Ezma

Another thing I've heard is that it also loses up to .5 in 6 months just to evaporation. Not sure how it works but it does seem to make sense.

I felt that every month for the first 5 or 6 fills. I'd start off good and then it would get loose. It was a combination of getting used to the tightness and losing fat on my stomach making it looser, like a belt. Just sounds like time for a fill to me.

I always seem to lose 4 or 5 pounds the week I get a fill so that part makes me want one. I don't think it's just the day of mushies I do. I don't want one because I can live with how tight it is right now but might not be able to stand eating if it gets too much tighter. I am a bit looser than I was right after the fill so maybe a .5 or even .25 might do it. Guess I'll just let the doctor be in charge. LOL

I'm down another .6 this morning. I've taken all but .2 back off and my ticker is accurate again. Yay! Wondering how much more I can get off in 4 days. Right now I'm down 8 pounds since my last doctor's appointment 2 months ago. Sounds okay but it's half of what I used to take off and 7 of those pounds were taken off in the last 2.5 weeks. Oh, well, at least it's going the right direction now. How are you guys doing?

Thanks Tap :thumbup: Keep thinking about you because I'm getting hooked on dry roasted sunflower seeds. Don't think I have to worry about it too much though because I'm not a big nut person. It's been helpful to post here so I can go back and see how much I lost or gained, etc. Looking forward to my fruit on Tuesday or Wednesday if I get a fill Tuesday morning. I haven't decided if I want one or not. I have a little room but if I don't pay attention I get stuck and it hurts and I feel like I'm gonna puke for about 5-10 minutes.

Back down another 1.6 pounds with only .8 left until I'm back to where I was last Saturday. Only 5 days left until I switch to phase 2. I think I'm now the only one left doing this but I want to leave some notes in case anyone is wondering about South Beach or wants to compare progress. The main thing I've learned is that it's just like every other diet for me. If I cheat the rapid weight loss pounds pile back on even faster than they came off. I'm hoping that I can keep them off if I transition to phase 2 which is almost identical to my doctor's diet for me.

I use www.thedailyplate.com and it's amazing! The database is huge and you can add to it if you need. I've used it for about 8 months and have rarely had to add to it. It will also track you exercise and water consumption.

Just wondering where everyone is now. Wondering if we're all following some natural course of weight loss or if it's very personal.

Well, I'm only down .2 this morning, still 2.4 up from my low a few days ago. I'm gonna hang on here and work phase 1 until next Tuesday. After that I'll transition to phase 2 and hope the weight stays off. Phase 2 is pretty close to the way I was eating and want to eat so it works for me. Hopefully by doing it that way I won't gain back what I lost.

Might try some ab type exercises to build those muscles. Usually our back muscles are much stronger than the other side. Nice documentation for getting the insurance to cover the pannus surgery. Throw in some rashes and an improvement of the economy and you would stand a good chance. Definitely keep going to the doctor when it's bothering you so you have documentation.

Hopefully you're getting some protein in there. Soy, beans and protein shakes would all help get it in without eating meat. What book turned you off the meat?

Well, I'm up a total of 2.6 since my low point on Saturday. South Beach is not very forgiving of cheating at all. Hopefully that's the last day I'll gain since I was very good yesterday. It really surprised me that I gained this morning. Yesterday, at the 2 week point, I had a total loss of 5 pounds in the 2 weeks. Gained another .6 this morning. Very discouraged with myself but determined to get that weight back off again. I did phase 1 yesterday and planned on staying on it an addition week until my doctor's appointment. Now I'm debating moving to phase 2. Really not sure which way to go to give me stable, real weight loss over the next week. Guess I need to read the book today while I'm sitting in the medical suite all day with hubby. I've learned that I need a much better understanding of how this diet works. I kept thinking it was like Atkins but I don't think it is. Though I am sure there's some kind of body chemistry thing going on in Phase 1. It's not ketosis but it's similar.

Congrats Jaime!!! A baby amongst the VVs. Woot! Bet we'll be hearing another soon too. I know there were at least a couple of you guys trying to get pregnant. Bet it would be great to go through it together with a fellow bandster.

We had a fairly relaxing weekend. We took our 13 year old son to the Fall Festival at my husband's church. Then on Saturday we went to a BBQ with a 2 couples and the kids. I did really well eating Friday night and most of Saturday, then the ice cream hit Saturday night and on Sunday it was both, ice cream and cake. Back on track today though and should be able to stay that way. The scale was up 1.5 pounds today soooo.... I'm sure it will come right back down but I don't like seeing that at all. I'm back on South Beach hard core today. Tomorrow we have an all day adventure for my husband's clinical trial at the hospital. Nothing biggie just a lot of blood drawn all day and then I have to take him to vote, then I go vote. We have two different polls cause I never changed my address or maiden name - lol. I've been married 14 years now. Anyway, should be lots of fun.

Yay Tap!!!!! I'm so excited for you. You've worked very hard and deserve a nice treat. Not nuts!

Help, help!!!! I'm sinking in the quicksand cone of ice cream. I had ice cream again today. Please tell me that it's still bad even though it's "no sugar added". It's horrible how easy it is to get sucked right back into a bad, bad habit.

I'm up .8 pound today. Not sure if it was the "no sugar added" ice cream I had last night, the hamburger patties I've had twice in 24hrs or just a normal bounce. Whatever it was, I'm back on track today. The holiday is over and I should drop that .8 and more back off soon. Really wonder how much I can get off before my doctor's appointment on the 11th. I want to get at least 8 pounds off for this month (done) and trying to make up for the lack of loss last month. I would be fantastic if I could lost 8 more pounds in 9 days but I don't think that gonna happen. I do think another 5 pounds is very much in the realm of possibility.

Tap - you've done such a fantastic job managing the nuts. I'd say you have a good handle on it now. Wouldn't worry about eating a double portion too much. I, too, had a double shot of ice cream yesterday. Must have been something in the air. I did get a "no sugar added" kind so I feel a bit better about the cheating. I know that I have to keep a good eye on it or I'll be right back where I was and eating way too much, way too often.

Down another .4 this morning. That brings it to an even 7 pounds now. Have a BBQ to go to today and hopefully I can manage to stay on the diet. I should have no real trouble but I think I'll bring an asparagus salad that I know I can eat so I'm sure that I will have some fresh veggies to go with the hamburger patty.

Hmmmm, they might want to use that for their city councel campaign. I know I'd come a-runnin'. And HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO YOU TOO!

I never was told to only eat a cup of food at meals so I'm really not sure how much I eat per meal. There were some restrictions but it was mainly at the very start and that was quarter cup portions. Now the main thing they seems worried about in my Protein portion size - 3oz? I'm not able to eat as much as they want you to eat on South Beach of the veggies but I try to snack on some during the day. I'm getting very close to the same kind of foods I was eating at about 4 months into Lap Band, just no fruit. Sob. I miss my fruit. Don't really care about the whole grains part but you do get those and fruit after the first two weeks. If you're concerned about the amounts or foods, definitely ask your doctor. I didn't worry about it because it was so close to what they wanted me to eat. I only lost .2 today but I figure it's still down - hurray! That brings to total to 6.6 pounds in 11 days.

I'm very thankful that I still have South Beach going on. It will give me added incentive to steer clear of the junk. Also, thankfully, they don't give out ice cream when you trick or treat. :teeth_smile: WE ARE STRONGER THAN OUR CRAVINGS!!!!

What I know for sure is..... I know Lap Band was the best choice for me. I know I have so much more movement range and energy now. I know I've lost 111 pounds in 8 1/2 months!!!!! I know I never thought I'd be exercising daily and even enjoying it on some days. I know I never thought I'd be so thoughtful of what food I put in my body. I know I'm less embarrassed now than I was at the same weight and lower when I was in my 20s. I know this forum has saved me from failing many times and I really appreciate all of you. I know I'm proud of myself for all the hard work I've done and all the positive, healthy changes I've made to my life. I know I'm gonna need cosmetic surgery. and last but not least... I know I'm gonna need new clothes again soon.

Well, I had my first weakness caving on South Beach last night. I gave in and had a small portion of ice cream. Hopefully it doesn't mess things up like it could on Atkins where the weight loss is a very chemical thing based on ketosis. I lost another pound even with the ice cream and I'm at a total of 6.4 down since starting this. I plan to finish up this week and very probably continue it until my doctor's appointment the morning of 11th of November. I really want to make up the weight I didn't lose last month. I'll be happy if I can take off another 11 pounds in the next 12 days. Might be a bit too high of a goal but we'll see.

Well the ice cream cravings have been strong since Sunday and they finally won on Wednesday. Last night, after 10 days without, I finally caved in and had a small portion of ice cream. It was very sweet and not as good as I remembered it. Now, don't get me wrong, it was good but just not as good as I remembered. Sugar is definitely an addiction for me but I think I can keep it reasonable now. I did lose another pound still so I hope it doesn't mess up my South Beach too much.