SpecialK

Hi PGAMike. Welcome. I just read an article about PGA Golfer John Daly being a Lapband person and he is loving life and its really helped him. I assumed you like golf with your nickname. Welcome and hope you finds lots of good information here to make the best decision for yourself.

I think doing it the next try with an xray so they can find its exact location and orientation is the right thing. They were trying to teach our bariatric nurse coordinator how to do the fills for our program when I had my first fill and she had some initial misses when she was trying with me standing up and then they tilted me back on the table and actually found it within seconds while I was lying down. Every fill since has been totally painless in my surgeon's office, a simple pin prick type thing and over in seconds. Best wishes and don't give up. It will get better. BTW - the surgeon does all fills and the nurse was taken out of the picture at least for now.

I don't know what you had to go through to get approved to have your surgery but my program made me do a psych consult and I was encouraged to continue on with counseling to help deal with depression, head hunger, and just acceptance of my body, and to find peace for a lifetime. I highly recommend it.

Second, if your surgeon/hospital had a post op nutrition or support group, I'd recommend taking advantage of both. There is nothing like advice from those who know where you are at. Nutritionally, we are all learning and perhaps a nutritionist could help evaluate the kinds of food you are eating and help you find the right combinations to help jump start your loss again.

Glad to hear a fill is coming up for you. Restriction level is another great thing to help you move on.

God Bless you today.

Are you saying "hard contact" from martial arts means you could get kicked in the abdominal area where your port would be? I would definitely ask that question of a surgeon in an initial consult. I'd hate to think that a port could become flipped or affected since its under the skin and meant to be accessible for adjustments. It gets sutured to the abdominal wall area.

Thanks for letting me know about Dicks Sporting Goods - we have one of those here and to look at packaging to see how it is weight rated.

Given its summer time, one of the things I used to dread was the infamous fold up lawn chairs. I had to search for the sturdiest chair I could find and hope that if I sat down in it very slowly and gently, it could hold my weight. Normal size lawn chairs or the "cheapo" ones I wouldn't even consider sitting in someone else's chair for fear I would break it and the sides of the arms pressing on my legs was no fun either. I would see those fold up kind of chairs with canvas and folding legs that are really popular now and I wouldn't even consider going near one. I am still not sure I want to try that yet. Anyone know if those can hold someone 240+ lbs?

Wow it is so incredible hearing that our March bandsters are starting through the plastic surgery stages for those close or near to goal. I'll keep plugging away and maybe by next March be able to consider it too. Keep us posted!

Pictures too of those flat tummies!

What I didn't see in the above posts so far is what those of us who still like chocolate do for substitutes and so I'll start off and maybe others will join in to give you ideas.

1. SF hot chocolate

2. SF Jello Chocolate pudding

3. Low Carb Chocolate Protein Drinks

4. Slim-Fast has a chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch snack bar with Protein that reminds me of a candy bar - about 110 calories or so.

5. Zone Perfect Protein Bars - they have some real chocolately flavored ones that hit my chocolate hot spot.

6. SF Chocolate fudge bars

I'm late posting due to the holiday but hoping everyone is enjoying the summer. I hope its okay but I noticed some of the totals were not updated (you deserve credit for every lb gone!) and where I had seen it on a ticker in the last few days, I updated so we can all pat each other on the back. Way to go Shamrocks, we continue to be Shrinking Shamrocks.

aJoneen.........................-080 pounds lost!

Bandana....................... 0 92 lbs lost

BrandNewLisa............0 97 pounds LOST forever!!!

evelas5000...................0 50 pounds Lost

Desdemona...................0 67 pounds lost

Fenton...........................0 102 POUNDS LOST !!

HarleyGirl....................0 90 pounds LOST!

Hopeinapril................. 0 55 pounds lost

Kpodski.........................

Lynnt1215.....................0 64 lbs lost

NurseNiki......................0

Nycm00........................ 0 -66 lbs lost

Potatie............................0 149 POUNDS LOST!!

Scrappy_Friend........ -3 182 POUNDS LOST!!!!

SpecialK........................-5 116 lbs GONE forever!

Sugarbean....................0 117 POUNDS LOST !!!

Sharona.........................0

stellabella......................0 75 POUNDS LOST!

Tess415..........................0 -80 lbs lost

Thin2bme...................+1 100 POUNDS LOST!!

WestCoastMom............0

Wishin4...........................-2 86 pounds gone!!

Desdemona - I had to go look up the Vit D testing results report he sent me. My "Vit D 25 OH"= 24.2 and that was after a 6 month effort on my part to eat yogurts, cheese, milk and take a 1,000-2,000 IU supplement with my Multi-Vitamin. I've been outside getting sun as well with yardwork, exercise walks, etc. Normal Reference range is 31.0 - 100. He wants me to do this prescription for 12 weeks taking 50,000 IU (ergocalciferol) twice a week and then get retested to see if I am in the 40-50 range at least. I actually need to go get the prescription refilled tomorrow.

Vitamin D Deficiency Syndrome (VDDS) exists when 25(OH)D levels of less than 25 ng/mL are found in patients.

I do know I am a person who gets more depressed, sleeps more when we lose sunlight hours as the fall comes on. I love how long it stays light outside now and I'm soaking in a much sunlight as I can by getting outside often but not for tanning per se.

He also tested something called PTH (parathyroid hormone) and I was at 37 when the normal was 8-83.5 so he thought I was okay on that. I had to look up the abbreviation but its generally Vitamin D/Calcium and metabolism things all tied together. Very important to keep the balance of these things.

The sole purpose of the parathyroid glands is to control Calcium within the blood in a very tight range between 8.8 and 10.2. In doing so, parathyroids also control how much Calcium is in the bones, and therefore, how strong and dense the bones are.

Happy 4th of July to all. This story really inspired me and I wanted to pass it along. My father was career 24 yrs in US Air Force and our family made alot of sacrifices during those years and now I have a niece and nephew in the US Navy serving. I hope this inspires and lifts you up.

The Sack Lunches

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought.

Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation. 'Where are you headed?', I asked the soldier seated nearest to me. 'Petawawa. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan . After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time.... As I reached for my wallet, I overheard soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks... I'll wait till we get to base. ' His friend agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq ; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'

Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken? ' 'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. 'This is your thanks.'

After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.

Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out hi s hand, and said, 'I want to shake your hand.' Quickly unfastening my seat belt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.

When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.'

Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little...

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'

That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.'

May God give you the strength and courage to pass this along to everyone on your buddy list....

I JUST DID!

Signed,

Proud to be an American

Happy 4th of July to all. This story really inspired me and I wanted to pass it along. My father was career 24 yrs in US Air Force and our family made alot of sacrifices during those years and now I have a niece and nephew in the US Navy serving. I hope this inspires and lifts you up.

The Sack Lunches

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought.

Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation. 'Where are you headed?', I asked the soldier seated nearest to me. 'Petawawa. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan . After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time.... As I reached for my wallet, I overheard soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks... I'll wait till we get to base. ' His friend agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq ; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'

Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken? ' 'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. 'This is your thanks.'

After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.

Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out hi s hand, and said, 'I want to shake your hand.' Quickly unfastening my seat belt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.

When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.'

Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little...

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'

That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.'

May God give you the strength and courage to pass this along to everyone on your buddy list....

I JUST DID!

Signed,

Proud to be an American

Happy 4th of July to all. This story really inspired me and I wanted to pass it along. My father was career 24 yrs in US Air Force and our family made alot of sacrifices during those years and now I have a niece and nephew in the US Navy serving. I hope this inspires and lifts you up.

The Sack Lunches

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought.

Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation. 'Where are you headed?', I asked the soldier seated nearest to me. 'Petawawa. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan . After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time.... As I reached for my wallet, I overheard soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks... I'll wait till we get to base. ' His friend agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq ; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'

Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken? ' 'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. 'This is your thanks.'

After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.

Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out hi s hand, and said, 'I want to shake your hand.' Quickly unfastening my seat belt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.

When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.'

Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little...

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'

That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.'

May God give you the strength and courage to pass this along to everyone on your buddy list....

I JUST DID!

Signed,

Proud to be an American

Happy 4th of July to all. This story really inspired me and I wanted to pass it along. My father was career 24 yrs in US Air Force and our family made alot of sacrifices during those years and now I have a niece and nephew in the US Navy serving. I hope this inspires and lifts you up.

The Sack Lunches

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought.

Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation. 'Where are you headed?', I asked the soldier seated nearest to me. 'Petawawa. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan . After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time.... As I reached for my wallet, I overheard soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks... I'll wait till we get to base. ' His friend agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq ; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'

Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?' 'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. 'This is your thanks.'

After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.

Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out hi s hand, and said, 'I want to shake your hand.' Quickly unfastening my seat belt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.

When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.'

Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little...

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'

That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.'

May God give you the strength and courage to pass this along to everyone on your buddy list....

I JUST DID!

Signed,

Proud to be an American

Okay, its amazing what our bodies will do sometimes -- frustrate the heck out of us on a plateau and then turn around and delight us with scale or non-scale victories. Yesterday I had a dr. appt with my PCP on my calendar and its usually a fasting bloodwork thing so I drove over there at 8am on my day off and found the office closed. Instead of getting frustrated about something misconnecting there, I just went ahead and drove on over to my gym and got in a good solid hour workout and then went on home and did a boatload of yard work. Results-- the scale was down again this a.m.! Amazing.

I was craving ice cream yesterday really bad and I just kept telling myself no, and I ended up letting myself have a snack of honey roasted almonds instead to have something crunchy and sweet and salty combo and that helped.

Tekdiva/Ann -- how was your first week back to work? Hope you are doing okay.

Greg -- Looks like you are still chugging along there! Congrats!

DJK -- You are going to do fine! You've got a great surgeon and you've really thought this through. Be sure to post and let us know when you are home post surgery.

Okay, today is Day 5 of the five day pouch test I've been trying and posting about. Well, it is working for me. scale is down again this a.m. I fixed a beef roast in my crockpot with carrots and cooked it really slow until the meat flaked apart with a fork and was tender and very satisfying to eat but eating real Protein and veggies that were soften from cooking together was a great meal and I was surprised by putting 1 cup of food in a bowl and sitting down to eat slowly, I got very full and couldn't finish the tail end of that 1 cup. Today I fixed pork short ribs and saurkraut in the crock pot and again cooked it until the pork could be separated into pieces with my fork easily and that made a good lunch today, less than a cup of food. Okay, so DUH!!!! go back to the bandster rules little girl is the lesson. Stay away from carbs even those packaged as "just 100 calorie snacks".

It is SO SO ENCOURAGING to see that it can be done when you have 200 lbs to lose to look to your example. Thanks for sharing!

I bought some vanilla Creme whey Protein at Target and I found that it mixed into my coffee for a morning protein option instead of putting powdered Creamer or 1% milk in my coffee like I usually do. I just stirred it in slowly to give a chance to cool the coffee a little and mixed it in and it didn't curdle or clump up. You have to be careful mixing some protein into hot things.

Desdemona - yes my endocrinologist who was checking my metabolism stuff back in the first of the year, found it was low then and asked me to supplement taking a Vit D on top of my Multi-Vitamin and he retested about 4 weeks ago and said I was still very low and he wrote me a prescription to take Vit D now to boost my level up. The pills he gave me were 50,000 IU and the dose was 2 per week over 4 weeks. That is considered a very high dose because the over the counter Vit D I could find were something like 1,000 IU pills - clearly couldn't take enough of them to get up to the level he wanted me at. He said Vit D is being found to be at the underpinning of alot of medical issues and felt its important for me to get this level up and quickly. I see my PCP doctor tomorrow for a cholesterol recheck and I was going to ask her to repeat the Vit D bloodwork and see if this first set of treatment did its trick. So, yes, I would encourage others to have their PCP test for Vit D deficiency at their annual physicals, etc. I told the doctor I was pretty good at eating low fat string cheese, low fat yogurt, fat free cottage cheese, 1% milk, and getting outside for exposure to sun on the Vit D benefits, but he said I just can't get enough with my diet and activity at this point.

Amanda, I'm with you on it can become "comfortable" at our new smaller size and the compliments are nice but we have to keep heading for the goal line.

If you've been following my little 5 day pouch test, I got to eat some meat (protein) again today and lo and behold, a very small amount filled me up. 1 cheese stick for Breakfast at 7 am, 1 hotdog for lunch with the bun, at noon-1pm, and went the rest of the afternoon until I got home for dinner with a 60 cal SF Jello pudding cup about 6:30 p.m. -- clearly going 4-5 or more hours between now without being terribly hungry. Good test to see if that pouch is holding good hard Protein up there and keeping me satisfied versus liquids and mushies were sliding on down. The scale was down a couple lbs this a.m. I'm going to finish out the 5 days on Friday and see how it goes. It definitely has made me "carb aware" again.

Scrappy - you are right but to be honest, if my surgeon had said you have to do this and come back or I won't go higher on your fill level, I would do it. Somehow its harder to do when its a voluntary test thing. The scale was down this a.m. so we'll keep going through Friday and see how I do.

I'm feeling kind of hard on myself for not toughing out this little test better than I am so far. After a good start to the day, By 9am I was really hungry and ate a Protein Bar and that kept me until lunch. I got a salad at noon with 1/3 cup cottage cheese and a hard boiled egg for lunch. Took me until about 4pm to finish the salad just nibbling at it. That held me over until I worked over and then had microwave popcorn because I was starved at 7pm and still at work. So here it is 9pm and I'm thinking what can I eat? Really best choice at this point is a Protein Shake to fill out my Protein need for the day. Okay, I'm going onto harder Proteins tomorrow. I didn't make it all day on mushies sorry to say. Again, they must be passing right on through my upper pouch because 3 hours isn't very long between eating things to be hungry again. I tried sipping my favorite non-calorie flavored waters and that didn't help fill me up either.

I added up how much calories I ate yesterday while trying to do full liquids and was surprised to see it was about 1400 calories and I was truly hungry throughout the day because the Soup and Protein Shakes I had just never satisfied. I got up this a.m. and had a 1/3 cup of fat free cottage cheese and a non-fat yogurt for Breakfast because I awoke thinking about what can I eat. I'd say this is equivalent to the old "bandsters hell" stage where you have to just eat restricted totally based on willpower. BTW, scale still sticking at the same number keeping me at my -110 lbs spot. Onto a day of mushies and see if I can eat less than 1400 calories on mushies today.