sue11

Happy Easter to all... Anybody elses eat too much today? I sure did, and there'ss CHOCOLATE in the house!!!

Dawn...Ouch! Been there too. We missed you, it was a good meeting. Mer... I'm afraid I can't be there on Thursday, my daughter has a Band concert at her Jr High...Yikes! I love to hear her play, but 1.5 hours in the bleachers for 5-10 minutes of her playing...I'd rather come to group...but I WILL be doing the mom thing. My back will be aching by the end of the night too! Sue

SElaine... Good for you. No it's not fair and you have every right to feel cheated. More power to you for rising above!!! My son always seems to get the raw end too, he's 17 yrs old and has Diabetes (type 1), epilepsy and ADD. Soemtimes he gets down (mostly because he can't drive), but I'm so proud of him for his possitive spirit. I see that in you too. Go ahead and get mad, but direct it...make it work for you. Stay in those support groups and keep working. I'm praying for your sucess! Sue

Sandra... It's time to concentrate on healthy eating. You can do this. It's about being healthy and the way you make your baby healthy is by making yourself healthy. Healthy means not gaining too much or too little. I'm not sure what your restriction is like, but the good food has got to go down. Small meals sound really wise to me, but nutritious food, not snacks. 9 months is such a short time to give for the blessing of a child, there will be time for weight loss later. CONGRATS!!! Sue

Phyl... We visited last year for a week, spent part of it in LA & San Diego doing the parks with the kids. We're going to spend 1 day at Disney on our way in, but will have a little more time in PD. I'm actually hoping for warm weather. Before band I hated heat, but I'm alot more compfortable in the heat now that I've got all that extra insulation off of me! My kids are looking forward to the water park and the street fair, I'm also going to run them down to Mexico for a day, just for the experience. Sue

Lise... Don't worry about a few pounds right after surgery. I came home almost 10Lbs up, they load you with fluid for surgery, and your sysatem will retain some fluids just after the trama of surgery. I dropped those extra lbs quickly after. Mer... Had fun thurs, always like to gab with people who can relate Sie

Lise... Liquids were hard, but the 1st 2-3 days are the worst then it does get some better. It gives a great jump start for the weight loss! My fave things for protien drinks (we use the low-carb whey body-builder type) is to have chocolate, hot with coffee (instant or Internation Coffee type) with SF English toffee or ameretto, or the vanilla or lemon blended with frozen berries...and a teaspoon of peanutbutter blended in the chocolate is great! Mer... I just figured out this morning as DH was leaving for Canada that there is a meeting at my daughter's school at 6:30 tonight that I was going to pass off to him. I think it's the same-old same-old as the other 2 kids, but they have had a major change in their ciriculum since my last kid registered for 9th grade, so I'd better show up and see if there is anything new I need to know. Hopefully I can scoot out, but I will at least be late. What exit is the Borders? Sue

S Elaine... So sorry to hear things have gone so wrong. I wish I could offer advice, but all I really have are my prayers. Sue

Manatee... You look great! Lately I've had people ask me if I'm at my goal, I want to look at them and say "are you kidding, can't you see my butt!" I want to loose another 20#'s. I think people look at my face (and even my torso) and see such a change that they think I'm done. I'm the one who sees the saddlebags hangin' there. Thank God we all wear clothes...hides a multitude of "sins". All this to say, sometimes we concentrate on the negetive and God bless those who see our possitives! Go for healthy, both in body and mind. We need feel comfortable in our own body, as long as we are in a healthy mental state we know when we feel good. Did you ever dream you'd be debating if you're loosing too much? What a great dilemma! Sue

Lise... CONGRATS!!! So glad you're doing well! Just take it easy. It's hard to hold back when you feel well, but you have had surgery, baby your body for a bit. No use finding your limits the hard way! Did you do any liquids before banding? I was on clears for 2 week prior and broth & shakes for 4 week after. Your lucky your doc lets you have shakes, broth got really old really fast! Sue

Hey Phyl... I just decided to take my 2 kids down to Palm Dessert for spring break. My parents are going down for the month of April, so we thought it'd be fun (and warm) to go visit Sue

WOW...big news on the PS How did you find him? What are his prices like in comparison to Oh and the others you've researched? Sue I should be able to make it next week to the meeting :confused:

Hey Mer... How was the meeting last night? I was thinkn' bout u Sue

Punkytres... Hi, yes there are others in your area. I'm in UP and Wendy is in Lakewood. We walk M/W/F and meet at the Lakewood Y on T/R. We've been walking at the Tacoma Mall, since the weather has been cold, but will hopefully be ourside soon. Weather permitting we like to walk at Chambers Bay or the Dog park @ Ft Steilacoom. We also go to the St Joe's Support group that meets the 3rd Monday of each month. Check Merillee's post for the group she's starting in GH, I'll be heading out there too. Love to meet you sometime...I could never do this on my own! Sue

Mer... I'm always up for more support...maybe I just like to talk alot...who knows, but it all keeps my spirits/motivation up. Are you meeting every week? My son has a swim team awards party this Thurs, and my sweet boy told me "I know how important your group is too you, you don't have to come to the party." I quickly told him that group is very important to me, but he's even more important...big smile from my boy. I'll have to try for the next one. Sue

Don't you wish Docs would spend a little more time listening to us, don't we know our bodies the best. I'd be frustrated too! A little just in time NSV...I was feeling a little down today. We were out of town this weekend and I ate pretty poorly (late night pizza & cookies etc...) The scale showed it this AM, my own fault, but still frustrating how hard we have to work for every pound now. Well, I'm at work, feeling bloated, and the mailman comes in and says "if you loose one more pound you'll blow away". No one around here has said one word about my weightloss (100#"s!). I work with all guys, and I think they are just scared to say anything about a girls weight (I guess that might be wise), how can you not notice!?! Anyway, Willie noticed...he's so sweet, I look forward to our 15 second converations! Sue

Potatie... Welcome! Most Docs have pre-band education that includes what you'll be eating and meds to have on hand. Couple things off the top of my head: *Broth (Better Than Bullion s really good) *SF Jello *SF Popsicles *Liquid Tylenol (Adult) *Gas X (or similar) *Heating pad (really good on tummy or sholder pain) *SF Candies (Lifesaver's Wintergreen really refresh the mouth) *Protien Drinks (Champion Nutrition Chocolate is my Fave) *Magic Bullet (blending drinks & Food...a MUST!) I highly recommend getting involved in a support group, even before your surgery. There's nothing like getting support and advise from real life banders, you obviously understand that, that's why you're here. Congrats on Your decision, you won't regret it!!! Sue

Instant Hot is my little hot water tap at my sink. It instantly gives water that is just bellow boiling. It's so great for my morning drinks, hot tea and I also grab a cup of hot water before any meal...just to make sure the band is loose, it sure makes a huge difference. That way I'm able to eat when I've prepaired good food, then I get a "tummy full" at meals and I stay full longer...keeps me from wanting to snack so much. I've really run into problems with snacking when I don't loosen my band before eating because I can only eat a few bites, just like they say, but I'm hungry again in an hour. I do so much better when I can eat about 1 1/2 cups of food for a good solid meal, otherwise I'm hungry, grumpy, feeling deprived and I want to snack all the time! This is what works for me...everybody's got to find thier tricks. I do think that at least getting a protien drink in the morning is really important, skipping breakfast is so bad for the metabolism, and I was not a breakfast eater before band. I enjoy my morning "mocha" Sue

Weazer... You just can't use boilng water to make the shakes, it will let you know if the water is too hot, it will curdle. I would heat the water first then put the powder in. I use my instant hot, in a cold mug it seems to cool the water just enought to not curdle the protien powder. I like to add a spoonful of Intenational Coffee FF SF vanilla coffe mix and/or a shot of SF syrups (english toffee is killer!), it's my morning mocha everyday. I have trouble with cold stuff in the AM too, but the hot drink slides right down. Sue

Weazer... Do you drink protien shakes at all? These are not the meal replacement like slimfast, though that is an opion. These are shakes that you might get in a healthfood store like Super Supliments or GNC. Bodybuilders use them, they are high in pritien low in claories. I have one for breakfast every morning. You can get flavors like icecream and blend friut (like berries) into them. My favorite is Champion Nutrition Whey ini Chocolate. My doc insists (infact he wants us to have 3 a day). Sue

Sure would be nice to get a ball-park idea of both possibilities and cost, but might have to go for a consult to get any individualize estimate. Im sure going to be taking notes! See ya there! Sue

CONGRATS Carol! So glad everything is going so well, look forward to meeting you soon! Take it easy, even if you feel great, no need to go past your limits to find out where that limit is, just take some time to baby yourself and your band. Sue

I've been told a 4cc band actually holds about 5cc (Sorry for this guys...but) Girls, do you notice a big difference when TOM comes along. I was about to go for another fill, but with this TOM I really have to work to get things down. I'm at about 3.3 in a 4cc band, seems perfect for me...except for TOM!

Hey all... Who's heading to the St Joes meeting tonight? The Plastic Surgeon is gong to be there...I'm really looking forward to hearing what he's got to say. I think I will hit the mall before, maybe a little dinner and a walk (though I already walked this AM, a little extra certainly won't hurt). Anybody want to join me?

Weazer... Are you sure you're eating enough, I worry about you? Have you tracked calories? You don't want to put your body into starvation mode. I need 1000 calories of good food to keep the scales moving. If I'm eating more or less for any length of time, or if I'm not getting good protien and keeping fats down, then I'll be STUCK. Sometimes your body just decides to hold tight and you've got to keep up the hard work and ride it out. Don't fotget to measure, sometimes the scale stops, but the body is "adjusting" and the inches are still dropping. Sue