Cheri

Well, we are replacing our collection of adult videos with tivo recorded American Idols shows!! (We don't really have any adult films, but who needs them when you have ACE!!!) I am predicting the top 6 right now :rockon: Chris (woo hoo, hot baldie with a rockin' voice) :flame:ACE (who cares if he can sing? - I would buy his CD for the sleeve photos!!) :loco: Taylor - being an Alabama gal, I already know he will be just fine, every tv station is supporting him, parties everywhere (Hello? Bo and Reuben!?!?!) Besides, he is totally cool!! :drama: Katherine - great voice, but somewhat annoying personality :hail: Paris - amazing all around :dance: Mendisa - we have to unite for our girl, folks!!! - What a hottie, too!! Did I mention that I am totally HOT for ACE!!!!! My poor 8 year old daughter is afraid I'm going to leave my husband and become his stalker.....hmmmm......nah....then again?:spy: So glad I have other Idol fanatics to commiserate with!!! ~cheri

Please don't leave! I'll be good, I promise. I feel like I have done something to run people off, but I have no idea what it is! I remember feeling the same way when my siblings would fight. I didn't have to be involved, but I was still involved...do you understand? We need people like you around to help us. Whoever is causing waves in our pond must not realize how much easier it is to catch the good fish in rough seas! Remember that before you leave - there are a lot of good fish here that need caught (or helped, as it were)!!! ~your fishy friend, cheri

Happy Band Day to you, Happy Band Day to you, Happy Band Day Dear Ethel, you look awesome, WOO HOO!!! Wow, you are an inspiration to us alll!!!! ~cheri

Whew, lots to do, and so little time!!! It will fly by, and soon you'll be living in bandland with the rest of us!! Congrats!! ~cheri

NICE!! I am copying this and sending it to those in my life who need to count their blessings as much as I do!!! Thanks, Kare, you are a blessing to us all!! ~cheri

Oh, I forgot to ask - are you sure you aren't having the nausea because of digestive juices having nothing to do? Try some chicken broth or other "comfort" food...it just may do the trick without needing to use my "secret potion"!!

Yeek! That is the worst part of this whole new life!!! My child's doctor has given me a recipe for a secret nausea remedy which I use all the time. I hope it will work for you as well. Mix 2 teaspoons of mylanta or maalox with 1 teaspoon of benadryl. Drink it slowly, with no chaser!!! The mylanta will coat the tummy and the benadryl will settle it!! I really hope it works for you as well as it has for my family!! I have thought of bottling and selling it!! Good luck sunta, and welcome to band-land!!! ~cheri

Hey, Dawn, long time, no see... I use www.sparkpeople.com to track EVERYTHING!! It has been a life saver for me. Of course, you are in charge of entering you info, so you have to be ready for a BIG commitment to keep up with it - the rewards are well worth it though!!! Did I mention that it's FREE!?!?!?! WOO HOO Good luck, fellow December bandie!! ~cheri

Okay, at this point, I will try anything!!! If I don't do well, will someone be slapping me around a little?!?! I think that's what I need!!! Count me in! ~cheri

I have a great idea. I am personally only going to show my sig when it is relevant, such as in the challenges, etc. I see no reason to post it when talking about a new recipe or potty habits or when I am whining about my doctor refusing to give me a decent fill!!!! Besides, I can visit it anytime I want (I copied it and put it in my journal as well!!!) Vines, I totally understand what you are saying - there are some people on here that are such bunnies that I want to wring their necks, skin them, and make me a really nice fur coat out of them!!!:Bunny hope you know I am just kidding I know you were just making an observation, but my faith says to do what you can to help others, and I say if this may help others from becoming discouraged, then I am all for it!!!! Hopefully others here have the same love for others and will follow suit!!!

Good luck K@t! This step has changed my life, and I will never regret it!!!

12/5/05 - Dr. Les Miles - B'Ham, AL Goals 1 & 2 - priceless!! 3rd mini-goal - down 15 more by Easter (236-221) Rabbit&Turtle Challenge, Bootcamp, & Delarla's Challenge Life Goal: 150 (maybe)

12/5/05 - Dr. Les Miles - B'Ham, AL Goals 1 & 2 - priceless!! 3rd mini-goal - down 15 more by Easter (236-221) Rabbit&Turtle Challenge, Bootcamp, & Delarla's Challenge Life Goal: 150 (maybe)

Good idea to curb those crunchy cravings! I have no problem eating them (in small bites), maybe it is because I have only .5cc in a 10cc band. Or maybe it is because they are whole wheat and not too "gummy". I find that I can eat dark breads pretty easily (but not white breads or rolls, biscuits. etc.) I just like that they have soo much fiber!!!

I know there are a zillion threads on food, but I wanted to let y'all know about a great high-fiber food I have recently discovered!! ****Mission Carb Balance Whole Wheat Burrito Size Tortillas**** Here's the skinny on them - Calories - 200 Fat - 4.5g (0 trans fat) Cholesterol - 0mg Sodium - 560mg Total Carb - 31g Fiber - 21g (almost half our recommended intake - WOO HOO) Sugar - 0g Protein - 8g I realize that the calories and fat are somewhat high, but this tortilla is HUGE and could easily replace your carbs for 2 meals of the day - I use half for Breakfast (1scrambled egg wrapped up nice and cozy!) and the other half for lunch (2 slices of turkey breast fit just fine, too!). They are available at most grocery stores, but where I live, Walmart is pretty much the only place to shop (which is where I buy them). www.missionfoods.com Enjoy your fiber!!!! ~cheri

Don't fret darlin', You will make it!!! I would say the chest pains are good ole gas from the surgery!! It feels really bad now, but it goes away before you know it - I am 9 weeks out and almost forget what it was like! Stick to the diet, and call your doc if anything is just NOT right (that's what they're there for!!) Following the dietary guidelines will ensure that you heal well. I did drink a watered-down yogurt smoothie from time to time (not until after week 1 though!!!) Good luck, Anna, and welcome to Bandland!!! ~cheri

Congratulations, Beanie!!! You will be a huge success!!! Rest up, drink up, and enjoy that chicken broth!!!! {{{HUGS}}}} ~cheri

I am sure you do not want to hear this, but YOU POOR GIRLIE!!!!! I feel awful for you! I hope you have a great support system out there (I know you do in here!) because you have had to go through some muck that no one should ever have to trek through!!! I hope you get the answers you are looking for! I believe that there is a doctor out there who will not "write you off". Maybe someone on here has the best doc ever!! Hugs and Prayers to you!! ~cheri

I agree with everyone here - research and then research some more. A big part of the lapband lifestyle has to do with portion control and exercise, both of which can be done without the band (did I say that?? 'cause I sure couldn't do them!) For me, the band helps me to know when to stop, or maybe it's the $$ I shelled out to have it installed. Either way, I am losing the weight, I feel better (most days) than I have in a long, long time, and I am truly watching what - and how much - I am putting into my body. I also think you should try all other methods of weight loss before jumping on the "band-wagon". So, if you've done all the other stuff (weight watchers, Nutrisystem, etc. etc.), I would suggest hitting one of the informational seminars in your area. This does not tie you to a specific doctor, but you can get some information to help you with this big decision!!! Let us know how you do and what you decide!!! ~cheri

I couldn't use the regular sized boppy either. However, I found a much larger one with a velcro "belt" that wrapped around the back - it was AWESOME!!! I used it for two of my three kids, and it is still in pretty good shape. I liked that I could adjust my position without having to readjust the boppy everytime!! I highly recommend one if you ever see them - btw, it makes a super knee pillow as well!!! I got it at either Baby Superstore or Walmart for like $30 or so!! ~cheri

This place is great, isn't it?!?!?! My only problem is that - once I get on - I can't tear myself away (my poor kids are soo neglected!!!) {{{{{Hugs}}}}}} ~cheri

Thank you, Fuel Man!! See, our craziest days are not so uncommon after all!! Most of us have been where you were (in thought, if not in action), so don't feel as though you are the only one!!!! But, Genocide - YIKES!!!! (just kidding) I am glad to hear you feel human again - I am so disgusted by people (no names here...oh, okay...Tom Cruise) who say that anti-depressants are a sham - what an IDIOT!!!! Yeah, he's still hot and a good actor, but, what an IDIOT!!!! I say, if it helps you out and isn't harmful to anyone else (mentally, physically, spiritually, or otherwise), then do it!!!! ((((((HUGS)))))) ~cheri

Wow, all of this going on while going to school full-time away from family?! My goodness, vines, I would not be on anti-anxiety medication...I would be in a PADDED CELL!!!! See how strong you are?!?!?! In all seriousness, I sure do wish they could figure out "we ladies" in the medical sense. I live with inconsistent periods, constant cysts (yeooww, the side pain...I always think it's my intestines or appendix exploding), and everyone around me saying "it will resolve itself when you lose weight". So, girl, I am sooo praying for you because you deserve to be healthy!! You need to worry about your well-being right now and maybe not concentrate so hard on losing weight!! I say, SCREW SKINNY for the time being!!! Let the docs get you figured out - at least, medically speaking - and get you on the right track (again, medically speaking, of course!) You are one of the major reasons I visit LBT so often, I love to hear your take on things and you are such an inspiration for everyone here!!! :clock:

If you get the "right" answer her, pass it on to me. I am SOOO discouraged right now... I have lost and gained the same four pounds pretty much since new year's. The bad thing for me is that I was banded in December, so I should still be having some initial loss. My doc refuses to try another fill before six weeks has passed, I have been religious about my gym visits, super-good dietarily (is that a word?) although starving, and much more active around the house. Nothing to show for it, nothing, nada, zip!! I am soo discouraged, I want to just give up! I can't even cheat well because all the good cheat stuff makes me sick now!!! So, I guess what I'm trying to say is that you definitely are NOT alone! I am on the plateau right there with ya!!

Me too! Prozac gave me hot flashes, zoloft was great short-term, but the dosage needed increased over time (but you can take it while pregnant). Lexapro is the one for me, it puts me on a "mostly" even keel - no big mood swings. As for the sex thing, I kind of lost that drive after my bout with postpartum with my first child (now I have three - how'd that happen?!?!) Good luck Parvathi - hope it all comes out great on Monday