Twilight

Good morning everyone! DH fixed my D key!!! then my C key went to pot but he got whatever was sticking out! Computer back to normal. Yesterday I finally broke down and went to daily plate.com to start logging my food and exercise. I decided that my "about" wasn't going to cut it. I still am not going to "measure" everything but I'm pretty good about portions sizes. I measure it once and then go by what I see the next time. Like last night I measured the cereal but now I know what it looks like. Oh, btw, I found this great cereal! I bought it for DS because he loves polar bears but found I really like it. It's called Wild Animal crunch. It has pics of polar bears or lemurs or pandas on the front. It has something to do with Animal Planet. Great green box. Well 3/4 of a cup has only 100 calories. With skim milk that makes a great snack! The sugars weren't super high and the fiber is there also. I can't snack on the same thing every day so I have a little of this and a little of that at home. Oh, and protein ends up about 4g. Our water cooler is out of water and if I drink water in this town AND my town it causes problems with my digestive system....so during my prep I have to go to the store and buy some water. Dangit!!! I'm going to walk though so that will give me about a 1/2 mile before lunch. Taco salad for lunch today. Haven't tried to do lettuce since last fill and that has been an iffy food for me. The other foods are cinnamon rolls and canned peaches so I sure do hope the salad goes well. I do have a couple of protein shakes in my desk so if they don't I have something, it just doesn't last like I want it to. Okay....gotta run. I will type to each of you later....things I want to say to you all. Don't forget your water!!!:thumbup::thumbup:

Karri!!!! 5K!!!! Only in my wildest dreams. I told you that you inspire me!!!!! How wonderful is that. I would love to say I could do that far, but I think I could run 5K INCHES! If that! You keep going and you'll be our marathoner! I am looking for your first post about doing a run! You'll find one soon I'm sure. Keep up the awesome job. So excited for you!!!!!!

Hi guys. A GREAT day! I got all my water in and then some. BTW, my nut said coffee counts but only as half. If you drink 24 ounces you get to count 12. So that is what I do. I try really hard to get 50 oz water, juice, and protein and then I don't have to count my coffee for sure. I ate very well today. I was thinking about my breakfast routine. I do an 8 oz glass of fusion light which is 50 cals, 8 oz of this protein drink which is 150 cals. That leaves me extra cals for me to put creamer in my coffee. That was the one thing I couldn't convince myself to give up. Problem, I put way too much creamer in my coffee. I expect it is about 100 cals. Which is still 300 cals for breakfast and I budget accordingly. But it's getting warm and I don't usually drink coffee in the warmer months. So there is 100 cals that I can throw into the deficit column hopefully. But then I did buy some other protein stuff that is only 80 cals. and then I can keep my coffee. But the coffee is a bad habit that I should throw away. I just don't want to do both at the same time. So, which should I give up first??? Okay...next....after we did dinner I went out with DH and the little 2 and walked a little bit. Then we got home and I went out again because I knew it wasn't enough...so I pushed myself pretty hard. After I got home I went and drove the route and then I was really impressed with myself. With both walks it ended up 2.5 miles. If I add in the 10 minutes I did at lunch I probably did another .5. Yeah me!!! I want to die now, but it sure felt good while it was happening. I bought some of the spinach dip thinking I would try to concoct something. Since Karri seems to be our resident chef, I thought I would run it past her and anyone else who wants to input anything. Here's my thoughts: 1 can chicken (that stuff like tuna) as much spinich dip as needed to make it as mushy some cottage cheese to add extra protein On a piece of tortilla add lettuce, tomato, cucumber and wrap it all up. It will probably be more than I can eat at one time but half for one meal and half for another will probably be alright. I also bought some of the tostito queso dip that I want to make something similar with. I was thinking some hamburger taco meat and more taco type fixings. I think it will help make it go down smoother than plain salsa. Well, it's been a long post so I'm going to let you all off the hook now. I know there are tons of things I forgot to say to everyone. Good job on your water everyone!

Great job Heather. I'm waiting for that magical number. I have never loss that amount of weight....EVER!!! I think I lost 30 pounds once right before I got married. And maybe close to 40 from my childbirth high to after low.....but now I'm going to hit 50 and keep dropping! I know how wonderful it feels for me...you've got to be on cloud 9!!!! Congrats

Good morning everyone. Hope all is going well. Water patrol is looking for your numbers. I have managed the 16 oz for breakfast, about 8 coffee, 1 Liter of water and am now working on 8 oz protein drink. It's only 1030 and I have over half my liquid in!!!! DH and I went for a walk with the dogs last night. Nothing huge, just about 6 or 8 blocks but 3 of them were uphill. Then he was complaining about his knees and his feet so we went home...and then I went out by myself again and did another half hour on my own! It was even misting out. I told him I was tired of making excuses for it. I need to do it and I'm not going to let myself whine my way out of it. I charge up my ipod last night and will get the ball rolling again at lunch. I usually only have about 10 minutes but it's 10 more than I would have done otherwise. Phyl, I'm sure it's awesome to be home! We spent one night away at a motel and out of our sleep number bed and I was miserable! I think even another one at a motel wouldn't be the same as my one at home. I do love filling it every day so that when I get in I can go for my "ride" down to my sleep number :crying:) DH calls me weird but I get my kicks so to heck with him. Karri, how was the meeting? My one on fill day was hilarious. I just kept thinking how you and Janet would have responded to it. I hope I didn't used to be such an excuse giver. There was this one lady who had an excuse for everything she wasn't doing. A reason she wasn't exercising, a reason or six that she wasn't drinking her water, a reason she was still eating pastries and cookies and other crap like that. Uh...just shut up! I really don't think she understood how stupid she sounded. And then complain because she's only lost 15 pounds! grrrr. Hope you had a better time. If only by supporting the lady you go with. Ruby, don't apologize for being part of the water patrol. They don't apologize to us for giving us tough food love. Glad you had a nice dinner with DH on your anniversary. That's always important. So sorry you don't feel good though. But you are sharing it with him so it always makes it easier! Gonna run. Prep time is up in 5 minutes. Have a great day ladies.

I'm staying on plan today because I know if I work the plan, the plan will work! I'm 2 pounds from a HUGE milestone. I promise I will get there by the end of next week. If I break from the plan there is no way I can get there. The other reason I'm staying on plan today is because LBT keeps me accountable. Thanks you guys!

This is funny. I renewed in January after having surgery in December. I really struggled about what to put for weight. There is no way that at over 200 they would buy my goal weight but I didn't want to put my current weight either. I finally think I settle on about 170 so about where I am now. There's no way I'm stopping there though so I may have to say I lost it soon and redo the picture and weight.

Thanks! I do feel really good! I've found that coming here on a regular basis as well posting and being accountable. Find a group that will keep you in step. It really does help. I think I could be further along had I really paid close attention to my exercise but I quit and now I've got to start over on it. Do it daily....no excuses. I found excuses for the last 20 years and that's why I needed the band in the first place. It's time for me to put them away and get with the program. With exercise you could be at goal in a year....without, doubtful. Goodluck an keep coming back! Stay active here. It has been a Godsend for me.

How funny!!! I had just remembered I was going to chime in on the "no snack if you don't get your water!" That made me laugh and laugh. The food cop getting got!!! We'll be the water patrol! I need to focus on getting more plain water in. I get the fluid but much of it is coffee or protein drinks so I need to push the water instead. So far (10:30) I have had 8 oz v8 fusion light, 8 oz protein drink, 16 oz coffee. I am sitting here looking at 8 more oz of protein because tummy is growling and I'm not sure protein bar is a good choice today. I need to go fill my water bottle. Everyone chime in...how's your fluid intake going???

Went in for my fill yesterday and a weigh in. I have updated my ticker! I have lost 48 pounds in 4 months!!! How awesome is that??? I am only 12 pounds from being able to say "just overweight" not obese!!! I am so looking forward to that!!!!!!! Just fat. I'm just fat. How awesome will that feel???? I need to focus on liquids and exercise this month. I am starting to get saggy arms and they are going to look awful in tanks...so that is my focus this month. If I do those things those 12 pounds will come with!

LivingTheDream, I am sure it was a very personal decision to not tell anyone and none of us judge you for that. I wasn't sure who I was going to tell for a long time...but figured it would keep me more accountable...but that is me. Maybe when an obese friend says something you can share your calorie intake, your exercise goals, and your new eating style with them. All the bandster rules without calling them that. The lifestyle change is possible without the band, it just is easier with it. Maybe that would help?? You look awesome though! Great job!

Alright, a little quiet time so I can respond to everything I've read this weekend....if I forgot you, please forgive me :thumbup:) Karri, you inspire me. I wish I had half the motivation that you do. I just find your workouts amazing. You are so dedicated. I was going to post that I thought you should unfill completely now since it's such an issue going back and forth. You have the commitment to make this work and it may help you in the maintenance phase anyways. You have such great eating habits in place that I think you'll be fantastic. Phyll, I wish my dh cared as much about what I was doing. He is enjoying the emerging woman but could care less about how I get there. Enjoy the help even when it gets annoying. Peaches, I hope your fill sticks. I feel a little different today...I can feel my coffee all the way down...but I don't know if it will stay that way. I hope we both have some restriction so that we can ignore those demons who are starting to rear their ugly heads. I want to say welcome to the new comers. I am a December bandster but these guys have adopted me. They have been so great!!! My own board is very inactive so this place helps me stay on top of things. Join in. It's so much fun. Now...onto other stuff.... The hotel we stayed at had a water park and I went down the water slide....three times! Which means I climbed those freaking stairs 3 times!!! I would have done more but I was getting banged up pretty good on the slides and dh twisted his ankle on the landing. While we were sitting in the hottub we started discussing my tummy and my girls.....and he seems more than happy to pay for ps when I get to that point! We talked about a tt, a little joy for the girls, and then I mentioned a kitty lift and he just looked at me like I was crazy. How exciting is that! My new weight puts me 12 pounds from being fat!!! I am so excited about that. I could be just fat by M of A trip!!! I am going to throw a party when I get there....bet you me!!! Well...better get to teaching. I'll talk to you all again soon I'm sure.

Hi all. Back from my fill. It was a good weekend all around. I am down to 172 by docs scale!!! That is 48 pounds!!!! I am so looking forward to 50. PA says that I may not need to go back next month! She was really excited about my loss. I'm getting pretty psyched too. I need to up my exercise. I know I'm not going to go much lower unless I increase it. I'm so glad it is getting nicer now. I hope to get outside a lot more soon. I will talk to you all tomorrow!!!

Chris, Sugar is so addicting. The minute I put it in my mouth my day is blown to hell and back. If I can resist starting I'm happier, I'm less hungry, and I'm more in control. I have been allowing myself to slide a bit the last couple of days because I've been STARVING. They took out some of my fill my last appointment and since my swelling has gone down I've been dying to eat. And then the stress I've been under and the sugar demons really attack! Fill on Monday and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for some assistance to this willpower that seems to be drooping lately. Why is it that we know the answers and can give the advice to others but then have such a hard time following it ourselves? Or maybe that is just me. I don't know! Have a great weekend.

Mr. James. Sugar is a demon. We crave it. We need it. Our heads LOVE it. It is like an addiction....we can't have just one. I understand completely. Remember the pre-op diet when we had NO CARBS except the shakes. The first couple of days were hell....and then it just sort of eased. The need for carbs, aka sugar, went away a bit....but just like a junky, it only takes on sugar HIT to get us back to dependance. It will take 2 - 5 days of cold turkey to "detox" your body but you can do it. Carbs are also a HUGE hunger stimulant for me. If I don't have the carbs I am nowhere near as hungry and eat much less and am satisfied. You can do this. And the not being happy about people saying you look great may be because you KNOW in your heart how "bad" you are being. It's like being complemented on a paper you wrote really well when you stole it off the internet. Thanks, but if you only knew.... When you get back on track those compliments will make you feel better. It will be motivation to keep going. You probably do look awesome and they just don't know the guilt you are carrying around. Take a deep breath and get ready for detox. The sooner you start no carbing it the sooner you will feel better about the choices you are making. A depressed bandster can not be a successful one! We want you on the success end of things. Good luck!!!

Here are my 4 months pics. 1st is pre-band, 2nd January after 1 month, and 3rd is yesterday. Surgery was December 6th. I can only do 5 pics so I'm going to just do faces this month.

Took pics today after my DH told me I'm hot! What a morning! Nothing much better than that! I did fit into 14's on Tuesday and Large going on Medium shirts!!! How awesome is that! I'm using my Feb. pics as befores since I didn't take pics last month.

Pretty quiet around here today. I just uploaded my pics on the brag thread. Just though I would let you all know!

Here are my new pics.....taken this morning I attached my last to compare with....my befores are just so bad!!! Maybe when I'm at goal I won't be so horrified....maybe!!!

Good morning all. My comp is still dropping d's so if there is a problem, please forgive me. DS was better yesterday after school. No double vision in track and seemed to be really on target for most of the evening. I talked to him about relaxation techniques for when his vision goes funny. I hope that helps. My DH made me feel so special this morning. He walked up behind me and whispered in my ear that I was smokin hot these days. How wonderful is that to hear first thing in the morning. I will be posting new pics in the brag thread....if they turned out this morning. It has been 4 months and I'm feeling pretty good about my progress so far....so I'll take it! Nothing else exciting happening today so far. I hope you all have a great day. Oh yeah!! Great job on avoiding the cookies ladies. I bought some mini rice cake snack packs that someone on another thread was saying were so awesome but I haven't tried them yet. I hope they help that cookie craving. Janet, puddle jumpers allow you to check baggage but they put it in the nose of the plane. A small bag would be just fine. I don't know about cream foundation, it should be fine. The big change these days has been in the size of liquid products. But I would just call and confirm that. How exciting though that you were asked!!! That is awesome! Well...I have a ton of stuff to do. I'll talk at you all later.

Hi all! Hope you are all having a super day. Phyll, have a safe trip. Karri, it will all work out for the best. Knowing is the most frustrating. I know. I know there are other things I want to say, but it's all a blur right now. I guess I'll have to go back an reread so I remember what is going on with everyone. About yesterday.....the saga continues. Yesterday morning I left for work and before I can get out of town I get a phone call that my son has a bloody nose at home and can I come back. Long story short it was an INSANE bloody nose and we ended up in the emergency room. When the doc finally got there she treated me like I was crazy....but he bled for over 20 minutes at home and soaked half a roll of paper towels...and then for another 20 minutes at the emergency room. All that from sneezing! Then we went for his planned appointment in another town and she was really concerned about his double vision and decided to do an MRI. Which then got me ALL KINDS of concerned....but it ended up showing nothing. She likes how the bipolar meds are working and doesn't think the vision is a result so she wants to continue that. I'm not convinced but I'm willing to wait it out. He doesn't seem overly bothered by the vision thing and it happens very sporadically. I just don't know. So it was a crazy day. I wasn't ready for a sub and really felt like I let a lot of people down. And then with all the worry and stress I found myself eating just to eat. Nothing horrible for me, just more often than I should have and more at a time than I should have. I can't wait until Monday and a fill so that I'm not hungry all the time. This month has been so super hard without the band helping me. I've still managed to lose this month, but not like I wanted to. Oh...but shopping yesterday I fit into LARGE shirts!!!!! And I tried on a 14 pant....not 14W.....and it fit!! I didn't buy because I'm going for fill next week and think it will be better by the beginning of next month....so I only bought some tops to go with my loose 16's. From tight (over tight) 20's to 14's since December! That is so great!!! Yeah me!!!

Hi all....not much to report today. Just another day in the classroom. There is a trackmeet today so there are about 10 of my 25 kids missing. Makes for a frustrating day to say the least. Oh well. Since I'm not going to be here next year, I'm not stressing about it. I think it was the best decision I have made in a while. I think it might be better than that lapband to tell the truth. I am really starting to look forward to spending all this time with the kids. I can hardly describe it. I'm just stoked!! I called the dentist an told him my tooth isn't really bothering me. He suggested it could be sinuses since it just disappeared after advil but to call him back if it starts hurting again. I called my dr. and told her I thought I need more zoloft. She had told me to call her if she thought I started back down again. I don't know if it's pms or the other so she is going to call me back. Tomorrow we take the oldest back to the dr about his bipolar. I just don't know what to think about that. Some ways he's better, some ways he's worse. But not a lot of lying and no stealing that I know of and he hasn't skipped school again....but it has only been 2 weeks too. Then next monday back for another fill. Wow...I sound like a dr aholic. I'll sure be happy when we are all back in healthy land again. At least no one is harping about my weight anymore!!! I have one week to lose a couple more pounds so that maybe my dr scale will read below 170 also. If that happens I will have hit 50 pounds...so I'm working really hard on that this week. I'm hoping since TOM is here this week I have a shot at it. Keeping my fingers crossed at least!! Talk to you all later.

Hi all. Had a pretty good day. My tooth was better today. It didn't bother me until this evening and even then it wasn't too bad. I've kept on top of the advil. I know we should stay clear of that, but my team said that as long as I didn't over do it and always ate with it I would be alright. Now my d key seems to be sticking. Do you know how often I use the d key? I hope this stops soon!!!! Karri....your wedding sounds amazing. As long as you remember it forever, it doesn't matter if anyone else approves. And I would tell your nut to get buttered! You should NEVER be made to feel badly for eating healthy meals and exercising. It isn't like you are anorexic or bulemic. You are doing what needs to be done for your health. I would not worry about losing 2 pounds. You need to have a daily diet that you can live with. Phyll...your family is beautiful. I hope you have really enjoyed them. I hope you enjoyed the cake and didn't spend the whole time feeling guilty. If you are going to splurge you need to at least enjoy the entire experience. Liquid gold is that wonderful pain elixer they sent home with me after surgery. It is probably just tylenol 3 instead of vicodan....but it does wonders for my pain. Well...it's almost 11pm here and I had better get to bed. Have a great week all. I plan on it!!

Hi again all. My toothache is feeling a bit better. I don't know if it is the tylenol, the darovcet, the ambesol, the advil, the shower, or the Hot drinks. Something is helping. I called the dentist but he hasn't returned my call. Imagine that! I have a stupid question. Would it be possible to lose weight in your gums? It almost feels like the snug has left my crowns. I wonder if the roots of those teeth are exposed. I know it's crazy to think but I really am fat all over. Actually, the dentist just called and asked it I could stand it for another 12 hours or so. He says that he figures it's an infection or abscess and that in another 12 hours it will have localized in one spot so he can figure out which tooth is the problem. He gave me permission to use the liquid gold that I got for surgery so I told him I could tough it out until morning. He said he would wait for my call tomorrow and if I needed him to he would meet me at the office for whatever he needed to do. Sometimes life in a small town has its perks. On another note....has anyone heard from Karri? I know she is out of touch electronically, but thought maybe Janet or someone may have heard from her IRL. I hope she is having an amazing wedding day. And I too hope she bought something tiny and gorgeous for her wedding night. Night all! Hope you are all having a great weekend.

Oh...woke up thinking about Karri. I hope all goes wonderfully today. A big step for her today. Phyll...I love Quiznos but have not tried their sammies. I haven't had anything from there but soup since banding. And about your Aunt Genny....so sorry for your loss. I know it hurts to not be there to grieve with the family but memories in your head and shared one at a time can be very cathartic. She sounds like an amazing woman. I'm sure the world will be a little smaller without her. Janet...my brother and sister and I are always fighting. It can cause such stress. It is so hard when you have made your life a success and see others raised by the same family and in the same way have such trouble. It is hard to be kind with it because you look at yourself and see what they could have done. They have their demons and we have ours though. Remember that you only have control of yourself and that your best revenge is a beautiful life for yourself. Ruby -- this is so hard when your heart hurts. I know the feeling of "I just don't have anything to say." Wish that helped. Just know you aren't alone. Kari -- when I was weight training I was told to do 3 sets with light weights and then every other day throw in a fourth set with heavier weights. I believe there are benefits for both. I remember reading in Prevention something about there not being a "better" option because both did something different. Not much help, am I? Okay...there were a couple of other things and people I wanted to say but I can't concentrate on anything but my jaw. Sorry all that I have missed.