the best me

LMBO! I'll have to remember that one. I always say something like "ohhh, I'm lactating!" when I see a cute, sweet baby! LOL That was funny.

Ah, geez, there IS a God in Heaven...just look at that. SIGH.

Hedwig, whatever happened? Are you okay? Please update!!

Hey P'nut, I had hives a few months ago. I got them after about 2 weeks of taking Wellbutrin, in a botched effort to quit smoking. I have no idea for sure if it was the Wellbutrin, but when I got the hives I quit EVERYthing. It took about a week but they slowly got less frequent and went away altogether. I bought a bottle of Benadryl gel and slathered it on where they popped up. It helped alot. Anyhow, sorry about your hives. They are terribly uncomfortable.

Wow Cathy, your attitude is wonderful. I wish you only the best, and your positive spirit will get you to your goals! I just know it! Stick around if you need to. We are all on the same weight loss journey to improved health. There a pleny of unbanded/pre-band/never-will-see-a-band folks around. Hop in on a challenge and share your journey with us! Go get 'em, girl! I'm proud of you!

How adorable, Greg! Thanks for sharing, I'm so happy for you! It WAS worth it!! Yay! Man, life is good when you have a lap full of birthday cake! (Libra, look at those curls! I just shaved the curls off my 3yo son and I miss them! It was time, though. He's a cutie-pie!) h

bumping for pool pics....

Wonderful, fun, relaxing, enjoyable, comfortable, and nice. What a great time!!! Thanks Kim! And thank your grandparents, too. And your Mom! Wag your finger at her and tell her to go to bed!!! LOL (she won't listen) hehe

I ddin't have rro for the tomato/cukes, but the squash was so yummy! And FF! Who knew! Black Bean and Corn Salsa 2-3 cans of black Beans, rinsed and drained (I used 3) 1 can whole kernel corn (yellow or white, rinsed and drained) 1 block Feta cheese, cut into tiny chunks 1 bunch green onions, finely chopped dressing: 1/4 cup Oil (I used Canola) 1/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar 1/4 cup sugar 1 tsp salt 1 tsp pepper 1 tsp garlic powder Whisk dressing ingredients well, then pour over salad and stir well. Chill and serve with (evil) Fritos or Tostitos. Note: when my Dad makes this, he substitutes Rosemary for the garlic powder and it's wonderful! Thanks so much Kim, Rachel and I had a great time! We really enjoyed the evening!!!

We're coming, yay! I have a big row of napkins, my black bean salsa stuff, tostitos, Cheetoes (please get them out of my house!!!!) and drinks for me and Rachel. Towels and suits...fun fun fun! Kim, let me know if you have a last minute thing to get, you have my cell. I'll pull over at the store along the way. We will leave at 3:30 for a 4 or 4:15 arrival. Yippee!!!

I use sparkpeople.com...but they don't have a pic of the body when you enter measurements. If they do, I haven't seen it! lol Anyhow, good luck! I hope my "bump" gets you the info you need.

Hey Cherie! Yup, normal! You'll get a boost of energy when you start eating more/better. Try to up your protien intake. Egg Drop Soup is a great soup for this stage. The first time I had that I felt soooooo much better! Or bean soup, watered down, pureed, if needed. Get some food in you! But follow your doc's post-op diet stages. Keep it liquid or mushy, whatever your doc remommends. It gets better! Oh, and welcome to LBT!

Awww Pink, my friend!!! I'm so happy for you! Congratulations and huge ((((HUGS)))) for the Mom-to-be! Yay!!!!!!!

food Lube? You may need to dip that yummy chicken in a low fat or fat free sauce. That makes it chew better, and go down better. Have you had a fill yet? You may need to wait it out, lose a tad mroe weight, and slowly the ability to eat chicken will get easier. Chicken is like the litmus test for tightness of the band. If you can eat, without discomfort, several ounces of chicken breast, you are at a good fill level. If you can't, you just might be a tad too tight. That's always been my guage, anyway. Good luck!!!

I guess, for me, I consider my hunger diminished, but really it's more that I get "full" on so much less than pre-band. I can eat a SouthBeach Diet wraps box (2 whole wheat flour tortillas, some kind of filling and sauce, and a little FF Jello cup) and be full. FULL. I may WANT to add a little something to it, a few ounces of egg salad, or a 4 ounce cottage cheese, but then I'm REALLY full. And I'm fine till the next meal or snack. What I notice, however, is that I'll substitute a snack for a cup of coffee. Or 2. I guess what I'm saying is that I'm truely satisfied on less food, not NO food, so I feel my hunger has diminished. l.a.susan, you are a smart lady and I consider you a friend, so don't take this wrong...do you think you need to change your expectations about how the band works for you? What I'm getting at, I guess, is, what if you are a tad too tight? If you got a smidgen of saline taken out, were able to eat more, more comfortably, would that help you? You tell me, I know you aren't crazy about advice and you have been around all these blocks before, but could too much restriction be part of your problem with "diminished hunger"? You amaze me. I don't know how you cope with your chronic pain issues. I really hope nothing but the best for you!!!!! (((hugs)))

Dang...should you have written "allergic to Vicodin" on your dadgum forehead?! I guess so! I'm so sorry about that! Glad you are okay now. On a happy note, welcome to bandland! You did it!!!! Sip small, Becky. Go very easy on that swollen band area, and do your best to stay hydrated, I know it's hard! Congrats!

I suppose it's betadine. Give it a few showers and it will fade away before you know it. Congratulations! Welcome to bandland!

idiot (cool user name!) I have considered doing Nutrisystems and I think I'd do well on it...but I always come back to what I know, the way I RELALY live, and I can't bring myself to spend the money. I agree with Showboatgirl, stock up on pre-packeaged meals, or cook giant portions and make your own. It takes some effort, but once you get set up, it could work. I have been logging my food on sparkpeople.com and it's helped me alot. I have spent the last 2 weeks figuring out what keep my numbers (calories, fat, carbs, protiens) in the right proportions. I'm hoping I can get this under control. I'm almost 16 months banded and working on the last 35 or so pounds. You can do this. A fill would "help" me, but I'm at a eally comfortable level, too and want to make this work without more saline. If I eat right, I can be completely satisfied on 1200 calories a day. Take a look at your intake and see what you are doing, see where you could tweak it. Good luck! Oh, and welcome to LBT!

Thanks Greg, I'll keep checking this thread.

Oh, we'll still be there. For sure! Kim will have to kick us out, I think, the way my daughter likes to swim. :confused: Hurry up after your class!

Happy band! Good news! I want to sign up for the book, too. :confused:

OMGosh!!!!!!!!!!!! That's it! That's me!! Whew! It's so nice to see someone else say it with different words. I'm loving this thread...please talk out loud you guys!! I won't get hostile, promise! LOL For me it's a panic that stems from...uhhh...let me think about this...it happens when I'm overwhelmed and feel out of control and lost to myself. Kids, dinner, hubby, chores, laundry, home, errands, BILLS!, everyone needs a piece of me and there's nothing left for me and I finally lose it and gnaw on something yummy. I take care of me by binge eating. Having to take the time to chew was aggravating at first, but now I find some comfort in chew chew chewing while I'm into the Cheetoes bag, or whatever. It doesn't happen alot, but it definitely still does, almost 16 months banded! I getcha Cloe. I find myself replacing binge eating with LBT time, or a cup of coffee, or something, but sometimes...ugh. The festering thing happens. Thanks for this thread.

TheBestMe - J 179.2 / C 181.0 / G 165 (+2 this week!) Egads!!!!!!

Oh Paula...that's what I was doing back then...and may be doing now on a smaller scale. That wasn't meant for you! I suppose it's worth looking into for yourself, since that thought stood out for you. The library didn't have Codependant No More by Melody Beattie so I ordered it from another library, should be in tomorrow? I'm anxious to read it again. I'm so glad you brought it up, Leatha! Hang in there...this is a growth stage for you and Mike. Might be slow and hard, but it will only get better and make you both stronger together! Good for you. :kiss2:

Awwwww Katie! I'm so happy for you! Thanks for giving hope to those with PCOS and are struggling to conceive. Rock on, girl! Congratulations!