DeLarla

I, for one, vote YES ON PICTURES.

What I wrote explains why I stay at my firm instead of getting a higher paying job. I already turned down an offer for more money elsewhere because I refuse to work for a big company. The more people, the more back-stabbing, malicious, life-destroying gossip there is (been there, done that.) I'm in a cozy old office now with only 9 co-workers, and none of them bug me (except Erin constantly parading food around me.) But there are nasty people around every corner that don't want you to succeed. Careful, a lot of them are in-laws! I learned a secret a long time ago. Anytime somebody hurts you, or there's somebody you really think you hate, try praying for them for a week. Ask for them to receive all the love, support, happiness, money, etc. that you'd want for yourself. It gags you at first, but within a couple days you tend to rise above the nonsense.

Regarding Erin: First thing this morning she walked into my office with a plate of Breakfast. We work in an office, so I can totally understand a muffin, or hell, even a bagel with cream cheese. But she walked in (not lying either) with eggs, sausage and a muffin PLUS those pancake sandwiches that are rolled around a sausage. She actually has the family-size bottle of syrup in our work fridge. So the entire office smelled like International House of pancakes. 3 hours later she had had a huge sandwich with a soda, large bag of Cheetos, a bag of pistachios, a bowl of grapes and Halloween candy. It's so sad, because she reminds me of myself - completly out of control. But I had a talk with her, so she's leaving me out of it. I feel bad because even John noticed she's put on weight since starting just a couple months ago. I decided to bring fruit in case I had candy cravings. I just cut an apple and gave half to John. I could only get down 1/4 of the apple and threw the rest away. Funny how candy slides right down but fruit jams up the whole highway!

My "little friend" definitely affects me every single month. First I lose restriction for a couple days while aliens in my belly want to eat live creatures and all food not locked up, but then I bloat up and get good restriction.

Lainie, this too shall pass, but take it easy just in case. Many of us started feeling better after a few days, but then we ended up feeling worse later. I'm not trying to scare you, I just don't want you to worry if you have a few more days of not feeling on top of the world. Good luck and keep us posted.

Ryan, I laugh in her face! Don't be mad at her or hurt, because it's obvious she's the weak one. She lashed out at you to cover her own jealousy and insecurities. People that are ignorant, weak and lack confidence always tend to cut down those of us who are making improvements. It's intimidating to see someone else's success when you have no growth of your own. Turn the conversation around and take it as a huge compliment, because what she was really trying to say is, "you have what I want, and I'm jealous of you." She's an ignorant woman that knows nothing of addiction... she shouldn't be working around criminals since many suffer addictive personalites. We eat knowing we'll get fat, they commit crimes knowing they'll go to jail. Nobody wants to be fat, and nobody wants to go to jail.

Hi Elbell, nice to see your smiling face! Welcome!

I can't keep up with the new posts any more! So many new band babies. We're growing like weeds. Soon the procedure will be just like getting braces. Good luck, Denise!

Blossom, I'm excited for you, too! Maybe you could leave a message for your surgeon begging him to put your first on the list for Friday. I got really lucky as far as scheduling goes because they took me into OR within an hour of checking in the hospital. The next morning there were 5 women waiting to get banded. I made friends with Francesca, and she was miserable because they didn't take her in till late afternoon. They had her hooked up to her IV in the morning with those tight surgical stockings on, so she had to sit around waiting impatiently as the 4 other women went before her. Good luck and let us know as soon as you find out the time. We'll all be thinking about you. xo

Tears rolling down my eyes... Betty's bananas! Coo-Coo. How many total pounds have left the building from this week's thread? Marie, I missed your problem - is there a thread? What's wrong?????

Will you be dancing with your old belly or your new pouch?

But Laurie, I didn't get anything accomplished at all! I had lots of projects that needed work... so many that I made a to-do list. The only thing I accomplished was having fun and spending money. Bad girl!

Okay people, I don't want to hear any more of this "only one pound" nonsense. One pound is a lardbucket full of fat! One pound a week would be 52 pounds a year. I think that's awesome loss. Did anyone gain 100 pounds in a few months? It took me years to gain, so I'll take a pound a week any day! Now Betty, you gotta delete that part and put in the dancing bananas instead!

Lauri, I didn't hurt myself exercising, I did it either riding my motorcycle too hard and too long or shoving a broken shopping cart around. I feel much better after walking this morning. But the stiffness will set in later after sitting all day. I did so much over the weekend that I can't even count the things I did. Laundry, mopping, housework, sewing, went to movies, rented movies, shopping, motorcycle riding both days, 3 bars, 2 casinos, 3 gas stations, visited 3 homes, had company (5 sets), sheesh, went trick-or-treating twice, and a partridge in a pear tree. I'm beat and need a jacuzzi. But I feel great at the same time.

I'm supposed to do 140 hours per month of billable work. I used to have great numbers, but since being banded my average monthly hours are only 129. This cuts my Christmas bonus to shreds. LBT over money... addicted? who, me?

We're all moving, so this thread is working. I did way too much over the weekend and woke up in the middle of the night unable to move. I have a new pulled muscle, and it's so bad that I can't even tell what hurts. I can't decide if it's in the front or in the back of my hip - or maybe it's even my back. I wasn't sure if I'd make it to work because I was gimped over, so I figured I'd walk it out. It was horrible getting dressed, but halfway through my walk I started loosening up. I'm no longer exercising to burn fat, I just need to walk upright like modern man! My whole body is killing me, and my feet are literally throbbing... that's a good thing, right?

Still holding steady around 252. I ate lots and lots of candy.... mmm. But at least I get to head over to the exercise challenge and log in some great exercise!

CLUNK - Lela just dropped dead of mushroom poisoning. I'm deathly allergic to mushrooms, and never in all my 42 years have I heard of a festival that celebrates them. I once lived in Oregon, but I've never even heard of the Mycological Society! I never even heard that word before! I think I'll stick to candy. Mmmm, she said candy. OMG, Zoe, I was cracking up at your post, but then I was crying during the 2nd paragraph. If nothing else, this thread is making us laugh, which releases endorphines and makes us feel good (like I know what the hell I'm talking about.") I have an idea. How about we all send our leftover candy to ERIN! We can send it in buckets anonymously! Or, I'm sure most of you have your own DIET SABOTAGER (is that a word?) Sabature? Sabatoire'? Bastards! Let them eat candy, muwahahahaha! Penni, there's always tomorrow. They say that women bond once we get to know each other. Maybe we're experiencing Group PMS? And yes, men can have PMS too! Just ask Chris who buys tons of junk then says, "but honey, I'm spotting."

Holy smoke am I beat up! I rode my motorcycle in the mad wind today for hours and hours on the highway, then played tackle football (well, I went shopping at Sam's, Walmart, and Petco, which is actually worse than football.) I know I burned a zillion calories cuz my feet are killing me and my hands are shaking and my my muscles are exhausted. And I'm just sitting down for a couple minutes, because company is on the way. I have to do all my floors right now, then I promised the neighbor kids to go trick or treating. I'm gonna fall over! So I earned the candy that I ate and will most likely eat later! I'm a liar and I'm trying to justify screwing up the junk food challenge again.

Lela is kinda cute! I like it! And I'm sucking badly at my own challenge, cause today I went to the movies. I didn't eat any normal dinner at all, just extremely buttered popcorn and candy. And for the first time since banded I had sips of hubby's Pepsi, which tasted like syrup. I'm feeling crampy and bloaty, so I sure hope this is just PMS and my band didn't give up on me. Did anyone check the stars to make sure the band isn't affected by some Mercury retrograde or something? What's going on with all of us?

Paula! I'm ashamed of you because my mom never bought good stuff to pass out at Halloween, only crappy hard candy. But when we got home from trick or treating, she always got into our loot and took all the good stuff! Tsk tsk. Last night was a one-time thing - hell, I hope! I never, ever fall asleep after work. But I guess my bod was run down. Today we went to lunch and I ate deep fried food (hey, lunch choices weren't part of the challenge.) I had a sampler plate of wings, fingers, cheese. So that part is okay with me, but I'm dying to get into the candy. I KNOW, I should put it away, but that's sacrilegious. It's Halloween! Penni, when you say a big bag of Cheetos, do you mean the family size, or the Big Grab size that they sell at 7-11? Cuz the big one... I'd worry. Maybe you need to get your ass here with John Monday and we'll go to a couple OA meetings together (or just sit around laughing at each other.) Lisa Green, good job at the party. You get a star. Spicy foods actually feel good in my little pouch. I must have corrosion on my esophagus from all my acid reflux and maybe the spicy stuff is burning it away. I make these stories up to make me feel better. Bec.. you didn't buy one of them one-pounders for tonight, did you?

Betty, if you're not hungry, don't eat. And stick to your plan. Go look at our Junk Food Challenge thread and you'll see what can happen once you let bad choices slip in (this won't happen right away, but once you're more comfy, it's easy to give in to willpower.) I wish I'd never have picked up the first goodie. Stick with individual serving size things as best as you can to control portions. A lot of us are having trouble right now because we picked up that one first bite of cookie, ice cream, etc. So you have a fresh chance and can learn from us. Stick with that sheet just like you said you would, and enjoy all your new choices. Don't ever give up, and don't ever give in, or you'll find yourself subscribing to our Junk Food Challenge thread, and that's a place you don't want to be. Show us how it's done, band girl!

Nora, I'm feelin' ya, Baby, but I'd probably walk through snow in bare feet to get Kit Kats. Megan, forget the challenge and go buy that pink scarf, and buy me one while you're at it. A woman simply can't go wrong with anything pink, let alone a pink scarf! Buy it for all the weight you already lost! Now time for my confession - I SCREWED UP REALLY BAD. I did not even meet my own challenge, so I'm starting fresh today. I did good at work - almost. I finished my lunch and should have put the rest away, but 20 minutes later had a couple more crackers and radishes. Sure, that doesn't sound bad, but it is a very, very bad habit to start. After lunch, not another bite till dinner. Then came dinner. Way too big. I ate a whole can of raviolios with a chunk of ham, some Doritos and a couple tablespoons of macaroni salad. I wasn't stuffed just a lil uncomfy. Then came time for my daily goody, but I didn't stop at 2 baby candy bars - I had three. Then for some odd reason, I fell asleep (it was still light out.) I must have been really tired and cold, because I woke up near midnight wondering what day it was. Then came the horror - I hit the kitchen and had a little binge. I ate another whole meal, pistachios, and 4 mini candy bars at midnight, then went to sleep again. That's just a step away from my old eating (actually it didn't compare to my old eating but it was still very band-dangerous.) So, I have to get back to my tiny plates and only twice a day. I'm going to Sam's Club today to buy individual Protein shakes. When I was really sucessful, I'd have a Protein shake every morning, but since I stopped, I've gotten messy. I stopped because I got burned out making them every day, so today I have a new plan. I MUST have a shake for Breakfast and I MUST sit down at a table to eat my meals. Shit's gotta change around here - and not just for me, for all of us. WE WENT THROUGH TOO MUCH TO SCREW UP AT THIS POINT, SO KNOCK IT OFF! Time for military band camp!

Betty, here's what I did: I figured since every single doctor gives different instructions, then the smartest thing to do was devise a practical plan that works special, just for me. If you listen to only one doctor, you could miss lots of valuable information. My doctor's dietician said to eat three meals a day - PERIOD. No grazing, no snacking, nothing inbetween. They did not give me amounts to weigh and measure, but told me to eat very slowly and chew very well for 20 minutes - not one bite longer. I think you are doing the right thing by questioning your doctor. I'm not saying he's wrong, but he is just one opinion of many. I'd be pissed, too, just for making you wait the extra day and remove your own bandages. Remember, cottage cheese is a good source of Protein. Beans are a great source too (I like some cheese on mine.) At least you got some new foods, and you'll really enjoy soups, which were very comforting to me. The point is that you & me and everyone else here are extremely fortunate that we have this board to rely on. This board saved my life. As long as you are sticking within general band guidelines according to all the pros around here, I think you'll be fine. My instructions were: Week 1 - Clear liquids (broth, Jello, frozen pops.) Week 2 - thick liquids (shakes, soups.) Week three - mushies (cottage cheese, mashed taters, processed foods.) Week 4 - start adding one food at at time, chewing really well, and then adding foods one at a time to make sure you can handle them.

I think I gotta sic you guys on Erin. She just came in here to offer me Pringles, as she stuffed them in her mouth. What part of this doesn't she understand? I'm going to have the kids make a DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS sign for my door.