Marie3181

Exactly!!

I could not agree with both of you more! Our problem is infinitely more serious than the general populus thinks - unlike an addiction to cigarettes or alcohol, which you can avoid completely after you've gone through recovery, we will never be able to avoid food completely. An addiction to food may just be the most difficult kind to overcome, because not only do you have to learn not to depend on the food, you have to learn to have a comfortable relationship with it, instead of, say, learning to say 'no' to that proffered drink. We need to raise awareness! Maybe there should be a walk for MO, like there is for breast cancer or March of Dimes. Excercise and fundraiser at the same time!

I don't know anything about the esophagus issue...but I can help you with the signature! Click on 'user cp' at the top of the page, then click on 'edit profile'. Scroll down and you'll see the box where you can change your signature. Hope that helps!

Cool, I think I'll give it a try - thanks for the updates!!

Alex - I was just wondering how the PC version of Fitday was working out for you. Is it better than the online version?

You look amazing! Truly beautiful =) Congratulations on all your hard work and success!

Sometimes it'll take a few days for restriction to make itself known...after my last fill I didn't notice any difference at first and then a few days later it was like, bam! restriction!

I bought some of the One Source children's chewables this weekend and I think they taste pretty good too!

I could be totally off, but after my surgery I remember comparing the chewable flintstones (well, actually, the Target version =) to say, my big GNC horse pills, and I didn't find very many differences. The only thing I would worry about with taking more is getting too much iron. I don't know if it's a problem for adults, but I know it's not good for kids to take more than the reccommended amount of vitamins for that reason.

Lol, actually, I was just in Vegas for my best friend's wedding a few weeks ago. If I had vacation days at my new job yet, I'd be there! Too bad I'm poor and still in my "evaluation period" =p

No fair! I feel like Miss GoodyTwoShoes over here! =)

Wow, I think 30lbs in 3 months is awesome! Geez, I've only lost 20lbs and it's been like 6 months. Slow but sure... I can't believe he took out her whole fill and is lording it over her until she can lose weight on her own. Call me crazy, but if we could lose weight without the help of the band...we wouldn't need it in the first place. That just seems so wrong to me, ya know?

Damnitt! I'm "normal"! I thought I was more naughty than that!

Congratulations!!! Not to sound like your mom or anything...I just wanted to warn you to be super-careful about the exercise. Of course all surgeons are different, but mine told me not to even think about exercising for at least 4 weeks. I'm just amazed that you're feeling up to it already, way to go! At first I didn't want to tell many people because I didn't want the added pressure of people asking me how much I'd lost, or wondering why I hadn't lost more. I guess it's all about whatever works for you. Now I'm pretty comfortable telling whoever about it, particularly if I'm out to dinner, because I feel the need to explain my tiny portion sizes. But for the first few months I really only told immediate family and close friends. Good luck with the liquids! It's such a drag, isn't it? I know you'll make it through and it'll all be worth it!

I just had to whine to somebody about my weekend and figured this was as good a place as any. My boyfriend of 3 years is working at a Lutheran camp in northern Michigan this summer (he's 21, I'm 23). I planned a big party for the 3rd because he'd be home for the weekend and that way he could see everybody. So Friday night (the 2nd), I talked to him while he was driving home and he said he had "some things he needed to talk to me about in person." Sure enough, when he got home, he told me we were "on different spiritual paths" and broke up with me. What?! Apparently I didn't even get a say in the matter. Forget the house we rent together, the dog we bought together, the fact that I make sure his bills are paid and pick up after him. I always assumed we would get married someday. We had, in fact, talked about it. I'm just in total shock. The worst part? I'm suffering from some hellacious bronchial infection and I had to spend Saturday putting on a happy face to the house full of people there to celebrate with us. He was supposed to take care of me this weekend, damnitt! Now I'm hacking up a lung and I'm all alone. I know I'm only 23 years old, but I'm terrified about the prospect of having to start from scratch and date again. Anybody have any tips on how to meet people? Not only potential boyfriends but just friends in general? I'm freaking out here, help!

You are all so wonderful! I can't thank you enough. I am thankful that I found out how he really felt before we got married. I know I'll feel better with some time and space. Maybe tonight I'll find the blanket I started crocheting forever ago and work on that!

Thanks, everybody for the words of encouragement! Alexandra - that's exactly the kind of story I needed to hear! I'm so glad your bad experiences led you to the right man =) Maybe someday I'll find a man to share responsibilities with instead of having to shoulder everything myself.

Thank you so much, I knew I could count on the awesome people here for support! I'm starting a "puppy socialization" class with my puppy dog next week, so I'm hoping to meet some nice people with nice doggies there. It's just so hard to wrap my brain around the fact that the next time I see Andy, I won't be his girlfriend... On the up side, I'm down to 240lbs (ok, so I think that last 5 lbs was due to being so sick I lost my appetite, but I'll take it where I can get it!). I finally feel like I'm at a good restriction and I've been trying my best to take a 20 minute walk with the dog every day. Maybe my "revenge" against Andy will be to finally get healthy instead of all the struggling I did with my weight while I was with him.

My mom gets these things on her underarms, it almost looks like acne, but it's not. They're like really painful red bumps. Her doctor wasn't really sure what they were - I wonder if it could it be the same thing you guys had?

Thanks!

I've never heard this before, have many other people heard it from their doctors? Once in a while I PB if I'm not following the rules (usually because I'm in a hurry and don't take my time eating), but I don't go on liquids for 24 hours afterwards. Should I be doing that?