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Ha Ha!! I promise whatever happens here will be used against you in terms of blackmail and gifts! j/k.

Isn't it amazing when you finally hit restriction and the band lets you know right away who's boss! Hope you're feeling better, sounds like you have figured out the tiny tiny bites and chew chew chew! Keep us posted, congrats on the 4lb loss! It's all downhill from here baby!

Misty you look FANTASTIC! Keep up the great work!

Congrats!! =D> Aren't victories like that HUGE! Keep up the grreat work! >

Have a great "mom" week... my mom was just here and we had facials, massages, pedicures and lots of girlie time. It's a special time enjoy.

congrats to Hubby! Glad he's feeling well. Looking forward to hearing his progress.

Bethany You look fabulous! Your pictures are amazing. I have no idea why you would be having port pain this long after surgery? Did you start any new exercise programs? New machines at the gym? Have you been sick lately? coughing? Any pb'ing or throwing up? Picking up a child/ren? I started doing the elliptical with arms at the gym and when I did it for an hour last week my stomach was sore for about an hour afterwards. NOt really my port area but close enough that I thought I might have pulled something. It went away in a couple hours though. I notice that when I exercise strenuously I did feel a mild discomfort but it goes away. I am almost 7 months banded. Might want to check w/ your Doc ? Let us know. Keep up the great work!

It was a HUGE challenge for me not to drink while eating.. especially if I'm out with friends having a cocktail/apps. I will honestly tell you that I cheated for about the first 3-4 months. It wasn't until my 3rd fill that I really just physically could NOT eat/drink at the same time. It's just to much. There are times I am dying of thirst and have to force myself to wait 45minutes b/4 taking a sip of water. I will swish water around in my mouth and spit it out if I am desperate. For me I also have to quit drinking at least 15min b/4 I eat.. I find that if I don't I can't really get anything down. weird I know but that's what my band does. sooo... try really hard to stop drinking while eating.. it takes time to retrain your brain but it will only benefit you/band if you can break this habit. Good luck!

Oh EVETTE!! big hugs to you > > Thanks for your nice note I wish you could come to the Portland get together too! I will see you at teh bandster get together! xoxox Thanks to EVERYONE for your nice words/comments.. It really helps me keep going.

Good luck , be sure to report back and let us know how it went

I am the same way! I love diet soda w/ my alcohol... I now use crystal light and home but when I'm out they don't usually hav it! I like snake bites.... on the rocks... it's yukon jack and I always ask for FRESH squeezed lime juice not roses (which is loaded w/ sugar) I usually order it from the bar because it takes more time to SQUUUUUEZE the limes.. somtimes the bartendars are like uh.. HELL NO! hahahah.. but usually I win I also order Souza Gold tequilla with 2 fresh squeezed limes and 1/2 a squeezed orange.. it's DELISH! I know fruit juice and alcohol are "empty calories" but I figure fresh squeezed is at least a little better ... Basically I'm a bartenders nightmare. oh yah... I also have chocolate vodka at home.. I put it in a shaker w/ a bunch of ice... 1/4 cup of leftover coffee and a tablespoon sugar free hazelnut creamer... shake and enjoy ohhhh and I love absolute pear vodka on the rocks... just by itself... and then... hahahah sorry..... I could go on and on... but my point is there ARE options...

great info Jann Thank you! soo interesting to read and helps put things in perspective. ps i can't believe how much you saved by quitting smoking! way to go =D> =D> =D>

WOW.. her band slipped and it could have been because she drank soda everyday! That scares the crap outta me! I have never been a big soda drinker but LOVED my rum & diet coke w/ lots of lime... I occasionally crave a diet coke and here's what happened to me the other day... Someone had just opened a Diet coke at work and left it in the break room... I decided perfect I'll have a drink to curb my craving for it... I took a tiny little sip.. oh man it tasted sooooo goood.. so I took another little sip..... ahhhh... now if I just had some rum ... THEN.. I took a drink.. 2 swallows.. and within seconds I was like WTF!! ran to the bathroom and had the biggest gas/air/carbonated bubble I felt like my chest was going to explode. I puked it up and it was gross. I will NEVER do that again. Since being banded (almost 7 months) I have probably had 1 cup of diet coke after it has been left sitting out and a lot of the fizz is gone..... this last time it had just been opened. bad bad bad.

Stormy chicken is hard for me. When I can eat chicken it's chix thighs... I love to cook them over a low heat with a bunch of onions until they are falling apart (boneless skinless) season them and eat small bites.. I can never do drumsticks, breasts or wings. I use refried beans for protein, fiber & carbs. topped with a small amount of sharp cheddar cheese it's really really good. I measure out 1/4 cup (when making it at home) and it takes me about 1/2 hour to eat. I will get pintos and cheese from taco bell when I'm out and need a quick meal. Ground turkey & chivken work really well for me as does fish. I still take to big of bites and it sucks when it hurts. I also eat to quickly and times and that's just as bad. sloooow and smaaaallll bites. good luck we're all rooting for you!

I just looked at your updated gallery.. WOW WOW WOW! amazing. I love looking at your b/4 picture. Very inspirational! xoxo

I always consider bread, tortillas.. things of that nature a gift from the "lap band gods" ... lol

WOW! I love seeing pictures/ transformations.. He looks HOT!

thanks to everyone who commented > I was nervous to post but excited at the same time (if that makes sense) Lisa- I understand what you said about not knowing when your body will stop losing..... If I settle at 190 I will be very happy, I try not to set myself up for disappointment.. YOU look FABULOUS!!!! I stepped on the scale this morning and am down another 2lbs to 213. WOW... all I can say. WOW... I went shopping today and ONLY shopped in the regular size section... ME, in regular sizes. Thanks again everyone! xoxoxox

YES.. it does. www.trimet.org. let me know if you need any specific information. look forward to meeting you

What a fabulous story!! Love it! thanks for sharing xoxoxo

They didn't tell me anything but then again I didn't ask. We had sex day 4.

I notice when I eat to many carbs or even empty carbs I really feel bloated and makes my stomach stick out. cous-cous, brown rice, sesame crackers work well for me in small portions. Also POLENTA... if no one has tried it please do so! You can buy it in a tube at trader joe's and you just slice it and fry it up in a pan. I spray a little cooking oil spray / olive oil on each side.. season them up and just fry them.. then serve them with my soup or sometimes by themselves with a little cheese or salsa on top.. yummy! gives me the carb/bread texture I'm looking for but it's gluten free , 100% corn.

Julie You are EXACTLY right! No two bandsters are the same... but we all get psyched up to have the surgery then think the weight will "fall off" then we get introduced to bandster hell... then we are psyched for our first fill and the infamous "restriction".... we get it .... we may or may not get some kind of restriction but *normally* it's not till the 2nd or maybe even the 3rd fill b/4 we hit the sweet spot. It IS up to us to exercise, practice portion control and follow the order for bandsters in which to eat our food.. I know I know.. much easier said than done but it's what we commit to doing.. heck it's what we TELL ourselves we will do because THIS TIME will work. I only lost 14lbs between surgery and my 2nd fill. I was feeling pretty down about it.. I had to give myself daily pep talks.. I was exercising & eating right... it wasn't until my 3rd fill that I got "IT" and started dropping weight. I also realize now that while I thought I was eating the right things I was really still medicating myself with "slider foods"...... it is a journey.. it's not a fast journey but I promise you will get there.

ahh... well as a former "pleasure party" hostess I will tell you that you can find some great stuff online. I have no problem going into adult stores but find that reading the descriptions online are easier/better for me. Here is a linke you might like http://www.mypleasure.com/education/sex-to...e/for_women.asp click on "what she wants" on the right. Great descriptions and even feedback! woo.. and yes... I keep my powertools in in my bedside drawer ... and I agree w/ Kitty... BOB never talks back and doesn't get mad when i dont' want to cuddle after.

EXACTLY!! in fact there are many battery operated things that make me questions whether a man is truly needed or not.