♥LovetheNewMe♥

awesome girl! I'm going to keep this entry and refer back to it when I get to goal. Hopefully in March!

Congrats! And an awesome blog full of good advice. Thanks!

wonderful blog and GREAT suggestions ......why are they great? they obviously work.....just look at your before/after. all the best love

Wow! You do look amazing! Thanks for your update. Love the blog!!!

I "love" reading your story and what an inspiration. I appreciate that you share the trials and triumphs and know that it may take longer for others but it can be done. You look amazing and your energy is incredible.
Thank you for sharing and keeping it real.

Wow! You are and do look amazing! Thanks for your update!

Love thanks for sharing your story. You look amazing and you are such an inspiration to us all.

An excellent blog...thank you for sharing so much relevant information with us. You look amazing, and I am happy that you are able to enjoy your well earned success with your journey! Hugs to you!

I mix mine with Oranges, lemons, limes, cucumbers and mint. I could drink it by the gallons on hot days!

My typical day:
Breakfast:
1/2 cup oatmeal with 1/3 cup egg whites cooked into the oatmeal with 1/8 cup blueberries, 2 pecan halves and 1 teaspoon raw sugar, substitute breakfast, Greek yogurt with 1/8 cup granola ( I love crunch) or small tortilla with egg whites scrabbled with some peppers, onions and tablespoon of cheese. ( I have an addiction for Starbucks SF Nonfat Carmel Machatta on the days I indulge I have my coffee and a protein bar)
Snack mid morning: small protein bar or shake depending on how breakfast went or how busy my afternoon is going to be
Lunch: 2-3 ozs of lean protein, turkey, chicken, pork. or fish. (early days I ate a lot of thinly sliced lunch meat, other meats were dry and got stuck. 1/2 cup green veggies, or a very small salad with oil and vinegar. If I am going to eat a starch this would be the meal I would do it.
Mid afternoon snack, small apple or banana with 1 tablespoon of peanut butter or a protein bar. Depends on how portable I need my snack to be.
Dinner: Again lean meet around 3 ozs and a veggie.
Snack: 1/8 to 1/4 cup of almonds or sometimes 2 cups of popcorn.
I have ate this way for over two years, I have always done snacks, I was never able to do just 3 meals. It took me months to work up to a 1000 calories a day and I try very hard to keep my calories around 1200.
I am at goal and I still eat this way but now I try to hit 1400 to 1600 calories a day and yes I still weigh and measure my food and I still eat off a small plate with a big fork. I do not drink with meals.
I do not deprive myself of anything I want, if I want something that is high calorie and not as nutritious, I eat it and adjust accordingly. I say that now but I am at goal, when I was trying to lose, I rarely indulged. I allowed my self one splurge meal a week on a Thursday.
I find weekends, especially Sundays difficult and exercise was the key to continued successful weigh loss for me.
Good luck and hope this helps.

Jealousy is the ugly green eyed monster and it is unfortunately a natural response for your cousion. I think you may want to look deeper at what she is really trying to tell you. She is scared, scared that if you loose weight and she does not that your feeling about her or how you look at her will change. Your choice to have surgery was a personal choice and everyone has to want it for the right reasons and yours are sincere and for the right reasons. Give her time and space and hopefully she will come around and realize that fat or thin you are the same person. I the am half the person I used to be but I am the same person inside that I was 3 years ago, difference is I like me better. Remember you can not change her and how she feels but you can be in control of how you respond to her comments and reactions as you loss weight. Good luck to you and wishes for great success in your new life style choice.

Jealousy is the ugly green eyed monster and it is unfortunately a natural response for your cousion. I think you may want to look deeper at what she is really trying to tell you. She is scared, scared that if you loose weight and she does not that your feeling about her or how you look at her will change. Your choice to have surgery was a personal choice and everyone has to want it for the right reasons and yours are sincere and for the right reasons. Give her time and space and hopefully she will come around and realize that fat or thin you are the same person. I the am half the person I used to be but I am the same person inside that I was 3 years ago, difference is I like me better. Remember you can not change her and how she feels but you can be in control of how you respond to her comments and reactions as you loss weight. Good luck to you and wishes for great success in your new life style choice.

Jealousy is the ugly green eyed monster and it is unfortunately a natural response for your cousion. I think you may want to look deeper at what she is really trying to tell you. She is scared, scared that if you loose weight and she does not that your feeling about her or how you look at her will change. Your choice to have surgery was a personal choice and everyone has to want it for the right reasons and yours are sincere and for the right reasons. Give her time and space and hopefully she will come around and realize that fat or thin you are the same person. I the am half the person I used to be but I am the same person inside that I was 3 years ago, difference is I like me better. Remember you can not change her and how she feels but you can be in control of how you respond to her comments and reactions as you loss weight. Good luck to you and wishes for great success in your new life style choice.

Jealousy is the ugly green eyed monster and it is unfortunately a natural response for your cousion. I think you may want to look deeper at what she is really trying to tell you. She is scared, scared that if you loose weight and she does not that your feeling about her or how you look at her will change. Your choice to have surgery was a personal choice and everyone has to want it for the right reasons and yours are sincere and for the right reasons. Give her time and space and hopefully she will come around and realize that fat or thin you are the same person. I the am half the person I used to be but I am the same person inside that I was 3 years ago, difference is I like me better. Remember you can not change her and how she feels but you can be in control of how you respond to her comments and reactions as you loss weight. Good luck to you and wishes for great success in your new life style choice.

You are not bad, it is only bad if it becomes a habit. I call this an opps day, we all have them at sometime in this journey the key is getting right back on track and remember this is not a DIET but a life style change and it takes a life time to keep reminding ourselves of where we were and where we never want to go back. I think you will be just fine. Keep doing what your dong and good luck to you.

Great post AJ we all battle the junk food demon inside especially during stressful times. Even at goal I have days when I battle my demons and old habits creep back in, the key is admitting and knowing when to ask for help. The old AJ and Love would continue to closet eat, the new us admits our flaws and moves forward. Great post!

Great post AJ we all battle the junk food demon inside especially during stressful times. Even at goal I have days when I battle my demons and old habits creep back in, the key is admitting and knowing when to ask for help. The old AJ and Love would continue to closet eat, the new us admits our flaws and moves forward. Great post!

Congratulations on NSV! and welcome back also!

Thanks for the advice! Dylanmiles - Your shake sounds delicious, btw! And LadyDiva - I am burnt out on Muscle Milk drinks. They disgust me because that's all I had during my pre-op diet! LOL Luckily I found GNC ones that I tolerate and I ordered flavorless protein powder to put in my food. My ex was someone I cared about but I had no desire to contact him AT ALL since I broke it off until these past few days. So I know that it's just me being super vulnerable right now. I've been reading these forums all day and been in chat and I feel way better. Thank you all!

What your feeling is normal, we have all been there and the feelings are pretty over whelming in the beginning. I was what I call very prepared for the surgery but nothing prepared me for the emotional rollercoaster ride I had for the first few weeks and month after surgery. I went through a period of time, I morned food. I never thought I would every be able to get all those calories down and felt I would live on shakes for the rest of my life. Enjoy your band and allow yourself some time to adjust to the new life. Good luck!

My sister in crime! lol we won't talk about Love and her wine!

My sister in crime! lol we won't talk about Love and her wine!

One day guys you really will see the thinner you, it takes time to change the image in our mind even after we lose the weight. But you all are doing awesome!

One day guys you really will see the thinner you, it takes time to change the image in our mind even after we lose the weight. But you all are doing awesome!

Well first that is a lot of weight to lose in less than a month. Special reason you want to lose that specific amount. Some tips:
Track your intake, if you want o lose that much weight you are going to have to be very focused and really know what you are putting in your body. In order to lose 1 lb of fat you have to eat 3500 calories less for every pound. You need to figure out what your body currently needs just to maintain your current weight and than work back wards. You should not eat less than 1200 calories per day and for the best weight loss you will need to exercise at least 45 minutes 6 days a week. If you can do strengthen exercise you will build muscle and burn fat faster than just doing cardio. You need to drink your water at least 6-8 glasses per day, limit salt intake and only eat lean meets and vegetables. Going to venture out here and say yes it carbs but be wise in your choices and cut them way back after the noon meal.
I hate to tell you but there is no magic way to do this with out a lot of hard work. Is it it doable yes but is it worth going on a diet instead of gradually losing weight?