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Its your choice. I found that once I told people they were more supportive then I thought. But some people will never be supportive. I personally could care less what people think about my decision because it has been the best for me. But Im very lucky that my family is not critical of my choice. The ones who have never had a weight problem are interested on how it works and are learning that I had a food addiction. Its easier to compare to an alcoholic since we have a few in the family. But so far almost 2 years later no one even says anything except now they ask if it interferes with my pregnancy.

Hi For me the final straw came last fall, I went away for a month long training course, and even though I did my best to watch what I ate and I found a gym and was able to go a few times, I ended up regaining every pound and more that I had worked the last 2-3 years to lose. Since my mid twenties(prior to that I was slim) I have struggled with my weight. I have tried Nutri-system, weight watchers, tai slim, I have had 2 different personal trainers and in the end I only succeeded in yo yo ing with my weight. Each time it gets harder. In addition over the years I have developed high cholesterol, asthma, clinical depression, and arthritis in my hips and knees. Am I alone? No, my dad and my brother and sister share the same story, except my brother has also added a heart attack at age 38 with 2 stent placements since, non alcoholic fatty liver disease and severe sleep apnea. We went on vacation with them this summer and I was amazed at how little he could do. And do you know what? BOTH of us have exactly the same amount of weight to lose to reach a normal BMI. I am starting menopause and I know when I am finished with that I will lose the protection for my heart that my premenopausal estrogen has given me. I want to live a longer and better quality life.

I'm terrified as well, I'm going to try and stay away from alcohol, I know if I have one or two - I'll lose control of my calorie in take. I usually love Christmas but I'm starting to feel anxious about it.

I'm dating someone right now who's good with sharing ... I never thought it would be such an important "pro". New check list: employed, 2 or less baby mamas, clean criminal background check, good sharer. I thought the same thing with the gain, I don't think travel edema, the trip wasn't too much different than what I do most weeks. Not salt, overall the food in was not overly salted, actually the opposite. But alcohol is very possible. I've had very little alcohol in the last 6 months, and certainly not alcohol everyday, and certainly not beer. It wasn't all true gain either, as you can see, I had a pretty steep drop in weight once I returned

Awfully quiet in here .... So, I'll start with the good news ... yesterday was a good IF day, ate within a 6 hr window and hit protein and supplements, but not fluids. I even went grocery shopping while fasting and stayed strong. (I rarely grocery shop anymore, either quick TJ's run, or have them delivered) So for the bad ... I'm just going to throw this weekend out the window. Met a friend for lunch, I had Fried Dumplings, Noodles w Black Bean Sauce (Jajangmyeon), Fried Shrimp w Chili Sauce & Cheese Corn (yeah, really called that). I'm currently making Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers for a Fight Night/Mexican Independence Day party tonight. There will be a taco guy there that makes authentic El Pastor, on the spit. There will be lots of alcohol, unsure if I will have any. And then tomorrow I have brunch plans, and am craving a Michelada. So basically, this weekend is f'd Oh, and I went grocery shopping, again (ran out of bacon for the poppers), and was not so strong. Combo of interesting items and cheap prices are my downfall, thanks Aldi!

This is odd isn`t it? He blames a parent. Imagine that?! Jack blames Ozzy's wild antics for turning him into a drug addict - Nov 17, 2005 Jack Osbourne has blamed his dad Ozzy's wild antics for turning him into a drug addict. The 19-year-old says as a child he thought his rock star dad was "cool" for partying and losing control with alcohol and drugs. But the newly svelte star admits after following in his father's footsteps his wild lifestyle became too much - and he came close to committing suicide. http://www.myvillage.com/pages/celebs-jack-osbourne.htm?domain=myvillage Another odd one. Gee who made her famous ? Kelly: fame sucks - Feb 05 Kelly Osbourne blames fame and fortune for her drug addiction. The youngest daughter of the Osbourne dynasty has taken the time out to have another little whinge about how awful her life is. Kelly says that the fame and money that came to her as a result of her life on a reality show and her record deal led her to become addicted to opiates. "Growing up in the public eye sucks." The star complained "it's bad enough having your family judge you, never mind the whole world. So I tried to escape. But I didn't like cocaine or speed so opiates became my drug of choice." http://www.myvillage.com/pages/celebs-kelly-osbourne.htm?domain=myvillage

I'll answer - No, I don't think she should have legal consequences. Public opionion alone, should shame this woman. I brought up guns/alcohol as examples of "legal" abuses than can take place, such as in this case. I don't necessarily care for those - but since MANY on the Pro Life movement have brought Slavery / Science / Religion to name a few in the discussion; I'm not taking from the topic to address similarites - so long as I don't take this thread 3 pages to proove my comparison. It is just that. I find, Ms Flipflops your comment below uncaring for those who may have NOT chosen to have sex - rather sex was forced on them. Also those who DID choose birth control and it failed. "I'm Pro Choice too- I believe that women have the right to not put themselves in a position where they get pregnant and can't have the child. They can CHOOSE to have sex and have the possibility to conceive, or they can CHOOSE not to and remain 100% positive they won't have a child." What remains paramount to many that are Pro Choice is that a Woman be allowed to determine her outcome should a Unplanned pregnancy take place. I feel we've given this Woman from Yale enough coverage & she is WELL in the minority.

Bandiva dont use peroxide on incisions... only alcohol!! I have a ton of piercings that that is RULE #1!! Peroxide bubbles the dirt but then when done bubbling gets back into the deep incision taking the dirt in with it... USE alcohol. It drys instantly and keeps the dirt OUT. :-) I dont want you to get an infection :-)

Karen, girl , don't be digging! That will, without a doubt, lead to a hernia. I had a large hernia repaired during my second banding. Don't lift anything over 10 lbs. for six weeks after surgery. Believe me, hernias are no fun. Even incisions can become herniated. It is so hard to do everything exactly like we're told, but I am proof that things can go wrong for whatever reason. If you lose the band, the weight is doubly hard to keep off. In 6 mo's between losing the band and rebanding I regained 33 lbs. Let's all keep on track. I'm really fighting the urge to eat chocolate ding-dong cake/rum cake/cheesecake...I am surrounded by sweets at my house. My mother-in-law and Mom wanted me to have Christmas treats for company. Tomorrow I am freezing slices for the future when my stomach is shrunk enough not to devour the whole bakery! LOL I feel like an alcoholic in a liquor store. I could o-d on sugar if it weren't for you all helping me to stay on track. We all have our good and bad days. Sweethot, I was open banded and I am still sore! I take liquid Loritab at least once a day, usually close to bedtime because that is when I feel zapped and sore the most. It will take time to recoup, but don't get discouraged. Rest as much as possible; this is a really stressful time of year, so let your body heal, take whatever you need to relieve the pain, and walk at least 30 minutes each day to build up stamina. Dianne

Terri and Haydee~ For the margies... Get Margie Mix (near the alcohol in the store) it is cheap too. I like regular, but some may like strawberry (too sweet for me)... CHEAP WHITE tequilla (never drink gold...it is only sugar, w/ more calories...and a bad hangover) Tons of ice and tons of limes! That is it!

Congrats Traci Here are some pics from my Friday. Thankfully I have now recovered from what was my worst hangover ever. Funny how this damn band will make me puke up a cheeseburger but when I want to throw up excess amounts of alcohol it just leaves me with the dry heaves. There are more pics on my myspace. MySpace.com - Stacy~Australian for Beer - 28 - Female - Taylor, Michigan - www.myspace.com/mythbusterstacy

I had a hungry hungry heffer day yesterday. Gosh I felt like a bottomless pit!! I do feel pretty successful in navigating it though. Here's how I triumphed. I'm writing this down so that I remember it. (I did have a "slight" altercation with pita chips leftover from my birthday--but the up side is I managed to limit them to 9=1serving and combined them with a complex meal rather than just shoving them down my piehole slathered in butter or cheese--something guaranteed to make me hurl in 30 minutes or less.) 1. Managed to do an 18 hour fast yesterday. 2. Made great food choice for lunch. 3. Made an almost great food choice for dinner rather than eating a chili cheese coney with fries at the ballpark like I was craving--and which would have made me hurl in 30 minutes or less. 4. Limited my allotted popcorn at the park from 4 cups for the game to about 2 to maybe 2 1/2 cups (I guestimated on the high side at 3 cups). 5. No alcohol despite wanting a beer or a glass of wine. 6. Exceeded my fluid goals for the day mostly from water, green tea, black decaff coffee. 7. Exceeded my walking for the day with 12000+ steps + did upper body free hand weights and actually jogged for 2, 1 minute intervals. 8. Did not stop for fast food nonsense or a drink after the game like I was craving. 9. Did not eat a heavy meal cooked at home late night like I was craving. 10. Appeased myself with 2oz of PP in decaff as a "dessert/sleep aide" even though it was 11pm--that's better than a low carb breakfast taco with bacon egg and cheese!! Totals for the Day: 865 cals; 63g protein; 46g fat; 60g carbs; 11g fiber; 49g net carbs; 14g sugars Despite doing all those things I did wake up to a 2.2lb up-tick on the scale this morning. I'm sure it was cuz I had 60g of total carbs and about 49g net carbs for the day. My pattern is that I go down, hit a new low, then bounce around above that number before again stepping down to a new low. So it's a jagged, spiky stairstep in a downward progression. So I won't sweat it. I also know I have bad lymphedema in my left arm as of last night, and that may account for both pounds. So I will chill out about the scale and just live another dream day today. I'm only gonna do a 12/12 today and actually enjoy a brunch (homemade). I'll keep carbs lo-low and really munch the protein and see if that gets my hunger back in submission! Hope everyone is having a great weekend so far!!! Hugs all around!!

I will certainly try that...it's so hard for me at times. During the evenings I crave carbs so badly I just feel like the craving takes over me... I hope I can break this cycle the 2nd time around with the balloon. I wish I could get the 2nd balloon tomorrow but the doc says I have to wait a good amount of time so that it'll shock my stomach again. Hence why we're waiting until July... I just hate this battle. For some people it's gambling, alcohol, drugs, coffee, for me it's effing food... I hate this. One great thing was I stopped smoking completely from others, I was only socially smoking but I will not do it ever again, I have absolutely no desire.

I was also allowed coffee as soon as I was ready to tolerate it. That was true of almost everything I eat and drink. When I was ready, I was ready. When I read others who say their surgical team says no caffeine for six months or no alcohol ever or something, I always want to ask their surgical team to justify why. If they can't, then I wouldn't put much faith in it. Good luck.

I will start out by saying that never have and never will be pro choice. I am very pro life, and I dont understand why on earth ANYONE could kill their child under any circumstances. HOWEVER!! DONT WRITE ME OFF YET! I do support my friends in whatever they do (unless its like drugs or something much more detremental). I so happen to have had a roomie one time that I met through her going through an abortion...I do not believe it is morally right, however it wasnt my decision for her to have it, it was HERS and she did what SHE felt was right and what her heart led her to do. I understand WHY she did what she did, however, in some ways I dont. Now let me tell you my story...Im 20 years old, Im 13 weeks pregnant, the father is a pathological schizophrenic symptom exhibiting alcoholic drug-addicted Jr. High Drop OUT LOSER! He all but forced me to get pregnant through his mental control over me. Im all alone now, he's gone, he found a girl that will let him do his drugs and drink his alcohol and wont make him keep a steady job and believes his lies, so he chose her instead of me and the baby. Needless to say, he's really screwed up in the head. But I am SOOOO happy and excited about having this baby! I cant wait to find out what it will be! Ive been excited from the beginning, and abortion NEVER crossed my mind as an option what-so-ever...that is until I called my ex-roomie, and she proceeds to tell me exactly how to "get rid of it" and how much it costs....she automatically assumed that just because I supported her decision and was there for her through her "thing" that I would choose the same option. Honestly, that was one of the hardest things Ive ever put up with in a sense, because she actually had a sonogram pic of the baby inside her, and she showed it to me after she had had the abortion, I almost cried, but I just remained silent for a few mins, I just couldnt get my mind of off the fact that she KILLED her child because it wasnt convenient for her to have one right now....Well then she shouldnt have had unprotected sex...same with me...I could have prevented getting pregnant had I really made the effort, its not entirely HIS fault, he just is a lot of it. Let me also add in that I have been raped, and it was only about 5 months ago...Even as I went to get the pregnancy test/STD test at the clinic...I never thought of abortion. Its not that precious little life's fault that it was created when it wasnt the best of times for us. I would live my life in total regret if I had aborted my current pregnancy, every year I would have wondered what the child would have looked like...would it have my blond hair, its father's green/blue eyes, my fair skin? I just couldnt live like that, knowing I threw away another life just so I could live or more commonly live more comfortably. Me I Mind you, that although this is not an option in my book ever, I do understand why some women do choose this option, and Im not a biggot over-conservative about it. Im not going to yell and scream and pout when someone gets an abortion...but it does make me sad when I find out someone that I know has....HOWEVER its THEIR decision, NOT mine...and like I tell all my friends "YOU do what YOU gotta do, to have whats best for YOU". I just saw this thread and thought I would add to it:p

On the subject of the artificial sweeteners debate, I pulled this from americanpregnancy.org, the only government run, FDA approved pregnancy website in the USA. For informational purposes. On the definitions page of this same website, moderate use it described as 1-3 times weekly average use, or less than once daily on medications. Fairy, I'd think about the 4x weekly Sweet n Low use. It's my favorite sweetener too, but I've resorted to using reg sugar or 2 Splendas in it's place until baby is out. Read on: Aspartame: (Equal or NutraSweet) Aspartame is not effective in heat nor for long periods in liquid form. It is often found as an additive to soft drinks, gelatin, desserts, pudding mixes, breakfast cereals, beverages, chewing gum, dairy products, and other foods and drugs. According to the Food and Drug Administration(FDA), Aspartame is safe for use during pregnancy and lactation. It is recommended to limit consumption to a moderate level. Aspartame should not be used by anyone with PKU (a rare metabolic disorder), rare liver disease, or by pregnant women who have high levels of phenylalanine in their blood. Phenylalanine is a component of aspartame, and it may not metabolize correctly in anyone who has these conditions. Sucralose: (Splenda) This is non-caloric sweetener that is made from sugar. Sucralose has been approved for use in baked goods, baking mixes, non-alcoholic beverages, chewing gum, coffee and tea products, confections and frostings, fats and oils, frozen dairy desserts and mixes, fruit juices, sugar substitutes, sweet sauces, toppings and syrups. It can also be used as “table-top sweetener.” Sucralose has no effect on blood sugar, offers no calories, and is deemed safe during pregnancy and lactation. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), sucralose is safe for everyone to consume, including pregnant women. What artificial sweeteners are questionable or NOT safe to use during pregnancy? Saccharin: (Sweet 'N Low) Although it is not used as much today as in the past, it still appears in many foods, beverages and other substances. The FDA does consider saccharin to be safe to use for the general public. Former studies that had linked saccharin to an increased risk of developing bladder cancer have been dismissed by the National Toxicology program. But studies do show that saccharin crosses the placenta and may remain in fetal tissue, so its use for pregnant women still remains in question. . What artificial sweeteners are questionable or NOT safe to use during pregnancy? Saccharin: (Sweet 'N Low) Although it is not used as much today as in the past, it still appears in many foods, beverages and other substances. The FDA does consider saccharin to be safe to use for the general public. Former studies that had linked saccharin to an increased risk of developing bladder cancer have been dismissed by the National Toxicology program. But studies do show that saccharin crosses the placenta and may remain in fetal tissue, so its use for pregnant women still remains in question.

Hi. My name is Laura. I had my surgery march 25. So far things are going well. I am feeling good with not much pain. So far including insurance mandated dieting I have lost 21 pounds. I have about 98 more to go. The worst thing is that I seem to be a little bit hungery all the time. I'm sure it didn't help that yesterday I was at a conference with lots of food but I was content with my shake for lunch. The waitress even offered to puree something for me. I have 2 small children 4 years and 18 months who I still have to prepare food for. My husband is very proud of my will power. He is a recovering alcoholic so He can relate to how Hard it can be. For me this lifestyle change is a step in the right direction for my whole family. I would never want my girls to be heavy and I can see my oldest adopting some of my old eating habits. I look forward to meeting people here and hope my experience remains posituve

I think maybe you and I have similar triggers. Dayum, I wouldn't wish that on anyone! haha! It really sounds like you're at burnout phase. ((hugs)) I think you should try doing your moderate approach to IF like 14-16hour fasts, then eat regularly, following your surgeon's rules: protein first, low glycemic veg and fat, plus carbs at the end if you still have room or want them and see how it goes. Quit ordering off the appetizer menu, quit ordering chicken if that's not what you want...And keep your cals in the 800-1000 range-ish. No beer or alcohol. *sniff* Cuz you know, misreh loves company! And keep track of it here! I think that's the cool thing about this thread is that we are kind of n=? how many are doing IF from this thread and we should all post our experiences so others might learn or have a light bulb moment. You know? I def think your weight gain is beer related and if you go clean for the next 3-4 days you will be down those 4 and who knows, maybe another one as well? UGGGGGH on the late night food runs! I swear I thought about you as we were sitting in Taco Bell last night. LOL.

The government would never ban cigarettes or alcohol (they tried the latter) but I would be supportive of a very high ($10/pack) cigarette tax to make it economically prohibitive. That money could be used to help fund many things. And people who quit would be healthier. That's a win/win. But the big tobacco lobbyists would never stand for it. People should be required to buy healthcare insurance because those who choose not to buy it (but can afford it) are costing those of us who have insurance higher premiums to pay for their healthcare. For those who can't afford insurance, there will be help to pay for it.

Mwhahaha ok. Well it started Saturday.. a co-worker who use to paint (fancy painting) restaurants & houses for a living, offered a trade. She'll paint our house if DH fixed her internet and set up her wireless. They are in Decatur, a city about 20 minutes from here. So we're doing it, it takes a while and DH had to take her computer home. Ends up, her teen daughter got a lot of virus & spyware on it from downloading crap. So it made me feel better, I'm making her paint the living room, entry, halls, etc. majority of the house.. so now I know DH actually had to do some work for her. Anyway, on our way back, she told me to buy our paint and she'll bring the brushes. We pass a Home Depot in Decatur and I tell DH to stop, he throws a fit saying he wants to go home, but we were THERE so I made him do it. We go to park and a woman comes flying out of her spot in an SUV and gouges & scrapes all down the side of his card. Then she didn't know what to do, so she's going the opposite direction, scraping it even more. We were fine because she ended up with her front bumper going up the side of our car, so it didn't do anything to us. Anywho.. then that night, co-workers invited me out. Customer in town. We had gone to lunch earlier with DH, and someone mentioned how one of their husbands will NOT come pick them up if they get drunk. He says "You took her out and got her drunk, you bring her back". DH was saying he would pick me up (duh, I'd kill em if he didn't!). So I said I needed him to pick me up later. He said in Madison, right? NOT Huntsville? I was like yea, we have a designated driver that is bringing us back to Madison, then you just pick me up there. So we go out, the designated driver(DD) is a recovering? alcoholic, but he has been the DD lately for everyone apparently. We started off at a mexican restaurant that was happenin'! We had margies, and some shots. DD had tea. Yay. Then we go to the bar. Oy. I got trashed. One of the managers (I only have 1 boss here- the owner!) got trashed and confrontational. She's unhappy in her marriage, and she doesn't like me cause I don't kiss her ass like the other girls here (she's their boss). So long story short, she called me out on stuff she doesn't like that I do here, and how I should live my life, when I should have kids, and how they mess up careers, etc. etc. I was really uncomfortable talking about this with her.. then we ran into a former vender at the bar and she confronted her, insinuating the only reason she was talking to our DD is that she thought they'd get more business. Oy oy. THEN.. DD sneaks off, and in a matter of 30m becomes plastered.. more than ANY of us who had been drinking all night. He is falling down drunk, so we take his keys.. and he passes out in the flowerbed. I call DH at 4am to come pick us up Bless him, he didn't get mad, didn't say one mean thing. Just asked how to get there.. first he had to take my small car, to go pick up his bigger car at the original spot he was suppose to pick me up, then drive into downtown Huntsville.. to pick up 4 drunk folks. He gets there, and the DD is so trashed he is PUKING all over the place. We had to cram into DH's car, stop every mile for DD to puke, meanwhile he got mulch from the flowerbed ALL OVER the car. I swear. It was crazy. But one thing I wanted to accomplish, and fully informed DH about, is with 100lb gone, I wanted to get hit on. I was there with my size 1 co-workers who always look so sexy.. I wanted ME to get picked up mwhaha. And I did accomplish this. Some guy bought me a drink and sent his friend over to talk to me, then he finally came over, was tellin me he owns an ambulance company in MS and he's there for a shriner convention or something. I had my driver's license in my cigarette pack, and I saw him looking at it, so I flipped it over LOL. He asked for my phone # and I dodged it pretty easily, by talking about other random stuff. It felt good. When DH dropped everyone else off, I kept apologizing and saying please don't be mad.. and he didn't. And I told him about the guy, and I was like "HE WANTED YOUR WOMAN!" and he just grinned. Next morning he woke me up with "Hey baby how are you feeling?" so he really didn't get mad that I drug him out of bed in the middle of the night to deal with drunk folks. He earned some brownie points Next morning though, right after we woke up (10am) his mom calls. She is 10 minutes from our house. WHAT! Our house is a mess, since it's getting painted, I have all kinds of stuff out of order, things all over the floor.. and our guest bathroom is unusable due to the litterbox.. and the master bath, I had lingerie, my dirty underwear all over the floor, piles of dishes in the sink, etc. His mom goes to use our bathroom and I was just mortified. I made a comment when she came out "I wish I knew you were coming, I would have cleaned!!" and she goes 'I told Russell I would be coming today'. WAY TO TELL ME!!! :smile2: He forgot.. So then I busted my ass cleaning the house like I haven't cleaned it before, with them there.. so she didn't think I was a total slob. I think that's enough stories for my weekend. I took Before pics of my living room to show ya'll how nice it's gonna be after she paints! It's a dark purple color. Our big entertainment center is delivered tomorrow. I also bought faux wood venetian blinds for the entire house, our little metal ones are ripped up all over the place from the animals. So excited!!

Nope, I'm in our land's great (but small) capital. I wouldn't know the heat you've experienced down here Fanny. My 2 cents - I think what the Government is doing in the aboriginal communities is appalling. Throwing money at them and calling it an "intervention" isnt going to solve the drug and alcohol abuse and the sexual abuse that is rife and condoned. They need to get in there are educate the youth and provide training and job opportunities to stop the repetition of these horrible things. And they need to give the land back to its traditional owners, especially in NT. Theres nothing to be done with all that desert anyway, just give it back darnit! Anyway thats my rant for the day

I will bring some alcohol just for emergencies and for the river if anyone is up for it on a Saturday morning! I'll bring vodka, tequila and a bit of coconut rum that TracyM requested; margarita mix, cranberry juice and tropical punch crystal light. Wherever we go, there's a bar within 50 yards, so i don't think anyone will have to suffer with the shakes for too long. You're not a poop!! To each his own! :biggrin:

I love mojitos - I sometimes cheat and go 1/2 and 1/2 with seltzer and a diet lemon lime soda. I am actually allergic to several alcohols (no vodka or schnapps for me) and for this reason I think my body has always had a natural aversion to alcohol in general - I genuinely don't like the taste and have had to work very hard to be able to drink (how messed up is that) I basically only drink sweeter drinks where you don't taste the alcohol as much.

Where do I begin? I know, WAY2GO Juli! Great job on the A! So I just relived my youth. I have some great Lighthouse pics for you guys when I get back. I found a note this morning it was apparently written by my liver late last night. It wants to know what it did to piss me off and cause me to punish it with so much alcohol! Can you say modified Japanese mach 3 hangover? J,BG, be jealous of my ability to eat a turkey burger in 3 bites no more, Iam getting a right proper fill tomorrow morning in St. Petersburg. Will update l8ter. Difficult to type on this phone. JC

Yes...I stay constantly lathered up. Literally. You called me? Beth, that's still technically illegal here in Texas! Ah, but that's a big "if"...I remember the first time the nurses showed me the "shaving cream trick" of bathing a pt. Good times. Nothing like that. You just said something about visiting PG for a week for an old-fashioned revival. I found out quite by accident (when taking organic chemistry) that the old wives tale about oxygen curing / preventing a hangover is true. Turns out the chemical process the liver uses to break down alcohol is oxygen dependant. Increase the O2, increase the efficiency of the detox. Netflix rocks!! I can / will kick all y'all beyotches ass' See above Good luck! Absolutely false. My wig is pink. Too late! I heard that! I can help you with that. My hands are certified as "manual mammographers" Heh heh heh heh..... Beth, please quit posting my personal pictures without my permission. Both her accounts have been banned, I believe. On a unrelated note, my new favorite drink is a "firefly". Gotta beware of them, though.....