ReneBean

Linda, you ROCK! How wonderful you look! Congrats on a Great first year! Hugs!

Hi All. Another glorious COLD day in Texas, here. I had to scrape the frost off my window to drive in this morning. Thank goodness we only get a couple of months of this. By February, it will be Spring, here. I just keep thinking of how nice that will be.... Cindy - 13 days!! I am green, green, green. But, I have invested in all the lottery drawings thru Dec. 28th! Think good thoughts for me! So, hows the new mattress? I hope DD isn't too traumatized over the whole event. Darcy - Thanks for the heads up on Hyundai. Don't these guys know that there is NOTHING more irritating than having someone PRETEND there is no problem at all? I will certainly skip the Hyundai dealership when I am car shopping this year. I guess if you can't get your money back, at least you can keep a few others from getting skinned by the same guys. :[ My tree is lit - but not yet decorated. Just lighting it makes it look pretty darned good! It does warm the soul. :] Mandy - My DH made stew this weekend, too. Something about a warm bowl on a cold day just feels good, doesn't it? :] Regarding acting like a child at Birthday Parties... I find myself acting like a child often - Birthday or not. Why wait for Birthdays to have fun? :] Give me some finger paints any old day! Dianne - don't you fret about catching up. We'll miss you! :] Oh - and just think... that pantyhose story could have turned out worse... it could have been captured on video for all the world to see! *shudder* Eileenie - see you Friday! Can't wait. Hugs! Chris - don't starve yourself, now... You really need to eat at least a 1000 calories a day - unless you are taking some huge supplements - Vitamins, Protein, etc. Don't get all malnourished for beauty! :] Patty - did you get to all the stuff on your list this weekend? Sounds like you were going to have a grand time. Hope Lewis and all of you enjoyed every minute. Hugs!!! And happy belated birthday Lewis! Kat - I actually solved the Tree Smell problem by purchasing a small pine wreath. I laid it flat on an end table and put a floating candle bowl in the middle of it. It makes the whole house smell - without dropping needles all over the living room carpet. The best of both worlds! Oh - and I buy my lotto tickes 10 draws at a time. That way - I don't miss the opportunity to win a measly 10 or 20 million. :] Oh - and don't worry about ex-SIL. I don't believe that there is a "lying gene". I think that is 100% environmental. Your grandbaby should turn out just fine - assuming she doesn't spend too much time with daddy! Betty - I put my tree up this weekend, too. Now, I just have to decorate it! Just lit, it looks pretty good... I have a little bit of a cold - so I was pretty much a couch potato all weekend. I read a lot. Hugs! Well, lunch is over. Hugs and Love to All.

Schel I feel for you. Losing has been a struggle for me, too. You need to look at what you are eating and how - with your most honest possible eyes. 1) What are you eating? This is the hard one for me - I find myself eating nuts and icecream and other high-fat, calorie dense food. cheese is my particular downfall. 2) How are you eating. Constantly? Grazing? I have less problems with this - except during the holidays. What about you? Are you eating more than once every 4-6 hours? If so, Why? Exercise is important - don't get me wrong. It is a basic equation of calories in and calories out. But I find that if I control the calories in a little more, it isn't such a crisis when I don't get to the gym every day. Also - getting a fill is important. Just cause you have 8cc in a 10cc band does not mean you have proper restriction. Trust me - I have 8.2 now - and I still don't have the optimal restriction. It's pretty close, for ME - but you might need more. I think if you can make some adjustments in all of the above - make better food/eating choices, get more exercise and get a bit more fill - you will see some improvement in the scales. **Be sure to get your fill done under Flouro. That way - if there is any obvious problem with your band - you will know. Hugs!!

Nope probably nothing wrong with you. Do you have a Vanguard band? The "big" band? I do and it was fill three before I had ANY restriction - and fill FIVE before it was really good. I would be sure that you aren't losing saline, though. Hugs. Try to be patient and keep the faith. Someday, restriction will come.

Thinking good thoughts for you! If you have any trouble - send me an e-mail. I know how fickle Blue Cross can be.

I almost wish I did miss red meat. then maybe I would be down 80 lbs like you! :]

Walking is fabulous. Especially if you have never been particularly active. I have also found that FOR ME - the Eliptical machine is even better because it is a pretty much zero impact exercise - it's like treading Water, or a slow jog without the pounding. Burns LOTS of calories but causes NO damage. My first time on the eliptical was only 2 minutes. I then worked up to 5, and then ten, etc. Now, about 9 months later, I can go 30 minutes and my knees have improved dramatically. For back pain - you have to do abdominals - crunches, machines, whatever. It sucks - but it works. Good luck!!

Up with the Childless Heathens!! Maybe we should start a club? :]

Yes - I never had any burning sensations during any of my five fills - but I have always been very conscientious about not eating for the 4 hours and not drinking for the 1 hour prior. Plus - I have no issues of reflux, either. Maybe reflux - maybe it was just because it was too tight. Glad it's working, though. Hugs!

1) Dry heaving, or any kind of heaving is BAD. If it hasn't stopped - get back to your doc. You need something to counter that - and now. 2) pain is normal. Take your meds. Do no be brave. 3) Hunger was normal - for me. Especially if you got the Vanguard Band - you may not have any swelling at all. I know that once I healed up, I could eat anything and everything - and I did. But that was AFTER I healed up. You need to let your pouch relax for the first several weeks after the band is placed. No twisting and gurgling to try and digest stuff. You want food that just slides through. For now, don't concern youself with portion size or anything like that. Just be sure that you do the liquids for as long as you are supposed to, then the mushies, and then the soft foods. If you need to drink four Protein shakes to feel good - then do it - but don't break out the steak and eggs until you are healed. 4) Pester your doctor if you have ANY questions. If he doesn't give you answers you understand - come here and we will try and translate into Regular Person. Hugs and good luck!!

I read the party post - it was funny. Pat? You are the Bitter Old Hag? Or are there many HarleyNana's? Sheesh - Incognito!

Ah yes. College. I remember how stupid I was then - but I was NEVER that dumb. :] I suppose she was trying to see if you could give her a make-up exam or something? *sigh* 10 to 1 she is calling you unflattering names to her friends right now - even though SHE was the idiot. Whatcha gonna do? Some folks just never get it. Take a deep cleansing breath - and hope she ends up in somebody elses labs when she comes back to re-take the class! :]

Yep I think Sherrijo is right. Besides - your port would be under your largest incision. Hugs!

Oh my gosh, Mandy - How cute is that?!?! And Abi is such a little ham - look at her grinning at you when she gets to the bottom. Sherry - I don't recall those washing machine covers. I lived in Cali. We didn't get snow when I was a kid. We did a similar summer activity. When the grass grew tall in the field and went to that brown dry stuff - we would slide down the hill on cardboard boxes... it was Summer Sledding. Anne - At least your tree is real. Your house SMELLS like Christmas, if nothing else. I guess I am going to have to go home and decorate, now. See you guys on Monday. xo

Well - if you already know they cover the surgery in general - you need to see if your employer has a specific exclusion. You can either contact your HR dept and ask them - or you can call your insurance carrier - give them all the numbers they ask you for, and ask them if your employer has an exclusion. Your best bet is to check with HR and your insurer. I got a different answer every time I asked... It took a week or two just to determine the correct answer. Good Luck!

Oh Cheryl! I am so sorry you are having this issue. You have to keep trying to sip liquids, though - or you will get dehydrated. Hugs! Hopefully that lump will go down soon.

The downside? My &*^%$^%&(* body functions normally again. How do you girls handing having a period EVERY MONTH?? What a PITA. I liked it better when I only had them quarterly.... but then, I suppose this irritation is offset by being able to walk without pain and fitting into all my clothes. *sigh* This is the only time I EVER have penis envy. :]

Welcome! I hope you find this site to be as helpful and informative as I have! :]

Howdy! Cindy - clearly, you were the smart one! Did you get to stay home today, too? And, no - we never tire of your little theories... :] Dianne - work for your surgeon? That could be good. It's not like the world is going to cease being overweight anytime soon - Job Security. And your embarrassing moment pretty much tops anything that has ever happened to me. I am pretty sure that I would have sunk into the floor. Not only were you mooning the world - but it was a MAN who was kind enough to point it out to you. So much for sisterhood, huh? Betty - I always buy my lottery tickets 10 drawings at a time - that means I only have to go in and get them every 1.5 mos... it works for me - unless I forget to go in for weeks after they expire. Ah - the bra story cracks me up! How young you were. :] oh - and don't feel bad. Aside from buying the plastic tree, I haven't done anything, either. :] Chris - so, did the storm hit there? I hope not. :] Hope you get to keep that restriction at just a perfect level. Mandy - baking - that would be fun. But of course, then I would feel compelled to eat cookies! (since that is all I ever bake besides biscuits). So, really - you guys ate carelessly after 50 lbs? Dang - I have been eating carelessly the whole time. I suppose that would explain the whole slow loss thing. :] Sherry - sounds like you have a keeper! I guess I am going to have to lug a bag of dogfood around the grocery store the next time I am there... :] Kat - ah yes - I didn't even mention the GIFTS of food. *sigh*. Why is it that people constantly give food gifts to fat people? Isn't that a little weird? Your grandbaby sounds like a doll. Sorry about your Aunt - but it's probably better that she didn't have to live without her leg. Sounds like she wouldn't have liked that at all. Hugs! Eileenie - we miss you. Tie that boss man to a chair and come and play with us. xo Kathy - yep - quitting is a good thing. We are all proud of you! And you are more than welcome to hang out with us, too. The more, the merrier! Mandy - sounds like you are enjoying your winter wonderland experience. I am waiting for the picture of Abi flying down the hill, screaming.... :] Well - back to work, I guess. Love you guys!

Wow - those are fun! And yes - I bet they knock down the price if you don't want the owner with the house. :]

:biggrin1: I would say "Just Stay Fat" - but I have done that for 30 yrs - and the skin sags, fat and all. *sigh* Good luck!!

Just in case you are still feeling blue (((HUGS)))

Hugs Crystal Happy Holidays!

Ground meats can count as Solid Protein - Turkey, Hamburger, etc. Yeah - toast is easy - but you would honestly be better off eating a slice of lowfat cheese or a couple of spoonfuls of cottage cheese than you would eating the toast. For me - toast, chips, candy - any of that high carb stuff just triggers the "eat everything you can lay your hands on" mode. And hey - no toast is complete without half a stick of butter, right? :] I also try to keep some sliced veggies around - and I make a lowfat, low carb dip to eat with them 2 parts Lowfat or no fat mayo 1 part lowfat feta cheese 2 parts FF Sour Cream Whiz it up in a food processor until it is mostly smooth and then throw in a packet of Ranch dressing mix. You can add your favorite Soup mix if you prefer. Blend until the powdered dressing packet is evenly mixed in. You have to blend the cheese and the mayo and the sour cream FIRST - because otherwise it works the food processor too hard when the dressing mix starts to thicken the mixture. This makes a very strong tasting dip - that is relatively low in fat & calories. The strong flavor is important, too - cause you don't use as much if the flavor is almost overwhelming. Having the dip in the fridge and the veggies pre-sliced means that if I get hungry - I can just grab those instead of making toast. You can do the same with solid Proteins. Cook up some chicken breasts or a turkey breast and slice them up. The dip works with the chicken breast, too. So long as you use the dip sparingly - you shouldn't get into too much trouble, this way. Preparedness is half the battle with lap banding. With the proteins - take very small bites and then chew them until they are properly pulverized. Good Luck!!

Oh! Give me a good smutty romance any day! or Sci Fi, or Mystery, or, or, or... I go thru 2-3 books during the week and that many over the weekend - unless I am unusually busy. I have been reading Catherine Coulter for the last week or so. I like her Romance Thrillers as well as her historical romance. My books are about the only place where I go Rogue Female. I call it "Chicking out". Oh - Carlene - anything by Robert Heinlein. LOVE his books. :]