FeliciaLevy75

I was told no more carbonation, ever. Cold compressed gases in a heated environment = hello balloon pouch. The air doesn't get into the band, but the gases do cause your stomach to expand. Lower and upper - bad all around. The caffeine thing wasn't a no no, but I was advised that it causes you to feel hungry and make you want to eat. It's not banned like the carbonation (soda, beer, anything with bubbles), but it's not recommended.

Right. Imagine you wanted to eat a salad: Start with 3oz of lettuce. 3 oz of lettuce by volume can be a bite or two depending on the type you chose. By weight, you have a great base (and tons of greens) for a salad. You chew it all up until you can't chew anymore and 3 oz of lettuce ends up around quarter to a half cup by volume - if not less. Ever cooked spinach? Think about how much fresh spinach it takes to make a tiny amount of cooked spinach.

And then I have found there are two reasons for this: (a) they are already involved and they think they can "innocently" dink around online; and/or (:tt2: they look nothing like what they are trying to sell themselves as online UGH!! I have met my share of great guys through travel or friends or running around Vegas, but none of them ever live close! So, I try online once and a while and A or B applies. Frustrating!

hahahahah I was going to make the Protein comment, too! I told a male friend of mine about the band and how I track my food, etc. I said, "I track anything that goes into my mouth." He raised one eyebrow and said, "anything?" Alas, I found no entry on The Daily Plat for the "extra protein." *wink*

I found this interesting, as my doctor says it's by weight, not volume. Think about it, after you chew it all up, 4oz by weight is still 4oz by weight. Volume, however, changes. So I weigh it out, and it seems fine.

Hehe me, too. I loved, loved, loved my statistics classes. I love school in general, though. I am (finally) finishing my bachelor's and then doing a master's before I decide what's next. I am so excited, I graduate December 4 and, so far, with a 4.0!! =)

Senile microeconomics teachers who can't remember what they told you last week, then tell you the opposite this week, suck a$$.

I lived in Vegas just north of the Henderson line (Silverado Ranch, not far from Green Valley) when I first moved here. Now work and school are north, so I moved. =) I love Vegas. I won't be here long term; I want to get back to California. But, I do enjoy it. But I digress... I am taking in about 700 calories a day and feeling great. I am not watching calories so much as I watch what I eat. 700-900 is just where I seem to fall. When I am more active, I take in a little extra and/or adjust the type of caloiries I am consuming so as not to deprive my body of anything it needs. For example, this weekend I went to Chicago with some girlfriends. I was up around 1100 calories both Saturday and Sunday, but I was also walking a lot more than I do on a daily basis at home - about 8 miles each day in the heat and humidity. When I was swimming all day (4+ hours at a time) in Phoenix a few weeks ago, I was up around 1500 or so for that weekend. I am also a fairly decent low-carber. I don't eat breads, pastas, or sweets. My carbs come from yogurt, some fresh fruit, and vegetables. I am studying the idea of ketosis and trying to see what I can do with that as well. All this, and still no restriction. I am looking forward to that. My issues lie almost entirely in how much I eat, not what I eat. I was able to eat almost an entire turkey sandwhich on Monday (no mayo, no bread; wrapped in lettuce) when I should have been able to eat less than half. The whole thing was nothing in the calorie department in the grand scheme of things, but the fact that I could eat it didn't make me happy. (Neither did the fact that I kept eating it, knowing I shouldn't. But that's my fault, not the band's.) I go in for fill #3 on July 30, I am looking forward to some restriction!

AWESOME! Grats, NY!

Long2B.... The weight loss slowed down, but it is still pretty decent and steady. I started around a pound a day, and now I am down to about 3-5 lbs a week. Remember that as you lose weight, your body needs fewer calories. You have to adjust your intake to match your new weight.

NSV TIME!! Holy crap. I went into Walmart to get some new jeans (IMHO, better than any expensive jeans I have purchased). I started at a 26 and have been wearing some 24s as well. Walking around Chicago this weekend, it was apparent that I had to break down and buy some clothes. I bought a few things last week, but not jeans. Mostly comfy stuff, workout clothes, summery casual stuff. Anyway, for sh-ts and giggles, I picked up a pair of 20s along with the 22s. THEY FIT!!!! I am beside myself... the teens are on their way, baby!!

I thought I wanted to choke all the time? Isn't that part of the learning curve?

I am still trying to rearrange my plans so I can make this one. =) I'll know more in the next few days.

The phone was eventually returned but only after the guy traipsed all over the B gate area screaming, "HELLO?!?!?!" into it (getting the attention of a rent-a-cop). The best part? He never actually made a call. People watching in Vegas has got to be the most fun thing EVER. LOL

No longer "about" 50 lbs.... but OFFICIALLY PAST THAT! Woohoo!! =)

Today is my "Monday," so time for an update! I officially passed the 50-lb mark (total) and 30-lb mark for this challenge!! HOLY CRAP!! The scale has moved 5lbs since I lupdated last week, 3 lbs since I did a semi-update (but didn't change the tracker). So exciting! Name.............StartingWeight....Current......Goal.........To Go Bunkey1965........220.................205............189...........16 CQQlgirl..............200.................200............180...........20 Cadets71............239.................229............219...........10 Dreamsize8.........216.................216............190...........26 FeliciaLevy75......286.................252.4.........240...........12.4 Gayle21..............190.......... ......190............175...........15 Jeni 85................189.................183............169...........14 Laura bough........215.................210............190...........20 Liz_hager............172.................166............150...........16 MMarg.................220.................214............199...........21 Newhope4me......163.6...............163.6..........150..........13.6 NukeChik.............227.................227............197...........30 Scrappy_friend....222.................222.............200..........22 TexGirl................202.................198............180...........18 Thininside28........271.5..............271.5..........245...........26.5 Wannabthin.........199................199.............179...........20

The weekend was great. Continued walking and logged 8 miles each Saturday and Sunday, and 5.5 miles on Monday. It's motivating, especially when the scale moves. Looking forward to a very active week!

Grats everyone!! And, great idea, Mary! A true count of how great everyone is doing! Will weigh in when I get home. Walking 8 miles per day and staying on plan has to be good for me! Cheers! Felicia Via BlackBerry

Not been a very good couple weeks; a few gym sessions on the treadmill and a few elliptical... But today was great! Walked almost 8 miles around Chicago, including lots of stairs and carrying extra weight (shopping! And I backpack it when I travel so I can stay in hostels.) Plus, my ped misses about 5 percent of steps, which I am not including. Tomorrow should be similar. Feels good! Felicia Via BlackBerry

Call channel 3! Sitting in the airport, reading boards on the BlackBerry, and this guy asks me if I can help him? Sure, I say, what's up? "Can I use your phone to make a call?" "No, sorry, I wouldn't feel comfortable with that." "Well, you're not using it." "Actually, I am online right now... Using the phone." "But you aren't talking." "No, but that doesn't change the fact that it's my phone, my comfort." He walks about 10 feet away, turns around, and tries again. "The answer is still 'no'." He walks over to someone else and tries them. Idiot hands his phone over and then has to follow the phonenapper as he tries to walk away! Sheesh!

AMEN!!!!!! :thumbdown:

Tangent, sorry.... Rockchick - apropos of nothing, I had to point out that while I read your post, I was listening to the Bon Jovi version of It's My Life.... and then I saw your signature. :thumbdown: OK, tangent over.

If I didn't love my boss and company so much, I would be sending a resume!

Susan, think it would work if I left early and said you gave me permission? I'll return the favor!

OK, been a while since I read up. Short of rehasing it all.... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH. Just had to get that out of my system. My assistant walked in and I was laughing so hard, she turned on her heel and walked out. :thumbdown: