the best me

Next comes my third plug for the night for Aloe Vera juice. Soothing and healing stuff.

Egg Drop Soup - 4 Cups, 160 calories total 2 - 14oz cans low sodium chicken broth 1 - tablespoon rice vinegar 2 - teaspoons soy sauce 4 - egg whites 1 - tablespoon *optional* flour for thickener (or even better buy soup thickener) 1 - tablespoon *optional* ginger I also add a few green onion chunks for flavor, but remove them after cooking since I can't have solids right now. Bring all ingredients on the stove to boil except eggs - once boiling drizzle in egg whites. From MuffinBirdie

There's one on here...I'll go looking...Back in a sec. Oh, and I replied to you on that other thread...check the New Posts list...I just posted.

JellyBean, try sipping (and I do mean sipping the smallest amount humanly possible) something warm. Even just warm water. For me, just that little added bit of moisture helps slip things along. Hands over head...stretch out the diaphragm. Sip a tad bit more. You might feel it pass...or just feel the discomfort stop. Success! Good luck...keep us posted.

Ouch! I'm so thankful my port isn't very deep, and my fill doc likes the lidocaine! You are a trooper! Grats of your first fill! Yay! EASE into your foods and be careful. Your weight loss is GREAT!!!!! Go get 'em Wheetsin!

Aloe Vera is the fruit of the earth! It's soothing and healing from top to bottom. I usually drink 2-3 ounces every night before bed. I especially don't miss it if I have had a Stuck or PB that day, or feel the least bit of irritation in my espohogus. I buy it by the gallon at Wal-mart in the tummy meds section (tums, etc) on the bottom shelf. It's about 8 bucks. Last a good long time. Tastes...well...okay. I don't gag on it but I told Dody on another thread, it ain't no glass of white wine. However, it's so beneficial I'd sip it instead of wine in a heartbeat. I just think it should be a bandster staple. You could drink 2-3 ounces 3 times a day for a week or two and it would help alot, I'll bet. Wal-mart is 24 hours! Go! LOL

Hey Dody, I just pick it up at the local Chinese Take-out up the street. I'll buy 2 Larges and drink 1/2 at a time. 4 yummy meals/snacks for post-fill (these days) but it was a God-send post-op! It's cheap too. You can make it, but it's easier to get it at take-out. Aloe Vera juice can be found at Wal-Mart and Walgreens. I'm sure Eckerds/CVS/any drup store has it too. I find it in the tummy meds section...Tums, etc. It comes in a gallon container and I just drink 2-3 ounces every night. Paula told me it's not how much you drink at a time, it's how regularly you drink it. Refrigerate when opened. It ain't a glass of white wine, but it goes down well when cold. Tastes a little funny but I have no prob drinking it. Great stuff!

I voted! Handsome feller ya got there! Good luck! Oh, and about your band...just what about this can't you do? Some folks find that avoiding the "diet" mentality and shooting for smaller portions is the way to go. I find that embracing the "diet" mode of living is most helpful, so, yeah, I always feel like I'm still searching. Only now with my band, I am able to follow through on my attempts, and when I don't, well, I don't gain it all back plus some! so I keep plugging away. Do what works. Read up here on the board for inspiration. You'll get there, you are doing great! Chin up! (((hugs)))

Thanks for sharing, you look soooo wonderful! I LOVE the cute jacket, and I love even more what it represents. You go, girl!

So, where's the PIC?!!!!! I wanna see that beauttiful ASS in those Express jeans! Come on! Don't TEASE us! LOL WTG girl. Well done!

Yay Tammy! You have done a wonderful job with your weight loss! I can't wait to see the pics!

Go to your PCP. Dang Trish. I don't like that, it isn't normal, for sure. Let us know wht the PCP does. At the very least a good round of oral antibiotics is in order, so says Doctor Kathy, right?! Call your Band doc, make an appointment with your PCP. Keep us posted.

I wanted to be a missionary nurse. Then an elementary school teacher. That took me through about 3 years of college and I got a clue that school teacher was NOT a good idea. By then, neither was missionary nurse, if that gives you a clue of what my college years might have been like...ooops! So none of that panned out. It's all good now, though. I told my little sister there was a kid who ate a mud pie, then ate watermelon and swallowed the seeds and a watermelon grew in her tummy. My cousins and I also got her and another younger cousin to eat cat food. We told her it was Grandmama's leftover casserole and we were soooo full we couldn't eat anymore but we didn't want to hurt her feelings, could you puleeeeze help us finish it?! Took some coaxing and a nice dose of Grandmama guilt but they ate it. ewwww. We laugh about that story alot!

1991 130 1995 170 1996 190 1997 168 June 1998 230 Dec 1998 208 Sept 1999 214 August 2000 240 June 2002 208 March 2003 219 Dec 2003 242 Dec 2004 219 ______________ 223.4 Band day 4/8/05 208.0 12 days post-op 207.2 6/27 yes, almost 3 months post-op with NO further weight loss 205.4 7/4 205.0 7/6 1st fill-12 weeks 202.0 7/11 small unfill 199.8 7/12 welcome to Onederland! 200.0 8/8 198.4 8/11 197.0 8/15 196.6 9/12-22 weeks 194.0 9/24 193.6 10/17 194.0 10/24 195.0 10/31 193.4 11/1-30 weeks 190.4 1/17-40 weeks 186.8 2/26 183.4 3/24-48 weeks 182.8 4/8 One Year Bandiversary!

1991 130 1995 170 1996 190 1997 168 June 1998 230 Dec 1998 208 Sept 1999 214 August 2000 240 June 2002 208 March 2003 219 Dec 2003 242 Dec 2004 219 ______________ 223.4 Band day 4/8/05 208.0 12 days post-op 207.2 6/27 yes, almost 3 months post-op with NO further weight loss 205.4 7/4 205.0 7/6 1st fill-12 weeks 202.0 7/11 small unfill 199.8 7/12 welcome to Onederland! 200.0 8/8 198.4 8/11 197.0 8/15 196.6 9/12-22 weeks 194.0 9/24 193.6 10/17 194.0 10/24 195.0 10/31 193.4 11/1-30 weeks 190.4 1/17-40 weeks 186.8 2/26 183.4 3/24-48 weeks 182.8 4/8 One Year Bandiversary!

12/30/03 Weight 235.5 Arms 16 Bust 47 Waist 41.5 Abs 51.5 Hips 52.5 Thighs 30 Body Fat 45.7% 11/13/04 Weight 219.5 Arms 16 Bust 45 Waist 40 Abs 49 Hips 48 Thighs 28.5 Body Fat 43.2% 4/8/05 Band Day Weight 223 Arms 15.5 Bust 45 Bra Band 38 Waist 41 Abs 50 Hips 50 Thighs 29 Body Fat% ??? 6/2/05-8 weeks post-op Weight 208 Arms 15 Bust 44 Bra Band 37 Waist 39.5 Abs 50 Hips 48 Thighs 28 Body Fat% ??? 11/2/05 Weight 193 Arms 14.5 Bust 42 Bra Band 36 Waist 38 Abs 46 Hips 46 Thighs 26.5 Body Fat% ??? 3/9/06 Weight 190.5 Arms 14.5 Bust 43 Waist 37.25 Abs 46.5 Hips 46.5 Thighs 28.75 Body Fat 40% 4/8/05 Weight 182.8 Arms 14 Bust 42 Bra Band 35.5 Waist 36.5 Abs 44 Hips 45 Thighs 28 Body Fat 38.5% Total Lost since High Weight Weight -59.2 Arms -2 Bust -5 Bra Band -2.5 Waist -5 Abs -7.5 Hips -7.5 Thighs -2 Body Fat -7.2%

12/30/03 Weight 235.5 Arms 16 Bust 47 Waist 41.5 Abs 51.5 Hips 52.5 Thighs 30 Body Fat 45.7% 11/13/04 Weight 219.5 Arms 16 Bust 45 Waist 40 Abs 49 Hips 48 Thighs 28.5 Body Fat 43.2% 4/8/05 Band Day Weight 223 Arms 15.5 Bust 45 Bra Band 38 Waist 41 Abs 50 Hips 50 Thighs 29 Body Fat% ??? 6/2/05-8 weeks post-op Weight 208 Arms 15 Bust 44 Bra Band 37 Waist 39.5 Abs 50 Hips 48 Thighs 28 Body Fat% ??? 11/2/05 Weight 193 Arms 14.5 Bust 42 Bra Band 36 Waist 38 Abs 46 Hips 46 Thighs 26.5 Body Fat% ??? 3/9/06 Weight 190.5 Arms 14.5 Bust 43 Waist 37.25 Abs 46.5 Hips 46.5 Thighs 28.75 Body Fat 40% 4/8/05 Weight 182.8 Arms 14 Bust 42 Bra Band 35.5 Waist 36.5 Abs 44 Hips 45 Thighs 28 Body Fat 38.5% Total Lost since High Weight Weight -59.2 Arms -2 Bust -5 Bra Band -2.5 Waist -5 Abs -7.5 Hips -7.5 Thighs -2 Body Fat -7.2%

Hubby loves my shape, too. Except I have long legs with big ole upper thighs. Nothing about my legs is little, but they are shapely under there! I like my curves, I just have a bit too much of them! And P'nut, my size 18 pants I wore today are on the baggy side. I don't think I could do the 16 yet in that same pant, but they ARE baggy! Yay! And I'm 5'5" and 183-185 these days, so when you get my weight, you really WILL be a little P'nut! You'll probably be an 8 or 10 and I will NEVER, can I repeat? NEVER be a size 8!!! LOL That's okay, a 14 is fine with me. It just goes to show how different our body shapes are. Anyway, good job! Okay, thanks for the explanation on the posting each week. I don't know why it never occured to me to cut and paste...? hellloooooo!!!

macmamma, my ins. didn't pay for it either. The generic was about $35 for a month's supply, but I never did take it daily. It's "for occasional use only" over here! It DOES help with the munchies. I'm taking one this morning. WAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!! (opera singer voice) now, the laundry, the bathrooms, the vacuuming, the dishes, the dusting, oh, and the closets and the driveway...here I go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL

Janet, if I HAD to take Advil, I'd get the liquid, too. Just be sure to wash it through the stoma with plenty of liquids...don't let it sit on your band. Since NSAID's are irritating to stomach tissue, you want to get that Advil past the band, at the very least. It's interesting that its' helping! Go for short-term use, though. Keep us updated!

I know of a golden Lab up for adoption. He's getting neutered on Monday. But he's pretty aggressive toward other dogs at this point. He's been fenced up in a fairly large area his whole life...he's almost 2. And he's got a hankering to get OUT! His previous owners never let him out to play with him and he LOVES people! We are hoping the neutering will settle him down some, and make him good for adopting. He really needs a family with no other pets, though, with plenty of room to run and someone to play with every day. He's sweet. He just needs a HOME and some good old fashioned LOVE. Ya'll let me know if you know of a good home. Melissa, sorry about the Samoyed. I know the girls are dissappointed. Dianne, I have been thinking about the bell and that's a great idea! When the time comes for us to get a little 4-legged buddy, I want to do the bell thing. Hey Melissa, don't worry about feeling stupid...you need a baseline Mamo anyway, so go ahead and schedule! Karen, you need to post a pic of the new addition!!!!!!

Congrats kabeerah! I so glad all went fine and you are healing well! Keep hydrated, you'll nurse through this just fine. What a great Mom!!

Welcome home, Sheryl. Great big LBT (((hugs))) from all the newbies you don't know on the board! LOL Your experience will be invaluable here. Yay you!

Chill! May 9th is the PERFECT day to get banded...it's my birthday! It's a sign. Aren't you EXCITED?!!!!!! I was, and terribly nervous, too, so don't sweat it. Congrats!

My hubby, that is...I got him!!!! Tonight me and my sister went to Curves to workout. The kids were playing outside and hubby was in doing something when the doorbell rang. Tyler was standing outside the front door screaming with poop down his legs, into his socks and shoes, a big wad in his underpants, what a mess!!!!! hahahaha! So hubby did a great job and cleaned it all up. Only instead of rinsing the brand new pair of Bob the Builder underwear in the toilet, getting the poop out and washing them, he put them in a bag and threw them away. Whatever...he had to clean the mess and took it like a Man. A Daddy Man. Yay hubby! I LMBO when I got home! Tyler needed to poop before lunch today, and managed to hold it till after dinner. SIGH. What's up with the potty-phobia?! Tomorrow is another day. Fight the good fight, all you mommies and daddies out there! OH! I was also laughing about the pooping outside. Tyler and I walked to the neighbor's house today to get their puppy (they were gone all day so I brought her to my house to play for the afternoon) and on the way back little Daisy gave an excellent demonstration of pooping right in front of us! We watched and I did a sports play-by-play of the dog's pooping episode. When it was over, I was sure to comment how doggies poopie outside, but big boys poopie inside in the potty. Oh yeah, we don't want to do the doggie poop over here! LOL