Cherrybomb

Shellmarr, keep us posted how it goes for you in the half marathon and the 5K. I'm hoping to do my own half-marathon next year. Good luck!!

I too love mexican food and have added it back slowly into my diet. I choose chicken enchiladas with mole sauce when we go to our favorite restaurant (1-2, depending on size of enchilada). The mole sauce helps with the corn tortilla. If I eat a flour tortilla really slowly and carefully, I can have a bite or two (which is all I need, really). I steer clear of rice and the beans. I have also made beef enchiladas at home and haven't had any problem with the ground beef. I couldn't imagine giving up mexican food completely!

For those who watch The Biggest Loser, do you think it is a helpful television program or sets people up with unreal expectations for weight loss and exercise goals? Even though I know that losing 8+ pounds a week isn't going to happen for people who can't devote every minute to exercise, I still think it is a motivating program. And, for some reason, I really like Jillian Michaels. It doesn't feel exploitive like Fat March or other reality shows. What do you guys think?

Ok, Losing, you sold me! :-)

Hey all - I'm on the fence regarding buying the BB or not. I Just invested in myself to the tune of $575 for a year membership at the gym, so I'm not sure I want to part with the money for the BB as well. Do you really think it is worth the cash? Do you use it beyond the first few weeks? Thanks, Cherry

What are you using to replace food in your life? I used food for comfort, boredom, etc. My new hobbies are: Exercise - trying to do it everyday; hope to run a half-marathon in 2008; Harp - I am taking celtic harp lessons Dog - we rescued a pound puppy and I'm spending time and attention on him. What things are you using to replace food?

I agree with Kacee. I've only had one PB so far but it was from speed. I was in a hurry and I gulped down some tuna. Unfortunately, someone was at my front door and I had to stand there and nod (couldn't speak) until I could get away to let the tuna come back out. Not pretty and totally preventable if I hadn't been in a hurry. Lesson learned.

Name.............Chall. Start Wt......Current......Chall. Goal......To Go losingjusme...........273.....................273. ............238.............35 faithmd................303.....................303 ..............283.............20 mpalen.................229.....................229 ..............200.............29 want2beme...........225.....................225... ...........195.............30 mcgreen...............236.....................236. .............210.............26 wombat712...........179.....................179... ...........155.............24 Suzzzie. ..............346.....................346......... .....315.............31 Chris_NJ...............284.....................284 ...............250............34 Cherrybomb...........311.....................311...............291.............20

Thanks, Julie, and congratulations on your running success!

I'd like to participate in a marathon in April 2008 (8 months from now!) but I have no idea how best to prepare. Any advice out there? I'm planning to start hitting the gym treadmill every day but any tips would be appreciated. Thanks!

Anyone interested in participating in a half-marathon in 2008? I thought it might be fun to have a local group training together for a marathon next year. It sounds a long ways off but it really isn't. Check out the marathon info for April - Nature's Path Whidbey Island Marathon - Race Information There are other events, but a half-marathon on Whidbey sounds fun. I've never participated in one so this will be a major undertaking but it could be lots of fun. Anyone interested?

I wonder if being fat determines your hobbies, your perceptions on what is important, your goals OR is it the other way around? For example, if someone is fat and into computer gaming, did the person get into gaming because outdoor sports are too difficult at the heavy weight or did an interest in sedentary games make the person fat? What do you think? I see posts all the time on here about people who lose weight and are suddenly ironman athletes, interested in high energy activities. I have to wonder if being fat is what forms and shapes hobbies, careers, and dreams, rather than "video games make kids fat". chicken and the egg question - which came first, the fat person who stays sedentary or the sedentary person who becomes fat? (This excludes those rare active folks that were fat anyway.)

As a long time dieter (you name it, I've done it), I feel pretty comfortable telling you to ignore the scale BF analysis. Go have it professionally measured - at a gym, at your doctor, where ever - but don't rely on the scale. Too many variables in the way the scales measure BF to give any credence to the result, I think. Have it measured with calipers and then go back three months later and have it done again. I think you'll see that you are in fact losing fat and not much muscle. Just my humble opinion... :-)

On average, how often do you exercise? Do you think that is sufficient?

I think it was about $35 a month in my area. Plus there is the cost of joining. You'd have to check your local curves though to see what the prices are.

It is good if you have limited time or aren't looking to really get into weight training, serious cardio, etc. The circuit is the circuit and it doesn't change, so every work out is the same. It is good for people wanting to work out on a lunch break or when time is really short, but for the money, I thought I needed a gym.

I'm doing great so far. My second fill is next week, but I have felt good since the surgery and I have much more energy. Thanks for asking! :-)

I had lap-band surgery in July and my sister is having it in October, but we are seeing different surgeons. We are amazed at how different the post-op instructions have been. I'm curious if other people have found really conflicting advice out there from doctors. Examples we have found are: Her Doc: No milk ever. My doc: 16 oz milk a day. Her Doc: 3 protein shakes a day. Need 90g of protein each day. My doc: Avoid liquid calories, just make sure you get 50g of protein each day. Her Doc: Clear liquids 2 weeks before surgery, 4 weeks after surgery. My doc: Liquids for two weeks after surgery, then 2 weeks mushies, then regular food. Her Doc: Rice, pasta are ok if you tolerate them. My doc: Rice and pasta are no-nos. It's weird to see such variances in advice...

Yeah, I was hungry once the swelling went down. The main thing is to stick to the post-op diet. After my fill, I found restriction. I'm still looking for the "sweet spot" and I have another fill scheduled next week, but I found there was a difference in my hunger once I had a fill. You just have to hang in there. Good luck.

Follow your doc's advice but don't expect restriction until you have your first fill. Now is the time for healing.

Vick isn't sorry. You'd have to have a conscience to be sorry and his hobby of getting animals to tear each other to bits kinda rules that out.

Wenjea, how many calories do you think you are taking in when you are losing?

Grats on the weightloss! Maybe I should contact NWWLS and see if they think I need a fill. Last night for dinner I had one tiny, thin, chicken breast, peas and a piece of Texas toast (which hasn't bothered me). By the last bite of the toast, I had major pain and sliming - though I didn't PB. It passed after 10 minutes or so. I'm not sure if that indicates that I have good restriction or not. I contrast this with a couple of nights ago when I could eat a whole 6 inch Subway wrap with no problem and no feeling of overfull. I still haven't gotten the hang of what constitutes appropriate portions for me because every day is different. Keep us posted on your progress, Pinenut!

Glad to hear how it is going for you. I had my fill on August 16 and I'm feeling a little mixed on my results. The first couple of days, I was down 4 pounds and then everything stalled. My restriction really varies from day to day. Some days I can eat anything and don't feel full, then the next day, everything seems to get "stuck". I'm finally down about .5 but I'm thinking I need to go in for another fill. I've been exercising (not every day, unfortunately) but I'm not doing well getting all the water down. I really didn't expect to hit a mini-plateau so soon in the fill process. My son goes back to school next week (2nd grade) so maybe I can amp up the exercise then. It still seems crazy that a significant reduction in calories still can't seem to peel the weight off of me. My metabolism must be broken!!

It is a ridiculous show that exploits the last acceptable group in society for this kind of treatment - fat people.