the best me

Dang Diane. That IS a plane crash, and a car wreck...you will be on my prayer list as you head into this hurricane. Let's pray it's a mild one and does nothing but stir the tides toward a complete recovery (to follow your analogy!) Thank you for the update and for the opportunity to keep you in my prayers. Hang in there, and keep us posted as you can. ((((hugs))))

Funny, you should put "Soup Train Conductor" below your user name, in place of "registered user". That way it shows up, even when you don't show your sig! I know I said it on the GFG thread, but welcome to bandland!!! Soon, you should be able to puree the soup!

Slow down. Take a day off of the cardio. Go to bed an hour earlier for a few days. Eat a bowl of ice cream. Take a nap Saturday and Sunday. That's what I'd do.

good news, Angie! You'll do fine. You have done so well so far, and you know how to work it. It will be better with good restriction. Let us know what day it ends up being!

Hey, velaton, I'm going to look for an introduction from you! Have you posted one in the Intro Forum? Many folks would love to hear your story, and I'm sure Penni would as well, since she's facing this decision. Give us the scoop, and welcome to LBT!

I agree! (((hugs))) Penni. I know you will decide the right path in the right time for you. And you have all of us to cheer you on! Go Penni! Go Penni! Go, go...go, Penni! :clap2:

You are 33, have 6 kids, and want more?!!!! God bless you, lady! Good job! How much weight do you want to lose? Good luck with your insurance. It's hard. I ended up paying for it myself. It's been worth it, but wish I had the insurance benefits. Welcome to LBT!

Dang, what'd I miss? I get the gist of it. Here's me... :ranger: and.... waiting for the dust to settle. Is this the second time I've done this in July?!!! Take a chill my friends. Paul, once is really funny. I cracked up. More than once wasn't funny any more. My opinion, in case you care. I hope you don't go, just behave, or, or, hell, I don't know, but something Trekkie. Beam you up? Now, everyone go do something else for 15 minutes. The GFG club should be empty for a bit. Go, now, wash some dishes or load some laundry or fax something if you are at the office. Heck, if you are at the office, get to work! Signed, Big Momma :kiss2:

Carol Carol Carol. You are doing great! Your weight loss is wonderful! If you are tired, it may be a lack of protien. Tell us what you are eating these days. Also, you are banded last week July 7th, or June 7th, as in your first post? That makes a big difference. Give us a sample diet, we'll be able to advise better.

Mine was Mexican. yummmmm. guacamole, fresh salsa, something with a tortilla stuffed with gooey yum. I was in MX and I love mexican food. I don't regret it, but most MX food is very band friendly. So, I still enjoy what I had on my last meal! Just not so much of it! And I don't do flour tortillas anymore, too sticky! Anyhow, if I had been at home, I'd have done a big ole burger.

Hey, Ms Vicki. Do some resaerch into the grieving process. Get through the grief over food. The loss is it, or the loss of what it used to do for you that it can't really, now. Not in the same way, anyway. Once you understand what you might be going through, it's a bit easier to move forward. As for other people, just say "I'm working on it. I have to do this my way. I'm fine. Give me a minute" and let it go. Next time you wonder what they may be thinking, remember that down the road, they will start to see your results. You have the secret, you'll tell it as you go, you are in control of the story and the ending. It's their job to watch, if they are interested. You'll get there. Dont' worry about others. Take care of you and the funk will slowly fade. You'll wake up one day and think, "wow, I'm not in a funk anymore! how 'bout that!" Keep us posted!

Yes, those are (pardon the ax job on the spelling since I really don't even know how to say it!) spirolactometers or something! LOL They help you fill your lungs with air all the way to the bottom. It helps your circulation and healing and prevents pneumonia, etc. Lots of people get those after surgery. I didn't have one after banding, but at home I was sure to regularly take really deep breaths. You'll feel how sore your diaphragm is, but it's a "hurts so good" kind of feeling. Breathing deep is a great idea, whether or not it helps with the C02 in your abdomen, I have no clue? Anyone "Medical" want to jump in here?

Okay, I'm one of those pears who has lost face weight more than anything so far. I think my chin will escape the lipo canula...lol. Actually, my loss has shown all over...all of me is smaller! I'll need a tummy tuck, but I still have big hips and thighs. Such is the life of a pear. The grass is always greener. I'm fairly certain you are totally beautiful the way you are, and just wait till you start loosing! Have you seen the Before/After Picture Thread? It's pretty inspiring. Go look!

another suggestion...walk. walk walk walk. The shoulder blade pain sounds like gas pain...from the gas they put in your belly to blow you up for lap surgery. Give it some time, maybe chew some Gas-X, but walking it out is really the best remedy. Hang in there, it gets better! Make sure you sip small.

I just used regular white onions in mine. Although Vidalias are, for sure, wonderful. Sarah, you could use plain yellow onions, chopped. And, I used petite diced tomatoes instead of stewed this time. One can was already seasoned with green pepper and onion (italian? seasoned) maybe it had some basil in it? Anyhow, Hunts makes canned seasoned diced tomatoes. Pretty handy. And there's plenty of lean protiens on meat days in this diet. No, it isn't good for long term use, I agree, but all real foods are there in abundance...fruits, veggies, lean protiens. It ain't all bad. It's certainly better than the crap I'd eat otherwise. Yes, even banded.

OMGosh! I have lost 63% of my excess weight! High weight 242. Current 180.8. Goal wieght 145. How cool it THAT?!!!!!!! I'm putting THAT in my sig! Thanks ya'll!

Oh good heavens, Jack, that is so totally funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ROTFLMBO!!! flower, if you are PBing alot, you should get a small unfill. Or at least go to liquids for a few days, then soft foods. If you have any swelling, you could be in a vicious cycle of PBing, swelling, PBing again, mroe swelling. Not good. You don't really know what your restriction is like if you have any irritation and swelling at all. Slow down. And what Cindy said...

Rachel and I will be there! Yay! What neck of the woods is your G-parents? We were talking about it last night and I was thinking Harrisburg...Wavy? said Gastonia...anyhow. I'll bring chips and black bean and corn salsa and whatever else you need! Chicken sounds perfect to me. And Hot dogs! Perfect. I'm really looking forward to this!

Okay, still no chnge for me...but I have been leaving my stats at my low weight of 180.8. Looked on my calendar and that was 6 weeks ago? Up and down and up and down and now, this morning, back to 180.8. So, no change, but worth posting to me! Garsh...I'm ready to see 170 something. I'm so ready, and this has been so hard fought, I'll take a dadgum picture of my feet on the scale when I see it! It will be like getting into Onederland, but better, because I have really had to work! Logging my food is helpful. There, I said it. I hate to admit that. Dangit.

I'm in on a colon cleanse. I just know I'm bulked up in there unneccesarily. Boy, would I love to get rid of some gunk. That is just NASTY!!! I WANT IT OUT!!!! But I can't afford a colonic. It's got to be something I drink, and inexpensive...geez. How about Mineral Oil?! I'm SUPER interested in this thread, so ya'll keep posting, links and all!

Well, you did it. The first one is always a doozie. If it weren't for LBT, I'd have DIED the first time that happened! Thankfully, I knew what was going on. I hope you avoid it for a looong time! Careful with that fill. If you can eat 2 turkey tacos, it's not your fill level, it's the sushi. I have heard lots of folks haing trouble with sushi. I haven't tried it since banding, so I guess it's on my "not worth it" list of foods to avoid? I like it, but not THAT much! Congrats! LOL

You look GREAT! I love it. Post some more!!!! LOL

That's what I'M sayin'! Happy birthday Vera!!!!

You ROCK :hail:

dinner was fun! All the way home I kept thinking about our conversations and wanting to finish them! It was a nice dinner. Angie, your girls are the sweetest things. I enjoy them. I can't believe you changed pants in the parking lot! That's too funny. I don't know how much view I blocked but it worked, huh?! Dianne, you asked a question about pouch dilation and I said "I'm figuring it out, or, not sure, I don't really remember, but I'd like to hear the question again so I can answer. I'd like to know what I'd say...there's another thread about dilation on here and the whole restriction issue is a good topic for me. To fill, or not to fill? That is the question! Anyhow, fun night ladies! I wish all you other chumps could have come. Me and Rachel for the Pool Party. I'll bring some Black Bean/Corn/Feta cheese salsa and Tostitos, plus something else...chili for the hot dogs? Let me know!