willowcat

Yeah for Winter Break! I've been able to ride my 6 miles everyday AND I walked for 2 miles (my husband said he's never seen me walk so fast--I've always been a very slow walker)! It feels good to have time for ME! I don't remember when we were supposed to post this month, so far 50.6 miles done; 69.4 to go (7 miles a day to make goal for this month--I'm going to do it, too!)

I don't think the fat in turkey is as saturated as it is in beef--better for your arteries and heart, I think.

You probably feel "absolutely and totally empty" because you probably are. Most people don't have any saline in their bands at the time of surgery. Any early restriction is usally from the swelling from the surgery--that's why they have you on a liquids first and then mushies diet. They don't want you to vomit at all early on because the band may slip. You're probably ok (but as always--see/call your doctor if you are not sure).

Hmm...I'm just the opposite. I used to be cold all winter (even at my highest weight). Now, I've lost nearly 70 lbs and feel just fine this winter--neither too hot nor too cold. I figured that my metabolism is better now (because of the exercise and the healthier diet). I'm wondering now after reading how "hotties" have turned into "freezer pops" just what is the variable? Hmm...

Greek yogurt by Fage! You can buy it in stores like Natural Grocers, Wild Oats, and other "health food" stores. One serving has 21 grams of protien--and if you buy the zero fat version, it has zero grams of fat! I like it a lot and I stir it into all sorts of things.

Kathy, I eat a lot of things with plain yogurt on the side--it helps make things easier to chew into a mushier state and I think it helps make it more of a slider-like food so that I get satiated without getting stuck. Also, I try not to get too hungry--I try to eat before then if possible--when I'm too hungry I almost always end up pbing (I think I'm too hungry so I eat too fast). Someone on here said that our level of hydration may affect our stomach's internal moisture and if we're slightly dehydrated it can make it easier to get stuck--kind of like getting "cotton mouth." I don't know, but it's still good to make sure we're drinking enough water. Good luck. It's certainly no fun getting stuck. Willowcat PS. I was banded in June 09 and I can't eat bread or white rice either. Even a little and watch out!

It's me again--I'm going to try again. I have yet been able to find the balance between work, exercise, and sleep! I'm still trying though. I've had to give up getting up at 5:00 am, because I was too tired at work and I can't afford to be tired (as a teacher I have to be "on" 100%!). I don't want to lower my goal just yet, because thankfully this month will give me two weeks off for Winter Break and I can keep up with my exercise so much more easily when I'm not working. 2911, Congrats on meeting--and exceeding--your goal last month! :w00t:

111.4 miles--8.6 short of goal

week 3: 27.3 44.6 to go (I'm hoping that I can do more over my Thanksgiving Break--I really want to make my goal this month!)

week 2: 12 miles Yikes! Way below weekly goal.

week 1: 36.1 miles 83.9 to go 2911, Sorry your ticker isn't working. Good luck with a different one.

2911, I don't know if I can help you or not, but I'm willing to try. One thought I had is that you may have had the same problem that I originally had with the PINs. So here are the steps: When you get to your weight loss ticker page, enter your PIN, click Edit/Update Data. That opens a new screen that is labeled "Setup". You have to enter your PIN again (I didn't figure that out at first). Make sure you've chosen "Public Data" (if you want it to show up at LapBandTalk). Put in your weight and choose today's date. Click on "Next" to see your updated ticker. Hope that helps--it's so exciting to be able to update the ticker because you've lost weight! Congrats!

I'm in again! Looking forward to working on meeting my goal this month. I'm finally well, and I'm settling into an easier routine at work. I can do it. 2911, congrats on moving that ol' scale! :scared2:

october miles: 103.8 (16.2 short of goal--DANG!) I was bummed that another month has gone by with me getting close but not making goal, so I went back and added up all my miles since the July Challenge. In the last 4 months, I've biked 589.5 miles! I could have ridden my bike to Denver and home again 5 times! So...hello November! Time to try again. :scared2:

Bec, I don't what size you wear right now, but if you're still plus-size, Junonia.com sells exercise/workout clothes for plus-sized women. I don't have large breasts so I'm not familiar with their exercise bras, but I have seen exercise bras in the catalogue and online at their website. Good luck.

week 3: 39 miles

Week 2: 22.7 miles I'm finally on the mend! The last two days I've been able to exercise my full 30 minutes and 6 miles! Yeah! Feels so good to get my heart rate up, to start breathing heavier, and to start sweating! :scared2:

Now that I've lost 1/3 of my excess weight, I'm beginning to think about being able to go scuba diving again. Has anyone gone scuba diving since being banded? The port and band are a closed system so I don't think that they'd be affected by the underwater pressure. I'm going to ask my doctor about it at my next fill, but I thought I'd check on here to see if anyone already knows that they can scuba with the band. Thanks for your response.

Week 1= 19.9 miles I've been sick for three weeks--this week I did exercise but not as much as usual--I've just got to get better! I think my body's worn out. I'm still losing weight anyway, so at least that's something. I miss exercising, though--who would've thunk it?! Must...get...better...

125.7 total for the month

I don't have to push my driver's seat to get in and out of my car anymore!

week 4: 26 miles total: 119.4 Short of Goal: 12.6 miles (which I will not be able to do all of tomorrow--maybe another 6, but not 12)) I got sick from my students and just didn't feel up to pushing myself physically (does coughing count as exercise?!). One good thing came out of this though: I realized that my all-or-nothing thinking would have gotten me in trouble in the past. Getting sick and taking some time off would have eventually ended with me just never quite getting back into exercising. I told myself that I can't let that happen again and that not meeting my goal doesn't mean I get "permission" to quit. I have to break that old pattern (I had to first recognize it,though). So I'm not up to biking six miles... I'll ride what I can or I'll choose another less taxing exercise. But exercise has got to be a part of my new life--if I want something different than I've had in the past.

Cereal was really the only food that I was really missing, because 1. I love it and 2. I'm like Jachut and just can't eat anything much heavier for breakfast. My nutritionist said that I can have a cereal with about 100 calories per 1 cup serving and at least 4 grams of fiber. So, now I eat Honey Toasted Oat Cereal made by Kashi (healthy food aisle). It's not exactly Honey Nut Cheerios (my personal favorite), but I just measure out my 1 cup serving (I didn't measure at all pre-band, but I know that for me a serving was at least 3X that!), and then I try to put as little milk on it as possible. I don't drown it in milk anymore because I think having the milk with the cereal isn't really that much different than drinking with a meal. Maybe the milk thing is why the cereal doesn't "last" with so many people?

this week: 29.6 total so far: 93 to go: 37 Jenai, Awesome! You've hit the "sweet spot" for sure! Way to go! You're an inspiration! :biggrin:

white rice, catalope, gristle and anything that I eat too fast or take too big a bite of