Oregondaisy

I love how you put that so eloquently, WASa! I'll have to remember that ice Water trick!

My daughter was hell to raise between the age of 13-17 but now at 28 she is like a best friend.

I took capsules right off the bat. I was able to drink a lot of water right from the beginning. I think it would be a problem if you are one of the people that have to take little tiny sips of water.

I used GNC unflavored Protein powder and put it in all sorts of stuff. I have no sense of smell and people tell me that changes how things taste though. I put it in unsweetened apple juice, although this was not my favorite. There are all sorts of sugar free drink mixes out now a days. I had no trouble what so ever getting my protein in because one scoop of this stuff is 20 grams of whey protein. You can't put it in warm things because it will get lumpy, but you can put it in crystal light.

yeah, for some strange reason I thought frozen yogurt would have a different reaction than ice cream. It was different all right, but definitely not better. I have even tried taking lactaid before eating these things and it's a no go. I hope it's this way forever. You know the definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Call me insane, but I think I have finally learned my lesson and won't be trying ice cream or frozen yogurt for a very long time.

MacMadame researched the band and went straight to sleeve. The band is a pain in the you know what. I wish I had known about the sleeve from the beginning. Getting your fill right is no easy task. You don't really lose weight until you have restriction, and you don't get that right away with the band like you do with the sleeve. I didn't have band problems until I had it almost 2 years, and I got to goal with the band, but once the band problems start, they won't stop. I am sure WasA and Elizabeth will elaborate but I can tell you to avoid the band and get the sleeve. I have talked several of my friends out of getting the band and getting the sleeve. There are quite a few threads already, I do believe, explaining why the band sucks.

I didn't crush my pills. I tried the first night and it was so horrible, I decided not to do it anymore. The only one Dr. Aceves told me not to take whole was Celebrex. Since I haven't exercised for 6 weeks, I haven't had to take it. What have you been drinking for your clears?

Maybe next time I am in AZ we can go for Greek food. Moussaka is pronounced with the accent on the ka part. It's very good if made right. We would have to share, of course. I love "My Big Fat Greek Restaurant" in AZ. I noticed on the menu that there are several of them in the Phoenix area.

I absolutely love my weight training class. the class goes by so fast. I really miss it when I can't go, and get bummed out when something interferes with this class. Did you know that lifting weights causes you to burn calories for way more hours afterwards than cardio?

Slider foods are soft foods that don't stick with you for very long. Some of it is still healthy though, like cottage cheese or yogurt. Somebody please correct me if I am wrong.

Thank you. He was 90 and I talked to him almost every day while I was in Oregon ever since my mom died 7 years ago. He kept telling me he was ready to join her.

WasA, this sounds perfect for you!

It was pretty hilarious. I should have taken her picture.

I tried frozen yogurt while I was in Arizona at the mall. Bad idea. It didn't make me sit on the toilet all evening like ice cream does, but I don't know what is worse. I had the worse gas pains of my entire life. I was doubled over and tooting these 5 minute long toots. I have concluded it's not sugar, it's milk products. I have eaten chocolates with no problem. This is a good thing for me. I look at Baskin and Robbins and Dairy Queen and feel sick.

I am glad I still have my card that I got when I got the band. I've rarely had to use it. If anything ever happened to it, I would get another one from my band dr. They don't know I had my band removed, and I have no reason to tell them. It just says I had WLS and it doesn't say anything about which kind. I don't even like eating out anymore. I used to love going out to eat. Now I find it to be a waste of not only money but also a waste of time. I am not hungry and I really don't even want to eat. I love it! I got to wear an outfit today that I don't think I would have ever fit into again if I still had my band.

I hope you get your sleeve soon, and I hope you go to Dr. Aceves. I am not sure if he is the cheapest, but with such an important surgery, I don't think it's a good idea to go to someone who does not have the stats that he has. I had a blast in Mexicali. I took a taxi to a huge mall. There is supposed to be one within walking distance, but the girl I went with wanted to go to the other one. I can really relate to what you said about someone calling you fat when you were in a crowd. I started my first diet when I was 13 because some guy called me a fat ass. WasA is right. You are an excellent writer!

I never thought to go up to the 2nd floor. When I was in Arizona, my daughter put a plastic chair on top of the matching plastic table, and she was able to pick up a signal to use my lap top. We couldn't get a signal any other way.

I can't even imagine taking care of 9 kids. My heart goes out to you. You have really accomplished a lot already. Losing so much weight while taking care of 9 children is not easy. I always feel so lucky that I don't have to cook for anyone or keep food in the house that I can't eat but other people want. How old are your kids?

I started exercising 5 years ago in an attempt to lose weight. I exercised like a mad woman, weight training, tons of cardio and could not lose any weight. That was when I decided to get the band. I found out that I could get off my anti depressants for the first time in over 20 years because when I left the gym, I felt so good. The dr. wanted me to go back on them when I was going through all the stress with my dad these past few months because they are also supposed to help with anxiety but I knew one of the side effects from those things is weight gain. I went back to the gym today for the first time since surgery and I am really glad I did. I miss working out when I don't go. I feel grumpy. I was afraid when I was in Arizona that I was going to lose all the muscles I have built up in my thighs. That was a great NSV when a guy at the gym a few months before my sleeve surgery asked me how I got my legs so toned.

I wish I had done this years ago. You're going to love having the sleeve and soon you will be buying new clothes!

I am glad your day is finally here Deb. I am sure you will have a great experience there. Everyone will treat you like a queen and you'll be on your way home before you know it!

I had my band for 2 years and 4 months when I had it taken out. I am so glad it's gone. I had it taken out before I gained too much weight back after having to have my fill taken out due to acid refulx.

Buy a phone card. I did buy a phone card at the little store at the hotel, but it hardly had any minutes on it. I am sure you can find a phone card way cheaper before you go that would have way cheaper rates. I had AT&T and the when the phone bill came, the calls said Cabo San Lucas. I would assume that would be the closest AT&T tower.

I certainly don't miss waking up from a sound sleep with my dinner from 5 pm in my throat. And I am down another 2 lbs this am.

I am not a para legal but the attorney I work for also does personal injury as well as employment law and workman's compensation. She calls me her legal secretary but I don't feel that I am one. Everything I know, I learned on the job. Sometimes I wish I had gone to school to be a legal secretary because then I would know all the things she expects from me. She likes to hire people who aren't legal secretaries so she can pay them less.