Kat817

Sushi is a take it or leave it food for me. Cake is a piece of cake to eat!!! And donuts are the one thing, I will voluntarilly never eat again!!! As Kevin said, once you have an experience with them----your love affair with them changes somewhat!! I ate 2 bites of a glazed donut, it grew in my pouch to the size of 2 dozen donuts, and I was sick for 2 hours before finally PB'ing the wad of dough back up. I do not even want a donut when I smell them anymore! I am not a huge cake eater, but I did want something that I could have a piece of cake on my grandkids birthdays with them, and I can--without issue, only difference is, a small piece is it now, I do not want half the cake, and I never take any leftovers!! I eat normal meals, I do not Atkins my life away. I DO adhere to a lot of the diet---from a nutritional point---actually more of a South Beach type. I can only eat a small amount----so with that in mind, and knowing all of my daily nutritional needs must be met with that small amount of food, I do tend to eat my Protein, and veggies first, leaving only a small amount of space for any starchy foods---I choose whole grains----fresh vegetables, better cuts of meat...I eat a lot of spicy foods, I want flavor and punch for the small amount! I have no issues at all with the food I can eat. I am perfectly able to eat many things that I have no business eating. Therefore I do not eat them everyday---but only on occasion. The difference is the band helps with my hunger, so I don't always want those foods, and limiting your carb and sugar intake lowers the cravings for them....the more you eat of them the more you want. You will be surprised how your tastes change. Chewing something to the consistancy we need to---allows you--even forces you to really taste things!!! Some foods I used to eat----yuck!!! I took a bite of my granddaughters little Debbie Snack---about the time it was ready to swallow, it realized it felt like I had a mouth full of grease, it felt stuck to my teeth and my tongue, it was beyond nasty!!! I used to eat them all the time! Healthy tastes good----who woulda thunk it???!!! Kat

Well.....sounds nutty, about covers it!!! LOL! Actually my SIL was a slow loser, and she pushed until she got too tight---then she PB'd everything she took in, even caused herself some kidney damage from dehydration. But she has gone from a size 24 to a size 8 and loves it. She convinced 2 of her DD's to get banded----and they seem to be losing normally. She has her DD unfill her to get a bit of food in, then they tighten her down again---and she "throws up" everything then again. She has never accepted my invites to the site here for help and guidance, she quit going to the Dr. together, she does not want me talking to him about her! I put up with comments from them about me not being at goal yet----but I eat!!! Pretty normally! I have no idea if she sees them doing this forever, or if she really knows she is just living on borrowed time with the band. I told her I think her band has slipped, and she agrees. But does nothing about it except have her DD add or remove according to how she feels----she is totally pissed that I have 1.75cc's approx. in my band, and she is too tights with only .50cc's. Like I can control that!!! I have had 2 fills both by the Dr. If I need another in the future he will do it too!!! My niece at one time was a phlebotomist---for UBS---NOT trained in any manner for what she is doing. I cannot help but worry how she will feel if something really horrible happen and she should lose her Mom to an infection caused by what they are doing. But I am not welcome to discuss it with any of them!!! I am the outsider in more ways than 1.... Kat

Dunno what that is.....try www.DaVincigourmet.com maybe!!! LOL

Check out the DaVinci Sugar Free syrups for flavor variations on shakes! They have tons of flavors! You can mix them up----chocolate and coconut....or use the chocolate pudding and add a tbsp. of peanut butter....make your flavor combinations---and add your protein powder. The DaVinci syrups, you can get shipped---they ship quick---never had one broken either---and several bottles (3 I think) ship for the same cost as 1. They do limit shipping in freezing weather though---for obvious reasons!!! www.[url="http://www.davinci.com"]davinci.com[/url] Just a happy customer, no affiliation with the company!!! Kat

Jachut is right on the money, my SIL and niece do my SIL's fills and unfills, on almost a daily basis....it is something I would NEVER consider, and my niece is not getting anywhere near my band. She too is banded, nothing has been said, but I can bet she will be accessing her own if she isn't already. Not me! Kat

Thanks for the well wishes girls----it is getting tiresome that is a fact. Maybe after tomorrow I will have something for pain---I don't know. I have this fear, that he knows I want it done quick, so he offers to do it Friday----my PS consult. Then I have to choose. It is one of those things, that you know how your luck runs.....that is mine lately! I have tore my desk and my purse apart, and went and looked in the van, for a delivery confirmation slip----and glanced over just now, and there it sits, in plain sight on the desk.....I am such a goober! Suzanne---how scary for you! I bet she is just thankful someone who was so kind and caring was with her! I would be!!! I have been getting light headed, wanna come hang out with me??? LOL Well it is almost bedtime, and the ice cream is still safely in the freezer---untouched!! Will probably send it home with Manda tomorrow for the girls. I have had the hiccups a dozen times today---making me crazy!! Denise, my DD made the change from her Mustang not long after having Kinsey---went to a 4 door!!! A couple months of fitting a car seat back there, and it was over!!!! When they bought the new car, she and Ryan researched safety records and all before they bought it!!! In the end, I think they did what most of us do, bought the best they could get, the safest they could get, for their money. But they went from driving her Mustang, to now they drive a Nissan Altima!!! Kinsey still rides in a full harnessed car seat, and Lindzie, in a belted booster-----4 doors are a must----even their truck has 4 doors. My son seldom takes his truck if they go anywhere because it is an extended cab, and the rear seat is too short for the car seat so Connor has to ride in front--they take her Taurus instead. Well, I am gonna go answer some email----and swallow yet some more Tylenol. TTYL~~ Kat

Keep us posted if you go tomorrow..... I don't get to have my oral surgery tomorrow afterall----when the office called to remind for my appointment, they informed me this is a consultation only, I am looking at up to 2 weeks longer. My head is throbbing, my mouth hurts---I tried calling around, everywhere wants to consult before treating, since it has to be surgically removed. So I am keeping my appointment tomorrow, and trying not to just sit down and cry..... Your problems made mine pale......I just like being a whiny butt! Talk to ya tomorrow! My youngest DD could not say tomorrow, she insisted the word was torromow----the other kids as well as Rick and I teased her so much saying it HER way, it is still occasionally hard for me to get tomorrow out right!!! Kat Mandy---I mailed Abi's package---I was going to give you the delivery confirmation # so we would both have it---I am hoping I left it in the van---I cannot find it now! I need help! Mentally.

Hugs to you Gayle---will be hoping for the best for you and your band. Kat

My BIL worked for Sylvania for years (long enough to retire)---he changed us all over to fluorescent years ago---I have never broke one, I have a few finally going out now, and actually bought my own for the first time last month. The only time I ever broke a fluorescent bulb--was putting a package of the long skinny ones in the truck, and I guess I thought I was fencing with the cab, I just whacked it---boom--they popped!! Otherwise, none broken. The dead ones went in a bag---and back to my BIL!!!! Kat

(((((((HUG)))))) ((((((HUG)))))))) (((((HUG)))))) And there are lots more where those come from!!!! Well hell! On my other thread we were talking about poo'ing gold, and you have to top it with blood! Girl----ever had any issues with hemerhoids? Since you have been putting off the colonoscopy anyway----get it done-----and find out the results there. That gives you a place to start. And didn't your DH know.....if you have ever had blood in your stool, you are not allowed to purchase property in FL----they have all the pain in the ass people already allowed by law! I will worry with you! (((((more HUGS))))))) Kat

Soon they will have collection bins for us to drop things such as the light bulbs in---so they can be safely dealt with......however that could mean, they will be shipped to China and be part of our kids toys next year......just kidding folks!!!! Kat

Tracy---- I hate the car.... I hate the green grass.... I hate the trees.... I hate the blue skies.... OK fine, I am envious of all of them!!!!! Did they finally meet your terms??? I drive a Dodge Intrepid R/T....and while I do like your car, I would NEVER drive one!!!! Why you ask? Well I bought my car new, and then my SIL went out and bought an Intrepid---not the R/T model, smaller engine, different tranny etc. Pissed me off, but oh well! So she drove it, let her kids drive it, run it out of oil a few times, wrecked it a couple times etc. So the tranny went out, they replaced it, and within 2 months they blew the engine. So now I hear from that side of the family what a crappy car the Intrepid is. I love my car! So when they had no choice, they went and bought a new one, and it is just like yours only a BRIGHT blue color. Yours looks classy in my opinion, hers looks like a hot wheels car---the color does not match the style----if that makes sense to anyone! Anyway as pissy as I got when she got a car just like me, I could NEVER!!! LOL--I sure am glad you did though!!! As for the tooth, it is not something an everyday dentist can do, it is going to require surgical removal, as the root is buried and has nothing to use to pull it---it has to be cut out, and there in lies the problem, oral surgeons are few and far between here in the sticks! dinner is in the oven....floor is vaccuumed....DW is running (forgot it this morning!) I quit!!!!! I made such a mistake! I was feeling so sorry for myself and what I cannot eat when I went to the store I bought ice cream! If I would lose a couple of pounds since I am not eating much, I might have incentive to toss it back out-------but at this rate it might be my dinner!!!! Heaven help me!!! Feel Better Mr. Robby!!!! Kat

There is a HUGE difference in how post op diets are handled. I would never advise anyone to go against their own Dr.'s orders. If you do err, I would err on the side of caution. The way the surgery is done, is very straightforward--------and the fact that there are stitches there is common. I personally did not want anyone squeezing and pulling on my exterior stitches after 4 days---let alone ones inside me in a moist environment. I take my orders (!!!!) from 2 Dr.'s. I had a surgeon out of the country, so I also have a more local fill Dr. and my fill Dr, had an even stricter pre op as well as post op diet----they both drilled into me that the post op diet is crucial to the setting of the band long term. So I have simply passed on what I was told. I agree----do what your Dr. allows. Every single stage of this surgery, from pre op, where they place the port, how they close the incisions, in hospital, out, post op diets, fill schedules, food recommendations etc.....all differ among Dr.'s. Do what yours says. I was in no way trying to lead people astray..... Kat

TracyKS-------breath deep Hon! Maybe from different sections of the country we can synchronize our breathing.....and get calm!!! Terry--- that is beautiful, I am with Tracy--I want one! I wear bracelets every single day---it is on one arm, my watch on the other---it is part of me! I LOVE it, your talent absolutely amazes me! Thanks for all the commiserating over the dentist. I called around--no one will take me without consult at this point, and since this one is already set up....I am going. I decided I could cry, or I could suck it up and deal with it....not great options, but I have made it this long, I can do it. I think it is behind my massive headache I cannot get rid of. I intend to mention that tomorrow.....hoping it works out quickly. Will be back after I get dinner in the oven. Kat

No, the arguement would likely not be civil, and no amount of good material will convince me differently. I have lost someone I loved over there. Nothing will ever convince me it was worthwhile. It is not an arguement I would even participate in. Besides the fact it is off topic from the thread---sorry 'bout that! Kat

It is perfectly normal to be scared spitless!!! It is a big deal! It is being put under anesthesia and having your life changed. BUT----in my opinion and experience----it is SOOOOO worth it!! I don't know how old your son is, or your Mom for that matter, and of course they love you as you are. I am sure they each have issues, and you love them just the same. But just allow yourself to imagine a life without obesity controlling it! A life where food is not your first thought. See in your mind yourself at your sons football game, standing and cheering, without being self conscious of it! See yourself going out to dinner with your Mom and sister, and being shown to a booth, and just sliding in, without worrying if you will fit, or how tight it will be---instead there will be room between you and the table. Fast forward to your sons graduation, and see the pictures that will be taken, of him with his arm around your shoulder, and you a thin woman--a healthy woman, ready to face the world! There are so many times with my weight I wanted to do something or go somewhere that I let my weight stop me. Add to that the serious medical issues I was facing. My weight in one way or another was in the way----and it was compromising my health. I am healthy now! I go places, I took my granddaughter to a public swimming pool! I am proud of what I have done to take control. No one knows how life is....until they too have lived it as a fat person. And I fully believe for some of them, they may be ok with that, I was not. I tried dieting----I succeeded a few times. Until I quit dieting, and then get the heck outta the way, the weight flew back on! I have been going through some health issues lately, had to have an unrelated surgery, so I have been very lazy with my band. I have not gained anything! I am not in a panic because I just sit tight, the band is there, waiting to help me get the rest of the weight off---but for now, it has proven to me, that mainetenance is going to be equally successful! Get ready to run your race! You may not have 100% support right now----but I bet when you cross the finish line your Mom and Son will be there, more proud of you than even you can imagine!!! You sound well prepped for the appt. tomorrow! Good Luck, keep us posted! Kat

I cannot say whether you did or you did not hurt your band. The biggest issue is dependent upon what stage of food you are supposed to be eating. And the serious fact it, it might not be "damaged" in a way you see today, it might however keep your band from being settled into the best possible position, which in turn may be problematic down the road. I have a very juvenile way of looking at my band I have been told! I ignored them! I listened to my Dr. He explained in great detail WHY the pre op diet is important, he explained why the post op diet is the most important time of being banded, and then he tried to explain to me how the band is intended to work. I understood the pre op ---shrinking the liver, getting things prepared for invasion---------so I used the visual in my mind to get that accomplished! Then the post op, when I realized WHY I was not supposed to eat...WHY it could hurt the positioning of the band...I was able to make myself follow the post op diet. When I found an analogy that put a picture in my mind of how I wanted to eat, and why, I can follow it. I have to be able to wrap my mind around it.... I do not do well with just being told to do it! I try----but it is similar to telling me I cannot have something---then I really want it!!! I need a reason! When presented with the reason--I can do it! They told me to chew my food well, so it remained in the pouch longer, but I didn't get stuck. OK.....so I pictured it like this. If any of you have ever used a cake decorating bag, picture it to be your stomach pouch. You want to eat small bites, very well chewed --- and not drink with your meal because you want the food to sit in the pouch without running right out, like the frosting would in the decorating bag. But when digestion starts squeezing the food to pass it, it is like squeezing the decorating bag....and out goes the food. BUT if you do not chew well----it all plugs up. When it plugs up, the bodies natural response is to lube it up--which is when we slime. The body produces huge amounts of this thick, gooey slime----overly heavy saliva---trying to help things go through. Unfortunately a big part of the time, the problem is we have eaten too much so there is nowhere for all the slime to go. Spitting is the best option if it is possible. And incidentally sliming is not limited to banded patients. My DH who is not banded, choked on a piece of chicken---and he slimed as bad as I ever have! So---if the sliming does not ease the problem---it usually comes up---in a PB. This can be as simple as a hiccup, while it repositions, or it can be a full force violent throwing up type of thing. Most fall somewhere between the 2. There is nothing in the PB except saliva/slime and chewed food, no stomach acids. It is not always pleasant--food is not always the same....milk products for instance will curdle just the same as if they had been in contact with acids in the stomach. The pressure required to PB or vomit is discouraged for the same reasons you do not eat ahead of the Dr.'s orders, it is hard on the placement of the band. I am not saying all of you are as "juvenile" in your band as I am----but you are welcome to my immature view of things!!!! LOL!!! I may get older, but I refuse to grow up!!! Kat

We don't even have to go into how, and why we are at war--------but in reality-----our president was sitting in a warm home, not being shot at.....HE did not get Sadam.......any more than he has been able to get Bin Ladin. Our military got Sadam....and lots of them have died in the process. Bush was at home stuttering and stumbling, same as usual. Kat

My Dad lives by that to this day. He runs solar panels on his home---he drives economical, older cars....can he afford a new car? Yes, but ask him if he needs one, and the answer will be No, his is working just fine. When he built his larger shed, he reused all the lumber from the old shed first---he is just of a generation that lives in that manner. He had a very successful career---but he has always been conservative with his money, and with the resources available to him. Our thermostat was always set, and left alone, clothes handed down...as little as possible was wasted. This is not done in our current generations. That was the main purpose of my post---is that in my opinion---this is NOT something we know enough about. The rate we are making advances, the number of cars on the road, the amount of waste dumped into our oceans, the number of satellites orbiting our earth, are changing SOOOOO fast, it makes learning what we are doing to our planet all but impossible. By the time you gather enough information to get a good idea of how things are---things have changed so drastically the information is obsolete. So they "esitmate" and "predict". Not just the Republicans, and not just the Democrats, everyone... Yes our resources will likely last our lifetimes...so we can refuse to give up our goodies and let the next generation deal with it. Or we can suck it up, and do what we can to try to help salvage some of the mess we have obviously helped to create. Kat I am going to go ahead and post this....not sure what has been posted since I began---my brother showed up....and I got sidelined visiting face to face with a real person!!!! LOL

GirlsI am so depressed.....the oral surgeons office b*tch just called, to confirm my consultation tomorrow. Yep consultation, they are not going to do a damn thing tomorrow. I ask how much longer, she says they are booking 2-3 weeks out right now. I have my dentists office checking around, I would travel if I could get it sooner. I am so sick of hurting. I'm just gonna go cry...

The TT requirements are very similar with mine, and I have documentation, but if they drag their feet, I will simply go with a pannectomy---which they will approve on the skin issue alone. I can fight for cosmetics at a later date if I choose. Right now, this skin is just not allowing me to exercise---so some of it has to go, whether they are willing to do all of it or not! My head hurts so bad.....going to take it easy today.....will be back later! Denise, the girls look great---I see your housing area, how cool---what colors are you leaning towards?? Kat

Much like WCFG---I find myself swayed back and forth on things and tend to want to carefully examine many different sides on things, as I have found myself convinced thoroughly of something----only to find I was wrong at a later date. Outdated, and one sided materials, and articles abound....on most every subject. It is the same with everything, you want a fact, or a statistic------you can usually dig one up to support your belief. In this I honestly think the final answer will lie somewhere in the middle between the 2 extremes, but as BJean pointed out several posts back-----what is wrong with attempting to live green and save some resources? It is one of those things I think it would be better to live like there is a problem---and find out there isn't, than to live like there isn't--------and find out there is..... Years ago, people did not generate the trash they do now, they used things until they wore them out. Going back to that frame of mind--using solar power as much as possible, going green when we can, cannot hurt us, cannot hurt our planet. My Dad has a wooden sign on the wall of his shop that says "Use it up, Wear it out, Make it Do....or Do without"....our earth as well as our overall economy could learn from his take on humor! This seems to have pretty much turned into a thread that is not about whether global warming is being exacerbated by humans, but rather one about whether or not Al Gore is to be believed. I would imagine he is about as believable as any politician!!! Without a doubt he should have put his money where his mouth was from the beginning....and unless we personally had been there we will probably never know how much of his remodel had been started or planned when he became so vocal. Because articles, can be made believable for both sides....making them all irrelevent. Wouldn't a poll for whether you like and believe Al Gore or Not have been more to the point? Kat

Awww Pat I am sorry you are still dealing with all the drama....it truly brings out the worst in all of us when it starts. I have been through hell with the divorce and bad marriage thing, and while I know I never ever deserved the beatings I gtot---there were definitely times my mouth ran away with me, making things worse. Your emotions are so raw, and the old saying of a thin line between love and hate, is never more true than in those particular moments. Sounds like she loves pushing him over that line. Lucky for her she is safe doing it. This tooth I am still dealing with decades later is a reminder of my ex---the root broke from being backhanded! Your DS's woman has it good! She is pulling his chain! My son and his former wife did some of the fighting. Then he wisely left the area to avoid the going to jail thing, but when he did, she severed all contact....he has not seen his DD is years now. He mails a check for CS to her last known POBox every month, and all but one have been returned to sender--the one never showed up, was never cashed, the box owner must have trashed it. He keeps all the checks, and has them in a file in the office---so when she finally decides she wants to be found, and that he should pay----he can show he has tried. It sucks....Ally, my granddaughter is going to be 7 this summer. My DD on the other hand, and her ex (it is sad---2 of my 3 are already divorced!) they are both children of fairly civilized divorce. And together they divorced with some bitter feuds, but never in front of Kinsey, and together they do pretty well by her. My former sil is a habitual liar, not simple things, he makes up elaborate, wild stories, and he knows he will be found out, and seems to have no conscience over it. We are now worrying what that will do to her. His last story---he declined his weekend with Kinsey so he could go to Phoenix with friends. So he come back and told Manda that the friend is tied in with the MOB and had stolen some money when he flipped a house for them, and had to get the money back before bad things started happening! Yep....the week before he spent 6 hours in the hospital getting a stent put in his lung.....even if that were possible, he works with my DH--we know it isn't! He doesn't care! Crazy!!! Sucks being unable to make your kids live the life they need to!!! Mine are all (knocking on wood here) in settled relationships now. Oldest and youngest married, middle living together----hope they are all happy. Oh and I did not come up with the term Tramp Stamp!!!! And it was my DH yelling in Walgreens about a pink puss not ME! You know how it is, the mom in me just shriveled seeing it!!! Mandy---box will mail out today. I wanted to kind of wrap things up, but an old shoe box that something come in at Christmas was all I could find to send it in, so it is unwrapped and just piled in!!! There is an envelope in there for you too. Well I have to go find something to drink, I am doing my best to get back on track here, and that includes drinking enough! Wish me luck! TTYL~~ Kat

Sorry Terry----no flan recipe! I have eaten some I really like, other that was only so so----but have NEVER made any myself! Sorry! I can imagine it is really concerning, taking your Mom home---is she going home with you, or to her place? Pamela----glad we could entertain you with our skin offerings----and poo stories. We do strive to be entertaining! But from here on out, no more applause, just throw money!!! Jenn---glad the first day was a success!!! Hope it keeps up---glad you like your bosses! I am exhausted tonight....not sure why. Did a little shopping with my DIL----fixed a simple dinner, but I am wiped out----not sure why! Did crappy on my eating, and only so so on my water----gotta get it together!!! I am sure that is why I feel so lethargic---poor nutrition. I usually do much better. Time to concentrate again! Suzanne---here I am complaining, and you were likely on your feet all day at work then volunteering!!! I am such a bum! I wish I had been able to get my glasses right away! But with our insurance, they have to be sent out to an insurance lab to be cut. So it will be another week or so....not that I am thrilled with them or anything, but hoping they help!!! My vision is not terribly bad----but the shape of my eye is changing, and the way the light is entering is blurring a lot of things, a simple light change changed my prescription hugely!!!! So the Dr. thinks maybe the light going through the lens may make a difference. I usually only have problems in fluorescent lighting----in the mall, or in Walmart--I cannot read a thing! So hoping this helps! Well I am off to the shower----then to an early bed! Good night my friends! Kat

BUMP!!!! I would love to see the questions too~ my consult is Friday!!!! Kat