Suzzzie.

I talked to the NP about that yesterday. I"ve always been a 'quantity' eater. That all has to change now. I feel a little sad about it. Why am I already missing large portions - almost like I'd miss a friend?? It's kinda scary that I ever allowed myself to become so emotionally dependant on food.

Farmer - I just saw your post. Maybe if we're both still pathetically single we could room together,. Haha!

Yeah, I also stick mainly to the June threads. Such snobs we are! Haha. OK, I (financially) will not be able to go until at least April/May/June of next year. I have gone there 2 years in a rown now, both times in May. Its hot, but its a dry heat - which means in the shade its not bad... unlike the mid-west where its about as hot in the shade as it is in the sun. Dang humidity gets me. Anyway. So I've stayed at the Riviera and Sahara. I like both pretty weel. THey are very reasonably priced, but at the far end of the strip. I think mid-strip would be better, but I don't care as long as its not too awfully expensive. ANd if anyone out there doesn't have a significant other to stay with, I could room with someone. I'n fairly neat and tidy when I travel and I don't snore. Haha

Oh, I'd also only lost 2 pounds since post op appit 4 weeks ago. Darn that regular food!!

Just got home from my first fill. The NP did it under flouroscopy. So cool. Found out I have a 10cc band, she put in 4cc. I can drink water fine, but it feels funny. Like it kinda 'pauses' in my throat. Feels like it pauses higher up that I'd imagine for where the band should be. Anyone else feel this way?? Also - I'm clear liquids only now for 24 hours - and I;m starving. Was anyone else hungry right after their fill???

Marga - you make me laugh so much! I'm not sure on the PB thing. Haven't done that one yet... but I haven't gotten my first fill yet. I have slimed several times though - from not chewing well enough. Faith, I said earlier that I drink about 6oz with meals now. ANd it is in small sips (vs. the giant gulps I used to take) and it will last me all meal.

OK, It's hard to explain to those of you who drink very little water. I have ALWAYS been a huge water drinker. If I go out to dinner (pre-band) I would drink 3-5 glasses of water. Now I drink about 1/2 glass. My NP says that is great that I have cut back that much, but does still push me to avoid drinking. I'm always thirsty. I was tested for diabetes insipidus a long time ago, Lol. I'm normal, just thirsty. My first fill is tomorrow, so I'll talk to the NP again... maybe she has more suggestions. But ice water is one of my weaknesses. (My granny used to be afraid I would get water toxicity cause I drink so much. Nope, I'm FINE!) I have a friend (naturally beautifully thin, but very supportive) and we were discussing her birthday which is tomorrow. We wanted to go to dinner at one of her favorite places, but since I'm getting my first fill tomorrow we went yesterday. Anyway, She has a coupon for a free ice cream from Cold Stone Creamery, but didn't want to use it tomorror cause I'd be with her (we're going to see a movie with other friends) I told her to GO! Lol. I would get a smoothie or water (haha. there I go with water again!) but seriously, I would be fine with going there with her. She gets all 'policey' on me and it makes me mad. She is in medical school and likes to tell me what I can and can't do/eat now that I'm banded. Its irritating. Even though our friends and families mean well, its still frustrating to hear it constantly. I'm going to try that next week (when I get paid again.) A friend of mine said it works wonders!!

TWO HOURS!?!?! I would die. Honestly. I absolutely cannot even make it through a meal without sipping about 6-8 oz water. I feel like I'm going to fall over dead from not being able to drink. Quite seriously, I would much rather never eat again if I cannot drink with meals. ... Of course my doc says no no no drinking for 15 mins before, and 30 after... I talked to the NP and told her its impossible. I cannot do it. (even thinking about it now I think I need a gallon of water! Haha!)

I don't do the protein bars, but I HAVE to start my morning with a FiberOne bar!!Its the only thing that help the bathroom issue. Haha. I know I over-share. Seriously though, ever since surgery my bowels haven't been the same. I go from one extreme to the other, and trust me, I get PLENTY of water. I'm a friggin camel!

Lol. I will miss the buffets in Vegas - but I knew I was only 2 weeks from surgey my last trip there, so I ate enough then to get me through the next several visits. Haha. Also, Slot-A-Fun has this HUGE hotdog that I like. Lol. Oh yes, fat people always know where to go for food quantity!!

MEETING - I'm all for meeting in Vegas. Who wants to be the 'leader' and make all the plans? Haha. The hotels will give discounted rates to big groups. I've been there twice and I've stayed at the far end of the strip both times (RIviera and Sahara, the cheap end, aaha.) I'd like to stay more in the middle next time I go. About HAIR LOSS - I think I would CRY if I started to lose more than I've always shed. I used to joke that I would be bald by 25 (I'm 30 now) cause I've always shed so much, but my hair is so thick and never seems to get thinner. Lucky me. I am very careful with my protein and vitamins. I also know that thinner hair will look fuller if its cut shorter. My mom has always had thin hair and she keeps it short, looks beautiful, but if she lets it grow at all it looks scraggly and blah. SLEEPING PATTERNS - I slept for about 3 days after surgery (all day, all night) but I did start to notice that I was waking up earlier after that. By the time I went back to work I would get up the first time my alarm went off. I think I've only hit snooze once since surgery - and I used to hit snooze about 3-4 times!! There are also days when I go to bed at 8pm!!

I think it would be great to meet up with all of our wonderful June group. What are some of ya'lls thoughts?

OK, I won't stab you. Haha. Ya know, drinking doesn't satisfy me AT ALL, EVER! Unless it is something of substance... like a smoothie. But I swear I can drink gallons of water, crystal light, etc... and not feel 'full' from it! I'll feel bloated and water logged, but I am still 'hungry' for food. I'm an eater, it's what I do. - Can't WAIT to get my fill on FRIDAY!!

I had a diet coke at a baby shower a week ago. I think I drank half of it beore I even thought about it! I was fine though. Belching was pretty normal... I will say though that I was majorly addicted to diet coke before surgery, and I hadn't had one in 3 weeks... and this one tasted funny. It was the funny taste that got me thinking about it and realised that I wasn't supposed to drink it!!

Haha. Well, I try to inspire - mostly cause it keeps ME going. It's purely selfish, I assure you. I try to get my aunt to go to the gym with me so much this past winter that she quit answering her phone! She said I was too pushy and made her dread the gym!!! I was so crushed! ANYWAY. OK, so walk now... warm up for the August Challenge. (I'll probably still be working on my JULY challenge! I'm only at 195 of 900 minutes! I think I was overly ambitious!)

TONI!! Why wait until AUGUST to start exercising! Go today! Start today! There is still 18 days left in July!!!! Come on, you know you want to!:eyebrows:

Hey Beckie! Good to hear from you. I was just thinking about you last night. Still fighting that infection, huh> Icky! I know my port site is still swollen and hard, and bruised. It is (slowly) getting better, so I hope it doesn't interfere with my fill next Friday!

Took a nap... and when i woke up I had my TV on the travel channel and there was this thing on about BBQ!! They were comparing BBQ from TX, Kansas City, Memphis, and North Carolina...now, I live in KC, so you know where MY vote is!! Haha. One of my fave BBQ places here is called Oklahoma Joes (I think Joe is from Oklahoma...because they only have KC locations.) ANYWAY, its REALLY good, the sauce (cause in KC its all about sauce!) is good, I like the one they have called "Night of the living BBQ" Its a hot sauce. And FOOD COMMERCIALS are BAD! I saw a commercial for Heinz 57 Ketsup and then my mouth was watering for burgers and fries. Haha. - - SO ANYWAY, I now have a HUGE craving for BBQ... And I've been wanting mexican for a few days... Anyone else having specific food cravings??

lo2us - WOW! I know it must've been painful, but I can only hope for that kind of restriction when I get my fill next week!! Dan - You are the man! Haha. But I can't eat fish. It's nasty. Actually, I hate most seafood. I can handle grilled shrip - occationally, and I can eat tuna, if I'm in the 'mood' for it, and even then I'm picky and can't eat much of it. I'm more of a chicken girl. I'm just hoping that once I get my fill that the scale will start moving DOWN again. I'm up about 3 pounds since I started regular foods. (still down total of about 20 pounds though.) Just got home from the gym again. Made the mistake of starting on the tred-climber tonight. 10 minutes and I was pooped. I did manage to do 10 minutes elliptical though, and then did 35-40 reps on 5 different ab and leg weight machines. And I can't seem to drink enough water today - as in I've been thirsty ALL day. I feel bloated and water logged. Any advice?

You should get a minimum 1000 cals a day! anything less than that and your body goes in starvation mode and stores all the calories it can. I read somewhere that calorie intake should be 1000-1200 for women, and 1200-1500 for men.

I hear ya! WHen I was a teenager I used to pray to God every night to let me wake up thin and I would eat better for the rest of my life. Haha. I just wanted a new start so bad. I remember I weighed myself one day when I was about 12 years old and I weighed 211 at that time. I don't think I weighed again until I was 17, and I was 309 then. I'm seriously surprised that I never reached 400 or beyond. I know that if I hadn't spent the last 5 years of my life on weight watchers and low carb diets that I would be like 500 pounds. So scary. Anyway... I totally get the hurry up thing. This is what I tell my sick patients at the hospital: Hurry up and wait.

I've done 160 minutes. Yay! I know that having this challenge, and also my lil exercise ticker has helped me get to the gym! I love seeing my ticker move move move!

Oh I'm so so so jealous! Hmmm... I'm getting rid of the queen bed in the spare room... MAYBE I could get an elliptical machine or something in there? I'd have to find the money to buy it though. Darn. Well, ENJOY!! As for me - It's 9:25pm, so you know what that means!! I'm off to the gym! Weeee. (note sarcasm)

I pulled mine out from one incision, but the other one the stitch is down really close to the skin. I can feel it, just can't get the tweezers to it! Grrr!

I'm totally back to eating TOOOOO much. Went out for Mexican tonight. Chips and Salsa? No problem. Haha. Everything goes down fine. I will say that I brought home about 1/3 of my dinner - which never happened from there before. And I'm stuffed. So I guess my band is helping me a little bit. I get my first fill in a little over a week... I can't wait! And as for me 'procrastinating' before going to the gym at night: Its just the ONLY way I can do it! I can't go right after work cause I lift, tug, push, pull, roll, etc... on human beings all day. I walk all day at work and I'm just generally too tired to even think about going right after work. I just wanna come home and kick off my shoes and cuddle with my fat cat. One I've had a chance to relax a bit I will get up and throw on my work out clothes and go to the gym. Its only about 3 miles from me, and I prefer it at night when no one else is there. I'm still very uncomfortable with the idea of being in a crowded gym and having people see my fat giggle around.