coltonwade

I Buy mine in the little packets in bulk at my local HEB Grocery Store you can get it at Walmart too I THINK ? or Stevia - Naturally Sweet - recipes, Cooking Tips, Articles, and leading Stevia Products HTH Mindy

I agree with Racetrack. Meet with several docs and see which one you connect with and can relate with . Also docs have different pre op diets, post op diets and post fill diets. you might find that one docs diet is one you can not follow and another is one that you can . Post fill "diets" are something to look into . My doc has a pretty conservative post fill diet . Its something i was not sure if i could follow before surgery , Its a breeze now for me . And part of the reason I have lost the amount of weight I have. So its something to look into as well as the pre op and post op diets. All the docs have different versions. HTH Mindy

Just an FYI watch out with using them just to "Boost" Your calories. That most of the time is what docs discourage. Most docs would rather you eat your Protein and calories than drink them . If you get into the habit early of drinking your calories you can fall into the habit of drinking the wrong things. I know people who drink 2 milk shakes a day to boost the calorie intake. I personally do not track calories. I did at first because I my nutrionist realized I was not eating ENOUGH . SO i tracked for a few weeks to make sure i was eating enough . But I dont do that anymore. Mindy

Getting the right amount is a little difficult because it does not take much with Stevia. There is a conversion chart on the bottle ( i use the larger bottle of powder and the powder packets) but i find that not very accurate, it is some what accurate. So it takes a little getting use to . Mindy

I have gone through something similiar . My doc has a pretty "conservative" post fill routine. I have to do 3 days Clear Liquids, 3 days liquids 3 days mushies and 3 days semi solids after each fill. My first fill was fine . Second fill after i got on mushies i could not keep things down . But it was hit or miss. So i tried to stick it out . Then called my doc. He said go on liquids for 5 days to let my stomach heal from PBing so much . Did that then slowly moved to mushies again , PBing again . Long story short i ended up with a slight unfill. half a cc was taken out. (see my sig line) Got my third fill again after about 5 days I was having problems this time with liquids . I was having problems swallwing liquids like normal . I could not even take in enough to get down my meds. This time i did not wait as long i went in for an unfill. he took out half a cc again . My doc told me that I can not tolerate larger ( 1cc or more fills ) and from now on we are going to have to go slowly . he said its nothing " Out of the orginary , it happens to some people. I actually still loose the same amount of weight (Im down almost 60 lbs since July ) so im not worried about it . Anyway what I personally have learned that when im not comfortable or when i THINK Its not comfy its time for an unfill. So if u THINK YOu need an unfill you probably need one. When in doubt call your doc. You might want to discuss going a bit smaller on the fills until you know if you can tolerate them . Feel free to PM if you like. Mindy

My suggestion for the gym if you can , do not come home first. If you can go straight from work to the gym that is the best bet. It leaves less chances for you to not go back to the gym . I am a stay at home mom so it is really hard for me to get out so what i do is after I drop my kids off I will get out of the car and go straight for my walk before I get back into the house. Im going to join the YMCA soon , so after i drop the kids off at school i'll go staright to the Y after that. I have a treadmill , exersice ball and weights at home but there are too many other " reasons" to not use them . this is what works for me at least HTH mindy

I use Stevia quite a bit . Other "sweetners" give me migraines . Someone told me about Stevia a while ago and I started using it . I use it to make lemonade with Real Lemon Juice . Its Great. It does take a little getting use to the right amounts , I like mine a little sweeter than normal . But I do like it .

I Drink one in the am because i am not a breakfast person and I am normally tight in the am . My doc does not want us to drink our calories either. But like i said i only drink one in the am . It holds me over until Lunch . If your doc says not to consume them I would not do it . If you find later after your fills that your very tight in the am and can not eat solids in the am I would address it then with him if you can drink one , Personally I would rather NOT have to drink one but its better than not "eating" breakfast. HTH Mindy

I had to spend $75 on a bra the other day , ya know how hard it is to find a 40 B bra ? I went down a cup size. I was a 42 C . My butt is also going flat. Im bummed about that. I use to have a nice round behind ( when I was thin ) I guess my butt is going to be flat now ? Non of my rings fit either. I have lost almost 60 lbs and i have gone from a size 22/24 to a 14/16 So im loosing inches im quite happy about that. But i totally get your frustration , OH And something i did NOT expect , my arms are now very flabby from excess skin. So i feel ya Mindy

Eww gonna add in The Ghetto by Elvis . Have you heard the version of Elvis and Lisa Marie ? [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWg2vLEyRZc]YouTube - Lisa Marie & Elvis Presley - In The Ghetto[/ame] The video is a little "odd" But the song is awesome Mindy

I try to add some kind of Protein to what ever I eat that way its not " wasted" for lack of a better word. that way if i eat something I make sure it will keep me full and satisfied for a while. I usually add the Bush's Chili to my potaotes and it is really good . That's just me being compulsive though LOL HTH enjoy your potaote Mindy

I was banded by Dr Rincon . Feel free to PM Me with any questions you might have . He's an awesome doc Mindy

Nice List. I posted mine right above yours. I have a wide range as you can see LOL I have a 15 yr old son and he listens to a lot of hip hop . So I get into some of his music ! I actually like most of it . Mindy

I agree with everyone else. I do not deprive myself. in fact I eat potatoes quite a bit . I will put some bushs Chili on them to add some Protein . I just put a few Tablespoons of the chili on there, some FF Sour Cream and some FF or low fat cheese. its yummy . I normally can not get down the whole potatoes even with a small potatoes. Just watch how much of the topings you put on them . I dont belive in depriving yourself. I think that is the same thing as going on a diet and I think dieting while you have the band is point less ( why get the band? ) . I just went to a bday party last weekend and had a small piece of cake. So I saw go for it . Just do not go over board and eat 3 lol Good luck Mindy

We were talking about the same thing on another forum im on . Here is my "Walking " Music other then the Couch to 5K Bon Jovi ( Slippery when Wet Album ) Krptonite 3 doors Down No one by Alicia Keys Sweet Home Alabama by BAMA Kiss Kiss by Chris Brow Lose Yourself By Eminem Low by Flo Rida ( LOVE LOVE This song ) I dont wanna be in Love By Good Charlotte Foot Loose by Kenny Loggins Rock Star By Nickel Back Im not Dead by Pink Me and my Gang by Rascal Flatts Beutiful Girls by Sean Kingston Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison I gotta a Feeling By Billy Currington Mindy

Ohh no one said I LET anyone see me run LMAO If a car comes i stop running LMAO I usually run during the day when everyone is at work . My neighborhood gets very little traffic . LMAO I hope no one see's me run . I just keep thinking in my head no one can see me Mindy

I do both , If i use the treadmill for now i dont use an incline. HTH Mindy

I think i might go get some good shoes too. I have some asics that are good but I dont think they are good enough . Can anyone recommend some good ones ? BTW Scroll up on the first page i think the link for the pod casts are there

No run yet , doing it this evening again , im feeling ok so far. So im going to try to do it outside tonight , the cool air might do me some good. Mindy

My fills are free for the first yr. however I do have to pay the hospitals fee of $125 for the flouro . So the first yr my fills cost me $125 . HTH Mindy

I have not tried it but i hear great things about the unjury powder . It is suppose to not have a taste to it so you can add it to just about anything . you might want to try it ? Welcome to the UNJURY Homepage Again I have not tried it , I dont tolerate the powders well because of my migraines. The only Protein type shake I can do is Bolthouse farms, But if your still on clear liquids those will be a no no for you too. Slim fasts always made me hungry . So i did Boost until i discovered Bolthouse Farms they have 20 grams of protein per bottle . They keep me full for several hours. One small bottle though is 2 servings so keep that in mind if you try them when the time comes. HTH Mindy

If you like the charm bracelet idea or for anyone else. There is a store where i live but you can get them online James Avery Craftsman Jewelry - Makers of quality sterling silver, gold & gemstone jewelry. Original designs & christian jewelry. LOVE LOVE LOVE there stuff. they have LOTS LOTS LOTS OF charms , and around the $20 marks they have EXCELLENT repair policies too. But i have never had to have them repaired. Also as you loose weight they will size the bracelet for very cheap . HTH Mindy

For anyone in Austin my business associate has me entered already in the Mardi Gras 5K Mardi Gras 5K Its on 2/2 so its soon but i will be happy if i can walk half and run half , let me know if anyone wants to join me in this i would LOVE to walk/run it with someone Mindy

I think the next morning ask him if he had a good time , ask if he had fun with his friends . then later on tell him that you were a bit hurt that he did not seem to take your feelings into consideration and you ask if next time you do not approve of something the 2 of you can reach a compromise. Mindy

I have had a period every month since surgery in July . I could not have a period before with inducing them with provera . And i only did that 3 times a yr cause my doc said I had to . LOL I get horrible migraines during my periods so i hate getting them . I wish i did not get them at all. Glad things are ok for you now. I do have very heavy periods on occasion . They do not seem to be as heavy now that they are " regular" Mindy