whimsy

Ahha! I've been considering a tattoo as a reward as well. I've wanted to get a certain one for a long time - it would be on my upper arm and I just hate the fat, flabby arm so much that I wouldn't be able to show it off. :tt1: Such a great idea, you two. I think I may add this to my reward when I reach my goal weight. I'd like to get my name in Thai characters around my upper arm along with a tribal band. Something else to look forward to!

I really love these mini-goals that you all have chosen. I especially like the goal to walk every day. I think that's a great idea because activity is so very important for us. My weight loss seemed to have stalled for a bit. It's strange but it seems like there is a really fine line for my caloric intake between starvation and weight loss. If I go less than 1200 per day, I stall. If I go about 100 or 200 over that then I seem to lose. It's a learning process for sure. :cursing: So, right now, I'm still about 7 pounds until my first goal - which is to be under 300 pounds. And I do think the mini-goals help to motivate us! When you accomplish a goal, mini or not, it's such a great feeling of success that you want to keep going. :biggrin2:

It's a brand. :biggrin2:

My hunger is back and at times it just drives me nuts. However, I'm taking care to eat slowly and conciously and it really seems to work. I find that I am usually not full or even close to not hungry when I stop but after 15-30 minutes that goes away. I'm learning to listen to my body and I'm busting my ass to make sure I get all my fluids in. I'm measuring just about everything I eat and taking note of the nutrition values. I aim for about 1200 calories a day but there are times when I go over. I don't give myself a hard time - I simply resolve to do better the next day. I also stop to think why I required more calories that day and figure out what I could have done better or differently. The Daily Plate has really helped me with tracking my caloric intake and my physical activity. I look forward to my first fill on April 18th. I think it will help take the edge off my hunger during my meal. At least, that's my hope.

Woohoo! That's a whole lot of Marchies!

Is it ok? Well, I suppose it is ok to have your own set of standards. Is it hypocritical? Possibly.:crying: It's not necessarily a bad thing, you know? I've dated all sizes, shapes and races. Cute is cute, smart is smart and funny is funny, regardless of the size of the package. I'm generally attracted to intelligent men with a great sense of humor. That's not to say that I'm not attracted to men who are in shape (LL Cool J comes to mind. :tt1: ) However, I do find the lead singer of The Barenaked Ladies, Steven Page, incredibly sexy. I also find Kevin Smith incredibly sexy. Neither of them would be considered fit and trim. I still think they are both incredibly hot and I definitely wouldn't throw them out of bed unless they looked better on the floor. :huh2: Basically, I think to each his own. What is attractive to some is not always attractive to others. Of course, I'm also of the mind that you shouldn't expect more from your mate that you aren't willing to give yourself. Meaning, if you expect your significant other to be in shape, well groomed, etc - then you should be willing to give that to him or her as well. :tt1: And, if they are able to love and accept you as you are, completely and unconditionally, regardless of your appearance/weight, then you've hit the jackpot.:thumbup:

My friends and I joke about my obsession with Coca-Cola. I would rather have it than any dessert, pie, cake, ice cream, etc... A month prior to my surgery, I began to wean myself from Coke. I am now almost a month post-surgery and I don't miss it. I even had a cherry coke popcicle during my liquids phase and it tasted much too sweet to me. My suggestion is to find other things that you enjoy drinking and stock up! I'm a huge fan of decaf iced green tea with splenda - it truly is what helped me quit sodas for good. My husband makes sure to always have a batch brewed and refridgerated. I've also started drinking a lot of Crystal Light. I really like the raspberry lemonade. At first, I didn't think I could survive without my Coca-Cola but I swear to you, if I can break the habit, anyone can. Good luck to you on your journey, sweets!

Another March 3rd reporting in. I am doing well, I suppose. Life is slowly getting back to normal. I go for my first fill on April 18th. :crying:

Terri, I am all for a reunion or sharing photos online. Either way, we can celebrate how far we've come! Great idea! That's kinda one of the reasons I started that getting to know you thread for the March Bandsters. I love getting to know everyone as they are now so we can really see the difference a year or more from now. :wink:

That pretty much covers all the reasons why I prefer the daily plate, too! I like the nifty feature that helps me watch my Water intake for the day, too. :thumbup:

I've been using the basic version of Fitday and The Daily Plate and I much prefer The Daily Plate. I like the layout and the ease of use. :wub:

Great to meet you Doreen! Congrats and good luck on your surgery! What a great present to give yourself! I love the picture, too! Thank you for sharing it with us!

Great pics, Tracy! So glad to meet you! :thumbdown: Howdy and welcome to all you new Marchies! It is so great to meet you! Please keep us posted on your progress before and after your surgery date!

Great thread! Here's my contribution: In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer. --Albert Camus Failure is not falling down but refusing to get up. --Chinese Proverb Listen to the MUSN'TS, child, Listen to the DON'TS Listen to the SHOULDN'TS The IMPOSSIBLES, the WON'TS Listen to the NEVER HAVES Then listen close to me – Anything can happen, child, ANYTHING can be. -- Shel Silverstein Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow." --Mary Anne Radmacher Hershley And my favorite piece to read when I need to be uplifted is Desiderata by Max Ehrmann. It's too long to paste here but I'll post a link to a site where it can be read: Desiderata

Fantastic news, hon! That is so great! I'm still stuck at 12 pounds and I think I'll be stalled here for a little while. As long as I'm not gaining, I'm happy. :embaressed_smile: