OK, nice L O N G challenge. This is September 1st (or whatever day you would like to start) until US Thanksgiving (November 22) - 11 1/2 weeks long.

Anyone is free to join. Use this template below. Copy the most recent stats from a previous post and add your name alphabetically. You can weigh in any day you want, but I will be posting mine on Wednesdays.

I am setting a very aggressive goal, not sure if i will make it, but i am going to reach for it!!

Good luck everyone!

Name.............Chall. Start Wt......Current......Chall. Goal......To Go

losingjusme...........273.....................273. .............238...............35

hi luvinke,

i pretty much follow low carb (very low carb - no more than 20 grams a day)

a "free day" is when i eat what i want. no regrets. my first free day i went NUTS NUTS NUTS and it was really difficult to get back on track.

yesterday was my 4th free day and here is what i ate:

hash browns for Breakfast (couldnt finish)

piece of cherry pie (snack??)

jambalaya and corn bread for lunch

no PM snack

sweet & sour cod for dinner (with white rice), also a couple chunks of garlic chicken.

i have very strict guidelines for my 'free day' (actually for the day before and days after) and they are as follows:

"Free Day" guidelines:

Day Before

- work out

- cals between 1000 - 1200

- carbs below 10

- HYDRATE

Day Of

- work out HARD for 60+ minutes

- HYDRATE

Day After

- work out HARD for 75+ minutes

- cals between 1000 - 1200

- carbs below 10

- HYDRATE!!!!!!!!

2 Days After

- work out

- HYDRATE

proper hydration is the key because i retain a ton of Water when i eat carbs. i mean 90-100 oz of water when i say hydrate.

free days are tough for some people. it is sometimes very difficult to get back into the swing of things and like i said, my first time, i didnt and that is the only month i gained. now, i find it really good for my psyche...

i dont know if i would recommend it to someone who is relatively new to being banded and not at proper restriction, because it can easily get out of hand. if i wasnt properly restricted, i could have done A TON of damage yesterday..

let me know if you have any other questions.

oh yeah, what i eat now - sample menu:

breakfast - Atkins shake

snack - 1-2 "smokies" maybe if hungry

lunch - 1/4 cheeseburger w/ spicy mustard (no bun)

snack - iSS bar (protein wafers ... yummmy) maybe if hungry

dinner - NOT out to eat, i actually cook ... and eat about a "dessert plate" of food. 4-6 ounces (6 if i'm hungry) of Protein, maybe veggies if there is room.

tonight i am really tight so i had 2 ounces of chicken - that is it and i am still comfortably "full".

good luck!

I think my problem is soup, I eat it for lunch and then I'm hungry before I cook dinner, I need to find something else to eat for lunch. I've only had 2 fills and tryiung to hold off on getting another one, I believe I can wait a little while longer if I stop eating soup and eat some protein then maybe I will do a lot better.

why wait for a fill?

Name.............Chall. Start Wt......Current......Chall. Goal......To Go

losingjusme..........273......................275. .............238................37

faithmd................303.....................300 .3.............283................16.7

mpalen.................229......................22 9.............200................29

want2beme...........225......................225.. ............195...............30

mcgreen...............236..................... 236.............210................26

wombat712...........179..................... 179.............155................24

Suzzzie. ...............346......................346....... .......315..............31

Chris_NJ...............284.......................2 84.............250...............34

Cherrybomb...........311......................311. ............291..............20

legster..................261.....................2 61..............235..............26

Desertbunnee.........232......................207. ............180..............27

areellady...............232......................2 32...............212.............20

sweethot143..........197......................197. ............175..............22

gweniper...............253......................25 3...............223.............30

Jeni 85..................237......................237.. .............207.............30

dacer123...............243......................24 3...............223.............20

momlambert..........207.......................207. ..............185.............22

Rainer..................298....................... 294..............258.............36

glindab.................277....................... 277..............250..............27

Soniacan..............198.5....................198 .5.............175.............23.5

ladydi..................233....................... 233...............208..............25

argon...................162...................... 162..............142..............20

jazzystouch...........246......................246 ....... ........220...........26

BabygotBack..........164.....................164. ...............145.........19

Denise...................170.................... 170............155.............15

marcar35...............277....................277. ..... .......257..............20

Ariel ....................207......................207. ..........182..............25

lisa_in_toronto.......180......................180 ...... .......160............20

josiebies...............188......................1 88.... ..........165............23

DonnaD...............185.........................1 85.. ..........170..........15

hf2havefun...........240.........................2 40.. ..........210..........30

Amelia40...............270........................ 270 ............240..........30

METALBAND...........187........................187 ........ ......167..........20

luvinke..................225...................... ..225.... ..........195..........30

JulieNYC................155......................149.................136............13

wen.....................288......................2 88.... ..........255...........33

LeslieLee...............216.....................21 ...............186...............30

robgoblin87............279.....................279 ..............250..............29

Babygrl1234...........215....................215.. ..............190................25

Stacy73...............259.....................259 ..................230............29

aussie_jode...........212...................212... .................190...........22

chickatee.............203................203...... ........175......................28

katalin.e...............230................179.... ..........150..............29

Whosyadaddy........388................388......... .....335..............53

Becky42................253................253..... ........220...............33

sdakotaRN..............254...............254...... .........225.............29

jadrad7.................224................224.... ............200..............24

eclipse..................215................212... ..............199............. 16

Thirteen pounds to goal!!

Julie your doing awesome! Sounds to me like you will reach goal by before Oct. 1st. Keep up the great work! Your pics look awesome, by the way!!

Julie!! wow wow wow!! you are right - these few days of the month are very good to you.. :clap2:

Name.............Chall. Start Wt......Current......Chall. Goal......To Go

losingjusme..........273......................275. .............238................37

faithmd................303.....................300 .3.............283................16.7

mpalen.................229......................22 9.............200................29

want2beme...........225......................225.. ............195...............30

mcgreen...............236..................... 236.............210................26

wombat712...........179..................... 179.............155................24

Suzzzie. ...............346......................346....... .......315..............31

Chris_NJ...............284.......................2 84.............250...............34

Cherrybomb...........311......................311. ............291..............20

legster..................261.....................2 61..............235..............26

Desertbunnee.........232......................207. ............180..............27

areellady...............232......................2 32...............212.............20

sweethot143..........197......................197. ............175..............22

gweniper...............253......................25 3...............223.............30

Jeni 85..................237......................237.. .............207.............30

dacer123...............243......................24 3...............223.............20

momlambert..........207.......................207. ..............185.............22

Rainer..................298....................... 294..............258.............36

glindab.................277....................... 277..............250..............27

Soniacan..............198.5....................198 .5.............175.............23.5

ladydi..................233....................... 233...............208..............25

argon...................162...................... 162..............142..............20

jazzystouch...........246......................246 ....... ........220...........26

BabygotBack..........164.....................164. ...............145.........19

Denise...................170.................... 170............155.............15

marcar35...............277....................277. ..... .......257..............20

Ariel ....................207......................207. ..........182..............25

lisa_in_toronto.......180......................180 ...... .......160............20

josiebies...............188......................1 88.... ..........165............23

DonnaD...............185.........................1 85.. ..........170..........15

hf2havefun...........240.........................2 40.. ..........210..........30

Amelia40...............270........................ 270 ............240..........30

METALBAND...........187........................187 ........ ......167..........20

luvinke..................225...................... ..225.... ..........195..........30

JulieNYC................155......................1 49.................136............13

wen.....................288......................2 88.... ..........255...........33

LeslieLee...............216.....................21 ...............186...............30

robgoblin87............279.....................279 ..............250..............29

Babygrl1234...........215....................212.. ..............190................22

Stacy73...............259.....................259 ..................230............29

aussie_jode...........212...................212... .................190...........22

chickatee.............203................203...... ........175......................28

katalin.e...............230................179.... ..........150..............29

Whosyadaddy........388................388......... .....335..............53

Becky42................253................253..... ........220...............33

sdakotaRN..............254...............254...... .........225.............29

jadrad7.................224................224.... ............200..............24

eclipse..................215................212... ..............199............. 16

Julie you are amazing.

Name.............Chall. Start Wt......Current......Chall. Goal......To Go

losingjusme..........273......................275. .............238................37

faithmd................303.....................300 .3.............283................16.7

mpalen.................229......................22 9.............200................29

want2beme...........225......................225.. ............195...............30

mcgreen...............236..................... 236.............210................26

wombat712...........179..................... 179.............155................24

Suzzzie. ...............346......................346....... .......315..............31

Chris_NJ...............284.......................2 84.............250...............34

Cherrybomb...........311......................311. ............291..............20

legster..................261.....................2 61..............235..............26

Desertbunnee.........232......................207. ............180..............27

areellady...............232......................2 32...............212.............20

sweethot143..........197......................197. ............175..............22

gweniper...............253......................25 3...............223.............30

Jeni 85..................237......................237.. .............207.............30

dacer123...............243......................24 3...............223.............20

momlambert..........207.......................207. ..............185.............22

Rainer..................298....................... 292..............258.............34

glindab.................277....................... 277..............250..............27

Soniacan..............198.5....................198 .5.............175.............23.5

ladydi..................233....................... 233...............208..............25

argon...................162...................... 162..............142..............20

jazzystouch...........246......................246 ....... ........220...........26

BabygotBack..........164.....................164. ...............145.........19

Denise...................170.................... 170............155.............15

marcar35...............277....................277. ..... .......257..............20

Ariel ....................207......................207. ..........182..............25

lisa_in_toronto.......180......................180 ...... .......160............20

josiebies...............188......................1 88.... ..........165............23

DonnaD...............185.........................1 85.. ..........170..........15

hf2havefun...........240.........................2 40.. ..........210..........30

Amelia40...............270........................ 270 ............240..........30

METALBAND...........187........................187 ........ ......167..........20

luvinke..................225...................... ..225.... ..........195..........30

JulieNYC................155......................1 49.................136............13

wen.....................288......................2 88.... ..........255...........33

LeslieLee...............216.....................21 ...............186...............30

robgoblin87............279.....................279 ..............250..............29

Babygrl1234...........215....................215.. ..............190................25

Stacy73...............259.....................259 ..................230............29

aussie_jode...........212...................212... .................190...........22

chickatee.............203................203...... ........175......................28

katalin.e...............230................179.... ..........150..............29

Whosyadaddy........388................388......... .....335..............53

Becky42................253................253..... ........220...............33

sdakotaRN..............254...............254...... .........225.............29

jadrad7.................224................224.... ............200..............24

eclipse..................215................212... ..............199............. 16

2 more lbs down...34 to go...I CAN DO THIS!!!

I'm really struggling with finding a coping mechanism...I'm not eating, but I am not friendly or nice to be around. I am a stay at home mom of 3 little ones...3.5, 1.5 and 1.5...I've taken quite a few walks around the block lately...it's nice weather, so it's working...Not inspired to do that today...what to do instead?

ugggh!

Oh, whoever mentioned the Soup...my dr. said to try and not do soft/liquids after you are back on full food because they go down so easily and you get hungry too quickly...go for a Protein instead! Just a thought.

Rain

ame.............Chall. Start Wt......Current......Chall. Goal......To Go

losingjusme...........273.....................273. .............238.............35

faithmd................303.....................303 ..............283.............20

mpalen.................229.....................229 ..............200.............29

want2beme...........225.....................225... ...........195.............30

mcgreen...............236.................... 236. .............210.............26

wombat712...........179.................... 179... ...........155.............24

Suzzzie. ...............346.....................346........ . .....315............31

Chris_NJ................284.....................28 4 ..............250.. .........34

Cherrybomb...........311.....................311.. .............291.... ..... .20

legster..................261......... ...........261................235...... .....26

Desertbunnee.........232.....................207.. ............180............27

areellady...............232.....................23 2................212.............20

alwayscurious........245.....................245................212............33

alwayscurious: welcome to the challenge! I'm recopying you on the table, about half dropped off

Name.............Chall. Start Wt......Current......Chall. Goal......To Go

losingjusme..........273......................275. .............238................37

faithmd................303.....................300 .3.............283................16.7

mpalen.................229......................22 9.............200................29

want2beme...........225......................225.. ............195...............30

mcgreen...............236..................... 236.............210................26

wombat712...........179..................... 179.............155................24

Suzzzie. ...............346......................346....... .......315..............31

Chris_NJ...............284.......................2 84.............250...............34

Cherrybomb...........311......................311. ............291..............20

legster..................261.....................2 61..............235..............26

Desertbunnee.........232......................207. ............180..............27

areellady...............232......................2 32...............212.............20

sweethot143..........197......................197. ............175..............22

gweniper...............253......................25 3...............223.............30

Jeni 85..................237......................237.. .............207.............30

dacer123...............243......................24 3...............223.............20

momlambert..........207.......................207. ..............185.............22

Rainer..................298....................... 292..............258.............34

glindab.................277....................... 277..............250..............27

Soniacan..............198.5....................198 .5.............175.............23.5

ladydi..................233....................... 233...............208..............25

argon...................162...................... 162..............142..............20

jazzystouch...........246......................246 ....... ........220...........26

BabygotBack..........164.....................164. ...............145.........19

Denise...................170.................... 170............155.............15

marcar35...............277....................277. ..... .......257..............20

Ariel ....................207......................207. ..........182..............25

lisa_in_toronto.......180......................180 ...... .......160............20

josiebies...............188......................1 88.... ..........165............23

DonnaD...............185.........................1 85.. ..........170..........15

hf2havefun...........240.........................2 40.. ..........210..........30

Amelia40...............270........................ 270 ............240..........30

METALBAND...........187........................187 ........ ......167..........20

luvinke..................225...................... ..225.... ..........195..........30

JulieNYC................155......................1 49.................136............13

wen.....................288......................2 88.... ..........255...........33

LeslieLee...............216.....................21 ...............186...............30

robgoblin87............279.....................279 ..............250..............29

Babygrl1234...........215....................215.. ..............190................25

Stacy73...............259.....................259 ..................230............29

aussie_jode...........212...................212... .................190...........22

chickatee.............203................203...... ........175......................28

katalin.e...............230................179.... ..........150..............29

Whosyadaddy........388................388......... .....335..............53

Becky42................253................253..... ........220...............33

sdakotaRN..............254...............254...... .........225.............29

jadrad7.................224................224.... ............200..............24

eclipse..................215................212... ..............199............. 16

alwayscurious........245.....................245.. ..............212............33

Lost four pounds!!!!! Yipppeeee!!!

Name.............Chall. Start Wt......Current......Chall. Goal......To Go

losingjusme..........273......................275. .............238................37

faithmd................303.....................300 .3.............283................16.7

mpalen.................229......................22 9.............200................29

want2beme...........225......................225.. ............195...............30

mcgreen...............236..................... 236.............210................26

wombat712...........179..................... 179.............155................24

Suzzzie. ...............346......................346....... .......315..............31

Chris_NJ...............284.......................2 84.............250...............34

Cherrybomb...........311......................311. ............291..............20

legster..................261.....................2 61..............235..............26

Desertbunnee.........232......................207. ............180..............27

areellady...............232......................228...............212.............16

sweethot143..........197......................197. ............175..............22

gweniper...............253......................25 3...............223.............30

Jeni 85..................237......................237.. .............207.............30

dacer123...............243......................24 3...............223.............20

momlambert..........207.......................207. ..............185.............22

Rainer..................298....................... 292..............258.............34

glindab.................277....................... 277..............250..............27

Soniacan..............198.5....................198 .5.............175.............23.5

ladydi..................233....................... 233...............208..............25

argon...................162...................... 162..............142..............20

jazzystouch...........246......................246 ....... ........220...........26

BabygotBack..........164.....................164. ...............145.........19

Denise...................170.................... 170............155.............15

marcar35...............277....................277. ..... .......257..............20

Ariel ....................207......................207. ..........182..............25

lisa_in_toronto.......180......................180 ...... .......160............20

josiebies...............188......................1 88.... ..........165............23

DonnaD...............185.........................1 85.. ..........170..........15

hf2havefun...........240.........................2 40.. ..........210..........30

Amelia40...............270........................ 270 ............240..........30

METALBAND...........187........................187 ........ ......167..........20

luvinke..................225...................... ..225.... ..........195..........30

JulieNYC................155......................1 49.................136............13

wen.....................288......................2 88.... ..........255...........33

LeslieLee...............216.....................21 ...............186...............30

robgoblin87............279.....................279 ..............250..............29

Babygrl1234...........215....................215.. ..............190................25

Stacy73...............259.....................259 ..................230............29

aussie_jode...........212...................212... .................190...........22

chickatee.............203................203...... ........175......................28

katalin.e...............230................179.... ..........150..............29

Whosyadaddy........388................388......... .....335..............53

Becky42................253................253..... ........220...............33

sdakotaRN..............254...............254...... .........225.............29

jadrad7.................224................224.... ............200..............24

eclipse..................215................212... ..............199............. 16

alwayscurious........245.....................245.. ..............212............33

lost 3 pounds

Name.............Chall. Start Wt......Current......Chall. Goal......To Go

losingjusme..........273......................275. .............238................37

faithmd................303.....................300 .3.............283................16.7

mpalen.................229......................22 9.............200................29

want2beme...........225......................225.. ............195...............30

mcgreen...............236..................... 236.............210................26

wombat712...........179..................... 179.............155................24

Suzzzie. ...............346......................346....... .......315..............31

Chris_NJ...............284.......................2 84.............250...............34

Cherrybomb...........311......................311. ............291..............20

legster..................261.....................2 61..............235..............26

Desertbunnee.........232......................207. ............180..............27

areellady...............232......................228...............212.............16

sweethot143..........197......................197. ............175..............22

gweniper...............253......................250...............223.............30

Jeni 85..................237......................237.. .............207.............30

dacer123...............243......................24 3...............223.............20

momlambert..........207.......................207. ..............185.............22

Rainer..................298....................... 292..............258.............34

glindab.................277....................... 277..............250..............27

Soniacan..............198.5....................198.5.............175.............23.5

ladydi..................233....................... 233...............208..............25

argon...................162...................... 162..............142..............20

jazzystouch...........246......................246 ....... ........220...........26

BabygotBack..........164.....................164. ...............145.........19

Denise...................170.................... 170............155.............15

marcar35...............277....................277. ..... .......257..............20

Ariel ....................207......................207. ..........182..............25

lisa_in_toronto.......180......................180 ...... .......160............20

josiebies...............188......................1 88.... ..........165............23

DonnaD...............185.........................1 85.. ..........170..........15

hf2havefun...........240.........................240.. ..........210..........30

Amelia40...............270........................ 270 ............240..........30

METALBAND...........187........................187 ........ ......167..........20

luvinke..................225...................... ..225.... ..........195..........30

JulieNYC................155......................149.................136............13

wen.....................288......................288.... ..........255...........33

LeslieLee...............216.....................216...............186...............30

robgoblin87............279.....................279 ..............250..............29

Babygrl1234...........215....................215.. ..............190................25

Stacy73...............259.....................259 ..................230............29

aussie_jode...........212...................212... .................190...........22

chickatee.............203................203...... ........175......................28

katalin.e...............230................179.... ..........150..............29

Whosyadaddy........388................388......... .....335..............53

Becky42................253................253..... ........220...............33

sdakotaRN..............254...............254...... .........225.............29

jadrad7.................224................224.... ............200..............24

eclipse..................215................212... ..............199............. 16

alwayscurious........245.....................245.. ..............212............33

great job everyone!!! :clap2: :clap2:

I know my goal is lofty but I lose weight pretty fast and IM being banded in 18 days!

IM IN!

Name.............Chall. Start Wt......Current......Chall. Goal......To Go

losingjusme..........273......................273. .............238.............35

faithmd................303......................30 3.............283.............20

mpalen.................229......................22 9.............200.............29

want2beme...........225......................225.. ...........195.............30

mcgreen...............236..................... 236.............210.............26

wombat712...........179..................... 179.............155.............24

Suzzzie. ...............346......................346....... ......315.............31

Chris_NJ...............284......................28 4.............250.............34

Cherrybomb...........311......................311. ............291............20

legster..................261.....................2 61..............235............26

Desertbunnee.........232......................207. ............180.............27

areellady...............232......................2 32...............212............20

sweethot143..........197......................197. ............175............22

gweniper...............253......................25 3...............223...........30

Jeni 85..................237......................237.. .............207...........30

dacer123...............243......................24 3...............223...........20

momlambert..........207.......................207. ..............185...........22

Rainer..................295....................... 295................255...........40

glindab.................277....................... 277.................250..........27

Soniacan..............198.5....................198 .5..............175...........23.5

ladydi..................233....................... 233.................208..........25

argon...................162....................... .162.................142..........20

jazzystouch...........246.......................24 6..................220..........26

chocolate_snaps.....344......................344...................299..........45