PhotoNut

I sure am loving the pictures of all you losers and your good looking men! Em, you look fabulous dahling! Terista - You are always welcome on this thread! Browse, visit, comment.. anything ya like! *hugs* Woah!!! I just saw your current weight girl! It seems like just the other day you were cheering about getting under 400 and look at you go! w00t!!

Yup, and you and I were banded in Jan so I think this is pretty typical at about 5 or 6 months. So think pretty when you get your hair done! Dont be thinking utilitarian!

Here ya go. If you want to save them you can. Right click and select Save Picture As.

I have bangs too.. Love the cut Want some more pics of that cut?

hair really is important! Mine is still falling out too, and I can see the round "horizon" of my scalp through my hair across the top of my head, starting at the hairline. I keep trying to ignore it, hoping that what everyone says is true - it will stop falling out and it will grow back. I went and had some golden highlights put in last Saturday, and it does help draw away the attention to the thinning - I think. I hope you like your new haircut. I suggest you don't go with anything too extreme. You can always have it cut shorter but there's not a lot you can do when you're standing in front of the bathroom mirror crying over what you preceive as a disaster when it's been cut too short. I had mine layered up the front and blunt cut so it looks thicker. I also part it more to the side to cover the.. oh dear! It's a combover!! LOL! Anyway.. The layers really do help with thin hair. Here is the cut I got... Yep, that's Rachel! Isn't she a doll? While I was disappointed that I didn't come out looking like her, but my hair looks better! Best wishes for a happy outcome for you!!

I just realized that I have LESS THAN 100 POUNDS TO LOSE! (100 has been a daunting number staring at me for many years) I just realized that I NO LONGER QUALIFY FOR WLS!! :clap2: I just realized that I'm only 11 pounds from being HALF WAY TO MY GOAL! :faint: I just realized that I'm in the freaking 20s FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 13 YEARS!! :rockon: I just realized that its after midnight and I need to get my tired arse to bed. Night y'all! :notagree

I always could feel my lumpy port. Drives me nuts. I can see the lump too. I'm just hoping it goes away when I get thinner. The other day I was making it "dance" by moving my stomach muscles around. *snickers* I think maybe I should get a hula girl tatoo'd over it so her hips can move when I flex my stomach muscles. *laughs* Anyway, it could be that you're overdoing it a bit. Remember that you have those stitches into the musles that can pull and sting if you're putting too much stress on them. Follow the Dr's guide for weight and activity limits. And if the pain increases, dont hesitate to bug your Dr about it until it's looked at.

Well crap. I just spent 20 minutes typing out a bunch of info on Protein shakes and lost it when I tried to post. Blah. Basically I told you about a shake I made when I was on liquids: Blend in a blender until all liquid - 2 cups skim milk, 2 scooops strawberry flavored protein powder, 1/2 banana, 1 teaspoon Splenda Then pour in one can Vanilla Slim Fast. This drink should be split up over the day, and equals about 75 grams of protein. Be sure to count the calories. There are plenty of them in there. You can also get creative with other flavors such as chocolate or vanilla protein powders or sugar free flavored syrups or pudding mixes.

Hey Laura... Is the incision healing nicely? All closed up or is it still open or draining? I went through periods of itching and stinging.. but there was more time between those periods as time went on.

Hey Penni... It's June. What's the verdict? Have you been to the Dr yet?

Hang in there. The first week is the worst and typically when people wonder what the heck they were thinking?! LOL! Each day will get better. Be sure to stay hydrated, and do your best to get 60 grams of Protein in per day. It will help you heal fasters and give you more strength and energy. Your body is recovering from surgery, and your food intake has dropped a LOT. It's normal to go through this healing and ajustment period. Get all the rest you need, but do get up and walk as often as you can. It really helps too.

Awww.. You'll go through this again most likely. I've felt it, I'm sure others have as well. It's pancake envy. *grins* Seriously though, it's tough to watch the world enjoying your old favorites while you have to go without. Just take a few steps back, take a deep breath and repeat after me... I have lost almost 100 pounds! I need a slight unfill so I can eat healthily and continue to lose until I reach my goal. All of the pancakes, waffels, toast, and hashbrowns wont feel as good as weighing 189 pounds will feel. I'm on the right track, I'm doing a great job, I'm not deprived... I choose not to eat those things because I have a goal and by god, I'm going to reach it! Atta girl, Margo! Its a tough climb, but we are all with ya. *hugs*

*rolls up randy's tongue and stuffs it back in his mouth*

I'm going to be gone this next week. When all of you in the South feel the earth trembling, dont be afraid... it'll just be in shock from me actually being there again after 23 years! Since I wont be able to update the Members Page, I'll need someone who can post a temp page and do all of the updates for me until I get home. If anyone has the computer savvy and the time to do that, please PM me and I'll show ya what I do. Thanks!

I'll be there on Saturday, the 17th, but it looks like you'll be busy at Friday's! Hope you're feeling better today, Kim. *hugs*

Being TOO restricted will cause PBs, slimes, and pain. My Dr's aim is to have me eat three times a day, 4 hours between meals, no Snacks, and not be hungry until it's time to eat. Some days I'm right on targe for that and others I eat more. I keep my calorie intake in the range of 800-1,000 but sometimes exceed that by a little. But since I'm not having any PB problems and I'm losing weight at a good speed, and because I'm not having to struggle to keep from eating more, the Dr has not added more fill to the band. (I have 1cc in a 4cc band). You don't necessarily have to feel restriction. In fact, I'd say it's best if you don't. Your eating patterns and weight loss should be the guide used in determining your amount of restriction.

There is someone on LBT who posted about being allergic to barium but I can't remember who it was. Hopefully they'll see this thread.

Hi April, I usually buy Nature Made C and E from Wallgreens. This month they are buy one get one free. I tried Nature's Bounty C and *makes a face* they were awful! Nature Made is really tasty. Tart orange. I buy Caltrate chewable calcuim and at first they tasted very gross to me. Very chalky. I drank Water with them. But now I really enjoy them. They don't taste chalky at all. Very fruity. The Centrum is pretty good. I liked the Centrum Silver better but I've been buying the regular Centrum lately. Regular Centrum tastes kind of like a chocolate/orange kind of thing, and Centrum Silver tastes fruity. I usually remember to take my Vitamins everyday now because I look forward to them, like a treat. And no, I don't consider the calories.

Here's my list: Morning 1 Chewable Centrum Multivitamin 1 Chewable C 500mg 1 Chewable Calcium 600 mg 1 E geltab 40 Units lunch 1 Chewable C 500mg 1 Chewable Calcium 600 mg dinner 1 Chewable C 500mg

I take Effexor everyday with no problems. It is in capsule form. Once when I got a migrane at my daughter's house, all she had for pain relief were large capsule things. I had read that you can soak jell-tabs in warm Water long enough to make the outside soft and gooey, so I took these capsules with warm water and let them sit in my mouth and soften up a bit before I swallowed. They went down with no problem. If you currently take meds that are large pills, speak to your Dr about switching to a liquid form. And don't ever take your pills with cold drinks. The cold causes the stomach to draw up/shrink/spam whatever the correct term is. :cool:

I'm going to be in Asheville soon! *grins* But I won't be able to visit! It's going to drive me nuts to know my adopted NC sisters are there and I won't be able to see ya! I'll be in Knoxville a few days and talked my mom in to running over to tour the Biltmore Estates. Woot! I haven't seen them in years and I just LOVE that place. Maybe if I let you know what day we'll be there you could all stand at the Biltmore entrance with signs that say stuff like Welcome P'Nut and her mom! Or Woohooo Susan! Welcome to NC! LOL! My mom would freak! LOL!

Thank you Kat! I was looking for just the right words and you nailed it! :cool: Nice looking guy, Em! I can see why you want to show him off.

Miper - I'm not sure the objective is to feel full, so much as it should be to feel not hungry. If you can eat your meal and stop before feeling full, then that's great! Don't be in a big hurry to get cinched down tight. That can cause serious problems in the long run. Some of you may have already read this but I'll post it again for those who haven't. <TT>How to Tell When You Are Perfectly Adjusted You are losing 1-2 pounds per week. If you are not losing 1-2 pounds per week: A. You may need an eating adjustment 1. Are you eating 60 grams of protein a day 2. Are you eating 25 grams of fiber 3. Are you avoiding all liquid calories a. Soup can be sign of “soft calorie syndrome” b. Alcohol contains a lot of calories – 7 calories per gram (1) It’s also a stomach irritant c. Fruit juice is just sugar water 4. Are you making healthy food choices from a wide variety of foods? a. Are you avoiding soft foods b. You can’t just eat what’s easy c. Cheese is glorified fat 5. Are you drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day between meals 6. Are you eating too much junk a. Chips, chocolate, nuts, ice cream, cookies and other highly processed junk foods are too calorically dense to be regular parts of a healthy diet. But don’t avoid them completely to the point where you feel deprived. b. Stay out of fast food places 7. Are you getting in two servings of calcium daily 8. Do you always eat the protein first 9. Then the vegetables or fruits a. Five servings a day b. Potatoes are NOT a vegetable 10. Is your portion size appropriate? a. Meat or fish (1) 3 ounces – the size of a deck of cards b. Vegetables (1) ½ cup – the size of your fist c. Starch (1) If you eat the protein and the vegetables first you don’t need much (2) Avoid: rice, potatoes, pasta 11. You might try avoiding artificial sweeteners a. Some people think that artificial sweeteners stimulate the appetite b. They are HUNDREDS of times sweeter than sugar c. They teach you to like things too sweet d. There is no evidence that people who use them are any thinner than people who don’t 12. Avoid most diet foods a. Real food usually tastes better b. Real food is more satisfying than low calorie substitutes c. When you are only eating a tiny bit the caloric savings is not that great (1) Use a teaspoon of real butter instead of a tablespoon of diet margarine (2) The body has no way to break down artificial fats a. They may go into permanent storage b. Some people think liposuction is the only way to remove hydrolyzed fats from the body </TT> <TT>B. You may need a behavior adjustment</TT> <TT>1. Are you eating only when you are hungry? a. If you’re not sure drink 8 ounces of water and wait. 2. Are you eating three meals a day? a. With maybe 1 or 2 small snacks 3. Are you sitting down to eat? 4. Are you eating consciously? a. No distractions, turn off the TV, put the book or newspaper away, pay attention to your food and your companions 5. Are you eating slowly? a. Put the fork down between bites b. Take 20 to 30 minutes to finish a meal c. Taking longer might cause the pouch to begin emptying 6. Are you taking small bites? a. Tiny spoon, chopsticks, cocktail fork 7. Are you chewing well? 8. Are you drinking with your meals or too soon after your meals? a. Practice water loading between meals b. You won’t be thirsty if you are well hydrated before the meal 9. Are you stopping at the first sign of fullness? a. Sometimes it’s a whisper: not hungry, had enough b. Hard stop versus soft stop 10. Do not eat between meals. Stop grazing. 11. Do not eat when you are not hungry</TT> <TT></TT> <TT>C. You may need an activity adjustment</TT> <TT>1. Are you getting in 30 minutes of physical activity at least 3 times a week? a. Over and above what you would do in the usual course of your day b. Could you make it 4 or 5 times a week? c. Could you make it 45 or 60 minutes? 2. Are you taking advantage of opportunities to increase your physical activity? a. Taking the stairs instead of the elevators or escalators b. Walking on the escalators instead of riding c. Parking your car further away from the entrance d. Getting out of the car instead of using the drive through e. Getting off the bus one stop before your destination f. Washing you car by hand instead of the car wash g. Playing with your kids</TT> <TT></TT> <TT>D. You may need an attitude adjustment</TT> <TT>1. Are you committed to your weight loss journey? 2. Are you totally honest with yourself about how much you are eating and exercising? a. Log your food and activity on ww.fitday.com for 3 days 3. Are you using food inappropriately to deal with emotional issues? a. Have you identified what the emotions are that drive your eating? b. Can you think of more appropriate ways to deal with those emotions? c. Are you willing to seek help from a qualified counselor? 4. Are you attending and participating in support group meetings? 5. Have you drummed up some support from your family and friends? 6. Have you dealt with saboteurs realistically? 7. Do you have realistic expectations about the weight loss journey? 8. Are you still obsessing about food, weight, dieting, eating? a. Obsessive – compulsive thoughts (1) Obsess about something else b. Perfectionism (1) All or none, black and white thinking c. Patience with the pace of healthy weight loss 9. Are you acknowledging your successes with non-food rewards? 10. Have you learned how to take a compliment? 11. Are you giving up diet mentality? a. Stop weighing yourself several times a day or every day b. Stop dieting c. Stop depriving yourself d. Stop defining food as “good” and “bad” e. Stop rewarding and punishing yourself with food 12. How do you feel about all the changes taking place?</TT> <TT></TT> <TT>E. You may need a band adjustment</TT> <TT>1. You feel like you are making healthy food choices in appropriate portion sizes but getting hungry between meals? 2. You can still eat white bread, fibrous vegetables and large portions. 3. You are having to struggle to lose 4. You are gaining weight in spite of eating right, exercising and having a good mind set.</TT> <TT></TT> <TT>F. You may need your band loosened</TT> <TT>1. There are times when you can’t get fluids down 2. You are vomiting too much a. How much is too much? 3. Do you have frequent reflux or heartburn at night? a. Do not lie flat or bend over soon after eating b. Do not eat late at night or just before bedtime c. Rinse your pouch with a glass or water an hour before bedtime d. Certain foods or drinks are more likely to cause reflux: (1) Rich, spicy, fatty and fried foods (2) Chocolate (3) Caffeine (4) Alcohol (5) Some fruits and vegetables a. Oranges, lemons, tomatoes, peppers (6) Peppermint a. Baking soda toothpaste (7) Carbonated drinks e. Eat slowly and do not eat big meals f. If you smoke, quit smoking g. Reduce stress h. Exercise promotes digestion i. Raise the head of your bed j. Wear loose fitting clothing around your waist k. Stress increases reflux l. Take estrogen containing medications in the morning m. Avoid aspirin, Aleve and ibuprofen at bedtime (1) Tylenol is OK n. Take an antacid (Pepcid complete) before retiring o. Try other over-the-counter heartburn medications p. See your health care provider 4. See your health care provider immediately (or call 911) if a. You have a squeezing, tightness or heaviness in your chest, especially if the discomfort spreads to your shoulder, arm or jaw or is accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, irregular or fast heartbeat or nausea. These could be symptoms of a heart attack. b. If your symptoms are triggered by exercise. c. If your pain localizes to your right side, especially if you also have nausea or fever d. If you throw up vomit that looks like black sand or coffee grounds. Or if your stool is black, deep red or looks like it has tar in it. These are symptoms of bleeding and need immediate attention.</TT> <TT>(Note: Pepto-Bismol or other medications with bismuth will turn your stool black. Iron supplements can also make the stool tarry.) e. If your pain is severe</TT>

100 pounds!! :clap2: Excellent! :clap2: I agree... we want pictures!! :cool:

:clap2:Welcome to Bandland, Regina!! :clap2: So happy to hear that all went well for ya! And even happier to have you on this side with us! w00t!!