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MorOrLess - I wish I had said size 16, but alas, it's 18. Size 16 would be - er, scratch that - will be awesome! Natural Beauty - I know what you mean! I have a pair of size 22 jeans that I can barely fit into. A pair of 20s that are getting downright baggy, and those 18 shorts that are snug but wearable. Very odd.

I hear ya, and so do most other bandsters. After the swelling goes down, the restriction decreases and the hunger returns. Until you have your first fill, you are pretty much like you were pre-banded. It is vital that you stick to the Dr's instructions in order to allow the stitches in your stomach to heal. If you give in and eat solids, you could risk breaking a stitch and band slippage by throwing up or just over stuffing your pouch. So, for now look for more hearty soups that you can puree in the blender. I relied on Bean with Bacon soup. It is high in protein and thick so it sticks around longer. Mashed potatoes with milk are good too, just make them really thin. Be sure you're getting in enough protein and drinking as much water as you can. Get creative with your blender and hang in there. You'll get through this.

So.. On Tuesday night I bought a pair of size 18 jean shorts that I could shrink into this summer. Um, I have to go back and get a pair of 16s y'all, because I wore the 18s yesterday while I walked on my treadmill! Woohoo! You know what's scary though? I weight 254 pounds. That's NOT a size 18! Is it?? I keep thinking that I'm somehow cheating my way into these smaller sizes. Like they aren't a real size 18 and I'm going to end up being disappointed because its going to be a long time before I fit into a "real" size 18! How nuts is that??

I started in a 26 and am aiming for a 10. I started to say a 12, but I know I'm still a bit pudgy when I'm wearing a 12. I'm 5'5" and my normal BMI says I should weigh about 130-135. That had better be a 10! *laughs*

Kim, I'm starting to worry about you girl. You're too tight. Go get a tiny unfill, please? Loosing the weight is great, loosing your band would suck!

Here's what's going on with Jess: http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=16783 I'm happy to hear that you're doing ok. I imagine it hurts like hell, but each day will get better. Look at Kellie, already dressing up and going out to dinner! See you when you get home! *hugs*

Heyas Rachel, I haven't seen this thread since I last posted on it, so I've just seen what you directed to me. I wasn't ignoring you. I think you took my tone to be quite different than it was intended. And you quoted some of my statements out of context. If you'll take a moment to notice, I usually direct my thoughts to everyone including ME, which is why I say "let's" and "we". And I have clarified many times before in my posts that I am not referring to folks who have medical problems which prevent them from losing weight with the band. I think by now that should be a given when we are talking about band success. I see no reason to have to continue placing that disclaimer in my posts. Also, I do not lecture anyone nor have I ever claimed to be an expert about weight loss or anything else. Everyone comes here to share their thoughts the same as I do. I do not direct my comments to any one person thereby singling anyone out and telling them they are wrong (as you have done). We are all free to have our own opinions and to share them here on LBT. I'm sorry that you took offense to my post. Apparently I struck a nerve with you, it wasn't my intent. Sincerely, Susan

Rrrsmom... Karen... are you out there? What's going on with you? Are you ok?

Ohh ohh OHHH! Dawg is SO gonna get you with the fish! LOL

My port still gets sore when I do any kind of stomach straining activities. I'd take it easy for a few days and see if it gets better.

Hiya Angie!! Go to the Introduction Forum on the main page of LBT and post so everyone will meet you. Do you have before and after pics? I'd love to see what you've accomplished in just one year!! Wow! Grats and welcome to LBT!

Sunta!! LOL!!! :pound: :clap2: I'm with you, girl! When I go, I want to be thin and tan! So I'm still drinking Splenda in my lemon tea and by golly I'm getting tan in those tanning beds everyday too! We're all going to die. The least we can do is look damn good when we do! w00t!

I actually said "Woah" outloud when I read this. How absolutely true this statement is! I was once told to sit down and make a list of all the qualities I wanted my mate to have. It was a long, detailed list full of qualities I felt were essential for someone to possess in order for me to entrust my heart and my family to them. After I completed the list, I was told to go through the list and check off all of the qualities that I possessed. I was stunned to find that I wasn't anywhere near the person I had described in my list. 3loves - I agree with what you said about needing to find someone who gives you love like that before you can trust them. The "perfection" comes when both partners are giving true love to one another. Kellie - Really pay attention to the things that are bothering you about Paul. Are they things that just annoy you, but are small things in the big picture? Or are they serious things which you are forcing yourself to tolerate because you want this to be the right thing? There is a big difference between small things which simply annoy us but can be talked out and fixed, and the serious things which will only fester and create hurt and disappointment down the road. Choose wisely grasshopper. Let me give you an example. My daughter was dating a young man that I just adored. They were so perfect for one another and I already thought of him as a son. One night, she came to me and told me that he'd asked her to marry him and she wanted my thoughts on it. I asked her if she was feeling any hesitation about it, and of course she was which is why she came to me. I told her to think about the things which were causing her to be unsure and asked her to picture herself married to him, raising his children. I told her that the things which bother her now would probably become more pronounced over the years, and that her children would see him as an example, and that she would have him and only him to rely on as her mate as she raised her family. Well, she broke up with him the next day. He was devastated and so was I! I never expected that, but she did the right thing. Turns out that the young man's family were very dishonest and so was he. In the romantic times, she was willing to overlook that for love. But once she pictured him in the big picture of her life, where it really counted, she knew without a doubt that he wasn't what she wanted to dedicate her future to. She is now married to a wonderful man who adores her and their son, and is a very admirable man. We love him dearly. The other young man is still the same. He is now married with two children, and they struggle financially, he is often in trouble with the law and they are constantly moving from one place to another as he loses job after job. Each time I see him and his wife, I praise God that's not my daughter married to him and that those aren't my grandchildren having to live like that. So, to make a long story even longer... listen to your instincts, Kellie. We all know when it's right and when it's wrong. And we know if we are fighting those instincts because we want/wish it to be right. I hope that it is right for you, but if it's not... I hope you have the strength to recognize it and make the right choice.

One cup of Fiber One cereal per day and you'll be right as rain. Promise.

Attention Gone For Good Club Members! Since we are getting more and more awesome members (64 members as of this posting), I wanted to show everyone the format for reporting your weekly weight loss so we are all doing it the same way. It really takes a long time to go through and calculate everyone's total and weekly loss if I have to do it all manually. So, please report like this: C 254 (-53 lbs total, -1 this week) This way, I can just copy and paste it right onto the Member's Page and not have to use a caluclator for each person. Many of you do this already, and I thank you for that! Some of you are new and weren't aware, and some are just lazy! Anyway, I would really really appreciate it if everyone would use this format, if you forget, just go to page one and copy yours from last week and paste it into the current post, then update the numbers and you're done. Thanks all!

Hey Angelu and Brneyezz how are you two feeling? Everything go well? Hope so.. oh, and by the way... Weclome to Bandland!! :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

I'm trying! I'm trying! *big smiles*

Great plan. Great attitude. Not so great excuses, but eh.. it's always worth trying. *laughs* And you didn't gain! You still lost. And dont forget, the body can fluctuate up to 5 pounds in just a day - Water weight and all that. If you really want to see some amazing stuff, start drinking your water. 64oz PLUS 8oz for every 25 pounds over your goal weight. Not sure if you saw the thread about water or not, but I put a link to a fantastic article in that thread that explains why you lose weight so much better when you're drinking enough water. If you want, I'll find it and give you the link. Anyway.. youre doing great! Keep going!

Welcome home, welcome to bandland, and welcome to "Oh ow ow ow! Does this every go away?!" hehe Every day gets better! Rest lots, walk all you can, and sip, sip, sip! Get as much Water in as you can to keep from dehydrating. You sound very chipper!

How's it hangin' Jess? Oh wait.. it's NOT anymore! :pound: Hope you're feeling great. Can't wait to hear a report from you!

Heyas JoLynn, the DVD you chose is shipping out from amazon.com and should arrive at your house on or about April 11th. Grats again!

Best wishes for an easy and speedy recovery!

A very happy birthday to you, Zoe!

Me too! Love my sweet tea with lemon. And after what Big Paul said, I'm going to go get my Splenda out of the garbage can. *laughs*

Hey Paul - I'm planning on doing the same thing before any PS. My BMI shows me normal at 130. Maybe I've just been fat so long that I'm afraid to be that "skinny" now. The last time I weighed 130 was 30 years ago, and I don't want to look old and frail! But I might just go for that before the PS and then gain a few to look a bit healthier. Like you said, we'll see! We are exploring unknown territories! LOL