Haydee

Hi ladies! I'm glad to hear everyone is well, except for a few bruises on Judy and Jen! I'm glad to hear you're feeling better from your spill Judy. By the way, you are one HOT granny! Love that bathing suit you are wearing. You can rest assured that your committment to working out has paid off. You are tightening up really nice. Laura - YAY on the jeans! I'm still waiting to get into my sexy pair, can't quite get them over my ass yet! Terri - I would wait and get my fill until after vacation. You don't want anything to happen while you're away from your doctor. Just like Kat said, slow and steady. Go get checked and make sure you're still at the level they filled you to last time. But I definetly wouln't get anymore until after Vegas. Just like Terri stated the weather here is bordering on hellish. Hot hot hot and very humid. I haven't done much this morning except pack up my china. I've still got tons to do and my closing is next Wednesday. I'm off to do a Pampered Chef party! Perfect Saturday afternoon for one. Inside in the A/C, drinking lemonade and chattering with girlfriends... Have a good rest of your weekend everyone!

Hi Chrissi - Are you newly banded and without a fill yet? I felt just like you about four weeks after my surgery. I kept thinking that I had made a mistake getting this done because I was having to "diet". I would be hungry all day long and what little I was eating was not filling me up. Well, that all changed after my second fill. Right now I've got pretty good restriction. I eat whatever I want but in moderation. And that's WHATEVER I want and I am consistently losing. I can eat about half a cup of food for Breakfast, half a cup for lunch and a full cup for dinner. Less restricted in the evening. Now, I do try to make a conscious effort to try to make good choices about the food that I'm eating. If I know I can only have 1/2 cup of food for breakfast I'm going to try to have something that is good for my body. I would have never ever made that choice pre-band. There was no need to. I could eat sugary Cereal, bacon/egg/cheese biscuits, pancakes and still be able to fit in a piece of fruit or some cottage cheese. No so anymore. I know that whatever little bit I'm eating in the morning is all I'm able to fit in until at least 1 pm. So, to me, this is definetly NOT a diet. Thank God for that because I've always failed at diets...

Morning ladies! How is everyone doing today? I am wonderful. My scale showed 2 pounds less this morning!!! I have proven to myself that the more Protein I eat the better my progress. Yesterday for dinner I had two pieces of roasted chicken. WHOA! I couldn't believe it when I was able to eat all of that. A leg and a thigh, a side salad and a piece of bread too. I was thinking that maybe it's time for a fill again. But here I am this morning and I'm struggling to get down a piece of toast with Peanut Butter on it. I've been going at it since about nine in the morning. And at lunch when I eat my tuna with crackers it's also going to be a struggle. Maybe I'll wait on the fill... Hey, has anyone become more skin sensitive since getting banded? I get these huge welts on my arms if I carry anything in the crook of my elbow. Or if my dog accidentally scratches me it turns into a huge welt. Or if I have an itch and I scratch it, even lightly, it turns into a welt. Strange... this only started after I got banded. I noticed it immediately after. Josie - WHERE ARE YOU? We miss you...

Hi ladies!!! I still haven't had a chance to go back and read all the posts I missed. I'm sure there was lots of losing while I was gone. I fortunately did not gain anything while I was on vacation. I got kind of carried away while lounging by the pool or in my cabana on the beach. We would order food all day long! We drank upteen Pina Coladas and strawberry Daquiris. Each night me and my sisters would have midnight sundaes!! I was already dreading the scale on Monday morning but when I saw the same number I was relieved.... I'm dark dark dark. I turned like 10 shades darker! The sun was super hot and even though we tried to stay in the shade the sun reflecting off the Water really did a number on us. So I'm back to reality now. Drinking my water, having toast with Peanut Butter for Breakfast. I had to come home and start cutting my dogs hair. It's really getting way too hot in Houston. Even though they are inside dogs I still give them short cuts during the hot months. I left my house sparkling clean before my vacation but I had my cousin come and stay at the house with my dogs while I was gone and my house is a holy mess again. He's a typical 21 year old boy. Anyhoo, I'm going to come up with my August Excersise challenge this afternoon and I will post it later on. I'm also going to break it down into different categories. Cardio, weights, ect... I'll get back to ya'll on that. Talk more later... I'm swamped at work!

Just sharing…thought this was great info… 12 Power Foods: Never Go Hungry - Page 1 - MSN Health & Fitness - Diet & Fitness

Hi Violets!! I'm back from my wonderful, relaxing vacation. I missed ya'll so much! I'm getting myself ready to go back to work tomorrow but I just wanted to drop a quick note to let ya'll know I was back. I'll go back and read all the missed posts tonight once I'm settled. Hope everyone is doing well. Chat later...

Morning Ladies! It's finally Thursday and that means tomorrow is Friday and then I'm officially on VACATION. The weekend is jam packed but at least I'll get to sleep on the plane on the way there. On Saturday I'm going to try to get this forsaken garage sale going. I've had my stuff sitting around for weeks. Hopefully not too much rain. After the garage sale we are taking off for a casino in Lousiana. Woo Hoo! Girls only. We always have a blast. We come back early Sunday morning and then at 3pm I have one of my cooking shows. After I get done with that I have to go home and get packed. Like I said, I'll sleep on the plane Monday morning! I am so so ready for some sunshine. A week in the sun will lift my spirits! Tonight I have to go bathing suit shopping. Ugh. So fun. No time for personals right now but know that I am thinking about each and everyones struggles and victories. Love ya'll! Have a good rest of your day!

Morning ladies! We did have a wonderful night last night. Josie, Terri, Schexy, it felt like i've known ya'll for years! Also, wanted to share that usually when I get together with friends it's all about what are we gonna eat. What is so and so having and what are we sharing and what are we eating for dessert. Yesterday we were so enthralled in our conversation that we ate just as an afterthought. Just because we knew we had to get something in our bellies. That's the relashionship that I want with food all the time. I want it to just be in my peripheral vision not my whole focus. Josie - what did you decide to do with your guests? Don't keep them cooped up in the house. They'll go nuts and you'll go nuts too! Kat - your advice is very enlightning. I also have to remember to be more patient and not be quick to anger when I am faced with a situation like that. Gina - how ya doing? You feel better? You might try staying on mushies today since your band might be irritated. Jenn - try putting Monistat Chafing Cream on the rash on your thighs. Believe me, been there. The cream will soothe the rash. Poker Patty - hi! Check in with ya'll later...</p>

Terri - probably not then! I am thinking of the wrong one! I'll look it up before I head out. PM me your cell in case I get lost!

Laura - thanks for sharing. I too get frustrated when I feel like this is not working or if I'm not losing. But I tend to forget how far I've trully come. It's not just the pounds that have come off but also that my mind, body and soul have been re-energized. People tell me I look 5 years younger! Tracy - that venue looks so beatiful! What are your colors? Yellow, right? Houston girls - I'll see ya'll at 5:45. There's a Target near there right? I think I remember there being a Target. I need to stop in and look for some shorts. Even though I have to buy a size 26 bottom there! Everywhere else I'm a size 20. Oh well, the number doesn't matter. They fit really cute! So, TOM was over yesterday. I'm still at 261. That damn pesky little pound that creeped on when I started didn't leave when I ended. I need to increase my fiber consumption. Hope that works. Such a busy day today but just wanted to stop in and say HI! now BYE...

Hey ya'll, has anyone heard of this: Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) Here is a link to the article I found: http://thyroid.about.com/cs/dietweightloss/a/cla.htm I don't have a thyroid problem but it says that I can still benefit from taking this supplement. I'm going to ask my doctor about this but I thought I would share.

Whew! What an eventful weekend for everyone! I had a super busy weekend and didn't have a chance to get on my laptop. TRACY - CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!! I'm so happy for you. I know how much you've wanted this and I'm glad he finally came to his senses!!! Only 8 months till the big day. Let's start the planning!! Pamela - I had a skinny day yesterday! We threw a surprise party for my aunt and there was alot of people there that I hadn't seen in a few months and everyone, everyone complimented me! I felt so skinny all day long. I even wore some really cute platform shoes and I walked around in them all day long. Normally I'd arrive to the party in heels and then kick them off after about 30 min. Yay for skinny days!!! Michelle - OMG, I do the same thing you do with the Borders email. I get it once a week and then log on to my library's site and request to put a hold on all the books I want. I scour the magazines for book reviews, and evertime someone mentions a good book I go straight to my library's site and put a hold on it. Right now I'm reading 90 minutes in Heaven. Just started last night in bed but I've heard really good things about it. Terri - I loved the Poisonwood Bible. I devoured that book when I got it. Orleanna's struggle is probably the same struggle so many mothers out there have. I loved that character. Gina - Please post the Guidelines and Nutrition for Success when you have a chance. I too try to eat from every food group. I have not given anything up because for me this is a life change not a diet. Ms Jen - thank you for posting the bean recipe. See Violets, it is so easy. My mom makes them almost the same, but she does not add the bacon because my dad is on a low sodium diet. Terri, I've been so bad about exercising this month. I've been trying to stay under your radar. See how I didn't post my challenge. That's so that if I didn't meet it then I wouldn't have to be accountable. Ha! I thought I was being so smart. But the thing I didn't consider was your pretty little avatar buzzing around my head every time I missed a workout. So, next Monday I leave for my weeklong vacation. I'm going to the gym every night this week. Then after my vacation, I will come back and set my goals for the month of August. And I will POST them. Ladies, I've got a very busy week ahead of me. I'll try to check in every once in awhile. Love ya'll...

Jenn, homemade beans are easy to make. I've seen my mom do it hundreds of times. Have I ever actually made them myself? Uh, no. My mom cooks beans about three times a week. She makes enough so that me and my sisters can all bring a gallon size ziploc bag home with us. So we never actually have to cook beans. I'll really pay attention this Sunday so I can share. Terri, that chipotle rasberry salad at Quiznos was always my favorite too. I could eat the whole dang thing. Then I found out how bad it was!! How can salad be sooo bad? I then started to pay attention to everything. Even the things I thought were "safe". Good night all, I'm really sleepy now.

Judy, good luck on your garage sale tomorrow. Mine has been postponed indefinetly. I don't know when it'll quit raining here in Houston. I'm in the carwash business so it's really affecting us. I pulled out so much stuff for my garage sale and now it's just all laying around in my living room in boxes. Driving me nuts. I can't put anything in the garage because we store our cars in there but also because nothing else will fit! I am seriously not looking forward to packing. I'm in moving at the end of the month and have not packed one item yet. Gross. Anyone interested in volunteering to come help me pack? Anyone? You can count it as a workout! :biggrin1: I guess since I haven't closed on the house yet it doesn't really seem like it's really happening. I'm supposed to close next Friday, then I leave for vacation on Monday, and come back the following Monday. I better get my butt in gear. For lunch I had my version of a 7 layer dip. Half a cup of homemade refried beans, sprinkle of shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sprinkle of low fat cheese, cubed pieces of grilled chicken, salsa, dollop of low fat sour cream. Yum yum. I'm still full and I ate at one.

This is what it looks like outside my window at work. It's been raining all morning. Yuck! Michelle, I've never read any of the Harry Potter books. I see my nieces and nephews going nuts for them though. They must be interesting. I'm reading Stephen Kings latest, BLAZE. He wrote it in the 70's but only just published it. I went back to my post yesterday and it was all messed up! I wonder what happened? Laura, your cabbage rolls sounds delicious. I think that's what I'm making for dinner. We're throwing one of my aunts a surprise birthday party on Sunday. It's supposed to be a luau. I hope it doesn't rain!! TracyK and Terri, have ya'll ever been to L'barge du Loq or something like that? It's a casino in LA. We always go to the Coushatta but we've seen that one and we've always wondered how it is. We like the Coushatta because it has high ceilings, so then the smoke floats up instead of hanging around in a cloud around your head! Off to lunch now... Gotta go run some errands. TTFN...

Oh, and I started today and I'm up one pound. Boo. That's all I gotta say. Boo.

<p>Hi ladies. I don't know what ya'll are talking about when you say that they moved our thre sta Salad. It's got chicken, bowtie pasta, baby spinach, a really good dressing. Lots of other good veggies in it too. I also made a Mandarin Cake to go with the whole theme. Everything was delicious but I've just had a harried morning. I make and chop and prepare everything at home and then I just pull it all together here in our office kitchen. We started lunch at noon and we are just now breaking from it. That always happens when we get the whole office together. It always turns into a long and lenghty meeting. With food!</p> <p> </p> <p>So the rest of my day is pretty much gone. I've got a few calls to make and then I think I'm going to go home.</p> <p> </p> <p>I'll check in later from home....</p> <p> </p> <p>By the way, I didn't have a chance to read through all the posts but I did see TracyK's big announcement. WAY TO GO TRACY!! WOO HOO!!</p>

We make that broccoli salad but instead of raisins we put dried cranberries and we also add grated cheddar cheese. Mixed all in. It's so good. Like Judy I have not had it since I've been banded.

Okay, I just had two sugar free chocolate pudding cups. Crisis averted...

I think I'm starting soon... I've been craving chocolate and brownies. EEEEEEKKKK....

I feel better and lose steadier when I stay at around 1200 calories. On days that I go under I find that I get cranky, am tired and the scale doesn't budge!

Hey Terri, Josie, Schexxy, whoever else is joining us on the 24th... Town and Country is fine with me. I like Cafe Express and I've never been to Escalante. Either is fine with me, I'm not picky at all. I get off of work at 5 so I can be down there at about 5:45. I know Terri is way smaller than me, but are any of the other ladies coming in a size 22-24? I have some shirts that I'd like to bring for you. Let me know. If not they are going to Goodwill. To the lady that is having issues with a plateu - There have been some really good suggestions by some of the Violets. Please go back and read what they suggested. Personally when I've had plateus I've just riden them out. Boo-hooed alot on this board about it but then they just go away. I couldn't pin-point exactly what I've done to jump start my weight loss. Anyways, go back a few pages and read the posts and you'll get some good advice. Talk some more later... I'm getting ready to close on a house and I just got the inspection report and I have to go over it. Jenn - did you say you were involved in construction? Would you mind taking a look at my inspection? There is one problem that I have that I don't know if I should be concerned about... Let me know. Thanks!

Thanks Kat. I had brain freeze or something tonight because I couldn't think of any other way to use it other than chicken salad. Helloooo, there are hundreds of things I can do with cooked chicken. I was just tired I guess. Thanks for reminding me about enchiladas. Green chicken enchiladas are so yummy. Now I'm really off to bed. Good night Violets.

Josie, Terry - Tuesday, the 24th is better for me. I already have plans that Monday evening. Meeting anywhere is fine. I'd be coming straight from work and I work on Beltway 8 near 290. Let me know! Well, I sat down this afternoon to watch my movie but my guilt wouldn't let me. Augh! I got up and cleaned the house. After it was all spic and span, then I was able to sit down and watch my movie... I made a roasted chicken for dinner last night and I still have more than half the bird left over. I'm tired of making chicken salad with the leftovers. Anyone have any other ideas for my leftover chicken? I've already deboned it. Getting ready to hit the hay. Anyone else still up at this hour?

Laura, I loved your dress! You looked just like a princess! Well, it's raining here. We've postponed our garage sale. I think I'll sit down and watch a movie. House is a mess but I really don't feel like doing anything. Have a good day today...