cashley

Yep... Occassionaly a few of us go there in the evenings too. Though it's not a big group it's fun to chat with some of the names you see here.

Well I struggled with the band in the beginning because things didn't feel different to me. I didn't have restriction prior to my second fill and since I've always ate somewhat healthy (just too much) and love exercise - nothing was really different. I do think now that I have restriction that this has helped me with the emotional eating because I'm not that "turned on" by food any longer. I kind of have this nasty 'ucky' feeling toward it. I eat a lot of salads with fresh dark greens and spinach.... and I actually like them. I eat more veggies and wasn't a huge veggie eater before and for the most part "fatty junk" isn't that attractive. I still like "regular" dressing on my salads, occassional chips and some sweets but not really much. An applesause to me is just about as good and refreshing as eating a piece of cake or pie. In fact, I like it better. (now) So... I know this is just a tool but since I have restriction it feels so much better then before. I actually feel I will suceed and before I was a "doubter".

Something about that sounds hot... ~~maybe it's the thoughts of Brad Pitt and Edward Norton saying those words~~

To be honest... I go back and forth on this issue. On one hand I kind of feel it's not everyones business and I don't like long discussions on why I did it, did I weigh enough, etc. On the other hand; I used to get mad when I was overweight and saw someone losing and they said it was "JUST diet and exercise" since I'd tried that so many times and failed, I felt like they were saying they "could do it, but I couldn't"... So I don't want to lie and say "I've just been eating less, excercising more etc. (even though that is mostly true) that's not the whole truth. I've lost weight only due to one reason... I have a tool that helps me feel "RESTRICTION" (the magic word) that makes diet and exercise easier. I don't have advice to you but what I'm going to do is tell most people but be vauge if they are super skinny or annoying about it.

Losing weight before your first fill is due to restriction... You friggin moran.. (I'm just teasin' - a little grouchy cuz it took me three months to get restriction and YOU PEOPLE got it right away...) I'm not really calling names.. that was a "YOU MORAN... to the band gods who made my band wait for fills to work)

I agree... Minute Maid diet lemonade is good... and they serve it at a lot of resturants.

I did really well pre-surgery on the liquid diet... didn't cheat once and it wasnt' that hard. Something hit after surgery (like two days after) and I was starving and depressed because I was starving. I didn't really cheat (that's a joke with P'nut) beause I had my doctors permission (so it's not cheating is it?) and he let me move to mushies early. He did explain that the liquid diet was too heal and limit the opportunity to throw up and cause the stictches to tear. But he said since I was so hungry and started at a lower weight then most peope I could move to mushies on day three... I did... and I didn't tear my stitches and have followed the rest of the rules ever since. I'm not really a rule breaker I just like teasing because I don't think some people (the ones that had restriction right away) understand that if there isn't restriction it's harder to have that willpower... I mean that's the reason we had this surgery because each and everyone of us must have lost the motivation to continue whatever weight lose program we had done in the past and decide the "Band" was what we needed. We choice the band because we "wanted restriction - the comes from the tool that helps us eat less"

When they ask the "What are your salary requirments" question you could respond close to what you have above but worded slightly different... You could try... well you're paying me $8,000 to do the books now and I'd continue to do them and I know what the postion is paying currently.... I have more experience and am willing to handle more responsibilty.. I'd like you hear your offer keeping those facts in mind... How does that sound?

Oh yeah... I forgot that pot gave you the munchies, that can't be good! Try switching to herione (I've never seen an overweight junkie) ~~teasing again! just teasin~~

Good Luck!! Also, I found this on askmen.com (funny they would know wouldn't they) Make More Then The Average Salary The onus is on you to arm yourself with information to justify your argument for better pay. Here are some sample questions to toss out as you negotiate your salary, whether for an entry-level position or not: What is the salary range for the position? What is the basis for that range? In other words, what does a person in this position need to have to rise to the upper range? Is there precedent for the company to go beyond that range? If so, what were the circumstances? If not, what has to occur in the future for that precedent to be set? What is the average salary raise for this position from one year to the next? How often will a person in this position be subject to a performance and salary review? What are the milestones a person in this position has to attain on a regular basis in order to receive a raise or promotion without negotiation? do your research You have to conduct a fair amount of diligence on your own in order to be in a good position to negotiate a higher wage. Apart from the information you may derive from the questions above, here are some more points to address before you make your plea. I suggest, for one, that you do whatever you can to discover the average industry salary range for your job type. There is quite a bit of pertinent information available on the Internet (check the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics), so the World Wide Web is your best bet here. Advertisements for like jobs that list a salary range are an obvious barometer as well. In addition, ask friends, family and industry contacts you trust to offer their two cents too. They may know something you do not. Last but not least, it may be worth your while to contact professional associations, recruiters and headhunters and find out what you can about the average salary for your job and industry. Just remember to take the information with a grain of salt and cross-reference it thoroughly. The data you uncover with a bit of research may lend a very persuasive and powerful argument your way. ...at the job interview This comes up a lot in questions readers send my way, so I will address it here. It is never comfortable to discuss salary when the job is not even yours yet, but the question is inevitable and is, in essence, your first potential turn at wage negotiations. When an employer asks what your salary requirements are, never answer directly. For the most part, this is a lose-lose proposition. Instead, relay the expectations of the position and what you hope to deliver in return. and then ask what the range is. In the same vein, realize the fruitlessness of an honest, or even dishonest, response when an employer asks about your previous salary. Rather, tell them that your preference is to discuss the requirements of the job further before you negotiate compensation. In addition, always offer the employer an opportunity to increase the offer on the table. Never jump at a salary they throw your way. Instead, take the time to consider it and whenever possible, increase the range so that their top figure is your bottom figure. Thus, a $40,000 to $45,000 salary range becomes $45,000 to $50,000 when you counter-offer. Just make sure that there is industry precedent for that wage. As you embark on your mission to get paid , remember, above all else, never to bend the truth. Be honest about why you deserve a raise and if they press you, do give the exact salary of your previous job. One last tip is to bear in mind the company's total investment in you as an employee, from a health plan, company car or any other perks they remunerate you with. If they grant you a raise, one of these could somehow disappear. Make sure that this doesn't happen -- get everything in writing. Best of luck.

When you were unbanded and no restriction where you a hardcore rule follower? If so, did you always follow your diets and lose weight?

That's what I did last time... I said well I'm being paid XX,xxx and I make average about xx,xxx incentive (bonus) per year. I would need to start with at least xx,xxx... They gave it to me right away... I'm not sure that I should of done that but it worked.... now I realize I should have asked for more then I was making (see I told them the truth) so I didn't come out with as much as I really wanted. I did negotiate the raise after 1 year and jumped up about 6,000 which wasn't too bad of a jump.

I work with a lot of non-profits also... actually sometimes they pay more then the private sector. Since you don't feel that you should ask for "quite a bit higher" I would wait for the offer... say "Well I was thinking of XX,xxx but I'd be willing to start work with your offer providing we can negotiate an increase on this date and a second increase on this date to get me where I want to be"

I’m a consultant for Payroll, HR & Recruiting Software. I see hundreds of clients and totally amazed at the differences that people make that do the exact same job. It all depends on how they negotiated. I've seen HR Managers making anywhere from 30,000 to 95,000, I've seen Payroll Managers making as low as 19,000 and as high as 70,000... I'm just always astounded by the differences. I had to negotiate my last salary and I know I came in too low. I could tell by how quick they said yes and didn't even think about it. I believe they will take the lead in asking, "What type of salary are you looking for?"... I would respond with something high (quite a bit higher then your floor) ... and then tell them you are willing to take less with a 6 month and 1 year increase schedule to get you where you want to be based upon performance. This keeps your options up while taking less without the risk of "no raise" for years. It's always best to get it in writing during this time too. I see new people come into companies and they've negotiated double vacation... benefits early and all kinds of things I wouldn't have thought to ask for... The reason I know about all these perks is they have to come to me to make the rules based software work for the 'many' exceptions. If you have to take less make sure you get something in return so you don’t seem like a pushover… like the extra vacation or benefits or higher increase amount during your reviews. Say "I'll compromise on XX,XXX (# of dollars) per year, but I except to be making the salary I want within two years and I would like my contract to reflect an increase schedule to get me to that level etc etc.

I'm struggling with this right now too. I have good restriction but find I have limited meal choices. I travel for my job 2 - 6 hours per day in the car.. at least lunch and dinner at fast or semi fast food. I usually have a protein shake for breakfast... and some type of salad at lunch and shoot for a protein for dinner. I'd die if I had to eat six small meals like you... that's too much work and too much thinking about food. Today I had... Breakfast - Coffee & Atkins Protein Shake Lunch - Small Serving of Pretzel Crisps and cream cheese dip (1 serving) Dinner - 2 McDonalds Chicken Fingers Not the most healthy well rounded meals so... I need tips as bad as you.

Where are you rule followers... Yep... I'm looking for ya!

What's the world coming too... Vines is losing weight and you guys are all getting along now... Looking around for lighting to strike any minute. Congrats Vines on the 5 pounds... that is awesome to have a great week and you got to have ice cream too.

My doctor didn't take me off caffine and he said I could have diet soda as tolerated but if it bothered me to drink them flat. I don't like them flat and I'm not tolerating them so well so I just gave them up. It wasn't that hard.... in fact giving up a lot of things hasn't bothered me. It's like I'm just not that interested in junk.... and I love that side effect.

See you people... that had restriction without a fill and lost weight are sooooo lucky! I know that some of you are "RULE FOLLOWERS" (no meaness intended) but it's 100% easier to follow the rules with restriction. When you go that first 6 weeks with no restriction what so ever like I did it was like rubbing salt in a $17,000 dollar wound. Now I finally understand.... and feel good with the rules and my eating life style but man it was sooo hard that first 6 weeks. I'm so jealous of you people that lost.

Noooooo one but here... told me that I'd be hungry until I got proper restriction. Never mentioned not once. Everyone (doctors, nurses etc) told me I'd lose about 2 pounds per week and more the first few weeks... that was a lie! Everyone (doctors, nurses, etc) told me I'd lose about 8 plus pounds during the pre-op diet... that was a lie too. Other then that - everything is roses!

I loved Angels and Demons and thought it was much more entertaining (and not as conterversial as the DiVinci Code. I liked the churches in Rome and the descriptions of the Vatican. It makes me want to plan a trip to see the sites their. Of course The Divinci Code makes me want to go to Paris. I love places with lots of history. Wow Stacy you are doing great. ... I just noticed your fill level. I thought mine was high. I go for my third fill on 6/8... I think it's time for a bit more restriction. I've been fighting with this one pounds for awhile and it's still going on... so I guess I either need to drop my calories lower or change the types of foods. Something to kick start it.

Ohhh you poor thing. That sounds so much worse then we spoke about Sunday night. I hope that they get you a solution soon. Good Luck!

When I have something stuck and I put water (or any drink ) on top of it... I feel like I'm drowning and then I ususally PB... at the point when you are tight and drink it won't wash down anymore. It hurts really bad!

I'm also a huge Potter fan... I've re-read (and listened) to them several times and can't wait for book seven to come out. I will be sad though that it's the last in the series.

I'm reading (listening too really on my Ipod) The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. It's really good! I've listened to The DiVinci Code and Angels and Demons also on my Ipod. I travel a lot so I get my reading caught up the many hours on the road when I can't actualliy read but listen. I use a service called Audible.com to download books. I've got the Predator by Patricia Cornwall and I'm going to listen to it and At Risk next.