and at some point they will disappear. The more we pay attention to the process of rising and passing, the less hooked we are by the content of our thoughts and feelings. This can be very helpful when dealing with cravings or any negative thoughts that are getting in our way of achieving a goal. Addiction experts call this process of paying attention "urge surfing." Here's how Susan Nolen-Hoeksema, Ph.D. puts it in Eating, Drinking, Overthinking: "Urges behave like waves—they start small, build to a crest, then break up and dissolve. When you urge surf, you ride the wave rather than fight it; as a result, you are less likely to be pulled in or wiped out." Want to learn how to urge surf? It's very simple but counterintuitive. We've been taught to run from or give into strong feelings. This requires doing the opposite. As soon as you become aware of a strong sensation, rather than ignore or indulge it, you turn and pay more attention to it. The box below describes one way to do this called SIFT. SIFT is a three-minute process which stands for Sensation, Image, Feeling, Thought. It's useful not only for urges, but for any strong feeling—fear, sadness, anger, inertia, worry, despair. Neuroscientists say that it helps balance us because it uses both sides of the neocortex and helps reduce amgydala hijacks, those takeovers of our thinking brains by our emotional ones. To SIFT, you must differentiate between thoughts, images, feelings and sensations. "I want a Coke" is a thought. Desperation is a feeling. The picture of you being deprived is an image. What most of us are least aware of our bodily sensations associated with our thoughts and feelings. Where exactly are the sensations in your body? Where are they located—in your mouth? Your stomach? Your head? Describe them as if you were a newspaper reporter and could not use any words except precise descriptions without interpretations: it's a hot tingly sensation centered in my throat that pulses in and out. Focus your attention on the sensation. Does it move? Vary in intensity? How far inside is it? How far does it spread? Is it anywhere else in your body? Give the sensations the kind of curious attention you would someone who you'd just met and are intrigued with. The idea is to recognize what you are experiencing, without trying to change it. I've done this with hundreds of folks in all kinds of feeling states and usually, after a few minutes of focused attention, the sensation ebbs. Sometimes it gets stronger first. But eventually, it diminishes. It's as if all the feelings and thoughts we've ever been afraid of or run from or given in to are nothing but tantruming two year olds desperate for attention. If we simply sit down and really pay attention for a few minutes, they quiet down. This process works—but it's not a done-that-now-what? thing. Depending on what you're changing, how much fear you must walk through, or how often cravings arise, you may find the need to SIFT several times a day. There have been brief times in my life when I've used it hourly. It takes a bit of bravery—to turn toward rather than away from that which is appearing to torment you. Hopefully the relief you will experience once you try it will make it easier the next time you need it. Tomorrow, more specifics on how to urge surf.... --M.J. Ryan Professional Thinking Partners www.mj-ryan.com

Haydee - I'm so glad you're negotiating like a pro on these employment terms!! They've got to be used to that in the Medical Center! Now i'm getting really excited for you!! :-) I'd love to be there when you give your notice. HA! [quote name='TracyK;868101 Hi all violets-what fun it was today. My last day of work is the 4th of July (Independence day' date=' how appropriate). It was great seeing the guys faces like "NO WAY". I got so tired of always hearing people say, "oh you'll be here til the day you die". Well, guess what!:cursing::w00t:[/b'] Have a great night violets! Man, what a FUN day!! They've got to be in a panic now!! You just can't train someone to do what you do in a couple of weeks! They're gonna be hurtin'!!! Congrats to you, Tracy!! I'm so happy for you!!! You should submit this to Webster's Dictionary to see if they will put it as their definition of "Soccer Mom"!! There's a special place in heaven for you, Michelle!! Maybe someday when your kids have kids of their own, they'll truly appreciate all you did for them!!

Sorry, Pammy.... I'm terrible about thank you's ... one thing i'd love to change about myself but haven't managed yet!!! Your note was very touching and I have it in my special keepsake box. XXXOOO

Kat, if you look at the list of forums, at the very, very bottom you will see one that is for Moderators only. You never saw it before because you didn't have access, but you should now. If you go into that forum you will see the various discussions going on about troublesome threads, users, etc. You can also ask questions about what is expected of you. There are some lists and guidelines there that should be helpful, too. Hope you have better luck than I did in shaping the board up! It helps to have support, but you'd be surprised what they are willing to allow. At least i was. TracyK - I feel your pain!!! And i also feel your joy!!! I do so remember sobbing over Evan's crib the day i had to go back to work. We crunched numbers for months and weeks but just could NOT make it work...mostly because of insurance needs. It was a gut-wrenching feeling that I don't wish on anyone. I am so very, very VERY happy that you have found a way to stay home and enjoy being a mother!!! Maybe you can find a way to make a little extra cash on the side. It will work out just fine!! ((((Special Hug)))))) Jane - OMG!!! That must have been a shock!! Glad you're having it thoroughly checked out though! Keep us posted. Laura - I really love the name Violet, and always have!! Wouldn't that be the coolest!? She'd have 12 new Aunts!!! Looking at the list of names in Evan's graduation program, my favorite was Obadiah! LOL I told Evan and Allison they have to name their first little boy Obadiah and we'll call him Obie! They loved it! Let's just hope that day doesn't come for a long, long LONG time. Yall have a great day!! PS - Everyone in our company got at 40% bonus yesterday!!! :thumbup: I'd buy you all a drink if you were here!!!

:wink2::Dancing_biggrin::Dancing_biggrin::Dancing_biggrin: Here we go!!! WHEE!!!!!!!!