ReneBean

Sherry! Your tree looks just like mine! Of course, mine has cat hair instead of dog hair - but it is very similar... Cute puppies! And you're not so bad, yourself! :]

I have no idea what causes that feeling - but as to curing it - yes - probably juice or a protein shake first to take the edge off and then try to eat. I am thinking that somehow, that ravenous feeling is overriding your brain and even though you think you are doing your normal slow routine, you aren't. Good Luck!

LOL! I meant they look a lot like my own life experiences. Been there - done that. :]

LOVE the illustrations. Those pictures look vaguely familiar... Hmmm. I look forward to buying clothes from somewhere other than Omar the Tent Maker. :]

If you do tell - stress the difference between the surgeries. Educate the people you tell so they don't freak out and think you are going to die. it seems that MOST people do not know there is a substantial difference between the band and the RNY. Hence the "Don't you think that's a bit Drastic" comments. Yeah - any surgery is drastic - but the Band is so much LESS drastic than the other options. So much more reversible and fixable than the RNY. Most people just don't get that. My poor Mom was so stressed out about it - but now it's just not a big deal. Not only did I get up off the operating table - but I am losing gradually and having no side effects at all. If you have friends that will worry - take them to a seminar and talk it through with them. :]

Hi Elaine! I'm an Allen girl. Hi Kathi. Yep - the pre-op diet is hard. And until you get to the point where you have restriction, the post op diet may be hard, too - but it does all get better - and it is so worth it! JUST the slowing down on the eating helped me to feel full faster. Each fill has made it a little easier to eat less. It still takes some work - but it's all good. And - since the loss is slow/gradual, there is less flappy skin, and less embarassing interest from the people around you. So, if you are shy - and you don't want to be the center of attention - this is the best possible surgery. Nobody even notices for the first 30-40 lbs. Hugs and congrats on your upcoming surgery dates!

I don't think that they are trying to minimize the stress - so much as they are trying to tell you that your stress is more devastating and more damaging to you because your body does not have the correct nutrition tools to do what it needs to combat the stress. Your body is a finely tuned machine... and like all machines it needs fuel to run properly. Low blood sugar does godawful things to you... I think all they are trying to do is let you know that proper nutrition will help you combat stress - both physically and emotionally. Give your body the fuel it needs, and you may be less crushed, less teary and less tired - even with the stress you are under. I am with you on the surgery. My arms, legs and belly will never be "normal" without PS. But you really need to eat good food. You can eat lean meats and vegetables - 1000 - 1200 calories a day should not make you gain weight under any circumstances. Unless you lie down and cease to move at all for the next month. Try not to panic if you have normal fluctuations in weight from Water retention. My weight varies by 2-3 pounds a day - back and forth - depending on how much water I am drinking and the saltiness of the foods I am eating... Please, Please, Please - go eat some stir fry or something. If nothing else - drink some Protein shakes fortified with Vitamins. Hugs.

A new year - A new you! AWESOME~!! Congrats!

Hey Y'All Can you say TGIF?!? Sure y' can. Sherry - my problem is that my tree came out of a box - with lights on it. So, in the dark - when you flip the lights on - it looks pretty and festive. I just have't worked up the energy to drag the boxes of ornaments out of my closet. :] I expect I will get round to it this weekend. Mary - I am so glad your Chiro could help! No sense in living with pain. Give Chalio some big birthday hugs from me! Patty - WAHOO!!!!! I am so happy for you! Now you just have to try and stay sane until those last little pieces fall into place. Hugs!! Oh, and could you make sure that your connecting flight to Sherry's comes thru Dallas? I will pick you up at the airport and you can decorate my tree, too. :] Mandy - Mice, huh? We have two things to combat that problem at my house: The house is on a cement slab. We don't do basements, here. And we have CATS. Gracie and Yaya LOVE mice... for Breakfast. Hope you have all the little holes sealed up. Hugs! Sweethot - pull up a keyboard and tell us about you! Welcome! Cindy - so when do we get Ladies Dancing? I can NOT keep that song straight. I am totally lost after "Five GOLDEN Riiiiiiiiings". :] I know we have swans a swimming coming up, and pipers and drummers - but don't ask me when. :] Darcy - so - are you still working on the little presents for your house party? You give door prizes? Or are you pulling a Martha Stewart and personalizing pillowcases? Do tell... Kat - Hugs!! I hope you feel better soon. I think that I have pretty much done with it, now... except for the requisite lost voice and lingering cough. Betty - BRRRRRR. Today is the first time my toes have been cold when I wore my sandals. I guess I am going to have to drag out the shoes. I don't worry too much about the protective clothing. I have the world's biggest coat in the back of my car in case it breaks down - but I just dash from one heated location to another most of the time. Chris - Hugs!! How's the latest on the dating scene? Anybody worth mentioning? Eileenie - Hugs. I got a bummer e-mail myself today. My Dad has heart trouble - basically his heart could just stop beating at any time. Nice, huh? I am so sorry about your friend. Dianne - Happy Birthday!!! Hope you have the very best day, ever! Pat, Cass, Anne, Ira, anybody I missed, I hope you are all having a great day, too. Hugs!!

And keep in mind that all that excess skin has weight. It could be about 10 lbs. So, what is your goal weight? What size clothes do you wear? Seriously - good nutrition requires food. It is not optional. Hugs! Go eat some Protein.

My Dad always calls me ReneBean - or The Bean Mom always calls me Goldy. (I had yellow/blonde hair as a kid) I answer to pretty much anything. :] Irene

I have a goal "Size" rather than weight, also. I will be thrilled to peices if I can wear a size 14 - and if I get down to a size 12 I will think I have died an gone to heaven. Size 8? Yeah, whatever. I can't even imagine that. I will be happy enough if I just get to below 200 lbs sometime in this life. :]

I have the big Vanguard Band - I have had five fills so far - and I probably need one more. So - it's entirely possible that the first fill wasn't enough. Keep the faith! :]

So - how long to they give you to lose 50% of your excess weight before they call you a wash-out? Cause I am here to tell you that there is no way I am losing 100lbs in the first year... it just isn't happening for me. I didn't even get real restriction until month 9.... :]

hahahahahahah Darcy! oooh - Cindy - tomorrow we get ladies dancing, right? That's all good.... Kat - Soup is good. Naps are better. Lucky you! You get naps. Hugs!! :]

Bill - You - NOT your Doc - will have to decide what is best for you. Your doc can advise - but he cannot live your life for you. If YOU believe that you will be better off with the band - then go for it. You may have to fight with your insurance company - as I did - but it is well worth it. I didn't want the permanent change to my intestinal tract - and I would have been miserable with the stricter restrictions on food. Besides the shock of losing the weight fast is not necessarily good for your body, or your soul. But - you need to research both options - and YOU need to make the decision. Once you decide - don't let anyone change your mind - even us. :]

Hey All. Here I am in Dallas....instead of NYC. HMMPH! Darcy - so what was it? Reverse Osmosis? Or did your doc just screw up the last time he filled you? *sigh*. So hard to get good help these days.... so sorry about your DH's Granny. Hugs! Betty - thanks for the reminder! I need to go get some candy canes! I love to hang them on the tree, too. No - I don't think you want to get this cold. It has been hovering for several days now - since last Friday. It isn't enough to really put you down - it just makes you feel Icky for about a week. I think I am on the downhill end of it, now. Sherry - I think the cold is as "Full Blown" as it is going to get. Ick. Just call me Snoterella. I really wish I could work from home. I imagine I would get just as much done in the comfort of my jammies... Plus I wouldn't be spreading my cold germs to the world. Pat - Wow - check out that Choreography. I can see where learning that little dance could take some time. :] Hugs! Mandy - Hi!! Hugs! Cass - Salsa is our friend - and spices are totally band friendly. :] No need for bland. In fact, I have found that eating spicier foods makes it easier to slow down. Hugs! Soon, this whole liquid/mushy diet will be a distant memory. Well - Nothing much exciting going on. I look like I have a cold (like hell) and I feel about the same - but otherwise, nothing new, nothing exciting. Hope all is well with you guys. xo

Hey Guys Another glorious day in Mortgage Lending.... Sherry - what can I say - great minds think alike? I am thinking about taking off early again today. I have a little cold - so I have an excuse to take off a little early and go home to rest. Maybe I will decorate this afternoon - or NOT. Although it looks like I don't have to pack for NYC tonight, after all....Maybe I will decorate instead. Ira - I think there was a band on E-bay once before - last year sometime. It caused quite the ruckus, here. I think somebody told Inamed and they made them take it off the site. So, is that a Doctor putting his services on E-bay? or is it just the band in a box? Betty - Man - we are really on the same brain-wave pattern right now, aren't we? I keep thinking - "Gee, all this tree really needs is some garland? maybe a little tinsel? It looks GREAT when you light it up at night - even without any decorations." :] Eileenie - Looks like we are going to miss our lunch date AGAIN this month. Our investors aren't coming until next week - so, my trip has been canceled. :[ My favorite Christmas song is Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - the Judy Garland version. I guess the good news is that you don't have to worry about taking my cold home to your darlings. Cindy - Can you hear us all joining in on the countdown? Everyone together now: "TWELVE!" (what is that? Lords a leaping? Maids a Milking? I can never keep that darned song straight.) I say we mark each day of the 12 remaining with a verse from the song. :] Mary - Hugs!! Hope that neck & shoulder feel better, soon. Cass - vent away, dear. It's really ok. That's what friends are for. So, you are hungry a lot - but you are tight enough to have a PB? Or were you just not paying attention, or something? Hugs! When can you move up to soft foods? This was the hardest time for me, too. it's only a couple more weeks.... soon, it will be better. Anne - crazy? Maybe - but darned if those homemade strands of popcorn and cranberries don't look better than any decorations you could buy! I love that stuff too - but never, ever have the time. Congrats on the scale moving! All the Water retention I had from T-Day and Tom has gone away - So I am back down and have even lost a pound from pre-T-day. Yee Haw! I am going to make that 50 lbs by my anniversary date, yet! Kat - Hugs to that GD and to you. I am also a big believer in the power of positive thought. I refuse to have any complications. I will not slip, I will not erode. I will lose weight. That's it. :] You, Me, Anne and all the rest of our group. No more complications. No way, no how. :] Well, I found out as I was typing this up that my trip is probably canceled. It's a good news/bad news kind of thing. I was really looking forward to lunch with Eileenie - but not looking forward to travelling with a cold. So, I get to avoid the whole puff-up from travelling, as well as the rich foods and stress involved. *sigh*. I will check in with you guys tomorrow. Hugs!

The Boys in Blue seem to have no trouble writing up those tickets in Plano! :guess

I didn't imagine dying of some horrid disease... I imagined what life would be like if I lived to be over 90 like most of the women in my family. My knees were disintigrating at 40. What would they be like at 60? 80? It wasn't a pretty picture. Would I be bedridden? In constant pain? Dead would seem like a much better alternative than THAT - but I opted for door number 3: The Band. Did Vanity play a part? You Betcha! Do I want to be the "hot" sister for the first time in my life? Yep. Sure do. I love my husband and I have no plans to go play - but that doesn't mean I wouldn't like to get the occassional offer. Is that bad? So - for me #1 - Health #2 - Vanity.

I would say he was just insecure and afraid if he gave you this line BEFORE the surgery - but now that it's a done deal - he really needs to get over it. If he likes the weight loss - then he needs to just keep his mouth shut about what you are doing. Most docs want you to graduate slowly back to normal foods after a fill - so do take at least 1 day on liquids - follow your doc's orders. Mine wants 1 day liquids, 1 day mushies and then 1 day soft foods. Since your BF is not a doc - I would ignore him. Hugs! and welcome to LBT. Maybe he is afraid that other men will steal you away. A little more attention toward him MIGHT help the situation. If that doesn't work - try slapping him up side the head. :]

Hi! By day 3 I could sleep horizontal in my bed. By Day four, I could have gone back to work. After a week, I did go back to my desk job. Unless you heal REALLY, REALLY slow, you should be just Hunky Dorry by Christmas. Feliz Navidad!

Hey Folks Your digestive tract is built to be a one way system - food in at the mouth - waste out at the end. NOTHING is supposed to come back, ever. Whether or not we call it bulemia or not is not the point. PB's are not ok - should not be a regular thing. PB's MIGHT contribute to slippage and other band complications. Try to avoid them at all costs. If you find yourself PBing more than about once a week - you need to see your Doctor, or your Therapist. It was very brave to come here. Now, please be brave enough to talk to someone about this, whether it be your Doc or your Shrink - you need some help to stop the madness. Hugs!

Love the General's chicken - and a good Kung Poa is extremely rare - but very worth looking for. Mmmmmmm

Hey - I remember when I used to think School was the worst possible thing, couldn't wait to get out and get on with my life. What a fool I was. Now I have the endless monotany of day after day after day of work, boring work. Try not to procrastinate too much! Hugs!