Penni60

Leatha you look great. Keep it up.

OK Blossom get a pic and post of the your hottie. We will have a contest to see who is the cutest. GOOD LUCK with the process.

HUGE CONGRATS Kimber-Lilly. I am so happy for you. I can feel the excitement flowing through your words. It is contagious. See I am dancing too. :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana

Marie: I don't clean it at all. I let it heal on it's own. I learned along time ago from being a Nurse that the best way to get a wound infected is to continually cleanse it. Let nature takes it course and it will usually heal on it's own. Of course there are times when cleaning it is needed. When I take a shower I just pat it dry and go on about my business.

OK Leatha where is the after or current pic

Terry thanks for the tip. I will go and get some Vitamin E oil and start applying it. I was hoping there was something I could use.

I had to have my port relocated. It was tilted and causing it difficult to access and also causing the tubing to protrude through the muscle wall but NOT through my skin. You can see the protrusion on the Thread "Protrusion thingy" I just had surgery on Friday the 23rd of this month by a very competent surgeon called Dr. Helmuth Billy located in Ventura, CA.

I just pulled mine off today. If there is no bleeding and they come off really easily then I would take them off. If they seem to be stuck on really good then leave them alone. The next time you get in the shower run Water over them and gently pat them dry. If they still don't come off easily then leave them in place till you see your Doctor next time. Mine basically was falling off which is what they normally do.

Alex: I wouldn't have a preference. It would come down to their approach to me. Their attitude and support is what is important to me. I have a male GYN. I would not be opposed to a female though if I could find one that I have as much confidence in as my current GYN. In the beginning it really doesn't matter to me the gender as long as they support me and I feel confident in their skills as a trainer.

Here is a closer view.

TERESA: HEY HO HEY HO it's your birthday it's your party. Congrats girl. That is awesome. 46 lbs in under 11 weeks with no fills. THat is great. I am hanging at 42 lbs in 15 weeks and got a 1cc fill on July 9th. SO keep up the great work.

AMEN to that.

Welcome Iluvsammys: Glad to have you on board as a bander. By the way, Darcy thanks for directing me to this board.

CONGRATS LUCY GOOD LUCK TINA Glad that this board is a good resource for you as well as for me. I am so happy that Darcy suggested I come and check it out.

whoo hoo you both look GREAT!! I can't wait to get to 211. If that is what 211 looks like then here I come. I might just stop there. NOT!! You both are awesome. Beautiful daughter there.

VIVA LAS VEGAS--- Uh Uh Uh Can you hear Elvis in the background???

MEXICAN CORNBREAD 1 box of JIFFY cornbread mix 1/2 can of drained whole kernel CORN 1/2 can of drained ROTEL DICED TOMATOES AND GREEN CHILI Directions: * Make sure you drain the CORN and the ROTEL really good. * Prepare cornbread mix as directed. Use the ROTEL for the milk. * Add in the CORN. * Cook as directed on the box of JIFFY Mix. MMM MMM GOOD Good to serve with the TEX MEX Stew.

Here is another one: TEX MEX Stew 1 lb HAMBURGER meat, chicken, turkey whatever floats your boat 1 med ONION diced (I sometimes cheat and get the frozen diced onion bits) 1 can ROTEL DICED TOMATOES AND GREEN CHILI 1 can drained whole kernel CORN 1 can drained kidney Beans (can leave these out if you want- my son doesn't like them so I don't put them in when he is eating) 1 package of SHREDDED CHEESE(any kind) 1 tsp WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE 1 to 1 1/2 cups of KETCHUP 2 tsp MUSTARD Directions: * Brown meat and onions together, drain. * Add meat, onion, Rotel, Corn, Beans, Worcestershire sauce, Ketchup, and Mustard in a pot. * Let simmer for 20 minutes or until it boils. * Serve over RICE, Pasta, BREAD, or CORNBREAD * Sprinkle cheese over dish. Can serve with sour cream as well.

Here is my contribution to the recipes. This is not all that health conscious but it is delicious. MMM MMM GOOD!! CHEESY BEEF AND BEAN BAKE "YELLOW - SHIT" That is the family name. LOL!!! 1 LG CAN OF REFRIED Beans 1 1/2 CANS OF ROTEL DICED TOMATOES AND GREEN CHILI 1 1/2 LBS OF HAMBURGER meat 2 - 3CUP BAGS OF SHREDDED MILD CHEDDAR cheese 2 - 3CUP BAGS OF SHREDDED MEXICAN MIX CHEESE OR MOZZARELLA 1 - 2 BUNCHES OF GREEN ONIONS CHOPPED (optional) 1 PACKAGE OF 10-INCH FLOUR TORTILLAS Optional items: 1 - medium size tomato chopped 1 - medium size onion chopped 1 - medium green pepper chopped Sour cream and Guacamole Steps: * Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 13 x 9 - inch sheath cake pan. * Brown meat with onions, green peppers, and one-third of the green onions. Drain meat and add one can of Rotel and simmer on low stirring occasionally. * Add to refried beans half of one bag of the Mexican mix / Mozzarella cheese. Optional can add a can of Rotel and stir until cheese is melted. Be careful with the bean mixture as it will burn and stick to pot. Must stir constantly. Also, can add some of the green onions if desired to the bean mixture. * At this point, you can add the meat to the bean mixture or not. I don't. I cut the tortillas in half and place a layer in the bottom of the cake pan usually takes 6 - 7 halves. Begin to layer: bean mix, meat mix, and cheese. Can usually get approximately 3 layers. * With the last layer, after the cheese is added (make sure you have used all the cheese or it will not be a true "Yellow Shit" dish) sprinkle the remaining green onions and tomatoes (opt). Place in oven to melt cheese until the edges are brown or personal preference. When placing or removing from oven be careful as dish is heavy. * Remove from oven, and let sit for 5 minutes to cool (if you can stand it). * Serve with a light salad, a dab of sour cream and guacamole, some chips, and a HUGE glass of Margarita (strawberry if allowed). * Enjoy!! Enjoy!! and also Enjoy!!

WOnderful positive approval vibes being sent to the insurance reviewer person.

They are Avenue Capri's. I got them at half price. I bought them when they went on sale the first time. Sadly I did not get them at the $9.99 price. SIGH!!! I get all my clothes at Avenue or Lane Bryant. THey have some really cute stuff. THanks for the compliments.

I have this close friend that is a personal trainer. I am going to be talking to her about hiring her when I finally recuperate from this surgery. I too am at a stalemate of no weight loss. So I am going to see what she can do to increase my loss. I don't want to injure myself by trying to do too much and I am sure she will keep me in check. I don't think it is crazy at all to ask for help when you need it. It is funny we never thought of doing it before being banded. LOL!! Well at least I didn't. I can't speak for anyone else.

LJ: I am so thankful that her surgery went well. Keep us posted on her progress and let us know when she goes home. Have her come and introduce herself if she wants. We would love to get to know her as well.

Babs You are my hero. 126 lbs gone. Do you realize that is another WHOLE person you have lost? Isn't that amazing???

I fluctuate between being able to eat bread and not being able to. If it is toast then I can eat a half piece. If it is bread un toasted then there is NO way I can do it. IT gets stuck and can't go either way. UGH!!! Which in actuality is a good thing. I was addicted to breads of any kind way shape or form. IT is like my chocolate. I love bread. So to not be able to eat any is a plus for me. The carbs are not good. And the calories aren't either. But toast and jelly or honey with a cup of coffee is a plus on occasion. Oh the simple things how they pleasure us.