nicole1

Ok so I just had my fill. According to their scale I have lost 4lbs in 4 wks. They gave me a .5cc I am up to 3.2cc in a 10cc band. Good news on the way home I started to drink a protein drink & heard that gurgle sound & started to feel full 1/2 way in! So maybe this time I will start feeling some restriction.

Ok, so I have returned to give you an update of my life. My 3rd fill was on 5/17 and was .7cc, which I had to beg for the extra .2cc. I was 212lbs at that time. Once I was off the liquids and puree I did not notice any difference really in my restriction, but I did feel full faster. I can still eat a typical breakfast and was told by my PA that the "sweet spot" is when it is hard to eat breakfast, so I guess I am not there yet. When I got sick I didn't workout for 2 weeks, or track my eating or anything really. I was in survival mode. Once I got better it was time to cram all of my work in before school got out. I am proud of myself for surviving the end of the school year without a big binge like I normally do. Typically the end of the year I have a lot of reports to write and I get very anxious so I use chocolate to get through it. I would put a king size bag of Hershey Kisses in my desk at work and one in my desk at home and every time I started to feel anxious or mentally blocked I would suck down a ton of them and I would feel better. This year I went for a walk or just too a break, duh!! It worked just as well as the chocolate used to. Last week I got really serious about exercising again and worked out 4 days!! I did not log anything, but I'll get there. So it has been 4 weeks since my last fill and I am at 209lbs, so a little disappointment, but I didn't gain!!! I have my 4th fill tomorrow and hope I can talk them into a full cc. So I vow today that I will start to log my food and water!! Yes my water has been low, low, low!! Now that I am back online I feel like you guys will hold me accountable and I think I need that little extra support to get started on the right track. Wow! I have missed you guys!!! I will post tomorrow after my fill appt.

I am still alive and well! I got extremely sick with Bronchitis and a sinus infection was just miserable for about 2 weeks, then the end of the school year happened and I was really busy. Today is my 1st day off an I just finish reading 98 entries!! So I will write more tomorrow!! I have miss everyone and I am so proud of all of you progress!!

Almost forgot! After my .7cc, now at 3.2cc. I do feel a little different I don't feel as hungry, but I can still eat a lot if I let myself. I hope to go back in next week for another fill. I am jealous that I have never gotten stuck! I never thought I would wish to feel like vomitting, but I look forward to the sign of being in the "sweet spot!"

Hello everyone!! Everyone is doing so well I am proud of you!! It sounds like we are all in the same boat we plateau, eat bad then loose a few lbs! Just like justdoit said it is a marathon not a sprint. We all have set backs but need to stop and look at the big picture. Last year I was embarrassed to wear my shorts in public so I live in capris. It has been hot & i tried last yrs short & they dropped to the floor!! I am also looking forward to the amusement park experience too!! Last summer I could not take my skinny 8 yr old student on the go carts because we wouldn't fit together. This year we will! Can't wait to feel the wind in my hair as we race around!! I have been off exercise for a week due to a skin infection caused by sweating to much, go figure! Now I have a cold. So that will be 2 wks no exercise & I have used it as an excuse to eat bad. So for the weekend I am going to eat right & get a lot of sleep. I figure a week back at the gym next week will probably break my plateau after not exercising. I have been lucky that I have not gained & look forward to getting back in the groove of things next week! I love you guys! I don't know what would have happened to me without you!!!

So I had my 3rd fill today. I have lost 10lbs in 6 wks & the doctor believes that is good but doesn't get that it is me doing that not the band. So we argued & he met me in the middle w/ .7cc today. He reminded me they are just very conservative but I can return in 3 wks instead of waiting 6 if I am still not feeling restricted. I can't afford to take the time off work but we will see if this helps!! I found out some good news!! I am a veteran and the VA medical center has a plastic surgery department. If I maintain my target weight for 6mths they will remove the excess skin for free!!! I am so excited!! I thought I would just have to live with it. Tummy tuck here I come!!

So I took my pity party to the mall. I bought 2 shirts size XL & 2 pair of capris size 16, not 16W but 16 in the regular womens section. So my scale can stuff it!! I look goooood!!!! PS I am still complaining tomorrow & demanding a full cc, enough of the .5cc every 6 weeks crap!!

Otaknam!!! I am so happy for you!! I remember when you first joined you were so disappointed and down in the dumps due to slow progress but look at you now!! That is a whole lot of inches!!! Congrats!!!

I wish I could give words of encouragement but I am in the same boat as most of you. I have my third fill scheduled for Thursday & I am going to complain. They only gave me 1/2cc total 3cc in a 10cc band last time. I did not feel different at all so to test it I ate a normal dinner that night & felt just fine so I skipped the crappy fluids & mushies to avoid hunger again. I hate being hungry that is one of the huge reasons for the surgery!! I truly believe it has all been willpower & I am frustrated I spent $20k of my hard earned money to just do it on my own. I have been stuck for about 2 wks. Don't get me wrong I have not been an angel with my eating but I am good with my exercise, protein & water. I thought the white knuckled stage would only last a few months, but here I am! I have been really stressed at work so it has not helped my mood. Sorry to be a downer but this is the only place I can complain & have someone actually understand my frustration. Ok pity party over! Thanks for coming everyone!!

I love love Healthy Choice Fudge Bars!!

Welcome Denise!! You have done so well! Congrats on all of you successes! Where do you live? What size is your band & how many cc do u have in now? Any problems with getting stuck? What is the key to your success and what still holds you back? Ok those questions should get you caught up. Oh the clothes question what are you doing about clothes as they get baggy? Any good deals you have see, hitting the goodwill or do you have yrs of saved clothes you are finally able to get into?

N2animals. I am going to spend part of my weekend digging up videos of easy muscle toning exercise u can do at work, while cooking & even at bath time. Sound like you have not been working on increasing your muscle mass & you might actually be loosing muscle. What you need is some simple muscle building exercises to get those muscles to burn off the fat & let it melt away!! Maybe I will have one of my kids film me while I demo some of my moves!!!LOL. I can do cardio 5 days a week & I only loose 1lb if that. With 2-3 days of weight training I am loosing my 2 lbs a week! My class is at 7pm. I get off work by 5 pick up kids fr practice make dinner & serve by 6:15 (I put my serving on a plate in the fridge for later) then rush off to workout. When I get home I barely make it through a shower, eat a few bites of dinner & crash by 9. It is a lot to juggle. But my kids know this is for me. And I do feel more energy the next day and a little sore but when I get on the scale I can say I made that happen not the band!!! Ok. I'll get off my high horse. Does anyone know how to post websites or videos on this thing??

Someone help me. What do all of the acronyms stand for?? NSV??? BID... Catch a girl up! I is like trying to read my kids text messages!!

I haven't tried the liquid fiber. I did try the fiber gummies but the gave me massive gas!! Does the liquid stuff gas you up? Congrats on the boots!! Now is a perfect time to shop for those riding boots they are all on clearance!! You have inspired me I want to go try some on!! Maybe I'll sneak into my daughter's shoe closet & try hers on when she is not around!! We are the same foot size!! I have totally missed my knee high boots. I used to love wearing them with my skirts. In fact I haven't worn a skirt in ages either. Maybe I'll try one of those on too! Well it is finally warm here in Oregon. I was not one of you smart girls and actually did give away all of my smaller sized about a year ago. So all of my capris fall to the floor when I tried them on. Yah they are too big. Boo I don't have any warm weather clothes!! So I went to the goodwill @ got 2 size 18 capris for $14! Both new with tags from the Gap!! Gotta love the goodwill! Drop off fat clothes at one door & pick up skinny clothes at the other!! So who had lost more than 50lbs?? I have lost 55lbs since starting the program last Aug. and about 40 of it was since surgery. I was excited to weigh myself at the gym tonight. I am down to 215lbs!!! I might still have a chance at making my 200 goal by 6/14/12!!! I love you ladies!! Have a happy health hard working week!!

I'm still here!! I have been sick & took a week off exercise but still made good food choices. I go back for circuit class tonite I hope the week off doesn't make it hard to get started again. Any suggestions out there for constipation? It is on & off & annoying!! TTYL

My next goal is to get as close to 200 by 6/13. My daughters graduation. Then buy a pretty dress to look nice for her. I have always felt like an embarrassment to her even though she never said anything so I want to look good at her graduation. I will have a larger variety of dresses to choose from since I will be in the 14-16 size range!! Love shopping!!

Ok so Jazzercises is not for me. I tried it twice and I am just not coordinated enough. The lady kept yelling "Keep your arms moving" All I could think was pick one my arms or my feet, but not both!! I am still doing the circuit training twice a week and elliptical 1 to 2 times a week, but I would like to do something different. I am thinking of a step class, I think I can handle up and down!! LOL!! I have a question, when you enter your workout (how ever you are recording it) does it give you more calories to consume? for example if I allow myself 1300 calories and enter into myfitnesspal a 90 min. workout it gives me 400 calories more to eat. That sounded lame to me so I changed it to zero calories. I kind of felt it was giving me an excuse to eat more. So I count the calories I have eaten and do not take into account how many I have burned, I don't need any permission to eat more or I will!! Good Luck everyone!! Off to circuit training!!

So I changed things up and it worked!! I did 1400 cal. on the day i workout and then 1200 cal on the days I don't workout & I am finally moving down on the scale. From 218 to 214!! I also increased my intensity on the elliptical by making my heart rate go up on average 5 pts. It was hard to maintain but I did it! I hope it keeps going down. I did not like the yo-yo!!

So I have been yo-yoing between 218 & 222 for the past 3 weeks. I have kept up my exercise and eaten pretty well & definitely gotten my water in. So I feel the pain of those who have plateaued. I talked to my trainer & he said this is typical & is what normal causes people to quit their diet or exercise routine. What is happening is I have become a creature of habit. I do the exact same workouts each week with no increase of intensity and I am a picky eater so my food is very consistent. All of this has caused my metabolism to adjust & flatlined. So I have to shake things up. Add some variety & different levels of calories. He suggested to do higher calories one day & lower the next & so one I have to change my workouts. Not just 45 min on the elliptical, but 45 min w/ a 5 pt average heart rate increase. So my goal for the next 7 days is to change things up. Maybe I'll try jogging at the track or try my 1st Zumba class. I will let you know if this helps!! My next fill is not until 5/17 so it is up to me & my will power to make it work.

Hello Everyone!! Thought I'd stop in for a quick update. I have been doing pretty good about my eating, I get a little needy for something sweet at night, but will either have a Healthy Choice 100 cal fudge bar or 60 cal pudding. My 3 fill did nothing for me. I am at 2.5cc in a 10 cc band, they are conservative and only put in .5cc every 4 wks. I can still eat anything, but do fill full for about 2-3 hrs. Willpower is still in full force!! I have only been exercising 4 times a week, but the days I do workout I am extremely sore the next day so I must be getting a good workout in. Family life still sucks, I am just working hard at keeping myself busy and remind myself it is my turn to take care of me!!! Erica and Bandito- I totally feel the stuck on a weight! I have been up and down 3lbs for 2 weeks, but I hope I can get over the hump like you did! JustDoIt- how exciting to be wearing smaller sizes. How low in sizes does you stash of clothes go? I gave up 2 yrs ago and just donated everything, so I have plenty to donate, but nothing to wear. The Goodwill and Consignment stores have been my friend!! Congrats Meredith on the 2lbs!! Hopefully I will be right there behind you!! Chrissy I am so impressed. I actually do not like to run I even have a new Nike shirt that says "Running Sucks!" But now that I am lighter I might actually like it! I will have to go to the track and give it a try. Apple, Pear??? I have no idea what I am, I am not an apple or a pear. yes my boobs have shrunk and my mid section have shrunk, and my tush, but my hips are all still there. Does that make me a pear? So I have heard great stuff about spin classes, I would love to try it, but due to an arm injury I can't, I highly recommend you give it a try!! As for the calories and exercise I have a hard time calculating all of that. I am trying to base it on my heart rate instead, by heart rate monitor calculates it for me, but I think it is on the low side. So wish me luck I am trying a Jazzercise class this week. I totally understand doing all of your exercising at home, I am like that too and it is part of why I got a personal trainer in a really small gym, no one would see me. I started circuit classes and every one is so busy with their circuit they don't have time to look at me. I will see if that is the same at Jazzercise! I am so excited for all of us! I hope this is the week I get below 220 and stay there! fingers crossed!!

We should meet some where there is a warm beach & hit the mall together to support each other in buying our 1st skinny bathing suit!! My last suit buying experiment did not end well. Last spring we went on a cruise so even though I never wear a bathing suit I had to have one for snorkeling. Went every where & nothing fit right then I found suits with bras in them @ LB. tried it on did the forward jiggle test, nothing fell out. Did the jumping up & down, nothing fell out so I bought it. Well on the ship by the pool I laid back in a lounge chair & the girls slid back towards my chin & fully exposed out of the snazzy bra!! Let's just say I wore a tank top the rest of the cruise & NEVER lounged back again!!

Mags I'm ok now just had to get it out of my system. I responded to ur personal message check it out it has more detail. Luckily I had my breakdown after 9pm while in pjs & there is no junk food in the house. So I was pretty safe from binging. I'm going to read myself to sleep & give myself a fresh start tomorrow Nite!!

Good idea Mags!! Where is everyone from? I'm in Portland Oregon.

I LOVE YOU GALS!! I was about to get on & complain about my bad day & temptation to binge, but after reading all of the posts I feel so much better!! You make me remember we all have good days & bad days but we have survived the worst. Even if today totally sucked emotionally overall I am loosing weight. I might not have control over my crappy home life but I am in control of what I put in my mouth & no one can take that away from me! All of you empower me! Ok now I am crying! Well off to bed & a new day!!

Welcome Shonda, Amica, Kganous, and Lady Penelope!! Sound like you are all in the same boat as a lot of us, white knuckling it and on pure willpower. Until we get to the right restriction, we are really on our own. If it wasn't for this website, I might not have lost as much as I have. Everyone encourages me to workout as much as possible, keep my protein up and drink all the water that I can (I am not good at the water thing). Well I suggest you post your basic daily meal plan and your exercise routine, maybe we can help figure out why you are not loosing as fast as you want. Horsegirl & Chrissy congrats on being the first to hit the green zone!! I can't wait to get there!! I am with you NJ2NC, still hungry, can eat what ever I want and as much as I want, I just choose not to. Well get to the green zone and will just have to rely on each other until that happens. Mags and Chrissy you guys are doing so amazing, you have lost so much weight! I am glad it is going slow and smooth, less likely to have that loose sagging skin!! JustDoIt- What would we do without you!!! Every time I log on you have so much positive inspiration!! You always make my day!! thank you for all of your support!! Well even though I did not feel any restriction after my mere .5cc fill I have kept up with my workouts and watched my food intake and I have suddenly have lost 4lbs!! so I have met my 4/25 goal! Thanks for the motivation Chrissy!! My goal will be to weigh in at 200lbs by 6/13, my daughters high school graduation when I will see my ex-husband after 11 years!! Have a good Week everyone!!