July 2006 Band Crew

[Arcael 0]

Hey guys, just checking in

I haven't logged in since a couple days after my surgery and figured I'd update everyone.

Today I'm down 61 pounds, I started my initial Optifast diet on the 24th of june. 2 More days until it has been 8 weeks (4 weeks since my surgery).

I hope everything is going well for everyone, I for one love the band. It's fun eating a salad in front of your friends and only finishing a third of it

New and great opportunities are falling into my lap this year, and my self-confidence has gone through the roof.

Before:

After (6 Weeks in):

[BigGirlPantiez 1]

Chris - great job!!! WOW, 61 LBs, how happy are you you got the band?!

[Arcael 0]

I believe I could have done it without it, but it definitely gives me motivation and gives me limits.

[mbprn 0]

Wow Chris-that's amazing-How do you feel physically? Have you had a fill yet? I love good news!!

[jdjjwoo 0]

Hi again everybody! It is so great to hear how everyone is doing - keep up the GREAT work! Someone (I think it was Stephanie) asked about the non scale victories. I had one yesterday - it was wonderful! My husband's grandma came through town and she had just seen me about 2 weeks ago. She couldn't believe the difference in that time! She told me that I had a waistline again - imagine that! It felt soooo good! Gotta go - Big Brother is on! Have a great night everyone!

[ericsmom 2]

jdjjwoo - congrats on the great NSV!! What a great feeling

[ericsmom 2]

Tomorrow is weigh day...I am looking forward to seeing a number under 300!! I hit 299 last week, and after my fill last Thursday the nutritionist had me down 3lbs this morning. So tomorrow will be my official Wednesday weigh in.

I had great NSV moments with my therapist and my nutritionist today

Kari - glad to hear you're going to dust off the treadmill You go girl!!

[ericsmom 2]

Chris - congrats on the 61 lb loss! You're doing great!

[Arcael 0]

Wow Chris-that's amazing-How do you feel physically? Have you had a fill yet? I love good news!!

Truthfully, I feel great in so many ways. Being able to put on socks without struggling, walking around for miles (up and down hill) without dying, its pretty amazing what you realize you couldn't do before.

As for the fill, I went in for my 3 week appointment last tuesday and was told that they weren't going to fill me even at my 6 week.

Thing about my old eating habits was I was a power-eater and its not physically possible anymore so my weight is falling off.

I'm kinda worried about my diet though, I get plenty of Water daily but I'm not getting all the Protein I could be. They want me getting over 120 a day and I'm probably getting 60-80 :-/ and only eating around 600-800 calories max a day. I also limit my carb intake and only go for the low calorie high protein stuff. I'm worried about the Hair loss that comes from rapid weight loss both my grandfathers are bald.

[ericsmom 2]

Chris - my doctor determined my Protein minimum by my height. I get mine just by eating things like cottage cheese, string cheese, fish, tuna, and adding Protein Powder to my Slim Fast shakes. Do you track your intake on FitDay.com? I've found that site extremely helpful in tracking my intake vs. exercise.

[Arcael 0]

I usually keep a calorie figure in my head and just round up. On Protein I try to keep some exact numbers. I drink Optifast strawberry shakes in the morning and take two chewable suppliments daily. I add whey protein and benefiber to the shakes. I guess I could go to the store tomorrow night but I have no idea what to buy (besides eggs and string cheese). I've already worn myself out on omlettes and I don't like steak and most chicken(after chewing it so many times you just want to spit it out). I just moved into a studio apartment and have yet to use my stove, microwave, toaster oven, or crockpot :/

I'm sticking to what my doc has advised.

No Caffeine

No Carbonation

Low Carbs

Low Calorie

High Protein.

I just charted what I ate today on fitday and it came to ~600 calories and I did over 400 calories of exercise today according to there exercise chart thing...

No wonder its dropping so quick.

[ericsmom 2]

Boy Chris, you are livin' the bachelor life, aren't you!!

Do you like fish? I got cod fillets and bake them for 20 minutes at 350 and season them with a bit of seasoning for fish and it's yummy. I also eat a lot of cottage cheese as that has a lot of Protein. I usually eat a snack sized container of diced peaches with it. Maybe explore the food threads on this site for ideas for food with higher protein. When you go to the store read labels. You might be surprised at what you will be able to eat

[ericsmom 2]

I usually keep a calorie figure in my head and just round up. On Protein I try to keep some exact numbers. I drink Optifast strawberry shakes in the morning and take two chewable suppliments daily. I add whey protein and benefiber to the shakes. I guess I could go to the store tomorrow night but I have no idea what to buy (besides eggs and string cheese). I've already worn myself out on omlettes and I don't like steak and most chicken(after chewing it so many times you just want to spit it out). I just moved into a studio apartment and have yet to use my stove, microwave, toaster oven, or crockpot :/

I'm sticking to what my doc has advised.

No Caffeine

No Carbonation

Low Carbs

Low Calorie

High Protein.

I just charted what I ate today on fitday and it came to ~600 calories and I did over 400 calories of exercise today according to there exercise chart thing...

No wonder its dropping so quick.

Wow! That's a lot of exercise to your calories! I'm doing what you're doing with the No Caffeine, No Carbonation, Low Carbs, Low Calorie, High Protein. You're doing a super job. Keep up the great work!

[les1964 0]

I had my first fill last week, They put 1.3 cc. I am going back tomorrow for another fill. I never did get any restrictions, and I can still eat whatever I want. After reading what everyone here posts I figured somethign must be wrong with me. I hope they put enough in this time. I am really reday to get on with losing the weight. I get up early every moring and go toe the gymand walk 2.5 miles on the treadmill and it seems as if my weight is going no where, just stying constant. I am really concern becasue I am a self pay and I am trying to get my monies worth.

I guess I am strating to get frustrated.

[KariK 0]

Hey Stephanie, I just want to say thanks for the heads up about FitDay.com, Im going to start keeping my food journal there! I tried it last night and boy is that nice.

Les1964, thats a bummer if your weight isn't moving anywhere. You say you're eating whatever you want, well if I did that I'd be eating chocolate and carbs all day. Im not on a 'diet' persay because I do let myself have some of that stuff sometimes. But I do want to change my eating habits to include lots more healthy stuff like lean meats and vegetables and less of the high calorie low nutrition stuff. The band is just a tool to curb hunger but it can't choose what goes in your mouth. You can actually gain weight with the band if you eat too many sweets. Plus if thats all you eat you can end up not getting the Vitamins and Protein your body needs. I don't know what you are eating and I don't know if you've lost any weight or not since you don't really say. But since your doctor did not inform you of the healthy things you are supposed to be eating I just thought I'd give you some food for thought. Im not saying im doing everything perfect.. just read my earlier posts lol but I do believe I've been well informed so that I do at least know the right things to do. Try eating what Steph and Chris are eating... Low carb, high protein etc. read their posts. Also Stephanie mentioned the online journal at FitDay.Com, its free and I think very helpful. Good luck to you.