OH Juli

btw, the GF is black, for those of you who haven't met her...

BG, You're the one who told me a touch of jungle fever never hurt anyone... Hehehe

I used FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal most of last year until I got my bodybugg and I use their calorie counter now. I found fitday to be easy to use particularly once I got my regular foods data entered. Good for you. dems, Happy New Year to you too! 2008 is going to be FANTASTIC, indeed!

I actually miss fruits and veggies as I don't eat them nearly as often as I used to because they get stuck unless I really cook or chew the hell out of them. But I need to get back to it. I was trying a new vegetable every week or so back this time last year. I discovered beet greens and Swiss chard were good and parsnips not so good. Okay, Whole Foods here I come.

That sounds like an Aries to me. I know you're close to being one. My mother who is super groovey said that to me when I was little. I've used it as my excuse to never finish anything ever since.

I've gotten two fills and am on the same page as you about wanting to eat bits of everything. I don't like being too filled either. But you might want to think about getting another one. As you get smaller so does your stomach so the band isn't as snug...What exercising are you doing? Can you change that up? Take a different class, set some stupendous goal like running a marathon or something? You are doing mighty fine. I understand the frustration though. I missed my 199# by 2008 goal...but I have to say 2007 was an amazing year.

I'll ask for Water just to make the restaurant server not pester me. It's easier.

Awe, no really I'm a mega bitch. But I do find you so motivated to try new things that I can't just think about doing stuff, I actually need to do things I think about doing. What's the point of doing the same ol' thing all the time? If you want different results you got to do different things. You are just always so ready to, "give it a shot." It's fantastic. BG--the girl who will do anything once.

Whew girl...slow down. Yeah you!!! you've lost 77 pounds in 7 months. You're missing friends. You're missing your life because you think there is a start and an end to skinny and fat. Might I suggest that you think of this as a spectrum where once you LIVED at 262 and you are in the process of getting to life around 150. At 185ish you are still the same gal you were at 262 and will be at 150. Cute and fun and motivated. You'll certainly have different goals...and goals are good like wanting to be at 150 by your anniversary, but you are putting so much energy on that you are missing the joy of the journey. Also, that goal is so weighted that should you not make it your head might just pop off you neck! And what good will that do you? I don't want to say work out less and be with friends more, learn how to go out to restaurants and still be responsible, because that's not what you want to hear. But what you can do is up your Water consumption and find a different work out. How long has your weight flucuated? I've found that mine no longer is a sharp downward slope of 10 pounds per month but a more generally downward trend of 5 pounds per month. I think things change up after a half of year or so of doing being the same. You are doing a stellar job! Be kinder to yourself.

Don't put a beverage on the table with you. It's a mind over matter thing. And think about it, if you need to "wash the food down" it's too big and you need to chew it better anyway. I miss the flavor of my coffee with toast or soda with popcorn than I actually miss the beverage.

W, Google "road biking schedule green bay, wi" and I'm sure you'll come across some good stuff to do. Actually I know there has got to be some orgainzed stuff happening in Madison. Cutting sugar out is a challenge but I know I do better when I do. I've been toying with the idea of going organic and eating more locally grown food. This just might be the time I start. There are plenty of resources near where I live and my money isn't as tight as it once was, so I'm really considering it. BG, you really are inspiring.

Kyethra You're nearly half way to goal! Rock on Chica, rock on!

I find it annoying to watch because there is such a "traditional" verses "surgical" weight loss thing in the media. Also, I get pissy watching TBL because I think if I could check out of reality and go live on a ranch of course I'd lose that kind of weight...but I have to be in the right frame of mind to watch reality shows in general....

What's up with that? I was a vegetarian for 5 years and then off and on for a few years following that? Curious.......

I agree with Lucy, tell people what you want to tell them, fewer calories in and whole lot more out. As for drinks, I find it easier to just put a glass of water in front of me, though I never touch it. And really most folks are not paying that much attention to what you are eating and drinking. They just don't. I'm pretty open about my experiences, but to date I've only had one person ask me if I had surgery, actually she asked if I had done "something drastic" to lose the weight. I said, I had weight loss surgery. She's a big woman so I felt okay with that...dunno why, I guess if a skinny woman said, did you have WLS I'd be less okay with it....anyway, the woman said she too had surgery so I felt it important to say I had lap-band. She had bypass, lost 150 and stopped losing. I'd say she's still 100 overweight. Which isn't a judgement call, just interesting. Anyway, don't tell anyone anything you don't want to tell them. You can redirect conversations away from yourself if you ask people about themselves.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, my Marchie Buddies! I'm so happy to make resolutions that have to do with working on my house and being a better person in my relationships...well, I suppose that means my house is in bad shape and I neglect the ones I love, so I shouldn't be happy But really what it means is that food and my health are my largest concerns and I am overjoyed about that. Rosi, Try eating bananas or someone said drink pickle juice for leg cramps...I don't know the science behind it or if it's a old wives' tale, but there's a thought.

Kuebel J Change your statement from "I desperately want to reach my goal" to, "I am going to reach my goal" and then do what it takes to reach it. Bada Bing, Bada Boom--you goal will be reached! Happy New Year. I'm off to find the January thread, I'm sure it's out there.

Glad to see you are well and happy! Looking forward to the pictures.

I don't watch it either, so you need to tell us what the dad said....

BG, I hear you about the sugar beast! I ate an ass load of peanut M & M's on the ride home today (which sucked because YOUR state doesn't plow the roads well enough). When I got home I cleaned out all the sugar that may appeal to me, plus other food like real corn chips etc so I won't be tempted. I started the day with a few iced sugar cookies too...after reading your words I so got how you feel. It's freaking crack! I need to go cold turkey, so I will. You've inspired me, thanks. Did I post this? TOSRV - Home This is my ride I'm doing in May. I thought I wasn't going to be able to do it because of my kiddo schedule but I can. I was just told that before that weekend I'll need to do a 75/75 Saturday and Sunday. I'm actually pretty stoked. Looks like I'll be doing 150 right along side you Texans. HP, girl, you know you got the right bike...go back and find your posts about when you shopped for that bike so you can remember how you felt about it. Back to work tomorrow. Woo Hoo. :|

Happy New Year Kids! I'm still at Alison's. Everyone is sick including me. I'm coughing and hacking and allowing people to sleep so here I am on the computer... I know it's 8 am, but Zoe stayed up to ring in the new year with us and she's going to be out for an other hour. Alison is coughing worse than me. Ugh. I have a 5 hour drive later today part of which is in some snow. BTW, BG, we did sled/tube thing yesterday and it was a hoot. Sledding at Echo Valley if you find yourself in western MI. I hate to leave, but I need to get home. I got on a Spinning bike yesterday, and feel it in my ass today. I haven't sat on a bike seat since October, I don't know why I thought I'd be pain free.... Glad to see HP and D poke in your heads. Miss you guys.

Hi Tyanna I'm and OSU patient too. I had Mikami, in March. Nice to meet you.

B, You're kiliing me. OMFG. I'm glad you're alright and have a plan to keep on riding even without your lollies. Ugh. As for my biking news I've signed up to take a two day class (in the evenings) for bike maitenence with the gals I bike with. That's in February and I can't wait. J

My sweetie went on a diet at the same time I got banded. (We don't live together.) And she lost 25-ish pounds to go from 175 to about 150. That was back in the spring and summer. She's now struggling because ten has creeped back on and she's fighting to get them off. It's interesting, because you'd think relating to her struggle for 10 pounds would be difficult for me, but I get it. She get's my struggle too. But we're women, if you haven't figured that out yet, and relating about body issues is easier than between a man and a woman, I think.

Hi Fort Bend Band! I was banded the day after you and I one state to the east, in Columbus Ohio. Please post and post often. We all can use the support of other Marchies. This isn't about a how fast or slow you lose, it's about dealing with food and all it's implications in our lives and sharing that with others. I'm glad to see you here.