JulieNYC

4-3: JenRN - 263/257/238/150 - 25 total 4-3: jenn28 - 282/265/229/165 - 53 total 4-3: Picardy3 - 298/300/257.5/150 - 42.5 total 4-3: tipper - 300/290/259/165 - 41 total 4-4: Sugar1 - 311/289/231/150 - 80 total 4-4: Dak – 255/251/205/150 – 50 total 4-4: Angels - 264/255/235/? - 29 total 4-4: Harpseal Al - 327/295/220 - 34 total 4-5: Boo - 208/203/170/132 - 38 total 4-5: siestaqh - 180+/177/128/110 - 52 total 4-6: Disneynut - 290/287/260/125 - 27 total 4-7: Guysis - 234/185/134 - 49 total 4-10: JulieNYC - 358/244/180 - 114 total 4-11: Vickie1177 - 320/297/267/137 - 53 total 4-11: tellymelly - 240/235/184/135 - 55 total 4-11: Fel0816 - 307/284/265/to get under 200 - 42 total 4-11: dsrjrr - 231/230/210/130 - 21 total 4:11: truckinmama - 262/234/160 - 28 total 4-13: Nursekathy2u - 358/356/335/175 - 23 total 4-13: NJgirl - 248/230/206/140 - 42 total 4-13: Miper70 - 217.5/196/145 - 21.5 total 4-17: Amourette - 22.5 total 4-17: Jeepergurrl - 242/192/140 - 50 total 4-17: MelAnne - 245/207/150 - 38 total 4-18: KAYBEE-284/209/180 -75 total 4-18: Danaclark2 - 270/260.5/245/150 - 25 total 4-20: Omamoon - 220/211.5/188/130 - 32 total 4-20: KimInMD - 288/288/236/156 - 52 total 4-21: Yoda - 273/257/216/150 - 57 total 4-21: kristielynn - 310/302/237/150 - 73total 4-22: alisonb - 286/270/176 - 16 total 4-24: Eficka - 125/117/104/69 - 21 kgs/46.2 lbs. total 4-24: Ceparano - 255/270.5/215/170 - 55.5 total 4-24: Kat - 289/281/219/165 - 70 total 4-24: hlj25950 - 262/257/225/160 - 37 total 4-25: momof2boys - 270/266/237/145 - 33 total 4-26: Bostongurl - 264/244/194/145 - 70 total 4-27: tinaj - 226/221/210/150 - 15 total 4-27: lookingout - 185/178/165/101 - 20 total 4-27: flowergoddesstn - 214/204/190/130 - 24 total 4-27: Dimples0323 - 284/284/241/145 - 43 total 4-28: Susan4794 - 283/267/241.4/140 - 41.6 total 4-28: bluehill - 333/253/145 - 80 total 4-28: Irish Girl - 225/214/158/135 - 67 total 4-28: MomofSixKids - 240/238/205/150 - 35 total

Candy, that's so exciting! I predict you're WAY UNDER your goal by the holidays. Woohoo!

Betty, it's not my surgical practice that doesn't "allow" night snacking, it's my own personal rule. Sorry I wasn't clear! I'm looking forward to seeing the skeletal you (and me) in May/June. Wink, Julie

Betty, I'm only "allowed" to eat Flavor-ice Light pops after dinner. They're only 2.5 calories a piece, so I can eat as many as I want (usually 2 but sometimes as many as 4). if you like ice pops, you might give them a try. They're the only brand I've found that didn't have 15 cals (not that 15 is so many, but 2 is truly "free"). Maybe no night snacking shouldl be our December extra challenge.... Very exciting about your trip to France. I'm headed to Paris on Wednesday, actually. I'd love to meet you, as well, this spring when you're in NYC/NJ for the reunion. Let's touch base a few weeks before you come and figure something out.

It has stopped my binging completely (knock on wood). I can't even binge on icecream (extreme cold makes my stoma tighten) or chips (they gum up on me after about 3 chips). It hasn't COMPLETElY stopped my emotional eating in smaller quantities, but that's greatly reduced as well. Get banded. You'll be amazed.

Christmas Goals A1ikou...............240...............XX Aza....................299...............XX BPM..................230...............37 candy444...........299.................11 Elisabeth.............275.................16 Ericsmom...........250................12 Indianlight...........280.................10 Josette................340.................25 JulieNYC............235...................9 Koala.................275..................24 Ladydi................270 .................33 LapBandit...........250..................13 Libra...................270.................9 Mariguita.............290.................XX NatesMommy.....275.................XX Waterlily1072.....275..................23

Ugh, actually, I can miss two, Boo. I'm trying to buy an apartment in a building that has a very strick co-op board and it's sucking ALL of my free time to pull the papers together. I missed yesterday and I'll likely miss today too. Grrr.

Roberta! You LOST weight on a cruise! Only you could do that -- way to go! I'm sorry your asthma is still acting up but am so happy you've been kicking "tail" on the exercise challenge. 14 already -- way to go! Happy birthday Betty! Did you do something fun to Celebrate? Heather, walking to your car -- I'll take it! Way to go for getting that heart rate up. Woohoo!

Boo, I'm so excited for you!!! I want to run a 5K!! That's FABULOUS and a fabulous time as well. I grinned ear to ear when you said you realized you had to run two more minutes to meet our challenge. Ha! Seriously though, I'm impressed. Way to go. I can't wait to join you. Kat, your bike ride sounds AMAZING as well! I love, love, love stories like that. It just reminds me of how I wouldn't do active things 6 months ago and how great it is to do them now and not worry that we can't keep up. Woohoo, too for the guy commenting on your tush! Too fun! Susan and Kat, here's a link to the couch potato to running article that was on another thread. http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

Kat, your pants are DEFINITELY going to fit by the party. Please take a picture for us so we can see how beautiful you look in them. I can't wait for you to get to Onederland. This morning, I was finally 249 -- I'd been holding at 250 for about 10 days. Now I really feel like I'm on the road to Onederland as well, albeit 30+ lbs behind you on the road. Susan, you'll be running with us in no time! On the exercise forum, there's a link to a "3 months from couch potato to 5K runner" program that I'm doing. It's a walk to run thing. You start out just running 60 seconds and build up to running 30 minutes straight. It's working well for me. I'll keep you posted if I can complete it and feel comfy running the 3 miles straight in a couple of months. If so, maybe you can try it too. I need the duct tape too. I tried wearing 2 bras (I'd read that that worked), but then I couldn't breathe comfortably. I think a mastopexy is in my future along with my tummy tuck. Heather, I hear you on being tired. Since this is a challenge thread, could I challenge you to just go for a walk for 35 minutes ONCE this weekend? You don't even have to put on exercise clothes, just go out and be in the fresh air for 35 minutes when you otherwise wouldn't have. I hope you feel better and tell your hubby Bah Humbug for me. Wink. Betty, how did your friends like your NIA class? How is Craig feeling today? As for me, today was the day I changed from level 1 to level 2 on my walk to run program. It wasn't so bad. I did my walk/run for 40 minutes then did 30 minutes of abs in prep for my tummy tuck in the spring. Have a good weekend!

Christmas Goals A1ikou...............240...............XX Aza....................299...............XX BPM..................230...............37 candy444...........299.................23 Elisabeth.............275.................16 Ericsmom...........250................12 Indianlight...........280.................10 Josette................340.................25 JulieNYC............235...................11 Koala.................275..................24 Ladydi................270 .................33 LapBandit...........250..................13 Libra...................270.................9 Mariguita.............290.................XX NatesMommy.....275.................XX Waterlily1072.....275..................23

I'm vegetarian but I hear people say a small Wendy's chili or a small order of beans from Taco Bell....

You look FABULOUS!! Way to go Wheetsin!

I have the VG and I didn't feel a thing until I got to 10 cc's. This doesn't concern me or my surgeon -- he says he'll fill until I don't need a fill any more, whether that's 11 cc's or 15 cc's. I LOVE my VG. I think it's a better band in the long run (my personal opinion only, of course). I seem to be able to eat more textures than many of those with the smaller band and the "pillow design" of the VG gives me comfort that I may be at less risk for both slippage and erosion. I think the hold up in your weight loss is your fill doctor. Force him to be aggressive! I went it for my first fill and they took me to 6.0. A week later, when I felt no restriction, I went back and they took me to 7.6. A week after that, I still felt almost nothing, so I went back and they had me drink Water while they were filling me until the water wouldn't go down, then they backed some out. That's how I got to 10.0. I've been at 10.0 since June 3rd and have lost about 90 lbs on this fill with none of the problems I read about (knock on wood), so I'm a fan. Get a fill if you can. You won't believe the difference once you have real restriction. I know how frustrating it is until you get there, but you will get there!

Congratulations! That's a great NSV. I'm with you -- pantyhose make me feel very feminine and like I look better in clothes. I should get a pair out and try them on....

3 mile run/walk on the treadmill tonight. I'm doing the "2 months from couch potato to runner" program that was posted elsewhere on LBT, but I'm stretching it out to 3 months so I can lose a little more before I put the stress of the end of the program on my knees. Anyway, that's workout number 7 for me. I've been good with the Water too this week. Woohoo! Nevertheless, the scale's not budging for whatever reason....

OK, Boo, let's RACE. My crazy, insane goal is 180 by April 1st (that's still like 69 lbs away which is a LOT to lose in that time, but I'm trying). The reason for that is that I'm taking the month of April off before starting a new job in May and if I'm 180, I can have PS that month and have a long time to heal. Per my Dad, I have to be within 20 lbs of "goal" to have PS, so 180 is it (I'd like to wind up around 160). You have 40 lbs to goal. I'm certain you can do that by April, what do you think? Then we can sign up for 10K somewhere together. I'll come to you, if you like! Run to the finish Boo, run to the finish!!

I got up early again this morning and did the elliptical for 40 minutes. Then I got to work and the office decided to order Mexican for lunch. Man, that's so tough for me. I decided to get a small cheese quesidilla so that I felt like I was participating but would still eat my healthy stuffed pepper that I cooked at home last night, only with a little quesidilla on the side. Now I'm so miserable I think I'll never eat again. Blech! I'm too full and feel gross from all the grease. GROSS. Blech. I need to remember to come back and read this post and remember how I'm feeling right now the next time I THINK I want some crap food.

Speaking as a lawyer (but not a tax lawyer), please check out your gift with your own lawyer before completing this incredibly generous gift. Though all the concerns raised here are very valid, this can be done if you want to. The 2006 gift tax limit is per person and the limit is $12K per year, combined, so with your husband, you can can give $24K tax free, or even $48K in two installments as long as one is in 2006 and one in 2007. Check this out with your attorney. For liability purposes as well as helping the maximum number of people, I like the idea of covering multiple people's travel expenses/follow-up appointments. I see people on this site all the time that are waiting months to get a fill that they desparately need because of the cost. I'm sure you could pay the doctor directly in that circumstance, which would help with your concerns re the funds going where you want them to go.

Laurend, I could have written your post from my own experience. Now, being banded nearly 7 months, I've finally broken the binge eating chain. I've been binging since I was 5 years old and I couldn't stop until I got banded. I love my band!

Oh Susan, I'm so glad you got your overfill resolved so quickly. That must have been miserable. Keep us posted over the next few days as you adjust to your new fill. Take care,

Congratulations Denise! Welcome to Bandland. I'm sure you've heard this a thousand times, but remember this time is for healing and as soon as you get your fills you'll be losing like a maniac! I'm sure you'll do great until this as well, but if it's hard, remember that it gets so much easier once you're filled. Congrats again and happy healing. Take care,

Kat, you're AMAZING. I thought for sure the climbing in and out of the truck was going to be your exercise for the day, but then you hit the treatdmill to boot! Way to go. Boo, I'm avoiding the Thanksgiving feast by heading to France for the long weekend. I go home for a long vacation at Christmas and I really wanted to see a close friend who lives in Paris, so off I go. So exciting to fit in an airplane seat again. I'm really with Kat though -- I didn't get the band to not eat Thanksgiving dinners, it's just working out that way this year. Betty, So glad your son is home and improving every day. Good job making it to your NIA class on Saturday even in the middle of all this. As for me, I went to the gym this morning and did the elliptical for 38 minutes. I like to have my Monday nights free as a present for getting through the hardest day of the week, so I try to get my workout in early. I'll have to do the same tomorrow because I'm going to the theater tomorrow night (revival of "Company"), then I've got a big court hearing on Wednesday....Have a good week all!

Christmas Goals A1ikou...............240...............XX Aza....................299...............XX BPM..................230...............37 candy444...........299.................23 Elisabeth.............275.................16 Ericsmom...........250................XX Indianlight...........280.................14 Josette................340.................25 JulieNYC............235...................15 Koala.................275..................24 Ladydi................270 .................33 LapBandit...........250..................13 Libra...................270.................13 Mariguita.............290.................XX NatesMommy.....275.................XX Waterlily1072.....275..................23 Lapbandit, you look WONDERFUL! What a difference! A lot of posts were lost on the day the LBT server crashed (Wed, maybe?). It looked to me like they had to recover back about 24 hours. Maybe your post was during that period? Here I sit smack on Midtown today. Looking forward to the Road to Onederland that begins once I'm down 1 more pound....

I don't have a lot of fluctuation with my band, day to day, but I have MAJOR change in restriction for about 48 hours after flying. My personal opinion is that it's partially linked to the flying itself, but mostly linked to the fact that I'm an awful flyer. I survived a plane crash when I was 9 and I take xanax to even get on the plane. So, though I didn't realize it until I started reading this thread, it's probably more about the stress I undergo when flying than about the pressure or dehydration itself.