DeLarla

This is what my whole thread called, "The Honeymoon is Over." Those damn demons are hard to beat, but according to so many people around here, they are beatable! I have gained back 10 full pounds, but then I lost five of those. I'm still up a few pounds, but the Band helps me get back on track. You'll have good days and bad days, but just remember the Band is there to lead you back to good ones. Even though I never made it to my losing 100 pound goal like I originally planned, I'm still glad for my band.

PM me your hospital name and phone. Let me know the minute you know your room number, too. If I didn't have to work, I'd be there in a heartbeat.

Kel, I will try everything and anything. I've got garlic and a crucifix, but I'm not sure where to get bat wings or eye of newt on a Sunday.

One of my scars formed a kiloid. I also have a very old one from childhood that docs injected with cortisone way back then, but I've just learned to live with it. I was told if they perform surgery to remove the kiloid, chances are it will come back worse. I'll be watching this post for ideas.

I have to call them sacrifices though, because you may as well stab a knife through my heart than to take away my ice cream. And it can't be light, sorbet, sugar free. It's gotta be the richest heart damaging kind. So take my spleen, take my liver, don't take my ice cream with a sacrificial ritual!

Damn, too tired to read now, but I take my thyroid med with my SOY protein shake. I'll read tomorrow. Thanks so much for the post. I ran out of soy & got regular 2% this time - maybe I had a premonition?

Jodie, sometimes I come here just to bitch and rant and rave. Any good therapist will tell you to grab a pen and paper and write, write, write. Keep writing, girl. Get all your feelings out, and don't worry about feeling bad. We all felt bad enough to get banded. Your life sounds like mine, with huge road blocks around every corner, so I don't want to tell you to cheer up (not yet, anyway.) Just keep getting your feelings out and soon your head will clear and you'll be ready for this crazy journey.

No, I haven't seen pics of the Carolina coast, and I'm feeling warm n' fuzzy that you remembered how much I'd like to see them (pretend I wrote this after you come back.) I can't wait. I'm all done with my mini vacations till next month, but I'm going to bed tonight imagining how amazing it must be. I adore the beach - any beach.

I just knew ya'll would love this little thing. Everyone loves their Magic Bullets, but this is just a little alternative for those of us with limited cabinet space or that just need a single serving. I'm buying a couple more this weekend in case they stop making them. Blueberry warning - carry whitening gum! I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror after my shake and looked like Violet Beauregard! Has anyone tried putting bran cereal in their shake yet? I'm waiting for your reviews since I really love it.

P.S. Corti-Slim is the only diet pill I've taken that doesn't make me nervous or jittery. I've been taking diet pills since I was a teenager, anything from street speed (Black Beauties, Whites) to Dexatrim to prescription meds to PhenFen. They all made me insane. Corti-Slim doesn't have that affect. I'm sure the dangers of this new miracle pill will start to unfold in court cases across the country, but I'm calm for a change... imagine that?

Is the area hot, red, inflamed, warm? Does it appear infected at all? Is the small brick you feel the actual port? Most people can feel the port right under the skin. If you think there's any chance of infection based on heat or redness, call your doc pronto. I had 2 ports removed already due to infection. I felt hard lumps too, which was the tubing right under the skin. This could be normal, but it wouldn't hurt to call your doc for good measure.

I can't tell if it's the Corti-Slim or the extra Diet Pepsi I had yesterday, but I made it an entire day without goodies. Dr. Billy prescribed the book, Picture Perfect Weightloss, which I'm now reading. One part (summarized) says regardless of whether you have physical hunger or mental hunger, there are several chemicals that are responsible for making us want to eat. So instead of depriving yourself, make a healthy choice and eat. Last night I looked at some of the healthy choices vs. the bad choices pictured in the book, and I ended up with a poppyseed roll with a smudge of P-butter compared to the prior night's quarter gallon ice cream, Cookies, etc. I'm was very pleased with myself. So, is it the Corti-Slim? Is it the book? I think it's a combo deal of both of them added to the fact I'm drinking shakes again in the morning. I'll finish off the box then let you know if they help me (Miss Anxiety, USA.) But I've slept like a puppy since starting them, which I never do. I'm not scooting on the carpet yet, but I'm twisted enough to really have enjoyed that visual! Did I mention my doc gave me a B-12 shot, which did nothing for me? What's the diff between that and the B vites in Corti-Slim?

What's wrong with people? I can only answer for myself. I have a good, solid heart, but I come from a long line of mental illness. Sometimes (uh, often) I go off the deep end when I feel it's justified. In your shoes, I would have snapped by now. Time to put Mommy Dearest in her place. My mother looked like a fashion model when I was a fat kid, but she never called me names as a child. Now that she's FAT, she goes around barking that I need to be a Vegan like she is. Last time we spoke she started ranting about my choice of white rice instead of her staple, brown rice. I finally went off and told her she ain't no Jane Fonda. She's over 250 pounds, yet she's telling people how to eat based on what she looked like 20 years ago? Ever since I mentioned Jane Fonda she's kept her trap shut. Sometimes you have to speak up. Next time she makes a negative comment, remind her that being surrounded by daily negativity makes you want to eat. Tell her if she wants to help you, try paying you a compliment or keep your trap shut, Old Woman!

Nice to meet you, Buttercup. Thanks for sharing. My hubby would say he could sop her up with a biscuit and swoosh her around his mouth. She's perfect.

*** shakin' my big ol booty***

What's humidity? Did I mention that Vegas is in the desert? Snort.

Sounds great to me! I got caught in another incredible storm yesterday, and the weather calls for thunder & lightening all weekend. Betty, hubby will have jelly in his belly that you have nice weather!

Mari, I have nothing but white on my walls. I'd love a foxy hot chick painted in my boring little laundry room. A girl that looks like me with great big boosoms holding a laundry basket, making laundry look sexy (to tie in with the piles of dirty laundry that hubby tosses on the floor NEXT to the empty hamper.) I think that would be so cool considering the laundry room leads to the garage where the Harleys are.

Trish, can I place an order? We had our pool retiled, and I want a couple ceramic trinkets to hang on the back wall that will POP to bring the colors of the pool tile to life. You know, like a cobalt blue snake or a brown lizzard walking up the wall behind the pool. I was thinking a couple lizard or Kokapeli figures surrounded by some plain squares or geometric shapes. Can you do simple, basic things? Is that something you can do? Can I afford you?

Kelly, Pamela Anderson wants to look like me. It's all about attitude, Baby!

The reason hyper vs. hypo confuses me is because nearsighted vs. farsighted sounds backwards to me. I also have a problem with astigmatism. Do you have a stigmatism, or an astigmatism? They should drop the "a" and call it a stigmatism! People also get "fortunately and unfortunately" backwards all the time. Therefore I have a slow thyroid, no confusion! Now I have to read up about how soy will affect my already slow 'roid.

*** hanging head low*** I get "hypo" and "hyper" thyroid confused. I have to take meds cause my thyroid is slow. Did I finally find a delicious milk product that I'll actually drink, only to learn it will hamper my weight loss? Is whole milk the same as 1%? Regular milk is too thick, so if I drink milk it's only 1-2%. Betty and Alex, you girls just have to try this stuff. Maybe I bought sweetened or something? But it's like drinking Carnation Instant Breakfast or eggnog. I can't believe how good it is. I started reading labels when I bought the stuff, but there are about 25 different containers of soy milk, which is why it was easier for me to ask here. The carton I bought had all sorts of health benefits from Protein to Calcium.

Mari, any chance you'll ever be in Vegas? I would love for you to draw a fantasy room for me. Your work is amazing.

And here are a few bags that are in Jazzie (the shop where my bags live.) I usually prefer much funkier bags, but her line of clothing is somewhat reserved, so she wants me to keep them simple.

Here's a welding cap I made for the guy that heads our motorcycle group. It's lined with American flag material to match the big US flag on the back of his jacket.