willowcat

Debbie, Welcome! I'm a teacher too. I love my job, but my little guys also take all of my energy. I'm wiped out when I get home. So just like you, I've decided that I have to "pay myself first" and exercise first thing in the morning--otherwise it just won't happen. But I am so much NOT a morning person that this is going to be a major life change for me. I figure that in order to get to school by 8:00 am, if I'm going to get 30 minutes of exercise in and also a shower, then I have to get up at 5:00 am. I'm trying to get my body back on school time. Did you know that it's still dark at 5:00 am--even in the summer?! That tells you how often I'm up at 5:00 am! LOL! I'm sure hoping that carrying around less weight at work helps with my energy level. And I'm also hoping that the daily work-outs will help with my overall stress levels. So, I'll be thinking about you, Debbie, when I'm up and riding my exercise bike--it'll be good to know that I've got company! :thumbdown: Glad you're joining us. Willowcat

Janai, You're a "numbers" person! :thumbdown: Looks good! Thanks for doing that! While I'm not a "numbers" person, I appreciate a good chart or graph because I'm so visual. Plus, this makes it feel "official" that I really did work hard to meet my goal, and I did it! Thanks again! PS. I logged my miles on an exercise bike.

2911, Let;s just start a new thread for August. Also, I think I'll feel more goal-oriented if it's only for August rather than August--December. When August is over, we can just start a new thread for September and so on. This is going to be a challenging month for me as I work to mesh the summer me with the back-to-school me. But we can do it!

Finished! Hello August!

I finally caught up from my missed day last week! I've got just 6 more miles to go (tomorrow's regular miles), and then I'll have achieved my goal!! Yeah! I'm ready for August--no more missing days though!

2911, I saw from your profile that you were banded on May 28, 2009--just 7 days before I was banded (June 4, 2009). I love your positive attitude toward going back to work--I love my job and am always excited to be back teaching. I don't have problems with the amount of food I eat when I'm teaching; I have problems with being exhausted and eating "easy" food when I come home; I also have problems with exercising--never do it because I'm too tired after work. I routinely work 10 hour days. My goal is to wake up, get on my exercise bike, ride my 6 miles, eat Breakfast, shower and get ready for work--I'm going to "pay myself first." Any exercise I do after work is "bonus" exercise then. That's the plan. Teachers go back August 12th and students August 17th. Thanks for the Gerber plate idea--I'm on my second fill and have had a few PBs because I've eaten too fast and my eyes are always bigger than my stomach!

2911, I've never been anyone's "hero" before--wow! I'm honored! Actually, Janai talked about looking at August's calendar and figuring out how many miles she would have to do each day based on the number of days she'll be able to work out--and she's not going to change her August challenge miles either! I'm pretty sure I got the idea to make up missed days from her--thanks, Janai! :thumbup: You must be a teacher 2911--me too! I teach 2nd grade. I got my band in early June and started exercising daily as soon as I could. Honestly, I'm terrified of going back to work, because I'm a workaholic and I lead a very unbalanced life during the school year. I'm terrified that I'll slip back into my old habits--food and exercise-wise! I'm getting my inspiration from you, 2911, to keep the bar just as high for myself next month as it has been this month! I really want a new life--even when I'm working. Thanks for the celebration ideas--all non-food! :biggrin: I'm thinking I might indulge in a new pedicure to celebrate 180 miles biked in July! AND CONGRATULATIONS ON SURPASSING YOUR GOAL--and the month isn't even over yet!!! WAY TO GO!!! :thumbup:

Now that the month is almost over and it's getting down to the wire, EVERY mile and part of a mile counts! I had one day last week when I didn't ride my bike and now I'm having to factor in that day's miles into the time that's left. Yesterday and today I rode 8 miles instead of my usual 6 miles--just so I could get closer to catching up. I would NEVER have done that if it weren't for this challenge! A day missed would have been "oh well, missed a day." This challenge has really been pushing me to be my best! I'm trying to think how I can celebrate and mark this accomplishment at the end of the month--anyone have ideas/plans along the lines of celebrating?

Find something that is FUN for you and that you like to do: walking, running, dance class/dancing, rollerskating/blading, biking, hiking, swimming, weight-lifting, eliptical-ing, yoga, water-aerobics, geo-caching, tennis, jump roping... I think whatever you do, it's important to set little mini-goals for yourself so that you're always improving (going further, going longer, going faster, getting stronger). My trainer said that the body is very good at adapting to a steady diet of doing the same thing--you need to change the intensity or the activity periodically. The mini-goals keep you going and keep you challenging yourself. It's fun when you realize that you are going further, going longer, going faster, and getting stronger!

Oops! Forgot to post yesterday. Week 3: Rode: 135.6 miles Still to go: 44.4 miles

I want to be able to walk down and up the same trail at the Grand Canyon that my husband and I walked down and up the summer we first met and fell in love--we're going to celebrate our 20th anniversary by going back to the Grand Canyon next summer--I know I'll be 20 years older, but I think that 47 years old is not too old (I know people way older than 47 who run up and down Pikes Peak--mountain near where I live--elev. 14,000 ft!). Also, I want to scuba dive again.

Hi Anne! Welcome! You might want to check out the "slow losers" forum (scroll down on the main forum and you'll see it). There are many people who are struggling losing all the weight that they had hoped to lose. Also, I'd quit calling myself a "big failure" if I were you--nothing good can come from putting yourself down like that. If anything, I'd blame your dictors/aftercare--why do you have such a small amount in your band? Do you have a particularly small band to begin with? Maybe you need another fill? Are you exercising? Do you have friends that speak English--so that you aren't eating out of lonliness or boredom? I'm just thinking off the top of my head. Hope you find what works for you.

marie, Thank you for your reply. Congrats on the 88 pounds! Good for you! :thumbup: I have to admit that it's discouraging to hear that the melasma hasn't changed, though. Darn . This might sound like a silly question, but how do you cover the melasma? I've never used foundation before. What product(s) do you use? Are you dark-skinned? Fair-skinned? Something in-between? Do you put something on the melasma that is close to your natural skin tone? I've considered going to the Clinique counter in the department store and getting the gal to show me how to cover them up or reduce their appearance. I just hate them so much. Thanks, and once again--way to go with the 88 lbs!

I agree with isaviolinist--you shouldn't "settle" for anything as major as wls! You and your band (or RNY) will be together for the rest of your life. It's kind of like getting married--that's not something you want to just "settle" for. You want the one that is the best for you! If you just "settle" on the band, I predict that you'll have a really hard time with "bandster hell" (that time after surgery but before you reach your correct fill level--and you're still really hungry). Bandster hell is hard enough as it is, but I really wanted the band over any other wls, so I can make allowances for the band's quirks and I can be patient with the process. I predict that you'll hate every minute of having the band and that you'll always be wishing you had had the RNY instead--like letting the love of your life get away and marrying someone else (the one you "settle" for will never be as good as the one that got away). Also, another thing to consider is the thought that will always be in the back of your mind that unlike your husband, your sister, and your cousin, you got stuck with the inferior (in your mind--and maybe in theirs too) surgery. It would make for a really good excuse to fail at the band--you know, not give it your all, because well, you only got banded instead of getting the RNY. Reschedule your surgery. You don't have to make this decision in the next two weeks. What did the psych evaluation say about you being ready to make the necessary changes for the lapband? Did they go ahead and approve you, even though it's not the proceedure you really want? Don't let your insurance company run your life for you. Either make an appeal to them to cover the RNY for you or go the self-pay route--sometimes something really worth having is worth saving for. Lots of people on here wanted the band, and their insurance didn't pay for it, so they paid for it themselves.

2911, Just wanted to say "Thanks!" for starting this thread/challenge! Some days it's been the only thing that pushed me to ride my 6 miles! I'm glad to say that I haven't missed a day yet. Thanks--we can do it! :scared2: Willow

Wed. July 15 85.7 miles rode! 94.3 left to go

Yes,I do. I get a sharp pain between my shoulder blades when I get too hungry and it doesn't go away until I eat something. I wish I knew what causes the pain, but I have no idea why. All my doctor said is that it is "unusual but not unexpected." At my next fill, I'm pressing him for more of an explanation!

Week 1 48.5 miles biked 131.5 miles to go

Elcee, Thanks for your thoughts. Have you ever mentioned chiropractors to your doctor before? Mine looked at me like I was going to a Witch Doctor! I really do appreciate your response, and I will give it careful consideration.

Who's your insurance company? I also have to pay 50%--I'd love to get that money back! :biggrin: Also, I'd really wonder WHY your insurance company changed their policy for what % they'll cover for lapband? Who made a mistake?

my dietician said that brown rice was ok

I have been having a sharp pain between my shoulder blades ever since my surgery on June 4th. At first I thought it was risidual surgery gas pain. But it continued well past the 2nd week post-op. I still have this pain. I mentioned it to my surgeon and he said it was "unusual but not unexpected." The pain does go away after I eat (it wakes me up in the middle of the night when I'm really, really hungery). I'm now five weeks post-op and I'm getting really tired of waking up from the pain and having to eat. I'm thinking maybe the chiropractor can help me some. What should I be concerned about? My chiropractor is very hands-on and pushes and twists in all sorts of ways. Do you think my band and port will be ok? I'm going to explain the band and port to him before he does anything, but I thought I'd draw on the vast wisdom of everyone here. Thanks in advance for your thoughts. PS. Please don't try to convince me that chiropractors are quacks or some such thing--I know that this alternative treatment option is controversial, but I've had very positive outcomes with it.

It seems like everybody's doctor is different--some here have to wait 8 weeks post-op for their first fill, some 6, some 4. Mine was 4 and I have a second scheduled for 3 weeks after. My first and favorite mushies were scrambled eggs--also refried beans. Those two meals were some of the best tasting foods I've ever eaten--you feel like those people on the show, Survivor, after not eating for so long. Hope you're feeling well after your surgery!

So did the restriction stick with you? Or did it go away as suddenly as it came? Headin_to_Mexico, I don't know! This morning I could hardly eat anything at Breakfast, but this evening at dinner I felt like I could eat plenty. But my meals are lasting longer--4 hours as opposed to 2 hours--so that's something anyway. This whole process is just so weird and not at all as black and white as it sounded when I was researching lapband.

Glad to hear you're felling better! When is your first fill? Seems like it should be coming up pretty soon. If it still hurts, I'd definitely mention it to your doctor. Good luck!