I just found out my surgery will be in July (granted my pre-op testing goes okay) SOOOOOOOOO

Here's a thread for everyone getting banded in July 07!

Does anyone have any good ideas for a neat name we could call ourselves?

Welcome Butterflykisses! This is a wonderful group of people. I hope you feel welcome and comfortable. Jump in. And BTW, congrats on your AWESOME wt loss!!!!

Laurend & MarcyinAK, congrats to you, too on your wt loss!!! This is so exciting! It helps keep the rest of us pumped up!

Marcy, I don't mind if she read anything about me. No worries here. I know how you feel, though. I think I would feel a little funny about my family reading some of this stuff, too. We tend to be a little vulnerable here.

Hello Car. I'm having a hard time getting all my Water in, too. I've been making a conscious effort, though. I realize there's no other way than to just do it. I find if I make it w/Crystal Light, I get it down faster. That's been working for me.

Forgve, we haven't heard from you in a while. Glad to have you back!!!

Lynette, hey darling!

Well, last weekend we went to California to take Emmanuel (our exchange student) surfing. It went great, and here is a picture of the three of us.

Overall, I'm hanging in there but still haven't lost any weight (except for the 8 pounds courtesy of AF) for about the last 3-4 weeks. I'm finally getting my first fill on Friday too, so I'm hoping that will help as I have been struggling with eating more than I should be. But, from what I've read, it seems that most of us have had this problem.

I started my other classes today so I'm back up to 12 credit hours, plus all my other fun stuff I have going on. I really want to get my grades up higher this semester too since I have kind of slacked off in that department!!

I hope everyone has a great night, and I'll hopefully talk to you all soon.

~Nichole

Thanks Chim...It's just been busy, plus I've been having computer problems again so that's been limiting when I'm on.

Oh Nicole! You really need to re-do your picture! The one with your name...what do you call it "avitar"? Whatever, it doesn't suit you....you're MUCH better looking in the new photo! Bring it on sister! Weight loss suits you!

Thanks Marci!! How are things going for you?

On a side note, my hubby and I almost moved up to Sitka a couple of years ago, but decided not to when the HR department was changing what they said they would give us after he did a site visit.

Hi guys. Not much to report other than the fact that I went to Cheesecake Factory today for my dad's birthday and ordered the shepperds pie. It was soooo good. I ate 1/3 of it and took the rest home. I guess that was about 1 to 1.5 cups of it that I ate. I'm hoping to get 2 more meals out of it.

Walking record

I did 50 minutes of walking today. The weather was great.

Nicole - Sitka is WONDERFUL! That's where the Trooper Academy is. The only reason we'd go back there is if Andrew were to teach at the academy and I'm not interested in that....too many hours, not enough pay, and the housing is $pendy! We LOVE the southeast though and hope to get to Ketchikan some day...Andrew's got two brothers there and they are "connected" (one married a girl who's family owns a few lodges and the other is marrying her sister this fall! WAHOO)

Now....let's see a new picture, eh! I'll try to post a new one of me!

Nicole - Sitka is WONDERFUL! That's where the Trooper Academy is. The only reason we'd go back there is if Andrew were to teach at the academy and I'm not interested in that....too many hours, not enough pay, and the housing is $pendy! We LOVE the southeast though and hope to get to Ketchikan some day...Andrew's got two brothers there and they are "connected" (one married a girl who's family owns a few lodges and the other is marrying her sister this fall! WAHOO)

Now....let's see a new picture, eh! I'll try to post a new one of me!

The housing situation was another reason we didn't move up there. The cost even to rent is way too expensive. Once I lose weight though, I really want to do a 2 week cruise up that way where a week of it is on the train inland.

I think part of the reason the pic looks so bad is the avatar pics themselves because I changed mine, but still don't think it looks any better. I think it's the size requirements and the dimensions that skew the pics.

Oh well, at least it's updated for now.

forgve70, love the new pic by the beach. It's beautiful. We're leaving for Florida in 5 weeks so I'm beach bound, and so looking forward to it.

Marcy, your mother reading this is hysterical. I wonder how much she read. Maybe she's learking around to see what else you'll post!!! Just kidding, but I'd watch what I'd say, HAHA!!

ssankofa, what is in shepards pie?? I've heard of it, but don't really know what is in it.

Butterflykisses, welcome to the lucky 7's.

Laurend, congrats on the loss.

Sunny, so how did you like my chicken salad??

I have my second support group meeting tonight. Too bad my doc won't be there, but have no fear, I get filled tomorrow, so I'll see him then.

Lynette,

I'm not normally a big beach person, but I'm hoping that changes as I lose weight!! I'm too self-conscious in a swim suit right now which is most of the reason I don't like them!! I hope you have fun though.

BTW, I know you said you were a visual in a retail store, and I was just wondering where you worked. My mom was a visual and then district visual (until they eliminated the position) for Kohl's.

~Nichole

Sorry, but what's the heck's a visual?

Yep, Mary, sex is good for Monday exercise....lol. At least it's on the calendar!! I'm making crab cakes tonight- for the first time. Any tips?? We have dunguness crab we caught on a recent visit to the Oregon Coast and I bought some King and the grocery store....I just love the sweetness of King so I am mixing about 80% dunguness and 20% King. I'm browsing recipes at Allrecipes.com now.

Yep again, we feel the same thing when we wonder if something is stuck or we're full. I guess the solution is the same- stop eating- but it's hard to stop on these new portion sizes. I also get anxious to drink and if I have to stop for 5 minutes, then eat more I have to start the wait over again I don't like that! I feel so petty typing that....I know I define addiction and I don't like that either...hmpf.

Cherea- you're doing great my friend :clap2:. The fill is going to help you when you eat too fast. I don't wish you the pain, but then again, it's what helps us admire our band. I am guilty, of speed eating. The sliming is slowing me down.

Laurend- Congatulations on the loss! KUTGW!

Has anybody eaten out much since banding? We went to a local buffet a couple weeks ago and the Restauranteer card we got when banded was great for a discount. I was thinking it might be a problem since in my mind it was uncommon. I've found that restaurants are familiar with the card and I've had no problem getting childrens meals or discounts. It's money back on the investment .

As far as food problems, my major problem is bread. Man that stuff is slow to move if it gets stuck. I haven't given up on it, but I don't eat much of it. Toasted helps and yesterday while at my Mom's house I tried her diabetic sprouted something or another bread that had 5 grams of protein in it and 80 calories. It was good tasting, but it got stuck worse. I have a weird feeling with watermelon. It gets kind of stringy and feels like it won't pass, but seems to okay. I haven't given up on it yet. All other food has been okay so long as I chew well and eat small bites slowly. I still have lots to try. Crab will be new tonight.

Back to recipe looking.... Have a great day.

Welcome Butterflykisses! This is a wonderful group of people. I hope you feel welcome and comfortable. Jump in. And BTW, congrats on your AWESOME wt loss!!!!

Laurend & MarcyinAK, congrats to you, too on your wt loss!!! This is so exciting! It helps keep the rest of us pumped up!

Marcy, I don't mind if she read anything about me. No worries here. I know how you feel, though. I think I would feel a little funny about my family reading some of this stuff, too. We tend to be a little vulnerable here.

Hello Car. I'm having a hard time getting all my water in, too. I've been making a conscious effort, though. I realize there's no other way than to just do it. I find if I make it w/Crystal Light, I get it down faster. That's been working for me.

Forgve, we haven't heard from you in a while. Glad to have you back!!!

Lynette, hey darling!

Chim,

I use Crstal Lite, too, to try and get all my water in. I'm making progress but still not drinking as much as I should be. Albertson's has their own brand of "Crystal Lite" that comes in an almost identical can and it tastes just as good to me and is a lot cheaper!

I don't know how you guys can drink Crystal Light. The artificial sweetener tastes like a mouthful of metal to me. All diet drinks taste that way to me. I can't choke them down. Some of them literally make me gag.

I don't know how you guys can drink Crystal Light. The artificial sweetener tastes like a mouthful of metal to me. All diet drinks taste that way to me. I can't choke them down. Some of them literally make me gag.

I'm the same way. I can't stomach artificial sweeteners, I'd rather just have good old fashioned water. At times when I want something with a little flavour, I'll pop a slice of lemon or lime in with it.

I think it's important that we get our required water in daily, especially during the summer months, as becoming dehydrated is a very bad thing. It gives me headaches, makes me feel listless and makes me hungrier. Too bad I didn't make these realisations prior to banding, but it may not have made that much difference to me then. :phanvan

I keep a water bottle with me all the time. It helps me keep track of my daily intake and when I get the urge to put something in my mouth, I'll take a few sips of water. I'm supposed to wait 30 mins before and after eating food for any drinking and I'll admit that I sometimes fail before, but am able to hold off for the time after.

I'm developing my own water drinking habits. If I'm watching TV, I'll take a couple of mouthfuls of water each time an ad break comes on. If I'm reading forums and searching online, I'll take a couple of mouthfuls each time I hit a new tab or open a new window. If I'm reading a book, I'll take sips after each chapter. If I'm doing chores, I'll take sips between each one. I'm developing these new habits to help curb the old unhealthy ones that got me to where I was pre-banding.