takingaleap

Brush your teeth right after dinner, use a strong mouth wash too. I don't know why but when I do this, I don't want to eat anymore, i guess because the food won't taste good with a minty flavor!

I have my first one this year! Zucchini, picklibg cukes, bell peppers, tomatoes, and cherry tomatoes. Everything is doing great except the tomatoes, something is killing it and we dint know what. I can post pictures later.

Divine yumminess!!! Can't wait to make these!!!

Oooooh dipped in hummus!!!

oh, just remembered..... I did manage to get a huge rhubarb plant to grow!! It's beautiful

Corn, red potatoes, Yukon gold potatoes, russet potatoes, purple potatoes, sweet potatoes, cherry, grape, and traveler tomatoes, strawberries, cantaloupe, watermelon, zucchini, yellow squash, cucumbers, and 6 types of pumpkins. Oh and sunflowers. Lol

I'm trying for the first time this year... I planted 3 tomato plants and 12 green pepper plants in topsy tuby's Just picked my first tomato of the year yest and I have 4 green peppers that are about 2 inches big!!!! Everyone is jealous of my tomato! lol It's pretty early for them here in NE especially with as cold as it's been.

I take the little Calcium 'candies'. Theyre delish and what doc told me to take. Feels like I'm having 2 candies a day.

Thanks everyone:) The reunion was fun. I decided on making a cold bean salad. My husband was nervous, because his family is so picky, but they loved it.
I used the organic bean mix at Krogers, a can of garbonzo beans, corn, mild salsa, a can of crushed tomatoes with green chilis for a touch of spice and sprinkled the top with sharp cheddar cheese. MMMMMM Everyone was really suprised on how much I have lost since we all got together at last years reunion, that felt really good. Then my husband and I hiked a new trail the next day and found the most beautiful waterfall. Next time, we are packing a lunch and swimsuit & going back to the falls:)

I'm not a low carb gal, but I want to share a great website for low carb recipes:
http://www.ibreatheimhungry.com/
This blogger is an inspired cook and a great photographer. You will drool when you see her dishes!

Just saw a magazine article that said she went from a size 20 to a 14. So, I guess she seems to be doing well so far.

I have a small one with Cherry Tomatoes, Red and Yellow ones, Onions and peppers. I have a Koi pond and flower garden to keep me busy. I'll post pics later.

I always laugh when people say that, their ignorance is astounding.
I have a friend who had Gastric Bypass 2 months before me, and when I told her I was getting the Lap-Band, she told me I was nuts because it didn't work. We started out about the same weight, too.
Now, 5 months post surgery for me and 7 for her, she's lost 60 pounds. I've lost almost 100. She's not saying the band doesn't work anymore

thank you for posting the saying from T.D. Jakes, wonderful!!! As a recently divorcee with the exception of my wonderful and supportive mom I am riding this alone, and of course you guys. Even my brother's wife has her little comments like "well, you're going to really have to watch what you eat and the pre-op diet, I don't think you can do it". Stuff like that. My mom on the otherhand, "if it will make you deal with it easier and I'll do the liquid shakes with you", of course my mom is 5'7" and 180. But to think that my mom would sacrifice and do that with me, wow.

Since you usually are expected to bring a dish to a cook out/family reunion a have been scouring all my healthy cookbooks finding something I have never had...but would really like to try. I go ahead and make a main daish/side dish and dessert.Three new dishes that I really want to try.....then when I get to the event I'm excited about what I have brought and could careless about all the other stuff.....that way I still have some control....even if I had a bite or two of the other stuff...........there just isn't room for a whole bunch.

If you are going to a family or friends cook out bring your own Protein. Bring 4 oz of chicken breast and grill it. I find if I get my protein in I am more able to choose my side dishes judiciously. There is often a veggie platter at a cook out. So between the protein and veggies you should be fine.
Exercise is important in controlling your weight if you are going to parties and eating more cals. than you should.

Isn't amazing how often these events happen? I've been dodging lunches with old friends and weekend BBQs for two months now. It's so funny how friends contact me and want to see how I'm doing over a lunch? Egad, no way. I'm doing great and don't need the setback. I think I'd be OK in a restaurant as I can order what I want where at a picnic or BBQ there are way too many temptations.
I think many of us come by our propensity to make any friends or family gathering a food based fiesta, honestly. Many of our families did the same and some of our parents didn't pass on those genes that tell our bodies to stop eating.
tmf

I prefer splenda, but some people swear by stevia.

So I told myself I wouldn't go shopping but I couldn't help it lol I just wanted a few things for summer. I have been a size 20 for so long I think since junior year hs. I tried on a few things and they didn't fit they were too big!!! So I went down to a 18 and they fit but loosely I'm sooo excited I haven't been this size in so long im able to wear 1XL tops and I got an XL dress as well! 43lbs down and I'm feeling amazing :-)

I lost 50 pounds in three months, and talked to my surgeon last week he says I should be down 100 pounds by September! so yay!

I love this!!!!! Thank you so much for posting....I've been overwhelmed lately be the negative posts of band failure and really needed to read some positive words. I think I'm going to read this post every day to remind myself that this is truly a journey that I must take day by day!!!!

I have maintained my weight loss within 10 lbs.up or down, for about 6 years now (size 6). I keep asking myself why have I been so successful?
I was never in a hurry to lose the weight. I only averaged 5 or 6 lbs per month. I never had a goal and got smaller then I ever thought I would, (nice surprise).
I got very small fills. I took allmost a year to get to good restriction.
I wasn't too hard on myself if I cheated. I cheated a lot, I still do and have learned this is part of who I am. Ha!, tomorrow is another day.
I followed my doctors rules the first several months. It was hard, but I did it.
I never compared myself to anyone elses success or failure.
I exercised ( as little as possible) but I did it and still do (as little as possible).
I learned what my food triggers are, this was a hard one to overcome.
I learned to replace my craviings for sweet and chocolate and fat with low calorie, low fat recipes. (I can't live without chocolate).
I learned to eat slowly and chew well, this took over a year to master.
I learned when I go out to eat, about 2 or 3 times a month to totally enjoy my food, to eat whatever I want including dessert, and not count calories or worry about
portions. To enjoy the atmosphere and the company I am with.
I learned if I had a bad day, eating or otherwise, it will pass and tomorrow is a new beginning. Sometimes it was a bad week.
I didn't need anyone to validate my success. No one knows I had this done. Not even my family. So no one to judge me good or bad.
I learned I now have a great track record and most likely this will continue.
For me losing the weight was not a body image issue, it was a health issue. However being thin has been a nice side effect.
Hope this post will encourage some.

Thanks ladies, I just had my dinner, i feel a little better now. I made 3 oz baked chicken breast no skin, 3oz steamed beets, and 3 oz fresh baby spinach, with fresh squeezed lemon juice, red onion, and salt, and pepper. I just realy mis that stuffed feeling.

Thanks to u all...
I was 204 last week Monday got a fill Thursday then this morning 197:) that's seven Pds in a week... Wow, really!!

I am week and half post opt. I had a rough time and then got shingles! But I am totally recovered fe surgery. I love eating small amounts and not being hungry for a long time. The shingles is still bad but getting better with medicine. I feel like I am turning the corner to my new life and it looks great. Glad to share the journey with you guys. I also was already told by my hubby that my face looks thinner already!