DeLarla

It's not brown. It's pink. Just look at it through DeLarla colored glasses!

Let's have a moment of silence in honor of Miss Michelle. I realize we've all congratulated her again, but I think this picture needs a little more attention. I'm sorry for the fuzzy quality, but these were Michelle's pants last year. If you are thinking of getting the band, or if you are a worried Newbie, just keep looking at this picture. Yes, it's a huge and frightening decision, and it's a big gamble. People DO have some major complications, port infections, erosion, etc. But look at Michelle. Just look at her! Michelle and I have been through bumpy times together, but I think this girl deserves a standing ovation. Not only has she lost 100 pounds with her band, but she's always here for us. MICHELLE, I'M STANDING UP TYPING. BIG, HUGE, ENORMOUS, CRY BABY ROUND OF APPLAUSE AND THANKS TO YOU FOR ALL YOU ARE, AND ALL YOU DO. Much Love, Lis

We could do a "Mommy n' Me" thing. Of course I'd have to paint my nails pink to match hers.

Wait... I kinda really like the idea of matching Sachi. Do you dare me?

I love the blazing red idea! I'm bringing all these suggestions to Marianne tonight, you'd all love my Loooohng Island New York hair girl! Let's see what she comes up with. Honestly, if I didn't have to be a paralegal tomorrow, I'd lean towards Vines suggestion of nothing natural, kinda like this picture, only the colors would be white on one side and caramel on the other to match Sachi.

No, no, no, Pinky. We aren't going to rewrite the rules. There's no such thing as a 10 Day Chip. Oh, you'll get lots of encouragement and support, but the object is to let go of our addictions so we'll benefit by losing weight. Just do it one day at a time. Look at me, I'm on DAY THREE of no soda! All I gotta do is get through today. Ten days isn't enough to see actual weight loss on a scale.

It depends. Are you talking about 1/2 can soda? A can of soda holds 14 FL OZ (12 fluid ounces.) That's the same as 355 mL. Divide that in half.

Oh you naughty little Bandsters! I am not talking about potato chips, corn chips, fried chips or chocolate chips! Here's a new fun thread that we can all use. I'm looking for volunteers to create Virtual Chips that we can put in our signature line after we EARN THEM. I think Trish is good at creating all those cute computer diddies, so can those of you creative with the computer "create" some virtual chips and post some samples here for us to vote on? In AA, you get a 30 day chip if you don't drink booze for 30 days. It's a little plastic chip for your keychain. You get another after 60 days, 90 days, 3 months, 6 months, a year, etc. You get the same chips in OA (Overeater's Anonymous) for abstinence. For example, my big problem right now is sugar and soda. I haven't had any for 3 days, so in another 27 days I'll have earned my 30 Day Chip. WHO ELSE WANTS CHIPS? Post your starting date, your abstinence and the number of days you have. If you stick to your plan for 30 days, you can add a chip to your signature. This is based on honesty. Here are some abstinence suggestions: Three meals a day, no Snacks. No sugar. Exercise 5 times a week (abstain from laziness) No Carbs No Booze No Caffeine I'll start: Lisa, abstaining from sugar and soda, currently on Day 3.

I'm not sure if I ever said this, but I've always said I would go blonde just once in my life. Last month I went totally blonde in front, but left the underside dark brown. I'm having my roots done tonight. I said I'd go blonde once in my life and stay blonde for one year. It took me 42 years to do the whole front blonde. Everyone says they LOVE the new Blonde DeLarla. I personally don't like like it because it makes makes my face look weird (maybe the wrong skin tones?) WHAT SHOULD I DO TONIGHT? 1. Match dark roots to already blonde hair and keep underside dark. 2. Go fully blonde one time only? 3. Change immediately and go darker? 4. Opt of a darker shade of blonde? 5. Shave my head 6. Keep it short 7. Go shorter 8. Grow it out By the way, we can start a whole thread for all of us. I suck at picking out my own clothes and hair styles. This could be our own On-Line Makeover page.

If you can prove that you have the same qualifications, I would sue for discrimation. I know it sounds like a huge process, but I've been waiting for the day someone wouldn't hire me based on weight. This disgusts me. The first few years here I got small raises. Last year I lost 70 pounds and suddenly got a HUGE raise. But I can't say anything because they told me it was based on having more experience after being here several years, which they could prove. I'm making more money now.

As far as dealing with Erin, it's my fault. I complained about the assistant before her, and the girl isn't here any more. The other girl was super nice but never worked. She was a student that did nothing but homework. I complained, then Erin came. If Erin leaves, I might get stuck with another Shelli, Jean or Elisa (past co-workers that called in sick every day, wouldn't work, etc.) Erin does her job. Does that make sense? On the outside I smile at her. On the inside I'm growling. It's all business.

Uh, no thanks to the foot up my butt so I'm drinking watered down ice tea with oh so delicious Splenda (gag, but trying to get used to it.) Only now everything I drink is Lysol Flavored with a splash of pizza aroma. We need to change the rock, paper, scissors game to Pizza, Lysol, Paper. Trust me, Pizza beats Lysol, and I already sprayed twice. By the way, VICTORY! Sort of. Last night was Night 2 of not eating in bed. And I didn't eat cookies! The only sugar I had yesterday was by accident in the Propel (I didn't know it was sugar till too late.) Last night I was starving, so I had a few tablespoons of hubby's mac n' cheese and 2 thin slices of Havarti before bed. Tonight I'm going for NO Snacks. I've made huge progress from this thread. You guys all know that I have't had a good day in months, so if this thread saves even one of us, then it's working. No soda, no foot up my butt. That's the deal. Game on.

Kare, I edited that comment. She's not my "friend" but rather a friendly co-worker. As far as calling her obesity-related names, maybe that is really mean, and I felt guilty for laughing, but at least when I'm laughing I can't be drinking soda! Like Donali said, I'm looking for tools to cope, which is why I started this thread. If I could control Erin, I could control the world. So if LAUGHTER is the best tool for me, then everyone needs to look at the situation I'm faced with and realize that all this kidding around is what works for me. It all falls back to the "addict." Nobody would take pity on Erin or defend her if she were bringing mirrors with lines of cocaine in my office. Everyone would be slamming her for being a damn junkie trying to bring me down. There's no difference. I'm dealing with a rotten situation, and I have to make choices. I can either throw a huge stink and get her fired for harrassing me, or I can file a law suit against my firm for allowing it to continue. OR I CAN MENTALY THROW APPLES AT HER FAT HEAD.I love my job. I can honestly say that NOBODY has a better job than me. I'm not about to sue the company that treats me like a queen. I adore my office manager and have enormous respect for my extremely generous attorneys. They don't need this. AND my worst fear is that Erin would leave only to be replaced by something even more offensive. Careful what you wish for. Day three of no soda and my FAT JEANS are baggy already, so the apples are working! TEN POINTS! No more soda-shaking though, that was a one-time therapy exercise that got me through yesterday. Today it's a mental fruit toss. And Penni, you used to support me againt Erin. You knew even more than eveyone here (and you know how bad she really is for me.) What changed?

Sorry, Penni, but Erin deserves every apple that bonks her in the head. And then some. Not only have I talked to her like an adult, but I have begged borrowed and tried reasoning with her. I've warned her, I've talked more, I've asked, I even cut deals with her. YES SHE DOES offer me pizza. She walks into MY OFFICE with plates of steaming food, tantalizing and taunting me. She was in here last week arguing with me because she wanted me to try some chocolate candy corn. I told her several times that I hate the crap, then she sent me e-mails telling me how much better the chocolate ones are, and she even sent me the ingredient list of sugar & cocoa. She walks into MY OFFICE with her Coke in the left hand, and one for me in the right after I've begged her not to. I told her I have an addiction, and it's no different than a cocaine addict. I've "talked" to her 50 times and said I don't care what she eats in this office, as long as she keeps it out of MY office. She can cook a buffet of nachos and caramel corn in the kitchen because it's not my business. Anyone can eat or drink whatever they want here, WHENEVER they want, but nobody needs to bring cocaine to a clean addict. And thanks (up there) for the suggestion, but I alreayd have an industrial strength can of Apple Lysol at my desk that I spray every time she leaves the kitchen. Everyone here is right and has been extremely helpful, so please don't stop with the great suggestions. I can't drink soda or eat when I'm laughing. People that are threatened by my success will try to bring me down. I've asked her to join me in healthier eating. I've asked her to invite me for a walk. I cut a deal with her that "Erin, if you promise not to talk about food with me, or bring me menus, or bring food in my office, or offer me Cokes, or tempt or tantalize me, then I will treat you to lunch once a month, and during lunch you can tell me all your fabulous food finds and recipes." She agreed, but then rang my line at 9:00 the next morning to tell me about the new buffet around the corner. I'm starving right now because I'm back on track, but I can hold out till lunch or I'll go over my daily calories. I don't need visions of buffets or cheese, thank you. That's mean and torture. Finally one day she spilled her plate of dinner and Coke all down the front of her all over our company documents during a morning meeting in my attorney's office. I was horrified for her and figured the embarrassment of that scene would teach her a lesson. I told her at least 30 times to keep food, menus, Cokes, suggestions, temptations, etc. out of MY office (NOT THE WHOLE COMPANY.) I close my door, but that makes me look like a stuck up bitch because I believe in an open door policy. People are afraid to come to me when my door is closed because I only close it for emergencies. After all that, she marched in here with a plate of Cookies that she knows are my favorite (fresh extra-baked sugar cookies, hint hint.) That was the last straw - she wanted me to smell them. I snapped and started screaming like a raving bitch and said I was going nailing a cup to my door and she had to put a dollar in it for every time she mentioned food near me, brought food past MY door, drank Coke in MY office, had food, candy, menus or temptations directed at me. It got damn ugly that day, and she finally learned her lesson. But it only lasted a couple days, because she's back to handing me new menus and talking to me about recipes, restaurants, cheeses... it's insane. I stopped having lunch with her at regular lunch time because she thinks it opens the door for us to discuss food all day. As far as lodging a harassment complaint, trust me, I've talked to both the managing partner and the office manager. The sad part is that she's a wonderful person, but now her year-end raise will be affected because there's a section of our review about respecting co-workers. She's been making her dinners in the kitchen then bringing them to her desk lately, so they must have talked to her. I spray Lysol when she's done (she's in the kitchen right this second preparing dinenr at 10:00.) But she still offers candy, and last week she asked if I wanted a Subway (she knows it's my weakness) AFTER I TOLD HER I BROUGHT TUNA AND VEGGIES AND NEEDED TO GET BACK ON TRACK. Then she says five times, "are you sure?" Then she stand with her purse and keys in my doorway, "Are you sure? last chance?" It's friggen weird. The look on my face alone would scare the hell out of me. Nobody needs to defend her or her actions. If I were a heroine addict or an alcoholic and someone was tempting me with drugs or booze it would be completely intolerable. She doesn't need anyone defending her, she knows exactly what she's doing. If throwing apples at her coconut will stop her, then PLEASE don't stop with the suggestions. It's not about Erin, it's about ME AND MY ADDICTIONS. I have made it through two days with NO SODA because of this thread. I resepect Erin as a "friendly co-worker," which is why this problem is ultra sensitive. By complaining to management, I screwed a friend. I could make a huge stink about it, but I'm not the drama queen most people think I am. I fight my own battles. I'm 43 years old and don't go running to management when co-workers misbehave, I just throw fruit at them. I'm not going to throw anything at anybody, but these suggestions bring humor to an extremely ugly problem in my world. All these suggestions of shaking up soda cans and throwing apples at her have kept me strong for two days. I haven't had a soda in TWO DAYS because of this thread. Can we make it three? BRING IT ON! More suggestions please. I can't drink soda while I'm laughing.

You wear them on your nipples. I swear, I sell something similar. *** ducks to avoid shoes.

BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH (yes, I'm screaming.) Same F-ing boat (yes, I'm cussing, too.) Same weight gain. Same everything. This is Day 2 of being good for me, and it sucks. No Snacks, no soda, no diet soda, no nothing. Lettuce with Protein for lunch. Fruit F-ing cup instead of goodies. Blah, blah, blah. My big treat for the day was a chewable Vitamin that left a nasty taste in my mouth. I even felt guilty for that. I got so far off track that eveyone at work is afraid of me now. They are all supportive (except the "Big E") and they know I mean business. I'm friggen flying off the walls from ODing on ice tea with fake poison chemicals. I would lick a dirty foot for a Coke right now. You're not alone.

I'm having arms and belly done next year. Then thighs and face when I'm 45 (in like 18 more years.)

Yes, be very worried. I'm finally not kidding this time. I was feeling a little cold/sore throat coming on before surgery. I ran to my local doc and got antibiotics because he saw a little red in my throat. I started feeling okay, so I kept my surgery date. I felt a little fuzzy on the plane to Mexico, so I told my surgeon. He didn't care, so they did my Band that night. Boy oh boy, by the time I came out of surgery I had full-blown bronchitis. It's like the tube they stick down your throat irritated me and kick-started a horrible bug. I never slept the first night cause I couldn't breath. Stuffed up, coughing my brains out. I was afraid I'd hurt my band from all the coughing, and the Mexican hospital ignroed my please for cough medicine for 24 hours. Then my surgeon promised all the coughing wouldn't hurt. I ended up having my port removed due to infection a month later. The doctor insists that it had nothing to do with my cough, but I disagree. I always thought that's what went wrong with my port - like I coughed a stitch or dislodged something that got infected. I could be wrong, but my motto is, "better safe than sorry." Just push the date another week to be on the safe side. Being sick after surgery was MISERABLE. The plane ride home was awful because I was so congested that I thought my head would blow off.

The only Kentucky I know makes fried chicken. Damn, is it lunch yet? Hi from VEGAS, Baby!

My husband is rather refined. When he wants sex he just walks around with that THING sticking out of whatever he's wearing. What a turn on. Pig. God I love him though! He would move right into my gina if I let him. He calls her my "Gina." Jih-nah. I have a Gina, he has a Mangina.

I'm having an Ice Tea party in Vegas in your honor. CHEERS!

I always thought I was such a clever chick, but you guys come up with some great stuff. Where did I put that Alpo? And because I've got hyper sensitive allergies, any smell is ultra strong for me. I feel my band really tight around my belly, the the smell of pizza won't go away. Twenty minutes till I get to eat my lettuce cup! I can't wait!

I treated myself to some Clinique with my birthday gift certificates. I'm still milking my birthday! What's with these minerals? You mean foundation? I'm always looking for a great lip liner. Love, the Big Ol' Birthday Ham!

Erin, my story is long and complicated so I'll try to make it easy: - Got banded in May 2004 by my 1st Mexican surgeon. Port wound never healed and was just like yours, filled with Fluid, infected. Went back to Mexico and had my first port (Port #1) removed a month later by a 2nd Mexican surgeon. - The port incision never healed (even though the port was out.) I went to Urgent Care, my veterinarian, primary doctors, local surgeons, etc. Nobody could figure it out why the wound was open. Urgent Care lanced and packed the wound, another surgeon tore the hell out of me "cleaning" the wound so it would heal. It never healed. - Eight months later my original band surgeon agreed to see me. He misdiagnosed me as having "band rejection" which is why the wound wouldn't heal. He said I'd eventually reject the band since it's made of the same material. But he was very impressed with my weight loss and offered to give me another "temporary" port just so I could get a nice fill and lose the rest of the weight. I had to sign a waiver that I was aware the new port would most likely "reject" as well, but I wanted to lose more so I went for it. He put me to sleep, removed large amount of inflammatory tissue, put a new port in, and he sent me home. -Within days, the new port site leaked. That's when I decided to stay in the US. I went to Billy, knowing it would probably lead me to bankruptcy. Billy said there's no such thing a port rejection. The reason I never healed after the 1st port removal was because Surgeon #2 left the tube inside me right under the surface of the skin, which prevented the wound from closing. He should have tucked the tube into my abdominal cavity so the wound could heal. - So, when Surgeon #1 put the new port in, there was still small amounts of bacteria in the wound that had been open for 8 months - he passed the new port thru a "dirty wound" so Port #2 never had a chance. - Billy put me to sleep, removed Port #2, removed a chunk of the area, left the wound open, did an endoscopy, a biopsy, a laproscopy. He cleaned me the HECK up and sent me home with a hole in my belly (there are pics posted here somewhere.) - Billy told me exactly what to expect. Billy told me exactly what the problem was. Billy told me that even though he was 99% sure of the problem, he would not give me a diagnosis till he checked it out with the tests. Billy was 100% accurate when all was said and done, and HE is the one that finally fixed me. - Now Billy says I'll be ready for a new port in November. No sooner! I'm pretty sure he said he wants me clean an entire 6 months. He explained that the tiniest morsel of invisible bacteria can still be present, and eventually it will multiply. Even if the area looks clean, it can still have a little bacteria. That bacteria WILL grow in time, and your new port will get infected. Next month is November. But I'm not ready for another surgery. I'm suffering PTSD (Post Traumatic Surgery Disorder.) I've been through too much, and I won't get another port for a long time. Partially because the fear of erosion is too close. Infected ports can lead to erosion. But erosion is a slow process. Even if my band looks clean now, I'd rather give it a good year, then have another endscopy to check for erosion. I refuse to get a new port only to find out my Band is eroded. No thanks. Keep your chin up. Maybe.. just maybe... your doc might give you a touch of a fill. I don't know if Billy would have given me any saline if he knew I never had any fill at all. I got filled during my first port removal, then I got a 2nd fill with the port replacement. So if you have zero fill, talk to your doctor. Heck, maybe since you were almost a Billy patient you could call Heather or Billy just for comfort. You are lucky to have a doc here. Hook me up with his number and give me a rating on him. I need a local guy!

When I was 17 my grandmother ran circles around me. She sounds like your mom. Life is weird.