the best me

hehe, I think I'm waiting for a link?

You and me both, Amy. Don't change a thing on mine AGAIN this week, P'nut. Monday I was a new low...now it's back. I'll keep chuggin' along though. One of these days I'll hit 179. It's been harder for me to see 179 than it was to see 199! I'll get a pedicure and take a pic, that's how amazing 179 will be! Okay, here's what I ate yesterday....first off I drank my Water, 80 ounces. I opened a pack of Sweet and Spicy tuna, added about 3 tablespoons of Zesty Italian dressing, and ate 1/2 with a portion of Wheat Thins (15) then had the rest of the tuna and another portion on Wheat Thins that afternoon. I didn't eat the spaghetti I made for hubby and kids. It was my birthday and I was officially "off the hook" with Mommy duty last night so I went to Curves and did the weigh/measure thing (no change) then got a vanilla Latte at the coffee shop (yeah, I know, 500 calories easy there), got my MIL a cup of coffee and went to visit her at the nursing home. Took her clean clothes, picked up her dirty ones, went to Wal Mart, got home at 11:30 pm. Nothing else to eat. Oh, and I started the day with a yogurt (lowfat) and a small snack sized container of 2% cottage cheese. And my morning coffee w/ cream and sugar. Yes, there is room for improvement there. No veggies, too many Wheat Thins. Empty Latte calories. But it wasn't a totally horrible day! The good news is, it's fairly easy to maintain my weight loss in the midst of real life eating. I think I need to "go on a veggie diet" to see some progress. I'll admit, I haven't been pressing the issue much with my diet lately. You see the zeros all over my score card! I'm going to make up a menu: cottage cheese yogurt salad w/ protien (chicken or tuna) cashews meat and veggie dinner coffee water Think if I eat this every day I'll see progress? This is a very realistic everyday menu for me. Guess I just need some feedback...no I need some encouragement! Is the above menu THAT horrible that I won't lose weight? Arrrgghhh!

Okay, I like the olive oil but it doesn't replace my Metrogel. I need that stuff. But I still dab a tiny bit of olive oil on the outside corners of and under my eyes. I was staring at my skin and saw a glimpse of the 80yo me with the baggy wrinkly eye thing going on. Aging stinks. I'm amazed how much of it I have had to deal with since I turned 40. Some of it may be weight loss related, but I'm starting to show my age, for sure. I don't get carded at the liquor store. I don't look 20?!!! How'd that happen?!!! LOL

Vines, I have a friend who had a pituitary tumor and had it removed about 15 years ago. She's on meds now, (thyroid and something for prolactin?) but is doing fine. It's brain surgery. Sounds scary but it's done everyday and folks breeze on through. Okay, so it isn't as easy as band surgery, but you WILL be fine! You are on your way to healing. This isn't your first bump in the road but we are here for you!!!! I'm so glad a plan of action is ahead of you. ((((hugs))) and keep us posted. As for your Mom, your time and attention. Just love her and forgive her. That in itself is so healing for the heart, your and hers! I'm so sorry.

NewSho, my sister had a huge fibroid removed about 5 years ago. It was nested in with about 10 little brothers and sister (I have a picture, do you want to see it?) but the doc got it out with a C-section incision. The fibroids came back, she had a hysterectomy a few months ago and couldn't be happier. She has no children (1 step-son) and at 38, was fine with the hysterectomy. Her hormones have leveled out alot, and she is able to take off weight a little better now. Apparently, fibroids are estrogen-fed so your hormones are whacked out when you have them. Would you consider a hysterectomy? If you know you don't want children by a pregnancy, it might be a better option, especially if the fibroids return? Whatever you do, it will be a well-researched decision, I know! Hang in there. Let me know if you want me to ask my sister anything.

Calories spared...no cake for me! Yay! Not today anyway. I wasn't referring to the little family get-together (birthday party?) we had on Saturday. Was that cake I ate then?! YES!!! LOL Okay, I found the blouse at Kohls. It's an XL from the regular section, not the big girls. It was hanging in the wrong spot and fit, so there ya go! It's by Apartment 6? I like it too, thanks! Now, so I was off the hook with the kiddos all evening once hubby got home from work. I went to Curves to weigh and measure (no big changes) then went to Dilworth coffee shop and got a grande vanilla latte. Evil stuff. yummmmm, and I got my MIL a cup of joe, then went to visit her in the nursing home. Took her clean clothes, picked up her dirty clothes, then went to Wal Mart and got our new kitty cat a bed and food/water dishes. Boo adopted us last weekend and I kinda like the darn thing, even though she makes my eyes itch. She stays outdoors. I'm NOT doing litter boxes! Plus, my allergies can't take an indoor cat. No way. I'll feed her, love her, get her fixed, but she's not coming inside! LOL So I'm driving my sister's car because my van is getting a new transmission, new front axels and CV joints, new motor mounts (all 4) and there goes my savings account, plus I'm getting a new radio/CD player because the one in my van thinks a tape is in there, so the radio won't come on so I have NO music! So I'm driving my sister's car toodling around all evening jammin' the CD player really loud with no kids and it was WONDERFUL! I had fun, and that's my birthday! Shoulda worked in a pedicure in there. What's another $40 when I'm spending $2000 on repairs and a stereo for a van with 219,000 miles on it. Yes. Two Hundred Nineteen Thousand Miles. See what happens when you people ask me questions? Now I'm going to bed to get my REAL birthday present from hubby! Yeah baby!!! 'night!

I was banded in April last year and had biopsies on both breasts in July. Benign Fibroadenomas. Whew. It was scary, but I was more anxious to know for sure it was what they expected. It was. But can I just say "OUCH!!!!"? They give you those little ice packs for a reason. I was a good bit sore, and the ice packs were super helpful. I wore a soft cotton bra and tucked them down in there, wrapped on cloth-like paper, and ahhhh! Nothing about my band impacted the mammograms, the ultrasounds, the biopsies. They saw my surgery scars and knew I had been through some type of laporoscopic surgery but had no idea about my band till I told them (the doc and the nurses there in the room). No problem. I say just schedule it. Leave your band surgery date, give at least a week or two to recover, then do the biopsy. Or if you can get the biopsy in before banding, then it's only one less thing to worry about after your band surgery. My boobs were sore, for sure...oh...I just thought about how tender your port area will be. That might be uncomfortable, especially if the doc has to press around or lean on you to get into the biopsy area. Other than that, you really should be fine. Oh...I just thought, too about how I had to lay on the table kind of on my side and twisted with my arm over my head...that's a port soreness issue too. Heck, I'm talking out of my ear here. It really depends, but I see no reason to put off your biopsy for long at all. Unless you find a change in the lump, then don't wait. Let us know what gets scheduled! Don't put off your band surgery though. No way!!!

hehe Ya'll make me smile.

Way cool! Excellent work!!!!! Congrats!

Good Heavens! Take care of yourself, Terri. Glad to see you back and I'll keep your Mom and brother in my prayers, just keep us posted! (((hugs))) friend!

Caaaayooooot toes-ies!!!! Well done and Congratulations!!! Feels so good, don't it?! You know what's even better? You'll be shooting for "below 190" then "below 180" then "below 170"!!!! It gets better and better! Don't freak out if you see 200 again on a day or two...it's the normal up and down. You did it!!! It's gone for GOOD!!!! Yippeeee!!!

Yeah Baby! I guess YOU said it now! Good one!

*Snort* Vodka in the Aloe Vera juice. LMAO! Thanks everyone! It's been a great day so far! Yay! 41 is going to be a great year!!!

Yes, do you notice this runny nose after/during eating? I get one when I am full, or if I'm tight and something gets a bit stuck, or is hard to go down. It's similar to sliming, your body making extra saliva to help make what's stuck go past the band. But, yeah, having to blow my nose when stuck is part of that whole lubrication thing. Does this sound like that's it for you?

Good for you Julie, and I love your new avatar!

I'm anxious to hear back...I'll be praying Leener! (((hugs))) my little band sister!

We share a birthday! Happy birthday to you! I hope your day is wonderful!!!!!!!!!!

Dawn, it's a done deal. And more prayers to come! I check in on the prayer request thread fairly regularly, so I'll be praying more when I go there! ((((hugs))) and blessings and peace to you! Please keep us posted! Happy Band-day!

Maybe, do you have local after-care lined up? Do you have a US band doc who will see you in a pinch? Are you close enough to Ortiz to get to him quickly? By his reputation here, Ortiz will take good care of you, but you need to be able to get to him for whatever post-surgical needs you may have. You may be in a position, since your insurance covers banding (right?) to have your after-care be covered. ??? I'm sure more folks will chime in here, I'm just throwing all this out there. AFter-care is the big issue for being banded in MX. You gotta have local care! Good luck. I have no regrets!

Wow Julie. I'm sooo glad you posted this perspective and I'm wishing you all the best! I know you will make it through. LaMadam had a bowel obstruction, maybe you can PM her? I know she'd be happy to talk with you. Please keep us posted on your MRI. I would love to know how all this turns out. And you KNOW we want to see pics! Pics please! Oh yeah! Hang in there, lady. God bless!

Desertmom? I'm pretty sure she's in Dubai. She'll pop in here, or you can PM her? Desertmom! Where are you?!!!!!!!!!!! (welcome to LBT, globetrottermom!)

Awww, good morning! Happy Birthday to me! Yay!!! I'm 41 today. Wow. Here's what I have learned so far. Weight loss is a wonderful perspective-changer...you still have to CHOOSE to smile, but it sure is easier! I thought my parents were grown up when they were 41. Turns out they were faking it. I'm not sure how I have managed to live this long and avoid maturity. So I've concluded maturity isn't something you do, it's something you ARE, and the more you try, the less likely you are to BE mature or grown-up. So I quit trying and just Celebrate being me like noone else can! The best me! Thinking too deep this early is the morning causes incoherent rambling. I love you all here on LBT! Thanks for making my day wonderful! Jen, no plans. We had a family get-together here on Sat and I got brand new fancy-schmancy clippers so I can cut all the guy's hair in the family. Kind of like getting a vacuum cleaner for your birthday, but better, I really wanted new clippers! These are nice ones, too. Yippeeee! {{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}} all around!!! Okay, here's my birthday pic in case you NC girls haven't wandered off the NC Forum to the Picture pages. It's me and Rachel last weekend in Virginia. Weight 183 pounds. I'm getting there!

Hey, j.s., you askin' me?!!!!! This is the thread for folks who kill their plants! Snarf! Just kidding. I have no clue what to plant though. However, there is a Gardening thread in the Lounge...I'll see if I can bump it for you. Those folks are master gardeners and I KNOW they can recommend something beautiful. Good luck!!!

Gene, I'd suggest full liquids for a while till everything settles down. I agree that swelling is the problem, plus sitting down compacts everything, and until the swelling goes down and you drop some weight, you will need to be careful with your new band. In the Food Forum, there is a Sticky with the Food Stages. You need to check with your doc, but just because doc says clear liquids for 48 hours, doesn't mean you should jump to, say, tuna on day 3. Or day 6 for that matter. Listen to your body/band and slow it down. How you doin' since lunchtime?

Yeah, someone do a before/during/after montage of the various stages of my poor Jade. LMAO. Snarf!