Lap_dancer

First I am sending you a bit of Florida and some peeks at some future projects of art and gallery ponderings for a show with several other artists. A few of several hundred photos I took yesterday. Enjoy:>>>>>>>> http://picasaweb.google.com/handjive1228/February/photo?authkey=_ZSIkB4khkk#s5167750174820141154 <<<<<<< FATWIDOW: Don't give up on yourself, always have a Plan B and Plan C, wish I was with you to water walk. I love water aerobics...it's the best. BAHOTMAMA: How did the fill sit? You doing good? WoOFAY: I'm the one who screws up names...let's see we've got Natalie as what did I call her? Denise? I can't remember. And Pat for Tom. Smiling:tongue_smilie:I'm the name goof here. Sending hugs your way. :wub::wub::wub: Valentines Day Anyone struggle? Life played a cruel joke on me. I forgot I am allergic to replacement/faux chocolate substitutes....whoooah..I was riding the Porcelain Pony:crying: less than an hour after I had four pieces of WhipassMan's Chocolates. :eek: whoa. Ask me if I will ever eat them again? Mental note is now in concrete.:ohmy::tt1::wub::cheers2: Mal your notes are encouraging and I thank you here for them. I am STILL sick folks, still have the hack, still coughing. I'm so done with this. But it hangs on. Stomach is very sore and I have so much drainage that it's like a slime machine back there cranking out Gack anyone remember Gack? Great toy, felt cold and kinda cool but wouldn't want it in my throat. Tied2BFit I started several journals. I have my original one and now began anothe rone on BLOGGER. I like that one because I can sync to other bloggers and also sync with photos. Writing is becoming VERY liberating for me. Amieru way to go!!! 28 pounds. Dang girl you are going to do AWESOME! No you didn't screw up. Keep it going. Call Natalie if you have any questions. viridescence: Congrats to you! Welcome to Bandito Land. I laughed reading about the blood pressure cuff. My arm is shrinking and I always take the mumbo jumbo surper size but NOW they have been able to use a regular cuff on me. That's a perk to losing weight. Things start changing in the smallest areas of your life. Glad you stayed so close to the Crowne. I like the Holiday Inn. It was small enough, off the beaten track and THISCLOSE to where we had to go. Not to mention those within walking distance dinner places. You sound strong. Keep going. You will do fabulously. Folks I am doing better, still sick but better. Began REALLY walking this past week. Decided to inspire myself more by taking my camera. Hubby and I are doing this together. He just got a positive for diabetes and also found out he has cancer...now don't freak out. I am ignorant to prostate cancer but we have the Mack Daddy of clinics one hour from here in Tampa that he is going to. We caught it early and he is doing fine. all for a purpose I believe that. Next step will be the bike rides. I am moving more and more with each passing week. Sickness has slowed my weightloss but that's fine. I'm not going anywhere. Restriction is still awesome. I feel great. Able to intake just a tad more but I am still within a reasonable and normal intake of healthy foods. I ingest a lot of Meditteranean foods as I love Greek food. Nice dark leafy items and lightly prepared. Salads are my mainstay, dark leafy ARUGALA (greens of the Gods). Until next time. Hugs your way. Patty:tt2:

Hey Friends: A qucik note to let you know that I'm still kicking. *Mal thanks for the note* I am feeling better but I'm still sick as are most of the people I work around. It seems we keep giving it back to eachother. The coughing has left me very sore and nauseated. (two weeks of this is enough for me) Not sure if I posted I had strep (now resolved) and bronchitis (better but still dragging on me) and fluid in my ears which has left me dizzy. What a year this has been for flu season. Wishing you all a Happy Valentine's Day. Patty

Hi Artsy: I love your name. I am an ARTSY FARTSY. I too am a distance patient of Dr. K's. I live in Florida. I want to encourage you from the unique perspective of living far from our physician. There are other things you can do for support and insight on this journey. First, go easy on yourself. There are some folks who think the band is this zipper quick weight loss thing like the gastric bypass. I didn't opt for the bypass because I had seen my sister-in-law bowel her brains out and suffer with complications. Slow and steady wins the race. Embrace the amount of weight you have lost which is...two bags of sugar. Lift that next time you are at the grocery and then realize you had that heft on your body. Natalie is a very resourceful person at Dr. K's office. She is also banded which lends the helpful perspective of being in our shoes. Call her. She's a good ear and she can maybe think of some helpful things that maybe you missed. (this was my case the last time I was at the office) I wouldn't trade a local doctor for Dr. K period. I made the mistake of going to a Fill Center...it set me back, I think, four months. I had pain, nausea and the fill, with flouro...meaning she could SEE my port, she was still digging for it. Dr. K hit me with ease. He is a surgeon, he knows the human body LITERALLY inside and out. Not that I have anything against a nurse practioner but there was a huge difference in my experience on fills. I personally didn't spend the money I did, have the surgery, make all this effort only to shortcut myself to a healthy life. That's me, that's just where my thoughts are after the experience I had. I would love to have had more weight off...five months ago...but it isn't my reality. I work with what I have, I take it a day at a time, and it's all a journey. Right now I am healthier, happier, I can EAT but I eat like normal people do perhaps healthier. My best to you. Happy Valentines. Patty

Hey Michelle: Did you have a chance to talk about that body changing morph. sensation? I was wondering what kind of feedback you were getting.

Call me crazy but I'm feelin this........ I'm seeing it...... working it......

Housework anyone? Hello Friends: Congratulations to the new bandsters and those in recovery from recent banding. Your voices sound strong as does your resolve. Hats off to the Red Robin Banditos I always enjoy hearing about your gatherings each month. I owe Mal a poem and then some. Look for it at the bottom. I was off for one week with strep, bronchitis and the viral bubonic nonsense that does a one two punch. I lived on Soup because swallowing was better down with a feeding tube (exaggeration). Honestly, super sick, better now but man is my eating off. Everything is getting hung quickly and I think it is from one week of Soups and fluids. I am frozen at 324 but my body feels like it is a size two I swear. I feel so HOTS MOMMIEZ!! Sick yeah, but really feeling better. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Empowered ( or smiling to the face of challenge) The strength to rise from the pain, to continue at all cost, The strength to prolong all the shame, Knowing that you've lost, The strength to smile, when all you feel is anger, to substitute bad days, for the best ones you can remember, The strength to say 'I'm lost' when your pride has blocked your sight, to say 'please love me', though I've never done it right, The strength to say you love them, knowing there may be no reply, to stay by their sides at times, when all they do is cry, the strength to try again after many times of failing, to finally open up after many years of waiting, The strength to fall in love, though sacrificing your heart, to keep a loved one close while knowing you've grown apart, The strength to say ' I love you' when all else has gone wrong, to keep on waiting for you..... regardless of how long, Phantom Anonymous ........................................................................................... ...........................................................................

I'm reading your post and thinking...DANG! How did she eat a 12 incher???? then I saw you weren't banded...ahhhhhhhh okay. Now I get it. I too have snuck food. Don't sweat it, that will change. You will see the day when the kiddy teriyake would have done the trick and you would feel FULL. That's the difference being banded. You can feel full and actually not 'take another bite' you're so stuffed. And what a cool place that is.

Quick note. LA- thanks for the Obesity Help link. I posted mine. Friends...got strep throat, laryngitis and bronchitis...sick as sin right now. Michelle: Ok - My body is changing and people are noticing. Initially, it makes me feel great and happy. Then, it makes me really anxious enough so I eat crap. It is like I am worried about disappearing, not really, but why do I have to stay obese to get noticed? And when I am fat, people don't notice me all that much. It is the weirdest thing and not something I have ever read about. I have to resolve this issue, or I will not let the band take me to a healthy weight. Any ideas? I think some of it is about exposure, and I am a basically shy person. I worry about evaporating, losing substance... crazy stuff. ............................................ Girl.. I know I know. It is so crazy. Tell me what your therapist says. I most definately understand what you are feeling. I am shrinking too. But my head isn't wrapping itself around it too well. I am feeling like I am SICK or have cancer or some disease and my body is wasting away..crazy crap.

Read the What You Ate Today thread. Lots of good ideas. At your phase I was eating Toddler Phase baby food (not bad actually) The Protein drinks are awesome.

If you have a yeast infection the doctor can prescribe cream for you. Such was my case. I avoid that by using special soaps. I can recommend brands: Bath and Body Works, Crabtree and Evelyn. Luck.

Dang. All you had to say was the Auntie Anne pretzel and I was there. omg...ahhhhhhh. You learned didn't you. (smiles) I applaud you for staying with it that long. I myself bolted from my house to the backyard and like my cat, I hacked up the slime all around the yard. *you have to understand my husband has a really warped sense of humor* and he's observing me from the patio window making sure I don't go down. The dog is staring, the cats are at the window wondering what happened to mommy. Nevermore. At that time it was stir fried rice. Nevermore. Another time it was spaghetti. Nevermore. Next time if you can, get something warm like tea and sip swallow. The best way to avoid a PB is to recognize that chest feeling and know that it hasn't gone down yet. Putting more food in is exactly like flushing the toilet when it's clogged. (there's a visual for ya) Luck.

AdvantagEdge chocolate protein drink. Midmorning Edge protein bar. water, water, water all day - Strawberry Kiwi Propel water 33.3 oz. x 3 2-Dolmades and small Greek salad (grape leaves cooked with lamb and rice)

Jack's given you some great advice here. I switch to Liquid Protein only, assuring my body 80 grams of protein. I drink loads of water and take my Vitamins. Keep away from the pantry. I look at myself like a drunk. I can get off the wagon. Getting back on is the trick.

John, I celebrate your new category! Way to go. Michelle- More than anything I love what is coming from your family. That is just beyond cool. Way to go. Loose sizes and all. All: I ordered some of the items from the nutrition section of Dr. Kirshenbaum's website. Specifically I ordered the Profect protein beverage with 25 grams of protein, no carbs or fat. If any of you have partied at clubs and done 'Lab Shots' ...shots that come in test tube viles, this protein drink comes in what appears to be a large plastic test tube. Kinda cool. I picked the sampler. I poured the Cool Melon Splash into my 33 oz. Strawberry Kiwi propel water and DANG I was ready for the beach. Tastes great. I tried to drink it straight but it was tart like crazy. BUT for 25 grams of protein I figure three a day or just to supplement my diet on a day when I'm not really feeling like doing much protein consumption like meats or cheeses, I think this is a great option. ........................................................................... Got a nasty sick cold right now. Going around at school. Going back to bed. Have a grand weekend.

Brandymom I'm sure everyone is different. I've seen some say 6 fills and then there is me which took 3 fills. Call Natalie at Dr. K's office and ask her about that little pocket card that has the sweet spot (or actually it is how to know if you need a fill or not) Luck.

YAY!!! You sound so happy Anita. I love the hours. Working around the kid's schedule was priority one for me when I picked a career. Congratulations. If mom is happy everyone is happy! :frown: Dee welcome to Band land to being a bandster and bandito. POST HOW YOU ARE DOING.

OH..AND HERE IS WHAT THE SWEET SPOT FEELS LIKE: You aren't searching for food because you have the feeling of being full or CONTENT after meals for a long period of time...life four to five hours for me. You can eat slowly, and chew for a long time, properly cooked meats and they go down one small swallow at a time, and pause briefly to settle into your belly. I eat very slowly with no liquid so there is all of this new found lovely conversation at the table. Meals now last as long as an hour!!! I'm also redecorating and creating a special dining area to accomidate comfort and more room so I can entertain guests. Arugala greens are my new found chocolate. Nectar of the green GODS this is. Ruby Tuesday's Carolina Chicken salad is HUGE but full of arugala and nicely chopped greens of all kinds. It comes with chicken...fried and about the size of popcorn, buried in the mass of GREENS. Save the rest for two other meals. I've lost the hard sensation of hunger pangs...the one that makes you dizzy and nauseated at the same time? GONE. Sweeeet.

Good morning FRIENDS! Happy Thursday. It is a half day here at my school. YAYAYAYAY. Well today I got on the scale and finally took off all the weight that I had surged. It took me what? Five days? In reviewing my diet I have found that: Salt is counterproductive in my weight loss. I will avoid highly preserved meats such as ham, and foods, such as canned soups, to avoid a holding pattern in my weight loss. I am also 'carb sensative' meaning like a drunk, I cannot intake a margin of carbs even for one evening without having a rebound effect for as much as three days. So to avoid this I will decrease and control what carbs I will put in my diet. Because my family is home on the weekends, we tended to eat picnic style...grilled burgers, baked beans, potato salad, and soda. Even though I stayed within portion control, the combination of carbs in the baked beans (made with molassas and brown sugar and bacon) and potatoes in the potato salad was enough carbohydrate to put some poundage on. I don't want even two pounds up if I can avoid it plus it is a setback when I have to repeat the process of taking off what I already took off. I am finding that restriction is not a problem but rathern, finding a good continual diet of foods that won't cause an adverse reaction for my diverticulitis plus a low sodium content and...carbs. Right now I stocked up on Advantage EDGE Carb control with 17 grams of protein. I am gauranteeing my body 80 grams of protein daily and those sure shots in the form of protein drink and bars is a good promise. I am balancing that with carb content and calories staying around 1500 - 1800 calories. ONWARD!!!!

Awww that wasn't nice. Marcy lives in Alaska and granted, I wouldn't eat moose, rabbit or Musk Ox, but that is what is indigenous to her region. It is common in her area to see these readily available foods and the locals to integrate them in their diet. I would eat what is native and also not endangered in my area which is a fish called grouper (not heard up north). I love activists and TRAFFIC could use your support in time or donations go to TRAFFIC - Home & Latest News and also the World Wildlife Federation is also in need of contributions: Endangered Species, Wildlife Conservation, Animal Habitats

Hi mamabear: I can relate. I've worked 18 years in the public schools and they are notorious for using acronyms. It happens here too. Here's the low down on what you will see: PB or a Productive Burp- You know when you eat too much and have a burp that has something with it? That's a 'productive burp'. With the band, it comes along with what I call the cat hack. If you eat slowly, take small bites, introduce foods gradually to see if you can tolerate them first before take more than one bite. Otherwise you might have a PB. You also have slimey saliva which is more like kid's "GAK" remember that?? Like that.

Hey Friends! Widow..You will be able to eat but don't you think the better way to say it is that you want to be able to have the choice to eat something...with control rather than overload? That was my feeling. For a while you can count on WANTING to stick to post op food plans. For me, by the time I got around to trying something that was not healthy...like a potato chip...it was not THAT tasty. My taste buds changed. Biggest struggle right now is I am a night time eater. I have grand portion control..no problems at all. It's just a nasty old habit for me to eat at 11 PM. I think this slowed my weightloss. Marcy..buffed now aye? Too cool for you!!!! How is everyone else doing? Post back.

You know we all have our muse. Be it a cocktail, favorite vino, brewski or in my case...chocolate. Oh, don't get me wrong, not just any old chocolate, no..mine has to be the expensive import fused with orange. If I still smoked, this would be equal to a fresh pack, just packed and cracked, first light puff. But I quit smoking some 15 years ago and now I can't handle the intoxicating second hand stuff. As for alcohol, I really love rum but the bite is too much now. Seems I am more sensative to it than I use to be. As with all things now, my "want it" and my "tried it and it didn't taste as good as I thought" kicked in.

SWEET! I'm calling my cable company to see if we get FIT TV. I have wanted to learn how to Belly Dance but am too embarrassed at my size and with my big belly (which is where I carry most of my weight). To top it off, the local teacher I have seen in the newspapers is a sweet girl I use to work with some 25 years ago. Her family is Greek and she is absolutely gorgeous. I would love to take her class. Why do I make excuses for the times I cannot until the times I can and it is all fat related???? ahhhhhh.

Amie this inspires me. I so hate exercise. It is my bane. I have a thing about running in circles, going back ...retracing my steps. It's a quirk really. I have this compulsion to feel movement in a direction results in getting something, arriving at a place. If I'm in a car and I forgot something, turning around and going back home takes my nth degree of force. What I HAVE been doing is moving. Walking the long way to classes, taking long strides. When I see someone doing the fence line...wow. 30 laps is awesome. Be proud! LA- $10 bucks says you + deaf person = 10 minutes and your hands would start twitching to talk!! (smiles) Hit me up on Myspace...my name is Patty_Lane on there. I have a video on my blog, it's public called "sign language" go to it, soooo cool. A song interpreted in full on makeup. Love to all!

BAhotmama kudos on the workout!!! Way to go..feel the burn! :confused: Mal how you doing? Pipes doing fine? :tt1: Dynamo - Hey Chi Chi how's that personal trainer going? How was the play? When I think of Colorado I think of you!! I just saw where a band that I adore ( 80's band ) is playing Red Rocks this summer. Will most likely make that show. Anyone feel like going to see R.E.M.? Anita you doing okay? Dee best to you tomorrow. :frown: