puddin

I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and gosh darnit, people like me!

Because the band didn't work for them or it had to be removed. That's why. At least, that's what I've gathered from Pleatman's posts. Hell, I'd probably convert if this band weren't working so darn well.

Velvet I have no idea what it was like for you growing up, but I can smell some sour grapes over this whole ordeal. Your mom wouldn't offer to help you at all if she thought you were a burden or an inconvenience. I think that's low self-esteem talking. I bet if you brought it up your mother would think you were out of your mind for thinking that. You're stuck between a rock and a hard place. Taking money from family members makes you their indentured servant. Maybe it's worth it. But if it were me, I'd find any other possible way in the world to pay for the surgery. How long would it take you to rebuild your credit? Do you have a nicer car you could trade in for a cheaper car for a down payment (always makes the banks look twice)? If you already are resentful toward your mother and stepfather, taking the money's going to make things 10 times worse. It's a tricky decision to make, and contrary to what it seems like most here seems to be rooting for, I'd probably wait until I could pay for the band myself before borrowing the money. It's your health, but it's also a fragile relationship that you obviously value or you wouldn't be having this dilemma in the first place.

Today, Feb. 9 B: 8 oz lactose-free, fat-free milk w/ SF Carnation Instant Breakfast (150 calories, 12g protein) L: Garlic chicken w/ green beans almondine (250 calories, 27g protein) S: 1 oz raw almonds (120 calories, 6g protein) S: 8 oz lactose-free, fat-free milk w/ SF Carnation Instant Breakfast (150 calories, 12g protein) D: Salsa Chicken & sweet potato (350 calories, 28g protein) Drank about 6.5 cups water so far Calories: 1020 Protein: 85 Did 20 minutes elliptical & 20 minutes weird elliptical machine

Well I finally got the real results from my metabolism test. Previously, some intern told me my resting metabolic rate was like 1,200 calories/day. I found out today he was WAAAAY off. Have no idea where he got that number. My actual resting metabolic rate burns 2,027 calories (just sitting there all day on my fat butt!). The guy who gave me the real results said based on my activity level I probably burn about 3,000 calories/day. I'm SO relieved about that. I also burn about 50% glucose and 50% fat for energy. I was worried I was getting into muscle-burning mode. I think this test is well worth it for those who want to find out what their metabolism is doing these days. It cost me a whopping $30 at the University (I do work at this University, but I don't know if I got a discount). I did this test to ensure I wasn't in survival mode. If I was I knew I had to up my caloric intake and up my weight training routine. It's just nice to know!

My test was done by placing a plastic hood over my head which analyzed how much oxygen I consumed for about 15 minutes. I'm sure it did other things too, but that's how it was explained to me.

Nickie, did you try your local University? Seriously, even without an employee discount (which I don't think I got anyway) their services are usually much cheaper than gyms. For example, my university offers personal training at $20/hr! If you buy 12 sessions at a time it is $16/hr.

Kee, I think you did WONDERFULLY well today! Great job! And Teresa, can I just say thanks for starting this thread. Every time I see something I want but shouldn't have I think "crap! If I eat that I'm going to have to write it down for everyone to see!". So a big THANK YOU!:couch2: Stocky, your meals are amazing! That weight must be disappearing on you!

Holy freaking cow, illude! I'm speechless! I'm amazed! I'm jealous! How come I haven't seen you on this board more often? We NEED people like you around here. You're absolutelyl gorgeous! Here's my plan for you: You can become the spokeswoman for the Lap Band and then they'll pay for your excess skin removal surgeries. For heaven's sake, you've got to get SOME kind of promotional deal from losing all that weight! Ok, now for the questions: When did you get yoru band? What was your strategy? How long did it take you to lose it? I want answers!

Teresa, you're so sweet! However, I'm not disciplined, I'm just too poor for junk food! So far today (Feb. 8): B: 8 oz. Lactose-free, fat-free milk with SF carnation instant Breakfast (150 calories, 12g protein) S: abt 10 choclolate chips and less than 1T Peanut Butter (100 calories, 5g protein) L: Stuffed bell pepper with stewed tomatoes; 2 strawberries (345 calories, 28g protein) S: Ooh, had to have that chocolate. 3 squares dark chocolate - but I'm going with the theory that dark chocolate is full of antioxidants (230 calories, 2g protein) D: Cranberry chicken & a sweet potato (260 calories, 22g protein) 3.5 cups Water so far Calories so far: 1085 Protein so far: 69g dinner Plans: Pecan crusted tilapia baked in o.j. and a salad :cheer2: Today's food victory: Threw away those evil miniature candy bars that my sister brought over and resisted the pizza they fed us for our lunch meeting! Yeeehaw!

Woohoo! So I thought I'd show y'all my basement pics. Okay, it was done last month, but I'm just now getting around to posting the pics. I know, I know... It's not really a practical basement, but I'm single and I do what I want! The photography studio's not quite finished (it's behind those french doors) but I'll post the pics when that's done, too!

Oops, looks like you beat me to the punch by a few seconds, Wheet. Thanks anyway!

Okay, this is the friggn LAST time I'm going to attempt this, seriously. Okay maybe I'm lying, but here I go anyway. I'm just going to write the HTML:

Ohhhh! I'm so frustrated with this thing. I have no idea how to make it work now. Ok, here's some links to the pics: http://image60.webshots.com/60/2/56/67/2670256670010241247ZlbcFm_ph.jpg http://image53.webshots.com/153/1/91/12/2753191120010241247JefIDM_ph.jpg http://image54.webshots.com/54/3/59/77/2397359770010241247Kqujzw_ph.jpg If you can't see them after this then I give up. It wasn't meant to be.

I have no idea. I just thought it was so random that you'd mention Strongbad along with No Doubt and Skids.

I paid about $13,000 and that includes the first year of follow-up, insurance against problems, and support groups. After the first year it's only $200/yr. I was also a self-pay. I took out a personal loan from my bank for it. I took out a little extra to pay off my car. With eating less and having no car payment, my bills pretty much equal out to what I was paying before.

Strong Bad? Are we talking homestarrunner.com strongbad? (raps)Diggety the Mic, who's on the Mic? Control. Who's on the mic? SAWEET. If we're not talking about the same Strongbad, who the heck is he?

Why wait? Seriously, I know you know this but I'm going to say it anyway: The key to weight loss is planning, not will power! So maybe you could predict your cravings and plan accordingly. For example, I noticed you really like that Indian buffet place. Maybe you could make a whole bunch of your favorite Indian food, freeze it, and then thaw it in the refrigerator the night before you're going to eat it so you have it ready for lunch. I know I always get hungry mid-afternoon so I have a bunch of raw almonds on hand all the time and ALWAYS have grapes in the fridge at work. I get the sweet cravings mid-morning so I usually have a chocolate strawberry (just melt a Newman's organic dark chocolate bar in the microwave and then dip a bunch of strawberries in it and refrigerate them for the week). I have ZERO willpower so the band has helped me with that, but the rest of it has been planning, seriously. So get to it, girl! I know you can do it and so do you!

Blast! Why can't I get this to work??? It works in the preview window. You'd think I could figure this out.

Nykee, that's weird. Ok, I'll attach them first then and then add them instead of hosting the pics on a different server: [/url]

Kee, are you banded yet? If not, do you have a date? Just wondering what your story is. Keep going for it! You can do the healthy food, you know it! Okay, cranberry chicken's also a crockpot recipe. I gotta use those crockpot liners because I got sick of cleaning my crockpot all the time LOL. Here goes: Take 6-8 chicken breasts, 1 can cranberries (not jellied), 1/2 bottle (or 8 oz) of creamy French dressing (I like Kraft version), and 1 package of onion soup mix. Cook for 3-4 hours on high or 6-7 hours on low. SOOOO good! Oh yeah, and don't add water or extra dressing or anything. You'll think it's too thick at first but it's really not once it gets warmed up.

Thanks! For salsa chicken I put about 6 chicken breasts, 1 bottle of salsa, 1 can corn, and 1 can of black or kidney beans into a crockpot and cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours. Pretty easy. VERY filling, like comfort food. After it's cooked I portion it out into bandster portions and suck 'n seal 'em. When I get ready to eat I just boil it straight in the suck 'n seal bags. Pretty easy and quick and tastes just like the day I made it. The cranberry chicken is actually my absolute favorite chicken recipe, but the salsa chicken is right up there, too.

Today, Feb. 7: B: 8 oz. lactose-free, fat-free milk with SF Carnation Instant Breakfast, 150 calories, 12g protein L: Salsa chicken (3 oz chicken, salsa, black beans, corn), 220 calories, 28g protein S: Dark-chocolate-covered strawberry, 48 calories S: Gosh, another 2 strawberries and 1 string cheese, 176 calories, 8g protein D: Cream Cheese chicken enchiladas, 1/8 c green beans & abt 10 grapes, approx 320 calories, 22 g protein S: 1 square dark chocolate, 50 calories & a WW ice cream bar, 100 calories, 1g protein S: 8 oz. lactose-free, fat-free milk with SF Carnation Instant Breakfast, 150 calories, 12g protein About 10 cups of water Calories: 1214 Protein: 83g Exercise: None. Home sick.:faint: Felt like I ate a lot today, though the calories aren't necessarily too high. I was home sick today so all I had to do was sit and eat :sick

Thanks Kelli! No, I didn't paint the mural. I wish I could have, but I hired this awesome girl for like $300 to paint the thing, such a great deal. I have another mardi-gras style mural covering my entire bedroom wall upstairs. We bartered: Website for mural. My dad did most of the rest of the work on the basement. He is amazing.

Uh... yes, different Aqualung. But I do love that album! My mom used to be a Jethro Tull freak. She loves Ian Anderson.