DeLarla

And here's me stealing candy from a baby.

Paris bores me, I think Elliot is too old for his age, Kathryn has what it takes but picks wrong songs way too often, the world loves Taylor, and Chris is my kinda rocker boy. Taylor's never been in the bottom 3, has he?

Sounds like a nail infection to me. I had something similar once, but only one one thumbnail. The nail eventually cracked down the center and came off immediately, then after a round of antibiotics it cleared up and grew back in to normal. Maybe this problem isn't diet related?

Wow, I just read through this and need to sit, meditate and put the pieces of my brain back in order. Thank you ALL so much. I'm at my (boring) paralegal job right now but I'll come back and re-read & print all this for reference material. I espeically appreciate the warnings. Maybe my new plan won't be a good one, but at least I'm giving it plenty of thought and gathering as much info as possible before taking a potentially deadly plunge. Thanks again!

OMG, even real machines in Vegas are just a big swindle! That's why they call it "gambling" and why all the casinos are rich and all the gamblers are poor (uh, where did my paycheck go?)

No lie, I once decided to try one of those on-line casinos to see where the hoax was. I made my $25 initial deposit and instantly won $100.00, so I decided to cash out. The process of receiving your money is quite simple, all you do is fax your BANK INFORMATION along with a copy of your photo identification and social security number to AFRICA, and after a bunch of security clearance they mail your gambling winnings. Who on Earth is stupid enough to fax their photo, signature and bank information to their mother, let alone another country? It was a fun $25.00 but let them keep the $100! But honestly, where do I sign up for the coconut diet? Actually, isn't coconut a natural diuretic that makes you have poopy drawers if you eat too much?

Here's me on the "short" version of the big bus.

Kathy, you crack me up! You're on the Egg Drop Soup and Aloe Vera juice Diet by you dare diss my Coconut Diet? HA! Hey, is there really such thing as a Coconut Diet, or is this a pop up joke?

"Furthermore, I think we aren't giving Danielle enough credit. To assume that she will do whatever a bunch of internet nerds either give her permission or not give her permission to do is a little patronizing." OMG, the post diet band rules need to be rewritten to include: AVOID LAUGHTER AT EVERY EXPENSE! If I still had a band it would have flung into a kidney with that "internet nerds" comment along with the "Soup Nazi" analogy. I love you people! Dani, by now you've probably learned the hard way that everyone has different opinions and defends their doctors' at the expense of others' feelings, but Leatha gave you enough information right from Inamed (makers of the Lapband) to answer your original question. Good luck to you, and take it from a gal who lost her band due to erosion - do whatever it takes to keep your band healthy without taking unecessary risks. Many doctors will tell you that you'll be able to lead a normal life after you've completely healed, but how many of us would consider bungy jumping? Hell, I even covered my belly in large crowds because I felt it was best to protect my investment, just in case. And please pass the Ritz. The Slumber Nazi

I only read the first page of this thread and will read the rest when I'm done with what I have to say, but it is very important to stick to post-dietary guidelines after stomach surgery - or any surgery for that matter. Just because some people feel physically okay, that doesn't mean it's safe for everyone. Try to think back to basics at how "digestion" works. As food is introduced into the stomach, the stomach begins to churn/move/wiggle (as previously explained.) You want to keep your stomach as calm as possible to give the band a chance to settle and all your stitches time to heal. To add in my own thoughts, many people become constipated during the first month of being banded. Do you really want to struggle with a bowel movement and put extra pressure anywhere near your belly because nothing bad happened to you when you tried some solid foods? Just like if you had a big cut on your finger that just started to heal over; you might be able to bend and twist without making the wound burst back open, but that doesn't mean you're ready for cartwheels. I saw lots of deleted posts, which is really screwed up since everyone around here knows that I'm the only crazy person that deletes posts! Who said you guys can delete posts? Damn, I can't stay away so long any more!

Here's an old one that I already did but we had so much fun that it's time for a rerun. Okay people, NO CHEATING. You must describe exactly what underwear you're wearing this very minute. No running to change or making up lies either. I'm wearing big lycra granny panties and a mattress and a $3.99 Walmart bra that's been around way too many years. NEXT

You stone cold fox! Love you, Michelle! (I feel like the beginning of the Brady Bunch where I see the whole family in the boxes & I'm smiling up at Vera.) What a great party here! Happy Birthday!

Sure is nice to toss the Period Panties aside for another 28 days! I'm collecting underwear from around the world. Please mail new panties to me (around 1x or 2x.) Hey, people ask for weird things on e-bay and get them, so it's worth a try. Panties, please! Lisa Bones 8130 Fox Tail Way Las Vegas, NV 89123

Yes, I'm close to all the casinos, and YES, I've read (and LOVE) Like Water for Chocolate! Great book!

There's no way I'd get another band but I saw 250 on the scale this morning, which is 11 pounds heavier than my lowest (though I'm on my period.) Penni, I don't think it's the traveling because not everyone around here travels, and we're all eaters. I blame it on staying home, but that's not the problem. I think I'd do better by traveling - grass is always greener. I started a tiny dosage of Celexa today because my doc thinks I'll end up in the Rubber Room with my mother if I don't find a way to cope with my eating. My reflux and esophogitis is really bad because I pack way past being full, so my doc looks at me like I'm crazy and said, "But doesn't that cause great pain?" I started crying and said, "DUH, YES." So he gave me pain pills. Please pass the revolver.

"I have to keep pulling down over my right butt cheeck, because it rides up in my crack" MY HUSBAND CALLS THIS THE ONE CHEEK SNEAK! Good thing I'm wearing a mattress with my period panties because you people always make me wet myself! I think we need to make our underwear thread a friggen sticky! The backwards maternity panties have me rolling around crying!

Not being able to edit is plain torture to those of us with parents at the Funny Farm. It's my creative outlet, no I take that back, no I really mean it, wait, I didn't mean to say that. I hate you, no I don't I love you and always have except that one minute but it was only kinda dislike, not hate. Shut up, DeLarla, if you would just be nice the first time around you wouldn't need that damn edit button. So we have 24 hours to change our minds these days? I guess that's enough time to think AFTER I spoke!

Nothing southwest! I honestly need some ideas. I recently saw a room done in a beautiful blue that looked awesome, but I've never liked blue. Does that mean I'm growing up? I like how they do it on the room improvment shows where they buy several kinds of paint that compliment each other. I love you, Crystal!

Free moustache rides? Sorry, this is my husband's department.

Oh, you don't want ME to get started, do you? I'll be at that same rally (Laughlin River Run, I'm assuming) and I'll be at his camp selling things I can't say here!

Some of us were just meant to be fluffy. Love you Crystal.

Wowabunga, that's amazing. You must feel spectacular!

I'm not going to post mine since I had to take the picture after YOU PEOPLE convinced me to dye my hair blonde (haha, all your fault.) What was I thinking? I looked horrible as a blonde but I'm stuck with that mess in my DL photo for what, 7 years? DOH!

Sleepyjean, you hit this nail on MY head! "Is drinking a lot of alcohol like overeating? Is it a compulsive thing that you have to fight to control? Is telling someone not to drink as useless as telling a binge eater not to eat?" Yes, yes, and yes. I don't crave alcohol (unless it's been a really bad week like after taxes.) I can go weeks, even months, without drinking. But I can't have just one once I start. One drink sets off a trigger and I need more. Sometimes it's just like our cravings for sweets that makes us need salty that makes us want more sweets. First it's the candy, then the chips, then the ice cream. Well, I'll start with a glass of wine, which leads to a 2nd, which makes me crave something else, which makes me crave something else. Soon I'm bombed doing shots. For me, it's definitely part of the obsession of just cramming something down my throat.

Right before you start to fall off your barstool, ask for Water. Gag it down if you have to, and keep asking them to refill the glass. Soon you'll be wobbling to the bathroom to pee. Then ask for more, no matter how bad it tastes. I'm a big weekend party girl, and not even the band could stop me but I never got to the point of vomitting because I start pounding water around midnight to avoid hangovers and barf-a-thons.