Hey all.

So there's a bunch of us in this group, all split up into our different banding days. I was thinking that it might be a good idea to have one master thread as we move through the month, in which all of us could post as we go, from the pioneers going on March 1st to the finalists on March 31st.

I'd love to talk about our anticipation and any worries as we approach our banding date, for people to talk about exactly what happened from the moment they walked into the hospital door until the second they walked out, about how recovery is going, about weight loss and plateaus, about non-scale victories and challenges.

I was thinking that if we all contribute to one thread, it'll form a more substantial channel for information and support. At the moment, I was thinking that we might be too spread out into individual date, and that a central thread would be a really good backbone for the group, in addition to the date-specific threads.

What do you think?

Fenton

Tess,

We just got back from the Gatlinburg, TN area a week or so ago. We had great weather. We took a helicopter ride over the Smokies!!! That was something I always wanted to do, but was unable because of my size. The band sure gives us freedom!!!!

Enjoy your vacation and Happy 4th!!!!

Hastings: yes, it does. The Bodybugg I think guestimates calorie consumption based on its knowledge of your weight (which you enter once a week into a web-based program) and how many steps you've taken. It might be a bit more complicated than that, but that's my guess as to how it works.

As I said, I do think that the Bugg overestimates - there's no way I've eaten an AVERAGE of 2650 calories a day over the last month and a half! Although I don't doubt that on some days I hit that number.

I think the advantage of the Bodybugg is that I look at my Bodybugg monitor at 6PM and it says "10,000 steps", so I'll think, Hmm... I can do better. And I'll head back out and run errands, and take the long route to push the number up closer to 15,000. Similarly, if it's 8PM and I see I've only burned 3500 calories, I'll hit the road.

In the next few weeks, I'll hit a weight that I think is safe for me to start going to the gym and using machines, rather than just walking for exercise. And when that happens: Watch Out!!!

I've been doing the 10,000 step thing too. I love it cause it keeps me honest and I get a minimum of exercise a day. I just a pedometer.

Thanks, Fenton.

Gaitlinburg is beautiful, went a few years ago in the Fall...

Enjoy

I amheading to Atlantic city for a day and then just relaxing for the 4th here at home

Happy July 4th to all

Fenton Congratulations on the 3 pound drop! You will reach your 100 pound mark in no time at all!

Scrappy congrats on dropping the BP meds. You have done so well! I too would love to drop about 20 pounds by September. Maybe we can cheer eachother on.

Christine

I'm sure you'll get great advice from the March bandsters, but watch out for ADub! She's from Australia, and doesn't understand our customs, and you can't understand a thing she says because of the accent...

Oh now that's just uncalled for!

Hi Shamrocks!

I've just been trolling. I'm sick with the flu and miserable, I ned to go back to bed. Just thought I'd stop in to see you all and wish all your Americans a happy 4th of July!

Congratulations on the weight loss everyone! We're steaming along!

Annie I hope your feeling better soon. It sucks being sick.

Sorry to hear you're sick, Annie!

Hope you feel better sooooooooooooon!!

Hastings, I'm not 100% sold on the Bodybugg - I was using a pedometer before, and I think that they're great. But I do find that I get motivated by the Bodybugg, even if I know the calorie counts are probably a bit inaccurate. And the interface is really slick - the little graphs of your weight loss and what not are pretty cool.

Although, when you hit your weight loss target (you program a weekly weight loss goal, and it advises you about how you're doing with your calories burned vs calories consumed), you get this picture of a trainer-type dude popping up to give you two thumbs-up, which makes me want to blind myself with a pair of cake forks.

Tess, enjoy Gatlinburg; that whole area is beautiful. Some years back, I did a pilgrimage through Tennessee, driving around in search of the Great Southern Breakfast. It was a wonderful week...

Annie, I'm sorry to hear you're sick.

But not surprised - only laryngitis would stop you from posting here. Certainly not a hangover - lord knows how many times you've been posting like that!

Feel better soon.

Some years back, I did a pilgrimage through Tennessee, driving around in search of the Great Southern Breakfast. It was a wonderful week...

O MY GOD!! YOU FOUND MY TOTAL WEAKNESS. GIMME some steaming hot Buttermilk biscuits, Country Ham with Red-Eye Gravy, Pecan pancakes and cheese grits.

I think I gained 5lbs just thinking about it.

Lynn -- I'm just catching up on some posts and just now read your post re: getting filled July 10 and also your shoulder problem. I'm also getting a fill July 10 and this past Monday I finally began PT for my shoulder and spinal disc degeneration. This is the first time I have ever had PT. I have been suffering with the shoulder and neck pain for a few years. I'm already feeling a difference and I'm hoping reduced pain will help me stick with exercise better.

For those of you who are using the Wii Fit----what do you think? Do you see increased rates of weight loss then before you began using it? Also---are you seeing increased energy or endurance during the day?

I've not even plugged in my Wii - ADub did, and the next thing you know, she's sick as a dog! I think I dodged a bullet there - but I have to say that my walking has done me a tremendous amount of good. I have far more energy and endurance, and each day force myself to walk more. The other day, coming back from having a pain-in-the-neck skin biopsy at the dermatologist's office, I got off the bus early so I could walk 20 blocks to my office; in days gone by, even walking a couple of blocks was hard for me.

As I've said time and again, EXERCISE IS KEY TO GOOD, SUSTAINED WEIGHT LOSS!

I'm still too heavy for my Wii Fit, but I'm looking forward to it. Although that's partly because it has a snowboarding game, which I think will help me strengthen my lower body before beginning the epic journey into bruising and broken bones that will be my snowboarding career...

Edited July 3, 200818 yr by Fenton

Jonathan- It sucks that when I bike 8 miles I only burn a little over 300 calories and you are burning thousands just walking around town.

Men.

My RMR is 1759. I burn 500+ daily working out. I need 2726 a day just being me. According to Daily plate I get 2500 per day to lose 2 lbs a week. Thats not right. It should be more like 1700-1900. I am consuming 1600. The pounds should be melting off!!!! Whatever.

I can only guess that I am making more muscle while losing fat. Muscle weights more then fat so... I guess the trainer is correct, you gotta use the tape measure to see real progress. Even if it is slow.

This CaloriesPerHour.com is a very helpful site.

Edited July 3, 200818 yr by ajoneen