KarenK

I finally recognized the distance between me and the steering wheel just the other day. And to think that my big old belly used to brush against it when I drove! I've also lost one cup size and one shoe size. I've stopped buying shoes online because I can't figure out what size to order any more.

Don - glad you're back and still doing fine. I lost 3 lbs this month. Could have lost more, but had some problems with the sweet tooth this month. Must get that under control!

Bradley - Wow, what an awful experience for you. I'm not sure what I would have done - not paid without screaming & kicking at least! (That was Bingham County, by the way, not Bannock.) The support group meets the third Thursday from 6 - 7pm at the sleep Institute at the corner of 15th & Center. Sorry we missed you.

Bimbabe - Congrats on the down 75! That's wonderful. I'm right there with you on things slowing down. If you decide to try the liquids & mushies stages gain, let us know if it works. I'm still losing, but it is a fight now. I think a lot of it is mental - I'm plenty tight, but am having problems with old bad habits. Hello vending machine!

Hi ladies - I haven't been able to shop in a non-plus-size section or store since I was a freshman in college - 22 years ago. (The freshman 15 came to visit and brought about 80 more of its friends to stay.) I'm finally in a size 16 - pushing a size 14 - and am suddenly discovering this whole new world of shopping! The stores! The selection! The colors! The prints! I no longer have to buy the same shirt in three different colors, because there are more out there - and they'll finally fit! My town has truly lousy shopping. I've been doing what I can online, and then hitting the stores when I travel for my daughter's dance competitions. I still use Lane Bryant (love their bras, even though I've deflated into a B cup), but want to find new fun places. What are your favorite places to shop?

Don't be too hard on yourself julie.ann. Even the healthiest of eaters has their off days or their cheat days. Remember, this is forever. You can't expect yourself to be perfect forever. My parents are vegetarians who do everything no-fat or at least low-fat. (Yeah, I was the black sheep - the great big black sheep) They've learned to give themselves some leeway once in a while - no tofurkey at Thanksgiving for them. We need to learn to do the same without beating ourselves up about it. Just get back on that horse! Good luck!

Being short with thick legs regarldess of my size, I haven't actually tried to cross my legs in years. Saw this thread and thought I'd try - I'll be damned. They crossed. And stayed that way. Perhaps not as elegantly & effortlessly as they will 20 lbs from now, but I'll be!

I'm a librarian at a University. I deal with rare books, manuscripts, and archives. I'm also the University records manager - that part is freakin' boring. I'm also a Mom. My beautiful 11 yr old daughter is quite the dancer, so being a Dance Mom takes up lots of my time as well.

Thanks Mimi. :thumbup: Congratulations julie.ann - good thing the husband has a good sense of humor.

Hey all - I hit one-derland today. Stepped on the clinic scale and it read 199! I know I have more to go (more than my ticker claims, but I wanted to set a reasonable goal), but I feel really good! And happy! Hope everyone is doing well.

I made it! Had an appt today at the clinic - I only step on their scale (found myself addicted to the scale) - and it read 199. I don't think I've weighed this little since my freshman year in college (before the freshman 15 - okay 30 - piled on). It is such a relief. I know I still have more to go - more than my ticker says, but I wanted to set a reasonable goal - but I actually feel so good. Good luck to everyone else getting close. You can do it!

I do about 45 minutes of cardio at the gym about 4-5 times per week. I alternate the treadmill, elliptical, and stair climber or I get bored silly. I also do about 15 minutes of strength each time I go - alternating upper & lower body. I also walk my dogs, and ride my bike, and do Wii Fit step aerobics, and do crunches on the exercise ball. Not all at once, of course. I've found that having a number of activities to alternate between has helped me stay interested. Last time I really tried to lose weight I only did step aerobics - day after day after day - no wonder I lost interest!

I think the only reason I've been okay with going to the gym so much is because all of the machines have their own tv sets attached. I can climb on the treadmill and get my "Dancing with the Stars" fix and before I know it, an hour has gone by. If they didn't have the tv (or a book stand) I'd probably be in trouble.

A friend who does hair for a living suggested B-complex vitamins - especially Vitamin B-12. My hair was so thin to begin with, I'm considering shaving it all off and buying a wig. Think I could get away with pink like Britney?

Carbonated and pure sugar. Great for the sweet tooth, not so great for the caloric intake.

Can I? Yes. Should I? No. Serious trigger food for me - I can't eat just a little.

I love this! Heck, I may post it on my computer screen to try to get me to stay away from the vending machine around 3pm every day!

Thanks Lisa - Thanks for the name - I looked it up at Amazon. It looks like fun.

I am at 203.5 lbs. I have a follow-up appointment in 3 weeks. I am aiming for 199 (at least) by then. I'm so close! I think the last time I was below 200 was my freshman year in college. It's almost nervewracking.

I'm starting towards obsession. My original plan was to hit the gym 3 or 4 times per week. I'm up to 6 or 7 now. I do crunches on an exercise ball every night in front of the tv also. I've started dragging out my old aerobics step and doing it for a half hour each night as well. Now I've started walking the stairs and perimeter of each floor in my office building. I think it all started ramping up because I hit a plateau and wanted desperately to get off of it. Now I'm afraid if I slow back down I'll plateau again! The problem is, I can't keep this up forever. At some point, I'm going to want a life away from exercise again! Hope I can figure out how to do that.

There's a Gold's Gym game for the Wii? I'll have to look that up. I do like my Wii Fit. I especially like the yoga and the step aerobics. It's not a great workout (for those I go to actual Gold's Gym), but it keeps you moving. Have fun with it!

cattoy - congrats - you look wonderful! I went in for another small fill yesterday. I was surprised to step on their scale and learn I had broken my plateau - I certainly didn't feel like it, but had lost 7 more pounds. If I keep my old bad habits in check (oh that vending machine!), I'm hoping to break into one-derland in a couple of weeks. Everyone take care.

I did a self-pay. Did have to have the psych eval., but no supervised diet. Just a bundle of money! Went to my first informational seminar at the end of July and was banded in early October. Could have had it done in mid-September, but ended up catching a cold and getting laryngitis.

Cyndi - Thanks for the info. That should fit my schedule easily, so you may just see me there. Have a good day.

Cyndi - Can people not using you for fills attend the support group? If so, how much do you charge and what time of day is it? My fills are still paid for until October, so I'll keep driving to I.F. for those, but don't go up for their support group meetings.