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My friend calls that her "motivational Mini-skirt"...

P.S. (I think this is actually a "scale victory"): Today, 90 days post-op, I am no longer obese... ... ... ...

I tried on a nice pair of slacks to wear to the Doctor's office back in August (remember when every outing was preceeded by a frustrating search for clothes that will fit TODAY???). I could pull them on, but I couldn't button them. I put them aside for later, anticipating a milestone. I put them on yesterday and I can pull them off without unbuttoning/unzipping. And there's NO elastic in the waist! Which TOTALLY makes up for the fact that I can't wear them anywhere, now... I was so excited, I made hubby come in the house and watch--it's OK, he knows I'm goofy.:D My next goal: I "pulled" on a pair of size EIGHT jeans this weekend. Size EIGHT... Single digits...:whoo: Now, they're "relaxed fit" jeans... And I can't zip 'em (even laying on the bed)... And "pulled" doesn't begin to describe the effort required to get those suckers round the bend of my a$$... But I remember August... and I remember single digits... and hope springs eternal.

I just had my third fill last Friday. Looks like I've lost bread, too. I also have to chew very slowly and pause between bites, or my pipes get "backed up", and I get tight in my chest. The up side: I was perfectly satisfied with 4oz of ham on Thanksgiving Day (no sides, no dessert). Completely stuffed, couldn't eat another bite, just like everyone else. I HAVE taken to chewing gum after meals, until my jaw thinks I should be full. It helps with the head hunger.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Wishing everyone willpower on this feast day. I'm going to have a good meal, then bin the leftovers--it's better to waste food than "waist" food. My motto: It's a HoliDAY, not a HoliWEEK. ... ... ... ... ...

So, how are you guys doing? Anyone riding lately? It was 78 degrees here today, still short-sleeve weather for us!

Huntersmom...... 174........... 170....... 159............ 11 SWEETY.......... 202........... 188....... 180............ 8 MJsafari........ 268........... 239....... 238............ 01 captdanbo....... 211........... 177....... 185............ -8 PaulaD.......... 216........... 216....... 199............ 17 Stefanie42467... 206........... 200....... 175............ 25 Suzzzie......... 349........... 317.6..... 320.......... -2.4 glindab......... 277........... 260....... 250............ 10 MM.............. 242........... 215.8..... 218...........-2.2 finallythin..... 254........... 254....... 225............ 29 BeckieT......... 259........... 252....... 239............ 13 Miscontext...... 303........... 303....... 275............ 28 ja9va........... 207........... 199....... 182............ 20 wombat712....... 180........... 164.8..... 165............-.2 Waters.......... 214........... 213....... 190............ 24 lessnless....... 206........... 181.5..... 179............ 2.5 MissDarlene..... 223........... 223....... 195............ 28 o2bthin......... 238........... 225....... 215............ 10 insubordination. 300........... 285....... 283............ 02 Holliwagz....... 325........... 302....... 295............ 07 cc.............. 202........... 194....... 190............ 04 Grace........... 173........... 169....... 165............ 04 Sheila...........220........... 211....... 200............ 11 Texasmom5573.... 252........... 239....... 230............ 9

Breakfast: French Toast, Bacon, Coffee ...1/4 c Eggbeaters ...1 tsp milk ...1/2 tsp Splenda Brown Sugar Blend ...2 slices Nature's Own Wheat Bread ...2 Tbsp Smuckers Breakfast Syrup Sugar Free ...2 slices Oscar Mayer Ready-to-Serve Bacon ...Coffee w/1 Tbsp Lite Creamer =============================== ...205 calories / 12g protein Lunch: Chicken Caesar Salad ...1 Pilgrim's Pride EatWellStayHealthy Italian Chicken Breast ...2 Tbsp Ken's Steakhouse Lite Caesar Dressing ...1 c assorted greens =============================== ...195 calories / 21g protein Dinner: Shrimp and Fries ...5 Beer-Battered Shrimp, baked ...6 oz potato, sliced into fries and baked =============================== ...350 calories / 21g protein Snacks: ...Granny Smith Apple ...Vanilla Chai Tea w/1 Tbsp Fat-Free Half & Half and Splenda ...1 JayRobb Protein Shake =============================== ...230 calories / 24g protein =============================== ...980 calories / 78g protein ... ... ...

You may laugh, but that was my FIRST thought in recovery (well, right after OWWWW). "You mean I'm still fat!?!?!" I was banded by Dr Smith on 08/30. I had the gas pains for 48 hours, but then again my scars are lovely, compared to the other surgeries I've had.

My favorite recipe (and hubby's favorite soup, bar none) is Black Bean Pumpkin Soup Recipe at Epicurious.com. Everyone loves it, but no one can identify pumpkin as the main ingredient. Try this site for your first try: How to make a pumpkin soup - in easy illustrated steps

"Nine 1/2 Weeks" since surgery. I've lost 30 lbs in 90 days (22 lbs since surgery). I only had one week of liquids after surgery, so my weight loss hasn't been as dramatic as some, but I'm still averaging -2.3 lbs per week. I'm weighing/journaling every molecule that goes in my mouth. I even count the calories in my one-a-day. I'm staying between 1,000-1,100 calories a day, but I'm very active--this may need to increase. My WORST day since surgery was 1,500 calories (wine was involved). Pre-band, it would have been over 3,000. Best of all, I went to lunch with friends yesterday. I ordered a chicken caesar salad, ate about 3/4 cup and finished pretty quickly. My friends said it looked like a rabbit had nibbled at the edges of my salad. I tried to explain that I can eat more but that I just wasn't hungry. They think I'm suffering, but putting on a brave face. Yeah--like I've ever missed a meal! I took the leftovers home for dinner and still couldn't finish my salad... . . .

Name...Challenge Start Wt...Current Wt...Challenge Goal...To Go Huntersmom...... 174........... 170....... 159............ 11 SWEETY.......... 202........... 190....... 180............ 10 MJsafari........ 268........... 244....... 238............ 06 captdanbo....... 211........... 177....... 185............ -8 PaulaD.......... 216........... 216....... 199............ 17 Stefanie42467... 206........... 200....... 175............ 25 Suzzzie......... 349........... 319.2..... 320........... -.8 glindab......... 277........... 260....... 250............ 10 MM.............. 242........... 218....... 217.2..........-.8 finallythin..... 254........... 254....... 225............ 29 BeckieT......... 259........... 252....... 239............ 13 Miscontext...... 303........... 303....... 275............ 28 ja9va........... 207........... 199....... 182............ 20 wombat712....... 180........... 166.2..... 165........... 1.2 Texasmom5573.... 252........... 252....... 230............ 22 Waters.......... 214........... 213....... 190............ 24 lessnless....... 206........... 184....... 179............ .5 MissDarlene..... 223........... 223....... 195............ 28 o2bthin......... 238........... 233....... 215............ 18 insubordination. 300........... 288....... 283............ 05 Holliwagz....... 325........... 302....... 295............ 07 cc.............. 202........... 194....... 190............ 04 Texasmom5573.... 252........... 246....... 230............ 16 Grace........... 173........... 169....... 165............ 04 Sheila...........220........... 211....... 200............ 11 Texasmom5573.... 252........... 242....... 230............ 12

The link you're looking for is Consumer Help from the Texas Department of Insurance

Peanut Butter gets stuck every time. That's OK, I'm not a big PBJ fan, anyway. I popped a cherry tomato last week, and never thought about chewing the SKIN. It took forever to slide through, and I felt every stitch of progress (sort of like childbirth). I have had no problems with shrimp, Pasta, steak, eggs, or veggies. I don't eat soft white bread, but a bit of untoasted nine-grain dinner roll went down fine. No problems with very dry white chicken. My favorite snack is a Pilgrim's Pride "EatWellStayHealthy Szechuan" chicken breast that's nuked an extra 1-2 minutes. Turns into "faux jerky", almost crispy. If someone had come to me before surgery with a great new diet: "Give up peanut butter/soda/beer, and you'll be able to maintain a normal weight," I'd have signed up!

Our generation is the only generation in history that's expected to pay off OUR student loans, save for our children's college tuition, fund our own retirement, and help support our parents.

I get Bigelow's and Tazo brands at the grocery store (it's next to the Celestial Seasonings teas). Big Train Chai is available at Big Train Spiced Chai

You could try the puffed rice cakes. I don't have a problem with them going through the band, and that's a whole lot of crunch for 45 calories... Yes, I've finally reached the point where one rice cake fills me up!

I just hit my first real milestone! Ten weeks since starting my journey/seven weeks post-op, and I'm 1/3 of my way to goal: 25lbs gone! I'm hoping to "just" be overweight for Christmas...

Name...Challenge Start Wt...Current Wt...Challenge Goal...To Go Huntersmom...... 174........... 172....... 159............ 13 SWEETY.......... 202........... 192....... 180............ 12 MJsafari........ 268........... 248....... 238............ 10 captdanbo....... 211........... 177....... 185............ -8 PaulaD.......... 216........... 216....... 199............ 17 Stefanie42467... 206........... 200....... 175............ 25 Suzzzie......... 349........... 334....... 320............ 14 glindab......... 277........... 269....... 250............ 19 MM.............. 242........... 224....... 218..............6 finallythin..... 254........... 254....... 225............ 29 BeckieT......... 259........... 252....... 239............ 13 Miscontext...... 303........... 303....... 275............ 28 ja9va........... 207........... 199....... 182............ 20 wombat712....... 180........... 170....... 165............ 5 Texasmom5573.... 252........... 252....... 230............ 22 Waters.......... 214........... 213....... 190............ 24 lessnless....... 206........... 188.2..... 179............. 9.2 MissDarlene..... 223........... 223....... 195............ 28 o2bthin..........238........... 237....... 215............ 22 insubordination..300........... 288....... 283.............05 Holliwagz........325........... 311....... 295.............16 cc...............202............194....... 190..............4 Texasmom5573.... 252........... 246....... 230............ 16 Grace........... 173........... 169....... 165............ 4

I just got my second fill on Thursday. Just as painless as the first fill (both under fluoro). I didn't think I was in bandster hell (just a regular diet, really), but this full/satisfied, rather-have-a-nap-than-more-food feeling is heavenly. First Fill: I had some restriction that day, but it faded away by Day 2. Second Fill: I'm on Day 3, and stll a little restricted in the morning. Had a scare that first morning while taking my thyroid meds--apparently I drink WAY too much Water with that tiny little pill. I overfilled my pouch and had to hold my breath and stand perfectly still until the water drained out of my throat, about 15 seconds. Felt a bit like drowning (I would know). My eating pattern has always been: morning abstainer, afternoon grazer, evening volume eater. I haven't had any interest in grazing the past two days, a bit of Soup at lunch satisfies me 'til evening. My evening meal yesterday was HALF what I normally have, and I took my half-full plate to the fridge--just had no interest in finishing it. Someone wrote that the full feeling changes after surgery. I've NEVER felt this push-the-plate-away satisfaction without also having that strained-clothing, too-full discomfort. I find myself just sitting still and enjoying the sensations--very COOL...

When I was in the throes of post-op gas pains, my heart would pound so hard that my eyeballs would jump in their sockets. It really is normal, and it really is scary. Hang in there, things will improve in a few days as you become more active.

That's it... I have GOT to get a life... :faint: I am entirely too interested in the vivid descriptions of a complete stranger's vomit. Someone stop me before I start taking notes....

My dear friend spent years in an unhappy marriage, only leaving after HE found someone else. She spent months being miserable, but finally picked herself up and started building something from the shambles. Three years after her divorce she's happily re-married to the perfect flowers-for-no-reason, suprise-her-with-plane-tickets, great-sex husband. (WE ALL HATE HER.... She knows it....) The longer you stay in an unhappy relationship, the less time you have to build a happy life. On your deathbed, do you think anyone will care why you stayed? Will you? What if YOUR Prince Charming is just around the corner? Wouldn't that just kill your "First Husband"?:faint: "THE BEST REVENGE IS LIVING WELL"...

HEALING !!! Give yourself time. I gained seven pounds in the hospital, and it took me a week to lose that Fluid weight. I saw the most dramatic weight loss between 7-21 days post-op.

I love the Viactiv Milk chocolate Calcium Chews--they taste just like a Tootsie Roll. They sort of melt in your mouth. There's nothing to swallow or get stuck in the band. I haven't tried the Milk Chocolate Multi-Vitamin yet, only because I haven't seen it in the store yet.