Dianechef

I am down 53 lbs. in 7 months. I'm hoping I qualify as one of those who continue to lose weight. If I'm not, then skip to the next person. Here's what keeps me motivated: In my office I track my weight loss in 3 ways. I have a weight loss chart hung on my wall. The starting weight is at the top with an arrow heading downwards with a big 150 in stars!! (My goal weight!) I also have monthly pictures taken of me hanging on the wall. These pictures are a big motivator for me. BIG!! There are days when I really can't tell that I've lost weight. Then, I look at those pictures & I can see it!! I also have my "50 Reasons to Weight 150 lbs." hanging on the wall. When I have down days, these really pick me up. What I Eat: I usually drink a Protein shake for Breakfast because I have a hard time getting down solids in the morning. For lunch I eat at Wendy's EVERYDAY!! I either have a chili or a salad. I eat dinner with my family & just eat a smaller portion. I drink lots of Water through out the day. If I am hungry in between meals, I eat protein because I know that it won't go down real easy & will keep me from eating more. (Jerky, Peanut Butter, tuna, hot dog, dry chicken) 2-3 bites usually does the trick & then I'm uncomfortable. Perfect for me to stop putting something bad in my mouth!! Exercise: I didn't exercise the first 3-4 months after surgery. I've never been a big exercise person & frankly, I HATE IT most of the time!! However, I have forced myself to go to the gym. I started going 3x a week & hired a trainer. (I figured if I'm going to do it, I might as well do it right!) I now work out on my own & usually go 4-5x a week. It was when I started working out that I saw a big change in my pant size & started feeling so much more energy. I still don't like it a whole lot, but I know it's good for me. Besides, it gets me out of the house!!! :rolleyes I am not a perfect bandster all the time!! I have made lots of mistakes & eaten lots of Girl Scout Cookies. I give myself a free night on Fridays to eat something fattening & fun. I eat it & get it out of the house. If I am tempted during the week, I just tell myself that I can have it on Friday & then I feel better. Hope this helps!!!

People always put their best food forward during the dating time. The real person comes out once you're married. If this is his BEST, I'd be very worried!! I'd get out of there FAST!!!!

Okay, time to come clear...... For two days after eating all those GS cookies, I starved myself. I ate a salad & drank 1 protein shake for the whole day. So, I guess the GS cookie diet doesn't really work at all unless you decide you want to starve yourself afterwards. I agree with all the others - "STEP AWAY FROM THE GIRL SCOUT COOKIES!!" The cookies are officially OUT OF THE HOUSE & I am having a party tonight to celebrate!! P'nut - I LOVED the disclaimer about not endorsing the diet. I couldn't stop laughing!!!!! Good one. Dawg - Your sense of humor is one of a kind & you definately go well with P'nut!! Do you guys crack each other up this much at home?!?!?! Love it.

I love posts like this!! You're so happy & excited!! You're living your life feeling FREE & that's what this band is all about!! WAY TO GO!! I'm so proud of you.

Okay, here's the deal... After eating a butt-load of girl scout Cookies this week, I was SCARED TO DEATH to step on the scale. I actually got off before it read my weight 2 times because I was soooo sure I had gained 5 lbs. The third time I actually let the numbers come up. Are you ready for this??! I mean, are you REALLY ready for this?!?!?........................................I LOST 2 WHOLE LBS!! How does that happen?!?! I think I'm going to write a new book called the Girl Scout Cookie Diet!! I am living proof that it really does work!! Here's the title of the book: Eat a box of Girl Scout Cookies a day & watch the fat melt away! Do you think anyone would buy it?!? My official weigh-in day has changed to Wednesday so I still have 2 more days of cookie eating & weight losing. Oh, & can I just mention.......TODAY I weighed exactly the same as my husband. In 12 yrs. I have always weighed more then him. Whoot! Whoot!! Okay, I'm done.... :eek: :eek: :rant:

Thumbs up to Alex's post. You will have MORE pain if you try to eat after vomiting. If I still feel pretty hungry, I will drink a protein shake & it usually does the trick. I also keep some yummy soups on hand for these reasons too!!

I agree with the above! I was told by my doctor that it wasn't good for MY health to get pregnant before my 1 yr. mark was up. You body went through A LOT with the surgery & I would DEFINATELY talk to your doctor before you make any decisions. My humble opinion......you went through MAJOR surgery to help you lose weight. I would let the band work & lose that weight. Give yourself one year. I think you AND the baby will be much better off. Babies are very special. I have 3 of my own & LOVE them dearly. However, take care of YOU first. After those sweet little things are here, taking care of yourself suddenly takes a backseat to the kids. You will be a healthier person & a better Mom to your baby. It is MUCH, MUCH harder to lose weight & exercise once the kids come. Bottom line - it's your body & your decision. Good luck & I wish you the best!

No, I didn't see your title until just now!! HA!! You don't happen to have a GS cookie addition too do ya?! All I gotta say is that I will be VERY HAPPY when the cookie season is over. These Cookies are swarming around me. I gotta try the Red Robin Chili!! Sounds yummy.

I was banded out of state & have not had any complications & thought my surgery went very well & I've had great success. However, if I was in your position, I would wait & have it done in your own state. A big part of your success depends on your after care & when you have surgery somewhere else you will not have the after care that you truly need. It isn't something you can't even describe until you are banded & start using your band & getting fills. I know the waiting is very long & hard. We all went through it & it truly SUCKS!! However, even if the surgeon in France is #1 in the world, he still lives in France. If you found a good doctor who will do you fills that is close by, it still isn't the same. They aren't there to monitor you. You are not their patient. Good luck on your decision. It's a very hard one & I truly feel for you!!!

GO P'nut!!!!!! That is a BIG NSV & I am very proud of you!!! I still remember the first time I went out to eat after being banded. I didn't have the food cravings either. However, I will never forget watching my family scarfing down their food at the table. When they were done, they all complained of their stomachs feeling so full. They burped. They had bad breath. They all waddled out the door & had to sit down for awhile, waiting for thier food to digest. I, on the other hand was so overjoyed that I didn't have any of those problems & was ready to go!!! This band really does make you feel FREE & so alive!! We are all in such a better place, don't you agree? One bowl of chili SHOULD feel you up. Going to lunch with a Mother, SHOULD be all about your Mother & the conversation. Eating SHOULD be all about putting good nutritious food in our bodies. Besides, those greasy hamburgers don't really taste as good as they look. Niether does Chocolate, or ice cream, or brownies, or GIRL SCOUT COOKIES!!! They taste TERRIBLE. Just TERRIBLE!!!!!! Ummmm......yeah. I could never eat another girl scout cookie. Never!!....................Really!!!........................I'm serious!...................................They taste TERRIBLE!!! Oh, gotta go. The girl scouts are knocking at my door. :rolleyes

I had my gall bladder removed & the pain is nothing like you've described. You actually feel 90% of the pain in your stomach area. (It's actually the gall bladder that's hurting. You just know the pain is somewhere in the vicinity of your abdomen.) If it's your gall bladder you will have the worst pains after you eat fatty foods. I always go to WebMD to find out the symptoms of something. Look up Gallbladder & it will give you all kinds of info. And, if you have any of those symptoms, print it out & bring it to your doctor. My pain wasn't diagnosed until I finally went to the ER with severe pain where they did an ex-ray to see stones in my gallbladder. The pain was unbearable!!! Good luck to you!!!

I bought a Treadmill 3 yrs ago & spent a lot of money to get it. I used it for about 2 months & then it started collecting dust. It was in the way & I put it in storage. I had good intentions!!! Joining a gym was the best choice for me because I was paying for it every month & I HAVE to go if I don't want to lose money. But, this is just me!! I'm sure there are others out there who like the home thing & it works for them. I have an idea.....how about both?!?!?! ha.

I HEAR YA!! I still am in awe when I go buy clothes & the size I'm used to buying to TOO BIG!! In the past 15 yrs. I've gotten used to trying on clothes & then going back to get the bigger size. We are so used to failing at weight loss that when it actually starts to happen we can't believe it!!! I am still taken back when people tell me that I look so good. My first reaction is - "Are you talking to me?" I am not used to people telling me I look good. For so many years I haven't "looked good!" It's a WEIRD, GREAT feeling & I'll just have to get used to it!!

I am thrilled for you Kellie!! Make sure WE get to see the pictures. :confused:

It looks like the Bonfire is winning so far!!! WHOOT! WHOOT!! So, where are we all gonna meet for the big cookie burn?!?!?!?!??!?!?

I read Mikey's thread. HILARIOUS!! If you haven't read it yet, GO READ IT NOW!! It's a great laugh. (Okay, so why are you still reading this?!?!?!) Jonathan, I hear ya. I can't have the junk in the house either. The problem is - my kids & husband were here when the Girl Scouts delivered them. They screamed in EXCITEMENT when they saw them. After my terrible binge yesterday, the Cookies are in my husbands work truck. But, I know they're there & CRAP, I can hear them calling out my name. :decision:

Mikey!!! TOOO FUNNY!!! I am so with you on those Girl Scout Cookies!! Did you see the poll I took to vote on what to do with all of them?!? :confused: I am seriously HIDING from the cookies. They have some crazy power over me & scare me to death. My kids won't let me throw them away!!! Good luck Dude!! Thanks for the great laugh!!!!!!! :dance:

I have always worked like clockwork. My period came every 28 days. After surgery I had my period, but it lasted longer. The next month it came 2 days late & it's been a little wacky since. If you are doing Natural Family Planning, I would be VERY careful. Your cycle could be all messed up & you could get pregnant on accident. I've heard the band be called the fertility band because so many get pregnant after being banded.

I am serious here!!!! Girl Scout Cookies came a few days ago.....by accident. When the little girl asked me if I wanted to order some I told her I would be happy to give her some money for the cause but that I didn't want any cookies. 4 boxes of thin mints were dropped off at my door 2 days ago. I ate an entire 1/2 box!! I am scared to death to see how many calories I consumed!! HELP!!! So, how do you think we should rid the world of Girl Scout Cookies? THESE THINGS ARE DANGEROUS!!!

Well, I voted that it just sort of snuck up on me. I was thin when I got married. After each child I continuously gained until one day I REALIZED that I was very fat. I never saw myself at fat, but when the insurance wouldn't cover me because of my weight I realized I must be pretty darn FAT!! It felt like it snuck up on me, but it was a good 10 years of eating that did it to me.

Hey Everyone!! My name is Diane & I am originally from a small town in AZ. I moved to the city & met my husband 12 years ago. (We ACTUALLY met in person...ha!) We have 3 children 10, 8 & 2 yr. old. I graduated from BYU-Hawaii with a degree in Music & have been a piano teacher for over 20 yrs. I recently retired from the Pampered Chef where I was a Senior Sales Director for over 9 yrs. (In case you're wondering why I still have a website address below, it's because I ONLY sell over the web!) So, back to the story... I weighed 170 on my wedding day & truly THOUGHT I was fat!! After my first child, I gained 50 lbs. I gained more with each one & at my highest was 258 lbs. I was tired all the time. I was wearing a size 24 jeans & was a terrible mother. We ate fast food & I was becoming a major couch potato. My breaking point was when when my husband started his own business & we were looking for individual Health Insurance. I was devastated when I was denied insurance because "my build exceeded the limitations." We searched around & NO INSURANCE company would take me until I weighed below 208. I was very emberassed & humilitated that I had let myself get that fat!! So, I scheduled to have Lapband surgery & haven't looked back since. My surgery was July '05 & to date I have lost 50 lbs. (yeah me!!!) I am thrilled to be a part of this group & to be held accountable each week. By the way, I have a confession. :rolleyes Girl Scout Cookies came out yesterday & I ate.....um......ALOT!! (Too many to count!) Somebody needs to really kick my butt over this one. The cookies are now LOCKED away & I am giving them to the skinny neighbors next door. It's great to get to know everyone!! Good luck to everyone!! May we all be BIG LOSERS!!!! :clap2:

GO HEATHER!! GO HEATHER!! GO HEATHER!!! Doesn't 50 feel so good?!?! I mean, just yesterday you're at 49 & then you wake up & the scale says 50 pounds gone. It's like you're a whole new person over night just because of one little pound!! There's something about seeing those numbers!! So, what's your reward?!?!?! Any pictures?!?! CELEBRATE!!! :biggrin1:

Yah Nykee!!! I'm so proud of you!! Isn't it nice to have lost weight & not even know it!! Now that's my kind of weight loss!! WAY TO GO!!!!

Hi Kellie! You said you were a little worried about the doctor not doing any pre-op tests. I would be worried too!! I had also heard the same thing that Funnyduddie said - most plastic surgeons suggest you NOT have PS until you're at goal weight for awhile. Hmm... Maybe this surgeon knows something we don't!!! Keep us updated!! Good luck Kellie!

ROFL!! StrawartS, where did you come from? You definately need to hang around here more, because you are wonderful entertainment!! Your description of a EPGSHFLYADV was so right on. No PB's anymore. I have been banded 7 months & have only had 1 experience like the one you described. If it makes anyone feel better, I think these experiences are very far & few inbetween. Am I right?!?! But, the EPGSHFLYADV will definately remind you that you don't want that to happen again. AND...hopefully you will avoid anything that will cause it to happen. I cannot do the fried stuff that you described. It is CERTAIN that I will be in pain. I'm happy I had the gross episodes I had to keep me eating right!!! I look forward to more posts from you StrawartS!!!!!! You have won a prize in my book for the most entertaining post!!! :first: