pizzicato66

thought I'd write a quick note in honor of my wonderful cat Marcel, who left us early yesterday morning. He and my pup Bungee woke me in the wee hours and I found him at the bottom of the stairs unable to use his back legs or tail. I rushed him to the emergency vet, and it turned out he had a blood clot in his spine, and by the time we got there, his feet were already getting cold. The doctor said his prognosis was very slim, and since he was in a great deal of pain, we decided to help him on to his next journey. I held him as he left this world and found peace. I adopted Marcel 14 years ago when my now ex-husband moved into the guest room and my other cat Pizzi started sleeping in there with him. I went to the local shelter and saw a sweet white spotted kitty snuggled up and "nursing" on a female in the cat area. He took to me right away, and ride home on my shoulder, chewing my hair and snuggling the whole way. Marcel was the most open-hearted and patient cat I've ever known. He'd tolerate the stream of visiting dog cousins, my cranky old lady-cat's temper, and was at the door any time someone visited. His playfulness and silliness as a young cat lightened my life as I went through hard times, and as an aging cat, his ready purr, patient soul and snuggling abilities warmed everyone's heart (even those that didn't like cats). We'll miss him, but I'll forever be grateful that he shared my life!

Wow - you're going to dropping pounds like crazy now! At least there's that as an upside. Hang in there!

Salsa, I think you should probably still see the doc. IMHO, if you're only able to get mushies in and your calories are that low, and if solids are causing pain, you're too full. You're getting hungry because the mushies go through too quickly! Better safe than sorry - go see your doc!

Okay, I managed 30 minutes on the treadmill and my belly dance class last night. My heel is a little cranky today but I'll still make it to the club tonight. It really helps having my niece in town to work out with! I'll be bummed when she heads off to her new career (and happy for her too, of course)>

Frangi and Salsa, thanks for the boost! I'm just trying to work through what's going on in my head lately. I know it's the compulsiveness taking over and wanting to suck up everything in front of me. It didn't really kick in until December with all the holiday grazeables around. I've set myself a goal for the week to stick as close as I can to the basic rules and see if it kicks me back into gear. Thing is, most of my loss happened early on, and I was definitely slower the past month because I'd given myself a lot looser leash than I'd had before (eating more carbs, sugar, fat etc). I just need to get back on the wagon so I don't knock myself so much. By the way, the last thing my therapist said to me last week was that I should quit the self-deprecation, and we weren't even talking about the weight loss stuff! Hmm... Salsa, I'm so sorry you aren't feeling well. Let us know how the doc visit works out for you! Badonkadonk, it's great to hear from you! Sorry you've been sick - hopefully it will clear up soon!

What an inspiring bunch! Fran, congrats on getting to ONEderland! I'm 24 lbs behind you, so I should be there by Spring, if all goes well! I totally surprised myself and am down 3 lbs this week, so I'm 4 lbs from the 210's (my January goal). Thing is, I need to get my mind back in the right place and stop pushing the envelope with portions. I'm choosing the right stuff most of the time, but not stopping till my belly actually hurts. NOT good! I decided I have to get back to the basic bandster diet from my clinic and see if I can get it back under control (3-4 oz lean Protein with a LITTLE bit of veg or fruit for main meal, milk for snacks). I finally get how people get into the habit of adjusting to try and control their bingeing instead of dealing with the habit (and eventually have slips or erosions). It's really tempting to go in and get my band super-tight, even though I'm not really hungry. A morale boost would be a big help right now, guys! On a non-weightloss note, I have a line on a really nice job in San Diego. Part of me is thrilled at the idea of a new adventure in California (I've thought a lot about living there), but another part of me is scared about leaving family and friends behind, even if it's just for a couple years. I've gone over it with my therapist and she thinks it would really good for me, getting a fresh start, trying something new, etc. After all, if we really do only go around once, wouldn't it be worth having the experience? What a roller coaster 2008 has been for me so far!

Hi guys! Since I've already joined and started going to the gym, I figure it would be good to be accountable to someone! Here's my gameplan: - Gym for cardio and weights 3-4 times a week (4-5 on high end). This includes 20-30 minutes cardio and either upper or lower body resistance training - belly dance class Monday nights (90 minutes total) - walking at the dog park Sat/Sun mornings (2-3 laps minimum) It was a real eye-opener for me rejoining the gym after 2 years. On the positive side, those 60+ lbs lost really made a difference in my energy level! On the negative side, I'm definitely weaker and if the caliper test is anywhere near accurate, I've lost a lot of muscle mass. But, you KNOW I'll be turning that around! Counting Sunday as the start of the week, I've got 1 workout done for the week and 1 dog park trip. Tonight, I'll try to squeeze in some time at the gym before dance class (if I can make enough time, including dinner and walking the pooch). My insurance kicks back $20 of my membership fees if I get in 12 workouts a week, which is a great incentive! Keep up the great work everyone! You're an inspiration!

Go team go!!!! Great work, everyone!

Wow! You're a stronger girl than I. I think I'd be nibbling those goodies as I go, so I just skipped it, other than making chex mix for my brother (it doesn't go down well for me anyway), and my secret-recipe truffles (those I DID snitch from a little). I figure it's safest to just fix what I can have and share. I made turkey chili for the family lunch on Xmas eve - definitely band-friendly!

If you get a chance, read Aliyah Ali's book - she really did a great job describing her history and her experience with the band. Great read!

From what I've been told, fat stores estrogen, so when you lose fat, the estrogen gets released into your system. This can change how your periods go (mine are heavier and last another couple days), and it affects your moods (both men and women). Nice, huh? I guess you could take the positive view that you feel crummy because the fat is going away!! (ugh.)

So Karri, What's up with that much baking? Holy cow!!!! That's a terrific loss - congratulations! I'm pondering whether another fill is in order this month. My doc gave me the option of skipping and just coming in Feb for my 6 month postop, but I do have something scheduled, in case I do want to go in. I don't think my problem is really restriction though - it's my noshing and grazing! I'm taking it easy today but tonight we're going for Indian food and I may allow a bit of flexibility before the new year begins!

Well, this is it. My last weigh-in for 2007 and I JUST BARELY made it to my end of year goal of 60 lbs lost (really squeaked it in there). But, I'm calling it good. Next goal - 210's by 1/22/08 (my 5 month mark). 6 lbs in 22 days - if I can't do that, something's up! I haven't been as careful with my eating the past couple of weeks and I know it's messing with my rate of loss. No more excuses after tonight! How are all of you doing?

hey gang, Just thought I'd post that I've actually bought a few pieces of clothing in the regular section for the first time in years! They're a tad snug, but wearable in public, so I'm in em! I actually bought a bathing suit last night for my new gym membership. They didn't have any 18's so I thought what the heck - give it a try. Lo and behold, it fit! It's TIGHT, but it fits and it's kinda nice to have that belly sucked in a bit. I celebrated by a nice long spa soak after my workout last night. I don't think I'll be done shopping at Lame Giant just yet, but it won't be long!! It will feel like a real victory when I hit a size 14 (will be the first time in about 11 years). Meanwhile, I'm down from a 24 to a 16/18 on the bottom and a 14/16 on top. :whoo:

Meg, you're well on your way - good job! Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to rest and relax while you're fasting. I also suggest taking up a craft that keeps your hands busy. I did an afghan during my preop fast and it really helped! Busy hands can't put food in your mouth! Another suggestion - add some onion powder to your broth for a little better flavor. It makes beef broth taste wonderful! Congratulations - you're on your way! :-)

I'm a daily weigher myself (just can't resist it), but I only count MOndays (unless there's a nice loss in-between). I usually skip Fridays (since it's jeans day at work) and weekends (because I weigh at the office). It's nice since I usually lose over the weekend and come in Monday to a few lbs less on the scale!

Kari, how did you get so darned wise? :cry I always do enjoy your posts!

awww - you're hubby sounds like a sweetie! Congratulations on having him and on your victory!

I'm having a blast there already! I'm just pondering where I can go to find a swimsuit in MN in January that will fit. I'm going to try a sports store on the way home. So, Frangi, where do you live now? Should I be jealous?

I'd second what salsa said- if you're pb'ing you probably don't need a fill! I'd suggest going through the groundrules for eating. - What are you eating for the most part? - Are you getting at least 75% lean dense protein in? - If you're eating carbs, soups or mushies, you're going to get hungry sooner. - Are you skipping liquids during meals to keep it from washing through? Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

Absolutely! I joined a gym last night too so I'll be sweating along with the rest of you!

I joined the gym last night! Lifetime has a deal right now so the membership fee is only $99 for a single, and I get $20 back off my monthly fee if I go 12 times a month. Easy, right? My niece just finished her degree in Health Sciences and is a personal trainer, so she's going to help me get started. We get to work with a trainer at the club on Saturday too, which will be fun. Stand back - the remaining lbs are going to be flying off now!!:whoo:

Great job, everyone! I've let myself have goodies and just tried to get my protein in first, so I did go down 1.5 lbs (maybe a little shy of it, but I'm counting it all). My niece just graduated with a health science degree and said she'd help me FINALLY kick-start my exercise this week before she starts her new fitness job in January. We're both signing up for a 1 week free membership at Lifetime and she said she'd help me get through a fitness test and plan out a workout schedule (she's also a personal trainer). She put on a few lbs this past semester between working at a steakhouse and studying a lot, so she's on a mission to lose a few lbs before she starts her job selling fitness memberships as a traveling marketing specialist. I'm SO proud of her and thrilled she'll be home for a bit without a between-class job to worry about. Her gentle nature really helped me with my decision to get banded and get a new lease on life! Hope you're all enjoying the holidays and not too buried in snow!

Hey all! Glad to hear your holidays went well (or at least they're over). :-) Mine were good too, although I had a REALLY long car trip from Minneapolis to Peoria and back. We had THICK fog on the way down (7 hour drive became 9) and then hit freezing rain on the way back and had to get a hotel in Iowa. The 3.5 hour trip from IA to MN took 9 hours on Sunday but we're all home and happy to be home!! I managed to lose 1.5 lbs before the trip and held steady the rest of the week, so I can say I've lost a LITTLE weight, which is good considering how much garbage I ate this weekend! I'm trying hard to resist the 5 kinds of candy, the chips and the apple crisp on the table outside my cubicle. I may have a little fudge, but we'll see... Thing is, I don't feel bad about it. It's the holidays and I'm going to have some goodies, and I'll get back to it all after the fact. This is a lifetime journey and there are going to be goodies now and then! How are you all coping with it?

I never really get pain around it but I do feel it every now and then when I'm using my ab muscles. If you've been coughing a lot, I can see where it might get sore, since it's sutured to your abdominal muscles. Try and take it easy, and feel better soon!