SoccerMomma73

I lived off homemade chicken broth (canned stuff is NASTY)...there are variations but I basically stuck a whole chicken (cleaned of course) in a large pot, covered with water, then chunked up carrots, celery, and an onion and threw them in, added a couple garlic cloves, then a bay leaf and salf and pepper to taste....boiled the beast for a couple hours then strained everything off (kept the chicken in the freezer for chicken salad when I hit mushies), it's good, easy, and puts the canned broth the shame. Good luck!!!!

I'm voting we have LBT reunion at Humming Bird's house sometime soon!!! Sorta sounds like we all need a vacation in the mountains sometime soon. My parents are on vacation in Costa Rica and called earlier tonight to tell me how gorgeous it is and how much I'd love it...well duh?!? It's Costa Rica! Of course I'd love it! TGIF!!!!! Have a great weekend everyone!

If you have low B-12 (B12 deficiency) boosting your B12 will do wonders for you...if you're not low on B12 you can take it by the gallon and it won't do a thing for you....I've been on B12 injections (due to deficiency) for almost 3 months...my energy is up a little but I'm also down 35 pounds...honestly, I think it's more the weight loss than the B12...

Okay, that's just funny...you know you're a bandster when you start considering isopure margaritas!

I'm ready for Friday. Very ready for Friday. My clinic "went live" with a new computer system yesterday and holy smokes batman, it sucks! So much for efficiency! The crankiness is making us all more cranky. I tossed and turned all night with dreams of the person in charge of the big switch last night (and no, not THOSE kind of dreams, she's not my type). Forget a cookie, I want a margarita! One of my least favorite things about Arkansas is that I've yet to find a good margarita up here, Texas spoiled me I suppose. On a lighter note, my recently retired parents fly off to Costa Rica tomorrow. I am very excited for them and so very glad that they've planned for their retirement and can afford to go do things like this. I am, however, REALLY FREAKING JEALOUS, but my turn will come some day too (I hope!). I have inherited their adorable and really spoiled rotten dogs for the next 2 weeks so keep your fingers crossed the weather holds and we can all get out in the evenings for a walk. Now it's time to go snuggle under the covers with the 2 really spoiled dogs who also think they belong under the covers...at least I can keep the heat turned way down while they're here! Hope you are all having a great week!

Yeah, umm...they put in 5 pounds but it seems like 50 when it's coming back out. Congrats again, it's an interesting little journey. When I sit back and think how much that little hunk of plastic has changed my life....pretty amazing! Can we start a pool on what your first "stuck" is? Ya know, time, date, what you get stuck on?

Betsy-thoughts, prayers, and crossed fingers being sent your way. You're in my thoughts.

Uneventful...best way for major surgery to be. Congrats and welcome to the club!

Let me rephrase, I have more trouble with deli meats than anything else...I'm a cooking kinda girl so never actually buy anything at the deli but meat...and right now it's evil stuff. Jell-o is your friend! That was my motto the first 2 weeks post-op. (That and "wow, I seriously took pooping for granted before that" but that might be TMI):w00t:

I'm actually having more trouble with deli meats than ANYTHING else, it's bizarre, but consistant...go figure. Good luck tomorrow Bob/Brian/other bad B words. You're doing great, and you'll keep doing great, and in another month I'll have to hate you because you weigh less than me! Are you an over nighter or will you be home tomorrow sometime? Drop us a line when you get a chance and let us know you're alive and banded! (take care of yourself and good luck!)

Am I reading that right? You're down 14 pounds in 2 weeks? OMG!!! By the time you get your surgery in 3 months you'll won't have an ounce of fat left! WTG!!!!!

I have been travelling to the ends of the earth this weekend (or at least the back roads of rural Kansas) for my grandmother's 80th birthday party. It was my first real public outing with family since band day. I should insert here that I come from a family of feeders (and eaters) when we get together we eat. If we're happy, sad, whatever, we eat. Our vacations revolve around eating. So I was curious how things would go. Things went fine. I ate like a normal person (normal as in not related to my family) I essentially ate small portions of whatever I wanted. I stole 2-3 bites of birthday cake from my son so I didn't feel deprived. I ate a small meal, stayed satisfied until the next meal and didn't feel the need to snack at all (except driving...driving long distances are a snack hell for me but the answer to that is just don't have anything to eat in the car!). So, all in all a successful weekend. I didn't feel like a circus freak because I couldn't eat what everyone else did (the exception to that being a breakfast burrito that didn't like me so much, I ended up picking out the eggs and cheese and tossing the evil, vile shell in the trash). I feel good! Now, curious to see what the scales have to say in the a.m. While I ate fairly well, I'm sure I was protein low for 2 days and positive I didn't get enough water in (well water, bleh, and sodas...plus we were 30 minutes from civilization so once the bottled water was gone I resorted to sipping nasty well water in tiny amounts). Hope you all had a great weekend!!

I have been travelling to the ends of the earth this weekend (or at least the back roads of rural Kansas) for my grandmother's 80th birthday party. It was my first real public outing with family since band day. I should insert here that I come from a family of feeders (and eaters) when we get together we eat. If we're happy, sad, whatever, we eat. Our vacations revolve around eating. So I was curious how things would go. Things went fine. I ate like a normal person (normal as in not related to my family) I essentially ate small portions of whatever I wanted. I stole 2-3 bites of birthday cake from my son so I didn't feel deprived. I ate a small meal, stayed satisfied until the next meal and didn't feel the need to snack at all (except driving...driving long distances are a snack hell for me but the answer to that is just don't have anything to eat in the car!). So, all in all a successful weekend. I didn't feel like a circus freak because I couldn't eat what everyone else did (the exception to that being a breakfast burrito that didn't like me so much, I ended up picking out the eggs and cheese and tossing the evil, vile shell in the trash). I feel good! Now, curious to see what the scales have to say in the a.m. While I ate fairly well, I'm sure I was protein low for 2 days and positive I didn't get enough water in (well water, bleh, and sodas...plus we were 30 minutes from civilization so once the bottled water was gone I resorted to sipping nasty well water in tiny amounts). Hope you all had a great weekend!!

Okay, I'll probably get yelled at BUT...if it was me...(and you get what you pay here, free advice) I would still watch what I eat and portions and continue to exercise, but I wouldn't let myself get to the starving part. I would eat (healthy) but what it takes to make me comfortable and see what happens. You're expected to lose 1-2 pounds per week. If you're struggling for each and every pound something isn't quite right, back off a little and see how it goes. If your weight loss slows or stalls then obviously you're doing most of the work, not the band and then MAYBE they'll see that you need a little fill. I wouldn't give up and I wouldn't go back to bad habits and I would certainly keep exercising but I think you putting so much effort into it has made them think it's really easy for you and you don't need more restriction???? Just my 2 cents worth. You are doing great, keep up the good work and good luck!

I've got a cold. I've got a cold and a fairly tight band. Food is not my friend (well, unless it's junk food, which is just not fair, junk food should stick, not real food!!!). So I'm sitting her nursing my hot tea and whining to anyone who will listen (or read), just had to share my misery. Done whining now.

I've got a cold. I've got a cold and a fairly tight band. Food is not my friend (well, unless it's junk food, which is just not fair, junk food should stick, not real food!!!). So I'm sitting her nursing my hot tea and whining to anyone who will listen (or read), just had to share my misery. Done whining now.

Network (the best TV channel EVER!!!)

Ya know, I get that this is your problem not his, and your decision, not his but I'd really have an issue with him not supporting me at all....but then again, maybe why I'm divorced! Good luck. We can't make it better for you at home but please know we're all here and rooting for ya!

I'm kinda with you. I had my second fill a week ago today and am having, for the first time ever, meat issues (I'm just so excited to be having issues of any type!!!). I can take a bite or two but it makes me uncomfortable so it's just not happening. Even deli sliced meats are an issue SOOOOoooo...I'm living off of Beans beans beans (my poor co-workers), cheese, eggs, and a little Peanut Butter. I'm throwing in a shake a day but bleh. I'm averaging roughly 60 grams a day which is what my doc wants. I figure I'll loosen up over the next couple weeks and it won't be an issue so I can handle it right now. I don't know, long term, if I could deal with the mostly meat free diet I have going right now but temporarily I can handle it. (oh, and ham spread, ham grated or pureed with grated egg, low fat mayo and maybe a little relish) Good luck!

I hit 34 pounds yesterday so now I only have 100 to lose! I know it sounds horrible but I'm so excited I've only got 100 left to get to goal:drool:, it sounds so much better than 134! Woohoo!!

Different surgeons do VERY different things. Some people get a fill while in surgery then another 2 weeks later. It seems most of us get one at 2, 4, or 6 weeks post-op but I have read a few people who didn't get their first until 6 (SIX!!!!) months. As far as weight loss, while you're on liquids it tends to be fairly fast so no, you're doing fine (great in fact). Keep up the good work!!!

Yup, I was explosive the 36 hours before surgery. It wasn't pleasant but didn't kill me. Hey, some people have to take stuff to "clean 'em out" pre-op, you're just a step ahead! Good luck!!!!!

I had my surgery on Wed, went shopping on Saturday, had to sit down half way through and take a break (got dizzy and light headed by hey, I was living off about 500 calories a day so I think that's not too unexpected). Could I have gone to a concert on Saturday? Probably, yes. Knowing what I know now, would I go to a concert on Saturday? No. I felt fine but I did get tired easily and I just don't think I would have enjoyed it much. Good luck!

Food Network and I...we got each other through the long and lonely nights of bandster hell....but now that I can eat again I'm cheating on him and flipping to other channels. I'm so sorry to hear about the 95 pound weight loss though...that's just horrible. You should have put a little effort into it and maybe you would actually have lost some real numbers!!