janesays

been awhile since i posted a NSV! so the last post in here i said that i got a personal trainer for the summer. i have seen CRAZY improvements with him this past month, but with him i mostly just weight train. on my own, i have been doing more cardio, something similar to the couch to 5k program. well yesterday i finished my first 5k! and today i did it AGAIN! never thought i would be a runner but i definitely feel like one now. last year i could hardly run for 20 seconds straight. oh and the best improvement ive seen since last year in my workouts: i used to get SO red when i got hot-- like a splotchy bright red, but i never really sweat, and it was really embarrassing for me. now i dont get red so much, but i kind of GLOW and GLISTEN (you know, like the women in those workout DVDs that look gorgeous when they work out? well, i dont look quite that good, but its a HUGE improvement!) funny how the body works.

thanks carol, i will check out that site for sure! okay and i have to update from my last post! (this is the only place i really feel comfortable talking about my running goals; everyone else my age is running 8 minute miles or less, so my runs arent that impressive in my mind and i dont feel like sharing with my "real life" friends! so thanks guys for being so supportive in here) kathy, i have to give a personal shout out to you. after i responded to your post about your personal best of 35:37, i went to the rec to run around the track again. i had forgotten the track closes at 8 p.m. and i got there at 7:23, EXACTLY enough time to try to beat my last run where i did 3.1 miles in 37 minutes. well either it was the pressure of finishing before it closed, the motivation to match your time, or all the really hot guys running around the track at the same time i was (gotta stay close behind for a good view right?? haha) .... but i finished 3.1 miles in 35:30!!! so, sorry kathy for beating you... but i AM practicing for a race right?? :rolleyes2: haha now i fully expect you to go out there and try to beat MY personal best! thanks for the kick in the rear, even if you never meant to!

thanks kathy! your personal best is 35:37, so you are faster than me! glad you are healed and had a successful surgery. isnt it great that you actually MISS exercising!?!? i love that i actually miss it if i have to go without a day. i am going to be out of town this thursday to sunday and know i won't be able to go the whole time without exercising, nor do i want to! i'm thinking i'll have to just find the time, maybe wake up early, to get a workout in. (omg-- going for a morning jog outside? SO not the old me!) curious to know how you guys exercise when on vacation. i won't have a gym around.... and it will be 100 degrees. it will be hot but i think i'd prefer to run outside than to not exercise at all!

yay carol, its like we ran it together for the first time, thousands of miles apart! haha well yeah my 5k today wasn't an official race or anything-- just me on the indoor track at my gym. 19 laps = 3.1 miles there. so i ran 6 laps, walked 1 lap, ran 6 laps, walked 1 lap, ran 5 laps. now my goals are to just run those 19 laps straight... and to do it faster! i wasnt completely pooped at the end, so i KNOW i can do it in the next 2 months before my first "official" race-- the komen race for the cure in NY in honor of my mom. i just dont feel like ive really done a "real" 5k yet-- i need to do it without walking in the middle first! but its major progress!

i did it! i did my first 5k today! granted i was really slow (37 minutes) and had to do a little bit of walking in between each mile, but i DID IT! i still have two months before my first official 5k race, and now that i know i can actually FINISH it without feeling like death, i want to do it in under 30 minutes. i KNOW i can do it.. i did the first mile today in 10 minutes, so if i can manage to cut out the walking in between miles, i'm sure i will be able to get to my goal. im so PROUD of myself! thanks to everyone in this thread for running "with" me!

haven't updated this in awhile! Name********Starting weight*****Current*******Goal******To go ******************:smile2:**************:frown:**********:smile2:*******:thumbup: 1RockinMom.........254............220.........145.......75 Alleycia...........255............220.........152.......68 ALuv82.............280.5..........269.........200......69 AmethystJade.......231.8..........212.........150.......62.0 Babe...............308............272.........199.......73 Bellaperdente......196............177.........150.......27 Bklyn1984..........317............235.........165.......70 Bostongurl.........190............186.........133.......53 Brandy.............198............181.........166.......15 Cappy..............240............223.5.......130.......93.5 Chocolate_Snaps....244............219.........175.......44 CubsGirl17.........147............135.........130.......5 Clarebear08........192............166.........160.......6 Donna113...........183............172.5.......126.......46.5 dublingirl.........224............209.........145.......64 Ebonie.............307............298.8.......200.......98.8 EmmaWang...........241............203.........140.......63 FalloutGirl........282............278.........165.......112 FeliciaLevy75......200............194.........140.......54 FlordiaPete........413............364.........300.......64 GratefulHeart......226............187.........135.......52 GuyMontag..........325............276.........200.......76 health4life........279............239.........150.......89 inri09.............287............254.........185.......69 janesays...........225............183.6.......160.......23.6 kaninag............210............208.........170.......38 kimaly.............194............183.........160.......23 Lindar172..........246............218.6.......150.......68.4 Linksmom...........234............234.........145.......89 LocomotiveEngineer.311............311.........220.......91 Long2BThin.........216............178.........169........9 lotzasunshine......270............243.5.......180.......63.5 Loveislovely.......216............180.........175.......5 ltgordon...........284.8..........229.4.......185.......44.4 lucyavery..........205............205.........140.......65 Mair...............231............222.........140.......83 Mamanmidwife.......264............260.........200.......60 mdgarcia31665......220............220.........165.......55 MissNilsa..........180............180.........132.......48 nicolerose.........365............288.........258.......30 Pink...............230............152.........145........7 Rhea2d.............283............233.........185.......58 Sandra267..........220............220.........165.......55 Snow...............227............167.........141.......26 stacy73............285............214.........160.......54 Tabithan...........240............240.........200.......40 Tuger..............192............187.5.......130.......57.5 Under200...........242............199.........155.......44 vzghj3.............202............202.........150.......52 Wendy_Wo...........242............218.........142.......76 WOWOX7.............173............147.........125.......22

When I was about 3 months in, I was extremely restricted at about 7cc in a 10cc band. But I liked it that way-- I didn't have acid reflux and knew that IF I could have eaten a hamburger I still would have, and my mindset hadn't changed. So instead I would have a piece of cheese or yogurt for Breakfast, usually I could manage a Protein bar, would usually eat part of a chicken salad or Soup for lunch, and I could probably eat about 2-3 oz of lean ground beef or chicken breast around dinner time. I was eating a lot of cheese at the time because it filled me up and was easy to eat for me. Stayed away from carbonation (and still have, but just because I don't like the taste of soda or beer anymore! funny how that works). Couldn't eat bread or rice at all. About two months after that I got a little more stressed and that had an affect on my body. first I couldn't keep solids like chicken down, then i couldnt keep down soft solids like cheese, and when i couldnt keep down soup, i went in for a complete unfill because i was uncomfortable even drinking water! during this time i had been going into the doctors office and had been getting slight unfills, hoping to solve the problem, but every time food came back up, my band just got tighter. now, my body has healed. i am much happier at the level i am at now-- about 3cc in my 10cc band. that doesnt really give me any restriction (even when i started, my doctor inserted my band on surgery day with 5cc!) i could probably eat a hamburger or fries or something if i wanted to now, but i'm FINALLY in the right mindset and plain dont want to anymore. i am eating pretty much all whole foods (aka chicken, eggs, fruits, veggies, 100% multi grain bread, yogurt, granola) and the 3cc is just enough to take the edge off of the hunger. i never used to work out before the band but now im working out probably 5-6 days a week (i am also seeing a personal trainer now... best investment i ever made besides the band!) i am so happy to have my band, because i know it is always there in case i get off track with my diet. in my mind, it is kind of like training wheels- i needed it to figure out the right portion sizes and what was appropriate for my body, but now i can do it on my own (though i can always go back to having "help" if i fall off). ive found im much happier at this fill level than i was two months ago, because im not getting sick all the time! in fact... i never get sick anymore! and thats the way it should be, in order for me to keep my band forever. hope this helps. good luck to you!

A friend showed me the site mapmyrun.com which is helpful in finding running paths in your area... and you can also create one (not just on streets though, so that is the added plus) to find out your distance and more stats. plenty of resources out there for us!

ok i am doing my best to get us to our first 100lbs lost, but i cant do it alone! by the way.... did you know that if we all make it to our labor day goal, together we will have lost over 1000 pounds?!!?!?

c'mon guys! together we've already lost almost 100 pounds!!!

yay mary keep going! I'm new to the "program" too in a sense, as in I just started running. But I'm not using the official C25K playlist (can't stand the music) and just doing a similar workout to increase the endurance. by the way, for all you guys who gave me the advice, my endurance HAS been increasing this week! stopped trying to just run fast straight through for now, and I am now at 2 miles with a run/walk interval... and with that I am doing it at about a 12:30 minute mile... so not bad, eh? im noticing increases a lot more in my weight lifting too. so woohoo! i go to the gym at my university, and its funny how gender segregated it is there. there are three places i could possibly lift weights there-- "the pump room" which is pretty much JUST big buff burly men. (how i wish i could go work out down there.... if not just for the eye candy... but even a lot of guys i know won't go down there because THEY are too intimidated!) then there is the regular workout area, but the weights zone is DOMINATED by men. i seriously only see one or two girls there, if any, when i'm at the gym. the girls use the weights in "the quiet zone" -- the music/talking-free zone.. i think its funny that women would choose that area! i usually just worked out there, because in the other place... the guys either look at you like you are invading their space or are a piece of meat! but the quiet zone girls lift those tiny little 3-5lb weights.. ridiculous! sooo..... i decided to just say screw it and im working out right by the boys. they still act the same, but i work out harder in there, and thats all i care about. today, some guy was looking at me (couldnt decide if it was the "get out of here" look or the "check out her ass" look.. ha) but i quickly showed HIM when I went on a machine after him and upped the weight. felt soooo good! and NOW i am finishing up these workouts with a run, too?!?! i must be losing my mind.... oh yeah and i "ran" into a friend while jogging home after my workout... she didnt even recognize me!

good luck to you! i started out about the same BMI as you. six months before my surgery I was a 40 bmi, and when I had surgery I was at about a 36 bmi. (we know HOW to lose weight dont we? just not how to keep it off! or at least that was always my problem). so please please dont beat yourself up emotionally-- instead try beating yourself up in the gym! or if you arent ready for that yet, then focus on your eating -- i kept track of everything i ate on an online calorie counter. i still ate more than i should have to lose weight, but it was good to get an idea of what i was actually putting in my body. and it will make life that much easier for you when you are banded if you start getting in the right mindset in the months beforehand. set some attainable mini-goals for yourself and you will be on your way! i am so excited for you!

thanks kathy and suzanne for the encouragement! this running thing is getting really addicting. now that i know i can run a mile in 10 minutes, i am slowly trying to push that distance up. its a lot harder than it sounded! even if i walk a lap after the first mile, my leg muscles are soo tired once i start running again and so far i havent been able to get past 1.3 miles. but its still progress! im especially proud because i am doing this on top of my normal weight training schedule. the old jane would never be this athletic! i'd be looking at the current me in the gym and calling her crazy... just as im sure all of you would with YOUR old selves. today i ran that first mile in 9 minutes 50 seconds... so i'm shaving down my time, piece by piece! anyone have tips on raising my endurance so i can run longer than a mile at a time? or should i just keep at it slowly like i've been doing? thanks all! maybe one day i'll be running 20K like KATHY and doing 8 workouts a week like MAC! geez you guys are running circles around this here 21-year-old! thanks for the inspiration!

well I did it! today i ran my first full mile without stopping-- and in 10 minutes! not fast by any means, but something i can be proud of! especially because after i pushed through the final lap, i felt like i could have kept running. i will get up to 5k without stopping in no time, hopefully! the last time i ran a mile without stopping was 8th grade.... and im pretty sure i was doing that at about 11 minutes/mile at my fastest.

thanks all for the warm welcome. my mom was diagnosed with stage 3 back in march, and will be having surgery august 6. she has already had two hip replacement surgeries and walks with a cane, so she is especially weak right now. just makes it all that more motivating for me. i was running yesterday and felt a tiny pain in my hip for a second, and thought -- that's nothing compared to what my mom is going through every day! that is also a good idea about writing cancer on the bottom of my sneakers. im sure the race will be an emotional day for me, but it should be pretty hot then so i'm hoping if i cry people will think i am sweating EXTRA hard! haha well anyways, i will be sure to update you all on my running progress!

i just wanted to jump in here and say all you ladies (and a few men) are so inspiring to me! i have been exercising and weightlifting for awhile now, but only recently decided to change things up and add running to my workout (and my workouts are already pretty tough now that it is summer and i have the energy! not to mention that i have a personal trainer! love him) the last time i actually ran was in middle school, when i was on the track team by default (they made the volleyball players compete in track during offseason. i was the slowest, but i still ran.) well, my mom was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and is currently going through chemo. i want to do something but what can i do, really? well, i read about a 5k race for the cure and looked it up about a month ago, and i decided i want to run the sept. 13 5k race in central park in new york. my goal is to run the whole thing straight. and after reading what all of you have accomplished, i KNOW i can do it! for the past month i have been slowly increasing my endurance. i can run/power walk for awhile, but i cant run a full mile straight yet. ive done really well on my weightloss and in gaining muscle, but i want to gain speed as well. thanks for the great conversation in this forum and hopefully i will be running 5Ks with you all in the future!

ok first of all -- BRAVO!!! 100 pounds in a year! that is so incredible and inspiring, ESPECIALLY because you said you did all that in the first half of the year and have been able to successfully maintain that weightloss for the past few months. so a huge round of applause to you girl, seriously! im gonna respond to the post you wrote on my visitor wall in this message board because you asked for my advice and i feel like i have to explain myself a lot more than this website will allow to fit in a visitor message! :wub: wrapping my head around being "skinny" is really hard, and im sure it is realllllly hard for you too, at least that is what i gather from what we have talked about in the past. one of my first memories of clothing sizes was in 5th grade wearing a size 12 (of course i worked my way up to a size 20 by the time i was banded). well the first few months i dropped weight consistently, and can say i had it down to a science because every day i have been writing down everything i eat in my online calorie counter. i bought my first pair of size 12 pants at the end of march.. but in the 2 months since then i did not really lose any more weight. i was overstressed and that had an effect on my band of course-- like everything does-- and at the beginning of may i had my band completely unfilled after my doctor was worried my stress had caused a slip (i could not get any food and eventually any liquid down). a week later i had an upper GI (had to swallow the barium liquid so they can look at me through an x-ray), and my body had already healed itself. this i could have told the doctor anyways-- because i DEFINITELY am hungryyy! but that is great news because it means i can slowly put Fluid back in my band. but unlike a year ago, when i would have felt hungry and gone out to eat a 4th or 5th or 6th meal at some fast food place, something has finally clicked in my head. i am so thankful for my band (JUST LIKE YOU OBVIOUSLY SHOULD BE!) because without it, this plateau would not have happened--- we both know i would have gained the weight back, then been depressed about gaining weight after all that hard work and eventually gain MORE weight. thankfully, with my band, i know i cant let myself down. this is why i have continued to write down everything i eat, even when i know i am going waaaay over the calories alotted for me for the day. i know sometimes i make poor food choices or say i shouldnt have eaten that or drank that... but because i am aware of what i am putting in my body, i know exactly what i have to do to lose the weight i want in the time i want to do it in. we are also in the same boat exercise-wise -- i have also found my motivation again! a few weeks ago is actually when i will say i started up. we both know how much i was exercising back in november-february, but school work made my life too busy, especially because i wanted to hang out with friends in my free time. but like i said-- i guess something clicked in my brain. i want to be healthy and fit and active more than anything, and while this band will certainly put me in the right direction, nothing and no one aside from me will get me to my goals. even when i dont have time for it, i HAVE to make the time for it. it takes a half hour to get in a solid workout, thats all. and then an hour to quickly shower and dry off/cool off, which i can do while watching tv or doing homework anyways. the hospital i went through assesses your physical fitness with a personal trainer in their physical therapy center before surgery, and when i first met him back in november, we became pretty good friends. i can obviously exercise without his help, but i called him and decided to "hire" him as my personal trainer for the summer (he hooked me up with a sweet discount because he knows im self-motivated so i wont be a tough client for him). i am so excited to work with him and get off this final weight. it is great to have someone else excited for me to lose weight and get fit too, and who cares about my well-being so that i won't injure myself doing so. i already feel so strong and powerful, and i have always loved that euphoric feeling that comes with exercise. i worked out really hard this morning and a few hours later i was still a little red even after a shower, but i saw an old mentor who was just gushing "jane-- you are absolutely GLOWING! you are so skinny now too! are you in LOVE or something? is there a BOY in your life?!?!" hahaha wellllllll that is certainly not the case, but its good to hear that my after-exercise redness makes me look like i am GLOWING and in love! ha i really want to give you solid advice-- like "do this" or take this magic pill and suddenly you will find the motivation in yourself to eat better and exercise on a lazy sunday. i want you to let go of your fears and let yourself get skinnier and healthier like you DESERVE to be. but obviously, i cant do that. all i can do is offer support and motivation like you do for me. and it sounds like something has finally clicked in your head too. year one is done and you have proven you were a successful bandster, and now it is time for year two-- the year for you to REACH YOUR GOAL and be healthy and happy and MAINTAIN IT! i have absolute faith that you will be there by next summer. alright. ive written a lot here, haha. but i hope this is all stuff you wanted to hear, and i hope that this summer we both accomplish our short-term goals! the past two weeks i have turned my plateau around and am losing again, finally. my size 12 express jeans are getting too big now, would you believe that? im smaller than the ten-year-old me!!!

already 2 pounds down, which feels great since im pretty much doing it on my own right now since i was completely unfilled! when i get a fill next wednesday that will hopefully help me out some. also... i made a ticker for myself for this challenge-- ive found it helped to keep me on track in the last few challenges so i thought i would do it again!

thaaaanks kaninag, and hi capitolchick-- GOOD TO HEAR! you have no idea how great it is to hear from someone else who has gone through the same thing. this summer i am living by myself, and while i am working and taking classes, i have WAY more time on my hands to devote to bettering my health. like i already said i have a trainer, and have found lately that i have plenty of self-motivation to keep me eating healthy and small portions even without any restriction. i think something has finally clicked in my brain. i am still losing weight because of this, it just of course always feels slow! so im glad to hear that the weight flew off for you once you got back on track!

i am adding myself to the list! two weeks ago I was completely unfilled, and now after my body has healed (the doc had me do an upper GI and everything was normal)... well i am slowly starting again. i gained back about 3 pounds in 2 weeks, which i know could have been much worse so i am not that upset by it. the nurse added 2cc a few days ago and i have absolutely no restriction, but i am not going to push myself! instead, i plan on pushing myself more physically -- last thursday marked day 1 of my personal training for the summer! i meet with him about twice a week, and i have been working with him since right before i had my surgery so i trust him. just did a five mile walk/jog/run today... ready to work towards this next goal!

i've had a lot of bad days the past week or two, but i'm back at home and seeing some friends i havent seen since before surgery. one of my friend's mom said "jane you are so TWIGGY!" (but she meant it in a good way-- she is just foreign so she doesnt speak the best english). and last night, i was out at a bar with some friends and i guess my good friend who i havent seen in about six months finally mustered up the courage (after a few drinks) to ask me about my weight. she goes "jane, i hope you dont get offended, but.... did you-- did you get a breast reduction??" and i laughed and explained no-- but i've lost some weight. and she was just like, "oh well i noticed! good job! what are you doing?" and i didnt feel like getting into the whole explanation so i simply replied "just eating better and a lot more slowly, so i eat a lot less." its funny to see people's reactions. most are too embarrassed to say anything out of fear of offending me, but usually they just say something like "you look so good-- so grown up!" or something like that. its only a few of my good friends who have, in private, asked me specifically. oh and-- im getting a personal trainer for the summer! i recently saw the fitness analyst that approves patients before surgery and helps them with becoming more physically active the first month after surgery. i mentioned that ive always wanted a personal trainer but that its too expensive, and he said that because im obviously self motivated he would train me for pennies since he wouldnt have to do much work, i would basically just be paying for a membership to the hospital's workout facility. im so excited to start with him again, i start next thursday!

hey everyone! I just went tonight. If anyone else that went tonight reads this and saw me/has questions, feel free to send me a message!

Name********Starting weight*****Current*******Goal******To go ******************:laugh:**************:laugh:**********:w00t:*******:cool2: 1RockinMom.........254............220.........145.......75 Alleycia...........255............220.........152.......68 AmethystJade.......231.8..........212.........150.......62.0 Babe...............308............278.6.......199.......79.6 Bellaperdente......196............177.........150.......27 Bklyn1984..........317............241.........165.......76 Bostongurl.........190............186.........133.......53 Brandy.............198............181.........166.......15 Cappy..............240............227.5.......130.......97.5 Chocolate_Snaps....244............224.........175.......49 CubsGirl17.........147............135.........130.......5 Clarebear08........192............171.........160.......11 Donna113...........183............172.5.......126.......46.5 dublingirl.........224............209.........145.......64 Ebonie.............307............298.8.......200.......98.8 EmmaWang...........241............210.........140.......70 FalloutGirl........282............278.........165.......112 FeliciaLevy75......200............194.........140.......54 FlordiaPete........413............378.........300.......78 GratefulHeart......226............193.........135.......58 GuyMontag..........325............276.........200.......76 health4life........279............239.........150.......89 inri09.............287............254.........185.......69 janesays...........225............189.........160.......29 kaninag............210............210.........170.......40 kimaly.............194............183.........160.......23 Lindar172..........246............219.6.......150.......69.6 Linksmom...........234............234.........145.......89 LocomotiveEngineer.311............311.........220.......91 Long2BThin.........216............183.........169.......14 lotzasunshine......270............249.5.......180.......69.5 Loveislovely.......216............185.........175.......10 ltgordon...........284.8..........250.5.......185.......65.5 lucyavery..........205............205.........140.......65 Mair...............231............222.........140.......83 Mamanmidwife.......264............260.........200.......60 mdgarcia31665......220............220.........165.......55 MissNilsa..........180............180.........132.......48 nicolerose.........365............288.........258.......30 Pink...............230............152.........145........7 Rhea2d.............283............233.........185.......58 Sandra267..........220............220.........165.......55 Tabithan...........240............240.........200.......40 Tuger..............192............187.5.......130.......57.5 Under200...........242............199.........155.......44 vzghj3.............202............202.........150.......52 Wendy_Wo...........242............218.........142.......76 WOWOX7.............173............147.........125.......22

tlambright, i can't believe that this has happened to me too! i've ran into a few people that i havent seen in almost a year lately, and when they dont really talk much to me or say my name i think at first that they are just being rude, or something else is on their mind. but i finally figured it out when i saw an old friend a second time a few day later, and she was suddenly like JANE! im sorry if you thought i was rude before-- i didnt even recognize you! more little nsvs lately are just basically that more guys are noticing me and hitting on me in the bars, at restaurants, etc. soooo that's a nice change! instead of me just being the fat friend, i am now fitting in more. the only un-NSV i've had is the blowup with one of my roommates... but im not entirely sure if its related to my weightloss. i knew before i had surgery that she wasnt one of my closest friends and isnt very trustworthy-- which is why i decided to not tell her about the surgery in the first place. (this was much easier to keep from her than i thought bc she is really actually very unobservant of others-- and kind of proves how self-centered she is!) but in the past few months she has slowly stopped talking to me, and refuses to talk about it or explain why. she is very image-driven and one of those girls that talks shit about other girls just because it makes her feel better. back in high school she was anorexic for a few months and a size 3/4, but now she is at the opposite end of the spectrum 3 years later and is a size 16, eating fast food everyday (we've all been on that side at least). so it's a sad situation to watch her go in the direction i was headed a few years ago. but i was explaining eeeeverything to a few friends and they were like-- "uhh jane, don't you think she is maybe just the slight bit jealous that you are now smaller than she is?" i had never thought of it that way, and i really hope that isnt the reason behind her wanting to end our friendship... because if that were the case, it would be really petty. but when your pants size quadruples in three years, your weight is definitely on your mind somewhere and you are noticing other people's weight a lot more. i just think its crazy that sooo many people in my life have commented on my weightloss, but my roommate has never said a SINGLE word about it. she sees how much less i eat now and when i work out and sees me giving away old clothes, she even used to borrow my clothes when we were friends and knows the sizes i wear, and she hasn't noticed? yeah, right. oh well.... only two more weeks of living with her... and then a few months from now i am graduating and moving far, far away! and making new friends who have never had the opportunity to think of me as their fat friend!

me too! i just passed my goal! 188.8 and i'm STILL having trouble typing in that weight starting with a 1... crazy!