JanetC

I'm not feeling like it's so easy! It's FORCED compliance! I've tried the "hard" way... diet & exercise. We still have to do that, we just don't have the option of cheating!!! So when I'm tired of eating small, the band doesn't let me go off and binge. Easy it is not... a tough drill sergeant it is! To tell you the truth, a person who says this isn't really open minded, so nothing you say is going to change their mind. So maybe just say something like, "It's a tough journey no matter what & I believe in using any tools I can get my hands on."

Yeah, I drank a ton with it... wanted to get it to the lower stomach. It scares me! I think I'm going to try taking it around 2:30... since the pain normally spikes around 3. The evening pain I deal with better, so I'll skip the NSAID then. What does aloe vera juice do for you? I've seen it mentioned several times lately... got my ears to twitching. :waytogo:

Oh, I forgot to comment on the mourning food thing. I am ANGRY!!!!! Angry, angry, angry, angry, angry!! I WANT TO EAT!!!! For some reason I've REALLY wanted to cheat this week. So I've made bad choices, but dammit!!!! I can't overeat!!! A ciabatta sandwich does NOT equal cheating in my book!! (Luckily I'm not a milkshake cheater... I'm a pizza & a half by myself cheater.) **sigh** I paid good money to not be able to cheat... you'd think I'd be happy! -- And really I am... sometimes, lol. Did I mention angry?

I was SHOCKED!!!! I really, really, really thought the left group was the bottom 3. I mean, the middle group had never been in the bottom, had they? It was a total flip-flop! I wonder sometimes... ya know they had that error last year.... I voted for Mandisa, but didn't spend hours voting for her... I tend to spend more time voting for the ones I think are going that I don't want to go. I'm so bummed! I did notice that Kellie was between Ace & Chris... and that she kept scooting to her right, which was Ace this time... so it MAY just be a scooting-right thing. But then after they formed groups & came back safe, she sat next to Chris again (everyone else switched it up). He was on her left, and she sat REALLY close... when they showed the bench her arm was in front of his (they were more or less overlapping). But it was far less obvious then last week, so it may have just been coincidence.

Found it!! I haven't done the hot tea part yet... I'm not really tight, lol. But if I follow the rest of it, I do well. I've taken to actually watching a second hand... and this is what I found: My normal bites are 0 seconds apart. My 2nd bite is in as SOON as I swallow. My "slow" bites are 3-5 seconds apart. LOL!! Sad, but true. 30-60 seconds is FOREVER!!!! Dealing with "first bite blues", or living with a tight fill: 1. Drink HOT tea before your first bite. 2. Take a VERY small first bite. 3. Chew till the end of the earth. 4. Swallow. 5. Wait 1 minute. 6. Drink more HOT tea to wash it down. 7. Repeat steps 2-6 for the next few bites. 8. Put your fork down for 30 seconds to 1 minute between ALL subsequent bites.

StrawartS had a great list of things to help "first bite blues" or "first bite syndrome", which it sounds like some of us are dealing with. As for the PB'ing, I've now PB'd (actually thrown up food) twice. I've slimed once (no food, but threw up saliva for 1.5 hours). I've had the elephant-on-the-chest pain with almost every meal. It's my theory that I'm shoving my bites in too quickly. They're small & chewed well, but they're constant. When I follow StrawartS rules (I've successfully followed them twice, lol), it doesn't hurt & I can eat a LOT. I'll go search for her rules. Nanster... it sounds like you may be getting too FEW calories. Are you food journalling? If not, I'd start, and make sure you don't have any hidden calories (common culprits: small bites throughout the day, dips or sauces, drinks with calories, chewable vitamins). If you're really below 1000, I'm guessing your nutritionist would prefer you a touch higher. We're in this for a LONG journey... staying below 1000 for long periods is bad for you (or so my nutritionist tells me, lol). Oh, and make sure you're getting your vitamin daily, as well as supplementing your calcium (we use the generic Viativ chew, it's YUMMY!!!). I still really recommend fitday.com -- the PC version (I didn't use the web version long enough, so I don't really know what it does). The goal weight tracking helps me a TON! They tell me how many calories I need to be eating... and expending. It gives me comfort to have someone speaking to me daily. (Lol, I put a lot of weight into that silly program!) As for the Tylenol, yeah, it's AWFUL! The nighttime one (Vanilla) is better. Tammy: sending a link to the moderator is a great idea... they know the rules, and they can ban 'em if they think it's necessary. Pat: Wish I was with you on the sweets! I still want my sweet thing to end the meal... though often my calcium chew works, lol. Never thought I'd see that day! Xann: You sound SOOO much like us about the exercise! Every time we finish it, we thank each other for pushing us to do it. We both feel better... but WANT to? Oh no!!!

Reporting for duty, sir! Results of 05-APR-2006 (I need a gold star smiley! :Banane25:): Vitamins -- check! :Banane57: Water -- um, no check (32 oz, **sigh**) Protein -- check! :Banane33: Exercise -- check! (DDR: 10 min, "Stepping": 2 min) :Banane59: food journal -- check! (I use fitday.com. Pics of journal available at http://yylc.us/Janet... with ALL the gory details. :Banane43:) :Banane39: Good choices -- semi-check. :waytogo: Daily affirmations 3 times -- no check. TODAY I will make a difference! TODAY I will create the me of tomorrow! TODAY I will conquer & get all things checked! I am in control of my diet and exercise. I make good food choices daily. I move my body daily. I am patient with myself & my weight loss. I do the things on my plan so I CAN TRIUMPH!! Hooooo-rah!!!

I haven't been able to find Adult Motril or Advil in liquid form, so I ended up with children's & "super" doses, lol. Gross! I've only done 1 dose so far... but it worked. Last week's practice was awful... this week, I never even rubbed my shoulder. My pain-free-ness only lasted 3 hours, but I'll take it! Now to pick & choose the best times.

I was wondering about the seating chart. I hadn't noticed it at all until I re-wound & re-watched it. But I'll be scouting it tonight!! We have to record it again, lol, so I get to watch it as often as I need to! Heh. I'm interested to see who she sits by & if she sits as close to them! Maybe it's just how she is & wasn't particular to Chris? (I'm not sure which would be better! LOL)

Aww Jessie!! We're definitely thinking of you & your family. Hang in there! (( Hugs!! ))

Thanks Jack! I haven't been to a chiropractor since we moved, I'll put out feelers. Sue, I was told to quit using all NSAIDs upon banding. I was given 2 reasons: 1. The possibility of the NSAID sitting in the upper pouch & causing tissue issues. (Not sure this is valid with liquid NSAIDs.) 2. The overall effect of NSAIDs on the body, especially the liver. I used to take a ton of Ibuprofen (long-term knee issues), but I've given it up on the "better safe then sorry" theory. Neither reason was good enough for me, but until I REALLY need 'em, I'll obey just to be nice, lol. :huggie:

That's awesome news!!! Thanks for keeping us updated, Alex! Doin' the happy dance!!! (Glow in the dark poo? I might just have to check! LOL)

Thanks for updating us, Kel! Hang in there Jess, pump those pain meds & be nice to yourself!! Can't wait to see pics of the new bod!

I couldn't believe Ryan kept making drunk jokes. I guess that's the way they're dealing with it? Cracking jokes?

Oh Carrie!! I'm so sorry! We'll definitely keep O & Mo in our thoughts! And really, folks will be super understanding at first... she may need your hugs even more this weekend!

**Yawn** Oh, was Idol on? J/K, but I really don't like country. I'll be SOOOO glad when they choose something else next week! Hope it's not Broadway! Oh, and Kenny wasn't impressive to me... my fav is still Barry. I think he did the most for the kids.

Woot! I'll add you to the "RSVP" list! Can't wait to meet you!

We had a blast at Jason's, but decided to have it at a, um, more "adult" restaurant next time (we'll alternate). Jack Astors Grill & Bar (635 at Macarthur, north of 161 -- next door to Jason's) 7701 N Macarthur Blvd Dallas, TX 75240 972-373-0100 lunch -- say 1:30 pm. That way we catch those that work nights & such. If that time doesn't work, speak up! I just plucked it out of the blue. Vote for a date! Thanks! Janet Here's a pic from the March get-together at Jason's.

Sign me up! I was late for the last one... gonna be on time for this one! My daily goals for April: Take my Vitamins Drink my Water Eat my Protein Exercise as planned (Sun & Mon off, Tue Thu Sat 20 min, Wed Fri 10 min -- we're working up to more slowly) Keep my food journal Plan the work & work the plan!! (My new mantra.) I will be Stronger! I will be Thinner! I will be Healthier! Most of all I will be so Stinkin PROUD of Myself! Boo-yaaah!

Today's a beautiful day! I just read the boot-camp thread, so "drink your water, eat your protein, and move that body!!" I think I'm gonna sign up for it. :huggie: Welcome Pat & Rockman & Kathy!! We're glad to have you on the road with us! Thanks for that poem, Tammy! I posted it on my blog... and cried the entire time I read it to Mikey, lol. I can't wait to celebrate when the obsession is really gone for me! Sherry: Thanks so much for your words! Yeah, having Mikey going through this with me helps SO much! I really couldn't do it without him. You're lucky to have such a supportive man!! Hug him for me! Happy Humpday, everyone!! Halfway there! :drum:

Oh my goodness, Shanna!! I'm so sorry!! (( Hugs!! )) Hang in there... and expect all the steps of grief. Be nice to yourself!!

Heh, he laughs at me & says, "Oh those words you bandsters come up with!" But PB >>>> "small vomitous episode" in my book! :ban:

Oh my word, Kel! This thread is awesome! I'm so bawling now! Your pics are amazing!!! Congrats on your bandiversary! :ban:

Jules: (( Hugs!!! )) I cannot begin to know where you're coming from, but know that you are valued & loved & are WORTH IT!! My advice on sorting through feelings... by the numbers. I'm attaching 2 documents. One labeled: "Must Haves", one labeled "Can't Stands". (NOTE: These are Word documents, if they don't open for you, let me know, I can throw them in notepad.) Take these lists & put them in order for you. I did this exercise 5 years ago... I would probably list them differently now. These lists helped me decide what's REALLY important for me. Mikey sorted the lists as well & then we discussed them. It was interesting to see how we differed... and how well we are matched for each other. When I get irritated with him, or he with me, it's nice to know that underneath, our numbers add up. :ban: One thing to remember (at least according to some therapists)... sex & appearance are very important to men. Security & an "atmosphere of love" are important to women. These needs are not really compatible, but the hope is that if a woman feels loved & secure she'll want to fulfill the man's needs, and visa versa. One part of the equation failing will cause the entire thing to fail. I.E. If the man refuses to cuddle because he's not getting any, it MAY cause the woman to be less open to sex. And if the woman chooses not to, um, fulfill her husband's needs because she's not feeling secure, he may then be less open to cuddling or making her feel secure. I'm not at ALL excusing your husband, but he should get props for telling you that something's bugging him. He certainly could use some lessons in how to discuss painful stuff, lol, but at least he spoke up! Either way, no matter what you decide, know that we're here for you & support you! Feeling better about yourself will definitely help all the way around... love starts with you. Good luck & congrats on the surgery date!! MustHaves.doc CantStands.doc

LOL, that's awesome!! And so true!!! Before surgery, my stomach almost never growled (except for Sunday mornings in church). Now it growls all the time. And yeah, when it's not growling, I consider it to be mental hunger. And boy do I feel it!! Sometimes I give in... sometimes I win. It's a give-and-take. I'm trying to "win" with good choices, even if I'm "giving in" by eating. I haven't pulled out the frosting YET... but it's waiting for me! :ban: (And the ice cream bars are disappearing at an alarming rate!)