willowcat

Yesterday was officially my first day back to school--meetings and such. The children start on Monday. I'm really proud of myself for having taken care of myself these past few weeks, so that I can continue taking care of myself while back at work. It was really nice to be able to get up early enough to exercise, eat breakfast, shower, get ready, AND get to work on time! Exercising first thing in the morning is surprisingly energizing for me. Who would have thought?! Work or no work (I tend to be a workaholic), I can still take care of this body I've been given. I love having this challenge, because I feel like not only am I exercising "for me" (a rather nebulous goal), but am also accountable to the challenge (a more quantitative goal).

Hey Deb, How are you feeling? Did your surgery go ok? Are you up and about now? You're so right about the screenings being important--I'm glad your pre-cancerous spots were caught early. I've been keeping the bike seat warm (exercise bike) and biked a few extra pedals for you. Looking forward to you rejoining us Early Bird Girls!

Yes, I decided to get .5cc--my doctor said that would be fine. I'm tighter than I've ever been (maybe like right after surgery?). It's ok--I just have to be a lot more careful to take smaller bites and to eat slowly. If I don't do either, then I'm really sorry--ouch! My husband and I always go out for dinner the night before I have to go back to work. Last night we went to an Indian restaurant (my favorite!). I had a wonderful dinner! I just had to follow the eating rules. I left the restaurant feeling "just right." I'm happy with my extra .5cc.

ellea, Here's a link to a tutorial (with pictures) to help guide you through every step--I know I needed to look at it when I made my ticker. Glad you're on board! :w00t: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f5/ticker-tutorial-pictures-41782/

Thanks, but in all fairness, after I thought about it, I had included Saturday's miles in too--so 8 days instead of 7--I guess I should actually have posted 43.3 miles done (still 1.3 miles over goal for the week).

Yes, Jenai, 5cc seems to be a pretty good spot for me. I have an appointment for a fill on Monday. I can't decide if I need one or not. I don't want to be too tight, but I also don't want to go through "Bandster Hell" again--that was awful! Maybe a little fill like .5 cc just to keep the edge off until my next fill? I'll see what my doctor thinks. Sorry to hear about you having to return to the hospital, but glad that everything worked out for you. Good luck with 5ccs!

No, no picture. I think I prefer the image I have in my mind to the real thing anyway.

Week 1 49.3 miles done 130.7 miles to go *1.3 miles over goal for week one!

jujuvee, Way to go! You're right on track to make your goal! 15X4=60 If I'm remembering right, last month you got a late start and still passed your 50-mile goal! Raising the bar is a good thing. You can do it!

Yeah! You can do it, 2911! :scared2: (Hope the workshop was a good one.) Willow

cat, Isn't it funny how we can think of ways to bypass the band?! I figured out early that if I wanted to, I could keep eating slowly and eat as much as my mind said it wanted to eat. But that's not why I got the band, so I told myself that that was not a good plan and that it wasn't any different than eating a lot of slider foods. Giving yourself a time limit to eat a meal is a good idea. Good for you for thinking of it! :scared2:

I came across this a few days ago, and it really helped me to feel more energized today--while I was riding my exercise bike at 5:00 am (I just kept saying it to myself over and over)! It's a positive affirmation from Dr. Dyer's new book, Excuses Begone. I am passionate about my life, and that passion fills me with enthusiasm and energy!

Jenai, I have the 10 cc Lapband. I currently have 5 cc in my band--just two fills. The second one made a big difference for me too. I have three meals a day with a snack at 10:00 am and again at 9:00 pm. I usually have 8 oz of milk, a LF cheese stick, or a SF pudding for my snacks. Sometimes I have plain almonds. I try to keep the two snacks under 100 calories, low in fat, and sugar free. Keep up the good work Jenai! Glad you're on board here! How tall are you? I'm 5'2". Willow

Yeah! Another early exerciser! Deb and Smile, it really helps my get-up-and-go so early in the morning to know that there are two other people getting up so early to exercise! I know I'm not alone--and there's no reason for a pity party!

Very interesting. Thanks for posting the link. The author's main point is that people generally overestimate the amount of calories that exercise burns off, and they drastically underestimate the number of calories in the food that they eat. People who reward themselves with food for their hard work-out usually cancel out any caloric deficite they had earned from the exercise. So the article's title is misleading (of course that's to get you to read it!). Excercise is good for you, but it alone won't make you lose weight. Personally, though, I don't think diet alone will make you lose weight. It's diet and exercise. Here's the author's last paragraph: "In short, it's what you eat, not how hard you try to work it off, that matters more in losing weight. You should exercise to improve your health, but be warned: fiery spurts of vigorous exercise could lead to weight gain."

Yes, it could be depression. See your doctor (general practioner) about it. There are many different anti-depressants out there now. Doctors know to try different ones if one of them doesn't work. Also, the dose you're on needs to be high enough for you (everybody's body is different). Zoloft doesn't reach full effectiveness until 4-6 weeks so you have to stay in touch with your doctor. For me, zoloft works extremely well (for me it truly is like a "miracle pill"). I will never stop taking zoloft--without it I probably wouldn't even be alive today. See your doctor. Untreated depression makes life unbearable and there's no reason to live like that now that there are effective treatments. You may also want to look into therapy. Depression is most successfully treated with a combination of medication and therapy--you want recovery not just relief. Good luck.

I currently take 200 mg (yes, 200, not 20) of zoloft--and have for about 10 years. I'd probably be even fatter if I didn't take zoloft-- because I overate to calm myself and to lift my spirits. I've never had any health-care professional say anything about my weight-loss efforts being harder because of the zoloft. Zoloft removes my depression so that I can find the energy to carry on with the business of living. Good luck.

Originally Posted by 2911plans Did any of you tell your co workers about your WLS? I told only 3 people at work. I do not want everyone always asking how much weight have I lost or commenting about my weight in general. What are your thoughts on this subject? I've told only one co-worker, my husband, and my mother (and I almost didn't even tell her!). Everyone else doesn't need to know--they just want to satisfy their curiousity anyway. I consider my weight to be a private matter. Just because you can see my problem doesn't make it your business. I would possibly tell someone if they were really looking for answers for their own life-long struggle with obesity and dieting, but even then it would have to be someone that I trust not to gossip. I've had as many bad experiences with people looking over my shoulder as I've had diets--I am so done with that!

Thanks for your replies. It's good to know that the desire to eat more fades with time. Restless, I ended up cutting my food into little bites before I even sat down to eat--I felt downright dainty, too! That way I couldn't take big bites and try to convince myself that I was chewing enough when I really wasn't. Greytz, I used a small salad plate (learned that in WW a long time ago--but one tends to forget) and it made my meal look like plenty. I slowed way down--taking those dainty little bites--and I reached a point of satiety before the "I can't be full! I want to eat more food!" thoughts even had a chance to kick in. Babekopp, don't worry that you can eat more than you thought you would after surgery--it happens to everyone until they get their fills. The best advice I read on here said that the first 6 weeks after surgery are for healing--not losing. Stay off the scale but be vigilant about the food choices you do make. Everyone says this is a marathon and not a sprint. Thanks again, everyone, for your input--much appreciated!

Way to go with the inches 2911! Wonderful!!!

Well, since I'm not in my 20s either, I'm saving my money just in case I need plastic surgery on my arms, stomach, or elsewhere! 46 year-old skin may not snap back the way I'd like it to--if it does, then who knows what I'll do with all that saved money?! Guess I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. Fun thread!

When I was little and we would eat at a smorgasboard (yesteryear's "all-you-can-eat"), my mother would always tell me to be careful that my eyes didn't get bigger than my stomach--meaning don't take more food than you can eat. My eyes are bigger than my stomach now! I'm a great cook and I love the food I make (even the lean, low-fat, "healthy" food). I have decent restriction with my second fill so far--yeah for that! BUT I always want to eat more than my new stomach can hold--it tastes so good! I'm not "head hungry" when I eat; I eat when I'm physically hungry. Funny thing is though, that I probably end up eating less than I could if I slowed down and took smaller bites--because I get "too-full-not-another-bite" really fast! How long before your mind catches up with your new stomach? Does it ever? Or are you always left wanting just a little bit more?

I'm pear-shaped and even at my highest I never had much fat at all on my upper stomach. I'm almost 2 months post-op and I can easily feel my port--but then again so can my doctor. Fills have been nothing but a breeze. I fully expect that after I lose 150 lbs. (please, please, please!) that my port will be visible. But I don't care. It will be a small price to pay for a healthy-sized body. Besides no one will see it except my husband anyway--and he's seen me at my highest weight so there are few surprises left.

I get numbed first.

2911, Since August started on a Saturday, are we checking in on Fridays or Saturdays to declare our miles? Declaring my miles keeps me accountable--even if no one else knows how many miles I "should" have done for the week (I know--and putting it in print makes it offcial to me).