Positive people unite! This thread is being created for the sole use of positive people to give positive reinforcement to others in the group that we care about. We know that we may disagree on some issues but we will offer constructive criticism, objective suggestions, we will always give kind support even when delivering the occasional (but necessary) kick in the pants.

AnneGG--I plan on posting--just like reading sometimes

I am on facebook--but sorry have not played Farmville--but I hit Cafe World often!

Hi All!

Happy Tuesday!

TJ...you didn't call? We could have split an appetizer somewhere to celebrate!

Bobbie, what is the issue with veggies? many bandsters have issues with salad, but lettuce doesn't have much nutrition anyway. I do best with veggies that are cooked. They are much easier to chew. I do well with broccoli, cauliflour, beans (which will increase the protein), mushrooms, onions, & peppers. Really fibrous ones, like asparagus, I don't do so well with.

My surgeon doesn't want me drinking protein shakes on a habitual basis, he prefers me to eat my calories.

Leigha...GREAT on the loss!!! Woohoo!!! You know, I haven't "dieted" since I was banded. It was important to me that I not. I have never been able to stay on a diet my entire life. I knew being banded would be no different, so I have changed my eating habits. I make better choices, eat to my appetite, and accept my body as it is. It gives me the confidence to believe that I will not regain the weight. I have not sworn off my favorite treats, and I eat meals with my DH.

My food plan is as "normal" as it can be, and I am much healthier than I was before surgery. I don't track my food, or weight and measure portions.

Betsy, how's Truman? He dragging you out? I hope so. I've been phenominally lazy. I can give you all sorts of excuses, but I won't. Blah!

Bob, any more incidents?

Karen, my response to Leigha sort of applies to you as well. My band is tighter in the mornings, too. But I just go with it. I have my coffee on the way to work in the morning. An hour or two later I have a protein bar, graham crackers w/peanut butter, or a protein shake (just started that, against what my doc said, cause I was getting bored and wanted the vitamins).

I have to be to work at 6:30am. So there is no way I could eat before leaving my house. I am in too big of a rush to make something, and I'd hurry too much to get it down. If I am not hungry, I don't worry about it.

Christie, glad Steve is behaving a bit. You know, when I was overfilled, I had half the fill taken out, felt MUCH better, went back in a month and had it plus more put back in. Our bodies are freakish that way!

Anne, sorry you are delayed even further! That totally sucks! We are here for you for venting, though!

Elfie, how's the pain thing? (It was you, right?)

Sometimes I find it hard to remember who did what with whom!

Well, I am finally all caught up at work from being away in New Orleans! YAY!

This week my co-worker and best-peep is on vacation, so I am covering for her. Tomorrow I am facilitating a meeting most of the day, so good thing I am caught up!

My boss has backed off the retirement thing a bit. But I still worry, it will only take one really bad day after the next 53 days have elapsed and he becomes eligible.

But then, I barely saw him today, so I could be misjudging his change of heart.

Ok, nearly din-din time, yay!!!

Cafe World? Sweet! Hit me up and add me :-)

Bobbie wallis

Hey Cocoabean .....

Veggies. Where do I start? I agree that cooked are much easier than raw. I've tried both. However, I can't seem to digest many cooked at all ... NO green beans, carrots, broccoli, cauliflour, squash, sugar snap peas, peppers, mushrooms ( this one is heartbreaking fo me because i've added 'shrooms to everything for the past 25 years)

Raw? I CAN eat - Cucumbers, peppers, celery, onion, tomatoes.

It's so weird. I read that many eat spinich salads. I'd kill for one of those. But spinich doesn't really digest either...

Seriously, this has been the hardest thing for me to "get over" not eating veg or fruits. I can do with out bread and pasta ( NEVER thought I'd say that! LOL ) But I need my veg. And NO, baby food isn't the same thing. I've tried...

Any thoughts? Suggestions?

Go Leigha go!!! 150, in my dreams. I hope you're proud of yourself young lady!

Anne, I am SO sorry, I can't imagine the angst you're feeling right now. I still think the waiting is the hardest part, pre-op sucked, bandster hell sucked...but at least you're DOING something at that point...the waiting just plain old sucks. Keep your chin up, you're doing great and feel free to whine at any point.

I'm on facebook as Christie Reid, I don't play many of the games but if you need a neighbor, friend, whatever, send me a request, I might not send much but you can at least use me.

Bobbie,

My only thought is "that sux!"

Wow, maybe cook the heck out of them, but I am sure you have tried that.

Baby food. Gack...I'd not even try it. Do canned go down better? Maybe crockpot them?

That's about all I can come up with...

Anyone else?

Cocoa--I love your new pic!

Just flipping through radio and listened briefly to a country music song and thinking they can make a song about anything ("That's my house, but it ain't my truck"). Then started laughing at what a song about the lapband might sound...

Okay guys, I admit it--I'm overwhelmed. I want to write individual posts to everyone, but have been staying away because it's just overwhelming to me right now.

I don't want to stay away--I get so much from this thread. So I hope you will forgive me for reading & empathizing--and responding piecemeal.

Things here are....well, as you might have gathered, overwhelming. Mark saw the transplant guys on Monday. They are going to do some more testing, but after he's had his meds knocked down to much lower doses for a period of time. They were kind of cryptic, but my read is that the aim is to have the tests show what a less-assisted (therefore sicker) heart does during the test. The only rationale I can identify for this is that they want to list him, and want the results to better reflect what is going on with him. If you were to look at him---and some of his results while optimally medicated---you'd say, "Oh, well, he's not so sick." But he really is. He feels awful all the time, and is getting worse. He also has diabetes that will eventually rule out transplant. It's my feeling that they are pushing the envelope a little so that he can be listed.

I knew all of this was likely to happen. I've known it for 10 years. BUT, knowing something intellectually (and in the distant future) is different from its realization. So I am ...discombobulated. Not on the surface---but in my head.

So that's why I'm scattered to the wind.

Denise--I LOVE your new picture! Gorgeous!

Yes, Truman is faithfully walking me---it preserves what little remains of my sanity.

Leigha-Congrats on 150!! You look fabulous, and I bet you feel fabulous, too!

More later--the dog is looking at me dolefully.

Betsy,

You just take care of you and Mark. I can't even imagine the stress you're under right now, but we're praying for you both.

It's supposed to be 71 degrees today! Woohoo!!!

I think I'm going to go pull the black tarp off my compost pile. 'Tis the season for snake breeding and that appears to be their most favorite place for doing so because of the warmth. There is nothing more grotesque than pulling back the tarp to find *thousands* (no I do not exaggerate) of mating garter snakes coiled into balls <shudder>. So we're going to pre-empt them this year.

My exercise today will be to go out and rake off and clean out my asparagus bed. I still have a couple more weeks before they start popping up their delicious little heads, but might as well take advantage of this unseasonably warm weather.

I woke up this morning with the wrong mindset. I want/wanted to just chuck it all in for a day and eat like I did pre-band. Can we say fast food? Fortunately, Hilda won't let me eat a whopper even if I was stupid enough to try, but I have to admit that I'm feeling a bit cranky at not being able to. It will pass and in the meantime I'll go burn off some of this crankiness in the garden.

Have a great day y'all!

.

Hey Betsy - We know you love us,and the feeling is mutual...So to heck with all the individual attention. Just be here, continue reading, and chime in when time allows :-) Thats all anyone of us can ask from each other... ((HUGS))

Elfiepoo - Im so Jealous you have an Asparagus patch! SOOO my fav veg EVER!!!

Denise - I Concure!!! FABULOUS pic !!

I just posted my latest pics too. You can see my progress.

CHristie - I'll be "Friending" you on FB Later today!! :-)

Need to run for a bit - duty calls :-) :frown:

Oh yeah ...

I want Broasted Chicken and am pissed off that I can't eat it !!

WHEW! Now I feel better .... Thanks ! :-)

Good Morning everyone! I'm back from my vacation. Had a wonderful time. Saw my dad who will be 90 in Oct. He looks and sounds great. My old laptop died in Indiana so I couldn't check in. I need to go back and read everyone's posts and catch up. Just thought I'd check in and tell you I'm back. I missed all of you and nearly went nuts without a computer...lol. Will post more later when caught up. Have a great day!!!

BetsyB--thinking of you and sending prayers to where I can't go.