FeliciaLevy75

So far, so good! 30 mins of walking yesterday and 30 mins today plus 20 on the elliptical. Working up to an hour of each will take me a little while, but it's worth it!

Gold is definitely worth it. I use a BlackBerry as well, and it's really great!

The extra calories is for maintaining the goal you have set in the system. I admit, I ignore the calculation of exercise calories subtracted from food calories. I understand why it does it, it's calculating calories to keep to the goal so if you were trying to maintain (or even gain; blasphemy, I know), you could use it to make up the difference. Second, I don't use DP to calculate my everyday activities (showering, walking around as part of my daily need to move around the office or shopping, etc.). I only track activities specific to working out. I understand that your body burns calories with the slightest activities (sleeping for 83 minutes will burn off my Soup for lunch)... but I don't want to get hung up on data that, IMHO, doesn't really count. So, I track everything I eat, but only the exercise I do for fitness reasons.

I'll keep that in mind, Cherie! We're doing the tapas lounge next Sunday, but if anyone wants to meet early and walk around the Fashion Show Mall, I am up for that!

Yeah, they should have named it something else, IMHO. I use it for both common meals and my own recipes. I found another link for you, too. You can also add a new food to the database. Click on New Item - LIVESTRONG.COM

WOOHOO!! Yes, Dr. Teng is sponsoring the one in Nevada. I have a team made up already that is linked to his walk. If you'd like to join me, please click the link above. I would love to put together a group of Bandsters and Bandster supporters (at least one of my non-banded friends is joining me).

Awesome!!!

REMINDER! July 13 is a week from this coming Sunday! So far, it looks like me, Cadets71 and MominLV13. We'd love to have more bandsters to chat with and enjoy the day!

On Daily Plate, you would use the Create a Meal feature. On my screen, it's on the right side of the page. It lets you put the stuff together into a package called a "meal" and then you can choose that meal in the future in stead of each item individually.

Welcome MMarg!! Glad to have you!

I do webhosting and sites as a hobby. If you need space or help, let me know. I am happy to provide upload space to anyone who needs it.

From the IRS publication on ALLOWED expenses: Weight-Loss Program You can include in medical expenses amounts you pay to lose weight if it is a treatment for a specific disease diagnosed by a physician (such as obesity, hypertension, or heart disease). [Question: Do you need a PCP to prescribe it or can your bariatic surgeon prescribe it?] This includes fees you pay for membership in a weight reduction group and attendance at periodic meetings. You cannot include membership dues in a gym, health club, or spa as medical expenses, but you can include separate fees charged there for weight loss activities. You cannot include the cost of diet food or beverages in medical expenses because the diet food and beverages substitute for what is normally consumed to satisfy nutritional needs. You can include the cost of special food in medical expenses only if: The food does not satisfy normal nutritional needs, The food alleviates or treats an illness, and The need for the food is substantiated by a physician. The amount you can include in medical expenses is limited to the amount by which the cost of the special food exceeds the cost of a normal diet. See also Weight-Loss Program under What Expenses Are Not Includible, later.

GO MARY!!! :smile2: I go to the doc tomorrow. I am not weighing myself until then. My home scale loves me, but I need to focus on the doc's scale for my "official" WL in their files. hee hee

The band works if you do. It won't stop you from eating, it won't stop your body from absorbing calories and fat and other nutrients. You can eat whatever you want. Eating high calorie, fatty, or otherwise unhealthy foods is something you do to yourself; the band doesn't care what you eat, but you should. It won't change your habits for you; restriction doesn't stop emotional or unconscious eating. You can eat around the band and that is not the band's fault, it's yours. If you snack, that's on you, not the band. It won't lock the refrigerator, do your exercise for you, or make you feel better when you are feeling low. It will remind you that you can only eat so much at a time, then it's up to you to stop eating and not start again until meal time. You have to do all these things. You have to be ready. You have to make the changes and be prepared, no matter how tough it is, and use the band as a guide, a weapon in your arsenal. The band is meant to complement your new behaviors, not create them for you. Success is your responsibility, not the responsibility of the band. If you aren't sure you are ready, find someone to talk to until you are ready. You need to commit to this, with all confidence. If you can do that, you are golden.

Lisa! This is great, thank you for sharing. Based on your example, I have started a team in Las Vegas. Good luck, and thanks for being an inspiration!

Inspired by another LBTer, I have started a team for the Walk from Obesity! WALK WITH ME! Join my team and walk with me in September. Let's raise money while we raise our heart-rates! https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=278138&supId=225559749

I hope you don't mind that a May bandster is in here; I saw the thread title and wanted to come in and offer my condolences. Waikiki, I am so sorry for your loss. There are so many things I can say and offer from my experience... but the truth is, none of it matters but you and how you feel. I will be praying for you and your family, sending good vibes, and hoping for the best possible outcome. You are among friends. I'll be thinking of you.

(hit the wrong thread)

I'm in for at least 30 mins per day, walking or elliptical.

My pleasure! Glad I could help!

Welcome, Gayle! Grats, Liz! You can do it! Updated list... Name.............Current......Goal.........To Go Bunkey1965......212..........205...........7 dreamsize8.......216..........190...........26 FeliciaLevy75....263.5.......240...........23.5 laura bough......215..........190...........25 liz_hager..........168..........150...........18 NukeChik..........227..........197...........30 thininside28......271.5........245...........26.5 Cadets71.........238...........219...........19 Wannabthin......199...........179...........20 scrappy_friend...222..........200...........22 TexGirl..............202.........180...........22 Gayle21............190..........175............15

Fitday.com was OK, but the search was hard to use and not very intuitive, it didn't separate what you ate at each meal, and I had to add to many things myself. I even paid to download the software. The software was much, much better than the online version, but I want something more accessible. Since the online and the software didn't sync up, I felt it was a waste. I switched to Daily Plate (through LiveStrong.com) and feel like I can see everything laid out much better.

Daily plate says 432 calories per hour. I would do some internet research to compare notes, too.

Hi Yvonne! Once you are logged in, go to My Plate. You should be on a screen that gives you a list of what you ate. (Blank, obviously if you haven't added anything.) Definitely make use of the FAQ and HELP sections where you can find them. In addition, here is a basic run through: CALORIE GOALS: For best results, fill in the information (there is a link above the food area for you to click and fill in your height, weight, and calorie goals). FOOD: There is a search box that you can use to locate foods you eat. When you do the search, be sort of vague. I suggest this, "Nectar Protein," instead of "Nectar Cappuccino Protein Drink," because you only need a few words for the site to give you lots of options. Find the items you want and click on it. You will see a button that says, "I ATE THIS." When you click on it, it will ask you when you ate it. Choose the best option for you, and it will add it to your "plate." It then takes you to your plate where you indicate how much you ate and when (what time of day). FITNESS: Under the food list you enter, there is a link for you to click and choose fitness. Keep in mind you cannot do this until you choose your calorie goals (see first step). Go through the lists, find what you did that day, tell the site how many minutes, and hit the button to enter/update. The site will calculate approximate calorie burn based on your height/weight information.

Congratulations!!!