RLittman

Name..........Chall. Start Wt........Current......Chall. Goal.........To Go alwayscurious........245......................245. ............212.................33 Amelia40...............270.................... 270................240...............30 areellady...............232....................226 .5..........212.................14.5 argon..................162...................160.2 ..............142...............18.2 Ariel....................207.................... 199.............182..................17 aussie_jode...........212......................212 ............190..................22 BabygotBack..........164.....................164.. ..........145..................19 Babygrl1234...........215......................205 ............190.................15 Becky42................253.....................250 ...............220...............30 bekafina.................225.....................2 25.............199................26 Cherrybomb...........311....................306... ...........291.................15 chickatee..............203.....................198 ..............175................23 chocolate_snaps......344....................342... ...........299................43 cQQlgirl..................225....................2 25................185..............40 Chris_NJ................284....................265 .................250..............15 cindyluhu...............194....................194 ...............180...............14 dacer123...............243....................243. ..............223................20 Denise...................170....................17 0...............155...............15 Denise..................244.....................24 4...............220................24 Desertbunnee.........232....................207... ...........180................27 DonnaD................185.....................185. .............170................15 eclipse..................215.....................2 12..............199................16 faithmd................303.....................303 ...............283..............16.7 glindab................ 277.....................269...............250..... ..........19 gonnabfree............231....................231.. ..............205...............26 Guinessgirl77.........241...................241... ...............210..............31 gweniper..............253.....................240. ...............223...............30 hf2havefun...........240......................231...............210.............21.5 ihadenuf................216....................216 ................190...............26 itsjustducky...........317....................317. ................297..............20 james2539............235.4.................235.4.. .............220.............15.4 jfran……………………….212………………………204……………………196……..…………8 jglong54...............206....................206. .................195.............11 jadrad7.................224....................224 .................200..............24 jazzystouch...........246......................246 ...............220...............26 Jeni 85.................237....................230..... .............207..............23 joisey....................307....................307................290...............17 josiebies...............188......................17................ 165...............12 JulieNYC................155.....................14 9.................136..............13 Kaelin's G-Ma.........272.................... 272..................220.............52 KarenG................. 240.....................232...................225. ...........7 katalin.e................230.....................179...... ..........150..............29 Kellymovingon........207......................207. ................187............20 Kimmie.................296.................. ...290 ..................270.............20 ladydi..................233.................... .22 .................208...............20 legster..................261....................244................235...............9 LeslieLee...............216.....................216................186...............30 lisa_in_toronto.......180......................180 ................160...............20 losingjusme...........273.....................269. ...............238................31 luvinke..................225....................223..................195..............28 maddog.................230.....................230 ................205..............25 marcar35...............277.....................268 ................250..............18 mcgreen...............236......................224 .................210.............14 METALBAND...........187.....................182... ...............167............15 momlambert..........207.................... 204.5..............185..............20.5 mpalen.................229.....................229 ................200................29 Peache8887...........330.....................306.. ..............275..............31 pmmegm..............248.....................248... ...............228..............20 Rainer..................298................... 280..................258................22 RLitman................172....................171..................159................12 robgoblin87............279...................279.. ................250...............29 SC2VA..................233....................233. .................200..............33 sdakotaRN.............254....................254.. ...............225..............29 Short C................. 166...................166.................146..... .........20 Soniacan...............198.5..................198. 5.............175.............23.5 Stacy73.................259.....................24 1...............230...............11 Sunny112..............215.....................165. ...............140...............25 Suzzzie. ...............349....................337......... .......320................17 sweethot143..........197...................190............... 175.................15 tanderson..............231.....................231 ...............199................32 teacher.................236....................236 ...............200................36 ToniaPatt …..........286……….....……......283………......... 243..…........…40 UK-Lady...............255.....................223.... .......... 210.................13 Wannabthin...........231......................222. .............211................20 want2beme...........225..................... 199.8. ...........195................30 wen.....................288......................284..............255................29 Whosyadaddy.........388.....................369... ...........335................43 LifeLover..............289..................... 275 ..............259.................16

Well last week I went from exercising 3 days a week to 5 days a week. I actually tried a stairstepper today and was able to do 10 minutes on manual without breaking a sweat! In just 5 weeks I have moved from a 4 pound hand weight to an 8 pound handweight. I lost 5 pounds last month and then regained it when I put on muscle and then lost it again with the help of those muscles! I have finally lost a new pound - down to 171. However, in just 4 weeks of exercising for about 30 minutes a day I have lost a whole clothing size and I feel muscle for the first time. I am up to 100 situps without stopping. Feels really good. Last week I walked after dinner and I will do it again tonight. I am hoping by the end of October walk every night so that I get exercise in twice a day. The scale is moving slowly but the body is definitely changing. How are you doing???

You have done so well. Great job! Challenge taken. I dedicated myself to exercising the last three weeks and cutting out all unnecessary calories. I thought, "What the heck it is only three weeks." Well you know what? Now I have a set routine after only three weeks. So let's go for it. Let's set our sights first on November 1 - don't worry about the scale because inches count, too! Keep moving and our body will do the rest. Good Luck!!

Okay, okay, I will start the new thread. Just a reminder this thread was started by those folks who were banded in August 2006, otherwise known as the August Band Crew (ABC). We have all hit our anniversary dates and I just wanted to find out how everyone is doing. I have lost 6 pounds since the beginning of September and have kick started my diet again. 5 of the 6 pounds was weight I had regained. I have been yo-yoing between 177-180 since March. But I had no idea that I was eating so many useless calories especially when I wasn't hungry. I've hit the gym again and can really feel it all over. I consuming about 1000 calories and am not really hungry. I have cut out coffee, puddings, shakes and am focusing on solid food both Protein and carbs. What is everyone up to? Has anyone hit their goal yet or is close to it?

Lady Di, I had an unfill which lasted for 4 months and during that time I was able to eat more. At the same time I really cut back on my exercise but was easily able to maintain my weight between 176-179 which taught me a lot about how to live with the band. In late July I decided I need another fill and as it turned out I had lost some in my band. Well about three weeks ago I decided I would exercise at least 5-6 days a week. While I have only gone from 179 to 172, the inches have melted away and I am already a size down from where I was. A pair of pants that fit snug in my hips last March when I weighed 175, now hang on me at 172. The scale is moving slowly but the inches are coming off. At some point the muscle will help me lose the weight faster. Don't worry if you have gained some weight; you are probably also gaining more energy with more calories so use it to exercise more and the weight will come back off. We are all doing so well because of our persistence and giving the band and us time to work through the issues.

Judging from your picture on myspace, you look awesome. I would really want like to get to a size 10. At 5'5" I really need to be in the 140s rather than the 170s. If I hit my goal I will have lost 85 pounds, but I am slowly making my way there. Robin

I am self pay as I was ten pounds under the weight needed for insurance to pay for it. Regarding the surgery, I have wondered if my excess skin is part of the cause that I have not lost more. When I was younger there was hardly any excess skin, but that is not true now I am in my late 40's. Wouldn't that be a hoot if they were to take 15 pounds + of excess skin off?

I am so proud of you. We are right about the same weight! I bet you feel so great. I would love to have a tummy tuck, breast reduction and thigh lift. I looked up some surgeon's names as well and will probably call for an appointment by the end of the month. Can you believe it???

I have 29 pounds to go and once I cut out coffee, shakes, alcoholic beverages, tea, etc, I dropped 6 pounds in 2 weeks. What useless empty calories! Stop feeding your face, eat solid protein only when hungry, drink water to hydrate, and keep moving. Good luck!

I am here. I am frustrated because the scales are just not moving, and haven't since last March. Although I love being a size 14 I would really like to get this last 30 pounds off. I have decided that starting September 1st I would begin again. I am going to exercise twice a day instead of once. I will eat 80% protein that is harder for me to get down - like chicken or steak - that way I can't eat alot, and really track my calories which I have not yet done. I just had another fill in July and it is holding just fine. I am not feeling hungry so it must be that I am not moving enough or eating the right kinds of calories. I am going to do this for three weeks and then assess where I am at. I will do some weight training which I know will affect my weight loss but it should ulitmately help me lose weight easier. Wish me luck. Robin

Today is My Band Anniversary. I cannot believe it has been a year and I feel great and have no regrets. I received another fill on Tuesday and discovered that my fill had dropped from 2.2cc to 1.8c but that I was still able to maintain my weight despite the lessening of the restriction. I was refilled to 2.2 which seems to be just the right amount for me. The band really has helped stop me from overeating so I have not regained weight over the last 4 months. But now I am ready to start losing again and in fact I have lost 1 pound since Tuesday. Jessica, i.e. Clarity Seeker, how are you doing? Today is your anniversary as well! Robin

Okay, so hopefully I am doing this right since it is a new thread. I am less than four weeks away from my bandiversary. I am 50 pounds down and would still like to lose 30 pounds. I will get another fill after next week since I have not lost any weight since early March. I was slightly unfilled in April after being uncomfortable for 2 months but I think I need to learn to adjust to it. I will likely have to have knee surgery on my other knee in the next three weeks since I believe I tore the meniscus on my left knee. This will put a damper on my exercise plans for the next 6 weeks since I won't be able to do that much. Thank goodness the right knee which was operated on last October is just fine. We just came back from vacation - Viriginia, Maryland and DC and I did just great. We walked, hiked and rode horses for over 2 hours - none of which I could have done last summer. No pain whatsoever, and my back felt great. I felt 10 years younger and such freedom! However, one morning I woke up and felt a swelling on the back of my left knee and that is when I knew I had injured it, but it didn't hurt much and I was still able to go all over. I love how I look in clothes and folks tell me I look like I only need to lose about 15 pounds but I want to keep on going. I remember Dr. Spivak told me to expect 18 months to lose the weight and that in all to only expect to lose about 40 pounds so I feel I am really ahead of the curve. I would do this all over again in a heartbeat just to have my life and health back. Hope everyone else is doing well. Robin

Diane, I already did - look for Abc- August 2007 chat

Okay folks in just a few days some us of will be celebrating anniversaries. Mine is August 2nd and I can't believe it has been a whole year. I am thrilled to have lost 55 pounds but I have been stuck at this weight since late March and that is okay. I will have another fill next week to push start the process to lose that last 30 pounds. I have been astonished to have met several people along the way who have only had ONE fill, lost alot of weight, but not met their goal because they loved food so much and some of their old habits that they didn't want any further restriction. While I have had three fills and have loved losing every pound that is now permanent history, I do not want to settle for my old lifestyle. I love food too and can nibble on the things I still enjoy but that size 8/10 still looms out in the near distance, I can almost taste it and I am not going to settle for a size 12/14. HOW ARE ALL THE OTHER AUGUST 2006 BANDSTERS DOING??? IT IS TIME TO CHECK IN EVEN IF YOU HAVE MET YOUR GOAL!!! GIVE THE REST OF US SOME INSPIRATION AND LET US HERE YOUR NUMBERS, YOUR DREAMS, ETC. Robin

Just got my surgery date - August 2!

I love my surgery and the restriction because I have maintained my weight loss easily over the last four months and still enjoy almost all the food I liked before banding. There is no fear that I will ever go back to what I was. I don't miss the huge meals and can eat certain foods but in much smaller portions, like steak. I love being a smaller size, clothes shopping for a size 12, and the compliments I've been getting as well as my ability to do everything physically without sweating up a storm! I would like to lose 30 pounds though and I struggle with whether to go tighter because it really restricts my intake and I do like to eat. I met a lady recently who lost 50 pounds about 2 years and with only one restriction. She never went back for another because she liked to eat too much to get more restricted. However, she still had at least another 100 pounds to lose. I understand now how difficult it is to get past a certain comfort zone, and that I am really at a place where increased exercise is absolutely necessary for the weight to really come off. In other words I think I am hitting the hardest part of the program now and I really have to buckle down. The band has made it easier to lose but now I have to really help it more than it has helped me. Does that make sense? Robin

I am so thrilled with Libra's 100 pound loss and Jessica - your nearing your goal! You guys are amazing! I have been stuck at 174-175 since March. I do not want to get a fill because I definitely feel a restriction and do not want to increase it since I went through several weeks of pbing in March and April and do not wish to repeat. I have returned to exercise and feel the inches coming off. I have had several folks tell me I look just fine but I still want to lose at at least 15-20 more. I am in a size large and size 12. I love how I look especially my face but my legs and arms could stand to lose some more. The fat around my middle is excess so unless I undergo tummy tuck surgery it is not going anywhere. I do love the way I feel and look but will still like to go further. I have decided on an all out push to lose before my anniversary date of 8-2. Wish me luck. Robin

My ortho is not a fan of elliptical and feels the treadmill is a safer and more effective workout. Given that I injured my knee after only a few times of using the elliptical and had to undergo surgery, I stick to treadmill, a few machines and free weights. I have not been exercising of late and have been able to maintain my weigth easily after the last unfill. I am struggling with losing the idea of losing more because I feel comfortable at this weight even though I have 30 more pounds to lose. I can fit into size 12 and look good, but I know I can look better. When I was at this weight years ago I still felt fat so I can't understand why I feel fine at this weight. I am getting off my butt next week and dragging my girls to the gym and pool so that I have some movement by the end of June. I would really like to lose at least 15 pounds by my anniversary date of August 2nd. Can you believe our anniversaries are so close?????

From my experience, I think you need an unfill. I was unfilled only .3cc and it made all the difference in the world. When I could hardly eat, was eating way too slow (an hour to eat 1/2 cup of solid food), was relying way too much on soft foods, had too many small meals, and was pbing everyday on anything including solids, I was too restricted. Interestingly I was not losing weight either. I was slowing down due to poor calorie intake. When I told the surgicenter that I was pbing that often, they considered my unfill an emergency and got me in the next morning. Their fear was pouch dilation if I continued to pb. I have only lost about 3-4 pounds since the beginning of March, but I am losing inches due to exercise. Consider an unfill, keep up the exercise, increase your calorie intake and eventually you will start losing. An unfill might improve your food choices, it did mine.

How many of you folks out there have alot of loose skin? Losing weight in your late 40's after you have been heavy all your life is tough on the skin. I have so much loose skin on my legs and stomach that no amount of exercise will stop the wiggle and jiggle. Being in a size 12 suit is great but my legs look a mess. And forget about my upper arms - they wave all by themselves!

Yes, my friend who was banded in March by Dr. Spivak is self pay.

My surgery was done on 8-2-06 and I was self pay. I have had 4 fills and one unfill just last month and all mine were done at the surgicenter. I have called the surgicenter each time and they have asked for my surgery date and self pay and then scheduled me for an appointment there. My friend who was banded in March 07 has had his fills done only at Dr. Spivak's office. Robin

Sorry to hear about your lay-off. It happened to me back in '93 and it was the best thing. I moved from private practice to the corporate world and had the best years of my life. What is your field of law? I have friends at several firms and I can give them a call. I was unfilled last month and I am so glad! I was pbing every day for almost 5 weeks. I thought it would ease up but it didn't. I was not eating much of anything - literally only a bite or two of Protein, and I felt tired. I was slightly unfilled and I am able to eat small meals again and have more energy. I lost 5 pounds last month but then regained 3. I am holdiing steady because I stopped exercising for awhile. With the kids heading into the end of school and getting ready for summer, it seems I sit forever in front of a computer or on a phone making summer plans. I am heading to the gym tomorrow since I still have 33 pounds to go. Jessica, I can't believe you are 13 pounds from your goal. That is amazing! Are we Houston gals going to get together or what????

Okay you Houston ladies, it seems like most of us have crossed the 50 lb mark and some of you, like Jennifer, are well beyond that! When and where are we going to meet?????? I suggest West University area but I open to suggestions. Let me know your thought and some dates/times.

Okay after a month of PBing way too much, I went in for an unfill from 2.5cc. to 2.2cc. The band looked perfect - no pouch dilation, no slippage and the liquid went through perfectly. I still had the unfill because I felt I just had too much restriction and was hardly taking in any calories and certainly nothing much solid. They offered that I must being eating too fast or not the right foods, but when I said that it should not take 1/2 hour to eat 2 small bites of chicken that are first chewed to mush before being swallowed, and that any swallow is met with lots of belching than something is not right followed by slime. When I reviewed my diet over the last month I realized that I have relied too heavily on mushy food (mashed potatoes, etc) and not enough solid protein which may be why my energy level is down a bit. Since I had none of this before my 4th restriction obviously I am too tight for solids. So we will see how this goes.