LifeStartsNow

I read the article today in the magazine and I liked it. I think it makes a lot of sense and reinforces the point that we have to watch our intake. I KNOW I definitely 'reward' myself when working out sometimes b/c I feel like I worked so hard or that it will be ok b/c I burned it off. I also like the point he makes - that when you sit all day (like I do in my office job) and then go work out - I'm not burning any more calories than someone who is active all day and doesn't work out. I've also noticed how TIRED I am after working out - b/c I work out hard to get those calories burned - and then I end up being lazy afterwards b/c I guess I think its ok b/c I worked so hard. The article points out - as previously mentioned in the above posts - is that we need to be active all day and not 'reward' ourselves or make consuming 'OK' just because we worked out. I've seen that in myself and now realize it after reading this article. Now I need to figure out how to be more active in my desk job and stop killing myself on the treadmill and hating every minute of it. I need to work out hard, but not as hard as I have b/c then I hate it/dread it (so long as I'm being more active throughout the day). It makes me stop and realize that I need to re-think things in my own life. :thumbup:

Bernadette? How are you doing? I'm hoping you're doing better. Update us please! :smile:

I do have a tougher time in the a.m. But I also find that if I happen to go a long time without eating (like you do overnight) it almost always gets stuck no matter what it is. Like tonight, I ate one bite of a soft cinnamon roll and it got stuck. I came home starving and just grabbed one bite and chewed well. But - it was too late. I can't wait to hear how you are after your third fill - I'm just like you - I'm able to eat way more than I should but I still have issues with things getting stuck even though I'm careful - but if I eat a little bit - slowly - I end up able to eat way too much...... Please keep me posted!

Congrats to you!!! That's SO MUCH hard work paying off! I am inspired by your exercise routine - I know that's what makes the difference and seeing yours motivates me to make myself do more! I am really impressed with your weight loss! Way to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Conetha - that's exactly how I feel when I try to eat a lean Protein meal at lunch. What is up with that foamy saliva? :grouphug:. Anyway - I'm so sorry to hear you didn't get a fill - but I'm worried if you get another fill - the gag reflex you're experiencing only will get worse. Are you consuming enough calories? When I have those stuck episodes, I end up drinking Protein shakes and soft foods, and actually eating too many calories, which I know will stall my weight loss. Its amazing how many more calories I consume 'drinking' them or eating mushy foods! SillyGoose - how are you doing? How are you holding up avoiding night eating? Also my biggest problem. I need to eat a bigger Breakfast since that should curb my night eating. Outside of that, going to bed early and hungry or distracting myself with an activity outside the house is the only thing that is working for me at night. A thinner me! 30lbs!!??!!!! That's AMAZING!!!! I cannot wait to be able to say that! That's really some hard work paying off. That's inspiring. How many clothes sizes are you down as a result of that fantastic weight loss?

Hey Fab - Its terrible to hear that your sister will have to sell her house. And you're right, 54 is simply too young to lose someone. My father died from skin cancer at 55, also too young, and for me one of the hardest things was when my mom sold the house we grew up in and moved. I felt like I would lose memories never seeing that home again. But I didn't. Money issues on top of losing someone is just a lot to bear. I will say a little prayer for your sister - my heart goes out to her. As for things getting stuck. I get things stuck - no matter what it is but it doesn't always last long! Lean proteins - chicken, tuna, the things we're supposed to be eating are the worst. Soft stuff - the things we're NOT supposed to be eating - of course - no problem! I'm chewing thoroughly - and all of that - but it still gets stuck. Then after about anywhere from 15-35 mins, it goes away (clearly it goes down and I'm INSTANTLY better - and hungry!). So just eating what I'm supposed to is painful and yucky. Then later that evening - at home - NO PROBLEMS. I'm able to eat almost anything I want. So I have restriction at bfast, lunch, but none at dinner. Then I tend to overeat at dinner b/c I've barely eaten all day. I realize also, its not just hunger. I miss eating the healthy things I love - so I over eat.

Big mama is shrinking - I have to agree with the person who said how positive you are and your post to trekker is what we all need from time to time. Sometimes people don't take the time to do that. YOU are great! Trekker - I lost 8 lbs - in the liquid diet before surgery - and I've only lost 8 lbs since. So my total is 16 lbs also. I waited 8 weeks to get my fill - didn't gain anything until the last 2 weeks of that time with no restriction. I gained 4lbs. Now I've lost 7lbs since my first fill 2 weeks ago. I'm making a commitment to exercise daily b/c I absolutely know that is what is slowing my progress. Good luck to you and you are NOT alone!

I'm struggling with figuring out what and when things are goin g to get stuck. I ate a tiny piece of grilled chicken - like I'm supposed to - without drinking and had one of the worst stuck episodes ever. I threw up that dense foamy crap and was stuck for a long time. I've got it down that I need to drink something warm, coffee inthe a.m. - I understand that I'm tighter in the a.m. and have to be very careful. No problem. But at lunch especially - I can eat some small bite of pasta salad and be fine. The next minute, its stuck. An hour and a slime later, I can eat anything I want with no issues. I'm starting to think that its almost like the band needs to be 'primed' with something to eat about 10 mins before you actually eat your lunch. Maybe that's the trick. I didn't eat all a.m. (not intended) then ate at 2pm - made some protien rich - tuna with light mayo to make it down easy - and one bite and its stuck! Foamed, slimed, spit for about 15 mins in the office bathroom and I was fine. I find myself gravitating towards soft foods - and catch myself -I'm eating avocados, soups, potien rich lentil or black bean soups. I seriously have trouble with the protien rich foods/meats. What is up with that? I've got to figure this out!!

I'm struggling with figuring out what and when things are goin g to get stuck. I ate a tiny piece of grilled chicken - like I'm supposed to - without drinking and had one of the worst stuck episodes ever. I threw up that dense foamy crap and was stuck for a long time. I've got it down that I need to drink something warm, coffee inthe a.m. - I understand that I'm tighter in the a.m. and have to be very careful. No problem. But at lunch especially - I can eat some small bite of pasta salad and be fine. The next minute, its stuck. An hour and a slime later, I can eat anything I want with no issues. I'm starting to think that its almost like the band needs to be 'primed' with something to eat about 10 mins before you actually eat your lunch. Maybe that's the trick. I didn't eat all a.m. (not intended) then ate at 2pm - made some protien rich - tuna with light mayo to make it down easy - and one bite and its stuck! Foamed, slimed, spit for about 15 mins in the office bathroom and I was fine. I find myself gravitating towards soft foods - and catch myself -I'm eating avocados, soups, potien rich lentil or black bean soups. I seriously have trouble with the protien rich foods/meats. What is up with that? I've got to figure this out!!

I'm doing better - but I'm confused by what I'm doing wrong. Sometimes things get stuck when I'm doing all the right things. Sometimes it doesn't get stuck when I know it should b/c I didn't chew enough b/c I forgot and ate too fast. I'm still having problems getting stuck but then other times - I'm able to eat and eat. I'm still trying to figure it out. How did your appointment go?

So true!! Just today - I was trying to eat tunafish mixed with light olive oil mayo. The tiniest bite and I felt horrible when it got stuck. Yesterday, one tiny bite of a tortilla chip - I pulverized it and ate with a sip of water. That was horrible too! Then later that day - I can eat and nothing gets stuck. I'm surprised - just as you both said - at how tempermental it all is. It almost makes me a little desperate for food when I know I'm able to eat. I find myself wanting to eat more than I need b/c I worry the very next time it will get stuck. I'm also finding - the very first meal of the day - no matter what time of day it is - and no matter what it is - tends to get stuck. Or if I happen to go a long time without eating - the first bite of anything seems to get stuck.