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It has been a roller coaster ride these past few months. 84 pounds lost as of this morning. And feeling great! My size 16 clothes are now baggy. Time to look for size 14. For the Christmas holidays, my family and I (9 of us) went to Florida and Disney. I walked and walked; shopped for a new wardrobe; played with my grand kids in the Gulf of Mexico; enjoyed the family time in the pool at our villa; even ate out with my hubby! The restaurants were very accommodating. I explained to the manager about my surgery and had no problems sharing a meal or paying the child's price at the buffet. I went up in the balloon at Downtown Disney! I went on the rides in the Parks! I enjoyed having my picture taken! I even lost 8 pounds over the holidays. This surgery is the best thing I have ever done for myself. I have my life back. I only wish I had done it sooner!

So I thought I would blog about my experience with gastric plication because before the surgery I had a hard time finding someone with circumstances similar to mine. What makes my situation unique is that I was over weight and obese "clinically" however in terms of what most people consider overweight needing surgery I probably wouldn't have made the list. But I certainly did make the "fat" list in my own mind and I was more sick of hating myself and weight, and felt so defeated with my efforts. So at 5'3" and 175 lbs I had a really hard time finding anyone on-line in youtube blogs or otherwise that I could compare myself to. I qualified for placation surgery because my BMI was 30, just the minimum. When I was doing my research on the surgery I decided to book the surgery because there is a strong history of diabetes in my family, I had dieted and worked out for a solid 6 months and dropped a lousy 20 lbs, and as soon as I stopped the unmanageable work-out routine I piled all the 20 lbs back on and because I have a job in PR and whether I like it or not people are always judging you on your appearance and it does effect my bottom line. So prior to my surgery these are the things that I told myself to convince myself that I was making the right decision. My husband on the other hand, wanted to hear nothing of this procedure business. He was adamant from the get-go that I didn't need the surgery my weight problem was more of a confidence problem that was in my head and he was adamant that I looked good, not to mention the surgery came with a $7500 price tag and a flight to Mexico. He was almost most furious when he heard that it was in Mexico. I did my research, I'd been to Mexico many times before and wasn't so fearful of having the surgery there, I was pretty confident that the Doctors were more than qualified. So I booked my surgery. Because my BMI was low I didn't have to do the pre-surgery diet, all I had to do was liquids 48 hours before surgery. I went to Mexico alone, I wouldn't do that part again. I felt really lonely, that was a very hard low time for me. I don't deal with pain well, and following the surgery I was nauseous from the anesthetic, I just wouldn't wish to repeat that experience alone again. The week following surgery I thought I'd go right back to work, but I ended up taking about 3 days off to sleep and recoup because it was harder then I was expecting it to be. The first 3 weeks after the surgery was so devastated, I couldn't really eat anything, and I was thinking what the hell did I do to myself? I hadn't lost but 10 lbs no one had noticed and I was miserable, I was down on myself too because I felt like "how did I ever let myself hate my body and weight enough that I went to that extreme", I think if it had been something I could have reversed at that time I would have. Now I will post a lot more about specifics since the surgery but I will say this, I no longer feel that way at all. I'm almost 5 months post-op and I've lost 30 lbs so far, my goal is to get down to 120lbs, I'm at 140lb so I have another 20 lbs to go, but I'm over the moon. Specific things I am happiest about: -My sex life is much better, I'm so much more confident, I'm no longer embarrassed about being naked in front of my husband -I went into Victoria Secret last week and asked the sales associate to help me reach a large night gown and she looked at me and said "For you? No way your a medium or small" That felt so damn good, that's never happened to me before! - I feel for the first time in my life like I have control, in the past I felt in control of everything but my weight and now I feel complete I will blog more about my experience since surgery, in the meantime if you have any questions or want to know anything specifically please message me, thanks for reading .

I've been M.I.A. for 3 years and a lot has happened. I graduated from graduate school this summer and now have a master's degree. Kyle and I have been dating for 4 years now. He is currently finishing up his last year in graduate school as well in Boston. So we're currently long distance. The last time I was on here I wrote about me getting an unfill. Well I went 3 years with an unrestricted band. Needless to say I gained my weight back and I'm currently at 319lbs. I'm really disappointed in myself considering I was only in the 100s for 1 year before I ballooned back up into the 200s and now 300s again. I was at my highest weight in May of this year (2015) at a whomping 348lbs. A lot of that was stress eating and drinking every weekend. update: I'm now 317. I seem to be losing weight very quickly now that I have a fill. I'm excited to start losing weight again!

I'm the one in the middle. In three weeks I am scheduled to have Plication done. Im 5'4, and at the time of the decision I weighed 195 pounds, "curvaceous" and attractive but definitely overweight. People think I'm crazy when I have to say that I have to lose 70 lbs because I don't look like I am 195 but I feel it. The culminating point was when my doctor gave me a phenteramine prescription to lose weight and it actually made me hungrier and added another 5 pounds and raised my blood pressure. 2 months ago I fell on a hiking trail and messed up my foot so my exercise routine of biking, hiking and rowing is over. Many feelings are at battle right now. Part of me feels like I'm being a cop-out, like I didn't have the discipline to do it the right way. I was an athlete throughout my life and ate relatively healthy but at 50 years old I can't drop weight no matter how well I 'behave'. I have only told my sister and a coworker that I'm getting this done because I feel ashamed and embarrassed. I'm nervous about f/u because what if something goes wrong after the surgery, where do I go? I'm not going to hop on a plane and go to Tijuana again. One week into this diet, I am weighing in at 187. I sure hope I'm not one of the statistics that doesn't lose anything.

I consider this the first day because it's the first day of journaling. Which can help me grow. And I need to grow. I had gastric plication February 11, 2011. The best thing I've done for myself. Well, among other things. I started my journey at 258 lbs. OCC asked me to lose 20 lbs. before my surgery. I figured it was to show I could be disciplined. I did that and went into the clinic at 238 lbs. I stayed for three days to assess my vitals. When given the go ahead I came home. I had a few uncomfortable feelings over the next week or so. Once I ate a spicy meal and threw it up. That was the last time I did that. I reduced my food intake by 2/3. I've maintained that. My food choices are where I haven't changed. Sometimes I think I should diet, but I don't want to. I had the surgery so that I wouldn't have to change what I like to eat. Over the next 10 months to 1 year, I lost 95 lbs. 165 is a good weight. Not what I weighed in high school, but I'm 65 and the smaller I am the more excess skin I have. I have my ups and downs and so with that said, I'll check in tomorrow with another day in the life. Thanks for listening

Well I feel like I am finally to the point that this new way of life seems like "normal". I have lost 40 pounds total since my journey began with the decision to proceed, and 20 since the surgery. That amount of weight loss in 7 1/2 weeks aint too shabby! I still have times where I really wish I could eat more but I think it is more from habit and psychological hunger. Lord knows, when you are full that is it. I have not yet thrown up and I truly hope not to, but from what I understand it certainly is not unheard of. I have also discovered that I am being more open about how I am losing the weight. At first I did not want to tell anyone that I was going or really that I had gone. However, now that things are going well and I have very little side effects if any right now, I feel no need to defend my choice. I have always felt that it does not matter how someone loses weight. It is far more imprtant that they did it then how they did it. If someone gives me a look, or asks feverishly why I would do such a thing to myself, I simply reply, "I was tired of doing such a thing to myself by staying fat". If they go on to criticize I follow up with, "then you should never do this for yourself". I am happy with my choice. I am comfortable with my new "comfortable". I am looking down at my belly and not seeing huge rolls and I am not as inclined to keep pulling my shirt away form my belly to try and hide it. Do I miss eating? Sure I do, but I certainly don't miss being miserably overweight. I tell myself often that "thin tastes better" and you know what? It does.

I can't believe its almost been a year its crazy that last year i was thinking about this surgery now i've had it and i lost over a 100 pounds past my goal weight wanted me at 165 and i'm down to 157 and i'm so much more happier i love shopping now i went shopping for summer clothes and didn't have to get a double x instead i got a medium. I'm so glad i went through with the surgery i've inspired another people to get this surgery i'm so happy i can help people better their life i never thought that i could look as good i as do. Now my next goal is to get a job so next year i can get a tummy tuck!!! Now to start a whole new journey start college move into a new house say goodbye to my best friend who's moving all the way to texas it's going to be so hard not having her with me she's help me through so much and has never judged best for friends for life!!!!

Well today is my one year anniversary and i am more then proud to say i have dropped 120 pounds.. and regained my life and smile. i no longer hurt every time i move and have more energy then i know what to do with... for the first time in years i actually went horseback riding which was a huge milestone for me.. Thank you OCC for allowing me to get back to what i love you guys are awesome

Hello Everyone!! I am officially past the 1 month mark from when I made my decision and started the PRE OP diet. I am down exactly 20lbs for my 1 month anniversary. I am now on day 10 POST OP, I am still on the liquid only part of the diet and can not say I am bored with it. Soup is my friend! Yogurts and Protein Shakes get me through the day. If I feel the need to chew I get a piece of gum. I can not believe how EASY this whole thing has been. I think today was the first time I felt hunger. It was time for me to get something into me and I did have Tomato soup, about 3 ozs of it. I am working on the WATER WATER WATER all the time..is sure is hard. But can now take bigger gulps, no more chest clenching. I can see the difference in my face and start to feel it in my clothes, it is only going to get better from here on in. Good Luck people, someone pinch me I feel that this is a dream!

Hello Im Angela I had my surgery on the 21st of January and im so happy. I should of done this earlier in life! Dr. Ortiz and Dr. Martinez are the best. I was 321lost 21 pre op and 20 so far! 41 pounds off feels great! The hotel stay was beautiful and the people were wonderful. Was treated like a princess! On my way to my new life

Cutting to the chase.........Down 64 lbs!!! I have never thrown up, not once since surgery. I am a slow eater and I know when that "one bite" is going to be the one that sends me into burbing, belching and being miserable for the next half hour. So I avoid that feeling at all costs. The hardest thing for me is actually eating all meals and snacks every day. I tootle along with my day and then my stomach starts feeling yucky and it dawns on me I need to eat. One may say this is a good thing and IT IS NOT. What I have experienced the hard way is that I don't lose weight if I don't eat. Sounds crazy right? I think it has something to do with metabolism. Also, it is VERY VERY important to get in at least the minimum amount of protein a day as well as water. Just make up your mind to have a bottle of water in your hand or within reach at all times and sip sip sip during the day. I am happy with my weight loss considering the only exercise I am able to accomplish due to health issues is swimming. I do water aerobics three times a week consistently. I can eat anything but dinner rolls. They seem to sit like rocks as well as a few bites and you feel like you ate a pillow. Again, that is why I emphasize this surgery is a tool. I could easily eat chocolate every few hours but that is not going to help me lose weight. Choose your protein and veggies and you too will soon be on your way to a new person. Take care everyone. Good luck.

Hello OCC world. I personally have struggled with my weight since I was a child. When I was a teenager I was losing weight until I had my daughter when I was 17 since then I cant seem to keep it off. I eat healthy and exercise and it seems to go no where. I even had my thyroid checked to see if it was that but the levels were normal. I am now the same weight I was when I was 13 and it SUCKS!!! I am tired of being on the yo-yo ride. My fiance and I have decided get the sleeve together and we have about 36 days until we leave. We have started the pre-op diet at the same time and I have about 5 more lbs to go and he has 10 to reach our target. He is losing it a lot faster than I am ( I know because he is a man) but he is having a lot more difficulty with the cravings. He seems to dwell on what he cant have. I try to help him the best I can, honestly he is doing a lot better than what I expected. If anyone have any suggestions, that would be greatly appreciated. I know he is getting tired of grilled chicken and salad. I have bought him some lean cuisines and he laughs at them but he eats them. He says they dont taste bad at all. We both like the protein shakes for the OCC website. The chocolate is the best, I am not that too big of a fan on the vanilla bean, I just wish they had more flavors. I also have found a brand of salad dressings that are 0 calorie,sugar,fat,carbs,etc called Walden Farms. The tastes take some getting use too but the raspberry is my fave. I even freeze the 0 calorie drinks to make Popsicle. If anyone else has any ideas to help keep him sane, like I said it would be greatly appreciated. I am anxious and excited for Nov to get here. It seems like it is taking forever. I think I would probably get nervous as it gets closer but right now I am more impatient than anything. I wish everyone the best wishes on their future.

At my goal weight so proud of myself my life has changed drastically!!! I feel like a different person I Can wear so much cuter stuff took my senior pictures and I can't believe how much I've changed!!! now iam getting ready for prom now so excited to try on all the dresses!!! Then comes my graduation from high school I get to see family I haven't seen in over a year!!! I'm so glad I've made this decision now I've inspired other people to have this surgery!! They've seen my progress and can't believe how much weight I've lost!!! Since my surgery I've lost about 95 pounds almost to 100!!!

Hello Fellow OCC'ers, Here I am 3 days into week 36 which for me ends this Friday 3/29. My last entry was at the end of my 6 month anniversary on week 26 January 18, 2013. After that, I decided to go off of my regimental OCC blogging, personal journaling, calorie tracking, way of being and merge myself back into a 'new regular' routine. I wanted to see what that would be like. What I found is much like what I saw posted in the forum. After 6 months I find myself losing and gaining the same 4 lbs. I fluctuate from 158 - 162 (In my after picture I am at 164). This is without counting calories, eating pretty much what I want (sans sugary stuff), having alcohol occasionally, etc. Overall, I feel really great. I have no complaints! I love being at this weight. I was at 221 and I have lost 60 lbs. It is amazing, this difference! I can wear really nice clothes, and feel great being out and about. I feel sexy. My restriction is fantastic, so portion control is STILL fabulous. I realize this has EVERYTHING to do with strictly adhering to the no eating or drinking within 1 hour of the other. I do. On 3 occasions I have lessened it to 40 minutes. So I guess what I’m saying is I’m discovering how to be flexible, what to allow and when, and how not to take advantage of that and stay in control. I have set an emergency weight for myself. It is 165. What that means is that while I am fluxing between 158-162 if for some reason I get up to 165, I will do a two week lean and green cleanse, or a juice cleanse, or a liquids cleanse. Hey, two weeks out of my life is WORTH not ballooning up to 221 which I will NEVER again do. I just love that going through this procedure with the OCC has taught me to control my weight, given me this thin life and given me fantastic tools like lean and green that thanks to fantastic restriction work for me and give me tools to fight possibly going in the other direction. I feel really happy that I have found this balance. My health is really good. I am good. Now that I have given myself this time to figure out how to ease back into life without journaling, etcetera, I am ready to enter a new phase. I will keep blogging for up to my first year so others can see if they want what the first year is like. But I will blog monthly instead of weekly. Also, I am just 13 little ole pounds away from my OCC set goal weight of 149 lbs. And while I'm totally happy here at 162, I am going to get down to 149 just to see what that looks like, and so that when I do my one year check up at the OCC I can go in there at goal or a tad lower. All this weight that I have lost so far has been without one single stitch of exercise. I know... terrible for me to admit that.. lol and I’m definitely not saying you should follow my lead. But I have just purchased ZUM BA!!!! And I am going to start working out and tightening up, sooooo, I will give myself until my 1 year anniversary, 4 more months, in July, to lose those additional 13 lbs. I got this. Because I'm only 13 lbs. away from goal, I have just posted a before and after picture of myself in the gallery. I figured i'm close enough to goal for all to see the huge difference the OCC has made in my life. Continued Success Everyone!

WOW. What a month it's been! *6 Month Anniversary* I really got out of hand. My holiday eating threatened to undue me. It's really quite deceptive. When I look at my weight during this time, I see that i spent 3 weeks having gone up in ounces with the rest of the time not losing more than 1 lb. That's very different from other weeks. But what really did me in was convenience foods. I began to have GF pizza 3 times a week. I think somewhere in my mind I thought, since it's gluten free pizza it's healthier. I was definitely making that connection. It is a false one. Also I was having low calorie chips so that I could grab and go, a concept that's fine as long as you're not making the kind of choices I was. But what really helped do me in I feel was all the holiday alcohol consumption. It really did loosen my inhibitions and make me feel warm and relaxed so I wasn't worrying about how it's not the healthiest way to consume calories. I began to head crave. That is a nasty fiend I was sure i'd seen the back of. At 10pm at night I found myself thinking about what was in the refrigerator and having to fight myself not to get up and eat. THAT'S when I knew I was in trouble. Because that didn't just happen one night. It began to be a theme for weeks 24 and 25. I was in steep trouble. I knew that I had drank hot chocolate twice during those two weeks putting 2 teaspoons of sugar in each cup and I wondered if that was it? Sugar has and always will be my biggest problem. I just didn't think in that amount it could undue me?? I decided that to help myself I needed to educate myself. I went to the library and started to look for books on sugar. I could NOT believe it! That sh1t is in everything! Bread, chips, processed foods, sugary sugar sugar. The food industry has been ruthless about sugaring EVERYTHING! I never realize how prevalent it was. No wonder I lost my mind. I had 2 literal teaspoons of the drug, then was having it in pizza and chips. What an eye opener. And the education did not stop there. I was surfing the documentaries on netflix for something to watch last week. I came across one called Hungry For Change. The documentary exposes the secrets the diet, weight loss and food industries use to keep us addicted to dead food. (dead food is food with no nutritional value) It also defined "food products" which sadly, is not real food and is what most of us eat. The problem with it is that it just does not nurture our bodies. I never even realized until that film that we could simultaneously be over eating AND starving ourselves! WHAT?? Another great thing about this film is the way it draws correlations between eating, overeating, acceptance and inclusion among family and peers. Jeez. After watching that documentary I was really motivated to quit eating dead food and began to look for ways to get back on track. How I got my groove back: I acknowledged that I needed to detoxify my body and cleanse it out. I had heard a lot about chia seeds and found some great online information about the benefits of chia seeds and purchased a quantity. (this is just a sneak preview of chia seed benefits:) http://www.mychiasee...iaBenefits.html Then I remembered juicing. It was something that I had heard about and wanted to try 2 years ago! I had even purchased a juicer back then that remained untouched. Hubby broke the juicer out and I went to the library for some literature. I found a great book called "Detox For the Rest of Us: Safe and Easy Plans to Cleanse Your Body, Boost Your Metabolism, Lose Weight, and Feel Great!" By Carole Jacobs. It has 15 different detox plans that one can try, each different in nature from juice detox, to cholesterol flushes to liver detox, lactose detox, gluten detox etc. so that it is varied in its methods for people who have multi dietary needs/preferences. I know that the way we live, power lines, computers, pesticides in food and fruit, sugar in every freakin thing etc. meant my body needed detoxification. Last Saturday with book in hand hubby and I broke out our grocery bags and went to the local organic farmers market. We picked out enough fruits and vegetables to begin a juicing cleanse. Sunday 1/13 we began our juicing cleanse. Hubby did a 3 day cleanse with me (Sun, Mon, Tues) and I did a 6 day juice cleanse which will end tonight. We each will continue drinking 1 juice a day for breakfast this Saturday - Monday. You know what? I would NOT have believed this had I not done it. The first day I was on juice cleanse only, it STOPPED ALL OF MY HEAD CRAVINGS after the first breakfast juice. That is how bad my body was screaming out for nutrition. I no longer have that worry. It is gone. Each day for the last 6 days I have had juice followed by 20 ozs of water for breakfast, lunch and dinner along with 1/4 cup of almonds and 5 prunes. I sprinkle 2 tablespoons (daily intake serving) of chia seeds on the breakfast juice and I have felt full and satisfied. It has been fantastic being back on liquids again. I love the way it cleans my mind and the fact that I am detoxifying my body. My hair is shinier and my skin is brighter. Whew. Disaster averted. This gal, back on track! It has now been 6 months since I was plicated. This week I am grateful to report I have lost 5.4 lbs. and I am in the 5's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I weigh 156 lbs. I am just 7 lbs away from goal weight! The last time I was in the 5's I was 16 years old! That was 26 years ago. I am not only very happy, I am very healthy.

It has been one year and three months since making this life changing decision and I couldn't be happier. I have lost a total of 105 pounds and have been plateaued for over two months now. I have reached the top end of my goal set by Dr. Miranda. I wear a size 12 jeans or a Medium top. I am happy with my success! I still don't eat bread, pasta or rice. No pop or anything carbonated, or drinking with a straw. Periodically, I enjoy a small bowl of doritos. I love that I can have just the one small bowl and not the whole bag. I feel so much more in control. Food is no longer controlling me. I still struggle with trying to get enough water in me. It has been difficult for others around me. My dad loved to feed me. Food is his love language. Now he doesn't know what to do except hand me a bottle of water. My husband and I have had to find other ways to celebrate holidays and mile stones. We enjoy the challenge. Eating out has become simple and cheap. We share meals and take home leftovers to create something new the next day. If you are sitting on the fence regarding this surgery...jump off! Get your life back! Thank you Dr. Ortiz and Obesity Control Center!

2 weeks out and I still feel great!!!! I have added a new shake to my morning routine, lowfat yogurt, skime milk to thin it out, strawberries, spinach, blended and drank for breakfast and lunch. I have also taken cooked chicken, green beans, added some boiled potatoes, some skim milk, mayo & butter, blended it smooth and waalah. I am drinking things that I would have said "gross" to a month ago. Oh and tomatoe soup with a little goat cheese, mmmmm taste yummy. I have lost 14 pounds since surgery,(total of 50) and I wish I had measured inches, it's like I lose, lose, lose pounds, then I lose inches for a day or two. I am going to try Yoga tomorrow, but I still have another week before hitting the zumba again. I am amazed at the little things I can do, I know it seems normal to some, like getting up out of bed without holding on to the headboard or sliding out, my feet and toes are getting slimmer too, I didn't realize their was space between my toes!!! Bending down is so much easier, and I don't fall into the chair/couch or come down the stairs without maintaining control of my legs. My husband has lost about 35 so far also, so we are really enjoying encouraging each other and watching our bodies change. He only has about 30 more to go, I am shooting for about 130 more to go. My scars are looking good, they are getting so tiny. I have days when I need a nap, but it seems like those are the days that I could pass things through my stomach a little easier, maybe its the healing process. I have forgotten a few times and drank too much at one time, notice I said a few times, you don't forget that feeling of "oh no that was too much." On the day I can start soft diet, we are taking my daughter out for her birthday to Copelands (oh my!!!!) I have already surveyed the menu and am in the process of trying to convince my husband of what he wants to get so I can just have a bite of his. The have some really good fish and grits!!

In 2003 I decided it was time to take my life back. I was tired of being discriminated based on my appearance - not my skills at work and in my personal life. Inside me didn't match the outside me and it was really hard to look in the mirror and see a 310 lb women looking back. Like alot of you - I wasn't in that bad a physcial condition - considering my weight (I am 5'7") and was still pretty active. But my weight was not only limiting my opportunites in life but impacting my relationship with my daughter who was 12 when I got my band. She was embarrased by my weight. Also I didn't want to go to places that involved shorts or swimming, and in the summer - the heat was a real burden. In March 2003, I decided to go to Mexico to get a lapband. I had done a ton of research, Seattle seems to be a hub of bandsters and lot so of them had gone to Mexico. My band trip was uneventful and I started a new journey. I lost 170 lbs in 18 months and went from a size 28/30 to a 4/6. That was an amazing journey and I made alot of new friends,learned alot about myself and my body and made some big life changes. I stood up for myself at work, got the promotions I should have earned before but didn't based on my weight (how many fat salesladies do you see in upper sales - not many)...confronted my husband of 16 years and ended that relationship - abuse was not allowed in my life anymore. Life became full, exciting and I was finally where I wanted to be in my life - both in work and in my personal life. In 2010 - I noticed that I started to gain weight -something that had not been a concern since the band - I had been stable for about 6 years - so down to TJ I went and sure enough my band had slipped. Over the course of the next year we tried to save the band - filling and unfilling but all I did was gain - up 50 lbs and starting to see the differences in my body - Made a decision to do a revision to a sleeve - Dr. Ortiez counceled me about what I wanted and the best choices moving forward and we set a date for July 2nd 2011. Off I went to TJ again, scare but excited to get my life back. The revision didn't go as planned due to scar tissue - and I had been warned that might be an issue. The docs told me it was a minor setback - wait 3/4 months and come back. On Oct 1, 2011 - I headed back down for the sleeve. What a piece of cake that surgery is - I think it was easier than getting or removing the band for sure (except for the drain which is always a pain in the butt)... I am now 7 days out with my new sleeve and so far so good. I will keep posting and post some pics so if someone is interested they can follow along. Please ask me any questions - I will answer if I can... Donna

This month has been eye opening to say the least. I have had to face head hunger quite a few times and learned what foods are trigger foods and why I feel the need to eat when I'm not hungry. One of my biggest problems was how much I hate being alone. Every time I am alone, I want to eat. More than once I found myself standing in front of an open fridge and knowing I couldn't eat anything from inside, I realized why I was standing there. I was trying to fill the emptiness. Only now, of course, I can't. I like my day busy and full of friends and family. I have to learn to live with myself, and accept that there will be times I will be alone and I don't have to fill up on food. I have had to face head hunger of junk food, too. Went into Walmart a few times and shortly afterwards I craved chips. Every time. Staying out of the stores unless I really need something can help with this one. No window shopping. I haven't been tempted to cheat much, but when the constipation got really bad last week I was tempted to go to Dairy Queen. I know how that reacted before on me and was wanting relief. I didn't allow any kind of reasoning to sway me, though. No Dairy Queen! I was proud of even the little wins like this one! I grocery shopped a couple of times and bought only what was on my list. No junk food and no food that are not on the safe list. I truly felt empowered! And trying new recipes mostly from "The World According to Eggface". The blog author also had weight loss surgery and she is a chef. She blogs her recipes for the rest of us who have had surgery and need to find a healthy way to eat and not make more than we need to. Awesome recipes! My hubby did the math last night and told me I was half way to my goal already. What?? I had to redo it. I only got into my size 18 clothes this week, and they are already loose. I have a few items of size 16 and may have to shop soon! But you know what I am hating to shop for the most? Bras. I wish I could just get a sports bra and be comfortable! I must add here that I am feeling wonderful! Not sluggish or tired and drained. Arthritis has quieted down. Not much flaring up there. Blood Pressure has returned to normal. Even FM still behaving. Off most of my meds now. Still no CPAP machine. I'm loving this new found freedom!

Hi All, Here is an update on my plication journey. I had the surgery on June 8th and everything went well. I hung out in my hotel room in TJ until the 10th and then spent a few days in San Diego. That was a little difficult because the diet that first week is so restrictive and it is hard to find broth at upscale restaurants!! So, I wouldn't recommend combining a San Diego vacation with the trip. Others have done it and have enjoyed their time. I just felt like I couldn't get my money's worth and rather had saved the money! The first 2 weeks, for me, were difficult. First,I was hungry all the time, starving! Dr. Miranda suggested that I start drinking the protein drinks before the recommendation. That helped with the hunger, but then I had sour stomach and I was so nauseous! Just the smell of things made me sick!! Dr. So suggested that I get some Malox, and that did the trick! Everything settled down. Now, if you are considering the surgery, please don't let this scare you. I contacted other people who had their surgery the same day I did and they had no problems at all!! I have always had a "weak stomach" and lived my life waking up nauseated! So it isn't really a surprise that this is the reaction I had. But I did what I was told, followed the Doctor's instructions and it all worked like they said it would! (That rarely happens with the doctors I see in the US!!) Strangely, the nausea that I had nearly every morning of my life is gone! Perhaps it's the change in the food I'm eating? Today, I eat a little every couple of hours. I'll have a protein shake for breakfast, a baby bell cheese (light) a couple of hours later, then a cup of yogurt around lunch and some tomato soup for dinner. I eat when I'm hungry, but I can't eat much before I'm full! It's like a dream come true. Today I went downtown for lunch with friends and had some Ethiopian food. Delicious! I ate very little, and then brought the rest home for dinner - where I have eaten too much (about half a plate) so now I'm really uncomfortable (Think gorging yourself during Thanksgiving dinner!). Next time I'll be much more mindful of how much I eat and make sure I don't eat more than I need. Another difference the surgery made for me? I have lost my desire for coffee!! Hello?? I live in Portland and I love my coffee!! Not anymore. It just doesn't appeal to me anymore! Think of all the calories that I'm saving from not using half & half!! "Yes" you ask, "but are you losing weight?" I've lost 20 lbs. Over the past 15 years, every day I stepped on the scale and it just kept creeping up! All the diets, all the weight loss programs, the personal trainers... the weight just kept going up. Not anymore. Now I step on the scale and it's creeping down!! It's like the last 15 years are rewinding!! I feel it most in my legs! I can cross them, they don't FEEL so big and heavy anymore! And I have this desire to strength train! I want my legs and arms to feel strong.. I NEED them to be strong! So... that's my journey so far.

Day one of full foods. didn't even realize it. what should I have for my first meal. LOL

I am almost 3 months post op. down 61 lbs from start. went from a size 16 to a size 10. I am feeling great and getting use to the mirror and how I look. I dont have much more to loose, but I have hit a wall for the past 3 weeks. My family says I shouldn't loose any more cause I look great, but that scale still calls me. Any words of wisdom.

Do you newbies and wannabe lap-banders and sleeve patients wonder what it's like to eat at buffets in restaurants at an All-Inclusive resort? Here's how I handle it. Breakfast buffet: One egg over easy, 2 strips of bacon, 2 thin slices of grapefruit and 1 piece of steamed broccoli. The amount was just right. I didn't over do it and was very satisfied.

Minus 30 today!!! 2 more to go and never again will I see the 200's!!! I am exactly one month post op and onto soft foods. I was a little excited about the whole soft foods things but after having the poached egg, not so excited anymore. Interesting how the food did not go down so easy, its kind of hard to explain, but slow going and by the time I was done the egg was cold and I had enough anyways. You sure can feel how somethings are easy to go down and others cause you discomfort. That's a good word, not pain, but not comfortable feeling. Another thing I do not think I have done yet is fill myself to the FULL point. I usually eat til I think I am full, satisfied for sure but not STUFFED. Don't want to have that feeling. I have had no acid reflux, no heartburn, no problems really. I am now taking my suppliements whole, no more crushing or blending in vitamins and such. That is really good. I am still on 1 to 2 protein shakes a day. Cottage cheese, yogurts, mashed sweet potatoes. I had mashed potatoes and mushroom gravy which was heavenly! but of course a half a cup. I have had troubles with my Weight watchers stupid scale. I just bought it and I even swore off it for a few days as I am getting no where on it, stalled!! Then I tried the other features, BMI..etc and it shows Err...so I pulled out my old school style scale that I was using from the very beginning and it says I am down another 3 lbs. I think the WW scales is a big Err. I have had no issues whatsoever with my health, the healing process, I have been in the hot tub a few times in the past week, all is very good! I am 1/3 of the way to my goal, looking forward to the rest of summer!!! Keep up the good work friends!!! The best part of our lives are head of us yet!!!

Hello ... I thought I would blog my weight loss journey. I had my Plication Surgery on April 2, 2015. My daughter had this surgery in October 2013. I accompanied her to the OCC and have followed her progress for the past 1.5 years. She is doing great !!! So on March 1, 2015 I hit my wall with a weight of 213 lbs. On March 9th I scheduled my surgery. The nutritionist set a pre-surgery weight of 193 lbs. for me. The day of surgery my weight was 190 lbs. With a BMI of 31.3 and my Fat % at 46.7. I am on day 6 post op and looking forward to introducing the protein shake into my meal plan tomorrow. All has gone well so far. Take Care ... Wanda

Dinner at a restaurant: I had a couple bites of a small appetizer (not pictured). Then for the main course, I had several pieces of meat and ate several bites of the tomato and potatoes, I left the rice. I still had room left to sample a little 2 inch diameter piece of cheese cake. After dinner, I socialized with our group and had a Tequila Sunrise drink. I didn't feel I over ate, But I felt full all day. I have issues with getting in my daily requirements of protein, so you'll notice I concentrated on the protein. Going to a buffet or going on vacation isn't a major challenge to the lap-band or sleeve lifestyle. I know a lot of it looks tasty, but just take a bite or two and before you know it, your full.

I had my surgery on Jan 14/15 and i have never felt better I have lost 28 pounds since surgery and have now been able to get into jeans i haven't worn in 4 years i am super excited for my new life best thing i have ever done for myself!!!

So I finally got myself to the campus gym. Looking at all the bods 10 years younger than me was daunting, but then I remember that I was just like them and I say to them in my mind 'This is what you have to look forward to kids so keep sweating'. Maybe not being morbidly obese, but the struggle for sure. Of course, I'm not like others my age either (30) as my narcolepsy has given me a metabolism closer to 40yo. It's a big reason why I'm getting surgery. I'm not normal so why should my stomach be?! I'm metabolically stunted with a binge eating disorder that used to be bulimia nervosa. I'm just tired of purging really (long workouts & fasting, not puking). Suffering for my health is not new to me. If I would've thought that I could've done this when I was at bmi 29,I should've. That point has long past and I'm done with riding this train. So I did some weight training. I couldn't finish my planned set but it's a start. I don't do cardio. I walk and dance but forget mindless jogging. Weight training produces a longer, more efficient caloric burn. Plus the added muscle will help me heal faster come surgery time.

Well today I sent Carolyn at OCC at huge list of questions I'd compiled. Huuuuge lol. I kind of feel bad for her! I am looking into booking my surgery for the end of August/14. I wish I could just have it done next week. Once I make up my mind, that's it and waiting is killer lol. I don't know if anyone is actually going to read this or not but it's nice to have a place to empty my brain of all surgery related stuff so I don't drive my family insane Here's some stats-female, 5'11", 362lbs, BMI 51, 35 1/2, northern BC/Canada, goal wt=165lbs

In all seriousness, I am sitting here watching "Bacon Paradise" after just watching "Pizza Paradise." Why? Probably because I am too tired or lazy to change the channel. lol Actually, I moved only one week after surgery, and then went back to work the next day. It is just how my life has worked lately. But anyway, I know I did too much too soon, and now I am vegging in front of the television. I know I should be walking a bit more. Thankfully, though, my dog is forcing me to walk every 4-6 hours for at least 5-10 minutes at a time. Generally I feel really good and don't feel hungry or crave any specific food. I have had no pain, and my incisions are healing really well. Today I woke up very achy, like flu achy, so I decided that the plans for the day were cancelled (final Christmas gift run). It was finally time for me to relax a little with my new tv and cable. So what have I chosen to watch???? shows about two of my favorite things, bacon and pizza. Can we all say food masochist? My mouth is watering about some of it, but as I watch people eating way too much food, I am not jealous or envious. I am glad that isn't nor will it be me again. I have all plans to enjoy those things I did in the past, but to never eat a whole meal out again. I don't know why in America we have to serve such huge meals. The thing is, I know now that my body can and should run more efficiently on much less calories, but that doesn't mean I should never have a slice of bacon or piece of pizza. It is all about moderation. Well the point of this entry really is to memorialize my food journey. I will go back to my creative shakes and smooth soups with dreams of a piece of cheese in the future, and if the stomach gods allow a piece of pizza someday. I anyone is ready, I wish you a safe and healthy holiday season and a wonderful new year. I know I can't wait to see what 2014 will hold. Peace

Hello New World Tomorrow it will be 3 weeks since I had my weight loss surgery and start on a new life. Had a bit of a rough patch for a few days after my last post which was about 5 or 6 days post op. I got weak, shaky and felt near passing out a few times but working with my nutritionist and Dr. So we got on top of that problem and within a few days felt better. I needed more protein!! Let's cut to the chase......what you really want to know is how much weight have I lost. I won't hold you hostage anymore.....since surgery I have lost 18 lbs. Since I started this journey I have lost 31. I couldn't be more pleased. And folks.....I walk with a cane and get very little exercise so think what you can do with walking and using this surgery as a tool. One of the things the nutritionist helped me with is putting my protein powder in sugar free pudding. I was making an 8 oz protein shake and it was taking me FOREVER to get it down with the reduced size of my stomach. It left very little time for anything else. They also tell you to plan your meals which you really need to do in order to make sure you drink enough in between any meals. With being disabled I surf the net A LOT!! I read just about anything I can find on bariatric weight loss, symptoms, foods etc. At first I was thinking that the post op regime was made up by the OCC. Let me tell you folks it is pretty much standard across the board so there is a reason for doing what they tell us with the clear liquids, thicker liquids etc. Remember, although you have a few holes in your from the instruments what we had is still considered major surgery so take care of yourself and follow the program. There are times that I now feel like I am having cramps. Guess what? Your stomach is hungry so feed it something. But I can honestly say I don't "feel" like I am hungry, at least not mentally. My stomach tells me so but I should have not let it tell me it was hungry hence what I am telling you about making a schedule. Your nutritionist will go over this with you. Well I am done with the soap box. So far I have healed nicely and feel progressing along right on schedule. I would be happy to answer any questions privately at dmbrott@yahoo.com. Take care....until next time.........MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR. I I

It's been 11 days since I had the sleeve revision. I'm feeling like I'm just water logged. All I have been doing is drinking. It's kind of hard drinking so many fuilds. Between water, protein shakes and brothy soups, I'm floating!

I just wanted to update this question as I can see that many people read the posts but have no answer or comments. For those of you who are considering the surgery and read these forums, I want you to know that the worst of what I was experiencing has passed. I spoke with Dr Ortiz on day 7 post op and he confirmed that I was ok and was just experiencing post op cramping which apparently plication patients experience more of post op. I am now 10 days post op and the cramps still happen but no where near as bad as previously. Sometimes they still wake me up and a couple make me catch my breath during the day but I have learned to not let my stomach get too empty for too long. I have also started to lose weight (thank goodness). I have lost 5 lbs since surgery and a total of 25 since I started to get ready for the surgery (started 3 weeks prior with very strict carb control). I have carefully advanced my diet a bit faster than recommended because I felt that my stomach needed just a bit of substance. I have taken thicker soups and just pureed the heck out of them. That really seemed to help. At this point I am probably eating about 500-600 calories a day and thats all I really want. Before surgery I liked to eat A LOT of volume. I find that I need to eat something about every 2-3 hours but its a fraction of what I could eat before, and I mean a fraction. I'm back to work but I would not say I feel 100% just yet. I'll keep things posted as best I can to give the best idea of how things go. At this point (10 days post op) I have not regretted my decision. I did regret it my first two days post op as I was SOOOOO miserable, but now I am getting excited about being more comfortable in my own skin. My personal goal was not so much a number but more of an ability. I want to crouch down and play with my kids. I want to go places with them and participate in activities without fear of spoiling them because of my size. I want to live longer than my mother did. I want to like my body as much as I like my self. Don't know if that resonates with any of you, but that was how I knew I was ready for this. I was more tired and afraid of being fat and becoming ill, than I was fearful of not being able to eat what I wanted or the side effects of the surgery. I was just "over it". Good luck to all of you out there trying to find your answer and your way. Hopefully, I now have a tool powerful enough to help me get to where I know I want to be.

Well it has been 16 days post op and things have definitely started to improve from the pain standpoint. The cramping that was so bad is now gone for the most part and is really only problematic if I get too hungry. I had to move through the liquid phase much faster as I learned that, for me, my cramping was worse without something of substance in my stomach. I started to puree my food around day 13 to a watery consistency working my way up to baby food consistency over the next few days and am now eating very soft foods like scrambled eggs. For me, this has been helpful. Keep in mind I can eat only about 2-3 Tbs at a time but this seems to keep the cramping at bay as well as the gas. I don't recommend this for everyone else as their is a reason the diet is to be followed as prescribed by OCC, it was just I had to do something on my own to alleviate the cramping. My weight loss is finally starting to move in the right direction, and thank goodness for that, as eating 600 calories a day better do something!! I started out at 274 three weeks prior to surgery and was 256 the day of. 262 the day after (fluids from the IV), 256 7 days post op, right around 250 14 days out and today am 246 16 days post op. When I average the loss it is about 3 pounds a week right now. I know this will slow down as the weight loss continues and my BMR comes down due to the loss but at this point I just want to live as normal as a life as possible. It has been quite an adjustment for me to learn the feeling of fulness, To be honest, I could eat well beyond full prior to my surgery, and would do so on a regular basis. This tool (the plication) has given me great incentive to not over due things. I DO NOT want to throw up or be in total misery because of overeating, so I really try to listen to myself about when enough is enough. It is just hard to believe that 2-3 Tbs of food is enough when you are used to eating 2-3 cups of something. I've learned other tricks to not stretch my plication or make myself sick. It has been very difficult to get over the whole not eating and drinking at the same time and to wait 45 minutes after eating to drink. I found a timer app for my phone and set it for 45 minutes at my last bite so I know when it is ok for me to start drinking. It hard to get 64 oz of liquid in when you don't drink at meals! I will keep working on keeping focused. Now that I have lost close to 30 lbs people are starting to notice. (I am 6 feet tall so it took some time for it to be noticeable) when people start to notice it starts to get more fun. It's also more fun when you can breath better and tie your shoes easier!

I was lap banded in March 2007. This was a major life changing decision and I had anxiety like I've never had before. The lap band surgery was a breeze and the anxiety disappeared, as did my weight. I never anticipated how much success I would have with the band. I ended up losing close to 100 pounds in the first year. As time went by, I ended up leveling out on my weight loss and my body adjusted, my metabolism changed and slowly I was gaining weight. My band has been a great tool, like a friend that kept me in check with my eating. But, it's time for my lap band to go. Several reasons factored in to my decision to go with a sleeve revision. One of the biggest is what I mentioned at the start of my blog. Some of the other reasons had to do with aftercare. I had lost my fill doctor up in Chicago, he moved on to a teaching position in Cininnati OH and being a Mexico band patient, I couldn't find many American doctors to touch me. This alone was turning into a major pain in the butt. But, I really didn't need any fills any more. I had reached my sweet spot and the band was working, but my weight was just creeping upwards. I really needed to eat less. The band worked, but I always felt hungry. The bottom 2/3rds of my stomach wanted more and slowly I would eat more often. With this and my metabolism being at turtle speed, I was slowly gaining weight and heading back to my old life. There was also the thought something might happen to my band or my stomach because of slippage or erosion. I didn't have any of these issues, but would I in time? So,, I'm not going back to the old me. I've had a big taste of the good life. With 100 pounds gone and really enjoying the new me, why would I go back to the old me. So, I've done my "HOMEWORK" and have decided to go with a sleeve revision. I'm scheduled at the end of July. Do I have any anxiety, not really, been through it in the past. I made good choices with the band, such as going to the OCC and having Dr. Ortiz and Dr. Martinez as my surgical team, so why would I have any need to have anxiety or think twice about this decision. I'm really looking forward to this!

This is my first blog i thought i share my story I'm 18 years old and i'm about to be a senior in high school. I've been overweight through my teen years i don't like talking about my weight with my friends i've only told my mom and my step-dad and my aunt and my grandma about my surgery. I don't know if i want to tell my friends. i was originally going to have the mini gastric bypass in Vegas with Dr.Rutledge but i had hard scheduling my surgery with them they never answered there phone and were not a help out all they kept coming up with all these excuses then my mom text the lady thats in charge of scheduling the surgery asked if we could schedule my surgery and she told my mom there were having problems with the hospital they were with wanted more money they said i could go India and have the surgery there my mom was so mad then my step-dad said if there saying go to India why not go to Mexico so my mom had a friend that got her lap band done in mexico so she called her friend and her friend gave the information my mom went on the website and emailed them and got the information we needed and the next day i got my passport card done and then called to schedule my surgery but there were already closed and today go the call back go the surgery date august 7,2012 and did all the patient information done now i'm counting down the days till i have my surgery i'm glad my mom is coming with me she's been my rock through this whole process with the mini gastric bypass people and she had the surgery and so did two of my aunts and even my grandma but i'm glad i'm going to have this surgery so i can enjoy my senior year in high school go to formal and prom and be able to buy the dresses all the girls wear and not worry about having a hard time shopping and just be a teenager and have fun and then graduate and go to Hawaii a graduation present from my parents my grandmas idea got love my grandma lol and i get to show off my new body like my grandma said i would like if some other people who the surgery had some advice and your experience and how much you lost and did you have any pain after surgery.

I'm super late at posting this. The holidays have been absolutely chaotic true to holiday form. I lost 1.2 pounds this week! Yea! better than the up 2 ozs and up 4 ozs the two previous weeks. I am happy enough with this and still feel like I have the chance at greeting the new year in, in the 5's. We shall see. To next week! (which due to late posting is tomorrow... lol.....)

Week 19 has been very positive. But it started out pretty scary. And because of that I had to get disciplined. After Thanksgiving for weigh in I was down 1 lb last week and happy about that. But I had pumpkin pie and cool whip for Thanksgiving on Thursday, 1 slice, then again Friday, 1 slice and Saturday, 1 slice. After having pumpkin pie and cool whip 3 days in a row I began to notice something startling! I started getting mental cravings and Sugar cravings!! I found myself thinking of having pie after I'd eaten it on Friday and counting down the minutes until I could have it on Saturday and then after eating it on Saturday feeling like I really needed to have just 1 more slice. But I did not. And I decided not to eat any on Sunday. Also, instead of my eating 3 times a day, I was snacking into the night, two separate times and I did this on Friday and Saturday. And even though my snack choices were healthy ones, I felt them going toward unhealthy things like salty tortilla chips. All mental cravings. The power of the sugar craving was strong and constantly on my mind, but I denied it. The mental cravings were more alarming in that I recognized eating sugar triggers a need to eat salt which was an old pattern of mine, candy or frosting and then salty chips. *GULP* Sugar cravings!!! *sigh* This is the problem I have with sugar. I was VERY disgusted with feeling like this. I knew that I needed to address this right away and discipline myself and get things under control before they got out of hand, because OOOH how easily they get out of hand. And I am not that woman anymore, the one who let's this get out of hand. The day of my surgery that all changed and I refuse to allow it back in. I wanted to get a handle on this ASAP so that in retrospect I could look back on this time and say, ok, don't eat sweets, even 1 slice 3 days in a row, not even 2 days in a row. Also, I wanted to handle this immediately so that I could look back on the end of week 18, (and Saturday and Sunday of week 19) and say, Ok, it got ugly, but you took charge, contained it, handled it and beat it! And I did. This is what I did to get back in charge. Beginning Monday 11/26, when I was back in my own home, my own kitchen (went away for 4 days during Thanksgiving) I made the conscious decision to cleanse the sugar out of my system. I remembered how FANTASTIC the OCC lean and green diet was for losing that 10% pre operative weight. I pulled out my Spiru-Tein protein powder, chocolate (it does not taste sugary), blender, bought broccoli, minestrone soup, and lean cuisine meals and I did the lean and green diet for 4 days, Monday - yesterday. (Actually, i'm still doing it today too). I lost 5 lbs this week as a result!!!! :) Not only did I lose 5 pounds of fat, but I cleansed all the sugar craving from my body and do not feel any need for it. I put myself in control of my health, I took charge and did not let pie undo me, and I weigh 164 lbs!! Wow! I will be in the 5's in no time! Just 15 lbs until I reach my goal weight. In the 4 months and 10 days since I had my plication, I have lost an astounding 57lbs, 25% of my body weight and I have proven that sugar will NEVER gain control of me again. I feel fabulously victorious! I WIN! ADDENDUM TO LEAN & GREEN: During my 5 days of lean and green (including today) I added prunes for obvious reasons, (I never miss a day of eating them) and from Tuesday - Today added 1/4 c. of almonds. It is delicious and nutritious. I slice 5 prunes into 1/4ths and added in the almonds and had a healthy organic trail mix with fantastic results. HEALTH BENEFIT BONUS OF PRUNES & ALMONDS: Prunes: Stimulating effect on bowel motility, helps to build and preserve bone mass, antioxidants found in prunes help to prevent oxidation of cholesterol in the blood stream which could lead to plaque formation in the arteries, the high potassium content in prunes helps to normalize blood pressure, while the soluble fiber promotes heart health, they are a great source of Vitamin A Almonds: Eating almonds as part of your regular diet helps raise HDL cholesterol, or "good" cholesterol, levels, and also reduces LDL cholesterol, or "bad" cholesterol, levels, they are high in potassium and low in sodium, both are factors that regulate blood pressure, fiber in almonds has a detoxifying effect, the fiber allows food to move through the digestive system more efficiently, cleansing the system and preventing colon cancer, Almonds also have a stabilizing effect on sugar and insulin levels after meals, offering protection from diabetes, they help with weight loss due to their nutrient density and have the effect of making you feel full and nourished, and therefore are less likely to have cravings and over eat, having four to five almonds every day will prevent constipation, they are high in fiber, and a diet that is high in fiber is an effective way to stay regular, they boost energy, reduce the risk of heart disease AND! almonds also contain phenylalanine, a brain-boosting chemical that aids healthy development of our cognitive functions

I thought I would share the day to day top 5 weight loss tools that I use to keep me on track. They are not in order of importance because I consider them all equally critical to my success. These tools are created with my own personal needs in mind. 1. Water: Yes, A Major Tool. When I went on the pre and post op liquids only diet, I realized that on liquids alone my body could not only be sustained, but satisfied. It was surprising to me. I was actually sad about having to transition to soft foods! That knowledge taught me that I need to rely on water primarily and use food to get some nutrients in between. I typically have 64 - 96 ozs of 0 calorie drinks per day, 48-64 ounces of that is water and the rest is a 0 calorie drink like Vitamin water (love the acai berry flavor) and Sobe 0 Calorie water (love the pear apple and the kiwi cherimoya, yumberry and well, all of the flavors are good). If I have one of those days where i'm feeling ravenous, I make sure that I drink more water than usual. This helps me to feel full. I also drink a protein drink when i'm feeling ravenous because a protein drink (I use nectar, 25 calories 25g protein) makes me feel full, and chase it with 16 ounces of water. Also, being thirsty and needing water induces a thirst pang that the body can not differentiate from hunger pangs, so if you find your stomach is growling, it could be craving water if you have not taken in enough, not food. For me, I feel like transitioning to liquids only post procedure was a valuable moment in my life because it taught me that liquids are enough, vital, nourishing, and body necessary. Rely heavily on water. 2. Journal: A Fantastic tool! I have kept a journal since the first week I went on soft foods. Every single thing I eat every single day is counted in calories and written down in this journal. At first, I kept the journal just as a means of trying to track, but then weeks into it I found that it was keeping me honest! No Cheating. I record everything. If I cheated, who would I be cheating but ME? And now, 4 months post plication, I love my journal. I rely on it. It let's me see my patterns, what can cause weight increase or decrease. I can see on average how many calories I consume for breakfast, lunch and dinner. What this does for me is if I know i'm used to having 300 calories for lunch, and I pick something up i'm thinking of having for lunch that's say 150 calories, like yogurt but i'm feeling hungrier for lunch this day and the yogurt is not enough food for the calorie amount then that tells me to look for something more satisfying,like a sweet potato and broccoli and I keep myself on caloric track while feeling satisfied. It goes the opposite way too. If i'm just not feeling hungry for lunch I may have a piece of fruit and yogurt. This way I don't have to make myself eat too much and get the calories in. The journal also helps me understand the flow and rhythm of my body and it is a record of my final journey to weight loss. My journal looks like this, an example from the first day: Friday Day 1 8/10 B- (stands for breakfast, takes up 1 line) 7 tsp oatmeal, 1/4 toast = # of calories (i typically write the amount of calories for each item above the food item so i.e. above 7 tsp oatmeal I would write 50 and over the 1/4 of toast I would write 10) L- (lunch, 1 line) same as above, i itemize what I ate, write calories for each over the food and total D- (same as B and L) TF: (total calories from food) TLIQ: (total calories from liquid) Calories: total intake for the day I leave 3 lines after the Calorie total and here is where I write things like: feeling sick, constipated, feeling low, head and body aching, etc, things that I notice are departures from the norm. I use these notes to just be aware of my body's reactions and to post updates to my blog on what influenced my outcome for the week. Now you may not need to keep a journal or one as detailed as this, but I do it because I know me. This is the last time I will have been obese and I am serious about that and part of that means understanding what my body feels through paying absolute total attention to it and so for me, this journal is a total blessing! 3. Calorie Counting App. Must have! I have an iphone and found this app called MyfitnessPal. The icon on the app is a very fit person leaping in the air with arms raised out. The background color is blue. What I use this app for is to find the amount of calories in a food. This is what I use to guesstimate what I am eating when I am away from the comforts of my calorie tracked kitchen. It is great because it allows me to keep calories counted. If you don't have an iphone and this app isn't available on android another fantastic tool is the weight watchers calorie counter book. And I am sure that there are other calorie counting books in the shops that you can pick up. It just helps to know what I eat. Post plication I have NEVER eaten something that I can not track calorically. I just can not do it. Things like salad dressing and cheese are so fattening in such tiny amounts that I find I just have to make smart choices and anyone following my progress can see what happens when I do not. 4. Pre-Preparing. I have been ill prepared twice now since my procedure in July. Each time this happens it just results in bad decisions and weight gain which means set back and no weight loss. I end up eating high fat things: something quick like GF (gluten free) cheese pizza or a cheese quesadilla (grease and high fat cheese...) and even though at the end of the day following my journal they are still within the OCC caloric recommendations, they still make me gain because that is a lot of fat and cheese and fat and cheese is not healthy or body friendly. So even if it is within my calories, it is not smart choice eating. I am in the process of finding out a way to pre prepare for trips etc, putting together an emergency way to get by. I will update that in this blog when I get it down. 5. Know Your Weakness(es) This is a critical tool also. Everything I have listed here is what is necessary for me. My weakness is sugar. Sugar sugar sugar. NOTHING will throw me back into my old fat hell quicker than sugar. Nothing will plummet my health like sugar. Nothing will make me get alarmingly close to diabetes, stroke and heart trouble like SUGAR. And I know that. I knew that before plication but I always welcomed it and caved in to it as though I did not know it thereby allowing it to keep me under its will. Can you imagine? Being under the power of sugar?? An inanimate object?? I guess I did not want to know it. But I know it now. When I decided to have my surgery, before the actual procedure, I got real with myself. I acknowledged the destructive role sugar played in my life and I began to look at it for the ugly thing it was. Post plication I have not eaten candy. THAT was a HUGE weakness. I have stayed away from sweets wherever I go and when I do want something sweet I have a mango, strawberries, apple, or banana. That is the only sugar I take in now. It was hard. It was such a weakness but I prepared for the fact that I needed to abstain from it before surgery. I said, when you have surgery, it will remove the need for sugar. If you have sugar it will undue your stitches and your health. I talked my brain into believing these things because if I didn't, I might not have made it. SO. Know your weakness and do whatever you have to do to get it under control. Now I have control over sugar. It does not control me. And when I pass candy or cake or sweets counters, I look at them in disdain and turn my nose up at it and think, yea, ... right. I don't think so. And I walk away and smile knowing I control this now. I do. Not sugar. Hope this helps. As I said, these are necessary tools for me. They may work for you they may not. What is most important is getting your own personal routine going. Something you use daily that changes your life from what it was prior to surgery. We all invested so much to have surgery, financially, physically, mentally, so it only seems right we get the spiritual in line and make life changes to bring us up to where we belong from here on out. Happy Weight Loss

Ok. Technically tomorrow (Friday) is the end of week 10 but I doubt anything super dramatic will happen from here to there. I gained 6 ounces this week and frankly, am surprised that's all i've gained. I am still in the same place I was last week. Menstrual cycle 15 days late now (not preggers, I checked), horrendous constipation, and a lot of gas. I think I might know what's going on. "MIGHT" i've been eating laughing cow cheese pretty regularly, on a daily basis sometimes 2 times a day and while calorically it's fine, i believe my intolerance to lactose is creeping in on me and asking, what gives?? I am ok to have some cheeses periodically, but I never had them daily, and without even thinking about it, have been having LC quite a bit, so I think my stomach said that is it. That and hubby and I ate something rotten last Friday and we have had terrible stomach issues all week. So, that said, i'm just really trying to push through this and know that the scale will move downward soon as all this is passed. I've omitted LC from my diet just to check. Looking forward to week 11... With Hope

I am not sure if I will post my results at the end of every week, but I wanted to post at the end of my first week which this is and then I will post if something notable happens or I need advice or want to give tips, and barring that, I will update montly. I feel compelled to update monthly because when I was going through my decision making process what I wanted and didn't feel I got was someone who updated regularly. Peeps eventually dropped off the radar. Kay. Today is my 1 week post plication procedure anniversary and I weighed in at 199! I am sooo excited to be in the 19's! Wow. It is a great feeling to leave those 20's behind. Today I also started the full liquids so it was the first day I had soup and a protein drink, met the 64 oz. consumption of liquid intake and the 30g of protein intake Boy! Did I feel water logged! lol I was sloshing in my shoes. So much to keep track of! Until it becomes autonomic and I am sure it will, I am on myself to monitor the proper intakes to make sure that I don't get dehydrated because I had some baby signs of that. My 64ozs consisted of 1 liter of water, 10 ozs of ensure clear peach (I love this drink: tasty and protein!), a protein shake that recommends mixing with 1 cup of water, i changed that and made the protein powder scoop with 16 ozs of water, it was perfect! Not too thick, nice and watery which is how I prefer intake at this time. (I use GNC's Spiru-Tein High Protein Energy Meal protein shake, vanilla & chocolate because they are soy based and not made with milk) The soup I had was gluten free clam chowder. I have a couple of food issues pre surgery, I am gluten intolerant and lactose intolerant so I don't eat bread or drink milk products. I put the clam chowder in the blender. Wow, it was superb. The brand was progresso. They do nice soups. And for my probiotic because I can not drink yogurt I drank yakult which was pretty pleasing. I had an otter pop too. After I finished eating/drinking all that throughout the day I felt stuffed. I kinda had to push myself to get all that in. I am curious as to how this is going to go tomorrow because I have events to attend all day. Hmm. My gas/burping is still present but lessoning all the time. All in all I am very pleased with my procedure and my healing.

So WOW. How to handle this all? Right? It was overwhelming for me to think about going from liquids to soft/regular foods. Liquids were easy because all I had to do was to make sure that I had liquid in my hands at all times throughout the entire day. I simply finished one kind and grabbed another. Easy PZ. For me, in order to master something totally foreign to me, while adhearing to the golden rule of no liquids within an hour of meals requires clarity. For me, clarity means scheduling. So this example is just for those who might want to know what it looks like to track things my way: 6-6:30 am Breakfast : usually oatmeal or cottage cheese and crackers (high fiber gluten free low calorie: Mary's Crackers) 6:30 - 7:30 am NOTHING 7:30 - 10:30 : Liquids: 32 ozs of water and a 16 oz protein drink w/ 23 grams of protein (syntrax nectar) 10:30 - 11:30 NOTHING 11:30 - 12pm Lunch: usually cottage cheese, grapes, crackers, or mashed potatoes (gluten free mashed potatoe flakes) 12 - 1 pm NOTHING 1pm - 5pm Liquids: 32 oz of water, 10 oz ensure w/ 9 grams protein, 2 yakults (for probiotics, zero lactose) 5pm - 6pm NOTHING 6 - 6:30pm Dinner: a fraction of a lean cuisine meal with mashed potatoes and veggies 6:30 - 7:30pm NOTHING 7:30pm - Liquids What I love about this plan is that the time frames are flexible. You can cut back an hour of liquids to add in a snack of fruit, etc. I also love that breakfast is a no brainer because when you wake up you already get an hour of not having had anything before, so that is a freebie! It should also be mentioned that I am gluten intolerant and cottage cheese aside, lactose intolerant, (cottage cheese has very small amounts of lactose so it sits ok with me), and vegetarian so my diets are based on no meat, no gluten, and no milk. Given that this is quite the speicalty I hope it can help others in the same boat With this way of scheduling, I get my 64 ozs of water in, at least 32 grams of protein in (plus what I can get from cottage cheese) and this is good until I can learn to incorporate more high protein foods. I'm still new to food phase so still looking up high protein low cal recipes I actually still enjoy my liquid intake more than my food intake. I do love incorporating fruit too, I believe I missed that more than anything. I also love that after 7pm i'm not eating anymore and having just liquids, so that sticks to another addage i'd always heard, don't eat food after 8pm.

This is Post Plication Day 5 for me. I had my procedure July 20th. I had to stay an additional 2 days near the OCC because my stomach swelling was slow to reduce and I was having some phenomenal gas pains. Wow, can gas really really hurt! Everyone at the OCC was fantastic and the Dr.s took good care of me, very reassuring and very thorough on follow up testing to make sure that what I was experiencing wasn't anything to be concerned about. And as it turns out, it wasn't. I got home yesterday and wow am I happy to be home. I did my first weigh in today and weighed in at 200 lbs!! OH MY GOSH! I am soo very excited. I may actually be seeing some 1's pretty soon instead of these terrible 200's! And when I say terrible 200's I want to make it absolutely clear I am referring to myself alone. All total, I started out at 221 lbs. lost 15 lbs prior to my surgery weighing in at the OCC at 206 lbs., gained 3lbs after the surgery (you gain 3-5 on average right after surgery due to gas and swelling etc.) so then weighed 209 lbs 2 days after surgery on 7/22/12 and now wow, lost that 9 lbs and am at 200 lbs. I am just so happy! Overall I feel good. Trying to adjust to drinking in as much liquids as possible. One of the benefits of the barium test is that the Dr.'s noticed that the post operative sips I was taking were too small, they said sipping that little was only going to take in more air than liquid thus adding to my gassiness! Yikes! Like I need help with that! So they had me continue taking bigger swallows until I was where they wanted me to be and so I know what that means. It's essentially a 1/2 oz. of liquid. I was probably taking in 1/8 of an oz. with my sips... So every day I take in more liquids. The first day post surgery I maybe took in 3 oz.s all day. I just was not hungry or thirsty. For me, post op, smells were really strong too! I smelled food and I felt nauseated. ew. Today so far, it's 3pm I've taken in 16 ozs of water and 5 oz. of half apple juice half water. I haven't been hungry really. Tomorrow I get to start on full liquids meaning protein shakes and blended soups so that is going to be nice. I also started taking my 1500 mgs of calcium today and added in B12 and 800 mg of D Vitamin for good measure. My bariatric vitamins are on order and I will start those as soon as they arrive. All in all, I am feeling very excited about having had the procedure and what wonderful things will come of it health wise. Having now lost 21 lbs. I have 51 lbs. to go! WEEEEEE!

So I am now one week out, and I am feeling pretty darn good!! Yes, I am hungry, but I know that not eating is helping my stomach heal and will prevent future band slippage. My trip home was a little rough especially being alone, considering the day after surgery I had to walk through the border carrying all of my luggage, fly home which included traveling through the airport, stripping at the metal detectors, putting my shoes on was a bit of a bitch. Flying for 3 hours and then landing and driving another 3 hours to finally reach home. But, I did it!! and I survived!! When I got home I had the worst headache ever I thought I would die from a brain hemmorage.. I learned that dehydration plays a huge role in headaches, so heads up everyone drink drink drink!!! besides that everything is fantastic, the only problem I have and it has been happing since I had the band placed, is the port moves and pops in there it doesn't hurt but its annoying. I spoke with the doctor about this and they said the port can not do any harm and as it heals and I lose weight this will stop happening. Also I haven't had any restriction since the band was placed which is a little weird, of course I havent ate solids or anything but I can drink unlimited amounts of fluids and liquid yogurt. I never experianced any nausea or other things people talk about. Regardless I am still following everything to a "T" . Highest weight 260 Deciding weight 211 Pre-surgery 202 Post-surgery 209 Today 197 Woot.. Woot...

Lori has me all curious about some of the cosmedic procedures. I don´t know if it is fair to my spouse or our retirement fund to spend anymore money. I am just thinking about my 40th class reunion in October,(which I wasn´t even going to attend at my presurgery weight.) As far as surgery, I am feeling fine... much better than I thought I would at this point. I am anxious to get the port out and get home to my hubby, because I really miss him so much. More later.. need to check out some of the cosmetic stuff

So this is my first blog, I wanted to share my story and this seems like the best place to do that. First of all I have never told anyone my weight, not even my husband. I have been morbidly obese for over 10 years now, I said I would never be where I am today. In Febuary of 2012 I went to a bariatric surgery seminar at a local hospital with the intention of getting the sleeve. I was not going to tell anyone except for my immediate family,a few weeks later I ended up talking to a long time friend, about the sleeve, who told me of her family member that had surgery with Dr. Ortiz and how pleased they were. I got on the phone that day and spoke with my now patient coordinator. I am so happy I called. In March when I first contacted the Obesity Control Center, I weighed (can't believe I am publicizing this) 361 pounds, Dr Miranda informed me that I needed to lose 41 pounds in order to safely have the sleeve surgery. After some tears and encouragement from her and my family, I decided that I could in fact do this. I did the Atkins type diet with my husband years ago and HATED it, but that was the route I was going to attempt again. My husband has been doing it with me which makes for great support. I have to say that it has been easy, i'm not hungry; I do have some cravings every now and then, but nothing I can't handle. I have went to the movies and never smelled the popcorn even though my daughter was eating it right next to me, we go out to resturants and I stick to my plan, no problems. I have been to 2 birthday parties and both times I happened to be sitting next to the cake cutter and I never even smelled the cake. I just keep thanking God, because I am usually very sensitive to smells and odors. Low carb alone was going to slowly for my own goals, I wanted to have surgery scheduled for April 30, 2012, so after talking to Dr. Miranda I switched to a low cal/ low carb shake for breakfast and lunch, 80 or more ounces of water a day and a low cal/low carb type menu for supper. My first week on the shake/shake/supper method I lost 8 pounds, yes I said 8 pounds, my total loss to date is 21 pounds. I am so excited to say that I scheduled my surgery for April 30, 2012. I have been viewing videos on the internet about the skin after weight loss and I am a little bummed about the possibility of excess skin, but I will be healthier and happier with excess skin than I am with all this excess fat. Just after 21 pounds I feel a difference in energy, ability and focus. I see a difference too, for instance, my feet are slimmer, I have some wrinkles around my toes and sides of my feet (what a wierd place to lose weight, huh?) my boobs no longer look like part of my stomach, instead of one big round protusion for a belly, I have an indention beginning. And this is just 21 pounds, without vigerous exercise. I broke my toe about 4 weeks ago so I can't exercise the way I would like, but I have increased my activity level. I am looking forward to playing the WII fit again in a few weeks when I am below the max weight. I hope to start running for exercise and eventually run a marathon with my daughter. When I counsel at youth camp this summer I am going to be playing with the kids instead of watching from the sidelines. It is sad that the person I am has been hidden inside this body for such a long time; I let my weight control how much of my personality comes out in person. All I can say is I'M COMING OUT!!! 20 days and counting!

Year two as a banded person during the holiday season! Well, here it is year two as a banded person and I am 50+ pounds lighter than last year. What a year it has been….I made it through last year basically just not eating or going out to parties where I knew it would be too hard. This year I am going to events but being more picky about which ones I choose. Funny thing for both years I actually thought I could get away with eating the same way as I did when I wasn’t banded. I realized this both years..luckily this year I figured it out earlier…I was reminded really quickly when I tried to eat turkey and stuffing, along with brussel sprouts. Why I thought I would be able to eat them when I can’t on a normal day I don’t know..chalk it up to foolish thinking..So I did manage to stay away from the food fest’s going on around me by donating my time to serving Thanksgiving dinner to veterans and families instead of over eating it! I also felt good doing it..a new post band tradition. So onward to Christmas and New Year’s..I will come up with something to do for those days too which will put eating in the back seat and fun in the front…Let me start with more exercise and smart food choices and baking my own version of low carb, low fat faves…

I have found something out...nothing new really, just saying the words makes it real..the last leg of this journey is proving to be the hardest...the food part is pretty much a done deal..But the mental and exercise part will be an ongoing learning journey, with weight loss the result...I did manage to get rid of all "fat cloths" or sizes I refuse to go back to wearing. This was a learning experience in itself. I was saying goodbye to my past life, closing a door...very scary for me. I have been learning over the past three years how to be alone, responsible only to me, and do be able to do things that in the past I could not. Very liberating but, again, scary..the unknown. So as I have been adding to my wardrobe, fitting things I could never fit before, and yes, starting to exercise, I have paid more attention to my response and feelings to these things...and my reactions..mentally. Very enlightening. I Will begin to write about them here as I move along. This being my first entry. Exercise, wow, I am sore in places I have never been sore before..I love my "total gym" out of everything I have tried this has been my best choice. I am building muscle, and working out in a time frame I can stand..and I actually like it..Important to like, since before when I exercised I did things I didn't like..I also feel like I am getting stronger! And it's somewhat of immediate response..I can see the change and fit things better..I am somewhat of an impatient person... Food, still working with ways to get fresh, clean, wholesome food in..for one..living alone is another lesson in food prep and what works for me...hmmm...this area is still a work in progress. Mental, I am able to take complements without cringing..interesting here. This took a long time and much thought. Thoughts are something along these lines mentally "I deserve complements. They are feedback for my hard work, and validate that I am doing the right thing for myself and my health" or something along those lines. Having this mind set has made it possible for me to gracefully respond with a thank-you or other comment. Funny, overall this has been the hardest to take. In the past I have caught myself running to food after this kind of complement..Not anymore...Mindset...it works.

The beginning of a new journey. After more than a year of indecisiveness I finally decided to give myself a second chance at life. Six weeks shy of fifty years old and I decided to have Gastric Sleeve Surgery. Why? I'm tired. I'm tired of people not looking at me when they speak to me. I'm tired of being out of breath all the time. I'm tired of always sitting on the sidelines watching everyone else have fun. I want to play with my grandchildren. I want to be able to sing, even off key, without losing my breath. I want to be able to shop again! I did my homework and found an amazing clinic in Tijuana, Mexico that specialized in obesity. Booked my appointment, filled out all the forms, started the pre-op diet and on Monday, August 22nd of 2011, I flew to San Diego with my two daughters along for support. We were picked up at the airport by a driver sent by the clinic and driven to the Marriott Hotel in Tijuana. At midnight my 12 hour fast began; had a good night's sleep and the driver picked us up at 7am and drove us to the clinic. Cleanest, most beautiful clinic I have ever experienced! And everyone spoke English. My surgery was first out of five scheduled for that day. I was a little scared of the unknown but more excited to be given an opportunity to start over. Starting weight on the day of surgery - 237.5lbs. Already down 10 lbs. since I booked the surgery! A few hours later, upon awakening in my private room, my daughter informs me that the doctor had to repair a Hiatal Hernia before he could do the sleeve. I had no idea about the hernia, or that it was more than likely the cause of my sleep apnea and shortness of breath. I was up and walking as soon as I could. The more you walk, the faster you get rid of the gas and the better you get. By Wednesday at noon, I was released and taken back to our hotel where we started looking things up to see and do. We went to a local shopping center, the Hippodromo and just window shopped. Eventually bought a few colours of nail polish and went back to the hotel for Mani's and Pedi's. Every day we returned to the clinic for a check up. I still had a drain on my side so they could tell if anything changed on the inside. It was cleaned and dressing changed each day b y the sweetest and most gentle nurse ever. Thursday, we went to the beach - Playas de Tijuana and the taxi driver refused to leave us there. He stayed and watched over us as we played in the surf and sand taking lots of pictures and videos. We had never seen the Pacific Ocean before! So strong! And the smell was marvelous! How we missed living close to the ocean. Further down the beach we came to the border and saw the double fence that started in the ocean and crawled out and up and across to the Gulf of Mexico. With cameras and lights, border patrols and helicopters swooping overhead, it sure looked surreal. First time ever seeing a Bull Fighting Ring, too. Huge stadium! And round! The locals make fruit popsicles at home and sell them on the beach the next day to make money. Very tasty! Thank goodness it is on my clear diet! Our kind driver gave us a tour of the area, answering our questions and taking us through a different part of Tijuana. Friday the drain comes out! Yea! Had to drink a barium solution and got to see my new stomach on the screen. It did hurt coming out but felt so much better after it was gone! Got a clean bill of health and the okay to return back home. Given strict rules on taking care of myself and how to learn to eat all over again. And a big hug from the nurse and the clinic director. I am going to miss them. We traveled to another part of the city - Revolucion Ave. to check out the shops and hopefully pick up some trinkets. That was not fun. No trinkets to be found and every shop keeper followed us wherever we went trying to convince us to buy their products. After making it only one block, we jumped in the first cab we saw and scooted back to our hotel! Never doing that again. We then wandered off to our favorite mall a couple short blocks away. Much more relaxing. A band playing upstairs filled the air with a taste of Mexican music then an old Eagles song and more Spanish songs! Saturday, we started our trip back home. Took awhile to cross back into the States but no problems crossing. At the San Diego airport the only hiccup we encountered was my youngest daughter had her peanut butter taken away. It couldn't go on the plane as part of her carry on. Oh well. Guess it was a lethal weapon? Home shortly after midnight, safe and sound and on my way with the beginning of my new life!

You will "get" this title more as we go along. For now, let's just say it refers to the period of my life when my main focus was raising the two human beings I had produced. My concerns were minor compared to the awesome task of supporting and nurturing my daughters to adulthood. Mr. Willing was not much a part of this. In his defense, when he had said, "So, you're one of those women who doesn't want to have children?" after a night of competition disco dancing, I had answered, "Actually I'd like to have one. Do you want to help?" He replied, "Sure, I like to as long as I don't have to be responsible," and we were in business. He happily settled into my house as king of the world, but it was my income tax business and my paid support team that kept it all going. My younger daughter kind of sneaked in. Her big sister sometimes referred to her as "a terrible mistake", but I always refuted that, by saying, "Absolutely, not true. Calli was a happy accident.". She was my bonus. I was surprised at how difficult it was to get Papa to move along when the house became too small for both of us. Seemed that, in spite of his grouchy disposition, he was happy there. I was able eventually to get him to go - though he did leave behind his older daughter (10 years older than Minnie). Now I had three girls, ages 2, 5, and (God forbid) 15 - a preview of being a single mother to teenage girls. Yikes! In spite of the hard work and responsibility, I massively enjoyed those years. It was my great pleasure to create childhoods for my daughters. At Christmas another neighbor & I would take the entire crew of our block's kids - about ten of them - to Disneyland. We ate all the goodies and brought candy home. Friday's were game night sleepovers at our house. Thick greasy pizza was featured, along with popcorn, and more candy. We went to the movies and sneaked in our own sugary snacks, we had gourmet picnics before going to the Hollywood Bowl (fried chicken and pie), we were honored guests at McDonalds, and when Krispy Kreams came to LA, we were at the grand opening. We did do things that didn't involve food. I didn't try to eat the Beanie Babies we rose at 4 AM to pursue, but pretty much everything else was fair game. Somehow, my girls - thankfully - escaped obesity, because I ate all the leftovers. I would still, periodically, get totally disgusted with my ungainly girth and declare war on fat, go on a new fad diet and lose weight, but after each I would return to my old ways and gain back what I lost plus more. Sound familiar It's getting quite cold here in Starbuck's and I'm giving a huge college graduation party (both girls - it took 9 & 6 ears respectively, but they have finally done it!) next weekend so I have lots to do. Next entry I'll tell you more about the "seesaw" days. Maybe you can identify ...if you want to hear it. Do you?