IndioGirl55

Welcome NewJourney - Yes, you will still be hungry at times - what food stage are you on - Are you getting your Protein in - are you drinking your Water - are you walking. What I do when I am hungry - I eat extra veggies (zuchinne or yellow crooked neck squash - low calories very good) - i find a distraction such as get on the computer and come here - or clean out a drawer - just do something so you don't think about food. This is a lifestyle change - you really have to look at food differently and you will - I am 4 months out as of this coming Saturday - I feel great - looking good for a still fat old woman who is now a 14 - not a 22. Take it one day at a time - make healthy food choices and exercise this will work.. Good Luck........

Laurend - Congrats :clap2::bounce::clap2: You are doing GREAT:bounce::clap2::bounce:

Vicki - Yes you can start over!!!! I agree with find a doctor who is closer but until you do don't let that stop you. IMHO the band only does 25% of the work the other 75% is up to you.. You and only you can make good food choices & add exercise into your life - this is a lifestyle change not a diet. Please get back on the bandwagon for your health this is the reason i choose to have the surgery - I want to live to see my grandkids get married - Plus I want to feel better and look good too. You know what needs to be done - make that committment and just do it - also - if you want to eat you gotta exercise - calories in vs calories out. Low fat - sugar free - I eat carbs but not a lot - If you are hungry eat extra veggies... Good luck on being re-committed - you can do this !!!!

Good Morning Gang Hope everyone had a good weekend... My little Angel (doggie) woke me up at 4:30 a.m. this morning to go potty - i get up at 5 so just stayed us (it's 5:30 now) This will be a busy week for me at work cuz - i will be on vacation for 2 weeks starting the week of thanksgiving.. No great plans except going to the gym in the mornings - cleaning out the garage - doing a little xmas shopping and put up my tree. Visited with my Uncle yesterday and he was in the Air Force and was a merchant marine so he is well traveled - as you can see by my post to Dini - he said that in Europe that they don't eat breakfast out like we do (he was married to an english woman - i have a cuz in England) Thought it was interesting... Well I guess I will head to the shower and get ready for my day... Talk to you all later - have a good day and make good choices... xoxoxox Janet

michiganer - I am sorry about your fight with your Brother - My parents are dead along with one of my brothers - my Sis & baby bro knew about my surgery and were ok with it. But I do know that my bro who is gone would have supported me - he and i loved each other and would be there for each other in a heart beat - but we fought the most too. In fact we had words 2 weeks prior to his unexpected death. I don't know what my dad would say about the surgery - he never harped about my weight but did say that I really needed to work on it - My real mom (died when I was 15) was the one who harped on my as a child - made me the closet eater that i am. Families are tough - you cant choice them - Maybe your bro is upset cuz you aren't telling him the truth. IMHO just put it out there - tell them all - Maybe he is jealous of your relationsip with your Mom and he wishes his was just as good.. Who knows - but the fighting isn't worth the heart ach - and I agree you need to have that talk with your Dad - it's hard sometimes - cuz no matter how grown up we are they are still our parents... My best to you on your difficult journey to be banded - but you are on the right road to being a healhty young strong woman...

Dini Where are you - aren't you coming to the States next week?? I was talking to my Uncle last nite - he has a daughter who is engllish and we were talking about Europe and he told me that there aren't places to go out to breakfast is that true in Ireland?? Like here we have Denny's - Ihop (pancakes). He said the english don't eat out as much as us Americans do - there is pub food but it's not like going to a real restaurant.. I know that you work in your family restaurant - is it a restaurant or a pub... Do you have places to go out and eat breakfast? Do you eat eggs, bacon etc like us... Just wondering - Let us know how you - Ana (cant spell her name) and Adam are... xoxo J

Congrats Salsa :clap2::clap2: Onelander by turkey day :bounce::bounce:

Congrats Allaboutme:clap2::clap2: it's funny that those 30 - not 29 makes us happy - we must like things in 5's - 5 10 15 20 25 30 - not 2 4 6 8 etc

I think Target & Mervyn's are owned by the same company as for shoppers quit going there not in the Coachella Valley - it's that way because of who shops there and they have just way too much stuff - it use to be a nice store -but now instead of 100 racks they have 300 I plan on quiting once i get this weight off I smoke more than him about 1/2 pack a day during the week and a little more on the weekends - I don't smoke in my house - smoke 1/2 cig put it out and smoke the rest later. JACKIE CONGRATULATIONS:clap2::clap2: I KNEW YOU COULD DO I :bounce: It's all about the planing... OMG the exercise GOOD JOB...:clap2: Maybe for xmas I will get the body bugg...

Molly the 1st 2 days are the worst - it gets better each day - you need to get your Protein in as this will help in your healing - also if you are on full liquieds try some strained cream Soups with protien powder added. Welcome to band land it does get better...

Kimmy - the sagging skin issue is not about weight loss so much as genetics - It depends on how long your are overweght and how streachable your skin is and age Think of a plastic trash bag - put a little trash in and then take it out - the bag didn't streach that much and it recovered - now put in tons of trash - take it out and the bag is streached - same goes for your skin.... You can look at some 20 yrs old and their skin bounces right back and for some it doesn't - it DNA not how fast you lose the weight..

Sunnysideup - I disagree !!! We need more info on her issues - and come on - What do you call support - a pat on the back saying all will be ok as you are stuffing yourself with the wrong kinds of foods.. Thats not support that's enabling someone. Wrong,.... Tough band love is what is needed (love being the operative word) - Us fat people play so many mind games it's pittyful - to excuse our eating - and that's all it is an excuse... We are strong powerful women... This is work but what isn't.. Living is work - it's hard to change the way you relate to food... Wheestin - Keep up your kind of support - I don't want some one tellimg me its ok to eat ten tim tams and then wonder why the band isn't working...

Think we should add the No Bra rules to our houses - wouldn't that be funny:D or should i say saggy :woot:

Ruby - Yes Mom's get to change the rules - I love it CeCe - Congrats on that pound - :clap2: Linda - Since I do eat I don't know if I would have a hard time or not going back to sleep - but I agree with you since i do plan for it - and have been losing weight - whats the big deal... I have done a lot of ready on weight loss through my life - and it's no diff than anything else out there - One doc says eat every 3 hours - One doc says only 3 meal - One doc say don't eat after 7 or 3 hrs before bed - and I have read it dosent matter what time you eat - it's calories in vs calories out... So since i am doing ok and planing i think i am just doing great ... GOOD JOB PHYL !!!:clap2::clap2: on beating down the food devil....... The wine is ok - omg 4 oz is only a sip - he got his cig - you get your drink . Sorry about your friends - 80 and still driving a motorhome. I know that it fun to do stuff with other people - I miss that about being married - My hubby and i would go to mexico etc with other couples and it was always fun... Thanks on the measurement - but i do have to say that I started to do them about a month ago - and there wasn't a big diff - so stopped and it seems like in the last month things have changed alot.. I am really worried about my arms - i have bat wing badly already and still have 43 lbs to go... I have read where arm lifts leave scars that are some times worst that the bat wings... My legs are the same way too. It's funny how you didn't notice the fat so much before as you do now, now it just hangs on you where as before it was filled out... If it was up to me I would love to sleep all nite... But I guess it's just something in my DNA... Both of my parents drank so have that in my DNA - so for me my drug of choice is food... My addiction.. OH Yes I went shopping - bought 4 tops from Mevins (OMG the store was so junkie and the dressing rooms too) these tops were XL :woot: a couple a little tight on the back fat - but with proper foundation they will be ok plus i am not at goal yet - bought 4 pairs of pants at the Avenue size 14. At the waist i have a tad of muffin top - but these pants bag easy and again not at goal - Macy's bought a pair of slacks size 14 & 1 top - that top was a 2X - Not paying attention to size (it's just a number - did anyone watch Oprah last week:eek:) - Lane Bryant 4 bras 2 38 and 2 40 for my fat day :biggrin1: - 2 more tops and a night gown... some spanks tights & trouser socks.. Do you think i shopped or what :woot: Came home cleaned out my closet - 6 sacks of clothes to give away!!!! Kept a few things that I will take to taylor when I get to goal - OMG there were clothes that I never wore in there (only 2 but still)... Am sort of afraid to give the stuff away - do you know how many times I have done this - 2 or 3 in the last 10 yrs... But with the band I am not going to regain the weight! - for me it's not so much losing it but the regaining it - and i think that is true for most of us - we have lost it a dozen times - but it always comes back plus some:omg: This is why i am always harping on this being a life style change and not a diet..... I was beat and went to bed around 9 - but really didn't go to sleep til after 10 - am up at 6 this morning - finishing my washing - should iron but gotta go to my Uncles today - since i flaked out on him last weekend - I know i will enjoy being with him but I know I have other stuff to do. But gotta do the family thing - and I will be on vacation in another week so.. All that stuff can get done then.. Well still drinking coffee and smoking my morning cigs - Good thing to know Phyl - that you don't HATE us smokers - I was concerned about that, now adays people just hate us with a passion... Jackie - How did you do yesterday:biggrin1: Hope everyone has a Great Sunday - I will post this and see if anyone else is here - it's 7 now - so maybe some early birds are up too,, xoxox Janet

Ok I am American So Califorina Desert (Palm Springs Area) - we don't take our shoes off when we go to other peoples home - but we don't have snow or rain here in the desert so it's not like we have muddy shoes/boots If I lived somewhere where the was weather issues - I would take my shoes off - so Green if I ever come and visit you I will now know in Canada I am suppose to take my shoes off... For me they (shoes) are the first thing beside the bra that come off when I get home from work... But again 3/4 of the year I wear sandles not real shoes...

Abi - you have done well - my suggestion would be cut out fired foods and limit yourself to 1/2 c rice for dinner only - leave the flour out of the spinach - switch to olive oil - i don't think palm oil is good for you. Stay away from KFC - I eat fish daily (minimum 5 days a week) i bake it with a little olive oil salt pepper & garlic - sometime add spicy tomato sauce (mexican tomato sauce) or cajun spices. I even coat it with cornmeal every now and then and spray with pam and bake. My Mom was from the South and I love fried foods, meat fat - butter. but all these are not good for you so have cut out fried food - I only eat red meat 1 or 2 times a week and cut off all fat before i cook it and i use i can't beleive it's butter spray on my veggies - rice - potatoes etc You are doing great - just cut some of your starchs & fats out - and just cuz you have eaten something for a life time - doesn't mean you need to continue (just cuz you have done drugs all your life - doesn't mean you should continue when you know they are killing you - food is our drug of choice imho) There is no easy way to lose weight and keep it off - it is and will be a daily struggle - one day at a time. Good Luck....

Well, I just got back from my 3 miles in 50 minutes on the treadmill at the gym.. Trying to cool off - I am a BIG head sweater... My pony tail is dripping with sweat (tmi) I pb'd on pudding last nite - midnite raid - ate too fast - laid down - half way went to sleep and woke up running to toilet - just a little came up but - love my band - it deters my night eating. A girl friend told me i really needed to stop this habit - and she says that's all it is - who knows - my whole family does it - i say my mom never weaned us of the bottle at night - but heck my Dad did it too - not to the extent that i use to eat but we all get up at night.. But I am NOT going to beat myself up about it - I am making changes - I am not eating MEALS during the night as I use to - i have a pudding or fudgecicle (sf) Well, just cking in for the day - gotta shower and go shopping.. Will ck in later - everyone have a good day - healthy food choices ...

Great letter !!!!!

It's a device you wear on your arm that tells you how many calories you burn up in a day - they use them on the Biggest Loser.. There is a tread on the main board - that says "bodybugg report here" or something like that. you also log your food in on their website - example you ate 1000 calories and from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. - you burned 2000 calories - got to bodybugg.com and the site will tell you what it's all about - you can get them cheaper if you but it from 24 hr fitness i am told - there are a couple people in the Lucky #7 (july 07 banders) that have them. I might get one for xmas...

Denise - I was lurking on a theard one day and remember someone I knew watched it - (it was between you - green or Bjean) Yep face lifts are big money.. I live in a resort area - so I will pay resort prices. But I think 25 to 30 is about what they are now a days. but if you just get your eyes done its like $2500 -

Marilyn I understand your fear of gaining it back and OMG 4 weeks liquid I am proud of you - I don't know if I could have done that 10 days of each was hard enought - but you should be quite content with anywhere from 1 - 2 c max and it will really depend on what it is you are eating.. It seems like a lot of doc' don't give their patients alot of nutrional (sp) counselling - with mine I had homework - plan a meal and count protein grams - but this is a good thing not bad - it helps to be succefull... My best to you - Janet

Thanks CC - 1st realization to addiiction is that you have one - so go throw the stuff away - it is impowering..... Try it... see if i am telling the truth... - but maybe i am scaring people away - our thread hasn't been too active anymore - remember when it first started - you would be gone for 1 day and would have 20 pages to catch up on - now if it were for me being here 24/7 (one day i took up half a page with all my replies :omg:) - but wait for Phyl - once she gets here to the Desert and has access - she will be here like me 24/7 -

Mduvall - !st what stage of food are you on - with my doc it was 10 days each of full liquids - mushie - soft - regular. So for me at your stage I was eating soft/reg food - I could eat any where from 1 to 2 cups of food per meal - I would eat oatmeal (weight control) for breakfast - Veggies & protein for lunch - same for dinner - with sf pudding and fudgecicles for snacks ... I am just always surpirsed when people don't know what to eat - my doc gave me a binder will a list of all foods to be eaten during each stage etc... Good Luck...

Car - CONGRATULATIONS :clap2: and those choc rice cakes sound good Do you make them yourself ?? BlooEyez - You are a young Mom like me i have you beat by a couple of year - cuz at 1st i looked at your age and said how does she have a 15 yr old - then I realize I was 31 with a 15 yr old :omg: Jackie - First & foremost you are not a failure - Pizza is a food it is eaten for dinner or lunch - OMG you only had 2 small pieces - not 2 whole small pizza's. or 2 bags of candy.(sweets is what i really am going to give you all hell for - cuz it's not food - it's junk plan and simple and you don't need it to survive - we do need food - sweets - cakes, cookies pies candy are foods from the devil). You guys - we can eat regular food sometimes and 2 pieces of pizza isn't bad - I did it on halloween - but it was thin curst and had 2 pieces - where as before it was a pan pizza with the works and could eat a whole med all by myself!! It would be my dinner midnite snack and maybe a piece left for breakfast the next day... You did very good for lunch - and I agree if you could have gotten a fill sooner maybe you should have.. As in my little blog about will power the band is the motivation that helps gives us the will power. You gotta use the tool for it to work - that's why i will alway disagree with anyone who doesn't want a fill before the holidays - cruise etc - it you didn't want the restriction from the band then why in the hell did you get it. We can still eat with restriction - just not as much... ie lose weight be healthier - feel better... Life is not about pigging out (yes i miss it but am getting over it) I want to look at food to keep me a live (eat to live and not to live for (live to eat).... My only concern when we eat fattening foods it's going to hurt our weight loss and that in turn will make us want to give up... So your penance - more exercise tomorrow - which it sounds like you are going to be doing anyway - and it will keep you busy and out of the kitchen - but before you start - think about food and what you are going to eat for lunch and dinner - you are going to be tried from all that work and that's when we just grab something easy to eat - ie pizza cuz it's so much easier than fixing a meal... So before you start your day - plan what you are going to eat when you break for lunch and what will be easy to fix/eat for dinner when you are pooped... Ok I got a good one for all of you - you know how everyone says their band is tighter in the morning - well mine is tighter at night - but i love it cuz nites are the hardest for me.. I bought a precooked rotisserie (sp) chicken & stuff for a salad for dinner ate 1 chick thigh (and it did get a little stuck and it was very moist) and salad for dinner - ate a litte too fast - big problem for me when I let myself get too hungry- Ate a whole bowl of salad and the one ck thigh (skin and all- so see I'm not perfect:eek:) But i am full and not looking to eat ....

OK is Bjean who does :0) by bad ...