Phoenix

I've had a secret that keeps me from straining. Keeps me regular and I called it a "liquid" from day 4. Technically, it isn't a liquid, it's a paste. And, technically, so is yogurt, so I justified it. Mona, meet hummus. Hummus, meet Mona. 2 Tablespoons a day are roughly 80 calories. There's plenty of fat there, but it's mono-unsaturated and you must have them. Healthy fats, in moderation, will shove out the unhealthy fats. Your body needs them. It's magical in keeping the body in a good rhythm. 2nd secret. Dannon Activa yogurt with fiber. 8 oz with a scoop of whatever protein powder you're already using is the same as skim milk. Except that it has active cultures and 7 g of fiber. Between the two, I haven't had an uncomfortable movement since banding. I thought you should meet my friends.

I've been pacing, mentally, over this all day... I know it's summer, so I'm probaby worrying over nothing. But, in case I'm not...and in case you were on diabetes meds, please go get your insulin meds checked. Extreme thirst is right up there when the diabetes meds are out of whack. Sorry, and I do hope that a) I'm worrying over nothing that your meds are out of whack and you simply don't need them anymore.

Congratulations on having a sternum! *and, more importantly, probably never needing heart surgery*

THANK YOU FOR THAT!!! And huge, gigantic congratulations for you! Just noticed you're also in the Valley of the Sun, we should get together!

Cute dress and a great visual goal!

My own stuff. I don't have all of it, but I kept my favorites. It would be too, too cool to zip up my wedding dress again. It fits my 13 yo daughter quite nicely right now.

I use thedailyplate.com I found another nice one while looking for "office miles" on a calorie burner. You search for a food you eat, whether it's an artichoke or a Muscle Milk light protein shake, click on it and add it to your food intake. I set my calorie goal at 1100 (cool feature) and it will track exercise, too. I can't say I've been using it long. I only started on Monday when I read that keeping a food journal helps so much to reach your weight loss goals.

You're not eating enough. Counting up everything, two turkey patties, two string cheeses, and the OJ, you're still below 1100 calories. Below 800 calories, without exercize, you won't lose a thing. That would be great if you weren't also walking 10 miles. A 265 pound person burns 125 calories in an "office mile". Ten miles is 1250. Add that in and you're way too low. To lose anything, you'd need to consume at least 1250 + 800. I suggest e-mailing Dr. Miranda, too. Food Item Servings Cals Fat Cholest Sodium Carbs Sugars Fiber Protein Coffee, Black 1.00 2 0g 0mg 5mg 0g 0g 0g 0g x ^ Servings consumed: Serving size: 8 oz. Optional: When did you eat this? - select mealtime - breakfast morning snack lunch afternoon snack dinner evening snack midnight snack pre-workout post-workout Unclassified GNC 100% Whey Protein Shake 1.00 90 2g 45mg 0mg 2g 2g 0g 18g x ^ Servings consumed: Serving size: 1 scoop Optional: When did you eat this? - select mealtime - breakfast morning snack lunch afternoon snack dinner evening snack midnight snack pre-workout post-workout Unclassified Sargento String Cheese 2.00 160 9g 30mg 480mg 2g 0g 0g 16g x ^ Servings consumed: Serving size: 1 unit (26g) Optional: When did you eat this? - select mealtime - breakfast morning snack lunch afternoon snack dinner evening snack midnight snack pre-workout post-workout Unclassified Del Monte Lite Mixed Fruit Cup 2.00 100 0g 0mg 20mg 26g 24g 0g 0g x ^ Servings consumed: Serving size: 1 can Optional: When did you eat this? - select mealtime - breakfast morning snack lunch afternoon snack dinner evening snack midnight snack pre-workout post-workout Unclassified Bumble Bee Light Tuna 1.00 90 1g 45mg 380mg 0g 0g 0g 19g x ^ Servings consumed: Serving size: 1 pouch Optional: When did you eat this? - select mealtime - breakfast morning snack lunch afternoon snack dinner evening snack midnight snack pre-workout post-workout Unclassified Toasteds Whole Wheat Crackers 1.00 80 4g 0mg 160mg 10g 1g 0g 1g x ^ Servings consumed: Serving size: 5 crackers Optional: When did you eat this? - select mealtime - breakfast morning snack lunch afternoon snack dinner evening snack midnight snack pre-workout post-workout Unclassified Ground Turkey (Cooked) 2.00 320 16g 160mg 0mg 0g 0g 0g 44g x ^ Servings consumed: Serving size: 4oz Optional: When did you eat this? - select mealtime - breakfast morning snack lunch afternoon snack dinner evening snack midnight snack pre-workout post-workout Unclassified Mixed Vegetables 1.25 75 1g 0mg 69mg 15g 5g 4g 4g x ^ Servings consumed: Serving size: 2/3 Cup Optional: When did you eat this? - select mealtime - breakfast morning snack lunch afternoon snack dinner evening snack midnight snack pre-workout post-workout Unclassified IGA Orange Juice 1.00 120 0g 0mg 0mg 29g 28g 0g 1g x ^ Servings consumed: Serving size: 8 fl oz Optional: When did you eat this? - select mealtime - breakfast morning snack lunch afternoon snack dinner evening snack midnight snack pre-workout post-workout Unclassified Fitness Minutes Calories Burned Distance Heart Rate Add your physical activity/exercise for July 6th, 2008! Click totals for charts! Totals: 1,037 32g 280mg 1,114mg 84g 60g 4g 103g

In post band surgery diet perspective, I binged yesterday. I was honest in my food diary, 1490 calories in a day does not a binge make Still though, it was late, I was tired and hungry and though my stomach doesn't hold much, I haven't had a fill yet. Dinner was long gone. It wasn't cookies or junk food. It was lemon cilantro hummus and peach kefir (and the extra 290 calories). How do you all handle it?

You go girl! That's just plain wonderful news!

Huh? Who cares? You have a band. Works for me. Oh, that and I'm also 41. I'm female. I change hair color just because I want to. I add streaks. I grow it, I cut it. If I had allopecia, I'd just appreciate the simplicity it brought. I also appreciate the appropriateness of wearing pants, capris, short skirts, long skirts, dresses, and shorts on any given week. The sentence above was written to give light to "who cares? You have a band". Wear what you want. Wear the hair you want. Just show up.

I did Medifast and learned that I have an intolerance for soy protein that won't deal with 100+ grams of it a day. That, and they suck. Sorry, they really do. Nasty concoctions. Puddings aren't any better. Agree with post above and will add: Protein at Costco (when you can find them) are quite nice. EAS low carb (always at Wal-Mart) are good and Muscle Milk (also at Costco) light ready-to-drink will put them both to shame. If you can't find it at Costco, I'll recommend the Muscle Milk powder (in both vanilla and chocolate).

OMG! That's inspiring! Thanks for sharing!

No, but I did have a consult from their Phoenix branch. They are straight up, and I liked them. Being self pay, I didn't like them an extra 10,000, but I thought they were very professional and well practiced.

Actually, and ironically, I'm enjoying the rain. In Phoenix in summer, it breaks the 110+ heat regimes and brings clean air. I love it when it rains. The rest of you enjoy the sunshine!!! *I get enough, no complaints here* I'll enjoy the rain.

My tips: It's just a silicone band. With fairy dust. It can work its magic, but you have to follow the rules. Spend a lot of time alone and learn how your new stomach works. Don't try to outsmart the band. It's easily done with the help of Starbucks, Baskin Robbins, Coldstone, etc. You get the point. You paid plenty for this. Just dont. Go ahead and get hungry. Your stomach will shrink, your body will shrink and everything will be fine. You're going to burp. You're going to have to relearn how to burp. See above: everything will be fine.

Congratulations! You've done the best thing for yourself! The gas was in my left, too, but if it bubbled up right in you, then same thing, just opposite shoulder. I needed four things: a) time (sorry, but after 18 days, I was free of it) a waist nipper, old fashioned corset like thing from JCP that held my muscles in place for me for 10 days. c) "slantedness" When it hurt like hell, I put my hurting shoulder down and the rest of my body at a 45 degree angle d) drugs: GasX and Ibuprofen. It will pass, honest. It hurts, but you'll live no worse for the wear.

It isn't sodium from the soups. It's a mixture of the CO2 gas they blew us up with, swelling (internally) from surgery and from our stomachs getting used to something there bugging it, cut muscles knitting back together and general whatnot. It will pass. You'll shrink. The day your body will allow a waistband that doesn't stretch, you're there.

You're about 7 minutes from my office. Are you really 12?

Do you or your husband have a 401K to borrow against? You have to pay it back, but you're paying yourself back over 5 years with very reasonable interest. Food for thought.

Washington to Alabama is a hike Your son won't recognize you at the airport. Congratulations to you and your whole family!

I'm only down about 7 pounds, but I'm happy to give up the XLs and 14s to a happier place when I'm safely in the 10s. I'm in Phoenix (*shock*), so my clothing tends to be on the lighter side. Most of it is corporate stuff. We're going to need a Flickr or Yahoo account to post pictures in size groups!

I read the same thing! I've been religious on thedailyplate.com ever since. I haven't seen the sparks site, but will have a look, thanks!

We're about the same size...as the swelling of the cut muscle goes down, your port moves with it a smidge. The skin tissue tightens up, too. They've moved in three weeks from being on top/bottom to being sort of parallel with the port to the left. I think we're normal

I'm a fan of consignment stores, too. If you need corporate wear, you own it for a while, take care of it, and take it back for re-consignment when you're too small for them. It's like low dollar leasing