Zannie

TravelGirl, I'm with you on not being excited to work out! It's not awful while I'm doing it (or at least the treadmill isn't, I'm still not sure about the strength training:p), but the starting of it is the problem. I don't wannnnnna!!!!!! Of course, that has always BEEN my problem! :heh: I wish I could hit a high like you have, BabyGrl! I fantasize myself becoming enamored by fitness & running around town 2 years from now all trim & fit wearing leggings & a sports bra (well, something's gotta lift & hold the girls in place because they're now flat as pancakes & drooping to the ground -- all my weight loss is from my boobs & hands:paranoid)! But at this rate, that ain't gonna happen!!!! The only way to make your dreams come true is to stop DREAMING and go DO IT!!!! That's the advice I'd give anyone else, but I cannot seem to convince myself that exercising is an exciting part of this journey! :phanvan As a side-note, the storm got so bad last night that Relay-For-Life was abandoned... (I hope that's not how the cancer patients feel this morning!) I was pumped to go and put in an hour on the track (2 miles -- not that I have EVER done that before), but NOT pumped enough to get on the treadmill & do the same once I got word not to come to the relay! :straight Suzanne Feb'07 Bandsters: June Challenge ~ Level 1 5 of 15 workouts (30 minutes a day for 15 days)

Ya know, I'm kinda looking at the amethyst as a sort of "wedding ring" -- a symbol & reminder of my commitment to my health & the LapBand. I do have a 50# goal in mind (which is about 2 weeks away, I presume) before buying it, but that's mostly because I'm odd about spending money on myself without a "justification" for it! :target: I can "justify" a reward, but not just a "random" jewelry purchase. :rolleyes :girl_hug: I've been poking around eBay & TJ Maxx/Marshalls to see what kind of amethyst selection is out there. I've found some cute & affordable pieces, too. I think I'm leaning toward a bracelet, because my nearly 2yo DD loves to pull on my necklaces & earrings, and my ring size is in flux! :laugh I love that y'all liked the idea of commemorating the Band with February's birthstone! Perhaps we are a bunch a of Amethyst Bandits! :bandit Suzanne

Janine -- congratulations on your surgery! :clap2: I found the 1st 2 weeks to be the hardest, mostly because of the blasted Protein shakes & knowing I couldn't deviate from liquids. I wasn't really hungry so much as I wanted to CHEW something! I bought VitaBalls (gumball viatamns)at Farm Fresh just to have SOMETHING to CHEW -- 2 a day even! :biggrin1: Everything after those 1st 2 weeks has been down hill! Stay on top of your pain meds, so that it doesn't catch up with you once you're really feeling much better. They give you an Rx for a reason! Walk, walk, walk!! And especially if you were given a tool to do so, breathe, breathe, breathe! You can do this!!! My DH was thin when we met (in Jr. High) and only put on weight with my 1st pregnancy (14 years later). We dieted together -- he lost apx. 55 lbs, which was about 5 short of his goal; I lost 30 in the same time-frame, roughly 150 short of my goal! :phanvan So I'm there with you in having a partner who just doesn't get that "exercise more" ain't cuttin' it!!! But what's done is done now. His opinion doesn't mater when it comes to what's right for YOUR health, correct? I know -- hard to not consider it, but really, if his way of seeing things isn't helping you, then you've got to ignore it for now, becasue it's only going to hurt you. He's got no choice but to come around eventually! :target::biggrin1: AND he's gonna see that you ARE exercising -- that's a vital aspect to this working, after all. The band only controls your portion size. We've still got to get off our own butts. They go hand in hand, which is something NOT emphasized in the media coverage about WLS. The easy way out - phaa! :girl_hug: I've never had to work so hard at sticking to a diet & exercise program as I've had to with this!! But that's the whole point -- nothing else could I NOT quit when I hit a plateau, or got sick, or was under stress, or was PMSing, etc!!! We've not only got to be aware of every single morsel we eat (not for fat or calories, but because we have to chew deliberately), and exercise (like I've never exercised before), but we also have to reevaluate & retrain our reactions to the things that used to send us straight for comfort food!!! You can do this, girl! :high5: And everyone at LBT is with & behind you in your efforts!!! So when DH is being a pain, come here! When dinner (or in my case breakfast) looks too good to resist, come here while he/they eat! When you just don't feel like exercising, come here & find an exercise thread to get inspired! It's a long road ahead, but think of the journey we're on!!! I say YEA US for making such a huge commitment to our heath -- for putting ourselves first for a change -- and for doing it!!!!! And YEA YOU -- you're in BANDLAND now!

I'm (supposed to be) off to walk the midnight lap at our local Relay For Life (cancer awareness) in about an hour. But a huge electric storm has settled over my area, so I'm not sure how this is going to play out. My mom (a support person) & our long-time neighbor (fighting uterine cancer now) have been there since 3pm, so I really want to go show my support. May this storm pass soon! What a crappy day it has been for this Relay -- 102 was the high & now an electric storm. Ugh. Suzanne Feb'07 Bandsters: June Challenge ~ Level 1 5 of 15 workouts (30 minutes a day for 15 days)

I'm not quite sure what you're looking for when you say "substitute" for creamer, but maybe this'll help. I love creamy, sweet coffee -- with or without added flavors. What I do now is add Caffeine-Free Sugar-Free General Foods International "Vanilla Creme" to hot or cold coffee. It is not a coffee mix, but a vanilla drink like hot cocoa is a chocolate drink. Adding it to coffee makes the coffee really creamy and sweet at the same time. Click here for the nutrition label! Since it is a powder, you could just keep it at your desk. I also use the Sugar Free International Delight or Coffee Mate liquid coffee creamers in my hot or iced coffee, but in those are liquids & thus not handy, I'm not sure that it would help your situation much. Good luck & let me know if you find something wonderful! Suzanne

I use Vanilla DaVinci syrup all the time. It's pretty universal -- anything that'd be good with a creamy background can be mixed with the Vanilla. In the old days, I added the vanilla or cherry flavors to Coke - love a Vanilla or Cherry Coke, but can't stand cola straight up at all. Now I improve the flavor of vanilla protein powder by adding Vanilla DaVinci. I also put the vanilla in the orange samples I tried (universally disgusting) to make a more creamy Creamsicle flavor. And I toned down the more overpowering, chalky chocolate samples with the vanilla syrup. Oh -- add the caramel one to chocolate or vanilla or coffee protein powders for a sweet drink! Plus, to Syntrax Nectar Roadside Lemonade (gag!), I add the raspberry syrup to make a Raspberry Lemonade. It's not strong enough to overpower that whey taste all the Syntrax Nectars have, but it makes that particular one palatable. Helpful Hints: A) DaVinci Syrups don't need to be refrigerated. They have a 2-year "best by" shelf-life from date of manufacture (but you can continue to use them after this date though the flavor's strength will diminish with time). C) For around $5, you can get the large 750ml/25oz size in the gourmet section of TJ Maxx/Marshals.

Tell me, what does this stuff smell like? I seem to be allergic to everything nowadays. That wasn't always the case, but most lotions and perfumes now make me sneeze. But maybe something that gets rinsed off in the shower after putting it on would help with the allergies...? My skin is ALWAYS dry!!! It's something I've learned to live with since lotions started to bother me, but I'd love to find a product that works.

Wallygirl -- we have the same Band Date! :high5:

Okay, ladies...announcment time! :attention: My foot is still killing me (haven't gone to the doc yet ), and the treadmill isn't helping, so I could either sit back and do nothing (my normal reaction), or try a different tack to keep up with my exercising. And try something new I did! :biggrin1: In an effort to stem the tide of flappy, floppy skin (already presenting at 40 lbs down, with 160 still to go), I have begun my strength training program. Really. I have!! Now, in addition to the treadmill or other walking, I will be doing "the 7 pillars of strength" courtesy of Body By Jake. (Don't laugh -- we are confessed infomercial junkies here. :heh:) I plan to do 3 or 4 days of treadmill walking (running, if I can ever convince myself to start the Couch-to-5K which I had my DH print & laminate at work) alternated with 3 days of strength training on the Gravity Force. That's the plan anyhow... We'll see how well I stick to it as the month progresses. But the point is that this Gravity Force Trainer has been sitting here - untouched by my fat a$$ for 2 months, and now I have begun to use it! Yea, me! Wallygirl123, SkinnyJeans & Magii, it's so good to hear from y'all! :clap2: Suzanne Feb'07 Bandsters: June Challenge ~ Level 1 4 of 15 workouts (30 minutes a day for 15 days)

TravelGirl, I'm class of '92 as well -- went to H.S. in Bellevue, NE (AirForce Brat), where I started dating DH at the ripe old age of 16 years! Have you always been heavy, or is this an "adult onset" situation? I was average weight until puberty & then I stopped growing taller in 5th grade & kept growing out! I was a tight 14/ loose 16 in high school. And I haven't regularly worked out since 9th grade gym!!! This is a HUGE change to my lifestyle, and I'm really not liking it at all! I had hoped by now I'd crave the physical activity...like some crazy people I know!! But that has yet to become the case! Still, I'm off to do workout #4....... I agree, BabyGrl, that we ought to perpetuate these challenges every month! If only I had one single competitive bone in my body... I like the accountability!!!!

Have y’all thought of getting “something sparkly” to commemorate your LapBand? Having been banded in February, and because the amethyst is February’s birthstone... I’m thinking I’d like a piece of amethyst jewelry. I’ve seen amethyst set both silver & gold, and it’s a very affordable semi-precious stone. And I’m leaning toward a necklace or bracelet, since my ring size has already gone down with only 40 of my 200 pounds gone! But what style? A journey or circle pendant? Or maybe something more artsy with smooth rather than faceted stones? Perhaps a stretchy chip bracelet that’ll adjust as I continue to loose…? I’ve got a few weeks still to decide, but a piece of amethyst will be my reward at 50 pounds! It’s not so much that I’m a huge fan of the purple quartz, as it is to mark me as a February Bandster, or ~if you will~ an Amethyst Bandit! :bandit

Magii -- haven't heard from you in a few days! How's it going?

Oh, TravelGirl, I'm so sorry to hear about your dad... I was wondering how we'd managed to loose you in the transition to June, but I didn't imagine tragedy. I wish there was more I could do or say as I'm sure my "so sorry" doesn't help you any, but I do hope you're able to find comfort in our company as you grapple with your pain & greif... Welcome to June's exercise challenge. Pick your level & hop on! Suzanne Feb'07 Bandsters: June Challenge ~ Level 1 3 of 15 workouts (30 minutes a day for 15 days)

Suzanne Feb'07 Bandsters: June Challenge ~ Level 1 3 of 15 workouts (30 minutes a day for 15 days)

I've somehow hurt my foot...you ought to see me wobbling around! But wobble I did today so as to get in my exercise. Like a friggin' Weeble, I swear! Hopefully I won't pay for it tomorrow, and a visit to Urgent Care is in order to figure out what I've done to myself now... But the point is that PAIN & ALL, I got in my 1/2 hour! Yea, ME! :star: Suzanne Feb'07 Bandsters: June Challenge ~ Level 1 2 of 15 workouts (30 minutes a day for 15 days)

My goodness...Onederland, here you come, Babygrl! You go!!! :clap2: And 4 miles at work -- what the hey diddle diddle?!? I can't even imagine that! It still takes me just about half an hour to do a mile, at the briskest pace I can manage. :straight That'd be a 2 hour venture. OK - tell me more about this "couch to K" thing you're doing? Do you have a link to something you printed out, or what? Not that I'm THAT motivated, but I wanna be!!!! :biggrin1: You are such a exercise inspiration! And you know damn well that I'm in need of some major inspiring. Suzanne Feb'07 Bandsters: June Challenge ~ Level 1 1 of 15 workouts (30 minutes a day for 15 days)

Janine -- I've heard of many bypass people who have the gallbladder removed when they get their band. But I was told that removing it at the same time as banding is risky because of the bile(?) that can leak from the gallbladder. Or something like that -- it's too late for medical speak! But you know what I mean! When I 1st looked into banding several years ago, a staff member (at a clinic other than where I ended up going) told me that if I had gallbladder issues, the doc could bill the anesthesia, surgical suite, hospital stay, and most of the surgeon fees to my INS under gallbladder removal -- and I'd only have to pay for the band itself & a small portion of the surgeon’s fee. It sounded like a brilliant plan, but then the doc said that only was an option for bypass not banding due to the bile... You should think about asking your LapBand surgeon's opinion since thoughts on this subject may differ. Anyhow...sorry for the set back! Keep positive...and focus on what you can do NOW to improve your health. This could (ha!) even be a blessing – get your house & habits in order and start transitioning to all those good banding habits that you’ll need soon enough! (Yeah, I try to be a silver lining girl.) Hang in there, Janine! Suzanne

Gina -- That was me, the crazy one with 2 kiddies & my mother in tow! While we were talking, you mentioned LBT & I wondered if you were someone I knew on-line. What odd situations this Internet business can create. Strangers, and yet... :wave: Hope you're doing well with that 1st fill. I've got major restriction now with this 3rd one. Like never before -- not even right after surgery! But I'm not having any trouble with Soup, Water or shakes (all that I've tried thus far), so I'm hoping I'm at a good place with 7.2cc in the VG-10cc band. I'll start mushies tomorrow for dinner (48 hours after fill) with my fingers crossed. I remember being full on 1/4 c. of refried Beans topped with melted cheese & sour cream when I was 1st banded. That little food hasn't filled me up in quite a while... I know it's wishful thinking on my part, but I can't help hoping that I've hit that fabled "sweet spot" with this fill!

Feb'07 Bandsters: June Challenge ~ Level 1 1 of 15 workouts (30 minutes a day for 15 days)<!-- google_ad_section_end -->

Probably a silly question, but how do we join? By the way I love your before and after pics, you look awesome!! To “join” a challenge...just stop by the new thread & say HI – and then post updates as the month progresses for support, motivation, & encouragement. That’s all there is to it! Hope to see y’all over there, too! Here’s the link to our June Challenge thread. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/feb-bandsters-june-challenge-35869-new/<O:p <O:p</O:p Suzanne Feb'07 Bandsters: June Challenge ~ Level 1 1 of 15 workouts (30 minutes a day for 15 days)<!-- / message -->

This is my month. Even if just at the 1st level! No, really...when I actually DO it, the 45 min mark is easy to hit, it's just remembering to DO it in the 1st place that gets me. Argh. Somebody, whip me into shape, please! Officailly, I'm gonna pledge 15 days, but I know I need to do more. I know I do. So hopefully I'll pass the Level 1 goal & adjust my Level! Who's with me?!? :cheer2: Suzanne Feb'07 Bandsters: June Challenge ~ Level 1 :first: 0 of 15 workouts (30 minutes a day for 15 days)

June... June? How can that be right? :confused: My gosh, it is almost JUNE!! BabyGrl, I'm in & up for anything. What were you thinking, Ms. 5K-in-July? I need to get my butt in gear!!!!! Fill #3 is tomorrow & I'm hoping with some real restriction that I'll feel more motivated! But I appreciate the accountability of a challenge! Just think of how bad off I'd be without them... No, on 2nd thought, don't think about it at all. Suzanne

Just started last week...:omg: Other than during my 2 pregnancies, I've never had this issue before! I thought it might have to do with not getting enough water, but now I'm thinking that it's a lack of fiber because I'm avoiding all grains with this whole low-carb sh..tuff! Gerber makes a sweet baby food (in glass jars or plastic tubs) that is a mix of prunes & applesauce. I've taken to stealing some from my DD's stash! :kiss But things have gotten to the point where I might invest in some of that clear Benefiber & mix it in with my daily protein shake. :phanvan Sounds delicious... :Banane41:

I guess this question ought to be posed back on the full Feb thread... see if we can spur everyone on to another challenge? :guess I have not looked at the April Bandits challenge thread, so I can't comment, but I'm up for anything. Okay - so clearly I'm not UP for it , but I am willing to go along with whatever the majority rules! :biggrin1: If you've got a plan in mind, BabyGrl, lead the way & I shall follow!

You go, Babygrl! :cheer2: I am so impressed by your conviction to exercise! :wow2: Tell me again, when's the 5K run? You really should be proud of yourself!! :clap2: