lovecats85

the recipe is at the top for caramel ones - you could use chocolate or no flavor for just coffee i suppose

I totally understand those who feel differently than I - but it's just the way I feel. I think companies should care about who is eating there - even if it's only a small percent. I guess the problem with me is that I didn't hardly go to Golden Corral before I was banded because I think they're buffet really isn't worth $10 even with a full size stomach. Ive only been there once since banding and the one by my house gave me a discount - no problem. Maybe I'm poor, maybe I'm cheap, etc - but I think they should give the discount. Now at Chili's and places like that I order a full entree and take it home - that's fair, but GC should let bandsters fill thier plate and get it to go if they wont get a discount. Just my opinion.

I understand why places wouldn't want to accept the cards - but I do think they should accododate customers with WLS and it's not that I think they owe me anything like Babs said,,,, I just think they should do it if they want to keep customers. I am not going to pay $10 to eat at Golden Corral, or anywhere where I can't take the part of my meal I don't eat to-go. But if Golden Corral wantrs my friends, family, and husband coming in - they should honor the discount - because those people aren't going to eat without me, and I'm not going to go there if I have to pay $10. I'm sorry, but money is an issue in my family, and I don't have much extra money. If Golden Corral wants to lose me as a customer, they should remember they are also losing my husband, my friends, and my parents too. Also, if they have a problem with people copying the cards - I'd be happy to show them my scars!

thought I'd post this here too: I am a starbucks addict. I am addicted to caramel frappucinos. I have at least made the better decision lately of getting frappucino lights, but I know they still have alot of sugar. Plus, $4 a day is alot of money! So, I looked around online and found some frappucino recipes and I played around and I have come up with the perfect light frappucino you can make at home!! I am drinking one right now and it is OH SO GOOD! Directions : Brew some STRONG coffee, and freeze it in a ice cube tray. Then put 4 coffee ice cubes, 6 regular ice cubes, 1/2 cup skim milk, 1 tablespoon splenda, and one tablespoon sugar free caramel in blender, and blend. Viola, a delicious sugar free low cost low guilt frappucino at home!

Well, starbucks is too pricey, but I also am concerned over the calories. I think my recipe (that I made by combining several I found online and tweaking) is great tasting and low calorie, and inexpensive! I made another one this morning!

I wish I didnt like starbucks! But I never knew that about 9/11 - that's pretty awful!

I went to the one by me a few weeks ago and got charged child size. That is really obnoxious of them. Would they rather have you pay for a child size or not come at all! We should all write the company letters, and report it to the news - then we would see how fast thier snotty attitude would change. That really ticks me off that they said that!

everyday I have an Adora Calcium Chocolate - it fills that chocolate craving and I get my calcium - the dark chocolate ones are SO good! You can get them at whole foods stores.

Updated before and after:

My doc said go back when I felt like it. I had surgery on Friday, and Tuesday I worked a 1/2 day and Wed. I went back full time. It wasn't until the next Monday (about 9 days after surgery) that I felt almost 100% again. It was bearable to work at my desk job though - I just had to lean back so my tummy didn't cramp up, and walk around as much as I could.

:help: Ok, I know this topic has been discussed a thousand times, but I just need to re-visit it again and bitch for a moment about people who bring CRAP to work for everyone. My office has 5 people in in - 2 of whom are out of town right now, so WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY does one girl bring a HUGE box of friggin donuts!!! If you want a donut, fine, go eat one, but don't bring a whole box where I (the person with the food issues, I mean, HELLO I have a lapband and they all know this) have to walk by the box of donuts all day long, because they are still there because 3 freaking people can't eat a HUGE box of donuts. I'm sure the girl that brought them ate one and that was it,,,, but for me, I have been thiking about that donut all damn day! I am not going to eat it (which I would have pre-lap band) because I am in control and I choose not to eat the donut,,,,, but that doesn't help the fact that all I have wanted to do all day is eat that sour cream donut drenched in icing. And she told me "if you want it just eat it and then work out longer." Ok Barbie, it's taking everything I have to work out at ALL, much less longer. Whew, sorry, I just had to vent. I know you all understand the pshycological battle, I just wish other people did and wouldn't bring freaking donuts to work, when other people in the office have asked MULTIPLE times that if people bring junk food to keep it out of sight in a drawer in thier office. I even made a reference to that today and she still hasn't moved them - it's been 7 hours and the donuts are still on the counter in the community kitchen. I am going to kill someone! :help:

I know, I know - I have some low sugar granola bars in my desk, so I ate one of those and got over the craving,,,,, it just pisses me off sometimes!

So, I have been sitting here at my desk for an hour now, staring at the computer while spitting up slime every 5 minutes into the trashcan below me. Just wanted to warn you all not to eat jalepenos - I have one stuck right now, all the PBing in the world isn't jarring it lose, and everytime I spit up slime I feel a burning and can taste the jalepeno juice. Just wanted to issue a warning that that is one food you DO NOT want to get stuck!!!!

I have thought about getting a new tatoo - but not a tatoo of a lapband. But mostly, I think about getting a flat tummy and a new pair of big old perky boobs when I reach my goal weight!!! Yeah Plastic Surgery!

I finally got it unstuck. I think it was the jalepeno skin that caused the stuckage. Anyways, use upmost care and proceed with caution if you eat those little buggers! Now I am drinking some warm broth, it feels fine now. Twas pretty bad for awhile there!

I never knew there was different sizes either until I saw my doc 2 months ago for a check up and I remarked that I had alot of scar tissue and that I wanted to get a tummy tuck someday, and how would that effect my port - and he said it wouldn't affect my port but that I might want to change to a smaller port. So, yup, there are different sizes. I guess the best way to start investigating as to a change would be with your original surgeon.

Another thing I forgot to mention on my post - when I got my surgery this guy waiting for his wife who was also getting surgery that day told my husband in the waiting room that she hoped the band would help her not eat so much, but that nothing could make her give up her oreos and chocolate milk she has daily. These people are why the band has an "average weight loss" of 50-65% of excess weight. Like everyone else has said, it's the band PLUS the choices you make that define your weight loss, not the band itself. Plus, everyone is different - clearly the band didn't work for GeezerSue, and LaMadam had an erosion and is at goal without a band. I am a slow loser, but I don't let it get me down, because I feel great, and I think I look pretty great, and I have more energey, and I am never going to give up on getting to goal. Point is, I don't think the #'s people say are defining of where you will end up - they are an average. In every average there are people at one end of the scale and people at the other. Forget what other people say to expect and just do the best you can do!

The tatoo on my back never changed, had it since high school. But the one on my belly has moved, stretched, etc. I think when you get it in a flatter location, such as the back, it's fine. Don't get one on your belly or butt where you will lose weight from. Luckily with me, my tummy one will get cut right out in a tummy tuck!!!

I have only lost about 65-70% of my excess weight, and maybe that's all the band does, but the band has taught me what I need to know to lose the rest, and I am bound and determined to lsoe it through my band, diet, and exersize! I know it will take plastic surgery to lose the last 5 lbs or so, but I will never give up. Those people who say you can only lose so much are full of BS!

The amount I can eat, the type of food I can eat, the speed at which I can eat, etc - it's different everytime. Some days I can eat alot, other days not much. Some days I can eat bread, other days I can't. Some days I can eat 1/2 a lettuce wrap, some days I can eat 2 whole lettuce wraps. It's driving me crazy!!! I used to just not worry about it, but for some reason this past week I am worried about it. Everytime I have a meal where I can eat more I worry that my band has slipped and that's why I'm eating more. I'm paranoid. I am going to get a fill next week - I know that is one reason I am eating more. But that leads me to another question - how come the fills are so so so tight at 1st and then 3-4 months later I get back to where I can eat almost a full normal size non-bandster dinner. Why does the feeling of the fill go away. Last thing - alot of times when I eat the first 1/2 of the meal feels almost as if they are going to get stuck, but then usually, kind of all of a sudden, the band opens up and I can eat more easily. Any thoughts?

Thanks for all the reassurance that everything is fine. I think I just need a fill, and I am getting one next week. Also, I think I spent the last 3 months worrying about the bar exam (which is why I have been MIA on this board) and now my mind doesn't know what to do with not having anything to worry about, so it is back to worrying about my band! My fickle, fickle band! But oh how I love my fickle band anyways!

I went to his seminar and he seems great but I would really like to talk to someone who has had surgery by him.

I went to the seminar at Surgery Center of Richardson tonight and I was just wondering if anyone else went there and what your opinions are.

Ok, so I am definatley not pregnant. The Doc says my period are wacky from the band surgery. I know some people on here thought 7 months was too long after surgery for the surgery to still be affecting my cycle, but Doc says that's what it is, and that I can expect it to continue for as long as I'm "drastically" losing weight as she put it (I would never define this slow process as drastic, lol). Anyways, just wanted everyone to know that apparently the surgery and weight loss can affect your period for ALONG time. The good news is it's nothing serious.

Drumroll please. So it was a week late, but I hit that 1st mini-goal this AM. The scale has me at 199.4!!!! Whoo hoo. And what's ironic is that I blew off my health kick last night and splurged on Mexican food. I'm not feeling too guilty now. Anyways, it's hard to believe it's been 4-5 years since I saw a number starting with 1 on that scale. It's one-der-ful to be in one-der-land!