Paula Bee

(The lyrics change depending on who tells you what they are..

LOL.. It is an old kids song I had to learn for a voice recital when I was little.. Hungry, hungry I am hungry Table, table here I come I could eat a goose-moose burger Fifteen pickles and a purple plum I could eat three bowls of goulash Half a pound of wuzzled wheat I could eat a peck of poobers Then I'd really get to work and eat Oysters, noodles, strawberry stroodles French fries, fish hash, one red beet Lamb chops, wham chops Huckleberry mish mash Oh, the things that I could eat Doughnuts, dump-a-lings Blueberry bump-a-lings Chocolate mush-mash, super sweet Clam stew, ham stew, Water melon wush wush Oh, the stuff that I could eat Deep dish rhubarb, upside-down cake I could eat a frittered flum Hungry, hungry, I am starving Table, table, here I come

I have managed to look at food, then pass it by, but as I approach mushies on Monday, I find that I am starving for stuff... tuna (go figure!), spaghetti sauce! (I don't know why that one.) chicken salad... yep, I make mine just about like Lori does.. I am ready to go buy cottage cheese and regular yogurt and other mushified foods.... Now I am really starving!! Old song I knew... Hungry, hungry, I am hungry Table, table, here I come I could eat a goosemoose burger, fifteen pickles and a purple plum. I could eat 3 bowls of goulash, half a pound of wuzzled wheat, Hungry, hungry, I am STARVING, then I'd really get to work and eat!

I would like to throw out a word of caution to those of you who are eating a gluten free diet. Unless you have Celiac's disease, it is NOT recommended that you go gluten free. People will swear that it makes their complexions glow or cause them to lose weight, but there is no empirical data to support that. There IS empirical data to support the fact that a gluten free diet is missing a number of key nutrients and fiber. If you have Celiac's disease, you have no choice. If you don't have Celiac's disease, then another choice than gluten free is probably better. From the Ultrawellness Center - "Unless you have celiac's disease, there is no benefit to a gluten free diet and possibly some harm caused by it due to "frankenfoods" made to replace gluten free products." There are dozens of medical references to these facts, so if you are thinking of doing gluten free, please talk to a gastroentronologist first.

feeling great for me ALWAYS includes pain, (if it involves exercise.) Also, good for you and Kyle! It helps to have someone walking the walk with you.

Thank you both for your encouragement! When you are tired, and guilty, and discouraged as a daughter, it helps to have someone point and say, "there is the next step! You can do it!"

I am tired all the time, but I don't think it has anything to do with my sleeve. My mom has early onset alzh., and has been living with me for 18 months. It has gotten so unpleasant around her that I cannot wait to take her to my brother's house on Friday. I feel very guilty for being so glad she is leaving for a month or two, and even guiltier that I am hoping she decides to stay there. Until this is all settled, I don't really have a perspective on how my energy level is. I am doing the best I can with water and protein, and I guess that is all I can do. I am ready to put my full attention on my health and weight loss... It will be a relief.. nice. Just mullygrubbing, I guess.

Lori, one thing that I have enjoyed using is the Unjury unflavored protein mix. It has both whey and soy in it, so I am not sure how it would work for you, but I like putting it in my tomato soup, for example. It works in just about anything except plain.

I am so excited for you! I don´t think we will actually get to meet each other, but I can´t wait to hear how you are doing!

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

Surgery was Monday, and I am feeling so much better than I thought I would at this point. I get to start liquid yogurt tomorrow, but I am not even sure where to get any around the Marriott. I am still very tired, and I know that is normal. I think I am going to be kind to myself and get a first class ticket for the flight home. I am still in a LOT of pain in my left hip and knee, and I don´t think I can tolerate being squished up in the postage stamp size seat for another 7 hours. Think I will head off for some yummy broth and a nap!

I am all packed up and ready to fly out at 6:30 am tomorrow! I have crushed everything I can into my carry on bag.... it is under the weight limit, but I just can't squish in my heating pad or my favorite pink "NAP" brand "blankie." I have paid the bills, written down instructions to help my husband care for my mom while I am gone. My fear is them not doing the whole thing at once....just have to think positively.. I need a week away from my mom. Having to care for an early onset Alz mom at my house has been taxing, and I am glad I can get a break. (Who thought I would have to fly all the way from Florida to Tijuana to get a rest from my mom. :/ Kids are coming to supper tonight, and hubby is running them off by 9 so we can go to bed... not that we will sleep... or at least I won't.

Yay! I fly to San Diego on Sunday morning and go from there to the Marriott. Monday is surgery day... one of my fears is that they will get the band off and not be able to do the sleeve for several months. Not only would that be an emotional crash-and-burn, but all these days of protein shakes only would be wasted, and I would have to buy another round trip ticket from Florida.... mmm.. just remembered that if I don't have surgery I will have to change my flight plans and that will be even more expensive! The money tree in our backyard is bare... I just hope that they can do everything on Monday.

having revision surgery.. thank heavens that thing will go!

Lori had her surgery today! Thinking of you and praying for you!

One thing I have really hated about my lapband is the huge port. When I would get gas or some other issue, it would really hurt when it pressed against my muscle/skin. I hate seeing it as a bump in my tummy. Someone PLEASE tell me they remove the port when they do the revision surgery. I mean, I know they remove the band, but what about the port?

(from "300 Pounds Down" Thank you, Lindsay for writing my life, too.) When I was in the 3rd grade, we started having the Presidential Physical Fitness Test every year. My most dreaded part of all was the "600 yard dash." The first year I did this, I went out sprinting from the start. It didn't take me long to lose my breath. I can still remember sucking in cold air and trying to breathe. Before I even made it through the 2nd loop, I threw up and was pulled from the race. Looking back on it, I should have paced myself instead of trying to start the race in a sprint. The next year I was so psychologically intimidated by the 600 yard dash that I started worrying about it several weeks in advance. I was ready to throw up days before hand, and sure enough, I did before the whistle was barely blown. This became a regular tradition with me every year. Kids in my class would sit around making silent bets on NOT whether I would throw up, but WHEN. "Will she at least make it past the whistle blowing?" I had some friends who were determined to help me beat this. They would willingly abandon their own race times to run along beside me, cheering me on, but making sure to get out of the way before I threw up. Unfortunately I was never successful, and I NEVER finished the race. My story differs from Lindsay's in several ways... First of all, I started having asthma attacks when I was in the 2nd grade. Inevitably, running the 600 brought fear into my heart, and my doctor and my mom had a fit. I had a doctor's note from that point on prohibiting me from running the 600 or any other aerobic activity that would trigger my asthma. This worked great until we moved to Lafayette, LA, where they required 4 dreadful years of PE. I brought my note from the doctor, and the teacher, (Ms. Soileau) refused to excuse me and made me run the 600. I walked most of it, but if you did it in more than 3 minutes you had to do it again the next day. I don't know if I got under 3 minutes, but I staggered up to her, wheezing audibly, and accidentally puked on her shoes. Then, I missed the next week of school with asthma. This happened the 2nd year, too, but after incidences of pukey shoes, I was excused from the run at that point. Since then, I have had asthma on and off for years, and I have used it as an excuse for not exercisng. Finally, at my weight, it became a reality, even in water aerobics. I want to lose this weight, to be able to take a walk with my husband, to go to water aerobics and make new friends. It will not be a sprint for me, but a journey... there is no running fast to get to the end quicker, because there will be no end. My eating habits will change forever. I need a new me.

Oh, wow.. I am using the patient number from my lapband, and it has all my old pictures on it. Look at the first two pictures and add 50 pounds, and that is what I look like. The picture with the blue shirt was actually on the balcony of the hotel when I got my lapband.

I have got to stop reading so much information about this procedure, because I am scaring myself. One source says protein is my new best friend; protein and produce. Then, today's Cooking Light magazine said that the Adkins diet had been proven to be unhealthy and we should be eating complex carbs and veggies. What is what? I am worried that when we get old and on SS that we might not be able to afford the vitamins and protein that we need. I would say that is silly, but it really is a real concern. (It doesn't take much for me to worry ) What am I supposed to ask my husband? "Hey, when we are on ss, will you be able to afford me? Will we be able to eat lean protein, or will we have to resort to the pink slime protein or catfood?" It is strange what we think of. What a world, what a world (the Wicked Witch)

I stumbled across this blog today, and the writer is inspiring and funny. She is down-to-earth and honest. I bookmarked her site, because I think it is worth following. www.300poundsdown.com

First of all, we have been where you and your husband are... a number of times. I am glad you see the one thing you can control. That is a turn around from my previous thinking, which was what I EAT and how much of it is the one think I control. You are an encouragement to me. Just do it! You are, and I will, (although I am still chewing on my knuckles a bit. I wonder if that counts as solids?)

My mom has early onset Alzh and lives with us. Some days she can be totally contrary, and yesterday was one of those days. I took her to the dentist to get her new lower dentures, (which we are paying for, btw, as she is financially not able to support herself,) and we got into it right away... over what is irrelevant... it could be anything... things that I have told her over and over and over, and I don't expect to her to remember, but she is bound and determined that I never told her. It reached a point when we got home that I called my sister to plan to send Mom for a vacation there. Until you have a parent living with you, you don't realize how STRESSFUL it is, and that is when I eat... the more stressed I am, the more I eat. I know it is a victory, but I didn't last night. I went to bed early and willed myself to sleep so I wouldn't think about eating. I was so hungry/stressed that I could have chewed my knuckles. Today I am starving.. I have eaten just as I am supposed to, but I am starving. I am sure it is head hunger, but that doesn't feel any better. To make matters worse, Mom has been walking around like pitiful pearl saying, "What am I going to do that week when you are not here? I will just have to call you if I forget something." Oh, no... my husband works from home and will be here, and I am NOT answering my phone. I will tell family members to call David and I will call him once a night. I have chewed my two knuckles up... let me go see if David or Mom will let me chew one of theirs.....

Carol, I would love to meet you. Your surgery is a week after mine. Did you go to the Memorial Hospital meeting? I had them unfill my lapband for the last time, and the doc was just terse. I figured I would never see him again, so I blew it off. I wouldn't want them to do my surgery, however.

I know

I am excited for you! Sast time I lost weight, I lost it in my eyeballs, too.. my contacts kept popping out and my eye doc remeasured my eyes to see what the issue might be.. lol...