Darragha

1) I know who was eating all the bread in the house now. I didn't think I was eating *that* much bread. I've bought two loaves for "my family" over the last three weeks, and one molded and the other went into the freezer. 2) My tummy is musical! Little funky rumblings is the name of my stomach's...(cough, choke) band. 3) Walking after eating is a good thing. I seem to digest things better with exercise. Go figure. 4) I have completely lost my craving for coffee. 5) Nothing "hurts" any longer. My hips, ankles, etc.--like OMG! Does losing weight actually make a difference? It's true! Darr

One 2" lasagna noodle bite. PB'd me. One bite of a cold salmon patty. Same result. So, no cold meats and no noodles for me!

Congrats Chris! We have the same bandster birthday! I'm 11 days out and today I feel really good! Very little pain. A little more energy. And I ate smashed spuds! Whoohoo! Darr

Hi I'm giving away a unique coffee mug and a Runic charm necklace soon. Visit my "author blog" for more details! Thank you, Darr

I do have a day job--and I took 2 weeks off. I return to work on 10/2, in fact. Kind of bites that I wasn't able to write during my recovery time after being banded. I was hoping to be "more alert" but man....I needed naps and "down time." An author friend of mine told me to consider it a "vacation" from one job and medical leave from the other. Darr

Paid 16,900 cash. The money was a gift from my family, but it was still cash.

Your salmon burgers look wonderful! Darr

It was pretty mushy! It was hot and flaky. I did, however, have a problem several hours later when I took a "bite" of a cold patty. Chomp! No chewing. Swallow. And my first PB. How lovely. I do wonder, however, if having PB means that I have restriction in my new band! That would be wonderful! I did the hair-ball thing, then drank about a tablespoon of pineapple juice and went about my day. Darr

Here I am, about 10 days post-surgery and Trader Joe's opened up one block from my house. I had my first "big excursion" this morning. I showed up at 8am, listened to the mayor and the high school band and then went grocery shopping. I love Trader Joe's. I bought hummus and salmon burgers and all kinds of lovely proteiny mushies. I also bought foods my family will eat. I didn't ever really feel remorse while shopping, but I did kind of wish I could eat some sushi or a really nice salad with salami and chickpeas as I wandered the aisles in a huge crowd of fellow "first day early morning shoppers." My adventure took nearly three hours. I was famished by the time I got home. I cooked a salmon burger and it tasted like heaven. I look forward to being able to eat non-mushies like "Thai green beans" (beans with chili paste) and salads again! I even miss chicken! I did buy some chicken salad for myself--and some really nice organic, free range and Kosher (the magic trio) chicken breasts for my family. All the Trader Joe's treats...the chocolates....the breads...they didn't call my name. I guess my mind has been banded, too. And that's a good thing! Darr

I am all for banning smoking in public places. If someone wants to smoke around me, they shouldn't exhale. I generally avoid situations where there will be smoke, smoking or the lingering noxious fumes of same. I don't usually post here on this "rant" thread--but the smoking thing I have no qualms about professing. I don't like cigarette smoke!

I hope, if you want to read a romance, that you read one of mine! Authors need love, too! I read all kinds of books myself, from the scorching hot ones full of stuff I don't even write about to sweet inspirationals. I'm kind of a non-fiction junkie for "personal reading." I read romances, in all their various incarnations, to know the market. I wrote my first book when I was 10 years old. Submitted it to Random House, in fact. I sold my first novel several years later I have six books "out." [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Loves-Second-Sight/dp/1931761795]Love's Second Sight[/ame] (ebook and paperback) The Orca King (ebook only [for now] named in the top 25 of the most unusual paranormal characters in the last 25 years by Romantic Times BookLover's Magazine) Cold, Hard Kash (ebook only. my mother liked this one!) Teaching Old Gods New Tricks (ebook for now...soon to be in print! a trilogy in one volume) A Witch in Time (ebook. a "witchy" anthology. My tale is "Spell-Crafted for Pleasure") Mooncusser Cove (ebook. will go to print depending upon e-sales) Coming soon: Of Flesh and Blood (a vampire anthology. My tale is "Polishing Saber." Blurb: And about my husband, errr...I do sometimes refer to him as my "crash test dummy." Oh, quick honey! Let's see if this will work! Ok, hold that position! I need to figure out how to write it! He loves it. And me :car: Darr :clap2:

I just started mushie foods successfully, today. I tried yesterday and that didn't work I kind of figure I'll stick to my 800-1000 calories a day when I'm back on solids, pending my first fill on 10/17. Darr

I used to cover The Biggest Loser for a magazine--I wrote recaps of the episodes and an opinion column. I did a local "biggest loser" program at a gym and did not have a lot of success. I do better walking. Darr

I am one week post-op and still on liquids for the most part. Mushies don't yet agree with me. Br-Medifast shake L-steamed milk D-if I'm hungry, broth or Jel-O I did have some tuna today, however! It was wonderful!

I walk and a rock back and forth on a chair to force the damned bubbles out. I don't care which end. They just need to leave my body! Darragha

Failte, baby. Darragha

I'm going to color my hair soon--though it hasn't really started falling out yet. A very small amount; a few strands at a time only. Maybe I'm getting enough Protein. I feel like I'm eating nothing, however. I'm full after one "tall" steamed milk. Darr

I've lost 8lbs (5 days post surgery). Today is my first day of "mushies" (1 week post surgery) and I just ate some tuna. I want to drink Water now, but I believe I'm supposed to wait for 30 minutes. Nap time! Darragha

Poohlvr, my baby is 15.5! She has a job and a horse and is still making good grades in school. I've never had the luxury of being a stay at home mom. Even though I have a career as a romance novelist (which I do from home), I work outside the home, too. Those insurance benefits are just too good to give up :peep: I LOVE being with my family and have a great relationship with my daughter (even though she's a teenager!). My mother "misses" the baby...but I am so enjoying the young woman There is nothing better than being a mother. Just my .02! Darragha

We have an Arab gelding--but I haven't tried riding him yet. My daughter rides him, and she works at the stable, too. I think lowering yourself a little more slowly (as opposed to a bolt off the side) might help your knees, ankles and mid-section. Will your horse remain steady if you take 10 more seconds to dismount? Darr

I soooo relate to this. And not just with weight loss. My cousin had a letter appear in TV Guide in 2003. [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Loves-Second-Sight/dp/1931761795]My first book had just come out[/ame]. You know what the conversations revolved around? Not that I had written an entire freakin' book and had it published, but that my cousin had a letter in TV Guide. Hmmmmm....a two paragraph letter vs. a 90,000 word historical romance.... Grrrrrr. I'm over it now, thank goodness. As for the weight loss: I read your signature lines and I am applauding every damned one of you! You are doing fantastic! I can't wait to put up a little "ticker" to show my weight loss! Don't let the naysayers get you down. Living well and living healthy will be the best revenge Darr

My husband, too, has made comments about my "leaving him for someone else" after I achieve a more normal weight. As if! I love him so completely I can't imagine being with anyone else. I just try to remind him every day how much I love and appreciate him. My daughter is thrilled that I'll be saddling up with her and going trail riding next year. Our little Arabian gelding is too small for me right now. I look forward to doing all kinds of wonderful activities with my teenager! And my husband! Darr

Papaya enzyme tablets could be kept in one's purse or glovebox. I'm thinking I'll get some little cans of pineapple juice and keep one with me wherever I roam. Might make all the difference. First fill: 10/17. Start mushies: 9/26!

I need a nap! And with that, thank you....the miniature dachshund and I are going to snooze now. Darr

I have the APL 14cc band. I have no idea what this means, but I do know that's what is sitting inside me right now! My first fill is 10/17. I'm 5 days out from banding and waiting for the exhaustion and soreness to go away