the best me

It's a plant exchange! I gave away the last of my plants. They are gone gone gone. So there. They drove me crazy, I didn't love them. They deserved a better home. The Aloe Vera plant will be divided and repotted. The dirt was rock hard, it was awful. And it wasn't dry...it was just hard! I have no clue what I did to it. The little ivy was growing but not growing big. just long. I don't know what it needs but it's getting repotted. The other plant is...I don't know what...I forgot, but it's doing okay, it just needs some attention. So, the fish died last year, the dog died the year before, the plants have been adopted out, all I have left is my family and home. THAT I can handle! LOL Wavy, send that lilly over to 'bonzo. She's a good girl...you can trust her with your plant :eek:

I finally tried the South Beach wraps and they are great! I avoid tortillas but these are the whole wheat kind and are fine with my band. Yahooo! I won't buy the Turkey Bacon ones again. The bacon crumbles produce the wad of spit-out food...yuck. But the the southwest chicken ones are great, and today at Wal-Mart, I found an oriental-style wrap. Not sure what's in 'em, I saw it and put it in the basket (this is what happens when you go to Wal-Mart with a 6yo and a 3yo!!!!) so I'll let you know if it's any good. They are about 250 calories, low fat, low carb, and really satisfy the taste buds. Good find!

Yes! Nice post Leila. I agree! Now, post-op, there's not alot you can do about getting in more than 1000 calories. Sometimes, it's a struggle to get in 600. But that's short-term. It's important to know the minimum and maximum calories you need to lose weight. sparkpeople.com told me my range for losing my weight by the end of the year, and it was 1200-1550 calories a day, plus they gave the ranges for fats, carbs, protien, fiber, and something else? Anyhow, starving to death is NOT healthy weight loss! And it's not a good banded life either. I see folks getting their bands filled so tight they can't eat a healthy variety of real foods and it's not healthy! You can't live on protien shakes forever! I'd rather lose slowly, personally. Great info!!! Thanks!

Good points. One out of ten posts being spam is definitely not good. And if it's allowed, and they keep coming back? Maybe if the Mods just locked the threads as they pop up? I don't know...

BIG difference from a few months ago! Yep, he's doing it! This morning his pull-up was dry, and it was yesterday, too. I'll put a pull-up on him at night until I run out of them. But it looks like I'm done with diapers and pull-ups! Yippee!!!

I like leaving it so I can still see the User name who posted it. If it's someone who comes back, we have a record of the spam. If everyone ignores it and doesn't post on spam threads, it goes quietly to archive land. I know, most spammers log on with a different user name each time. But it doesn't hurt anything to let the thread go down down down the list. Plus, I think the Mods have a great policy of leaving things alone. Spammers who get ignored go away. Funny, why is it not good for the board? Just wondering, in case I'm missing something? I don't like the spam either, but it's par for the course on message boards. Just roll your eyes at it and ignore it. LOL

Maybe PM Dody? I know she had this issue. She's getting banded at Vanderbilt? I think? Ugh...I'm starting rumors...anyhow, her screen name is Dody and she isn't on often lately so maybe PM her and see what she has to say. good luck!

OMGosh, that's so funny about the panties! I call them ALL panties and it drives hubby crazy. Daddy's panties, Mommies panties, etc. Daddy says "boys don't wear panties" grrrr so the other day I tell Tyler to put his panties on and he says "they're not panties, they're underwear." So there, I guess! LOL Boys are funny that way.

I have been logging my food into FitDay these past few days and I'm learning alot about how I eat!!!! But I have a few User questions and would love a place for anyone to ask and answer. So here it is...our FitDay Q & A Thread. Ta-Daaaaaa!!!!! :clap2:

Just lovely, Shelly!!!! What a wonderful day, thanks so much for sharing! I went through the entire slideshow twice, and I have dial-up! LOL It was worth it. You look so beautiful!!!!!! Congratulations!

Just in case you wanted the rest of it, and needed to know which chapter. God bless you!

Psalm 121 (ESV) I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Isreal will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper, the LORD is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.

Marc, this stood out to me...I felt like the person I am on the inside (wonderful) wasn't showing on the outside (NOT wonderful) and I couldn't bridge the gap. Before I considered WLS, I felt as though something was wrong on the inside that made it impossible to change the outside. Once I found out about the Lap Band, I decided I would do it backwards. Work on the outside first! I felt so stuck and hopeless, there was nothing left to change. After a 60 pound loss so far...just 60 little ole pounds! Alot, but not ALOT, I am finding the me that was hidden. Losing the weight isn't always easy, it's work! but I'm actually able to do the emotional and spiritual work my life was so lacking before. Hope is good.

Wow Marc, I have lots to say and little time to say it (I have some family over, just snuck onto the 'puter for a sec)...but for now let me send you one great big ole squishy ((((((((((HUG)))))))))))) and I hope you feel the love and understanding of others. You came to the right place. LBT loves and supports. Pour your little heart.

I think I like sparkpeople better, too. The food is easier to log. The list of choices is what Americans eat and how we cook. so far, anyway. I have only entered 2 days worth of food! But it's my next stop when I'm caught up on LBT. I loved FitDay, but I think sparkpeople wins. And you can disable the e-mails/offers options so you don't get junk. I have only gotten 3 emails form them so far. 1 was a welcome, 1 was I had a reply to my introduction (they have a message board) and 1 was a PM I got in response to my intro. No Spam so far. Yay!

Congrats Lory and daughter! Welcome to bandland and to LBT! I had Dr Kuri, too. I haven't seem the new hospital (except the pics) but I hear it's lovely! Glad things are going well for both of you so far! Yippeeee!

Okay, I checked out Sparkpeople, and yep, I like it! Thanks for the link Cheri! It's easier to use the food entry system (seems to be American foods, mostly, which makes it handy) and it tracks everything. I'm even able to track how much fiber I'm getting. That may or may not be available on FitDay. I like their message board, too. There's a few bandsters over there. And did you know that a Curves workout is considered Cardio? What's up with that? I have been logging it as strength training on FitDay. ???

I think he's finally getting it!!!!! This is Day 3 of "I need to go potty Mommy" and he's pooped! In the potty! No begging, no bribing, no stress, no wondering, no waiting, no arguements, no discomfort whatsoever. Huh? I didn't believe it on day 1. It was a fluke. And yesterday, he did it but it wasn't a good, big, poop, still not convinved. But today, he did it again. By george, I think he's got it! Now, I say no bribing, but we did have a stash of 2 toys left from the last attempts, and when he did this on his own, boy did we celebrate! Well, we don't have any prizes left. But I told him we'd go to the Dollar Store and he's excited. What a difference from just a few months ago! I have a normal child! Thank you, Lord!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL

blades, reflux is very common when folks are too tight. Some folks won't unfill and put up with it for months before finally getting some saline taken out. Ouch! And bad for the esophogus. You can't get an unfill, so you need to hang in there. Be patient, and treat the reflux! I took Prilosec (crushed) twice a day and that helped alot. There's a sublingual Prevacid, I think, that your Doc may prescribe for you? At the very least, take an acid reducer but be sure NOT to swallow the pill. Crush it, or it will hurt! You need for the swelling to go down. Reduce the acid, sip small, stay hydrated and be patient. You can do this! Oh, and sleep on the recliner or propped up on the arm of the sofa...head up...and that should help, too.

I'll go first.... is there a way for me to combine ingredients into a Custom food? For example, I make my coffee with 1 tsp sugar and 1 TBS flavored sweetner. Do I have to add all the nutrition info from each of the 3 ingredients together and make my own Custom Food? Or can I find these 3 things (the creamer is already added by me) and combine them somehow? Anyone? Also, when I go to Curves, I log in 30 min of Circuit Training. Right?

Mandy, it looks like she might have spelled arrangements incorrectly. Maybe try www.ediblearrangements.com ??? Yup, that's it. Looks super yummy. Those arrangements are beautiful! Looks like someone could make their own basket just like it, but imagine the work...all that cutting!!!! They made my mouth water, though!

My story is I got fatter and fatter after quitting smoking, having 2 kids, and getting "up" in age. I joined Curves at my high weight (Jan 2004) and lost 20 pounds, but never lost another ounce. By Jan 2005, I found LBT, had surgery in April, turned 40 in May, and I'm down 60 pounds so far. Slow, but I'm losing it. I don't care how long it takes. I'm getting a tummy tuck at 165, and we'll see how it goes from there. I love my band. Diane Keaton should play me. I saw Baby Boom on TV the other day and she reminds me of me in that film. Everything is hard, everything is hectic, I can even change the dadgum tire if I need to but a great big kiss square on the mouth will shut me up quick. Remember that scene? Very me. The whole movie is very me, except for the high powered exec job, right?! THAT's not me!

Gawd Diane! You ARE challenged! You have to start over and make a whole new ticker with your updated numbers. You have your info on your sig already. I say screw the ticker and take a break! LOL Bless your heart. Literally!

Ha! Well done Liz! I need some medical help on that one! Great explanation. I like the doughnut/tube description. There are 2 kinds of gas you get with surgery. The CO2 they blow you up with that causes the shoulder blade pain, and the digestive tract gas that causes bloating, constipation, farts and burps or any combination of the above. 2 different gases, both surgery related. Hey blades, that IV Fluid will really help in your recovery. You are super tight like I was after my surgery. Once I got the IV fluids, I started to mend well, and my tightness slowly got better. Sip some aloe vera juice, little bitty bits at a time, stay hydrated and sip small. I would put some liquid in my mouth and only swallow enough to coat my esophagus. It would take 3-4 swallows to swallow a sip. I am not kidding. Be patient and take good care of your self. Try not to be scared and you'll get through it. Slow down in every area of your life. Drinking, activity level, and expectations for your rate of recovery. Keep us posted, okay?

EXACTLY how I feel about plants! I LOVE the empty, dirt-filled pot where my Jade used to be. No pressure. No expectations. No failure. Did you get the Jade in the mail, Jenna? Cross your fingers and toes on the Hostas j.s. and keep us updated. If it doesn't work, you and I have rock gardens to plant. LOL :eek: