Erin Marie

I could lift and pick up a lot of things even right after surgery. I did have to be careful and not do too much, though, keeping in mind that those first two weeks are for healing and not work :cursing:. I can't eat broccoli. It's too fiberous for me and if it's in my food in any form but pureed, I will PB. Other than that? Not really. I can even eat bread and Pasta, I just have to take my time, listen to my body and know when I need to stop.

I'm up. 189. I've been in denial and didn't want to post it. On the plus side, I actually exercised today. Woo.

Thank you for maturely enlightening me.

Scale says 186.5 today but I'm visiting my parents so it's not my normal one. I'm with holding updating the ticker until I can confirm it on my regular one, haha! Needless to say I like this scale a lot more. Might have to steal it, even.

You're not giving skin enough credit. It's an organ like anything in your body and has an incredible bounce back ratio. It certainly does lose some of it's elasticity in old age, but if you're talking 20's, 30's, 40's and even 50's, it's ridiculous to suggest that there is nothing you can do short of surgery. Why is it such a ridiculous notion to gain lean muscle when you get to a "goal" weight and then lose the fat? It's not that the situation is unfixable. Your body composition is just altered and it's a matter of altering it again.

Unfortunately there is no such thing as spot treatment. When you exercise or weight train, you are doing your body a lot of good by working those muscle groups, but it won't show because you still have fat lying over those muscles. It will take time, but your efforts will show eventually. Also, "loose skin" is a complete and utter myth. Skin is on average 1.3 millimeters thin. If it is a flap, as in inches, it is fat and can be burned away like any other fat in your body. http://www.bodyfatguide.com/LooseSkin.htm

No weight loss for me! I think I've gained, honestly, but I'm just going to ignore that fact till I'm down where I want to be :tt1:. Good luck for next week everyone!

I'm a 21 year old junior. I was banded in May of last year, about a week after school let out. My parents flat out refused to let me get it during Spring Break; they wanted me home so I wouldn't over do it! At college, it is hard, I can't lie, but there are ways around it. Salads with chicken strips are a frequent for me. I often get the chicken sandwich and toss the bread. Our dining offers cups of cottage cheese and various fruits measured out in 4 ounce portions. And I avoid the Pasta places and prepacked snacky foods like the plague. Eat This; Not That is my go-to guide for eating out! I don't know what I'd do without it. It's so funny that so many of us really love it. If I don't have ETNT with me (for whatever reason), the Soup options are usually a good choice. If you get the small, it's this little 4 to 6 ounce portion; perfect. Provided you don't get something full of butter and cheese like clam chowder or loaded baked potato. Sirloin and salmon options are usually very low in fat and calories, especially if you get a steamed vegetable side.

Last week- 190.6 This week- 189.6 So a pound, maybe. Still pingponging though. Maybe if I get 188 next week I'll start believing my own body, lol!

15 pounds in a month and half is awesome, I don't know what you're talking about! Without the band, that took me at least three months or more and I'd always gain it back. No one is supposed to be restricted right after surgery. There's hardly any Fluid in your band! Any restriction you felt was from swelling. It'll take a couple more fills before you start to "feel" it. Remember that this is a journey, a marathon. Not a sprint. It's the end result that matters. Don't look at the other runners... they don't have your body, your weight, your history. Comparison will only lead to frustration.

B- Muscle Milk chocolate (230cal) L- Campbell's Savory chicken and Long grain rice + half a serving of whole grain wheat thins (290cal) S- Keebler's RightBite 100 calorie snack Sargento's Light String cheese (50cal) D- (Plan on) Romaine salad with feta cheese, carrots and strawberries with raspberry vinaigrette (little less than 300cal?) I need to start becoming accountable for what I eat again. I've been snacking excessively and I KNOW it's been hindering me in losing weight. Time to put up or shut up.

For your drinking during meals issue, don't even have a drink near you. If it's there with you, of course you're going to drink from it. It's habit, that's its purpose. Leave your beverages in the fridge! Are you journaling your food? It might help occasionally, that way you can see exactly what you're eating and where you might be going wrong. Also needless to say is exercise. It's a must.

I would do it again in a heartbeat. No question. When I think of the Erin from a year ago, I remember someone who was depressed, miserable, sluggish. I was a very unhappy person with my extra weight. Some people can be content with themselves at any size, and that's great... but I couldn't. The band has taught me about head hunger, about taking care of myself, about self control and most importantly, to love myself. If you listen to your body, it will help you, I'm sure of it .

DEFINATELY DON'T drink anything when you're stuck. It will come right back up I guarantee you. Stuck to me is a very sharp pain right between and slight below my breasts. When stuck, one can commonly see the Erin-bird looking ill and pressing that area like it helps her :thumbup:. What has happened, I think, is that I took a too big bite OR I tried eating something glutinous... meaning bread, rice, Pasta. Pasta is sometimes okay but bread and rice get me stuck 95% of the time. Sometimes the only way to feel better IS to throw up a little. If you need it, it should come up with a little gagging, no elaborate ploys needed. It doesn't burn because there should be no bile. Just spit and sometimes the offending piece of food. After you've thrown up, these are the instructions from my doctor. Do not eat anything solid again for 24hours. Trying drinking a tablespoon of Water one hour after and if you cannot hold that down, call them immediately. If you can, good. Now it's Jello, broth and water for you until that time the next day. Hope this helped!

I try to only weight myself once a week, on Friday, but I fail. Always! I usually weigh once a day (sometimes more) and only update on Friday >>.