lisalee

MimIN, I have a lousy track record when it comes to relationships with guys so take this for what it's worth. I guess I would say, remember what was supportive or helpful to you...then try to do it for him. If I know anything, guys want to be appreciated. Keep this in mind, maybe he is afraid that your sexy new look will send you looking elsewhere too? I really don't know the answer but understand what it feels like when other overweight friends and acquaintances share their weight struggles. It's tough to know the right thing to say. Tami, you are my HERO!!! I want to be like you when I grow up I have started running (egad!) just to keep the fat melting off and it's going slowly. I am up to a 8/10 of a mile without stopping....gotta walk about a 1/2 first to get those endorphins flowing. This last week I exercised 30 minutes 3 times....for 9.5 miles. I am satisfied. Would have liked to do more but Friday when I finished my run my nose clogged up, I sneezed about 20 times and couldn't breathe. Seems I inherited a gene that causes vasomotor rhinitis (according to the doc). This is precipitated by STRESS...such as running or exercise. If I sneezed once I sneezed 100 times this weekend...and that is no exaggeration. It was the craziest thing. Anyway, I am hoping the stress hormones, or whatever caused it are gone by tomorrow (still sniffling today.) I'd really like to get out there an run a full mile this time! Down one meager but real pound this week (think, four sticks of butter!) Whew.

MimIN, I have a lousy track record when it comes to relationships with guys so take this for what it's worth. I guess I would say, remember what was supportive or helpful to you...then try to do it for him. If I know anything, guys want to be appreciated. Keep this in mind, maybe he is afraid that your sexy new look will send you looking elsewhere too? I really don't know the answer but understand what it feels like when other overweight friends and acquaintances share their weight struggles. It's tough to know the right thing to say. Tami, you are my HERO!!! I want to be like you when I grow up I have started running (egad!) just to keep the fat melting off and it's going slowly. I am up to a 8/10 of a mile without stopping....gotta walk about a 1/2 first to get those endorphins flowing. This last week I exercised 30 minutes 3 times....for 9.5 miles. I am satisfied. Would have liked to do more but Friday when I finished my run my nose clogged up, I sneezed about 20 times and couldn't breathe. Seems I inherited a gene that causes vasomotor rhinitis (according to the doc). This is precipitated by STRESS...such as running or exercise. If I sneezed once I sneezed 100 times this weekend...and that is no exaggeration. It was the craziest thing. Anyway, I am hoping the stress hormones, or whatever caused it are gone by tomorrow (still sniffling today.) I'd really like to get out there an run a full mile this time! Down one meager but real pound this week. Whew.

Edieparks, I got you beat....I had a plateau for 4 weeks! I even went in for a fill and there was no room to add anything. I discovered that changing the type of exercise I do keeps my body wondering and not hogging all the calories. Translation, for me that meant regular walking was no longer working. Now, I am working on running too and do occasional weight lifting. Yes, I fianally broke that plateau.....whew!

I would really love to hear from those who are maintaining at their goal weight....how is it....do you fear regaining those pounds? How is your life different now that you have gotten where you want to be? How long have you been able to maintain? I know y'all are out there! Tell me what it's like! I am getting pretty good at sensing what life is like losing....how is it trying to maintain?:yo:

Thanks for your comments Chickie! BTW your pics look awesome!

Thank you Jachut! It is nice to hear that regaining for you would be very difficult. I would like to think that it won't be as easy now to regain as it used to be in the past. Of course pigging out on a full meal deal at McDonalds with a dessert and extra burger thrown in is no longer possible. I think that might take me a day, if I didn't PB through the whole thing! Where are the rest of you? Have you lost your weight and stopped dropping in to LBT? Surely there are others out there!

Hey, no offense taken I am still in the process of learning and losing (still a fat gal ) I am learning that there are so many ways to look at things and this is a great venue for bouncing ideas off others then hearing constructive ways to look at them differently. Thanks Mindy for your candor.

If the inches are disappearing then where are they going? The average woman does not gain that much muscle mass even when competitively weight lifting....they just lose fat. I hear that statement a lot and even seem to think it may be happening to me but I have never had it explained to me. Does anyone know the answer to that?

Ariel, I am a nurse and had to do those lousy exams on other students so I know a little bit about what that's like. How about you approach your instructor with your situation and see if she/he can work with you? I think the magic word would be "confidentiality." If you can convince your instructor that you are eager to be an active member of this experience but fear you may have to divulge a private health matter in doing so she/he may be more understanding. I'm sure your instructor can find a way to discretely have you join in without exposing yourself. Frankly, they have to adapt their lesson to your privacy needs and not doing so could create a "hostile learning environment." I am an RN and part-time instructor at a local college so these things are very sensitive. I know you don't want to come off as defensive or hostile. They do however have to protect your privacy and I have a feeling they will do what they can to accomodate you. Again, I think the magic word is "confidentiality" and even if you just tell the instructor they will be bound to that in their own scope of practice or teaching with you. Good luck and let us know how it goes!

Threebeauties...."so what if it is the easy way out?" Yes, yes, yes!!! I love it! Why hadn't I thought of that myself!?! I will remember and embrace that philosophy from now on. Thanks!

A woman? Heck yes! Hillary? Heck no! Now Condi? Maybe!

Katt, hang in there. Life is strange isn't it? I'm sorry to hear about your ex...and sorry to hear you're having a rough time. I've dealt with grief issues both personally and professionally and if there's one thing I've learned it's not to try to make sense out of the strange things we do, think, or feel when experiencing a loss. None of it will make sense, just accept where you are at the time and be patient with yourself. I hope that doesn't sound patronizing or too simplistic. It's just my experience from my own little corner of the world. Most importantly, keep in touch with us and let us know how you're doing.

April, I just read your story about the band slipping. Wow, I am so sorry. We all fear we will be the one and I'm sorry it had to be one of our group. :cry Please keep us up to date and keep your chin up! I was 198 all weekend then creeped back up to 199 this morning. I've had a hard time eating this weekend d/t a wicked cold and sinus congestion (has anyone else experienced this?) My body is hanging onto those calories for dear life I think! Still, I am very pleased to be in Onederland for the first time in years...and grateful to see a slow but downward trend. Have been trying to kick up the workouts a little more with weight training. So, down 2 pounds since last week. Got only 2 workouts in d/t icy roads and a cold. :sick Does anyone know why I can't seem to post two tickers on my signature? I can only do one or the other. Does it help if they come from different webpages?

Things are still sssslllooooww here! I'm down to 201 from 205 last week but I've been struggling with the same 5-6 pounds for the last month. Onederville is just around the corner and I just can't seem to squeeze past it. My clothes are loosening up a little. I've added weight training to my exercise regimen. Just a couple of times a week when the weather's bad. Down here in Texas when we drop down below 30 we all stay indoors....or should. Lord knows Texans don't know how to drive in winter weather. That's when I stick around and workout on the BowFlex in the garage. So I worked out 45 minutes on the Bowflex, twice last week and walk/ran for 30+. Got to get back to work. More later.

I actually notice now that I feel a little sense of fullness when I eat. I have to concentrate on the food and make myself aware of my eating though....can't just chew away. I noticed in a lunch meeting today that I had eaten a cup of low-fat yogurt with some granola (mushy) mixed in. Upon looking at that I realized that I had been talking and eating and suddenly it dawned on me that I had that sensation. The soreness I felt was actually in the opening to my big stomach. I have had mushies and liquids since being at the doctors on Monday. My band felt a little irritated when I went in. Had I lived in town I might have rescheduled but I live 3 hours away from my doc in Houston so I drove in the night before and wanted to make it a profitable trip. At least now I know I didn't really need a fill, I just need to get back to basics and work a little harder. I'm not thrilled about the protein shakes....I would rather eat the protein and have to hold back throughout the rest of the day. I just haven't been getting enough protein lately and was living off too many carbs. I also only use them at work. I've got to have a source of protein to get myself through the morning. I don't always get a chance to sit down and eat breakfast (Lord knows I can't get up in time to do it!) so I guess I'll use them for now. By the way...did someone say bread? Oh my gosh, I cannot imagine eating a piece. I took a bite of someone's meatloaf sandwich one day, chewed a billion times and then thought I was going to die! I did find a bread in the frozen foods section.."Ezekiel something" that works in small amounts (eg. half slice.) It is made completely from "grain sprouts" and has no flour in it. I don't know how it works but it tastes pretty good and has low carbs/high protein. Down side...it's over $3.00 per loaf. Thanks ladies for your support and suggestions. I really appreciate it. Oh, one NSV...I walked/ran for 30 minutes last night. One block of running, one block of walking etc. and didn't absolutely die from it. I can actually run over a minute now. Cool... =)

Weighed in at 205 yesterday. Up two pounds. Bummer. Went in for a fill and could only tolerate another .10ml. No loss in almost 4 weeks. Double bummer. Will have to increase the intensity of my workouts I guess. Does anyone notice that increasing the amount of protein in the diets help? I found a shake with 42 grams of protein per 12 oz. It is 230 calories which seems like a lot but only 2 grams of fat and 12 grams of carbs. I've had a real difficult time tolerating any meats. Also, my stomach is REAL sore this morning...unless it's liquid it hurts going down. Could it be the time of the month thing? I just stopped taking birth control pills. Any thoughts on this? I'm feeling discouraged

Rosie has a lot of room to talk. What is she doing about her own weight? At least I can say I accepted responsibility for my weakness/illness/disease or whatever you want to call it and did something about it. She has children. Has she ever considered how her obesity could affect her ability to care for those children in the long run? I believe it is better to accept and recognize when you can no longer do it on your own and certainly a sign of strength when you seek out help from the medical profession. For me the debate is not how hard it must have been to have to have surgery but how hard it was to "fess up" to my own inability to do this on my own. Yes, getting the surgery was a hard way to lose weight, we all know that. How about acknowledging that we all were able to accept that we had a problem and could no longer change it on our own but were able to do so with professional help? It's sort of like saying the alcoholic that takes Antabuse (a pill that makes you deathly ill if you drink) is taking the easy way out. Frankly, I feel that the alcoholic has finally taken some personal responsibility and made a healthy choice to change their ways....even if they do need medical help to do it. Yes, I do feel strongly about this

I just have to jump in here and say I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the last couple of days (I've been working.) It is so refreshing to hear from a group of gals with such a wonderfully sublime sense of humor...and to realize I am not alone in my love/hate affair with my scale. It really helps me to realize I am not alone (or weird) in regards to the whole weight loss issue. Yes, I weigh once or more a day, no I haven't lost anything of substance, I still struggle to eat the right amount...at the right times, etc. You guys keep me grounded and sane Weigh in and fill tomorrow...I'm keeping my fingers crossed and my sense of humor!

Whoohoo! I have a ticker...and it only took me 45 minutes! Great instructions MimIN, the best I've seen yet. Thanks!

Hi all! I hope I'm not too late for the challenge. Weigh in this morning (and yesterday, and the last 3 weeks :mad: ) is 203. Getting a fill next Monday...is it possible to become addicted to those?

Ugggghhh. :help: I have been awful these last two weeks. I do OK at home...just don't buy the bad stuff but there is junk at work all the time. I am a nurse and family members and co-workers are constantly bringing in sweets, pastries and all sorts of evil treats. I can live without a steak but chocolate or sweets? That is my weakness. I think I have good restriction, it's the snacking inbetween (whick I KNOW I shouldn't do) that is killing me. A very loving and caring family member said, "Just don't eat it! Say no. Don't do it." :girl_hug: I said if it was that easy I wouldn't be a bandster. I liken it to having a bowl of crack on the table and telling a drug abuser "just say no." I really can't wait for the holidays to end so all of the bad stuff will go away. To top it off I have been working on becoming a non-smoker (I slip up from time to time.) I am taking Chantix which is to help decrease the cravings for nicotine and the reward of smoking the cigarette. (the rush.) Someone told me to quit smoking only after I reach my goal weight but I have been told by my GYN doctor to quit now or he'll take me off the birth control pills. And anyone that knows me will tell you I become a bear if I don't take those pills. What to do? Anyway, I haven't gained any weight this holiday but wish I could keep from continually putting crap in my mouth. Thanks for letting me vent! :hurt

MOM, I'm sure it is quite a job keeping up with us. THANK YOU for the time you take to do it. I know I speak for all of us when I say how much we appreciate what you do. It is so nice to check in (at least) weekly and see how everyone is doing. Good luck to all with the weekend's food, family, and festivities. It will be a challenge but it will all soon be over too. The good news is the band will still be there when it is over! Happy Early Merry Christmas!

MOM, no weight lost, no weight gained. I'll take that since I hosted early Christmas at my house and we had bad food EVERYWHERE! And yes, I was bad. I'm so glad to see I didn't put on the holiday 5-10.

Thank you all for your support. I do think that part of the reason people treat me differently is because I feel better....and that comes out in my general appearance and personality. It's interesting to hear that they may lap-band people a little lighter. Faybe, we have the same doctor, I think I got that impression in his seminar. It's amazing what can be done if you have enough money. This was self-pay for me (now I'm broke ) Most of my other healthcare always been through an HMO though...and that's definitely different. I'll have to work on getting rid of the guilt. I know this was necessary if I want to see 60 and need to remind myself of that! I deserve this

I'm not really sure what to think....my weight loss has been praised and supported by friends and co-workers. I have never heard a disparaging word from anyone, nor have I heard anyone say, "You took the easy way out." (BTW I KNOW that's not the truth!) I remind those around me that this process isn't a cakewalk (ha, ha) and is requiring a life change for me, including learning to rethink and react differently. YET, I spoke with a friend today who had gone online to look up the lap-band and expressed frustration that she wasn't able to get the band done because her BMI was too low. She had gained back 20+ pounds that had been lost while doing Weight Watchers. She was frustrated and even said, "why should I be discriminated against because I don't weigh enough?" Without going into risk vs. benefit issues, AND cost (she's a nurse like me and knows) I merely responded with support and empathy. The thing is, I remember being at that BMI many years ago and feeling the same way. I used to think, "what am I going to have to do, gain the weight to get it off?" Unfortunately, life took a difficult turn and I packed on the necessary pounds and then some...so here I am! I have been thinking about this ever since and feel bad. I feel frustrated for her struggles and guilty for having my blessed little band. I only wish everyone around me could have the same fortune that I have had. Is this some sort of "Fat Girl Recovery Guilt?" :nervous I'm also worried that those overweight friends I do have may begin to silently or subconciously resent me for my weight loss. I haven't gotten there yet but it worries me. I know, "if they do that they're not really your friends." I hear that but I need to know how to deal with it. To confuse things even a little more, I have noticed some folks are starting to treat me differently, in a NICE way, than they did before. I'm not sure they are even aware of this. Sorry for the novel but I'm confused, worried, and obsessed.