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They still have sugar alcohol in them

I have heard that story, and also that if a child commits an act considered heinous by the tribal elders, they are banished to the badlands. The bandlands are a section of land in the 4 corners, referred to as the Bisti (Bist-I) Badlands. The land is barren, but has the strangest outcroppings of rocks, and arches, totally foreign when compared to the rest of the dessert area. From there, they have moved around to survive, and live in and among the local bluffs (flat topped mountains). When in High School we would party in the hills, pass the hat around and collect enough money, buy a keg, go out to the middle of nowhere, and build a bonfire, and have a party!! Many people claimed to have seen things, and heard things, and a couple I know swears they saw a man with antlers on his head, and wearing a cape of an animal, with the head resting on his shoulder, staring into the car they were making out in!!! It freaked them out enough, they never went out to party with us again! Personally I have never seen anything. I mean there are ruins all over the place---and finding pottery, and arrowheads, is pretty commonplace. We live in an area with lots of sandstone, and petroglyphs are everywhere, there are entire parks related to the petroglyphs---some of them in the cities! When I was in High School the entire area was in serious unrest due to racial tension. 3 boys from Farmington high school, took 3 Navajo men out in the Glade, and killed them. They were discovered, because they had threaded one of the mans fingers and wore it to school as a necklace! It used to be a common thing for kids to "roll" indians. They would be passed out drunk in the park, or behind the bar in the alley, they would roll em over and take all their cash. You knew if someone said they went rolling over the weekend, they were people to avoid! At the time this was all going on, my Mom was a dispatcher for the Sherrifs Office, so the Sherrif, and the deputies, the jailer---they were all part of my life, I saw them everyday! I stopped in her office every day after school. Well the boys tortured these men, and no one could identify who the men were, because they have no local homes. There are massive amounts of NA's who are alcoholic, so they get their checks, come in to Farmington, cash the checks, buy bottles of cheap booze, and drink and sleep in the parks, until their money finally runs out, then they head home, most catching a ride with someone heading to the rez. It is illegal to sell alcohol on the reservation, yet they have HIGH percentages of alcoholism---6 times the national average. So these men, were not missed, and they had decomposed..... So this man I always referred to as Uncle Bruce who was a deputy, stole one of the bodies, loaded it in his car, and removed the remaining fingers, and soaked them in vegetable oil, to try to get a finger print, so that they could identify him----and it worked! Nowadays they could do it without issue but 30+ years ago----that's how they did it. So anyway, the Indians marched on the town, feeling the boys were not being properly punished! We were coming in to town with my Mom to shop---3 of us girls, and the Main street was teeming with raging Indians! We turned around and went straight home, my Mom was scared to death!!! They were marching because they felt the sentences given were too light. Through the years, the boys all met with strange ends....I cannot remember exactly..... There is a book about this---called the Broken Circle---I think the authors name is Barker. I read it when it first come out, it was VERY bizzarre---I knew the people they talked about in regards to the law enforcement! Through the years the racial tensions go up and down.....never easing in the ways many other racial issues do. Anyway----I have never had a close encounter with a Skin Crawler----and if they exist I don't wanna have one either!!! Sorry for the book and history lesson----just showing I still live in the Wild West!!! Kat

LOL Jane, that sounds like something I would do totally!!! Terry----Junction or Moab are both doable for me, you gonna go with the group? I can arrange a quick road trip!!! Right to the Rockies!! Actually headed that way 2 times in the next month or so----once to Denver, and once to Pueblo (I'd rather be beaten than go there usually!!! HATE that town!) I am up and showered, now need to get ready to go to my PS appointment! I am not missing this one. I had hoped to get a good nights sleep and have my swelling down for my after shots----it was not to be. I had 3 hours sleep. Last night as we headed in from yet another rained out Series game, we got a phone call from one of Rick's friends---------who works in another dept. but used to work for Rick prior to his advancement. About 5 weeks ago he had a daughter killed in a car wreck. He went out with the guys after work, and one of them was supposed to be the DD--well I guess he had knocked back the best part of a pint of Peppermint Schnapps he had hidden in the car---none of them were aware of it, until he got stopped on the way home---and they ALL went to jail! 2 of them are current shop employees----3 of them hold (or held) CDL's----and the one who Rick considered more a friend than an employee anymore, had noone to bail him out. So we were up and at the jail until 1:30 AM---then had to take him home. He is totally despondant, Rick is worried, he is too depressed. It was a sad situation. And ironically the bail bondsman told us, the 3 guys who were taken in for riding with an intoxicated driver---2 of them, including Rick's friend Steve, had a much lower Alcohol content than the Designated Driver---ass that he is! Legal limit is .08-----Steve and another guy each blew a .09, and the other a 1.25---while the driver blew a 1.57. The guy riding up front with him said he smelled peppermint, but the DD was chewing gum, and he didn't think anything of it----and they were stopped 4 blocks from the bar, so there was not much time for anyone to become aware of it. It was a simple $1000.00 bail---so they bonded him out on a hundred bucks, it was just annoying and time consuming,and not something we wanted mixed up in. But since he has employees possibly losing CDL's he needed to know. So here I am this morning, tired, and swollen. Dammit! Oh Well----regardelss how swollen I feel, the B&A is going to be so incredibly shocking! I am excited. I also need to ask, I have stitches popping out all along my scar line----7 can be felt above the skin now. I want to go swimming, but he said not with open wounds----are these considered part of a wound??? Gonna find out soon!!! Well I gotta get going or I'll miss it again!!! Y'all take care Going to lunch with Sofi----will be in later today. Kat

Candy used to be a weakness, not so much anymore, heck I have the HUGE bucket of candy in the cool part of the garage----and it is not a big deal. I have been wanting wierd things! When Rick got home, we run into town and got some things to work on his shop, got some peg board hung and shelves and work benches up. Lights are up, and he and Dad will hard wire it next days off. It is looking good, and with each addition we put into it, a few more bits and pieces leave my garage, I am loving that!!!! Then we come in and packed him to leave, I hate that he is going. I like him being home.....I am not into being all alone!! Jenn, I am sorry you are re-living the suicide of your friend. At least you know you are making positive steps (yeah----pun intended) to move forward from it. Knowing what you know....about the heartache and the lonliness, will keep the thoughts at bay for you, because you love your kids too much to do that to them. Maybe he just didn't know. I had a friend years ago, a woman my Moms age, but we developed a friendship through another mutual friend. Her name was Betty, and she was a really amazing woman. She had 4 kids all in the general age range around me....and then had a surprise baby many years later, and he was born with Down's Syndrome among other retardations that I no longer remember the name of. Her husband died and 8 months later her youngest son died. So she was living alone when I knew her, and her kids just pretty much ignored her, living their own lives. She babysit for one of her DD's a lot. This DD hated the group of us girls her Mom hung out with. She accused us of using her ---for what we never knew!! She was much poorer than any of us! She was just a nice person---her DD was not. Betty---the friend---ended up with lung cancer, and they removed one entire lung and a portion of the other. She fought hard, and won the battle with the lung cancer. Lived for 6 more years and ended up with a brain tumor that cost her her life. Since that time the DD that disliked us all so much----all 3 of her sons have committed suicide! The middle son shot himself not long after graduating, because his girlfriend dumped him. She was so psycho she called the GF and screamed and called her all kinds of names before she even called 911! Then about a year later the oldest son shot himself with no one having any idea of why. And not long into his first year of college the youngest son ingested no less than 400 different medications and washed them down with Jack Daniels! She now has her only daughter left, and I see her, and she still refuses to be decent to me, and I feel so bad for her! We worried about my brothers limited mental capabilities and his addiction to alcohol for so long, that he would become suicidal----but he is stronger than I have ever given him credit for I think! Gina!!! Good to see you!!! It sounds like it might be time for a study of why you are having eating issues, maybe you are too tight? I know it is hard not relying on the band to give you real restriction, but without it being so tight, you can eat real, quality food!!! I hate to hear you are having trouble! Jane, what was the reason for cancelling your appointment? That seems like such a short time frame for fills. Heck when I go to see my Dr, even without filling me, he spends a good 20 minutes talking to me----that would only let your Dr. see 4 patients or so a month for fills! Is there another Dr. option for you?? Lunasa, I have no idea why you would get tighter and tighter....did you say you have an appointment or not?? Did ok with eating today overall. For breakfast, I ate a piece of peanut butter toast, for lunch I had a taco, and for dinner, we had kabobs with pork, peppers, onions and a teriyaki glaze. I ate about half of one, some of each of the things. I know I am getting in plenty of calories, probably too many to be honest---but I feel like the food is pretty balanced. I drank 6 bottles of water, and a couple of cans of SF 7-Up! The only snack I had was a small pickle. No ice cream, and no candy corn.....and the world seems to be spinning just fine on its axis anyway----go figure!!! Judy hope your party went well!!! I bought the first part of my secret Santa gift today!!! Catch you girlies in the morning!! Love ya! Kat

I looked for a "smacks sibling" emoticon but alas, there was none. I've made it clear to my family what foods I consider to be 'trigger' foods - ones that either tempt me...or for now, ones that are just hard to see someone else eating. I seriously have tried to assure my family they don't need to be sneaking their food into other rooms...LOL. We all have to have some version of a 'new normal' life together. If I AM the one having a bad day or whatever is going on in my head, then I will excuse myself prior to the meal and they are not to take it personally. THEY still need to eat. What I do draw the line on in my own house (kids are technically out of the house) is any foods that were not part of the keto way of life my husband & I were followed up until my pre-op. As he has stated he will continue on keto, that is fine. My family knows the things that do NOT tempt me like ice cream or pie. If any of the miscreants bring in cake or cookies, there will be a brawl but it's not because of this surgery, I'd have had an issue with it when I was doing keto. Most of the time even that stuff no longer bothers me but like someone new in recovery from let's say 'alcohol addiction', people who are near and dear should not be drinking around them, especially not when someone is new in recovery (the exception here is that my family needs to eat to live so I do not expect them to abstain, just to be thoughtful). I see the surgery and the first few months after that as being new to a different type of recovery. Recovering from food addiction but NEVER cured just like AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) and NA (Narcotics Anonymous) treat addiction. Everyone is hopefully on some path of recovery but you are never considered 'cured' which keeps you on guard against relapsing although it can happen and you just get back on the proverbial horse. LOL, maybe next time you are presented with a temptation, imagine drinking or eating it in front of your doctor...I was going to say 'in front of a mirror' which is something I've used before when I was...eating WAY too much and that mirror thing has stopped me quite a few times. Whichever would deter you the most...LOL

Okay so Anna, I’ve seen your recent pics and it’s possible that instead of having 9 pounds til goal, you’re already there. Not saying you should quit, but just saying please don’t beat yourself up if that 9 pounds takes a while. You’ve lost so much excess fat and that coupled with the fact that you were just at 35% BMI on surgery day that it’s gonna be a struggle. My college graduation weight was 132. I was 5’7”, in great shape and was upset because I’d gained 7 pounds from my all-time low from a year before. Looking back I was pretty darned skinny and I felt fat. SMH. My goal will be to end up somewhere in the 145-155 range. Of course I’d feel better about it if I live at the lower end of that range, but since I’m still in the upper 160’s now I honestly have no clue if that’s achievable and/or sustainable. One thing for sure though is that ever getting back to 132 just isn’t realistic and I’d just be setting myself up for a lot of mental angst to even try. Re snacks for your daughter: Mostly that depends on her personal tastes. I’m completely a savory freak. One reason this program is working so well for me is that I love meat and dairy and cheese. My snacks are p3 packs, beef jerky, cheese sticks, a handful of olives and feta cheese, cottage cheese and pumpkin seeds, hummus and pork rinds with veggies, etc... If I have something sweet it turns my hunger into overdrive and I start craving things I don’t need and it takes half the day to get it back under control. Therefore I don’t even dare have things like flavored yogurt or protein shakes or fruit. Don’t even get me started on wine and other alcohol. Sadly those things also turn on my hunger.

It isn’t THAT much but it will be if I keep going like this. Have to put the brakes on now before it’s too late. A distal is where they take one part of a tube and stick it somewhere else... lengthening the limb so that there is more malabsorption. That’s kind of the idea haha. I’m planning on staying on the Saxenda till my surgery - it’s really holding me accountable especially with alcohol. I had a drink on it my first night and felt terribly ill - my guess is my blood sugar went very low. So, I’ve given up alcohol and I have to say it’s really hard! It’s been my go to, to destress. Doing a lot of deep breathing and positive self talk lol.

I’ve decided just to do this “my way” and ever since I’ve been at a lot more peace. I may not be getting adequate nutrition and vitamins but I am giving myself a break and letting my body adapt. Vitamins were making me puke so I switched to vitamin patches. I ate HALF a scrambled egg (which foamed up in my throat) so I am mostly just drinking a protein water and a shake here and there (but never getting in the required 60-80 grams). I have been weighing myself every morning first thing when I wake up. I have been consistently losing a pound a day but now I’ve decided to stop weighing. I am sleeping like a freaking rock. After drinking a bottle of wine every single night for years (a habit that I slowly phased out during the weeks/months leading up to surgery) I am feeling and sleeping better than ever. I have no pain/no nausea whatsoever but a very very small capacity for food. I do get hungry now and last night I ate a pepperoni from my families pizza delivery order. And I squeezed it till it was bone dry with no oil and chewed it up thoroughly. No problem whatsoever with that. Figured if I only ate one pepperoni for the whole day yesterday I was OK. And most exciting I have zero desire to drink alcohol. It is actually somewhat repulsive to me. I feel good now!! The first week was a nightmare. I’m doing my post op visit this week hopefully (I may have to reschedule because my car is still in the hospital parking lot from almost 2 weeks ago - three hours away). Otherwise I’m doing great. My personal goal is to get out and walk more frequently. I have been taking only one real walk a day. Hopefully none of this catches up to me because I am not following the doctor’s orders to a T but I have had to tweak it based on what I can and can not tolerate. Please don’t judge! Anyone getting in real walks/exercise yet?

Hi Guys may I first of all welcome Mandy back thats a whole lot going on in your life, try not to get too stressed babe. Gary Im soo pleased your not out of pocket, do you know what part of the band is leaking and if you have to get whole new band. Im sure your just relieved to be getting it. I was wondering if you have to go through the whole scenario again with waiting for weeks before first fill or because you already have a band placed will it just be a matter of filling it to where you were before. Either way Im sure you will get on with it without complaint because thats the type of guy you are. Good luck Gary. Time is now I am so ready for a fill. Glad you enjoyed the Wedding WEEKEND hope it hasnt done too much damage. What time is your appt? Bev that episode must have been so embarrasing for you but sometimes I think it takes something like that to happen to give us a kick up the back side although its not nice!! I remember my mums 2nd trip on a plane she couldnt get seatbelt fastned and they had to give her extension. She was mortified, and 3 women who were sitting across from her were giggling, she couldnt hold her head up for the 4 hour journey. When the plane landed and the overhead cabins opened the woman who had done the most giggling got hit on the head with a bag containing duty free alcohol and she started to cry,the stewardess knew what had happend earlier and smiled at my mum, guess who wasnt feeling any sympathy??? Anyway to cut a long story short on that holiday mum lost a stone. Could fasten her seatbelt flight home and continued to lose another 3 stone when she got home. Jx Got to go to work now.

Oh wait... you know what? I had 2 cocktails last night. Family came in from ATL and we went to a happy hour. I sipped super super slowly and did not get intoxicated. However, wondering if this is related to dehydration/alcohol/weight loss of 1.6 pounds overnight. I'll observe and report!

Yay Kat!! I'm so glad you got your goal but I wish that it was under better circumstances... Try warm stuff like Suzie said... Also.....I keep forgetting to ask ya'll but have ya'll ever noticed that your band gets considerably looser with alcohol? I had noticed it and when I asked my sister she said she had noticed it too but didn't want to say anything to me about it. Not saying that's a good thing but just an observation. If I drink two martinis it's like if my band isn't even there. Have no clue why... TracyK - everything ok? Thinking about you today. You're in my prayers... It's sooooo hot here today. We've been avoiding going outside day. I think we're gonna wait until late late late today to go outside and work on the yard. My shades aren't even open. I feel like i'm hibernating, LOL... Terry - what say you about meeting up? How's next week looking for you??

Okay...forgot....who was talking a couple days about mushroom pie and did I miss what exactly that was? I think it was mushroom pie. Something like that. Fill needle....I've got one in a package in case of absolute emergency, but on Monday I'll just grab that red bag in the drs room when she isn't looking. My appointment is in the afternoon so there are bound to be a bunch in it from the day. She won't miss it, and we can put the needles through the dishwasher. If we fill with Rum, the alcohol will kill any germs anyways, so who would care if they were sterile?

GOOD ALMOST AFTERNOON LADIES !!! I have been up since 7 a.m. (well the smoke alarm went off at 5 a.m. need new batteries i guess as there was no fire ) I have read the paper - done 3 loads of wash - cleaned my room, closet and bathroom (hairspay on mirrors - counter tops -floors ugh- but gotta look cute)- Ironed - (done all between 7 - 11) Then got online - answered Phyl's email - then had a message from someone named ellen about the band - then Cheryl about the flabby skin issues for us older ppl and all that took 1 hour I finally made it here... Peaches - I like catfish the most - it is less fishy than salmon - don't get me wrong I like fishy (or should I say strong foods - I like lamb too) and it's soft - I bake it with evoo salt pepper and garlic - or top it with Parmesan cheese - or salsa. I love it I eat it most nights... Sounds like you had a lot of fun - what a great DH :thumbup: and you had a special weekend - I give you a pass for the alcohol :biggrin: cuz for us who drink - special occasion are drinking occasions :biggrin: and you don't do it every day - but now that you are back - watch those calories and hopefully you got some exercise (hint hint) that will help too :tt1: Nic - anyone can help you here - just post your questions and you will most likely get 4 or 5 responses from us lucky #7's - as Karri said WE ARE THE BEST THREAD on this website - we have had like 9000 post - but we have had 138,000 people viewing our thread - what's that tell you Ok gang - I am alive and well - but I need to do some Target & Walgreen shopping and may be hit Home Depot (a new one open down the street and we even have signal lights now - i am really getting up town) So will ck back later ----:tt2::tt2::tt2::tt2:

The sugar free margarita mix is actually pretty good. I would make mine virgin because I dont' like the alcohol, but when I was on Atkins I actually drank it quite often. They also have diet cranberry juice that you could mix with vodka. I dont' know how carbonated Mike's hard lemonade is, but they do make a light version of that as well. Hey look at that...I CAN make alcoholic drinks healthy!!!

My heart goes out to everyone dealing with addiction with their grown children. I have attended Alanon for years, gone to counseling, work currently a little bit with Celebrate Recovery. My first husband had an issue with alcohol and I believe my son does as well. One of the best things I'm doing is dealing with my own addiction to food. I see codependency as closely tied into food addiction. Tough love and taking care of ourselves in relationships aides our own recovery and sets a good example to the other addicts in our lives. Everyone is doing so well. I, too, had a wonderful Sunday. Church this morning and then a luncheon with a group that 20 years ago sponsored several Ehiopian refugees at a former church. One of the refugees was out here visiting with his wife and kids. We all reminisced about that time and some of the funny cultural differences and situations that arose. I ate a little bit of everything that looked good to me but did not overindulge. Then I sang on a praise team at a special service this evening. We're a multicultural church and we had our annual taste of reconciliation. I had a few tastes of various countries, focusing on Protein, a little of this and that. Did not overindulge. Didn't want to bp in the middle of a song on stage. LOL. Then we moved into the sanctuary where my praise team and invited singers and groups from other churches also sang--sometimes in other languages. We had a dynamite short sermon, dynamite music of all styles, I got to sing in Spanish. Haven't sung all summer since choir took a summer break. People left on such a spiritual high. Loved it.

Hey that's not so bad! If you can adrink wine and STILL stick to you food plan that is great. As it turns out, I got way=layed from my Wii this morning. My BIL called from Mexico(he's driving on his way back to Canada now) and my nephew is in a mental health crisis... But DNephew 'dosn't think there is anything wrong with him'.... oh my gosh. So I spent an hour on the phone with him trying to convince him that he needs to get into see a mental health provider for an assessment... US (the family) are convinced that he is BiPolar but he dosn't see it. This kid is 29 yrs old and has screwed up everything in his life with DRUGS, Alcohol, failed marriage, lost his kids to his estranged wife.... blah,blah, blah... just imaging "days of our Lives" and you get the idea. I don't think I was successful, but I planted a seed anyways and gave him some resources to check out - if he's interested. I am not optomistic, but I told my BIL that I would try to get t hru to Nephew... The rest is in God's hands... Nephew is GOing to church these days, since rehab in the fall... but to talk to him "everything" is always somebody elses problem... it is very sad. But, I am NOT eating over it,.... It is not my problem - I can only be supportive if HE wants my help.. which he made clear he does NOT want. So Wii will have to wait until after work tonight...

Adjustments - for those of you who didn't want to click on the link: How to Tell When You Are Perfectly Adjusted You are losing 1-2 pounds per week. If you are not losing 1-2 pounds per week: A. You may need an eating adjustment 1. Are you eating 60 grams of protein a day 2. Are you eating 25 grams of fiber 3. Are you avoiding all liquid calories a. Soup can be sign of “soft calorie syndrome” b. Alcohol contains a lot of calories – 7 calories per gram (1) It’s also a stomach irritant c. Fruit juice is just sugar water 4. Are you making healthy food choices from a wide variety of foods? a. Are you avoiding soft foods b. You can’t just eat what’s easy c. Cheese is glorified fat 5. Are you drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day between meals 6. Are you eating too much junk a. Chips, chocolate, nuts, ice cream, cookies and other highly processed junk foods are too calorically dense to be regular parts of a healthy diet. But don’t avoid them completely to the point where you feel deprived. b. Stay out of fast food places 7. Are you getting in two servings of calcium daily 8. Do you always eat the protein first 9. Then the vegetables or fruits a. Five servings a day b. Potatoes are NOT a vegetable 10. Is your portion size appropriate? a. Meat or fish (1) 3 ounces – the size of a deck of cards b. Vegetables (1) ½ cup – the size of your fist c. Starch (1) If you eat the protein and the vegetables first you don’t need much (2) Avoid: rice, potatoes, pasta 11. You might try avoiding artificial sweeteners a. Some people think that artificial sweeteners stimulate the appetite b. They are HUNDREDS of times sweeter than sugar c. They teach you to like things too sweet d. There is no evidence that people who use them are any thinner than people who don’t 12. Avoid most diet foods a. Real food usually tastes better b. Real food is more satisfying than low calorie substitutes c. When you are only eating a tiny bit the caloric savings is not that great (1) Use a teaspoon of real butter instead of a tablespoon of diet margarine (2) The body has no way to break down artificial fats a. They may go into permanent storage b. Some people think liposuction is the only way to remove hydrolyzed fats from the body B. You may need a behavior adjustment 1. Are you eating only when you are hungry? a. If you’re not sure drink 8 ounces of water and wait. 2. Are you eating three meals a day? a. With maybe 1 or 2 small snacks 3. Are you sitting down to eat? 4. Are you eating consciously? a. No distractions, turn off the TV, put the book or newspaper away, pay attention to your food and your companions 5. Are you eating slowly? a. Put the fork down between bites b. Take 20 to 30 minutes to finish a meal c. Taking longer might cause the pouch to begin emptying 6. Are you taking small bites? a. Tiny spoon, chopsticks, cocktail fork 7. Are you chewing well? 8. Are you drinking with your meals or too soon after your meals? a. Practice water loading between meals b. You won’t be thirsty if you are well hydrated before the meal 9. Are you stopping at the first sign of fullness? a. Sometimes it’s a whisper: not hungry, had enough b. Hard stop versus soft stop 10. Do not eat between meals. Stop grazing. 11. Do not eat when you are not hungry C. You may need an activity adjustment 1. Are you getting in 30 minutes of physical activity at least 3 times a week? a. Over and above what you would do in the usual course of your day b. Could you make it 4 or 5 times a week? c. Could you make it 45 or 60 minutes? 2. Are you taking advantage of opportunities to increase your physical activity? a. Taking the stairs instead of the elevators or escalators b. Walking on the escalators instead of riding c. Parking your car further away from the entrance d. Getting out of the car instead of using the drive through e. Getting off the bus one stop before your destination f. Washing you car by hand instead of the car wash g. Playing with your kids D. You may need an attitude adjustment 1. Are you committed to your weight loss journey? 2. Are you totally honest with yourself about how much you are eating and exercising? a. Log your food and activity on ww.fitday.com for 3 days 3. Are you using food inappropriately to deal with emotional issues? a. Have you identified what the emotions are that drive your eating? b. Can you think of more appropriate ways to deal with those emotions? c. Are you willing to seek help from a qualified counselor? 4. Are you attending and participating in support group meetings? 5. Have you drummed up some support from your family and friends? 6. Have you dealt with saboteurs realistically? 7. Do you have realistic expectations about the weight loss journey? 8. Are you still obsessing about food, weight, dieting, eating? a. Obsessive – compulsive thoughts (1) Obsess about something else b. Perfectionism (1) All or none, black and white thinking c. Patience with the pace of healthy weight loss 9. Are you acknowledging your successes with non-food rewards? 10. Have you learned how to take a compliment? 11. Are you giving up diet mentality? a. Stop weighing yourself several times a day or every day b. Stop dieting c. Stop depriving yourself d. Stop defining food as “good” and “bad” e. Stop rewarding and punishing yourself with food 12. How do you feel about all the changes taking place? E. You may need a band adjustment 1. You feel like you are making healthy food choices in appropriate portion sizes but getting hungry between meals? 2. You can still eat white bread, fibrous vegetables and large portions. 3. You are having to struggle to lose 4. You are gaining weight in spite of eating right, exercising and having a good mind set. F. You may need your band loosened 1. There are times when you can’t get fluids down 2. You are vomiting too much a. How much is too much? 3. Do you have frequent reflux or heartburn at night? a. Do not lie flat or bend over soon after eating b. Do not eat late at night or just before bedtime c. Rinse your pouch with a glass or water an hour before bedtime d. Certain foods or drinks are more likely to cause reflux: (1) Rich, spicy, fatty and fried foods (2) Chocolate (3) Caffeine (4) Alcohol (5) Some fruits and vegetables a. Oranges, lemons, tomatoes, peppers (6) Peppermint a. Baking soda toothpaste (7) Carbonated drinks e. Eat slowly and do not eat big meals f. If you smoke, quit smoking g. Reduce stress h. Exercise promotes digestion i. Raise the head of your bed j. Wear loose fitting clothing around your waist k. Stress increases reflux l. Take estrogen containing medications in the morning m. Avoid aspirin, Aleve and ibuprofen at bedtime (1) Tylenol is OK n. Take an antacid (Pepcid complete) before retiring o. Try other over-the-counter heartburn medications p. See your health care provider 4. See your health care provider immediately (or call 911) if a. You have a squeezing, tightness or heaviness in your chest, especially if the discomfort spreads to your shoulder, arm or jaw or is accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, irregular or fast heartbeat or nausea. These could be symptoms of a heart attack. b. If your symptoms are triggered by exercise. c. If your pain localizes to your right side, especially if you also have nausea or fever d. If you throw up vomit that looks like black sand or coffee grounds. Or if your stool is black, deep red or looks like it has tar in it. These are symptoms of bleeding and need immediate attention. (Note: Pepto-Bismol or other medications with bismuth will turn your stool black. Iron supplements can also make the stool tarry.) e. If your pain is severe This was written by Jessie H. Ahroni, Ph.D., A.R.N.P., C.D.E., B.C.-A.D.M.

Wow, Linda, Does that mean you have a grand-daughter you don't know? Its amazing how so many kids who, when they have a parent who basically abandons them for alcohol and/or drugs, grow up to repeat that pattern, leaving the people who actually loved them and raised them and did not abandon them heartbroken. Something inside them is broken and doesn't seem fixable. Dieing needlessly is another form of abandonment. Let's pray that your daughter not only recovers, but that this becomes a life-changing experience for her and the wake-up call she needs to break the generational chains that bind her. God bless you and keep you and your loved ones safe. It's a testament to the love you've shown Aylah and the time you've invested in her that she's so contented in your home. Cheri

Janet, sounds like a crap day. I agree, a little tough love is in order. He'll live without the phone and the car. Get his own rides places or maybe this "friend" will let him drive his car. I hope he pays his own insurance. I took my son off my insurance by the age of 17 after he got in several accidents. We lost our coverage so I excluded him from the policy and he wasn't allowed to drive our cars. One thing, he always found work and made enough money to buy his own car and pay his own insurance. I also quit getting him out of bed and let him bear the consequences of those actions. I refused to do his laundry and made him drop out of school at 16 when he ditched constantly and got F's. He was in a private Christian school and I wasn't paying for F's. He went to public school for two whole weeks and started ditching and not getting up in the morning. So I researched it and had him drop out. After one year out of school he could take his GED. I made him sign a contract that he had to work full-time, go for an ADHD eval and take meds if recommended, and be back in school, or working towards his GED by 18 or he was out of the house. He lasted 1 semester before begging to go back to the Christian school. I wouldn't enroll him till he paid me $300, $50 for each class. I told him he'd get nothing back on F's, $25 on D's, and $50 on C's and above. On the day the semester started he finally handed me the money. He eventually got back all but $50. Eventually, when they wouldn't let him graduate with his class because he had too many credits to make up, and he was ditching school again, and I didn't know it, but his father had been telling him he was planning on leaving me, I had him study for his GED in the state where he'd dropped out (we lived on state line in Indiana). They didn't know he'd been attending in Illinois. He took the GED while on his ADHD meds and passed with such a high score he made the Albert Einstein Society and got a college scholarship. He ended up with a degree in marketing. It took him 5 years to get thru college and the last year I gave him $5000 from the sale of my house and told him he was on his own. I was getting remarried and he wasn't living with me anymore. One of my better decisions. I had no guilt and didn't have to put up with his assinine behavior anymore. (He is an alcoholic, though a very high functioning one.) He is now over 30, married, and has a little girl he adores. He owns his own home and has a nice wife and a relatively good job. I have heard him say that being on his own was the best thing that ever happened to him. He says this like it was his own idea. He still can be a real donkey's rear end, especially around me, so I tend to see him only when there's family get-togethers. I don't see my grandaughter nearly as much as I'd like, but my mental health is more important. My other son is a whole nother story but I'll save that for another time. Cheri

Just a fly by... Cheri~ OMG........ that is so so sad. What a tragedy. Hang in there. Hugs. Julie~ I am thinking about you! I hope someone there can think outside the box and find a solution. hugs More car drama. I left to go to MY work... and DH was leaving 15 min after me. I shut my phone off since I was going into a meeting. His car wouldn't start. ALL the cases at the surgery center were waiting on him to arrive. (the CRNAs cannot start until MD is on premises). I felt bad b/c I was just in orientation and could have left but phone was off. DH took a cab. Now, you city folks won't find that odd at all- but we live in BUM FUDge. There is ONE cab company..lol.. and it has one car and one driver. It took them 50 min to pick him up and he smelled of alcohol. After I got out of orientation I came home- had car towed by AAA (starter they think) and then drove my car to hospital and had Hertz pick me up- went there to rent a car. Now have to take Nels to TKD, have a friend pick him up and take boys to dinner, b/c I have curriculum night at his school. (DH is on call tonight.ughhh) The joys of life. I still always say, if this is the toughest stuff I deal with all day............ then I am doing OKAY! : ) My Dad is having a rough time this week. He had to go to the oncologist b/c he's not able to eat or drink much the last two days and has had REALLY bad diarrhea for a couple weeks. Usually he can keep up with fluids but now he can't. His potassium is really low and he's had two days of IV fluids with K+, but my gut tells me he needs to be admitted. Crossing my fingers he's ok. He said last night he is glad he didn't let them take the port out b/c all his veins are shot. SIGH. peasout............Laura

Thanks for all of the advice gals. Because I have a partial slip still, my band is different than it was before. The acid is INTENSE! I mean really bad, it woke me up in the night time 2x and I threw up only acid both times. It was horrible. Then, today I threw up my iced tea. That isn't right. There is no way in hell I could even think about eating any type of solid food at this moment. It's bad, and I don't want it to get worse. I don't know if I should even take the chance of waiting it out. I was at a good restriction after I did the 5DPT, so I think I should be ok getting th Fluid out. We will see how I do tonight. Cheri~ The best "over the counter" product that I have found for frizzy hair is made by Suave. It is in an orange bottle and says "Compare to Matrix Sleek Look" on it. Use the whole system, Shampoo, Conditioner, and Leave in smoothing mask. There are other professional products available (that I use on clients daily), but they are far more pricey than the "OTC" types. Also, make sure you get your hair trimmed very frequently. I'm talking every 4-6 weeks. This way, you are keeping split ends away which will keep your hair in all around better shape. Another suggestion is to point the nozzle of your hair dryer from root to ends while you are drying. This will keep the cuticle closed and smooth on the hair shaft. At the end of your blow dry, use the "COOL" button for several minutes to lock in your style. Stay away from hairsprays and products with alcohol in them. This can cause damage as well. But, the BEST product I have ever used, by far, is called Redken Glass. It is a silicone based product that you put on after the blowdry and style. It is quite pricey to some, but just a drop goes a very long way, so the container lasts forever. I could go on and on. Try these things and see if it helps. Let me know. Lori~ Oh girl! The shopping has begun over here too!!! Before I went to see baby, I bought a sliver bracelet for mommy with a white gold and aquamarine charm (birthstone of march!), a short set for baby, and University of Michigan booties for him as well (those from uncle andrew)! It is soooo fun! How far away from you is the Carters outlet? I think we have one here about an hour and a half away. Also, I need some clothes too, so if you are feeling very generous feel free to shop for me too! LOL!!!! Love it! I just cannot tell you how very happy I am for you. It has got to be the best feeling in the whole wide world! Ok, going to get ready for bed in a little bit. "Snore" is over here laying on the couch next to me. Night! Meredith

JANET, I canceled my fill appt. I started thinking last night that I needed to work on my eating habits before I got more restriction. I would hate to go to all these Christmas functions and have to leave because I am stuck. So, I like the other girls that just posted need help through the holidays. I will be calling on you. This time of year I feel like an alcoholic only my problem is food......JUST ONE DAY AT A TIME SWEET JESUS! That is my mantra for the season.

:thumbup: Thank you guys! your words are very comforting. I haven't slept well for several days now... and feel so tired and unfocused. Not sure why I feel so scared, man! I've had worse things happen to me than surgery, but still. I will miss my diet dr. pepper soo much, but heck, just by not drinking that much I've lost 5 lbs already! haha! I am a family counselor and every day I tell my clients: " if it's not working, change it!" well, now it's time for me to follow my own advice... it's hard, now I understand my alcoholic and drug addicted clients. I love food so much but if this keeps going the way it is, I'll eventually die, and heck if I want to leave the fun! NO WAY! This will be good for my daughters too... they have horrible food habits, mostly my fault, now we all will have to learn a new way of relating to food, and it's not going to be easy but I think will be worth it in the end. 1 more day to go... I wil be today in the office until 730 pm... need the distraction. Talk to you soon! I appreciate your support.

Apples - when you say your band area - did you have pain inside where we imagine our band is or port site ... Did you feel stuck - have heartburn or reflux.. I am glad you are doing ok now - I know that fear about slips -etc all the stuff that can go wrong ... Joann - I have flown from Cali to Minnesota to Vegas & Texas - and flying didn't bother my band at all... So Maybe you will be a lucky one and it doesn't - I would get another fill now and give it 30 days to settle in before you go.and to make sure you aren't too tight..... I would imagine that you are eating healthy - how much are you eating per meal.. Sharon - Hugs GF - I am sorry for your stuggles - I luckly don't have the PMS stuff anymore - but gotta say those craving stay around even if the cuz doesn't visit anymore.. Now I am trying to remember here - You are newly divoriced/separated right?? no kids or grandkid?? Who knows about your surgery - do you have family or freinds around you - What do you do for fun or enjoyment (besides eating :frown: that use to be my most fav past time :tt2:) And sounds like you work for a school?? #1 - I understand about being tired after work and not wanting to get on the computer or talking on the phone - but gotta tell you her gf you can't just sit in front of the t.v. and veg anymore - that activitiy or lack of - will lead you to your drug of choice which is the food.. Do you belong to the January Hotties or whatever 1/09 banders call themselves? Is this the only thread you are posting on?? You will make freinds here that will last you a life time and you will be so comfortable with them that it will seem like you have known them all your life... New habits - that's what you need - the old you sat infront of the t.v. and ate when you were tired from work - I get that cuz when I am super tired - it's a big food trigger for me. New habits are what you need come home from work change clothes and walk 1/2 hr on the treadmill - then sit at the computer - come to lbt and tell us about your day (good & bad) what you had for bf & L - and how your exercise went and what you are having for dinner - then go fix something healthy - eat - shower - then sit to watch t.v. and have your sf pudding or fudge cicle That's my routine - I don't sit down most nights til 8 to watch tv - and gf I am up at 5 - to work by 7:15 - get off at 4 - gym - home - lbt & facebook - dinner - tv - bed.. The reason I asked about the pple around you - is I wonder if you have pple who support you - encourge you ... I don't have a DH so I understand you wanting someone to be proud of you - Heck one time I left the gym and started bawling - My trainer said something really nice and encouraging and I thought OMG that's the only man in your life giving you that kind of support - and it's not like I even want a man in my life I love being single - but having someone who encourages you is very important..Hows that friend who made you bean Soup - is he a good friend I agree with apples that you have to be proud of you yourslef - but since I'm single too - it's nice to have someone to share it with and to be proud of you too... I totallly get that so yes - I am on your shoulder 24/7 encouraging you and pushing you to be the best you --- just like the title on this thread - I'm here to help !!! Oh you guys might not know this - but I am know for being the food cop (on my Lucky #7 thread that was my title and Charlene can atest to it too ) - yep that's me - but it's with love and not judgement - it's cuz I walk in the same shoes as you - and I know what it's like to want to eat even with the band.. But you just gotta not buy the crap - you gotta budget those point/calories - you have to look at the junk you eat as a drug - as the devil - it's not helping you in the long run it's killing your and making you feel bad about you. As to binging this weekend - gf you bought the food - no one else and if you hadn't bought it you wouldn't have eaten it... You really really gotta keep the junk out of the house - I want you to go throw it all away - get the crap out - come on would you leave a bottle of booze on the counter and expect the alcoholic not to drink it.. Part of your new habit is to sit down and write out a menu for the week - go shopping and only buy whats on that list and nothing else... And when that bag of Cookies or bags of candy or ice cream wants into your cart - Just say No - I am not going to let you continue to kill me and make me feel bad about myself. Sharon - I want you to check at least every evening ok - it's part of your new habits - I think it will help and you can share whatever you want - it doesn't have to be just band related.. Julie - just have your doc go slow on the fill and remember I know it seems like winter will last forever - but spring should be here soon - so hopefully you will get to see your grandbabies soon... Becky - Ok if you are eating at least 1/2 to 1 c per meal - I feel better and glad you got some chicken in.. Tonite make gs chicken tacos - and oh the chicken cooked in a little chilli powder garlic is good - but I am having fish cook with el pato sauce (spicey mex tomato sauce) asparagus and rice.... for BF i had go lean kashi oatmeal - has 8 grms pt - and it was pretty good - Lunch 2 small ribs - snack a pt bar --- Well it's 8:06 and I need to go eat - So gang I will cb in the morning... Sweet dreams...... Hugs Janet

Okay...amazing enough...there aren't that many martinis going around down here. Coffee, tea, crystal light, etc....not too much alcohol yet. Deb, good going on the 6 pounds....you know...it is amazing because you sometimes just don't realize you are eating less when you are. We just met Laura's DH and he's really nice. Nels is a pretty good little boy and very polite. We are talking about a lot of issues with the lap band and stuff we can't exactly post some of this stuff....like comparing our port scars...LOL. Okay ladies, later.