TerriDoodle

That is soooo true, Kat!! Bad relationships have always been spotted LONG before I ever could see it!! Almost married one of the suckers, too. Thank GOD I finally wised up. It took me forever. By the way, your Aunt is mighty proud of you. I have no doubt.

Amanda - I read that book too....I read everything I could get my hands on for the 1st 5 years of my 'awakening'!! LOL You really should put this book on your must read list: Journey of Souls by Michael Newton.

Judy - It's hard for me to imagine temps of 37. We just are finishing up summer!! Our 'fall' lasts from mid-Oct to mid-December where we have beautiful weather, probably a lot like your summers! So we're just now enjoying dry, mild weather and people are going outside again! I rode my bicycle all around our huge neighborhood stopping to hit the garage sales along the way. It was so fun! I tell you, if I had a baby to buy for it would have been a great bargain day! I didnt' find any beads or jewelry to buy, nor a dresser for Evan's room. We did buy a bunch of 'manly books' for Richard to read for cheap. I bought The Color Purple for Hannah...she's probably already read it :Banane10: ...she's a voracious reader. I set up and started wearing my BodyBugg....so the experiment begins. I'll keep you posted! Another beautiful day here...I think I'll start off by riding my bike again. It was lots of fun yesterday!

Laura - get on strict liquids for a day, then mushies for a day. You should be better after that. Your babies are soooo cute!!! Poor Cassy...she does not look happy with you! I signed on to post my dinner recipe too! Pamela had asked what I was cooking and here it is! This was so thrown together but turned out great! Italian Sausage & Lentil Soup -------------------------------------------------- 1 pound hot italian sausage (ground, not in links) 1 pkg Alessi Sicillian Lentil soup mix 1 can diced tomatoes grated parmesan/romano cheese Brown the sausage in a skillet. Drain onto paper towels. Don't clean the skillet....fill with a cup or so of water and reheat to de-glaze the pan. Put aside. Cook soup according to package directions. Add cooked sausage, tomatoes (and juice), and the water from the skillet. Re-heat to simmer, then serve with grated parmesan cheese. Makes about 4 servings, 300 calories, 5g fiber, 15g protein, 14g fat. I served with a small salad and whole grain dinner rolls.

Ok, Amanda...I'll take a stab at explaining the WWJD bracelets. First of all, I don't know if the 'fad' made it all the way across The Pond but WWJD usually stands for "What Would Jesus Do?" and people wear bracelets with WWJD on them to remind themselves to act in a Christian manner. OK,...well that being said.... One day a long time ago I was rushed for lunch but I was very hungry so I stopped off at a fast food restaurant that serves burgers, tacos, salads, etc. I was standing there looking at the menu and thinking to myself, "Man, those tacos sure do sound good!!"....but was feeling guilty knowing I really should be ordering a salad. So as I was standing there waffling and listening to the debate going on in my head, the thought comes, "What would Judy do???" Well, SHE would order a salad FOR SURE. So...i ordered a salad. Later on I laughed out loud to myself and shared the story with the Violets...and we came up with WWJD to stand for What Would Judy Do? And we all had a big laugh about that for a couple of days Well, I make jewelry as a hobby. I offered to make a WWJD bracelet for anyone who wanted one...and I had about 12 takers! So some of these girls are sporting their WWJD bracelets as a reminder to eat the way Judy would eat....which is perfectly!! She is our mascot and our mentor...and above all, our constant inspiration! So....that's the story of the bracelets. Speaking of which....I am going to bead now!! I have the house all to myself and I am so excited!!!

Love the earrings, Pamela!! I bought some kind of like that about a year ago and wear them all the time -- they go with everything! Love em!! Wow, cool story about your dad!! Was the guy ok afterward?? That would freak me out! Glad the bracelet fits now! Wear it in good health....and skinny jeans! LOL Laura - Ew!! ( ) Kat - You AND Rick are saints!! No wonder you're made for each other! That was a truly wonderful thing you did and I am proud to know you. I wish you lived down the street from ME! I miss having good neighbors. My neighbors aren't "bad"...I just don't know them! When my kids were little it was different...we were always outside with the other kids and parents! But we've moved twice more since then and people just pull into their garages and you never see them. It's a shame, really. I used to love the "instant party"...no driving, sharing meals, kids are safe, no babysitters, etc. I'm hoping when we retire we'll be able to get back into that sort of life. have two kids to get thru college. I won't be retiring anytime soon!!

B - weight control banana-nut oatmeal made w/ milk L - cottage cheese, blueberries, splenda mixed with granola D - filet mignon, sauteed spinach and a bit of mashed potato I think I will cook some lentil and italian sausage soup tomorow.

Blessed silence.

It's beautiful here (Houston) today....finally something other than summer heat!! Low of 68, high of 82 and sunny!! Now I remember one reason I like Houston.

TracyK & Haydee - What are you going to do this weekend to enjoy this fabulous weather??? Bayou City Art Festival is downtown...that's fun! I'm not going to go 'cause I don't even want to be tempted to buy anything. Our neighborhood is having a community garage sale...I might go hunting for beads! :eek:

Jenn - I've had 4 fills and one tiny unfill. I've got very good restriction right now. It's a little bit on the tight side but just enough to make me eat real slow. I continue to have problems slowing down while eating out with un-knowers. Laura - If I ever screw up my job, I'm always the first to admit it......"OMG! I can't believe I did that!! I am sooooooooo sorry!!! I'll fix it right now!!" And I will do the very best I can to make it right. Oftentimes it's not enough and the error stands....but I make apologies as necessary all the way around. You have every right to be upset and I'm very sorry this happened :eek:. $15K is a lot of moolah. Our A/P department has that same issue with not checking addresses....but on a RUSH FedEx?? Red Flag!! This is important!! Take the damn 2 nanoseconds to double check it!! No excuse for that.

I know how you feel, Pammy. I'd kill just to see 184.8!!!...just so I could see that "4"!!! Today is the day I record my official weight for the week and it was 185.4. Last week it was 185.6. The week before that it was 185.8. So I'm losing at the rate of 3 OUNCES per week. :cry patience and trust and patience and trust and patience and trust and patience and trust and patience and trust and patience and trust and patience and trust and patience and trust...........

It's not easy by any means. food addictions are most difficult because you still have to partake of the very thing you're addicted to! So it's not a matter of breaking your addiction, it's a matter of controlling it in some way. Not an easy task. I'm more like you....a grazer...habits developed by 30 years of trying to control my blood sugar problems. At the slightest hint of hunger I would pop something in my mouth...even though it might be fairly nutritious, it was still food. I haven't had much success in controlling my grazing, but I have controlled how often and on what foods. I push the limits of my hunger more often...which is made much easier because of the band. If you know anything, know this: your addiction to food will not be cured overnight and you will have to make an effort to change your habits. The band will make it easier but it certainly won't do the work for you.

Sooverit- Re-reading my own post helped remind me of a few things, too. I feel like I have "learned to like" healthy foods over the last few years. Maybe those neural pathways are starting to build. Especially since being banded, when I'm eating something healthy and nutritious I have learned to savor each bite and find joy in the taste of blueberries, or the crunch of asparagus, or the juiciness of watermelon. When I eat something fatty and rich I still enjoy it (!) but I do note that it's feeling heavy on my stomach and slows me down. Make sense? This progress, however, has not migrated to my taste for sweets! But I have learned to be satisfied with a 100 calorie pack of Oreo crisps or a SF fudgsicle. I relish the feeling of eating a healthy and tasty meal and feeling completely satisfied and happy that I am doing the right thing for me....and that the results will come with time. So perhaps I have learned a bit about rewarding myself for eating well. My reward is in the positive feelings I have (or rather the lack of negative ones) and that keeps me motivated to some degree. I have made quite an effort not to whine TOO much when I've stalled and I am in the middle of a doozy right now. Whining is negative. Every healthy meal is a positive step toward making all my meals that way. I'm certainly not "there" yet but I do think i'm making progress...and it's taken years. Oh well, what else can I do? The science behind what I am talking about is best explained in the movie [ame=http://www.amazon.com/What-Bleep-Do-We-Know/dp/B0006UEVQ8/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-1447247-8529551?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1192190964&sr=1-1]"What the Bleep Do We Know"[/ame] and the book [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Bleep-Definitive-Unauthorized-Guide/dp/1932857222/ref=pd_sim_d_shvl_title_2/104-1447247-8529551]"Beyond the Bleep[/ame]". It goes way beyond A&P and into quantum mechanics and the power of the mind to shape perception and create reality. Heavy, heavy stuff....but very interesting.

Ok, I've stuck with my calorie counting all week just like I said I would! Yea me! Today was 862 calories. I was trying to stay low because of my food porn yesterday. I am really, really liking that Weight Control Oatmeal for breakfast! I can't believe how it fills me up and stays with me so well! I only wish it had more protein....but it does have good fiber, so I guess that's ok. I have a new favorite food: Eggplant Parmesan. Is it loaded with fat?? It sure is delicious!!!

I don't live in Colorado but I'd give my right arm to have a summer place there!!

Name your 3 all-time favorite movies: Monty Python Search for the Holy Grail; City of Angels; Braveheart If you could pick a new career right now, what would it be? Psychologist How old were you when you fell in love for the 1st time? 16 If you could pick your “last meal” what would it be? Grandma's chicken Noodle Soup, klobasniks, Mom's fried chicken, corn on the cob and chocolate cake What’s the greatest thing about the town you live in? The restaurants, shopping and mild winters Where were you born? Houston (4th generation Texan) Have you ever read a book (or attended a lecture, took a class, etc.) that changed your life in some way? What was it? Reading [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Discover-Power-Within-You-Unexplored/dp/0062501151/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-1447247-8529551?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1192115549&sr=8-1]Discover the Power Within You[/ame] was a MAJOR spiritual revelation and helped me "find God" at the age of 25. [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Journey-Souls-Studies-Between-Lives/dp/1567184855/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-1447247-8529551?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1192115636&sr=1-1]Journey of Souls[/ame] totally altered the way I view my entire experience on earth. Way cool book (for me). What is your favorite charity? Why? Animal shelters because pets give us so much love and we owe it to them .... and children's charities (victims of domestic & sexual abuse, and children's hospitals) probably because of my heartbreaking experiences in nursing school during my Pediatrics rotation. Name your 3 all-time favorite books: Other than the ones I talked about above, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Angela's Ashes and Poisonwood Bible What do you do when you are bored? Shop for beads! One can never have enough Do you have any vices? Do drinking, smoking and cussing like a sailor count? Used to have even more than that! LOL I'm on the straight and narrow now!! Name one thing you’d like to do before you die. Retire, wake up and have every day be Saturday. Is the glass half-empty or half-full? Depends on what's in it!! ...but usually half-full What is your bedtime? 9:30p What is your idea of the perfect vacation? Sitting in a comfy chair on the deck of an isolated Colorado cabin, in the summer, overlooking the beautiful mountains. Next to me is a stack of great books and a bottle of wine. In the kitchen is the smell of hearty, healthy foods and the stereo is playing some soft jazz. Maybe later I'll go for a walk in the woods. Aaaaaaaah. Ever have a dream that you were “with” a movie star? Who was it? Tom Cruise....back in the day when he first married Nicole Kidman...I dreamed he dumped her (literally) when he laid eyes on me. Right when we were getting to the "good part" my alarm went off. I was very, very upset. If you knew your advice would be taken, what would you say to a high school graduate? Live a simple life, enjoy simple pleasures and find joy in friends and family.

Laura posted a thread for our "friend survey"....Thanks Laura!! http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f91/getting-know-you-getting-know-all-about-you-42811/

The Secret Santa thread made me think of this.... let's do a survey to get to know each other a little better. We could put this in another thread in the April 07 forum. Anyone want to add some questions? Name your 3 all-time favorite movies If you could pick a new career right now, what would it be? How old were you when you fell in love for the 1st time? If you could pick your “last meal” what would it be? What’s the greatest thing about the town you live in? Where were you born? Have you ever read a book (or attended a lecture, took a class, etc.) that changed your life in some way? What was it? What is your favorite charity? Why? Name your 3 all-time favorite books: What do you do when you are bored? Do you have any vices? Name one thing you’d like to do before you die. Is the glass half-empty or half-full? What is your bedtime? What is your idea of the perfect vacation? Ever have a dream that you were “with” a movie star? Who was it? If you knew your advice would be taken, what would you say to a high school graduate?

TracyK - I have the cure for your mouth sores!! My kids would get horrible bouts of them so I did some research awhile back and found that the Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is the culprit...it's the agent in toothpaste and most soaps that makes them foam. Turns out that it's very harsh on the tender mucus membranes of your mouth which in turn makes them susceptible to infection. I got both my kids on Biotene toothpaste (SLS-free) and within days they were much better and as long as they use that toothpaste they never had a recurrance! Below is a link to an article on the subject and then a link for Biotene toothpaste. There are others that are SLS-free, but Biotene is the only one I was able to find in a drugstore, and that was at Walgreen's. https://www.therabreath.com/art_cankersores.asp Buy Biotene Antibacterial Dry Mouth Toothpaste with Calcium, Gentle Mint Gel Online at drugstore.com

1600 Calories today. No exercise. My menu today reads like food porn, so I'm not going to list it.

Maybe we should call this Secret Shrinkin' Santa. Price limit? My vote would be $15 if we have to set a 'limit'. Christmas is difficult for many people so I don't care if it's $5 or $50....people should spend what they are comfortable with and not a penny more. It's the thought that counts...period.

Pammy - How are you feeling today? You got the banana boobies workin' so you must be feeling better!! I'm gonna go over to daily plate and TRY to remember everything I ate today!! God help me.

I just had a thought....could it be your iron pills?? Prolly not, but if you took it right before your coffee, it might be!

Laura - I am so sorry!! But I have to say that the hot guys thing made me LOL big time. The other thing is that my docs orders are to call, day or night, if vomiting continues for more than 4 hours. Do you have an emergency number to call just in case? That reminds me of a story I never told ya'll...it was kind of like Laura's except that I was with my in-laws (unknowers) and we were at a country club for breakfast. I got HORRIBLY stuck on scrambled eggs. I got to the bathroom for the 2nd time with a mouthFUL of saliva and ran to the stall....I'm spitting and hockering and coughing bad. This goes on and on for at least 5 mins....then I hear noise from the stall next door!!! I thought the bathroom was empty!!! I apologized profusely and said I didn't realize she was in there. She meekly said, "Are you okay???" I said, "Yes, I'm fine." I'm sure she thought I was bulimic or something. I was mortified!