DeLarla

I'd have adopted years ago, but my instinct tells me to leave the "children" subject alone. However, if a child/children landed in my lap, I'd snatch them up. For example, Rob's sister never wanted kids so she lived on birth control but then ended up raising Rob's baby (who is 10 now.) I always hoped that would happen to me - babies from heaven. I've been through too much stress and anxiety in my life to intentionally start something so intense as an adoption process. One of my closest friends is a family law attorney who keeps a constant eye out for an uncomplicated adoption. Ya never know.

This has been discussed into the ground, but I want final clarification as to when we should stop drinking liquid before eating. My doc said stop drinking liquids 1/2 hour before eating, which I've always done (and if memory serves me well, that's how we do it on this board??) However, after reading on the other board that people drink right up until they take their first bite, I'd like some feedback. Their theory is that liquid passes right through to the bottom stomach, so it helps make the bottom stomach feel full. They don't feel it's necessary to wait 1/2 hour to eat. Then again, they're only eating 1.5 cups of food per day, and in my opinion anyone would shed weight no matter when liquid is consumed with that restricted intake. Does anyone here (that doesn't follow strict caloric intake) have significant weight loss and success by drinking water right up until you start eating? It would sure make life easier.

Wow, Kelly, that comment near gave me an aneurism. I'd never dare dream of losing 100 pounds. Can't even fathom it. Apparently it really happens here. Wow. YOU go girl!

I've thought of adoption & fostering. Those are options with people that have thousands laying around and are desperate to have children. I also believe everything happens for a reason, so that's why I never forced the issue. I have immediate family with severe mental illness (gee, could you guess?) I hate to force pregnancy only to find out the reason Mother Nature prevented it. My best friend from high school spent hundreds of thousands trying to get pregnant. She had one child and married a man with 3. Then wanted one more together. He started by having his vasectomy reversed (extremely painful.) Then they started hormones, injections, etc. After failure, they had artificial insemination, which failed. Then they had invitro, and after years gave birth to a son. When the baby was 6 months, my friend collapsed at work. She forced herself to go to work with the flu all week because she couldn't take any more time off. But it wasn't the flu. She got pregnant naturally after all they went through, but miscarried by pushing herself too hard. If that wasn't a big enough message to leave Mother Nature alone, right?

Let's all boo-hoo poor Kelly since size 16 is way too big! Size 10? Wow, I've never even heard of that size before. Sorry skinny, but plus size stores start at 14. Actually, I was hanging pants last night, and 14 doesn't look too big to me. I think the US needs to catch up and decide that 18s should stay in regular sizes. Then again, I'm 5'10". If I could wear a 14, I'd be one hot mamma! Teresa, I think Rob & I stayed connected through our mutual love for beautiful outdoorsy things. I saw a lot of Oregon. We went fishing almost every weekend, to the snow on Mt. Hood, the coast, etc. And I even spent a freezing night crabbing! I'll never forget the torture that night as sheets of ice & rain sliced our skin as we collected baskets of crab. It was hell.... oh but the rewards were heaven!

9/29/62 Libra. Peace, love, harmony, balance.

Yes, I ended up in Oregon for one year. Rob & I lived together in California, but the police and County Mental Hospital kind of got our families involved and suggested we live in different states to prevent Rob from hurting himself. So he moved to Oregon, and out of depression, I moved to NJ to live with Gramma. After 6 months, Rob sent me roses and a one-way ticket to Oregon with a promise that all his jealousy issues were resolved for good. So I gave him one more chance and moved to Oregon. But he just got worse by the day. It's so sad. I think I'm the only one who understands him. He ended up getting a crackhead pregnant but a judge gave his sister custody, since neither parent was suitable. He won't even speak to his 10 year old daughter these days. He sits inside drinking himself to death. Sad. I talked to him for the first time in 15 years a few months ago. He said I was like medicine to his ears, but he's far, far gone. Like talking to Rainman. Sad.

The arrest: I was 20 and in love with a madman. He worshipped me and treated me like a queen and "made me see God" daily **quivers.** But he occasionally snapped with jealous rage if I barely glanced at another guy when paying for gas or something. I still talk to his twin sister and he went completely mad after I finally left him. He married a girl after 2 months then broke her pelvis. He's now a recluse in Oregon with major mental/alcohol problems. But in our youth, we were engaged because he said he was only jealous since I refused to marry him. But things got worse after I accepted the ring. The night I tried leaving and had to call the cops, they showed up to 2 calm people. They asked Rob, "are you going to give Lisa her purse back if we leave?" He said, "no, I'm going to make love to her." So I whispered to the dust bunnies, "I'd rather spend the night in jail." They cuffed me in my own apartment! I think Rob cuffed himself just to be with me.

Jail has a bad rap. It ain't as bad as they say it is... could actually be an adventure! Okay, yes, Lisa was arrested once 20 years ago. But they dropped all charges since the judge couldn't even figure out what the charges were. I was trying to leave my boyfriend for good, but he ran off with my purse to prevent me from leaving. I called the police to help me get my purse, but they arrested both of us instead. We were living in Portland, OR at the time, where we learned of the law that "if police are called for a domestic dispute, one or both parties must go to jail." So they took us both. I suggest everyone gets arrested at least once because it was an educational experience.

Kelly, the Avenue (plug plug plug) still has some swimsuits, and there are a few on sale now that fall fashions are coming in. They're pretty expensive ($89) but I have a 40% coupon you could have. I was checking them out last night and wishing they were "sewn" instead of "constructed" for girls with small boobs. Their bathing suits have really firm bras inserted into them for extra support. See if they have any on line at Avenue.com.

D A M N.... LOOK AT THE BOOBS! Okay, the purple bra has officially lost control of the boards. Don, where the hell did you find that darling yellow number? Give it to me! Your boo-boos look gross. Why lie? But they are really fresh so they'll fade over time. The flappy thing looks small. Gross Darcy & Penni will snip it for you, I'm sure! Teresa, Donali is handy with tools. You should ask her to build you a bubble to live in. That's way to many boo boos! And I "kiloid" as well. My port removal incision is normal on the left side, but a kiloid on the right. I'd take a pic, but I can't top Donali's hooters, sorry.

Teresa, I fall in love with you a little more every day. And now that I found out your dad is a hippy nudist, I'm dying laughing and love you even more. Rock on! I don't think I could ever go full nudist like in a colony, but in the privacy of my own home.... bathing suit? What bathing suit?

Leave it up to me to throw a wrench into the perfect scenario. Teresa, I waited to have children because I wanted a house, a stable husband, good job, insurance, etc. Well, once we finally had all that and started trying, it never happened. I'm almost 42 and have no babies. Breaks my heart. We've been trying for for years now. We've both been to doctors, and we both check out fine. Mother Nature says no, I guess. I took pills, used fertility sticks, did the calendar thing, Chris goes commando, stood on my head after sex, etc. Then I started reading articles of women just like me, who kept waiting for the perfect opportunity, but waited too long. A lot of women wait for the perfect time only to find out they waited too long. It's a lonely life. My sister is in the same boat. She's 2 years older and waited for perfection, now we don't even have nieces or nephews. We're all different. Chances are you'll get pregnant your first try, but I wanted to give you some info from the other side of the fence. Honesty first. As far as that property you inherited - thanks for the morning gag. You have my life - give me my land!

And since I have two jelly-filled pups, it's only fair to show off Voodoo, aka Pony, aka Foo Foo. My other baby - LabDane.

Here's Sachi (aka Sissy Joe, Snapper Joe, Piglett, Princess Piggy...) from last week's camping trip with Daddy driving. She's a Pitbull. I'm not sure where Pits got their bad rap, because she's sweeter than the angels (unless you mess with mom.)

Sissy Joe is one of my dogs biggest nicnames. How cute, Sissy Joe and Sassy Joe. Cracking up at the rolling of boobies. The biggest I ever got at 313 was 44 C (only because 44 B is too hard to find.) The cup size really just mashes my side fat forward though, so people were thinkin' I have nice hooties. My friend told me her boobs are like pancake batter. If she puts a boob in her palm, it all drips down through her fingers. Cracking up over boobie talk!

Leo, you don't even look like a guy that's ever had a weight problem. Far out. Thanks for sharing the hope.

Lisa, I also took out a loan from the credit union. Then I transferred the balance to a "zero percent interest for one year" credit card. Now I'm working a 2nd job at minimum wage to try to knock down that balance. What is SO important to understand, is that I would never have had the energy for a 2nd job before my band. I've dropped 40 pounds so I have energy to burn now. Self paying is worth every penny and pays for itself in 1-2 years. The amount of money I was paying in doctor bills, prescriptions, lost work, food, clothes. I was paying $35.00 for each co-pay plus 20% of my stomach ultra sounds, MRI, EKGs, X-rays, etc. Plus $6.00 for every prescription ... 7 different stomach pills, blood pressure, anxiety, sleeping. I was paying $30.00 a month for my breathing machine for sleep apnea and haven't used it in a week now. Our grocery bill went from $180 each trip to $110. The amount spent on fast foods has almost vanished. I'm finding cheap clothes in sizes off clearance racks, while before I had no option but buying the largest most expensive ones. So anyone saying they can't self pay probably can. If the credit union refused my loan, I'd have pawned my wedding ring, my TV, my car. I'd have done anything to get the money, cause like I said, the band pays for itself. However, I have seen a lot of people get their insurance to pay. My best suggestion is to start documenting every single diet, success, failure, etc. I know that some insurance companies require a 6 month log of attempted dieting.

Alex, first of all, this "Jersey girl" must step in and defend my cheesy boardwalk. I love the tacky NJ coast & and the cheezy nonsense that goes with it. Second, that little one is looking a bit too much like you... are you sure that's not you on that ride?

You crack me up, Teresa! I thought I was the only fat nudest! I swam in shorts and t-shirts since childhood. The day I bought my first house was the day I turned nudist. I've been busted nakey a couple times, but you are right, it makes them stop looking! They are more embarrassed than me. Hah! Sacijo, thank you, and you're too cute! How are we pronouncing your name? My dog is Sachi, but we call her Sachi Joe or Snapper Joe. I keep thinking I'm talking to her here. Yesterday I wore 22s but today I'm wearing my old 26 jeans. But what's funny is that they're getting trapped in my sandals. When we lose weight, our clothes get longer. I've always had trouble finding pants that come to my ankles so I can only buy tall sizes. Tall sizes only come in basics - jeans, black & blue slacks, an occasional beighe. But now my tall pants are gettting to long because they're hanging low... clothes sliding down the body RULES.

Glad your daughter got a couple stiches and nothing more! Lucky girl. Body image: I live in the desert where in summer the temp averages 110 for months on end. I used to hide my arms cause I hate them, but years back I said "screw it" and let them flap in the wind in tank tops, but I always held them at my sides so nobody could see the underside/underarm area where the flab & stretchmarks are really jiggly. However, I've lost 40 pounds and I don't want to care any more, so yesterday I swam with a bunch of friends & teens in my pool. I was flaying my arms all over, throwing kids, playing volleyball, tanning my armpits! I noticed people would peek as if they weren't really looking at my flappy arms as I waved them or played beach ball. They must look pretty gross to them, but the more I raise my arms in public, the faster people will get used to seeing white, jiggly, marked flesh, and the faster they'll stop looking at us like we're freaks.

Terry, I can relate to your situation, particulary about your doctor not giving you the attention he should have. Knowing you were driving several hours, he should have been prepared to do any and all testing. That really burns me. I'm losing slow and steady, but I know there will be days when I struggle. I'm still struggling with eating slow and small. Lately I've been burning the candle at both ends and missing sleep. When I'm deprived of sleep, I feel hung over and nervous, and when I'm like that, all my good food behaviors go down the drain. I'm putting huge portions on my plate, and even though I throw away a lot, I know I'm eating more than I should because I'm feeling odd sensations around my band, also. Then again, my port removal incision is still trying to heal so maybe that's what bothers me. Either way, I worry and fret about my band every time my stomach feels afunk. But I'm done worrying. I'll have to keel over in pain before wondering if I have slippage, because I'm driving myself batty. And I'm so in love with my animals that I'd be devasted in your situation. But you have to stop blaming yourself on your dog and continue living. We all only get a short time here, so regardless of when or how he went to the angels, you still have to go on. I worked my butt off in the pool yesterday myself. Actually feel sore thighs and calves. Take it easy on yourself. xo

Janie, I used to eat an x-large buttered popcorn plus candy and soda at the movies. Hubby thinks I'm weird because I crave movie popcorn so bad that I'll go to the movies without even knowing what's playing, just to eat popcorn. However, due to my busy summer so far, I haven't been to the movies since I got my band. So I haven't tested the "how much popcorn" thing yet. The only popcorn I've had so far is one small handful of some caramel corn, which went down really easy. I'm praying that when I finally make it to the movies, the words "small unbuttered" come out of my mouth. It's weird how the mouth is programmed to order things the mind doesn't need or want, isn't it? Wish me luck!

I don't consider corn a veggie. I toss it in the potato category because it's starchy. However, corn rocks my world. Corn corn, glorious corn. If they told me that I'd definately have to give up corn-on-the-cob or popcorn, I probably wouldn't have gotten the band. I break ears in half then boil in salt Water. Then Chris tosses them on the grill for a few minutes at the end. I keep them in a Ziplock in the fridge and eat 1/2 ear cold as a snack, which is just as good to me as chips. If you chew chew chew, it's like an intestinal broom. My body votes YES on corn. I prefer to drink from a straw for the simple reason that I dribble less down my chin than drinking from the glass. Doesn't affect my burpies. And carrots are another favorite. Shredded, sliced, diced, boiled, grilled. Bring them on! My body votes YES on carrots.

I hate to sound selfish and greedy considering I just got back from such a cool camping trip, but sorry, I am! A beach house? You mean with real Water? Lots of it! Hope you had a great time... we're here waiting to see pics of your tanned bod!