DivaStyleCoach

Trying to PJTP again... Created this gorgeous multi-post yesterday - lots of stuff, photos, etc. LBT ate it...so frustrating! So here's the Reader's Digest condensed version! Halloween pics of me, DH and DD posted in an album on my profile - labeled, funny enough, Halloween 2009. Go take a look! :w00t: Couldn't get them to attach here...dunno why... Holding steady with my weight - feeling pretty good, though the colder weather has these middle-aged bones hurting just a little. No complaints, though...at least they still work pretty well. Ran 3 miles this morning in honor of World Run Day - it's a multi-state, multi-country event designed to encourage everyone to get out and run...I know I didn't think it was important 6 months ago, but now I couldn't be without it. I was "off" for about a week while DD was house sitting for a friend - had to take the DDog for his walk every morning and he doesn't like to run. I thought I'd have a tougher time of it today, and while I was a bit winded, I was actually FASTER than a week ago! :wink2::w00t: I finished what I call my "long course" before the time ran out on my C25K final workout day. That's the one I repeat on the weekends when I have more time. I think the weather will force me inside shortly - those 35 degree days are tough to run in...the cold air makes my chest hurt! It's bad enough I've lost my protective blanket of fat (and I don't want it back, either!) but I seem to be cold no matter what I wear. Only with triple layers or physical activity do I actually feel warm. Drives my DH crazy - I keep talking about putting a heater in our bedroom because our old house doesn't have a radiator in the room. We have two fireplaces, but haven't activated either one because they need chimney work prior to doing that. One is in what will be the master bath, the other is going to be our sitting room. Lots of work to do before we get to that stage though... Okay, I've talked enough...heading up to bed shortly - gotta get my beauty sleep! LOL Heartfire, G4E, Tippity-Tap, Crzytchr, Plain and Kat - I :crying: ya all, and will check in more regularly, I promise! Busy times at work and at home have kept me away, but I'm back again...:crying:

Hi Bill! I use Prevention.com's MyWalkingMaps feature - I used it to map out the walks I do at work and around my neighborhood. Sometimes it can be a bit klugey, especially when you don't follow the exact same streets on an out-and-back trip, but I can make it work. For instance, my home-based 5k is out toward our local hospital, around in a loop, and finishes on the same street as I start on - mapping that is a bit of a challenge, but once you do it, you can save the route. I even added typical walk routes around the Yale campus where I walk so others can see them and use them. It's a pretty neat feature. I'm going to check out walkjogrun.net, though...sounds like a great alternative if I have problems with MyWalkingMaps. Thanks for the resource! :thumbup:

Love this one Ellen! Adding my own this morning: You know you are a bandster when the local tailor / alterations shop knows you by name because you keep coming in to have clothes re-measured before you get them altered - the weight loss just keeps coming! :thumbup: :thumbup: :eek:

Go Bill! Ran my "long course" over the weekend - just over 3 miles. Completed it in about 35 minutes. Yeah, that's a big change from my previous 5K, but I attribute it partly to it all being pretty flat (gentle swells, not really hills per se) and the fact that I'm familiar with the course and have made it over the mental hurdle of doing the distance. Next I'm going to map out a course that includes some hills near my home (we have NO SHORTAGE of those) and run those. I'm still a little apprehensive about the onset of winter (especially since it was SO COLD this morning) but I'm determined to keep going. Have a great afternoon, Everyone!

I'm SO glad to see you, G4E! :wub:

PJTP...again! Hi Everybody! Just in from my lunchtime walk and had a couple of minutes, so guess where I am! Nope, Tippity-Tap, it's NOT you! We wub you! :wub::wub::wub: It seems we just went through a busy period...I know I still am in the middle of one! :eek: Saturday's activities were fun...gosh, I felt like 'Rocky Horror' lasted forever! Maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I'd seen it when I was younger and more easily impressed. Loved Tim Curry's "Sweet Transvestite", but the rest of it I could take or leave. The audience participation was hilarious. Half the audience (me included) had never seen it, the other half knew the dialogue by heart (including when to throw things at the screen). I had an obnoxious person shooting me with a water pistol from behind me about two rows back...now if you know ANYTHING about Black women, you know we take our hair seriously (anybody seen Chris Rock's documentary 'Good Hair' yet? He is getting major grief for spilling the secrets, but I digress) and one thing you do NOT do is squirt water at us without warning! Even though I wear my hair natural, I still didn't want to be squirted...if I could have found the idiot with the water pistol, there would have been an incident that needed the police! Anyway, DH and I dropped DD off at home after the movie and off we went to a local bar - had great fun! I did upload pics to FB, but will post some here once I get home - they are on my laptop. Election day in our community tomorrow - going to be crazy since DH is on the ballot for the school board... Fun times in Ebony's house! :wub:

Okay, who's been peeking in MY closet! LOL Oh so true! ROFLOL! Here's another: You know you're a bandster when you no longer have to look at the "fully covered" costumes for Halloween because you've lost enough weight and inches that you fit into the "Sexy..." whatever costumes! ...when you start to stalk plastic surgeon's websites for good before-and-after pictures of tummy surgery so you can visualize what YOURS will look like! ...when even your SHOES are getting too loose! ...when you don't mind being a little shorter because you've lost the fat pads on the bottom of your feet! Let's keep 'em coming!

PJTP...just a quick drive-by posting! Ran 2.63 miles this morning - I know exactly how far, because I checked it out with Prevention.com's walking maps feature. It's what I call my "long walk" route, which I guess I'm going to have to extend, now! This was my 5k training route - it works out to 4.2 kilometers. Guess that's why I had a challenge with that 5k a few weeks back - it was longer than I'd ever run before, and on unfamiliar terrain to boot! :Yawn::eek::laugh: Going to get ready for a showing of "Rocky Horror Picture Show" and our Halloween Party - DH thought the movie was Friday night, but it's tonight. Will take pictures - we're going as a sexy Demon couple...LOL

PJTP...Hi Everyone! Having a slow / busy day at work - parts of the morning were kinda slow, but it's picking up now. Half the folks are gone on travel, so everyone's covering and doing extra... Just about time to go for my lunchtime walk - be glad to get out of the office for a bit. Halloween Eve fun tonight - DH and I are going to see the Rocky Horror Picture Show tonight at a local theatre. :eek: The group putting it on is a nonprofit, and it's a good cause. We are dressing up, though not as characters from the movie. DH decided to go as a modern-day demon - we put the horns on his head this morning :eek::eek::eek:...will try to post pics later. I have a 'sexy demoness' costume - red leather-like bustier, skirt so short it's dangerous, thigh-high black boots...it's gonna be an interesting night! :tt2: Tomorrow night is a party at a local bar / dance club / watering hole. DH has to stay in town cause he's on call...will be fun, because we've been there a couple of times a month since the summer, so they kinda know us...not sure if that's good or bad! Still running 3 days a week and loving it. No residual hip soreness any more - had a little discomfort from my 5k. Thinking about extending my distance and running a 10k in the spring, which means I have to train all winter...probably indoors mostly. Coming up to my 1 year bandiversary - November 17th. :eek: Wanted to have lost 100 by now, but I'll be happy with 80, which I'm very close to. Still loving my banded life and very happy I did this... DD is enjoying college, and has the possibility of doing an internship at Disney from January to June - plus a couple of college-level courses while she's there. I'm hoping she gets it, but will miss her a bunch while she's gone... Hope everyone has a wonderful Friday and a safe and happy Halloween weekend! :sad:

Hello Road Warriors! Fully recovered from my 5k (had a little hip discomfort) and am back to running. Still loving it - even with the cold mornings we've had lately in New England. Still walking a lot, running 3 days a week. Starting to plan for longer runs on the weekend so I can build additional endurance. Once I have to go inside, I'll have to make time to go to the gym after work to get increased mileage in. I want to run another 3 - 5 5k races before trying a 10k. Weight loss is slow, but at least it's moving in the right direction. Working more on building muscle than losing weight right now - I figure if I put on a few pounds of muscle, the additional calorie burn at rest will help with getting rid of the last 20 or so pounds. Plus, I plan to be more active and eating even better while this is going on. I'm determined NOT to add any 'winter padding' like I used to do every year before this. Last year was an exception - I was banded in November. Coming to my 1 year bandiversary - really wanted to be down 100 lbs by now, but I'll be happy with 80. I'm a few pounds away. I should be able to celebrate my next birthday (in February) at or very near my goal weight if I stay focused November - January. Still highly recommend the Couch-to-5k plan - downloaded the 10k plan, but haven't tried it yet. There are some comments on the download page that lead me to believe it doesn't have the mid-run warning, which could be an annoyance. I like not having to watch the clock when I run...if it's true, I'll send the author an email and ask them to add it in the next version. Hope everyone is doing well! :sad:

PJTP one more thing... Plain - love the new pic in your avatar! You're a cutie pie!:thumbdown:

PJTP...back again! :thumbup: ROFLBMO... ROFLMBO again...Kat, that was perfect! Come back, Taps! Come back! I admit it, I haven't been here as much as before, and you're right, I do need "study breaks" - heck, I need "work breaks" too! I love the PJTP thread...was sorry to see the old one go, but I'm determined to stay for this one. So even if you don't see me posting every day, I'm still here and I'm not giving up *Ebony stamps foot* Come back, Taps...come back!:thumbdown:

Hi Notorious Novembers! That is truly wonderful - that's a big NSV if ever I saw one! One of my best friends keeps saying to me that she doesn't want me to become a 'bobble head' with a big head on a tiny body. :hurt::cryin: I'm getting a lot of comments about me being "skinny enough" lately... DD - I'm following the same train of thought. I think I'd like to get down to 170, hold that for a while and see what I can do with exercise, then plan for a tummy tuck next year. With my DD starting college, there isn't a WHOLE lot of extra money to be had... Course, I'm also having some work done on the 'girls'...they are not what they used to be! :eek:

PJTP...Back after the weekend!:hurt: Saturday was busy - lots of stuff around the house. Had a bad tummy day (sensitive, lots of PB'ing on stupid stuff that didn't bother me a few days ago - go figure) but okay. My monthly "friend" must be approaching - I usually get tight around that time, but this is reediculous! Lots of reading and studying - my classes are different that way this time. I've got to stay on top of them or I'll get seriously behind! Went to a college football game with DH and DD - halfway through the game, slimed on nachos (chips, I guess - only ate about a quarter of them) and felt yukky the rest of the day. The game was fun, though - our team won! DD is hoping to be chosen for a Disney internship starting in January - she'd be in Orlando, working and attending classes, and be there until May. Then she'd be home for a couple of months and start at Virginia State in August. I'm happy for her, but I know I'm going to miss her a ton! :cryin: She did an online assessment and had a phone interview on Sunday, which went very well. Sunday was kinda slow...church in the morning, DH and DD did some campaign stuff while I took care of homework, and then we went to the movies. They saw the latest movie in the "Saw" franchise, I saw "Law Abiding Citizen" which I thought was excellent. Took it easy on my sensitive tummy the rest of the day, and today's been okay. Back to running this morning and my hip feels fine - want to get the last 20 pounds off so I can get to "Maintenance Mode". Have a wonderful afternoon, Everyone! :wink2:

...the inexpensive "door mount" mirrors at the local discount hardware or home improvement store are big enough to show your entire body from side to side! ...you scope out restaurants with a great appetizer menu because you KNOW that's all you'll be able to eat!:wink2:

PJTP... After recovering from her startled, but appreciative state, Ebony stands and applauds wildly for Tapshoes. :closedeyes: Rest up, Bristlecone - glad you had a good time! Busy here in the office this afternoon - file uploads, filing recieved materials, testing, data adjustments, etc, etc, etc. At least I DID get out for a walk at lunchtime. Not exactly looking forward to my walk to the train station though - it's getting gray and cold / windy out...BRRRR! :w00t:

PJTP...I'm back! :closedeyes: Weekends are MADE for enjoying! Agreed! When I was researching a new car, I looked at the Toyota Prius - but it was SO much more expensive, I just couldn't afford it. I did get something more efficient than my old car, but I wish I'd been able to go the full distance so to speak... NSV...sitting at my desk with my legs crossed at the knee and my leg isn't going to sleep. It's actually COMFORTABLE to sit like this... Never thought I'd be able to say that...I do my band!:w00t:

Hi Elyse! Still hangin' out...holding at 190ish, wanting to get below that, but right now, my body has called a halt to pound loss. I am losing inches, feeling pretty good, getting stronger. I think my body just needs to adjust again...oh well! I still feel I have 20 pounds to go, people in my life are telling me I'm thin enough. Keep logging your food and water intake - that is the thing that always helps me get "unstuck" so to speak. It may just be that you need to maintain for a while. What are you doing to help build muscle? For me, I've been concentrating on walking and running, but I know I need to put some strength training back into my workouts. Gaining muscle weight will help you burn additional calories. So I'm increasing / maintaining my protein intake and trying to cut back on the carbs. I'm still a carb addict - I totally relate to the cravings you talk about (though for different reasons). Hang in there - YOU stay consistent with your workouts and your eating, and your body will respond in it's own time. :closedeyes:

Hi CT Lapbanders! Checking in...haven't been here in a while... Just completed the Couch-to-5k running program and ran my first 5k race last Saturday. Finished the race (second to last) and was very happy to do so! Continuing my training so I can plan a 10k in the Spring of 2010. I'm closing in on my 1 year bandiversary (Nov 17th) and working hard to be at my ever-changing goal weight by then. I'd like to be at 170 - family and friends are telling me to stop now...still taking a minimal level of diabetes medicine, and that's my barometer for stopping the weight loss. Once I'm off the meds completely, I'll consider stopping the effort to lose and concentrate on maintaining and reshaping my newly smaller body. Lots of work to do in the abdominal region - didn't know what an impact the weight loss would truly have until it happened - and it happened so gradually that I just looked down one day and here's all this excess skin and soft spots! :crying::eek: Anyway - glad to see other CT bandsters checking in and doing well. Hope to see some of you at the next support group meeting in New Haven if you are close enough - it will be on Wednesday, November 4th. :thumbup:

Hi Tina! It's kinda cute that he's worried - and it's GREAT that you have decided not to go...congrats, Tina - you've just about navigated that minefield and soon it won't be an issue any more. Perhaps the knowledge that he was leaving was what prompted office guy to spill his guts, so to speak, but again, too little, too late. Keep reassuring your guy - a call from you around lunchtime to tell him what you're having AT YOUR DESK would be a great way to soothe his insecurities and give him a boost without actually TELLING him that's what you're doing. Since you don't plan to go to lunch with office guy anyway, you make your honey happy, you're happy, and office guy gets to do his goodbye lunch with someone else. Clean break...that's what's best! :crying: Side note: Isn't it great for the ego to be wanted?

PJTP...Hi Everyone! :thumbup: Thanks, Plain - I'll pick some up this weekend to try. Definately the vanilla for me... So good to hear things are moving forward for you, Fanny! I was considering doing the surgery this year, but after a consultation with a surgeon, I've decided to hold off. Mostly because of finances - there just isn't enough in the budget right now with college bills, and my DD comes first with me. Plus, this will give me a chance to see what I can do with my workouts to continue re-shaping my body, and I'm still about 25 lbs from my goal weight. My DH actually admitted he was worried about me possibly having surgery this year because he's afraid I may be changing too much too fast for my body to handle it. Funny what they will admit when they think it's "safe" to do so... Hi again! Have fun at the fundraising event - and have a wonderful dinner! Enjoying the relatively mild weather we've gotten the past couple of days, hoping it goes through until the weekend. Nursing a sore right hip the last two days - think I overdid it just a tad on my 5k, but I've been walking so I don't get too stiff. My DH teasingly says it's arthritis - I'm hoping not! I think I'm too young (at 46) to be dealing with that... Still getting smaller (not lighter, but smaller) and it's kinda nice, but kinda weird at the same time. Work has been quiet, which is very nice. School has started up again and is keeping me busy. DH is running for the school board in our community and that's keeping the entire family busy. Whew! I think I'm tired just typing this, let alone living it! :crying: