Pebbagirl

You look great.

Yay, you!!! I can't wait to be there!!

If your eating emotionally, I strongly suggest exploring www.shrinkyourself.com. That's shrink as in psychiatry, not as in getting smaller! It's a 12 week self guided program that forces you to ask yourself (and answer) the really tough questions. I'm on week 7 and don't even get banded for another week. I've learned so much from this program!!

You sound like me when I (an American) lived in UK for a while. I couldn't believe the language barrier. At a dinner party I complimented the gentleman sitting next to me on his cute paisley suspenders! You can imagine how that livened up the crowd! (for you Americans, suspenders are garters!) I complimented a man on his cute paisley garters!

Love the new haircut!!

Whoa!!!

I keep a case of bottled water in my car at all times. It started as an accident one summer when I forgot to take it in after a grocery run. I was super thirsty and remembered I had the water. Now, it's a permanent fixture! I have also purchased a lunch-sized soft-side cooler so I can carry healthy foods with me when running errands, traveling, and visiting people. Keeps me out of the fast food lanes!

You probably know this but it's worth mentioning in case someone doesn't: there is a little bit of difference between a DRY measuring cup and a LIQUID measuring cup. We need to be using a dry cup. Also, that is one cup of food compacted into the cup, right. (that question is for people more experienced than I.)

For those on pre-op diet (either protein shakes only or shakes plus food) how many calories a day were you advised to have?

I'm still pre-op and here's my question: I know that in the long run many people say not to use protein shakes because they're liquid, go straight through the band and won't fill you up. But even pre-banded, my protein shakes fill me up! Mine are home made with protein powder, spinach and frozen fruits. If it fills me up now, won't it fill me up faster after surgery?

Sorry. 25g.

Also you can blow the hair dryer on it.

Donna, this is absolutely NOT judgmental but meant to be encouraging. :-) I don't have an answer about your food issue but I want to encourage you to do a TINY bit of walking every single day. Walk to your mailbox or the end of your driveway and back. Or walk on your treadmill super slow for 3 or 4 minutes. I understand lethargy and I know you can't keep food down right now, but just walk a few minutes every day. It will get you going in the right direction and hopefully become easier within one week. I enjoy reading your posts and I think you're a beautiful lady.

I'm still pre op but just wanted to thank you for the questions. These are things I'm curious about too.

This is beginning to sound like Dr. T and the Women!

Yes. I've heard about the 25% thing too. And it has really made me wonder.

OMG, Maddysgram! Thank you. Sometimes these virtual conversations seem so far from visiting with people in real life and I just feel invisible. It's nice to hear someone acknowledge my efforts. And I'm proud of myself too.

I am pre-op and recently started walking again. I've been doing 1.7 miles in about 45 minutes (slow pace). Today I did 2.0 miles in 50 minutes and now my legs and feet are killing me! Is it simply because I walked a little bit faster?

Just curious: what's the reason for covering up wedding rings with bandaids?

Just curious: what's the reason for covering up wedding rings with bandaids?

Sorry, I misspelled Noel. Also I should clarify that it's unsweetened almond milk.

I know, Dee! Yesterday I just didn't want to "suit up" and get out there but about halfway through I thought, I feel SO GOOD!

ChezNoelle has repeatedly recommended using almond milk in protein shakes. I just want to say thanks because I tried it today and it was DELISH! I also want to encourage those who are not walking or doing any sort of exercise. Even if you are so heavy right now that you feel you cannot walk or it is too painful, please just walk a little bit every day. Start with walkng to your mailbox and back. Do that for a few days until you feel that you can add more, then just add a little bit as you feel you can. I walked an hour a day a year ago and then I quit last winter because it was too cold. I hibernated and put on 30 pounds! In the spring, it was hard to walk. In the summer it was too hot. Fall has now come and I finally decided to start walking again. The first time I walked, I literally was gone for 5 minutes. The rest of the famly laughed at me (not mean spirited). But the next day I walked that same 5 minutes then the next day it was 10, then 15, and now (within a month) I'm up to one hour a day! It doesn't hurt; in fact, it feels great! I have spent a lot of time researching appropriate outdoor clothing, layering, and where to find outdoor clothes for fat girls. I have now built up my outdoor walking wardrobe and have no excuse not to walk this winter. So, please be encouraged to start walking even if it's just 25 steps.

LOL! Thanks, y'all! No, I didn't brown it first. Yep, I missed that step! I thought you could just throw everything in the crockpot! And FWIW, I only added the paprika because I didn't have chili powder and was desperate to get the color right. Yeah, that probably didn't help anything! LOL. Thanks for the great input. I'll work on perfecting this recipe.

Thank you! That was my guess...on both accounts!