Olive

Thanks Hippmom, I was beginning to think I was alone. I go home tomorrow, so I'm sure my diet will go back to normal...and hopefully no more PBs. (and no more breads!) Olive

Telly, You look beautiful...short hair makes only highlights your perfect features! Olive

So, has anyone out there experienced the golf ball, slime, pb cycle prior to having a fill? It has happened to me for three days in a row (this was the first three times). I started solids a couple weeks ago and feel like I am still being pretty careful (well not exactly the first time - large bite of untoasted rye bread ): but the next couple times I felt like I was taking small bites and chewing fairly well. The second time was a crabcake, the third lightly breaded chicken breast....clearly I cannot eat breads! I know that one problem is that I am out of town for a work training this week... and the conference center has tons of food for Breakfast, lunch, Snacks, etc. in a buffet style. It is hard to resist all of the food! And I have not been making the best choices. But my portions have been pretty small. Also, I feel pressured to eat normally. Anyway thanks for the help. Olive

Hey Andy Liz, You should have no problems getting things near the hotel. There is a strip mall just behind the hotel. They have a pretty nice grocery store where you could pick up any essentials. It is unfortunate that you are flying after this scare! That just adds more stress, but don't worry about the surgery...it will be over before you know it! Good luck.

Olivia & Leona- thank you guys for the support.

Ubermom, Indianlight, Ready2bthin, dezadoo- Thank you guys so much for the support. And I can’t wait to see all of you in Onederland! Olive

Hi guys, I just wanted to say that I reached my first goal...to be under 200! It feels so good to see a number on the scale that starts with a one. This is the first day in about 3 years! (doin a happy dance!) Olive

Hello!!! I have to tell someone! I am 199.2 as of this morning! I did a happy dance in the bathroom after I weighed in. That was my first goal- to get under 200. Of course I am 2 weeks later than my master plan, but, hey- it sure looks pretty when there is a one in the front! Yay! Olive

Wow. Great job! And in just over a year. You are my inspiration. Olive

Funny, I was getting really bad neck pain. It started when I went to thicker liquids. That seemed to make it worse, but I can never really figure out what is triggering it...some of my theories: eating too much or too fast, or too much strenuous activity, or sugar/carbs. But it seems to be better the last couple days. Maybe it is gone forever! I hope! Olive

These grandparents are out of line. Here was my experience: In junior and high school I weighed in the 120s (5'3). I of course thought that I was fat. I can still remember to this day a time that my grandmother called me "pleasantly plump." Seriously. I wanted to cry. Looking back, there was no plumpness anywhere. I ran cross-country for goodness sake. Of course this woman tormented my mother while she was growing up and my mother never wanted me to feel bad about myself...My mom always told me I was perfect and beautiful. But you know what? I did not believe her. I figured she had to say that stuff...and that my grandmother was telling the truth! My doctor even suggested that I gain 10 pounds (call me paranoid, but..) I thought she was crazy and that my mother had put her up to it! So, looking back as an adult, I can realize that my grandmother was just projecting her own poor self image onto me. We do have very similar body types. Short, curvy. And I did wish I looked more like my mom...she is 5'9 and kinda lanky. Of course, knowing that does not really fix my image of myself. But I just wanted to say that one comment can truly affect your self image. I think you should consider shielding your daughter from these types of people. Just because they are related to you does not mean that they are not toxic. Best wishes, Olive

OOh, this is my favorite, and I actually quite enjoy it! OPTIMUM NUTRITION 100% Whey Protein Double Rich Chocolate 2lbs (makes 31 shakes) from www.allstarhealth.com. I think with shipping it cost about $16-17. And I think it arrived in 2 days. I mix one scoop (120 calories, 25 protein) with 3/4 cup light vanilla yogurt, 1/4 skim milk, 1/2 tablespoon natural peanut butter and sometimes a little frozen banana. Yum. So, this one is much better than the other ones I have tried before. Hope this helps! Olive

1) 199.8 by July 31st...I know this is sort of steep, but I start my new job that day. Weighed 201.4:cry -27 Update- reached goal on 8-10-06 (199.2) -29.4 Averaging 3.675 per week ***mini goal - half way mark -39.3 Update - reached goal in November Average 2 pounds per week 2) -50 (178) December 31 - Reached on Dec 21! Just over 6 months. Average 8.3 per month. 3) Down to 169 - an overweight BMI, rather than obese! By January 31. - Reached on 2/2 ***valentines day challenge- 164.2- not met - 168.2): 4) 150 (-78) - April 30. 5) 140 (-88) - July 6 6) 130!!!! (-98) August 19 ----WEDDING!!! old -50 (178) by October 15th. About 15 pounds per month. old- Doctor Goal -78 (150) by Christmas vacation around Dec. 14. Average of 11 pounds per month. old -Personal goal -88 (140) by summer 07 - birthday. Of course all of these are the super best case scenario...but.... Also, weekly goals 4 walks 2 bike rides (at least 30 minutes) Lift weights at least once ): 10-15-07 - 173.4 goal- 11/15/07 - 165 goal 12/15/07 - 159 1-6-09 - 185.2 goal 2/6/09 - 175.2 goal 10/6/09 - 145 (40 - avg. 5 per month)

1) 199.8 by July 31st...I know this is sort of steep, but I start my new job that day. Weighed 201.4:cry -27 Update- reached goal on 8-10-06 (199.2) -29.4 Averaging 3.675 per week ***mini goal - half way mark -39.3 Update - reached goal in November Average 2 pounds per week 2) -50 (178) December 31 - Reached on Dec 21! Just over 6 months. Average 8.3 per month. 3) Down to 169 - an overweight BMI, rather than obese! By January 31. - Reached on 2/2 ***valentines day challenge- 164.2- not met - 168.2): 4) 150 (-78) - April 30. 5) 140 (-88) - July 6 6) 130!!!! (-98) August 19 ----WEDDING!!! old -50 (178) by October 15th. About 15 pounds per month. old- Doctor Goal -78 (150) by Christmas vacation around Dec. 14. Average of 11 pounds per month. old -Personal goal -88 (140) by summer 07 - birthday. Of course all of these are the super best case scenario...but.... Also, weekly goals 4 walks 2 bike rides (at least 30 minutes) Lift weights at least once ): 10-15-07 - 173.4 goal- 11/15/07 - 165 goal 12/15/07 - 159 1-6-09 - 185.2 goal 2/6/09 - 175.2 goal 10/6/09 - 145 (40 - avg. 5 per month)

Hey all! Great idea making soup! It is really chock full of all kinds of good for you stuff... Anyway. I decided to make a pot (pureed for me, since I am on thick liquids!), but it reminded me of an awesome Indian recipe an old roommate of mine used to make- Pav Bhaji. So, if any of you like ethnic or spicy, you might try this version out if you get bored. Here is my version: first one Vidalia onion (sliced thin in mandoline- cooked until very soft adding beef broth when dry), then 4 cloves garlic (should have put more!) next - all the rest - one green pepper, one red pepper, two pounds carrots, 2 cans tomatoes, 1/4 jalapeno (no seeds), large box of beef broth and the chicken noodle pack. (obviously the last two are not in the traditional Pav Bhaji!) Cook until very soft. Then I put two cups in the cuisinart, added about a tablespoon of Pav Bhaji spice mix (to your own taste - can be spicy), a little more salt, half a lime and a couple leaves of Cilantro. Divine! It seems too good to be all veggie! So, you can get this little spice mix in any Indian grocer for a dollar or two and it probably makes 6 pots or more. And if you do not mind a little oil...my roommate would start the whole pot off with a cinnamon stick and a couple cloves in a little oil! You don't really taste it but it makes it smell even better, which is good because it kinda looks like baby food:) Oh and she would add a handful of peas at the end. Hope you guys try this and thanks for starting this soup thread! Olive

Thanks Sammee!

Hi, I just got back from Monterrey yesterday. Everything went well. I had some nausea the first day, but other than that... little gas or pain. I would definitely recommend him if you are self pay (and maybe either way!) I did have a moment at the hospital where I was like "am I really getting a surgery in Mexico?" But your money goes so much farther down there. The hospital rooms were nice, large, and private, which you don't get in the USA without some serious $$$. Lastly, my only warning would be about the pre-op testing. You have to go to a cardiologist whose office is not so nice. Actually a little sketchy. I only mention it because you go there before you go to Rumbaut's office or the hospital (both are tremendously better) so, don't get worried... Olive

I never knew that they sewed the stomach like that until the day before my surgery! I only know about Dr. Rumbaut in MX but he does this technique. Olive

You are my hero!

Hello All! I just got back from Mexico. Everything went well. I feel better every day. The only problem I had was a lot of nausea/vomiting on the first day. And now just the port site hurts a bit. I know there were a couple of twentysomethings not yet banded and I just want to say "Don't worry." I did cry a little as they were taking me to the OR (and also questioning my sanity), but it is really not that bad and it will be over before you know it! Olive

Hello All! I am back in the USA. Everything went fine. So, I guess the surgery was uneventful. It is really weird how people's post-op experiences are so different. There were 8 people in for surgery with me and we all had different pain, nausea, gas, sleeplessness, etc....Strange. But for me I had a lot of nausea on the first day as well as vomiting (just bubbly saliva, sorry if that is too gross). Some gas pain on the first day, but I slept well. <O:p On the second day the gas was gone, but then I could feel some pain in the center of my abdomen as well as at the port site. And it was still a little hard to sit up. <O:p <O:p But each day has been better. And now I hardly remember any of the bad parts. Also, I have barely used any of the painkillers. <O:p And the good news....<O:p The day before surgery I was down to 213.2. Today, down to 207! -6.2lbs in 5 days makes the liquid diet a lot more tolerable. Actually today is the first day that I felt a little hungry. <O:p <O:p So that is my story. I have to admit that as they were wheeling me to the OR, I was a bit weepy and thinking to myself "this is crazy, am I really in MEXICO getting a surgery?" But it was really not that bad and I do not want any of you to be scared! It will be over before you know it. Best wishes! Olive

Gracie, I just got back from Mexico and it was not that bad! Don't worry! Olive

Well we are actually leaving to the hotel near the airport. Our flight is in the early AM. Today is day two of liquids. Ewww. And no one mentioned the possible disruption of (whisper and excuse me but ya'll should be warned) BMs. So, I was quite shocked and sick most of last night.:sick I guess this is common, but I never noticed all the mentions of "liquid in, liquid out." Sorry to be gross...but honestly, thank goodness I was home. If some of you are starting during the workweek, I would advise against that. Maybe try a day of liquids on the weekend and see how things go:) But anyway, I am fine today. But apparently some people are more sensitive to protein shakes with whey protein concentrate rather than the ones with whey protein isolate (we had to find these at GNC). But as usual, I digress. I hope you July 5ers do well tomorrow. Let us know how things go! Olive

Gatorrev- Hey I'm a gator too! Feels good to be around friends! Canada Sunshine- I had my first "slimey, salty, chocolate Water with an after taste like rubber" Protein drink this morning. Yeah. Pretty gross. I feel your pain. Good luck everyone. Olive - July 6 :nervous

Loriely, I thought I was going to be the only one on July 6. It is fast approaching! I'm pretty nervous. The only surgery I have had was tonsils when I was 12. I don't even remember it. Well Good Luck! olive