Poodles

Ok, here is a funny story: My sister has the Rolling Stone lips around her belly button. She got it when she was 18. When she got pregnant it stretched out and looked horrible. Got a stretch mark right thru it. Now that she is thinner again she is wanting to have it repaired, but they say it will always look weird. I think that it would be good to wait until closer to your final size... just so you don't have to deal with any issues...

Yes. I had to have a psyche eval, sleep study, and 12 months documented weight loss. Do a search on Medicaid on the top bar of the forum. See if anyone out there has posted their experience with this.

It really depends on your insurance requirements. I have read that some people can get approved in 2 weeks, yet it took me 6 months with BC/BS. If you are self-pay, you can pretty much get it quickly. First step is to call and find out the requirements, and then start meeting them. You may need to prepare for a battle depending on your insurance company... but if you want it bad enough it is worth the fight.

If a chicken and a half laid an egg and a half in a day in a half... Then how long would it take a monkey with a wooden leg to kick all the seeds out of a pickle? So if I am reading it right... Crack is a sex aide that helps you avoid PBing the mailman??? Boy this thread brings out the smart a$$ in me...

I know exactly what you mean. Have been going thru this since my last fill. My sweet Jack calls the band a "fickle silicone fist." Guess he named it that for a reason. :love:

You know, I have been reading along, but not posting for a while on this thread. I see the frustration from the scale... and I feel it too. My latest fill has made me very tight, and I admit to resorting to liquid calories and calories from soft food that goes down easily. When I try to eat something that worked prefill, it backfires on me... so I am having to relearn what I can eat. With solid protein I can eat 1 or 2 bites and that is it. It does not keep me full for long... and that is frustrating. I have discovered healthy choice meals, which are the right size and consistancy for me right now... but still the scale will not move. I wish someone would say... Hey Poodles you need to eat this way and only this way and give me a schedule, types/amounts of food to eat, types and amounts of liquids, and then set me on my way. (This will probably work better when I go back to school I am sure... they will put me on a schedule for most of the day.) Anyone want to give it a shot? Keep in mind I can not eat mushies/solids until around noon and stay up late.

What is the protocol for eating after a pb?

You might try the hard candies that are chocolate flavor if you can not go cold turkey. They have sugar free kinds that can help. But be careful... they can give you the toots!

I get lazy and just open up a can of pintos or black beans. Mash them and put some cheese on them and YUM! Bit more expensive that way... but still good.

My biggest fear is pissing off the long time bandsters. Newbies with too many questions (like me) sometimes get a bit put off by the ol timers that treat us like morons... that will make me leave a thread fast.

Liquids suck... but guess I need to do them. I pb'd on two things yesterday and now I am so sore I can not even get in a bite or two of refried beans. Thanks for the advice. I may do liquids for the next day or so, since I am a tad bit too restricted as is...

Easy. Just mix them up in a blender or mash with a fork. Season them like you like. My sister takes Beans from a crock pot, mashes them, then puts them in a pan with some lard to "refry" them. I just mush them and reheat them without the lard. Cool Beans! :love: Forgot to mention... to thin them down add Water or broth...

I am thinking about taking a healthy choice meal for lunch. Don't know if it will be a pain to get to the microwave, but it is the perfect portion size.

I have no clue what to do... but I bet I will pull out my yoga tapes. I have the AM and PM yoga Cd actually... with that great looking guy. Yummy! He makes exercise fun... a little eye candy doesn't hurt the waist line. Hopefully, I can fit it in. Have hubby, son, and 200+ kids at school... but do need to make time for me.

At my district they had a weekly weigh in and you put in a dollar. The person that lost the most that week got the money. Worked well when a lot of people played...

Found this after my first fill... know it has lots of carbs, but it was easy to eat and fast... Stove top stuffing. Just add a bit more Water to the mix, let it sit until soft, and its an easy meal... something I haven't thought of before... Forgot to add that pate' works well too. Found some lovely pate' in a tube at Kroger... works well if you like that type thing. Don't even need a cracker!

I cheat to save some money. My favorite tomato basil soup is from La Madelines, but the cheap substitute has the following: 1 large can Cambells tomato soup with milk 1 tsp Basil 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese Tastes great!

I think that I am restricted perfectly now. Acually ate a Healthy Choice salsberry steak and potatoes and it filled me up. I could usually eat two, and some bread... Small bites sure help things go down without pain. (feel like going... duhhhh)

I have been doing rather well with the Cymbalta. The only side effect I notice is my blood pressure, but it evens out with my blood pressure meds. My mood has been a little better. Can't wait for it to fully kick in. I start my 60 mg dose on Monday. (My doc started me on 30 mg). Thank you for all of the advice and experiences. I hope that it does not cause the same effects as the effexor in the long run...

Anyone have an opinion regarding Cymbalta? Any side effects to worry about (especially curious about sexual side effects). Any experienced information would be helpful.

I found a lovely picture today for my kitchen. It is on a serving tray. It is a captain wearing a "Gordans Fisherman" type hat and suit with pretty sail boats, a full white beard, and sea gulls. I had to have it... 'cause it reminded me of Jack. :love: It has the words Sea Salt Fish and chips on it too... Now it sits in my kitchen window sill watching over my sink full of dishes...

If you were banded a week ago, maybe you should stick to mushies/liquids. Especially if you irritated something...Just a suggestion.

Why do you think small bites work with solid foods while any amount of mushies will go down? It just does not make sense to me...

Regarding restriction: From what I have read everyone is the same. After the swelling you can eat... and will be able to eat until a good fill. So don't panic. After a good fill you will be restricted. Enjoy the mushies while you can. As for the poo issue... there is a yogurt out there called Activia that helps regulate things. I use Super Colon Cleanse powder. Others have mentioned using Milk Of Magnesia (MOM). Prune juice may be a good idea too. Good luck. You will be fine!

I want to preface this with the fact that I am not a hussy. But the following may sound like I am... When I was 17 I found myself in a long term relationship. After 3 years, a failed engagement and break-up, I was tired of trying to please a man. At 20 years old, I had a back injury, had gained TONS of weight and was looking for some fun. So... I put an ad in the local "love wanted" section of a booklet called the Love Connection (Before online dating). The first two words were: Attention Chubby-chasers. I wanted a man that liked me fat and all. And to my surprise, there are alot of chubby chasers out there. So many that I found my self with a Friday night date, Saturday day date, Saturday night date, and a Sunday afternoon date.... and endless letters and phone calls. (Hopelessly devoted to every one. :love: ) After several weeks of this I too ran into the 3 date rule. Most of the men figured if they took me out for 3 dates it was time to have sex on the 4th, and I figured out that if I didn't like the guy... I was not going out past 3 dates. (And again I am not a hussy.) I also figured out to go "dutch treat" so you do not owe him anything... if you know what I mean. Now my DH was my Saturday afternoon date. We wrote back and forth, had long telephone conversations, and then met at a public place for our first date. Now after OUR 3rd date, he called and asked me to marry him. I thought he was joking... but he was serious. We will be married 12 years this month. When you find the right person you know. It is not about sex, not about money, not about anything else in the world. But before you find that right person, it is A-OK to play! Have fun!