vinesqueen

hey gang, I'll be in NY for a week, with plenty of free time on the weekend. Just a few meet & greet activities I have to attend. I'll be in Syracuse for a symposium in a couple of weeks. Let me know if that is close for any one. Cheers!

it is amazing how perceptions change once we've been banded, especially if we have been on liquids for weeks on end. Check your calories for the day, for the week. Every time I feel like my eating is "out of control" I check my calories. Check your calories. And fritos now and again are not going to kill you. Be kind to yourself. You haven't had a fill yet, so you have the same hunger you had pre-band.

I have had side effects--I no longer need my asthma inhaler, or almost no longer need it. I also have more energy. You didn't qualify about having good or bad side-effects. I've only had good ones.

that's fabulous! Great NSV

Oh Sonnie! I don't know where you are, but you need a second opionion NOW. I mean right NOW. Has you doctor done any tests? or are they just giving you the brush off? Serious stuff hon, keep us posted. I hate lazy doctors.

people who can draw only make up one little fraction of artists. Dancers, writers, painters, photographers, sculpters, gardeners and cooks are only a small portion of artists. Anything you love to do, be it a traditional fine art, a craft or your avocation can be an artform.

Thanks for you kind words, but I think everybody is an artist, it may be that they haven't found their media yet. I've just started to teach myself how to draw, I found a great children's art book and have been working out of that. Spud teases me that it's not art, it's just a bunch of squares (his running joke about my art.) He calls this one "sticks and string" even though that is clearly a garden hose. Hopefully, now that I've done this, I can move on. You should have seen me in my rubber duck period... Picaso never had a rubber duck period...

Alex, you set goals for yourself every single day. You just don't recognize them as goals. Anytime you plan something, you are setting a goal, whether that goal is to go grocery shopping or to take over the world. *narf!* have yourself a lovely bit of hard Protein, that should help with the craving, or snack on something healthy (yeah, I know, I know) How are your calories looking these days? Can your calorie budget cover the yogurt?

oooh, stay away from V8 for a while. too acidic, and right now, your only concern is to heal. No tomato anything for a while. I don't know why no milk for you. I had chocolate milk in the hospital with my nightly meds. Doctor's orders, and if he says chocolate milk, do you think I'm going to argue?

If you aren't ready, you aren't ready. But I was in a total panic just before my banding. From what I can tell, if you aren't sent into a panic, there is something wrong with you. I couldn't be happier though. You will be able to eat yummy foods. Why do you think you wouldn't be able to? Be prepaired though, what you used to love, you may find that you don't actually like it because you have to sit there and chew it to nothing. You may find that foods that were not high on your list now get bumped because you experience more complexity in the taste of the food. Hello, my name is Crystal, and I'm a foodie...

LoveCats, I just bumped a thread for you on Support. It's called "no rest for the wicked"

bumping cause I wanna

Here are a couple of pix from the ferry ride and drive up to visit my family (Moderators, please work your magic!). The first pix is a view of Whidbey and Camano islands, the second is a shot driving up the island (Whidbey) and the third pix is Spudboy and Ayla

one, I feel they are barbaric, and two, nylon is like sandpaper against my skin grafts

Okay, this is one of the things I did this weekend. Mixed media, pencil, water color and oil sticks

I don't own a deceiver scale, so I'll post my weight every 2 weeks after the offical support group.

well, I graduate in a couple of years, I most likely I will get an assignement in DC. DC is not Seattle. They will probably want me to wear nylons, but I won't go that far

'Nita honey! I'm so sorry you had such a rough time! Our socity sure is food centric, maybe it is just human nature to socialize with food. My first question to you is why the heck are you eating bland and boring food? Do a search on the food thread for mushines, and look at the ethnic mushy food thread. Take a trip to the deli counter and look at all the wonderful pate` choices. Humis comes in at least 6 different flavors too. Nothing bland about chili, and get out your crockpot cookbook.

the most important sexual organ is the brain. Everything happens in the brain. If the brain is not engaged, then it's just mechanics baby. Mechanics and hydrolics. If you think you are a sex kitten, you are a sex kitten. If you are ashamed of your body or the way you look, well, you can't be a sex kitten. There are long hair sex kittens and short hair kittens...

Lovecats, I'm so sorry you have to deal with a bunch of nay-sayers. I think all the posts made so far are full of wisdom. Keep in mind, that even the people you physically touch are not supportive of you, you will find support here. Unconditional support. Of course, there may be times when tough love is called for, and then some mete that out. Good luck, and be kind to yourself

Arts & crafts. If you don't have a favorite one, fine a favorite one. Craft stores are forever offering classes. Home improvement. Even if you don't own a home, these are still valuable skills. Home Depot offers classes in everything from laying tile & masonry to faux finishes.

http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=6935&highlight=Roux-en-Y This is the wonderful thread Kelly (Dillionsmom) posted a while back. It doesn't seem to have information about the mini-bypass, but I though it is relevent to the conversation. Alex, it says it's located in the new wonderful FAQ section, but it's closed and doesn't show as a sticky.

That's 'cause it's pirate food! (quaking in her boots. ((I sure hope I spelled that right, because I mean quaking=shaking not quaking=duck talk. "quaking in her boots like a duck" conjurs up an entirly different picture than what I was going for...)) )

I was actually thinking about that, but I wanted to add a powder too, and some of the poweders have a decent SPF rating. Silly Alex! You're not naked, and I suppose they will let you keep your bodyguards stand watch while they put the make-up on you...

right after your surgery you will need to be a little careful, but by my 2 week bandiversary, I was taking a horseback riding class, and you haven't been josled until you learn to trot, IMNSHO.