bluehill

Kaybee, congratulations on making it to ONEDERLAND!!!

Julie, that made me laugh out loud! And reminds me of the phone calls I still receive, asking to speak to my mother! heh. I love to say, I AM the mother! Fact is, us old hippies don't age at all, we're just as immature as we were in the '60s! Seems like yesterday that I was 23, then overnight, 40 years passed. Go figure. And I *almost* have teenage children since my one & only surprised me at age 43. But no matter what my age, I'll always be a free spirit. You haven't said your age, but in my mind's eye, you are late 20s, early 30s. It would be fun to meet. I'll let you know when I come next to NYC -- I still have an apartment in the East Village that I visit rarely because my cultural life is so complete here in the Berkshires. My yoga class this a.m. was absolutely spectacular. I just LOVE my yoga class! April Bandits January Challenge: TWO days of exercise completed

Julie, I'm glad you brought this issue up, because it has caused me to re-evaluate my goal weight. For the time being, I've upped it from 145 to 150 (see ticker), because that's the number at which I would no longer be considered "overweight" -- according to someone, not me! But I really do think that I will find a higher weight more comfortable and suitable to my 63-year-old body. This is all speculative, of course, because who knows what shape my body will develop with all this exercise! It's really uncharted territory for me. How much weight do you expect to drop from the mini-abdominoplasty and mastopexy? The AHA numbers seem awfully stringent to me. You have to get to 136 to no longer be considered overweight? That sounds waaaay low. April Bandits January Challenge: ONE day of exercise completed

Julie, I chose 145 as my goal because I was once that weight and thought I looked pretty good. But more so because I really really want to get my BMI into the normal/ideal weight range. I'm 5'5" (I used to be 5'6", but that's what happens as you age, damn it!), so technically, anything under 150 lbs would put me in the zone. But now that you ask, I have to admit, I think a goal of 145 is probably unrealistically low, and I'll probably be happier at around 160. I do remember the last time I was thinish and how much I hated seeing and feeling all those bones! I know, it's kind of perverse, but I just didn't like it! It was uncomfortable to sit, and I felt cold ALL the time! Bottom line, I'm first gonna get under 200 and then take it from there with what makes me feel most comfortable.

Wow, Julie, that's quite a goal! One thing I know, if it's humanly possible to do it, YOU WILL!!! We're all rooting for you, that's for sure!

Howdy, Julie! Thanks so much for starting the January thread, hon. What would we do without you? Your commitment to exercise and diet is totally inspiring. I have to say, we April bandsters are an excellent bunch! After getting somewhat sidetracked by the holidays, I started off the New Year right, with a one-hour movement class, followed by 40 minutes of lap swim. (Yep, my fitness center is up & running on this holiday.) I'm really happy to be back on track! April Bandits January Challenge: ONE day of exercise completed

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL! BEST WISHES FOR A NEW YEAR OF HEALTH, HAPPINESS, PROSPERITY, AND PERSONAL FULFILLMENT! Which for us must surely include the lifestyle changes that allow us to reach our weight-loss goal and experience life anew as we embrace daily exercise and make wise food choices. I haven't posted in a week because, of all things, my computer died on Christmas Day! Good outcome though, it was covered by an Apple extended warranty and I got it back yesterday. The holiday season has been over-the-top for me. I admit, I'm the Queen of Christmas, but this year was exceptionally busy: 20 guests for a traditional sit-down dinner on Christmas Day; another 20 for a second dinner on Boxing Day; and a dinner party for 10 on the day after that. A total of 50 extravagant meals served in three days and all available beds claimed by houseguests (until Thursday)! Did I refrain from all the delectable goodies? Nope. Did I exercise? Nope. Oh dear, I GAINED three pounds and finished one day short of the December challenge. OTOH, I gained ONLY three pounds from all the happy overindulgence, and my total exercise for December was good indeed, including 28 individual sessions. And I'll be back to a daily regimen starting tomorrow, with a special yoga class on New Year's Day. So all in all, I'm a happy camper and now looking forward with great anticipation to the moderation, abstinence and tranquility of January. Or as Kat's poem says, "But isn't that what January is for? Unable to giggle, no longer a riot, Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet!" April Bandits December Challenge: SIXTEEN days of exercise completed (28 individual sessions of 35 min. or more)

Happy Chanu-Kwanza-Solsti-Rama-Mas !!! April Bandits December Challenge: FIFTEEN days of exercise completed

Roberta, did your doctor speculate as to why your band was empty? April Bandits December Challenge: FOURTEEN days of exercise completed

Holidays are a bitch to get through without sampling everything in sight, but you know what? We're already looking pretty damned fine, and this is definitely the last Christmas we're ever gonna be fat! Julie, please don't beat yourself up over giving in to small temptations! The band is already keeping you safe, and your own will-power, by allowing only a bite or two. Keep up your running, and you'll do just fine. Remember, the whole thing will be over within a few days, so for now, try to enjoy the seasonal rewards of family and friends, and yes, even those few bites of extra-special food treats. It'll be back to the strict diet regimen soon enough! April Bandits December Challenge: THIRTEEN days of exercise completed

Julie, you deserve a round of applause for meeting the December Challenge with a PERFECT RECORD!!! Seventeen days of exercise in 17 days! :wow2: :clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2: I agree with the new goal for the January Challenge: 17 days, 40 min. per day April Bandits December Challenge: TWELVE days of exercise completed

Betty, I've been thinking of you and the weather in Portland. So scary, it was the lead story on NBC news two nights ago. Hope you're in SoCal by now. Julie: Kudos to you, gal, for achieving your Christmas goal! Wow, with TEN DAYS to spare! What a wonderful Christmas gift to yourself. and just further evidence of your tremendous commitment, energy, inner strength. Clearly, you can achieve any life goal that you set your mind and heart to. Bless you dear, you have been my inspiration since we first met (here). Omigod, Boo, SIZE TEN JEANS!!! You rock, bigtime! I want to congratulate EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU -- and you know who you are -- on your commitment to daily exercise during the holiday season. It's so easy for me to fall off the exercise bandwagon because I get overwhelmed and fatigued with all the work. (I host two very large gatherings, Christmas and Boxing Day). So when I see that ya'll are keeping at it, despite the distractions, I'm psyched about doing it too. I think I'll make it to 17, but just! In the meantime, I definitely need some advice on how to stop putting every damned holiday treat into my mouth. My daughter is now home for semester break. Last night we were at a fabulous Hanukkah party with a variety of homemade latkes. I had to, just HAD TO taste every one of them, they were so good. Please help me with some will-power tips. April Bandits December Challenge: TEN days of exercise completed

I am proud to say that I have achieved a significant milestone in my weight-loss trip, namely, my BMI has dropped below 40. I AM NO LONGER MORBIDLY OBESE!!!

I reached the 230s today, and I've been walking a few inches off the ground ever since I stepped off the scale. In fact it's a milestone weight for me: 239 marks the exact half-way point, if I get to goal, that is. And 239 also marks a huge milestone, for which, see my signature! April Bandits December Challenge: SEVEN days of exercise completed

Oh Betty, you look FABULOUS! And I love your new hairdo. Thanks for posting the photos. It's great to have a face to attach to your posts! Perhaps in the new year I'll be able to do likewise, using the digital camera I'm giving myself for Christmas.

Kat, this reminds me of an interesting comment posted by a woman MD on another forum, a warning about eating too few calories and/or doing excessive exercise -- both with regard to preserving one's metabolic rate: There are two ways to create a calorie deficit to burn fat: Exercise and eating less. The average woman has two considerations in this; that is, she can only metabolize a maximum of 2.5 pounds of stored fat in a week, and she needs a minimum of 1200 calories a day to sustain basic bodily functions. There's a pretty wide range of variations in these average maximums and minimums, depending upon age, height and musculature. Generally, a taller, younger woman will have a higher metabolic rate than a shorter woman or a woman of the same height but older and with less muscle. The way the body reacts to any scenario that amounts to starvation is to preserve fat stores by first burning muscle for immediate energy needs. A starvation scenario can be triggered by too few calories or by too much exercise. Too few calories would be anything below 1200 for most women. Too much exercise would be that which creates a deficit too much below the 1200 calorie threshold. No matter where you start out, that threshold is triggered on average, by anything that amounts to more than about one percent of body weight lost per week.The end result of burning muscle is reduced metabolism, and even slower fat loss. If calories are not increased gradually and exercise does not continue, it can also lead to rapid re-gain. On top of that, if you exercise at too high a heart rate, your body will not burn fat. It flips from aerobic (fat-burning) to anaerobic (sugar-burning). Runners who bonk do so because they are working at too high a heart rate, and have burnt off all of their blood sugar, and all of the glycogen stored in their muscles. Some try to compensate with sugar gels and energy drinks, but would not have needed any of it if they had just run at an aerobic pace. This happens commonly amoung distance runners, and it can take days for them to recover after a marathon. However, those who participate at an efficient aerobic pace can finish without experiencing any of it. Stu Mittleman writes about it, and how to avoid it, extensively in Slow Burn. He is himself an accomplished super-marathoner and trainer.

Betty, I'd love to visit with you in Portland and drive up to the Seattle bandster weekend, but alas, I'm booked for a sun vacation in Arizona and a visit with my sister (an Alberta snowbird in Yuma). Julie, I hope your Chicago trip was a blast, and I'm betting you no longer need a seatbelt extender. Hooray! Omigod, Kat, your coughing sounds horrendous! Please feel better! Welcome to the henhouse, George! Glad to see that you've decided to don your sneakers and join us gals. What will your exercise regimen be? (Mine is fitness classes, yoga, lap swim) Roberta, I'm experiencinging the same problem, finding myself very hungry just a few hours after eating. In fact I just made an appointment for a fill. But not until January, cuz I don't want to risk restriction problems developing during this busy social season. And if my weight loss slows or stalls for a few weeks, I'll still be a winner -- socially, that is. heh Susan, I had to laugh out loud when you said that you were "absolutely freezing" at 48 degrees in Florida! You have no idea, girl! Our New England temps got up to the low 30s today, and I thought the weather was perfect. April Bandits December Challenge: FIVE days of exercise completed

Betty, that's awfully good news about your brother! Given his multiple medical problems, including extreme obesity, the LapBand could be a lifesaver. And how fortunate he is to have a banded sister to lead the way and cheer him on! (And her online friends as well...) In my case, the band has resolved ALL medical issues, and I no longer take ANY meds. That includes for cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes. Wow, you're quite the gal on the go! I've been meaning to tell you that I visited your fair city (Portland) in 2004 for the World Figure Skating Championships, and I was very impressed. I think Portland is quite an extraordinary city. Environmentally conscious, socially aware, Enlightened. Now I have a reason to return as well, since my niece has moved there with her husband & kids, exchanging a buffalo ranch in northern Alberta for the Pacific Northwest. So far they love it!

That's very exciting, Julie! Each new "decade" is a thrill, and worth dancing about! I'm particularly looking forward to the 230s myself, because it will mark my 100-lb loss. Maybe by New Year's. April Bandits December Challenge: Four days of exercise completed

Dawn, I love hearing about your life in the Arctic. How large is your community? BTW, I'm Canadian too! Julie, are you back on track with diet? I remember your complaint about losing some focus after your return from France. When I stray too far off the eating path for more than a day or so, I often experience terrible food cravings, particularly for carbs and sweets. Boo, stop by my place anytime (the Berkshires), and you can taste my homemade lefse. Betty, congratulations on making it into the 170s! Great that your DH is losing weight too, cuz he'll need to match your sleek new look. Kat, what a drag to be felled by a cold, especially in this busy season. Take good care of yourself! April Bandits December Challenge: Three days of exercise completed

Yaaaaay, Betty! Very sorry for your loss, Kat. Your aunt sounds like a terrific lady.

I don't understand how you can give up on the band BEFORE you have achieved restriction, which apparently you have not yet done. I'm not surprised. My doctor says it takes an average of six fills to get to the right spot.

Welcome, Schel ! Congratulations, I see that you just celebrated your one-year Bandiversary. So what brings you to the April Bandsters? Delta Dawn, you are doing incredibly well with weight loss! What kind of exercise regimen do you have? (P.S. Are you Canadian?) April Bandits December Challenge: One day of exercise completed

Welcome to the December Challenge, DeltaDawn. Great to have you onboard. I'm curious about your huge weight loss (138 lb). Have you lost all of that since your banding date?

Nowhere is it specified in this report which bariatric procedures are referenced. Any study that lumps LapBand together with gastric bypass is worthless in my estimation, since it turns out that almost all of the negative results apply specifically to bypass, not LapBand. BTW, my surgery, at 63, was uneventful, and I have lost 90 lbs in seven months. I have not been this healthy in years.