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Janet, I still can't beleive that the 'before' pic was you. You looked good then, but 'wow' your 'after' is know down gorgeous. Your short story is perfect, there is a spelling error in the 3rd to last paragraph where you say 'bad' instead of 'band. But you said eveything perfectly. So you have a 'slip' with the cheeto puffs, Toss the rest of the bag and drink lots of fluids this weekend to get rid of the extra salt. With that much salt, naturally you are going to show a significant weight gain. But is will ge Water weight nor 'fat weight'. Hugs on the furry issue. Miss Molly wakes me up on a regular basis. Needless to say, I am tired this morning, typing with my eyes closed. Well Janet, enjoy your workout. I'll think of you trapped at the gym. TTFN

This is worth posting here... Here are some snippets from recent posts on the Too Much On Her Plate blog. Click the links to read more! There will be a place to share your comments, thoughts and ideas at the end of each post. 1. Podcast: Why Smart Women Struggle with Weight Loss Last week, my friend Scott Tousignant invited me to record a podcast for his blog. The topic was Why Smart Women Struggle with Weight Loss. We covered a lot of important material, including emotional eating, tips for helping busy women trying to manage their weight while juggling everyone else’s needs, and the mindsets that can sabotage weight loss attempts. If you have 20 minutes, I strongly recommend you take a listen. 2. What Could You Do in 100 Days? I received an email this morning alerting me to the fact that there are exactly 100 days left until the end of the year. What a great time to assess where we are with our health, our personal and professional goals, and to ask how we want to spend the final 100 days of 2009. Are there changes you would like to see with your eating, your weight, or your fitness? Would you like to readjust your life balance? How would you like to spend the next 100 days of your life? For many, the holidays—and all that comes with them—will be here before we know it. (Stay tuned, you’ll be hearing more from me about this.) What would you like to do differently this holiday season? 3. The Great Plate Experiment: Week 1 Week one of the plate downsizing experiment is officially over. We’ve moved the old tired chipped dishes out of our kitchen and are now eating off pristine, white 10-inch plates (9.75-inches actually), just like Brian Wansink recommends. As you may recall, the author of Mindless Eating and his team have done research on plate size and food intake and found that simply reducing your plate size from 12-inches to 10-inches could result in an 18 pound weight loss for the average American. I promised I’d report back in and I’m here to tell you that the results so far are promising. 4. Do You Have Time to Stop Overeating? Do you have the time to stop overeating? To take control of emotional eating? To get on track with your healthy lifestyle goals? Lately I’ve been encountering many women who tell me they don’t. I’ve been hearing from women who are incredibly frustrated with their eating habits, their weight gain, their lack of progress on important health goals. I’ve talked to women who fear their family history of diabetes or heart disease. I’ve talked to women who’ve even had weight loss surgery and are terrified because they are seeing the weight they’ve lost start to creep back. I’ve also talked with too many women who have put some aspect of their life “on hold” until they can start losing weight. Their struggles with food and emotional eating or overeating are something they think about every day. 5. Free Teleseminar: One Minute Plan for Dealing With Challenges How many times have you set a goal or started down a path towards change only to fall off track because life got too hectic, you got busy, and your plan fell off the radar?How often do you feel so busy that you aren’t even sure HOW to slow down? Do you sometimes feel you don’t even have time to think let alone create a plan for success? Slowing down is hard. Stopping and listening to yourself is hard. Being mindful of where you want to go is hard. What if I told you that there is a one minute plan that could start to make these things easier? I’m thrilled to be interviewing Stacey Mayo, The Dream Queen, and the creator of The One Minute Meditation™. on Thursday, September 17 (that's tomorrow!) Our Topic: The One Minute Plan for Dealing with Overwhelm, Stress and other Life and Business Challenges 6. Business Travel and Healthy Eating October will be a travel-rich month for me and I’ve been busy this morning firming up some travel plans. Booking an airline ticket is high on my list of “not fun” activities, as is the actual airline travel. Travel days seem to get longer and longer–and then there’s the food. Maybe it’s boredom, the stress of flying, or just being out of my routine, but I get hungry the minute I get on a plane. Without pre-planning, I’m likely to be stuck with unsatisfying junk food (or nothing at all). Does traveling tend to knock your healthy eating plans for a loop? 7. How to Make Time for Fitness “How do I create a fitness program that will last—when I’m time crunched, stressed, and overwhelmed?” This is a question I’m asked all the time: “How can I fit it all in? I know I should exercise regularly but I just don’t have the time/motivation/resources/energy to do it.” Consistent exercise is a big challenge for many women. Whether you are a busy professional, a solopreneur working from home, or you are home juggling the needs of small children, consistent exercise can be a difficult habit to start AND a challenge to maintain. 8. Is Night Eating Sabotaging Your Weight Loss? The after-dinner hours are a prime time for overeating, emotional eating, boredom eating, and eating out of tiredness. Not only do the calories add up, preliminary research may support the theory that our bodies actually put on more weight from calories eaten at night. 9. Personal Health Care Reform It’s mid- September. If you’ve been telling yourself all summer that you’re “waiting ‘til September” to take better care of yourself . . . you’ve just run out of excuses. 10. Tooting Our Own Horns I see it over and over again, and okay–I live it too. We may be smart, we may be strong, we may be very good (or think we are) at doing a million things at once, but most of us aren’t very good at giving ourselves credit (dare I say, indulging ourselves in our just desserts?).

Phyl, remember they have been pumping you full of fluids. Naturally you are going to have a weight gain. Right now it is about healing!!

Hi, Well... taxes are done and we don't have to pay too much. Well, Earl thinks so, but I'm happy with the bottom line! That is a big load off my mind! Used H & R Block software and it really wasn't that hard. Went to neighbor's today (Judy) and she walked me through 2 more hearts.... one from scratch, the other, the gold one I made 2 weeks ago and then had to take 40% of it apart because I found a broken bead down in the center.. I think I can do one on my own now. Swavarski crystals are expensive and it takes 74 of them to make a heart, but, they are so pretty. Want to make one for each sister and my Mom and two daughters and daughter-in-law. Don't know if the granddaughters would really appreciate it. But, I went over there about 11:30 a.m. and by 12:45 I had one done! Next one is going to be an iridescent capri blue! Linda.... wasn't concerned about the beads, just need my "stackers" back. I think I'm going to put in an order to FireMountain for some more beads. But I really need to get at the rests of my unfinished projects, too!! iPad and new laptop were purchased with some of my insurance money from the accident. Will save the rest for our next vacation. Haven't yet played with the new laptop. And maybe not tonight because we're going to a performance at the clubhouse tonight. http://www.freddiepelletier.com/index.html We've heard them before but not for a few years. Very talented, and funny! I think we're going early for ice cream! Not a good idea! I had a big weight gain at TOPS yesterday. Back on track w/exercise and food. But they usually have skinny cows or low cal option. One week from today we will be in Cabo! Leave next Friday morning at 7a.m.

Congrats, Kiddo!! Enjoy!! Yep, I sure remember John!! So much enjoyed the music, and he is a pretty interesting guy! AND, he doesn't like Obama!!! LOL!! Earl's antics are never-ending!! Told the neighbor, Jim, it was all his fault because he started this cement thing!! I watched World News TWICE!! I LOVE Charlie Gibson!! Especially when he says, "I HOPE you had a GOOD day!!" I told Earl he was going to cry at the end, and so when Charlie got all choked up, so did Earl!! I will really miss him! And I will hate not hearing him say, "I HOPE you had a GOOD day!!" Who will say that to me now????? Oh, Gosh... I think I had too much wine again!! Earl forgot to tell me the neighbors invited us for a party. So after the Christmas potluck, we went to the neighbors' for a patio party!! I walked home from the clubhouse, BTW, to walk off some of what I ate!! So they were surprised to see me arrive on foot and Earl on the scooter!!! :smile2::biggrin: Our cinnamon roll was only about half the size of a cinnabon, so hopefully half the calories, too. Didn't even really enjoy it!! Now the Lady Godiva truffle, that's another story!! LOL! Crap! I can't get started on sweets again! This has got to stop! The cinnamon roll was NOT worth it, but as I said, the truffle is another story!! And tonight was a bust! Too much food... I had some ham, some scalloped potatoes, green bean casserole, corn casserole, and a small piece of... oh, I HATE to say it, carrot cake. After my resolve to stay away from the dessert table.... carrot cake!! Crap! It wasn't worth it either. We decided that we will SKIP the chapel potluck on Sunday. Potlucks are the devil's work! I will have to walk, walk, walk this weekend! I cannot give in to any more temptations! I am WEAK!! Oh, but I gotta tell you a couple of things... if I can remember them. These are NSVs, since I've been bad this week and had a weight gain.. have to focus on positive things and resolve to do better so I can look forward to more of these! First, I discovered that I can put my socks on by putting my foot up on my opposite knee. HAH!! So what, you say!?? Do you know how long it's been since I could do that??? A LONG time! So that's been several weeks now. So, I'm sitting at book club the other day and I had this sudden urge to cross my legs! I had this voice in one ear saying, "You can't do that!!" and in the other ear.... "Oh, yes, you can!! Remember the socks????" The rest is history... I sat there for the rest of the meeting with my legs crossed! HAH!! Another victory! Janet, hope you can come and hang out with us Sunday. Program starts at 6pm, but I have to be there at 5 pm... but you can come over whenever. We will just be chillin' all afternoon. Not sure what we'll do about dinner. Before 5pm is too early... might have to eat "dinner" after church and keep it light in the afternoon. We'll figure it out.

Hello my beautiful ladies! Today is my 9/80 day off, and so far I have spent it walking, cleaning, running my boys all over town, and EATING . . I mean bad! Good food and all - except for the 2 tbs. of commercial blue cheese dressing I had at Round Table - I am just eating SO MUCH!! 990 calories already today, and it's not even dinnertime yet! Yikes! I do have some restriction, but in the mornings only . . . I can eat like 1/4 cup of lentils and start in on 1/2 cup eggbeaters, but can't finish it cause I'm full. That lasts about 3 hours - then I am starving by 11, and no restriction at all by then. None for the rest of the day, unless I happen to take a nap then I am tight when I wake up again. AND I gained another lb. back! I was down 8 lbs. since the fill, now I am down only 4 and gaining! I think I need another .5 so I will email Dr. Baggs this week unless I can make this 4 lbs. go away again. Tina after I posted that about the 3 lb. liver, I did some research online and found out that for every oz. of glycogen (emergency sugar stored in the liver) in the liver, the body has to store 2 to 3 oz. of water! So a 3 lb. liver could mean a 6 to 9 lb. water-weight gain. Apparently, that is the weight that you will lose on the first week of atkins or south beach low-carb diets. Maybe I should go on south beach again for a week . . but that would be falling back on the "old" diet behaviors, so I am more inclined to just stop competing with all of my RNY friends, and say "well my body is taking a break right now, it lost weight too fast and now it is going to rest before I start again." I don't know . . head hunger is bad right now . . if I was irritable I would assume it was time for Aunt Flo to visit, but I don't feel moody, just hungry and all the other parts of hormonal

Riley I am really close to stess leave. I am on a waiting list to see a psychiatrist though!! 2 months so it won't happened real soon. Seriously I might not have insurance by than.......but I could easily get stress leave at this point. We have two people in our office out..........seriously someone died this week in our office.....she got laid off Friday and dead monday morning..........she was stressing big time.........they don't know what caused it but stress didn't help......another lady out with a stroke. She ended up in the hospital two hours after her pink slip..........of course all overweight and health issues before........I am glad I at least have some weight off me and I am feeling better physically..........I don't want to end up on stress leave if I can help it!! Maybe whe the dust settles if I am still so stressed out........... I made sure I got the Celexa today. Asked Dr. Baggs he said he couldn't do it. But I chased my PCP down and diagnosed myself!! LOL. I know what I needed to say to get it done today. I wanted Paxil but ok I am gonna try this other one cause it is suppose to NOT cause weight gain which is always my concern. Effexor did nothing but bloat me up so I stopped................50 is six months ah no thank you!! I know the kids are not my responsiblity. But if one dies I get fired immediately. And I can be sued. We were told to get liability insurance this week cause things are gonna get crazy and the county can't defend/protect us against personal lawsuits......everyone is gearing up for the worst. I started the Celexa tonight. Still on the BP meds too. I have been having heart pain all week and still the light headedness. I was home from work yesterday. I think the fainting has alot to do with all the ups and downs at work and the frantic pace we are trying to keep.............not getting enough sleep and my house is a daiaster right now!! Letting that go...... Found out today the job I applied for is in my mom's unit so I can't get hired. I have to wait until another position comes up. My mom and I can't work for the same supervisor.............but hopefully something opens up in November in a different unit.......... I have a three day weekend and I need it!!! Than training next week Mon-Wed and than Thrusday a group fill. So tomorrow and next Friday are my last days at my current office. Suppose to get my reassignement letter on Friday than my forlough letter on the 25th. We are going to forloughs two days a week starting November 8.............. Going to bed. I am not on as much cause I am to tired but once I get my second wind or the Celexa kicks in.........:-) I will be back online more!!

Chris - I so love the name "Dexter"! Can't wait to hear bout the ultrasound and AMAZED at the 5lb weight gain - Seriously, I can do that in a blink of an eye! Heather... I so hear you on the snacking. I had a handful of peanuts last night - grrr! It's Hawaii time already - how exciting! Riley - I wish I could jog a mile - I still can't get past week 3 of my C25K! Oh, and, yes - it is the little things - I way past due for all that stuff too. Really want to find a cute, short haircut - little discouragement from the hubby on that note though. Pat - I LOVE sweet potatoes - I like to Microwave em with a little butter and sprinkle them with cinnamon. YUMMO! Sweet T - have fun in LA - are you driving or flying? Ok, Maria - I need to know what ZUMBA is LOL. Jewel - you have a frap today???

Reporting no weight loss or weight gain! GRRR! I don't think I watched my calories good enough this last week. If I don't watch it VERY closely, I don't lose. I guess I better go back to logging my food. Miriam: one pound loss is much better than my NO pound loss! How's the exercising going?

Tell your houndstooth flats (which are very cute) not to be scared there are flats & low heels in my collection @Sophie7713. When I put on my weight, my feet ached so much I couldn’t even look at my heels. Also I started a new job where I had to go to the post office in the shopping centre next door every day. The travelators and slippery stone floor were death to heels - terrible, terrible slip hazards. So goodbye to the 4+ inch heels I always used to wear to work. So lovely to be able to wear them again. Just stride on out. I went from 38-38.5 to being 38.5-39 with the weight gain. I’m back to being 38-38.5. 🎉 As to what I’ll wear the new shoes with ... I don’t know. I bought them because I loved them but they’ll work well with all the black in my wardrobe. 😜 Those toe shoes are fabulous @summerset but I don’t think I could do the individual toes. Can’t do toe socks or thongs (not distressed about the thongs) - irritates between my toes.

Morning all............ MO: Be care and watch it. As long as your getting Water down and not PB'ing to much you should be ok. If you do PB know your stomach swells and you end up tighter than before. Vicious cycle. I usually go on liquids the rest of the day if I PB. For me the first day after a fill is fine but I get tighter each day after until about the third day when I start to stablize. YOU DON'T WANT TO BE TO TIGHT!! That is why I went back and got some out last time. I was to close to being to tight and I don't do to tight at all now!! Forget losing fast and loosening it up......doesn't happen that fast. Last time I PB'd like 4 times in one day and I went back and got some out..........My body is weird I have sorta accepted that I am gonna stay at 5cc's. LOL. If I eat protien I have awesome restriction right now. But sliders you wouldn't know I had a band!! LOL. So it is in my hands!! I am back to drinking 120 ounces of liquids but it takes me all day. Just remember that if you do feel to tight they take out way less if you back right away than if you wait and swell your stomach. Dr. Baggs only took out .25 or so last time. Just enough to give me some breathing room! Please be careful!! TAMRA: Yea I hear ya on the weight gain. I did that too but the thing is with me I rarely go up more than a couple pounds and than I stabilize. So your probably good. IF you stay on liquids to long you start to get dizzy anyway at least I do. I would love to see your new picture post as your avatar!! Next time you see Baggs you should give him a pack of gum and tell him your giving it up!! LOL. That time Liz got upset with that patient she made them clean out their purse and give her all their gum!! I was floored it was so uncomfortable to watch Dr. Baggs has a different approach he uses humor to make his point which works better for me!! I am stuck at 212!! I so want to be 199.........working really hard on that. My goal is August 31, 2010. I am doing the protiens and staying stable which is better than gaining. I am going between 212 and 214 something has to give soon. I usually lose 5 at a time quickly than stuck for awhile than another five. So I know my 5 has to be coming soon. PAM: I agree on stuff coming out with weight loss. I am working big time on anxiety now. I didn't realize I had it so bad until I ended up in ER and they said it was a panic attack(or possibly undiagnosed asthma made worse by panic).......now that I am really thinking about it I know I have to go back to counseling and I think the anxiety is keeping me from losing as fast as I want to.............I am so there with you on working on my head hunger and whats behind it. I NEVER want to go to ER again.............had enough of it the last year!!

Nicole, I hope you had a wonderful time. Jes, Candra, Donna and myself were glad to pull this together. It was great to have Heather over and meet new people. We had a lot of fun I a still trying to recuperate. I had to make another cake for a huge party on Saturday. All is well here. Jes the shrimp was off the chain! I can eat that all day and so can Teiko! Thanks for all the help you guys! So I got a fill after all the weight that I gained after Dr.Park read me the riot act as I danced around the reason for the weight gain. I have tried to be good. I have still maintained the 9lbs loss since my fill. Candra, I think I will name my band Rocky because it is kicking my a..... When I eat the stuff that I a not supposed to it gets stuck, so yes it is working and I am going to make it work hard. I want to be at at least 245 by May my bandiversary. I wish i would be at goal but it is not mathematically feasible. Hope everyone is doing well! Good night

Hola everyone! just getting back from vacation. I had a great time hanging out at the beach, eating and yes drinking. Best part was that we exercised everyday, swimming, bike rides, lots of walking, even went to the hotel gym. So all in all no weight gain. REady to buckle down now though....I'm a ways away from my next fill goal still. I was thinking maybe I should call and get on the calendar. Maybe that will kick me into gear. I still need to go back a read the last few pages but congrats Ash! Annalyn yes your getting close. Miss you guys....

oh don't know if you all noticed but I moved my ticker back up since my weight gain. ugh... but I'm down 2 lbs since last week. I'll wait another day to update it tho.

Ah nicole you watched the show too!! I thought it was interesting. .......I think they will play it again. I saw the last half of it last night and was happy they were playing it again so I could see the first half. Crazy how they did the fill........sorta scared me I would rather lay down for it!! LOL. Constant changes..........oh that is a problem with me too. I get so bored so quick. Than I create a situation that forces changes..........I think some people call that being a drama queen or a flighty...........for me I get bored and want constant change all the time. Again boredom does me in I do crazy things when I am bored. I know that. I don't think it is an addiction as much as a pattern of behavior. For me when things get to calm or to quiet I have to really think and examine my life.........good and bad..........sometimes if there is alot of changes and drama and takes away from me having to focus on myself and my own feelings............so for me I use constant changes as a way to distract from feelings..........usually painful or yucky feelings I don't want to deal with........but remember I eat alot when I am bored to........it all goes together for me!! I also have ADD and am suppose to be on medication. The meds made me gain 40 pounds and made me sleep all the time!! So I won't take them again but I do have to do some behavior mod type stuff instead..............the psych eval at Kaiser asked me about this too...........I guess ADD people can't follow a diet well but I have done fine. I just don't want meds and weight gain anymore. Kaiser's regular counseling is through psychaitry. The name is deceptive but it all the same thing. YOu don't see a psychatrist unless the therapist or social worker sends you see one. I did counseling through kaiser and you go to the psychaitry department but only see a therapist. It is totally worth the time and money. I like it. Nicole they should have explained it better to you. I am gonna try to get signed back up for counseling again. My other plan is to make the montly meetings at kaiser a priority and than meeting and keeping in contact with all you ladies. That has truly helped me alot the last few months............... I really, really want this to work and I want to set up a safety net all around me so I CAN'T get tired and fail!! Like Pam was saying after the newness wears off reality hits and I want to be ready for it!! Nicole you might want to try the psychaitry thing but tell them you want a therapist not the doctor. I loved the therapist I had with kaiser.........rancho cordova area!! I am gonna try to find her again!!

YAY Christine!! So glad you are doing so well. I DID get the big weight gain after surgery, and it took 10 days to leave! Then I dropped like a rock tho, LOL. Enjoy this fast loss time! I had the same pain under my left rib for a month - it's from the port. Are you swollen there, too? Still not losing . . . .playing ping-pong with the same 2 lbs. . . I am working off 1000 calories a day tbrough excercise, eating loess than 1000, and NOT LOSING!!! I am VERY frustrated. I hope my fill on Friday really works. . . . .

Hi everyone, Beautiful pictures Nicole! You looked lovely and so happy! Great job on the cake and the reception Reggie. Amazing! So, only 1 week to go for me. I had friends over for dinner this weekend and cooked some of the recipes from cooking school in Paris. I am up half a pound naturally. One would think I would have learned by now the connection between eating and weight gain. Jeeze. I am working like crazy to get it back off with extra time at the gym today.

I took a month off and I needed every day of it............I also have a very, very stressful job with lots of running around and driving. It would have been way to much for me to handle. Went back to work on Monday and actually it is the sitting all day that is making my port achy and hurt. Go figure. I guess I do better moving around or laying flat. My port was hurting so band by the time I got home tonight. Elastic pants tomorrow no matter how nerdy I may l look!!! LOL. Everyone is different. Gotta tell you my blood pressure and health was not great before surgery. I had migraines and GERD and (gross) I know but everything I ate made me sick at one end or another................I also had pnemonia really bad last spring and have some scarring on my lungs, I got chest congestion and a yucky cough after surgery. Hurt to much to cough it up(don't tell Liz) so I didn't which didn't help.............add the stess of my job and all the negetive media coverage lately and I was almost ready to go on stress leave forget surgery!!! I needed all that time to heal and get my head back in the right place........... to be honest I am out interviewing for jobs on Friday. Not sure my current job is a good fit for a "healthy" lifestyle. My PCP and Dr. Baggs have talked to me about work stress and how bad it has been affecting me the last year............Dr. Baggs said stress and weight gain go hand in hand...............so honestly I am trying to get into a less stressful/stable position as a long term goal to help with my weight and my mind!!! LOL. That is just my take on things........

Sherrijo: I really feel for you and pray that things at home will improve. How are you doing "bandwise" with this stress? Are you feeling okay? Is there any chance that your hubby would see a counselor with you? If so, I would highly recommend this. In the meantime, hang in there, try and do things for yourself that are special and pamper yourself if nobody else will pamper you. If money isn't an issue, go get a pedicure, manicure, hair done, make up, massage or something else that you enjoy!! You are worth it!! Well, I went to my "exercise class" today and even used some boxing gloves. I was so sweaty but it was fun (in a painful way...lol). I also did extensive abdominal exercise (crunches) and was so proud of myself. My "inner athlete" is coming out. I was an athlete in high school and ran 3-4 miles a day in college for exercise, but over the years with the weight gain and knee problems, haven't worked out as much. Did join Curves over a year ago and did that between surgeries, etc. But, what I'm doing now is fun and challenging. I had to drag myself there, though cuz I like to stay up too late!! Oh, I lost another 2 lbs. Hurrah!! And this weekend I will do my measurements because it's been around 12 weeks since my pre-op diet began. I'm celebrating. The fill is helping me stay satisfied between meals and I'm happy about that! Well, hope to hear from everyone. Some of you haven't posted in awhile. Where are you?? We miss you??

I keep losing and gaining the same damn 3-5 lbs. I just don't get it. I get down to 237 and the next day I can bounce back to 241! Then it will come off and then back again. I get the salt thing and have stayed away from it. I assume it is not actual weight gain because I could not have possibly eaten enough to warrant that much of a gain. The holidays were hard and yes, I ate more than I should have but not that much. I haven't had a fill yet and hopefully that will make the difference. Will the doctor be disappointed that I haven't lost anything in 4 weeks? banded 11/29

This is one of the negatives of artificial sweeteners. Because your body tastes sweet it reacts as if sugar is being consumed & available to be used as an energy source hence the insulin reaction. The body also reacts by storing calories because there actually wasn’t any sugar which results in weight gain. (There are academic papers on this if you’re interested.) And of course artificial sweeteners continue to feed your desire for sweet. Your body needs some sugar (as glucose, fructose, lactose, etc.) as an energy source. Look for natural sources not ‘added sugars’. I get mine from fruit - blueberries predominately - and keep my added sugar intake to less than 10g a day total (usually only 5g). But it has been my choice to continue this from maintenance.

I'm baaack! ----------- Airfare from Birmingham to Cancun = 40,000 frequent flyer points Lodging in Cancun for 7 nights = 200,000 hotel points Cerviche on the Beach = 120 pesos Avg. price for club admission w/ open bar = $40 USD (+ hangover) 7 day vacation w/ great food and NO WEIGHT GAIN = PRICELESS!!! Lapband....I'm so glad that I *can't* leave home without it! ----------- Mim, glad to hear the surgery went well! And, yep, the water weight gain is from surgery. Don't sweat it! Glad to see ya'll got a new challenge going. I started at 185, and am still there. I can't believe I didn't gain weight, but I did exercise quite a bit. Gotta run...unpacking and laundry, etc.! Tami

Ashlee - glad to hear things went well for you. I have one more hurdle. I have polycystic ovaries, and have to go see the gynecologist tomorrow. Since PCOS can cause weight gain, they want to make certain they're under control. Not sure what they can do, but I told him I'd go see one. I've been working on the high protein, low cal diet already - wow am I hungry! How strange will it be to eat a few bites of cottage cheese and actually be full!

Ayla there's a secret group on fb for only female sleevers in their 20s. If you want to join, message me your fb username and I will tell the admin to add you. So, I've been on my high protein/low carb diet since the 1st. I lost like 5 pounds but now I've gained hoping the weight gain is no indication of my liver not shrinking. Please please please let my insides be good for surgery Tuesday!!

Eh, not really okay, but surviving. You can pretty much get the gist of it on facebook. Wow. When I was 20 I had a reduction. I was a HH and went down to a D. I used to have to have my bras special made in Orlando because stores just didn't carry them in my size. That was back in 1986 and they cost me around $80.00 each. And, that was also when I was quite small, weighed about 130, so I was very, very top heavy. It can be quite miserable. With my weight gain, I only went up to a DD, thank goodness.