Candle

Even though I am buying a lot less at the Grocery Store I do find myself buying more expensive items. A lot of healthier foods are more expensive. ie: 1lb ground turkey breast $4.00 1lb ground beef $2.00 Where I see the HUGE savings is eating out. We used to eat out at least 2-3 times per week and I used to eat a lot of fast food. We eat out once or twice a month now and I always have left overs!

I really really wish I could answer YES to this question but I can't. I even had a dream about eating at Burger King just the other night. Pathetic - lol!! I've always eaten a pretty balanced diet just too much food. Now I eat an even more balanced diet (no butter or salt, more green veggies, leaner meats, etc) just a lot less food. I still want fast food and day dream about carbs and sugary treats though - lol.

Keep it up everyone!! I'm so glad so many of you still check in here. I’ve had a sudden little burst of weight loss!! I’m so happy! I think it’s because I ate so much crap on vacation last week and now my body is settling back into my “regular” diet. I also started my "Walk Away the Pounds" DVD on Sunday. OMG!! After only 2 days, my calves and thighs are killing me!! lol! Pizzicat - it sounds like you have a good fill again. I would stay on liquids and mushies for a few extra days to be sure you really break that plateau!! Be sure to buy yourself something new for that face-to-face interview. Looking your best will help you be confident and land that job. I have faith that you will get it!! Salsa - I'm glad to hear your un-fill went well. Was this a nurse you saw closer to home or did you have to travel all the way to your doctor's office again? You're kickin' ass with your weight loss. You deserve to be very proud of yourself!! (specially with the complications you've had) Band Chick - there's a thread in another forum you might want to check out "Slow Losers Unite". There are also many threads about hair loss. Unfortunately, it just happens to some people. It seems to happen about 3-6 months out. Just make sure you are getting your protein in. The hair will grow back! Mine's gotten a lot thinner but I don't think it's getting any worse. Bridget - A flipped port is not uncommon. I'm glad to hear you are back on track. Whosyadaddy - that is so cool!! Can you scan the article too?

Thanks a lot guys! Val - we went to Disney in late Oct when I was about -45lbs. We had a great trip (Disney rocks!) and I did ok with all the walking and the heat. This trip to Vegas was a whole new experience! JudiM - you can link pics from a website or you can add them as attachments. Scroll all the way to the bottom of a reply box.

I think all you need is a fill. How's your restriction? Are you still going to the gym?

PS. I stayed on Prilosec for about 2 months and haven't had an problems since. Did you call your doctor yet?

I had the same sensation BEFORE and after surgery for awhile. It was related to reflux/GERD. They called it Globulous Sensation. My doc thinks all the milk I was drinking with my protein shakes irritated my GERD. (I'm not normally a milk drinker) If you just had surgery, it could be from the breathing tube. It could also just be a new sensation from the band. I still don't have any restriction but I've heard other people mention this feeling with new restriction.

I take a Vitamin, L-lysine. I take it daily in the summer because I get them on my lips from the sun. I also get them sometimes when I am sick, usually in my nose. I bet it's just from the stress of surgery.

name.............starting#......current#......goal#.....togo# Anitak33...........245............218..........199.......19 Anna2766____.......232............232..........220.......12 Cagstorm(txarcher).360............357..........345.......12 Candle.............218............213.5........207.......6.5 Cerrin.............350............350..........325.......25 chickatee..........188............186..........175.......11 Cookielover........202............202..........192.......10 cQQlgirl...........220............220..........210.......10 Faithmd............306............301.2........296.......5.2 georgiagirl........275............272..........260.......12 Hollyberries.......298............298..........285.......13 Hoppingto..........350............314..........294.......20 Irishmae11.........233.8..........234..........219.......15 Jennie1976.........290............251..........235.......16 jfran..............187............181..........177.......4 Jillrn.............176............176..........166.......10 Jsrico.............255............178..........165.......13 juliegeraci........220............220..........210.......8 KarenG.............207............197..........189.......8 keekahari..........220............217..........205.......12 kjl315.............237.5..........232..........220.......12 legster............223.5..........216..........199.......17 LessnLess..........172............172..........164.......8 liz_hager..........202............198..........190.......8 Manatee............188............182..........175.......7 Mandyjo............191............187..........180.......11 metawnny...........252............252..........240.......12 MJRouse84..........274............233..........218.......15 nip50..............250............246..........238.......8 Rainer.............264............255..........248.......7 Redtulips3.........248............234.5........226......8.5 RenewedHope........228............228..........210.......18 rharriet...........367............256..........248.......8 Sades..............229............199.7........189.......10.7 Skinny_Jill........195............195..........180.......15 Stacy73............230............225..........222.......3 SueMagoo...........230............228..........220.......8 Sunny112...........145............145..........140.......5 Susan4794..........240............240..........225.......15 Suzzzie............303............299.3........290.......9.3 SWEETY.............180............174..........170.......4 Trystelle..........219............219..........205.......14 Twilight...........206............197..........185.......21 uxbus5.............240............240..........230.......10 want2lose..........236............236..........225.......11 wombat712..........154.8..........152.2........140.......12.2

I haven't been around since the forum change so I apologize if this has already been asked. Why does it seem like many threads are stretched, requiring you to scroll left to right and back again? This happens on other forums when people post huge pics or have huge signatures but that doesn't seem to be the cause here. Do I need to change my setting in some way? Example: Page 1 I have to scroll back and forth to read but page 2 is normal size. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f9/60g-protein-49691/

PPS. Those are size 18 jeans that I was blown away I could fit into about 6 weeks ago ... see how baggy they are getting!!!!!! :biggrin::seeya::biggrin:

PS. Can anyone give me some tips on how to edit pics so they are side-by-side?

8/16/07 & 1/15/08 w/ my honey in Vegas. I'm so jealous of everyone who lost in their face quickly. I think I'm going to have a fat face forever. *pout* *pout*

Hey everyone. I've been away for little while on vacation - can't say I'm a fan of the new format of the forum. I just got back from 4 days in the land of buffets ... Vegas ... and still lost 2lbs!! Woo-Hoo!! I ate some crap but over all I did really well. Such an awesome trip! We went 2 years ago and my BF kept pointing out how different this trip was from our last. We walked, walked, walked, and walked some more. I never got tired and was able to keep up with him the whole time!! I also won $1000 on a slot machine right before we left!!! Unfortunately, I came home feeling a little under the weather and we went to the emergency room last night. Strep throat. My doctor told me last year to think about getting my tonsils out but I hear that doesn't always help. I think I was hoping that with the weight loss my immune system would improve but this is the second time I've had strep this winter already. The workout DVD's I ordered arrived while we were away. 'Walk Away the Pounds." Oh well ... at least I have no appetite right now and an excuse not to exercise - lol!! I'm glad to hear everyone is doing well and plugging along!

name ...........starting# ....current#......goal#.....togo# Anitak33...........245............218..........199.......19 Cagstorm (txarcher)360............357..........345.......12 Candle ............218............215.5........207.......8.5 Cerrin.............350............350..........325.......25 chickatee..........188............186........175.......11 Cookielover........202............202..........192.......10 cQQlgirl...........220............220..........210.......10 Faithmd............306............304.1........296......8.1 georgiagirl........275............275..........260.......15 Hollyberries.......298............298..........285.......13 Hoppingto..........350............314..........294.......20 Irishmae11.........233.8..........233..........219.....13.2 Jennie1976.........290............251..........235.......16 jfran..............187............181..........177.......4 Jillrn.............176............176..........166.......10 Jsrico.............255............178..........165.......13 juliegeraci........220............220..........210.......8 KarenG.............207............199.5........199.......0.5 keekahari..........220............220..........205.......15 kjl315.............237.5..........233..........220.......13 legster............223.5..........219.5........199.......24.5 LessnLess..........172............172..........164.......8 liz_hager..........202............198..........190.......8 Manatee............188............184..........175.......9 Mandyjo............191............191..........180.......11 metawnny...........252............252..........240.......12 MJRouse84..........274............233..........218.......15 nip50..............250............250..........238.......12 Rainer.............264............262..........248.......14 Redtulips3.........248............248..........235.......13 RenewedHope........228............228..........210.......18 rharriet...........367............256..........248.......8 Sades..............229............199.7........189.......10.7 Skinny_Jill........195............195..........180.......15 Stacy73............230............228..........222.......6 SueMagoo...........230............228..........220.......8 Sunny112...........145............145..........140.......5 Susan4794..........240............240..........225.......15 Suzzzie............303............301.1........290.......11.1 SWEETY.............180............180..........170.......10 Trystelle..........219............219..........205.......14 Twilight...........206............197..........185.......21 uxbus5.............240............240..........230.......10 want2lose..........236............236..........225.......11 wombat712..........154.8..........153.4........140.......13.4

Awww - I'm so sorry! We lost a cat last spring. It was so hard but she was about 16 and it was her time. She was my BF's cat that had for about 10 years. He adopted her and her twin sister (the sister died of cancer a few years ago) when his jerk brother refused to change the litter box for his wife while she was preggo. I guess pregnant woman aren't suppose to change litter boxes? She was mostly white but looked a lot like Marcel. We have 3 cats and a dog right now. We adopted the dog from a shelter right after "white cat" died. Shelter pets are the best - kudos to you for having such a big heart!

Thanks for the info in this thread. It's good to know there are a few options in the Austin area. Finding a fill doctor in a new area sounds like a real pain in the a$$! We're hoping to move there once we can sell our house. (without taking a loss - stupid real estate market!) Feel free to tell me wonderful things about your area as well - lol

I'm in the same boat. I actually think I might have a hemorrhoid now. Talk about TMI - lol! Do you know how much Fiber you're getting? They say we need 25-35 grams per day. I just started using one of the powders, Fiber-Sure. Fiber-One bars are good too. 140 calories, 9 grams of fiber.

At least I'm glad to hear it's not just me! lol! And we're the same age. Ugh - it's never easy, is it? If it's not one thing ... it's another.<!-- google_ad_section_end -->

I got my band in August and have been really successful so far. -78lbs!!! I noticed, or rather my BF noticed, around the beginning of the summer that my sex drive had really decreased. I chalked it up to my weight and used that as one of the selling points of the band. That put him on board - lol! Everyone talks about how with weight loss their sex drive increases tenfold but that hasn't been the case for me. I have almost no interest in sex any more and it seems to be getting worse. It's really bumming me out. My BF told me today that he talked to his therapist about it because he feels like I'm just not attracted to him any more. I've explained a million times that that's not the case. I'm not even masturbating any more. His therapist told him (and not for the first time) that she really thinks I need to be in therapy as well but that it may be something chemical going on inside me. She also said maybe my brain just hasn't caught up to my body’s weight loss yet. Which is true - I don't feel like I look any different even though I'm at the lowest weight I've been at in over 10 years! Anyone else in the same boat or have any advice? PS. I do agree that I need it and plan to start therapy soon. It just sucks that it isn't covered by my insurance. I have a therapist that I liked (the one I saw for surgery clearance) but $100 a pop is a large pill to swallow. Am I even going to get anywhere only being able to afford to go once or twice a month? Thanks for listening. I actually got a little teary eyed typing this, knowing that my BF thinks I'm not interested in him any more. <O:p <O:p

Re: Tummy hair I have the same problem and am also looking forward to the TT because all that gross skin and hair will be gone!!! lol I did the laser on my neck and chin about 3 years ago but unfortunately didn't know much about PCOS at that time, even though I'd learned I have it about 8 years ago. Like everything else with my health I blew off all the recommendations by my doctor. The laser worked very well for me - I had 8 sessions. Because of the PCOS I am back to where I started. I just had 2 sessions and am due for my 3rd. I really hope with the weight loss I am not wasting more $$$$$. For the person that had the laser on their arms, do you shave them? I really don't want to have to start doing that. My arms are a mix of dark and blond hair. I really don't want to end up with really coarse blond hair from the shaving. That's what happened with my face. I was always a plucker - I would spend probably an hour every day ... Ugh! Then had to shave for the laser. Even when the laser worked well for me and I got rid of 85% of the dark hair, I still had to shave because I didn't like how coarse my blond hair had become from shaving.

Hmmm ... I've never heard this before either. Not to generalize but it does seem like a lot of African American women who are overweight, tend to have a pear shape. Larger thighs, butt, and lower stomach. It seems like weight in that area is the hardest to lose. It sure as hell has been for me!!!lol! <O:pI also suggest checking out obesityhelp.com. In the Lap Band forum, a lot of people have their picture for an avatar and there are a number of African American women who have been very successful! While I think it is important for a doctor to be honest and up front with you, it seems like yours isn't being very supportive. Is he trying to push you into RNY? I know sometimes that happens. Have you visited more than one Band Surgeon? I think if you put your mind to it and have realistic goals, there’s no reason for you to not be successful. <!-- google_ad_section_end -->

I agree that your portions don't look too big, just not the best choices. I've not heard that about waiting for 1 year for alcohol. I'm not a big drinker but do love wine! I just have to be careful because it can aggravate my GERD sometimes. You can eat mussels but not fruit? Aren't mussels super rubbery? As for the fruit - you can blend a few berries in milk and make a smoothy. You can bake apples with a little cinnamon and brown sugar. You can squeeze oranges and have fresh OJ. Most people do ok with melons. As long as you add more veggies, I wouldn't worry *too* much about the fruit part. A woman should get a minimum of 60 grams of Protein a day but most docs suggest at least 70-80 grams. Do you think you are getting that? Protein really does keep you full longer and carbs just make you want more and more and more ...

Thanks guys My BF is dead set against PS. It scares the crap out of him. He's one of those people that has always been skinny and just doesn't understand. He keeps saying - "You need some weight training. Sit ups. Push ups. You'll see, you won't need PS. You're very young." When I ask him where he thinks all this extra skin is going to go, he doesn’t have an answer – lol. I show him before and after pics of people and make him watch the PS parts of Big Medicine with me. It still hasn't sunk in that I have been over weight since I was in the 2nd grade. I've done so much damage to my body; it depresses the hell out of me! At my highest, I got just over 300lbs. Right before surgery, he argued with me about the title "morbidly obese" saying that is for people that weight 500lbs. I showed him the BMI charts - a BMI of 50 is morbidly obese!!! I love the naive little jerk though - lol! I secretly love the fact that he has a little tummy now and could stand to lose about 10lbs!! I have 5 more payments on my car and then that $400 per month is going to the PS fund. If I still have the same insurance when the time comes, they won't cover a dime.

Why would he not stitch it in place?!?! It sounds like you over worked your abdominal muscles. I've done the same thing working out. My port is still a little tender sometimes. I'm the opposite ... from day 1 I've been poking at and playing with mine - lol! Let us know how it goes.<O:p</O:p