JulieNYC

Go Sherilynn! That's fabulous! Keep up the good work -- especially the dancing.

Boo, I'm so thankful you're ok. Cudos for acting on your instincts so quickly. Is your doctor worried about the blood, or is the unfill likely to allow it to heal up just like new? I'm so glad you got an unfill so quickly. Pshew! Are you on liquids now for a couple of days? Bland foods, so as to not irritate any open stomach wounds? Waterlily, We're so glad you're with us! Feel free to set your own challenge and meet it -- it doesn't have to be the main challenge -- any goal that you set and strive for is just perfect. Kat, You're so right -- we haven't heard from Roberta. I sure hope everything is ok with her asthma. I'm sure she's fine but I'd love to know how she's doing. I had a good day workout wise. I met with my trainer and got a good workout. Tomorrow I'm running on the treadmill, then no more running because I'm doing another race this coming weekend. I wanted to get in one more before my surgery and there's a 5 miler I think I'm up for in Central Park this Saturday, so I signed up before I could chicken out. I'll have to walk some of it (the first 2 miles are uphill!) but I think I can finish. I don't care so much about the time, just finishing, so I should be fine. Onederland is still as illusive as ever. Grrrrr.

OK, Betty may be my bandster-mom, but YOU, Boo, are my new best friend. Wink, Julie

CJ, Would you mind sharing with me how your recovery was? Is there anything I'm not thinking about that would really help me along? Your lapband surgery is going to be a breeze! For me, post-op day 3 was the hardest. Not so much pain (worst in the left shoulder) but just fatigue. It was a pretty easy recovery for me. I'm so excited for you! Boo, Thanks for your well wishes! My race went phenomenally well. I'm deciding whether I want to do the 5 miler next weekend, or whether that's just too much for now. We'll see, once I see how I've recovered from this one, tomorrow or Tuesday. COME ON ONEDERLAND....

Name..........................Starting…...…..Current….…..Goal…....To Go Juliegeraci......................238.............. ...... 238.................228.............10 Lapbandit.......................231............... ......225………….199.............26 Waterlily........................300.............. .......288.................264.............24 Roiansmom....................299.................. ...299.................270.............29 Libra...............................248........... ..........241.................228.............13 JulieNYC........................212............... ......202.................185.............17 Elisabethsew...................282................ .....276.................264.............12 PeaCeJ............................338............. ........338.................318.............20 RidinMyHDDream.........297.....................290 ................281...............9 Babygirl1234..................260................. ....253.................240.............13 Leecelove70....................228................ .....228.................200.............28 Josette.............................351........... ..........351.................335.............16

Tina, I have a few things going for me that contributed to my fairly speedy weight loss. First, I'm really short -- not quite 5'2. So 358 lbs was a BMI of 68, which meant my body really didn't want to be that heavy either. Losing weight in the BMIs of 60 was pretty easy for me once I couldn't binge eat anymore due to the band. Second, I'm single and, thus I live alone, which means I don't have to keep anything (food wise) in the house that I don't want in the house and I don't have to cook dinner for anyone but a bandster (me). That cuts out a lot of the daily temptations and helps me keep my calories low. Lastly, I'm otherwise healthy, which means I don't have metabolic challenges (other than the yoyo dieting problems we all have) and I'm physically able to get in a lot of exercise (usually 45 minutes of cardio about 6 times a week). I joke with some other bandsters that I'd trade their slower loss for a good husband, if they're offering. My single life makes it easier for me to focus on me, and, thus, to lose quicker than average, but that's only the plus side of something that has minuses as well, you know? You'll get there -- I have NO doubt. Meanwhile, I'm crossing my fingers to hit Onederland this week. That seems SO WEIRD to me. SO WEIRD.

I finished my second 4 mile race. It was much better than the first one both because I had one under my belt and because it was 30 degrees warmer. It was perfect weather for a race (high 50s). The times aren't posted, but I'm pretty sure I finished in the 11 minute/mile range, which means I beat my last time by at least a minute per mile, which was better than my goal, so I'm happy. During the hard part of the race (mile 2.5-3, which is uphill) I just kept chanting "199, 199, 199!" It'll be here soon. I hope you are all having a good day. The weather here is glorious, so I'm going to shower and get outside. I took a picture with my cell phone the other day on the request of a friend who hadn't seen me in a while. I thought I'd share another "Before" and "Now" with yall too....(Betty, I know you've already seen it, so apologies for the duplicate!). Take care, Julie

My fave at that stage was a lipton cup-a-soup (tomato with croutons) with 1/2 cup cottage cheese blended in. Thick and yummy. Refried black Beans with enchilada sauce blended in with a little fat free cheese melted on top is yumm-o as well.

170 Betty, WOW! Just a few little tenths of a pound and you'll be in the 160s. Can you believe it?? So cool. Alan can't stay in the 160s -- he's a 170s guy. You're going to be the skinny minny in the family in no time. I'm glad Alan felt like getting out for a walk. That the angio was such a snap for him is surely a good sign. Amourette, you're going to get through this. You're coping just fine and don't put any pressure on yourself. It's just hard is all. Hang in there.

I had a pretty good day today. I've gone down another pant size, which is always fun. My Mom had bought some pants at Old Navy on clearance and she didn't think -- I guess -- that a "low rise skinny cut" size 16 pant might be a long shot for me. Anyway, they fit today! Not that I should be wearing "low rise skinny cut" anything under non-lycra-under-garment circumstances, but they did fit. Got in 45 min on the elliptical today. It's elliptical again tomorrow and Saturday as I don't want to run before Sunday's race. Nite all,

I was banded 4/10/06 and am down 155 lbs. I'm having plastics later this month and am so nervous/excited about that part of the journey. I'm starting to feel like myself again for the first time in a long time. I've had no complications whatsoever (knock wood). I found my sweet spot back in June on my third fill and have coasted since. I love my band and am so happy I did this, nearly a year ago.

Drink something warm if you can -- that will probably ease the residual pain some, if not all the way. I do hot mushy food more than liquids until I feel better if I've gotten stuck -- tomato Soup with cottage cheese in it, or something like that. Liquids would be even better, but mushies are probably ok, IMO, since you didn't actually throw up. Feel better soon.

Name..........................Starting…...…..Current….…..Goal…....To Go Juliegeraci......................238............. ...... 238.................228.............10 Lapbandit.......................231............... .....226………….199.............27 Waterlily.........................300............. .......288.................264.............24 Roiansmom.....................299................. ....299.................270.............29 Libra...............................248........... .........241.................228.............13 JulieNYC........................212............... .....203.................185.............18 Elisabethsew...................282................ ....276........... ......264.............12 PeaCeJ...........................338.............. ......338.................318..............20 RidinMyHDDream......... 297.....................290 .................281...............9 Babygirl1234..................260................. ....253.................240..............13 Leecelove70...................228................. ....228.................200..............28 Josette............................351........... ..........351.................335..............16

Thanks for telling us, Boo. I set my DVR to record it and will check in with you tonight.

Well, the update for today is I got the recliner chair rented (actually my step-mother did -- thank you Step-mom!) It's the kind with the controller that lifts you up to get out of it more easily. She had a TT and used something similar, so I'm excited about it. I think it'll be the right thing. Also, the hospital admissions called to verify my info, so this is starting to feel real. Last night I had a crazy dream that I came out of sugery, recovered for a few days, then took the bandages off (imagine a soap opera type reveal) and they'd not removed my apron -- they'd just stapled it to my thighs! Crazy dreams.

Bluehill, I'm so glad you're on the mend!! That's just GREAT! Almost as great as taking a shower, then getting home. I know you'll be so relieved. Will you be able to post pics of your new woodwork? Kat, Believe me, I understand the importance of Onederland, but I wouldn't worry about it (not that you seem worried) or get a fill -- I think you're on the perfect track and you'll get there the healthiest way of all. Remember not so long ago when you were stuck at about 209 for several weeks? Then, like 6-7 lbs came off pretty easily, it seemed. I think that's a common pattern and your body will catch up with all your fabulous weight training over time. I know you know this. I'm really convincing myself too, with all this talk! I got in 40 min on the elliptical tonight after I walked home from work (2.5 miles -- I should walk to and from work more often). So far so good in March. I've got another 4 mile race on Sunday, so no more running until then....

NJ Girl, Awesome that you've scheduled an unfill. I think you're going to do great things at 1.8. When you can eat more comfortably, your exercise will really take off. I can't wait to see it! Go, NJ Girl! Amourette, This is so hard, but you are BRAVE. I'm enthralled by your courage with dating. I know you're hurting, but you were up for the challenge and though you got hurt, I know you'll get yourself back out there again and you'll ultimately find the right person for you. Someone who understands you and cherishes you for how beautiful and special you are. I always think back to this episode of the TV show, Friends, where Ross is explaining to Rachel (who is in love with Ross, but he doesn't know it and is involved with Julie) that she deserves someone who gets up every morning thanking his lucky stars that he's with Rachel! You deserve that too and you will have it. Eficka, Congratulations on beign 30kg down. That's so fabulous! Boo, BOO -- can you hear us?!!! Your BP is so low I wasn't sure you were alive. You're such an athlete! Woohoo! Betty, Yes, we're long-lost family, with all these things in common. You're my surrogate WLS-Mom. Hey, are you consistently lighter than Alan now? As soon as he's recovered, he's going to pick you up and twirl you around. I'm nervous for you and his surgery, but it's going to be great to have it behind you. I don't usually advocate this, but let's just go on and fast forward a month, ok? Wink.

Molly, In case this helps, I have a "rule" that if I'm going to eat unplanned food, I have to log it in sparkpeople (my preferred version of fitday) BEFORE I eat it. I'm not forbidden from eating anything, but I have to be accountable for it. Doing so in advance gives me the chance to back out once I see the damage I'm doing to my daily caloric intake. I can't say I do this all the time, but I do it most of the time and when I do, it keeps the scale moving. I don't know if it'll work for you or not, but I thought I'd offer it.

Welcome NJ Girl! Exercise is definitely the answer, or at least part of the answer. Come on in and join us -- there's still plenty of time left in March to meet the challenge. This is unsolicited and it's the only time I'll say it, then I'll let it go -- It scares me that you keep your band so tight that there are times (daily, even!) that you can't drink. Too tight doesn't equal more weight loss and I want you to have a long and healthy experience with your band. That said, I don't know you or your situation, so I'll let it go. Welcome to the exercise challenge and I look forward to seeing how you challenge yourself. You'll do great! All, I had to go to the GYN for my annual today, which is never fun, but oddly (for a doctor's office) I actually weighed LESS than I do at home! Woohoo! I'm sticking with my home numbers for my ticker, but I sure do love seeing a lower number wherever I can take it.... Take care,

Mary, I eat around a cup at a time -- 1/2 cup solid Protein and 1/2 cup veggies. Sometimes I don't eat all the veggies, but I try to. The first rule I follow is never eat until I'm too full, even if it means I can't eat the whole cup. The second rule I follow is eat all the protein, even if I have to sacrifice some of the veggies. I do eat off a salad plate, or, depending on the food, even out of the measuring cup itself (why wash a second dish)? I remember when it didn't look like much food. Now it looks totally normal and what doesn't look normal is the huge serving sizes that come out of restaurants, etc. A lot of people are anti-measuring and think that it's too much of a diet mentality. For me, I really like measuring because it's a mathematical constant. Measuring gives me a baseline. It's not that I can't eat more if I eat the cup and am still hungry -- I can make that choice. Or, I don't have to eat the whole cup just because it's on my plate. It's that starting with a cup forces one more connection between my stomach and my brain and that lack of natural connection is how I got to needing the band in the first place. Good luck!

Eficka, I think it's hard for your friend to be around you right now because you're on a good path and she's not. Your successes are probably holding up a big mirror for her and she doesn't like what she sees. So, she's chosen to not be around the mirror, even though it's not the mirror's fault. It's one of the side effects of weight loss, I fear. You're going to be fine though -- you're the one on the healthy path. Betty, So glad you got to NIA. I got my run in last night and I felt all vibrant and healthy. Boo, I love your post. When you said -- "We have to look at the "big picture" of where we have BEEN, where we WERE headed, and where we are NOW headed." -- that struck a chord with me. It's easy for me to remember where I was and where I am now, but I almost never think about where I was headed without the band. I was headed to a lonely life of immobility. I was headed to the 400 lb mark, and now I'm headed to a number that starts with a one. I have to stop and think about that more often when I'm kicking myself for succombing to the chocolate bin or whatever it is that got me on the day in question. OK, but let's talk about Boo. Boo is one of our "lightweights" yet over the last 11 months, Boo has lost FORTY-ONE pounds! That's amazing and incredible! Boo, you must feel so great. Forty-one pounds is such a difference in a body your size. You have the perfect attitude about dealing with long-term success and I'm going to try to emulate it (but I reserve the right to be neurotic until I reach Onederland). Take care all,

I think if you get the fill, you'll be fine, but that you could wait and be fine as well. If you get the fill, you'll have a steeper learning curve of how slowly you need to eat and what a bandster portion size truly is (it took me a long time to really understand that). If you don't get it just yet, that's ok too. You're still adjusting to your band. The real question I'd ask myself if I were in your shoes is -- am I losing what I (realistically) want to lose? If I still was losing, I wouldn't get the fill. If I wasn't, I'd get the fill to help me eat 1 slice of pizza instead of 3 (or, in my case, 8). I really don't think you can go wrong. Don't worry about the fill if you decide to go for it -- fills are a snap. Take care,

Breakfast: Option 1: a packet of lipton cup-a-Soup and 1/2 cup cottage cheese. Yummy and always easy to eat because it fits in a coffee cup so I can sip it in meetings when I first get to work. Option 2: 1/2 of a low fat yogurt and 1/4 cup Kashi Go Lean Cereal. So satisfying. Lunch: Option 1: Morningstar "chicken" (soy) patty with 1/2 cup veggies (often frozen broccoli or cauliflower if I haven't got leftover stirfry from the night before). Option 2: salad from the deli with mushrooms, chick peas, feta cheese and balsamic vinegar. Dinner: Option 1: stirfry (Trader Joe's has fabulous ones and they're so inexpensive and nutritionally balanced). Option 2: 1/2 fillet of broiled fish or 1/2 crabcake with 1/2 cup veggies (usually with some fat on them, like lightly cooked in oil or sprinkled with cheese). Snack: Option 1: 2 green olives stuffed with a clove of garlic are only 15 calories and surprisingly filling. Option 2: a wedge of laughing cow cheese on a wasa cracker is also surprisingly filling (65 cals). Option 3: a babybel gouda cheese (50 cals). I definitely find that planning meals and a fair amount of repetition in those meals helps me keep the food cravings in control. Cool topic.

Oh, Kat, you sweet thing -- don't you know you're my inspiration, not the other way around?? I guess it's true -- neither of us can claim to be a couch potato anymore (although I am on the couch at the moment). Without our exercise routine, I wouldn't be eligible for the extended tummy tuck because I'd be needing the muscle repair, which would mean we'd have to do the thighs at another time. So exciting. I can't say I LOVE exercise -- maybe one day -- but I do love the stress relief, how well I sleep, and how well it keeps the scale moving, even when pastries get in the way (as they did today).

Thanks for your sweet words, Elisabethsew! I'm looking forward to Onederland, though I don't think it'll be as great as getting to Twoterville was. I was so, so happy to be back in Twoterville when I got there. I understand Twoterville. I have no idea what Onederland is like (though I do hope to get to know it soon). Take care all,