julieburns

:lb10: :lb24: :lb24: :lb21: :lb21: OMG Cathy you are just smokin this weight off. How proud you must be of yourself. I am losing at a snails pace but people like you are my inspiration to keep going. You rock chickie and I am so Happy for you. 40 pounds is like 4-5 sizes and I am sure you know that already. I can only imagine how great you feel already. Keep up the good work. Now be sure and treat yourself to something nice for this milestone, you deserve it!! And how about a new avatar pic to see the new you?

So glad your hubbie's procedure is over, now the journey begins!! You have done so well with your weight loss I am sure tis is his inspiration. Thanks for the tip about the theater, it sound fun if you have someone to snuggle with on the love seats for sure. Here's to an easy recovery period for Cujo and I wish him well on the fabulous liquid phase.

Massage is great for so many things one would never even think of. It does really work the toxins out, literally through elimination of all kinds!

These are my favorites: For a ready made on either Atkins Advantage , 15g protein and 4gm carbs 1gm sugar Premier Protein Nutrition, 30gms protein, 5gms carb, 1 gm sugar Myoples Lite by EAS, 20gms protein, 20gms carb, 1gm sugar. I have tries so many of the ready made and these are the richest, easiest ones and really taste delicious. I tried muscle milk lite and it was just way too sweet and had a weird flavor to it, now some people on here like that one. For powder I use EAS Premium protein powder, 27gms protein, 3gms carb, 2gms sugar. I've read on here many use 100% Whey protein powder from GNC. I havn't tried it but it comes highly recommended. I have started using the Mccormicks flavorings too. I love coconut with both vanilla and chocolate. I also add benefiber to any of my protein drinks UNDER 30 grams of protein. For some reason it doesn't miz in well with anything that has more even though it totally dissolves in everything and you cannot detect it even in water. Kinda weird. Must be something about the protein metabolic structure and how it it so dense?

Yes it's true, this is my new addiction. If only I could get my husband to understand that I love the people here. I so relate to each and every one of you and that feels good. He does know and understand that this is my support system and only teases me about my "chat room" as he calls it. He always has a grin on his face when he says that because he is a "computer geek" as I call him, with a grin on my face of course!! He also teases me about "getting a life" and I say ...."I am!!! WTG on getting yourself the clothes. You will feel so good when you fit into them. And for the little snickering teenie boppers again, GOOD FOR YOU to just ignore them. I can't wait to go into a regular clothes store and not feel out of place. I always have this line in my head that I am buying for my sister, or cousin or nieces or whomever, not that anybody would ask. It's my little way of making it ok to be in there I guess. Isn't that one crazy?

It is also recommended to not drink for up to 1 hour after you eat. This is to keep the food in the small stomach longer. If you are absolutely dying to drink one of the Docs said you could drink in 20-30 minutes for emergencies only though. This will keep you full longer. I thought I would NEVER get used to not drinking while I eat because I come from the school that if you drink lots of water while you eat you will get full faster thus eating less. Anyway I am 10 weeks out now and it really doesn't bother me and was an easy habit to change when I focused on it. I never did get any good liquid vitamins. I take Juice Plus which is a capsule and so I just opened the capsules and mixed it with small amounts liquid in the liquid stage, took it like a shot and was done with it. It got better in the full liquid stage because then I could mix it with yogurt or pudding, Yummy! I've heard also that some people have crushed the pills to as much of a powder as you can and do the same thing. Some prescription meds must be taken this way also. Good choice on preparing early and making small changes now because once you are banded it is sort of a culture shock!! It really does take some time to really process in you mind how you have physically altered the way you eat, you for the most part cannot stuff yourself anymore or you'll be sick. Nothing really prepared me for mentally feeling like I was being deprived of food and it really showed me how addicted to food I was. Not something you can work through in a day or 2 or even pre-op. I am saying this not to scare you or anything just to try and help in your preparation, some things you can't prepare for though no matter how prepared you think you are. It's all so worth it though. And also.... :lb9:

Wow it's time to start again, Here goes... A-Accountability to yourself and your band is a must. No eating around it.

Wow Jacque you sound like your flying will wear you out. Hope you get Sunday for some R & R time. Yes Dr. So is very kind and easy on the eyes. I am happy for you and hope this will work for you. As for Revolucion Ave, it's not my cup of tea either, unless on a rare occasion I am in the mood to be really , shall we say, overstimulated? I knew that is what is was like and chose to skip it both times I have been down. I love the pool at the Hotel and so I spent most of my time there, between walks of course!!!

I've recently added Biotin to my regime. I have fairly thick hair but when it comes out by the handfuls it's scary. That's not happening now thank God but I hope to prevent it form this dieting. Last time I lost weight , my mother also passed away and it did come out by the handfuls. So scary. I do believe stress plays a role as well as proven by my case mentioned above. Perhaps the stress from the surgery both physically and mentally has stepped this up? You did mention it's been going on though. Other than the Biotin I don't really know any more tips. Just wanted you to know you are not alone. :kiss3:

I am sure you are always "on" for your sons sake. Won't it be nice to be "off", literally. Nothing to be nervous about as far as your surgery and trip goes. You are a special mom to care for your son as he needs it. I can't even imagine how hard this is. Yes this is a gift for not just you but your family too!!

We are going to be camping and we are planning on making our own meals most of the time. Yes this will be my saving grace. I will take "my" snacks for sure so I don't feel left out. The good thing is they are all quite healthy eaters, especially my MIL who is beautifully thin but works at it every single day. My SIL is also not overweight nor anyone really but me. I want to feel like i "fit in" and can do the physical activities they all can do. I know I'll do ok this trip but by our annual trip next year I should be smoking them on the trails!! I also can't wait to run and play with my darling nieces ages 5 and 9. Thanks for the tips. I will need a fill when I get back also. I sort of need one now but can't get it before we go and sort of don't want to because of what new restriction did to me last time. I plan on getting one in 1 month, which seems like a long time away but it will be here in no time. I do still have pretty good restriction but I can tell it is slowly going away a little at a time.

:drinks: , so true!!

That's not true, they make 10cc syringes, 20cc and even up to I think 30 cc ones. The larger syringes are a little trickier to work with though. Maybe they just don't stock larger ones, but they are available, or she is uneasy using this bigger barrel syringe as you have to pull on it a little harder to remove fluid. It's not like she has to do it one handed though. I'm stumped why she told you that. Mona I feel your pain. After 10 weeks I have only lost 13 pounds. I am responsible for making some poor food choices earlier on but I have been true to it for quite awhile now. I do feel down by such slow weight loss but I have to take responsibility for my actions and poor choices. I know you have worked so hard at this and you must feel really down by this snails progress as you may see it. All I can say is just keep on keeping on and the weight will come off. Don't throw in the towel or feel as if you have failed in anyway. Any weight loss is better than weight gain so remember that. I know your sister lost quicker than you, I think, and this too I am sure plays with your mind. Just remember the snail wins the race, even though this isn't a race I just used that to remind you that this will happen for you too. How long have you been heavy? Your body is used to that and so it just may take longer. Period. Buck up girl, it could be worse. That's my version of tough love, LOL!!

I just found the Premier shakes at Costco that Lisal was talking about. Yes they are good. For powdered protein I use EAS Premium Protein. It has 27gms of protein and I can't remember the rest. I do enjoy the convenience of the premade ones on work days and as of today I am trying to use the powdered while I am at home to save a few pennies, now that I have a housekeeper to pay for!! I drank Atkins ones after surgery before finding the premier. They have 15 grams of protein and are also great tasting. Above is a list of my favorites.

I finally broke down and got a housekeeper. Yes I have pondered this for a few years now and many have suggested I get one. My house had gotten to the point it felt just plain filthy and clutter is/was everywhere. Not a countertop to be seen. I was so embarrassed if anyone would just stop by I would never let them in, feigning some excuse like I have a bug or something. It was depressing not only myself but I know if affected my husband. Deep inside he is the Felix Unger type, you know a place for everything and everything in it's place. Thank God he is also a very kind man and rarely would make negative comments to me about the state of the house, he knew I was struggling with many things. Now I am probably over dramatizing this somewhat and the state of the house was not quite as bad but you get the point. My husband works 12-14 hour days this time of year and he was doing the best he could to keep up. He did way more than I did to contribute to the household chores. Fibromyalgia keeps me from doing many , many things pleasant as well as the household drudgery of keeping it up. I grew up in a spotless household where I was taught at a young age "how to clean". May I inject here my mother was german and we would scrub on our hands and knees with toothbrushes almost everything down that low it seemed as a child anyway. For many years I upheld this standard within my own home. After she passed away 5 years ago I simply gave up. At the time I was living alone so it really didn't matter. Since I remarried 3 1/2 years ago though I had to start cleaning again so my now husband wouldn't be scared off because I new he was a keeper. Over the last year or so I have tried a few different cleaning services but really was not that thrilled with the results. I called this week and got an appointment 2 days ago and had a "deep" cleaning. Let me tell you it took 3 darling hispanic ladies 3 1/2 hours to dig this place out. But man did they work like little soldiers. At no time did I see any of them not working quickly and efficiently. I was just so thrilled I almost broke down crying. I could finally see the beauty under the filth of my brand new (remodeled) little house. My husband came home from being out of town and asked if he was in the right house. He wholeheartedly agrees to have them come every 2 weeks to maintain this place. I am thankful for the blessing of those cleaners and the ability to be able to pay for them. This was a good day. This journey I have begun is far more than losing weight. It is about figuring myself out as well and realizing what I need to be happy, healthy and able to be a blessing to other people. I encourage you to treat yourself to something today!!

I too am 46. I think personally I know I have to work much harder it seems than when I lost weight when I was younger. Well maybe working harder isn't just it it's that it just takes longer, plain and simple. I am not anywhere near as active as I used to be for one thing but also the hormones play a role. Yes it can be done but plan on using alot of patience as part of the ingredient.

So glad you are feeling better. Yes gas can be a terrible thing. This morning it woke me up at 4 Am and I am still having trouble. I ate some fresh corn, like not even 2 tbsp last night and I think that's what did it. I had the same thing happen when I tried it a week or 2 ago. So no corn for me! Also getting off your blood pressure meds is such a big deal, I am so happy for you. :lb21: PS: I love your new Avatar, you have such pretty lips.

Yes this is like Lisa said "bandster hell" we all have to go through. You sound like you are doing quite well. I think having lost 19 pounds and going from liquids to solids is sending your body into not knowing what is going on so it better hold on to whatever it has mentality. Are you going to the OCC for your fill or another fill site? It will be here before you know it so start practicing all the tips now, you'll need them to avoid the dreaded Pbing we talk about.

Welcome back Kathy, I missed you. You make the eating while on vacation sound like a breeze. I go in 2 weeks with my in-laws and brother and sister in law and my neices to Lake P something in northern Idaho. We are meeting there from 3 diffeent states. My in laws are from Houston, brother and sister in law Salt Lake City and then us from Portland. Can't wait. I have already worried a little about how I wil be eating so little in from of them, and so picky with what I do choose. They will be very happy to see I have lost weight though. I havn't seen my in laws since last summer at my all time highest weight so this will be fun in that respect. I also LOVE them all dearly and feel as if God sent me my mother in law to help replace the loss of my own mom somehow. She is an angel to me. Anyway back to your return home, I hate when I get home and have the laundry and unpacking to do. I usually put it off as long as possible and then work like a mad women to get it done. Here's a big hug to welcome you back safely.

Yes it was a record breaking day again yesterday at temps topping 100 degrees. It's supposed to hit that again today. Oh man where can I rent a boat? Sort of on that note my husband and I are getting a boat, not till Labor day weekend though, which is only 2 weeks away!! :lb21: :lb21: My in-laws are blessing us with giving us their beautiful Boston whaler, about 10 years old because they arn't using it as much anymore. Did I say Yippee!! :lb21: And of course thank you . We usually have beautiful Indian summers here so I hope to get my share of use out of it by November when the rain sets in.

I have been using tuna. I get the albacore packets that you don't have to drain, 3oz size which is perfect portion. I then have fresh spinach leaves chopped, like 1/4 cup or less and top it with delicious raspberry vinaigrette or any other light dressing about 1 tablespoon. I have the tuna on one side and the spinach on they other. I eat half of the tuna plain first and then mix it up as a salad and finish the rest. The dressing helps the spinach to will by that time making it easy to eat and so good for me. I have this most days for lunch and am no tired of it yet!!

I would say yes, since this is considered a full liquid where I come from. I know they say no ice cream but I think that is for the calories and because it's so many peoples weakness, like me. Check with Dr. Miranda to be sure, but I don't think it will hurt personally.

I ate jello because it is what I have been taught as a nurse to be a clear liquid. I would like the rationale for it not being acceptable. Does the gelatin not dissolve in the small stomach? :-? Is it not already almost in liquid phase as you process it from your mouth and then down to the new small stomach? :-? I need the facts mam! Anyone from Dr. O's office know the answer? I think it would be good to clarify the reason for this removal from the approved list.

Sorry you are at work, but maybe it's nice and cool there for you. I am up again and feel like crap. I think Aunt Flo has finally come to visit and she brought TOM with her. I am like 4 week overdue, this menapause thing is awful, and I just feel like crap. So what's new though? This is just in a different way. Thanks for the invite Kim I'll have to take a raincheck though. Hubby was out of town this week and is coming home tonight as well and I am sure he'll be tired. Maybe we can at least have a chat this weekend? Hope your having a great day, be sure to drink your water!! :drinks:

Evette is right about eating. Just don't eat anything fast and/or in a large usual bite. Take like a pea size bit and chew it well. And about the drinking, if it's not champagne we are not forbidden to drink because it might hurt the band but because it is empty calories. As long as it's not bubbly have a drink. Warning though I have read it could potentially affect you much more quickly on a smaller amount than pre-banding. So just sip on this prior to sampling the buffet!! I almost forgot......Congrats on only 1 week left, I am excited for you.