Ezma

Welcome to the gang. Doesn't have to be a big problem to join us in wanting to get control of it. I'll bet almost everyone of us that have been banded or will be banded have problems with carbs of either sweet or savory variety. When we give in it's more about not beating ourselves up about it, but about re-committing to our goal of living better. It's wonderful that you are aware of your attachment to them.

Tap - It could easily be water gain. You were eating out more and they love to hide the sodium in food. Bet it comes right off for you. Don't get too discouraged. You've been doing great and just had a short change in your normal routine.

I too use the sugar free creamers. I was never a black coffee girl. They do have a couple grams of fat but so worth it.

Yummy. Oatmeal sounds so good now. We got a cool snap. Went from walking in the morning in shorts one day to needing warm up pants and a light jacket the next. Yay fall is here! It's my favorite time of year.

Hi guys. I just threw on a pot of coffee and thought I'd take a little coffee break with all of you. How was your weekend? Anything exciting going on? We had a decent weekend. Went for a short visit to my parents, took a short walk with hubby in the wheelchair (told him it was my new piece of fitness equipment) and had some friends over for lunch and a movie yesterday. It was great to be able to cook healthy for people other than my family and have them enjoy it. Dessert was another story - was delicious but far from healthy.

Well, I haven't necessary been the model of healthy eating but I've been so much better than I was during those 3 weeks of struggle. I've taken off all that I put on and am back to my low point. Yay, the ticker is accurate again and I can once again say it's 105 pounds gone.

I'd say peanut butter is fine. It's not crunchy and salty and probably won't kick in your nut addiction. Plus it was nut night anyway. You've done absolutely fabulous with getting control of the nuts Tap. It's great to have you back. Good luck on the weigh in.

Thanks again for all of your well wishes and curses on insurance companies.

Both Thursday and Friday turned out decent for me for calories. Friday was an almost perfect day. Only slipped on 1 peanut butter cookie and a spoonful of ice cream. Not too bad at all considering where I was last week. It's very nice to have my support system back home. Also helps that I have time and someone to cook for again. It's so much easier to be good that way.

Just wanted to let you guys know that I appreciate all of your caring and kind words very much. This has been a very trying period of our lives and it's good to know that there are lots of people wishing you the best. I finally got him home from the hospital last night. This isn't necessarily the best thing since they really believe he needed to be there another week or so. But, since we had to depend on the insurance for payment (who doesn't), he got the boot. Insurance decided that he would be fine doing outpatient therapy. So now he's home with his wheelchair and walker and needs 24 hour supervision and someone has to walk right next to him holding his gait belt so if he falls we can slow the fall. He already fell once in the hospital going to the bathroom alone. Best part is they won't pay for nursing home care while I'm at work, they won't pay for his shower seat and his toilet safety rail and they may only pay for 1 or 2 outpatient therapies since he used about 10 after his surgery in February and I think the plan is 12 a year. <sarcasm>Aren't they wonderful? I'm so glad our healthcare and insurance systems are the best in the world.<sarcasm off> Anyway, it's good to have him here and it will be very nice not to spend an extra hour or so on the road each day. I'm off to fight the system again today. Hope you guys have a great day.

Yay! That's fantastic. Double victory for you there, 2s and 101 down from your highest. Way to go.

That is so wonderful. Congrats! I can't even imagine how great that feels but I can't wait to find out.

Lil - thank you so much, that's exactly the one I was thinking of Ready - Way to go!!!! Look at you, kickin' the ole extra weight's butt. I'm so happy for you.

Jaime - Right there with ya. I thought it was just stress and my who gives a damn attitude. But I really do care and I try to work it each and every day. It's just been really hard. I'm hungry often and craving bad things a lot. Don't seem to have much willpower to say no. I had a fill and it helped for a few days. I know I have good restriction so I'm not sure I want any more in there but something has got to straighten out here. I'm thinking about doing this 5 day thing that I saw once to see if your band is still functioning. You do full liquids for 2 days, mushies for a couple, something like that, I have to look it up again. Think I'm gonna go dig through the other month groups that are a little ahead of us and see if they hit this kind of thing too at about 7-8 months.

That's fantastic Cynthia. It's great that so many people have noticed all of your hard work. It's paying off. It's nice to not fear the camera quite as much for sure. I, too, still don't like it but I don't dread it now.

Sounds good to me too. I just found out that my husband will probably be coming home from the hospital tomorrow so it will be crazy. Plus we are having chinese food with his therapy group at the hospital - it's an outing for life skills.

Anyone interested in having one day to focus on healthy eating and exercise? I know every day should be that way but some of us <raises hand> have been struggling. I was thinking if I could get myself back on track for even one day it would help. Anyone else want to vow to make tomorrow all about a healthy you? It can be whatever your own personal idea of a healthy you looks like. Mine is to get at least 40 minutes of exercise, take all my vitamins, drink at least 60 oz of water and to eat clean - no preservatives or artificial stuff, no refined anything, only complex carbs and no sugar except the fresh fruit kind.

Great job Melolo! That's a long time to stay away from the addiction. Keep it up.

Rain sounds so nice. We're at that point where its perfect weather, even a tiny, tiny bit chilly in the morning and late evenings and hot enough to need air conditioning in the afternoon. I can't wait for it to finish up with the heat so my electric bill will drop by about $300. Will really help out right now. I'm up and ready to have a good day. It's not quite where I want it to be foodwise but it's been getting better every day. I happy with that and still motivated enough to make it even better. Go team!!!! :laugh::tt1::laugh:

I'm up 1 pound this week. Not too bad considering how rotten I've eaten. I'm down 3 pounds from that last jump and only 2 up from my lowest point. I'm really feel like I'm back on track now so hopefully next time I report it will be below my lowest point. Come on! I can do it! I'm stronger than my cravings!!@!!!!

Shiny you look wonderful! I can't wait until I have a flat stomach too.

Shiny - It's so good to hear about something wonderful happening for you. Well, something other than all the weight you lost. :redface:

I've been doing fairly well with the ice cream. That's the good news. Sweets, not so much. I'm trying to get rid of them and it's been a slow process but I think I'm making progress now that I don't really crave the ice cream anymore. Yesterday was going really, really well until after dinner. Overall not horrible but could have been better. I should do even better today as I feel a bit less stressed after taking a day off from the hospital. I really want to do the South Beach phase 1 thing so I've been researching it and will probably start it soon. I would really love to lose another 20 pounds by Christmas. At the rate I'm going I'll gain 10 by then. I am optimistic though. I know I can get back on the right track.

You're getting so close SNT. Do you have a pre-op diet at all? Bet you're getting excited. :crying:

Two things - 1. 25 pounds in 8 or 9 weeks is a fantastic rate to lose weight. It's not slow by any means. You're doing great! Enjoy. 2. You have to want to exercise to fit it in your schedule. I have to exercise now that I've worked it into my schedule. I hated it at first and had every reason in the world not to do it. I work full time, have 1 child and have a husband in the hospital and I still find time to exercise every day. I hope you give yourself a chance to get used to doing it, you'll end up loving it.