Zoe

Penni, Donovine, and Alexandra, you all look fabulous! Alex, I always thought my before picture was the worst ever, but I think yours wins the prize. But what a difference the band has made to all of you. Gorgeous, dahlinks!

I'm with Jenna. I used to be able to eat a 12-ounce steak, salad, baked potato, bread, and a huge slab of chocolate cake, and still not feel full. Not any more. A cup (not even a bowl) of chili did the trick for me today. If I'd kept eating, I would have felt uncomfortable . . . you know, like having that fourth slice of pumpkin pie. As for PBs, while they're certainly no fun, I wouldn't worry about them. Unfortunately it's something you'll probably experience at least once, but it's usually over in seconds. Think of it as an initiation into a select club.

Hey, doll, that was fast! No wonder you're excited. But what's up with "gotta get control of this diet"? Has your surgeon asked you to lose weight before you get banded? Whatever the case, you deserve to celebrate. Congratulations -- May 5 will be here before you know it!

This is great! You should add your picture to the before-and-after thread. Congratulations to you both!

No kidding! Even if our insurance won't cover a single penny, if the surgery costs AU$13,000, that's about US$10,000 -- throw in another $1000-1500 for plane fare, and it's still a lot cheaper than most US docs. Plus you get the Great Barrier Reef and all that sunshine. All aboard the Aussie express!

I just got in and am way late for chat, but if y'all try this again some other night I'll be there. Boy, is this thread relevant for me today. There's a new Coldstone ice cream just off campus, right on my way home, and it was calling my name. I normally don't beat myself up for occasional treats, but they've been more than occasional this last week, and I can't blame hormones or steroids (not anabolic ones!) this time around. Broiled chicken makes me PB, but ice cream and brownies slide right down. I feel like I need a personal cop to yell, "Stop! Get away from the spoon!"

That sounds like a great plan. I wish I could be as philosophical as you are about accepting long-term results!

Rats! I have class tonight, so I won't get home until about 9:30 CDT. I'll check in anyway and see if anyone's still chatting then.

>hijack: Hey Lisa Green, we Chicagoans are growing in number, so watch out or you (can I say "y'all" with a Midwest accent and not sound like an idiot?) will be singing the Chicago blues! <hijack Guitarman, I think you've made the right choice. Good luck!

Penni, I walked the Chicago marathon 10 years ago as a member of the Leukemia Society's "Team in Training." I slowly built up my endurance over six months; I trained with a friend who had a similar schedule, so we kept each other motivated. (My dog is my current walking partner.) You might be able to walk the Vegas marathon if you aren't up for running. Walking or running, your ambition is impressive! I wish I could talk myself into walking 26.2 miles again.

Our race across the '99 line is still on, then! At the rate I'm going, I might not get there for another four or five weeks, but I'd love to get to the "other side" by May 1. Ready, set. . .

I agree -- I think the nutritionist forgot (or never knew) that most bandsters don't have much restriction until their first fill, if not even later. Now that you're one month post-surgery, you're probably able to incorporate regular (i.e., solid) foods in your meals. But you're still healing. I found the post-surgical weeks 4-6 very difficult: my appetite had come back, my abdomen was no longer swollen, and I wanted to eat anything that wasn't nailed down. My advice is to go easy on yourself, and not get upset over the nutritionist's suggestions. You'll get restriction eventually, and when you do, the band will take care of portion control for you. Until you get a restricting fill, you're in bandster no-man's-land, experiencing none of the advantages the band offers. By the way, I should mention that I am not strictly following the band rules, and I usually eat 3-1/2 meals a day, not six tiny ones -- but eight months post-op I'm happy with my weight loss and feeling great. TN, you'll get through this rough part of banded life. Meanwhile, hang in there, and if you can, try not to obsess about calorie counts. It gets easier.

I sing in groups purely as an amateur, but I can attest that Kathy and Donali are right. For me the trouble wasn't shortness of breath but just plain pain from my incisions. Guitarman, even if you heal very quickly you might have trouble singing with any power. So unless you're just doing breathy background vocals, my suggestion would be to let someone else sing. And as for the guitar, you might have a hard time resting the instrument against your body. I play seated, and my guitar rested right against an incision. And, not to be gross, but your incisions might start bleeding through your clothes if you put too much strain on your midsection: not an appetizing look for a wedding singer. (This happened to me while I was taking an exam.) So I vote with Donali: give yourself a break for a month or so. Good luck!

What sad news. I wish the best for Jacob and the girls' families as they grieve.

204.5 for me today on my new Tanita scale. I can't wait to cross over to Onederland!

Anyone heard from Nancy (Claraluz)? I haven't read anything from her lately. I hope she's having a great time with her new dog.

Maybe we can have a US-Australia tour. We Yanks can show you Aussies a good time in the US (anyone based in LA or SF? that's where the incoming flights land) and then we'll go to Oz! I just have to warn you not to come to Chicago during our winter, unless you want to experience snow and bone-numbing cold. In my previous life I dated a Kiwi who couldn't handle Chicago even in late March... but I'm sure you gals are made of tougher stuff!

Wonderful news, Penni! I hope your mom continues to get better.

Wow, Crystal, your husband has lost enough weight to make a new person. That's beyond impressive -- it's effing amazing. And with the personal trainer, it sounds as if he's ready to lose even more. I think it's great that he's reclaiming his body and his life. And you're a strong woman for sticking with him through what must have been an extraordinarily difficult time as he crept up to 600 lbs. Now you have the pleasure of shrinking along with him!

This is great news for you, your son, and the rest of your family. Thanks for letting us know!

Congratulations, Isa, and welcome back! You have a great jump on your weight loss. The roach would have freaked me out, too! BTW, I stayed at the Hampton Inn in Monterrey last August and didn't see a single bug.

Bumping for newbies

This is a great suggestion, DeLarla. I'm going to follow up with my insurance company to see if there's any chance of getting at least some of the surgery paid for.

Kyleigh, I have a box of summer clothes in my office today, ready to send to you at the address you sent me several weeks ago. Please PM me with your last name (or the full name of the person I should send it to). Thanks.

I've been cleaning out my closets and basement, and remembered that Oprah mentioned a charity that gives clothes to low-income women who are going on job interviews and starting work. Check out this web site: http://www.dressforsuccess.org/ Dress for Success has branches in a lot of cities; the web site will tell you where. They desperately need large-size clothing. I'm packing up some suits this weekend for donation to the Chicago south-side branch, and will let you know if I find out more info.