TerriDoodle

YEA!!! Tracy's back!!!!!

And HAYDEE?? Where the heck are YOU? Laura...I'm with you today, girlfriend. NO SNACKING TODAY. Not for me, anyway. No snacking and NO sugar. I'm so tired of these numbers on my scale!!!

When you track your success, think like a scientist. Consider your strategies as experiments: "Oh, I thought if I tried doing it in the morning it would be easier to do. But I see I did it only twice this week. What if I shift to the end of the day? Let's see how I do next week." The more scientific you can remain, the less you will fall into the slough of perfectionism or despair that trap of so many would-be resolvers and habit changers. --M.J. Ryan

Sow a thought and reap a deed Sow a deed and reap a habit Sow a habit and reap a character Sow a character and reap a destiny --Anon

A pleasant alternative to fish oil is Udo's Oil Blend which I use on my salads, drizzle on veggies and add to my oatmeal every morning. from the website: Udo's Choice Perfected (Ultimate) 3, 6, 9 Oil Blend is a certified organic blend of guaranteed GMO-free, unrefined edible oils. This unique blend delivers a reliable source of the n-3 and n-6 essential fatty acids that are essential to life. Based on 15 years of practical experience with fats and oils, this formula is a 2:1:1 ratio of n-3: n-6: n-9, a combination most therapeutic for the n-3-deficient, n-6-rich diets, as well as 'low' and 'no' fat diets, common today. The Perfected Oil Blend includes oils from fresh flax, sesame and sunflower seeds, as well as oils from evening primrose, rice germ and oat germ. I buy it from Netrition.com - The Internet's Premier Nutrition Superstore! where it costs almost half of what it might cost elsewhere.

how big of a jar of salsa?

I mix full fat cottage cheese (1.5 grams more of fat per serving...worth it!) with any of the following fresh or frozen fruits: pears, peaches, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, or pineapple. I mix 3 packets of splenda in, and sometimes a couple tablespoons of yogurt. When on strict mushies I pureed the fruit first. Now I also mix in a couple Tbsp of granola for extra texture. The only brand of cottage cheese I like is Borden, but I think that's only distributed in the south.

I agree that it sounds like you are too tight, but I would like to suggest that you get on liquids and mushies for 2-3 days before you go for an unfill. When I get a fill my band is very, very finicky for 2 weeks...it gets tighter and tighter. This last fill I finally got that all figured out and stayed on mushies for 2 whole weeks...and that made a huge difference in my adjustment to the fill. Now I am quite happy with my restriction, whereas if I had done as before I would have had to go back for an unfill. Give it a try (if you are so inclined) and then add solid foods back very, very gradually. If you get stuck or PB, then back on mushies for a day.

You've been given some great advice. I'm so glad to hear that you are not going to wait 2 months! You paid for this band and the doctor is working for YOU....so keep going back for answers until you are satisfied. Glad to hear that LBT has helped you! I don't know how anyone goes thru this journey without it!

At your age you can expect to lose at least 15# in the first month, then probably at least 5# a month after that, if you follow 'the rules' and you know you are capable of losing weight....some people just aren't. I drop one size for about each 12 pounds lost. In my opinion you'd be perfectly safe to order one size smaller, but you'll still probably have to take it in! The thing is, you don't really know exactly where you'll lose the weight first....so it's probably wisest to err on the side of caution, y'know?

Laura - You are so beautiful!! Your parents and husband must be so thrilled with your success! Your body (skin) is maintaining its shape so well and WOW look at those long thin legs! Just awesome! I'm so glad you had this done at a young age. I wish I could have!

Jenn, we just had our vacuum repaired and it was a simple adjustment that only cost $40 to repair. Find a place that will give you a free estimate! Tracy, speaking of closets I have GOT to get mine cleaned out today. *** Would anyone like to have my 16W and 1X-2X clothes? *** It's not a whole lot of them...and mostly work-type clothes. I'll be happy to ship them to you.

Yep, 86 can be pretty hot....but it sounds awesome to me right now! I'll be changning my tune in just a few short months.

I haven't lost any significant amount of weight since October!! When I went to the doctor last time for a fill, I had lost only 5# in 5 months! My doctor was absollutely fine with it! He was like, "well you're not gaining!....so what if it takes you 3 years to lose the rest?!" He was just happy as he could be! So I've decided I like his attitude!...and I've relaxed quite a bit over the whole situation. I feel ya, sister! Plateaus can be very discouraging...but look on the bright side!

Kat, Is this thing something you're going to be wearing all the time? ...but supposedly it gets easier as the socket heals? UGH! How awful! I think I'll go brush AND floss my teeth now....and then do it again!

Here's something for you snowbirds to hang onto.... I just looked up the average highs and lows for New Braunfels, TX (Gruene) for May 15-19: The average high is 86, and the average low is 62. Ahhhhhhhhh.:tea: Just 69 more days!!! Hang in there!!

Kendra, We've not met but I was alerted that one of our beloved LBT members was dealing with some bad news...I wanted to come over to lend my support and prayers for your complete recovery. It appears you have a wonderful circle of friends here and I am glad for that... just like my lovely "Shrinking Violets"...I have come to rely on them for so much more than lap band support. Just know that there are countless others who join with you in positive energy, visualization and prayer. Also, I live in Houston and would be more than happy to help you or your family in any way I can. MD Andersen is the very best of the best. Thank God for that....you are in very good hands.

Kat... You ARE drinking, aren't you? Don't get dehydrated! Poor baby! You're sure it's not the pain meds that are bothering you? I hate antibiotics...I don't do well with them either. I hope you get straightened out soon! I just made a call to a plastic surgeon for a possible brow lift/eyelid tuck thingy. I scared myself when I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror the other night in SteinMart. OMG...who was that very tired-looking, pale old lady looking back? I've been toying with the idea for months now.... it's time. We've got some amazing surgeons here in Houston...so I need to take advantage. Why do I have the feeling he's going to recommend a full face lift?? Could it be my sagging jowels and turned down mouth? ugh. I used to be kinda cute! Damn! And I always swore that I would just age gracefully. Hmmmph! To hell with that!

Oh jeez... I hope that's the only time you'll have an experience lke that!! I've had 5 fills...and all of them, except one, was done with one painless stick. My port is just under my sternum. I think it gets much easier as you lose weight, too, because it's easier to FEEL the port before they go fishing with a needle! Try not to panic... it shouldn't be like that (or even close to that) every time!

That exhausts me just thinking about it! ....good LUCK!:crying:

I hope that helps!

You didn't say whether or not your doctor restricted caffeine... mine did not. You should just follow his guidelines whatever they are. That being said, one of the many benefits of being banded is the reduction in my caffeine consumption. I now have my morning coffee then drink Propel the rest of the day! This is a person who used to drink coffee, tea and colas allllllll day long! Guess what else!? My teeth are not nearly stained as much as they used to be. I am a smoker and I always assumed it was the cigs that did it. Come to find out it was the Diet Coke!!!:crying:

The only experience I have with this is reading various posts here on LBT...and with my own 4cc band. The way I understand it is that the doctor makes that decision when he gets "in there"....but seems like they tend toward a 10cc for higher BMI patients and 4cc for lower ones...Probably because of the amount of fat that surrounds the stomach. I was a lower BMI patient and, as I said, have a 4cc band which has worked very well for me. I have 2.8cc in it now with excellent restriction. I might just as well be happy with a 10cc band that has 8.8cc in it! Know what I mean? So I can't make that call as to whether or not I'd be 'happier' with a 10cc band. You just have to trust your surgeon's advice and experience on this one!

I wonder if we'll actually ever sleep?