PhotoNut

It's weigh-in day! Here's the format for reporting. Copy and paste in your own numbers: C 244.5 (-62.5 pounds total, -1.5 this week) By the way, thats mine this week.

Awww Dawn, I'm so sorry about your mom. *hugs* Have you gone through any pre-op testing? That was a huge comfort to me, knowing they were checking me inside and out to be sure that I was a good candidate for the surgery. I also went through psychological testing. Surgery and recovery can be stressful. Facing such huge changes in your lifestyle can also be stressful, or at least the perception of what those changes will be like can be stressful. I've found that those changes are actually very free'ing. Listen to your instincts. Only you can know what your emotional strengths are. Anyway, perhaps you should be in touch with your Dr and talk to him about your concerns and what's going on with you. Make the decision with his guidance. I wish you all the best in your decision making, and you and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers. Life does go on and as Seminole said, I'm sure your mom would have wanted you to continue on your journey to good health.

Good lord.. how utterly rediculous!!! Call your Dr in the morning and tell her what happened. See if she will give you samples. I've been on Effexor since December and I haven't paid for any yet. My Dr fills up a brown paper lunch sack with all of the samples she can stuff in there! In fact, I'm going back next week to get my next supply. Maybe your Dr will write a nasty gram to the insurance company for you too. You can't just "get off of Effexor" like that. It takes time to wean yourself so you don't have miserable side affects. Grrr.. how stupid and grrr.. ASSININE can they be??

Well phooey! I've made the neatest score cards but the LBT code wont hold the formatting when I paste it in here. Give me some time to dwell on it and I'll come up with something in the morning. Nite ya Losers! *big smile*

Heyas Wheetsin, Geesh I'm sure sorry to hear the bad news! Being involved in an accident, or just having a loved one involved, can be very upsetting. The loss of your car just sucks. I sure hope everything turns out in your favor with all of this. Tell your husband that we are all grateful that he and his friends weren't injured any more than they were. *hugs*

Actually, 3loves, that's not weird at all. Dawg's erosion stats thread was done that way, but since then we have tried and tried to get it to work again and it just wont. He keeps that spreadsheet on his computer, updates it and pastes it over the old one. But when we copied it and tried to paste it into a new thread, it didn't work. Explain that one! LOL!

I have created a Word document with a table in it. I want to copy that into a post here so I can keep the columns/table. I can't seem to get it to work. Does anyone know that trick?

Sure, why not? I am designing score cards that you all can just copy and paste into your posts. This should keep it simple for all of us to keep tally of our points. Any other comments or pics you want to put under your score card is totally up to you. I'll show you a sample soon. And remember, Tomorrow is the start of the GFG Spring Challenge! Woot!!:clap2:

Four easy steps to solve problems with such people: 1. Click on the user's name. 2. Click on view user profile. 3. Click on Add (user's name) to your ignore list. 4. Click on Submit. Works very very well.

Four easy steps to solve problems with such people: 1. Click on the user's name. 2. Click on view user profile. 3. Click on Add (user's name) to your ignore list. 4. Click on Submit. Works very very well.

Wow Yoda.. you just showed your age! Oh.. umm.. err.. Johnny who?? *grins* Hm, tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it. I'll give me until 9am before that's shot to hell. *laughs*

*hugs her happy pills* I'd have been lost without my Effexor. Seriously. But I started taking them about 3 weeks before I even knew I was going to be able to have the surgery. Wow.. my life took a 180 turn for the better last November. Oh, sorry.. this isn't my thread, is it? *laughs* It won't stay this way Yoda, but in the meantime make the best of your "excuse"! LOL!

I dont cook like I used to at all. This took some getting used to and breaking old habits as well. I have big pans, big bowls, big plates, big serving bowls, big untensils, big everything! I cooked big! I never knew how to cook for the right amount. For some reason I thought I needed to double everything - probably because I knew myself well. *laughs* Anyway, I am only cooking for me now and I keep it so simple. The only think I cook on top of the stove is veggies and oatmeal. Most everything else is in the microwave (Gorton's grilled fish fillets and Healthy Choice lunches). When I cook veggies, I only cook 3/4 C at a time so I use the smallest sauce pan I have. Dawg eats Healthy Choice meals for dinner, and he takes instant oatmeal, Starkist tuna lunch packs, and fruit with him to work. Occassionally I will cook big in the crock pot. Usually a bag of frozen chicken breasts or a pot roast. The left overs only last two days though because our son eats these meals too. It will take some time to get in the smaller mentality, but with some effort you can do it.

Cashley and Cynthia - ROFL!! I loved your suggestions! And believe it or not, the tequila (or as I call it.. ta kill ya) isn't such a bad idea. A few shots and you're there. Saves money and calories! There's only one problem with that though.. after shot 3, shots 4 thru death come too easily! *laughs*

I was researching hormones stored in fat cells because of a comment that 3loves made on Yoda's "Anyone IRRITABLE" thread. I came across this article and thought it might be helpful to many, so here it is. The Hormones of Fat Loss by author Lorna Vanderhaeghe, BSc By understanding how hormones such as insulin, thyroid, serotonin, leptin, and cortisol work, we can regulate our weight more effectively. Like many readers of alive, one of your New Year’s resolutions may have been to lose a few pounds. If you’ve already eaten your way through January, you’re not alone. Long-term studies show that one to two-thirds of weight lost through dieting is regained within one year. Almost all weight is regained within five years - disheartening information if you’re trying to lose weight by restricting calories. Yet we know that packing around too many pounds can lead to cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, cancer, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, gastric reflux, and many other health complications. Most people lose weight to fit into a smaller clothing size, but being fat takes years off our lives and the emotional, physical, and societal costs are exorbitant. I spent most of 2003 writing a book on fat loss. While wading through references, I was excited by research showing that not only the food we eat but certain hormones, including insulin, thyroid, serotonin, leptin, and cortisol, determine whether we are skinny or fat. By understanding how these hormones work we can regulate our waist size more effectively. Sour Side of Insulin High levels of insulin may contribute to our fatness. Insulin, the blood sugar regulator, is pumped out in excessive amounts as it tries to reduce the abnormally high blood sugar that results from a high carbohydrate, low Protein diet. We inevitably gain weight and become fat, and our cells become resistant to insulin and fat loss. Cortisol High insulin also increases the secretion of cortisol, our stress hormone. High cortisol causes a corresponding drop in the hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which, among other actions, helps to increase muscle mass. More muscle mass is needed for fat loss, as it increases fat burning and reduce insulin. Chronic stress also activates all fat cells to store fat. The central fat cells, found mainly deep in the abdominal wall, have four times the cortisol receptors on their cell membranes. Each time we are stressed the cortisol-fat mechanism turns on and our body stores more fat. Body Fat and Leptin Another hormone - leptin, produced by body fat - is critical in telling the body when to eat and when we are satisfied. Scientists have learned that in some people the message of satiety is not heard and fat cells send out more and more leptin, causing resistance to leptin, increased food cravings, and the desire to continue eating. In other people, leptin levels are low due to zinc deficiency. Serotonin Satisfaction The hormone serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the brain made from the amino acids found in Proteins, is also involved in signalling satisfaction. Low serotonin levels cause depression, obesity, lethargy, a preference for refined carbohydrates, and overeating because the brain senses it is starving. A diet that restricts protein-rich calories causes serotonin levels to plummet. People who are hyper-secretors of cortisol also exhibit suppressed serotonin levels. Thyroid to Go Low thyroid - called hypothyroidism - affects approximately 30 percent of the population in Canada. Low thyroid reduces our fat burning rate and causes fatigue, inhibiting energy levels. Scientists have unlocked the secret to fighting fat. Diets don’t work. We must eat to ensure healthy hormones, eat less, walk, and laugh more. And here is a bit of another related article about Leptin: Appetite control occurs in a part of the brain called the hypothalamus and includes the hunger and satiety centers. (Satiety means the body has enough food). The centers respond to levels of sugar and amino acids in the blood and hormone signals from the fat cells. Fat releases a hormone called leptin that turns off hunger and promotes satiety. Dr. William Banks and colleagues from the VA Medical Center in St. Louis and Saint Louis University found that high levels of blood fats (triglycerides) block the signal from leptin, which promotes overeating. Our genes are programmed to protect us against starvation, not overeating. Hungry people increase blood fat levels as they break down fat stores for energy. This blocks leptin, which maintains hunger and search for food. Obese people also have high levels of blood fats, which prevent satiety and promote overeating. This study showed that vegetable fats did not block leptin, but animal fats did. Eating low-fat diet helped leptin work better in obese mice. More: 1st Article: http://www.alive.com/1686a5a2.php?subject_bread_cramb=150 2nd Article: http://weight-loss.womendiary.net/

You're absolutely right 3loves. Hormones are stored in fat cells and as the fat is burned the hormones are released into the system. Ever notice how much you break out with pimples on your face and body when you start losing weight? That's why. So yes, being irritable, moody, anxious, overly happy, etc. is all normal.

Keep doing what you're doing and Drink Water! 64oz PLUS 8oz more for each 25 pounds of excess weight. Check out this article: http://www.inch-aweigh.com/water.html

What are they nuts??!! Yes do it. It's excellent for your health, your looks and for burning fat! Our son is a personal trainer. He weighs 195 has 10% body fat and eats about 5,000 calories per day! Why? Because the muscles burn calories and he's trying to maintain/gain muscle weight. Your joints, back, legs, hip, everything! will feel so much better when your muscles are tones and supporting your frame with ease. Unlike how we all feel when the muscles are weak and failing to support us, resulting in aching backs, hips, knees, etc. You are absolutely right. Muscle weighs more than fat, BUT it takes up about a third of the space on your body! I would happily weigh 150 pounds if I was slim and firm, rather than to weigh 130 and be flabby! It won't slow you down, it will speed up your progress to looking and feel great! Do it! :clap2:

Josette - My first consultation was $94.50, then I had a pre-op appointment which was $76.50. Thats $171.00. My follow-up appointments and fills are included in the price of the surgery fee for one year. I was required to see a psychologist and took a battery of tests, which cost about $400. Then I had to see a Pulminologist which was about $265. A sleep study (over night deal) was $3,600 and the resulting purchase of a CPAP machine was $1,500. The nutritionist was $100 and included three visits, on pre-op, two post op (which I never did). Then there was the visit to the primary care Dr and the mass amound of blood tests, which came to approximately $600. This was all BEFORE the surgeons fees or hospital expenses! I think all of mine came to about $26,000. *gulp* That was so hard to spend that kind of money on me! But I'm glad I did.. VERY glad! Skye - My thoughts and prayers are with you and your man. With a sparkling attitude like yours, I can't help but believe that you and he are both going to come out of this with flying colors! I'm so proud of you, girl. GFG Members - I'm glad you like the Spring Challenge! I'm looking forward to it as well. I really need to get myself back on track with water and exercise! And speaking of exercise, it's a beautiful day here in Boise, Idaho and Lmvilla (Linda) and I are meeting to walk along the river this morning. I know that Feels2Young2B40 and Kim_8 get together to exercise too. The buddy system is a great way to keep motivated. If any of you in the group live close by one another, get together and keep each other moving! Love you guys and gals! Have a Terrific Tuesday!

I think that only you and your Dr will be able to determine when you should get a fill. Most Drs wait the full six weeks to give the swelling time to subside. That way, you know you are getting restriction from the fill and not just residual swelling that will go down and then leave you needing more fill. It's also not a fair estimation of how much you can eat when you are still swollen. I got my first and only fill six weeks after banding.

Woohoo Katerzz and Juliek!! Congrats to ya both. Now.. where are your pics?? *grins*

I'm getting so excited by seeing so many of you gearing up for the challenge! Sorry Kathy, no sugar and no flour means just that. If it contains sugar or flour, and you eat it, you dont get your 3 points for the day. I know this is a biggie to a lot of you so it carries the greatest reward for achieving it. Remember, if you can go everyother day without it, you will still earn 3 points every other day. So don't think that will count you out. If you believe you need whole wheat grains, eat brown rice. And there's nothing that any of you could say that would convince me that you need sugar. I could give in and say, ok, but just in coffee.. but I honestly believe that cutting back on sugar will help us in so many ways, so I'm sticking to the original rule on #3. (Examples of flour foods - white or wheat breads, pastas, Cookies, cakes, pie crust, bagles.. you get the idea. Example of sugars - sweet drinks, cookies, candy, granual sugar, ice cream, jellies, syrups.. again, you get the idea. Canned fruit is ok if you chose Light syrup or low sugar. I know that sugar substitues aren't the best, but for this challenge they will be allowed. Perhaps later on we will have a more serious challenge where even those will cost you points. *evil grin* Thanks for finding my goof, Tricia. I've fixed it now. Hang in there Mystjin and try to make the best choices you can for now. Remember, your journey can start now whether or not you have that band inside you. Getting your head prepared for the changes in food choices will help you get a jump on things. You're in my prayers! Lmvilla - Grilled chicken and steamed veggies baby! Salads have a lot of hidden calories in the dressings, cheese, etc. I'm so excited for you! Time has flown hasn't it??

I wouldn't force it. Remember, you are getting liquids in your broth and fudgesicle too.

I agree. Get a slight unfill ASAP. There are too many LBT members who have posted about these symptoms causing serious problems when not taken care of. Just taking antacids to stop the reflux isn't going to fix the reason you're having the reflux in the first place. Get the fill adjusted, feel better and you won't have to take meds.

Tuna is an excellent choice. I mixed 2 Tbs of fat free thousand island dressing in mine, rather than mayo and relish. Even though you could eat a lot of fish, as long as it isn't breaded, don't worry about it. Fish is an excellent source of protein and won't do you any harm. Here are some foods I ate during the mushie stage: Bean with bacon soup Cottage cheese and peaches or applesauce (use lite or sugar free fruit and low fat cottage cheese) Frozen peas and carrots (boiled until soft) Oatmeal (I use 1 tsp of real butter and splenda in mine) Very thin sliced deli ham with low fat or fat free cream cheese lightly spread onto the ham then rolled up Mashed potatoes (bake a potato in the microwave, scrape out the fluffy insides with a fork, top with 1 tsp real butter) If I think of more, I'll come back and add them. If you are getting 60-100 grams of protein per day, and you are staying in the 800-1,000 calorie range then don't worry too much about your carbs from the veggies, fruit and oatmeal. And don't feel like a failure! For goodness sake. This isn't even the time to be worried about weightloss and food quantities. That will begin once you get a fill. My Dr. told me that until I got that fill, I would be able to eat just like I could before banding - although I shouldn't do that! You're doing just fine. It's natural to be hungry after all this time of only having liquids. It will settle down soon, trust me.