FunnyDuddies

Thank you Kathy. I will be updating as soon as I hear from the doctor. Wish me luck guys. Pray that the right decision is made.

I got my Secret Sam package from 3LOVES today!! Thank you so much! I got a really cool (but I can make it hot!) neck relaxer pillow. this will be perfect for on the plane going down to Mexico! And some bubbles that my kids automatically dibbed as theirs, LOL and some really cool coasters (I actually collect coasters. These are really cute!) and bandages for after my surgery! LOL And some skin cream. I don't know what it does yet, but I am going to find out. LOL I will try to take a pic tonight to share. I was just now able to get my secret sam package out, but it should be there before the 4th. Sorry to my receiver it is coming a bit late, but I am really hoping you will like it!!!

oh wow! Those are pretty colors. I thought i was the FUPA queen. LOL

Look at that ugly tummy! LOL Thanks for all that are participating. I thought I would make this a fun thing. Try to keep my nerves down. LOL I want to let all who are participating know about a recent development. Last night I was called by Dr. Cardenas who told me that one of the doctors who reviews all of the files, the internal medicine specialist, is conserned about my surgery and is wanting to discuss this before giving the green light for the surgery. Dr Cardenas, the drug guy, and the internal medicine doc all three sign off on every case that they work on. If they are not all three happy with the file, then they do not proceed. The internal medicine doc does not like my file because I had a blood clot go to my lung right after i gave birth to my daughter almost 5 years ago. I was being given a lot of serious hormones to keep her pregnancy going and this caused my blood to clot badly. He is conserned that since i had one before that i am at risk with this surgery. I am going to have a phone call with him to discuss the after care, and discuss what caused the clot to begin with. He will then make ths decision. If he says no, then I am able to go down there for my lapband instead, but unfortunately I am short on the funds for that by a few thousand. That means a wasted ticket has been bought and I need to wait a few months. But I understand the consern and am appreciative of the level of care they are taking. To all you nay sayers who think that surgery in Mexico is dangerous no matter who you go with, this is NOT the same level of care I received from two surgeons here in America. I am grateful that they are doing so much to make sure that my health is not at risk. I will keep everyone up to date on what is going to happen, and what the decision is. Thanks for all the support you all have given me. You have no idea how strong it has made me.

LOL a clown face on rob. somehow it is really hard to picture him that jolly and happy. LOL

i am still trying to figure out if I am married and who these little people are that keep running around calling mommy.

omg my mouth is watering for oreos. i have no secret. i have a man that looks at me with the look in this picture everytime i walk near the fridge. LOL

I think instead of speaking to your daughter about it, you need to talk to your surgeon. Does he know of everything you have been through? Does he feel this way.

i don't know how many are getting married and how many are going to be bridesmaids, but i DO know there is a party in order!! someone bring me cake!

That is TOO funny. I love kid stories, cause even though we all have different stories, they all seem to really basically be the same. and it just goes to show, we may all be going crazy, but we are all going there together.

Am I married?

I have not been there yet. Only talked to them on the phone and on the internet. But I have spoken with many people who have been to that area, used my lapband doctor, and been in that hospital. they all have nothing but perfect things to say. i have not seen one bad thing

Dr. Cardenas works closely with my future lapband doctor and he was recommended to me. I went to him through www.ready4achange.com and let them know what I wanted to have done. They set it all up, and are FABULOUS people!! I cannot say enough good things about Alma! she has put up with me being scatterbrained, and answering all of my crazy questions. LOL

Oh thank you. I am not brave. just desperate LOL When I went to a surgeon here in tampa and asked about having the procedure he said that it would run approx 15k plus hospital stay expenses. No thanks. My surgery in mexico with dr. cardenas is going to cost me approx 4200, and our plane tickets cost about 1k and our hotel is going to cost us about 400-500. lots cheaper LOL

Getting close. And I am starting to get nervous. I looked at Rob last night and said "omg i only have two weekends before I go to have my surgery!" He just smiled and said "better get drinking!" LOL such support. I am really excited though. Can't wait to get down there and see how things go. Any of you who have gone to dr. cardenas for PS, can you answer a question for me? We are flying in the night before my surgery. Do you have to restrict your diet the day before? what time was your surgery? Did they do any tests or did he talk to you before the surgery? Or was it like you met him, went in, and got cut up?

emilee you are going to be a bridesmaid soon right? I thought I saw you post a pic of a really pretty dress. That might have been where the confusion came from. Or else I am just totally confused. LOL

LOL I am a big supporter of partying purely because people who do it right do not become alcoholic (please stop pm'img me) they have a good time, if there is a dance floor you usually workoff the calories you have taken in, and man is it a stress reliever LOL I know working inside my home with a 3year old and a 4 yearold running around, and watching reruns of spongebob and dora and oswald and yakkity yak I need a lot of drinks by the time saturday night rolls around. LOL It is the only time i get to talk to an adult and do not have to say phrases like "please make sure you wipe your butt after you go potty this time". At least not too often LOL

That means instead of 8 shots of tequila at 69 calories per shot you are doing 3 shots of tequila at 69 calories per shot. That is great. I am over 50 pounds down, and consuming about 700 calories (maybe) per day. never did the 5000 calorie a day thing, but I would love to see my tolerance go down. Haven't seen a tab in over 3 years, so I am lucky in that respect.

Yes absolutely. But my post was geared towards what is going to get you drunk, which most of us are trying for when we actually go out to party. Even if we don't want to admit it. Calories versus alcohol content, there are many better drinks you could consume to get the job done with fewer calories. Wine is best saved for the enjoyment with a meal, or good friends in the yard.

ok. bartender checking in here. :confused: and professional drinker/partier. Ask around...its every weekend for me. And when I go out, I go out with one intention. I want to walk home on my lips after a night of flirting, drinking, smoking (no drugs please/thankyou) dancing and other unspeakables. lets go over some basics of alcohol. Dehydration: We all know that alcohol has calories. It also dehydrates you. A day after mass consumption of etoh will cause the next two days' weigh ins to be high just due to Water retention. You should, if you are smart, have at least 4oz of water with every 1oz booze you down. This will help you to not become dehydrated, and will even chase away the next morning's hangover. Beer/Mead/Ale/Lager: Most of these are carbonated, some are not though. They are HUGE on the carbohydrate scale...EVEN THE LITE BEERS. Just cause it says lite...just means it is lighter than the regular ones. Don't let this fool you. Now lets talk about the brewing process. When it is brewed in the tank it seperates into different levels. Alcohol is chemically lighter in weight than everything else you will have in there. That means the ingredients added to give you taste will sink to the bottom. The darker the liquid, the lower the alcohol content. That also means the richer the contents. The richer the contents the higher the calories. Guiness is low in alcohol volume, it takes more of it to get you drunk, and is higher in calories. The lighter the beer in color, generally, the lower in calories and the higher the alcohol content. Conclusion? You get drunk faster off of fewer drinks. There are exceptions to this rule, but it is a good thing to keep in mind. Beer generally has 12% alcohol. Wine: Wine has a LOT of sugar in it, and while it is good in Vitamins and antioxidants, goes well with fish or beef, you will be packing on the calories if you try to use wine for a night of wild and crazy partying. You should save this for a nice dinner out. Enjoy the flavor. Maybe use it as a dessert alternative. Champagne and sparkling wine is, again, carbonated and not really a good choice for bandsters. Mixers: Most mixers used at bars are PURE SUGAR. The powder packets used to make barmix (this is used for EVERYTHING.) and other fruit juices in most bars are nothin but sugar that turns to syrup behind the bar. It is baaaaaaaad news. Basically if you want to stay away from calories stay away from any sour drinks, and margaritas or other frozen drinks, tom collins mix drinks, sweet and sour drinks, etc. juice drinks are like this too. Drink your juice at home in the morning with your Cereal. At least then you will be getting the nutritional value from it. And soda drinks (rum and coke, tequila and coke, creamcicles, jagerbombs, quaterbacks, etc.) have the carbonation to deal with, and the empty calories from the soda/energy drink used to make it. "But Amy! I use diet soda!" you say? No you don't. LOL I'll let you in on a little secret. Bars sign the contract for coke and pepsi to supply their fountains and tanks to get them for free and in return they promise to buy their syrup from them. Then after about a week a guy shows up to the bar before it opens, and offers the bar to buy syrup from him at 1/5th the price. MOST BARS CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS GUY TO SHOW UP!!! And the diet tastes like diet, but is not diet. So if it is coming from the fountain...do not think for one second that you are 100% sure it is diet. If you want diet, make sure they are getting it out of the can where you can see them. Cream liquers/all liquers: The base ingedient in liquer is SUGAR. Pure sugar. Liquers are a flavored alcoholic sugar liquid. This is a fact of ALL liquers. They are also notoriously the LOWEST in alcohol content. They are used to flavor other drinks. These are not drinks you want to try to get drunk off of. You will ingest more calories than you did all week long before you start feeling ANYTHING. Now there are a few liquers out there that are higher in alcohol content that will get you drunk fast, and taste good, and I use them a lot because it only takes a little to get a long way. These include the following: 99 Bananas 99 Apples 99 Blackberries 99 Oranges Calories (kcal) 91 Carbohydrates 8.1 g 99 proof. High alcohol content, great straight, or mixed with a diet soda Personally I love it straight. Blackberries and Bananas are GREAT together!! A few of these will have you feeling very happy in no time. Southern Comfort Calories (kcal) 65 Carbohydrates 2.7 g 70 Proof but NO! you say? Southern Comfort is a liquer?? YES!!! But god is it good! All of us like to channel Janis every now and again, and this stuff will get you happy in a heartbeat!! Great mixed with anything, or just plain straight. It is ULTRA sweet though. Watch yourself now! Liquor: Not to be confused with Liquers. REALLY different. These are made from many different bases. Rice, potatoes, grain, engine oil... You name it someone has probably tried to make alcohol from it. These are going to have your lowest calories to highest alcohol content ratio generally. I will give some examples of some basic liquors you can find behind the bar, and what we are looking at calorie wise so you can drink band-smart the next time you go out. Depending on taste and personal preference you can mix these liquors with various other liquids to enjoy them. Personally, I like to find what tastes good straight, and drink it like that. But like I said, I am a pro. Vodka Absolut (Anything) Calories 69 Carbohydrates 0g Most vodkas are going to run around 80 proof. Absolut is your typical bar vodka and it comes in a bazillion flavors. These flavors are added chemically. There is no lower calorie flavor between them. Rum Bacardi Calories 69 Carbohydrates 0g Most rums are going to run around 80 proof. The main exception is that most coconut rums (Like Malibu) are going to be much lower in alcohol, and has sugar added. Stay away from the Malibu. Dark and light doesn't really make a difference. So enjoy a nice spiced rum on the rocks. I know I do!! Scotch/Whiskey/Burbon Glenlivet/Crown Royal/Old Grandad Calories 69 Carbohydrates 0g Most whiskey drinks (which includes scotch and burbon, but does not MEAN scotch or bourbon. That is another discussion entirely) are going to, again, run around 80 proof. There are exceptions. Old Grandad is 86 proof. Yukon Jack Canadian Whisky is a honey based whiskey and is 100 proof and will knock you down fast. Tequila Jose Calories 69 Carbohydrates 0g Usually 80 proof. VIVE CUERVO! Oh Jose...you have been the downfall of many a night for me. LOL Most tequilas are going to be the same as the other alcohols in caloric and carb content. Drink it straight and you are on your way to a good evening without too many calories. I do not have the nutritional information on the worm. So just stay away from it. Grain Alcohol Everclear Calories 190 Carbohydrates 0g Holy hell. Even I don't drink this shit. LOL This stuff is 190 proof. That means that it is 95% alcohol volume. Straight pain. This stuff has to be mixed with something. anything. Or it will burn a hole in your throat, and you will be stupid in nothing flat. But as far as calories versus content goes...this will get the job done for very little. Good luck on that one. Well I hope that i have been able to shed some light on this. If you are determined to go out and have a fall down good time, do a little research. Plan ahead of time. Work out a strategy. It will only last for about the first 2 drinks if all goes well, but at least your intentions were good. Happy partying, and I'll see you on the dance floor!!

well here is some motivation. 270 with 6% bodyfat will have all the women swooning (sorry pnut) and I think you would have a serious number of groupies.

That does sound like a PB, although I have never had one so I cannot be sure. But I do know that if you are thinking it is dumping, and since you have never had gastric bypass the only other cause of dumping is a severe pancreatic and digestion illness. If you are concerned that it is not a PB then you should go to your primary care physician to be checked out.

while i am not banded, i have adopted some bandster style changes to my eating. I use a salad plate for all of my meals. I also used a large coffee mug instead of a regular bowl for my Soups, etc. and i use a set of kids utensils for eating with. I have found these special silver smallish type spoons and forks that i use when i go to restaurants. when I do fill my plate I make sure that it is only the good stuff i am allowed to eat. no sense in putting it on there if i shouldn't be eating it. I also try to not "pile" my food on there. With the soups and bowl type foods, the same rules apply. I don't fill to the rim. as for drinks, i have this little plastic orange juice glass I stole from our hotel room at disney world one year for anything other than Water. Water comes in bottles that I refill with filtered water everytime I drain one and put it back in the frige to chill. I chew really well, and I put my utensils down after every bite. The bite must easily fit on the utensils. And DH and I talk a lot at dinner. that was the other change. We eat dinner as a family now. no ifs ands or buts about it. I have found that I am becoming really really satisfied with my meals, and really enjoying how they taste. And no more eating in the car. ever. doesn't matter what is going on. we will stop for food and eat it in the restaurant. even if the family eats and I just get a water.

does it specifically say that surgery for morbid obesity or any care for morbid obesity is is excluded? I know mine does with UHC and there is no way around it.

I just reached my first short term goal. That was for 330. My next one is 300. Another sort of goal was to be able to fit into my new corset. I reached that easily when it showed up today. LOL