Dontondan

My personal food bill has gone down drastically! I no longer find myself in the fast food places and I rarely eat out anymore and when I do the meal will last me for days! (leftovers) My family bill however has not changed as I still have to feed them the way they are accustomed to. I keep some protein powder on hand, I get it at Walmart for those occasions when I need them, but otherwise I buy quality--not quantity. My snack bill is way down and no drive throughs anymore and I order no drinks when I eat out so that saves huge amounts of money. My kids really hate the fact that I don't go through the drive throughs any more!!!

I have to confess, I had my mind in the gutter and was thinking this post was about something totally different! LOL!

I have that problem from time to time, but find that if I deprive myself it becomes an OBSESSION!!! I just get out my little plate, have a small amount of what I am craving and then put it away. I chew the hell out of it, savor the flavor and then I am done with it. If it (the craving) is too strong, I will go take a walk or visit a friend, or go to the casino and play my slot machines (I never eat when I do that) until the craving passes.

I still have to add fiber or things get slow in the downstairs department!!! I usually use the metamucil capsules, but lately since my last fill I have some difficulty taking the capsules so will have to try something new when I run out of them. I never had a day of constipation prior to surgery, but it is a problem now that I am not getting the grains in.

Good Luck and welcome to bandland!

Good for you on getting a head-start with your pre-op! I did the same thing and was lost more than I needed and when I talked to Dr. Miranda about a week before surgery she let me do Subway for lunches every day....that was such a treat. Just keep in touch with Dr. Miranda and let her know how your progress is during the pre-op. This will also give you incentive for post-band and pre-fill as you don't lose much during this time. Good Luck!

It actually took me 3 fills to get to where i need to be and now I am still adjusting to the last fill (it has been about 1 1/2 months now) My band is very "fickle" and some days I can eat things and others I can hardly eat anything. Salads have gotten very difficult to eat and was having a problem eating any type of meat for a while, but that is better now. I had to use protein drinks and suffer with tofu to get the protein in during those times.

One of my favorite non-exercising way to burn calories is to play with the dog. We run around the yard, go walk to the park and play, chase balls, etc. I don't know how many calories it burns, but it makes me work up a sweat and benefits Bella, my Goldie!

I watch these shows all the time, really lets me know how lucky I am to put stop to the weight problem when I did. Can't wait to see follow up shows on the same people to find out what has happened to them as some of the shows are several years old now. TLC aqnd Discovery have the best programs of this nature.

I was at the store yesterday and was looking at the Video screen with the security cameras and I didn't at first recognize that the person in the camera was me. I always looked huge in those things as the camera adds pounds, but what I saw was a normal sized woman....Wow, did that open my eyes!!!

Wow! You have done wonderful! Congratulations!

You lucky ducky! I have about 6 pounds to go to reach that goal.....it has been stalled for a while now, but will be back at the gym when the kids go back to school in a few days!

I think a lot of the problems were there prior to losing the weight. I know my husband will love me through very thick, thick and thin!!! A lot of guys are threatened when the spouse all of a sudden is "looking good" and getting male attention. A lot of women are very flattered by the attention and may stray because of it. Me, I will stick with what I know and love. I have an extremely supportive and loving husband and I am happy with that....he is getting pretty chunky now and for once in our relationship I weigh less than him!

Hang in there Michelle! I will be in Vegas the end of September and would love to meet you if at all possible. We will only be there for 2 days (a quick get-away). Donna

Oh stress is awful! Sometimes the kids stress me out so badly that I can't eat dinner with them at the table. I eat by myself when I can relax or I am running to the sink to PB! Luckily it doesn't last very long before I can get the stress under control!

The shopkeepers are pretty aggressive in TJ, but I think they were worse in other places I have visited (Korea, Guatemala). I don't mind it and I can be pretty awful if they keep bothering me, but I love the challenge of getting a good price for something. It can get pretty unnerving for some though. TJ is definitely not for everybody.

Oh a housekeeper sounds DIVINE!!!! I am soo jealous, I never thought of that one.

Nothing to shave for me! Are you a hairy man???? Sorry personal question! Maybe the doc has some sort of fetish...... LOL!

Good Luck to you Danielle. Maybe things will work out for you eventually...when you turn 18!

I can sympathize with you totally! Poor thing, I don't have any good advise, but I just try to muddle through the best I can, but I crave EVERYTHING from Chocolate to Chips. That is always a tough time for me and I usually gain what I have lost the prior weeks (my PMS symptoms last about a week). Hang in there, at least you are working out daily.

I tried Xenical years ago and my experience was not a good one either!!!! Couldn't control anything down south!!! Yuck!

We must have missed the storms...got nothing at my house in Bremerton. Wish it would rain......It's cooler today though, the sun is in and out all day.

I bought an Air Conditioner last year and can't figure out how to put it in! Was gonna post it on Craigs list and get rid of it! Just sits in my bedroom on the floor in the box, my hubby is NOT handy at all and I haven't found anyone to put it in for me yet. Oh well, will just have to tough this hot spell out.

It's been too hot here to go on my laptop!!!! My legs are melting.....melting......! I only like the hot weather if I am sitting on a nice sandy beach watching all the eye candy stroll on by, preferably in the Carribean or someplace exotic like that! I moved to the Northwet to get away from the sun!!! It's 10:30 pm and it is so damn hot don't know if I will kill the man and kids during the night or not...I get really grumpy when I am hot!

Maybe you are cooking the meats too long....I use my George Foreman grill and it makes nice moist meats every time. If things get a little too done it will dry out and then I have to whip out the ketchup or BBQ sauce! Here is a very easy chicken recipe and the meat falls right off the bone...you can use pork if you want Chicken Adobo 1/4 cup soy sauce 1/4 cup vinegar 1/2 cup water Minced Garlic Chopped Onions Chicken pieces (I use boneless, skinless thighs) or Pork Put this all into a skillet and bring to a boil and then cover and simmer for about 30 minutes and then take the cover off and cook until the liquid thickens. This is very delicious and the meat will fall apart it is so juicy and flavorful! Bon Apetite!