enjoythetime

You're not alone on your journey of learning to let go. This is something I've really focused on since the day I got my surgery. It's a daily struggle. Speaking only for myself I think my whole need to be control over everything spiked while I was working on eating my way to the heaviest weight of my life. I found it was much easier to try and control EVERYTHING and EVERYONE around me then it was to control myself from eating. It took the focus off of me and my inability to control myself. Now that I've regained control of myself and my eating I'm struggling to let go of everything else around me. Does this even make sense to anyone???? For me control also ='s passion, care and fear all in one package. I feel like if I take control of everything it shows everyone in my life how much I care; and the fear is if I don't take control what will happen will it be mistake as me not giving a damn. The only problem regardless of what I'd like to think, is that I'm not in control of anything or anyone. So why can't I let it go?????? I'm really working on it. Lisa, I can hear how much care and passion you have when you get on this board and offer your honest advice! It's wonderful! You're wonderful! Should I break out into the Frozen Let it go song now:-)

Brought my tennis shoes to work with me so I can take it up a notch on the exercise. I had a frustrating kind of morning today. I know some of you will think wow, she's being too OCD but that's just me. I've been battling the yo-yoing of 4 stubborn lbs for 2 months now and it's driving me crazy. Yeah I know big deal 4lbs but for me it isn't about the 4lbs its the fear that it will keep creeping and creeping so I want to get it under control now. I had lost 1.5lbs of that since getting back on track with my Water so this morning when I weighed myself it went back up exactly that 1.5lbs. So frustrating especially when I know I'm doing everything possible, tracking calories and water which are on point and added exercise which I haven't done at all throughout my weight-loss. The only other thing I can think of is I need to add in more unprocessed protein. So for me and my busy schedule it's easy to grab a Protein Bar for lunch a weight watchers or deli turkey for dinner but maybe this is where the problem lies?? What are your opinions? My goals for today are: Get over the # on the scale! Don't let it steal my joy! Actually cook dinner with fresh unprocessed Protein. Grab a salad with grilled chicken for lunch vs. eating the turkey meat I brought with me to work Get my water in Exercise- 30 day Shred and add in stairs Let's rock it!

Ending the day on point. Got my workout done, 1165 calories & 85oz of Water. @@bacon my advice wait and only weigh at your Dr. Take it from someone for the first year 1/2 only weighed in at the dr. Then they spaced my appointments out and I couldn't stand it so I broke down and bought a scale, now I can't stay off it. It was one of the worst things I could've done. I never saw the stalls, ups and downs because I weighed once a month now I feel like I'm a slave to it seeing every flaw. I tried to hide it but that didn't work. I guess I need to have my husband throw it out since I can't do it!! Oh btw, GEUX Buckeyes!!!! Were huge OSU fans!!

Head hunger is a daily battle, unfortunately it's something that's always going to be there we just have to learn as we go the best way for us to deal with it. When the ugly monster rears it's head at me I immediately get up and do SOMTHING, ANYTHING, just to occupy my mind. I'll drink a bottle of Water, then move on to something like vacuuming, laundry, crafts, call a friend and chat, etc. I find that typically if I can get my mind off it for 5-10 min. I've gotten over the biggest hurdle. However, if I find that I'm still feeling hungry after all of my attempts to divert it then that's how I know I'm it's truly my body telling me it's hungry so I make the best choice possible. The other thing I will say and I say this with caution is.....don't restrict myself. This isn't a diet; all those years of saying NO to whatever you're craving didn't work that's why we have the band, so use it. Now don't get me wrong I'm not telling you to cave every time you have a craving but if you really are wanting something to treat yourself once in a while is OK. We have to learn to live and balance our new lives and restricting ourselves in my opinion is just a recipe for failure! We don't have to be perfect to get healthy that's where the band does it's part.

Today's Goals: 80 oz of Water 1200 calorie target 30 day shred video @@JustWatchMe I wasn't blessed with coordination either my dear, in fact I'm dangerous to be around when doing any kind of activity. Last night we were doing (what I call bicycle crunches) oh man I was a sight:-) Oh well the kids thought it was funny. I think letting everyone know what my ultimate goal that I'm working towards will hold me more accountable than anything. I was looking at swimsuits the other day and found the CUTEST blinged out one ever (I'm all about the bling:-)). I can't wear it though. I'm at my goal weight, but I still can't wear some of the things I would love to due to the skin issue. So.....it's SUPER important to me to try and get myself moving. I really don't want to go through surgery for skin removal so I really need to give it all I have before I have to make that decision. Will it work?? I don't know but one things for sure I can say at the end of the day that I gave it all I had and if surgery is the only option then that's the option I will take. So, my long-term goal is to do this 30 day shred EVERY DAY for the next 30 days at level 1, then 30-days at level 2, then 30 days at level 3. If I don't feel challenged (which I doubt) then I will move on to T-25. I may even add in some stairs or walking when it gets nicer. This will put me into the middle of May. I know not everything is going to be perfect in 90 days BUT if I'm faithful I should be able to tell a world of difference. So, this is what I really need help with. I appreciate this thread so let's keep it up. What is your ULTIMATE goal that we can help you with???

So far today Exercise: 30 day shred complete 64oz of water-will have another bottle to hit 80 Calories 1000 Thx ladies and gents for holding accountable (aka kicking me in the a $$) Just what I needed!!

@@JustWatchMe and @@s_suther Dang look at you girls being all tough today;) GOOD for you AND me!!! Kick my butt in gear!!! You must know how my brain works;) I WILL report back this evening and I'm scared so ill have a good update...haha;)

I did OK over the weekend. Stayed on target with my calories. Didn't get my exercise in and fell short on my Water intake. I could soooo tell it this morning. You know that swelled feeling in your hands when you wake up, yep that was me today so time to refocus and get back at it. Today I WILL get my water in I WILL not go over my calorie target of 1300 for the day I WILL do some form of exercise

Heeeeey ya'll;) Happy VDay to everyone! Well I made it through two kiddos valentine parties with no candy, ice cream or cookies. I even bought cookies for my office at my favorite bakery and walked out WITHOUT their famous cake, that was a first so I'm pretty proud of myself! On a slacking note not doing good with the exercise I knew this was going to be my biggest strugle so I'm going to start a calendar to count down the days till summer. Doing great on calories and water this week. Just need to get myself moving. Today is cleaning day so that will count for today;).

I saw this quote tonight and love it!!!! It should remind all of us that no matter how slow, fast, hard or easy our success is if you never give up you can't be beat. Just keep on keepin on and theres no way anything can beat you; not a person, not your situation, not the number on the scale!

My signs vary. I really have to pay attention. Most of the time its a burp but if I'm working while eating or am distracted with something sometimes I'll go too far and that stop right away feeling is pain in my left arm from my vargous nerve.

@@JustWatchMe you just gave all of us a great tip!! Getting up mid way through your meal to give your mind a moment to "talk" to you!! I'm going to start doing this! Thx!

Oh how my taste buds and likes have been changed since surgery!! I used to NEVER eat veggies, now I love them. I used to dispise yogurt and now a day without my yogurt and trail mix is like someone in the prebanded days taking my chocolate!! The things I turn to are: Boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs. I make fajitas with no tortilla, chix salad, etc. Cauiflower Broccoli Squash & zuccini with garlic, onions, carrots, rosemary with a splash of olive oil baked. Salad Tilapia Turkey or chix burgers Turkey rollups with cheese Shrimp Yogurt with trail mix Mini egg muffins with spiniach cheese onions and jalepinos I do LOVE my Quest bars I have completely eliminated not because I can't eat them but now have no desire to All bread I've had Pasta 2x in 2 years Rice pizza

Tonight I came home and thought I was starving so I grabbed a quick weight watchers meal and an oz of cheese. When I finished I was amazed at how totally satisfied I was (am). How crazy is that???? Even though this has happened to me multiple times its still hard for me to believe!! No matter how hungy I am I can still only eat a certain amount. Why??? Not because it restricts me from eating more but because I've learned to listen to my band, know the signals and STOP. Before the band I would've snacked while cooking, then helped myself to a full plate or TWO, had dessert and still grazed until bed. Its simply amazing how this band has changed my life in so many ways. Its ah mazing!!!!!!

What you're feeling is completely normal. You do have to commit yourself 100% to making the right choices the band is just a tool to help you along the way BUT ONCE IT'S PROPERLY ADJUSTED will make making the right choices so much easier!!! Right now you're doing what we've all done over and over again, diet without any assistance once you have the band you will have the edge you need to succeed. Just stay positive and believe in yourself and you will do great!

Love seeing all of these wonderful victories! It's so encouraging! Mine would be a friend of mine told me the other day, I can't even remember what the old Monica looked like anymore. The way you are now is how I know and picture you the old is gone and this is the new norm. I thought this was great because in the beginning my weight loss was the topic of discussion for everyone who saw me, even on a daily basis, now this is just me it's who I am. Love that!

Wow! Very powerful, inspiring and just absolutely amazing!!!!

Mona, That is fantastic! Thanks so much for sharing! Congrats!!

Did much better this weekend! Stayed on track pretty much most of the weekend. Went over a little bit on Saturday for an early valentine's dinner but no worries. Yesterday I did a lot of prep work for this week including making mini egg muffins for Breakfast. Man if you haven't tried these you really should. Super easy to make and you're all set for breakfast or lunch in my case today for the rest of the week. Yummo. Hope everyone is doing well!

Whoa! Love this!

I drink the Peach Passion Celestrial tea all the time. I think it's good for us to drink, no caffeine, herbal, no calories, no sugar and no carbs and I don't think there's anything hidden. I agree that some of the ingredients are naturally sweet and with us not exposing ourselves to "sweets" as often I think our taste buds have changed and now just a little goes along way. That's just my opinion but I've been drinking a couple of cups a day for the last month and I LOVE IT:-)

This is fantastic! That 100lb mark is HUGE! Great job and congrats on your success!

It was a cold snowy winter day here in KC yesterday. I had to run to the store after work so I picked up a rotisserie chicken for dinner. I hadn't had one in a while and wow was it good. I found a recipe on-line for chicken salad that uses left over rotisserie chix so that's what's on the menu at my house tonight. I had a yogurt with trail mix this morning and I will either have a Protein Bar or walk down to the cafeteria and make a salad for lunch. I didn't work out yesterday because I'm so sore I can barely move:-) I guess this means my age is catching up with me. My goal is to either walk the stairs at work or do my exercise video tonight. I hope everyone has a great day!

@@punkinvine I eat Yoplait Light 100 vanilla greek yogurt with 3 tsp. of trail mix, mixed in and I LOVE IT. I never used to like yogurt before but now if I go one day without it I crave it!

@@mare81 I completely remember those first couple of days, a nightmare. I was literally gagging BUT then I found a bunch of recipes on-line and tried a different brand of shake and that made a world of difference. Now don't get me wrong I'm not saying they were great and I crave them now but I will say that they were tolerable and that's about all you can ask for during this stage. I did the chocolate Truffle from Syntrex, nectar. You can buy individual packets at the Vitamin Shoppe to see which one you want to commit to before purchasing the huge tub. Check it out and also look on Pinterest for Protein shake ideas. Hang in there, this is just temporary but the weight you lose from this stage is permanent so every time you gag just think, that's another lb. gone that I'll never see again. Some how it makes it better:-)