Apples2

Now I remember you talking about growing up is Wisconsin. That's a lot of people to cook for. Our Thanksgiving is up in the air now with our son moving and not having time to come home because of his new job. He is not sure about Christmas either. I think we will be just taking our oldest son out for Thanksgiving dinner or invite him here for turkey. I will let him choose either one. When I have my husband's family here for Christmas (not my turn this year) I usually have over 50 to cook for. Of course, cooking is my favorite activity but I wouldn't want to cook for that many every year. Well, off to get my baking done for the day. It's apple muffins and caramel bars today for the guys. Have two roasts in the oven, potatoes peeled and ready to boil and mash and spiced carrots ready to put in the oven and banana bars with cream cheese frosting. Thank God for great restriction!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JBFlorida...congrats on being so close to goal and everyone else for their successes! Long...are you originally from South Dakota? It's turning into a LONG COLD harvest here. We are all getting edgy and nipping at each other's butts. This too shall pass.

Already committed to a trip to Vegas with my girlfriends during the date chosen. Hopefully can make it to one (or more) of the other conferences in 2009.

I'd go anywhere to be able to meet and get to know you girls!!!!!!!!!!!

You made a good point, Janet. I would be somewhat disappointed if I traveled to meet people and really didn't have the time to sit and visit. Maybe us girls should do a camping trip somewhere. Maybe Colorado (central location)...rent a cabin or something for a long weekend. Just something to think about. Winter storm warnings here all day until 6pm. Slid into town this morning and sleeting on the way home. Doing my favorite snow day activity...baking and cooking. Have my Body Armour on under my clothes and the heat turned up. No...I am not wishing for my insulation back!

Yep, still planning on spending about a month or more in FL. I'll PM or email you with my cell# in a couple of weeks so that you can contact me when you get down there (or a few days b/4 so we can work out a plan to meet. We will not be there until Jan 15 though. We rented our cabin through Feb 15 and plan on taking a month just for travel b/4 and after that time. I am sooooo excited and looking forward to meeting you. We should all plan a summer meeting to the Mall of America. By that time most will be close to goal and we can all get to know each other and do some power shopping. Wouldn't that be great? If anyone else have a better place to meet, I would be open to that also. I would love it if we could stay a close knit group for years. We could also invite the 50's group and "I'm here to help" group. :tt1: Good attitude about the size thing, Long. I know it's difficult to get our heads around and accept a size larger than what we are wearing. That's when I just rip that tag off and appreciate the fact that I got a good price.

Didn't hear the Discovery Health network thing. I wonder if she will carryover her attitude on her new network and continue to bash weight loss surgery?

Allie...I lost over 50# b/4 band and the rest after. I started last Nov when I was on my 6 mo med supervised diet. I am happy I did it that way. I think I had an easier time adjusting after surgery. I live in MN and went to a casino on the Western side of the state. I am heading to Las Vegas the end of March for a 50th birthday trip for one of my friend. I have been going to Vegas every year for 16 years (except last yr) with a bunch of friends. Always a fun time. This next March will be a new group of friends. We had an exciting evening. We farm and are in the middle of corn harvest. We have dryer bins that take the moisture out of the corn. I was just heading to bed about 10pm and decided to have a cup of tea first. Good thing I did. Looked out the window and one of the dryer bins was flaming. Called 911. We live 15 miles from the closest fire station. DH flew out of his recliner, ran out to bins, turned off gas. We lost a dryer but could have lost so much more. Happy 29th Anniversary to us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Long...I was in New York and Company a week ago. To make you feel better about buying a size 16 instead of 14...I noticed that their slacks run smaller than most places. If it helps, tear the tags off that pair you bought and put it out of your mind. Try to just appreciate how they fit you and not worry about the size. I notice that sizes can be all over the place. I found two pair of really cute capris (they are ankle pants but my legs are so long that they are just below the knee on me). I was able to hit some sales this fall for next summer clothing. I think I saved myself a ton of money instead of waiting till next summer. I should also be able to pick up some summer stuff while vacationing in FL. So, we have had this two month trip to FL planned for close to a year now. We spend almost every day with our 27 yr old son and thought it would be great to have some quality and quantity time with our 25 yr old. Well, he called last week and said he took a job in Atlanta as a flight school manager. There goes our time with him. He starts Dec 1 and will be moved by the time we get there. BUMMER

Hi Strike, Good to see you back and posting. I usually don't count my calories but check once in awhile just to make sure I am getting what I should. My doc insists on 600 cal a day but that's not going to work for me. I made goal about a month ago and I am 5# below goal and want to get back to where I should be. I know I need at least 1000 cals (I'm very active) so defied doc's orders and throw in a couple of healthy Snacks so that I can maintain the weight I want to be at. Nuts and soynuts help me to add the needed cals besides the 3 1/2 cup meals per day. How are all the rest of the June Bandsters? Was MIA over the weekend. Went to a casino with a bunch of girlfriends and stayed the night. Was a great time. My husband is so understanding and actually encourages me to go on trips with friends. I obey him and go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He doesn't have to say it twice.:eek:

I eat a container of Oikos Greek yogurt every morning and once in awhile during the day. I put a couple of TBLS of DiVinci syrup in it and add a few soynuts for added protein and variety. Our Walmart (65 miles away) only carries the vanilla and plain. I always buy the plain. Also good with SF jam. It's good plain on chili or a topping on veggies.

Congrats, Long, on hitting your 80# mark. Fun to see you so excited about it. I have had a crazy week so have not had a lot of time to even read posts. We started our corn harvest on Monday. Got rained out yesterday and had snow last night. Raining here today and expecting snow again tonight. Saw my doc on Tuesday. Am down 5# from my goal weight but he did not seemed concerned about it. He released me until March. Said didn't need to come back for a monthly visit unless I start gaining and want a fill. He still insists on 1/2 cup 3xdaily. I have been adding in healthy snack or two a day to see if I can just maintain. Don't think it will be a problem but it makes me a little nervous. I feel so darned good in my new clothes and I physically feel great. Heading out tonight with DH to celebrate out 29th anniversary. (It's Monday). Have a new Jones New York sweater (red and black...my fav) and new black slacks to go with it. Bought it for DH since he loves me in red. Meeting up with friends after dinner for a drink or two. That's about all it takes anymore to make me cross-eyed! Hope everyone has a good weekend. Mine will be busy with organizing. My favorite thing to do. Went through the kitchen like a white tornado today. Rearranged the pantry and every cupboard. Now I'm off to make some pumpkin muffins and maybe some apple/cinnamon muffins if I have time. I have not slowed down on my baking at all since the band. It's something I enjoy so much. I just end up giving it away to friends and neighbors.

Congrats on the weight loss, Maggies. Keep going, girl!!!!!!. The port area can be tender for awhile. But, if you think it's infected, red or rashy, check with your doc.

Thanks for the advice, Lulac. I will give them a try is I can get past the fact that they are "ostrich". I get so weird about certain types of meat. But worth a try.:tongue:

Be careful when trying jerky for the first time after banding. May be something that does not work for you. I can eat the dryer king but not the nuggets. I usually by Jack Links brand in Walmart in the small 1.8oz snack bags. Love the Teriyaki. Also, I like Grateful Harvest organic. I tends to have less sodium. It's the larger bags but I just weigh and put in snack bags.

Janet...I have read more posts this past week about bandsters being lured by Halloween candy. Maybe the temptations experienced during this Halloween will kick start our will power and more prepare us to stay away from the "hellish" treats during the upcoming holidays? We all feel so bad when we give into our urges. Guess we can walk away from it feeling negative or we can turn it around feel positive about doing a little planning ahead for the holidays. Looks like you got right back on the horse yesterday. I admire that. Heading in to see the doc for my monthly visit this afternoon. I have been so lucky that our lapband program includes 5 yrs of follow up after surgery. My doc is very stern with his diet plan (maybe too much so sometimes) but he always takes the time to really listen and hoping he will be today when I tell him I will be (and have been) bending the rules and including 2 Snacks a day. They have been healthy (beef Jerky, Greek yogurt, 100 cal popcorn, 140 cal Protein bars, etc). He preaches 1/2 cup 3xdaily at each and every visit. Well, not working for me. I have dropped 4-5lbs below my goal and don't want to be there. We'll see what he says. Have a good day everyone. I am doing my favorite thing in the world today. Organizing closets. Sound sick? It's a task that has always been a stress reliever for me (better than sitting down with a buttered popcorn?).

Anyone at all know the answer to this?????????????

Ok...I love beef jerky and keep it in my truck at all times just in case I am in a situation where I need a snack or as a meal replacement. I usually buy the 1.8 oz snack pack. Very satisfying and 25g of protein. My question is: Does anyone know if eating jerky is any different than eating 1.8 oz of fresh cooked meat? Does it take on moisture in the pouch and expand?

I understand how you guys feel about getting some attention. Yes, you want acknowledgment sometimes for your weight loss but there tend to be TOOOOOOOOOOO many questions that follow. And...I was getting this one 40# from goal..."Gee, you really don't want to lose any more do you". WTH? My answer would be that myself and my surgeon set a goal that was good for both of us and I'm working towards it. I still get that statement from people. Heard it three times today. Believe me, I am NOT too thin. My BMI is NORMAL...right in the middle of where it should be. These types of comments drive me crazy. Went to see my nutritionist today. Wanted some ideas from her. If my doc insists on only 1/2c 3x/day, how am I going to stay at goal and not drop. She suggested that I throw 2 healthy, higher cal Snacks in...like my Greek yogurt and soynuts that I eat for Breakfast. I see my doc tomorrow and will have to let him know that's what it is going to take for me to stay in the normal range. He's not going to like the extra snacks idea but I've already dropped down 5lbs from my goal and want to get back there. Didn't help that we had a tummy bug around here for over a week. No vomiting but a sore stomach. I know this will all work out when I figure out how many cals. I need to stay at goal. My doc says 600 for a woman and 800 for a man. I am waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too active to be at 600. Better get back to busy. We JUST started our corn harvest as we speak. About 6 weeks behind schedule. Hope our beautiful Indian Summer holds out for awhile...no rain...no snow. Cold weather doesn't affect the harvest but hard for the guys to work in it. Everyone have a good evening. Thanks for listening to me ramble.

I need to put this in my signature again...I lost 54 b/4 surgery on the six mo.medically supervised diet and the rest after surgery. Took me 11 months which is pretty normal IMO. Skin is good. Not much lower tummy skin, arms are good, no hanging chin. Upper thighs are a little saggy. I have had energy all throughout this process and even had surgery a month ago and popped right back. No hair loss. I have pretty good restriction but have never been too tight. I get all my nutrients EVERY day. I feel wonderful.

Wishing you all the best tomorrow, Katydid. I had my band surgery in June with a repair of haital hernia that doc said was larger than a baseball. Could not even tell they did anything. Had another surgery 9/30 where they repaired over ten hernias. Actually, it wasn't too bad. Just inconvenience. Did not really feel the seven incisions they made. Just could tell when they were healing cuz the mesh screens would pull. I am hoping for you as easy as a recovery as I had. I'll be thinking of you tomorrow as I am sure the rest of the people here will be. God Bless:tt1:

Long...hope you will be feeling better soon. I have noticed that any time I get some kind of a virus, be it a cold or just achey/fever, I am unable to eat much. I don't know why but just the way it is. Had a hard time getting my food in for a couple of days after my flu & pneumonia shots also. Hope everyone has a good evening. Us tired old farmers are heading to bed. I think we are about shot.

Nope...didn't lose all after surgery. I worked really hard during my 6 mo. medically supervised diet (required by ins. co.) and lost 54# b/4 and the remaining #'s after. I feel wonderful and 20 yrs younger.

Be patient. I know the feeling. I have restriction after 2 fills. Doc put in 3cc's at time of surgery. I now have a total of 6cc's and have restriction in my 14cc band. Make sure you drink plenty of Water and get your second fill as soon as you doc allows. Those first months are difficult until you get to the place you want to be.

Here's a great one Pot roast 3-4lb chuck or top round roast 2tsp. minced garlic 1 16 oz low fat Italian dressing 32 oz jar pepperoncini peppers, sliced...do not drain juice Just throw everything on top of roast in CP and cook on medium for about 6 hours. Tortilla Soup 4 boneless chicken breasts, diced (raw) 2 14.5oz chicken broth 2 14.5oz stewed tomatoes 1 cup salsa 1Tbsp ground cumin 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro Combine everything in CP except cilantro. Cook on low for 8 hours. Top with cilantro. Can also top with LF sour cream and a few baked tortilla chips Greek Chicken 1lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs 2Tbsp virgin olive oil 1 onion chopped 1tsp lemon pepper 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt 1/2 tsp dried oregano Cook all ingredients in CP on low for 6-8 hours. Remove chicken just b/4 ready to serve and shred with fork. Return chicken to sauce and stir. Can be served alone or on a pita. Indonesian Turkey 3 turkey breast tenderloins (about 2lbs) 1 1/2Tbsp fresh grated ginger 1Tbsp sesame oil 1/2 cup Peanut Butter Sprinkle all ingredients over turkey. Cook on low-med. for 7 hours. Remove turkey. Stir in peanut butter. If sauce looks too thick, add 1/3 cup Water. Slice turkey and drizzle with sauce. Fruited Pork 2lbs boneless pork loin roast 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp pepper 1 1/2 cups mixed dried fruit 1/2 cup apple juice Place pork in CP. Sprinkle with salt and papper. Top with fruit. Pour apple juice over top. Cook on low for six hours. One more Spanish Chicken 8 skinless boneless chicken thighs 2Tbsp virgin olive oil 3/4 cup red wine vinegar 2/3 cup lite soy sauce 1tsp garlic powder 4 6" cinnamon sticks Pour all ingredients over chicken. Break cinnamon sticks into several pieces and distribute among chicken thighs. Cook on low for 5-6 hours.