TerriDoodle

I know how you feel, Pammy. I'd kill just to see 184.8!!!...just so I could see that "4"!!! Today is the day I record my official weight for the week and it was 185.4. Last week it was 185.6. The week before that it was 185.8. So I'm losing at the rate of 3 OUNCES per week. :cry patience and trust and patience and trust and patience and trust and patience and trust and patience and trust and patience and trust and patience and trust and patience and trust...........

It's not easy by any means. food addictions are most difficult because you still have to partake of the very thing you're addicted to! So it's not a matter of breaking your addiction, it's a matter of controlling it in some way. Not an easy task. I'm more like you....a grazer...habits developed by 30 years of trying to control my blood sugar problems. At the slightest hint of hunger I would pop something in my mouth...even though it might be fairly nutritious, it was still food. I haven't had much success in controlling my grazing, but I have controlled how often and on what foods. I push the limits of my hunger more often...which is made much easier because of the band. If you know anything, know this: your addiction to food will not be cured overnight and you will have to make an effort to change your habits. The band will make it easier but it certainly won't do the work for you.

Sooverit- Re-reading my own post helped remind me of a few things, too. I feel like I have "learned to like" healthy foods over the last few years. Maybe those neural pathways are starting to build. Especially since being banded, when I'm eating something healthy and nutritious I have learned to savor each bite and find joy in the taste of blueberries, or the crunch of asparagus, or the juiciness of watermelon. When I eat something fatty and rich I still enjoy it (!) but I do note that it's feeling heavy on my stomach and slows me down. Make sense? This progress, however, has not migrated to my taste for sweets! But I have learned to be satisfied with a 100 calorie pack of Oreo crisps or a SF fudgsicle. I relish the feeling of eating a healthy and tasty meal and feeling completely satisfied and happy that I am doing the right thing for me....and that the results will come with time. So perhaps I have learned a bit about rewarding myself for eating well. My reward is in the positive feelings I have (or rather the lack of negative ones) and that keeps me motivated to some degree. I have made quite an effort not to whine TOO much when I've stalled and I am in the middle of a doozy right now. Whining is negative. Every healthy meal is a positive step toward making all my meals that way. I'm certainly not "there" yet but I do think i'm making progress...and it's taken years. Oh well, what else can I do? The science behind what I am talking about is best explained in the movie [ame=http://www.amazon.com/What-Bleep-Do-We-Know/dp/B0006UEVQ8/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-1447247-8529551?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1192190964&sr=1-1]"What the Bleep Do We Know"[/ame] and the book [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Bleep-Definitive-Unauthorized-Guide/dp/1932857222/ref=pd_sim_d_shvl_title_2/104-1447247-8529551]"Beyond the Bleep[/ame]". It goes way beyond A&P and into quantum mechanics and the power of the mind to shape perception and create reality. Heavy, heavy stuff....but very interesting.

Ok, I've stuck with my calorie counting all week just like I said I would! Yea me! Today was 862 calories. I was trying to stay low because of my food porn yesterday. I am really, really liking that Weight Control Oatmeal for breakfast! I can't believe how it fills me up and stays with me so well! I only wish it had more protein....but it does have good fiber, so I guess that's ok. I have a new favorite food: Eggplant Parmesan. Is it loaded with fat?? It sure is delicious!!!

I don't live in Colorado but I'd give my right arm to have a summer place there!!

Name your 3 all-time favorite movies: Monty Python Search for the Holy Grail; City of Angels; Braveheart If you could pick a new career right now, what would it be? Psychologist How old were you when you fell in love for the 1st time? 16 If you could pick your “last meal” what would it be? Grandma's chicken Noodle Soup, klobasniks, Mom's fried chicken, corn on the cob and chocolate cake What’s the greatest thing about the town you live in? The restaurants, shopping and mild winters Where were you born? Houston (4th generation Texan) Have you ever read a book (or attended a lecture, took a class, etc.) that changed your life in some way? What was it? Reading [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Discover-Power-Within-You-Unexplored/dp/0062501151/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-1447247-8529551?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1192115549&sr=8-1]Discover the Power Within You[/ame] was a MAJOR spiritual revelation and helped me "find God" at the age of 25. [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Journey-Souls-Studies-Between-Lives/dp/1567184855/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-1447247-8529551?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1192115636&sr=1-1]Journey of Souls[/ame] totally altered the way I view my entire experience on earth. Way cool book (for me). What is your favorite charity? Why? Animal shelters because pets give us so much love and we owe it to them .... and children's charities (victims of domestic & sexual abuse, and children's hospitals) probably because of my heartbreaking experiences in nursing school during my Pediatrics rotation. Name your 3 all-time favorite books: Other than the ones I talked about above, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Angela's Ashes and Poisonwood Bible What do you do when you are bored? Shop for beads! One can never have enough Do you have any vices? Do drinking, smoking and cussing like a sailor count? Used to have even more than that! LOL I'm on the straight and narrow now!! Name one thing you’d like to do before you die. Retire, wake up and have every day be Saturday. Is the glass half-empty or half-full? Depends on what's in it!! ...but usually half-full What is your bedtime? 9:30p What is your idea of the perfect vacation? Sitting in a comfy chair on the deck of an isolated Colorado cabin, in the summer, overlooking the beautiful mountains. Next to me is a stack of great books and a bottle of wine. In the kitchen is the smell of hearty, healthy foods and the stereo is playing some soft jazz. Maybe later I'll go for a walk in the woods. Aaaaaaaah. Ever have a dream that you were “with” a movie star? Who was it? Tom Cruise....back in the day when he first married Nicole Kidman...I dreamed he dumped her (literally) when he laid eyes on me. Right when we were getting to the "good part" my alarm went off. I was very, very upset. If you knew your advice would be taken, what would you say to a high school graduate? Live a simple life, enjoy simple pleasures and find joy in friends and family.

Laura posted a thread for our "friend survey"....Thanks Laura!! http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f91/getting-know-you-getting-know-all-about-you-42811/

The Secret Santa thread made me think of this.... let's do a survey to get to know each other a little better. We could put this in another thread in the April 07 forum. Anyone want to add some questions? Name your 3 all-time favorite movies If you could pick a new career right now, what would it be? How old were you when you fell in love for the 1st time? If you could pick your “last meal” what would it be? What’s the greatest thing about the town you live in? Where were you born? Have you ever read a book (or attended a lecture, took a class, etc.) that changed your life in some way? What was it? What is your favorite charity? Why? Name your 3 all-time favorite books: What do you do when you are bored? Do you have any vices? Name one thing you’d like to do before you die. Is the glass half-empty or half-full? What is your bedtime? What is your idea of the perfect vacation? Ever have a dream that you were “with” a movie star? Who was it? If you knew your advice would be taken, what would you say to a high school graduate?

TracyK - I have the cure for your mouth sores!! My kids would get horrible bouts of them so I did some research awhile back and found that the Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is the culprit...it's the agent in toothpaste and most soaps that makes them foam. Turns out that it's very harsh on the tender mucus membranes of your mouth which in turn makes them susceptible to infection. I got both my kids on Biotene toothpaste (SLS-free) and within days they were much better and as long as they use that toothpaste they never had a recurrance! Below is a link to an article on the subject and then a link for Biotene toothpaste. There are others that are SLS-free, but Biotene is the only one I was able to find in a drugstore, and that was at Walgreen's. https://www.therabreath.com/art_cankersores.asp Buy Biotene Antibacterial Dry Mouth Toothpaste with Calcium, Gentle Mint Gel Online at drugstore.com

1600 Calories today. No exercise. My menu today reads like food porn, so I'm not going to list it.

Maybe we should call this Secret Shrinkin' Santa. Price limit? My vote would be $15 if we have to set a 'limit'. Christmas is difficult for many people so I don't care if it's $5 or $50....people should spend what they are comfortable with and not a penny more. It's the thought that counts...period.

Pammy - How are you feeling today? You got the banana boobies workin' so you must be feeling better!! I'm gonna go over to daily plate and TRY to remember everything I ate today!! God help me.

I just had a thought....could it be your iron pills?? Prolly not, but if you took it right before your coffee, it might be!

Laura - I am so sorry!! But I have to say that the hot guys thing made me LOL big time. The other thing is that my docs orders are to call, day or night, if vomiting continues for more than 4 hours. Do you have an emergency number to call just in case? That reminds me of a story I never told ya'll...it was kind of like Laura's except that I was with my in-laws (unknowers) and we were at a country club for breakfast. I got HORRIBLY stuck on scrambled eggs. I got to the bathroom for the 2nd time with a mouthFUL of saliva and ran to the stall....I'm spitting and hockering and coughing bad. This goes on and on for at least 5 mins....then I hear noise from the stall next door!!! I thought the bathroom was empty!!! I apologized profusely and said I didn't realize she was in there. She meekly said, "Are you okay???" I said, "Yes, I'm fine." I'm sure she thought I was bulimic or something. I was mortified!

That's the way, BlooEyez!! You don't even have to go up a minute every time! Do 4 minutes for a week, then 5 the next week, etc. Or break up your workouts by doing 8 minutes with a 5-10 minute break in the middle. You're doing great!!

Michelle - Y'know....I've been on this earth for a long time and I've seen and heard about guys like that all my life. But I have to say, without a doubt, that this guy wins the Dick of the Year Award. And if he's that much of a dick, GOOD RIDDANCE. I hope you told her to get herself a very good lawyer right away. There are many things she will need to do with great haste to protect herself and her children. Yep. Dick of the Year. Hands down.

Michelle -- just load, load, load up on water....then drink some more!

Why are you starving? What are you eating?

Stop it you guys!! Really! It's just the principle of 'what goes around, comes around' at work here. You all are the highlight of my day, every day, and I'm just trying to give back a fraction of what I receive. Mmmmuah! "It is too scary out there..." LOL!!!!! So true. ROFL!! This totally cracked me up!!! Rants and raves scares the poop outta me....but maybe you've got something here! Laura - Not that I don't love babies...but I'm glad (if you're glad) that you're not pregnant! Hey, did you ever paint like you wanted...or pick out a good color? What rooms? I love to paint. Well, I don't love to paint...I love the results! I'm pretty bold when it comes to color....my bedroom is the color of creamy coffee. Hannah's room is the color of the sky. Richard's study in our old house was a dark plum. FUN! I love the color of tangerine...I just can't figure out what to paint that color! Maybe the garage?? LOL

No, look again, Laura. I figured I overpaid $30... I think it was $399 for the bugg + 3 months subscription...unless I missed something.

Night, Kat. Hugs, sweetie.

What Kat said -- get your fills, follow the rules and exercise. Blech. I know, I know. But we don't have any magic here....just the same ol, same ol! As for trying to establish new behaviors, I found that reading a good book about how to change (This Year I Will, by MJ Ryan) helped motivate me a great deal. Made it seem real do-able, y'know? kat, you're a saint. You should have set her straight...I hope you did. Hi Pammy sorry you're haviing a very rough week. I wonder if you just were hungry and didn't chew that chicken real good. I have to be sooooooooo careful with chicken. And the skin from tomatoes and grapes, etc. can give me problems too. OK, now about your weight ...you went to Jazzercise last week 5x and your muscles are freaking OUT right now!! They're holding onto all kinds of water trying to heal up. And the same goes for being sick... Richard has allergies and bronchitis quite often and he gains 8-10# when he's sick. Just be patient. You might be a little constipated, too (?). It'll work itself out...you know you're doing the right thing so you must have PATIENCE AND TRUST. Just get better. That's job #1. It was a crazy food day for me...way out of the ordinary because I had a lunch meeting with a limited menu and then out for dinner. Anyway, I won't bother with the detailed menu but I did go to the gym to work off 300 calories and ended the day with net 997 calories (goal is 1000) but only 48g protein. Will only get in about 60oz of water at best. Tomorrow I have 2 more meals out! Service awards at a fine steak house for lunch and then wine and dinner out with the girls (and HAYDEE!) at an italian restaurant. I'm going to try real hard to be good. I have been so amazed at how my WC oatmeal is holding me for breakfast!! I'm lovin' it!!

No, I didn't realize the cost was so high! Oh well, that's what I get for not researching properly!! Crap. :eek: That's ok...I'll just go pick the extra cash off of my money tree in my back yard.

Laura - You may be a little anemic. You can either have your doctor check your blood count...or just take a good iron supplement. When I was pregnant I became anemic and within one day of taking the supplements I was like a new person!!! Especially since you've been having so many periods, too...that's what I would suspect first thing. Ask the pharmacist about a liquid supplement...I don't think you want an iron pill sitting in your pouch..as I recall they can be hard on your tummy.

Haydee - 407 calories for dinner isn't bad! That's about what I eat for dinner or lunch. I love Chipotle!! ...especially the salad!