meloney

I was diagnosed in my late teens. I would only have my cycle about 4x a year and it was incredibly heavy and excruciatingly painful - so much so I passed out a couple times and I would vomit from the pain. I finally went on bcp to regulate things and it was the best decision. Not only were my cycles regular, they were shorter, lighter, and pain free. I'm hoping the band will make it so my pcos symptoms can abate without bcp and that my facial hair - I call it my Fu Man Chu - will go away or at least become less pronounced.

I made an absolutely lovely, all natural, low sodium chicken stock the other day. I wish I had made more. I finished the last two helpings at work today. Consequently, I planned to pick up another rotisserie chicken on the way home from tutoring. They are available from tiny shops and street vendors practically everywhere here, including the tiny restaurant across from my flat. Unfortunately, said tiny restaurant has not had any chickens for the past week and the closest place is about a half mile away. When you are tired (and lazy) from your first day back to work after winter break (and lazy) and have spent three hours after work tutoring (and lazy), the last thing you want to do is walk a half mile to the little shop that sells rotisserie chickens, just to have to walk that half mile back home and stand in your kitchen picking piping hot chicken that you cannot eat off of a carcass to use said carcass to make more homemade chicken stock! And I'm lazy. Did I mention that? Fortunately for me, I have cartons of all natural, low sodium vegetable stock that I was able to procure from the one grocery store in this country that deigns to carry such a creature, and it actually tastes pretty darn good. Of course, I think anything three days into a clear liquid diet would taste pretty darn good. Although not as good as actually getting to eat chicken would taste... But I digress. I wanted to add some protein to my vegetable stock so I could be certain to get enough in for the day, so I poured a scoop of Isopure into a couple cups of stock, stirred, and set the microwave to heat the stock. THIS is what NOT to do with Isopure. Apparently, when you microwave whey protein you turn it into CHEESE. Thick, rubbery, smelly CHEESE. I tried stirring it. I contemplated whipping out the emulsion mixer for it. I hate wasting food (this is part of my problem), but finally had to make the decision to pour the curdled conglomeration down the drain. At this point very hesitant to try anything further with the Isopure (did I mention this was my first Isopure adventure?), I mustered up the courage to try again from scratch. This time, I found that heating the stock FIRST was much more successful and resulted in a lovely glass of what appeared to be a heady beer. Wishful thinking in this country for one, on a pre-op diet for two, and in the life of a bandster for three. Ah, well. One more day before surgery. I am so excited (and I just can't hide it - too corny?) about how things are unfolding. I only have a million things to do before Thursday, including writing lesson plans for Sunday because I will be taking off for recovery. At least Thursday's plans are ready, but I've still got photocopying to do. And this weekend holds yet another audition to cast Arsenic and Old Lace at Kuwait Little Theater and our first rehearsal Sunday night, and then I start right back in with work and tutoring and rehearsals. I'm amazed I ever found time to eat. That's not true. I always made time to eat, but ate the wrong things (everywhere delivers to your door in this country, even Hardees and KFC) and too much of them. But that is all in the past. I am committed. This is my year!

Greetings! I'm getting banded 5 January. I just started my pre-op clear liquids, so it surprised me that everyone here has been on liquids for so long. Is it just based on doc's preference?

I went to the mall today, which is really non-specific because this country has zillions of them. But I was there last week pricing protein powder - nearly had a heart attack when I found out how much they charge here. In the future I will be ordering from the States and getting it and my vitamins shipped in. So I went back today to get the protein powder and try to find natural broth at yet another grocery store. It amazes me that customs won't let preservatives and additives into this country in chocolate (an entire shipment had to be burned), but most every other food has them, which is not good for someone who has a sensitivity to them - like me. I miss Whole Foods. I was able to grab some soups for when I go off clear liquids, but I have resigned myself to making my own chicken stock. I like cooking, but it's really such a hassle sometimes, particularly when it comes to peeling and cutting up vegetables just to make a good stock. I plan on adding some protein powder to it - has anyone tried this? The Isopure people say you can. Well, as of right now I have had three cups of Jello, two cups of tea, water, pineapple juice, fresh red and green apple juice, and two bowls of potato soup. I'm sure the potato soup doesn't exactly count on this diet, but I was HUNGRY and it was heavenly. I must say, though there aren't many things in this country that I think are "done right," they certainly know how to do fresh juice. ANY place you enter has a juicing machine, and they don't charge a lot. You can get all kinds of juices. My favorite is fresh kiwi, but I have yet to try one I didn't like. While I was at the mall (and for the record, I detest malls), I also went to the pharmacy and picked up my multi-vitamin, anti-diarrhea, anti-gas, and antacid. So, aside from popsicles and making my stock, I think I'm pretty set. I also made a huge thing of mashed potatoes yesterday and stuck it in the freezer and this evening I will be making homemade applesauce. Though I'm not a huge fan of this whole liquid diet thing - because I'm HUNGRY - I'm hoping it will get easier once I have the surgery on Thursday. I'm also really proud of the fact that I wasn't tempted to eat anything while I walked through the food court at the mall. By the by, does anyone know at what point I can start drinking skimmed milk again?

It is now 2012 in Kuwait and I have made a list of resolutions, er, goals (in no particular order): I will fly without a seat belt extender I will attend T & A's wedding in the UK in a fabulous, smaller dress size I will learn to manage what I put in my body I will sit in a chair at the KLT without it digging into my hips I will tie my shoes without propping my legs on the bed I think five is enough for now. I'm sure I'll think of others as the year progresses, and I know A has many for me as well, most of which include fabulous makeovers. He is so looking forward to shopping with me every time I need new clothes! He also wants to do a whole Moulin Rouge makeover and photo shoot with me. He should get on that, since I go in for surgery on Thursday. He can do my before and after. Oh, my! Cheers to all. Happy New Year, and blessings upon you and yours. I know the whole Mayan calendar is wrong, otherwise I wouldn't be bothering with the LapBand now!

I didn't find it pornographic in the least. I think your writing style is unique and relatable. I, myself, had a long standing love affair with B&J, but the guys kept putting my flavors in the graveyard. Oh, how I mourn the loss of From Russia With Buzz. After our affair ended, I spent nine years bouncing around the same twenty bloomin pounds and now, fed up, I am finally going to get banded on 5 January.