Bea1128

Way to go GG!!! That is so awesome! I know you feel great!!

Congrats Aclubb!!! That's awesome! You too Kathy! I'm so happy for you. Lyn - sorry about your race, but your sweet granddaughter is right, there will be more. I did a 5K this morning on the treadmill. I've been doing faster intervals to increase my endurance. I did 7.0 today for 30-45 sec intervals then back down to 6 or 5 depending on how I was feeling. I am amazed at how much better my cardiovascular endurance is now. It takes longer to get my heart rate up, but on the flip-side it returns to normal a lot faster! It feels so good not to be huffing and puffing when going up steps or whatever. Feeling healthy has to be the best NSV ever!! I hope you all have a great day!!

Turler - I know how discouraging that is {{{HUGS}}}; however, there may be a perfectly good explaination. Here are some possibilities... **I don't know where you went hiking, but if you went up in elevation that could be it. **Did you drink margaritas? The salt and sugar makes me swell up like a balloon. I never get on the scale within three days of drinking those little gems. **Have you been drinking enough water? You need to flush your system. **Are you too tight? I ask because you said you could only eat a bite or two before it feels uncomfortable. **Is it time for TOM? If so, enough said! I hate to say it, but Brandy is right. You probably need to log maybe for just a few days to a week so you can really see where you are getting your calories from. I was amazed at how many calories I was consuming with my coffee throughout the day, like over 100 everyday. So, when I realized that I switched to a lower calorie creamer. Problem solved. Don't look at it like a chore, consider it another tool to get you back on track. Also, if you raised your caloric intake (I don't know what it was to begin with), you might want to see if it's too much with your level of activity. This journey is a puzzle, you have to keep trying pieces to see if they fit. If it doesn't fit for you, change it up. What ever you do, don't starve yourself. I'm so glad we all stick together in these situations. Isn't it amazing how similar all of our experiences have been? We've all hit a plateau, so at least we are not alone. Sending you all good thoughts today!!

Green Chili chicken 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or however many you need) 1 can green chili enchilada sauce sliced onions, optional Throw everything in the crockpot. Cook on low 6 hours or so. If you are pressed for time, you can cook on high for about 4 hours, but the sauce tends to burn around the edge. Shred chicken with two forks and have on tacos, tostadas, or burritos. Also great the next day on salad.

Avgolemono Soup Makes about 7 one cup servings This is a Greek dish from an old Weight Watcher cookbook. 5 c f/f chicken broth 6 T long grain rice * 3 large eggs 1/4 c fresh lemon juice 1/8 tsp ground pepper 1. In a large sauce pan, bring broth to a boil over med-hi heat. Add the rice; reduce heat to med-low and simmer, covered, 20 minutes. * 2. Meanwhile, combine the eggs, lemon juice, and pepper in medium bowl; whisk until frothy. Gradually add 2 cups of hot broth to the egg mixture, whisking constantly to keep eggs from curdling. Pour egg mixture into the sauce pain and cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute longer. Serve immediately. *I don't add rice to the soup, I just skip that step. I make rice separately or I make this soup when I have left over rice. That way I can control how much I put in. You can also add cooked, diced chicken. It's delicious. Per 1 c serving w/o rice: 47 cal; 2 g fat; 4 g protein; 0 g Fiber

I saw it too. I kept thinking it was an advertisement and I kept looking for the close box. LOl!

Hey Grace! Glad to hear from you. I think we are all experiencing a plateau at the moment. It seemed to hit between 40 and 50 pounds. I haven't lost anything in over 6 weeks, more like 8 (I've gained 1.5 pounds and then lost it again). I've been trying to shake things up and get it moving again. My phys ed instructor put me on a week of rest from exercise and told me to up my calories. I think it's working. At least I don't feel fatigued and have a lot more energy. I wasn't giving my body what it needed with all the exercise I've been doing. I have had 3 fills, well actually 4 if you count the very small unfill due to illness. I'm at a pretty sweet spot right now. I expect to stay here for a while. I think I'm somewhere close to 6 cc in a 10 cc band. I've forgotten now. If you are interested, some of us have been journaling so we can all see what the others are eating, exercising, etc. Feel free to check it out. The link is below. Good luck and keep in touch! http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f179/our-journal-april-avengers-77585/index6.html#post1036983

Playing Catch up tonight! Date: 10/17/08 What Did You Eat Today? Breakfast: Starbuck's pumpkin Latte Lunch: 2 Green Chili chicken soft tacos (lettuce, tom, onion, f/f sour cream, light catalina) Snack:Peach Dinner: Spicy Red curry, Fragrant Jasmine Rice, Red lentil Dal with cauliflower Snack: f/f, s/f peach yogurt Protein: 79g (approx 1025 cals) Water Intake: 3 liters Exercise: Ran 3 miles (475 cals burned) Anything to add: Exercise break is over, it felt great to get back to my exercise routine. Could have eaten a few more calories today...ooops! Date: 10/18/08 What Did You Eat Today? Breakfast: coffee only, slept really late :biggrin: Snack: f/f yogurt Lunch: Melba toast, 1 wedge lite laughing cow, 1/2 Luna bar Dinner: Corned beef, cabbage, and poatoes Cocktails: 3 - 4 oz frozen drinks (pink lemonade and cabernet, roughly equal to 3 - 4 oz glasses of wine plus a lot of sugar!!) Protein: 31 g (1137 cals) Water Intake: 1 L Exercise: None Anything to add: didn't do well today. Date: 10/19/08 What Did You Eat Today? Breakfast: coffee Lunch: Left overs: 1/2 c curry and 1/2 c jasmine rice Snack: f/f yogurt, 1 T almonds, 1/4 oz bran flakes Dinner: 1/2 breaded chicken patty (baked), 1/4 hamburger bun, 6 tator tots, lettuce tomato, light mayo, pickles Snack: 2 c Avgolemono soup, 1/2 c rice Anything to add: I PB'd most of the tator tots and probably some of the other stuff, but mostly tator tots. I know better, but I still try. I love them, but just can't tolerate them anymore. The first two went down okay and that's when I should have stopped. Will I ever learn? Protein: 51 g (1105 cals / it's less than this because of the PB, but I left it in) Water Intake: 1 L Exercise: Played basketball this evening with my family. It was so much fun! (burned 200 cals) Anything to add: Cleaned out my entire closet today in my underwear so I could try on everything. Have two giant boxes to give away to other family and friends. 2 boxes of "skinny" clothes for next summer. Row, after row of clothes that will fit shortly, mostly 12's and 14's. Can't wait!!

Just ran across this article with Jillian from The Biggest Loser. I love that show! Thought I would share it with you guys. It's very positive!! 5 things I learned from Jillian Michaels - Healthy Living on Shine

I love Biggest Loser and Jillian. I ran across the following article and thought it was a great! It's worth a read as it's very positive!! 5 things I learned from Jillian Michaels - Healthy Living on Shine

Hey guys! Hope you've all had a great weekend. Turler, sounds like a great time! I love to hike. Also, don't beat yourself up. Walking or hiking outside is always harder than it is on the treadmill. It's just different. I realized that a couple of weeks ago in P.E. when we had to run a mile. On the treadmill, no problem, but outside was a different story. It's not climate controlled, it's hilly, it's a harder surface, etc. That's why I've started training outside now since it's cooler out. You did great!!! Try training outside when you can as it will keep your body on it's toes!! Numbergirl - I love muscle milk. It's my favorite. Although the last time I thought I'd try something different. I got Cookies n cream. should have stayed with chocolate. It's taking me forever to get through the canister because I don't really like it, but I'm going to drink it by-golly! It's too expensive to waste! Well, I'm ready for the start of the week. I'm ready to kick this plateau's butt!! I'm ready to get this weight off for good! I was hoping to be down 70-75 lbs by my 35th b-day in December, but I don't think I'm going to make it as it's only 7 weeks away. I've got to really buckle down and get serious. Hope you guys all have a terrific Sunday!!

Hey guys! I stayed home from church today too. I sent my family. I didn't sleep well at all last night. I was up from 1:30 until about 5:30 this morning! It seemed the whole world was against me getting any sleep! :w00t: Okay, just my animals, my DD, and evidently the neighbors down the road. Oh well, I have a ton of homework to do today. I'm hoping to get it all done while my family is at church so I can spend the rest of the day with them. I plan on getting a run in today. I think I will feel better if I do. I love running too and I look forward to it. I feel such a sense of accomplishment and I feel so great afterward. Lyn - So sorry to hear about your race troubles. I hope you are there right now running. Let us know!! Hope you all have a great Sunday and start of the new week!!

Andrea - I'm sorry you are struggling and feeling bad, but as you could read you are not alone. And you are certainly not failing, you are just normal!! First of all, you've lost almost 50 pounds! That's awesome! I've been banded for 6 months and have only lost 41. I've hit a plateau and that will happen from time to time especially around the 40-50 pound mark. I haven't lost a pound in at least 6 weeks. While it's frustrating, I know that's just how it is. I'm still working out and doing what I need to do and I can see changes in my body composition if not on the scale. Eventually it will catch up with me just like it will for you. Just think of it this way, you are already so much healthier than you were before loosing the 50 pounds. As for getting to restriction, you just have to keep on until you get it. It was fill #3 for me that gave me pretty good restriction. Then I got sick and had to have a little removed and then had it plus a little more put back in. I'm now where I need to be for a while. I think that has been the hardest part of the whole thing, waiting for the restriction. Just do the best you can and when you do reach restriction, it'll start coming off again and you'll feel better. Good luck to you and remember how far you have come! It's a daily journey. All we can do is take it day to day. This site is the best form of support I've found so far!!

Welcome Mike! I'm glad you are doing well and adjusting. I too had horrible gas pain after surgery. Mine lasted about 2 weeks, but I'm very susceptible to it. I had it bad after all my other surgeries too. The only thing that seemed to help me was walking and riding in the car (after about 7 days, before that it was painful). I too have United Healthcare and had a great experience. My doc is Adam Smith in FTW. So far I've had a great experience and am so glad I had it done. I've also heard great things about Dr. Carter. Good luck to you on your new journey. I love the site and I have made lots of good friends here. Everyone is usually so helpful and amazing. No matter what question has come up for me, chances are someone else has already experienced it! Take care!!

Okay, I finally caught up! Georgia - way to go girl! It's such a motivator, isn't it? Renewed - glad your little boy is better now! I hate it when my kids are sick! I'm sorry you got beat by the likes of Whosya!! LOL! Look at it this way, he beat you because you had your focus on your son, otherwise you could have kicked his booty!! (I say that with love, whosya!! LOL!) Kathy - I'm sorry you haven't heard back yet. I'm right there with ya, although I hope you don't have to wait as long as me. I applied to nursing school in August and I won't hear if I made it in or not until the end of November, possibly the first part of December. I'm like you, it's driving me crazy!! So, knowing me, the first part of November I'll be tapping my toe everyday waiting for the mail to arrive knowing full well it won't be in there. I wish you the best of luck and hopefully you'll hear back on Monday. My prayers are with you. And don't beat yourself up. I didn't run for a week either, just get right back in the saddle and you'll be fine!! Exercise is a great stress reliever too. Hope everyone has a great weekend!!!

Hey all! I haven't posted this week because I've been in a "rest" period from exercise imposed by my phys ed instructor who is also a sports trainer. I've been in the worst plateau ever and also have been feeling so fatigued. She evaluated my nutrition and exercise logs and thinks I wasn't eating enough and that my body needed a rest. So for a week I've been just doing very small things, like walking a mile. It was brutal, but it's over and this morning I ran 3 miles. I feel so much better and seemed to have much more endurance. I've upped my calories the last fews days and feel so much more energized. Even though I fought her on this, I'm glad I did it. Turns out she knew what she was talking about after all! LOL! I hope everyone is doing well (I have to got back a few pages to catch up)! Have a great weekend!!

Mom - Hope you have a great camping trip. I love camping when its cold out!! Turler - Sorry for the drama! I remember being that age and I do not look forward to my girls becoming teenagers for that reason! Have fun on your hike! Brandy - I agree with what the others have said. You need to eat more calories for sure, more Protein will probably helps as well. Congrats on the pound lost, they all add up for sure. I'm officially done with my "rest" period from exercise. I ran 3 miles today and it felt great. And over the last few days I've gotten in more calories. I have to tell you that I feel so much better. I don't feel so fatigued so I know my body wasn't getting what it needed. I hope to see a change in the scale next week as we have our big eval in phys ed to see how far we've come. Hope you all have a great weekend!!

Have a safe trip and have a great time!!!!

Date: 10/15/08 What Did You Eat Today? Breakfast: coffee Lunch: school lasagna Snack:Luna Bar Dinner: Frozen lasagna (yes again!), salad, 1/2 piece turtle cheesecake Snack: f/f, s/f peach yogurt, 1 T almonds, 1/2 c blueberries, 1/2 oz bran flakes Protein: 52g (approx 1200 cals) Water Intake: 1 liters Exercise: Nada Anything to add: Didn't eat well today, had to eat out of the house twice and it was the same meal! Date: 10/16/08 What Did You Eat Today? Breakfast: coffee, whole grain Protein pancakes (1/2 c dry oatmeal, 2 T oat bran, 2 T flax seed, 1/2 c peach applesauce, 1 egg white, 1/4 c 1% - mix in blender and cook in non stick skillet until golden), 1 c blueberries, egg omlette (1 whole egg, 1 egg white, 1 slice 2% provolone), 2 slices of tomato Snack: Blueberry sunrise luna bar Lunch: Melba toast, 1 wedge lite laughing cow, Dreyers fruit bar Dinner: chicken stuffed shells with two sauces (very good! I'll post this recipe when I get a minute), 1 c brocolli, lots of marinated cucumbers Protein: 61 g (1333 cals) Water Intake: Maybe 1.5 L Exercise: None Anything to add:

sounds great! thanks!!

Yeah, I hate the recipe thread too. I never even go on there and I don't want our thread to turn into that. I don't know what the other thing is, but lets go for it.

Yeah, I thought of that and maybe I'll send him a message. What I wanted to do was start a thread for recipes and then have a post for chicken, Desserts, etc; however, that would have to be done on a major thread and not just inside April 2008 Bandsters. That's not a problem, I don't mind sharing, but there is already a recipe thread. My other thought was to do it completely off site like on yahoo groups or something. Does anyone else have any thoughts?

You'll be fine on the rides and you'll look smoking hot with the auburn hair!! You go girl!!!

I can get the Oikos plain, fat free, individual cups at my Wal-Mart, I've seen it and several other brands at HEB Central Market, and I've seen some at either Albertson's or Tom Thumb. I like it better than regular yogurt because it has a thicker consistency and it tastes more real, if that makes any sense at all. :regular_smile:

Nope, never mind. My idea won't work. I'm going to think of something else.