ShelbiCallie

Dee, I KNOW you love me and you REALLY want to sit next to me! Mama always said that being irritating was what I do best. It's a gift. Yeah, that's it. A gift. I'm gifted that way. (Deb -- I hate to bring this up, but Dee has a problem with gas. Just thought you should know since you might sit beside her. I'm just looking out for your best interests and want you to make an informed decision when you select a bench position. No pressure. )

Right back at ya, sweetie! Yes, m'am. We belles must mind our mama! "Life is so much nicer with a sweet smile and a "bless your heart"!" (said in my best Scarlette O'Hara voice).

Hey ColoradoCrazy -- I remember you! You did one of these types of posts on this thread about a year ago. Congratulations on finally getting to the point of being banded soon; I hope that doesn't mean it took a year to complete pre-op tests and insurance approval for Dr. Snyder! Bless your heart -- if it was hard to wait an hour and a half for a Dr. K appointment, it must have been hell to wait a year for Dr. Snyder to put in the band. I wish you a wonderful journey with your band.

Ador -- I'm down 1 measily pound. Put me at 186. I'll take it but I've got to get back with the plan! Congrats to all the losers this week ---impressive ladies! This made a huge difference for me, Bella! And thanks again to my dear friend Dee for this counting trick -- when I'm being a good bandster and doing the counting, it really does work!! Marcy- I think the same thing! I want to tell people all the time -- don't wait, there's a answer, you can do it! I wish there was a tactful way to approach strangers because I know their struggle. I wish someone would have nudged me years ago! PS -- You're making me crave blueberries! Shout out to my home girl!!! Congratulations and welcome to the board! We'll have to do an East Coast RR night sometime and set up a video feed to our banditos in Denver. Wouldn't that be cool!! Good luck with that barium swallow. I'm sending positive thoughts that it's stress and not a band issue. And more positive thoughts that the stress goes away soon! Belated Happy Birthday, Marie!! Sorry to hear about your MIL and hope they find out what's going on soon. Keep us posted. Moving ahead is a very good! I'll continue to keep all of you in prayer and thought! I know this situation is so hard on your very kind heart. Welcome to yet another nurse! Glad to have you aboard! It's official peeps: I want to be Mini. She drives a mini, she has a tree house, she's been to London, she's seen Prince. I'm so jealous! Greenie -- Glad the lunch went well. I'm wondering if maybe the family is noticing that you've changed, but they can't quite figure it out so they're fixated on the hair??? Gotta run. Hugs to all and more later!

Oh, duh, ok! LSD = Dr. K's pre-op diet! I get it now. I swear I read your post to mean you were doing Dr. Kuri's pre-op diet. I'm on task now! Girl, I have no doubt that you can do ANYTHING you set your mind to!!:thumbup:

LOVED Voices Carry!!! Absolutely on the 80's outfit, just make sure you do the big hair to go with it. Sweater off the shoulder too.

Doesn't get any better than this!!!!!!!! I've been jonesin' for Eric Clapton since Derek & the Dominos. Thanks for posting this gem.

Thanks Munchk! Your 2 cents is just what I need! Since I've been through most of the older SSRI's at some point in the last 10 years and I'm getting good symptom control with this one, I want to stick with it for as long as it's working. I'm going to try just a tad bit more of the good ol' saline. Funny thing is, the doc told me that this med was was good for suppressing appetite -- leave it to me to be the one who doesn't get the good side effects. Had to chuckle at your reference to Ador about the full moon -- I remember well how EVERYBODY who thought there was a chance she could be pregnant would go into labor during a full moon. It was always a no lunch, no break, no pee kind of week at work -- hated it! Sorry about the Guess Who. (Is it Guess Who or The Guess Who? I know it's The Who and not Who. I remember having this question back in the day when (the) Guess Who was actually on the radio.) I would have gone, why didn't you call me? I would love to see Aimee Mann (wasn't she with 'til Tuesday back in the '80's?)! Lucky!

Need some advice, banditos. As I've mentioned several times on here before, I have periods of depression and tried many different antidepressants. I've been on a new medication -- Pristiq -- and it's has made a huge difference for me (and therefore for my children and spouse). But.... There has been an increase in my appetite,for sure, and it coincides with when I started this medication. I still have some restriction with the band, but I am thinking about eating ALL THE TIME -- even when I'm not physically hungry and that scares me. I thought I might go in for another slight fill, but I don't want to be too tight and have this head hunger going on and really do some damage. I have lots of fresh fruit cut up in the fridge and I've been appeasing myself with that, but I don't want to stay in grazing mode, even if it's with healthy food. Should I get a slight fill just to see if that gets me over this? I guess I want the best of both worlds -- I want the symtpom control that Pristiq gives me without the appetite stimulation (but I'm not 100% sure that it's the medication that causing me to eat more). What to do?

Hey Sid! You're a great addition to my journey too! Go easy on those students this year :biggrin2:. Glad your fill is at a good place.

Hey Denver, I don't have a sample daily diet for you, but I can tell you that I really enjoyed all the meats -- turkey, chicken, tuna, beef, salmon and had lots of wonderful salads! The only hard boiled eggs I ate were in egg salad! As long as you avoid potatoes, rice, pasta, bread and sugar you should be good to go. Enjoy a nice, juicy steak!

Amen! Can I get a witness! I am most attracted to my husband when he is folding the laundry, I kid you not.

Bella - I've never been on that site before. But, I've known some women who've met wonderful men through the internet and some women who've met real duds. Sounds like they're duds on that site and it's time to move on. You deserve nothing less than the absolute best. I've read all the great insight you've gotten on this topic from our fellow banditos and I have to say I agree 100% -- this is YOUR time to do the things you enjoy and live your dreams; the right one is out there and you'll meet him along the way. (As a matter of fact, I was just noticing how many nice men there are walking at the high school track where I'm going now to walk/run in the mornings. Some are younger, some are older, some are just getting started on a walking program -- but they all speak when we pass (or they pass me!). I never thought that walking would be a way to meet men, but you never know where a path might lead. Not that I'm looking -- my hubs is often walking with me :biggrin:.)

Yo, Dee! You ARE getting this poundage off already --- I just noticed your ticker. You've lost 100 pounds in about 6 months! Yowza!! You are one inspirational chick, Ms. Dee. Tell me more about this LSD diet.

Hey Munchk, Sorry about the a-hole neighbors. :sad: Does your employer offer an EAP program (most hospitals do now, I think)? Check it aout and see if they include legal consults (mine does and my previous employer did). It's free and a good place to start. Hope this helps. Shelbi

YAY DEB!!!!!!! Glad you're home safe and sound and are now sitting proudly on the loser's bench!!! (You've got to watch out for Mini on the bench -- she elbows everyone. And Dee? Can't play nice for a second! :sad: They try to blame me, but it's THEM I tell ya; it's THEM. I'm the golden child.:thumbup:) Aren't Dr. K and co. just the best?!!

Patty -- I hope you realize that I have learned so much about setting boundaries, identifying toxic situations and healing myself physically and emotionally from you. It is I who should be thanking you for sharing your openess and experiences with me! That's great Bella! Sounds like this is just a minor blip that you'll deal with easily. I'm not local so Dr. K isn't my aftercare doc, but I copied this from his website "follow-up care and adjustments at no charge for 3 months- After the 3 months the charge for adjustments is $15.00." From the others on this thread I've learned that he has a PA, Tom, who also does fills. I'm almost 1 year out and I wouldn't hesitate to call Dr. K or Natalie if I had a question or concern; I feel like I will always have them as a follow up resource even though they are 2 time zones away. Maybe one of the locals will jump in with better info for you. Anyway, I just wanted to welcome you aboard!

Green -- I'll be thinking of your tomorrow. Extended family meals are always a huge source of anxiety for me too! Ours have been more of the walk-around-with-a-plate variety and no one noticed what I ate in the beginning. As I lost more, and folks began to notice, I'd just say I was eating less, exercising more and trying to stick with healthy foods. All true. Whenever someone in the family brings my weight loss up, I try to express appreciation and then get off the subject as quickly as possible. Very few family members know I'm banded and so far those who know have respected my privacy. I have several sisters, and to be frank, only one I would trust with my emotions and the others I don't. So when several of them wanted to get together a few weekends ago for a "sister weekend", I had to beg off. It would have ended up being toxic for me. I've worked hard to get where I am emotionally and physically right now and I don't want to go back to where I was -- needing the approval of people who will never give it to me. Anyway, I just wanted you to know that I feel you on this. You're doing a great job. Take a deep breath and hold you're head up. I'm proud of you for facing this anxiety-ridden situation. Don't let anyone take your power away. You only need approval from YOU. (And you've got admiration from ME, for what it's worth!) Big Hugs, Shel

Mine aren't pink either. More like big mucous bubble with some gunk in it. I hope you're unfill does the trick. Let us know. Love your ticker. Don't think I'll ever get past the green ones. I have a skin apron that hangs from the bottom. Thank you very much, 2 c-sections!

I don't think I'll ever get really caught up, so I'm just going to jump in here with some random responses. Marie -- I'm yo-yo'ing with my last fill (#4), too. I had a sweet spot after fill 3 but this one just isn't as consistent. Wish I had a good answer for both of us -- sure is frustrating! I like the puppy name "Oakley" -- sounds close to Barkley. I think a job at Starbucks would be wonderful!! I want a tree house! Lap -- Even though there's so much going on with your spine, sounds like you've got a good plan in place. Keep moving forward -- next August this will all be behind you and you'll be doing all of those actvities you dream of! WHERE IS MAL???? I don't think she's ever been away for this long! Dee -- I'm still eating my oats! But I've had some red meat a couple of times :wink2:. Hope you're doing ok. Keep looking until you get to a good fit. I have one now who's great, but I sure have had some tools in the past. Anybody heard from Deb since surgery? Or did she post and I've missed it?? Bella -- I'm a nicotine addict, too. Not smoking for several years (though I did have a lapse earlier this year), but at my worst I would rather smoke than eat or have sex (if that gives you any indication of how bad I am with nicotine). Take it one day at a time, find something else to do with your hands, drink water/walk and talk to your MD about some Nicotine replacement therapy. Be careful of the ones that put Nicotine back in your mouth (like gum or lozenges); it's very easy to transfer the addiction over to those. I had several patients have success with Chantix, but I think the FDA has put a new black box warning out about that one. But talk with your doc. I think we've had some discussion about Chantix in this thread before. Hang in there; I can really relate on this one and I'm sending you lots of smoke-free positive thoughts! More later. Love to all and happy weekend everyone!!!!!!!!

I'm sorry you're dealing with this. Let us know what the surgeon says. You know, with PCOS sometimes if you're ovulating you'll have hot flash type symptoms. Or, at least I do. And weight loss brings on ovulation, so....

OMG! Glad you're ok. I must say that your committment to exercise is impressive! What is a 14er??

Therapy has been the best gift I have ever given myself -- right up there with my band! I hope you find it as helpful as I have.

Big Congrats to you Ador!!! COngrats to all the other losers as well!

Monday Morning Weigh In -- 187; down only a pound but I'll take it!