Humming Bird

It sounds like your co-worker doesn't understand and you really don't have to take the time to educate her about it if you don't want to. Don't hold it against her for being ignorant about it. It does sound like you are the perfect candidate for the band. If people try to shame you over your choice, maybe they don't realize what they are doing. Maybe you could ask, "are you trying to shame me over my choice? That isn't very nice." At least it will get them thinking about what they say.

From what I understand medicaid does cover this surgery. I think you should check into that more. Search this forum and others. Make calls to lapband surgeon's offices. You will find much help that way. I really think you can get it done. Good luck to you and stick around LBT for great support and info.

Good Morning All ! and T.G.I.F ! It has been snowing off and on most of the week here, so no spring blooms in my near future. I do drive to a lower elevation 3 days a week for work where it was not snowing, but it was windy and cold. After sliding down the driveway twice Mon. eve I got new tires after work Tues. It did help. My driveway is about 100ft and kinda steep downhill. If I slide off it would not be good because there is a retaining wall drop-off. I would hit a tree, but may be at least 1/2 way over the wall. yikes! Elfie, I have thought of a greenhouse too. My growing season is very short here. I'm not sure a greenhouse would even be worth it. I miss growing stuff. My land/house is on the shady side of a hill and I am in pretty thick pines. Some things will not grow at all at this elevation. When I do try to grow something it also has to be shade loving. Then there are the deer. They will just about eat anything. I have found a few things that work. Daffodills, bleeding hearts, rhubarb. When everyone elses daffodills are long gone mine are just starting. The deer leave them alone so I planted many in the fall! I love the natural landscape and there are wildflowers that come up.

WOW! very cool. Great job Scotty!

That is not how it works for everyone. There are very few things I can eat and I have trouble getting in my protein. I feel VERY FULL for hours after a very tiny bowl of cereal and this one has more protein than some shakes/bars/supplements. The milk in cereal does not push it through the band for me at all. I will be eating this cereal.

At that stage I did not throw anything in a blender. That just seems so gross I know I could not have eaten it. There are plenty of foods that are soft and mushie enough to make it through the stage. Yogurt, soup, oatmeal, chili ............

I tried some and it tastes very good. I can't eat it for breakfast during the week though (too tight in the morning) I will be having some on the weekend. yum

I have had very tight restriction since September at 5.3cc in a 10cc band. They do include some fat under the band to help prevent erosion and I think people have different thicknesses of stomach tissue inside the band.

At 8 months post-op I still can not eat eggs. Some people just can't tolerate them after being banded.

Banded 07/09/09. I feel pretty good about my weightloss so far. I have living with a pretty tight band since September, but it seems a little looser the last 2 weeks. The weight has been dropping with very little effort on my part so far. As I creep closer to goal, I think I will have to put more effort toward it. I have not really done much exercise, so plan to do better with that. I had an issue with thinning hair, but it is growing back in now.

I got bored with it and dozed off ..... missed the end.

I have to do my taxes too and am not looiking forward to it. I think I will have to pay this year. I hate that! Denise, whoo hoo on the lb! babsy, a trip sounds so nice! I won't be taking any because I'm still trying to pay for my band. My MIL and SIL will be coming to Colorado at the end of June. I need to get in the spring cleaning mode like Elfie before they get here. The house is so big I can't keep up. I live on a red dirt road and in thick pines, so the dust and cobwebs have taken over. There are so many little spiders that come with all the trees. When I break out the bug spray they just laugh at me.

Of course I can only speak from my own experience. It is the easiest way I have ever taken off weight in my life. I also think it is how I look at it .... my attitude about it. I have not had anyone say to me "oh, you took the easy way out." I have told everyone.

I took this pic in the walmart parking lot just a bit ago. I'm not sure if it shows the real amount of heavy blowing snow tonight. On a more positive note, I saw a big herd of Elk on my way home from work....very cool.

It is a little blizzard here tonight. Lots of heavy wet snow. I had to put it in four wheel drive to get up my road and then slid down my driveway. I hate it when that happens! My drive to work in the morning is going to suck. The drive today was kinda bad too. I'm so ready for spring! Bob, my last indoor cat I had for 15 years.

Bob, try some hairball remedy. When I had my cat it worked very well. I got some that was like a tube of toothpaste. They lick it up right out of the tube.

Denise, I had to laugh today as my grandson was watching the movie Marley & Me. I could picture you and Butters.

Betsy, I hope all goes well with Marks appointment....keeping my fingers crossed. All you dog lovers, I do love pets and know all the joy they can bring to our lives. It sounds like many of you are getting in some good walking with them. I just have too much going on right now to commit to taking care of one. Maybe in the future. Bob, Wow, beautiful dogs. They look like they could eat you out of house and home. um.......glad you got rid of that poor chair. I would love to have a swimming pool, but am too much of a sun worshiper (tanning) and am trying to break myself of that. Liz, Maybe it will be a good thing you were outed at work. I get great support from co-workers and hope you get the same. Please let me know how Alice in Wonderland is. I want to take my grandson. Leigha, I'm so glad you are getting back on the bike. I have a big fear of them myself, but know they can provide great stress relief for others. Now you will see a "hot biker chick" in those windows?! Christie, I will pray for a safe deployment and return home from Afganistan for James. My nephew just returned from Iraq. illuminationlady, I have given up steak, porkchops, and any other solid type meats ..... bummer, but worth it. Elfie, it's strange not seeing you here. I hope all is well with you. I hope what remains of the weekend goes well for everyone. Now I must get my household chores done.....ugh

Thanks for the tip. I need new ideas and the protein numbers look good. I'll have to try it.

Betsy is right. The point of the pre-op diet is to "shrink" the liver so it can be easily retracted out of the way during lapband surgery. My surgeon told me of a lady that said she had stuck with the pre-op diet, but had not. He had her in surgery and her liver was so thick he couldn't place the band. He spoke to a family member and they said she had not been doing the pre-op diet. That alone was enough to make me stick to it. So stick with the protein and non-starchy vegies for dinner like Betsy said. It does get better. Good luck to you on your journey.

Welcome 2GoodDogs. It looks like you have done very well with the weightloss! Gloria, Your dinner sounds like it went very nice. It is so nice that you see us all in a positive light in your mind's eye! Can you please picture me to look like Shania!

I have been drinking Atkins vanilla shakes for breakfast on my way to work for 8 months and have not had that problem. Maybe you got a batch that had something wrong with it? Maybe you developed some sort of intolerance?