I would post today but I was very, very bad and really don't want to see it in print. I will post tomorrow. Thanks for the protien ball recipe. I plan to make it tomorrow and take them along with me when I go to my conference next week. How many do they make? Laural

Hey thanks for joining glad to see we Juners are still keeping up with each other, will keep posting daily and look forward to seeing you here...I got 3 requests for this recipe from people on the grad board too, its amazing how once you get past the early stages you forget some of the great recipies that got you through those first tough periods and also amazing that just remembering and going back to those same basics can really help get you back on track... Protein balls are a YUMMY way to get in protein...I often sub them for a meal since they are dense and 2 -3 are very satisfying...Also I really love peanut butter and these taste fantastic to me 1 cup any protein powder flavor ( I like chocolate best)( I use Elite) 1cup peanut butter 1 cup oatmeal ( not instant) 5 tbsp spenda zap the peanut butter in the micro to make workable, dump in other dry ingredients...mix it up with a spoon, until all the ingredients are wet... form into ball about the size of a walnut hint : if you have problems with it being moist enought to form the balls sprinkle a little tap water over the mixture and mix in, continuing until you have the right texture to make the ball ingredients stick together roll balls again in splenda or cocoa powder for a nice flavor dusting...put on a cookie sheet in the frig about 1 hour to allow balls to firm up for storage... Store in a baggy, bowl, tupperware, whatever in the frig... Can make a batch in about 20 minutes... usually get 24-28 balls stats : 113 cals, 7 protein,9 fat (darn pb tastes so good though), 5 carbs See you tomorrow, have a great food day... Alesia 249/127(below goal)

I want the recipe for the protein balls! Aren't those the peanut butter ones? I had cup of soup protein yogurt with rasberries a sandwich wrap( threw it up, cause it hurt my stomach) a protein pancake with strawberry fat free cream cheese sauce for dinner. 1/2 cup of low sugar low fat ice cream some leftovers from chilis (really naughty)not too much, just greasy. popcorn with butter(really really naughty) Lots of hot tea and water and some juice. I start out good everyday, it is in the evening when I get the munchies that I have trouble. Also my hormones drive me to wanting sugar and salt!! Some days I do better than others, today, I will probably do crappy cause I have an endoscope to check my stomach and cant eat or drink til after 3pm! I will be ravenous by then and want to chow my freakin' head off, LOL! Wendy

Hi Pam. I am very happy with my reconstructive plastic surgeries so far. I've got the very best plastic surgeon and love him dearly. I don't have much left to do. I need some work on my face getting rid of the turkey waddle and not sure about the jowls. I do need to have nipple reconstruction on both breasts because I lost them when I had a breast reduction back in 2001. I would love to have a revision of my thighplasty to see if he could get a little more skin off high up in the inner thighs but am cautious because I did develop seromas with the thighplasty. Then that is it. No more plastics for me. It's definitely taken a toll on me physically,financially and psychologically. Time for me to rest! I just need to focus on my WLS upcoming 2 year anniversary. I want to lose a little more and have been slacking in that area. So I need to focus on my pouch and follow pouch rules. Easier said than done! The thighs is considered the hardest of all plastic surgeries. The most important thing is a good plastic surgeon who has done a number of them. I had my incision extended a few inches past the knee. Some surgeons do not want to do that, but I insisted since I had so much excess skin. I didn't care about a little more scarring at that point. They will tell you that they can't get all of it, and it's true. The compression garment is very important to keep the swelling down. I bought a longer leg garment at Walmart because of my extended incisions. That worked very well. My feet swelled up like elephant feet. I had to wear TED compression stockings 24/7 for some time to keep the swelling down. It worked. The seromas are a common occurrence after thighplasty. They are a collection of fluid around the incision site. I had 3 of them in my right leg and 2 of them in my left leg. I had to have them drained at least once a week. He aspirated the fluid out with a needle. My left leg resolved shortly, But I had problems with the right leg and he had to open up the incisions just where I had the seromas and inserted some idoform gauze to facililtate drainage. Eventually, the seromas went away. I am totally recuperated from my thighplasty. I do consider you a success story. I just feel bad for you that you've been going through this GI problem for so long . It's time for you to enjoy life and not be plagued by medical problems. I sure hope the docs get their act straight and resolve your situation. Keep us posted. Hugs and Love, Lucy

I'm relieved to know that I don't have an obstruction. At least, it's not possible that I have a full obstruction - since I can still get things OUT. I guess I'll find out the real deal Monday. So far, I'm hanging in there pretty good. It's just a dull nuissance kind of pain now... sort of like someone kicked me in the gutt and back. I can deal with this. I don't EVER want to deal with what happened this past weekend - ever - again. I'm just crossing my fingers and saying a prayer that the real problem is revealed and fixed. Summer is coming, dammit, and I want to enjoy it!!! I will add a prayer for your friend on the NY boards. I hope everything goes very well and he/she is healed very quickly. Hugs, Pam