HarleyGirl

HEY! My BMI has changed from "Morbidly Obese" to "Severely Obese"...... woo hoo.....I guess.....

Sounds like a pretty yummy dinner, Fenton! I had refried Beans with lime and cilantro......good.....but no steak, that's for sure! It's a BEAUTIFUL spring day today......thinking we're going to take a long walk down by the river and see if there are any baby ducks! I suspect that by this time next week, if the temps stay the way they are, the river will be pretty high and the duckies will be hiding in the shallows. Things are going well for me....I'm just feeling so good. It's wonderful. I still get the twinges of shoulder pain, strangely enough, they seem to be related to hunger much of the time. If I eat a little something, it subsides. Perhaps because I wasn't listening to my stomach, my body is sending signals somewhere else!!!!! Ten minutes of heat takes care of it as well. The EVIL scale dropped a pound this week, so we've reconciled for now. I would have preferred more......but down is down and I'll take it! Hope you all have a GLORIOUS spring Sunday!

I haven't journaled, but I have been thinking about it. I do a blog about every two weeks.....but it's pretty superficial. Sometimes I think it would do me good to go a little more in depth. I had to work today.....UGH....being the first nice day we've had in weeks the shop was PACKED. We were so busy and I'm bushed tonight. I feel like I got a good workout though, I can't even think how many times I went up and down the stairs to the stock room......didn't even have time to eat today, so by the time I got home I was pretty hungry. I'm way behind on Protein and calories today....maybe have to mix up some protein pudding here in a bit!

Amen.....please think long and hard about whether you are ready to make the commitment to the band. You are setting yourself up for problems down the road if you aren't able to follow your physicians directions.

Christine, hope you get some relief soon, that sounds just miserable. I have been very, very fortunate in my recovery......I'm sure the dermatologist will be able to look at it and fix you right up! I'm trying to stay away from the scale, too.......I keep telling myself once a week, but it just doesn't work that way. I should just put it away and only bring it out once a week...... I went out and bought some little custard dishes to eat my little bit of food out of, my 1/4-1/2c serving looked lost in the regular bowls......it helps a little....also bought some baby spoons to force myself to take smaller bites.....they're in rainbow colors, so will make a lovely table setting! Looking forward to getting off mushies next week.....but a little apprehensive as well.....

I went out to dinner tonight with my daughter and my best friend....... I was sooooooooooooooooooooo proud of myself.... I didn't drink with my meal....huge deal for a diet coke guzzler like my *former* self.... I ordered a bowl of potato cheese Soup (I'm still on mushies).....ate a little less than half of it....ignored the giant slab of corn bread (Marie Callendars)....brought it home to hubby.....and still have leftover soup for lunch tomorrow.... Had a GREAT visit with my two favorite women in the world........they both ate regular meals and as we were leaving my BF said..."Geez, now you make me feel like a pig...." It feels good to know that I CAN DO THIS, I TRULY CAN!

I have no earthly idea.....apparently there were some things that were explained more in depth if you were actually there....:huh2: I have cleared my calendar for next month, though......kind of a PITA to drive an hour for the meetings, but I'll certainly give it a go one time to see if it's worthwhile.

When you're ready....remember that Utah has "The Greatest Snow on Earth".....I live 20 minutes from the ski resort that hosted the men's and women's downhill and Super G races in the 2002 Olympics. I would so join you on that (not the downhill race hill, but the bunny) hill and SHRED!

There was a support group meeting at my hospital tonight, I didn't make it, but they were kind enough to email me the information.....thought I would share it with you guys....some good tips! Mindful Eating Strategy #1: Think 20 percent more or less Dish out 20% less than you think you might need, you probably won’t miss it Eat until you are 80% full For fruits and vegetables think 20% more. Strategy #2: See all that you eat Pre-plate your food; don’t eat directly out of a package. Put your snack in a dish and leave the kitchen. See it while you are eating it. Keep reminders of your food. Glasses, wine bottles, bones, ect. Will remind you how much you have eaten. Strategy #3 Be your own tablescaper Mini-size bowls and boxes, repackage jumbo size food into smaller containers Become an illusionist-make smaller portions look bigger by serving them on smaller plates. Beware of the double danger of leftovers. If you have them it means you made too much of the original meal and the more leftovers you bring out of the frig, the more you will eat. Strategy #4 Make Overeating a Hassle, Not a Habit Leave serving dishes in the kitchen so you have to get up to get seconds. It gives you time to ask yourself, ‘Am I Hungry?’ De-conveinience tempting foods. Put them in a high cupboard that you have to stand on a chair to reach. Reseal them, wrap them, and put them back in the frig or freezer. Snack only at the table and on a clean plate. This makes it less convenience to serve and clean up. Strategy #5 Create Distraction Free Eating Scripts Rescript our diet danger zones-trying different things/different habits Dinners Snacks Parties Resturants Desk/Dashboards [*]Distract yourself before you snack—eat in one room only [*]Serve yourself before you start Strategy #6 Create Expectations that make you a better cook. We taste what we expect to taste Tell them what is for dinner any two words “home-style pasta”, “Cajun chicken” Fix the atmosphere when you fix the food—soft lights, soft music, nice table cloth Strategy #7 Make Comfort Foods More Comforting Don’t deprive yourself—one reasons traditional diets fail is that they deprive us of the food and lifestyle we enjoy. Eat comfort food in small amounts. Rewire your comfort foods—if they consist mostly of the four c’s-cake, cookie, candies, chips, substitute for other more healthy versions Strategy #8: Crown yourself the official gatekeeper Be a good marketer-food should be neither a punishment nor a reward. Offer variety-try new things Use the half plate rule—half of the meal needs to be veggies Make serving sizes official.-package servings individually and put them away. Don’t leave them out on the counter where others will see them and snack. Strategy #9 Portion Size me Beware of the Health Halo-McDonalds vs. Subway Think small and super-share—toss out what isn’t good and what you won’t eat.

Congrats on your loss and your very positive attitude! Here's to more success along the way!

Can I get an AMEN for Fenton??!!?? As much as we'd like to have a rewind button.....there just isn't such a thing....all we can do is move forward. I've tended to be one of those "F*ck it, I've already blown it" kind of people as well.....but like you say, that just isn't an option anymore....esp for me as a self-pay.....I've got pain, hardware and seriousl cash tied up in my guts......I have no choice but to go forward!

NO!! Remember the part about it being a great stress reliever......it is a good time to NOT talk to each other.....:thumbs_up:

THANK YOU, Amanda! I saved it this time....... I love my bike....I've been riding for about seven years...it's a great stress reliever for me! This is mine all loaded down (the black and white one), we took a 3,000 mile trip through Southern Utah, Arizona and Nevada last year.....it was glorious!

At some point in this thread....there was a post that had sort of a guideline regarding how many calories a day were recommended for each stage.....I meant to copy and paste it in a word document, but forgot.....any help? I'm worrying about how I'm eating.....I'm staying under 1000 a day and making sure that carbs are lower than protein.....staying lowfat....but still, I worry. Feeling a little more hungry lately........may start thinking about an adjustment in the next two or three weeks....

I work at our local Harley Davidson dealership.......in motorclothes..... it's a great job!

WOW, WOW, WOW.....WHAT A DIFFERENCE.....especially in your tummy! MOST EXCELLENT! I kick myself for not taking before pictures.....I thought about it, but just didn't.....

CONGRATS, DIVA!!! As far as lunches, I am soooooooooo lucky.....I live about four blocks from my shop, so I can just jet home for lunch and have whatever....sure makes it easy!

Smokin' HAWT.......beautiful pictures! You must be sooooooooooo proud of yourself...... now I have another idea for a goal reward!

That IS a long day, Teri! Don't be surprised when you come home positively exhausted! My first week back to work was brutal......but all good now.... Have a good first day back.....

Next mini goal.....hmmmm.....under 200 by May 1st! It's been a long time since my body has been in ONEderland! The numbers and the way I feel are really a reward in themselves......but yes, I should probably buy myself something pretty.....saw some killer spring Steve Madden shoes at DSW today!

If you want to appreciate your band even more......stop by: Duodenal Switch Post-op Experience - Duodenal Switch Support Forum The greatest recommendation is for: Poo~Pourri I'm happy for people that it's worked for.....but soooooooooooooo not for me.

Perhaps I am paying for the sins of my past........but for now, things have been pretty low key.....nothing in the last few days that would make me have the gas pain....UGH.... I've been on heat for the last two hours and it's helped........maybe I just did one of those 'as you get older' move wrong things.....

If you can get past the cheesy set/infomercial feel, it really is some good stuff.....very bandster friendly....watch your portions, eat slowly, chew, chew, chew....sound familiar? I did get totally hoked out when he started on the pressure point thing, though.....tapping my forehead will make me NOT want to eat chips....hmmmmmmmmmmm highly unlikely.

Anyone still having shoulder pain? I'm tellin' you it's excrutiating today......I can't even take a deep breath. I've got a hot pack on it right now and it helps, but DANG. I've had it off and on since my surgery on the 18th, but today it's just horrible.....

I would never advise someone to go against their surgeon's orders....please call your doctor and talk to them before you do it.