puddin

I told ONLY my immediate team members at work and everyone else thinks I was out for kidney problems (which I often have anyway). It's been wonderful to have a boss who tells me I'm "wasting away" on her every day and that I look great. She also has covered for me during lunch meetings where I hardly ate a thing. It's been a great decision to tell my boss and my office mate.

When I worked in the hospital ETOH was code for intoxicated

I have a feeling lots of people post when they're having good days. Who can blame them!

I really believe that, Kim. Not to wax religious on you guys, but I was praying the other night for some comfort and realized that I have some other purpose somewhere. I'll just have to wait and see what that is. Thanks for the support!

I'm sort of sad today... I just found out that I didn't get the job I really thought I'd get:think The "other guy" got it. I really like the job I have now though so I'm sort of ok with it. This job was in the same division but a different department than I currently work in. Right now I do web design, which I love, but this job was designing multimedia applications for online courses which is a much better fit for me. Oh well, I guess there's always next time! Just needed to commiserate with someone.

Okay, we're talking about being featured for the CANNES film festival here, folks. That's one of the biggest film festivals out there. It's a huge honor just to have your film in it. The electricity at these film festivals is amazing. I live in Utah and volunteer at Sundance every year. It's SO MUCH FUN. Still haven't had a film in it yet, though. So maybe you answered this already, but could you do France and then see if TBL calls you? I say if TBL calls and picks you, DO THAT! I'd chuck a France ticket for that opportunity if it was a sure thing.

Star's in the public's eye and that means her life is WIDE open. A lot of us don't want people to know we had WLS, so I can see why she wouldn't want the public know either, let alone be the poster child for it. I know I put on a "I'm fat and beautiful" attitude. I believe it, but that doesn't mean that I don't want to lose weight. I say "you go girl"! I think she looks beautiful!

I didn't know we weren't supposed to take ibuprofin. How come?

Beautiful spot! One tip - a lot of times the photographers at the wedding shows are overpriced with underexperienced photographers. They'll show you their best photos and then send out the rookie to shoot the wedding - the results are often quite different! I know lots about this business, you can PM me if you would like some tips on things to look for and ask. My sister is a professional photographer. She does many weddings. She's fairly expensive, even for Utah. Here's the thing though: If you charge more, you get more clients! She started off charging very little, even though she was very good, because she thought that would bring in more clients. Not so. The minute she boosted her prices the phone calls started rolling in, and they were handing over the check with a huge smile on their faces. I'm sorry to say that's the only way to make it in the business. I used to be a wedding videographer; it was the same thing.

Oh yeah, and how does one go about applying for a position like this? I'm going to grad school in the fall but for the next two summers I'll be doing nothing! I'd love to be a videographer or something like that for a cruise line.

I'm so friggin jealous of you! I've been on many cruises and the one to Hawaii was my absoloute favorite, hands down! You're just going to love it. What cruise line is it? I'm planning another cruise to Hawaii on RCL, maybe we'll be on the same one!

My feet were the FIRST THING to shrink on me. By week 5 my shoes were falling off. It was pretty comical.

I have a period about once every two years. My doc says it's because of my weight. Like everyone else said, I'd advise going to the doctor. I'll just bet it's related to being heavy.

I'm sorry for your bad news today. Your husband sounds like a wonderful man. I'm sure you two will make great parents to some child in desperate need of loving parents.

Well that explains it then. Thanks everyone. Crab-stuffed portabellos... mmmmmm. Do you have a recipe for it, Celeste?

I gained 1.5 pounds and I've only been banded since September. And I was restricted! Don't you worry. Like everyone else said, once you get restriction you'll lose those dreaded holiday pounds!

I can definitely see some difference. Looking forward to a BIG difference in the months to come...

The thing I thought would never happen again happened. A guy hit on me in the grocery store! He was even good looking. It's been so long since that's happened I didn't know what to do. I just stood there and laughed and made a total ass out of myself. I was so freaking excited I just had to tell y'all. Maybe tomorrow I'll meet someone who's not 8 years younger than I am LOL!

I never make the mushies the 2nd day. Maybe that'll change with more fill. But by the end of the first day I'm having mushie food because I just know there's not tons of restriction.

Ha ha. You guys are funny. But seriously, no seriously, he's too young. Plus he's long gone now. I still think he's probably one of those guys who likes big girls. I'm still not a small thing, but I think the new weightloss has given me a new confidence in my air that shows. Plus I looked damn hot today.

That Eyetoy thing sounds cool. I'm going to get one. I had a membership to Curves about a year back. It worked for me for about two months and then I got totally sick of the same routine day after day. Now I belong to this club where you can watch TV that's hooked up to your workout machine of choice. I just go during my favorite shows and then I don't want to leave until they're over.

Oh girl, 19 is sweet, but it's far too young for me. I'd have to change my screen name to Mrs. Robinson.

This is just about the best list I've seen. I'd just add walking to the list. Walking every hour or so really helps get the gas out. My gas lasted forever and Gas X didn't help. The only thing that helped was walking.

A pedometer helps me to be conscientious about being more active. Every day I work to hit that 10,000 step mark. It's kind of fun. I'll step in place while I do my hair just to get my steps up. Every hour I take a 3 minute walk break also to get my steps up. In addition, I also work out 1/2 hour every day (except the last 4 weeks where I was TERRIBLE) on an elliptical machine or do weight training.

1 - No referral necessary. I was self-pay. 2 - Surgery consult was 2 weeks before surgery day. 3 - Bloodwork had to be done 1 month prior to surgery 4 - I was out of the hospital 1 hour after I woke up from surgery 5 - First fill was 6 weeks after surgery From the first phone call to surgery day it was probably 5 weeks. My insurance has an exclusion so I skipped that whole mess.