Cheri

Thank you, Fuel Man!! See, our craziest days are not so uncommon after all!! Most of us have been where you were (in thought, if not in action), so don't feel as though you are the only one!!!! But, Genocide - YIKES!!!! (just kidding) I am glad to hear you feel human again - I am so disgusted by people (no names here...oh, okay...Tom Cruise) who say that anti-depressants are a sham - what an IDIOT!!!! Yeah, he's still hot and a good actor, but, what an IDIOT!!!! I say, if it helps you out and isn't harmful to anyone else (mentally, physically, spiritually, or otherwise), then do it!!!! ((((((HUGS)))))) ~cheri

Wow, all of this going on while going to school full-time away from family?! My goodness, vines, I would not be on anti-anxiety medication...I would be in a PADDED CELL!!!! See how strong you are?!?!?! In all seriousness, I sure do wish they could figure out "we ladies" in the medical sense. I live with inconsistent periods, constant cysts (yeooww, the side pain...I always think it's my intestines or appendix exploding), and everyone around me saying "it will resolve itself when you lose weight". So, girl, I am sooo praying for you because you deserve to be healthy!! You need to worry about your well-being right now and maybe not concentrate so hard on losing weight!! I say, SCREW SKINNY for the time being!!! Let the docs get you figured out - at least, medically speaking - and get you on the right track (again, medically speaking, of course!) You are one of the major reasons I visit LBT so often, I love to hear your take on things and you are such an inspiration for everyone here!!! :clock:

If you get the "right" answer her, pass it on to me. I am SOOO discouraged right now... I have lost and gained the same four pounds pretty much since new year's. The bad thing for me is that I was banded in December, so I should still be having some initial loss. My doc refuses to try another fill before six weeks has passed, I have been religious about my gym visits, super-good dietarily (is that a word?) although starving, and much more active around the house. Nothing to show for it, nothing, nada, zip!! I am soo discouraged, I want to just give up! I can't even cheat well because all the good cheat stuff makes me sick now!!! So, I guess what I'm trying to say is that you definitely are NOT alone! I am on the plateau right there with ya!!

Me too! Prozac gave me hot flashes, zoloft was great short-term, but the dosage needed increased over time (but you can take it while pregnant). Lexapro is the one for me, it puts me on a "mostly" even keel - no big mood swings. As for the sex thing, I kind of lost that drive after my bout with postpartum with my first child (now I have three - how'd that happen?!?!) Good luck Parvathi - hope it all comes out great on Monday

Jill, if you have a YMCA nearby, they have a great strength training class and you can pay per session!! I go once a week to the strength training class (it takes most of the week to recover, and I never thought of sitting on the toilet as work until this class!) I also do 60 minutes of yoga 2x a week (great for strength and balance - not to mention stress-relief) followed by 45 minutes on the treadmill. On the days I don't yoga or strength train I go and use the cybex machines and treadmill, or I stay at home and lay around on my lazy butt!! I find that exercise videos don't do it for me, as I am SO NOT accountable for myself! I will watch it from the couch instead of the floor!! Maybe if I had someone to workout with it would be easier for me!! Besides, everytime I get on the floor, my two littlest ones decide I am a horse (it's kinda tough to do leg lifts or crunches with two and three year-olds as resistance!!

I thought that a man's assets were in his wallet, not his boxers!! hahaha We want to see your portfolio, not your tripod!!!!

Well, I would post mine, but I don't have a wide angle lens for my camera!!! Can anyone say "back boobs?" This is SO funny - Magic, are you a man?? haha

$14,000 cash - includes 1 year of fills/visits! If I lose 100 pounds, that will be $140 per pound - well worth it in my book!!

Wanna be healthy, I suggest you do just Clear liquids for a day or two until you feel a little better - most people on here state that they are on clear liquids for 2 weeks then to full liquids (pudding, milk, anything that can go through a straw consistency) Don't worry about Protein for right now, just focus on healing and feeling well. Your body will be fine for a couple of days as it heals further. I also found that cold cold liquids spell disaster for me, lukewarm or even room temperature don't seem to cause the sudden tightness! Good Luck! ~cheri

Congratulations, Grandma Penni!! Wish I could fly you to see your new bundle of joy!!!

My advice- call your Doc ASAP!!! It could be nothing, but don't take any chances with chest pains!!!! Let us know! ~cheri

Had a fill almost 2 weeks ago, still no restriction to speak of! I am ready for another one, too, but the doc says one every 6 weeks (at this pace, I'll be good to go in a year or so!!) I have a 10cc band, so I have no idea what to expect!!! ~cheri

Nice to meet you, and congratulations on your progress!!! I love it here, too! ~cheri

Angel, When you find out this answer, please let me in on the secret too!!! I had my first fill going on 2 weeks ago, and I honestly wonder if I even have a band sometimes! The only thing that lets me know is that I get sick immediately when I eat rice or even try bakery-type items (which I didn't do before! Today, I have followed the inamed statement on my band's info card about only being able to eat 1/4 cup at a time, and boy am I starving!!!!! ~cheri

Yeah, my 8 year old syas that Gloria is my idol (not hers, mine!!) I feel better now since I had her explain - she says that Gloria is big and beautiful - she loves the swimsuit at the beach - and has a bad attitude!! It could be worse - we could be the wicked witch of the West!

Get ya some propel - good for you and tastes like Kool-aid!!! Hope you feel better soon!

This is a pic of my three pirates with their buddies at Halloween! I guess I am bragging, but I made their pirate costumes (the Belle dress, too)! [ATTACH]3376[/ATTACH]

This is William on my ab lounger - hey, at least it isn't a clothes hanger, right? [ATTACH]3373[/ATTACH] This is a pic of Maia and Elliott on the night of Maia's Daddy/Daughter Dance. [ATTACH]3374[/ATTACH] Here's all three acting like the silly kids they are! [ATTACH]3375[/ATTACH]

First one is me in Vegas for my 10 year anniversary - 1 week before surgery @ 266 pounds [ATTACH]3371[/ATTACH][ATTACH]3372[/ATTACH] Second is me getting ready for Hubby's Holiday Party - 6 weeks post-surgery @ 244 pounds Personally, I think I look bigger in the most recent one!! Maybe it's the big sumo arms hanging out or maybe it's the big hair-do!! I feel a bit like the boo-bah you see in the background!

Wow, Lisa!!!! You look awesome, and you look like you're having a BLAST!! How many margaritas did it take to get you on that thing?!?!?! Did you ride your new Harley to the bar? Bull-riding...not for me. I'm scared that the bull would pull out a white flag if I climbed on it's back!!!! Woo Hoo, Delarla!! ~cheri

Honestly Penni, I would talk to my doctor about it! I would definitely send in my application for it (cause you would surely rock!!), then have a heart to heart with your doc. See what he/she thinks. If you have back issues, they may be irritated or worsened by the grueling tests. Your doctor can advise you better! As for Cannes, how long are you supposed to be gone? If it is only a weekend, that is SO doable!! I would never give up a chance to go ANYWHERE (except Alabama, which is where I AM - hehe) Cannes will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and you shouldn't plan on missing it! I am sure that TBL doesn't not intend to have you sit at home waiting for them - I agree with the call-forwarding idea, and, hey, maybe they could inform you at Cannes - - imagine what that would do for the ratings on the show!!! I know, in your video, bring up the whole Cannes thing, and how you would miss this once-in-a-lifetime chance in order to compete on TBL!!!! Let us know your final answer!!! ~cheri

You go girl!!! 172 - I would be out there strutting my stuff BIG TIME at that weight!!! (maybe not in my swimsuit, I still wouldn't look good in one of those!!!) Keep up the good work! ~cheri

Girl, send him and his nuts to the garage!!! Support means not doing things that hurt you (whether emotionally or physically) as well as doing things that will help you! You are like a baby bandster right now, my goodness it's barely been a week! You can't eat the cashews even if you wanted to, but he really needs to keep his snacking away from you, especially right now! If you were smokers and he decided to quit, would you continue to smoke in his presence?? It's essentially the same thing! I realize that you are probably cooking meals even though you are on liquids (we gotta do what we gotta do), but the snacking thing in the evening is too much - no one should be eating junk that late! (I say this as I remember last night's munch fest on cottage cheese and soy chips, and the night before with fully-loaded ice cream and chocolate chips!!) It sounds like you have a good relationship, but you need to kick him out of your sight whenever he pulls his nuts out!!! (Oh, you naughty girl - not those nuts!!! hehe) Good Luck! ~cheri

Best of luck! Know that we are here cheering you on!!

Of course, I am no expert, but I would say you have nothing to worry about. Your port is attached to the muscle in your abdominal wall, so every time you cough, you are "disturbing" it, just the same as when you do crunches or stretch. It probably hurts even more than with other activities because coughing is such a violent movement for your muscles!!! Never hesitate to call the doctor if it feels "wrong". She/he is there for your well-being, and I'm sure they can do a quick check to see if your port is okay!! Rest, lots of fluids, and some great cough syrup (hopefully with some "good stuff" in it) should have you ready to go soon! Hope you get to feeling better soon! ~cheri