Marimaru

Kristi, that's a really cool idea! I've been trying to come up with something for a long time that me and my 2 younger sisters could get together. I doubt if they'd go for Kanji, but what a great idea!

This is extremely common for bandsters. Many of us have to do a liquid breakfast of some sort (protien shake, etc). Usually I can get yogurt down.

Well, the more things you knock out of the way, the closer you are to finding the right thing, right? I hope you can relax a little. I know you still don't know the full answer, but I hope you are taking hope in the idea that you are on the way.

This is a good thread. I take better care of my hair now, and my nails are painted more often than not. I've been doing my makeup alot lately too, and buying cute shirts just because I want them. I'm also spending a buttload of money to get my teeth all fixed up and pretty.

Another idea is to have people compare you to people walking down the street. I'll ask my fiancee to look at a girl, and tell me if I'm bigger, smaller, or about the same size as that person, or sometimes my little sister will tell me.

Yes, crying can be good. Unfortunately I usually get a headache after a good cry, but once that goes away, I usually feel better.

I can see why you'd want to compare that, but I don't think you are going to get many folks to post that on the internet.

I have the japanese symbol for "eternity" on my right ankle and a thingy with a gem in it on my left ankle. Fortunately neither of them changed much with weight gain/loss, but they are a little faded and need a color touch up. I'll probably do that with an addition of something new when I get to goal or something..

I crank up something rough like the soundtrack from the first Matrix movie, and sometimes I'll read, because that'll kind of take me away from where I am if the author is any good. When I'm REALLY angry, I go to my deadjoural (deadjournal.com) and pound away at it. Most of the posts are marked as 'private', but some of them aren't (only my fiancee really has the address to this anyway). I usually feel better once I've gotten everything out all in one place. It's kind of a therapy to go back and read some of the old ones too. Sometimes I'll start an art project, just so that I'm concentrating on something. A hot bath can be good, but only if you've got a good book or other distraction. Otherwise you sit in the hot bath and still think about whatever is bothering you. Sometimes I'll just take a nap. I was really mad about something yesterday and after my dentist appointment I didn't feel too mad... but I don't think I'd recommend 'dental therapy'. eww. Going to the gym can feel good when you are mad. Finding a good pillow to punch on for a while can be good too. Go figure I can't eat well when I have a good meal I want to eat, but I can eat a bunch of crap when I'm stressed out. I try and stay away from that stuff as much as I can, but sometimes I fail. ((hugs))

No weight change. NSV: In the regular economy section of an airplane this weekend, the tray table didn't touch me when I took it down. I used to have to lean my seat back so that I could bring it down all the way and it still hit my belly.

(((((BIG HUGS))))) I've done that to myself as well. I'm sure you'll feel better after tomorrow.

I'm here. No loss since August, except for 5 lbs I gained and lost. It's REALLY getting old. Of course, I'm depressed today for other reasons, which makes it all that much worse. On a good day I start to get optimistic again. My sister who I visited this weekend told me it looked like I'd lost, so maybe the gym is starting to work again. I dunno. Blarg.

Wierd fears huh? The fear of pain is pretty normal, but I think I'm a bit crazy with it. Being IN pain doesn't bother me so much as the idea of pain. Like, when I go to get a shot, I just get so worried that it's going to hurt, and I freak myself out, and then it does hurt a little, but it's like no big deal. I dunno. Nothing so wierd as finding a head in my toilet tho.

I'm with Lisa on this one. I was going through my kitchen last night and nothing looked good. When that is the case, I usually know I'm not really hungry. I escaped from the kitchen because I knew I'd grab something even if it didn't sound good, just for the sake of eating it. I haven't lost anything in months, and despite the fact I want to say I'm working really hard, I know my head hunger is getting the best of me just often enough to keep me from losing.

Lisa, For that scar, could you maybe put some gause or a few bandaids over it so that it has a cushion when you wear a bra? Or maybe a tank top with a shelf bra type thing? Not that anyone wants more surgery, but maybe you can have that hernia repaired 'for real' in the future? Journals are good, even if they aren't in a normal 'journaling' format. I have a journal online that no one can see that I just pound at when I'm bitchy.

Usually I gain 2 to 3 lbs a few days before that then goes away a few days after. My biggest issue with the whole thing is that my band gets super tight right before my period and doesn't loosen up for quite a while after. It's pretty obnoxious.

Nykee, nothing is too gross for this message board! Besides, you aren't gross I LOVE seeing the change in my jewelry. I shrunk to fit into my class ring again, and now I can't wear it much because I'm afraid it will slide off!

Do you have a full length mirror? You could stand in front of it and take a picture of the mirror

Contrats!!! Me next me next!! hehe

That sounds great! I really need to get myself in to talk to someone like that. And here I sit not doing it, lol. It sounds like you are on your way, and I hope that this person helps you lots!

Many of us have had our cycle go out of whach after surgery. Some of us stopped, or missed one, or started bleeding abnormally. If her OB/GYN isn't concerned, I wouldn't worry too much about it. I imagine that it will even itself out as all of the anesthesia is getting out of her body and she starts getting all of her nutrients in every day. Good luck to her!

I have not signed up for them, but I have to say I'm a little sceptical. They were supposed to open in Octoberish of '04, then it was March of '05. In March I filled out a form to find out where doctors were and they told me they were working with someone in Torrance (right near me) that would be with them soon. In November I was told the same thing again. Now still it's "next month". The program sounds great, it sounds like a great way to get people hooked up with doctors. I'll probably check them out again in another month or so to see if they have that doc in Torrance.

The pictures of your kids were great, but you've mentioned them in other posts, and I've just gathered the impression that you've done alot of things for your kids to make sure they didn't go through what you went through.

I would have recommended David's as well, since you need it pretty soon. High end department stores are good... Stuff is out for prom season, so you might have luck in more places than you would in other seasons...

Nykee, I have a suggestion for your juice. I know you are addicted to the stuff, and milk, but it's just an idea. Actually 2 ideas. The first idea is to cut your juice half and half with Water. The juice flavor doesn't get that weak, and you'd be lowering your calories that much more (while getting in some water). The other idea is this stuff called "Water Sensations". It's got no calories, and you just drop it in a bottle of water and it gives it a lot of flavor. They have grape flavor and berries flavor, etc. I ordered it online, and when I use it I get all of my water in for the day. I have read about other people who use the band in such a way that they are pretty much on a liquid diet. That appears to work for you as well, but I think that Alex makes a good point about your nutrition. The milk gives you protien, but you should probably make sure you are taking some kind of multi Vitamin. Also, if you go to the doctor for your wierd sleepiness as of late, you should have them check your blood and see if you need anything you aren't getting. (Regarding your sleep, have your pain pill levels checked, since you have lost weight, you probably shouldn't need as much as you were taking). Maybe you could switch from cheetos to rice cakes or something? They make some pretty good flavored rice cake Snacks these days that aren't too high in calories, and you can eat more of those for the same amount of calories than you could of cheetos. I know you are having a terrible time changing your habits, but maybe if you could change the things you eat with those same habits you would do a little better? I'm having a tough time with the nighttime snacking demon myself lately. :cake: