Bea Amaya

YOU ARE SO RIGHT! HA! I was early by a day...so sorry for the confusion!!! :wub:

Hmm...participation in this challenge has really fallen off. 43 people reported in week 1, 46 in week 2, and only 6 in week 3. Hopefully others will update their numbers this weekend. The group weight-loss stats are really impressive!

Five people have reported in today for a total loss of 16.2 lbs (awesome!). I'll be looking for more updates this evening.

Your pre-surgery diet seems to be working well! Good look on your surgery and we'll see you on the other side!

I'm up a bit since yesterday, but down since last week. Works for me! Challenge SW: 253.0 Today: 248.2

I agree with TapSnap about PB2, if you like peanut butter that is. I bought mine at Walmart and add it to my shakes and often put it in my small ice cream maker to give it more of a frozen yogurt consistency.

Just finished off a concoction made only of vanilla protein shake with 2 scoops of PB2 and 15 minutes in the Cuisinart Ice Cream maker. Gosh it was yummy!

Oh it was the idea of Feels2Me, not me. I just happen to like statistics, measurements, and tracking tools so have volunteered to do that part. It IS fun, however.

Almost 9 weeks out now I bought a Cuisinart ice cream maker (recommended on a forum here) and am experiencing a new found anticipation for my protein shakes in ice cream form. 10-20 minutes of churning and they are ready for me to eat with a spoon. Yum! Then again, perhaps it's living in south Texas that really makes me crave colder things much of the year.

Hey Fred...I think you're screwing with the statistics a bit by making such good progress! I was sleeved the day after you and have lost no where near that amount in spite of my rigor in sticking to the plan. Before someone jumps in here to "fuss" at me for comparing our losses to each other, let me just say I am pointing these differences out NOT to rue the fact that I'm losing slower but rather to show just how different [not at all a negative] we all are. Not only am I thrilled with my own losses but am also thrilled for you, Fred, for your awesome losses! In my opinion, we are BOTH succeeding in our journeys. Congrats on your awesome progress!

I'm sure others will jump in here and help with this but I'll share what I think anyway. It seems that no drain, a drain while in the hospital, and a drain that you "wear" home and get removed on your first follow-up visit are all common surgery options. I was in the second group, only having a drain in for two days. For my surgery I think the purpose was two-fold. For one, it did get rid of a lot of extra Fluid from the cavity around my stomach. For people who don't have a drain, these fluids are just absorbed into the body and removed in a more natural way. The second purpose, however, was to provide a second place to check for leaks. When it was time for my leak test and I was forced to drink that LOVELY liquid dye, I think they watched my drain bag for a period of time after that, again as a second check, to make sure none of the dye showed up in it...an indication of a leak. Anyway...that's my two cents.

My drain was no problem at all...except for the time I accidentally popped open the drain valve...yuck! I had it in when I woke up after surgery and was surprised (my first ever surgery) that I couldn't feel it and it didn't bother me. Anyway, it was taken out on day 2 and I was sent back to the hotel for one more day of recovery. Although I knew a drain was part of the plan and really didn't like the idea of walking around with something like that stuck in me, it was no big deal at all. My [pre]concerns about it were definitely unwarranted.

Challenge Stats (Updated 09/28):

As far as I'm concerned, you are welcome to jump in. Give us your current weight and your Halloween goal weight, the remember to check in every Thursday.

Thanks for coming back here to share this. I can tell you still remember how much the encouragement, and the FRANK talk, means to those of us early on in the journey. It's a HUGE help to some of us to hear the TRUTH from the veterans as well as to see that success is, indeed, possible. Again...thanks so much!

Wow! Awesome! Congratulations on a great week!

Updated: 9/26 3:10pm CST. We have 22 out of 44 reporting in already this morning for a total group loss for the week of 55.5 lbs. Can't wait to see how big this number gets by the end of the day. Woo Hoo! Big Successes! Measures: http://sdrv.ms/19Qmc3j

Thinking [hoping!] maybe my stall is about to come to an end. Looking for better numbers next week. 251.4 LW 251.0 today

Oooh...so close to Onderland! Nice progress!

I've lost an average human leg. Awesome.

Hang in there, sweetie...I feel your pain. For the first time since surgery I too have seen increases of a couple of pounds and you're right...it bites. My last stall (yes, I've already had one) was a little over 2 weeks in duration. I'm a week and a few days into this one already. I like your plan of making some small changes to see if you can get past it as I've also tried some of the same things (and am waiting to see success). Anyway, here's hoping your stall ends soon and you begin dropping again. I just wanted to let you know you are not alone.

Wow! This may be your most eventful year ever! Long past offering any advice about pregnancy (I'm a great-grandmother) I did want to offer my congratulations on both the weight loss and the pregnancy. Talk about life-changing events! GOOD LUCK!

Certainly, FabMom... jump on in and share.

Your weigh-in next Thursday should be awesome then!