DivaStyleCoach

Hi Everyone!:tt2: Updating - still on my journey. I am active 7 days a week - mostly because I have a dog who needs to be walked 3x per day, and at least two of those are my responsibility. We go at least a mile each time. I lift weights 3x per week - basic movements like dumbbell bench presses, squats, db rows, etc. The amount of weight I can handle has increased, which I'm happy about. I also run 3x per week - now doing the Couch to 8K program. My goal is to run a 10k this year. On the subject of excess skin...I too thought I was ready for surgery, even had the first consult, but I'm going to wait. My body continues to reshape and change, so my workouts are having a beneficial effect. I went from a 38K bra to a 36DD (occasionally DDD if I can find them) and while the 'volume' has decreased, my workouts have somewhat limited the 'sag' factor by building the muscle underneath. I've lost a total of 6 sizes, from a 24 to a 12 during my journey. The workouts have had a great effect on my waist measurement. I have found that my workouts are my saving grace - I love working out and have become addicted to running...if I don't get my run in, I feel crappy. Good luck to all those in the process - keep checking in and following doc's orders. Pick a healthy habit (walking, running, elliptical) and just keep doing it. :thumbup:

Hi Teeny Tina! So good to hear you are doing well and love the pics from your cruise! Don't worry about the BF - he's just feeling a bit insecure. You called it - he's been hurt before and probably has some leftover issues from that. Heck, the two of you are doing very well for what you've BOTH been through! Yay on the divorce being final - Boooo on the ex for getting anything from you - he's the one who should pay!:smile2: I'm doing well - glad to be back on LBT and keeping up with my buddies. Many of us are on Facebook now. Hoping you have a wonderful weekend!:redface:

Hey Notorious Novembers, Been quite a while since I checked in, so HI! (waving wildly) I read about the challenges y'all are having at the 18 month point - I'm sorta there with you. I've stabilized at 180 lbs - down 85 from where I started in Nov 2008 and very happy about that. I'm off all of the diabetes meds and the blood pressure meds and now take nothing but vitamins and iron supplements. I have been having more 'head issues' lately regarding food. I got a slight unfill because I was having a lot of trouble getting down salads, fresh fruit, etc - all the healthy stuff I WANT to eat. Since the slight unfill, I've had a return of some of my bad eating habits, but not on a huge scale - just occasionally. I'm also back in the gym 3 days a week and doing the C28K running program. I think it's simple fatigue setting in - at the 18 month point we're feeling like we should have accomplished our goals when we were banded and the 'long haul' is feeling a bit too long. This is the longest-term solution for my weight problem I've EVER had, and maybe it's that way for you too... I am not a doctor or a counselor, but I want to suggest that you re-visit in your head the reasons you wanted the band in the first place - maybe re-write the goals you had for that time and refresh your memory of why you did this in the first place. Review your progress - you HAVE made positive progress - and hopefully that will help you find the stick-to-it-iveness (my mama's word!) to keep on going. Give yourself permission to go slowly - my surgeon told me that after a year, they do see the weight loss numbers drop - that 'fatigue' thing - and it's possible that our minds are 'tricking' us into thinking this process should be "over" now...for me, it will never be "over". I will try to stay focused on the bandster lifestyle for the rest of my natural life, because if I don't, I'll slide right back into old habits and start regaining weight - because after all, I KNOW what will slide past my band :smile2: Hang in there, ladies - you CAN re-set your dedication and your experience and you WILL succeed at this...heck, you already HAVE! You have not given up...you have not had your band unfilled on purpose...you are still posting here and looking for answers... Let me know how you're doing!:redface:

Hi Notorious Novembers! Holding steady at 178 - 180 (depending on the day). My body is still shifting and reshaping from exercise - I'm down from a size 24 before I was banded to a size 12 now! Couple of weeks ago, I bought size 9/10 jeans and the brand I picked also fit in a size 7/8! I'm thrilled with that - and it just goes to show that women's sizes are so unpredictable! I'm off of all the diabetes meds and loving life. Planning to run a 10K toward the end of the summer and will be training for that soon. Hope everyone is doing well and feeling fine!:thumbdown:

Hi Tina! Good to hear that you and your honey are doing so well and that Christmas was so wonderful for you. Here's hoping the ex gets exactly what's coming to him and that your divorce is final sooner rather than later!:smile2:

Hey Notorious Novembers! Hi DDGalarza! I hear ya on the need for the band...if I COULD still overeat, I would. And sometimes I do! :eek: I wish I'd never found out what foods are sliders for me sometimes - it's so easy to go right back down that bad road! I would tend to agree with that - I bet your body has been "starving" for protein and calories to do some building with all the exercise you do! Yay! We'll take inches too! Great progress! OMG - that sounds like one HECK of a class...something I'd love to do if I had the time in my schedule! Hi Linda! Welcome to the Notorious Novembers! Glad to hear you are healing well - now don't overdo it at work! Follow doc's orders on your eating - maybe you can avoid 'bandster hell'! Your loss so far sounds good - keep up the good work! Passed my 1 year bandiversary on Tuesday, had my 1 year check up with my doc on Wednesday. I lost 17 lbs from the last time I saw him - 2 months before, so he didn't give me another fill. I'm feeling pretty good - my weight hasn't changed much (I update my ticker here more often than I visit the doc), but my sizes keep dropping. I was able to buy a winter coat in a size 12! :w00t: I'm now wearing 'off the rack' size Large in tops and skirts, and a 14 in pants (the tummy is in the way). I'm walking daily, running mostly on the weekends. Looking for a job closer to home so I can get back into the gym -I miss it. I do have an ellipitical machine and a rower at home so I can keep going after the winter yuckies set in. Loving my banded life - and SO GLAD I did this! All the times I struggled, the time spent in bandster hell, and the PB episodes have brought me forward to a much healthier and happier life! :bored: Still have some pounds to lose, but I'm not going to beat myself up about it. I'll plan to maintain or lose a little during the holidays, and then kick it into higher gear in January. There's a trip to New Orleans and Florida in my future - a pilot's weekend with my hubby and dropping my DD off in Florida for a Disney internship. Keep doing great work, Notorious Novembers!

Hi Danny, Thanks so much for updating us - tell her another LBT sister in Norwich checked in and is sending healing thoughts and congratulations her way! :bored:

You are just too funny I'll be sure to post my review here so the other running babes can see it. I like that we share resources in addition to inspiration on this thread. I know I would not be as successful with my running without the encouragement and inspiration I read here...everyone have a wonderful weekend! Supposed to be sunny and near 60 here in CT - I'm definately going for a run! :bored:

Hi BillOH, Please let me know how they work out for you...I'm checking out their website as I type this and they've got some really good stuff - including a support bra for those of us who were *ahem* genetically blessed. Gotta tell ya - that's rare! Their running pants look good, and if they help me run farther / faster, that will be even better! :confused: Still getting in a few days a week - but nothing the last few days because of a deep cough. It's nearly gone, so I should be back on the road this weekend. Yay! I miss running - I've still been walking, but it's definatley NOT the same!:scared2:

Gentle hugs and best wishes for a great result, Allie!:confused:

PJTP...again! Hi Plain! My office is mostly down with the flu - many people out. I'm ducking and dodging germs like a maniac! :eek: Hi BBK! Nice to see you on LBT...come on back! I heard THAT! Nice to see you here, Kat - and love the updates! I'm hanging in there...work is...work! Glad to have a job, but still looking for a better situation. Got feelers out, so I'm praying for good results. School is going well - I have an "A" in both classes with just over 5 weeks done. Just about halfway through the term - just about a year to go, and I'll have my Bachelors. Definately planning a trip to Chicago for the graduation ceremony. I'm at Kaplan University - all my classes are online - the only way I could do them!:scared2: Everyone have a wonderful day! :wub:

Hi Tina!:confused: The ex deserves every crappy thing that happens to him...what a jerkwad! How DARE he? Just goes to show that you are right - you are SO much better off OUT of that relationship. And it's good to hear you have an attorney who is going to make the ex do what he should...gotta love the pitbull attorneys! So good to hear that you are doing well and your new guy is wonderful as always. I totally agree on getting back on track - I've been "stuck" for a little while again, and I know it's all my fault, so I'm gonna do that same. At least I'm not facing the same 10 - 15 lbs gain over the holidays that I used to have! Congrats on being an Auntie! That's wonderful - gotta love new babies in the family! Hope you and your family have a terrifically wonderful and safe and happy Thanksgiving! :scared2:

PJTP...again! Came out of the meeting with the brass...so far, I still have a job. The issue revolved around materials I sent out to applicants that I thought they had rights to (they are part of their files) but were not supposed to help write. Turns out they are not supposed to see them at any point. HR Rep #2 agreed with me - or so it seems - I was not told explicitly that they could not see them. I did send out corrective notes to the affected applicants, and it has not happened again since. My union rep thought it went well - I am just happy I still have a job for now. Stepping up the job search - every single day, I will do SOMETHING towards getting a new position. Maybe I'll send my resume out to some temp agencies and look for another temp-to-perm situation. I just do not want to deal with the constant stress any more. Have been sending out applications when I hear of open positions, but I guess its time to take it to another level. If I can get something closer to home, I'll even take a small pay cut to get out of here...my band has been tight all day because of the stress, and I just don't need that right now! On another note - no motorcycle for me right now. The one I wanted was sold, so the hunt continues...I can wait until spring! :redface:

PJTP...again! Hi Everyone! Been wicked busy, but had to stop in and give everyone an update... Haven't bought the motorcycle yet - it was unfortunately sent out to auction before I got to see it, so we won't know until today (sometime this afternoon) whether it sold or not. If it didn't sell, I'll probably take it. DH and I looked at a Kawa Ninja 500 that was also there - but I'm not as enthused about sport bikes as I am about the cruiser style. Since this is a present from DH to me (!) I get the final word...and I've gotta ride as much as I can before putting it away for the winter so we'll know if there's any problems with whichever one I get before the warranty runs out! DD is doing fine - excited about her upcoming Disney internship. She leaves January 11 and I'll be an empty-nester! Tap - I absolutely LOVE to ride...more as a passenger than a driver until I took the motorcycle safety course. I think I told y'all, DH tried to teach me to ride and I had an accident in a neighbor's yard - laid the bike down. Took me 16 years to get on another one...not something I recommend. I wish I hadn't wasted so much time, but I won't let that happen again! Today is my one year Bandiversary! I'm happy, so happy that I was banded...my life is so much better now! :w00t: Got another work related meeting today - I posted about it about a month ago - and the fallout is happening today. I'm almost ready to call it quits myself - the constant what-if my head goes through is a pain in the tuckus. If I am fired, I'll take a few days to rest and recover and get on the stick regarding my other job applications - I continue to put applications in, but no bites yet. May check out the local temp agencies and beat the bushes a bit for local stuff. I'd really rather NOT do this commute again if I don't have to. Course it will suck to be out of a job just before the holidays, but I'll cross that bridge when I get there. This meeting is being called an "Investigatory" meeting, but I have very few illusions that I'll be treated fairly. There will be four (4) people from my department and myself and my union rep. Will try to check in and let y'all know what happens...either way, I'm not going to get cranked up - or at least I'll try not to...

PJTP...again! Okay, just to make it worse, Plain, here's a shot of my potential purchase (yeah, I know, I'm bad) :biggrin: Going with DH to check it out on Saturday morning. It's an '86 Kawasaki Vulcan. They are reporting it has less than 3,000 miles on it, and the asking price is just under $2,500. If the mileage is true, I'll probably be putting a deposit on it on Saturday and picking it up the next weekend (gotta transfer funds around, and because of my work schedule). DH may go get it early...he'll probably ride it too while his Harley is down for repairs. I'm excited and can't wait! It'll be a great first bike for me, and then I'll be chomping at the bit for spring so I can ride more! BBL - work calls!

Hi Mels423! :biggrin: I definately recommend some rest...I only run every other day - I average 3 days running per week (plus either Saturday or Sunday) and walk the other days. If you're changing your running gait / style because of pain that's a definate signal to change / stop what you are doing. Sometimes when you first start working out, you will retain water because of the muscle "injury"...don't worry too much - if you are eating properly, it will come back off. Get your rest and don't aggravate that injury - I'd hate for you to be laid up for a week or more...after I ran my 5k, my right hip hurt when I changed from a sitting position to standing, so I took a week "off" from running, but did walk. Whatever I did eased up because I eased up - let the injury heal and you'll be back on the treadmill in no time! Now, I'm not a doctor, so take my advice with a grain of salt, but...

Hi Trish! Same suggestion I made to Elyse - track your exercise calorie burn and your eating calories very carefully and see what your calorie deficit is. If you are burning way more than you are eating, your body will be in 'starvation' mode. I am on Lantus as well, and I understand that it will affect weight loss - all insulin does. I hope that you find your answer - have you talked to your nutritionist lately? Perhaps some not-so-great habits have snuck back into your routine? Good luck with finding your answers! :biggrin:

Hello! Ribeye steak - nope, can't handle it anymore unless it's in some kind of sauce. Some people can tolerate beef well, and if it's tenderized, you might be able to eat it. Try very small portions and chew more than you think you need to, but don't be surprised if you have to give it up for a while. Lobster tails - I never ate them before, but they are less "chewy" than steak, I'd imagine, so you might be okay there...again, chew more than you think you need to, and start with small portions. Shrimp - I had no problem with these until my last fill, then my tolerance disappeared. Unless they are tiny baby shrimp, I can't handle them any more. Of course I've had 3 or 4 fills (can't remember) and that definately has something to do with it. You may find initially that all these foods are okay, but as you progress through the fills, you may have to give them up for a while. Take it easy, don't "talk" yourself into an upset too early. Sometimes my emotional state affects my band - if I'm upset, it's tight. When I'm loose and happy, so is my band! You may also find that certain times of day you are tighter than others - for me, mornings are tight, and that's when I have my Protein drinks and yogurt. I can usually tolerate solid food for lunch and dinner. Enjoy your banded journey and best of health to you! :tongue_smilie:

Hi Ms RoJacks! First, let me congratulate you on being banded - where did you get your surgery done? I live in Norwich, but was banded at Yale New Haven Hospital (I work at Yale). Please don't move ahead to thicker liquids or solid food unless your doctor's orders say it's okay. You are still healing, and it's important to follow doc's orders while that is going on. You don't want to have ANY kind of problems right now - and I know it's hard, but it will help you in the long run. I'm glad you're not having hunger problems - I was hungry all the time, even after I was banded! :smile: I'm doing much better now - approaching my 1 year bandiversary (in 6 days) and down over 70 lbs. My goal was to have lost 100 by now, but I'm still really happy with what I've achieved. I hope that your fiancee is able to get the help he needs to conquer his alcoholism - it will make it very difficult for him if he's at all insecure or uncertain about your progress and your getting healthy. Please take good care of yourself, and if you have questions, don't hesitate to ask. I also suggest you talk to your doctor and their support staff often - don't do this alone. The doc and his staff know your situation best - listen to them! Once you get the clearance to exercise, do what you can - walking is great. I lost the majority of my weight with walking - I started running about 3 months ago, and ran my first 5k race in October. Something I NEVER thought I'd do when I was heavier. Find ways to occupy your time that don't include food - now is the time to break old habits and establish new, healthy ones. Good luck and blessings to you! :tongue_smilie:

Hi Notorious Novembers! :tongue_smilie: Congrats on breaking 200! That's fantastic! I hear ya on the "slow" thing...I'm holding pretty steady here...wanted to be at 100 before my bandiversary (in 6 days!) but am semi-stuck. I'm not too worried, because I wouldn't want ANY of what I've lost back, but... Elyse - here's a radical thought...maybe you're not eating ENOUGH? See if you can figure out how many calories you are burning with your exercise and work from there...with 4 days a week, you might just be burning nearly everything you take in, putting your body in starvation mode. I know I could do better with my calories, but I also know I could NOT make it on 800 calories a day...wow! Hi David! Welcome to what we call "bandster hell"...LOL You've got a band, but right now, because you are healing, you don't have restriction. Don't worry about the weight loss right now. Follow your doctor's rules regarding moving from liquids to mushies to solids - you don't want to give yourself a band problem right off the bat. Make protein the first part of your meal - again, following doc's orders, and that may help with the hunger. Hi Onenorahs - I'm not in Minnesota, but welcome to the Notorious Novembers! I'm doing okay - weight loss has stalled a bit, but I'm losing inches steadily. Down to a size 14 and some size 12's, hanging in there with my fills - I think I've had 3 or 4 (I lose track). Not off the diabetes meds yet, but on low doses. Took up running a few months ago, and ran my first 5k in October. Still running - actually ran 3 miles this past weekend in honor of World Run Day. Feeling great...very happy I was banded. My bandiversary is November 17 - in 6 days! I'm going to celebrate, just don't know quite how yet...maybe with some new photos? Nice to see new and familiar faces - keep on keepin' on, everyone! :smile:

PJTP...Sneaking in a post in a very busy work day! :tongue_smilie: Oh how cute! You DO look great with short hair - it brings the focus to your face and your eyes...gosh, you had a LOT of hair! I second what Crzytchr said! At work as well, no holiday here...YUK! Happy to be back on PJTP...work is a bit crazy (deadlines for applicants) plus stuff at home is a bit harrowing because of DH's new responsibilities as a school board member. Long meetings - had the swearing-in yesterday, but he's already getting info packets and studying up. He's loving it...me, I'm not so sure yet...I'll reserve judgment. I may be buying a motorcycle this weekend...DH was out window shopping today and found one he wants me to see...we'll go check it out on Saturday. He's had his license for years and years - I just got mine about a year ago, but since I don't own a bike, not much time to ride. He feels very strongly that I need my own bike - and I agree - but it wasn't a priority. Now is the time to buy, though...people don't want to store them another winter, so prices are dropping rapidly. I'll post pics if I decide to buy one...we'll see! :smile: Hopefully I'll BBL...depends on work!

Hi Everyone! :smile: Hanging in there with my running...it's gotten colder, so I don't go as often, but I'm still out there! Ran Sunday morning in honor of World Run Day, did 3 miles, bettered my last time, so I'm feeling pretty good. Still walking regularly to keep my mileage up...funny - I still think I walk faster than I run, but running definately burns more calories. Mels423 - you've gotten great advice from BillOH and Confused - I agree that once you get comfortable at a certain speed, then you should move to a faster pace. Don't think you have to do it too fast - another member of the forum, Jachut, who runs a LOT, posted that your "wind" capacity may increase faster than your body's ability to withstand the relative "pounding" of running, so while you may feel you can go faster or longer, you should let your body catch up to your lungs to avoid injury. I'm definately going faster, and no injuries, so I think I'm doing okay. Still shaping up, but not a lot of weight loss...kinda stalled right now. I started running outside, and funny enough, I'm nervous about using a treadmill! :tongue_smilie: I guess you can talk yourself into being nervous about anything... Sounds like you are on a good track though...just keep going!

Go Allie Go! We're all so excited for you and can't wait to hear about your great results...thank you again for sharing your journey with us all... Nothing but good wishes, prayers for your speedy recovery, and :tongue_smilie: coming your way!

Hi Mels, Welcome to the thread! I used the C25K to prepare for my recent 5k run - around the middle of October. I took a little more than 9 weeks to do the program - some weeks I repeated when I felt I wasn't ready to move on. It's a great program - I feel it prepared me very well for my first 5k. Though my course was mixed (hills, rocks, trees and mud, oh my!) I still feel I did well. Ran 3 miles today in my best time ever - feeling very good about that! I definately recommend running - it has helped me to reshape my body and helped take off a few more pounds. If I was better about my eating (going through a rough patch with eating right now) I'd probably be at my goal weight by now. I would also highly recommend BillOH's advice - he's very helpful and encouraging, while continuing to push us (and himself). Happy to see you here - you're going to love running!:w00t: