lgl4726

Howdy everyone, I am off to Kaiser Richmond in a few for my last visit with Dr. Baggs before surgery. They gave me a 4:30 appointment, so I most likely won't be home until after 8:00 tonight. Oh well, it is part of the process I suppose. Nicole, I imagine you are bursting with excitement! What a great day tomorrow will be for you. My anniversary is on the 18th. 32 years for the Bobster and me. Time flies. John, I was thinking about purees. Have you thought of taking ricotta cheese and mixing in a little spaghetti sauce and warming it up? They say smashed up cottage cheese is fine, so I am thinking ricotta would be okay as well and it would feel like you were eating lasagna perhaps. You could maybe even add a little pureed meat to the mixture. You could also mix in some vanilla and splenda into the ricotta and it might taste like cheesecake. Just some thoughts. I will think some more about it and post ideas for you.

I agree with Nicole. She was super nice. She kept asking me how many people were in the room. Grin. You will do fine Ali. Only 12 days to go for me. I lost another pound last week so all is good.

Congrats Ali. I know it will all go quickly for you now. You have worked really hard and it is paying off!

Thanks for the words of encouragement Riley! I am feeling a lot more confident now. I just need to really plan for my protein and all should be well.

Congratulations Nicole! That is fabulous news. I am so happy for you. Isn't it a beautiful day outside today? Spring really is just around the corner.

Hi Nicole, It is good to hear that you went back to work after 2 weeks with no trouble. On Thursday at the nutrition meeting Liz and Robin said we didn't need to worry about protein shakes. I am glad about that, but will have to be careful about taking protein along with me when I go back to work. I made some delish peach decaf iced tea today. I am totally off caffeine now, but do love iced tea when the weather gets warmer. Well, back to the garden for some more weed pulling.

Good morning everyone. I don't think it is going to rain today so I am looking forward to getting out in the garden and pulling some weeds. I went to my nutrition and information about the surgery classes on Thursday and had a lot of my questions answered. I have one last appointment next Thursday with Dr. Baggs and then should be good to go for surgery on the 22nd. I think I am ready. I have only taken two weeks off work and am a bit worried about how tired every is on weeks 3 & 4. I have a huge month of work in April as I am taking the test for my administrative credential and have to take a class on two Saturdays as well as work during the week. I am praying I can do it as I don't want to have to wait until next October to take the test if at all possible. With all the teacher layoffs happening I want to put myself in a very secure place as quickly as possible. Today I noticed that I can see the bones in my wrists. I think I had forgotten how that looks. :smile2:

Hi Steve, I live in Fair Oaks and will be banded on March 22nd. There are a bunch of Sacramento folks on the Kaiser Richmond thread, but if you don't have Kaiser, join the March Bandsters! I just got back from my last two nutrition classes today. Long day...

I am really sorry that you have been having such a hard time Tina. I wrote member services and requested that they provide someone to do fills here in Sacramento. I got an unsatisfactory reply, so I wrote back and told them that they were making no sense and that I would like to respectfully request that someone take my request seriously and call me. They called today, but I was out. I will call back tomorrow. I am going to continue to follow up on this. We may all need to write in order to get them to listen to us.

Hi everyone, Just back from my weekly weigh in at Weight Watchers and I am down another pound! Slow, but steady progress. Hope everyone is having a good day.

Thanks Donna. I will be sure to put lunch on my schedule for next meeting. I am looking forward to getting to know everyone better. I will have my hubby Bob post to let everyone know how I do with the surgery on the 22nd. Only 21 days left to go until I start my new post band life. I am much calmer now that I have met with and talked to so many of you. I have made the right decision for me. Someone is going to get some killer clothes at the next clothing exchange. My secret (well really not so secret vice) is shopping. I have an excuse though as I am on television every Monday and need to wear something I haven't worn before don't I??? I am ready to retire my size 20's though. I can't wait! Laurel

It was great meeting everyone today at the meeting. I will try my best to make the next one as well, but my surgery is on March 22nd, so we will just have to play that by ear. Sorry I couldn't make lunch, but I skipped out on the California League of Middle School Conference to go to the meeting and really needed to get back. I had loaned them 24 of my computers and felt a little odd leaving them there, but they were fine and all back in my car safely home now. Nicole, thanks for showing me your scars and for being so open about how you are doing. Your advice really helped. I promised you the name of the cookbook I am using. It is Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery by Patt Levine and Michele Bontempo-Saray. I like it because the recipes are really flavorful and because it tells you when in your journey you can eat each one and how to modify it for the different stages. Liz had recommended I get a cookbook on how to cook for 1, but this one has small portions and I can cook once and take the rest for lunch the next day. Thanks again for making me so welcome!

Hi, I plan on being there on Saturday. I look forward to meeting all of you.

Thanks for the information Coco about the support group at Point West. I plan on being there and look forward to meeting all my new friends. Laurel

Hi, Can someone provide details about the Point West Support Group on Saturday? Thanks

I really want my band too. I hear you about it being hard to get back on track. I had last week off from work and went to Palm Springs seeking sun. I found the sun and some really good restaurants too. Arghh... no will power > me. I had been doing great for over a month, but then the waiter asked me what I wanted to drink and I really wanted a glass of wine so...I had a couple. It tasted as good as I remembered. Back on track now though. I hit the gym at lunch and am praying the scale won't be too cruel to me tomorrow.

Hi Heather, I would be up for a walk along the bike trail. I usually go to Banister Park and walk down from there, but could probably meet you at Watt or Sunrise if that works better for you. My surgery isn't until March 22nd, and I want to lose as much as I can before that.

Good luck tomorrow Nicole! Onederland is just around the corner :-)

I want a ticker too. How did you get it on your postings?

Here is the chili I am making for tomorrow: Ingredients 2 pounds ground turkey (very lean) 2 cups diced onions (I use sweet yellow onions) 2 (15 1/2-ounce) cans pinto Beans 1 (15 1/2-ounce) can pink kidney beans 1 (15 1/4-ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can Mexican-style stewed tomatoes 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can tomatoes with chiles 2 (4 1/2-ounce) cans diced green chiles 1 (4.6-ounce) can black olives, drained and sliced, optional 1/2 cup green olives, sliced, optional 1 (1 1/4-ounce) package taco seasoning mix 1 (1-ounce) package ranch salad dressing mix Corn chips, for serving Fat Free Sour cream, for garnish Low Fat Grated cheese, for garnish Chopped green onions, for garnish Pickled jalapenos, for garnish

Don't feel bad Heather. You will fit into those boots soon. Last summer when I was in Paris, I wandered into a fancy boutique and was just browsing in the underwear section and a french woman who worked there came up to me and said, 'Madame, you are much too large for this shop." I could have died. I plan on going back when I am thin and buying a fancy bra and pair of panties while snubbing my nose at that woman. Just remember it took a long time to put the weight on and at least now all of us are going in the right direction.

I am not sure who we need to write to, but I will start checking around and post it when I find out. I am in the 50 plus club too. I am finding this group really helpful and online works best for me with my busy schedule. I think we each have to do what works best for us. Anything that makes this journey easier and more successful is a good thing in my mind.

That would be great Cindy. I for one am going to write to ask why we can't have fills in Sacramento. It seems silly to have to drive so far and wait so long.

Hi, My surgery is scheduled for March 22nd. It can't come soon enough. I am so ready. My surgery will be in Richmond, CA. My doctor is Doctor Baggs. Insurance: Kaiser Seminar date: Nov. 6, 2009 Orientation: Jan. 21 Met Surgeon: Jan. 27 Psych Evaluation: Jan. 27 Tests: EKG, Blood work Reason for banding: I am tired of being fat and tired of working so hard at dieting and getting nowhere. Concerns: I am just hoping that everything goes as planned and that this will be the tool that finally works.

Thanks for posting that! I think I may give it a try.