Karen H

I need to change my goal tracker, but I am officially at my goal of -100 (i like round numbers). Doing the happy dance on the scales. Oh, and yesterday I went shopping... of course to celebrate... and actually fit into a sz 8 jean. Those jeans were sold the second I was able to button 'em...

I use the Atkins Shakes blended with some ice and fruit. Sometimes for lunch, I'll go to jamba juice (Jamba Juice) for a smoothie-- lots of protein, but beware of high carbs and calories. Their "med" size will take about 2 hours for me to drink-- very very filling.

Hey wow, this post of mine is really old... i'm finally less than 10 lbs from goal. The biggest NSV... buying clothes at a regular store!! OMG that is the best! I'm wearing 10's right off the rack and my favorite sz 12 jeans that are only 3 wks old are too big!!! M*Azing. So, 15 months, down 92 lbs (93 this morning, but i wont count that till its consistent for a couple of days). SOOOOOOOOOOO very excited!!

i am very very tight in the morning... literally start with water only. A few hours later, I can drink my protein shake. Then, lunch, maybe a little more. As the day progresses, I can eat more, but it takes time. Can't remember the last fry I had (ok, I took one of my kids' fries last week), and it got stuck. Take it slow... chew a million times over and wait between bites. Oh, and before/during/after my cycle, it's even tighter. Nope the docs don't mention that one (but, for me, it's very very true). Good luck and take it slow

Mine aren't as young as yours are, but I still struggled with how much to explain to my kids (Daughter-13; Son-10). I did not want my daughter to have any reason to watch her weight since she is very tall and slender, must get it from DH side of the family. Anyway, the kids usually start to eat first-- and by the time I sit down with them, they're more than 1/2 way finished and our portion sizes are more equal to each other. The big change was TIME. It takes much longer for me to eat now, and my son loves it. He likes to talk- A LOT. So, it's just he and I finishing up at the dinner table. I think he enjoys having more one on one time. As time went on, they understood more and more about stuff that I *couldn't* eat vs. stuff that I just didn't want to eat anymore. Oh, and we are all eating more and more grilled fish- which they love!

WOW LadyK-- from an 18 to a 12! That's fantastic!!! I started in a tight 20 and have just purchased some 16's that are beginning to get loose. I hope to say the same about 14's in a month or so. I just took alot of nice slacks to my new found alterations store... spending about $90 to take in $500 worth of clothes. I asked if they can continue to alter them... said they had a man loose over 300 pounds, and when the pockets of his pants got too close, they could no longer alter the clothes any longer. WOW!!! What a problem to have! It sure is fun!

Wow time flies... I haven't updated in a long time, think since my last fill appointment. In fact, I had another appointment today, and cancelled it. In the last week or ten days, the scale has been kind to me, so perhaps I'm letting the scale tell me when to have a fill vs. really paying attention to my body. I'm getting back to basics; lots of water- eating 3x per day- and no snacks! Ice cream has found its way back to my mouth, i really don't cheat with other stuff. Blue Bell Hell is where I've been. Back to those sugar free popsicles instead. But, the really good news is that we enjoyed spring break at Disney World, and I was the one leading the pack walking, walking, lets go go go. 50 lbs ago, it would have been a much different story!

Updates anyone? Is this thread still live and kickin?

i think sometimes all i eat is chicken, with fish becoming a very close second. Haven't had any red meat in, well, a very long time! I agree though about the dryness, it's gotta be a moist piece of meat! Hehehehehe. b: Atkins shake w/ nanner L: munched on some chicken strips D: chili is on the menu Water is my resolution. More and more water. Gotta have the h20.

Had my second fill three days ago, *still* at the same amount lost. Oh well, hopefully this will jump start the loss again. Only had .5 cc in the bad, from an initial 1.5 fill, so they took me back to 1.5cc. I'm not going to wait so long next time for another fill. Had some upper resp issues going on, so I had to reschedule my fill appts TWICE! Ugh! I'm getting fuller faster though, even with liquids. Mushies start today, so that's exciting. Wish me luck and some will power!

My doc says no liquids at least 1.5 hours after you eat, and only drink 5 min before you eat. Don't drink during a meal at all. Otherwise, all the h2ohhhhhhhhhh you can handle.

"Everything but the plumbing" is usually what I tell folks. I'll leave that part to the licensed guys! I'm a partner in our residential plumbing service. Running the numbers...

29 pounds today and need to get another fill. I've only had one so far, and starting to get a bit hungry between meals. Guess I should get it done before I try to imitate the T-Giving Day Bird! 29 pounds, wow... that just feels good to type. Even better when it's 30 something!

I'm glad to find the August group... found September when I first joined; but I'm an August baby! I'm sooooooooooooooo hungry... but I get my first fill in two more days (actually in less than two days). Hopefully, that'll help w/ the hungries! Walking, walking, more walking. Started to join curves, but that got just a bit boring. Any other suggestions?

Pink and anyone else interested-- just to cover my big A$$... check out IRS Topic 502 (their publication 502) regarding med/dental expenses. It's different for self employed vs. the other 75% of america. http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc502.html Oh, especially those who had the surgery and had to travel---- be sure to read that is deductible as well... :clap2:

Pink- From what I understand, medical expenses in excess of 7.5% of your AGI (adjusted gross income) can be deducted-- must itemize 1040 long form. This does NOT include cosmetic surgery, and LB is not cosmetic. Don't let the insurance saying no be the litmus test. I'm currently rounding up ALL of my prescription receipts down to the last $20 copay for every visit I take my kids to. I've never been able to deduct med expenses, so this is my year...

B: Atkins protein shake L: more tilapia, beans and skewered veggies S: grilled chicken & smoothie D: KFC smashed pot/baked chicken bowl (w/out corn) nibbled on brownies when I got home, can't believe they made brownies! Miserable and stuffed, I eventually went to bed... this was a bad day!

9/23: B: Atkins shake repeat L: leftover grilled fish (not chicken, from night before) D: Shared dinner w/ DH- Mahi topped w/ mushrooms, shrimp and an incredible creamy chipotle sauce -- mixed veggies. 9/24: B: Atkins shake again L: McD's grilled bacon/ranch salad- all the chicken 1/2 the greens S: Protein smoothie (too many calories to think about!) D: Parmesan crusted tilapia (my newest creation, thank you very much) S: s/f popsicle!

So True Carol- but I would've been going back in 10 min for more, and more, and more instead of waiting till I'm really hungry! Or would have eaten all the food off my kids plates while "cleaning" the dishes! B: Atkins shake w/ nanner 6:30 am S: mozarella chesse stick 10 am L: Taco Hell's meximelt- sans the tortilla D: DH is grilling chicken/veggies

Yesterday's food: B: Atkins vanilla protein shake w/ banana & pumpkin pie spice- in the bullet! L: grilled flounder and very well cooked veggies w/ some cheesy sauce D: leftover blackened catfish w/ hardboiled egg & FF pudding and SF/FF cool whip. my after dinner mint? One chewable vitamin!

By the way-- as a Spiegel cash patient, fills are *FREE* for the first year, at the surgicenter-- I have verified this w/ my first fill appt next week. And, also, I don't care for my OB/GYN's bedside manner, but he delivered all three of my gorgeous children and he's still my doc. Wouldn't change a thing!

i've always been told, the only (stupid) or silly question, is the one you neglected to ask! (one of my jr high teachers said this, many many many moons ago and it's about the only thing that stuck!)

read on, read on. There are alot of posts in LBT from folks who are shopping and have questions. I made my decision last April, couldn't get insurance to ok it, and it really freaked me out. Thought I just had to be a certain BMI to get approved. Long story short, cash patient and am extremely thrilled that I was able to have this surgery. All is going well-- and can't wait to PASS UP the *plateau* I usually hit-- around 20 lb loss. Once I hit 21 lbs gone-- the sky's the limit. Oh, and my first fill appt is in one week and one day (and 13 hours...), but who's counting?

hey Slowkat-- Can't see my port, can't even feel it. Kinda wondering if it's really there! I've not heard or read of anyone being able to see/feel the port after they've lost weight. I'm a stomach sleeper and my month band-i-versary is in two days-- I've been sleeping very well on my stomach now for at least 2 weeks, maybe a bit more. Try to stay on my side since I "think" i don't snore as much (hehehehehehe). DH says I still end up snoring somehow! Side sleeping wasn't an issue at all though, even the day of surgery.

Hey Brat- I've made the appt for my first fill-- Sept 27. I asked about the "free fills" for self pay and the answer is yes. You get free fills for the first 12 months. Hope all is well.