hollyberries

What is it about the 6 month timeframe. It seems to be the time that I sabotage myself with every diet. About 2 years ago, I went on NutriSystem and lasted about 6 months and then went off the wagon. I am finding that I am kind of feeling a little bored with things. I find that I am eating things I probably shouldn't and that I am more hungry than normal. I am sure it is head hunger and not physical hunger but never the less difficult. Take today for example, I haven't been able to stop snacking today. I feel hungry but I know that I have eaten enough. It goes to show you that your head is going to be the worst enemy you have during the journey. I am so close to 100lbs lost and can't seem to lose the 3lbs I need to, to get there. I have done well but I want my head to shut up. Todays eating: Breakfast: Quaker Weight Loss Control Maple & Brown Sugar Oatmeal & 1 cup of milk Lunch: Taco meat, cheese, sour cream & salsa sauce. Snack: I was still hungry so I ate some chips, 2 graham crackers with peanut butter on them and a bowl of air popped popcorn with some butter and garlic & parmesean cheese sprinkles and a SF Choc. Pudding. Damn...I wish I didn't do this...the old habits are to hard to break sometimes. Dinner: Will be pork chop, corn & rice I am trying to drink lots of water and hope to go for a 3 mile walk today to get rid of the calories that I ingested today.

What is it about the 6 month timeframe. It seems to be the time that I sabotage myself with every diet. About 2 years ago, I went on NutriSystem and lasted about 6 months and then went off the wagon. I am finding that I am kind of feeling a little bored with things. I find that I am eating things I probably shouldn't and that I am more hungry than normal. I am sure it is head hunger and not physical hunger but never the less difficult. Take today for example, I haven't been able to stop snacking today. I feel hungry but I know that I have eaten enough. It goes to show you that your head is going to be the worst enemy you have during the journey. I am so close to 100lbs lost and can't seem to lose the 3lbs I need to, to get there. I have done well but I want my head to shut up. Todays eating: Breakfast: Quaker Weight Loss Control Maple & Brown Sugar Oatmeal & 1 cup of milk Lunch: Taco meat, cheese, sour cream & salsa sauce. Snack: I was still hungry so I ate some chips, 2 graham crackers with peanut butter on them and a bowl of air popped popcorn with some butter and garlic & parmesean cheese sprinkles and a SF Choc. Pudding. Damn...I wish I didn't do this...the old habits are to hard to break sometimes. Dinner: Will be pork chop, corn & rice I am trying to drink lots of water and hope to go for a 3 mile walk today to get rid of the calories that I ingested today.

Mich- Heck no! This is the best thing that you can do for yourself. IMO, the person on the phone was rude to you and it is unacceptable. I am so tired of people treating other people with such disdain. She could have been nicer to you. I just think they don't think when they reply. She should have said something like, "It looks like you haven't lost as much weight as we would have expected...is there something that we can help you with?" Just stating it a different way takes the sting out. Gosh, I am so mad about this because you have gone through so much to get where you are and golly if you could lose weight on your own you wouldn't be having surgery. I bet the doctor would be nicer but they have to start thinking about who they put on the front desk. I don't know what to say or what kind of advice to give you. I can say that the support here is awesome so get it here. Best wishes! By the way, I go to Brigham & Women's and have Dr. Lautz. He is hurried all the time but very good at what he does. He performs over 200+ WLS a year (I think). Eileen the Administrative Assistant was a hoot...very busy and kind of brash but good at what she does. I see them about every 4 to 6 weeks and I feel comfortable with everyone. I don't go to the support groups because they are to far but I find that I get alot of support from here. Cindy

Hey Foofy- By the way, the size 22 jeans fit this morning. Who friggin' cares about not hitting 100lbs by this past Tuesday. I am in a size 22 Levi's Jeans. Who would have thunk it 6 months ago when I was wearing a size 32/34 pants. Cindy

You have such a great attitude! That will take you along way. I am realizing that this is forever and we don't have to run a race to get to our goal. It will come soon enough and the slower the better. I am happy that things have slowed down for me. The extra skin is grossing me out and I am a chicken about plastic surgery. Thanks for the kudos about the stores. I am working my tail off in it lately. With Mother's day this weekend we are busier this week. I am kind of concerned over the economy and hope that people will still shop the store...I don't want to get a job. I like owning my business. Don't worry about the exercise to much with the recovery from surgery on your neck it must be painful. I hate to exercise but I realize that the last few pounds won't budge without. I wonder if there is something simple that you could do that wouldn't irritate your neck so much. Cindy

Cindy- The ticker is moving.. congratulations. How are things going for you? Cindy

Dude! That's awesome. I wouldn't want to see you "Pissed Off" LOL! Thought of you tonight because I was taking a real long walk through the cranberry bogs with the kids and dog and we saw turkey tracks and lots of them. Can you please come up here and get me a turkey? My dog won't...lol! Cindy

OK! Breathe! I am about to cry right with you. First, you have done a great job with losing 35lbs. I want you to visualize 35lbs as 3.5 10lb bags of potatoes or 35 1lb packages of butter. Also, from your ticker it looks like you are about 1/2 way to goal. Think about the positives. Now, let me ask you a few questions. How long are hungry between meals. If you cannot answer 4 hours then you need a fill. Are you eating around your band...if you get stuck a lot you may trying to eat things that go down easier and this will slow weight loss. The band is designed for you to eat solids that will stay in your pouch longer and keep you full for at least 4 hours. You will have trouble if you eat to fast and do not chew chew chew. You must learn these rules so that it will be more comfortable to eat for you. You probably already know this but it helps to be reminded. Another thing that has really helped me is being on this website every single day. We all need support and I get it here. I get to write my thoughts down and I have developed great friendships with my bandster pals. We are a great resource to each other and what is great is that we are all experiencing the same thing and support one another through it. I don't want you to be discouraged because I think you have done wonderful. Cut yourself some slack and look at what you have accomplished and remember that this is not a race. You have the rest of your life to lose weight. Right now it is all about learning to live with the band and making life changes. You deserve the best the band has to offer. You will always have this tool to help you. Don't worry about bad days...we all have and need them. It is what you do the next day that counts. Good luck and please come here. We are here to support you. REALLY! Cindy

Foofy- You are the best! The wealth of knowledge is amazing. Thanks for the link...my problem is the upper thighs. I have found the extra skin is gross that is why I need a skirt. I wish I didn't have the extra skin because I would love to wear a bathing suit that doesn't have a skirt. Dang it! I love that I have lost almost 100lbs but I am not happy with the extra skin issues. I am a chicken about Plastic Surgery but I got to admit I wouldn't trade the 100lbs for firmer skin. LOL Cindy

- Foofy- I need to get off my butt to exercise as well. I've lost all this weight with virtually no exercise but the life I lead is so busy and I am trying to figure out something that I will enjoy doing. I am in the hunt for a bathing suit so that I can check out Water aerobics at the Y. I think that I will really like that and it would fit my schedule. I get you on calorie shifting and have tried it once during a stall. It worked for me. I do really think that adding exercise is going to help me with the last 80lbs or so. Dang it I hate exercise.... Here's to getting our butts motivated. Cindy

Raynae' Same thing with me. I am getting a fill next week and I have had only 4. I still do not have the sweet spot yet and hope with the next fill I will. I also started TOM yesterday and think that is why I was super hungry. Yesterday was a much better day. Sometimes you just have to have what your not suppose to have. It is how you pick yourself back up the counts. By the way, you are doing awesome. Welcome to the family. Cindy

Name..............Start...........Current..............Goal........ To Go CindyG..............210................210..................198....... ....12 TxArcher...........308................308...................285....... ....23 Foofy...............235.................235..................225...... .....10 Skinny_Jill..........173................173..................163...... .......10 Hollyberries.........257...............257..................247.............10 Looks like 10lbs is the consensus with the exception of our TxArcher who wants to get into the 200's. You go dude! We are with you.

Honey- I would have done the same thing....relief is more important to me then sitting there in agony for awhile. I wouldn't worry to much because I don't think that you throw up on a daily basis. It happens! I have had it happen 3 times and it is so much better when it comes up. I guess the band is finicky even when we are following the rules. I will never figure it out...ever. Cindy

As most of you are aware, I own my own retail store and this weekend I threw a Breast Cancer Awareness weekend. Over the weekend, if you shopped in my store I was donating 10% of my overall sales for the weekend to sponsor one of my customers for the 3 Day Walk. Well, we raised $500.00 and sponsored her team. I am so proud of my customers in supporting this worthy cause and I was able to meet so many people that either know someone or themselves that have been afflicted with breast cancer. Great weekend overall. Cindy

You know I have been banded 6 months and since being banded I have not had a day like this. I have been hungry all day some of it physical and some head. However, I have not won the battle over my head. I have picked and grazed all day and nothing seems to satisfy me. I have tried to make good choices and gave up awhile ago. Has anyone had days like this where nothing seems to fill you up and you just eat and eat. I hate that the head wins over the body. Let me tell you I have tried today to avoid it but gave up. Well, enough of my vent. Oh by the way, my stomach hurts now and I won't be able to do dinner later because of it. I guess even when the head doesn't want to cooperate the band is still there to remind you that you are doing a no no. Cindy

I didn't make my goal either but hey 10lbs. is great. Was hoping to lose 3lbs by tomorrow to make 100 but I am pleased. When is the new challenge? Are we going to July 4th. Getting a little closer to our Independence from Fat. Seriously, Nymphs you have done great. Cindy

Laura- I am with you! I was banded on 11/06/07 and have lost 97lbs. in 6 months. I have about 82lbs. more to lose but I have not really started to exercise consistently yet. I am really wanting to try Water aerobics because I hate to walk/run but want to find something to do so that I can firm up. By the way, great job with your weightloss. Cindy

Kelly- Could you tell me what your typical day of eating entails. I have been really wanting to give up carbs but am not sure what to eat. I am stalling a bit and want to kick start the metabolism again. I am going to do the 5 Day Pouch Test to get things started but would be interested in your diet/menu. Thanks, Cindy

Shalee, you have done great. Keep up the great job! By the way, I was doing a search recently for my store and was looking up primitive country curtains and happened on a site that had a screen name like yours. This particular person was posing a question about curtains. Funny part is I could have sworn it was you. I might be way off but thought that your screen name is rather unique but what are the odds. Cindy

Foofy...if you tell me that you were married in October 1990 I will then have to think that we are soul sisters. I was married in 1990 on October 20th. This year Frank and I are celebrating our 18th wedding anniversary. Where has the time gone. I was chuckling just this week over the jeans. I was thinking about that movie the (forget the exact name) "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants". It made me think of you. See ya Soul Sister. Cindy

Sades- Have I told you lately what an inspiration you are. You are always positive even if you feel like you haven't lost a lot. You are a super star and the greatest cheerleader we Nymph's have. We luv ya! Cindy

Welcome to the Club! You are now part of the "In-Crowd". Seriously, it happens to the best of us. Keep up the great work not the sliming though. LOL! Cindy

Molly, First off! You need to cut yourself some slack. The band is nearly impossible to work if you stressed out way to much. Deal with your work issue and then concentrate on weightloss. One good thing about the band is that it won't let you overeat like you did in the past. If it does, than something is wrong with it. You are worth every bit of success this band has to offer you and in due time it will. Also, Molly support is key and that is why we are here...for each other. I could not have been as successful without my Nymphs. They keep me motivated and are truly inspirations every single one them whether they know it or not. I love you guys! Now, how have I been so successful. Well, I started off needing to lose 179lbs. That is a lot of weight. So I started off with a great amount to lose so that is part of the large weightloss to date. I also lost about 24lbs during my pre-op diet. So I started off really good. What is your exercise routine and frequency? Well, I must admit that I have not done much in the way of exercise up until recently and even at that I have only walked. Although, I bought a bathing suit tonight because I want to do water aerobics and they have it at the Y. Monday is the day I start. What do you eat? I am not as strict as some with my diet but I don't eat as much as I did. Today's menu was: Breakfast: 1 egg, 1 slice American Cheese, 2 Turkey Sausage and 1/4 cup of Jimmy Dean Country Gravy. I like bisquits and gravy but I can't do the bisquits. Lunch: 1/2 cup of taco meat, 1/4 cup of cheddar a dollop of sour cream and 1/4 cup of salsa. Snack: Nutrisystem soy chips and Ice Coffee with cream and equal from Dunkin Donuts. Snack: Nutrisystem Caramel popcorn at about 7:30 because I was grocery shopping on the way home from work and was starving. Dinner: 1 cup of Beef Hamburger Helper and 1/2 cup of Green Giants Nibblett corn Now the Nutrisystem stuff was left over from my previous attempts at losing weight. What I like about the snacks is that they contain high amounts of protein and help if I am hungry. How are you doing this? I do this by getting support from here and OH, going to my doctors every month to 6 weeks whether I need a fill or not. We discuss how things are going and we determine whether I need a fill or not. I have not hit the preverbial sweet spot yet but definately feel more restriction since my last fill. I have learned as it is getting more difficult to eat that I must take smaller bites and chew chew chew and chew some more. I now realize that to get the remainder of my weight off I must exercise. I weigh myself everyday to ensure that I can stay on top of a gain and rejoice on a loss. I think the scale keeps my accountable. I don't stress over what I eat or don't eat but I do try to make good choices more often. I also do not deprive myself of anything. If I go out to eat, I get what I want and eat only what I can. Normally I take home the leftovers and if my son doesn't get to them first I can get 1 or 2 more meals from it. I think if you deprive yourself to much you will keep wanting and then give and overeat. I try not to get myself overstuffed because I can't stand how I feel when I am super stuffed. I like you try not to eat after 8pm unless like tonight I must. I know I need a fill if I get hungry within 4 hours of my previous meal. Recently, I have been noticing a slow down in my weightloss. I will lose 1 or 2lbs and then plateau for a few weeks. This has been happening for the last month or so. However, this week I lost 3lbs. in two days so go figure. Lastly...don't try to figure out this band because it is finnicky and the minute you think you have it figured out it will throw you a curve ball. I love my band and would do this again in a heartbeat. You can do this...there is no secret potion to this but hard work and tenacity. You deserve the best and the band is. Best wishes and make sure that you stay active here because we are truly a family. Cindy

Name..............Start...........Current..............Goal........ To Go Lizzie_07.........233...............228.....................220 .........8 Osangriared.....252...............247.3.....................232 .....15.3 Skinny_Jill.......180...............175.....................168....... ....7 Sades.............197...............197.....................185....... ..12 kandiceb..........187...............176.....................175....... ...1 shortgal............183..............175....................175....... ....1 TxArcher..........328..............315......................308....... ...7 Peaches11........217..............208.....................199......... 10 Momto1plus1.....223..............212.6..................210......... 2.6 zippykat...........173..............167.....................160....... ...7 Trixie...............219.5...........209.....................199...... ..10 wnt2lose..........219..............213.6.....................209...... ..4.6 plump_princess....215.............208.....................199.......9 Mariegabrieleee....250............250......................239...... 11 Foofy..............239.5............236.....................230....... ...6 Shalee04..........196..............189......................185....... ..4 Hollyberries......267...............257......................254...... ...3 CindyG............215...............211......................199...... .12 MollyBrown......258...............251.......................245....... .8 lindata............189?.............185.......................180..... ...5 I am only 3lbs away from hitting 100lbs. If I can do this by 5/6 than I will have lost 100lbs in 6 months. This was my first goal. After obtaining this goal. I want to weight my wedding weight which was 220lbs. So only 37lbs. until that goal. After that goal, I am looking to being under 200lbs. Which I never remember being ever. God, this is reality isn't it. 6 months ago I was looking at a mountain with having to lose 179lbs. now I only have 82 to go. It is mind boggling. Did I happen to mention that I love my Band....today! Cindy

Kim- I have Dr. Lautz and had my surgery done at Brigham & Women's and it was the best thing that I have ever done for myself. This time last year I was just getting my first appt with Dr. Lautz for which I had to wait 3 months to see him. I saw him in Aug 07 and had surgery in Nov 07. I also had BC/BS of MA and had no problem with them. I also did not have the co-morbidities that most have. I was really healthy just friggin fat. LOL Dr. Lautz asked why I wanted to have the surgery and I was blunt enough to say "Look at me...I am friggin fat". He chuckled. He is a quiet man but very good at what he does. Best wishes for your surgery and keep coming here for support it has been key to success. Cindy