musicalmomma

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

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*.

...In areas that do not work well with substitutions, abstinence is really the only way to do it.

I agree with Jack when he states that the longer a person is away from something, the less they will miss it. I had to do that with Butterfinger bars, because that was the one food that I simply had no control over.

I posted this about that:

I am in mourning.

Mourning something that I loved for 51 years.

Something that brought me extreme pleasure, joy, comfort and satisfaction.

Something that I thought would never hurt me, never criticize me, never let me down.

Something that I loved.

Butterfingers.

Oh, how I loved them, their chocolate, the taste of crunchy-crisp sweet peanut.

I was hopelessly addicted to them.

But then one day I woke up and realized something.

Butterfingers were not my friend.

They were CONTROLLING me.

Keeping me FAT.

Making me MISERABLE.

Making me feel WEAK.

Taking my POWER AWAY FROM ME.

So I did the only thing that I KNEW would work.

I let them go.

And it's NOT EASY.

And I STRUGGLE with the TEMPTATION

AND IT'S HARD TO LET GO.

But I just keep reminding myself that I promised ME that I would do WHATEVER IT TAKES.

WHATEVER IT TAKES.

And in this case, IT TAKES LETTING GO.

: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.

I may get flamed for this...... but I think if you are LOOKing for the negative.. you will find it.

I choose to look for the positive, because I WILL FIND IT.

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

OK, September is upon us! Time to think about your exercise goal.

I decided to make a goal of 30 mins 6 x per week. Total of 750 minutes.

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

I make sure I have had plenty to drink before my meal also. I tend to be a lot less thirsty while eating and immediately after when I do this. The other thing is I only get Water when going out to eat, sometimes I will have just enough to wet my mouth but no more than that.

It takes some getting used to but you can do it, and will notice you stay full longer if you do.

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.

I weight daily when I'm losing and not as often when I'm at a standstill. LOL

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

I had my 2nd fill Mon 8-20. I had 1.5 cc in a 4cc band and he added another .9 cc soooo I have a total of 2.4cc I'm still on the liquid phase which I think is a CROCK but oh well! I did have some creamy chicken noodle Soup last night and that was WONDERFUL!! LOL I could feel the restriction w/ the soup WOOOHOOOO I sure hope it stays! BTW I know I posted it in the main page but I've lost 50 lb!! I'm sooo psyched!

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!

Name…………Goal in Minutes…Completed…..To Go

MM………………..750 …………..627…………..123

Ja9va………………960…………...735…………..225

Captain Danbo……2700………..…2750…………-50

Sweetie…………...1000…………...870…………..130

huntersmom………300…………….170…………...130

Stephanie42767…..1860…………1660…………..200

Farmmomto2……..480…………….380…………..100

Beckiet……………400……………120…………...280

Suzzzie……………705……………290…………..415

Dawneb……………600…………….0....................600

Cbm818…………...600……………..0……………600

Dakota1984………1000…………….0……………1000

Captain D: WOW :omg: you look fabulous!!!! What GREAT places you have to hike! I'm envious

Sweetie: I am now having trouble getting off my butt!! I haven't excercised since last Saturday! My parents came in for a visit and while I wasn't sedentary, I didn't do any real exercise AND didn't watch my calories...AND the scale shows it! Back on the bike today!

Stef: YES! TOM just takes ALL my resolve. While my parents visited, so did TOM! SO I have sub-zero motivation. I was feeling pretty low about it, then I read you guys' posts and well...time to suck it up! I guess I just feel like I had surgery almost 3 monts ago and I only have 7.5 pounds to show for it.

Suzzzie...I didn't make it either...but I'm doing MUCH better than I was last month.