2012

Thank you Missy, as always, insightful and intelligent answers. I didn't think of the before to after, just now and onward, so had a totally different perspective on it .

Am I understanding this correctly, the more you lose the more you have to exercise and eat even less than I already am to keep the weight off?

I just got on on eBay last night for $74.99, can't wait!

That's smart , I hope these are good as they look, I got a couple of different kinds and some Quest bars from that Lucky Vitamin place.

I'm back again, go to Lucky Vitamin, they have a lot of these on clearance at $3 something and the shipping (unless you plan on spending $25.00 at drugstore.com to get it free) is about the same price.

I think I will too , wish I had seen them last week when I put in an order for Blue Diamond almonds to get the free shipping. If you like almonds, the habanero bbq are awesome, low sodium, great net carb and good for you in moderation (I only eat 1-2 servings a day). The cadbury commercials have me hunting for chocolate, I love cadbury eggs, I found a substitute (here's a recipe if you are interested: http://healthyindulg...ury-creme-eggs/, the filling is a little too good), but these looked good too .

I just found these on Drugstore.com: http://www.drugstore...4?catid=184332. Has anyone tried anything from this brand? They look interesting.

March Challenge - Lucky to be Losing!

This might make you feel better, I work with a bunch of RDs and even a bodybuilder, so you can imagine the feedback I get . I'll listen to what they have to say, but I go by what my bloodwork and nutritionist tells me and I've been losing consistently, 87 as of today (woohoo!) and obviously I'm doing something right.

Name, real or screen~ Amy

Goal weight for March 31st~ 170

Weight on March 1st~ 174.4

Age~ 35

Dietary goal for March~ Eat more calories

Exercise goal for March~ walk 100 miles

Personal goal for March~ start strength training (going to try Cindy Crawford, Jillian is a bit too much right now)

Date banded~ 07/09/2012

Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 87

What is your good luck charm? My band

I hope it's net carbs, low regular carbs would be really hard I would think. At first getting my numbers to hit a max of 60 carbs a day was difficult even with using net carbs, but I have learned a lot and make it work pretty easily now. If you do end up doing net carbs, Fiber One original is pretty good, it's high in carbs, but when you deduct out the high fiber count (I believe it's 14 for 1 serving of 1/2 cup), it knocks down the carb count really well. I have it a few times a week and it helps with regularity. I like the taste and put it in yogurt for Breakfast, or just eat it alone, but it can be a little dry.

That is awesome and great to hear!! Did they tell you 2 years to get to goal and you beat it by a long shot? Great job!!

I personally just don't think it's anyone's business, it's my personal life, so I choose to not tell people, except for 3 people. My own brother doesn't even know because I know how he reacted to my mom getting gastric bypass. I'm not embarrassed at all and the same tools I use (HRM, MFP, walking, etc.) can be applied to others if they are willing to use these tools, but I know my history and needed my little friend to help and so far, so good.

Thank you Missy, I agree with you, but do still kind of feel the same way as Ashleigh. Since I've lost 85 lbs, I get a lot of attention, even from people I never talk to at work and when they ask, I just tell them I eat high Protein, low carb, and track every little morsel that goes in my mouth and that I'm walking for exercise. But in the back of my mind, I know my little friend around my stomach is helping me too. Yesterday was insane though,I finally wore pants and a shirt that fit and everyone, and I mean lots of people, were calling me skinny, I just wish my head would catch up and sometimes I really don't like all of the attention, I know they are being nice to me, but I'm not one that likes to be the center of attention; although, I left a very happy person from work yesterday, so maybe I do like it a little after all, lol.

If need to take something for the pain, you may something else going on, so It's good you are going to the doc soon. Gallbladders are removed because when losing large amounts of weight quickly, people are more susceptible to getting gallstones, and if you have regular attacks, they usually end up removing it. Not everyone has to have it removed, but there is family history in my situation, so I was more aware of this being a possibility for myself, I don't want to scare you or anything and hey they found it wasn't my gallbladder after all . I hope that all turns out well for you and it ends up being nothing, but you are taking the right steps and seeing your doc.

Great job!! I would love to see size 6, but even at my best and in a normal BMI range, I was a 10, but it's all good

I just went to the doctor last week and mentioned I have had this reoccurring dull pain on my right side and I had also started walking 2-4 miles a day at the same time and come to find out (my port is on the right), she said it's very common to have soreness in your port area from exercise. This might be something to consider when speaking to your doc. She said that sometimes it goes away for people as you get stronger, but it may always be there too. I make an effort to hold in my stomach while walking so it makes sense to me. I do not put anything on it, I just deal with the pain as it's pretty dull and not really painful, but I was more concerned my gallbladder was going to give me problems since I've been losing really well and as you have probably read on here, a lot of people end up having this removed.

Where is your port located? And have you been exercising?

Movies

Thanks Patty A new month, new goals and new challenge, I'm ready .

Checking in with no loss.

I went for a fill today and found out that my port is causing some dull pain on and off. I thought it was my gall bladder, then appendicitis, but come to find out it's from my exercising (walking 2-4 miles a day), I'm working the muscles and since the port is attached to a muscle it can be an irritating kind of pain, but nothing severe, and she said it will probably go away eventually as I get strong (I originally just sat around on the couch and now walk every day). But if you experience severe, then it's time for some x-rays. I talked to both my PCP and Lapband nurse, so I'm confident I don't have a major issue. But if you suspect something is wrong, please ask your docs because things can happen.

Great job!!

Thanks Lisa!

If you have problems, you could always ground up your shrimp and put it in something. I occasionally have problems with it if I don't pay attention and eat it too quickly and don't chew enough. And it's funny that you ask about cake as I just ate some of the scraps off of the cake I just baked and got stuck pretty good, guess I'm not eating the final product after all . Although, it had no icing, so that may have helped too.