Phoenix

ten pounds or less for 6 weeks (weight lifting limits) Congratulations!

Dang. I ponied up for a Cuisinart (also at Costco) a year or so ago. I can't say I love it. And I can't see a good reason to chuck it because I'm Jonesing for a better blender Glad to know we have options.

Note to everyone: I don't recommend putting pizza or pot pies in the blender, but to make soups that have small chunks into soups without small chunks is a reasonable thing to do...it also helps to mix in the powdered protein. This is for the newly banded who are moving from clear liquids to non-clear liquids. I'm 2 days into my first fill. I'm on liquids, too. I have a Braun stick blender and a regular stand up blender. I love the stick blender -- couldn't make mashed potatoes, un-fried beans, hummus or gravy without it. Generally I used my stick blender to make things like cream of mushroom soup more smooth. The little end piece that does the blending comes right off and goes into the dishwasher...just easier to do. It made a perfectly smooth soup that could easily be sipped by a straw. No fuss, no muss. I used my blender today, however, and it didn't do as good of a job, even though I gave it extra time. Just an FYI.

None? That was my big fear...that they're all yucky (

You must walk to work ;-)

Your whole body is shrinking, except for your bright smile, that's getting bigger ! Congratulations on your hard work paying off and thanks for sharing it with us. It's inspiring. I love that your belly button shape is changing so much. Gives me hope.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!

Altitude makes sense...if you buy a bag of chips here in Phoenix, the bag is at normal atmospheric pressure. If I go up to a ski hill, the decreased atmospheric pressure causes the same bag to inflate and pillow out. If your friend has plenty of gas in her band still, that could happen. Dr. So removed 1.2ccs of gas from my band yesterday. If it were still there, it would feel like 2.8ccs, more at high altitude. I felt mine when I first got it and twice since when things *almost* got stuck.

Hi there! Yes, I was back at the OCC. ElainaD was banded yesterday. She's a new member here. Feeling just fine, a little tender, not much more, thanks for asking. For the rest of you who have been filled at the OCC, did they weigh you?

I met AlainaD for a second in the waiting room! TALL, sweet and pretty, I wish I'd done this at her age :-h They didn't weigh me...is that normal? Too many weight loss programs, I'm conditioned for a weigh in and bp check. :-? Then we went back, I had all kinds of silly questions...like "how do you manage not to go all the way through the port with such a long needle? (the back is metal). It hurt a little. On a scale of 1 - 10, it was only a 2. He filled and unfilled repeatedly to flush out gases in the band. WEIRD sensation. Not pain, just pressure, but nothing like I've ever felt before. Nothing you'd get used to any time soon We watched the barium go down. Quickly at first, then slowly filled and it slowly went down, then more saline until it didn't go down and then he withdrew saline until it went down at a rate Dr. So liked. I stuck around for Zoom whitening And then headed back to the airport. Liquids for three days. I guess I'll know Friday maybe what restriction really feels like

NSV = Non Scale Victory. A U-turn is the driving term you think it is. One of your posts said that one of the reasons you're having weight loss surgery is so that you'll have more room in your car between you and your steering wheel.

Hi all, has anyone found a whey based protein bar they like? Thanks!

I thought about this a long time...only write a long letter if your husband is a reader. Letters, like e-mail are too riddled with other peoples' perceptions/emotions. If he's not a reader, you're going to have to suck it up and talk to him....but first decide what it is that you'e after. Right now you're looking for permisson. You don't need it. You want him on your team. That's support. That's what you should ask for. One of the most clear requests you can make is "I want your support. This is what I want to do. Can you to help me figure out how to make this happen?" You put together the requirements, learn whether insurance will cover it, and if so, how much. If he can't support surgery in Mexico -- and some people just can't get past that -- then make a list of other good doctors and where you'll get fills. Is your husband generally supportive? If you wanted to take a class on something, is he generally cool with that? If your DH said "I want to do the IronMan in Hawaii" or you'd probably plan together how to manage finances, schedules, space to make that happen. If he's a marathon runner, he spends $1000s in shoes and running clothes, entry fees, socks, what have you every year. They're his tools for success. Nobody runs marathons in sweat pants or flip flops. He understands tools, he understands goals. He may have trouble understanding that you'll reach your goals with different methods and tools. What you're really asking for is for him to support you anyway, because the goal is the same, even if your methods are not his. --and what Denise said below...we're here supporting each other.

Gawd, don't we all just want to slap those people. We're all able to say these words: you and I are going to finish this conversation in HR. I'm sorry you had to deal with such a piece of work.

It looks like you've found some very nice cheekbones to replace it!

With the internal swelling, I felt 5 months pregnant. Afterwards, it was just gas pain. And then I felt normal, except I couldn't eat very much.

A pound a day! Holy smokes, that's got to feel amazing to watch the scale change that much. Congratulations on making so much headway!

Much success!

*spew* You get over here, right now, and clean the tea off my computer screen!

I travel a lot for work. It's a lot of airplanes, rental cars, hotel rooms and jet lag. Not much glamor. -- Not like people think anyway. I came home from an international trip on Mother's Day weekend one year. My family, to celebrate, took me to a nice resort in Scottsdale (they're cheap when it's hot!. Lounging by the pool was this woman who I didn't say hello to, but had the opportunity to observe for a couple of days. She was in an olive green bikini with gold detailing on it. Cool suit. She was also 225 pounds and probably a size 20. She was perfectly comfortable in her own body. Her vibe didn't give off a single wave of defensiveness, but it sort of said, "Hi. I live in here. This is my body and it's all good. You can have a different opinion if you like. It's your opinion though and mine matters more." At 170, I was feeling like I should be wearing a burka, not a tankini. And there was this woman far larger than me who was comfortable in her own skin. She owned it. I thought, "I have to get to where she is mentally." What other people thought mattered too much. I didn't just acknowledge that they had a judgement or an opinion -- I gave those opinions/judgement power. And this woman didn't. She was aware, but didn't give the negative views of others any power. And I was busy feeling inferior, measuring myself against everyone else. It was one of those breakthrough moments. It's taken a couple of years and I'm not "there", but in the general time zone of "there". I'm much better at not giving other's negative opinions any power. They own it, cool. I don't. Even more cool.

Looks great! :cheerleader:

That reminds me of something I need to post I WANT TO PUT ON MY DAUGHTER'S JEANS! (They're a size 7)

Melissa is cute as a button and I'll bet she gets from "cute" to "hot" for a night club in a NY minute. The nurses came after the meds did...I wasn't paying much attention The docs aren't bodice ripping pirate types, but I liked your version of it a lot!

Amen, the whole staff was sizzling...and that was before the medication