JulieNYC

Betty, Congratulations on your placement at the tournament! That's awesome. When I come to visit, I'd love you to teach me how to play. I was a domino player as a child (I was actually a semi-finalist at the World Championship one year that I entered as a lark -- oh I miss my Grandmother -- she took me) and I hear there are similarities. Boo, Darn straight walking half of your 5 miles counts. It better or I'm in serious trouble come my 4 mile race on Sunday. I'm certain I'll be walking portions of it. It's going to be in the 20s on Sunday. I am NOT jazzed about that. Amourette, I can't wait to live your life. I can't find the confidence to date yet. It's like very early Spring for me in the dating department. I feel the thaw coming, but it's not here yet. Now, when you say you asked your flatmate to leave, do you mean move out, or just leave to cool off for the evening? If you set the boundaries (as you have now unequivocally done), it could still work out for you to be roommates, no? As for your swim date, it sounds fabulous. We need updated pictures of you too, I think! I'm sure you're looking smashing. Dawn, how's the knee? I think I'm feeling sympathetic pains. My left knee is aching a little today from my 60 min of elliptical. My shoes are DEFINITELY worn out, so I'm running to the store on my lunch break to replace them and see if that helps.

Boo, Congratulations to your brother! That's very exciting that he was such a winner on his first competition in such a long time. How wonderful that YOU inspired HIM this time around. As for me, I got in my gym time today. It was supposed to be my day to run, but I did 60 min on the elliptical instead because I've reading Obama's book on the bus and I was so engrossed in it that I wanted to keep on reading. I can't read and run at the same time, but I can read and ellipticise (new word). A funny thing happened tonight. I live on the 4th floor of my building and I wasn't paying attention tonight and I accidentally walked up to the 5th floor! Meaning, stairs are now such a non-event that I passed my floor without noticing! A year ago, I'd have had to have paused 3 times on the way and counted the steps to my door, panting all the way.... And speaking of last year... I've been thinking about something I've never seen on this forum before and I wanted to see what you all thought. I've been giving a lot of thought to the components of long-term weight loss success and, as you all know, one component is support, like what we get on LBT (and, for me, more specifically, on this thread, as I find the smaller group more rewarding). Well, you know how every month there's a thread for the upcoming surgeries? Like, now, there are January and February bandster threads. So, in a couple of months, there will be an April bandster thread, and it won't be us (weird)! Anyway, I was thinking we might want to start an April Bandster Mentor thread, or something like that. We could offer to "adopt" the April 2007 bandsters and be there for them along their journey, from pre-op to whenever it dies down (I envision it being several months -- 6-8 or so, then, if we want to, we can invite them into our ongoing exercise challenge, collapsing it back into one thread). They would benefit form our experience in having a year's head start. We would benefit from it, as well, by being reminded of the true bandster rules through their early experiences, and staying plugged into new bandster developments. For me, it wouldn't be that much of a commitment to check 2 threads (I peruse some of the others on the forum, but don't seriously follow any but this one and, actually, I like it that way). What do you think? Is that something any or all of you would be interested in contributing to in a few months (assuming the newbies are interested too, of course)?

Kat, I'm so excited that your scale moved! Woohoo! You're so close to Onederland, it's incredible!!

Dawn, I'm so sorry for your knee injury. I would take at least 2 days off then SLOWLY start to run your intervals again. Your intervals are probably better for you in terms of weight loss anyway because they keep your heart rate up steadily over a long period of time, instead of running a long interval then walking a long interval. The one thing I know is that if it hurts AT ALL, don't run on it. Don't run through the pain of an knee injury -- you'll be setting yourself up for a much longer recovery. Wait until the pain is totally gone then ease back into it. That's much beter than risking a serious injury. I've not had an injury yet, so I can't speak from too much personal experience. Maybe Boo will have more advice for you. Don't worry -- this is going to be fine and you'll be back on your routine in no time.

Eficka, All this time, I thought you were Greek. I have no idea where that came from! No wonder you are a beauty. Czech women are the most beautiful in the world, in my opinion. I have visited your country three times (I used to live in Paris and it was a lovely overnight train ride, so I did it often). Just in case my post wasn't clear, the $800 is for the laundry only. The gym itself costs about $2,000/year (that does include towels), and to have a locker where you can leave things overnight costs an additional $500/year. So if you want the laundry, in total, you pay about $3300/year. My gym, with locker (but no fancy laundry service) is about $1500/year and is about 70% as nice as the fancy gym. Regarding next month's challenge: Does anyone vote to keep it the same, meaning 17 workouts? Have we found our groove? If so, that's totally ok -- whatever we think is best for the group -- I want this to work long term. Plus, anyone who wants to do more can set a personal goal for the month on top of the group goal (a version of Boo's suggestion).

I'm "secretly" planning to run the NYC marathon in November 2008. That's a long way away, but it's why I'm doing the training runs in 2007 -- to have the option. THe "celebrity" gym here is an Equinox. For $800/year, you can leave your dirty workout clothes in your locker and they'll wash them for you every day so you don't even have to bring clothes with you. Now $800 is an absurd price, but you see what I mean. Also, they do a "summary" of the NY Times for their clients -- everything important in the paper all in a 2 page xerox. That's my kind of service! On the elliptical I rotate between TV and music. I listen to music during the commercials, or sometimes the whole time and I just watch (but not listen to) the TV.

I feel exactly the same way, Boo. Exactly. And the best is yet to come. I got my hour in on the elliptical tonight. It's been really hard to stick to that being in the middle of a move, but I WILL do it every day, even when it's not convenient. The weirdest thing happened. I have this friend Carrie at work who is a tiny little thing. She's very athletic and works out with a trainer at the nicest gym in town. (My gym is nice, but hers is in a different class -- Denzel works out there, for example). Anyway, apparently she was talking to her trainer about me because she's doing the 4M race with me next weekend. He got all excited and decided he wants to train me for free! Now, I already have a trainer, but this guy specializes in training runners, so I really think I could learn something major from him. He's going to leave me some free passes to the "celebrity" gym too. Now, you know, I'm going to fall in love with it and join there too (which would be my third gym membership -- absurd!). Funny. I guess that's all my news for today. Oh yes, I wanted to talk about next month's challenge. Any opinions? My goal is for the group to get to 20 sessions of 45 minutes by April and hold steady from there. So we have 3 months to increase our time by 5 minutes and our sessions by 3. Do you think we should leave the time alone but up the session by 1, to 18 (since it's a short month), then in March up it to 20, then in April increase the time from 40 to 45? That's what I'm thinking, but I'd love to hear from the rest of you.... Take care,

Spydr, I'm having the same thing done, but one month later (I'm a few lbs behind you and my doc wants me at 185 before TT). Tummy tuck and mastopexy on March 28th. If you would keep me informed about the little details along the way that I might not have read about, I'd love you forever! Take care,

Mine said essentially the same thing -- that those who eat around 800 (and under 1000 for sure) lose the best. For me (vertically challenged), they only recommend 50 g protein, 8+ glasses of water per day. I average about 900 cals. Many, many days I eat 800, but once a week or so, I eat 1400 or so -- usually on the weekend when I go out to dinner or am traveling. Seems to work for me, particularly when I track my intake and am really accountable for it.

Name....................Current Weight......Valentine's Goal......To Go Juliegeraci................241.5.................. ..10..........................3.5 Lapbandit.................240..................... .20..........................13 Libra....................... 255.......................20...................... ...10 Indianlight................ 277...................... 20...................... ..18 JulieNYC.................. 218.......................215.................... ....3 Elisabethsew............ 283 (-11)...............282.........................1 Molly, please let us know if there is anything at all we can do for you. I know that probably rings a little hollow right now, but you just hang in there and know that we're here for you. Hugs.

Well, it's official. As of this morning, I'm no longer morbidly obese. It's pretty emotional, actually. I expected this feeling when I got to Onederland, but wasn't prepared for it at 218 (BMI 39). If I went to Dr. Fielding today, I would not qualify for the lap band. So weird. So wonderful. Betty, Never you worry your skinny little self about it -- I'm coming to occupy your guest room! What do you think about Columbus Day weekend -- i.e. October 2007? Not that we have to plan now, but I'm serious about coming. Boo and Dawn, Here's a link to the calendar of all the runs that my runners' club offers. I have to run 9 of them this year. It's not fully updated yet -- if last year's calendar is a guide, once March hits, they have several runs a week of varying distances. I think 10K is going to be my distance. I could see myself building up to running that 3 times a week for the long term, then strength training on 2-3 other days. I'd like to add swimming to my repertoire at some juncture too. Maybe once I have the TT. I'm going to be out of running commission in April and May as I recover from surgery. Starting in June, I'm going to run everything in site! http://www.nyrr.org/races/2007/calendar/february.asp Eficka, yes, keep us posted on where your muscles hurt....Wink. Amourette, you ran for an HOUR! And after sake, no less? You're my hero!!

Kat, I'm so glad my question helped you! That made my day. Your workout sounded quite thorough as well, which also made my day. Dawn, you can ABSOLUTELY run a 5K in March. I'm running a 4M in 10 days! If I have to walk some, so be it. I know that you can get ready for that distance with that much time to train. You should definitely sign up. Then, any chance you'd come to NYC in the summer and run a 10K with me? I have to run my races in NYC this year for them to qualify for the marathon runs, but anyone can join. It could be fun....It's an easy trip from Montreal and you could definitely stay with me, so costs would be low. If you're interested, I'll keep you posted on our options. If not, I have good friends in Montreal and we could probably work in a race there sometime too.... Well, I met the challenge today. And, of my 60 minutes on the treadmill, I ran 30 of them straight. I guess that means I'm officially done with my "couch potato to runner" program. Now I'm going to work on adding a little distance (I'd like to get to 5 miles), then work on my speed (I'm pretty comfortable at a 12:45 pace but it's a stretch to run a 12:00 pace, though I can do that with one minute walk breaks per mile if I feel like that. This has been a big exercise month for me. I feel like I made real strides in running this month. I didn't lose that much weight (I'm due for a drop), but I'm starting to feel like a runner. I'm even starting to collect gear (you need a bunch of stuff for an outdoor run in Feb in Yankeeland)! That's all my news for today. Time to hit the sack. Take care,

Niki, Hire a lawyer. Also, please keep in mind that if you appeal on your own, you usually only have 2 appeals (check your policy on this) before the issue is foreclosed forever. Don't not hire a lawyer, appeal on your own, then find out a lawyer could have helped you. Even when there is an exclusion, lawyers can sometimes get around that because it can be determined to be medically necessary for people with 40+ BMI. Check out the following website. I've not used it myself, but have heard only good things about Walter Lindstrom. He also addresses your exact question in the FAQ: http://www.obesitylaw.com/

Phenomenal!! I'm so excited for you!! Way to go....

Yes, I get the same thing. It's a sharp pain in my left temple. For me, it's a sign that I ate too much more than I got stuck. I started measuring my quantities and making sure to eat less than a cup at a time (could vary for you, of course) and that completely alleviated the problem. Good luck!

Kat, your brother actually sounds charming. People with differences make the world special. I have a question for you. Does your concern for him regarding not having a lot of friends stem from something he's projecting and you're picking up on (meaning loneliness) or is it more that having friends is what you (naturally) want for him? What I mean is, he may not be as aware that he has a void of friends as you are, which would be better than if he's truly lonely. In any event, I'm so glad he has you and your husband as both family and friends. Amourette, your life is so exciting! Even if you're in a bit of a boring spot, you're in Japan! I've always wanted to go...I must have missed the bit about the Beans. I'll go back and read the posts again...Ahh yes. I see it. Question for you -- is it a big deal to get a new uniform when you go down a size, or is it pretty easy? Do they charge you for that? Have a safe flight home. Boo, Happy NSV! Dancing bananas with top hats for you! :D :Banane48: :Banane48: Of course we love you and your lightweight self. I hope to be a lightweight one day too. Your run was inspirational. I hope to use that inspiration tonight as I prefer to run in the morning but couldn't today yet I've got to get one in so I'm ready for my race weekend after next. I don't know what I was thinking signing up for my first race in FEBRUARY at 8 a.m. I'm going to be so cold (Dawn is laughing at me right now). Betty, Sherwin Williams has a great "color visualizer" on their website where you can pick a room that looks most like yours and "paint" it online. Check it out here: http://www.sherwin-williams.com/do_it_yourself/paint_colors/paint_color_palette/ Then click "launch color visualizer" in the middle of the page. To see what my room will look like, choose living room #4, "cooled blue" for the wall colors, "extra white" for the trim, and "gypsy red" for the accent color (a lot of my furniture is red). I'll send you an actual pic once I've painted and moved in in a couple of weeks. Roberta, How are you feeling today? Any better? Bluehill, You're ROCKING the challenge this month. I will meet the challenge tonight and keep going too, just like you've done.

I'm SO IMPRESSED with how many of you (not me yet) have finished the challenge already this month. Do you realize we still have 10 days in January!! You guys were with it this month. I'm so proud of all of us. Kat, I just loved your story about being pulled around on the tube. I'm so with you -- that's the kind of thing I wouldn't have thought of participating in last year and now we can! I'm so happy for you. I'm also glad Rick is ok. I choked like that on a plane once (from Atlanta to London and I was in the middle seat of 5). So scary. My weight has been stuck for most of the month as well, so I feel you on that too. We are peas in a pod this month.

Betty, woohoo! Down another 1.5 lbs! You're body is finally saying "ok, ok, I guess I'll give in and get smaller...." Dawn, I'm scheduled to close on my apartment tomorrow! We'll see how it goes. Thanks to you and Boo for my winter running advice. I was supposed to run outside today, but it just didn't happen. At the last minute, I was invited to a health clinic on the west side where Hillary Clinton was giving her first press conference after announcing her candidacy for president. It was really exciting -- more the political process than anything (it's too early in this election for me to have decided whom I'll support). I have a friend who is a doctor at the clinic. Anyway, I'm watching myself (well, the back of my head) on the news tonight. I taped 3 channels! Running first thing in the morning, I promise....You asked about my race -- I'm running a 4 mile race on 2/4 in Central Park. It's the first of 9 races I have to run in 2007, which will qualify me for the NYC marathon in 2008. Now I have no idea if I want to run the marathon or not, but I do want to run the training races, so off I go to Central Park in the freezing winter when I could be inside on my nice warm treadmill....

Bluehill!! -100 WOW! Dancing, juggling, bananas for you! :Banane27::Banane27::Banane27: Can you believe you've lost 100 lbs in way less than a year? Such a success.

Dawn, I'm so impressed how you run in the cold. I can barely stand it on my treadmill in my 70 degree gym. I have no idea how I'm going to run my race on Feb 4th outside. Do you have any tips for me? Your ticker ROCKS! Way to go. I can't wait for 7 more lbs to come off you and see that "One" starting your weight. My ticker is stalled. This is totally normal for me -- lose 5-6 quickly then nothing for 10-12 days, but it's still frustrating with all the working out I'm doing.... Yall have a good weekend.

I got in a good workout today FINALLY after 2 days off. I'm going away for the weekend, so I'll hit the gym in the morning as well. I should be back Sunday before the gym closes too, so the weekend away won't distract me from my exercise goals too much. Yall have a great weekend and stay warm.

Get another fill. It will make the difference between feeling full and feeling sick when you eat too much -- it sounds like that's what you want and expect, so go for it. At MY sweet spot (not as tight as some people's), I feel full first. If I keep eating at all (even one bite), I'll feel sick. I won't actually get sick, but I'll really, really wish I hadn't eated that one extra bite. So much so that now I don't eat that bite. The feeling is worse than the bite is good. Now I stop when I'm full, which is what I wanted all along out of this process. Love my band.

I'm from Mobile too! So cool to meet you!

Boo, If I understand correctly, you're now actually in the borderline "normal" range now, right? WOOHOO!!!!!! A normal BMI!! I can't believe it! How completely awesome. Congratulations. I'm in awe. Miper70, Like you said, the scale is moving in the right direction. Think how many years we all gained 30 lbs and this year you lost it! Plus, there are still 3 months left in your first year. You're going to get your hormone issues resolved and be at goal in no time. Even if you have to take it 30 at a time. I'd take it! Betty, you'll catch him, I promise! Even if he gets to the 160s, you're going to too, so I have no concerns. Go Betty! As for me, I've had a weird couple of days. No exercise. Yesterday, I "accidentally" spent 3 hours at the nail salon. I was with a friend who wanted to get a mani pedi and I went along because she was staying with me and I wanted her to have a good time. Anyway, I've bitten my nails to the quick my whole life. Next thing I knew, I was getting fake nails. That's really not me, but I guess I'm changing a lot right now. They say I have to wear these fake ones for about 6 weeks until I break the biting habit, then they'll have grown enough to "silk wrap" them instead of having fake ones. I'll always keep them short, but looking a little more feminine and well kept would be a good thing. I had the first person not recognize me today because of the weight loss. Someone who had only known me heavy and hadn't seen me since September and flat out didn't know me. Weird, but kind of cool. Back to the gym tomorrow, I promise.

Betty, seeing your ticker move is just the most exciting thing ever! Can you BELIEVE you're within 10 lbs of goal? That's incredible!! Keep up the exercise and I see below 175 in your NEAR future. Woohoo! Kat, my new place is in a small building by NYC standards. There are 45 units in the building. I can't wait to move! Eficka, you look fabulous! So thin....I'm glad you're feeling better about the band. For what it's worth, I find that if I check in with other bandsters when I'm feeling bad about the band, it helps me to rebound much faster. I hope you don't have a "next time" but if you do, tell us during it and we'll try to help you through it quicker. My scale went the wrong direction this morning by just under a pound. That's part of my weight loss cycle though, so nothing to worry about. I had a great run yesterday, so I'm trying to focus on that. Fluctuations are normal (if I say it enough, I'm hoping I'll accept it).