Infaith

Hey Crystal, I vote for the first one. I understand your feeling on pix of ourselves. Pix of me just make me cringe. We love you! {{{Hug}}}

Hey Jonathan. Starting weight 245...shooting for 10 so 235. Will post pic later, k?

I had this too big time. I tried a bit of liquid yogurt and it cleared right up. I was about a day or 1 1/2 days early starting full liquids. Always good to check with your own doc.

When my great-nephew Gabe was just learning to talk, his uncle Jason showed him his tattoos and tried to get him to say "tattoo". Unfortunately....Gabe took it as Jason's name and called him Uncle Tattoo from then on!

I don't remember anybody telling me not to chew gum, but by personal experience....the minty stuff (my favs) kind of opens me up for more reflux so I tend to not have it or to chew it for a very short time before spitting it OUT!

Are we suppose to be putting our goal for the 10 weeks too?

Alexra-I've had this happen to me a few times too. People (and some of them very close or family) that I think should notice (haven't seen me in awhile) don't even acknowledge that I might look nice let alone that I've dropped over 50 pounds! My mom told me that some people don't know what to say and are afraid to say the wrong thing regarding weight loss. Also, some people (like my sons), she told me always found me beautiful so to them I'm still the same....beautiful. Hope this helps. You've done a fantastic job. The compliments will hit when you least expect them! Take care.

WHOOWHEE! Awesome NSV Kimberly!

OMG Jonathan....you what????? Regarding the bathing suit issue....I thought, hmmmm....I'll go try mine on (just considering), BUT it's too big! I mean, around the waist and belly, there are folds of the suit fabric and let's not get started about the bustline! I'm not buying another for this as I probably won't do a bunch of swimming this summer, but next summer.....watch out!

Now Penni....if you wish to wear a bathing suit for your pic....GO FOR IT GIRL! More power to you!

So Jonathan....Monday it is! We post our Monday weigh in and maybe our starting pic here, right? Thanks a bunch for doing this. It's going to be GREAT!

I agree with Paula (that is about Penni losing her mind!) I don't mind before pics...and I would even do it in shorts, but not a bathing suit!

What a fun thread! I love seeing everybody's pics. I promise I'll fire up the scanner tomorrow and post some of my own.

I like the plastic baggie idea...I'll have to store some in my truck. It hit me the other day on my way to work and I grabbed an empty Sobe bottle and aimed as well as can be expected when it hits that fast. All I can say is yuck.

Zoe, I've read this before and just love when I get the chance to read it again. Thanks! Wish more men would actually realize that women get better when they get older!

I'm not doubting you...it just sounds so weird! My sister and I both have bands (she's an airline stewardess!) and we didn't have problems coming back from Mexico.

Count me in as an Ortiz fan. Both my sister and I have been banded by him and Dr. Martinez and are very happy with the results...PLUS his stitching is the greatest. I get compliments on my teeny-tiny scars from docs!

I usually have no problems with popcorn. When I asked my naturopatic Physician why...she says she has no idea, but says a lot of her band patients (she does fills) are like me and have no prob with it. I'm just so glad it's something I can really get to crunching. Bread is a problem most of the time for me and I rarely try it. Sometimes I'll eat the crispy part of a biscuit or something like that.

Lisa....old you ain't sweetie! You look great!

Kathy, I had to have a needle biopsy for a couple lumps in my right breast (ended up having a lumpetomy for the last one...too deep) about 5 years ago. Sounds about right with the ice and sports bra. It was a bit unnerving at the time, but I was also extremely emotional as I was going thru a divorce, my older son needed to have his tonsils out (had to rush him to ER twice they were so swollen) and I forget what else was going on at that time. Just remember it put your mind at ease once you get the good results back and THEY WILL BE GOOD RESULTS!

WTG Crystal! Keep up the great work girl! I was so happy to find out the size 18 pair of shorts I bought fit with room to spare! My mom complimented me on them saying they looked really good. Made my day.

Good luck Michelle. Hope it's a very positive trip!

Like Crystal....there have been times when the scale has not budged (or even got up a few) and I got discouraged. Usually if I stay off the scales for awhile, then when I get back on there I get a nice surprise. I do sometimes get a bit discouraged especially if I get emotional and can't eat like prebanded to drown my sorrows, but then I am SO THANKFUL for my band to get me through times like that. I could never have lost 50 pounds in 6 month and keep it off without the help of my little band.

Kristen-I think every bandster has felt this way. For myself, I try to make decisions of what I REALLY want to taste and have that (even if it may not be the absolute best thing for me). Yes, sometimes we will still eat too much but in contrast to what we normally would have eaten pre-banded....it's a huge difference. Like Kathy said, instead of the 2 pieces of pizza, she would have eaten 4 or more plus dessert plus who knows whatelse. That would have been me. I would never have stopped eating. As for going out to dinner....I am usually with my mom and she is a very small eater so we usually find something totally divine and split it. And there is nothing wrong with taking the leftovers home to enjoy later. I find I taste and really enjoy food more than I ever did before. It was never in my mouth long enough before to really taste it. Positives-my grocery bill is SO much less that I will buy stuff I usually would not have before because I'm going for quality and not quantity. And that is what this is all about...quality of LIFE. You'll never regret taking care of yourself Kristen. Best wishes.

Karen-So sorry you're having problems. I'm having to start really watching mine too as I don't want it to get as bad as before when I had to have a bit of an unfill. I'm starting back on my aloe vera juice to take care of my throat! You take care lady.