Barb

Febreeze (Because I smoke) Downy Wrinkle Releaser (Because I hate to Iron and even clothes just form the cleaners get wrinkled when packed like sardines). Palmer's Cocoa Butter Bonne Bell Lip Smackers (Yes, I am 30 something and I still use the stuff) Bath & Body Works vanilla Bean Noel Lotion (It is a Christmas Scent but I use it all year, I will cry when they discontinue it....and they will.)

Our company policy is to pay employees for 8 hours a day when serving on jury duty. We would not pay overtime if the actually worked under 40 hours. For example if they worked 36 hours but were off 2 days (16 hours) for jury duty they would get paid for 46 hours at their regular rate not 6 hours of overtime. No federal law requires an employer to pay a non-exempt employee for jury duty. I don't know about your state laws. When an employer pays an employee for jury duty is is a benefit of working for that company. I think most companies pay their employees their regular rate of pay for jury duty. Some companies deduct the amount the employee receives for the jury duty. Your husbands Personnel Policy manual should outline their policy on jury duty.

Too bad stupidity isn't painful.

I think Weight Watchers is a good program. Good luck on continuing your successful journey!

I count it as Water. I asked the question becasue I still try for at least 64 ounces a day but I never seem to get there. I get full with just water and since I am not suppose to drink an hour before I eat or asn hour after that is five and a half hours less a day i have to try and get in 64 ounces. My Dr. said the crystal light was fine but he told me to limit it to half of my water a day. I just want to know how much most people are able to drink.

You are beautiful inside and out.

You have a lot of swelling. Drink slowly and don't over do it. I could only drink very small amounts (sips) for the first couple of days. Hang in there, it will get better.

Do you rresearch and be comfortable with your decision and your Dr. Every surgery has potential for complications. The Dr.'s in ther U.S. will treat you even if you are banded in Mexico.

I had a heparin shot just before surgery. I did not have any pain killers; I had a Rx but never needed them.

I use Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula with Vitamin E. It smooths marks and scars and tones the skin. I have used it for like 20 years; I love the stuff. I also use the stick on my lips every night and every morning, it keeps me from getting dry chapped lips.

I was eating around 800 calories a day and I wasn't loosing much (about 1 pound a week), I was okay with that and went about 10 days w/o tracking my food on fitday but I was keeping a written journal. When I got home I had lost 5 pounds in 10 days. I went back and put my food into fitday because I want to always have the history so I can go back and look at the trends. When I did this I was a little surprised that my daily calories were averaging between 900 - 1100 which was more than I had been eating. It had a lot to do with eating out and eating sauces, that are higher in calories; not really eating more quantity. So, for the months of February and March I decided to try something and see what my weight loss would be if I average 1,000 calories a day. In February I lost 11 lbs. and in March I lost 17 lbs. I don't get exactly 1,000 calories in any given day I just try and keep that as an average over the course of the week. I have had a few days when I have gone as high as 1,400 calories. Because of my travel schedule I don't weigh weekly but I also don't weigh daily but since the day I was banded I haven't had a single weight gain; there has always been some loss. So I guess to answer the actual question, I was still loosing with 800 calories a day and I don't gain if I have days that I go over 1,000. For me the 1,000 calories a day average seems to be what works best. I know this will be different for everyone. I did find thst by using fitday to track my intake I was able to determine what worked best for me. In April my weight loss slowed down, I only lost 9lbs. but I am getting close to goal so I kinda expect it to continue to slow.

Great Job!

I don't diet, I just try and always follow the Band rules and eat Protein first. I don't worry about eating things that aren't low fat or fat free. I found that with the small quantity it doens't make much of a diference. Before the band I was obsessed with low fat or fat free. I track my calories on fitday.com; I discovered that if I don't average 1,000 calories a day I don't loose as well as when I do. Water is my best friend.

I just wanted to share the fact that my insurance had an exclusion for any type of weight loss surgery. The do allow exceptions but I didn;t try I paid cash for the surgery and expected to pay for all the fills and after care too. After my first fill I received a refund check. When I went in for the second fill I only had to pay my $25 co-pay. I was told that my insurance would pay for my aftercare (including fills), and all I would need to do is pay my co-pay. So make sure you ask and provide your insurance information. It may save you soem money.

I have BCBS TX!

Thanks Wheetsin, I will give it a try and see if I can handle the filo.

I have what I consider "perfect" restriciton. I have no idea how long it will last but so far so good. I got some restrcition with my first fill. On my second I got to much fill and my own saliva wouldn't go down so I had soem taken out and now I consider it perfect. I have 7.5 cc in.

My first husband was my banker. I worked for American Airlines and he didn't like "my career" and I didn't like being controlled. We divorced before our first anniversary. I had actually met my second husband when I was a Freshman in college and went to a friends house to borrow a drill. He was her brother who had just been transferred back from NM to TX with Halliburton and wouldn't let me borrow the drill but offered to come over and do the work for me. I went out with him a few times but had other romantic interests too and was soon moving to another college. We both married and divorced and saw each other again when we both ended up at the same high school graduation. We will be married 16 years this August.

I am sure it is a surreal time for you right now. You are in my thoughts. CONGRATULATIONS on your weight loss. You look awesome!!

If you have to reheat your meal 3 times in the microwave before you have eaten 3/4c. you might be a bandster. If you can eat lunch out each day for under $2 you might be a bandster. If you try on your size 10 jeans every few weeks you might be a bandster.

I was sore for a couple of days after both of my fills. My port seems to be hard to hit and there was a lot of movement with the needle to hit it. I think I was just sore from the actual procedure itself. For me, it went away after a couple of days. The bruises took a week or so to go away. Hope your feeling better soon.

I think you are probably fine. Following my surgery and before my first fill I was gradually getting back to eating the same as I had before banding. I don't think this is all to unusual. Things will change when you start getting fills. Like many bandsters I can't eat bread. I can only eat the meat from the hamburger and not all of it.

Mandy, Sorry you are having problems. I haven't had the strange burping or bubbling so I don't have any good advice, but I am glad to hear that you are not PBing. We were banded right around the same time and have similar stats. I have also lost 60 something pounds, I want to loose another 20-30 before I go on maintenance (start removing Fluid from the band). I had perfect restriction since my 2nd fill but statred having problems yesterday after I had a massage. I PB'd on lunch after 2 bites and did the same thing when I tried supper. I did fine today at lunch so I hope it is behind me now. I hope you get it figured out.

Any meat that is dry usually gives me some problems. When I am eating out I try and stick with things that I haven't had problems with before and I try to order something with sauce or add something to it. When I have to add it I have used everything imaginable ranch dressing, ketchup, BBQ Sauce........ I can get ice cream, chocolate, etc. down without a problem so I just stay away from it.

I think we are all different but for me the "honeymoon phase" didn't begin until I got appropriate restriction (a/k/a the sweet spot). I hope it last because I am planning to keep it for the next few months to goal.