Kat817

:wink2::biggrin::Dancing_biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:I'm so happy this is all coming together---and so are we!!!!:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:Thanks for all the hard work you are doing Terry~~ Kat

Through the time I have spoke with Terry, Laura, Michelle and Jane....looking forward to hearing them all chatter at once!!! More so than I know how to say!!! Kat

Judy I am begining to think we need a Violet sticky of things we do NOT eat for breakfast!!! My contribution to the list???? Sausage pancake things---like a corndog, Kinsey was having them, I thought What the Heck-----oyyyyy......yuck it is bouncing around my throat still and I only took 2 bites!!! Kat

My hair loss lasted much longer than a month--and was severe, but it did quit right about a year out, and has been growing in ever since. Fresh fruit and fresh vegetables will up your caloric intake in a healthy way. I have to eat fruit carefully to avoid a PB---I think it is the high Water content in some fruits! I also saute squash and things of that type in small amounts of real butter or olive oil, for basically the same reason Finally Free mentions, your body needs some fats. I found my skin was so flaky, the nutritionist suggested it for that. Are you taking anything besides the multi Vitamins? Just some general supplements? I take Calcium chews---and I can always use the extra calcium, but they also help with my sweet cravings following dinner! I use the store brand of like Viactiv! They help with the head hunger telling me I want candy or ice cream! They are like little caramels, and I eat that, and feel like it is a treat! Hope your hair loss is over soon, it is so traumatic, I know! The nails improve about the same time out. I used Aveeno for babies and it worked wonders with my skin, and helped the nails too---as far as the cuticles. They are serious emotionally upsetting side effects, and unfortunately many of us experience them, the good news is----they DO pass!!! Hang in there I survived it, and you will too! Kat

I could have wrote this post....describes me to a T!!!!! I actually met with the PS once, and he said he would do the pannectomy--simple removal of the pannus, but not a Full Tummy Tuck until I was at goal weight for minimally 6 months. Trying to decide what I want to do! Quick fix without the aesthetics or wait, and have it all done at once. In order to do that I have to get busy! Mine got put off due to other surgery---and we thought at the time I may be heading for more chemo. So the PS took a back seat. Well I got good news, so now it is heating up in my head again!!! Kat

Awwww Tracy, I was hoping you would miss getting it! So relieved to hear Macy's fever broke finally though. Now if you make it through the whiny's you will have survived hers, and can heal yourself. Wish I was close enough to bring you a bowl of chicken noodle soup! Today is my brothers birthday. I am having dinner here tonight. I think we will do a Taco Bar Buffet thing. He is a very picky eater. When he had his accident that left him with the brain injury he lost a part of his jaw. He has a partial that he can wear to appear to have teeth etc. But there is nothing for them to anchor to, so he must remove them for eating---so he will not dine out. Sis cooks instead. Taco's have long been his favorite! He wants seasoned meat, cheese and lettuce, and nothing else! But I can have all kinds of extras for those of us a bit more experimental than he is!! Mom said she would bake a cake for him...so looks like it is all good, as long as he does not get in a huff and not show up!!! With him, ya never know! I have to go chip some ice today---the fun never ends around here! We are finally getting some temps to melt ice in the sun, but the shaded areas, are simply getting deeper in ice, and we have gates that won't budge. And the mud is getting too deep in the melted areas to get through, so the ice must go! Rick goes to work in the dark, and comes home in the dark. So it is hard for him to get to, and my son is back in ND working for 2 weeks....so looks like I get to do it! Will be good exercise, and maybe while I am there, a ride will be inevitable!!! No maybe about it! My 401 is going down and my scale is going up! My blood work says I need to increase my Synthroid, so maybe that will get my metabolism back up to par. My fill Dr. said until that gets straightened out not to expect much if any loss. He did not say I would gain though! And I have! I should change my ticker, but refuse, if it goes higher, where my 100 pounds is not correct I will....for now the sucker stays! I have been eating better than I did for a long time. Not perfect, but much better, it just doesn't seem to matter. I want things reversed....I want the 401 to go back up and the weight to come back down. Enough of the dyslexic universe! Manda told me this morning when she dropped Kinsey off that our friend we helped out at Christmas---the one who used to rent from us, her 8 month old was diagnosed yesterday as developmentally disabled. They are going to do further testing, but she is not interacting at all, just seems to stare off into space. She is very small, as well. She was over 7 lbs at birth, but is still less than double that at 8 months. I think Manda said they usually double by 3 months of age or something....I cannot remember. I just feel badly for her. Life is difficult enough for her as a single parent. She has a daughter who just turned 6, and this baby. Speaking of babies, this guy Rick works with, he and his wife had 2 little boys, and she wanted a daughter, convinced him to try one more time.....and now they are having twin....boys! 2nd couple I know to have the exact same thing happen! Well I think I hear Kinsey stirring in there, so will go play for awhile! TTYL~~ Kat

You can call me anytime Pamela! Day or night! You should have my home and cell #'s both! Kat

While I am not exactly long term out, I thought I would add my .02 cents worth here. Like Jachut, I do not count every calorie, or protein gram, or ounce of water. I do attempt to make my diet as healthy as possible, and with that in mind, I do keep the thought of protein first as opposed to starches, that kind of thing, and I do try to get plenty of fluids in, it does help a lot with my weight loss. I choose to drink iced tea as opposed to water, but I go with de caffeinated and sugar free, so it works for me! I may not get in 64 ounces every day in the winter---but easily in the summer. I have found if I think I want something to eat, to try to drink a glass of water or tea, and many times it is thirst I am feeling, not hunger. I really don't feel much hunger any more. I do eat more than a mere half cup of food at each meal. I don't eat anywhere near the amounts I used to, and yes I too on occasion find something that tastes so good, I WANT to eat more....but cannot. Which to me is a saving grace--or I would have my 100+ pounds back on in nothing flat I imagine!!! I do not have super tight restriction, by choice. It is taking me longer to lose my weight, but I am doing so in a very normal life style, no serious difficulties, and no food restrictions. Swimming is a very good option for back pain. You also need to consider the fact that even without exercise, with just the diet change, you will begin losing weight. With every little bit lost, exercising will become easier, and possibly less painful. I have (almost said had, they are doing so well!) bad knees, and the weight loss has improved that more than I can even tell you! While I am not quite at goal weight, I do know you can maintain very simply. I have been acting as though I am at goal, and have been very complacent. I had to have surgery recently, and have been babying myself some. I eat normally with my family, dining in or out. I have my smaller portions, but eat the same foods they do. I have not exercised much---between the sub zero temps and the surgery, I am not getting out a lot. This "time off" has eased my mind completely---I know now that when I get the last bit of weight off, maintenance is not going to be an issue! It took a load off of my mind to figure that out! Constipation, I personally eased by adding more Fiber. I eat fresh fruit of one kind or another each day, and have Cereal for or with my Breakfast usually, and if not, I will have a small bowl of some type as a snack during the day, and also have a handfull of almonds as a snack each day. These things have made it less of an issue, along with drinking my fluids. I have heard it is not uncommon for those who eat less to only have BM's every 4-5 days. Less in, less out. It is not a perfect solution. The band does have drawbacks, but in my case, and in my opinion and experience, they are far less debilitating, and restrictive than morbid obesity was. Good Luck! Kat

Ay-yi-yi.........just looked at the 401K....makes my stomach sick! Good thing we don't have everything wrapped up there. Denise, I fainted once when I was pregnant! I had gone by where my ex husband worked, and we had walked behind the counter (parts dept.) and down an aisle, to talk $$$. I started seeing black dots, and woke up to every counterman in the store standing over me! Never happened again.....no idea why it did then! I had just come from lunch---which is why we were arguing money! I had spent some!!! OMG! LOL Anyway, the pregnancy advanced just fine, no other serious issues, I did end up with a tooth that give me crap the entire pregnancy, and ended up with a root canal when she was like 9 days old! Baby was fine though! Dang near 9 lbs! Hope your DD is feeling better, and that all goes well!!! Hugs! Tracy, hope Macy is feeling better tonight---how are YOU feeling? Do you think you have what she does, or are you simply exhausted? Keep us updated, you are such a good Mommy! Yes Terry you can come over and play under the tent with Kinsey and I! Yes---I sat under the table and played!!! I had to! I am the only one of us who can read she told me! Was fun, and was also a huge NSV for me. Crawling! I fit under there, and I was able to manuever around. I can't describe it, it was just fun----I loved being able to play with her under there, and not have to decline for lack of being able. Was a shame to hear about Heath Ledger. I have not heard what they suspect COD to be. Guess I will check my email and call it a night! See y'all in the morning! Hugs~~ Kat

Wasn't too far fetched for me....was a fact! I am a cancer survivor, which is one of the big reasons I chose the band--if I have a recurrance, I know how chemo affected me, and I will be able to do whatever needs to be done to maintain my nutritional needs. I agree that within our lifetime, new options in weight control will be developed, if not a cure for obesity---with the band, we are open to those options just as if we had never had one. They are currently developing and testing a remote control band. One tightened by remote as opposed to a port and saline. The Dr. will control the restriction still, but it will eliminate the need for poking, thus reducing the risk of infection. If it hits the market, we can have ours changed if we want! The article I read, stated ideally it would be able to be adjusted over the phone, similar to a pace makers calibrations being adjusted over the phone. It will only get better from here---and I want to keep my body in tact to be able to appreciate and utilize any future developements! And finally---I seriously wanted to be able to eat birthday cake with my grandkids on their special days! I wanted a normal life. One in which I am simply helped control how much I eat on a day to day basis. The band gave me that. Everyone has their own reasons for choosing the surgery they did. If you seriously research the pros and cons for each, and how they apply to your life----I would bet that the answer becomes apparant to you. Read all you can, talk to people who have had both surgeries....attend seminars for both----this is your life, put a lot of thought and planning into the choice you make! Welcome to LBT---hope we can answer any questions you come up with--- Kat

****BONUS TIP OF THE DAY**** Especially for Tracy K. & me. TUCK ELBOWS IN!!!! Rest of you would be wise to take heed----it HURTS!! Tracy---hope you and the little one have a restful day, and begin feeling better soon! Kat

********TUESDAY'S TIP OF THE DAY*********** 10 Things You Can Do To Lose Fat Without Even Trying 1. Eat smaller more frequent meals - not only is your metabolism boosted every time you eat something, your body can more efficiently process smaller meals. Instead of having 3 large meals in a day, try to break them up into 5 or 6 smaller meals... 2. Drink more water - regular water intake helps to flush away waste products in the body. Get at least six to eight 8 oz. glasses per day. An easy way to do this is to keep a water bottle handy and drink from it frequently. 3. Be inefficient - do you need to go to the kitchen to get a couple of things? Break it up into to two trips even if you can do it in one. Being inefficient like this can easily double your activity level, burning calories without even trying. 4. Eat more protein - sources of protein include foods such as chicken, fish, eggs, dairy, beans, lean red meats, etc. Your body burns more calories processing protein than either carbohydrates or fats. Protein also helps to support your muscle tissue, which burns calories all day long! 5. Take the stairs instead of the elevator - any time you can add in a little more physical activity, do it. This doesn?t mean you need to slog up 20 flights of stairs. Even a flight or two done regularly will add up. 6. Don?t let yourself get hungry - when you get hungry you will have a much greater tendency to overeat when you do finally get something to eat. As well, because your body is starting to go into starvation mode, it will be much more likely to hold onto whatever you give it. 7. Order small portions at restaurants - it?s tough to order small french fries when "supersizing" your order is such a great "value." Take note, however, your real savings will occur in the calories that don?t end up on your backside. 8. Eat more fiber - fiber is very filling. By eating more fiber you will find yourself full sooner. This feeling of fullness will last a long time as well. 9. Wait 20 minutes between servings - your brain takes at least 20 minutes to register that you?re full. By waiting that long, you?ll give your brain a chance to realize that you don?t really need any more food. 10. Cheat on your diet - one thing I always make my clients promise is that they will cheat on their diet. The only thing I ask that they do is to cheat ONLY when they have planned to cheat. By planning when you are going to eat the foods you crave, you take back control of your eating habits. This way you no longer "give in" to your cravings. You "reward yourself" for sticking to proper nutritional habits. Do this once or twice a week and you will feel far more in control of your eating. In conclusion, if you follow even a few of these 10 easy tips in the long term, you will certainly notice a difference in your overall weight and health. About the Author Nick Nilsson, Grayslake, IL, USA betteru@fitstep.com http://www.fitstep.com/

Well I have a King sized sheet thrown over the dining table---and Kinsey is snuggled in with blankets, a couple of pillows, her favorite dolls and Lord knows how many books! She will be happy in there for awhile! Ooops spoke too soon. We had not stocked her kitchen!!! She needed snacks. She now has a well stocked kitchen--cheese and cracker packs, and clementines!!! I was bringing the blanket and sheet out of the extra bedroom, and whacked my elbow on the door jam. It made me cry! I did not hit my "funny bone", just the elbow itself, it still hurts---30 minutes later! Add to that I am having horrid heart burn....I ate a salad for dinner last night, and I know better! Salad, or raw veggies take too long to digest for me to eat lots of them at night. Can no salad at night, and tuck in your elbows be my tip of the day??? Ok, I will find a different one, and post it soon!! Better go hunt one up!! BBL~~ Kat

They look enough like my granddaughter, that I could toss her in the mix, and no one would even know!!! They are adorable! I know you look at those pics and wonder how in the world you could ever get mad at those sweet little girls....get used to it! Kids keep you guessing like that, for years!! My kids are now 27,26, & 24---and they still keep me guessing. More often than not now tho, they surprise me on the good side!!! I find myself shocked---they DID listen! They have grown up to be productive, kind members of society--despite occasionally living with Mommy Dearest!! Once again, your girls are beautiful!!! Kat

Must be a great minds think alike moment---I bought a new suit at Target last night! Kinsey had so much fun at the rec center, I want to be able to take her---so needed a suit. I have to be able to buy separates. I need a much larger top! I ended up buying a nicely fitted halter styled top with this swirled design on a black backgroud, in a 22/24. Size depressed me! BUT it covers up well, and give me a little length in the top that I wanted. The 18/20 fit but when I bent over or wiggled around, the top was not as comfortable, and I ended up with bulges out the top of the cup area. Then I bought a size Large boycut short bottoms for it. I wanted someting I could wear with chasing her, and not worry if I picked her up I was going to expose anything!!! I wanted to be able to take her down the big slide etc. and not be worried about what I was showing the world!!! This fit the bill!!! I keep putting off buying more clothes, thinking I will drop the last of this weight....but at the rate I am going, the only way I am going to lose 20 pounds is to go shopping in England.... Enjoy shopping~~ Kat

Sounds to me like cold turkey is not working for you. Maybe you need to figure out some snack type of foods, that will be band friendly and also Weight loss friendly---and have them readily available. When you can go to the gym and get your "escape" there then good enough. But when you can't....have a bowl of air popped popcorn, or your handful of raisins---whatever it takes. You will look back in a few years, and realize that those few snacks did not make a huge difference in your weight loss, but on the other hand, you will hate looking back and realizing you did not enjoy your girls as much as you could have. I used to make kool aid, the sugar free kind, and freeze it in bowls---just before it got ice hard we would eat it, like a slushie---my kids loved it! You could do it with Crystal Light. It takes a little work to eat it, it has no calories, you can make enough to share with the girls....and maybe the actual temperature of it can cool you down some. I babysit for my now 3 year old granddaughter 5 days a week M-F while my DD works. I have kept her since she was a year old. There are days I grit my teeth to keep from saying things, I know I shouldn't, and there is only one of her, and I know she is leaving by 4 PM! I can remember when mine were young----but as has been stated, back in those days I smoked, I did not have a weight issue, let alone a band, and Honey I yelled! I was a raving maniac some days---and yes I regret it. BUT I have 3 great kids, they all still love me, and they are not mean abusive parents themselves!!! I ran a day care begining out of my home then eventually free standing for over 20 years. Believe me when I say I do know how kids can make you nuts!!! My best suggestion is to seriously work on a schedule! For the time being turn yourself into a little school!!! Have something planned for morning, say coloring one day, Play Doh the next. Then let them watch a cartoon or 2. Have a sit down lunch at the same time every day. Then read a book, and either they sleep or they learn that they lay down and have quiet time every day following lunch. Then when they get up, go outside for a few minutes EVERY day, even if it is winter, get a little sun, and fresh air. Come in, and let them sit in the kitchen with you if they want while you get things cleaned up and ready for dinner. If they want to play independently they can---unless they want to argue, then they HAVE to sit with you wherever you are! They get bored! It will get monotonous----but I found it calms kids to know what it going to happen next. When it gets REALLY bad....plug in a movie to the DVD player, let them argue, and log on here--better they whine awhile, and let you vent to us, than vent at them. You have a hard job---I don't care what anyone says!!! Big hugs to you, you recognize and admit, what many if not most Moms go through from time to time. Not to mention you do have kids at difficult ages!! Hang in there!!! Kat

I realize that part of your post was done in jest, but I really think, in a more serious manner, it is just...as they say, "diff'rent strokes, for diff'rent folks". Some men are very attracted to breasts, others are leg men, or butt men! While one man may find a girl slim in the hips in tight wranglers just his thing, the next might want a nice big old bubble butt, with lotsa junk in da trunk to trip his trigger! Women are the same way. Some like men with lots of body hair, others prefer none. Some think the body builder physique is hot, others find it almost deformed looking! That is great! We all can like different things. It increases everyones chances of finding a mate we are happy with!!! In my case, I DO have a man who appreciates my big breasts, but if I were to lose them, he would still love me.....but yes all those years ago, it is probably one of the things that garnered me a second look by him! Lucky for me he is not super hairy, I find it gross!!!! My best friend thinks body hair is sexy! We argue it!! I tell her fine she can have all the men covered in pubes!! Sorry!!! Sounds so gross, but it is just that, a joke! I do not think my man is a needy, insecure, Mommy seeking man, simply because he is honest enough with me to admit that he is attracted to certain parts of a womans body, more so than others. There are men and women out there attracted to heavy people---while others cannot find it in themselves to even give a fat person a chance. Simply saying a man likes big boobs, does not make him any different than a man preferring small breasts! Nor does it make him one who ogles every womans chest as she walks down the street. Those men, are watching your ass as you pass on by----THAT is how they are, they look and ogle, and talk trash, about all your attributes or lack there of. They are the immature ones....not all men who like different things than yourself. At least IMHO. Kat

Susanne had prior plans for the time of our get together, I believe she said. Michelle is planning away for her first trip!!! How excited she must be getting!!! Not sure what is up---but I am missing my Water patrol!!! I miss seeing Cindy post too! Might have to call in the winged Monkeys----to go hunt up the lovelies!!! Kat

How wierd, I must have hit something wrong!! Anyway, I hope you don't get flamed for being honest, and I hope your band journey improves! Kat

I have heard of people having issues like what you are talking about, Disappointed. Not long ago, my loss come to a screeching halt. I had no pain, my restriction remained similar to always. Nothing really changing, but the weight loss stopped. I figured it to be a plateau, and did not stress. Soon though the problem became apparant--I was growing a huge thyroid tumor! I had surgery, and am now waiting for results of my first blood work up post op. I also know one old (in membership terms not actual age!) bandster who had similar problems all along, and she suffered from Cushings Disease, and no matter how low she took her caloric intake, she simply did not lose. She worked her band, and all to no avail. I have no doubts there are cases where this happens, and I am so sorry you are one of them! I hope you do

Wow! I really liked both my surgeon, as well as my fill Dr., but they gave me print outs, and never went into this kind of detail concerning different foods in my stages of diet. I was on a strict post op diet---2 weeks of Clear Liquids (broth, clear juices), another 2 weeks of full liquids (cream Soups etc, must fit through a straw, and require NO chewing for digestion), then 2 weeks of mushies---cooked veggies etc. things that would not reequire my stomach to work much to pass. Then I was allowed to begin adding things in, until I got to a normal diet. Those type of things were on my not allowed/not recommended list--but I believe they were on the list due to the artificial sweetners---and the side effects some of them cause! Sounds like if your Dr. is going to spend enough time with you to suggest different ways of eating foods, that you found a Dr. with good patient rapport. Good for you!!! Like I say, I loved my surgeon, and I like my fill Dr. but they neither one went into that type of detail!!! Kat

Yep---bandster Hell----having a new band with no fill is like having a new car with no gas----nice, but it isn't helping you get anywhere!!! Hang in there, practice all the things you learned dieting, and let your body heal. Once you can begin filling the band, you will have the help the band provides. Til then----we have all been there, and sympathize!!! Welcome to Bandland! Kat

Me too Jane, just one of those Mondays!!! Figure Laura must have had an extra day off with the holiday---she will check in when she gets back I bet! Unless she hits it big, and is off buying herself a deserted island somewhere!!! Jane you will never be homeless!!! I think you got put on the side list of maybe wanting a private room---but you can always room with us!!!! I was teasing Jenn---the other day she left me off of the headcount list....told her I felt unwanted!!! My DH always refers to that as feeling like a redheaded stepchild. BUT--I have a red headed (bottle) step child, and I kinda like her a little bit!!! Kat

Yep---and if they can get one with a sofa pull out for us, Jane can hang with us!!! Kat

Sounds as though it is pretty common feelings following surgery. I agree 100% that if the fever persists or goes over 100 call the Dr. ASAP. The druggy, headache feeling might be increased due to the increased time you were under...making it more similar to a longer operation. I know I felt much druggier following my 8 hour surgery as opposed to my banding....more anesthesia used....makes sense. The deep breathing, for the heavy chest feeling is right on the money, and it will also help with temperature! Sounds strange, not quite sure how they are related----but it works!! Did they give you an incentive spirometer for breathing? A little plastic jobbie, you breath deep and raise the diaphram piece or little plastic balls? If so use it faithfully several times every couple of hours! If not, breath as deep as you possibly can, very slowly, methodically, hold it for a second or 2 then release equally slowly--do it several times in a row, and repeat it every couple of hours. Also make sure, you are sipping Water, or other Fluid, as permitted by your Dr. Being well hydrated will make a HUGE difference! I found myself feeling fatigued very quickly so I upped my Protein the first couple of weeks using, Zero Carb Isopure---it is like koolaid consistency, and has 40 g. of protein per bottle. I bought it at GNC---and it helped a lot. The last thing I would suggest, is walk, walk, walk! Move as much as possible! Even if you just walk laps around your house--walk! Each day you should begin feeling better!! I sure do hope so!! The quality will be back soon! Kat