LoseIt!

Y'all know how much I HATE to feel feel down. This week, I have not been losing and this morning on my official weigh in day, I was up .6. (At first I thought I was up a whole pound, so I'm not going to get too upset about just over a half!) Anyway, when I think back to why... Exercise: I exercised for a total of 3 hours last week. One hour of Jazzercise, 2 - 30 minute treadmill sessions (couch to 5k), & 60 minutes with my trainer. Not bad, but far from my best. Food: If I am honest with myself, I know that I did not make good food choices this week. I don't think it is about stress or comfort. I think that I'm hungry and I have no will power. The doctor had said that he thought I was close to my sweet spot and might not need another fill for a while, but I think that might not be the case. Typically, I'm not hungry in the mornings. I will usually drink a protein shake in the morning (around 9:30-10:00), not because I'm hungry, but to make sure I'm getting good protein. Today, my stomach was growling (with hunger) by 7:30 AM. I don't want to be so tight that I can't eat, but I do need to be tight enough to curb my hunger more. Punishment: because I have gained weight this week, my punishment is to log my caloric intake. I HATE DOING THIS! I know some people are completely focused on this and I know that it is probably extremely helpful. But I HATE IT. So, it is an effective punishment and motivator to not have to do it again. Interestingly, I seem to do better when I'm away from home. Pre-band, vacations were weight gain guarantees! However, now, it seems to have the opposite effect. I don't snack much and I find time to work out. So...I will track my calories Mon-Wed. If I'm on the right track by end of Wednesday, I won't track my vacation (Thurs-Tues). When I get back, I will have one week until my fill. Now that week includes my birthday...so wish me luck!! Ha! Random question: do you all update your avatar pictures? I know that picture is how people here know me, but it isn't me anymore. Do you all leave them or update them??

I was having a "fat" day, so I wanted to look at my progress pictures and remember how far I've come. Seeing my "before" photo from mid-January, right next to my current picture from a couple of weeks ago definitely helps me to put today in perspective! Tomorrow I'm participating in a local Arthritis Walk. I have no idea how long it is. Perhaps I should have checked! Ha! I'm looking forward to going on vacation next week. I think I have late Spring fever!! Have a great weekend everyone!

1. Not often...a couple times a month maybe. Although with cold water, it happens all the time. 2. Anytime I drink cold water, especially early in the day, it comes right back up. With food, it is when I have taken too big a bite or swallowed something I shouldn't have. I do get tighter when I'm stressed, but I can usually tell. 3. I have been very fortunate to not PB enough to have a protocol. 4. If I am home, I will PB over waiting it out. Usually, I have had the choice. I have never had it happen automatically except with the water. 5. Much easier than expected. The slime is gross though. 6. None thus far. Good luck!

That is fabulous to see! I love hearing from people who have been banded a while. Congratulations on your success! It is so great that you were able to get yourself back on track when you had slips. Life happens and it is good to roll with the punches!

I haven't been able to eat bread or beef (except ground beef) since the 2nd fill. When I first heard that I probably wouldn't again, I kind of freaked out...but it hasn't been so bad. I have found that my tastes have changed based on what I can and cannot eat. Don't get me wrong...I LOVE food. But I find that I love different things than I used to. For example, I went to dinner with a friend last night. I ordered the venison meatloaf in mushroom sauce with mashed potatoes and veggies. I ate half and put half in a to-go box for my dinner tonight. Since it was a fun night out with a friend, I splurged and split a piece of key lime pie with her. It might not have been what I would have ordered a year ago, but it worked perfectly today. Everyone is different, so you have to figure out what is right for you. But I have found that is so much easier to do when you aren't STARVING all the time!! Good luck to you!

You are doing great! I know it is hard to be patient, but it is so good to be going in the right direction. Keep it up!

I'm back in town after visiting family since Wednesday. I'm proud to say that I lost 3.6 lbs this week...yay!!! So, I am averaging 1.95 lbs lost per week since the surgery. I'm SO happy for that! I thought being away from home would be more of a challenge, but it wasn't bad. Wednesday, I flew into Indianapolis and then drove to Louisville. I had a smoothie before I left and ate about 2 oz of chicen and some cheese and pita chips on the plane. For dinner we had ham steak and potato casserole. I also worked about about 40 minutes on the Wii Fit. I enjoy the Wii a lot, but I don't get my heart rate up as high as when I work out in other ways. Still, exercise!! Thursday, I woke up VERY late (yay, vacation!) and drank a smoothie. My SIL came home from work and we had some homemade chicken salad on crackers. Then we went the YMCA to work out. I did 25 minutes on the stairmaster, then 20 minutes on the treadmill. I would walk one song (3.0 mph) then jog one song (4.0 mph). Not too bad! Dinner was smoked sausage and leftover potato casserole. I also had some ice cream before I went to bed. :smile: Friday, I had another smoothie when I got up. There is a really cool 2.0 mile outdoor trail near my brother's house, so I went there. I walked one song/jogged one song for 1.5 miles. Then I was pooped. I walked to the 1.8 mile marker and challenged myself to jog just one more tenth. I made it! Then walked the last tenth. Excellent! I had a Deli Creation Cracker Combination for lunch, then some ground beef & bean nachos for dinner. Saturday was my grandmother's funeral. ALL of the family was there and she looked lovely. I'm sure she would have been quite pleased. After the service, we gathered at a nearby hotel. The kids were playing in the pool and I notice an exercise room that overlooked the pool. I put on my workout clothes and did my first "Couch to 5K" podcast. I had tried it before a few weeks ago, but I just wasn't ready. I think I am now. My SIL challenged me to jog a 5K around Labor Day, so that is my new goal! That day my walking pace was 3.5 mph and my jogging pace was 4.6 mph. Hopefully I can increase those as I go forward. At the very beginning of my exercise commitment (almost 3 months ago), 3.0 mph WAS jogging!! I love my family, but one thing I noticed this weekend is that we are a BIG family. My brother and one cousin are what I would call thin. Another girl cousin is "normal", but I know she REALLY has to work at it. A couple of my guy cousins are chubby. The rest (including me) of us are huge. it puts things into perspective for me. I believe that I was dealt these genes and it does make things more difficult. But I know that just means that I have to work that much harder. Did I want to eat a cream cheese danish for breakfast yesterday? Hell yes! But I know that I can't and so it made it easier. I told most of my family about my surgery. I think that many of them could benefit from it themselves and I thought I could be proof. I hope that next time I see them, I will be one of the skinny cousins! :biggrin: Have a great week, y'all!

It does get better! Hope you feel better soon! :cursing:

That is fabulous!! You should be so proud.

I didn't cheat. I think that grizzlyrider is right, maybe it was that particular thread. Congrats to you for sticking with it! It is totally hard and knowing that you can do it should fuel you the journey ahead. Go you!

It is always great to figure out the "whys". Good luck to you!

How exciting! Good luck to you. I know it will go great!

Last week I was completely grumpy and in a bad mood. I had several pity parties and woke up with a lovely pity party hangover on Monday. Monday is my official weigh in day and although I lost .8 lbs, I know that without caving in to feeling sorry for myself, I would have done better. I realize now, that journaling is what I do to motivate myself. If I write several days in a row, I'm psyching myself up. If I don't write at all, it is because I'm down in the dumps. I don't like to write when I'm sad because it makes me face my demons. Ha! Last week, my grandmother passed away, my uncle was hospitalized, my cousin was arrested, work was tough...all which caused a lot of stress. I think exercising each day kept big emotions at bay, but I could tell that I was cranky. And that just isn't like me. I finally got over it this weekend and yesterday I started to feel better. Plus, I had my support group meeting last night and it ALWAYS inspires me. It is nice to learn these things about myself. This process has been about MUCH more than weight loss! AND...yesterday was picture day. I have attached two original pics and two current pics. I love these little motivators!!

CONGRATULATION!! THAT IS AWESOME!! YES, I'M YELLING BECAUSE IT IS SO AWESOME!! Ha! I absolutely LOVE to hear about successes like this. You must feel GREAT!! Have fun shopping at the "regular" stores. I hope to be there myself soon! Keep it up!

First of all, congratulations!! You have done great and should be so proud! I've only been banded for about 3 months, so I can't help you much with questions #1 & #3. But for #2, I'm am quite open about my surgery. When people ask I tell them. I find if I am positive about it (and they are seeing the postive changes in me), then usually they are positive too. But I know that a lot of people don't feel comfortable talking about private things about themselves. So, everyone is different and I think you just have to do what is right for YOU!

I felt exactly the same way as you. I remember everyone telling me to be patient and being annoyed. Ha! But here I am telling you to be patient. Once it comes, it will be easier to make good choices. Keep up the good work!!

As we all know, Snow White had seven little friends...Sleepy, Sneezy, Bashful, Happy, Dopey, Grumpy, & Doc. Early this week, I felt like Snow White. I was feeling thin and pretty and generally princess like. Yesterday, I was definitely Grumpy. Today, I'm deciding between Dopey and Sleepy. Which dwarf are you today? Or maybe it is a Snow White day for you!!

As we all know, Snow White had seven little friends...Sleepy, Sneezy, Bashful, Happy, Dopey, Grumpy, & Doc. Early this week, I felt like Snow White. I was feeling thin and pretty and generally princess like. Yesterday, I was definitely Grumpy. Today, I'm deciding between Dopey and Sleepy. Which dwarf are you today? Or maybe it is a Snow White day for you!!

It takes a lot of strength to say no when things are offered to you. Good job!! Good luck with the remainder of your diet. Just remember that eventually it will get easier!

You can do it!!

Congratulations! Take care of yourself during the healing process. And good luck!

I always have a little bit of fear about the anesthesia, but honestly, I'm always out so quickly that it doesn't matter in the end. :thumbup: I don't think it is silly at all. Good luck to you! Take the time to heal and take care of yourself. Everything will work correctly in time!! Good luck!

I agree with ghs, protein should help. Also, if you can get yourself to exercise a little, your body will start to adjust. That may not be possible, but it's another idea. Good luck!

I was banded by Dr. Smith in Ft. Worth, but I can give you some info. Banding should not affect your breathing. If you are too tight, you might not be able to eat, but you can certainly breathe. Bandster Hell is that time after Banding but before you get restriction. It is called Hell because it is frustrating. You have taken this BIG step and you feel like you are not getting anywhere. But with fills, it passes and you hit your sweet spot. I am just over 3 months in and I'm finally at or close to my sweet spot. I have lost 40 lbs. and I feel great! I know that it isn't the right choice for everyone, but getting the Band was a GREAT choice for me. Good luck!

Yes, it is DEFINITELY normal! Most likely you have no (or negligible) fill in your Band. This is the time to heal. It is a good time to practice Band rules, but having no restriction is very normal. As you get your fills, the restriction will start working. Good luck!