Meredith2424

Hello all! Wow, what a chicken I was being about getting a fill! I got 3 cc's put in, and now I am on liquids for 2 days. It was a cinch! No problem what-so-ever. I hope everyone elses fills go just as well this week. Laura~ Just for the record, I'm in for sure. Add me to the list! Ok, just relaxing now. We just got home from dinner (soup for me!) with my sister and a bunch of friends. My one and only baby sister is leaving on wednesday to move all the way to huntington beach, cali! I'm sad, but excited for her. Hopefully all of you on the east coast can keep track of her for me! CBL~ Meredith

Hello everyone. I don't think that I posted yesterday, but I read everyones posts. I think we get busier and busier on here everyday! It's so wonderful. We celebrated Andrews 30th birthday yesterday. I was nice. Dinner with his mother, sister and nephew, then to my parents house for ice cream cake. My stomach sometimes gets upset when I eat ice cream, and haven't had any since LB surgery, so I didn't chance it. Instead I had 3 small bites of the cake part and thats all. I was happy with myself for practicing some self control. However, I am not very happy with myself today. This is the first time I have felt guilty about eating since surgery and before that, the infamous olive incident! I started my day waking up late and not having time for breakfast, so I grabbed a tablespoon and scooped out some all natural peanut butter and took it in the car with me. We definately need to go to the grocery store! This was my fault because I was unprepared and it set the tone for the rest of the day. I didn't eat all day at work except for 1 bite of a coworkers tuna pasta salad. When I got home I was ravenous. I had a 300 calorie healthy choice meal and took a nap. A while after waking up, Andrew went across the street to pick up our dinner. I got a ceasar salad with grilled chicken on top. Which would be fine, EXCEPT...... I forgot to tell them no croutons and no garlic bread (one toast sized piece comes with it). He got home and I ate all of it!!!!! I made my calorie allotment for the dressing and everything else except for the garlic toast and croutons. I am disgusted with myself but starting to get over it. I'm sorry, I just had to vent. I have zero to minimal restriction and I am going to get my fill on Monday, so I guess after that I wont be able to fit all of this food. Ok, sorry again, I just feel so guilty. Ick. I hate this feeling. Linda~ So glad you are home safe and sound! How great for you to be able to surprise your sister like that!!! IDK how you kept your secret for that long from her? I don't think I would ever be able to keep it for that long! You are doing great on your weight loss! WTG! Also, thank you for all of your kind words. I try to do what I can, but its tough. At least now I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now! I am just amazed everyday at all of the people I go to school with. So many of them work full time, have children and a husband and go to school! A week from Sunday I am going up north for four days with Andrew and then on the third, its back to the daily grind! Laura~ Hopefully everything can get figured out with your dad. I am still praying for him and your entire fam. Hang in there. And.... i think that you are doing sooo well with your weight loss! I'm sure you just read about my issues. Also, wtg on the gym!!!! It takes so much some days to just get there. I give you so much credit. It has got to be so difficult with everything that is going on to be able to get the motivation. Especially when your partner in crime Nelson does not want to go! I really am excited for Feb! So fun! Nels will do great with his daddy. It will be good for the both of them to have a boys weekend! Julie~ Congrats again on everything you have accomplished in your year since banding! WTG on the food choices for the party. Cucs sound so good. Mmmmm. I love vinegar, a little splenda, thinly sliced peeled cucs, and onion. I may have said that before. I can never remember and get too lazy to look back. Janet~ Girl, I don't know how all of you do it in the desert?! Oh, and when Laura said that she couldn't remember if it was one s or two in desert i laughed. The other day I was stressed out and I posted my update on Facebook that I was stressed. My mom then commented by saying "Just remember that stressed is desserts spelled backwards!" Thanks mom! Right? LOL. Oh, and everyone....add me on facebook if you want. My name is Meredith Angell in Detroit. I think that there is another Meredith Angell but she is in Indiana or something. Doodle~ Still thinking about you and your DD. She will get home and hopefully have everything turned around for her. I totally understand about the mj thing. But, here in Detroit, meth is not very prevalent. The big thing around here is crack cocaine and heroin. But, in the urban areas further north I think there is a huge meth problem. It grabs such a hold of people from the very first time they use. It is unbelievable to me that it is so powerful. Scary really. Hang in there. I have faith that she will have changed her ways permanently if not just for her, but for your grandchild as well. Hugs. Newbies~ This is a great site. I love it and don't know what I would do without it. Each of these women have helped me and inspired me on some of the most difficult days of my life during this journey. I love them so very much. Good luck! Ok, it's late. I am only awake still because of the nap! Andrew fell asleep on the couch hours ago. Good night, Meredith

Hello All~ Boy you have been soooo busy on here! Right off the bat, I'm going to let you know right now that I am in for FLA in Feb!!!!!!!! SOOOO excited! Let me know what I can do to help plan! WooooHooooo! Julie~ I have NEVER been on a plane by myself ever before either. So this will be new for me also. I am always nervous about flying, however this is way too important to me to miss. You must come! Please! I'm a nervous nelly, so if I can do it, you can for sure do it! Laura~ Good news for daddy-o! Awesome. It sounds like he is starting to get back into the swing of things. I cannot wait for Florida! I was planning on going to FLA in Feb sometime anyways! What do you think would be best? House probably, right? Especially with our own pool. Oh man, by that time we will be looking real good girlfriend! I think its good that we are about the same weight. It keeps us accountable to one another at least....well kinda, you know what I mean (i hope). Just keeps us on track. I'm going to weigh myself after I post. Janet~ You totally rock! So impressive of you to do the CPR on that poor little baby. Glad they all made it. Apples~ Really, you are hilarious! Like Great I too was almost peeing myself! Enjoy your time at the lake. Cannot wait for Florida! Obviously, I am as excited as you are. I feel like I already know all of you. This is going to be so fun! I don't wake up at 4 or 5 though. 8 is early enough for me. As you can see, I'm kind of a night owl. Great~ I've always wanted to go to Israel too. Andrews (the BF) nephews father is from Israel and he just moved back there a few years ago. You will have a wonderful time, but wish that you could come to Folorida too! If~ Congrats on the 1/2 way point!!!!:confused: What a fabulous feeling that has got to be! Ok everyone, I got all of my school work done for the semester! YAY! So happy about that. Took my philosophy final yesterday and then went to this crazy vintage/rocker style store in downtown Detroit (where I go to Wayne State University) and bought myself an end of the semester present! I got a turtle shaped poison ring (you know, the kind that opens on a hinge). I am obsessed with turtles! I then went to visit my very very good friend at the hospital. She lost 337 pounds with help from bypass surgery and got her legs lifted on Monday. Well, she looked great when i went to see her and I left there around 8pm. At 11 she called me sobbing telling me that her hemoglobin was down to 5.2 and that she needed a blood transfusion! I went back to the hosp because I didn't want her to be alone. Poor thing! I didn't get home until 2 am. They gave her 7 units of blood and still no change in her hemoglobin. Please pray for her. Went to work today and didn't get home until late. Ate oatmeal this morning and salad with grilled chicken tonite for dinner. So good. But, the best news of all is that I got registered for all of my classes for the fall! I will get two of my prerequsites done for the PA program too. But, the best news is I got into a Weight training scuplt and tone class on Mondays and Wednesdays!!!! Yay! I LOVE lifting weights!!!! It has been so long though. In high school I would lift with the boys and could lift my own body weight which was 155 pounds! Legs 585. Hopefully I can get there again! What a great jump start I will have on my fitness. It's like two days of group/personal training per week while getting credits for graduation. Talk about killing 2 birds with one stone! Ok, I was really excited about that one! I didn't think that I was going to be able to get into it because it was full, but I e-mailed the teacher the other day and ask if she would give special permission to let me in? She e-mailed back today and said "yes", so I'm just thrilled. Anyways, I had so much to catch up on! It took me awhile to read 3 1/2 pages! I'm going to go to bed soon. I just turned mid-night a few minutes ago, so I woke Andrew up by singing Happy Birthday to him. 30 today! He is not excited, but I am! I got him a laptop! He's going back to school in the fall for his masters program, so this will be great for him. Plus, he's always fiddling around with mine! Ok, apparently I REALLY like the sound of my own voice! Sorry, it's been a few days. Ok, night all. Love, Meredith

Taking another break..... Laura~ Sorry your dad is having such a difficult time! Gosh. However, I'm glad that you had such a wonderful time with your company. I think that when people see that you are watching what you eat, they are more inclined to watch what they eat when they are around you. I've noticed that people at work do it all the time now. I walked into the kitchen at the salon the other day and another stylist (who is probably 100 lbs overweight but doesn't act like she knows she is) and she was eating a donut. Well as soon as she saw me she threw it in the garbage! So strange. Like we are the new food police or something. Kind of entertaining. When I had surgery, so many people that had also had surgery told me that all of the sudden everyone around me would start a diet. Some have. Everyone~ Well, I've dropped 3.7 pounds! I was so worried about being stuck at -38 for that week. I should have listened to all of you girls! You knew exactly what you were talking about! Awesome. Thanks for your support. Once again, I don't know what I would do without this thread. Now, I'm getting nervous about my fill. I know that my doctor doesn't numb before he fills. I think thats mean. Also, that same night (monday) he is giving his seminar at the hospital. They always want someone that is semi-new to come and answer questions for the people who are deciding whether or not they want the surgery. I kinda want to go and tell everyone how happy I am that I got the band, but I think that it's still too early in the weight loss? Ok, back to late night studying! Then after tomorrow I don't have any classes until September 3rd. We are on the semester schedule. Classes go all the way up until December 22nd! Eek! Hope everyone has a great Wednesday! Love, Meredith

Girls~ You are so funny about your cookies! Since I've been banded I've only made healthy things. But, I am the one that makes all of the cookies for Christmas since my grandma became ill and can no longer bake. So now, thats my job. Last year by the time I was done baking I didn't even want any more! Ok, just wanted to check in. TTYL~ Meredith

Eva~ Thank you so very much. Totally stressed right now and just finished a paper. I cannot believe that I'm still awake! Anyhow, we are in the same boat. I get my fill on Monday and I am really hoping that it will go well. I am also finding that food slips down much too easily and then I am hungry a short amount of time later. I have been eating about 4-5 ounces of chicken or fish and then salad. Lots and lots of salad. I figure that that is the least harmful thing that I could be eating. I also have been making sure that the dressings are low in calories and fat. I love the Balsamic Breeze Wishbone spritzer. Anyhow, i cannot wait until I can feel that restriction! I'm feeling not very good about my not losing weight in almost a week, so I think that tomorrow I am going to do all liquids and perhaps some cottage cheese. I'm really going to take the time to measure things and use my newly discovered will power to only eat small amounts and stay under 800 calories. Ok, way past my bedtime! Meredith

Hey girls. Nothing new to report today really. Same old. Doodle~ Thank you so much! Keep praying gf! A paper due tomorrow and a final on Wednesday and then I'm done for two weeks! Cannot wait for graduation in December. It is sure hard to go to school full-time and work full-time! Laura~ That menu sounds good for an afternoon! Enjoy your visit. Hope your dad is doing better every day. Janet~ I think that you started the car curse this week! I hope to God that I don't encounter any problems with mine. I have the worst luck with cars. Apples~ Glad you had a great time. Sorry that your band is so tight. That stinks because you don't need to lose now, you need to gain! Charlene~ I just thought it was so cool that my buddy has already walked 1800+ miles. I really want to do it one day, but I doubt that I will find 5-6 months of my time to do it in. I asked him if he would ever do it again if I wanted to do it one day? He said "probably not". If~ Hopefully your next fill will help. I go and get my first fill on Monday. Kinda nervous, but I need this bad boy filled so bad! I can fit way more than I should be able to right now, and I'm stuck at -38. I'm happy with that for now until I get filled. Looks like you are well on your way! Congrats! Julie~ Hope you are getting better and better every day. Sounds like you are doing great! WTG! Great~ Geez louise! Your poor DH! Did I miss this when it happened? Hopefully everything will go smoothly for him. Glad the dietitian could give you some additional support as to what you have been doing so well all along. That cushion will probably feel good. I'm so happy for you! Kath~ Glad you're back. Hope everything continues to go well for you also. You and doodle have been through so much with your DD. Hang in there. Ok all, time to finish this paper! Late enough?! Looks like another late night. For some reason I do my best work in the wee hours of the morning. Weird I know! TTYL, good night~ Meredith

Hello all. I've been keeping up with all of your posts of the weekend, but I've been super busy. Yesterday I worked all day getting a friend of mine ready for her wedding as well as all of her bridesmaids. Two of my co-workers and I did the hair and makeup for all of them. It was really fun, but extremely exhausting since we had to go to the wedding in the evening too. So, today I'm completely pooped. Another wedding at the same place in 2 weekends! This summer has been packed full of weddings. It's fun, but ends up being so expensive for us. Anyhow, enough about me! Laura~ Great new about your dad! Sometimes you can tell a lot about how someone is doing by just looking at them! I'm glad you saw such a change in him from last week to this one. Hope his health continues to improve! I too cannot believe those portions! Holy moley! Janet~ GF, I get it. Except the sweets are not my drug of choice. I would rather have meat, cheese, and bread. But, nevertheless, it's all the same food addiction. Props on throwing that away. 1800 is not bad at all considering that you are at maintence and exercising so much. Afterall, no one is perfect, right? Julie~ Hopefully you are feeling better and better everyday. It sounds like you and the DH are getting around and going out and having fun! Hope you had a good time at the 50th party! Doodle and Kath~ I continue to pray for the recovery of your DD's. Hang in there! Oh, btw, I don't know if I mentioned this to all of you, but my friends are doing the PCT (Pacific Coast Trail) hike. I just talked to him today (Tom) and he got the package that I sent him to Crater Lake, OR. Anyhow, I encourage you to check out their website at JerryPaulTom.com It is soo cool to see the progress that they have made since they started this journey. 1,800 miles to hike in a few months is a tremendous feat and I am so proud of him. They will finish in about a month. I am so proud. Ok, more later. I have to get cracking on this paper that I have to write. BOOOOOO!!!!! Philosophy is the worst. Cannot wait until after the final on Monday! Finally a break. Well, at least for a few weeks. TTYL~ Meredith

Hey hey girlfriends! Just wanted to check in and say "hello" and let all of you know that I have been reading. However, I have been so busy putting together a 450+ page portfolio for my Internship final report. I also have to write a paper tonight, so this is going to be quick. Sorry. I don't have time to comment on everyones posts, I usually try to, but not tonight. I just wanted to let you all know that I made the Hungry Girl version of crab cakes tonight. Delicious! Only 117 calories each! They are soooo good and Andrew loved them! If you want the recipe, I have it. Let me know. They are kinda a lot of work though. Who cares? They are so worth it. Trust me. Laura~ I just wanted to let you know that I am thinking about you and your Dad and praying everyday that he will get better. Hugs. Ok, gotta get to work! I'm such a procrastinator! It's already 12:20, here goes an all nighter! Thank goodness I took the day off of work tomorrow. ~Meredith

Hello all. Just quickly wanted to stop by and say 'hello' and see whats going on. Today was my last day at the barn . I had a great time with all of the horses, patients and volunteers. I'm going to go back in January I think just to volunteer. It is really rewarding. Julie~ I didn't even remember to get any pics of me with the horses! Dingbat me! Hopefully in January I will have lost enough weight to ride again. Can't wait for that! Laura~ What exercises did you start out with? I just need to do it and not make any excuses. So little extra time, but I just need to make time! Glad that they figured out what is going on with Dad (well, kinda). Hopefully he will be on his way to getting better. I know that your mom will really appreciate that and you might feel better after you go back with your DH to see him again. Tough times. Hugs. 1Day~ Ok, I just decided now that I am going to wait until the school summer semester is over next wednesday and start to exercise then when I have a set schedule. Right now is finals time and it is the worst! You're right though, we WILL do this! Phyll~ You're the best with all of your positive reinforcement and great attitude! Stajin~ Well, this is not easy. I will tell you that much. It is at times frustrating and you do get discouraged, but to me, so far, it has been completely worth it! I just got banded June 26th and I am so happy that I did. Before I even went in for surgery, I made a promise to myself that I was going to completely change my old habits. AND.... I HAVE! No junk, no cheating, everything that goes in my mouth get written down. With the right mind set, you will do just fine. Also, I don't know what I would do with out all of these wonderful ladies on here! Without them I would have been completely lost and nervous some days. Ok, well thats about all for now. Let me tell you, I cannot wait until this fill!!!! Thank God I am not putting any junk into my mouth though. All lean protein, low fat, no breads, pastas or anything. NO JUNK AT ALL! So as long as I can keep it up, I should be doing just fine after this fill! YAY! Ok, apparently I like the sound of my own voice.... Goodnite~ Meredith

Good evening everyone. It's late, again. I have gotten some work done, but not enough. I have still been living on "my salad" and crushed lentil soup, along with some other basics like my boost for breakfast. I went to hungrygirl.com and got a recipe for crab cakes so I think I am going to make those sometime this weekend. Janet~ Boy oh boy, do I admire your determination and your exercise regimen. I too am having a tough time getting it in. I'm always so busy during the day time and then finally when I'm done with all of my "stuff" it is LATE! I know that this is not a very good excuse, but I am tired! Hopefully when classes are over for the summer I can get my butt in gear. Laura~ So glad you and Nels are home. I love that picture. I know how you feel about just getting home and collapsing. My dad has been sick for most of my life, so I really understand how you feel. It is so hard to watch someone that you love so much go through all of these hard times with their health. I only hope that he can get better and recover. You are so sweet to offer your kidney. I would do the same for my dad. The bond between a father and daughter is just unexplainable. I will continue to pray for him and for your mother, as well as you and the rest of your family. Hang in there and keep us updated. Oh, and thank goodness I dropped those pounds! I was starting to get ticked! Being in bandster hell is not fun! Cannot wait until my fill! Julie~ Sorry to hear that you had troubles sleeping. That stinks. There is nothing that I want to do more when I don't feel well. 1 Day~ GF, I am stuck in that same funk! I cannot stand it and I am frustrated. We just need to force ourselves. I am still kicking myself for letting his happen to me (getting fat). I have totally ruined my body. In fact, I am going to the Dermatologist so he can help me with all of these stretch marks and my new scars. My skin is so fair that I just have to do this. We will get there, it's just getting there is tough. Phyl~ Hey girl. Hope you are doing well! Anything new and exciting? Great~ Glad to see you home from bear country! I like camping, but would much rather like to be in a hotel also. That is unless I am at my cottage up north. To me there is nothing like being up north in Michigan. I just love it! Bears and all! Doodle~ Geez! That is a ton of canning! I am not good in that department at all. I tried it once in high school with my ex-boyfriends mother. Not my forte, but totally wish it was! My grandma always makes strawberry jam and it is soooo good! Perhaps I will have to learn from her, but I don't think that she likes to do it much anymore. I'll find someone around here to teach me, and if not, there is always YouTube! Thats where I learned how to knit! Charlene~ Glad your band is working a lot better for you now! That is great news! As for the cake, you are right, that is a good thing. I told myself that I wouldn't have cake until my birthday on the 29th of this month. However, last night at dinner I did have one bite of Tiramisu. Thank goodness it was only one! Well, I have to get back to work. Deadlines! I have to get up early for work at the barn also. Supposed to be HOT! I feel so bad for the horses when it is so hot, so we give them a rinse off with the hose, and it is so fun! At least that is something for both the horses and myself to look forward to after a long day. Will check in tomorrow. Goodnight everyone! ~Meredith P.S. I've attached (i hope) a photo of my sister showing her patient and her mother how to begin giving the horse a bath. Isn't she a little peanut? Also, a pic of my sis and the horse after the bath.

Hello everyone! I haven't been on the computer in over two days! It kinda felt good, but I have been so busy this weekend and I missed reading about what all of you have been up to. I'm down a few pounds though, so thats good. I read everything that everyone posted, but it is just so much to keep track of, and it is getting super late here. Almost 2 am! I will post more tomorrow. It seems like I have so much to do in such a short amount of time. Deadlines for a procrastinator are the worst, but its the only way things will get done here! Ok, I'll CB tomorrow. Way past my bedtime. Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. XO~ Meredith

Hi everyone. Hope everyone is having a wonderful evening. I just got home from work about an hour ago and just finished dinner. I had my good ole salad w/ grilled chicken on top. I went to the support group meeting last night and the dietitian was there. I showed her my journal and she said it looked great and was proud that i was counting my calories. I then asked if she was familar with the salads from the restraunt that I am getting them from and she was. She told me that she did not see any problem with me eating those salads and said that they were good for me. So, I am really happy about that. I also told her that now I have zero restriction and won't be filled until the 24th. She told me to hang in there. I then see her the following day. Well, today I experienced my first PB :wink:. Not cute. I was at work and was eating a 100 calorie piece of salmon and I was rushing in between clients. I should know better. I didn't want my clients to wait. Anyways, I could feel the knot building in my chest and thought that it would pass and took another bite. WRONG! What the hell was I thinking?!?!? I went out into the main salon part to apply color to another hairdresser and I felt it. She understands. I went into the back room and that was it. Out it came. It wasn't as bad as I thought that it was going to be, so that was good. But let me tell you, I sure did learn my lesson! Laura~ I'm glad that you checked in. I hope that everything turns out to be okay with your daddy. So glad that you have your sister there. When are planning to head back home to the DH? Charlene~ So happy that you got your tweak. Thank goodness you feel better. What a relief. How's DH? Linda~ Geez, sounds like your bicep is really bothering you. I hope that its just a pulled muscle and nothing serious. Congrats on doing your walking tapes. Fantastic! Janet~ You are such an inspiration with your exercise routine. I totally need to get back into the exercise. I feel so terrible that I haven't worked out lately. Well, with the exception of the barn. ee~ We had our surgery around the same time! This is great! Any McDonalds fatty dreams for you? LOL. Julie~ Hope you get your neck and back straightened out asap. I know how painful that can be. EEK! Hopefully you will be ready for your little trip with DH to visit the girls. That is so nice that he was there for them when they needed him the most. So sweet. If~ I am cutting my carbs way down also. I am stuck at -35 lbs and sick of seeing the same number on the scale. Need to get my butt moving I suppose. I just cannot believe that I am not losing faster eating only 800 calories! Ok, well if I missed anyone, sorry. I am thinking about all of you. Thank goodness for all of you! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Like i've said before, IDK what i would do without all of you? Good night~ Meredith

Hi everyone. This is going to be quick, but I will for sure CBL and write more. I just had to tell you that I had the craziest dream this morning right before I woke up. I was at the McDonalds drive through (except i was walking through) and I ordered 35 dollars of food for myself! SICK!!!!! I went to bed really hungry last night, so maybe my stomach was like "hello, get up"!? I then woke up thinking it was real and was panicked!!! Thought some of you might get a kick out of that one! CBL~ Meredith

Hey everyone! Apples and Janet~ Thanks for all of the input! I really appreciate all of the advice you have given me. I have been eyeballing the salad. Not really more than about a cup and a half or two. I know that the both of you were concerned about what I am putting on my salad. IDK if you are familiar with middle eastern cusine, but I love it! AND, I'm IRISH!!! Anyhow, back to the point.... I get the Fattoush salad from this local restraunt. It's romanine, redcabbage, cucumber, tomato, parsley, vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, and lemon juice. I put s&p on it too. I don't think that dressing is bad. The fat that is in the oil is good fat at least. The chicken that they put on it is marinated grilled chicken kabob. It is super lean and I eat about 4 cubes of it per sitting. At least until I get my band filled this isn't too bad. At least I don't each as much as I know I could. I've been doing really well limiting my portions I think considering no fill yet. Great~ (you're right apples, it is strange) I'm sooo excited for you! WTG!!! Plus, your daughters wedding is going to be extra spectacular because you will feel good and look good! I know that sometimes when I would go to events that were really important to me I would only concentrate on my weight and not have a good time really. Like my best friends wedding. Anyway, you will be able to have the best time ever because you will feel so comfortable and confident. I'm just so happy for you. Also, it is so cool that you still have your grandma! I love my ladies (grandmas, 89 and 90). Awesome. I can tell that you are just glowing from reading your posts. Julie~ Hope you are doing well. Continue to heal and take it easy! Laura~ Still thinking and praying for your dad and your family. Hope everything is ok. And to all, I'm not very good at remembering what is going on day to day here sometimes! Especially after ALL day at the barn in the 90 degree humid heat. Horse poop + Heat + Sweat = Gross Girl. Ok, I will CBL. I have to put some pants in the wash. Sheesh, its already 10:20! I only have about 4 pairs that actually fit right now. NOT COMPLAINING!! Have a great evening, Meredith

Hi everyone. Laura~ Hope that your dad is doing better. Thinking about and praying for you and your family. So, I don't really have anything new to report. Same old same old. I have been eating "normal" foods too. I had some chicken shish kebob and salad dressed with vinegar, oil, and lemon juice. Since I have practically zero restriction I eat about four cubes of chicken and then eat the salad until I feel almost full. I don't know exactly how many calories are in the salad, but could it be bad for me to do this? Not count or measure salad? I'm really terrified that I am going to stop losing by eating this stuff. EEK! I think its totally healthy, right? I just am nervous. I know some of you felt like this too. Perhaps I should just stop eating things that I don't know the exact caloric content until I get my fill? What do all of you think? Just curious. Ok, well, time to relax. Check back tomorrow. ~Meredith

Hi Gals. Laura~ So sorry about Dad. I'm glad that you and Nelson are able to go and see them. I will pray for him and for you as well. It is tough to stay strong during times like this. Linda~ I'm glad that your DGD is acting like her usual self wanting to come over and see Grandma! When I was little no one made me feel better or more loved than my Grammy. Actually, it still is like that! Julie~ Sorry that your aren't feeling well. Let us know how the wedding goes and how you are feeling afterwards. Doodle and Janet~ I will take your advice and vary my calories. The 1.3 that I gained was gone last night. I drank a lot of water to try to get rid of some of the weight, and apparently it worked. Well, I really did not have that great of a morning. I woke up and threw up! I think it's because I took my BC pill last night on an empty stomach. It was just bile, but I didn't feel well for the rest of the day. It was a slow day at work anyhow so I decided to take the day off. I needed to get some sleep anyhow. How dangerous is it to throw up like that? Since it had to come from the lower part of the stoma it was harder to get it out. Gross I know, but just wondering. CBL~ Meredith

Oh, If~ I watched your video. Excellent! That reminds me of my mom! Especially at the half circle table! Very nice.

Long~ Thank you. I am sitting here with tears in my eyes wondering what I did wrong. You have a great point. Actually, tomorrow is exactly 5 weeks from when I had my surgery, so perhaps I am experiencing what you experienced? I am just so disappointed. And, I just started eating "meat" and other foods on Tuesday so I thought that maybe I had sabotaged myself by eating or something. I know this sounds absolutely bonkers, but I am sure that you all understand what I mean. Lets just hope my body doesn't stay in shock for too long. Its so frustrating. Thank you for all of your help. You have no idea how much this OCD person appreciates it! I think I would go crazy without this site. Really. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! ~Meredith

Hi everyone. Laura~ I am so sorry to hear about your dad. Hugs. I will pray for him. Please keep us updated on his status. Apples~ Thanks for letting us know that you are going to the lake! At last this way we won't have to send a search party out for you this time! Janet~ I need some advice! Well, this goes to everyone actually. I have been sticking to the 800 cal/day plan extremely well. However, I got on the scale today after not having stepped on for 5 days and I am UP 1.3 POUNDS!!!! What the heck?!?!?! I am furious and now scared to eat anything! I am working so hard to lose and here I GAIN!!!!! How is this even possible. I've been keeping busy with school and work. I've been parking further away from class on purpose just to get some extra exercise. What is going on here and why is this happening?!? So discouraging. ~Meredith

Hi ladies. Just wanted to check in and say "hi". I had an annoying day today. I found out that I did not do so well on my test that I had on Monday. Oh well, it's Philosophy! Ick. I have a 3.9 and I'm nervous that this class will bring down my GPA. Just had to complain. I need to keep up good grades in order to get into Physician Assistant school! Ok, thats about it. I made some chicken salad tonight. It was delicious. I found this organic FF vegan mayo and it is sooo good. I even like it better than regular mayo. I also added some dill pickle relish. Delish. I figured that the chick salad is 105 cal per 1/2c. serving. Good night all. ~Meredith

Hey girlfriends! OMG!!!! Long! SO AWESOME!!!!!! Congratulations! I am so happy for you! When I saw your ticker earlier I was wondering what was going on! SO GREAT! Laura~ Of course you have to be all the way across the state! And, I totally understand about the "company" thing. Andrew does it to me all of the time! The other day he came home from the baseball game and I was sitting on the couch in a T-shirt and underwear when he walked in. Well, his best friend followed right behind him! Not only was I in my underwear, but the house was a pig sty! I think we should all meet in Florida in Feb! Janet~ It looks like you girls had an awesome time! I am so glad that you made it home safe and sound. Can't wait to hear all about it. Apples~ Oh my goodness! What a day from H-E-double hockey sticks! GF, you need to go to bed and do what you said and hit the ground running tomorrow morning. Well, let me tell you all that today was interesting food wise. I had a kiddy sized turkey sandwich on whole wheat with a 1/2 slice of provolone and mustard from subway. My first taste of meat in 7 or so weeks! It went down well and stayed. I also had both of my protein drinks and still had 100 cal left by the end of the evening. So, I decided to be "daring" once again and I had 4 oz of Salmon! MMMMMM. This time before I get my fill won't nearly be as bad as I thought it was going to be now that I have my meat back! I feel great now! WOW. I just wanted to fill all of you in on my happiness of the day. Plus, I got to spend the entire day with horses. What could be better? Geez. I just wanted to thank all of you again for everything. You have all made this transtition into my bandster life much easier than I ever thought. I also love the fact that we can all talk and vent about whatever we need to and we are still here for one another through those times too. It's amazing really. Love you girls! ~Meredith