Sula

Okay, For the past two weeks I've managed to walk four days a week for four miles at a time. I feel really good. The last day I walked with 2 pound hand weights, but I didn't enjoy the walk as much. Not feeling like I walked as fast or hard. I've also added squats to my routine...four sets of 20 as I walk. I stop periodically and get after em. I wonder what the folks in the country think of that sight!! HA I should be able to do the five days this week...no early appointments. I really enjoy it. I am active on the weekends...lots of chores and dog training to do. How are you ALL doing? shawn

Sunshine, How has the fill gone for you? Feeling any restriction? I think I'm due for another fill. I'm eating way to much and drinking water in gulps....bad me!! It is so freeking hot, I can't help it! Okay, I've done venting...I'll get back to some sips. But it is the third week of 100...wheew. BTW...there is this guy, AZPete...has lost 109 (I think it was that number) in four months. Remember I talked about him before, when he had lost 80 pounds in two months. He runs four miles ever other day. It seems incredible to me. Shawn

I remember going to a show in Reno, Hello Hollywood Hello I think was the name. All done topless, g-strings on both males and females. After the first few minutes, you weren't even looking at the nudity as anything more than just, oh, there's some boobs. Big Deal! I appreciate the postings and am curious...I don't know if I'll be able to afford it but will probably need it. Funny though...you want to be a full DD...I ride horses and have to buy super expensive sports bras (by Enell) and it still hurts. I've gone from a 44 DDD to 42DD and have about 57 pounds to lose. So, I'm going to be SOOOO excited to have smaller ta ta's!! It is too painful to lug these big honkers around when riding hard! Sula

You girls are funny. And I think there must be something in the air...eating way too much the last two days. The irony is that it IS still less that I (we) could put away pre-band! The whole cake, indeed!! Shawn

Tonya, You've touched on so many things that we all have suffered from being overweight. I can't tell you how much of an inspiration you are to me personally. I admire your stick-to-it-tiveness and determination. When I have a day that downs me, I can always come here and find a postitive word from you. Thank you for that. Congrats on your success. I hope that the remaining pounds melt away!! Shawn

What's this...the second page? Hmmm, have to do something about it. I stepped up the exercise this week and I'm stiff and sore....owie!! I'm walking four miles an hour and then doing squats interrmittently... I will be adding lunges as soon as I can feel my legs again. I think I had my first PB last night..out of the blue... Eating BBQ'd duck and I probably wasn't paying attention and ate to big of a bite or to many bites in a row. You know how it goes...hungry and in a hurry! It wasn't the worst thing in the world but it sure is an appetite killer. My husband checked on me and as I was telling him what went on he turned green. I never knew he was so sensitive! HA. Periodically in the night I could feel a tightness as if I had something stuck but nothing was there. Phantom restriction? I'm going to do some soft/mushies today, at least until dinner. I don't feel bad but I'm just being careful. Hope all of you are doing well. Shawn

Tonya, How do you get to "no restriction?" I just don't get that part. I know people who get the fill material taken out to see if it has been absorbed? What the heck? I'd love to understand that part. Shawn

Hi All, Today is my 6 month anniversary. I flew to Monterray Mexico and had my surgery with Dr. Chapa after my orignial surgeon, Dr. Sanchez was murdered. I had made my appointment and nobody thought to tell me this fact. But it all went very well! I was a self-pay as I was pretty sure my insurance wouldn't pay and/or I wanted to start right away. I have felt that the process has been wonderful and not too terribly difficult. Probably the major roadblocks are those that contributed to my being overweight in the first place...lack of self-discipline, lack of exercise, lack of portion control, etc. I had a 6 week plateau in the middle of this and just stayed stuck at the same weight and it appears I'm on another one. I started out with 2 cc's in my 10cc VG band. I have had three fills for a total of 6 cc's. I think I need another one in the very near future. My insurance hasn't paid on the fills ($200 a piece) and so I need to save up a bit. So, I'm down 42 pounds as of this morning. I'm walking 4 miles/ five days a week, so far. Exercise has not been consistent until recently. I finally remembered to take some measurements a month after my surger so I've lost 7 inches off my waist, 4 inches off my butt. I went from a 44 DDD to a 42DD. I feel like I should be further along, but I'm happy with what I've accomplished. I was wearing a tight 20 and going up and now I'm wearing lots of baggie cloths and some 18's. I am planning on losing 57 more pounds. I could not have done this without the band. I also couldn't have done as well without the support from here. I need to start making better food choices and not have my gin and tonic at night. I need to figure out some strength training to go along with my walking. I need to really pay attention to portion size. So, those are the things I will continue to work on. Thanks for all your support. Shawn

My DH and I do American Field trial...horseback/dog & (bird) hunting on a competive basis and just for fun. The weight loss has allowed me to ride more comfortably as well as no grunting from my horse. We do some walking bird hunting and since I'm on a walking exercise kick, I can only think it will help. I have more energy and feel lighter. I have a ways to go so I'm hopeful that it will feel even better and I'll have way more fun!! Sula

Girl 07, Have you counted calories? I was surprised at how many calories I was actually taking in (and still do at times) when I thought I was taking in about 800. It was well over 1200. When I'm watching it...1100-1200 is normal. I think checking your Water intake is also important. Another person on this site also said, if you're expending more energy (burning calories) than you're taking in, there is no way for you to not lose. You might need another fill as well. What does your Dr. say? I was banded in January as well and have lost 40-44 pounds...I'm bouncing on these four pounds lately. I also plateaued for about 6 weeks awhile back. But, I will lose more. You can do this as well. Sula Sula

Hey Dee, Welcome to the January crowd! I realized while reading here this evening that tomorrow is my 6-month anniversary. I'm going to have to ponder that to write of the journey! It is so nice to have some of the old-timers back amongst us. And great for the newbies to check in as well!! Shawn

So, what size do you think you'll be at when you reach goal? minus somthing? (like a - 2) )) Shawn

Olga, Great job. I am shaking my head in amazement. Your ticker says 195 and you're wearing a 10-12. Back in the day, I think when I was 120 (I might have been about 12 years old!!) that was when I could wear a 12. A few years ago...1996 or so, I did the phen/fen thing and got down to about 189 or something like that. I wore a size 16. Sizes are so confusing!! Shawn

I think it is important to look at the possibility that we do not see ourselves as others. I believe your "critical" eye is looking at you in the images and emphasizing the problems and not looking at the total image. Yes, we are overweight and don't look our very best but we are losing and will get to where we will feel better about ourselves...but maybe never love how we look even thin. I have a reverse image problem...I don't see myself as heavy as I am. Then when I do see a picture (christmas was tough) I am shocked at how huge I am. Tootarts..you are 30 pounds lighter than me right now. I've lost 44. I'm going to consider hitting 200, on the scale, a huge milestone. To be 190 I'd be ecstatic. I'm going use us to be my motivation today!!! Thanks! sula

Chrisell, Great job on the loss. I was banded on January 16 and am down a vacillating 40-44 pounds. I get envious of others who have lost more but I also know that some of they work harder at it than I do and that motivates me to exercise and eat properly. I have to tell myself..."when have you EVER lost this much weight and kept it off?" So, then I settle down and just decide that as long as I'm not gaining and I'm still working my program, it will come to me. AND I feel SO much better. Stick with it. You'll git-r-done! Shawn

Audree, Your full length picture is beautiful. You can really tell you've done well. Way to go!! Shawn

Renee, Awesome on the loss. I had planned on being a bit more aggressive on my fills but I find myself second guessing. I woke up last night with a feeling of restriction...in the middle of the nite!! Not much of an appetite but I ate a big taco salad for lunch. I'm behind on my water today but I'll catch that up tonight. Usually I'm better at doing it all day long but sometimes.... Anyway, I feel restriction, then I still eat too much. So it isn't really slowing me down enough...but I am eating less that I was before the last fill. I hear what you say about really having to slow down and eat carefully...maybe that is where the sweet spot is. My insurance isn't paying yet for the fills...they "requested more information" from the Dr. and since it took my Dr. till my third fill to actually bill my insurance (they require cash up front so why do they care if they take months to do their billing) I can imagine how long it will take for them to send the requested additional info. Money is a little tight cuz I just had to replace all the tires on the car, etc....so I'll have to wait. It is sooooo good to hear from some of you that have been AWOL... Thanks for coming back and sharing! Shawn

ShayDee, You don't have any support network where you live? Family, friends, co-workers who might like to go for walks? How did you get motivated to get the band done? Is it that you're happy with the 30 pound loss and think that is "good enough?" I have a sneaking suspicion that I will be battling this before too long. You know, being lighter than I've been for forever..so that is good enough..... I have to motivate myself. I do have a support system, but it is me that has to get up and get going every day and make the good food choices (which I'm struggling with) and exercising (which I'm pretty good about right now!). I set a goal for myself when I had this done, in January..that I wanted to be able to step up on my horse without using the bumper or a stump! I'm almost there...but I need to strengthen my butt muscles and thighs...so I got myself walking. I've lost 40-44 pounds..depending on the day... I get frustrated that I've not lost as much as others in the same time frame or that I'm not down a bunch of sizes... But I have lost more in the almost six months than I've EVER lost before..and I know I can keep it off. I am also more consistent with exercise and my mind set is good. I think committing yourself to someone else..whether it be on here, or a closer friend...and then being accountable. I also think that since I've spent so much of "our" money, I owe it to us to get after it and not give up. So, 30 pounds is terrific. And there is more losing to come...and you CAN do it. Sula

Well said Mark and I totally agree. I stalled out a few months ago for about 6 weeks (seems like longer). It stopped when I started writing down all my food/drink intake and counting calories. I stopped doing that a few weeks ago and, I'm stalled out again. Need to get with it. Start writing it ALLLL down. Stop doing liquids and eat solids, except for the 64 minimum oz of Water. Water really does help. Shawn

I don't know where I've been but I didn't know we had this thread...duh!! My goal is five days a week, 3-4 miles a day. I need to do some strength training but know I won't get to a gym. So, maybe in the evenings I'll do resistance training using my own body weight...push-ups, situps, squats, lunges, tricep-pushups... Shawn

Aubrie, The show is "Shall We Dance" and it is a wonderful romance and I wish we all could take ballroom dancing!! I think it is a wonderful idea to hit the pool..I wish I lived closer to one and could use it on a regular basis. I'd settle for a creek or river right now...too hot for me. Shawn

Hi all, I think that it is good to lose any weight...because without the band, I would be increasing in weight! So 40 pounds is terrific. I have lost 44 and I can't believe how much better I feel and how much more energy I have. I also just feel lighter...I don't have to expend quite as much energy to do the things I want and need to do. I have to emphasize what Sunshine/Tonya says...exercise. I am not a big fan, but when I'm doing it I enjoy it. And I have all the excuses in the world. But I think it boils down to us not putting US first or at least in the top three priorities in our days. Maybe we can't be in first place and make time for what we need/want. But most days we can get in those top few positions. I struggle with that every day. AND I'm busy. I am self-employed with my own therapy business...with no office staff or billing clerk. I have a husband who travels weekly so the bulk of the household falls to me. I have seven dogs..all bird dogs and we "trial" with them competitively, so training is non-stop. I also have 7 horses..two of which are 2 year olds that I'm training. There is feeding twice a day and cleaning corrals periodially. WE also have 20 acres which we produce a hay crop on and have to irrigate. How did I solve my dilemma? I get up at 6 in the morning and walk. I'm an early to bed person so I can get out of bed early. I LOVE mornings. BUT, I do what to emphasize as well...I struggle with consistency. I hope that I'm over the hurdle, but I'm sure another something will come up to throw me off stride. I do feel like I need to add some weight training but I just can't do the gym thing..so I'm trying to look at some alternative. I guess my point is that we have to make us and our health, mental and physical, a priority because nobody else will. Keep up the good work!! Shawn

Hi all, It is so nice to hear from all of you. I hope more 6-month-ers will do the same. I also think this is a great place for motivation and accountibility. Stick with us!! I've got to blow my own horn...I walked 12.5 miles last week on my walks. I took today off because I'm just pooped. It was 104 here yesterday and just being busy with everything, work, exercise, household, training horses, irrigating, I just wore myself out. Jeez...when I look at my list, no wonder!! Anyway, I feel like I've gotten into an exercise routine finally. My DH is going to school all next week, so I was thinking about doing some restrictive "dieting" like just doing liquids for that time frame. I'm stalled out again, probably from the exercise shock...and need to jumpstart my body a bit. At the support group that I have gone to, one of the old timers said he would go back to a liquid diet for a time to get off a plateau. Hope all are having a great weekend. Shawn

Juno, Great on the walking. I'm doing 3 miles a day. Takes me just a bit under an hour. I get up early so I will have no excuses. I know I will need to step it up a notch...I was considering this morning if I should get a heart rate monitor...then a person would/could work at optimal aerobic benefit. I was also considering hand weights. I read an article, many years ago, that the use of hand weights would double the calorie burn. I think, at the very least, it will tone your arms. We are supposed to hit 100 degrees today and 104 or so tomorrow. I'm walking EARLY! Shawn

Hey all, Happy 4th of July!! I spent the day in the saddle up in the mountains. We're not much into fireworks...too dry and we have lots of animals! The exciting part of the day was we saw a bull moose!!! Too cool! Hope you're all having a terrific time with family and friends. Shawn