lilmispcl

LOL Thanks!! I'm always teasin' the guys at the gym not to forget "leg day". The legs have such big muscles...build them and burn more calories just existing. I love strength training! Won't get bulky but lean with definition is on it's way!

A little picture fun from my trip to Las Vegas. All of these are NSVs! Extra seat belt!! Pics with friends!! BATHING SUIT at the spa!! Taking the stairs!! Living life at a healthy weight could not be more fun!! I love reading everyone's NSVs!! Thank you everyone who shares on this site! It has been SUPER inspiring along the way!!

So I had the PLEASURE of flying for the first time since losing weight! Ohhhh the NSV's were COUNTLESS! Well not countless cuz you can bet your sweet bippy I noticed every single one!! Starting with the preparation...no anxiety about taking up too much of the seat next to me! Then going through TSA and the agent does a triple take of my I.D. so I tell her "It's okay, you can tell me that looks NOTHING like me!" ... and she says "It doesn't! I mean I can sorta tell it's you but...." so I said "I've lost 110 pounds!" She was sooo nice and told me how amazing I look and congratulated me! That was one TSA experience I enjoyed....probably the only one in the history of TSA. Anyway...then there was the removing of the shoes that I used to loathe because tying my shoes used to be a big chore...NOT ANYMORE!! I can take those puppies off and on and tie them NO PROBLEM!! I do it for fun sometimes! Well not really but I could if I thought it were fun. I couldn't wait to board the plane! When I got to my seat it was sooo awesome to see extra seat on both sides of my ass!!! Not a chance there was gonna be any of me spilling over into the passengers seat next to me! Then the seat belt...I heard the angels singing when I clicked the buckle and had to pull it tight...soooo much left over belt! I took a picture! LOL This was THE best trip of my life. I spent 4 days in Vegas enjoying the spa in a bathing suit with ZERO thoughts about my weight. It felt AMAZING to truly be able to relax an enjoy myself. Negative thoughts used to consume me...everything I did brought about thoughts about my weight. I'm so happy to be living without those thoughts anymore. I can do anything! I FEEL amazing and that is priceless!

Just for fun I decided to drag out my old pants. I can fit myself and my kid in them! I've gone from a 24/26 to an 11/12. This was a fun little reminder of how far I've come.

My mind has wondered to all my NSVs of 2013 all day!! I had surgery April 5th and my greatest NSV was finally making the decision to have the surgery!! Overcoming that fear, financial worry and other people's opinions was by far the greatest non scale victory! That NSV has led to countless NSVs over the following months. I spent the summer at the pool with my kids in a bathing suit, I went back and rode a roller coaster I was kicked off of because I didn't fit, I am able to wear my wedding ring again, a bath towel wraps around me, I can tie my shoes with no problem, I started my exercise regime with walking and now I can sprint at 11 mph on the treadmill, my daughter shows me her muscles and says "look I have muscles like you", I can dry my jeans in the dryer, I can shop in the regular section (down to a 13/14 from a 24/26), I look forward to getting up every day and I'm not ashamed to see myself in the mirror, I don't avoid going grocery shopping and wait until after midnight when the store is free of people, I am active with my children. I can keep going for days! My NSVs have changed my life in ways most people can't comprehend. I work very hard and use my band as a tool to keep me from binging. I have never had a fill. I workout 4-6 days a week now and I loosely follow Chris Powell's carb cycling plan. The band isn't losing the weight for me, it sure helps but I take credit for every drop of sweat I have left in my gym since I joined at the end of May! Lol 103 pounds gone and never going back! 19 pounds left to lose!

I have not had a fill so I don't have much restriction and can eat anything I want. I limit my eating out to once a week at most and only on my "cheat day" when I allow myself up to 1000 extra calories. This day is usually Saturday or Sunday. I usually make a healthier meal selection like grilled chicken of some sort but I do enjoy the appetizer as well. My favorite is going out for mexican food and having chips and salsa.... I work hard all week staying focused on my goals and eating clean and my cheat day is great. This Saturday I plan to eat a bacon cheeseburger for a late lunch/early dinner. Haven't had one in months....we'll see how it goes! LOL

This ties into my belief that it's their own fault. If they had a medical explanation they would share it. When it comes from not following the rules there is no explanation other than that and they don't want to admit that they failed. When doing your research, just ignore horror stories with no medical detail and valid explanation. You can drive yourself batty with worry if you don't.

Here's what I think. Im sure this will piss off a few people..but it's just my opinion. I don't mind hearing success stories because you know for certain that those success stories are earned...the band does not lose the weight for you. You have to work for it and your success is truly up to you. I am skeptical of the "horror stories" because far too often in this day and age people do not want to accept responsibility for their actions. They would rather place blame than accept that their choices land them where they are. I am NOT saying that some people don't honestly have fluke issues but I believe in my heart that the majority of people that are not successful with the band is because they are not doing what they are supposed to do...but they would never admit it. I think the reason the DR's don't stress the risk factors is because they are so minimal in comparison to the potential for a life changing and often life saving procedure. I don't think anyone that is not 100% committed to changing their behaviors should consider any kind of surgical procedure and certainly don't knock it when it doesn't work out for you. You have to be ready...mentally. I read this forum for a long time before making my decision. I shed countless tears wondering if I was making the right choice and I was scared from the horror stories. BUT...you have to take risks in life. I KNEW I was going to follow the rules...without fail. This was my risk and it was the best decision I have ever made. I pray that I never become one of the few that has a legit fluke issue. As for now, I am incredibly happy, and I feel I am a success story that 5 months ago I just read about and desired to be. You can be too!!

AWESOME!! Thanks for sharing your success!!! Love hearing positive people sharing their results! Keep up the good work!!!

I'm in Springfield

I dont think anyone would know I have the band from watching me eat either. I intended to get the band and never get a fill and so far I have succeeded. My band keeps me from binging but I control the quality and for the most part the quantity. Some people who do know I have the band wonder how I eat what I eat because they think that it keeps you from eating anything...not the case. LOL ... So for the holidays I plan to make healthy versions of the favorites and plan for my weekly guilt-free day to be on the holiday You can do ALOT with 1000 extra calories!! Also, I will plan to have early meals...like around 3p instead of 6 or 7pm. The earlier I eat those extra calories the better!

I think the best thing to do is start with a calorie goal of 1200 and do not increase that based on your exercise. If you find yourself hungry then maybe increase it a little. I have never eaten my exercise calories because that just does not make sense to me if you are trying to lose weight. LOL so I ignore that part of MFP and stick to my own personal intake goals. I use MFP to track other factors that seem to be important in my success and that is carb and sugar intake. I follow Chris Powell's turbo carb cycle plan and it is working like a charm. I am losing approx 4 pounds per week....consistently. I am never hungry and have lots of energy. I think since everyone is different you just have to test things until you find what works for you. Weightloss is not a one size fits all plan. Trial and error. But as long as you are watching your calories and getting your exercise in you will stay on the path of loss even if you have to tweak things now and then. Best of luck to you! Hope you find your sweet spot soon!!

Im in southwest MO! Best wishes for a smooth surgery!! This journey is as amazing as you make it!!! Good luck to yoU!

ME!!! I'm totally obsessed with mine too! I have had it a week as of tomorrow and I have actually gotten out of bed at 10 minutes to midnight to burn an extra 70 calories to hit my calorie goal! LOL I love it!! I did learn that if you set a 15k step goal for the day you gotta get to work on those early in the day or you will be on the elliptical at 10pm! Ha! I also use a Heart Rate monitor (Polar FT4) while I am exercising and that is also very motivating because you know just how hard (or not) you are pushing yourself. Then it tells you how many calories you burned based on your weight and heart rate. LOVE IT!!

I just got an email from the center where I exercise asking if I would be willing to be the Spotlight Member for the October newsletter!!! ME!!??? I can not believe it. Granted I have been there almost every day since May 24th but Im soooo flattered and proud and just cant believe it! 5 months ago I didnt want to go to the grocery store and now I will be in the spotlight!! So crazy! I'm sooo excited! I am working really hard and it's amazing when other people notice! Seriously never could have imagined I would be in the spotlight for a fitness article!! MIND IS BLOWN!!! Push yourselves!! This journey is AMAZING and it only gets better!! This feels so much better than french fries taste!! Feeling proud today that is for sure!

I ended up purchasing the flex and a new heart rate monitor...I got the Polar FT4. I love them both! I only use the HR monitor when I am actually working out and I use it's calorie burn info . Super excited about them. I love the flex because it motivates me to get steps in (so basically get off my arse during the day) and it does track me on my elliptical. I also wore my HR monitor doing housework and intentionally added short sprints down the hall and jumping jacks between chores to keep my heart rate in the target zone. LOL ... It was quite hilarious and I bet I looked like a total freak. LOL Sure made the norm a little more fun!

I can not stop crying!! What an emotional day! I am overwhelmed with joy! To think back to how run down and depressed I was less than 6 months ago. I was in such a dark and scary place for so long. I dreaded little things like going to the grocery store. I would go late at night so less people would see me. I carried sooo much guilt and shame. I was embarrassed to pick my kids up from school because I never wanted to be "that" mom...and there I was. I would get comments from the kids when I would volunteer to help...one little girl asked me if I was having a baby and when I said no she asked why my belly was so big. Can't blame her but it still hurt. Now 5 months post op and I am feeling incredible! Inside and out!! ONEderland is a ONEderful feeling. If you are on this journey, PUSH yourself! Find that wall and break through it! YOU can do it!!! Don't waste time at the gym just getting by...WORK HARD while you are there. Make the most of the time you have! If you haven't started your journey...dont wait any longer! The days are going to pass and you can't get them back! Just start...every journey begins with just a single step....TAKE THAT STEP TODAY!!! YOU WONT REGRET IT!!

I have heard great things about the zip but I have to have one that is a bracelet.

My reward for hitting my goal of ONEderland is one of these activity trackers. I am on target to reach this goal with my weigh in on Saturday morning! WOOHOO!!! So, I need your input!! I was sold on the UP but now I have read many comparison reviews and am leaning toward the Flex. Which tracker do you use? What do you love about it and what do you not like? Thanks!!!

In fall of 2011 I was kicked off a roller coaster because the safety bar would not secure because I was too fat. It was the most humiliating thing ever! My son was so upset that we couldn't ride and I felt like the worlds worst mom. Well today we went back and I rode that coaster with my kids!!! Happiest day ever! In the cart behind my minis! This is living!