Kat817

Morning girls- Tracy, you had my granddaughter running to the computer to see what was funny---I was laughing out loud at your comment....and incidentally, no she has not got my rack, she has none left at all!!!! I really am ok with my size, I want this belly gone terribly, but apparantly not enough to work seriously at it!! I work hard---I DO a lot of things, we hauled wood again last night...didn't get back in until 10:30 last night. We live and DH works in an oilfield area, but around here, it is not usually oil, it is natural gas. When they hit gas, it has to be piped, so they clear a swath of land, where they lay the pipleline. Trees all come down. They have a machine that they are run through, and it de-limbs them and mulches the limbs and any of the tree with less than a 6" cross cut. The remaining trunk of the tree, is either left in logs or put through another cut that leaves them in 18" lengths. Our son come across a location they had just cleared, so we jumped on it!!! We filled 3 truck beds, ours, our sons and my Dads, and a 17' trailer, with already cut cedar and pinon pine. For the cost of the permit, which was $10.00 per cord. We figure we had 3 cords, at least that was how we tagged it. While it had been cut, we still had to toss it to the road, and load it in the trucks and trailer, and then now we need to unload it---none of which is easy work. I move cows, and do a lot of physical work, I guess just not regularly enough for it to do me much good. I do have some muscle behind me though---I impressed my son last night!!! Speaking of muscle, my 2 year old granddaughter will flex her arms and ask you "whatcha think of this gun show?" Cracks me up everytime, she is the scrawniest little thing---and she holds up those toothpicks like a little body builder!!! Yes Terry, I do often want to say things to people, in this case my inlaws, that I opt not to. It would accomplish nothing, but cause all kinds of problems! It is one of the big things I love about this board....I can whine to understanding people and no one gets hurt by it. Rick and I have full understanding that there are things you just don't say. He gets mad as hell at his family and complains, and I do to a bit, but temper mine, they are afterall HIS family. He is the same with mine. It is like with your children, you can complain and say how mad they make you, but no one else better say a word about them!!! I could talk to my Mom about his family, but then it colors her opinion and future treating of them---so it is nice to be able to get it out, and not affect anyone with it. Thanks ladies!!! Pamela---I too am kind of anxious for some of the new TV to start. I am not a big winter fan, but the work of getting ready is putting me in the mood to do as you guys have all been talking about, loading the crock pot, and snuggling in....just watching TV, and enjoying the fire. It is a good thing I live where the seasons change, I am always ready, by the time it actually gets here! TracyK---do you have a choice of dentists? There are some new ways of doing things that make it so much easier than it used to be to have a root canal! My dentist, will give me earphones, and has a TV for me right over my head, I can watch TV, or one of his movies, or take my own! He works VERY hard with me to not let me see any needles etc. I have mentioned to most of you my history...with a violent EX, well, he ruined my teeth....literally knocking one out, and breaking 3 others at the root, shattering my jaw....I am VERY familiar with dentists, and I agree, if you have any chance of saving it---give it a try. I know it is not cheap....I am sorry you are going through it. I have spent enough time in a dentist chair, to be quite comfortable with it now. About 3 years ago, my dentist moved away, and a new guy took over the practice. We have dental insurance through Ricks work, so with it we are limited in who we can use. I was so scared, but the new dentist, is wonderful!!!! Of course he is also about 10 years old!!! Seriously he is soooo young I tease him about checking him out of preschool so he can work on my teeth! He and his wife just had a baby last week, she was premature, and is still in the hospital...I need to call and check on them. Anyway, my point is, find a dentist you like, and it makes it so much different! I take Kinsey with me all the time, and she watched from infancy, now she goes in, sits in the chair all alone, and opens wide. She calls him Dr. Brent...he has painted a sealant on her molars. Hopefully it will keep her teeth healthy. Judy, glad the fills went well, and was a successful shopping trip for you! Sounds fun! I need new work out shoes. My DD was telling me about a new pair of Nike shoes that work with your ipod Nano, you insert the disk in the sole of the shoe, and it counts your steps, and calories burned and all....sounds cool....and expensive!!! Besides, my ipod is not a Nano. Well my girlie is awake from her nap, so we are off to get the wood unloaded. Y'all take care, and have a good day, will check in later....as I am obviously one of us who has too much free time Panda, but I don't find it unfortunate at all!!! I am quite loving it!!!! Hang in there, plateaus happen to us all....repeatedly in my case!!! Kat

When updating my signature, I simply changed the weight lost, the style of the ticker, and a notation of inches lost. When I previewed it, it said I had too many lines. I moved all my other info to one line.....height-date of banding and inches lost---I used to have them on different lines. Still too many lines it said. So I made my ticker smaller.....still too many lines it says. I tried eliminating the excess space between the ticker and the other info, and it shows it gone on the preview, but then when I post it still has a big space between the 2. But still too many lines it says. So I began eliminating things!!! Got rid of my half inch I had lost, and finally it fit!!! But looking through other signatures---there are some BIG ones!!! With glittery names, multiple tickers etc. Can anyone tell me what I am or am not doing??? I delete my prior ticker, and paste in the new one. It should not have made a difference in size....I only changed it by showing one less pound. :help: Kat

Well it posted the ticker....which was another question...the url should have it full size, and yet....you see what I get....???? Kat

This is the code I used Wheetsin....is this what you needed? Forgive my ignorance!!!! Kat

I agree with so many of the above comments, I just want to urge you to read them through a couple more times. You are just a baby---enjoy the hell out of not having to conform!!! Drive your beat up car to the airport and travel as much as you can! See new places, do new things. In each situation you will meet new people! Make memories, YOUR memories. In 5 years your car will be outdated again, but no one can take away the memory of parasailing over blue waters, or sharing a frou-frou drink with a young woman you just met on a beach somewhere....or a cup of steaming coffee with a ski bunny!!! There will be a wife in your future, of that I have no doubt, but find you---find out what makes you happy without the someone else first. I speak that from first hand experience, I had some really horrid past experiences, but once I decided to make me happy, I found the man that fits in with that---and makes it better. You have done an amazing change in your life already, you took control of a weight issue that is not an easy thing to do. So what if we chose surgery---it is saving our lives, making us healthier individuals. You KNOW you can do anything now. If I had been able to lose the weight earlier in my life....the ideas, the opportunities seem so overwhelming!!! I thank God for doing it at 47!! You never did say what Dads buddies sons are up to...I know a lot of people, and not every professional man I know has kids following in their footsteps. My ex father in law, is a real estate mogul....but his millions in the bank could not keep his son out of prison. Enjoy your life NOW!!! Kat and yep you're a hottie!!!

Terry I think you look great as well---and I'd love a closer look at your necklace---did you make it??? I had the family pissed at me, but I didn't care, neither did Rick, he was in a frame of mind he wasn't gonna go...but we went, and I fielded a few well aimed verbal missiles sent my way...and did fine. We have a big estended family here, and some months we are bombarded with birthdays, so we do one big get together each month, for a group birthday. Kids get gifts, adults get cards. This month, my son, my MIL, SIL, and 2 great nieces all had birthdays. Well it seems the parties go between my MIL's, my SIL's and my place---and since it was both their birthdays, I always get September here. Well last month both Rick and I as well as several other family members had birthdays, we held it at my SIL's and we had a big Navajo Taco dinner, I took things as well. But we didn't have any ice cream, so my SIL requested ice cream. My DIL suggested an ice cream sundae party, which would have all been fine, but my MIL insisted we need food, so the kids had something besides sweets. It was easier than arguing to just plan on roasting hot dogs over the fire pit---or at least it was until it stormed!!! Then when I suggested we take the cake and hit a local restaurant, I find out there are supposed to be several little girls coming with my niece for her birthday. That is when Rick and I said uh-uh. Nope. No way. Ain't happenin'!!! Which irritated everyone, and they decided that my great niece deserved a birthday party (I agree), so they would have it at my SIL's. She did deserve a party, one at her house, with her friends, not one being given by the family as a monthly get together!!! I always had a party for my kids with their friends, I did not go overboard with themes and such, I was simple---cake & ice cream. Occasionally we did a pinata, or had a sleepover, or a pizza party...but had their friends in, and had a birthday party. We always had it on a weekend near their birthday. On the day of their birthday we would take them to their favorite restaurant, or I would cook whatever they chose, and we invited the grandparents. Done deal, birthdays over!!!! We have one in Sept., one in Oct. (who happens to be born on BOTH Grandpas birthdays---his Dad, my Dad, and our youngest DD all on the same day!) and then one in Nov. We saw a lot of family by the time the birthdays and holidays are over!!! It always was a relief not to have to plan anything come January!!! Now, my kids do their kids....Manda did have Kinsey's first birthday here at our house. But she planned and paid, and cleaned up. I took pictures!!! I love my inlaws, but they are soooooo set in their ways, and so obvious in their favortism....it is a little nauseating!!! I heard no less (I SWEAR to you) than 20 times between my MIL and my SIL, that she now wears a size 8. She looks good, if she will keep it covered up. Now the weather is changing she looks GREAT!!!! Summer, she insisted on wearing tank tops and way to revealing of clothes for a 59 year old, especially a 59 year old with all that extra skin!!!! I know that sounds so mean, but she looks so good when she dresses according to her body. She looks nice and petite, and well coordinated, when she does wear nice sets. There is just no way to get to a normal conversation about it, because it is being shoved down my throat that I still wear a size 14, and she wears an 8. I eat....she throws up....there in lies the difference! Thanks for listening to me vent girls. I know it comes across as sour grapes, I truly don't think that is the issue. I don't ever see myself in a size 8, I can feel my hip bones where I am, my bone structure is not like hers...I just hate being dumped on ALL the time. I really think the next time Rick says lets don't go....maybe we won't. I insist now because his folks are both in their 80's, I don't want him looking back in years to come wishing he had spent more time with them. Well off to figure out how to dress up tonights chicken!!! Kat

Does it bother you to think your own parents likely could not have done that, could not have afforded you??? I couldn't have at the time I had kids, but all 3 are well educated--2 of the 3 with degrees...all being productive members of society. Scares me to think of the only ones who would be able to afford to reproduce at will... Kat

I'll try to do that---I am not very adept with my computer---pathetic I know......thanks!!! I just know there is something I could do different, as I see others changing multiple tickers each day to track not just weight, but exercise goals etc. I also knew I would never figure it out on my own, asking was my only option!!!! Thanks!!! Kat

When before banding would we have ever 'saved' chocolate for later??? I saw it coming in your story, and still laughed!!! Kat

Docsdeb, I am glad the preop is not getting you down, it really seems to help when it comes to post op cravings. That is one less thing to worry over then. Be sure to check in and let us know if you have questions. Will be thinking of you Friday! Kat

What REALLY used to piss me off in that situation, was for my boss to cave and give the customer a discount, making me look like a moron....I do not miss retail in any way, shape or form!!! Kat

PERFECT post!!!! Kat

I just scrolled back through to see what kind of horrid comments had been made, and in particular to see how I had responded. I re read my post, and do not see how it was seen as being rude, nor bashing. When I joined this board well over a year ago, there were some people who offered me amazing support, were always there, to kindly answer any question I ask, some are still here, others have moved on, but they left me with the feeling that I would try to pass that on. I do not feel like I have ever been rude to a poster, I have gotten into some lively discussions in the Rants and Raves sections, that taken out of context perhaps could be construed as rude, but I have never set out to be rude to anyone, including this poster. In order to state your opinion, your experience, etc. you do not have to do so in a hateful, I am right and you are wrong way. In my original post, I explained how my SIL and I were banded the same day, by the same Dr. and have had totally different banded experiences. I also gave my opinion that she was likely a bit too tight. I believe my response was like 70 something....several before me had offered the same opinion. Which ended up being the OP's solution, a small unfill. My question to you Vancouvergirl74, is did you feel YOUR post was rude, or that it come on a little heavy?? Others did....much of what we read we read our own perceptions of the intention behind the post in to. There are cases where rudeness happens, and arguements happen, and members have been banned for continued arguing and bad behaviour. But without a doubt, this is more often than not a highly supportive group, who will spend their time attempting to help a fellow bandster who is having problems. That is proven by the fact that there were over 100 reponses to this OP. While you may not have approved of how some of the members responded, maybe it was their anger or their fear for the OP, that prompted her to see her Dr. Perhaps if only 2 or 3 members posted sweetly that they are sorry, and hope she feels better soon, she would have went on hoping for better, and thinking what she was experiencing was normal. When those of us banded for more than a few months KNOW for a fact it is NOT normal, and know of no Dr. who would expect a patient to live in that misery! Sometimes extreme issues require extreme responses. I hope you take time to read through other threads, and realize that by and large this is a very supportive bunch---with very diverse backgrounds and experiences with their bands. Docsdeb---you have a surgery date!!! wooo hooo!!!! I also see the first 7 pounds are gone....just imagine 7 more...and your goal will be less than 100 pounds away. I look forward to watching your progress!! Kat

Back before the layout change, there was a listing at the top of the home page, showing the most recent posts...it listed say the last 7 or 8 I think. When the layout changed, it dropped to the bottom of the page, and now I do not find it at all? Is it being moved again--or done away with altogether? I for one miss it! Kat

Evening ladies!!! Laura, I have most of the addresses already, I have a few left to hear from---I will just forward them all on to you...easy 'nuff!!! I am in for the exchange. I had family battles today---put me in a rotten mood. It rained, and the outdoor plans were not going to work. I suggested we all meet somewhere for dinner, and was going to take the birthday cake...they vetoed that idea, and ended up doing it at my SIL's and then proceeded to try to make me feel like shit for not having the party. BUT---Rick and I had already discussed it, and I refuse to let them make me feel bad!!! I do not want a bunch of kids with ice cream sundaes running around in my house. I do not allow my grandkids to do that, it was not my childs birthday--it was my great nieces birthday---HER mom can deal with the mess---I did my time, now she can do hers!!! This niece is doing my SIL's fills and unfills now....seriously!!! I cannot believe they are doing this, but they are. My MIL said she (the niece) could do mine, I said Nope, I will pay my Dr. when I am ready. She made a comment hinting that I thought I was too good for it....not too good, but waaaaaay toooooooo smaaaaaaart!!!! Rick now has whatever the mouth infection I had was....he is miserable. Of course being a man, he must have it worse than I did, because it really hurts!!! No kidding!!!??? Cracks me up, I tease him about it. We got word today my cousin who is in Iraq was injured. He is alive, but seriously injured...they gave them no other information. His Dad emailed my Dad, and has called him a couple of times, he is so upset, and no one knows what to DO....waiting for news is so hard. Brett was supposed to be out 9 months ago, but they stop-lossed him, so he had to stay. He is due to retire as soon as he can get back stateside. He is not a young soldier, he is 40. Hope he is going to be ok. Well I have Kinsey bright and early tomorrow...so I guess I should go to bed. TracyK I am so glad you decided to try those pants on!!! What a way to lift your spirits!!!! Now, relax a bit, and let your body catch up, then you will begin dropping weight again! Laura, I have no idea of weight, I don't pay that much attention to what each of us weighs, but I would hazard a guess that at 6' you are likely the tallest of us, which would put you at a higher normal weight anyway!!! I know some people are begining this Weight Loss journey at a weight similiar to what I weigh now!!! But at 5'9" it is not a terrible weight for me. If I could lose the rest of my belly, I would be happy where I am....but gotta keep working on the belly!!! Ok I am babbling....will talk to y'all in the morning!!! (((hugs))) Kat

DH and I got our mile high wings, on a company plane, taking him to Peoria IL. There was supposed to be 3 other men, and possibly their wives going, but their connecting flight was cancelled, so we were re-routed to get them....so from Albuquerque, NM to Houston TX---we had a dark plane all to ourselves. We have since worried that it being a company plane, it may have had cameras...glad it was dark!!!! Was still a thrill!!! Couldn't have wiped those smiles off our faces with a 2X4!!!! Kat

Marnie, I totally agree, concerning his crimes and gun involvement---at the time I made that huge mistake in my life, I was totally unaware of his history of crime...he was already a felon at that time!!! It was a simple matter of an alias, and he bought weapons, he voted....he worked the system. He is now being supported by the poor state of Texas, where he was extridited to after he served a sentence in Oklahoma. Sure would like to know what happen to the 3 strikes law....he has struck many, many more times than 3!!!! While you laugh at the sign on Walmart's door---I kind of cringe when I think that they allow the clerks working there, with little training, to sell the guns! Many of them extremely young. Kat

Awww c'mon Sherry, we know you have nothing better to do than retype your post!!!!! Lucky for me, I read it first in my email notification, which did not have all the "extras"!!!! I am so glad you enjoyed yourself, be careful with your blisters, they infect easily!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETTY---WE LOVE YOU AND HOPE IT IS A GREAT ONE!!!!!! Well we were supposed to have a party here today but it is raining, I tried moving it to a restaurant, and pissed off the family---I swear I cannot win with them!!! I had no idea all this time that I controlled the weather---just imagine!!!! Better go see if I can do any damage control---wish me luck! Kat

The comparison of buying a car, and buying a gun---requiring licensing to do these things, is all fine and good, except, the person who buys the car is not the one who always drives the car, anymore than the person who buys the weapon is not the only one to use it often times. We have guns....we have antique guns, owned by my DH's great grandfathers, as well as my DH's hunting rifle--that yes he does hunt with, and we eat what he shoots. I also have a hand gun. I took gun safety classes with my gun--offered to me when we purchased it, free of charge. I went on to pay personally for a Concealed Carry Permit. I go with a cop friend every few months to the shooting range, and I keep my permits current. At this point in time, my ex husband is in prison, for several charges, ranging from armed robbery and shooting with the intent to kill, to attempted murder...mine. The day he is released (which I hope and pray daily never happens) I will utilize my legal right to carry my weapon with me at all times, and will avoid the places where I am legally not allowed to do so. When that happens it will be a me vs. him situation, and I realize that, and have taken steps to hopefully come out of the next meeting alive as well!!! Do I want the government telling me I have to sit back and wait for the steps of getting to a phone, calling 911, them arriving, and dealing with him---nope not a chance! I would be dead. I want the right to protect myself if need be. I have attempted to obtain it in a legal, and rightful manner. I know not everyone does, and there in lies the problem. But do I think anyone has any need to personally own automatic weapons---AK47's and the ilk---nope! No one has ever shown me a need for having one...I would not fight the outlaw of them. I wish I could live in the comfort green describes---maybe the day they bury him, I'll bury my gun. Kat

Check your library for exercise DVD's---they likely even have the Mom & Baby or Mom & Tot ones. MY DD checks them out to decide which ones are worth her money to buy and have for her own. Kids find us doing aerobics in front of the TV hilarious, but they love to join in. Plus it gives them positive exercise attitudes. Tells them the TV is more than just a box to sit in front of! You can use canned goods in place of hand weights---or empty laundry detergent jugs filled with Water, for curling...lots of ways to work out at home without costing a dime!!! Put that kiddo on the floor and crawl around after him, play a game of chase with him, teach him how to jump, or somersault---just being active will up your endurance---and as you have been told, soon you will be jogging along with him in that stroller!!! Good Luck! Kat

I have a good friend who had GBP and they own an ice cream Parlour!!! She has not had much of an issue with dumping in quite some time now, but for her it just went through her system way too fast, and she had explosive diarrhea, no vomiting, or fainting...I had never heard about that!!!! She now can eat some with no issue....usually....which the fear of the unknown is why she continues to avoid it!!! She has done very well, now sometimes she looks a bit pale, and needs to up her Vitamin intake...but she has maintained well, it was a good choice for her, mainly due to the fact that the ice cream would not have been much of an issue with the band. I don't own an ice cream shop---so the band worked for me, and also gave me peace of mind. We all have different needs, and that is why it is important to research your options, be honest about what got you to this point and move on accordingly. I of course feel the band is #1---and it has been for me, but for my friend Pam, she would likely be getting all her calories at work---and would not have had the deterrent that her bypass has forced on her. Different Strokes...... Kat

Oh---I hate when this happens, wake up, look in on my friends, and many of you are stressing!!! I want you all happy! So lets see.... Laura, I had an incision in almost exactly the same spot between my breasts, and I have keloid issues with scarring, and it is the only one that has completely disappeared! I cannot see where it was at all. Relax...besides it is more towards the bottom, when you smush those babies together to get cleavage, even if it scars a bit, it will be hidden!!!! TracyK---getting over that hump is HUGE. I cannot tell you how long I hung hovering between 205 & 202...I think that was my longest plateau of all, and ironically, when I lost the most inches wise. I did everything, altered my diet, upped the exercise....it was a mental thing with me. I wanted to be under 200 so badly....I truly did, but at the same time, I was always screwing it up---I ate the wrong things on a daily basis!!! I don't know if it was psychological...or just my own brand of stupidity....but it was not until I quit worrying about it, and began enjoying the fact that I could wear smaller sizes, even if the scale would not work, that it finally fell below. I don't do well with buying things small and working to them...I feel defeated before I start, but I went out and bought clothes that DH and DD said looked good---people were noticing the loss---and I finally began feeling good, and suddenly the plateau broke....it has been very slow going ever since, but overall, I feel good, and will take the last bit as slow as I have to. I don't want to risk a too tight situation at this point to get a fill. It is working...when I work too!!! So it really is up to me, if I behaved it would come off. The wierd thing is, if I really watch what I eat, and lose say a couple of pounds...then go back to eating at will, and not paying a lot of attention to it, I do not lose, but neither do I regain the lost weight. So that is what I find myself doing---work it here and there, and drop a bit, and then lose concentration, and just maintain. I need someone to follow me around---make me behave! Jenn---I had a burn like that once, where it pulled the skin off--got mine on an old radiator type heater, fresh out of the shower, hit a goat head sticker in the edge of the carpeting and laid my leg up against it--left the skin from behind my knee bubbling on the heater. OMG---I yelled so loud my BIL next door come barelling over, to find me in a towel and in serious pain! Since I couldn't get jeans over it--they were too stiff in the bend of my knee in the back, I wore sweats---big mistake, the fleece worked into the adhesive on the bandage, and I got it infected. Took 6 weeks of debriding it every other day to heal it. So be SUPER careful of it!!!! Will Step Moms business insurance cover you to get it looked at, and get a Dr.'s opinion on how best to treat it? They are not anything to mess with! You poor thing! Pamela--yep, I just looked and I do have your info. Waiting for a couple that I don't have, to see if they want in, or are opting out, and will send them out to you all. Laura, mentioned on another forum she belongs to they do a gift exchange, and was wondering if anyone here would be interested in doing on...so everyone chime in...she said she would help organize it, which is good, I have never done one before, I have participated on another forum, over at B2G, but never organized one. Well I am supposed to have between 20-30 people here for a BBQ, and an ice cream sundae party this afternoon, and it has been raining all morning. I do NOT want this in my house!!! Too many kids, and that much ice cream--uh uh. So sitting here wondering what in the heck to do. I keep looking out there....and willing it to change, but it isn't working!!! Thinking, I might end up calling everyone, and meeting at a local restaurant or something....wish me luck....hey I think it is brightening up! yeehaw!!! Well I have lots to do, in case we do get to party here! So I better get a move on.......will catch up with the rest of you later. Judy sorry to hear of the yucky PB, I have had 2 yucky ones.....not pleasant! Take care all, enjoy the day! Kat

I joke that my bra size has gone from a 48DDD to a 38/40 Loooooong!!!!! In reality it is still a DD---band size has changed drastically, not so with cup size.... Kat

A couple of years ago, my DH was in the hospital, and had such severe cramps, they tested him, everything was within normal ranges...the Dr.'s suggestion was orthotics for his shoes....ka-ching!!!! $350.00 not covered by insurance!!! Sounds ridiculous, and I have no idea why it works, but we are one of the ones who swear by the bar of soap in the bed. My DH was up hopping minimally 5 nights a week, from either charlie horses in his calves, or in the arch of his foot. So we figured what the heck, if it does no good, we put the soap in the shower...nothing ventured, nothing gained. OMG the difference in the first few days was unbelievable!!! Now about every 5 months or so, he cramps, and we change the bar of soap...and no problems!!! Since it is him getting them, I put the bar of soap (anything but Dial or Dove) between the fitted sheet and the mattress pad, in the foot area on his side of the bed. Try it----a bar of soap is cheap!!! If it doesn't work, toss it in the shower. Kat

If you can really use your willpower (or won't power is more like it) to avoid these things for a period of time, the cravings DO lessen. The more carbs you eat, the more you want. The more sugar, the more you want...that has been proven. Avoiding them, lessens the actual cravings. After a year and a half of being banded, I still get cravings on occasion---most of them not a physical craving, but I hear something, or see it, and I want it...I know it is head hunger, but I want it just the same!!! The difference this far down the road, is that I no longer have the desire to binge out on it, just to have some, a taste or 2 is enough. My biggie is brownies---always were my favorite, remain so today. In days gone by, I could buy a package of bakery brownies, or make some myself, and if I would have allowed myself, or if no one had known, I could have eaten them ALL in one sitting, by myself!!! Now, I can buy the little brownie bites, and one is usually all I care for....2 max. I savor them, chewing slowly....make one brownie last 4-6 bites....and I am fine. No desire for more. Craving satisfied. Many things I used to crave, the desire for has totally gone away. I used to eat a lot of chips....but now, chewing them well, they leave like a fatty film in my mouth, and it grosses me out, I no longer even want them, let alone crave them. I do still sometimes want popcorn....but rather than an entire bag of microwave popcorn, I buy the small bags, and one lasts most of the day...and I am not tightly restricted, it is just something I can slowly graze on throughout the day. You do not usually get banded, and immediately your desires change---although I am sure it happens to some. I think it is several different things---one food does taste different when you learn to REALLY chew it well....that does away with the like of some things. And as you learn to eat healthier, you just find it easier to say nah to some of those things---especially in excess. Overeating something you used to like, and it causing a PB is usually deterrent for awhile....aversion therapy!!! Give your band, and your body & mind a chance to learn to work together. As has been pointed out to all of us a million and one times, the band is not a miracle cure, it takes work, but it DOES work, and is worth every effort you put into it. IMHO.... Kat