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OMG your ring is SO pretty!!!! That is just beautiful Laura! Congratulations...what a wonderful feeling being in love is. I met the love of my life finally (after my divorce), and we've been married 3 years (as of the 30th of this month). He is so wonderful...I love him dearly...can't believe it took me over 35 yrs to find him LOL Congrats again! You're going to look beautiful in your dress. :banana

OMG I just tried on a pair of pants that I haven't received in 2 yrs...they fit!!!! Size 20 (I started this journey in a size 24)...woohoo!!! My first NSV!!!

Tracy - Good luck getting to the 220's!!! That's my next short term goal - 10 more pounds and my BMI will be 39.3!! I will no longer be considered "extremely obese", I'll then be "obese" and on my way to overweight! LOL This is so exciting!:clap2:

Good morning Violets!! Good news - I've hit the 230's mark finally!!! I weighed in this morning at 239.4!!! WOOOHOO!!! Next goal: 220's Wow I didn't realize how much you use your muscles fishing - I woke up this morning and I'm a little sore! LOL No plans for today - laundry and pick up the house a bit. Wait for my kids to get home. They went camping for the first time without me. Both of my daughters, my youngest daughter's boyfriend drove, and my 15 yr old niece went with them. They've been gone since Friday and have no cell phone service where they're at so I've been like a worried mother hen all weekend! LOL Thankfully they'll be home today. :what: I hope that everyone has a restful and relaxing Sunday!!!!

Angie - From what I've read on other posts, what you're experiencing is very normal. Some people need a few fills before they feel a difference. I've also seen that some people don't feel any restriction for a week to two weeks after a fill - so that may be what you're experiencing.

Thank you so much Jennifur! I have a LONG way to go, but I feel like I've come a long way also. I'm sure you are looking pretty darn good yourself! I know you've lost quite a bit so far too! :clap2:

The fish are now clean - my hubby cut their heads off and I gutted them LOL...I've been fishing with my father (god rest his soul), my hubby and kids all of my life, so it's just second nature to me. THANK YOU SO MUCH for noticing that my pants are baggy!!!! I started this journey in a snug size 24, and these are 22's that are getting a little baggy. I am thrilled that you noticed!!!! I could hug you right now!

My hubby and I went fishing today - I was tired of sitting around on my butt, so I figured, let's get moving! We were only there 3 hours and we both caught our limit!!! I'm dirty though! LOL

I'm almost to the 230's mark!!! This morning I am at 240.4 - I can't wait to see the 230's!!!!! I now have people telling me that they can tell that I've lost weight. I saw a vendor yesterday that I haven't seen since December and she said that she had to do a double take to make sure it was me when she saw me!! This is just so exciting!!! I'm going fishing with my hubby today. First time we've been fishing together since we met 4 1/2 yrs ago. Wish me luck! I hope everyone has a great day!!!

Kity, I am so sorry that you have to go through all of this. I can't think of anything that will make you feel better, however do know that you have others who care about you very much. Just know that you can vent and cry and you will always have a shoulder to cry on here.... Life never seems to be fair...or kind...in fact, it can often times be very cruel. You are such a strong woman, and as much as this is horrible to go through, I honestly believe that you will make it through. Enjoy your dad and spend lots of time with him....but remember even after he's gone, he'll never be truly gone. You'll always have your memories near and dear to your heart.

I have to ask - Just HOW MUCH food is everyone able to eat?? I ate a baked potatoe (small) and 2 chicken wings (meat only) tonight for dinner....very easy. It's weird because I don't feel hungry, it's just that I know I need my nutrients (I know, I know....then why eat a baked potato?? It was yummy?) I think I just need a fill so that I CAN'T eat that much...I've been counting calories and I'm taking in about 900-1100 calories a day...I also seem to be stuck at - 12 lbs. I'm still at 242 for the past week...I continue to exercise and stay under 1200 calories a day.... *sigh* Any advice or input? :help:

<a href="http://www.dolliecrave.com/mothersday.shtml"target=_blank"><br /> <img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v40/mitsiki/dolliecrave/mothersday/3.gif" border=0 alt="Dress Up Games, Glitter Graphics, Cartoon Dolls, Myspace Graphics from dolliecrave.com"></a> Whether you're a mother or just like a mother, Happy Mother's Day to you!!!! I bought my mom a new patio set for her back patio, and then I took her to a Mother's Day brunch. I had yogurt w/granola, a little piece of a zucchini frittata, about a tbsp of sausage gravy, some scrambled eggs, about 1 oz of a french toast with sugar free syrup and about 1/8 of a banana. I just had a bite or two of lots of things, but it was very satisfying!

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LOL jainebug, it has nothing to do with old deary! I'm 41 and I LOVE Incubus....they're a rock band...well more alternative rock I would consider them...they have great music.

Hey is that VIOLET hair??? You're going to start a new trend!

Great news on your study today! Good luck! :clap2:

Hi Wendell!!!! :clap2:

In a heartbeat!

I'm sure some of you know about this website, but I'm going to post it for those of you who don't. It's absolutely a wonderful tool in helping me count calories AND my nutrients! You can log all of your meals, you can copy and paste a recipe and it figures out how many calories and nutrients per serving, and you can track your weight loss, and even tell it how many calories you're going to eat daily, how active (or sedentary) you are, and it will give you a target date for your weight goal. I LOVE it! Hope you find it useful too! <br /> <br /> http://www.calorie-count.com

I'm only 9 days post op but so far I've not been hungry once....but I know it's coming just from reading everyone else's posts! LOL :hungry:

So far this has been a little difficult for me as I'm never really HUNGRY and I only eat because I know that I need to for the nutrients....So I never know how much to eat. lol

OMG Tracy! Not only were we banded the same day, our first FILL dates are the same! I'm scheduled for June 4th @ 11:15am. That's my daughter's birthday too. How much weight have you lost?? (if you don't mind me asking??)

Househuntress, Are you able to eat the fibrous veggies in the hot and sour soup??? I LOVE that stuff and I'm so afraid I won't be able to eat it anymore after I start on regular food. My doc said to be careful of fibrous foods such as bamboo shoots, celery, asparagus, pineapple...Anyone else able to eat these things without a problem?

Been there, done that! I worried that I had a blockage, but we have to remember we're still eating mostly fluids, soft foods and things almost baby food consistency....How could we wish for normal poo? :rolleyes Just make sure that you're getting plenty of water so that you don't become dehydrated! And if it gets worse or you go more than 4 times a day, then I'd call your doctor.

Tracy - How are you feeling?? Advancing your food choices a bit yet? I'm still afraid to! LOL I tried your mock danish tonight - was very yummy, but I was only able to eat a few bites when I started feeling like it was stuck in my throat...like it was sitting there and I had to keep swallowing to feel like it was staying down...not that it actually tried to come back up, it just felt as if I had to swallow and swallow for it not to feel like it was sitting in the back of my throat...I chewed really well, but I don't think it agreed with me! No pain though....it's just a weird feeling. Or maybe I need to get used to that feeling when I have restriction and am eating normal food? So many things to learn, so many questions! Oh love your new signature by the way!!!! Not sure if I'm brave enough to do that...maybe one day. :fish: Christy - The belly thing worked...or I think it did. If anything, the rocking motion, or jiggling put me to sleep and I woke up pain free! LOL Thanks for the tip! Kity - Congrats on your new job! I'm so envious - I'd love to go back to school and upgrade my degree...perhaps one day. To everyone else - I hope that everyone had a wonderful day, and for tomorrow, TGIF to all the Shrinkin Violets!!!!!! I love my Fridays!!! :cool: