Apples2

So...not "in love" with SIL, I take it! LOL! I have a couple that I am not in love with and not guilt about it. Gotta love 'em cuz they are family but there are days I wanna get the shovel and bury them in the back yard. I'm bad. OK...I'm keep positive thoughts and sending them your way for beautiful weather for the wedding. 60 sounds perfect for a wedding.

OK, you guys...that last comment of mine. I'm refering to Great's SIL nugget comment. I don't mind if you guys wanna watch my bobber or my plate. Just to clarify.

Kind of like the saying we have here in MN..."Watch your own bobber"!

This is a reply to the Nuggaholic... Like you said, Great, you have lost 126lbs and kept if off with your nugget plan. Just because we adjust our way of eating, it does not mean that we need to give up our little splurges once in awhile. We all know that are further out in this game, that those planned treats are something to look forward to. I don't mind listening to ppl's opinions but when they beat it over and over is when I will just walk away. I guess I can be called a cheesecakeaholic. Happy you got some time off from all the duties that come with a wedding. Enjoy your "hot" lunch date.

Oh gosh, Joyce...didn't put that spasm thing out there to scare anyone. I guess by you knowing what to expect if you DO experience one, you would be less likely to run off to the E.R. Mine have never lasted for more than minutes and if you know what they are and what to expect, you will just work through it if you ever get them and know what foods trigger them and avoid those foods in the future. Good for you for meeting new ppl that are banded and reaching out to them for support. We have a very small support group in our area (very rural) and I know very few people personally that are banded. I guess that's why I rely on our group here (plus, I love all you guys). It will be so nice for you to compare notes and look to each other for understanding. And, if others are farther out than you on this journey, that's a plus. It would be a pretty lonesome journey if we did not have other LB ppl to form friendships with and support us along the way. Every post from you seems so positive thus far and it seems as if you are adjusting to band life just fine. Keep up the good work!

Hang tough, Aunt Suzie....been there/done that. It is difficult when almost EVERYONE you have contact with feels that it's their right to comment on how you look. Once they get "used to" how you look, the comments will wane. 99% of the time ppl mean well...just have a lack of tact. The other 1% I haven't figured out yet. I still get comments over a year after getting to goal and am at the point where I can now just blow it off. One thing I did when someone would ask me a question...some examples: I'm in the grocery store and my cart is full...someone I am barely aquainted with walks up and says...I bet you don't eat one thing in that cart, do you? My response...Why do you ask? She stutters. I'm at a sports event in my cute jeans. Again, someone I barely know walks up and asks "What size jeans do you wear?" My response is Why do you ask? She says...well, well, well and walks away. I'm at a wedding for my Goddaughter and all dressed up in my new dress. Cousin of the bride walks up and say "Oh my God! You are way too skinny" (which I am not). My response...Where were you when I weighed 249lbs? I know some of my responses sound snarky but when you get those kind of comments every time you leave the house, you need to take control of the situation and just walk away. I, too, in the beginning felt I had to explain. I am far from egotistical but I look healthy and feel healthy and this is all about us, right?

OK Girls...I designate today "Send Eva Positive Vibes Day". Here's mine going out to Eva....:smile::tongue::redface::confused::wub::smile2::thumbup::tt1::eek::wink2::wink::thumbup::laugh::w00t::cool2::tt2:

Deb...I found that after about 9 months after LB surgery, the gas situation calmed down. I think bandsters have the tendency to get more air trapped and that is the cause. (I could be wrong...wouldn't be the first time). I had IBS b/4 banding. Now I have no hint of it. I am thinking that the high fat diet I had prior to banding did not agree with my system and that is what caused me so much trouble. Hopefully, yours will wane and you will get some relief. As far as explaining the spasms...hard to explain but do cause a lot of discomfort for quite a few minutes as whatever it is passes through the stoma. It's like a painful tightening of the stoma and somewhat stabbing pains. The three times it happened to me, it was about 4 hours after eating the three items I listed. This might never happen to you and I am guessing that most of the responses on this will be that most have not experienced it. So, don't let it scare you. I believe you gotta try all foods and if you have troubles, then be really careful with those items or eliminate them from your menu.

Hey Fellow Junies... I'm a guilty one. Have not paid much attention to this thread. I apologize. It certainly has been quite and is nice to reconnect. Deb...sorry to hear about your knee. Not fun. Not an easy fix but hope you can adjust as well as Great did with her two new knees. She's now off and running and not looking back! Congrats on the almost 100lbs lost. It will come. With not being able to move as much, I am sure it takes a little longer to see the scale move. I am doing well. The maintenance phase has not been without challenges but mostly just living life and takes it all as it comes. I have a unique situation. My metabolism has kicked into high gear (as it was the first part of my adult life) and the challenges I have faced is to NOT lose weight. I live with a loose band in order to be able to get all my daily calories in. DH tells me to just sit back and enjoy. He says I have the best of both worlds. I still make good/healthy food choices. Never want to revert to my old habits of loading up on crap. Hope everyone is doing well. Hard to believe our 2 yr bandiversary is right around the corner. Take care!

Good Morning Friends, Great....thinking of you and your busy life with the wedding, preparing for you island retreat, putting up with the family, etc. As I stated yesterday, take time to enjoy your DD's wedding. Cannot wait to see photos and you in that beautiful MOB dress. Enjoy! Julie...was up eating oatmeal at the same time you were posting your last post last night. My eyes were foggy and headed back to bed so did not get online to talk. Can tell when you are having a tough time getting to sleep. You were up awfully late. Take care. Not too much planned for today. Just tapping my foot waiting for spring to arrive. Fingers are crossed that we don't have too many cold days to contend with. Our springs are pretty iffy. Can be 50-60 one day and 30 the next. We do the best we can, soak up those nice days and complain about the rest. Gotta figure out what to take for my little overnight trip with my friend. Guess the best bet would be to look up the weather forcast b/4 packing. Looking forward to some girl time. The friend I am going with has been a friend for 30 yrs. Met at our wedding...her DH was part of the wedding party. We also worked together for 4 yrs (insurance) late 80's early 90's. She is an insurance agency manager and always pushing for me to work with her when she has an opening in her agency. Would not mind during the "tame" months in MN but winter can be wicked. The drive is about 50 miles one way. We'll see what happens when the next opening comes up. 2 days a week? I can handle that. Going to take a little poll here...has anyone ever had stoma spasms? I've had them 3 times (not lately) and keep forgetting to ask others. If you've had them, can you pinpoint what you ate to cause them. I guess the reason I am putting this question out there is to help others and to inform them to be careful when testing certain foods. My spasms were caused from just a bite of corn, black grapes and again corn. Just didn't learn the first time. I don't know about any of you that have had spasms, but mine were pretty intense and I consider myself to have a pretty high tolerance for pain. Just curious... Well, better get back after it. Bookwork, laundry, some closet sorting and need to run to town to the bank at some point today. Will talk later.

Silly question, Arlene...do you mix the jam into the mixture b/4 cooking? And, pretty band friendly? Looks to me like about 150 calories per serving????

Good vibes have been sent, Great! Have a great week with family and just ENJOY the wedding and try not to stress with the smaller things that don't matter. And....gave those boys the job of protecting their own nuts quite a few years ago. I couldn't give my DH the job of helping pick out a dress. I would be all cleavage and legs. :tt1:

Oh and me too on the soynuts...we always got them every Christmas from our agricultural tile provider...a huge tray every year. Nobody ate them and they would eventually go in the garbage. Now, I protect my soynuts. Maybe a little unfill would do you good also, Laura. Sounds like you might have just a little too much of a fill. Like I stated to Melissa, not a good thing to be on guard watching for the nightly reflux. I would rather be hungry than worry about it. I had to do a double take with you signing out on your post....thought you were signing out as Carline. New name? Got it!

Hope things settle down for you, Melissa. Just cannot have the reflux thing going on...miserable. And, you gotta live life and be comfortable and not always on watch for that reflux. That window is so small between good restriction and too much restriction (IMHO). Jump back in and move, stick to your daily cals and document your daily foods. It really does make a big difference to hold a person accountable. And, we are always here when you need or want to talk.

Charlene...are the egg white pancakes the ones made with steel cut oats?????

Joyce...so difficult to wrap my head around the fact that Kansas and TX have had worse weather than we have had in MN this past week. We have sun today and supposed to be in the 50's. We get so much wind here on the prairie and it is blowing thru here today at a good clip. But, not complaining...we have sun. Good going on getting back on your plan. I love having hard boiled eggs on hand. I just spread a little mayo on them for a snack. To think, I NEVER ate an egg prior to banding. My DH is still in shock over the fact that I now crave them. My cravings have changed sooooo much. So many things I would never eat that I now love. Weird, huh? Do you find that also? How many of you on this thread are in love with things that you never would have eaten pre-band? Let's share! Things I didn't touch prior to band and thought were gross: Eggs Oatmeal High Fiber Cereal Yogurt of any kind...now eat Greek Honey Dew Melon Malt Vinegar (don't know why...I want it on everything)

Our water is now receding. After a week of a little warmer weather and the rain melting the snow, it is all starting to flow. As I stated last week, we had overflowing ditches and wildlife pond. All looks good now. Yep, Deb, exercise can make a person feel so much better. Not always easy to get up and get it done but that feeling of accomplishment is a good one. Also, I always had better eating days when I exercised. I wasn't going to ruin the hard work of burning calories with replacing them with additonal calories. I think I was more vigilant with what I ate cuz I was in no way going to undo what I had done. I am still in the middle of getting my spring things put in the main closet. I just know I will be going back and forth to closets because of our iffy spring weather. Need to get it done though. I have things ripped apart in the 2 guestrooms and it's driving me nuts. Plan on working on it this afternoon. Congrats on all the exercise you have been getting in. Sounds like you are turning a new page in your life. Go get 'em, Deb!

As Betsy stated, measuring food is a very important habit to get into. I also weighed my hard protein. Could not always finish my 3-4 oz. I just waited for the "full signal". I always tried to cut my meat into very small bites and waited a bit between bites. I tend to get that feeling....one more bite would be too much. I found it was much easier to listen to my full feeling if I ate my meals when I was very calm in the beginning. If I felt stressed, it was more difficult to watch for the signs of when I have had enough. In the beginning, I ate some meals alone and eventually worked up to eating with the family at most meals.

And...soon to be TOM would explain the Zippety Doo Dah all day yesterday!!!! There were times when I knew I was getting a visit. Just had to get on the scale. I would flucuate up to 6lbs during that time. Ugh! Just keep your foods good and healthy and try not to let it upset your way of eating...and, drink plenty of fluids. Good Morning Everyone! Happy Monday! Back to my "normal" self. Just a little bump in the road with the stones. I hate the word hate so I will just say I REALLY dislike when my life gets interrupted by them. Julie...hope you were able to sleep. You really do need to get to the bottom of this. From the sounds of it, your DH is missing one of his butt cheeks and I know you don't like being that way. I would be a b__ch on wheels and insist on some answers. You need some action on this pain you are having. We have a busy week around here. DH and DS have a few pre-spring meetings to go to and I was signed up to go also but an overnight with a friend looked a little more apealing. Heading out early Wed morning with a friend to help her find a MOB dress. Her DS's wedding is May 1. Time to get on it. She is about a size 14 (has put on about 60lbs in the last few years) and just is having a tough time making herself look for a dress. She feels "fat" in everything she has tried on this far. She knows I will be honest with her on how things fit, so she invited me to be her guide. Should be fun. She's a beautiful woman that always had mega self-esteem but she has now lost that with the weight gain. I feel her pain. The trouble with living in the sticks is that we always have to drive 3-4 hours for any quality shopping. We'll get er done! My stone incident made me tight over the weekend and notice it's not much better this morning. Got my cals in though with soups, etc. Always have a stash of homemade soups in the freezer for times like that. Was able to get in a protein bar and a bowl of oatmeal with dates this morning already. Well, need to get to the books. Been putting them off for a week and they just won't do themself. You all have a great day. Eva..miss ya. Come out, come out, where ever you are!

Great photos, Laura. You are so good to share photos. Makes me feel like Nels is our own little guy! And, that photo of him and his little Alexia is adorable. One for a photo frame. Yep, I feel like I gave birth. Not much to show for it except "wet noodle syndrome". Tomorrow will be much better. And, this afternoon I have some energy. Baked two different kinds of cookies, walked out to the shop to see DH and even sat outside in the sun for a bit. I think those stones are about the only thing in my life that sucks. I go see the specialist in April but will hear the same song and dance that I hear each time. Blah...blah..blah. Just been "gifted" with them and the will pass. Sorry you miss your mom and dad visiting. And, yes, you need to find a new babysitter. All parents need their date nights. Hope everyone is having a great Sunday!

Joyce...another bit of advice on the treats. If you are really craving a favorite dessert, just allow yourself a couple of bites to satisfy that craving or make sure you have someone around to share it with.

Joyce...wishing you luck as you move to the next stage. As far as the "treats" you have disclosed that you have had....we all need our PLANNED treats in order to not feel deprived. If you enjoy your occasional glass of wine, do it without guilt. The trick is to set aside the alotted calories in your favorite treat and enjoy! When I was in the weight loss stage, I would allow for these certain treats for the nights that DH and I or friends would go out for dinner.

Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend. Sunny, 45 degrees here. Will take it. Going to find a chair out in the sun and my book and soak it up for a bit. (Going to be blunt...plug your tender ears if you cannot take it). I passed the "f____ing" stone. I should be back to my energetic self tomorrow. Today I am going to baby myself. Not moving too fast anyway so going to plant my butt somewhere and just catch up with reading. Have a good one!

Two words to describe my weekend: KIDNEY STONE Terrible spasms that started about 2am. Just got out of bed for the first time at 5pm. Heading back there. Miserable day. I always need a couple days to recover after I pass. Wet noodle syndrome.

I have a Cadillac SRX in my sights. Cute crossover.