LapNYC

You've been banded longer than I have so I'm sure sure that I don't have any real wisdom that you don't have already. If it were me I'd cut some carbs (within reason) and up the exercise intensity. In the early going walking is enough but the bar gets higher as time goes on as you well know. Unless you have injuries I'd start running or spinning or something that leaves you hyperventilating, rather than enjoying the scenery. If there already is some pep in your step, I'd eat some more fish, drink some more Water, get some more sleep and hope that this too shall pass!

Sign me up! It's so hard to imagine what weight loss will look like down the pike a little. I'm at 210 now so I'll go with 35 lbs, taking me to 175. I can't imagine weighing that. It would be almost criminal! p.s. I sorted the sheet alphabetically, just for ease of use. I hope that's ok! Happy to undo.

Congratulations on all those victories. The knees knocking at night sounds like a pain actually. I'm not bleeding for you though! I agree about the crossing legs thing. I used to hate sitting there like a linebacker with everyone else in their cute skinny jeans with their legs crossed and wrapped around each other 17 times. I'm nowhere close to that, but I can cross the suckers. Betsy I had to laugh about the cuff of the pant grab. I definitely know that one. Indeed the boobs are the sacrificial weight loss thing. Small price to pay. I nursed three kids for three years (total, not each!) and only had a giant hunk of fat standing between me and my skinny friends' saggy boobs anyway. I wish it were possible to just get a lift instead of a lift and implants, but it sounds like that's just kind of the deal. But I digress. I still can't fit my engagement and wedding rings on, but I'm thinking that might have as much to do with the weather and the humidity. My feel haven't changed either and I wish they would. They're so wide and not cute! I'm still hot all the time and whiny about that, but I think that just might be who I am, fat or not. I do see collarbones and if I recall, I had some good ones. I used to lift weights a lot in the past so it's not taking long to get some muscle back, although I see that the skin on my arms and legs is unfamiliarly loose. Hopefully some more pumping Iron will change that. I need to try and take a bath again. If I don't feel like a beached whale in two inches of Water I'll praise jesus. And I'm Jewish. Funnily, I can't point to too many things, but I think that was always part of my problem. I didn't notice myself gaining a hundred pounds, so why should I notice myself losing it either? I need my trusty scale to remind me that this is really happening. Don't get me wrong though. I'm as thrilled as the next guy!

I'm starting at 210 and am in a bit of a slump. This is a good time for me to exercise in that I actually have time, for once. I'll go with 15 which would bring me to 195. This is a bit of a stretch. Good luck to all. It's nice to break the weight loss into baby steps like this!

Mine might be as follows: Breakfast: Greek yogurt with berries and low fat, high Protein granola Lunch: spinach salad with grilled chicken and low fat dressing Dinner: Baked salmon with dill sauce and broccoli Dessert: sugar free popsicle Yours? Of course in reality I eat nothing for Breakfast a lot of the time and eat too much fish, too few salads and not enough fruit and vegetables. And a cocktail when the mood strikes me.

I'm impressed, happy for you and...jealous! It must feel great. Wishing you much more of the same.

I met my 20 lb goal, revised from the initial 15. So strange to think I was 20 lbs heavier when this started. And I thought I was "thin" then! A Labor Day challenge would be great. I'm at 209 and for some reason feel a plateau coming on on my way to onederland. Good luck to all.

I got rid of the biggest stuff and things I never liked much in the first place, but i have to admit that now that I've lost a bunch of weight, I am saving good articles of clothing here and there as I shrink out of them. I saved some smaller stuff and it's coming in handy all these years later and I'm so glad I have it. I know that with this band I won't gain the weight back but...I always gain the weight back. I can only assume that this is a terrible practice. Maybe I'm just cheap. What's your "policy"?

Sorry to hijack this thread for a moment but... Catherine - I go to Soul Cycle too. The uptown ones. Who are the good instructors outside of Stacey? Where is your bootcamp class? I'm formerly a big exerciser and need to get back on the horse. Congrats on your success!

I know exactly what you mean Adagray. Except I'm not the hugest lane Bryant fan so I had even fewer choices. I'm still in a size 16 but once I hit 14 I don't even know what I'll do with myself. I have no idea how my skinny friends restrain themselves. I'm used to buying absolutely everything in the world that fits and looks good on me...because there were only about three things. Now what?

If I'm down a tenth of a pound I change it on my ticker and in an app. if I'm up, only I know.

OK I listened to your advice and did a serious purge this morning. It is the right thing to do but it feels weird. Like the fat gods are laughing at the hubris of it all or something. They're not...right??

I haven't had the noteworthy success yet that many of you here have found, but I definitely believe that exercise has to be a big part of the equation. I'm guessing that I'll have to get a tummy tuck somewhere down the road but clearly I can't lift every inch of my body. With the recent weight loss I feel a little flabby all over, and unless I want to stay in my customary long sleeved shirts all the time, I know I have to pump some serious iron. I can't run because of a bad ortho history so I spin. Too bad for me because running is always accessible and free! I'm in the gym five times a week and it's easy for me to go. I've always been a gym person. It's the food that has always killed me, so this band is definitely working for me. Sorry for the free association here. I forget what the question was!

Sounds like an appropriate tweak to me. I understand your hesitation, but I agree with the advice you've gotten here. Maybe a teeny unfill and more solid protein will cure what ails you. Good luck!

If you really wanted to pick up the intensity I would integrate a couple spinning classes or runs to the mix if your body allows. I also think that lifting free weights on your own provides way more bang for the buck than the weights incorporated into a class or a circuit. IMO heavy weights are the way to go. The ability to build giant muscles is determined by genetics. I hate when women say they "don't want to get big." Not that you did! More Jazzercize or another dance/cardio class sounds a little redundant. I should, of course, take my own advice. I spin my ass off and lift weights by body part, but I really need to throw some yoga and something involving lateral movement like a boot camp or a dance-y something in there. It's hard because you tend to do what you like over and over again, whereas keeping your body guessing and mixing it up is what really works. I'm definitely no expert, but I've had several trainers and used to spend a ton of time in the gym. But I wouldn't necessarily listen to me! I'm sure there are more well-credentialed out there.

I weighed 210.8 this morning and I'm DYING to kiss that 200 goodbye on the scale. Once the kids are in camp I'll be able to pick up my exercise and then, hopefully, onederland here I come! It makes me want to come up with a fake illness so that I can step on a scale at the doctor's office and take that big clunker on the bottom from the 200 to the 150 mark. Who else is anxiously awaiting and close to this milestone?

I'm quite grateful for vanity sizing. Right now I'm getting close to a J. Crew size 16 (it's a weird mini-goal of mine), and that's only because they've gotten generous with the sizing. In Marilyn's day I'd be relegated to the fat store forever!

No hair loss here. It's amazing how different peoples' responses to the band are though. Unfortunately you won't know until you're banded, but I'm guessing that most hair thinning bandsters would choose the hair loss over the fat any day!

I think you're doing the right thing in the early going, but several months in I would definitely go with your friends, watch the soccer and nurse a glass of white or something. You don't want to get to the point where you're punishing your band for not allowing it to allow you to enjoy your friends. Eventually you'll be able to do both and it won't be torturous.

Totally amazing. Enjoy!

I did it once or twice either pre- or just post-op. Gross, but it was a time and a place, I guess. I would agree that it sounds eating disorder-ish, but I think I was only allowed liquids at the time and was cooking for my kids and salivating like a rabid dog. Thankfully, those days are long gone!

I can eat anything if I'm reeeeally careful, although I don't really eat much steak or bread, rice and pasta more from the diet angle. Oh - eggplant is one thing I can't get down. My staples are the obvious, I guess. Lots of fish including sashimi, soup, oatmeal, cheese. Hmmm. Now that you mention it, I need some more! I'm curious about the responses you get.

I'm only halfway there myself, but I can see how you might feel the way that you do. Maybe it's good. It'll keep you paying attention and keep you humble! I hope that at least every once in a while you're able to look in the mirror and acknowledge how great you look. Jacqui - my sister is your height and 130 pounds (a lifetime skinny person) and she's always said that she feels like an Amazon. The curse of the tall! The good thing is at at least we get to eat more than shorter people. Small price to pay!

I did something similar at Babbo recently. It's not the same, but it's still a big treat. I hadn't understood that a meal could be great without being totally insanely over the top. I'm so glad you enjoyed your meal. I'm salivating at your choices. I bet the tasting menu wasn't too shabby either though!

I want some pictures of me with my kids. I'm a good photographer so there are a million of them with my husband. They're all good looking and thin! There's no actual evidence that we are living on the same planet even though I spend all my time with them. It also wouldn't kill me if a man started flirting with me and I had to tell him I was married. It's been a while! Some off the rack shopping for some really nice clothing would be a nice bonus too. Am I getting too greedy?