Okay everyone. The Halloween Challenge was a big deal to me as a newbie. I was banded on Sept. 2 and I am doing very well, partly because of that spreadsheet! So a big thank you to LeighaMason who put together the spreadsheet. I put one together this morning for The Christmas Challenge. I figured that I could basically copy and paste, in doing so, I messed up the Halloween spreadsheet...so my apologies to Zeniada...I had no idea what I was doing and I messed up your line!! I feel terrible!

However, I somehow managed to get a spreadsheet put together...I hope it works. My goal is to another 8 pounds by the Monday after Christmas. Weigh ins will be Mondays, as usual, beginning on the 8th. Here is the link. I hope it works for everyone. If something isn't letting you read or edit, let me know, I may need to change my privacy settings.

Good luck to all who wish to participate.

Amanda

https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0Ak2Ill9eR_EidG1WRTUyU0FXVkNqSXZPcnloVUtvSGc&hl=en&authkey=CJGdlIUD

Okay, apparently I don't know how to post a link. Urg. If someone can help a technology challenge goof get a link up, let me know

Little bummed that I didn't lose anything over Thanksgiving. I was definitely eating a lot, but I burned minimum 1000 calories at the gym every single day (including the day before Thanksgiving, the day of Thanksgiving, Friday, Saturday and Sunday). At least I maintained. Determined to make next week count. Really want to reach my Christmas goal (Ill be in Hawaii actually ON Xmas, so if I can't weigh there, I'll weigh when I get back on Dec 30).

Better late than never! I am joining the Christmas Challenge today.

4 weeks to go, starting weight is 180, goal is 172!

Gain 1lb this week....went to dr had to get unfill for 4 weeks due tight band. I haven't had a fill in 8 months and all of a sudden band get tight. So I will have to work extra hard and pick better food choices. Can someone please help with some suggestions.

Somehow I managed to lose 2 lbs this week despite Thanksgiving. Something to be thankful for!

So slow and steady wins the race, I guess. I am losing again which is great news. But I had a huge setback with a really bad cold that keeps lingering so far for like 2 weeks. It is all upper resperatory so the breathing thing is difficult and makes real exercise nearly impossible. Hopefully things will improve so I cvan get back to the gym!

I lost 3 lbs this week! So excited - shocked actually. I'm hoping I can hit my goal of 5 more lbs by Christmas! Good luck everyone!

Only 3 weeks left. How's everyone doing?

Hey guys, well i am up 2lbs. I have been sooooooo darn hungry! My fill appt is not until Dec 20th and i feel like i can eat a horse!

OK, what am I doing wrong?

I entered my weightloss in the yellow box on the spreadsheet, but it isn't updating the other fields for me.

Leah...congrats on your weight loss... you are doing so well. Please could you post what a typical days eating is for you. I would really appreciate it. How much exercise are you doing at the moment?

Eating ideas would also be welcome from all bandsters.

Good luck to everyone in the xmas challenge...... people are doing brilliantly.

Lost another 3 lbs. I'm holding out against the christmas snacks and goodies....errr, I mean icky x-mas snacka at work.

I just entered my infor on chart ...ready for the challenge

I am so proud of my self, i set a goal for myself not to gain any extra lbs over the holiday, and i did better than that! I managed to lose 2lbs!!! However i had to work hard for it. I pre-calculated my calories, and did not go back for seconds and i worked out hard from Thurs morning all the was to sunday morning. 1 hr each day, and the end result 176lbs monday morning weigh-in! thats a 2lbs loss, YAY!!!!

Congrats!! Yo Rock!

Gain 1lb this week....went to dr had to get unfill for 4 weeks due tight band. I haven't had a fill in 8 months and all of a sudden band get tight. So I will have to work extra hard and pick better food choices. Can someone please help with some suggestions.

I have to write down absolutely everything I eat and calcuate calories and protein. It does help, cause I forget later in the day what I've eaten if I don't. I also journal on the same page: my feelings, how hungry I am, or if I am really hungry or just bored or lonely, etc. I've gone through 4 notebooks siince surgery in Sep. I also found a web site, Calorieking.com that tracks everything for you. I'm sure there are other web sites too, I jus got this one from my nutritionist. I see her once a month, and can send email to her with my concerns. Good luck to you, it's definitely a process.

Hi all! It looks like everyone is doing great! For a few weeks there we were in the 70s but it now feels like Christmas, we had our first snow, and the coldest temps ever, and more snow on the way for Thur. My infection at the port site seems to have subsided, I can now pick up my kitties!! And start to exercise again. I have not exercised in about a month. I do think about food all the time though, but the challenge is helping. I journal everything. I have not had a fill yet, the doctor wanted to ensure my infection goes away. I have appt with the surgeon to check my infection on 12/29, I wonder if I can talk him into a little fill while I am there. I have a bunch of cheese/sausage gifts in my refrigerator for mailman, vet, lawn guy,etc. and they are really calling out to me! Can't wait to give them out of my house.