musicalmomma

Lets see if this works...It's me at our church picnic Aug 6

Well dang it...I can't seem to resize my pics...but you can see me on the avatar

OK...I actually HATE weight challenges. Because, in the past, I never made goal. Then I feel like a failure...BUT...I feel this is doable and if I don't make it, I'm not going to beat myself up. This is just to help me stay motivated! Name....Challenge start wgt....current wgt.....chall. goal.....To go. Huntersmom... 174...................174................159...... .....15 SWEETY.........202...................202.......... .....180............22 MJsafari..........268...................268....... ........238............30 captdanbo.......211....................211........ . ....185............26 PaulaD............216....................216...... ........199............17 Stefanie42467..206...................206.......... .....175............31 Suzzzie. .........346....................346......... .....315............31 glindab............277....................277...............250............27 MM.................242....................242...............227............15

OK...here's what we have thus far... Name…………Goal in Minutes…Completed…..To Go MM………………..750 …………..100…………..650 Captain Danbo……1800………..…335………….1465 Sweetie…………...1000…………...67……………933 huntersmom……….540.…………….0……………..540 Stephanie42767…..2000………..…100…………..1900 Suzzzie……………800……………..0…………….800 toniteach…………..450……………..0…………….450 brandotti01..………400…………….25…………...375

OK Folks ALL Junies have at LEAST one month since surgery, so we should all be exercising with consistency now...right??? *pointing finger right at myself!* There are 4 weeks and 2 days in August... I'll start the challenge off by challenging myself to 600 minutes. This will be tough for me, but it's not really a challenge if I make it easy right??? Thursday is my 39th birthday! I want to be FIT by 40! I have a year to get there and by golly, I'm gonna do this!!!!

my DH was 438 at his pre-op appt (banded 8/6 and down 43 lbs!). The doc told him that he may have to have his fills done under x-ray (fluro) because at his size, it may be hard to feel the port. At his 1 week post op appt, we talked to the surgeon about it again and he said he's had to do x-ray fills less and less as the years pass and felt DH wouldn't need x-ray fills. We shall see...

I lost 60 pounds once and 50 pounds once in my adult life. Those pounds came back quickly and with a vengence, delivering more fat to my butt and belly than before I lost it in the first place *sigh*.

:clap2: GREAT Post!!!!! You're so right! We not only need to relinquish toxic relationships with people...we need to relinquish toxic relationships with trigger foods! VERY inspiring!!!! Thanks Wendell

To play on the words of Forrest Gump..."Energy is as Energy does"...at least for me. I have LOTS more energy...BUT if I don't exercise for a couple of days, I start to feel lagged and tired again. If I exercise daily, I feel WONDERFUL, mentally and physically.

DITTO!!!!!!! I totally agree with you Tracy. You can find a "study" anywhere to support or debunk a particular subject. I know I'm a newbie to the band, but I am not letting any study dictate my personal stats. We all knew going into this (well we all SHOULD have known) that there are rules for the band the must be followed to acheive success. So, what does this study prove? That the rules weren't followed? Or that the band didn't work? OR that there were complications, causing weight regain? The stats aren't backed up with 'sub-stats'...like how many gained weight back because of complications/removal...or didn't follow the rules...or didn't follow up with their doc's and gaining proper restriction...or didn't exercise...etc. Yes, there are 'stats' and those stats aren't 100% EWL for all...but they sure are a hell of a lot better than the 5% or less of those who mantain weight loss on a diet, without medical intervention. I'll take it!!

I too am an ice cream fiend!!!!!! I love it and can't stop once I start! SO, you guessed it...I just have to lay off of it! I've replaced it with the 60 cal Jello puddings...they are surprisingly decadent! Anywhooo...back to you...you stopped after one medium blizzard! Pat yourself on the back!!! Even give yourself a little cheer! That in and of itself is a BIG step to self control! THEN you came on here and posted your weak feelings...instead of heading back to DQ! Way to go!!!!! And heck...if you did end up raiding the freezer after posting...this is just ONE DAY in your journey. Like others have posted...we need to stop being afraid of food. This will take time and as you get your fills and acheive optimal restriction, it will become easier. BUT, like me, if you LOVE ice cream, this will be a harder battle, as ice cream slides ever so heavenly through the band...(and lands hellishly on our butts!). Hang in there...band hell won't last forever

OOOOOPS! Tomorrow is the final day of August and will be the final chart post

Congrats to all who made goal, exceeded goal, came close to goal, and even gave it the "ole college try"!!!! August went by SO quickly!!!! September is almost here with 'back to school', putting away the summer clothes, taking out the fall clothes (that are ALL too big now!!!). SHOPPING SPREE anyone????? Here's the final stats...unless, of course, there are further posts after this on Name…………Goal in Minutes…Completed…..To Go MM………………..750 …………..795…………..-45 Ja9va………………960…………...735…………..225 Captain Danbo……2700………..…3275…………-575 Sweetie…………...1000…………...870…………..130 huntersmom………300…………….170…………..130 Stephanie42767…..1860………..…2305…………-445 Farmmomto2……..480…………….380…………..100 Beckiet……………400……………120…………...280 Suzzzie……………705……………740…………..-35 Dawneb……………600…………….0....................600 Cbm818…………...600……………..0……………600 Dakota1984………1000…………….0……………1000

DH and I were approved at different times. I was two months ahead of him. It would have been nice if we could have gone at the same time. The first week would have been a little tough, but being in different stages has been tough for us.

Great pics Stef!! What a great trail!!!! Ok everyone...be thinking of September's challenge...I'll be posting a new thread for it later this week :biggrin1: Name…………Goal in Minutes…Completed…..To Go MM………………..750 …………..795…………..-45 Ja9va………………960…………...735…………..225 Captain Danbo……2700………..…3275…………-575 Sweetie…………...1000…………...870…………..130 huntersmom………300…………….170…………..130 Stephanie42767…..1860………..…2185…………..-325 Farmmomto2……..480…………….380…………..100 Beckiet……………400……………120…………...280 Suzzzie……………705……………520…………..185 Dawneb……………600…………….0....................600 Cbm818…………...600……………..0……………600 Dakota1984………1000…………….0……………1000 I've been having a VERY difficult time staying motivated...

The truth may be discouraging...I'm 39...so I'd LOVE it if there were some miracle people to give me hope...but the truth is, even skinny people lose elasticity in the 30's. It would be a miracle to lose a lot of weight and have no extra skin. I've resigned myself to doing my best to tone, but understand that, at 39 and 4 kids, I am gonna have tummy hang and saggy boobs. It's inevitable. Surgery would pretty much be the only full fix. I don't know if I'll have surgery to correct it...I'll have to see how troublesome the hanging skin is...I won't do it purely for cosmetic purposes. I will do it if I get irritation due to friction and other stuff hanging skin causes.

I would also like to hear from people that were slow out of the gate, but are at their sweet spot now and doing well... I know all the "not a magic cure" stuff...It's just that some of us 'newbies' to the band get a little discouraged during the first few months while we wait to get to the proper restriction. Hearing from veteran's who've been there is very inspirational to us slow starters

I feel your pain Sweetie! I've been feeling quite similar. I've had two fills and can still eat a good bit! I am losing SO SLOWLY! But, I keep trying to cheer myself up by remembering that if I hadn't had the band, I'd be gaining weight! My surgeon told me that the first few months are trial and error and patience is key. I told him that I am NOT a patient person, but I'd try...then we both had a giggle. It's really frustrating to see people have great success right out of the gate and lose weight like crazy, when we're a little slower...but we are all very different and unfortunately you and I aren't quick starters...we will get there and we ARE moving in the right direction...no, not as fast as we'd like, but we're not gaining...we are losing...all be it s-l-o-w-l-y! Hang in there...we'll make it

Whoooops....DH forgot to log off when he was done...he's 'Whosyadaddy'...I posted the chart under his signature by mistake :biggrin1:

I LOVE LC's Almond Chicken...BUT sadly, I can't eat it any more The rice/broccoli combo gets stuck . I'm going to try the Balsamic Chicken tonight...here's hoping it goes down!

Worrying about what we look like exercising is fairly common. I had issues with putting on my swim suit and riding my bike too...then I thought...Hmmm, did I care how I looked to others when I piled my plate at the buffet???? Well, sure I cared, but I managed to do it...because I WANTED IT more than I cared about what "they" thought. So, I decided I wanted to be fit more than I cared about what "I thought" others thought. It's a struggle...but dang it, you're worth it...overcome that fear...it will be a victory with many benefits

This thread made my morning! I was feeling VERY alone in my misery! I've been looking for a job for MONTHS!!! I live in a small DYING community and getting even a fast food job is cut throat, much less an office job. I've been a stay at home mom for the past 8 years and that has seemed to make me a leper to these stupid employers! I can't even get an INTERVIEW!!! I'm enrolled with a temp agency and have an interview/testing with another temp agency next week. THEY can't even seem to find me a job! OH, they have jobs listed on their websites, but always come up with an excuse why I can't have THAT job...usually they tell me it's been filled....THEN TAKE IT OFF THE DAMN SITE YOU IDIOTS!!!! How the hell did THEY get their jobs yet I CAN'T get one...I am WELL qualified for MOST office positions! My youngest is going to all day kindergarten in two weeks and I do NOT want to sit in the house all day every day...there's just not that much house work to do! I guess after reading the office horror stories on here...maybe it's a mixed blessing, but I want to get out of debt!!!!! OH, Babygrl: Have you tried Activia? It has seemed to straighten me out intestinally

Ditto! It's not all that hard to abstain from drinking while eating when I'm well hydrated before the meal. The only time I have trouble is if I didn't drink enough prior to the meal OR if I don't take small enough bites OR eat too quickly.

LOL!! This is SO me!!!! I call this the "Ignorance is bliss" approach!

WAY TO GO Holliwagz!!!!!! 50 pounds!!!! You go girl!!! I'm thinking about going back on a liquid diet for a while. I am NOT losing...almost 3 months out and 7.5 pounds is just toooooooo slow for me!!! So, I was seriously considering going on a liquid diet until I drop 40-50 pounds and hopefully by then, would have proper restriction! Your post is SO inspiring that I'm even MORE seriously considering it!