stI24nger

I DID IT!!!!!!!! 199.8 -- I saw it!!!!! Sunday morning! Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah!!!!!!

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You know I am soooooooo jealous! I can't wait to see 199!!!!! Keep it up!

How incredible that you're up to 8.5 cc's. I got banded a month after you, and when I had my third fill, I went to 7cc and it was wayyyyy too much, had to get some taken out. Now, my doc is going to go .5 at a time. Never mind the fact that my boyfriend is really hesitant about me getting fills and always thinks I should wait wait wait. Not that it's any of his say, but sometimes in a relationship you have to pick your battles, know what I'm sayin'? ....So, I think this journey is going to be a long one. I'm trying not to be too upset about it, because ultimately, the result is the same, no matter how long it takes. I just can't wait to have to buy new clothes. My 16's that I was wearing 29 pounds ago are all big on me, but 14's at the store are too tight. It totally sucks.

A word of encouragement---you WILL get used to it. I know it's hard at first, especially when you've just gotten your first fill and think, "oh, so THIS is what having the band is all about!" However, after time goes by, it will become habit and you won't even think about it. It has become VERY natural for me to chew thoroughly and eat slowly. I fix a quarter of the plate my boyfriend does, and I'm still eating when he's taking his plate to the kitchen!

Yeah, I found that the running hasn't really aided my weight loss to my liking....doesn't mean I'm quitting for good, but I have taken a 2.5 week hiatus. I felt like I was left hanging when I finished my Couch to 5k. Nothing to really hold myself accountable to. Totally stinks. I feel like a lazy lump, but unfortunately, that hasn't gotten me to the point of motivation yet. I'm getting another fill on 4/10. That will be 9 WEEKS since my last. Hopefully, I can sneak in on 4/3 if someone else cancels. I really didn't want to go back until I was under 200, I just didn't want the nurse to write down a number in my chart that starts with a 2. But, at this point, I'm getting VERY hungry, and it's just time.

148, Lulu? Wow, that's amazing!!!! Good for you! I'm STILL not in ONEderland! UGH!

And, by the way, have mentioned lately how FRUSTRATED I am that I've only lost 27 pounds since I started my pre-op diet on 10/25/07?????? That's almost 5 months!!!!!

Somebody kick me!!!!! Ever since I finished the 9 week program, I have gradually fallen OFF the bus! I haven't run in 8 days!!!!!!! Help Me, Rhonda!!!

I seriously doubt it, but I know how you're feeling. I lost 15 pounds before the surgery, so since then I've lost only about 11. And I've been banded for 4 months! It's super discouraging... But, the things that my lapband friends always ask me are: 1) Are you exercising? 2) Are you eating ENOUGH? What they say is you should be aiming for 1000 calories if you're not exercising and 1200 if you are. If you don't know, you have to track. There is nothing I hate worse, so what I actually do is email my food diary to my friend at the end of every day and she does it for me on sparkpeople.com. (Obviously, she's a great friend!)

...btw...has anyone heard from TexGirly? Her surgery was two days ago, right? I bet she's probably all drugged up on pain meds now...but hopefully doing well!

Okay, so I've been working in Dallas this week, so haven't had a lot of time for personal stuff on the computer. BUT, I did want to announce that: I FINISHED THE COUCH TO 5K!!! I did my last run on the program on Monday evening, and proceeded to run 30 minutes again last night! YIPPEE!!!! Has anyone else finished? I know a bunch of us started at the same time....and I"m not trying to be catty to the people who had the flu and had to start over and all of that stuff--I'm just askin!

First of all, Rachel, congrats on your 32 pounds. Second, it totally sucks that you haven't eaten in 6 weeks! That's just....wrong!!! I would KILL myself! LOL. Anyway, I'm in a similar position as you. I've had 3 fills and 1 unfill so far. The first was 3, the second was 2, and the third was 2. After the third, I was up to 7 cc's and couldn't even keep water down. I had to go directly back the next day, were my doc removed 1.5 cc. I definitely have restriction, and some days are definitely better than others, but I'm totally eating more than just liquids/mushies! I've been at 5.5 for a couple of weeks now, and think I will probably wait longer than I was and get a smaller fill than I did last time. My goal was to get to "ONEderland" before I intentionally "slowed down" on the weight loss, but I'm at about 203 now and am cool with taking it easy. I think eventually I will get to 8 cc filled, but from now on, I think I'm going to take it .5cc at a time and feel it out.

I hear that, bigbaby! And speaking of which, I just got back from the gym and wanted to announce loud and proud, I JUST COMPLETED WEEK 9 DAY 1!!!!!!! That's 30 minutes of running! I actually did 32 minutes because I wanted to see if I could. That damn gym was so hot and I was sweatin' like a stuck pig, but I DID IT!!!! Hurray! :rolleyes2:

Okay, I'm back! I have fallen off with my forum reading/posting, but not my running! I even ran while I was in San Diego on vacation. I am ashamed to admit it, but I finally skipped a day! I made it 8 1/2 weeks before my first skip, so that's pretty good! The only reason I had to skip was that I spent most of my run day travelling from Cali to TX. I'm getting back on the horse today and am going to do day 3 of week 8. I may do one more day of week 8 just to say I did all three work outs, but on Thursday, I'm starting week 9!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOO HOOOOO! I still can't believe I've actually made it!

The good news of all of it is that yesterday at the doc I weighed 209.6 and today I weighed 207.0. That's great! He took out 1.5...yeah. He said from now on we'll go .5 at a time. I think that's a good plan, even though it means more fills and more money!!!! That's okay, it's worth it!

Thanks, everyone! I AM feeling better! I got 1.5 taken back out, leaving me at 5.5. I feel like a whole new person! I actually came back to work! So, now that I've been away for 3 hours I have a lot to catch up on!

holy crap. the owner of chick-fil-a just walked in with a bag full of chicken biscuits and chicken minis. Talk about torture!!!! Kill me now!!!!

Okay, started week 6 last night at the gym. It was harder for me than running 20 minutes outside last week was. I have a few theories on why: 1) I'm actually running slower outside than the 4.3 mph I stick to on the treadmill (that's kinda sad) or 2) It was hard because I was on liquids only yesterday because of my fill. I kinda hope it's the latter....speaking of fills. Holy moly, I now have restriction. I'm a little worried it may be too much, but I'm going to take it easy for a few days and see what happens. Yesterday, I was fine all day drinking liquids. Today, I've pretty much been "stuck" all day. Even on just coffee and water. I just have the pressure in my chest that tells me to stop. But shouldn't I be able to drink thin clear liquids just fine? Like I said, it may be a little too much, but I'm going to stay on liquids for a few days and see how it goes. Does anyone have an opinion for me?

Wombat...are you kidding me? I just have to throw a little bit of scorn your way....you say 'they don't need to see all this jogging'??? Girlfriend, you're BELOW MY GOAL WEIGHT!!!!!!! You're not "all this." YOU'RE HOT AND SKINNY!!!!!!!!!! Feel great!

Whosya....congrats on all of your accomplishments...you definitely are an inspiration. The photographer posted pics from the race last Saturday on the web, and there are certainly some great ones of both Mindy and me...but unfortunately, I can't copy them, so it would take you 25 years to find us. Oh well. So, I got another fill today. Thank goodness, because tomorrow is my 3 month bandiversary (half of whosya) and I've only lost 25 pounds (one fourth of whosya). I am definitely in the mood for a kick start! I'm starting week 6 tonight. After running 20 minutes straight on Monday, this should be a cinch--has intervals of 8 minutes and 5 minutes running. I can't believe it AT ALL, but it's true--it DOES get easier, and we CAN do it! I'm lovin' it!!!! I've actually inspired 2 or 3 people to get on the C25K bandwagon!

I love that...."overserved." Kinda takes all the personal responsibility out of it....and goodness knows it's NEVER my fault! I'm gonna use that from NOW ON!!!!!!! hahahahahaha!!!

On a side note... First....I meant to say congrats on running 5 miles, whosya....I know it wasn't 6....my Superbowl party just ended and I'm having a little trouble typing. Second....I'm getting my third fill this Thursday...and after today's said Super Bowl party, I must say I'm definitely ready for it!!!!!!!!

Wow! I sure have missed out on a lot since I last posted! Mindy, thanks for posting the pics! Honestly, I am sooooo proud of myself. Besides the BIG uphills, I really DID run most of the race. I can't believe it! The course, like Mindy said, WAS extremely hilly--a huge departure from my neighborhood and the treadmill. I kinda thought I wouldn't make it-I was breathing so hard....but I did! When I crossed the finish line, there was an announcer who said, "number 160! Great job, Tina!" How cool it was to hear them announce my name! Still kinda freaking out about day 3 of week 5...I have to run 20 minutes straight. BUT....as I've always said, I'm just going to try it and see what happens. I'll use whosya as my inspiration....btw...congrats on running 6 miles! That's incredible. I HONESTLY NEVER thought I would be a runner....but the accomplishments really make me proud of myself, no matter how small each one is, and I'm really enjoying myself quite a bit. This really could turn into something!!!!!!

HOLY MOLY, whosya!!!!!!! That's a Loooooooooooooong time! Good for you!

Okay, I slept pretty much all afternoon yesterday and til about 10 today. I'm back on the horse. I'm going to start week 5 tonight and see what happens. Mindy and I went and picked up our "Race" packets today (RACE--Yeah, right, more like "jog and walk packets") and I'm feeling all right. I'm going to really try to avoid getting sick, even though I feel like I'm on the verge.....