lizzy2150

I love the elliptical machine at the gym--my knees are terrible, and the elliptical allows me to "run" without the impact on my knees. I also love, love, LOVE any pilates DVD by Ana Caban. I got the Beginning Mat Workout about ten years ago and still love using it--and now I have several other DVDs by her, too.

33 lbs since March averages out to 1 lb. a week, which is just right for the 1-2 lbs. a week we're told we should expect to lose. Seriously, even though it's not as fast as you want it to be, it's a GREAT loss. Just keep moving forward!!!!!!

I'm in again. I loved this last month--it was really motivating! Name, real or screen~lizzy2150 Age~40 Weight on October 1st~ 249 (I'll edit this if necessary) Goal Weight for October 29th~ 239 Exercise Goal for October~ Use elliptical at least 30 minutes a day, at least five days a week--in addition to attending yoga classes every week. Dietary Goal for October~Track everything that I eat or drink every single day. Personal Goal for October~Get back to writing every day (this month: revise last novel). Date Banded~July 6, 2011 Total Weight Loss Since Banding~19 lbs. (59 lbs since I began this journey!)

Final check-in at 249.

I'm in! I didn't quite meet my September goal, but knowing I could log the miles here gave me the impetus to keep going when I wanted to quit. I love, love, LOVE these kinds of challenges!

My knee is getting better--and I've continued to log the miles I've done on the elliptical. I'll be here for the October challenge, too.

Seriously? You're upset because you've "only" lost MORE THAN 20 LBS SINCE JULY? I know that we all want this process to move faster, but it's not healthy to lose weight too quickly, either. I often wish I were losing weight more quickly, but losing slowly beats not losing at all!!!!

I don't know if you'll need to have it to get the surgery, but I have to say: I resisted getting a CPAP for years. Now that I have it, I LOVE LOVE LOVE how much better I feel from using it. I had to get it when I was pregnant and it took a while to get used to it, but now I'd never sleep without it.

I go out to eat with family and friends regularly and enjoy it as much as ever. I don't eat as much as I used to, so I often take home leftovers and enjoy them again the next day. I don't feel deprived at all.

Something that I've noticed is that I cannot control my blood sugar following the diabetic diets that are generally recommended to me. My uncle, the other diabetic in our family, has the same experience--we have to eat VERY low carb diets to keep our blood sugar under control. So one thing I would suggest is checking your blood sugar obsessively after every meal for a few weeks and record the number & write down what you ate. That way you can figure out what foods cause your blood sugar to spike and what foods don't. Keep us posted as you figure all this out--one of the things I love most about this site is sharing information with other people in similar situations.

Checking in this a.m. with no change in weight--still 249. Curse this ToM business!!!! My other goals are coming along nicely. I've been going to the gym six days a week. Even when my knee starting hurting (I think it was letting me know that I'm still too heavy to run on it!), I just rested for a day and then switched over to the stationary bike and elliptical machines and went easy on it until it felt better. I've signed up for a parent/child swim class beginning the week of October 4 as part of the "finding active things to do with my 16-month old." I log in to myfitnesspal.com every day and track my food and exercise.

Have you looked into alternative Protein sources? I use Protein shakes for Breakfast (when my band is too tight for solid food). I'm allowed light, protein-rich Snacks, so I will eat soy butter on apple slices (I'm allergic to peanuts, but Peanut Butter would work, of course)--the soy butter is too sticky on crackers, but on apples it's just right (just be sure to peel the apples!). I'm also deeply fond of Revival Soy Chips: http://www.revivalsoy.com/products/chips/ . I eat a bag of them (100 calories) with one or two rounds of Mini Baby Bel light cheese. It's my current lunch of choice. I love Greek yogurt, so I usually eat one of those a day. I like an ounce or so of salmon mixed up with a wedge of Laughing Cow Herb and Garlic cheese and served on Blue Diamond brand Nut Thins (crackers, but thin and crunchy and lower carb). I think the key is to be creative.

Ugh. Twisted my knee over the weekend. Boo, hiss! I've switched over to doing the elliptical trainer because it's easier on my joints, but I've decided to count the miles on that, too. In fact, I plan to count any miles I travel using my own body as locomotion.

Ooh! I want to do this with you in October. And I'll finish out September with you, too. (Going off to figure out this week's miles and add them to a ticker!)

Jessie: Just doing a little math here--in four months, you've lost 35 lbs. That's a little more than 8 lbs a month, or 2 lbs a week, which is exactly what we're supposed to expect to lose. You say you don't have any restriction, but clearly something's changed, right? Honestly, it sounds like you're exactly where you're supposed to be. Most of us don't get good restriction until three or more fills into the process. My dr. is fairly aggressive with fills, and I feel very little "restriction" after two fills--I eat bread and Pasta (albeit in limited amounts, and I don't drink soda). I don't eat as much as I used to, though I'm sure I could if I tried. I agree with Dave_NW (who usually gives excellent advice from what I've seen): tell your surgeon about your concerns, have him check the amount of Fluid currently in your band, and see what happens with the next fill. Also, if you haven't already, read this: http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-eating/lap-band-not-restriction/lap-band-and-restriction.html. It's the best information I've seen on the idea of "restriction." Good luck, and keep up the good work!

Checking in at 251--down one pound. Also doing well with the other goals--I've been going to the gym six days a week and taking a yoga class twice a week. I also, for the first time in YEARS, actually ran a tiny bit during my 5K on the treadmill on Tuesday. So yesterday I went and got fitted for good running shoes. My personal goal of doing active things with my 16-month old is also going well. Yesterday, I took her and my mother (who had a double knee replacement in July and is also looking for active things to do as she builds back up to walking regularly) to the children's museum, which has a toddler area full of toys and Water tables and reptiles enclosed in terrariums. Lots of fun playtime!

I know that most people are checking in with a weight, but I want to use this thread as a means of keeping me accountable for ALL the goals I posted. So: Weight: 252 (down 2!) Exercise Goal: Joined the local Y and have been to yoga classes and used the treadmill. Dietary Goal: Have tracked food intake every day. Personal Goal: Got family membership for the Children's Museum and taken toddler there twice to run around and play with the toys and exhibits.

I'm a slow loser, even with fills and (what I think is) proper restriction. I seem to be averaging about 7 pounds a month. It gets frustrating sometimes, but it beats the heck out of steadily gaining! I'm focusing on how much better I feel and on continuing to exercise regularly and eat right. Some days that's easier than others.

Ugh. I had my first full-on "PB" yesterday. Disgusting!! It was made worse by the fact that the PB made me vomit. Yuck, yuck, yuck. At least I was at home when it happened!

I don't have any surgical information, but doing pilates regularly actually slimmed down my ankles & calves quite a bit. I started with the Beginner Mat Workout by Ana Caban.

Name~lizzy2150 Age~40 Weight on September 1st~254 Goal Weight for September 29th~246 Exercise Goal for September~Join a gym; add a yoga or pilates class to my routine Dietary Goal for September~continue tracking every day on myfitnesspal.com Personal Goal for September~find active activities to do with my 16-month old. Date Banded~7/6/11 Total Weight Loss Since Banding~14 lbs.

My surgeon (who has a lapband himself) specifically suggests that we have a protein shake for breakfast. He (and the nutritionists in his office) suggest 70-75 grams of protein each day, which is more than most suggest, I think.

Oh. I HATE that!! Last month, I kept eating muffins. Costco muffins. Roughly 800 calories each. They're in my freezer as leftovers from a baby shower brunch I hosted; mostly I ignore them. But not when I had PMS. *sigh*

Have you considered looking into gastric plication? That's currently my go-to plan if the band ever causes me trouble . . .

I drink Crystal Light Pure--I wasn't able to drink many brands of sugar-free soda because I'm allergic to nutrasweet, but pre-banding, I LOVED Dr. Pepper and Limeades from Sonic. I don't miss them at all now. The other day at a party, I tasted literally a drop of Dr. Pepper from my husband's glass and wasn't all that interested in it. And when I go to Sonic now, I order an unsweet iced tea with lemon and sweet-n-low.