Pookeyism

I was born and raised in Buchannan County, VA. Grew up in Vansant, near Grundy...Richlands...Bluefield...

Do you have a 401K you can borrow from? Don't laugh - sell stuff! Ebay and such brings better in than a yard sale. BEGIN SAVING while you figure this out. Stop going out to eat, stop getting drinks on the go...cheaper brands, etc...it adds up. I sold my extra bike rack and punching bag, etc...a set of dishes, a couch! lol...you can be very suprised at what you decide you do not need! I hada friend dropped his gardener, and used the lawn care time as exercize - and saved an extra 200$ month. I wash my own car, am more careful with the laundry, just so much. Avoid the medical loan if you can!

oH, YES! The morning of, I was horrible, too!

Yay! I wonder whay I do not "see" the loss in myself as much as I see it in others??? You look G-R-E-A-T!

Popcorn and an intersting movie do not mix...I ate more popcorn than I ever meant to. liquids! lol

No one has said this specifically, but I would avoid berries and any type of husk, etc, till you can add fiber of another sort. I would think you could end up with a diberticulitis issue...

I should mention that I had alot of bad habits and desperate days in there...sick alot, sick at heart alot. It a damn hard thing to do to see your Hubby look at you - his world - and know you worry him everyday...

I knew I would not be forever, because I knew I was probably in the "Less than 20 years left" area...I knew I would never stop fighting. Ever. I am glad I never truly gave up. The fact that I never stopped exercising entirely, kept my love of nutritional foods alive, etc...the doctor says that was a part of my regression from being a type 2 diabetic so fast. I already had 5.6 - 6.1 readings, etc...

You have done something to trigger an old habit. We are all about the "cue", which is then the activity, and the reward... Read "The Power of Habit". I am so not kidding. I knew all of this stuff, I was familiar wit who "E" was - and yet this book is hitting me like a ton of bricks...A ton of old, bad behaviors....

Yes! I am not sure if I make mine strong enough, but the citrus also helps with breaking down abdominal fat.

What color crayola would that be???

I found fiber to help - and also less starch. The better hydrated I am, the less this is a problem.

So happy for you. I get so emotional when I hear of everyone's success - because I know what it has meant to me. Good luck. PLEASE consider reading the book - "The Power of Habit" - it is eye-opening.

This is amazing! So happy for you. If you look at what you have overcome, and what you can do now - it is definately a victory!

Bright white energy your way! Good luck! See you on the losers bench!

I feel really bad that I have never mentioned bee pollen when we are talking of drinks and shakes and ways to get in your protien... Bee pollen is almost 25-35% protien, supports the good carbs, ALL essential amino acids - tastes gewd and more, more, more - most put it in a mortar or pestle, but I often cup it in my hand, smoosh it up with a finger and lick it off Yummy! I am not promoting this website, actually I do not get my bee pollen from here either, but they have an excellent page on the nutritional content: http://www.durhamsbeefarm.com/nutrition_analysis.htm

Took a lemo, rolled it till soft, cut it about 1 cm thick, about 3-4 pieces, cut into halves, put in a 16 oz Blender Bottle, put in ice but not the wire ball, put in my sweetner, and put on the top- and filled it full...shook a couple of minutes and let it set about 1/2 hour in the fridge, and shook again. MMMM - lots of vit c, and it is a perfect Houston evening drink!

Lol - yes. One of the places it happens most frequently is where they know me and my Hubby well, we are actually friends - the mom is a recent immigrant from Lebanon, and has been told what was going on with me, but she just doesnt get it! She just feels as if she brings me the right thing, I will eat. She even had her son courrier over food one Saturday evening when Hunny was in cyprus - fish and chicken, hummus abd babba ganish (sp, I know), falaffel, rice pudding, backlavah, shwarmah with egg, couscous three different ways. lol. I had a brunch for my friends the next day, and had about 5 meals out of it, too!

I can get it for 19$ a tub, I think...I can get you some if you need. No I do not think it is high. it is worth it. It sits on my tummy really well. It has about 17 serivngs (drawing from memory) - so that is about 1.30 a drink...that is pretty good.

I should go back and say I had no complication that was related to his staff...but he is not very involved - but gives you the time he has...I don;t know if that makes sense...his coordinator is awesome, and one of his patients! The coordinator gets really stoked on your progress. I also want to say congradulations on finally getting your surgery! Add yourself to the Houston Active Sleevers group on here...I am tryin gto get us into activities this summer...sleeved or not, all is welcome.

Sorry that you are going through that - what procedure are they talking about doing?

My doctor performed better than I initially gave him credit for, I thnk - not intentionally...Ata Ahmad. He does not support a monthy support meeting, however...

Wow...that makes me wish I had calculated how much I would have had if they were all hung up! I think I have gave away just about all hubby will let me give away, boxes and boxes and friends literally dropping buy and building outfits, lol...there is alot that had tags still on it, or just cost too much to give away. I now have to ebay them, lol.

Angelakay: try gas ex strips...I will be going out to ride this morning and run. Don't laugh but if you want to get in a public walk I am making my swansong trip to torrid. last year their swim trunks were awesome and they had them in 12-14...and that is what I need now! OMG! I can drive and we can go from bench to bench...

Sara - there was a question I wonder if you would answer - were you taking only what you are supposed to of the Alli? Have you developed any eating disorders? Dorrie had a wonderful answer for you. I would say a concern for you from me is def the cheating - because that will set you up to fail. Another serious issue. Crossover replacements for your foodstyle...they are known as addictions. Alcohol, smoking, weed, cutting, and replacement "feeling" (I forget that one - help me out Dorryie!). Going to a counselor is OK - but what then - do you actively work on what you have talked about? Do you read on your own? If you were not taking a diet aid, could you maintain your loss? The esophogeal stretch may be a way to get some of it covered by insurance, even if they will not approve the sleeve. Replace the mochas with a coffee, or warm up and froth a glass of hoodia soy milk in chocolate or a spash of coffee. Popscicles are good, Jello too! If you cantr get away from alcohol, make a jello shooters, freeze them, and blend them in a blender with some crystal light you have poured into ice cubes. Get onto My Fit Pal, get to know the site well, it will help you alot. If you find yourself off the band, still go to therapy, and prepare yourself to do this old-style until your esophagus and tummy can heal - get the original "eat this, not that" book, and feel free to stick around the forum. There is alot discussed here, not all VGS related, and you can build up a healthy bit of knowledge. Notice I did not say yay or nay about whether you should get the sleeve...I cant make that decision. Whatever you go, I hope you work through everything and are well. I talk like I am telling you what to do - it is just my nature, I only intend them as suggestions...