phyllser

Excellent post!! Sometimes we have to "Fake it 'til we Make it!"

In November, because of the holidays, someone challenged us to exercise 20X in the month of December. Adding it to our signatures was a good way of keeping track of it. Then I decided to do it again in January just as a matter of accountability to myself for keeping up my exercise.

We like the chewable calcium from Costco but lately they haven't had the sugar free. Chewable Centrum works, and, like I mentioned, the liquid B-Comp. Small capsules go down easy. And small pills, for that matter. But anything very big... scarey!

It should be a good game. Play off party sounds fun!! Excpet for all that food. I ate too much today. Panera Bread for lunch. Although, I must say, their soup bowls certainly have shrunk! Used to get a pretty good sized bowl of soup when you ordered the "Take Two" or whatever they call it... bowl of soup and 1/2 sandwich. Now you get a little crock of soup. That's okay, but their price didn't change! In fact, I think it went up... less food, more money. It was plenty for me, but just annoying when they do things like that. But then I had about 4 little shrimp for an afternoon snack. So I couldn't even eat half of my dinner tonight... small chicken breast.. most of it went back in the fridge.

sorry... probably us football nuts gumming up the works!! Doesn't that make you mad when you type a really good post and then suddenly it's gone?? And you don't know where it went?? And you don't feel like typing it all over again!! Bummer!! FOCUS on the SIZE 12 pants.... not the "OLD" stuff... doesn't matter. Stupid kid! Part D, indeed!!! :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek: Hey! I was at Wal-Mart yesterday and I went to the McDonald's inside...... and I bought...... (DRUM ROLL) A LARGE BLACK COFFEE! Yes! :tea:

GO SEAHAWKS!!

I guess I take about 6 Rx plus vitamin supplements. Two BP, two for cholesterol, one for reflux, one for bladder and a synthetic hormone pill. The supplements are the most difficult to get down, especially B-Complex. But then someone here clued me in about the Liquid B-Complex, sublingual, and that works great. Target has it and yesterday I found it at Wal-Mart. GO SEAHAWKS!!!

Ok I have a question to pose - do you think getting filled is both a physical help & physiological too.. I have been contemplating this for the last 2 days. Out loud thinking here... Do you think that we can use our bands to become anorexic well not that totally but that we can abuse a fill... Like me right now - I want a little one - but I don't think I really need it - but that if he just went in and said ok here you go and really didn't do anything just said he did - would I think oh I am tighter... Right now I was eating some corn (need to go to the store it's the only veggie I have) and right now have golf ball - I have had 3 bites - normal bites not tiny and I am tight in my chest.. I want to be able to eat more than 1/4 cup of food per meal - I don't think that eating only that much is healthy - I don't want a starvation diet and mentally that's starvation to me.. As it stands now I am eating 1 to 1 1/2 cups per meal I guess what I am saying here is that with the restriction I have I should be happy with and not want another fill. am I getting too dependant on my band - I don't think so but I guess this is in the back of my mind. I guess it's just I know this is working now - but what is going to happen in 3 yrs - I got 30 lbs to go to get to goal - and maybe I just want it now and am afraid that I won't get there This 59.5 lbs is the most I have ever lost in my life I wish I could be as articulate as Karri in explaining my feelings. I get a thought then it leaves me... I hate old age I guess I am worried that I will rely too much on the band and not on myself ... That's not it either - well not totally but partially - someone help me out here.... is anyone getting what I am trying to say.. Ok I will just post this and see if you guys have ever had these thoughts or understand what I am trying to say.. Am I feeling guilty about my band as a tool - am I afraid of becoming addicted to fills - I am I wanting the weight to come off faster I think that cuz I have only lost 1/2 a pound for the last two weeks - that something’s wrong - but with the cookies & tamales I was happy with the 1/2 and with not exercising last week for 4 day -I was happy with the 1/2 lost – I guess what I am afraid of the platue (sp) that may be coming - I’m afraid that I am not going to lose any more weight - I am afraid I will lose my resolve if the scales don't move downward.. Definitely think that getting a fill IS both physical and psychological... there is more restriction and I know I am expecting that to be there AND I am afraid to test it. I have never had any episodes of pb'ing or sliming... just an occasional "stuck" feeling for a short time... longest was 30 minutes.. That is enough to intimidate me and keep me from pushing to the limit. I don't think you're in danger of developing an addiction to fills. You have a great deal of self discipline. If you were "addicted" to fills, you would be pushing it, trying to see how much you could eat before the band stopped you. We all want the weight to come off fast. I was thinking about that today. Someone I hadn't seen since last winter was at water aerobics this morning. She always used to talk to me, so we happened to be at the same end of the pool this morning and talking about what we did and didn't do over the summer/fall. I mentioned having surgery so she wanted to know more. After that conversation, it got me started thinking about why I chose the band over bypass. When I was researching both procedures, I decided I wanted the bypass. Why??? Because I wanted the weight off FAST!! But once I really thought it through, that was not a good reason to decide on that procedure. FAST is not healthy. Slower is better. And, plateaus are a fact of life. My pattern seems to be to lose 10-12 lb in about 2 weeks, then hover around that weight for several weeks before I start losing again. It can be frustrating, but after several cycles of that, I've just had to learn to deal with it and just stay consistent with what I'm doing because it does work. You've been diligent about your exercise and about making the right food choices. The weight IS going to come off. Patience, my dear. It's going to be okay. You know my Rx for this situation..... have a little glass of wine and chill!! LOL

Good to hear from you again, "Frustrated". You have definitely faced some monumental challenges these past few weeks. Hope things start getting better soon! Keep us posted!

That sounds really good, Peaches! We love salmon. Sometimes cook it on the George Foreman with a little Old Bay Seasoning, olive oil or pam. Costco had nice looking salmon today for $4.99/lb so we bought about 24 oz. filet. I love my seafood!

Hmmm.... might have to check that out on our way back north, Jann. Is it anywhere near a main north/south highway?? Not in the market for real estate, but like to explore new places.

Wow!! I love your graph!! Did you do that yourself?? Seeing your weight loss graphed out like that.. a real visual boost! I love it!

We have to remember this is NOT a race. If your mind is thinking race, then think marathon and not sprint! Steady, even, sometimes slow, but always forward progress. We've not eaten right for many years and we are making lifetime changes in our eating habits. We can't get discouraged because the weight isn't coming off as fast as we think it should. Just hang in there and don't let the scale get you down. Our bodies need time to adjust. My pattern since my banding last July seems to be to drop 10-12 lb in a 2-3 week period, then stay there for several weeks. Then drop another 10 lb or so, then level off again. After doing this for several months, I've realized I just have to keep up my exercise and eating right and not get impatient for the scale to move. If we can manage 5-10 lb a month, think what that will total in a year! God Bless! Hope everyone has a GREAT day today!!

Hah!! Or maybe I just lived tooo close to Canada growing up!! I was born & raised in Buffalo, neighbor. I'm German/Irish.

Shoes??? I often take off mine when going in to someone's house, too, but I'm not sure why?? Wasn't brought up to do that. I think the habit started when we moved in to a new house with light colored carpeting. I even have two extra pairs of slippers that live near the front doors of our two daughters homes! And when we go to our son's, we park the RV out front & I take my slippers inside every morning! Never thought about why.

Hmmmm, I might have to go check that out! Sounds stimulating! I got a little huffy with a gal a few months ago. It was over insurance.. on one of those sites. They were discussing Medicare/Tricare coverage for lapband. This one gal was insisting that Tricare DOES NOT cover lapband, period, end of sentence! Duh! I have Medicare/Tricare For Life and I've had very little out of pocket expense. Certain things they wouldn't pay for, but most of it, they paid their share after Medicare. She wouldn't listen so I just had to go away for a while.

Very well put, Karri & Janet! And I know the support and encouragement, AND the accountability that we provide each other here on this site are immeasureably important!! Vital! That's why I practiaclly LIVE here when I'm not out and about!

I'd suggest water exercise. I have bad knees and I LOVE my water aerobics sessions. My legs get a good workout without putting too much pressure on my knees. I don't think anyone actually kept a tally of the December exercise challenge... we each kept track of our own. And some of us added it to our signature. You can set up a signature by clicking on "Edit Signature" under the Quick Links at the top. Then each time you exercise, go back to that and update the number. I think I've been to Mickey D's once since my surgery. I had one of their chicken snack wraps. I suppose I should look up the calories and fat grams, but they're small so it can't be too bad. One of my favorite fast foods (that I still indulge in about once a week when I'm home in WA) is KFC.... this is weird but I get mashed potatoes, no gravy, and coleslaw! And I mix them together! We made some killer Seafood Soup a few days ago.. made it like vegetable soup, couple of cans of tomatoes, frozen mixed veggies, can of white beans, some celery, onion, garlic, about a pound of mixed seafood.... shrimp, clams, artificial crab, etc., and seasoned it with a little Old Bay Seasoning, chili powder and a little curry powder. Very low fat, low carb, low cal and it was soooo good... still is... there's still some left. Always better after the first day.

:welcome2: :welcomeB: :welcome2: Suzi, You are doing GREAT!! Welcome to our Lucky#7s thread! Hey, gang, I'm going to renew the exercise challenge for January if anyone wants to join me. It helps make me accountable, especially on those cold mornings when I really don't want to go down to the pool. Knowing I can't up my exercise number for that day can make the difference between toughing it out or staying inside under my blankie!! Maybe this month I can make it to 20. I only did 15 for December, but I did make the other holiday challenge. I'm only down .4 lb, but it IS down!! Hooray!! :clap2::clap2:

===============After Christmas================ 'Twas the week after Christmas, and all through the house Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse. The cookies I'd nibbled, the eggnog I'd taste At the holiday parties had gone to my waist. When I got on the scales there arose such a number! When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber). I'd remember the marvelous meals I'd prepared; The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared, The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese And the way I'd never said, "No thank you, please." As I dressed myself in my husband's old shirt And prepared once again to do battle with dirt I said to myself, as I only can "You can't spend a winter disguised as a man!" So away with the last of the sour cream dip, Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip Every last bit of food that I like must be banished Till all the additional ounces have vanished. I won't have a cookie - not even a lick. I'll want only to chew on a long celery stick. I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie, I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry. I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore But isn't that what January is for? Unable to giggle, no longer a riot. Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet!

Who knows???? And why did my GlitterMaker signature go away???? It broke and I can't seem to fix it!! Maybe it's just my computer. I can't see IndioGirl signature anymore either. I tried to redo mine and I can't.

Hi, We are in Desert Hot Springs and will definitely be going to Quartzsite later this month. I'm not sure about the date yet. We usually just go over for the day... leave about 7a.m. and stay all day. Keep in touch. Would love to meet up over there. Don't know what to tell you about the arthritis meds. I used to take something for mine, but now just tough it out. Mineral springs hot water pool/spas down here helps a lot. Not nearly the pain I have when I'm up in WA. In fact, almost non-existent. Recommendation is no NSAIDS after banding, but I do take Ibuprofen occassionally for headaches. I'm sure they can work something out for you.

Hi, We are in Desert Hot Springs and will definitely be going to Quartzsite later this month. I'm not sure about the date yet. We usually just go over for the day... leave about 7a.m. and stay all day. Keep in touch. Would love to meet up over there. Don't know what to tell you about the arthritis meds. I used to take something for mine, but now just tough it out. Mineral springs hot water pool/spas down here helps a lot. Not nearly the pain I have when I'm up in WA. In fact, almost non-existent. Recommendation is no NSAIDS after banding, but I do take Ibuprofen occassionally for headaches. I'm sure they can work something out for you.

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