ser123

Okay guys, I don't feel like exercising today. But I have no excuse other than I don't feel like it. If anyone feels like giving me some encouragement/kick in the pants, please feel free.

Oh, I also do not want to PB or slime

This week I want to stay around 2000 calories a day I want to drink 8 glasses of water a day I want to swim once, bike twice, run twice, lift weights once.

Don't feel guilty Audree! We all want to be successful and seeing someone who is doing it the right way, not having any problems and losing weight is very motivating. I love reading all your great posts about how good you are doing and how good you feel. If anything, I feel bad that if you have a bad day, you may not feel like posting because you have been doing so great. You rock and keep those posts coming!

Audree, I know that the calorie count is way too high, especially since I haven't lost weight since the first 2 weeks. I am just stable now. I just also know I am still battling hunger some, scheduling and learing to follow the bandster rules. Yesterday I did an hour of really good cardio. I work out a lot, and do pretty high intensity stuff... so I figure I have SOME leeway. I would like to be able to eat and be satisfied with 1500 calories a day. I think I would lose my weight with that and still be able to do the sports I like. I hope when I have the fill I won't be as hungry. So the next 2 weeks I am going to really try to get the rest of the bandster rules as a habit. As you know, I still struggle with eating too fast, too big of bites, not enough protein. I am not gaining weight at this level and I am not eating the 3500-4000 calories a day I was eating before so that is good. That is a very good idea to just lower it 100 calories at a time. I tried for 1800 yesterday and ended up with 2100.

Hi skyblu, How exciting for you about your pre-op diet. Audree and I were banded on the same day and she is doing awesome. I am doing pretty good too and am VERY happy with my results. I do think it is really interesting to watch how Audree and I are doing, as she has been stringent about doing everything right. I have had more ups and downs, which is totally fine with me... but it does go to show you that the better you follow everything, the better you will do. But it also goes to show you that even if you aren't perfect, you can still have great results with the band. I am on the Susan Beach diet, so I can't tell you about the South Beach, but I like the accountability of this thread. By the way Audree, I hope you don't feel like I am putting pressure on you to do everything right all the time. I just think it is neat and I think it is really interesting to watch how we both do since we are sort of in the same weight category and were banded on the same day.

My goals today: Eat 2000 calories or less Eat soft stuff in the morning that is high in protein Drink 8 glasses of H20 Exercise, either run or bike Also clean my pigsty of a downstairs. It looks like a bear lives there.

Hey guys, I just wanted to check in and let everyone know that I have had a really good morning so far! I was late, as usual, but brought Crave Control Yogurt with me to eat in the car. I ate 2 of them, but that is still hardly any calories. I had no problems with PB/sliming. I was full and satisfied and then later got a Zone Perfect bar which I ate really slowly. It was solid but it chewed up really well, so no golf ball feeling in my chest. So I had a filling breakfast and snack with a lot of protein and followed the bandster rules today! In other words, I think I have found out how to have a good morning with the band and feel satisfied. I have only had 5 incidents total of PB/sliming but it is very stressful, especially while I am healing. So I am glad to feel like I have learned what works and feels good to me. I absolutely think PBing and sliming is a very big deal and very detrimental to having the band and I don't want to do it. So this has been my top priority for the last week. I was very upset yesterday when I PB'd, trying to eat slow and eat a good breakfast.

Good job Audree! WOOOHOOO!

Audree, I am not sure how to determine what goal weight should be. I have been down to where I wouldn't say I was at goal weight but I could have lived at that weight the rest of my life. Somewhere around 175 lbs for me, I am comfortable in my own skin. When I am 150 I feel like I look great but I always wanted to weigh 140. I guess I will know when I get there. I hope.

Hey there Travelbug, you are still 10lbs down which averages 2.5 lbs per week. 1-2 lbs a week is what our doctors want so you are right on track, right?

And personally, I like junk in the trunk. My trunk, your trunk, anyone's trunk. Flatbutt just doesn't do it for me. And of course all of my boyfriends are junk in the trunk kinda guys or they wouldn't be dating me, that is for sure!

Audree, I would definitely watch the volume, as I have no restriction and I have PBd 3x and slimed 2x now. I PBd this morning eating Morningstar Farms Sausage. So it is a protein shake or oatmeal for me in the morning. I thought it was just a morning thing, but 1 PB and 1 slime have come at lunch. I am always trying to eat too fast though, that is my problem I think. Anyway, I would still watch the volume, eat slow and eat small. You are doing totally awesome! I feel ya about buying new clothes. Have you thought about trying to tailor or pin your slacks in the waist at the back? It probably won't work for jeans but it will for slacks (I know this from experience). Then it only costs you a safety pin! You are probably not very far from a size 10. Have you gone and tried any on? If you can squeeze into them for now (thank goodness they put spandex in jeans now!) then you can probably wear them for another 20-30 lbs?

Booo hunger

It is only 10:30 and I am already hungry. I notice if I really have a tough workout I am usually starving the next day.

Alright, todays goals are: 1800 calories work out at the gym lifting weights (blech, I am already trying to weasel my way out of it). 64 oz H20 treadmill 30 minutes go shopping again for bandster friendly food that is fast and easy

I went mountain biking yesterday and it is HARD. I went 4 miles in 1.5 hours and fell probably 10x. My HR was through the roof, and I was sweating like a pig. It was scary and I had to get off of my bike and walk a lot of it because I was too scared to go down the hill, over the big tree root, across the logs, through the mud.... But I had a great time and I still have about 3 more weeks before my race. Wow. Mountain biking is way harder than road biking.

Thanks Deckedout and Julestwu, I got to a point last year where I just didn't feel like I had it in me to go on another diet. I could force myself, and be miserable, but I am just over it mentally. I don't want to be constantly obsessed with food - either not eating something because it is "bad" or not eating until I am satisfied because I already ate too many calories. So I am going a lot slower but I am not trying AT ALL to restrict my food intake. And even though I am eating 2000 calories a day, I guess that to be half of what I was eating before. I definitely have to change other eating habits though to follow bandster rules. Like eating more protein first, eating slower and eating small bites. I bought these Morningstar Farms sausage patties that are just awesome and had them for breakfast. I thought I was eating slow... but I don't think my body can handle anything solid in the morning because I ended up PBing and sliming. So I will eat those at night. I still have a lot to learn about what I can tolerate and what I can't. I think it is mostly a function of how fast I eat... except in the morning when I think I just need to stick to the oatmeal. I did get the styrofoam cups someone suggested and will be eating my oatmeal tomorrow!

I find it not quite as bad as vomiting, but pretty close. And I am not too happy for a while afterward. It usually happens when I eat too fast. I apparently really snarf my food. Also in the mornings, it is worse, although it has happened to me at lunch as well. I think it is a fairly serious event, not in happening once, but as an occurrence that happens on a regular or semi-regular basis. There is also sliming, which for me is when I throw up slime. No food, just slime.

That is great. Being in love that long would be great.

Deckedout, I definitely think the clothes make me look a bit heavier. If they are too tight I look heavier or if they are too baggy I look heavier. It is hard to find clothes that fit really well when you are heavy. Housecatgirl, You are rocking it with your weight loss! I am very impressed with a 3/4. I am 5"8 so I don't anticipate ever being a 3/4. What a great feeling to be able to get rid of those clothes and know they are gone forever! Audree, As usual you are doing well. As I have lost my restriction, as you know, some days I am okay but some days I have done awful. I haven't lost much weight beyond the first 2 weeks as a result. It is nice to see how well you are doing. I am not unhappy with my results but we are basically the same height and were banded on the same day and weren't that far from each other weight wise. It is nice to see a person who is just kicking ass on the rules kicking ass on the weight loss. So kudos to you and you are awesome!

yeah that ending is kind of lame Texasrose. At least you only went out with him once and didn't waste a bunch of time on him. I would rather it get over quickly instead of dragging out. Rip the band aid off fast for me please.

I did pretty good today. I drank all my Water, I exercised way harder than I thought I was going to and I ate about 2000 calories. I wanted to eat less than 1800 but after the workout I had I don't fault my extra 200 calories at all. Denise 822, I hear you about the Superbowl. I just went and hung out at a friend's house and thankfully, there wasn't much there to tempt me. I am opposite of you in that I seem to do better on the weekends than during the week.

Alright guys, I am excited because I just got asked by a friend to be on an Adventure Race team. Basically it is when a group of 2-4 people go out and they dump you in the woods and you have to canoe/mountain bike/trail run out of there with a compass. This race is 25-30 miles long and should take 3-6 hours. I am sure with me on the team it will be 6 hours. There always has to be at least 1 girl on the team and I am it. I am very excited about it! I am meeting my team today and we are going on a short mountain bike and then a trail run as practice. I am kind of nervous because I am really slow. The good news for me is that it is apparently really hard to find a girl to be on the teams so they are really excited that I want to do it.

Tulip, That is great! It is really exciting when people notice and when your clothes fit better too! Audree, I have to lose about 25lbs before people notice much. But it seems once one person notices, then a ton of people will start to notice. Kinda weird in a way how it must be that all of a sudden one day you just look a whole lot smaller to people. I am sure you are not far off!