Donna113

For salons, the typical tip is 20%. For those of you who say tipping has gotten out of hand, keep in mind that for many, the tips are their salaries. It's not like in the UK and Australia where you have minimum hourly requirements and health benefits for all. In the US, while there are minimum hourly wages, there is no compulsory requirement to provide health insurance and in many service jobs, there is no minimum wage requirement. Most waiters/waitresses only make $2.01 an hour and are expected to make their actual wages by tips. In most salons, the stylists are paid a percentage and the percentages vary depending on the experience and level of stylist. However, most salons also do not provide any insurance, sick day or vacation. You get paid when you work. The tips are to offset those costs. So, consider the 20% part of the fee. If you have a $40 haircut, then you should budget $48 for the cut. If you don't like tipping, then demand that the US government force all employers to provide healthcare and paid sick and vacation days off. Of course, if you do that, you will have to pay more taxes. The Brits and the Aussies pay WAY more taxes than the average American. One way or the other, you will pay for it, wouldn't you rather it be voluntary than involuntary through taxes?

BJean, why are you so convinced McCain is another Bush just because he happens to be a Republican? I'm a Republican but I'm no Bush. I got banded but I'm not like every other bandster on this site. I was a huge fan of McCain because although he was a "Republican" he was an "American" first and foremost and always did what he thought was right for America, even it it angered others in his party (which it quite frequently did). Notice I use the past tense "was". That is because since McCain started his campaign for the Presidency this election, I've noticed he has modified himself somewhat to perhaps win over the right wing Republicans who in the past despised him for being "too liberal." I trust McCain because I have actually followed and admired his political career from the time I first moved to Arizona in 1997 and even after I moved away, I still kept tabs on McCain because I was convinced he'd be our President one day. I am still pretty sure he will become President but I'm less sure of my feelings for him. He lost some currency with me when I noticed his rhetoric had changed to appease the far right. I hope it's just a campaign tactic and that once in office he will be the Maverick I admire.

Thanks, we didn't have any damage to our property but it wasn't much fun. We evacuated to San Antonio Thursday before the storm and waited until the electricity came back in our neighborhood a full week later. Hotel bill $1,000, eating out and misc. $1,000, dumping everything out of 2 refrigerators $700. So, we call it an Ikation but it wasn't fun and it really sucked having to spends hours and hours cleaning pool, yard and fridge upon our return. We were the lucky ones.

I went in last Tuesday to get my 3rd fill. Dr. Spivak thought I might have a leak but when he withdrew the liquid the full 3.5 was in so he gave me another 1 for a total of 4.5. That was a bit too tight so he took out .5 and I now have 4 ccs in an 8 cc band. I definitely feel the difference. I don't think I'm at my "sweet spot" but I get satisfied on less food and the feeling of satiety lasts longer than it did before. I'm due for my TOM next week so I was thinking I'll wait until after that to see how things go. If I am still losing too slow, then I will go back in a couple of weeks.

WTG Steph!

Last Friday was one month since the start of the challenge for me and I realized I've only lost 2 1/2 lbs in 1 month! The intent was to lose 10 a month so that means I'm already 7.5 in the hole! Yikes Name_________Start Weight___CurrentWeight______Goal________To Go *****<?xml:namespace prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" /><v:shapetype id=_x0000_t75 path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f" filled="f" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" coordsize="21600,21600">:crying:</v:shapetype>***********:thumbup:*************:drool:**********:cursing:*********:thumbdown:* agreatknead........204............198...........180...........18 areellady..........189............189...........159...........30 BIGB...............342............342...........300...........42 BellaPerdente......287............251...........200...........51 Boos02.............258............226...........200...........26 Brandy.............221............215...........191...........24 BrownBear..........240............235...........200...........35 Cadets71...........223.4..........223.4.........189...........34.4 Claudine...........250............250...........225...........25 Bunkey1965.........194............180...........170...........10 CubsGirl17.........172............170...........150...........20 Cutiew/booty.......251............244...........220...........24 cQQlgirl...........195............195...........175...........20 crzytchr...........276............275...........246...........29 Dionna113..........199............196.5.........160...........36.5 Ekat...............527............172...........152...........19 feefee57...........262............212...........180...........32 FeliciaLevy75......240............232...........190...........42 GillieBean.........304............296...........264...........32 HeatherO...........150............149...........130...........19 Hollie ............l54............154...........125...........29 Jeni 85............182............182...........160...........22 Jillbeme...........235............209...........185...........24 Josie74............260............255...........215...........40 klmsilva...........216............212...........190...........26 legster............183............183...........160...........23 linksmom...........251............251...........200...........51 Liquidbluegal......225............220.4.........199...........21.4 Liz_hager..........161............158...........130...........28 lotzasunshine......292............288...........250...........38<v:shape id=_x0000_i1025 style="WIDTH: 21.75pt; HEIGHT: 15pt" alt="" type="#_x0000_t75"></v:shape> Luu2008............230............199.5.........153...........46.5 Mamanmidwife.......295............295...........260...........35 MELISSA AGUIRRE....266............233...........160...........73 Melody2006.........223............223...........173...........50 MiniPearl#2........???............???...........???...........?? Minxz..............299............287...........270...........17 neefam.............238............189...........158...........31 odizzzydori........242............242...........199...........43 paige65............252............252...........208...........44 rainer.............236............233...........199...........34 reif78.............294............195...........140...........40 RichardCranium.....338............276...........200...........76 soontobehottie.....201............196...........165...........31 srknepler..........285............285...........255...........30 squale.............353............353...........325...........28 Sunshine2..........177............171...........160...........11 stevegoad..........370............341...........267...........74 Terilynn112........240............236...........199...........41 Truediva...........299............285...........235...........50 thininside28.......255............255...........215...........40 youcandoit!........196............196...........162...........34

I second that! I have been gaining and losing the same 3-4 lbs for the past month. I got my 3rd fill this past Tuesday and am hoping it will help. I do have more restriction than with my first 2 fills but as some of the others have noted, the feeling I get isn't the feeling of being full or even satisfied, but more that of feeling slightly stuck after about a 1/2 cup of food. I feel hungry again a couple of hours later but in any case, I am eating less than I was before my 3rd fill. Now I have 4 ccs in an 8 cc band. I evacuated to San Antonio on the 11th the day before Ike hit and came back on the 18th when my neighbors reported that the power was back in our neighborhood. I've just been really busy trying to get things back to normal since then.

We've had several headed our way so far this season but none has "hit" Houston yet. Ike seems pretty determined to hit us so I'm not sure what we will be doing. We're in a new suburb north of Houston so we don't really have to worry about any big tree damages and we're not terribly concerned about wind damage this far inland. However, when Rita hit us in '05, we lost electricity for a couple of days and THAT was not fun. Without electricity, life basically gets put on hold. All the gas stations were out of gas so we couldn't get enough gas to get out of town. I think we'll decide tomorrow what we're going to do.

Yeah, what she said.:omg_smile:

Since I've only lost 15 lbs, I don't really think there is much difference between then and now so that's why I haven't been all that anxious to take new pics but maybe the pics will tell a different story. BTW, the name is Donna but when the website moderator approved the name, they came back with Dionna so I just didn't bother to correct them.

Here are my pictures taken the morning of my surgery. I have not had any pictures taken since then so I will have some taken this weekend since 9/16 will be 2 month anniversary but I will be out of town.

8 lbs in 1 month! Phyll, I wish I could say the same. Last month, I only lost 3 lbs! Besides, yesterday is gone so let it go and enjoy today.

I live in a new subdivision as well so we have the same problem with no local grocery store. A SuperWalMart did open up right outside the subdivision but I hate going there because of the long lines and crowds. Besides, I'm just not a fan of Wal-Mart. I grew up in a small town in KY and watched all the local mom and pop stores go out of business when Wal-Mart came to town. It somehow seemed to take the soul out of our town. :cursing: Anyway, I'm claustrophobic and hate long lines. I'd rather drive for 2 hours than stand in line for a 1/2 hour! It's not the passage of time, but what I'm doing while time passes. At least when I'm driving, I see new sites, listen to music, etc. whereas waiting in line, I'm basically trapped. :thumbdown:

Yes, please do scan and post.

I've never had much "junk in the trunk" so I'm thinking if I do end up having some PS done after I reach MY goal, then I might just have them take care of that at the same time.

I wish! I've only had 2 fills so far and haven't achieved proper restriction yet. I've had 2 menstrual cycles since being banded and don't feel any difference in the band prior, during or after.

Frankly, I'm bored with the BJ talk. I want to go back to Chrisann's personal soap opera -- what is happening or is nothing happening? If nothing is happening, may I suggest you start something up? Nothing like drama to help you lose weight.

My doctor said the WLS industry considers the surgery a success if you lose 50% of your excess weight. That means my doctor's goal is not on par with my goal. I didn't pay all that money and put myself under the knife so I could be 1/2 fat.

this is a totally crazy thread.... funny, but extremely gross. It's kind of like a train wreck, you don't want to look at the mangled parts and pieces, but you can't help yourself...

very cool. thanks for sharing.

What's a Winco? Is it some sort of specialty gourmet grocery store? I can't imagine anyone waiting 2 hours in the checkout line for groceries unless they're in the Soviet Union or they're stocking up the night before a hurricane (something that happens frequently here in Houston).

LOL :thumbdown:

What kind of exercises are you doing?

The New whey Protein tubes aren't cheap so as a way to "stretch" your dollars, remember, unless you are in training for a triathlon, your body can only absorb about 20 grams of protein at a time so 1/2 of the tube is all you should take at one time. Also, an average person only needs 60-80 grams of protein a day so if you are eating fish, chicken and tuna, then you are getting plenty of protein without additional protein shots/shakes. My doctor keeps telling us, save your money and MOST IMPORTANTLY, save your calories for solid Proteins. The tube has 172 calories and even 1/2 equals 86 calories.

I'm not sure that people can't change, but I do know that once your trust has been breached, it will be very difficult to trust that person again. So, if you can work things out, don't expect things to be the way it was. I doubt it will ever be the same again. As someone stated earlier in this thread, you can't ever go back to the way things were, you can only go forward from here. It's up to you and your husband whether that's a solo journey or one taken together. With underage children involved, this has to be a very well thought out decision as whatever you decide will affect the children in ways noone can predict right now.