Ewiedbingcott

It certainly does!!

Wow NormaRae - you look fantastic! Can you believe it - Last year at this time I was hopeless - I was even afraid to think the lapband would help. But it has. Congratulations on getting below goal. You must be very proud of yourself:thumbup:

Woooo Hooooo:thumbup: I've incorporated more protein in my diet (thanks to you and your response) and I'm dropping too. Gotta love that band.

Doesn't it feel great????:tongue2: I remember when you congratulated me - and I wanted to do the same for you. It's awesome!

Woo Hoo - Down 1.3 pounds. I was told to eat more protein - I did and dropped. Yipeeee!

I'm ready to melt the pounds off!!!!!:biggrin:

Julie - when you get back home, or when you have time, would you mind sending me a few days of what you eat to get in that much protein? I can't fathom it for some reason. I just could NOT eat that omlette this a.m. although I have an egg white omlette quite often -- today it really gave me grief - maybe it was the leftover that I put inside. Anyway, I ended up not eating anything this a.m. and for lunch had a hamburger patty, cottage cheese and 1/2 of a hard boiled egg. Then ate a few bites of watermelon. You can see I'm trying!

Dear Julie: I stayed the same - got a fill last week and my eating has slowed way down. So it isn't having the desired effect yet. Interestingly I was tested at my boot camp (they test pre & post camp, measuring inches - Lost 3:thumbup:, and weight lost 3:thumbup: and lean & fat body weight - lost lean weight and my fat weight only went down a pound:thumbdown:). She said I wasn't eating enough calories and today she explained how I have to ramp up my Protein intake (she said double it - don't know if I'll be able to do that). But I'm trying to get an egg white omlette down as I type (gagging). We'll see next week. I'm hoping to see a change!

Put me down for 1# lost. Got a fill on Thursday so I should be good to go here. Just got back from my boot camp evaluation and found that my lean weight had decreased and my fat weight had increased. What does that mean? She says I'm not eating enough calories!!!!

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?k...BR1JNdnc&hl=en Thought I'd put the link in again - lost one pound. Going for a fill today so I'm on to goal - 180's here I come!!!

OK Julie Ann - count me in for 8 pounds. I'm a slow loser but I'm getting a fill this Thursday. I don't think I've lost a pound since I was there 6 weeks ago. But my last fill wa March 12 so I'm due! I still, sometimes, get stuck at the beginning of a meal - but once I PB it goes away and I can eat. I know PB'ing isn't good and I'm afraid I will stretch my band. Does anyone else do this? Anyway, if I make my goal, I'll be in the 180's by October 31st (189 - but what the heck! LOL). I love all the Smashing Pumpkins.

Another 1/2 pound (since 8/14:cursing:). and I had a horrible weekend so I don't think I'm going to make the last 1.4 pounds - it'll be a stretch because I'm going out of town Wednesday and won't be back until Labor Day. We'll see. Turkey Day - here I come!!!

You're in what's known as "band hell." It's going to take you awhile to get the hang of the tool that you've been given. That being said, I am a slow loser (42 pounds in 10 months). There were times when I was extremely frustrated. However (and it's a big however) I love my band and am so greatful for it. In the beginning, when they told me I'd lose 1-2 pounds a week, I focused on the 2 and even wrote it in my PDA so I'd know how much I would weigh at every month bandiversary. But the weight came off even slower than that! As you can see by my weight loss, it's more like 1 pound a week. Not only that, there were some weeks (and I mean WEEKS) when I didn't lose a thing!!! I despaired, I whined, I cried. But, when I look back, it was easy. And I continue to lose at my snails pace. Do what your doctor tells you. Follow the bandster rules and you'll do great - Just like me:redface:

I didn't see a bunch of pictures but saw your before & after on your bandster profile. All I can say is Wow! I'm half way there and these pictures inspire me.

I know!! This is so true. I'm a different person since I've lost weight - I've regained that self confidence that had soooo slipped away. I was at a function a couple weeks ago where we had to ride in some bus. The bus was over-croweded and there weren't enough seat for everyone -- so people were sitting on laps and crowding in to that last long row that's on the back of some buses. I whispered to my husband that it was the first time in years that I felt like I wasn't taking up more than "my" share of space. I was able to squeeze next to my honey and let someone else fit into the back seat. In the past I would have gotten one of those once-over looks, like "oh no, I'm not going there and be smothered by that fat person!" I feel "normal" and it's such a great feeling. Being able to shop in the regular department store departments too has been a huge boost to my self esteem. And my 14 jeans that I just bought are loosening - I'll be in a 12 soon and that hasn't happened since the 1980's!!!!! Go pumpkins:thumbup:

I'm in - I'm hoping to lose 11 pds by then. Just to be in the 180's will be awesome!!!!!! I still have a 1.5 to go on the Labor Day Challenge, but I'm still hopeful.

I like some of these ideas. I think getting a picture taken is a good one. I notice that I look much better in photos. I used to dread pictures and would make my daughter-in-law delete all the pictures. I have some in my electronic picture frame that's in my office and I can't believe how huge I am! The shopping also appeals. I just went through my closet last week and have given away 4 large bags of clothes. I bought size 14 jeans and they actually seem a little loose some days. The day I buy a size 12 -- you'll hear the shouts from California. My body is changing so much because I've been going to boot camp now for 2.5 months. I'm not focusing on the weight as much - because my whole body is slimming down and I'm building muscle. Maybe I'll get a tummy tuck for my bandiversary (more like my 2nd bandiversary). I can dream, can't I?

Go Julie Ann!!! I can't believe we're headed to our bandiversary. I'm losing soooooo slowly (but then I always did). I'm seeing Dr. D Sept 10 - I think I need a fill this time. It's been since March! I still PB once in a while, but I notice that I can eat more (than I should). I'm inching towards my goal. I'd love to be in the 180's by October 24. I'm getting lots of NSV's tho - people I haven't seen complement me all the time. I was just at a family reunion and my cousin asked me if I'd gotten taller!!! I actually shrunk 3/4 of an inch because I'm getting older. Dang! that just means more weight to lose!:thumbup:

Another 1/2 pound -- woo hoo!!! only 1.9 to go to goal.:thumbup:

I'm thinking I need another fill too. Haven't had a fill since March - but I've been losing slowly. I love my band. Just got back from vacation and lost 1/2 pound. That NEVER happened before. For exercise, all I did was play golf, walk on the beach and play tennis (that was the biggy -And I beat my husband!!!!!) Did I say, I love my band? Starting boot camp again next week. Yeah Lovely - you rock! Congrats on being so close to goal. Oh, and I had a NSV last week. I bought a new dress for a party (pre-band I was a size 20). First of all, when I went to try on dresses, I stood in the dressing room AFRAID to try on "regular" size clothing.:w00t: I haven't been shopping in so many years, chosing to buy from catalogs where I'm annoymous. Anyway, the sales lady brought in size 16's and I thought they would never work! But it did - they all fit easily!!:sneaky: Then, because they didn't have the dress I wanted in my size, it was ordered from another store. In the meantime, the sales person had a size 14 shipped to me (I don't know why because I needed the 16). Anway the 14 arrived and it fits! I'm constantly amazed!

OK Julie Ann - you've been my inspiration and the little slips you're describing are insignificant compared to your success! Also, you're cointinuing to work out. You know, I just got back from a little mini vacation and I lost 1/2 pound -- that never happened before! And I drank a little, and had some deserts too. My husband calls that "life." And, girl, you have to live it! You can't be perfect all the time - at least I can't. Don't worry. Take a baby step towards "better behavior." For instance cut out all the sweets, or cut out the popcorn and say only 1 bite of "x". And get that fill. You'll fee better in no time!!!!

Ok - 1/2 pound down. I'll take it! Especially since I just got back from a mini vacation. 2.5 pounds to goal and a new boot camp starts next week? Can I make it? Inquiring minds want to know!

Well, I have no loss to report. Just hanging around that 199. That's been my MO though. I lose 4-6 pounds and then sit there for a time. I'm hoping to move along before the finale -- I only have a little over 3# to go so I'm hoping to lose that in the time left. Good luck everyone!

There aren't too many things I can't eat:frown: as long as I chew well and SLOW DOWN. That's the hardest thing for me. I notice that I don't get stuck as often in the a.m., but almost every lunch (and most dinners) after the first few bites I have to put my fork down and wait. And sometimes go to the bathroom & PB:eek:. Never good. But once I do that, it seems that the rest of my meal goes down easily. My poor husband asks all the time, with a worried look on his face, "are you alright?" I try very hard to slow down in the beginning of a meal, but it's a hurdle. When we went away last week, our hostess made grilled jumbo shrimp. They were really good. But, wow! I felt funny excusing myself from the table just after the meal began and so I sat there for about 10+ minutes waiting for this stuck shrimp to go down. My hostess asked me if I was alright. I had to excuse myself finally. I'd taken 4 shrimp -- and when I got back I slipped one to my husband's plate. But I was able to eat the remaining 2. I was afraid that my hostess would think I didn't like what she had prepared. It's funny how some of the things I think will really get stuck don't (steak for instance - as long as it's tender and medium rare) and my tuna salad does (at lunch). Glad to see everyone progressing. Just bought a size 16 dress on line - I have 2 parties to go to -- one in August & one over Labor Day. Hope it fits!!!

Thanks kaninag - I'm leaving in about 1 hour to go to my band doctor - don't think I need a fill, but I'm definitely bringing the picture!!!