the best me

Okay Ladies, my sister weighs 220+ and uses one. She bought it used but in excellent condition a few weeks ago. I'll ask her for the official low-down and how it's working for her. I know she does the treadmill for a few miles a day as well, so I'll find out if she thinks it's a good buy. I got on it for just a sec last week and it felt good to stretch out on it, but I didn't actually get into the ab crunch grrove with it. I'll check back with you...

I get serious but harmless little crushes too! We are both psycho! And Jack is on my list as well. For the same reasons! LOL I know just what you mean!!!

Okay, I'm not so much of a cat lover, and I don't know alot, but a cat has appeared to have adopted me. Truth be known, I kinda like her. OMGosh!!!! She's a stray and showed up one day. Now I have her a cute warmie bed and new food and water dishes. I know, I know, I'm a sucker!! So, what if this young diva is pregnant? How do I know? She doesn't have any milk yet, but she's gaining weight and getting a belly. Okay, I'm feeding her and she's not living on lizards and bugs anymore! So what's up with pregnant cats, all you cat freaks out there? How can I tell? Here's the beauty queen...

Yep, I plan a trip to the vet. She's sticking around and I will most definately get her fixed. My sister lifted her tail and diagnosed her "female" but has never had an unfixed cat, so, no kittens. My sister doesn't know about whether or not she's preggo. She's small and obviously young (can't really tell by the pic, I guess) and I figure she was dropped off around here somewhere (we live out in the boonies and it seems to be a popular dump spot for cats...shame!) and she was pretty slender before we started feeding her. She might just be getting fat and will take a growth spurt. But IF whoever had her before knows she went in heat and got "knocked up", they might have gone ahead and dumped her to avoid the kittens to come. sigh. She is strictly outdoors, I'm allergic and have to wash my hands after petting her or my eyes will itch and get red, ouch! She will let us pick her up and rub her and scratch her and she just purrs. She got domesticated pretty darn quick! I haven't seen her poop, she goes out in the woods. She eats 1 small can of wet and about 8 ounces of dry food a day. That seems to fill her. She drinks 8 ounces of Water a day from the bowl. Who knows what else she's eating/drinking when she wanders. We have woods and streams nearby. And neighbors. ??? So, yeah, the trip to the vet is on the list, but I don't want to fix her if she's pregnant, we'll adopt out any kittens when they are weaned. Keep her if she wants to stay. I know she needs vaccines and a test for feline leukemia and worms, etc. I need to save up for another few weeks so get her up to date. I guess I was just wondering how soon Mommy cats lactate and get milk when they are pregnant. Can I assume she's NOT if she doesn't have milk in her little boobies? Or does that happen later in the pregnancy? Also, does anyone know how long the gestation period is for cats? I'll call the vet Monday, I just wanted some info this weekend if anyone knows, plus the chance to post her pic! Her eyes are light blue and she has that teardrop marking on her nose...so cute!!!! She gives me a soft heart. Whoda thunk it? LOL

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=7959 check out this thread for a handy dandy guide to LBT terminology. Hope that helps!

Plus, it's my hubby's birthday. That's a GREAT day to be banded, ha ha. Here's to the both of you on your special band days!!! Yippeeee!

Happy Band Day! Yay you! Let us know how it went, kay? Yipppeeee!!

I was back up to 187 yesterday, back down to 183 this morning. Is it the full moon? I gurgling and rumbling and bloated and took some MOM a few nights ago, but I still feel like I need a good ole colon cleanse or something. Ugh. Maybe a 1/2 phentermine is on my menu today? Oh! And I have also had trouble with chicken for the past 2 days. Seems dinner time is tight time for me? I dunno. I DO know I didn't chew well both times chicken was a problem. But it's still odd. I'm feeling out of sorts. Full moon, I tell you!!!! Hooooooowwwwll!!

I'm not as tight as I could be, and I don't plan on a fill at this point. I will, maybe once or twice a month, pop a Phentermine just to boost my metabolism and get "unstuck" from a plateau. I'll have to look back at my weight chart and see if this is really helping. Seems like it was a few months ago and I was struggling to stay under 190, now I'm struggling to get below 190. I know...sloooooow. Maybe slower than I like. Maybe I do need a fill? La Madam is right, appetite isn't much of an issue when properly restricted. I'm looking for the metabolism boost more than anything. I DON'T take it everyday. But it sure does help, even banded.

I'll drive thru Starbucks for a Grande Mocha Frap in your honor!!! Happy B'day! Angie, if I could buy your lunch I would...but I WILL chip in for your tip! Really! If that helps...

Me memememememe!!!! I'm there!

It's YOUR turn! Happy Birthday Jen! I hope you day is fantabulous!

Nah, she just needs to eat. That's my take, but this online and I can't say for sure. How ya doin' MelAnne? This thread is hoppin' tonight! Drink a milkshake and check in...(((hugs)))

I'm laughing because everyone has different calorie recommendations and mine is the most...snarf!

I liked Leatha's advice. But, MelAnne, you are of a midset right now that Leatha's advice won't work of you, I don't think. Heck, maybe noone's advice will work, and you just want to moan and groan and be pitiful. I say, go for it! Screw advice, be pitiful! (said with love and understanding, not smart-assed, okay?) Listen, I was so tight post-surgery, I could barely sip. I didn't get my first fill till 3 months out. All I wanted to do was feel normal again. So I waited, I practiced eating properly, chewing, etc. and I made myself get to where I felt normal again. And it was great. I ate whatever, just a heck of alot less of it. And now I'm a slow loser. I don't care. I'm sane. I get bursts of will-power and get myself into "diet mentality" and make a go of it, but when it gets old? I maintain my weight loss. What I KNOW is that there is no way I could have lost what I have without my band, and ther is no way I could maintain this loss without my band, and if I want to lose more, I need to get off my hiney and follow Leatha's advice. I'll do it in my time. Hang on. Get you some food in you. Splurge. You need to increase your calories by a few hundred a day and I know it will help you mentally, too. Put the scale away for a bit and concentrate what you KNOW is right to eat to fuel your body, not to lose. For most folks, that's 1200-1400 calories a day or so. Go to www.room42.com and find out your range of calories/fat/carbs/protiens if you don't know already. EAT!!!!! You'll feel better.

Heh. Snort Really?! So I went back a few pages and looked...You go girl! OMGosh you are gonna feel so much better after your surgery! My daughter saw your pics and I told her you were going to have an operation to take away some of your tummy fat, and then you were going to get a band like Mommy has and she said "will she be skinny like you then?" OMG!!!!!!!!!!!! She thinks I'm skinny! So I told her "she's gonna be even skinnier than Mommy! Isn't that neat?" "yeah" and out the office door she went. Guess I need to explain that skinny isn't good. NOT FAT is what's good and healthy. Anyway. Great pics. I'll get in on the bet for sure!!!!

Ugh. I'm so jealous! Wow, I wanna see 179 with you maryb! Well done!

Dawg...tell US what C-reactive protien is and does!!!!!!!!!! Come back! Somebody go get him!!!!

I have an idea! Vanilla CIB, milk, coffee! Perfect! I just whizzed up a latte in the Magic Bullet. Yummy. But I ended up with an entire pitcher because I don't have the portions right yet. Plus I added chocolate syrup which is a no-no. But I sweetened with Splenda (4 packets for the whole pitcher) and it's good! This will do. I'm on to a decent coffee replacement. I just need to work the extra calories into my diet so I don't overload on dairy. Maybe now I can drink 1 cup of hot coffee in the mornings and not sip on it allllllll day. Dang ladies, you all are dropping poundage left and right! Here I can't even get a latte right. WTG!!!

Point taken Mo. Everytime I think of adding cheese to something, I say to myself "pointless useless fat" and avoid it. But not the cottage cheese, I guess, huh?! LOL I can pretty well live without cheddar and american. Once I measured just how many ounces the chicken breast on my plate weighed. Just so I'd know how many ounces what I wanted was...(isn't it supposed to be the other way around? Weigh first and THEN want that much? heh, not me) Well, it was 3 ounces. That's a perfect bandster portion! I was very happy. So, since I can't do the counter at Starbucks "working from home" I'm going to TRY making my own. coffee, 1% milk, splenda and ice in the Magic Bullet. Oh, how do I get the vanilla flavor? Syrup? OMG this is getting waaay too complicated. sigh.

Diva, God isn't bothered by the little stuff. He knows every corner of your heart, and loves you deeply, and cares for you. Honor Him by handing over what He wants, all of your cares! He can handle it. He's pretty big that way. I'll be praying. (((hugs))))

What a hoot. My 3yo loved it! And it took forEVER to buffer, or whatever it's doing. Darn Dail-up. But it was a cute story. Thanks!!!

Tricia, how do you make your iced lattes? I love your menu, 'cept for the olives...ewwww. Thanks for the glimpse into your success!!! Okay okay okay, I'll try my coffee with splenda. TRY! No promises. But if I can switch from plain coffee w/ cream and sugar to Ticia's iced lattes with Splenda, I might be making headway....

Okay, I'm reading and listening...the dressing (in the tuna) is just Italian dressing. I like the "don't eat more fruit than veggies" rule to keep that balanced out. I like a 1/2 banana w/ a bit of Peanut Butter for a snack, but I shouldn't do that without making sure I get my veggies in. There were NO veggies in my diet yesterday. NONE! Bad, bad, Kathy! Veggies for dinner are usually broccoli, small salads, squash, onions, cauliflower, peppers, carrots (not many), snow peas, green Beans, those are the staples anyway. I do like pinto beans but not more than twice a week, if that. I KNOW what to do. I KNOW what to eat and what NOT to eat. The days run together and I'm getting by. I'm planless, but I don't really want a plan, I want a life. food should just fin in. I hate it when food takes over and my life fits in to my food plan. You know? This is why I'm a slow loser, because I'm not good at temporary gumption and will-power. I don't like keeping a frenzied and frantic and driven and gung-ho pace. I just live and do and be. I need to do a better job of merging my life with better choices that get me down on the scale. I'll do it. I will! Gimme a sec! LOL Thanks Amy and NB...I'll check back in for more verbal processing!!!! haha

I choked on my best friend's boyfriend because the voices told me to. Oh my. LOL