JulieNYC

Susan and Bluehill, I see that the three of us are within about 5 lbs of each other. We've got to really cheer each other on to Onederland. I'm with you, Susan. Gotta be there by March 1. We can do it. Boo, question for you. My "couch to runner" program only wants me to run 3 times a week. I've been doing the elliptical machine or meeting with my traininer for at least 2 more days, but I could do more. I'm thinking of running more often. I guess I'm asking for your layperson-runner advice on running 2 days in a row. Do you do it? Obviously I'd go back to 3 days if anything was hurting.

Lapbandit, you look gorgeous in your dress! Christmas Goals A1ikou...............240...............XX Aza....................299...............XX BPM..................230...............37 candy444...........299.................09 Elisabeth.............275.................16 Ericsmom...........250................12 Indianlight...........280.................5 Josette................340.................25 JulieNYC............235...................6 Koala.................275..................24 Ladydi................270 .................33 LapBandit...........250..................7 Libra...................270................0 (woohoo!) Mariguita.............290.................XX NatesMommy.....275.................XX Waterlily1072.....275..................23

35 min of elliptical yesterday and I'm down a pound this morning. I hope to get in a run this afternoon after I get back from the theater. Going to see Kristin Chenowith's new play -- The Apple Tree. It's so nice to go to the theater and not worry whether the seats will be too snug. Happy Sunday all.

Kat, Thank you for thinking about our group enough to ask your more advanced group about our struggles. That is so kind and thoughtful and I loved their thoughts about us. They're right -- if we stick together as a support group, we can lean on each other in the hard times and those who aren't struggling can pull the others toward success. We're all going to make it! I can't believe your granddaughter is having an Elmo party for her 2nd birthday! My goddaughter had an Elmo party last year for her 2nd birthday and I made her a dress with an embroidered Elmo on the front of it. I wish I'd have known and I'd have sent it to you! Betty, Yes, the scale finally moved this morning! Woohoo! I lose in chunks -- sometimes 3-5 lbs and sometimes even 7 or 8 lbs in a few days (then nothing for a couple of weeks), so keep your fingers crossed for me that it's a big chunk! I'm counting the days for you (and you too, Kat) to be lighter than your husband. That's SO amazing. You're going to feel so dainty!

What an awesome idea Bluehill. I'll follow in turn. April Bandits November Challenge: Eighteen days of exercise completed (35 individual sessions of 35 min. or more). Weight loss for the month: 11 lbs.

Betty, I'm so proud of you for meeting the challenge! Way to go. I think at 180 and in a holiday month, a 2.5 pound loss is INCREDIBLE! Can you believe you lost this month and didn't gain? Over Thanksgiving, nonetheless? That's phenomenal! On to December. I feel energized.

Welcome to December, April Bandits! We've made it through the November holidays and managed to keep up our exercise, now here's to December. We can do it! We're holding steady with our challenge for the month and looking forward to stepping up the challenge in January. The December goals are as follows: (1) Complete 17 or more exercise sessions (counting only one session per day, if you're the type to do more!); (2) To count, each session must be at least 35 minutes in duration; and (3) Consume at least 64 oz of Water (or whatever your personal goal for water intake is) at least 6 days a week. We can do it! December is such a challenge in itself, but let's stay focused to meet our weight loss goals despite the extra temptations. Exercise will help us with that. And we're off!

What a wonderful post, Bluehill. I look forward to continued discussion in a new December thread. Boo, 90 minutes!!!! You're an exercise GODDESS! Way to go. You deserve to meet the challenge for sure. Way to go. That's just amazing. Susan, do you have a special thing planned for when you reach goal? Maybe a trip to Paris is in order. It's such a beautiful city. You deserve to see it! Anyway, what's going on with you this month? I feel out of touch with you and I so look forward to hearing about your WLS journey....

Roberta, can you work out today? If so, can you make it for an hour? I think we would all support that as being two sessions, if you really want to meet the challenge. If not, I totally understand. Take care of yourself and your asthma. It's a scary disease sometimes. I'm feeling a little better about food today. I had some chili and a banana for breakfast (100 cal protein chili that I buy in little packets from NutriSystem, oddly enough). Half way through the banana I said to myself "I could probably quit eating this now and be just as satisfied." So I threw the other half away. I love it when I can do that.

I have a challenge for you, Boo. Tomorrow, the last day of the November challenge, I vote that if you can push yourself to run longer (or farther -- your call) than you've ever run before -- even if just just by a few minutes (or a quarter mile) -- that extra push will qualify as your 3 sessions and you will meet the challenge. Julie-NYC is throwin' it down. Goooo BOO!

358 in April, 244 today. Wahoo!

I'm probably at core in the "lose as much as YOU want" camp, because the healthiest thing for you is to have a normal BMI. That said, what do you think about taking a "pause" at 160 for a while? 90 lbs is a huge difference. Maybe if you tell your husband that you're done losing for a while and focus on things other than weight loss (the holidays is a good time for that), if, in a few months, you slowly lose a few more lbs, I doubt he'll even notice. I guess what I'm saying is he's probably just getting used to the new you. If you let him have some time for that, a few more lbs isn't going to make a difference in the way he sees you, even though it may make a big difference in the way you see yourself. Good luck.

I completed the challenge this morning. I got up early and ran because I'm going to the theater tonight and I knew I wouldn't make it to the gym if it wasn't this morning. I waited for the endorphin release you promised, Boo, but it didn't come. It usually does, but it didn't this morning. I DRAGGED through it. Maybe next time. Wink. I'm meeting with my trainer tomorrow night, so I'll exceed the challenge by one session. Not a stellar result, exactly, but pretty good for a month with a major trip and a holiday. Here's to December!

OK -- I need to do a little self-reflection in a public way, so here goes. I've not been following the bandster rules for over a week now. I've been eating crap alongside my healthier food. When I was in France, that was one thing, but it actually started a couple of days before that and I haven't stopped it yet and I've been home for 2 days. It's not been dire -- I haven't gained any weight. But I haven't lost any either and I really need to get my FOCUS back. I'm stress eating. I'm stressed over changing jobs, I'm stressed because I'm in the middle of buying an apartment (which has me poor and that's always stressful) and I'm stressed because I'm starting to be more skinny than fat and I don't know what I'm going to do with myself once I'm skinny. Anyway, I just wanted to post to say that I need motivation to get back on track -- good meal planning and routine exercise. And water! It's been a week since I had my 8 glasses and that's no good. Grrr. Hope yall are all doing better than me! Take care,

Bluehill, I'm so sorry you're having a rough time. I've had 2 major depressions in my life and I know how it feels to want to disconnect. Stay in touch with us if you can. If you can't, please consider short term medication if you haven't already. It helped a ton for me both times. In any event, we're all so proud of you for completing the challenge. You're doing great.

My doctor's goal for me is to get under 200. My goal is to get to 180, have a tummy tuck, then see where I am. I'll probably wind up 150-160 -- something like that. The band was the perfect tool for me. I don't keep it very tight and it turns off the head hunger and the need for mass quantity without limiting the types of food I can enjoy. I'm so thankful for it.

If it were my daughter, I'd go to a surgical consult. That's not to say I'd necessarily advocate the band for my 12 year old, but I would at least check it out with her. My reasons would be that, first and foremost, I think almost everyone here (if not literally everyone) knows that your daughter is in for a life-long battle with her weight. I was a math major in college. When you look at the statistics on how many people can actually lose weight and keep it off without surgical intervention, it's astonishing. Almost no one can do it. (Approximately 2% of those with 50 lbs or more to lose can lose it and keep it off for ONE YEAR, so what must the numbers be for 70 years? Next to none.) If my child had diabetes, I wouldn't hesitate to get her an insulin pump if that was the best tool. I see the band as the same thing -- the best tool for the job of lifetime weight management. I don't see any reason to delay solely because of age if (and only if) it is what my child wanted. Thus, I'd at least go to a seminar. Make sure she knows that it's just an option and that you want her to know about it. Not that you expect her to have it, or that you want her to. It has to be her decision. You're just informing her. I don't know where you're located, but Kelly Ann is correct. Dr. Fielding at NYU is one of, I believe, two doctors in the U.S. that bands 12 year olds. His office number is (212) 263-3166. Ask to speak to Tammy. The other U.S. practice that I know bands adolescents is NWWLS in Washington State. The Mexican surgeons mentioned already are beyond excellent as well if that is closer/easier for you. Not knowing your daughter and her maturity level, I can't say whether it's the right thing for your family. I just think that for all of the wonderful advice on this thread, there hasn't been enough talk about the fact that getting banded really might be a great option for her. Best of luck to your family.

Kat, congratulations on finishing the challenge! Woohoo! Way to go! As for the December challenge, I think we should leave it exactly the same -- 17 workouts for 35 minutes. We'll kick it up a notch in January, but I think the holidays throw enough of a wrench into our lives that to ask for more or longer sessions in December would be a disincentive. If I'm underestimating our group, just give a yell and we'll change it up for sure. I'm up for anything. Susan, I'm so excited that you've got less than 100 to lose. That's AMAZING. Just think -- some docs use the 100 lb mark as showing that you're eligible for WLS. So by that standard, you're not even eligible for the band by your current weight! What a great milestone. My personal goal is not 100 lbs away, but by the medical charts, I could still lose 100 or even more (I'm only 5'2), so that milestone is still a way off for me. To all those who are sick this November, heal up and we'll be looking forward to you blowing us away in December. Boo, I'm really impressed that you're still trying to meet the challenge even though you're sick. That's AMAZING. Don't feel like you have to run though, if you're not up to it. A 35 minute walk counts too. Eficka, I'm off to read your thread.... France was glorious. Too much wine, too much cheese, too much chocolate, but no weight gain. I weighed exactly the same this morning (to the tenth of a pound) as I did when I left. I guess that's the power of the band. And I went to the gym this morning and will be 100% back on the diet tomorrow (when the cheese that I brought to work to share with my colleagues is gone). Take care all,

OK, 15 sessions down and that's it for now. I'm headed out for my trip and I'll just have to get in 2 more sessions next week when I get back. Shouldn't be too hard, I suppose. Happy Thanksgiving to all and I'll check in with you when I return! Take care,

Molly, I really think you need a fill. I have the VG and have been at 10.0 since my 9th week banded. Don't worry about the number -- worry about how you're feeling. I've seen you struggle to get to Twoterville and I think some of that struggle would leave for you if you got a little fill. The goal is to be at a place where you just don't think about food that much and the struggle isn't so fierce. When restriction is right, it's much easier to follow the "protein and produce" rule. Now, I'm firmly in the camp of "too tight is worse than too loose" but I'd shoot for Goldilocks if I were you -- look for the fill that is "just right."

I say I finally found a team of doctors who understand and treat obesity.

1. Watching something "trash-tastic" on tv, like anything on the CW network (but skipping the commercials). 2. I know it's cliché, but 35 minutes of high cardio with super loud music. 3. A small Tasti-d-Lite "icecream" (60 cals). 4. Cooking something elaborate, breaking it into portions and eating only one portion. Somehow being around food (i.e. cooking) satisfies the need to eat large quantities for me. 5. Lastly, SHOPPING. If I'm seriously bargaining with myself (like in a chocolate frenzy), I'll buy something I wouldn't otherwise allow myself. This is clear substitution and I don't go there more than once a month or so, but it's by far the most effective tool for me.

Attagirl! Here are some dancing bananas to bolster the spirit of the "attagirl." :) I hear you, Kat. food is a big part of the holidays and I don't plan to forego any part of it. It's not Christmas without my grandmother's fruitcake Cookies. She's no longer with us, but I made them with her every year. Last year my Mom made them for me and I cried. My Mom cooks solely by saying "waiter, please bring me the..." so the fact that she remembered to make them (and successfully executed them) makes me well up just sitting here! Anyway, I don't think any of us think differently than you. The holidays aren't about counting every calorie. They're about friends and family, food and warmth. With the band, that will mean that we will forego the 10+ lb weight gain that usually accompanies the season. All that said, in December I will commit to (1) exercising as much or more as I do in any other month, (2) drinking my Water every day and (3) not going to holiday parties/events hungry. If I eat a well balanced bandster meal ahead of time, how much damage can I do, you know? Food and weight has dominated too many holiday seasons for me. In past years, I've been worried about going home -- worried about what my family will say or think about my weight gain. Worried about keeping them entertained at every minute with witty conversation to distract them from my physical challenges. The holidays will be much nicer this year. Much more about what they're supposed to be about. Boo, my hair quit falling out about 6 weeks ago. I can't tell that it's coming back in yet, but it's definitely back to falling out at only a normal pace. It was scary there for a while, but I promise it does stop!

Susan, Every month I lose all the weight I'm going to lose in less than one week. I lose in two chunks, both of which last 3-4 days. Then for about 10 days I don't lose a THING. Then I lose for 3-4 days in a row, then NOTHING for about 2 weeks. Keep doing EXACTLY what you're doing and next week your weigh in might reward you big time. Hang in there. You can do it!

You go Roberta! Woohoo! Here's a car with a fireball crossing in front of it to mark the event. :flame: Way to go Betty for getting in your exercise early in preparation for your Thanksgiving trip. I'm trying to do the same thing....I ran last night and today I did 50 min on the elliptical plus about 250 sit-ups. I'm going to have several days off while I'm in France, so I'm trying to get as close to the goal as possible before then. Jet lag kills me on the way home, so it might be December before I recover. Take care all and Happy Turkey Day.