jfran

my skin looks the best it has in a while. I think it has to do with my diet. I have cut out all processed sugars and I am eating lots of lean protein, fruits,and veggies plus tons of water. I feel and look great. I have got to get some pictures to post.

Make sure you have a good heating pad. This was a life saver for the intense gas pain I experience in my shoulders. Aside from that I have had no problems. Good Luck on your journey!

some doctors add some saline to the band during surgery. Did your doc do this? If your dr. did, then maybe you need an unfill till your swelling goes down. Just a thought. Good luck.

I went on a cruise 8 weeks after surgery (2 weeks after my first fill). I was on solid food with no problems. I could eat just smaller portions. Try to get your surgery scheduled for january so you will be on solids and just tell your fam and friends you are on a diet. I wouldn't postpone ( there is no reason to postpone your life one more day....it is time to start living it...at least that is how I feel....everyday is getting better and better). Good Luck!

WOW! you rock! I don't think you need to lose an ounce more. Now the big challenge.....keeping it off. I know you can do it. Enjoy your new body.

I weighed thursday afternoon and I was at 208--down 54lbs. That was great! I weighed today (sunday morning) and I am at 204.....woohoo!!! Down another 4 lbs for a total of 58lbs. I am now 5lbs away from ONEderland!! CAN'T WAIT! Everyone keep up the good work!

Some of my family and friends are the same way. I try to relish in the positive comments I do get and when someone says nothing then I try to just brush it off (not always easy). I know we are all working so hard to lose this weight so it sucks when people "act" like they don't notice. One of my friends asked me "how much" i had lost. I was afraid she would judge me (now the weight loss is getting high and I am both embarassed and thrilled). To my surprise she was amazed and thrilled for me. She tells me I am "wasting away" or "shrinking." Feels good, so I try to remember those comments when other opt not to say anything. So far I haven't encountered any negative comments, but then again no one knows I have the band. Good luck with your fam and your weight loss! You have done awesome so far, keep it up!

Name............Chall. Start Wt........Current......Chall. Goal.............To Go alwayscurious........245......................245. ............212.................33 Amelia40...............270.................... 270................240................30 areellady...............232....................226 .5 ...............212.................14.5 argon..................162...................160.2 ...............142...............18.2 Ariel....................207.................... 199 ..............182..................17 aussie_jode...........212......................212 .............190..................22 BabygotBack..........164.....................164. ............145..................19 Babygrl1234...........215......................205 ............190.................15 Becky42................253.....................250 ...............220...............30 bekafina.................225.....................2 25.............199................26 Cherrybomb...........311....................306 ..............291................15 chickatee..............203.....................201 ..............175................26 chocolate_snaps......344....................342... ...........299................43 cQQlgirl..................225....................2 25................185..............40 Chris_NJ................284....................265 .................250..............15 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.....................240. ...............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………………………204……………………..196………………8 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 80................165...............15 JulieNYC................155.....................14 9.................136..............13 Kaelin's G-Ma.........272....................272............. ......220.............52 KarenG................. 240.....................232...................225. ...........7 katalin.e................230.....................1 79.................150..............29 Kellymovingon........207......................207 .................187............20 Kimmie.................296.....................290 ..................270.............20 ladydi............. .....233.....................228.................2 08...............20 legster..................261....................25 1................235...............16 LeslieLee...............216.....................21 6................186...............30 lisa_in_toronto.......180......................180 ................160...............20 losingjusme...........273.....................269. ...............238................31 luvinke..................225.................. ..223..................195..............28 maddog.................230.....................230 ................205..............25 marcar35...............277.....................273 ................250............. 23 mcgreen...............236......................230 .................210..............26 METALBAND...........187.....................182... ..... .......167..............15 momlambert..........207...................204.5... .............185..............20.5 mpalen.................229.....................229 ................200................29 Peache8887...........330.....................306.. ...............275..............31 pmmegm..............248.....................248... ...............228..............20 Rainer..................298................... 284..................258................26 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.....................24 1 ...............230...............11 Sunny112..............215.....................165. ...............140...............25 Suzzzie. ...............349....................337......... .......320................17 sweethot143..........197....................190... .............175.................15 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 LifeLover..............289.....................289 ..............259................30

just so you know.........if you copy the weightloss totals from the very last thread we can keep things more accurate and up to date. According to the last thread, I am still at 212 but I updated it a few threads ago and was down to 209...now I am 208. Thanks everyone.

I only drank protein shakes for the first month. i easily get 60-80g a day in regular food, but I eat 5-6 small meals a day and I eat protein in every meal (at least 10-15grams). I also try to drink milk to supplement.

My family started noticing and discussing my weightloss at 40lbs. My friends are just now starting to talk about my weightloss at 50+lbs. One of my friends said I was the "amazing shrinking woman" and another said she "barely recognized me because I was losing so much weight and she was jealous" (of course she is thin and doesn't need to lose weight). Feels good when people notice the hard work and they have all been very supportive and encouraging (however, they don't know about the band. They just know that I am on a diet and that I am exercising 6 days a week)

<p>?????? what is it and why would anyone want to do this???</p>

I eat activia at least 4 days a week and I take fiber chews and I eat veggies.... I still am not regular. I think its the calcium I am taking because I already get a lot from the cheese and milk I eat. I heard that calcium can stop you up. I am going to try magnesium and see if it helps.

I eat string cheese or cheddar cheese sticks. Nuts are great protein and the good fat. South Beach makes a good protein bar (10g) in peanut butter and chocolate(pretty good).Lunchables makes a "lil' lunchable" for young kids that has crackers cheese and turkey (140 cal and 9g protein). good luck!

WoooHoooo! I am down another 3-4lbs. I love this steady weight loss. It is really nice to have some consistency. Man I hope I never plateau. Everyone keep up the good work! Name............Chall. Start Wt........Current......Chall. Goal......To Go alwayscurious........245......................245. .............212..............33 Amelia40...............270.................... 270................240..............30 areellady...............232....................228 ...............212.................16 argon..................162...................160.2 ...............142...............18.2 Ariel....................207...................... 199 ..............182...............17 aussie_jode...........212......................212 .................190...............22 BabygotBack..........164.....................164. ...............145...............19 Babygrl1234...........215......................205 ................190...............15 Becky42................253.....................251 .5.................220............31.5 bekafina.................225.....................2 25.................199.............26 Cherrybomb...........311....................306 ..............291................15 chickatee..............203.....................201 .................175..............26 chocolate_snaps....344......................342... ..........299.................43 cQQlgirl..................225....................2 25................185................40 Chris_NJ................284....................268 ................250................18 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...................243. ...............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………………………209……………………..196………………13 jglong54...............206....................206. ...................195.............11 jadrad7.................224....................224 .................200..............24 jazzystouch...........246......................246 ...............220...............26 Jeni 85.................237....................231 ...............207................24 joisey....................307....................3 07................290................17 josiebies...............188......................1 80...............165...............15 JulieNYC................155.....................14 9.................136..............13 Kaelin's G-Ma.........272....................272............. ......220.............52 KarenG................. 240.....................234...................225. ...........9 katalin.e................230.....................1 79.................150.............29 Kellymovingon........207......................207 .................187..............20 Kimmie..................296.....................29 0..................270.............20 ladydi............. .....233.....................228.................2 08...............20 legster..................261....................25 1................235...............16 LeslieLee...............216.....................21 6................186...............30 lisa_in_toronto.......180......................180 ................160...............20 losingjusme...........273.....................269. ...............238................31 luvinke..................225.................. ..223..................195..............28 maddog.................230.....................230 ................205.............25 marcar35...............277.....................273 ................250............. 23 mcgreen...............236....................230.. ...............210................26 METALBAND...........187.....................184... ..... .......167..............17 momlambert............207....................207.. ..............185..............22 mpalen.................229.....................229 ................200................29 Peache8887...........330.....................306.. ...............275..............31 pmmegm................248.....................248. .................228..............20 Rainer....................298................... 284................258................26 robgoblin87............279......................27 9...............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.....................242 ...............230...............12 Sunny112..............215.....................165. ...............140...............25 Suzzzie. ...............346....................346....... ........315................31 sweethot143..........197....................190. .............175.................15 tanderson..............231.....................231 .............199..................32 ToniaPatt …..........286……….....……......283………........2 43.…........……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 LifeLover..............289.....................289 ... ..............259.............30

I joined Snap Fitness about a month ago. The first 3 months I worked out at home with exercise dvds. Part of that was b/c I was afraid to workout in public but mostly I was afraid I didn't have the endurance for a gym. Anyways, Snap is great. It is 24/7 and a large portion of the members are 40+ so I don't feel funny like I think I would at a Rush Fitness with tons of 20 somethings I would compare my body to. Snap is also great because on the weekends and early mornings I am working out by myself, so no one has to know if I am looking bad, but if I can toot my own horn---I am looking pretty good these days (at least by comparison to 4 months ago).

My upper arms are probably my biggest problem. I have to go up a size just because of my arms and then the shirt looks sloppy. I found some clothes in women's sizes at CATO and some were on clearance. I cleaned out my closet today and got rid of all the big stuff and I am left with a pretty bare closet. Oh well, I guess I will have to deal for a while until I change another size or two. Can't break the bank going for clothes too often.

So I have been to Steve & Barry's 3 times now and each time I am terribly disappointed. Sara Jessica Parker's new line of clothing "Bitten" is supposed to fit women sizes 2-22; however, SHE LIES!!! I am a size 16/18 now and I couldn't find anything that would fit. Clothing sizes can be so frustrating. In one store you can be a 16 and in the next store you are a 20. It sucks when the scale is going down but your clothing is not reflecting it. Oh well maybe in 20lbs I will see the size change. I am beginning to wonder if I will ever make an 8/10.

Name............Chall. Start Wt........Current......Chall. Goal......To Go alwayscurious........245......................245. .............212..............33 Amelia40...............270.................... 270................240..............30 areellady...............232....................228 ...............212.................16 argon..................162...................160.2 . .............142...............18.2 Ariel....................207...................... 199 ..............182...............17 aussie_jode...........212......................212 .................190...............22 BabygotBack..........164.....................164. ...............145...............19 Babygrl1234...........215......................219 ................190...............19 Becky42................253.....................251 .5.................220............31.5 bekafina.................225.....................2 25.................199.............26 Cherrybomb...........311....................306 ..............291................15 chickatee..............203.....................201 .................175..............26 chocolate_snaps....344......................342... ..........299.................43 cQQlgirl..................225....................2 25................185................40 Chris_NJ................284....................272 ................250................22 cindyluhu...............194....................194 .................184................10 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...................243. ...............223................30 hf2havefun...........240......................240. ..............210..............30 ihadenuf................216....................216 ...................190.............26 james2539............235.4.................235.4.. ................220.............15.4 jfran……………………….212………………………212……………………..196………………16 jglong54...............206....................206. ...................195.............11 jadrad7.................224....................224 .................200..............24 jazzystouch...........246......................246 ...............220...............26 Jeni 85.................237....................234 ...............207................27 joisey....................307....................3 07................290................17 josiebies...............188......................1 80...............165...............15 JulieNYC................155.....................14 9.................136..............13 Kaelin's G-Ma.........272....................272............. ......220.............52 KarenG................. 240.....................237...................225. ..........12 katalin.e................230.....................1 79.................150.............29 Kellymovingon........207......................207. .................187..............20 Kimmie..................296.....................29 0..................270.............20 ladydi............. .....233.....................228.................2 08...............20 legster..................261....................25 1................235...............16 LeslieLee...............216.....................21 6................186...............30 lisa_in_toronto.......180......................180 ................160...............20 losingjusme...........273.....................269. ...............238................31 luvinke..................225.................. ..223..................195..............28 maddog.................230.....................230 ................205.............25 marcar35...............277.....................273 ................250............. 23 mcgreen...............236.................... 230.................210................26 METALBAND...........187.....................184... ..... .......167..............17 momlambert............207....................207.. ..............185..............22 mpalen.................229.....................229 ................200................29 Peache8887...........330.....................306.. ...............275..............31 pmmegm................248.....................248. .................228..............20 Rainer....................298................... 286................258................28 robgoblin87............279......................27 9...............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.....................246 ...............230...............16 Sunny112..............215.....................165. ...............140...............25 Suzzzie. ...............346....................346....... ........315................31 sweethot143..........197....................190. .............175.................15 tanderson..............231.....................231 .............199..................32 ToniaPatt …..........286……….....……......283………........2 43.…... .....……40 UK-Lady...............255.....................223.... ............210...............13 Wannabthin...........231......................231. ..............211...............20 want2beme...........225.....................225.. ............195................30 wen.....................288......................2 84................255..............29 Whosyadaddy.........388.....................369... ..............335.............43 LifeLover..............289.....................289 ... ..............259.............30 __________________

I know what you mean. I am going to have to break down and buy some clothes this weekend because I am going out of town to a business causal event. I look sloppy in all of the clothes I have now and it is not showing off all my hard work. So........I guess I have to empty the wallet another time and just suck it up and buy some new clothes and make them last til the next time.

I started out taking flintstones when I first had surgery. Now I don't have any trouble swallowing pills so I am taking viactiv flavor glides. They taste good on the tongue and have all the essential vitamins and minerals. Don't forget to take your calcium too. I use the citracal creamy bites (sinfully good).

No nausea. No real pain. Very Tired. I was not groggy at all. I remember my nurses names and I heard them talking about me before I woke up. I remember thinking why did they put in a cathedar???? That was the worst part. I went home at 2 pm and I stayed up till after 10pm. I was kinda wired.

I want to preface this by saying that I am 4.5months post op; I have had 2 fills, but I do not have any restriction. Despite this fact, I am eating healthy sticking to 1000-1500 calories per day and losing an average of 2-2.5lbs per week. Oh, and I exercise 9hours per week (6days). Most on this board will say I am eating too many calories and too much food, but my body doesn't lose unless I take in at least 1,000-1200 calories. I figure I should take advantage of this time when I can eat a variety of food in mostly normal portions and still lose weight. So here it goes: B: 1/2c oatmeal, 1 boiled egg, 2-3 strawberries s: Lunchable's Lil Lunchable Turkey (for 4 year olds-140calories) 1 activia light yogurt L: 2 celery stalks and 1 tsp peanut butter, 15-20 grapes, 1 cheddar cheese stick (60 cal) s: 1 oz peanuts and 15 grapes D: 1/2 cup rice with veggies, 3-4 oz chicken, 1cup spinach salad. s: 1 cup sugar free hot chocolate or 1 sugar free fudge cicle and my calcium chew. See I told you I can eat a lot.

Has anyone had good results with the Arc Trainer? Was it weight loss or just toning up?

I also kept it secret from all of my family with the exception of my parents, well I am on their insurance and they pay the bills, so I guess I kind of had to tell them. I am 4.5months post op and now I have lost a lot of weight and my family is starting to notice the loss. However, NONE of them suspect I am banded. They all know I am eating healthy in moderation and I am exercising, so I guess they just think I have finally gotten on the ball. They are all proud of me, but I still don't want to tell them about the band, because my family is very opinionated and they are all gossips. I tell one and everyone and their brother knows within a day.