Search the Community

Good morning! Well, even with all the good foods I ate yesterday my scale says I am up a total of 5 lbs since my weight check at Kaiser I believe last week or the week before? Man what happened here? I did down 50 oz of water before bed, and ate a skinless chicken breast (2) so I don't know if it's sitting in there or what. Havent used the bathroom yet today (TMI sorry) but oh well, gonna keep on trucking! Lee see ya next week at the meeting I will be there. I am going to go every time, just to help myself. I felt alot better after the last one, to make me wanna get there!!

OH MY GOSH YOU GUYS!!! Check out my ticker! 257.2!!! I got below my own personal goal this morning, with a little help from Milk of Magnesia! That crap made me gag so bad I thought I was gonna puke. I hadn't had a #2 (sorry TMI) in 2 days and knew it was gonna be a doozy when it kicked in. SO---I'm officially down 40.3 lbs PRE-OP! My personal goal was to be down 40 lbs because it's a LOT of weight and it's a nice round number to start counting my post-op weight loss from. 50 is gonna be here so fast! I'm heading out to the bay area now to our hotel, going to get a salad a California pizza Kitchen and hot tub and get a massage. SO nice. Hubby has an Iphone and I'll update you all as soon as I can. Wish me luck! (((hugs)))

Good morning all. I am now 4 days post up. Not as bad as I expected. I've been walking 1/2 mile a day. I'm gonna shoot for a whole mile this morning. Still have drain until next Friday. Trying to get fluids in. Ujury chicken protein has been awesome. 26 grams per 8 ounces. Herbal tea, lots of ice and water has been my thing. I realized yesterday that I now hate sweets! The antibiotic meds are really sweet, don't like them. Heating pad has been wonderful. I pooted for the first time last night (TMI, BUT IT WAS AWESOME! Still sore in the abdomen but everyday it gets better. I hate the compression socks. now I can take them off all day and only put them on when I sleep. Uhhhmmmm I think that's it for now. Oh 10lbs down. 2 lbs from pre op and 8 lbs post op.

Hey Gang - this is going to be quick - I am really behind tonite - got home from the gym then had to wash the dogs - bear had butt poop (tmi i know ;0) Sharon - See I told you we all are more alike - look at us mixed kids - same names - I love it Rose - LOVE THE PICS - I was just thinking about you the other day - Hugs on your Mom & MIL - Prayers to you all Meredith - LOVE YOUR PIC'S TOO - Looking good girl Great - Phyl is doing better today - I'm not just saying this she posted that she even went outside and had a little walk and that the pain was better. You have to know Phyl, she's not one to sit still - we are going to have run just to keep up with her - Hugs - you will be in our prayer.. CHERI -CONGRATULATIONS ONDERLAND WTG Apples - I love your logic - I want necessarily brought up prediujice - we had a black lady who was our housekeeper/nanny (hell my mom didn't even work so don't ask me why) she was/is like a mom too me - but I heard my mom use the N word a few times and I was very young and didn't understand - Miss Charlene got all our old stuff and my sisters prom dresses for her daughter - but oh my mom had a major shit fit when she found out about my ds dad - she kicked me out and said some very very very bad things to me - and this was a lady who married a full blooded indian in 1945 - now you tell me the diff.. My dad was never prejudiced .. My grandma (mom's mom) accepted my son and still loved me as the rest of my family - I don't know how my mom would have reacted... Laura - I love my dentist they asked the 1st time I went what i was afraid of - I said the drill hitting the nerve - they give me gas... today while waiting for the Novocaine to work they had me hooked up to the gas - I was almost asleep but then the damn drill.. No root canal and the other tooth didn't need a filling it was just stained so all is good.. OK I did that all from memory - so if I forgot someone - you understand - I will review tomorrow morning - to see what I missed but it's now 8 and I need to get cooking - I think I am having steak tonite I want some bloody red meat - but my bbq is out of gas - so going to have to use good old george Hugs & Love to you all - till tomorrow Janet

Joyce, I think it's cool that you went to Bali to study after reading Eat Pray Love...what I wanted to do is go to Italy and eat. I actually took a class in Italian, but then work got so busy, I didn't pursue it. Now I'm going to Argentina with my Italy money. I did enjoy reading the book, haven't seen the movie yet. Linda, hugs and prayers to you and your family. It's amazing how stupid some people can be and how bad their choices are. They seem to think they can use and abuse those closest to them and it's their due, like we owe them something. I'm sorry you have had to deal with it. I'm sorry your step son treats you this way. We know you aren't the bad person, just the person that wants him to take responsibility for himself. (Man I sound like the preacher). Laura, glad your parents are able to visit you. Just having them get out of their normal routine is a good thing. Hope you can relax enough to enjoy this time with them. Janet, have a wonderful time at your concert. Good luck with those shoes too. I know I'd never wear them...but then again, I don't look as cute as you do. Jodi, sounds like a good decision not going to Fire Island and congrats on the commercial. That is too cool. I'd love to see it, so if it's out there somewhere, let us know. Your daughter is very lucky to have you as a mom. You know a 6:45am wake up sounds like heaven to me. My alarm goes off at 5:15am and I am NOT a morning person. Julie, you are smart to have some one lined up to do the cake and other stuff for DD's wedding. It's much better than panicking at the last minute. DF's ex will have to be really bad for her to lose custody of her daughter. We tried some of that with Robbie's Mom. It does say something about Mimi's dad and good riddance to him. DD and DF do need to keep a log of every time they have a problem with Bailey's mom. I certainly won't hurt. Your appointment is coming up soon. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you. Charlene, your heart is as big as Texas isn't it? My sister adopted our second cousins too but not because the parents were drug abusers. Their mom is epileptic and she couldn't take care of them. These families get pretty complicated but I'm glad there are loving people like you and Linda around to share their love and homes. Lori, I'm so glad you asked the boys and waxing question because I'm not sure what they are getting waxed either. I can't even get DH to trim the hair out of his ears (sorry if that is TMI). You know your kids are still young and full of themselves because they are young. I'm not sure they would understand your hurt at them leaving early. Just know they love you and will see you often. I believe I was insensitive that way too when I was their age. They will understand more when they have their own kids. Oh and it's 18 more working days. Cheri, I agree with you about our youth feeling entitled. I know not every kid is that way, but there sure are a lot of them out there. I'm sure working where you do you get to see the whole gamut of behaviors from good to bad. You have a lot more patience than I would and I applaud you. I couldn't get on line last night again, but today everything is working fine. Yesterday, DH and I just loafed all day. I did do laundry and fixed a couple of meals, but that's about it. Today I got up and walked again 4.2 miles. It took me an hour and a half, but I don't care so much for the speed right now, I'm looking for the stamina. I still want to be up to 6 miles by the end of the month, but we'll see how that goes. Hope everyone is having a lovely Labor Day weekend and I'll be checking back later. Eva

Good morning violets- Haydee-yes Dr L takes insurance but my consult was with a local PS and he is the one that does not take insurance. I am waiting for Dr L office to call me back to schedule a consult with him. I also am looking at Dr Cassco here locally in the Nassau Bay area. He takes insurance too. The fill I got is gonna be history today....I can not even drink water! I PBd on sugar free ice cream for goodness sake! I am calling the dr office today. I just do not consider PBing on liquid normal. I can not even ake my Chantix pill and that thing is TINY! Alot probably has to do with sinus drainage (TMI I know). I would just rather keep the amount of fill I had before and get back on the willpower wagon. Pam & Jane-loved BB last night. Chelsia made herself look like a demented little brat...I hope James is next. Laura-I am glad you are o your way to recovery. Kat-feel better soon! I better get up and head for work...my boss is just gonna love me asking him to leave again! What am I supposed to do, tube feed? lol

Ok, new tire balanced and on!! We are safe again! As you all know I have been taking the antibiotics for over 2 weeks now, and my stomach has been killing me! I have had massive heart burn and reflux....for about 5 days I have been miserable with them. I wake up feeling pretty good, then I take the 3 a day and by mid morning the heartburn starts and by midday, I am miserable....come bed time I am sick.....rest with no more to take, and I wake feeling pretty good, only to start over. So yesterday was the same way. We went to Fuddruckers for dinner, I had a small section of Rick's burger and some onion rings. When we got home, I felt sick. I joked that it was a good thing I hadn't eaten any tomatoes, or I'd think I had salmonella. Rick's friend from California was here, and we sat up and visited until almost 2 AM. Then went to bed and not for the sake of TMI, but just to cover all my bases in the telling of this, lets just say we jostled my stomach around some!!!!!!LOL After that I was really nauseated, so I got up, and was going to rinse my mouth and see if I could settle my stomach---but when I went into the bathroom and opened my mouth, I knew it was too late, and I threw up-----brown grainy, coffee ground looking stuff, which I knew was dried, old blood. Rick is having a conniption fit, to go to the ER. I convinced him to wait and see if any bright red blood were to follow, and nothing, I felt great when I got it out, and went to sleep. I believe my antibiotics to be the cause---so I called the on call PS today, and he has never returned my call, she said he would call after his appointments, and if I was concerned to go to the ER. Gee thanks! So, I have not taken any antibiotics today, my stomach feels 90% better! I called my band Dr. he was in agreement that they were the likely cause, but wants to see me to scope my band. That seems pretty invasive if not taking the meds makes it better I think. I mean he is 6.5 hours away, and gas is not cheap!!! I am also concerned that if I don't take the meds, my incision might re infect...... I have had zero nausea today, and only residual feeling heart burn, nothing like I have suffered with for days. Any feelings or suggestions......anything? Am I being foolish? I feel good today. And again, not to be gross with TMI, but BM's are totally normal, not black or tarry, or anything abnormal at all. Kat

Laura~ I can't wait to buy Across the Universe!!! I loved that movie and must have in the collection! Glad you feeling better! My boss pissed me offfffffff on Friday so much. I know now why people drink after work. I was pissed all weekend (wont bore you w/ details) and pissed again this morning. I was dreading working w/ him this morning. I am the English Language Learner Facilitator @ school and work w/ him everyday for an entire period (no students..just paper work). Anyway, when I walked into his office, the first thing he did was apologize! Made me feel so much better, cause he was waaaayyyy off base, then made me feel like I was the asshole. Hey, I have been the ass from time to time...but this was not the time! So, I have a renewed faith in our professional relationship . Next month we are flying to San Jose for another conference and I told him..."you owe me drinks:biggrin:" Ok...back in a bit! My new pants are falling off me, cause once I sat down...they stretched. I am not complaining...but man...I spent $165 on 3 pair of pants yesterday. The jeans will be better cause they at least have belt loops, lol. But as w/ the other pants, I can pee w/o undoing them. I know TMI! xoxoxoxo

TMI WARNING!!: Yeah I haven't seen my hooey (borrowed that nickname from Scrubs ) without mirror assistance for a loooong time. hope to lose a lt of fat from that area - sorry, but honestly, when I'm just in underwear and looking in the mirror it looks like I've got a Cornish game hen in my underpants! It's embarrassing to look like I've got more junk than my husband! I wear "shape wear" to flatten it out, and any other areas that benefit are just bonus. I mean you know you've got a problem when you have a camel toe while wearing a skirt! (ok, just exaggerating on that one but still......) I hate probably 98% of my body - abdominal rolls, side rolls, back rolls, neck rolls, gigantic double chin, sagging belly apron, huge arms, back boobs, under arm boobs, fat and flabby thighs, huge calves....the list is almost endless, but my, uh.....well, my crotch is my biggest issue, the part of me I hate the most. I refuse to go to the gyno simply because of it. I'm too mortified, and I don't care what anyone says about how they see it all. See my surgeon on Monday to discuss my surgery on 7 Jan. Woohoo! Can't wait to get my stomach 85% removed!

Wow Steph you look great. And I think it does get easier to post the before pictures. You get to the point (or at least I did) that your pride in what you have accomplished far outways the horror of the old pictures. I am really, really tired today and I slept A LOT last night. I think the whole roller coaster week with PS has made my body revolt. Either that or I am coming down with something. The change in foods has also caused problems with my digestive system and I have been VERY gassy (I know TMI) lately. And it does NOT smell like roses either! On another note...I am sick of food. I wish that I could just eat everything I needed for the entire day and then just forget about it for the rest of the time. With all the meals that I have to eat I struggle to get in my water, and I am sick of feeling stuck all the time. Today was better for the stuck feeling. I think part of my problem this week was the stress of the PS search. When I am under stress my band tightens up like the jaws of an alligator! Never thought I would say that I was sick of food, but alas...I am! Well I have a ton of stuff to do for class tomorrow and it would be great to sleep in. Janet you are making up for my time at the gym this week. I had all intentions of going last night but I fell asleep on the couch last night and didn't wake up until my DH came home from work at 10:30 pm. OOPSY! Then he took today off so I won't want to go tonight and it is weightlifting night! Maybe I will get in a day on my day off.

I have had diarrhea starting the day after surgery. My first bout was when I was asleep in my hospital bed (TMI) and then later that day it happened again. GROSS!!!

I am getting sleeved in the spring of 2013. I am getting married in the summer of 2014. My fiance and I have never had sex. I have had sex before and have a child. He is a virgin. I do not want to have sex with him until I have lost a lot of weight because I want it to be both of our "first time". I figure having sex with an entirely new body is going to be like having sex for the first time all over again. I have a friend who told me that I am nuts, that the only thing that's going to be different about me is that everything is going to be saggy instead of plump. So I guess my question is this, is the sex different after you lose the weight. And keep in mind, I weigh over 400 pounds so there is a lot of weight to lose. I really will be a completely different person!

Tried an enema? Not as bad as they sound... You can get a kit off eBay if your local chemist doesn't stick them. Warm tap water is fine for occasional use and they really work.. Tmi?

Hey Candra!!!!!!!!! Glad to see you still around!!!!!!! Sounds like you are doing great!!!! Happy birthday Pat!!!!!!!! Not much on this end. Haven't barfed in days. Speaking of ends and barfing need to go take some metamucil, sorry TMI! I hope everyone is having a wonderful wet Monday night!!!!!!!!

Linda In theory, I agree. I even understand. But, I drink water, exersize get fiber and I still only have BM every seven or more days. (and that is with a laxative) I don't like taking them but man, the hemoroids are killing me. Dang, trying to push that turd out is harder than pushing out any one of my babies heads, (TMI)

Hi Gang - Just catching up on my lunch hour... Phly - This is one of the reasons I am glad not to have a DH.. But for 43 yr hell ya you need to celebrate - I couldn't make 3 yrs (twice same guy ;0) and what food you don't eat he can eat or you can take homed. Chim - Hot wash cloth or bath for the pain and to reduce the swelling, add some fat to your diet and water water water. Ruby - Sorry for the Slime - me to just one more bite - I don't have a fill yet - but I hope I know when to stop when i do.. One little rhyme i learned in WW - better in thee (trash) than in Me... I use this still today.. Marcy - My Brothers & I would do that with a bowl of cheeto's - who would get more than the other:hungry: Jeanie - My blood pressure meds have water pill - so I am lucky no water here - but they always tell you to drink more wate to get rid of it - doesn't make sense but who am i :phanvan Sunny- Popcorn?? As long as it wasn't loaded with butter, calorie wise you should be ok.. Kathy - I ate cheese enchillada this weekend, 2 for dinner and grazed on the other 2.. No wonder i am not losing but 1 lbs a week:faint:.. I was told that I was most likely under-estimating my calories - so Sunday I bought a scale (digital) that gives you calories - protein - etc - I think it was a good investment (was a little pricey) - I weighed out my fish & chicken - been weighting watermelon, veggies etc. I am trying to keep calories at 1000 - 1200... It's hard... My goal this week is to walk 2 miles 4 - 5 this week (did it Sat & yesterday) As far as shopping - i am buying too much. Once I took the 3 packages of fish and 1 chick and weighted it out i have enought for 3 weeks... And veggies - my eyes have always been bigger than my tummy. I guess i am afaired i am going to starve - yea right got enough reserve to feed an army :girl_hug: Just had salad with tuna - light ranch dressing and tummy letting me know bathroom break coming up - my tmi is that i too have diarrah about once a week but the rest of the time is soft, never hard - but i think i get enough fat - (maybe too much). Ok it's almost one - gotta get back to work - Talk to ya'll later. Janet

I completely get waking up from this dream. I'm always saying to my DH that "the other shoe is going to drop soon." I think I'm just so used to being fat and dumpy and honestly believing that I don't deserve anything more because I couldn't get this weight thing right. So now that's a hard belief to get rid of. But it is silly and we DO deserve this. We are worthy....and we are NOT going to wake up fat again. Okay....kids are in bed (if not quiet yet) and my head isn't feeling like it is going to explode quite yet so I'm going to post a few more things I was thinking about while I was out walking.... Phyl, I was a bad daughter. My parents and I fought a LOT and it was ALWAYS my fault. I left their house one night when I was 21 and basically ran away to Missouri. We didn't speak for years. When my dad passed it has always been the time of my life I regretted. Sometimes though we stupid girls don't know how to fix things even when we know we need to. I regretted my decision from day 3 and didn't know how to go back and still have even a shred of my pride intact....and so it persisted. It took my dad being the bigger man to come and say it's alright. I don't know if that helps any, but maybe you'll find a kernel of something in it. Oh...my email is ssoderquist@gmail.com and anyone who would like to add me to their list, please feel free. Janet, please add me to the lucky 7 bandiversary exchange. I would love to Celebrate with you all! My diet seems to be doing pretty well as I keep track of it on daily plate but I'm pretty low in the Fiber part. Do any of you worry about too little fiber? I know that it can cause TMI problems but I don't have those. Are there other reasons I should up my fiber? I did pick up some Kashi GoLean high Protein high fiber Cereal. I'm going to try some tonight for my snack. I'm not quite at my protein quota and I still have calories to spend so I thought I'd give it a try.....anyone???? Hope you are all sticking out your Water wings. I've been working really hard to get mine in. I actually woke up this morning thirsty...and that never happens. Had a bottle of water before my coffee this morning even. Now that NEVER happens. I went walking tonight but only did about a mile and a half. It was only about 35 out and I really don't feel well. I made myself go and I took the hill instead of skipping it, but couldn't bring myself to go the rest of the way. Oh well....1 and 1/2 is better than the none I was getting this time two weeks ago. I can't wait for my total gym to get here!!! Then it won't matter if it's freezing out. Okay....my get up and go just got up and went. I'm going to go watch qvc for a few minutes while I eat my kashi. Night everyone. See you tomorrow.

Welcome Stepht7s, dmtjet, tinkerbell77, ribearty, and every other new Lucky 7. Insubordination, thanks for dropping in and wishing us well. Next year we'll be in your shoes, YEAH. forgve70x7, thanks for the prayes. I'm the next bander:46 hours and counting down. Dini, you already have a fill??? I won't get a fill for 4 weeks after surgery. Can you get anything down. I figured with the swelling and all they wouldn't fill anyone for a while. That's amazing. BTW, I'm off for the next 4 weeks, so I'll be on the computer earlier each day, so we can chat it up girlfriend. Nelli, "fall off the roof" I have never heard of that. So I finally broke out the Magic Bullet this morning, the blender. It is awesome.:clap2: I blended 4 ozs of slimfast optima with a scoop of vanilla powder and froze them. I made up 8 of them. Very quick, easy, and great clean up. In all they had 26 grams of protein, 170 calories, and under 2 grams of sugar. I love to eat slimfast frozen.:hungry: For one, it tastes great on a hot day, and when it's frozen it takes longer to eat, and you actually feel like your eating something instead of drinking something. Seems more satisfying. So thumbs up for the magic bullet. Cant wait to do something else with it, like soups, and smoothies. I've been cleaning the house all morning so when I get home from the hospital it will be all done, and I can just lay back and not worry about anything. My DH is doing all the laundry for me and cleaning out my car, and hopefully going to give it an oil change. I'm making 1 more trip to the store later just to get some things so I won't have to go for a while. Going to start packing for the hospital later on, and I'm going out for my last dinner tonight with DH and friends. I'm always so organized but I feel like I'm missing something on my list of things to do before going. Oh yes, one last fat intimate encounter with my DH.:embarassed: It will never be the same, WHOOHOOO!!! Sorry, that may have been TMI, but I'm sure everyone will have their own last fat encounter too. :scared:more days and I'll be in Bandland with Dini and Breadlady.

Fund raiser??? Don't be silly! We lost a lot, but there's still plenty there. If I told you how much you would laugh at all this ridiculousness! He just won't use it! And I know another factor is that he says he's researched PS on legs on the internet and he read some scarey stories and is convinced it's very dangerous surgery because of risk of blood vessel and nerve damage. So, it's not just the money. I've wanted to buy another car for 2 years! We have ONE car, so if he's off cutting lawn for SIL or flying his RC airplanes, he's gone up to 5-6 hours and I'm stuck. And the car we have is 7 yrs old with 91+ K miles on it.. driven miles. At least another 50K of towed miles that don't show. Yeah, it runs okay. Just put money in to it to fix the emission system, brake job and a new tire... ONE new tire. He was so proud of himself because the tire guy was able to match the spare which is still new and not the pretend tire type... so he only had to buy one tire instead of two. :tt2: And he says we'll reconsider buying a new car at the end of the summer! Yeah, right! :biggrin::biggrin::biggrin: I WILL get these legs done. Fear not! Just have to back off for a day or two while my emotions settle down. Haven't been able to eat much all week... and that is probably contributing to some extent, but just plain tight this week. DH insists on cooking everything from frozen, and then it ends up getting over cooked. So, had small piece of fish one night that I couldn't finish. Last night, maybe 3 oz piece of pork chop, that was too lean to begin with, and then got over cooked, so I don't know if I even got an ounce of it down. Then good thing I've been keeping a little zip lock bag with paper towels in it next to my chair... TMI.... sliming in to the bag for a while, but nothing else came up. Many hours later I got down a calcium chew and one of those little Jello pudding cups. Haven't been able to drink much all week. My latte every morning, usually, is justified by... need the warm liquid so I can loosen up enough to eat lunch! And yesterday, lunch was a small bowl of chicken noodle (which was really barley) soup at Safeway during my 3 hr cruise around the neighborhood. OH... one of the grocery stores was grilling tri-tip out by the front door, so I had a small piece of that as a chaser an hour or so later. :biggrin::biggrin::biggrin: It was SO good!

TMI - WARNING - ANSWER Karri I have hemorroids from giving birth - they are on the outside (some can be on the inside) go get some supposetories, & ducolax - keep all these things on hand - you need to add some more oil in your diet and Water for your stools to be soft - your are consitpated to the max -this happens to me when I travel - Try the suppositories 1st - then if they don't work you might want to get an ennama (sp) or take 2 dulox - you will get the runs but heck that's better than being constipated... - if the warm bath helped the pain - I would bet you have strained yourself - hot wash cothes in that area helps too..

Dini- I love Curves! I have been going for over a year and couldn't do without. It's 3x/week, for 1/2 hour. I most def. recommend it. I have no restriction so nothing got stuck. I did chew the olives very very well. Chim- I am sorry about your tummy problems! I have not felt very full, so I can't relate. I can tell you that I went to the bathroom after my olives and that felt good. Sorry TMI. Jackie- I have been eating rock salt ( plain) believe it or not, I crave salt so much. My BP tends to be on the low side so I can never have enough salt. Mango- I have been adding Benefiber to my Crystal Light since pre-op and works wonders for me. Kathy- your kids sound delightful, and you are so obviouly proud of them, and in love with them. They are lucky to have you as a mom!

Dini, so exciting about the dress. You're doing so great, so keep it up. Hope Annarancesca is ok. I had some problems with Hunter yesteday. He's 3 and half and had his first bout of being "clogged up" and was crying yesteday. Had to get immediate help for him, so made a suppository(sorry if this is TMI)but anyway, 2 hours later, he was going. He's not one to ever cry in pain, so I knew he was hurting, we we're both crying in the bathroom. Marcy, I remember when I got my first tattoo, the guy told me the best think you could put on a tattoo is preperation H. He said is has the healing ingredient and an anti-inlammatory in it. So I went to get some at the store, with my ex at the time who was getting his tattoo the next day, and when we were up to the register I looked at my ex and said "Do you think we should get the bigger tube since you'll be getting yours tomorrow" The register clerk looked at me and her mouth dropped. I had to tell her what we were using it for, cause she was in shock thinking I could tell that my ex would need that for the next day!!! It was so funny. So being on liquids or 2 days again after my fill has done me good. I'm down 2 more lbs from Tuesday. Hope it stays off, but who knows. Back to mushys tonight and solids tomorrow,OMG!! I was suprised to get right back on the computer with no problems today. I guess the yahoo messenger was freezing my computer. Now I wonder if I should try to download it again, since before it was downloaded before the new Nortons Security. Maybe downloading after the security is in place will be better. Any ideas would helpful!!

Hi Janet; Try the microwave method instead. Cut in half, scoop out seeds & discard. Place squash cut side down in a dish or pie plate put in 1/4 cup water and cover with saran wrap... Cook on high for 8 mins. then check, add another 2-3 minutes until you get it stringy and just right. It solved my post surgical slow bowel problem (TMI) last night for me. I was dying after the anesthetic... o.k. now. I am Red, White & Blue on my belly.... does that make me an Honourary American??? LOL :puke:

What sad, sad stories. I am humbled by your strength and determination. Some of you guys have every reason to be angry and negative, but it seems that you have overcome that and have done wonderful things with your lives. I applaud you--not just for your lap band decisions, but for overcoming the demons of your childhoods and making the world a better place. Thank you for sharing such personal stories. My life's not so dramatic. Been dieting since I was 7. Used legal ampetamines in the '70s which was a wonderful way to lose weight and feel good. I went over 200 with my first pregnancy and stayed there afterwards. I did lose over 100 pounds and went through a severe depression 15 years ago, but gained all that back plus thanks to Prozac. My parents are both heavy people, and I have one sister who is bigger than me, but happily, she is in the process of getting a band too. While I was in denial about how fat I was, I do not see myself any differently today than I did 6 months ago. Last night I was surprised when I squeezed between other people's chairs in the resturant--there was plenty of room. The other wierd thing this week was how I noticed that the band that holds my name tag around my neck is longer and my name tag no longer bounces off my stomach when I walk. (Got to "wear it daily"). The point is that my instinct was that the band was longer--not that my stomach doesn't stick out in front of me as much. Warning, TMI: I'm still having a rough time. While I did have 0.3ml's of the 0.5ml fill removed, I still can't sleep if I eat anything after noon. Last night I had 1/2 cup of chicken noodle soup and a few, tiny bites of my husband's lasagna--mostly melted cheese and sauce--no pasta--at 5 pm. I was fine until I went to bed. Then I started refluxing again and that went on all night. It just happens--no golf ball pain, no feeling of having eaten too much--just a lot of slime and a little gastric juice--all night long. Thankfully it's Satruday. I'm going to just have liquids this morning and nothing after noon. Hopefully I can get some sleep tonight. Thank you again Lucky 7's and moderators for providing this fourm. I love you guys!

If you'll read some of my older posts, I was posting about a 2 1/2 inch abcess on my vulva (TMI, I know) that I had to have lanced. So far, my surgery pain has been less than the pain of having that abcess lanced. Don't get me wrong, I still hurt, but it isn't the type of piercing, unrelenting pain that the abcess was.