bogiesmom

Thanks for the encouragement but I am not married to him so no worries there. Being contractually & legally bound to him does not seem very appealing to me. I am glad you and yours are supportive of each other. That is something I do not have so but that is okay because I am in a healthy and supportive relationship with all of you.

Okay, you can't post a cliffhanger like this and tease us by leaving out the details What size band do you have? How many fills? How many cc's for each fill? How many cc's in your band now? Have you been doing anything special dietary? How is your restriction level? What excercise do you do if any?

Fun with Eggnog! Get creative with your nog, humans! Spiked! If you want to make an alcoholic version of any of these drinks (and you're of legal age to enjoy it!), nix the rum extract and reduce the soymilk to 4 1/2 cups -- then add 5 oz. rum to the recipe. Just tack on an additional 58 calories and an extra POINTS� value of 1* to each serving. In Your Coffee! A generous splash of any of these nogs will add creamy flavor to your java. Mmmmm! Nogsicles! If you've got one of those ice-pop molds for making freezy treats at home, pour in some nog and freeze until solid. Or just use small plastic cups, cover 'em with foil, and slide a Popsicle stick thru the foil to make your pops. Sooo good! Regular eggnog has about 450 calories and 20 fat grams per cup -- and that's WITHOUT any alcohol! Why do it? Sip these no-guilt nogs instead... Cinn-fully Good Choco-Nog PER SERVING (1 cup): 104 calories, 2g fat, 370mg sodium, 15g carbs, 2g fiber, 6g sugars, 7g protein -- POINTS value 2* We're all about putting a new spin on an HG classic. Here's a BRAND-NEW, cocoa-licious, eggnog recipe you'll love... PROMISE!!! Ingredients: One 25-calorie packet diet hot cocoa mix (like Swiss Miss Diet or Nestle Fat Free) 5 cups light vanilla soymilk, divided 1 small (4-serving) package sugar-free fat-free instant chocolate pudding mix 1 tsp. rum extract 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg Optional toppings: Fat Free Reddi-wip, additional cinnamon Directions: Combine cocoa mix with 1/4 cup hot water in a tall glass, and stir to dissolve. Add 1 cup soymilk and stir. Transfer to a blender. Add remaining 4 cups soymilk and all other ingredients to the blender. Blend on high speed until smooth and uniform. Refrigerate in a covered container for at least a few hours to allow nog to thicken. If you like, before serving, top each glass off with a squirt of Reddi-wip and a sprinkling of cinnamon. Enjoy! MAKES 5 SERVINGS No-Nonsense Nog PER SERVING (1 cup): 98 calories, 2g fat, 382mg sodium, 13g carbs, 0.5g fiber, 6g sugars, 6g protein -- POINTS� value 2* For those who like a traditional eggnog... without all the traditional calories and fat grams! Ingredients: 5 cups light vanilla soymilk 1 small (4-serving) package sugar-free fat-free instant vanilla pudding mix 6 no-calorie sweetener packets (like Splenda) 1 tsp. rum extract 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg Optional toppings: Fat Free Reddi-wip, cinnamon Directions: Combine all ingredients in a blender, a nd blend on high speed until mixed thoroughly. Refrigerate in a covered container for at least a few hours to allow nog to thicken. If you like, before serving, top each glass off with a squirt of Reddi-wip and a sprinkling of cinnamon. Yum time! MAKES 5 SERVINGS Pumpkin-licious Nog PER SERVING (1 cup): 110 calories, 2g fat, 344mg sodium, 16g carbs, 2g fiber, 6.5g sugar, 6g protein -- POINTS� value 2* Our pal pumpkin makes this old-school treat a little hipper, tastier and, um, more orange... Ingredients: 5 cups light vanilla soymilk 1 small (4-serving) package sugar-free fat-free instant vanilla pudding mix 6 no-calorie sweetener packets (like Splenda) 2/3 cup canned pure pumpkin 1 tsp. rum extract 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice 1/4 tsp. cinnamon Optional toppings: Fat Free Reddi-wip, add itional cinnamon Directions: In a blender, combine all ingredients and blend on high speed until mixed thoroughly. Refrigerate in a covered container for at least a few hours to allow nog to thicken. If you like, before serving, top each glass off with a squirt of Reddi-wip and a sprinkling of cinnamon. Drink up, Thirsty! MAKES 5 SERVINGS

Care Of Hungry-Girl.com Fun with Eggnog! Get creative with your nog, humans! Spiked! If you want to make an alcoholic version of any of these drinks (and you're of legal age to enjoy it!), nix the rum extract and reduce the soymilk to 4 1/2 cups -- then add 5 oz. rum to the recipe. Just tack on an additional 58 calories and an extra POINTS� value of 1* to each serving. In Your Coffee! A generous splash of any of these nogs will add creamy flavor to your java. Mmmmm! Nogsicles! If you've got one of those ice-pop molds for making freezy treats at home, pour in some nog and freeze until solid. Or just use small plastic cups, cover 'em with foil, and slide a Popsicle stick thru the foil to make your pops. Sooo good! Regular eggnog has about 450 calories and 20 fat grams per cup -- and that's WITHOUT any alcohol! Why do it? Sip these no-guilt nogs instead... Cinn-fully Good Choco-Nog PER SERVING (1 cup): 104 calories, 2g fat, 370mg sodium, 15g carbs, 2g fiber, 6g sugars, 7g protein -- POINTS value 2* We're all about putting a new spin on an HG classic. Here's a BRAND-NEW, cocoa-licious, eggnog recipe you'll love... PROMISE!!! Ingredients: One 25-calorie packet diet hot cocoa mix (like Swiss Miss Diet or Nestle Fat Free) 5 cups light vanilla soymilk, divided 1 small (4-serving) package sugar-free fat-free instant chocolate pudding mix 1 tsp. rum extract 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg Optional toppings: Fat Free Reddi-wip, additional cinnamon Directions: Combine cocoa mix with 1/4 cup hot water in a tall glass, and stir to dissolve. Add 1 cup soymilk and stir. Transfer to a blender. Add remaining 4 cups soymilk and all other ingredients to the blender. Blend on high speed until smooth and uniform. Refrigerate in a covered container for at least a few hours to allow nog to thicken. If you like, before serving, top each glass off with a squirt of Reddi-wip and a sprinkling of cinnamon. Enjoy! MAKES 5 SERVINGS No-Nonsense Nog PER SERVING (1 cup): 98 calories, 2g fat, 382mg sodium, 13g carbs, 0.5g fiber, 6g sugars, 6g protein -- POINTS� value 2* For those who like a traditional eggnog... without all the traditional calories and fat grams! Ingredients: 5 cups light vanilla soymilk 1 small (4-serving) package sugar-free fat-free instant vanilla pudding mix 6 no-calorie sweetener packets (like Splenda) 1 tsp. rum extract 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg Optional toppings: Fat Free Reddi-wip, cinnamon Directions: Combine all ingredients in a blender, a nd blend on high speed until mixed thoroughly. Refrigerate in a covered container for at least a few hours to allow nog to thicken. If you like, before serving, top each glass off with a squirt of Reddi-wip and a sprinkling of cinnamon. Yum time! MAKES 5 SERVINGS Pumpkin-licious Nog PER SERVING (1 cup): 110 calories, 2g fat, 344mg sodium, 16g carbs, 2g fiber, 6.5g sugar, 6g protein -- POINTS� value 2* Our pal pumpkin makes this old-school treat a little hipper, tastier and, um, more orange... Ingredients: 5 cups light vanilla soymilk 1 small (4-serving) package sugar-free fat-free instant vanilla pudding mix 6 no-calorie sweetener packets (like Splenda) 2/3 cup canned pure pumpkin 1 tsp. rum extract 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice 1/4 tsp. cinnamon Optional toppings: Fat Free Reddi-wip, add itional cinnamon Directions: In a blender, combine all ingredients and blend on high speed until mixed thoroughly. Refrigerate in a covered container for at least a few hours to allow nog to thicken. If you like, before serving, top each glass off with a squirt of Reddi-wip and a sprinkling of cinnamon. Drink up, Thirsty! MAKES 5 SERVINGS

OMG!!! The building were we work in is throwing the tenants a Christmas Party this morning so I am so going over in points/calories today! Thank goodness I am missing the Company Christmas Party next week & I can used my activity and banked points I have saved up to cover this! Next week's banked points are goig to have to cover 2 - 3 mojitos in TJ when I go in for my fill but I will be back on liquids anyway so I will count those as dinner POINTS® Tracker entries Thursday, December 10, 2009 Morning 1 cup(s) raspberries 0.5 1 1/2 cup(s) strawberries 1 1 cup(s) pineapple 1 1/2 cup(s) dairy or nondairy frozen whipped cream 2.5 1/2 envelope(s) Rich Chocolate Cocoa 1 Subtotal 6 Midday 1 serving(s) vegetable quiche 8 1 cup(s) Light Soups Zesty Santa Fe Style Chicken 1 Subtotal 9 Evening 1 serving(s) Mishima Miso Soup Mix 1 1/2 cup(s) Creamy tomato 0.5 2 Tbsp Lite Whipped Topping 0 1 serving(s) Active Life Gelatin Cup 0 Subtotal 1.5 Anytime 1 item(s) Food Items Blueberry Muffin 7 Subtotal 7 Food POINTS values total used 23.5 Food POINTS values remaining 0 Activity 35 min elliptical trainer, moderate intensity 2 Activity POINTS values earned 2

Angie, No fair making me laugh, want to cry , pee my pants and mess up my makeup all at the same time Very sweet of you. Shelby, 1.8 is fantastic and you are almost there! I am glad i found a WW buddy. Debbie, what can I say. Another 3 pounds! You rock as usual and I will be the first paid member/subscriber to the webinars you hopefully someday will host. Carrie, keep fighting the good fight as my theory is sometimes our bodies loose water, gain muscle and loose inches and it takes a few days for the scale to catch up (sssshhhh, don't tell anyone but I have a gut feeling that next week's weigh in is going to be one of those for me since it is my first week back on solids and my first week excercising in over a year).

POINTS® Tracker entries Wednesday, December 09, 2009 Morning 2 Tbsp Coffee-Mate French Vanilla Liquid Creamer 1.5 2 tsp coffee, instant or regular, powder 0 1 Tbsp sugar 1 1 1/2 tsp sugar substitute 0.5 1 serving(s) Fiber One Oats and Caramel Bar 1 Subtotal 4 Midday 1 serving(s) Mishima Miso Soup Mix 1 1 item(s) Smart Ones Creamy Rigatoni with Broccoli 6 Subtotal 7 Evening 1 serving(s) Garlic Bread 3 1/2 Turkey Spinach Lasagna 2.5 1 Cheese Enchilada Soup 2 Subtotal 7.5 Anytime 100 Calorie Oreo Mini Cakesters 2 Subtotal 2 Food POINTS values total used 20.5 Food POINTS values remaining 2.5

I am at 174.9 this week. Down 1.6 pounds from last week. I started working out on my elliptical on Monday night so I am going to keep up the excercise and see if that helps with the loss. Congrats Angie on your 3.4 pounds! That is amazing and it is no wonder your body feels different

No worries! It will be here before you know it! The waiting time flies by so quickly. You will be glad you waited.

I am right there with you. If you do rum and coke and want to have more then one you can always order a rum and diet coke for less calories/points. I also like vodka and sugar free red bulls when I go to Vegas that way I can stay awake and I do not have to worry about the extra calories. I cant drink Gin so also do Vodka Tonics. My favorite thing are the Mojitos so I plan for them in advance.

Here is an article i got off Weightwatchers.com(note***1 point is approximate to 50 calories): "So what'll it be?" asks the bartender. Most any woman will have a proud answer. Your personal cocktail says a lot about you. A martini woman revels in class and sophistication, while a margarita chica knows how to enjoy a fiesta. But what you might not know is that having a few of your favorite mixed drinks (which, more often than not, lead to a few more) can cause serious damage to your weight-loss efforts. Despite what seems like common sense, less volume does not necessarily translate to fewer POINTS® values. To help make sense of the madness, we've researched 18 popular cocktails for you to compare and contrast to get the biggest bang for your POINTS value buck. Have a crack at our interactive game and find out for yourself how many POINTS values you've been drinking. Some mixed drinks, like the screwdriver, will cost you only 2 POINTS values for 4 oz., while a 19 oz. frozen mudslide can be up to 10 times that many. Choices like the gin and tonic are quite reasonable others, like a piña colada, are downright bone-chilling. But don't call up your girlfriends to cancel happy hour at the martini bar just yet. As long as you understand that that the piña colada will cost you more POINTS values than three screwdrivers, we'll consider that a small victory. (Just pay attention to portion sizes because most bars serve up drinks larger than 4 oz.) When you're on a weight-loss plan, you obviously want whatever you eat or drink to be of the best quality and have the most taste. "Fresh juices are the key to tasty spirits," says Brian Van Flandern, founder of Creative Cocktail Consultants in New York City. "Using fresh lime juice instead of sweetened, colored or artificial lime flavoring makes a tremendous difference in taste. I also only use fresh cane sugar in my sweet cocktails it's stronger and more palatable than artificial sweetening syrups. Plus, you can alter the taste by stirring in less." Here is a basic rule of thumb: while liquor has a relatively high POINTS value of about 1.5 per ounce, there is practically no variance among the different varieties. An ounce of whiskey is equal to an ounce of rum, gin and so forth. "However," says Van Flandern, "you definitely want to avoid liqueurs. Most are artificially flavored or colored and loaded with high fructose corn syrup which is packed with calories." Also watch out for drinks that combine different liquors. For example, a Long Island iced tea, which contains gin, rum, tequila and vodka (not to mention cola and sour mix), will set you back 6 POINTS values. On the other hand, your basic rum and coke (no big secret about the ingredients there) will only cost you 4 POINTS values. The monstrous frozen mudslide combines vodka, coffee liqueur and Irish cream with two scoops of chocolate ice cream. No wonder it's 19 POINTS values. Bloody Mary 4 oz = 2 points Screwdriver 4 oz = 2 points Jack & Coke 6 oz = 3 points Gin & Tonic 6 oz = 3 points Mojito 6 oz = 3 points Vodka Tonic 6 oz = 3 points Sex On The Beach 6 oz = 4 points Cosmopolitan 4 oz = 4 points Mai Tai 4 oz = 4 points Manhattan 4 oz = 4 points Rum & Coke 4 oz = 4 points Frozen Daiquiri 4 oz = 5 points Margarita 4 oz = 5 points Martini 4 oz = 5 points Long Island Iced Tea 6 oz = 6 points Pina Colada 6 oz = 7 points White Russian 4 oz = 7 points Frozen Mudslide 12 oz = 19 points

I have been blessed by the drinking angels in that when I drink I forget all about eating and food is totally out the window. That being said, I work with what I have got in terms of calories that I can use for drinking. I know 4 ounces of wine is equivalent to 100 calories (So is 1 ounce of liquor) so I try to pick things that are not too fruity or full of mixers loaded in calories and keep it simple. Here is an article I got from weightwatchers.com (note***1 point is approximate to 50 calories): "So what'll it be?" asks the bartender. Most any woman will have a proud answer. Your personal cocktail says a lot about you. A martini woman revels in class and sophistication, while a margarita chica knows how to enjoy a fiesta. But what you might not know is that having a few of your favorite mixed drinks (which, more often than not, lead to a few more) can cause serious damage to your weight-loss efforts. Despite what seems like common sense, less volume does not necessarily translate to fewer POINTS® values. To help make sense of the madness, we've researched 18 popular cocktails for you to compare and contrast to get the biggest bang for your POINTS value buck. Have a crack at our interactive game and find out for yourself how many POINTS values you've been drinking. Some mixed drinks, like the screwdriver, will cost you only 2 POINTS values for 4 oz., while a 19 oz. frozen mudslide can be up to 10 times that many. Choices like the gin and tonic are quite reasonable others, like a piña colada, are downright bone-chilling. But don't call up your girlfriends to cancel happy hour at the martini bar just yet. As long as you understand that that the piña colada will cost you more POINTS values than three screwdrivers, we'll consider that a small victory. (Just pay attention to portion sizes because most bars serve up drinks larger than 4 oz.) When you're on a weight-loss plan, you obviously want whatever you eat or drink to be of the best quality and have the most taste. "Fresh juices are the key to tasty spirits," says Brian Van Flandern, founder of Creative Cocktail Consultants in New York City. "Using fresh lime juice instead of sweetened, colored or artificial lime flavoring makes a tremendous difference in taste. I also only use fresh cane sugar in my sweet cocktails it's stronger and more palatable than artificial sweetening syrups. Plus, you can alter the taste by stirring in less." Here is a basic rule of thumb: while liquor has a relatively high POINTS value of about 1.5 per ounce, there is practically no variance among the different varieties. An ounce of whiskey is equal to an ounce of rum, gin and so forth. "However," says Van Flandern, "you definitely want to avoid liqueurs. Most are artificially flavored or colored and loaded with high fructose corn syrup which is packed with calories." Also watch out for drinks that combine different liquors. For example, a Long Island iced tea, which contains gin, rum, tequila and vodka (not to mention cola and sour mix), will set you back 6 POINTS values. On the other hand, your basic rum and coke (no big secret about the ingredients there) will only cost you 4 POINTS values. The monstrous frozen mudslide combines vodka, coffee liqueur and Irish cream with two scoops of chocolate ice cream. No wonder it's 19 POINTS values. Bloody Mary 4 oz = 2 points Screwdriver 4 oz = 2 points Jack & Coke 6 oz = 3 points Gin & Tonic 6 oz = 3 points Mojito 6 oz = 3 points Vodka Tonic 6 oz = 3 points Sex On The Beach 6 oz = 4 points Cosmopolitan 4 oz = 4 points Mai Tai 4 oz = 4 points Manhattan 4 oz = 4 points Rum & Coke 4 oz = 4 points Frozen Daiquiri 4 oz = 5 points Margarita 4 oz = 5 points Martini 4 oz = 5 points Long Island Iced Tea 6 oz = 6 points Pina Colada 6 oz = 7 points White Russian 4 oz = 7 points Frozen Mudslide 12 oz = 19 points

Drinking is fine as long as it is not carbonated. It is actually considered a clear liquid. I like my "wine" every once in awhile too so I was sure to ask Dr. Ortiz about this and he told me a glass a day would be fine. After surgery I went back to the Mariott and had 4 Melon Balls with my mom at the bar. Good Times! (Ironically I have not had any alcohol since then due to being paranoid about calories but wine is only 100 calories for 4 ounces so you should be fine if you stick with wine and not be like me who likes to graduate to mojitos, melon balls, martinis...)

POINTS® Tracker entries Tuesday, December 08, 2009 Morning 1 2/3 Tbsp Coffee-Mate French Vanilla Liquid Creamer 1.5 1 tsp coffee, instant or regular, powder 0 1 Tbsp sugar 1 1 serving(s) Fiber One Oats & Caramel Bar 2 Subtotal 4.5 Midday 1 serving(s) Lean Cuisine Swedish Meatballs and Noodles 6 1 large banana(s) 2 Subtotal 8 Evening Taco Salad 5.5 Subtotal 5.5 Anytime No entries for this meal time. Subtotal 0 Food POINTS values total used 18 Food POINTS values remaining 5 Approx Calories: 1000

That is enough time to recoop. I got banded on Friday and was back to work the following Monday. Your young and it should not be an issue. You will have swelling so you might want to get some roomy slacks. I hade swelling for 2 weeks post op but I am 10 years older then you.

I had my Pre-Op tesing done the same day as surgery and it is done by Dr. Jimenez who is the Pulminary Specialist (I love love love him). Dr. Jimenez is extremely charming and has a wonderful personality. He first goes over your medical hsitory with you then he has you blow into this handheld device 3 times and instructs you to blow as hard and as looong as you can blowing 1 continuous blow for a minimum of 6 seconds (this is to test the lungs) after this he has you go into a room and take your clothes off from the waist up and put on a paper robe with the opening in front of you and lie down on an examination table. He ten comes in and places pads on your chest and head (I think) and instructs you not to move and this is the EKG for your heart. That's it your done and he tells you if you passed on the spot! He said I have the lungs of a 34 year old (I am 34 but I smoke) and the heart of a teenager I asked him what age and he said 18 so that makes me barely legal

The only thing I can added that has not been said already (but I think it is neccessary in case you do have a consultation at the OCC) is that Dr. Ortiz told my mother & I that I would have to start eating 1/10 of what I was eating pre-op. First of all we told him I was already living WW, second he does not know what and how much I eat. I only bring this up because that number is even lower than the one you got. I know it was a total exageration on his part so I blew it off the second he said it.

Carrie, How weird, my boyfriend said the same thing to me yesterday. He went to the hospital yesterday w/ his mom to visit an uncle and him & his cousins got to talking about my banding and they told him that I would leave him when I got thin. He then came home and brought it up to me. I was thinking to myself "Yah, when I leave you it will have nothing to do with my weight and it probably will be well before all the weight even comes off." But that is another story that goes something like all the years of you telling me how unattractive and fat I look took a tole on the "love" I had for you and loosing weight is not going to bring it back ever. If there is a correlation that can be made between those who have had wls and experienced seperations/divorces I wonder if like me it is because there were/are underlying issues involving lack of support, verbal abuse and general negativity in those cases? My weight lose is my revenge on everyone who has ever been mean and negative towards me regarding my appearence, so if I get dirty looks and glares it is fine with me. Like I said, most of the times I have found that the negativity in the every day world is a complete 180 from what we receive from this forum.

Rainy week here in Southern California...Perfect weather for soup and liquids so I think it is back to mushy foods & liquids for another week POINTS® Tracker entries Monday, December 07, 2009 Morning 1 1/2 packet(s) Lower Sugar Oatmeal, maple & brown sugar 3 1/8 cup(s) raisins 1 1 1/2 Tbsp Coffee-Mate French Vanilla Liquid Creamer 1 1 tsp coffee, instant or regular, powder 0 1 Tbsp sugar 1 Subtotal 6 Midday 1 container Soup at Hand Classic Tomato Soup 2 17 Eating Right Cheddar Cheese Rice Crisps 1 Subtotal 3 Evening Taco Salad 5.5 Subtotal 5.5 Anytime 1 tsp coffee, instant or regular, powder 0 1 tsp sugar substitute 0 1 Tbsp Coffee-Mate Hazelnut Liquid Creamer 1 Subtotal 1 Food POINTS values total used 15.5 Food POINTS values remaining 7.5

Thanks for the article. It is a very itriguing subject that can be effectively argued both ways. To be honest I sort of wish USC (Private University) would have has something like this mandated when I was in school. But that is a whole other topic. Anyway, I love this comment posted on the article: 1. midwife85 - November 20, 2009 at 07:38 am And how does the university plan to deal with anorexics and bulemics who are equally likely to be un-healthy?

Thank you Angie for the explaination on rip foods. The tought never occured to me and I am grateful that you brought it up and I learned about this tip now well before my first fill. Actually if you think about it this is a great idea for anyone who is trying to watch what they eat. Very helpful and it sounds like it will help me slow down and force me to take smaller bits. I love it!