April 2006 Bandits December Challenge

[DeltaDawn 0]

Boo,

We are literally worlds apart, but our exercises certainly both seemed glorious. Just to have that strength to do it is sooooo amazing.

Have fun in the rockies!!!!

Dawn

Banded April 4th, 2006

Montreal

[JulieNYC 4]

Well, I met the challenge last night. As you know, I wanted to get the mandatory exercise out of the way early this month because I'm traveling as of Thursday and won't be in control of my schedule.

Yesterday was also my first run with my new heart rate monitor. I really liked it! First, I liked it because the regular sized lady's model indeed fit around my chest. I was worried that I might have to take it back and get the men's, but I didn't. More importantly, it helped to reassure me that I wasn't running too hard for my body. I felt athletic!

Lastly, I was hoping to discuss January's challenge. I know it's very early, but I thought thinking about it might help us to get through the holidays with the least damage. I think that we need to up the time requirement more than the number requirement. I'm thinking 40 minutes, 17 times. What do you all think?

[bluehill 0]

Julie, you deserve a round of applause for meeting the December Challenge with a PERFECT RECORD!!! Seventeen days of exercise in 17 days! :wow2:

:clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2:

I agree with the new goal for the January Challenge: 17 days, 40 min. per day

April Bandits December Challenge: TWELVE days of exercise completed

[Ceparano 0]

BOO: Thank you for responding to my question. I am so frustrated about this and worried that maybe I have a dilated pouch...GGGGRRRRR. I hope your right, and I wake up tomorrow to restriction. This is a first for me, and very scary.

Went to Curves this morning. 35 min. workout

Roberta

[Ceparano 0]

CONGRATULATIONS: Dawn for your NSV and exceeding your goal, and to ever faithful Julie for completeing the December challenge....like we had any doubt that she would.

Roberta

[JulieNYC 4]

As I reported last week I went for a fill because I felt a bit of restriction but was getting very hungry. Thursday I had Soup all day because of the fill and ate light on Friday. Saturday morning I realized I had NO RESTRICTION!!!!!! I could eat a whole cow without a PB. I am eating anything that isn't nailed down! I have no idea what has gone wrong. Anybody have any ideas?Roberta

Boy, that's a stumper, Roberta. So let me understand -- you feel less restriction now than you did before your fill? That's really odd. I can only think of two potential things -- first, the band is fickle. It could be that you're just having unfortunate timing and you're "hungry/loose" days of the month coincided with the days right after your fill. I suppose, a worst case scenario would be that the person filling you punctured your tubing. That did happen to a friend of mine and the surgery to fix it was quick and easy. I wouldn't jump to thinking it's that until you have your next fill, but if it is that, it's not the end of the world.

Keep us posted and I'm sorry I'm not of more help.

[Ceparano 0]

Thanks Julie for your thoughts on my lack of restriction. I thought about a possible puncture of my tubing too. I'll report in Thursday afternoon and let you know what my surgeon thinks is the problem.

Roberta

[guysis 0]

Got to San Diego safe and sound - but missed out on one of the family fun times Fri eve.......but did make it to my baby sis's 50th on Sat eve.

We are still traveling............left San Diego on Sun morning - arrived in Sacramento to visit our set of kids/grandkids here. Had our first Hanukah party (no latkies) heading home on Thurs and will have our gang in Portland over on Friday with all the trimmings to Celebrate the last night of Hanukah - complete with all the latkie grease! Then we'll cross over to the other holiday and celebrate Christmas with a set of kids in Portland on Sat...............another Christmas party on the 26th and New Year's at friends............this is a "hard" time! I am happy that my band is tight and that I do have to be very careful (although especially in the evening sometimes it lets me get in a bit too much).

Exercise has been waylaid while I run around town with my daughter-in-law shopping...........and run around town with the grandkids to all the "things" that grandkids do!

Friday, bright and early I'll head over to the gym.

I've read all the posts...........you are all awsome.........Julie, 250 crunches???? I do a lot at the gym, but I have not counted. Extending the workouts to 40 minutes sounds good.

December

1 - 1 hour NIA

2- 1 hour NIA

3 - Day off!

4 - 1 hour NIA/1 hour strength training

5 - walk back and forth to Breakfast approx 1 hour

6 - off to my 1 hour NIA class - talked 2 friends into joining my gym and so have partners in my NIA class

7 - 1 hour walk to breakfast (approx)

8 - 1 hour NIA (posted in advance - meeting friends so no excuses!)

9 - 1 hour NIA (on my way over to the gym!!!)

10 - Day off!

11 - 1 hour NIA

12 -

13 - 1 hour NIA (planned - done!)

14

15 - 1 hour NIA

16

17

18

19

[JulieNYC 4]

Roberta,

If you think it'll help, try this -- see if they'll fill you while you drink Water. When I had trouble getting restriction, that's what finally got me to the right level. I drank small swallows one after another while the needle was in the port and pushing in solution. When the water started to back up, I told the fill tech, at which point he backed out just a little so the water would drain. It's been a great fill for me and has lasted for over 6 months now. If your lack of restriction is a matter of needing more saline and not indicative of another problem, I'm a great fan of that technique.

Good luck and can't wait to hear from you on Thurs.

Take care,

[JulieNYC 4]

I've had the worst food day. The holidays are just not doing it for me! There is so much food everywhere and all I do is eat it. The only silver lining is that I usually eat a bite or two and decide it's not really that good, so it's not the caloric intake of yesteryear, but it's still way out of my diet mode. It's very depressing.

The even more depressing thing is that everyone has a freakin' camera with them everywhere we go this time of year. I've been berated with pictures of myself over the last couple of days and I'm still FAT FAT FAT. Now I know that at 235, I'm not slim, but when I'm not eating crap, I feel so much better than the camera shows. Grrr. I look at those pics and think, there's no WAY I'm going to be close enough to goal by April to have PS. No way at all. I have so far to go.

This journey is too long. I'm ready for phase 4. I want to fast forward 50 lbs and be done with this.

I guess the only thing I can do to get there any faster is to swear off holiday food. I need to come up with another way to enjoy the holidays. The food is making me miserable and it's not helping me get to goal. I know in future, thin, years, I won't feel this way and I'll enjoy the whole season. This year, I'm just so fixated on being thinner that it's making me unhappy when I get off track.

I guess I need a game plan. So here it is. I'm going home to Alabama on Friday morning. On the way back from the airport, I'll stop at the grocery and make sure I have perfect food choices available while I'm at my Mom's house. I'll call and ask her not to make my grandmother's Cookies that I can't stop eating. I'll run while I'm home, even if I have to do it outside (it's not cold, it's just hilly). So that just leaves two major holiday meals -- one at each grandparents' house. I'll figure out the plan for those shortly....

[guysis 0]

Julie, You are not alone! This is such a hard time - probably for us all - I know it is for me...............I've just decided that I'll go with the flow. My band and yours keeps us "sane", but not perfect..........just think of the difference from last year...........give yourself a break - calm down, take a deep breath..........keep up the movement.........this will pass soon and we can get back to our "normal". A breather week of maintaining will not in the long run hurt your longterm goal...............you are so dedicated and my inspiration.

Happy, healthy to you all.

[Ceparano 0]

Julie, at the risk of getting a shoe thrown at me, I think there is one thing we can not forget....we didn't gain this weight in just a few weeks or months. We have to give our bodies time to adjust. That also includes some of those old habits that used to sabotage our efforts every time. You have done so incredibly well that I think you expect too much from yourself and your body. Mind you, I'm finding myself thinking the same way you are from time to time. I think we all just need time adjust to this new way of life and to enjoy the ride.

I want to thank you for your suggestion, I am definitely going to ask the doctor to do the fill that way.

Roberta

[Ceparano 0]

I went to a new Curves location tonight, they had some different equipment and I got to use an Ab-lounger.I worked out on their machines for 20 mins. Boy did I feel it in my abs!! But that's not the best part......I did an hour of ........BELLY DANCING !!!!!! Of course tomorrow I won't be able to raise my arm to brush my teeth, or walk !!!! Wow, what a workout!!

Roberta

[bluehill 0]

Holidays are a bitch to get through without sampling everything in sight, but you know what? We're already looking pretty damned fine, and this is definitely the last Christmas we're ever gonna be fat!

Julie, please don't beat yourself up over giving in to small temptations! The band is already keeping you safe, and your own will-power, by allowing only a bite or two. Keep up your running, and you'll do just fine. Remember, the whole thing will be over within a few days, so for now, try to enjoy the seasonal rewards of family and friends, and yes, even those few bites of extra-special food treats. It'll be back to the strict diet regimen soon enough!

April Bandits December Challenge: THIRTEEN days of exercise completed

[JulieNYC 4]

Roberta,

How did your fill go?