Welcome to the monthly challenge. July is here and Summer is in full swing! This challenge is a fun way to keep track of your monthly weight loss while gaining and giving support to other bandsters

Copy and post the template below and fill in the information that you are comfortable sharing on Monday July 1st then come back every Monday on the 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th and the LAST DAY OF THE MONTH --Wednesday July 31st and post your updated weight. I will keep track of the weights to get a table listing everyone's results on the following weekend. Good luck to everyone and remember this isn't a contest it's a challenge and you are a winner no matter how much you lose.

The first three items are required all others are recommended, but the last one is the most fun. If you are new to our monthly challenge please leave a short introduction.

Name, real or screen~

Goal weight for July 31st~

Weight on July 1st~

Age~

City/State~

Dietary goal for July~

Exercise goal for July~

Personal goal for July~

Date banded~

Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~

Favorite Independence Day Activity~

Name, real or screen~ Lisa

Goal weight for July 31st~ 186

Weight on July 1st~ 192.8

Age~ 39

City/State~ Romeoville, IL (40 miles SW of Chicago)

Dietary goal for July~ Bring my lunch to work more often-don't eat out

Exercise goal for July~ Keep training for my next 5K

Personal goal for July~ Get the bills organized and pay them down

Date banded~ 4/17/12

Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 45

Favorite Independence Day Activity~Fireworks and grilling

Name, real or screen~ Stephanie "Hazelsbliss"

Goal weight for July 31st~ 150

Weight on July 1st~ 155

Age~ 35City/State~ Larkspur, CO

Dietary goal for July~ Reduce mindless snacking

Exercise goal for July~ Work on lower body exercises

Personal goal for July~ Get physically & mentally prepared for plastic surgery in August

Date banded~ 11/2009

Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 95

Favorite Independence Day Activity~ Discussing the Constitution/Bill of Rights/and the history of July 4th w/ the kids

Name, real or screen~ Amy

Goal weight for July 31st~ 170

Weight on July 1st~ 172.8

Age~ 35

City/State~ Ft. Mitchell, KY

Dietary goal for July~ Watch calorie intake better

Exercise goal for July~ Add strength training

Personal goal for July~ Get my act back together, been slacking and getting too comfortable with weight loss.

Date banded~ 09-JUL-2012

Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 88.2

Favorite Independence Day Activity~ Watching fireworks

Name, real or screen~ Sbb1222

Goal weight for July 31st~ 170

Weight on July 1st~176.6

Dietary goal for July~ eating on a schedule (struggle to get enough calories in, in the summertime)

Exercise goal for July~ lower body toning

Personal goal for July~ slow down, enjoy each day for what it is

Date banded~ 9/27/12

Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 66 lbs

Favorite Independence Day Activity~ picnic with friends

Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

Name, real or screen~ Taylor

Goal weight for July 31st~ 190

Weight on July 1st~ 197

Age~ 24

City/State~ Pasadena Texas (Houston area)

Dietary goal for July~ stick too 800-1000 calories per day and 60+ Protein

Exercise goal for July~3 times a week

Personal goal for July~ learn to eat slower and smaller bites- I tend to forget and don't chew enough :/

Date banded~ 5/7/13

Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 40ish pounds- started preop at 238ish

Favorite Independence Day Activity~ bbq/cook& play outdoor with pups and kiddo

Name, real or screen~ Chrissy-Chris

Goal weight for July 31st~ 230

Weight on July 1st~236

Age~ 44

City/State~Fort Worth, TX

Dietary goal for July~ Slow down

Exercise goal for July~ Walk 3x a week

Personal goal for July~ To clean out the closets in my home

Date banded~ January 2013

Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 50 lbs.

Favorite Independence Day Activity~ Hanging out with friends and watching fireworks!

Name, real or screen~ Lindsay - Corona518

Goal weight for July 31st~ 199

Weight on July 1st~ 205.5

Age~ 31

City/State~ Dublin, Ireland (born in Colorado Springs, CO)

Dietary goal for July~ protein and more fibre

Exercise goal for July~ go to the gym no matter how bad work is

Personal goal for July~ be below 200lbs for the first time in 10 years!

Date banded~ 13 Oct 2012

Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 68 lbs

Favorite Independence Day Activity~ N/A

Name, real or screen~Sally

Goal weight for July 31st~223

Weight on July 1st~ 233

Age~54

City/State~ Troutdale, OR

Dietary goal for July~Getting Protein and water in.

Exercise goal for July~Get to the gym and walk. Personal goal for July~make the scale go down. Not up and down

Date banded~March 13, 2013

Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~30 lbs

Favorite Independence Day Activity~BBQing and games with friends and family.

Name, real or screen~ kah1213

Goal weight for July 31st~ 145

Weight on July 1st~ 150.8

City/State~ NYC

Dietary goal for July~ more Protein

Exercise goal for July~ more yoga

Personal goal for July~ shopping in the next lower size

Date banded~ 5/29/12

Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 75lbs

Favorite Independence Day Activity~ beach time w/ family

Name, real or screen~ Sherrintxs

Goal weight for July 31st~ 229

Weight on July 1st~ 239

Age~ 38

City/State~ Conroe, Texas

Dietary goal for July~ More protein

Exercise goal for July~ Get back to 6 days a week walking, not 4 or 5 days.

Personal goal for July~ Pair of white shorts I haven't worn in 2 yrs.

Date banded~ April 30, 2013

Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 38 lbs

Favorite Independence Day Activity~ Being with friends

Name, real or screen~ Nicole

Goal weight for July 31st~168

Weight on July 1st~ 176

Age~ 38

City/State~ Texas

Dietary goal for July~ more fruits and veggies

Exercise goal for July~walk 1 hour 3x/week

Personal goal for July~ finish bathroom cabinets

Date banded~ May 9, 2013

Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~10 lbs

Favorite Independence Day Activity~parade

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this thread. My name is Laura and I am from New Zealand. I was banded on March 23rd 2011, I started at 112.6kg/248.2lb pre-op but my heviest was 116.8kg/257.5lb. My weight loss has been very slow and having been so young (19) when I had my surgery I have found it very difficult to adjust to banded life. At about 8 months post-op I was down to 91kg/200.6lb, however after that point my weight loss stopped and I struggled to maintain that weight. Over the last year and a half I have yo-yoed between 91kg/200.6lb and 98kg/216lb. 2013 has been a very hard year for me to date and I have been very stressed. About 2-3 months ago I stepped on the scales and was horrified to see that I had gone over the 100kg/220.5lb mark and now sit at about 102kg/224.9lb. So here I am trying to get back on track, get the weight off and get my life started as I want to train to be crew on superyachts and unfortunately it is a very superficial industry and my confidence at this point is almost non existant.

Name, real or screen~ Laura

Goal weight for July 31st~ 92kg/202.8lb (I know it sounds like a lot but I need to push myself)

Weight on July 1st~102kg/224.9lb

Age~ 21

City/State~Auckland, New Zealand

Dietary goal for July~ reduce sugar and fat

Exercise goal for July~ Walk my 1hr 20min circut 6 days a week

Personal goal for July~ only weigh myself once a week

Date banded~ 23/3/11

Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 10kg/22lb (since having regained weight )

Favorite Independence Day Activity~ N/A

good luck everyone.

Name, real or screen~ Danielle

Goal weight for July 31st~ 195

Weight on July 1st~ 205

Age ~ 32

City/State~staten island, ny

Dietary goal for July~ eat more veggies

Exercise goal for July~ intensify an workouts

Personal goal for July~ eat healthier

Date banded~ 2/8/2013

Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 73lbs

Favorite Independence Day Activity~ sleep lol

Name, real or screen~

Liz

Goal weight for July 31st~ 184

Weight on July 1st~ 188

Age~

46

City/State~Connecticut

Dietary goal for July~no sweets

Exercise goal for July~

Restart excersing

Personal goal for July~

Don't gain while on vacation cruise

Date banded~7/2012

Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~

34

Favorite Independence Day Activity

Spending time w friends and family

Name: Kristen

Goal weight for July 31st: 188

Weight on July 1st: 194

Age: 27

City/State: TX

Dietary goal for July: Drink more water!

Exercise goal for July: Up my walking distance!

Personal goal for July: Get better at fighting head hunger. It drives me crazy.

Date banded: April 29th

Total weight loss (including pre-op diet): 50 lbs

Favorite Independence Day Activity: BBQ, family, friends, fireworks!