mousecrazy

Thank God, it wasn't cancer, Eileen! That is such great news, and I am soooo relieved! I think the carrot cake was okay...no ice cream, no chocolate. Score! That salad sounded great, too! Betty, funny spider story, but hope your foot's okay. I was the same way with my mom, and she was very close to her Nana...my mom was her "second mom". I just let her have her feelings and try to make sure she knows that I have them, too, and I respect them. Your advice, as always, is great! Sherry, you did good to give away the rest of the M&M's...you should be proud of yourself! Darcy, hang in there...at least you are working out! I'm still a couch potato on that score. Patty, how's it goin'? Pat? Anyone else I have missed, hope you're doing great! We're taking DD to camp tomorrow!!!! She's so excited! I'm excited, too...but I have the responsibility of remember to pack all the stuff. sigh.

Mandy, put up those pictures! Are they on the before and after thread?

Sherry, yeah, it's weird, but I know I had a hard time saying goodbye to some of my bigger clothes, but once I got into it, it was very freeing...it felt really good. Kat, good luck with everything! Yes, you have our prayers, for sure! We'll be waiting to hear from you! And size 16!!!!!!!!!!! That's my next size, and I can't wait to say that! Congratulations! That was a funny story about the chocolate milk, too! I turned down ice cream at my DD's ice cream/swim/church camp kick-off party this afternoon. They gave me the "oh, come on" thing, and I said, no, I have made a promise to some friends of mine not to have ice cream, and I think they probably thought I had a little screw loose, too! So, there ya go...loose screws, all around. Quit thinking those bad thoughts, Eillen!!! Anne, soooo great to hear from you! And really cool that you started in on the challenge, without knowing about it! I love stuff like that. What suit did you pick out from Lands End, and where are you going on vacation? I'm sure you're gonna look great! See everyone tomorrow! Eileen, how was your dinner out? Hugs, Cindy

When asked to give a "menu", I will give the one that is on a "good bandster day". In real life, I eat regular stuff, but less of it. I have not yet found a food I cannot eat, except sometimes dry meat is really difficult. I actually like cottage cheese, so it works for me for the protein. I love Zone Perfect Bars, and they are easy to keep in my desk at school for a snack. I totally understand the "rest of my life" approach, and wholeheartedly support that point of view...I definitely want to approach food like a regular, non-obese person, and that's what I have tried to do. I hope you get some helpful responses, and I bet you will!

Make sure you are taking small bites and chewing really well. I had a fill on Thursday, and I've only tried vegetable soup and cottage cheese...the rest has been liquid. Take it easy, and if it's not better after a week, make sure you check on it. Good luck! Cindy

second Road Queen's very good advice. One pound a week is really good. There will be times that you stay at the same weight for months. Your body does need time to adjust and reset it's weight. Think about what really super fast weight loss looks like on people...it's not really a good thing. You are doing really well, be happy!

Bumping for Mandy!

Greg, thank you for letting us know this news. Please send Ryan and Patty my heartfelt wishes for his full recovery, and let them know they are in my prayers. Whippledaddy is such a delightful writer, and I enjoy and learn from him here at LBT. Best wishes to him! Cindy

I am guessing you want what I eat on a "good" day? LOL! Breakfast: Zone Perfect Bar, or an apple and 1 oz of 2% cheese Snack: Zone perfect bar, or fruit, or protein drink Lunch: Salad with turkey, ranch dressing, fruit Snack: cottage cheese + fruit or tomatoes Dinner: something reasonable...like chicken, veggies or salad; soup; a slice of pizza.... All of this will depend on your level of restriction, where you are, how you are handling your head hunger, etc. There are many times I do not follow this daily menu, just so I have given you full disclosure!

I hope it will help you for me to tell you this, but I had this shoulder, referred gas pain for about two weeks. Maybe you're going to be like that, too. FD has the good advice, and try those baby tummy drops, simethicone....you only have to take a few drops, and it does help some. I used a heating pad on my stomach, and it helped on my shoulder. Sometimes I put it on my shoulder, and if it felt good there, yeah! Try a warm bath. Walking, like FD said, is the best thing. I know it's tough...it'll be over soon, and you'll be all better.

I don't know about the Meridia, so can't help you there. It is hard to say whether 4 days will be enough time or not, because everyone is different in their response to pain and surgery. What is your usual pain tolerance? How do you handle physical stress? If you don't already have some, I'd get some liquid Gaviscon or baby tummy drops (simethicone) for the gas pains most people deal with for quite a while after abdominal sugery...I also used one of those plastic bottles with a screw on top (like Eddie Bauer, sold at Target) to pour my protein drinks in, since at first I could only drink 2 oz at a time. (Think: baby amounts). Then I could cap it, and refrigerate until the next "feeding." Good luck! Cindy

Hi, Monica! I definitely have a pattern of losing a chunk of weight, then regaining a few pounds (usually 2-3, but sometimes 4), then holding steady...then losing another chunk, regaining a few, holding steady...you see the pattern? Try tracking your weight on fitday.com (it's free), or on something, and see what your pattern is. Most of all, DON'T PANIC! This is a long journey, and requires a big picture point of view. Along the way, your body will need some time to adjust to a new weight, and give you the dreaded "plateau" also! It's all going to be okay....keep posting and asking questions!

I know it is soooo hard. I'm doing liquids/mushies again right now, because I had a fill on Thursday. Can you do liquid protein drinks? The egg drop soup idea is really good, too! Get out a SF or hey, go for a real one...popsicle! Switch up your liquids a little more, and gut it out. That's all you can do, and we're here for you!

I've been waiting for your post! Glad to be first to say CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! You've been a fantastic Band-Sister, Disney-Buddy, and overall great friend! Outstanding year, my friend! Cindy

Yeah for you! That is my dream! Christmas Onederland! Thanks for sharing your achievement...it is such great inspiration for all of us, and we're proud of you!

OOOH, Eileen, dinner out!!! Where ya goin'? I'm sure it'll be great...maybe they'll have a fruity dessert that will be delicious, and not break "our rules"? This may be weird and not work for others, but when I'm craving stuff I shouldn't eat right now (remember, it's not gone forever!), I watch the Food Channel, and enjoy watching the food! It works for me. Another trick I've used is to use SF Wintergreen Lifesavers after a meal as a little sweet, minty thing. Hey, hope something helps give you a new idea! I got some of these ideas from ya'll, I think? Patty, I totally agree with Eileen, and I bet you do, too, by now. This is a classic "coming down from stress" reaction, and it means you need to do what you are doing. RESTING! Do some of the things they have planned, but you can also explain to your mom that she is your soft place to land, and in a day or so , you'll be up and at 'em. I am exactly the same way...and this year, I've been like that a lot. When I have the opportunity to relax and do something fun I want to do, I just want to sit. So, I just vegged out more of this summer than I had planned, but like my DH said, "You are doing exactly what you need to do." I now pass his wisdom on to you! Last night my DD had another two hour cry about missing her Nana...it lasted until 1 AM, so we stayed home from church today. She's going to camp in a couple of days, and I think she needs her rest if she's that emotional. I hope, hope, hope I am doing her right on leading her through her grief...I let her cry and tell her it's okay to be sad, and that I am, too, and we'll always miss her Nana. She's with God, and knows how much she loves her. I try not to talk too much, and just let her do the talking. Any more ideas? I've asked ya'll about this so many times before...it's just so hard on her. And you know how your heart breaks when your kids are sad like that... Well, it's time to make breakfast...she is awake and seems like she is feeling much happier this morning. Cross fingers. Oh yeah, Darcy...just want to tell ya I'm proud of you for staying in the challenge! I know it's hard... Is it Day #4? Hugs, Cindy

Wow, Sherry! That ice cream sounds really good! Glad you enjoyed it, and isn't it good that you were able to exercise restraint you didn't have before? I always feel proud when I can do that. Sounds like the bike ride was really great! Alright, you've got one more day of ice cream and chocolate freedom! Enjoy!

The problem with pain/swallowing is probably caused by swelling in the stoma area (the part the band is around). When you drink, be sure to sip slowly. Try some liquid gas relief medicine, instead of chewables. I even used the kind babies use, simethicone drops... Do not try anything even kind of solid until this ressolves...you do not want to cause any additional irritation in your stomach. It is sooooo important for you to heal, and that takes weeks. I sure hope you are feeling better....baby your stomach! Cindy

Dianne, Now, that's a great way to get rid of candy! You're too funny! Did you go to the store and get some other stuff? Hope you get that little rest!

One very important thing...it is a very individual thing. I have trouble with dry meats...sometimes. I have eaten scrambled eggs, soft pretzels, grilled pineapple, lobster, scallops, tortillas (slowly)...what I'm trying to say is be CAUTIOUS, take small bites, chew it really well, and wait. See how it goes. Your fill will act and feel different from someone else's. Heck, your fill will do different things at different times of the day! Just take it easy, test it out slowly....

Please be careful about what you are eating...only two weeks out, you need be mindful of healing very well. I know you CAN eat some stuff you shouldn't, and you WANT to eat stuff you shouldn't, but that band needs to heal in very well, to avoid problems in the future. The band is only a tool, and you will have to roll up your sleeves to do the heavy lifting, which is in your brain, like want-to-be-thin and Stephanie have posted...try some of those books Stephanie wrote about. They are really eye-opening! Now, go be nice to yourself, and let that band heal! You can do this! Cindy

Congratulations! You have done a great job, and I know you are so happy to be feeling great! Here's to year two...I'm looking forward to moving forward toward my goal this year, too! Good job! Cindy

Sounds like the hot summer is just taking its toll on everyone's nerves! Tiime for a nice long summer nap, sounds like. I'm all gripey today, too...I don't have TOM anymore, since the hysterectomy, so I guess I'll just blame menopause and lack of ice cream....but I'm determined, and will not falter! I can bear that burden, surely. Darcy, SWEATING!!!!!! I know it stinks, but good for you! I imagine some M&M's would be great in there, but not for a couple of weeks, anyway! Dianne, hope you're calmed down, and you better ditch that bag of M&M's!!!!!! Or, try the old "eat them until you're sick of them" trick! (Does that ever happen with M&M's?) Betty, glad DH got the job, and hope all of that works out for the best for ya'll. Wear that cast thing, and make sure you get all healed up! Stay strong, everyone...the weekend's a hard time for the challenge! Cindy

Eileen's rules sound just fine to me! Everyone okay? Today I'm taking DD to a make-up voice lesson, then over to my dad's for a little visit. That's all...nice and boring, the way I like it! haha! Good job, Eileen, on that DQ dodge! These short-term challenges are really great for helping us make some changes...and since they are short, they are easier to stick to. Solidarity for the NJ SISTERS! A Blizzard alternative: yogurt, frozen banana, orange juice, and any other frozen fruit you want to add...blenderize! Use plenty of liquid (like juice) or your blender will be unhappy! Add ice if it's not thick enough. Have a great Saturday! BBL, Cindy

Thanks, Sherry! Those are all so cute!