TheGh0st

Congrats on your dog coming home. And my husband totally agrees with you about the "paid" vacations. He is hates the idea of vacationing with all his relatives and their dramas no matter where they offer to take us. Not that we get to do it often. In 14 years they've actually only paid for one other holiday (to London with themselves & one of the other sons & wife). We've also gone on vacation with the same brother & wife to Branson a couple times using a freind of the family's time share. But we still had to pay for it ourselves. I have the occasional drama with his family as well like the whole bit over my mother-in-law going on & on about some book called "Why French women don't get fat" & how French women potty train their children before the age of one when mine is about to turn 3. Sometimes I do worry that as my weight continues to come off things will become more strained. But all in all I love his family and refer to our relatives as the in-laws & out-laws, with mine being the out-laws for good reason. I've been wanting to try the other Heartland Spine group as well. These groups are my "nights" out & away from dh & son. But he's been resisting me a bit on having 3 nights out.

Hi all. I also had a great time before & after group. Angela - Good to hear your dog is improving. I'll keep praying he can come home in the morning. Cynthia - I'm jealous of you and your boss that is leaving. I have one my co-workers & I've been praying to leave for 8 years. One day maybe, one day. Or maybe I'll get off my ever-shrinking behind and get that new job I keep talking about. Oh - I'm going to have to cancel my Friday fill as hubby & I are planning on going for a quick trip to Branson next weekend. It's his 40th on the 6th. We kept talking about doing something bigger like London, Scotland or France but don't really have the funds for it this year. Hopefully next. Anyway the following week the bum is going to Cancun for a week's vacation with his father, 3 brothers & possibly one brother-in-law. His father is paying for everyone's trip. Then in January my mother-in-law is talking about taking all us daughter-in-laws & her one actual daughter to somewhere like Vegas. Hmmm. I think I'd prefer Cancun but oh well I'm not going to say one bad thing about a free trip if I get to go.

FYI all - I have Plain & Strawberry Cheesecake Protein Puddings as well as Chocolate & Chocolate w/Crunchy P.B. to bring tonight. I'm going to try to swing by a Wendy's or someother place I can swipe some Ketchup cups from and I'll make sure to bring some small spoons.

Angela - That's terrible about your dog. I hope he is on the mend soon. And I'll see you at the next meeting God willing.

Oh well, just an idea. The powders will be great! Hey, I forgot to tell all my good news. I was cleaning out a closet Sunday and for whatever reason decided to try on my wedding dress. IT FIT!!!!! I'd forgotton/repressed how far I'd already moved up the scale by then (13+ years ago) but still I'm so excited to think I've made it this far.

Angela - Panera is across from the hospital in a strip mall on 75th. Also, I work out near 114th & Strangline & Drive there from KCK. If you wanted I could swing buy and pick up the samples to store in the fridge at my work Thursday.

FYI - I also have a small load of 20-24 & 2X clothes in the backseat of my car that I'll let anyone look through if they want before or after the group Thursday. I don't really want to carry it all the way in with the construction going on.

Up WAY too late tonight but seem to be on a roll with food posts. And I think it may be helping. I did pass up on the single serving slice of peach pie in the grocery deli tonight despite large craving. but then again failed by buying a small chocolate mint Russell Stovers candy. Breakfast - Nothing Lunch - 3/4ths of a Chicken Enchilada with couple tablespoons worth of refried beans and about a half dozen large tortilla chips. Dinner - 1/2 cup chocolate protein pudding Shopping snack - afore mentioned mint chocolate Late Snack - Homemade Chive Flavored Cheese Curds from City Market. OOPS also snacked on last of Little Debbie PB Bar. Was leftover from some snacks I bought to sell at garage sale. Well looking back maybe posting what I'm eating isn't helping as much as it could. I highly doubt my protein/carb ratio was anywhere it needed to be. Oh well, tomorrow's another day. Part of my pathetic problem is personal sabotoge. When the scale seemed to being showing 1/2 pound loss nearly every day since the fill I felt motivated to keep pushing for a new low each day. Then 2 days ago I only ate about 2 cups of food all day (i.e. about 1 pound of food) then I woke up the next day over a pound heavier. I was so bummed that after eating so well that day I managed to gain instead of losing. My head knows it was probably a difference in my hydration levels, but it doesn't help me feel any better. Now the last 2 days I just can't seem to keep myself as close to "the tracks" as I wish I could. I was so hoping to see 189 by Sunday A.M. Now I'll be lucky to see the 191.4 from Thursday.

OMG! That's terrible! I've heard of terrible pain with food stuck (Experienced just a little myself) but I've never hear of an ER visit over it. I can't imaging having to deal with that pain not too mention the horrible after taste of all that slime. I hope you are feeling better soon.

OOPS! My computer told me that the post failed out so I sent it twice.

Robyn - Wish I was there too. Sounds like you are having a great time. Don't beat yourself up too much about the night time desserts. Just think, how different the holiday would have gone just last year. Both in what you would have ate and how much (little) you would have exercised or even been able to walk each day. You are doing AWESOME!!! So just wake up with a smile for each new day and new start. BTW - I am NOT a big counter:biggrin1: I only look up the contents when I'm going to post a recipe for someone. Normally I just try to pick foods I know have better protein to carb ratio's

Robyn - Wish I was there too. Sounds like you are having a great time. Don't beat yourself up too much about the night time desserts. Just think, how different the holiday would have gone just last year. Both in what you would have ate and how much (little) you would have exercised or even been able to walk each day. You are doing AWESOME!!! So just wake up with a smile for each new day and new start. BTW - I am NOT a big counter in my day to day life. I've just been taking the extra effort to calculate the numbers of different recipes when I happen to post them. All I do most days is just keep a mental eye on choosing foods I know have higher protein to carb ratios mixing in small amounts of higher carb items to keep me sane. I don't keep a regular day to day food diary or anything. But I like the idea of posting it here or e-mailing it to a buddy kind of like an AA partner. Just to help keep me on track. Yesterday's Food: Breakfast - 6oz Frozen Cheese Omelet smoothered in Mexican Velveeta - Split with Son (probably ate 2/3's) Lunch - 1 cup Chocolate Protein Pudding Snack - 1 Cheese Stick Dinner - Dinner at Johnny's BBQ ate of Husband's - 1 bite pickle - 4-5 small bites BBQ Beans - 2 bites BBQ Beef - 3 small French Fries Snack - 8 peices of Turkey Pepperoni with Cream Cheese & Onion Powder Late Night Snack - - Little Debbie PB Bar (Tisk Tisk)

I am so Proud of your progress. 90 pounds in less than 6 months. I'm shooting for 70 in a year's time. I'd love to sample yours if you'll sample my puddings (just kidding I know you're sick of the cottage cheese thing, but honestly you can't even taste it) I'm also up for before & after whatever everyone else wants. I think going to Panera for a drink then the Mexican for a shared dinner or margarita sounds great.

Pre/Post group meeting. I'm up for either or both. Panera is fine. I use to love it but haven't been thier post surgery because of the bread thing. But would be glad to meet anywhere. Another thought would be the Mexican place across from the hospital but like you said time could be a bit of an issue for some. Angela - Pudding I make the pudding from the box as well. I vary between, Chocolate (with Peanut Butter), Cheesecake & Lemon/Lime Puddings. The basic recipe I use is below though it changes a little each time: 1 box pudding mix 2 cups 1% cottage cheese (blended smooth) 1 cup water 2+ scoops Whey protein (depending on how I'm feeling) Adders for *Chocolate - 2 Tablespoon Chunky Peanut Butter *Cheesecake - 1 cup Strawberry Carb Freedom Yogurt or 1 cup Strawberry Kefir (like Yogurt) & sometimes some cream cheese *Lemon - Lemon or Lime Juice & sometimes cream cheese I just throw all the ingredients in a bowl at once and mix with a hand mixer or in the blender. The cottage cheese is so thick its a bit hard on the blender though. Today I was thinking of seeing if it were possible to run a cheese stick through a blender with some cottage cheese water to make it into a liquid I could add to my pudding mix. Sounds wierd I know but it has a 8 to 1 protein to carb ratio which is even better than the Whey powder I've got which is 5:1 and the Cottage Cheese which is 4.5:1. The pudding drags the protein/carb ratio down quite a bit. The batch I made today Chocolate/P.B. came out to 195/21/13 (Cal/Prot/Carb) for a heaping 1/2 cup serving Today's Food: skipped breakfast (tisk tisk) lunch - 2 servings of pudding afternoon snack - 1 cheese stick dinner - 1/2 can tuna w/melted mexican velveeta, milk, blended cottage cheese, walnuts & cold feta sprinkled on top. evening snack - 1 serving of pudding * shouldn't have had so much pudding maybe but I hadn't had it for a few days and was craving it. My Total Cals had to be under 1000 for the day and the protein was easily over 80 for the day so I'm not going to sweat it.

Angela - Thanks for the advice that was much easier! Though I'm still hoping I'll have to change it a bit more often than the past 6 weeks. I went back Friday for my 2nd fill in just 2 weeks. I've lost count on how many I've had over the last year. But this one does seem to be the tightest so far. I think I've lost 3 pounds in the last week. I'm really hoping to get under 190 by next Thursday. Every time I've dieted in the last 8 years I've never made it below the 190/200's. That is to say if I even made it that far. My mini Goal is to make it to 179 by my bandversary in September. That's barely over a pound a week I really hope I can make it. Right not just one or two small bites makes me feel full. It is taking me 45+ minutes just to eat about 1/2-3/4 cup of food. Even my puddings make me fill full after a couple bites. Now my band is making the wierdest noises for over an hour after I eat as the food makes it through. My husband keeps accusing me of burping but nothing is coming up air or food.

Hey it worked!!! My ticker it there. Dumb site wouldn't show it in my preview mode. I had to create save then attach a link to the file to get it there if there is an easier way please help.

OK sorry to waste space here but I'm trying to figure this whole ticker thing out. I made one on tickerfactory.com but am not sure how to get it attached to my post. If this doesn't work anyone out there that could explain it to me would be appreciated. - Diane 9/13/06

Jennifer - yup I'm the pudding gal. Lately I've gon Cottage cheese CRAZY. I don't really like Cottage Cheese but am blending it smooth in the blender and mixing it in almost anything I can think of. It works a decent creamy substitution for Milk, Cream Cheese & Sour Cream. You can mix it in cream Soups, yogurt, mashed potatos, and use it to make pepperoni crisp dips, cream sauces & of course my semi-frozen puddings. The nutritional data on 1/2 cup 1% Cottage Cheese is 14 Protein to 3 carb and 81 calories. Aprox 4.5 to 1 Ratio for Protein to Carbs I'm actually starting to think its an even better alternative to whey Protein powders. The powder I have right now is 21 protein to 4 carb but 120 calories. Approx 5 to 1 Ration but more calories. Meeting Before/After Group Hope no one minds my jumping in and asking if I can come along too. I could do before or after. Before hand and I can make it by 5pm. Just let me know if you all don't mind me coming and where you decide on. I just wish Panera served their morning egg dish all day. I've heard it is YUMMY!

Another reply to a comment earlier today about discounted restaurant certificates. There is a site called KansasCityMenus.com it has Gift Certs at approx 40% off to many good restaurants only the list is only updated once every 3 months and the Certs go FAST. The new list came out this month and I just nabbed the last Majestic Steak House tonight.

OK those "Outlaws" of yours have got me upset as well. I love everyones advice but have to make an observation from my own childhood that could make it even more confusing for you to decide what to do. When I was a kid my father also was constantly bugging me about my weight and what I ate even when I wasn't overweight. He had a big weight problem and thought he was "doing me a favor" by "encouraging" me not to eat too much so I wouldn't have the same problems as him. My mom finally (like us with your situation) was appalled at his behaviour and was always running around telling everyone to walk on virtual eggshells around me about any possible weight problem I might have or any other issue for that matter. Everytime I saw her or others (after her coaching) I'd get these obviously fake compliments on my clothes, hair, etc. It really gave me a complex that I still struggle with about constantly 2nd guessing wether a compliment is genuine or just a pity comment. I do think you need to say something but sure don't know what. Sorry, If I've made this even more of a tight-rope walk.

KS Bandster - This is Diane (The short red-head) from group. I love the idea of meeting before hand. I go to another support group (The KC Bandsters) and several of us usually get together afterwards which is a lot of fun. Frequently we stay where ever we go until they kick us out.

Hey there, you didn't mention where in Kansas. The KCBandsters group Karla mentioned is good. I can get you a link to their support group website if you are interested. Several of the people who attend these meetings have had their surgeries in Mexico. Though I did it locally. Even if you are not in the KC Area this group may be able to help you better on finding people closer to you. - Diane age - 36 Dr - Hoehn Surgery - 9-13-05 Starting - 254 Current - 198 Dream - 134

I use a chocolate whey Protein from costco and have also used Whey Protein from Vitamin World and GNC. Can't say any are that much different than the others in taste. What I do Like though is mixing the protien powder with sugar-free chocolate pudding. I use at least one serving of protien per serving of pudding. I've found that you can use half Water and half skim milk without any real difference in taste and have made it with only water once and that wasn't too bad. I then stir in a bit of chunky (or creamy) Peanut Butter to take the edge off that fake chocolate taste. But, what makes it GREAT! is putting it in the freezer just long enough to start freezing. Then stirring it up so it's the temperature and consistency of soft-serve ice cream.

US Residents can deduct any medical expenses over 7.5% of their income. In addition to the surgery costs these expenses include any other doctors office, dentist or pharmacy co-pays. I'm not sure about Vision expenses I would think they are included. I don't think over the counter meds or insurance premiums paid through your paycheck at work are included but they would be worth looking into in case I'm wrong. Example: Surgery Costs: 16,500 Doctor Co-Pays: 300 Dentist Fees: 200 Pharmacy Costs: 500 Total Medical Expenses: 17,500 Income: 100,000 Tax Deduction: 17,500 - 7,500 (7.5% of 100K) = 10,000 Tax Savings assuming 15% income bracket should be 1,500! :clap2: ** The above example does not reflect my actual income or medical expenses. It is just an example with simple numbers. If you are like me and didn't keep many/any receipts. You can call your local doctors office and pharmacy(s) and request they provide you with a total "out-of pocket" expense for the year to put on your taxes. I can't swear to the accuracy of my comments above as I am not an accountant. My father in-law is an accountant and I will post an update with any additional info that may be useful once I get mine back from him. ABOUT ME Starting Weight: 254 Current Weight: 208