the best me

Yup, lotsa folks are tighter in the mornings. Start your day sipping something warm, that should help. Does this tight band last all day? Did something else happen to cause swelling? What's your fill level? It's really helpful to me (others) if you have some band info in your sig...so i know how long you have been banded, how much fill you have and when, your weight, etc. Especially when you ask a question about something that concerns you. More info please! LOL Or, you are just tight in the mornings. Now that you know this (and oh too well, huh?) don't drink too fast!

Awright Dianne, I enjoyed Karen's recap so much I'll join the fun. (btw, Karen...10 days?!!!!) Rachel's birthday is next week. It's a weekend of parties. Fri night she has 3 little 7yo girls coming over for a sleepover. Gotta clean the bonus room (just the excuse I need to get it done, or I'll put it off!) shop for a few gifts, gift bags for the girls, cake, etc. Sat night the family is coming over for dinner. My Mom is bringing a cake (too much cake!!!) and sunday afternoon she's having some kind of picnic with the kids next door and my sister is coming over that eveing for even more gifts. Geez. Waaaay too much going on next weekend! But then, school starts on Monday. whew! There went the summer! There's a gal named Gloria who lives in the area. She was banded in MX last week. I'm hoping she'll come to lunch on the 9th. There's also Robyn from Fla who recently moved to Charlotte, she's been banded a good while and I'm hoping she'll come, too. One of these days we have GOT to get Denika here. And where's Court? Starr? and Greensboro-girl (blonde...ooooo whass'er name?!?) see, ya'll don't post or come to lunches...and I start forgetting names!!!! Now, I KNOW we have lurkers. Come on people! Jump on in!

Are you currently using Dr G for fills? He does mine, and I'm in Charlotte. He's the closet I have found, so if Dr G is the one you aren't confident in...I dunno. PM me if you want!

I took the XL for about 2 doses, then called the doc for the regular Wellbutrin so I could cut it. Much better, except I got hives after taking it for about a week 1/2? I think so I quit it. Haven't tried it again yet. My Dad is on it again. He quit smoking and gained loads of weight. His doc said it helps with appetite (my doc said the same thing) but I didn't really get that with the dosage interruptions and the hives... anyhow, she should switch to a pill she can cut, for sure.

Robyn, if you have 10cc in a VG band, could you be too tight?! You may be relying on JUNK because it's easier to eat? Get that 3cc taken out and see how that feels for a while. You have dealt with alot...be nice to yourself! I PMd you back. (((hugs)))

For sure, better! First off, I can actually breathe through it all. Used to, I'd have a hard time sleeping with just the sheer weight of myself, let alone taking a romp in the hay. Now, WOW, MUCH more comfortable, physically, to enjoy. As for emotionally, better there, too. I go through phases where I feel all cute and sexy. Other times I feel like a big ole frump, even with the 65 pounds gone. I'm not done losing, and I have lots of belly yuck so I still prefer the lights off, LOL. Yeah, sex is better!!!!!

Ta-Daaaa!!!!! Yesterday I checked in at 179.0, yay me, right? This morning, I hit a new low...ready? 177.8! It will be nice when 179 is my nighttime weight, ya know? THAT's when I'm really below 180! I'm with you girls (pinkylee and jenn) on the up and down and up and down. Let's do this ya'll! Yippeeeee!!!! Hey, Paula... come with me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, I have been doing some up and down and up and down on the scale, but here's some good news. July17th I entered my measurements on sparkpeople. I checked them the other day and I have lost 2 1/2 inches. That's 1/2 inch each from my bust, waist, abs, hips and thighs. Nothing lost on arms and bra band. My bust measurement is really wonderful cuz that means some back fat is coming off, right? I need to get to Curves and check my body fat %. Oh, and exercise, too, right?! Heh.

I'll find out the details about what sunsett is doing and post it here. let's get you through your bloodwork, etc before we start hopping on to something. Let me know when you are ready. I have been playing around with mock menus on sparkpeople, and I'm increasing my protien. If that helps on the scale, I'll let you know. Hang in there and keep us posted!

Look up Dr Pleatman here on LBT. He tends to recommmend the sleeve gastrectomy to bandsters who lose their bands for whatever reason. It's the first step to DS, if I'm not mistaken. I just don't know what's the difference between this procedure and stomach stapling. Anyone know?

I don't suppose it would hurt to e-mail Lopez and explain that he really needs to update his band placement technique if he wants to continue his work. Word is getting around, ya know. Just what has happened here on LBT would be enough red flags for me to go elsewhere in MX. There are too many other great docs. I'm totally pleased with my band placement from Kuri. Anyhow, you are not likely to get a response, but maybe it will feel better to have said something? Dang. I'm really sorry.

shelly, I wonder if sipping some Aloe Vera juice ( a few ounces a few times a day) would help? Just a shot in the dark. That's def. what I'd be doing, so I thought I'd offer it up. Good luck.

Hey, Wheetsin...or anyone else? What percentage of protien is in your dialy diet when you are doing a high protien day? Sparkpeople says I need 15% of my calories from protien, 30% from fat, and 45% from carbs. It's easy for me to do that now, but if I were to "up" the protien, what percentage should I be shooting for, IYO? I know that 70-80gm of protien is good...but what percentage of my daily calories should that be? Just running numbers....thanks :huggie:

Dayuuummmm! Pink you look HOT! How funny. Man, time just FLIES! We are better older though, I think! Great pics everyone. Keep them coming!

Excellent! Denise Austin looks different...has she had some face work done?!!!! She looks great, but she did before, LOL! I like her.

It stops when you have kids, quit your job and move to one income. Now the budget is tight. And shopping is hectic. It takes time to train the kiddos how to behave in a grocery store. "No whining, no fussing, no begging, be a helper to Mommy, keep your hands to yourself and be a sweet brother/sister..." yada yada. WHEW! Enjoy your quiet! LOL

Aww Christine. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry about everything, your hair, your slip, your regret, your anger and frustration. Are we gong to see another crop of Lopez problems? We had a few Lopez erosions at 18-24 months not too long ago. I would love to find out what he was doing, surgically, that may have caused these probelms. We may never know for sure, but this doc's track record doesn't seem to be so hot. There ARE Lopez bandsters floating around out there with no probs at all...I just don't know. I'm just really sorry. You are in good hands with the handsome Dr Billy. Keep us posted on what happens... hey, did you get unfilled? Must you have the band removed soon? I know it's a bit pointless unfilled, and getting fills can cause another slip, but do you HAVE to have it removed anytime soon? Is the slip so bad you can't wait?

No change...I must have forgotten to check in last week. Doesn't surprise me, I had gained 2 pounds, but lost them again so, it's all current now! LOL I made an executive decision...I'm not touching Christmas cards till I get the Box Tops cut and bagged in 50's for DD's school. I have had them all summer. School starts in a few weeks. Geez...it's these projects that get me every time! Why is it so overwhelming and easy to put off?! I need to set up the card table someplace and just plug away 15 min at a time. When I'm done with the box tops, I'll move on to addressing my cards...how do you folks do this?!!!!!!!!!! Ugh. Maybe I'll put in my Amy Grant Christmas CDs. That always does it for me in the area of getting the Christmas spirit, anyway.

The best me - H 242/ S 223/ J 188/ C 179.0/CBMI 29.8 (-63 lbs total, -2 this week) *HUGS* Awww, CS, did you give me that *HUG*? Back 'atcha...this month's thread looks great!

Yummmm, I love Red Robin and I've never been there banded! I used to order the Hickory BBQ burger, or something, with BBQ sauce and onion straws...OMGosh, makes my mouth water, LOL! Can't wait to go. Food is great, but the company is even better! Wish you could come, Mandy!

What space...did you get it? Between "journeys to all, and I'm 7#? I have no clue, just being nosey...LOL

I could have taken it for granted, but I didn't... Back when hubby and I were DINKS (Dual Income No Kids) I was on my way home from work and pulled into the grocery store, we needed the pantry stocked! So I got my buggy, shopped, no time limit, no hurry, got what I needed, checked out, loaded up, and halfway home, I realized that NEVER ONCE did it occur to me how much it was going to cost and whether or not we could afford it. I mean, it didn't even cross my mind, not even as I was paying! I just went in, and shopped and bought. Wow. That could never happen now! LOL And what I didn't KNOW to appreciate back then was the "no hurry" factor. I am simply BLISSFUL when I have all the time in the world at the store with NO kids! I knew back then to be grateful. Now, I'm just jealous of myself! hehe

Hey, mini me, I'm where you are at 180. I finally got to 179 point whatever, but nothing more, and have been impatient and frustrated. I'm eating about 1200 calories a day, spot on with the percentages of fat, carbs, and protien (according to sparkpeople). I am in an exercise slump. It's been almost 2 weeks since I have been to Curves, and NO, I haven't been walking...but my sister gave me her MP3 thingy and when I get it loaded I'll be jammin'...anyhow, I'm with you!! Dianne (sunsett) is having some success eating 6 small bites of SOMEthing every hour. She eats within 15 min of waking, and every hour all day long. 1/2 protien bar, chicken, turkey breast, whatever. And 6 bites. Wanna try it with me? Tell me if and when and I'll get the details. I could use some movement on the scale, too!

Watch us shrink! Here are our get-together pics from the first day we all met in person! Let's keep our comments on the Chat thread so those of us with the evil Dial-Up can view without washing our hair between page loads...LOL

Mary, you look WONDERFUL!!!!!!! Thanks for sharing the pics, and we want more, you know, as the pregnancy progresses! Keep that camera handy! LOL You are so beautiful!!!!!