argon

Well... it is a good point, but it didn't stop me from gaining weight!

LOL, definitely not for me. My goal with jeans are if I can take them off and on with my shoes on, the ankles are a good size. Wouldn't that just be really tight 'boot cut' jeans? But no, I don't think the gap has size fat! LOL

So, do normal stores have "W" sizes? What's the difference between a 14W and a 14?

Can you guys tell me, what are 'normal' sizes? This is specifically for the canadians, because I don't want to hear about 'misses' and 'juniors' sizes... I don't think we have them here. What sizes would I find in 'regular' stores? Lets say I go to... Le Chateau or The Gap (not great examples, but hey)... what sizes do they go up to? Is 12 or 14 or 16 usually the biggest size? Is 18 considered plus size? Is there a 'normal' size 18, but also a 'regular' size 18?

I was never "allowed" to have sweat pants, or really any elastic waisted pants, because my mom said that I'd get too comfortable in them, and gain weight without noticing. I finally bought my first pair of sweat pants when I was about 20. HA!

Good job Yoda!!

Me too. I think alot of people would think (and do think) that I'm too young, I can't have REALLY tried everything, blah, blah, and that's what I didn't want to hear. Maybe the next diet would have worked... BUT, maybe I'd lose a whole bunch of weight, just to gain it all back again, and be right back where I started. Even though all I've read on here makes me wary of saying it, I think this is for life, and that's the way I'm thinking of it... I'm NOT going to be 284lbs again.

are skinny jeans the same as tight jeans? Cause those aren't a good idea for me! I think I know what they are... are they from The Gap or something?

Yeah, Dr. Cobourn's really good for doing that. He's a cool dude. But nope, not single, his wife works there too... Karen's her name. That would be nice if you met someone there who'd had it done by him... who's she getting to do her fills?

Woo! Congrats Cloe! That's awesome!

Hi Deb, Check out this link : http://www.lapbandtalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=73 (specifically the "Some questions to ask about the Lapband" post) I think you'll find alot of your answers there Mandi

Sherry, they do have ones that are 'digital', so you could, say, set it to cook for 6 hours on low, and maybe the last 3 hours, you could just let it be on 'warm'. I don't have one like that, but I'd like to get one eventually. If you go to somewhere like amazon.com, and search for slow cookers, you can read about different brands, and read peoples review of them, and how well they like the ones that have the timers on them. But yeah, I'd like to know what brands everyone else has, and if things bubble/boil on low also. Mandi

I shouldn't be giving nutritional advice, cause I'm really not following anything specific. I don't eat too much at one time, so I just make sure what I'm eating tastes as good as possible. I had something on friday for lunch, with cream cheese. I could have had 'lite' cream cheese, but I didn't. It was probably almost twice the calories, and fat, BUT.. I had a tablespoon, maybe 2, and even with that, my lunch consisted of about 200 calories, I was full, and happy. I can eat fruits.... and I can drink Water. Keep drinking as much water as you can. The only problem I have with water is that I really can't chug it anymore. I could up until my 2nd fill, but now, nope. Little sips. It sucks, cause I hate doing it, and if I have to sip constantly, I just forget to do it, and I end up not getting enough water. I want to get one of those packback water bladder things that bikers have, with the tube that runs to my mouth. I'm sure I wouldn't forget then! I can drink hot things more easily than cold or cool drinks... so sometimes just so I can drink more, I opt for tea instead of water. I don't know who's eating hotdogs! I think if people are eating 'em, it's just cause they want them, not that they have to. There's 'easier' things to eat than hotdogs, for sure. You'll be able to eat good foods, and you'll probably want to, like me. And quality Protein, for sure... that's the #1 thing you want to do with the band. Why have a hotdog and call that your protein when you could have a chicken breast or steak? And make it good, cause the chicken/meat/fish, might be all you're able to eat (cause you'll be too full for any veggies/pasta/rice). If you're really concerned and need to get your veggies in, I'd maybe have smaller meals inbetween that are just salad. Now, once again, your surgeon will probably tell you to stick with 3 meals a day... maybe 2 Snacks as well. You could make your snacks a salad, maybe? I don't usually have a snack during the day... I usually don't even have Breakfast, unless I wake up really hungry. When I do eat breakfast, I have like 6-7 miniwheats with milk, and that's it. 99% of the time, during the work week, I'll have coffee for breakfast. I buy it at about 8:45, and I sip it for about 2 hours. I should be smart, and get a tiny coffee, drink it faster, and sip on water the rest of the time! I'm just rambling, sorry... did this help at all? Ask more if you need it! Mandi

Thanks guys. Oh... the obese life is good. I wanted to get all dressed up today, after my shower, (after the GYM! :omg:).. A new sweater I got a couple weeks ago, and these snazzy baby blue cords I've had for like 4 years, but haven't been able to wear for at least the last 3. I put my sweater on, and then the pants... they're too big, and looked stupid with my not-so-loose sweater. I wish I'd worn them sooner... oh poor me, I'm sure you all are tearing up just reading about my problems. LOL

And thanks for the recipes, Carlene!

Neenagh, "October Challenge Challenged" is better at least I think that was actually just fish juice in your eyes. :hug:

hehe! I"m glad you guys are getting on the slowcooker train too! I had no idea that meat could be so easy to chew when it's cooked in a slow cooker. Anyone know if it has that affect on hamburger too? Can hamburger get 'tender'? And neenagh! You don't get to call yourself an October challenge failure!!!! GRR! For one thing, you had a huge goal, and there's still a couple weeks left! No calling yourself a failure!!!!!

Lila, you could still call that Dr., and see if they'd do you too. Don't count them out yet, it still might be a possibility.

I'd keep the coffee maker and popcorn machine!

Oh yeah... I forgot to tell y'all: I'm obese!! Meaning, no longer considered 'morbidly' so. WOo! I just told Dan, "Guess what!?! I'm obese!" He looked like he wasn't sure if he should laugh or what. LOL Anyways, yeah.. I can't wait to be overweight!

Wowee... snow! We've just had rain for the last 2 days. Is there a resizing option when you post a picture? Or how are you trying to edit it?

Oh Cloe... I was 15 in '95. I was a bad-ass. LOL

Ahh... yes... but how about walking into the waiting room with a bunch of supermodels waiting for botox and boob jobs?

C'mon Wheezy!! How'd it go??

Thanks guys, and yeah, I know my mom means well. She probably doesn't remember most of what I say anyways... she IS 48 afterall. LOL Just kidding guys!!! Here, I'll smack myself for saying that! So, guess what. Another huge accomplishment for me today. I went to the doctor. I told her I wanted to get a couple prescriptions refilled, and that I'd also like to quit smoking, and that I know wellbutrin and zyban were the same thing, so I'd like to use Wellbutrin to quit smoking, then stay on it .... to cure the crazy's. LOL She asked me a few questions, I turned bright red as I answered... shook like nuts... but she was all for it. She wanted to give me Wellbutrin SR, but I asked if I could do the XL, because it was way smaller, and that was easier for me. She didn't think there was such a thing, and it wasn't in her book, so she called the pharmacy, they confirmed what I'd said, and that's what she wrote out the r/x for! WOO! Plus, I got it covered by my health plan (I got put on Dan's, cause I haven't been here long enough to get my own coverage), and all together, my prescrriptions were only about $11. Thats sooooo nice. Another reason I thought it was good to be on Wellbutrin, and not Zyban, is cause I think once upon a time when I went on Zyban, it wasn't a covered prescription... but Wellbutrin is. It's only a 2 month prescription, but I figure its probably alot easier (for me) to go about getting them refilled, providing they work well, and I feel good. I'm almost excited about this. I really hope I start feeling GOOD, because I SHOULD be, right?!