jfran

I noticed it first in my butt and in my face. Now I can tell all over.

I made goal!!!!!! I still have a little more time before thanksgiving so hopefully I can lose a few more. Name...........Chall. Start Wt........Current......Chall. Goal.............To Go abckids..............303.........................3 03...........270..................33 alwayscurious........245......................245. ............212...............33 Amelia40...............270.................... 270................240..............30 areellady...............232....................226 .5...........212...............14.5 argon..................162.....................148 ...............142................6 Ariel....................207.................... 199 ..............182................17 aussie_jode...........212......................212 .............190..................22 BabygotBack..........164.....................164. ............145..................19 Babygrl1234...........215......................201 ............190.................11 Becky42................253.....................248 ...............220...............28 bekafina.................225.....................2 25.............199................26 Cherrybomb...........311....................306 ..............291................15 chickatee..............203.....................193 ..............175................18 chocolate_snaps......344....................342... ...........299................43 cQQlgirl..................225...................21 8................185..............33 Chris_NJ................284....................252 .................250..............2 cindyluhu...............194....................193 ...............180.............13 dacer123...............243....................239. ..............223................16 Denise...................170....................17 0...............155...............15 Denise..................244.....................24 4...............220................24 Desertbunnee.........232....................207. .............180................27 DonnaD................185.....................185. .............170................15 eclipse..................215.....................2 12..............199................16 faithmd................303.....................303 ............ 283...............16.7 glindab................ 277.....................269...............250..... .. .......19 gonnabfree............231....................231.. ..............205................26 Guinessgirl77.........241...................241 ..................210..............31 gweniper..............253.....................228. ...............223...............30 hf2havefun...........240......................240. ..............210................30 ihadenuf................216....................216 ................190................26 itsjustducky...........317....................317. ................297...............20 james2539............235.4.................235.4 ................220.............15.4 jfran……………………….212………………………196……………………..196………………0 jglong54...............206....................206. .................195.............11 jadrad7.................224....................224 .................200..............24 jazzystouch...........246......................246 ...............220...............26 Jeni 85.................237....................226.... .............207..............19 joisey....................307....................3 07................290...............17 josiebies...............188......................1 69................165................4 JulieNYC................155.....................14 9.................136..............13 Kaelin's G-Ma.........272....................272............. ......220.............12 KarenG................. 240.....................223...................215. ...........8 katalin.e................230.....................1 79.................150..............29 Keekahari..............230......................21 8..................215............3 Kellymovingon........207......................196 .................187............9 Kimmie.................296.....................287 ..................270.............17 ladydi............. .....233.....................228.................2 08...............20 legster..................261....................23 4................228...............6 LeslieLee...............216.....................21 6................186...............30 LifeLover..............289.....................271 ..............259................12 LilMissBandAid.......276.8...................276.8 ............265...............11.8 lisa_in_toronto.......180......................160 ................160...............20 losingjusme...........273.....................263. ...............238................25 luvinke..................225.................. ..223..................195..............28 maddog.................230.....................230 ................205..............25 marcar35...............277.....................263 ................250............. 13 mcgreen...............236......................210 .................210..............0 METALBAND...........187.....................177... ..... .......167..............10 momlambert..........207.....................198... .............185................13 mpalen.................229.....................229 ................200................29 Peache8887...........330.....................306.. ...............275..............31 pmmegm..............248.....................248... ...............228..............20 Rainer..................298................... 267..................258................9 robgoblin87............279...................279.. ................250...............29 SC2VA..................233.....................233 ..................200..............33 sdakotaRN.............254.....................254. ................225..............29 Short C................. 166....................166.................146.. ............20 Soniacan...............198.5..................198. 5.............175.............23.5 Stacy73.................259.....................23 4...............230...............4 Sunny112..............215.....................157. ...............140...............17 Suzzzie. ...............349....................317.6....... .......320............-2.4 sweethot143..........197....................188... ...........175.................13 tanderson..............231.....................231 ...............199................32 teacher.................236.....................23 6.............200................36 ToniaPatt …..........286……….....……......283………......... 243.… ........…40 UK-Lady...............255.....................223.... ...........210.................13 Wannabthin...........231......................222. .............211................20 want2beme...........225.....................225.. ............195................30 wen.....................288......................2 84..............255................29 Whosyadaddy.........388.....................369... ...........335................43

I am 5 1/2 months post op and I am shedding like crazy. I haven't noticed any bald spots but I can tell my hair is thinning. I am just eating a lot of protein and taking zinc along with multivitamin, fiber, calcium, and magnesium. Hopefully it will help.

Seeing as the holidays are among us, I thought I would start a thread for band/weight loss friendly recipes for the holidays. My family makes a big deal about Thanksgiving and Christmas and it is always about the food. I would love some recipes that taste great and wouldn't make me gain weight over the holidays. My recipe is for apple crisp a la mode. granny smith apples peeled and diced little bit of butter in a sauce pan with apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and brown sugar. Cook till tender top with cinnamon spice instant oatmeal packet and toast up in the oven. Serve with lowfat frozen vanilla yogurt. Fab, but careful not to eat too much.

I weighed today at the gym and I am officially in ONEderland!!!! 198 today and thrilled!!!

YEAH!!!!!! I am officially in ONEderland! Feel great to join you guys! Name...........Chall. Start Wt........Current......Chall. Goal.............To Go abckids..............303.........................3 03...........270..................33 alwayscurious........245......................245. ............212...............33 Amelia40...............270.................... 270................240..............30 areellady...............232....................226 .5...........212...............14.5 argon..................162...................155.2 ...............142.............13.2 Ariel....................207.................... 199 ..............182................17 aussie_jode...........212......................212 .............190..................22 BabygotBack..........164.....................164. ............145..................19 Babygrl1234...........215......................201 ............190.................11 Becky42................253.....................248 ...............220...............28 bekafina.................225.....................2 25.............199................26 Cherrybomb...........311....................306 ..............291................15 chickatee..............203.....................196 ..............175................21 chocolate_snaps......344....................342... ...........299................43 cQQlgirl..................225...................21 8................185..............33 Chris_NJ................284....................252 .................250..............2 cindyluhu...............194....................194 ...............180.............14 dacer123...............243....................239. ..............223................16 Denise...................170....................17 0...............155...............15 Denise..................244.....................24 4...............220................24 Desertbunnee.........232....................207. .............180................27 DonnaD................185.....................185. .............170................15 eclipse..................215.....................2 12..............199................16 faithmd................303.....................303 ............ 283...............16.7 glindab................ 277.....................269...............250..... .. .......19 gonnabfree............231....................231.. ..............205................26 Guinessgirl77.........241...................241 ..................210..............31 gweniper..............253.....................228. ...............223...............30 hf2havefun...........240......................240. ..............210................30 ihadenuf................216....................216 ................190................26 itsjustducky...........317....................317. ................297...............20 james2539............235.4.................235.4 ................220.............15.4 jfran……………………….212………………………198……………………..196………………2 jglong54...............206....................206. .................195.............11 jadrad7.................224....................224 .................200..............24 jazzystouch...........246......................246 ...............220...............26 Jeni 85.................237....................227.... .............207..............20 joisey....................307....................3 07................290...............17 josiebies...............188......................1 69................165................4 JulieNYC................155.....................14 9.................136..............13 Kaelin's G-Ma.........272....................272............. ......220.............12 KarenG................. 240.....................225...................215. ...........10 katalin.e................230.....................1 79.................150..............29 Keekahari..............230......................22 2..................215............7 Kellymovingon........207......................196 .................187............9 Kimmie.................296.....................287 ..................270.............17 ladydi............. .....233.....................228.................2 08...............20 legster..................261....................24 0................228...............12 LeslieLee...............216.....................21 6................186...............30 LifeLover..............289.....................275 ..............259................16 LilMissBandAid.......276.8...................276.8 ............265...............11.8 lisa_in_toronto.......180......................180 ................160...............20 losingjusme...........273.....................263. ...............238................25 luvinke..................225.................. ..223..................195..............28 maddog.................230.....................230 ................205..............25 marcar35...............277.....................265 ................250............. 15 mcgreen...............236......................215 .................210..............5 METALBAND...........187.....................177... ..... .......167..............10 momlambert..........207.....................198... .............185................13 mpalen.................229.....................229 ................200................29 Peache8887...........330.....................306.. ...............275..............31 pmmegm..............248.....................248... ...............228..............20 Rainer..................298................... 268..................258................10 robgoblin87............279...................279.. ................250...............29 SC2VA..................233.....................233 ..................200..............33 sdakotaRN.............254.....................254. ................225..............29 Short C................. 166....................166.................146.. ............20 Soniacan...............198.5..................198. 5.............175.............23.5 Stacy73.................259.....................23 8...............230...............8 Sunny112..............215.....................157. ...............140...............17 Suzzzie. ...............349....................319.2....... . .......320...............-0.8 sweethot143..........197....................188... ...........175.................13 tanderson..............231.....................231 ...............199................32 teacher.................236.....................23 6.............200................36 ToniaPatt …..........286……….....……......283………......... 243.… ........…40 UK-Lady...............255.....................223.... ...........210.................13 Wannabthin...........231......................222. .............211................20 want2beme...........225.....................225.. ............195................30 wen.....................288......................2 84..............255................29 Whosyadaddy.........388.....................369... ...........335................43

So here are my embarassing before/during pictures, but I am thrilled with the progress.

Everytime someone "plateaus" the advice I see people giving is get another fill. Is it really all about the fills? I have had 2 baby fills and still don't have restriction, but I am losing weight by eating 5-6 small meals (speeds the metabolism) drinking a gallon of Water a day and exercising 2+ hours a day, 6 days a week. I am afraid to get fills....I am afraid it may stop/halt my weight loss. I feel like my body would hold on and stop losing if I couldn't eat enough calories. I am afraid a fill would make it hard for me to eat enough. Any thoughts........

Name...........Chall. Start Wt........Current......Chall. Goal.............To Go abckids..............303.........................3 03...........270......................33 alwayscurious........245......................245. ............212.................33 Amelia40...............270.................... 270................240................30 areellady...............232....................226 .5...........212.................14.5 argon..................162...................155.2 ...............142...............13.2 Ariel....................207.................... 199 ..............182..................17 aussie_jode...........212......................212 .............190..................22 BabygotBack..........164.....................164. ............145..................19 Babygrl1234...........215......................205 ............190.................15 Becky42................253.....................248 ...............220...............28 bekafina.................225.....................2 25.............199................26 Cherrybomb...........311....................306 ..............291................15 chickatee..............203.....................196 ..............175................21 chocolate_snaps......344....................342... ...........299................43 cQQlgirl..................225...................21 8................185..............33 Chris_NJ................284....................255 .................250..............5 cindyluhu...............194....................194 ...............180.............14 dacer123...............243....................239. ..............223................16 Denise...................170....................17 0...............155...............15 Denise..................244.....................24 4...............220................24 Desertbunnee.........232....................207. .............180................27 DonnaD................185.....................185. .............170................15 eclipse..................215.....................2 12..............199................16 faithmd................303.....................303 ............ 283...............16.7 glindab................ 277.....................269...............250..... .. .......19 gonnabfree............231....................231.. ..............205................26 Guinessgirl77.........241...................241 ..................210..............31 gweniper..............253.....................236. ...............223...............30 hf2havefun...........240......................240. ..............210................30 ihadenuf................216....................216 ................190................26 itsjustducky...........317....................317. ................297...............20 james2539............235.4.................235.4 ................220.............15.4 jfran……………………….212………………………202……………………..196………………6 jglong54...............206....................206. .................195.............11 jadrad7.................224....................224 .................200..............24 jazzystouch...........246......................246 ...............220...............26 Jeni 85.................237....................230 ..................207..............23 joisey....................307....................3 07................290...............17 josiebies...............188......................1 70................165................5 JulieNYC................155.....................14 9.................136..............13 Kaelin's G-Ma.........272....................272............. ......220.............12 KarenG................. 240.....................225...................215. ...........10 katalin.e................230.....................1 79.................150..............29 Keekahari..............230......................22 2..................215............7 Kellymovingon........207......................196 .................187............9 Kimmie.................296.....................287 ..................270.............17 ladydi............. .....233.....................228.................2 08...............20 legster..................261....................24 0................228...............12 LeslieLee...............216.....................21 6................186...............30 LifeLover..............289.....................275 ..............259................16 LilMissBandAid.......276.8...................276.8 ............265...............11.8 lisa_in_toronto.......180......................180 ................160...............20 losingjusme...........273.....................269. ...............238................31 luvinke..................225.................. ..223..................195..............28 maddog.................230.....................230 ................205..............25 marcar35...............277.....................266 ................250............. 16 mcgreen...............236......................220 .................210..............10 METALBAND...........187.....................179... ..... .......167..............13 momlambert..........207...................204.5... ............185..............20.5 mpalen.................229.....................229 ................200................29 Peache8887...........330.....................306.. ...............275..............31 pmmegm..............248.....................248... ...............228..............20 Rainer..................298................... 272..................258................14 robgoblin87............279...................279.. ................250...............29 SC2VA..................233.....................233 ..................200..............33 sdakotaRN.............254.....................254. ................225..............29 Short C................. 166....................166.................146.. ............20 Soniacan...............198.5..................198. 5.............175.............23.5 Stacy73.................259.....................23 8...............230...............8 Sunny112..............215.....................157. ...............140...............17 Suzzzie. ...............349....................326......... .......320................6 sweethot143..........197....................188... ...........175.................13 tanderson..............231.....................231 ...............199................32 teacher.................236.....................23 6.............200................36 ToniaPatt …..........286……….....……......283………......... 243.… ........…40 UK-Lady...............255.....................223.... ...........210.................13 Wannabthin...........231......................222. .............211................20 want2beme...........225.....................225.. ............195................30 wen.....................288......................2 84..............255................29 Whosyadaddy.........388.....................369... ...........335................43 PLEASE remember to copy/paste from the very LAST post. This way we keep the postings as accurate as possible. Thanks so much and way to go everyone. The weight is just melting off!

EXERCISE..............eating 5-6 small meals a day. Prepreparing/packing my daily meals. Seeing the scale move in the right direction!

I would look at how many calories you are eating in a day. It may be that you are not eating ENOUGH calories. Also, make sure you are eating lots of veggies, fruits, and lean meat. Try eating 5-6 small meals through the day every 3 hours. Lots of Water. This will speed up your metabolism. Keep up the exercise (maybe increase a bit). If you still aren't losing, get a fill. I have only had 2 fills. I have zero restriction, but I eat just as I have suggested to you. I exercise 2 hours 6 days a week and drink around a gallon of water a day. I am losing 2 lbs a week steadily. Good luck!

I have 120-130lbs to lose and I have lost 60lbs in 5 months. I should be grateful, but man I feel like this has been 5 years not 5 months. People tell me I look great and are astounded when I say that I need to lose 60+ more lbs. They don't get it, but I need to be at a "healthy" weight. I am scarred to death that I will plateau and never get to goal weight, but I keep eating healthy and exercising 2+hours 6 days a week in hopes it will all come off. I want to be one of the success stories that can say they lost 100% of their excess weight. Good luck everyone!

Why is it that taking the last couple of pounds off to get to ONEderland is taking FOREVER!!!!???? Name...........Chall. Start Wt........Current......Chall. Goal.............To Go abckids..............303.........................3 03...........270......................33 alwayscurious........245......................245. ............212.................33 Amelia40...............270.................... 270................240................30 areellady...............232....................226 .5...........212.................14.5 argon..................162...................155.2 ...............142...............13.2 Ariel....................207.................... 199 ..............182..................17 aussie_jode...........212......................212 .............190..................22 BabygotBack..........164.....................164. ............145..................19 Babygrl1234...........215......................205 ............190.................15 Becky42................253.....................248 ...............220...............28 bekafina.................225.....................2 25.............199................26 Cherrybomb...........311....................306 ..............291................15 chickatee..............203.....................196 ..............175................21 chocolate_snaps......344....................342... ...........299................43 cQQlgirl..................225...................21 8................185..............33 Chris_NJ................284....................255 .................250..............5 cindyluhu...............194....................194 ...............180.............14 dacer123...............243....................243. ..............223................20 Denise...................170....................17 0...............155...............15 Denise..................244.....................24 4...............220................24 Desertbunnee.........232....................207. .............180................27 DonnaD................185.....................185. .............170................15 eclipse..................215.....................2 12..............199................16 faithmd................303.....................303 ............ 283...............16.7 glindab................ 277.....................269...............250..... .. .......19 gonnabfree............231....................231.. ..............205................26 Guinessgirl77.........241...................241 ..................210..............31 gweniper..............253.....................236. ...............223...............30 hf2havefun...........240......................240. ..............210................30 ihadenuf................216....................216 ................190................26 itsjustducky...........317....................317. ................297...............20 james2539............235.4.................235.4 ................220.............15.4 jfran……………………….212………………………202……………………..196………………6 jglong54...............206....................206. .................195.............11 jadrad7.................224....................224 .................200..............24 jazzystouch...........246......................246 ...............220...............26 Jeni 85.................237....................230 ..................207..............23 joisey....................307....................3 07................290...............17 josiebies...............188......................1 70................165................5 JulieNYC................155.....................14 9.................136..............13 Kaelin's G-Ma.........272....................272............. ......220.............12 KarenG................. 240.....................227...................215. ...........12 katalin.e................230.....................1 79.................150..............29 Keekahari..............230......................22 2..................215............7 Kellymovingon........207......................196 .................187............9 Kimmie.................296.....................287 ..................270.............17 ladydi............. .....233.....................228.................2 08...............20 legster..................261....................24 0................228...............12 LeslieLee...............216.....................21 6................186...............30 LifeLover..............289.....................275 ..............259................16 LilMissBandAid.......276.8...................276.8 ............265...............11.8 lisa_in_toronto.......180......................180 ................160...............20 losingjusme...........273.....................270. ...............238................31 luvinke..................225.................. ..223..................195..............28 maddog.................230.....................230 ................205..............25 marcar35...............277.....................266 ................250............. 16 mcgreen...............236......................220 .................210..............10 METALBAND...........187.....................179... ..... .......167..............13 momlambert..........207...................204.5... ............185..............20.5 mpalen.................229.....................229 ................200................29 Peache8887...........330.....................306.. ...............275..............31 pmmegm..............248.....................248... ...............228..............20 Rainer..................298................... 272..................258................14 robgoblin87............279...................279.. ................250...............29 SC2VA..................233.....................233 ..................200..............33 sdakotaRN.............254.....................254. ................225..............29 Short C................. 166....................166.................146.. ............20 Soniacan...............198.5..................198. 5.............175.............23.5 Stacy73.................259.....................23 8...............230...............8 Sunny112..............215.....................157. ...............140...............17 Suzzzie. ...............349....................326......... .......320................6 sweethot143..........197....................188... ...........175.................13 tanderson..............231.....................231 ...............199................32 teacher.................236.....................23 6.............200................36 ToniaPatt …..........286……….....……......283………......... 243.… ........…40 UK-Lady...............255.....................223.... ...........210.................13 Wannabthin...........231......................222. .............211................20 want2beme...........225.....................225.. ............195................30 wen.....................288......................2 84..............255................29 Whosyadaddy.........388.....................369... ...........335................43

String cheese is my favorite snack with some fruit. I also like the south beach diet meal replacement bars. 19g protein and tons of vitamins. Lunchables makes a Lil' lunchable. Small portions and 140cal. These are great too. McDonald's yogurt parfaits are great too, 160cal

a gallon of milk actually weighs 8lbs. You have lost 6.25 gallons of milk. That is even better! Great job and keep up the good work!

I count calories, but that is only because I am trying to lose steadily and quickly. I know I would still lose with my band even if I wasn't counting as long as I continue eating healthy foods. But, I want to make my goal in 12 months, so I keep counting and exercising like crazy.

my mom had knee surgery in july and is not doing well at all. She is being banded on friday and I know her inability to exercise is on her mind. She is afraid it will stall her weightloss success. I know she is planning on swimming once her wounds have healed. Hopefully this will give her the cardio and physical therapy she needs to make her knee better (ps. she had a torn miniscus and a baker cyst).

i heard that cocoa butter works wonders for stretch marks. It makes them fade and I would think the moisture aspect would help with the itching.

My weight seems to be going down, but the inches are going really slow. Plateaus (unfortunately) are common at some point during weightloss. I pray that I don't plateau too early because I want to lose as much weight as possible. If you are having trouble getting food down without getting stuck then maybe you need an unfill ( I know you hate to unfill). The body needs food and nutrition to sustain the metabolism. I eat 5-6 small meals a day and exercise 5-6 days a week. This seems to be the key to my weightloss. Good luck breaking the plateau.

don't know about how long after surgery, but I heard you can rub chapstick with SPF on your scars and protect them from the tanning bed.

my doc said there should be no problem with such activities. I have heard of people getting tight after scuba diving and flying but other than that there should be no harm to the band. You might want to research it more to be safe, though.

you definitely need to be eating more protein. Try packing things like nuts and peanut butter crackers. String Cheese, yogurt. Eat more fruit and try to lay off the pizza. After a fill, pizza may not be an option anymore. Good luck travelling must be hard especially since you are vegetarian. Your not vegan are you?

these are probably lame suggestions, but here it goes: horseback riding, zoo (2yr. old would like the petting zoo), weekend trip, hiking, movie, play, go out dancing, etc. As far as cooking a meal, try chicken casserole and green Beans. This should go down fine. Lowfat cheesecake or pudding pie instead of birthday cake. Hope this helps and happy birthday early.

Great job! I can't wait to feel the same thrill. I am 5lbs away myself. Only a matter of time. Enjoy your success.

If you lose weight fast and your band gets loose, is there risk of slippage? I haven't had a fill in a while and I know that my band is loose around my stomach. I don't want to get a fill because I am able to eat normally (5-6 small meals a day) and I am satisfied and I am losing 2-3 lbs a week. If I don't get a fill am I at risk for band slippage??? Anyone know?