janiebug

Panda, WOW the pics look great!!! Congratulations!!!!!! Jane

I am with TracyK about the food. I still crave food, and think it sounds good, but then reality comes and it is a chore to eat. I really don't enjoy it at all. I can't eat a hamburger or any kind of sandwich, and I really thought I would miss it but I don't!!! I also don't regret getting the band AT ALL. I am glad that I did it, and wish I would have done it sooner. I think of all the time wasted being very large and beig afraid to sit in chairs, fit in a booth at a restaurant, get through aisles etc... It is funny though I still have issues with food, but then reality hits and I really don't enjoy it. Maybe one of these days..... Jane

If anyones has a Trader Joes near them I found a great oatmeal. They have a couple of different flavors, but the one I bought was Trader Joe's Oatmeal Complete. It is a little bigger portion than other oatmeals I have tried, so it does have more calories (210) but it has 7 grams of protein, B vitamins, folic acid, flax seed, and 2 grams of soy protein. It is good and very filing! Off to get a unfill today, I also went to the OB the other day and she told me that she thought I had fluid in the area where the hernia was!!! I hope that is not true. I already have had two surgeries on that.... TracyK, I hope you get your tooth pulled today! Everyone have a great day!!! Jane

Laura, that is great about the 50 pounds. I too think about hitting 199!! I am just glad right now to be under 250, hope that same holds true at my Dr.'s scale on Thursday!! Pam, I think a cookbook of the violets recipes and their favorite "band" foods and the resources is a great idea!! Like the website from Laura on the beef jerky! Terry, loved the vegetable soup!!! Jane

The soup is very very good. I need to take a speed cutting of vegetables class. I did cut the meat and vegies in small pieces, because until I get unfilled on Thursday, I can't eat much. I also have bad acid reflux, and the Dr.s' office told me that was due to the band being tight! Can't wait till I use Rotel tomatos, love spicy food. Jane

I am not a cook, but for one hour cut up veggies and cooked the meat and put it in the crock pot. That recipe sounds so good!!! Did it take you an hour Pam?? Tracy, don't despair!!! You are doing great and I am sure it is FRUSTRATING when you are so close to a major goal!!! Keep your chin up and try not to let it get you down. I agree with Judy about not weighing yourself. Jane

Jenn, OW!!!! Have a pizza place next door to where I work and they are always talking about how much hotter those oven are!! Take care so it doesn't get infected!!! I am sure you needed this on top of everything else huh?!? Jane

Laura, Sorry about the pain you are in!! I hope now this ends all your problems with the band. Thought of you the last two days, glad you are better. Terry, Congrats on the 30 pounds!! Plus halfway there is SUCH a landmark!!! All this and NO smoking!!!!! YEA!!!!!!!!! Jane

I Almost Forgot!!!!!! I Now Have Lost Over 100 Pounds Officially!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It Took 13 Months Instead Of My Goal Of A Year, But I Did It!!!!! Braggin Jane

Laura, That sucks!!! It seems that you shouldn't have to pay that much!!! What is a warranty for? I don't know which is worse having to have more surgery, or having to pay another $2100!!! Jane

Everything went great for me! I am very happy with Dr. Halpin, and I have met Dr. Eagon and he seems very nice also. I have no complaints, it was scary for me going into it, but looking back it was really nothing!! Jane

Mdrai---congrats on 50!!! Mel-----congrats on baby!! I have been throwing up the past few hours, I guess p/bing and sliming is a better term. I am not sure what started it, but now that it has started, can't stop. Any suggestions? I am afraid to drink anything, but would that help?? Jane

Pam, losing size is better than weight I think. I have lost pretty much but have only dropped one size, and yesterday when I went shopping I tried on a 3x and it was too tight. I was mortified!!! I took in a 2x and a 3x and thought I would make myself feel good by trying on the too big shirt first............................ Congrats!!! Jane

Michelle, thanks for noticing, I was really hoping that it would happen in August....But, like my Dr. said there is no race. I have been tending to eat sweets lately, not a good idea. I also need to drive where you are and touch you and hopefully the exercise bug will bite me!!! TracyK, you are so close to onderland, I wonder what that will be like!!!! Congrats early!!! Jane

Judy, those pictures are great!! You and your husband look so happy and thin!!! Haydee, I think you need to hurry up and get on the scale, sounds like you lost the rest of your weight with the boxes of tile!!! Jane

Terri---Very pretty necklace!!! Went to a fancy schmancy art fair this weekend and some of the things they had were like that and they were charging OUTRAGEOUS prices!!!! Good luck in Vegas and on no smoking! Pam---Liked your comment about lifetime movie network. Very funny and soo true that men would not sit through that! Everybody seems to be doing great on their weight loss!! I started taking some Pepcid AC for my heartburn and it is almost gone, so don't know if it was the fill or not. Have a good one!! Jane

I have an American Express card, but a few years ago they were offering a new kind and I thought I would get it. I applied and they sent me back a letter that stated "due to your deceased status we cannot issue you this card". First of all why were they sending a deceased person mail? Secondly what about the American Express card I currently had and used and paid? It turns out that it was a clerical error on my credit score check. I had two accounts at one bank and closed them both at the same time, and on one they put account closed at consumers request and the other account they accidently put down deceased. I did think it was very funny, but it did drive me CRAZY having to fix that. It took FOREVER and tons of letters from me. Jane

Tracy--Yeah on the jeans, I know you have been trying for awhile!!! Congrats!!! I think Terri is right about the insurance, they just hope that people throw up their hands and forget. Right now they are looking into the situation, so we will see what comes of this! Jane

As for fills I find it interesting how this all works. My Dr. is very good about giving me a fill. She never makes me wait. I have also found out over the past few months of INSURANCE HELL that since I was a self pay, the price included 2 years of monthly visits and fills. I paid the Dr. $4400, I found out last week that if insurance would have paid, it would have been around $2300 and just 6 weeks of follow up, but with insurance paying....It is just interesting how they can change it soo much between self pay and insurance. I am also having a very difficult time with the hospital over this, I gave them $10800 for my lap band, but had it in conjunction with a insurance paying, take more time, hurts more, blah blah blah hernia surgery. Now that there is money left over the hospital doesn't want to give me the extra!! They keep saying that I knew going into this the cost. That is true, I did, but if there is money left over, why does the hospital get to keep it? Can you tell I am aggravated? Well this was just supposed to be about our fills....Sorry Jane

???? I have a question, I got a small fill Thursday .5 cc's, last night I had what I would call reflux all night. I have only had it once in my life before, but last night and today can't seem to get rid of it. Is it from the fill or just one of those things? I def. feel more restriction, but not soo much as I am throwing up or pbing. I have also taken tums, and it helped, but it is still there, any thoughts??? Jane

I went to the Dr. today and gained one pound in August. I didn't like it, I really wanted to lose 12 pounds by her scale in the month of August to lose 100 pounds in a year. It was interesting what Terri said about goal setting. I am not real good with goal setting, but when I do I need to make it within my control and ability. I went to a class once and they talked about goals in general and said that people 85% of the time set goals that are not within your reach. Interesting..... The Dr. today said that it isn't a race and I am doing just fine, but it is still sort of frustrating....SO very long story short I got another fill of .5 cc's. I hope it works. I also like the card that Terri showed. Jane

Tracyk, Food can play such mind games with us!!!! It used to be my best friend, now that friend makes me sick alot, but I still miss it. Jane

Wow, I never thought I would do it, but it just happens when you are not looking!!! I started out with a BMI of 68 and am now officially under 50! I still have over half to lose, but for those of you with a large BMI you know how important that number is!!!! Don't ever think it is not going to happen!!!! Jane

TracyK, don't be nervous about your appointment on Saturday. Don't get it cut in too many layers though, it tends to make fine hair look thinner. I wouldn't get bangs, but have something cut around the face, and right above the shoulders, with light layering. This tends to be a very versatile cut. You can tuck behind ears if you want, wear it forward or back, you can even flip the bottom of the back up for a fancier look. You don't want it too long in back though, because then it would look like a bi-level or mullet. I have been doing this for 21 years and love it, the relationship you build with customers is special. It really is important to develop a rapport with your hairdresser because that way it is easier for us to do our job, knowing your lifestyle, and such. Jane

Today was weigh in day and even though I didn't make the 100 pounds in a year, I am under 50 for my bmi!!!!!!!! Yeah!!!!!! Jane