Great Idea - I will do it right now !!

Hi

I am Janet and I am a recovering food addict :wink2:

I was banded 7/17/07 - My starting weight was 250 - I'm 5'4

Today (just over 10 months out) I am 154 - size 8 pants (was 18/20) Medium tops (was 22/24)

I got banded as I wanted to extend the years that I have left on this planet and to do that I knew that I needed to lose weight.

The band has been the tool I needed. For the first time in my life I have been able to achieve this goal (actually getting to my goal weight)

If you want a buddy - support - help - suggestions - Please feel free to call upon me - I will gladly share my journey with you - the journey is still on going and by helping you I will be helping me (staying motivated and accountable) and then one day you can pay it forward and help someone else.

Well, I am home. Dr. Davis took out .3cc. I just finished eating chicken with no problem. He said acid taste in my mouth was not good. He wants me to go to the nutritionist he hired. He said to keep track of my food on Livestrong and turn it into her. I am going to call and find out what it cost. I need help on my food and accountability.

Oh, I did lose 3lbs in a week.

WooHoo!! Congrats on the 3 lbs!! How's DH doing by the way??

Well, I am home. Dr. Davis took out .3cc. I just finished eating chicken with no problem. He said acid taste in my mouth was not good. He wants me to go to the nutritionist he hired. He said to keep track of my food on Livestrong and turn it into her. I am going to call and find out what it cost. I need help on my food and accountability.

Oh, I did lose 3lbs in a week.

Have you thought about Weight Watchers Online? I've been doing it for a couple days now, and I can't even express how wonderful this tool is.

It's very user friendly and works in your activity schedule and just anything you can think of.

Best wishes!!

Hey guys,

Just checking in. My doctor says if I can work out 30 mins everyday there is a chance she will cut my BP meds some more she already took one away and the other two in half. I don't normally work out everyday. I used to workoutat least three times a week then I got in this funk and can't get out. My trainer friend could not work out with me and then i got lazy. Oh well all in all I am doing great!! Just got to jump back on the working out and i will feel better.

So here is one of the millon dollar questions. Why is it you work out everyday for then you miss a day and that turns into two and so forth?

I have not caught up on all the posts but I know there is so much going on for alot of people. Congrats to lose who have reached goals you have set for yourselves and the ones on trips be safe. For the ones dealing with sickness for yourself or family be strong you can get through this and remeber we are all here for you and this too shall pass.

Remember TAKE ONE DAY AT A TIME !!

Thanks Great(cool name)!!!!!!!! I feel so much better this evening.

Irene, I have thought about WW. Right now I am trying to stay at 800-1000calories. I will do it if the nutritionist cost more than I want to spend. I am glad you are having good success with it.

Thanks Great(cool name)!!!!!!!! I feel so much better this evening.

Irene, I have thought about WW. Right now I am trying to stay at 800-1000calories. I will do it if the nutritionist cost more than I want to spend. I am glad you are having good success with it.

The past three days I cut my carbs way down and upped my pure Protein. As in meat without much added sauce or gravy. I immediately lost weight. Not less calories, different quality calories. Couldn't eat as much either. Felt full almost immediately.

I'm going to a family reunion for two days and I'm not going to worry much about food. I'll eat a little of whatever looks good. After the 3 days of protein I can tell my band will still restrict me. Then, after that, I'm going back to the very low carb thing until I get my fill on Aug. 11. I think if I alternate very low carb days with some higher carb days (but still emphasizing protein) I'll lose. Kind of a lose/maintain cycle.

Laura, hope you're able to come home soon. Blessings on you, your father, and your family.

I love the McCrack crack.

Julie, I actually hang from an incline board because I have trouble with my whole spine. My neck has been particularly bad. It can be very difficult to tell what comes from my herniated discs and what is internal issues. A tight band gives me pain in the same places my neck does. For a while, I had referred pain going back and forth between them. Hope you get relief soon.

Hang in there everyone. Have a fun weekend. I plan to. My blog yesterday was about Second Childhood. Playing with my grandkids has turned me into a little kid again. And I don't eat or even think about food when I play. So for everyone this weekend my wish for you is that you play.

Well, I am home. Dr. Davis took out .3cc. I just finished eating chicken with no problem. He said acid taste in my mouth was not good. He wants me to go to the nutritionist he hired. He said to keep track of my food on Livestrong and turn it into her. I am going to call and find out what it cost. I need help on my food and accountability.

Oh, I did lose 3lbs in a week.

Hi Charlene, So glad you are feeling better. The Livestrong website is where the daily plate is which is the food log I've been using since January. It's fee and I think it's very very easy to work with. Just go to www.dailyplate.com What I like best about it is that you can search for almost any food and then search by brand or restaurant, etc. I think you'll find it very user friendly. You can also input your height and weight and how much you want to lose per week and it will tell you how many calories to eat per day to do that. You can also log your exercise and it takes the amount of calories you burned right off your calorie count. Good luck with everything. Linda

Hi everyone.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful evening. I just got home from work about an hour ago and just finished dinner. I had my good ole salad w/ grilled chicken on top. I went to the support group meeting last night and the dietitian was there. I showed her my journal and she said it looked great and was proud that i was counting my calories. I then asked if she was familar with the salads from the restraunt that I am getting them from and she was. She told me that she did not see any problem with me eating those salads and said that they were good for me. So, I am really happy about that. I also told her that now I have zero restriction and won't be filled until the 24th. She told me to hang in there. I then see her the following day.

Well, today I experienced my first PB :wink:. Not cute. I was at work and was eating a 100 calorie piece of salmon and I was rushing in between clients. I should know better. I didn't want my clients to wait. Anyways, I could feel the knot building in my chest and thought that it would pass and took another bite. WRONG! What the hell was I thinking?!?!? I went out into the main salon part to apply color to another hairdresser and I felt it. She understands. I went into the back room and that was it. Out it came. It wasn't as bad as I thought that it was going to be, so that was good. But let me tell you, I sure did learn my lesson!

Laura~ I'm glad that you checked in. I hope that everything turns out to be okay with your daddy. So glad that you have your sister there. When are planning to head back home to the DH?

Charlene~ So happy that you got your tweak. Thank goodness you feel better. What a relief. How's DH?

Linda~ Geez, sounds like your bicep is really bothering you. I hope that its just a pulled muscle and nothing serious. Congrats on doing your walking tapes. Fantastic!

Janet~ You are such an inspiration with your exercise routine. I totally need to get back into the exercise. I feel so terrible that I haven't worked out lately. Well, with the exception of the barn.

ee~ We had our surgery around the same time! This is great! Any McDonalds fatty dreams for you? LOL.

Julie~ Hope you get your neck and back straightened out asap. I know how painful that can be. EEK! Hopefully you will be ready for your little trip with DH to visit the girls. That is so nice that he was there for them when they needed him the most. So sweet.

If~ I am cutting my carbs way down also. I am stuck at -35 lbs and sick of seeing the same number on the scale. Need to get my butt moving I suppose. I just cannot believe that I am not losing faster eating only 800 calories!

Ok, well if I missed anyone, sorry. I am thinking about all of you. Thank goodness for all of you! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Like i've said before, IDK what i would do without all of you?

Good night~ Meredith

Trying to catch up on all the posts - gone for two weeks.

Laura, prayers for your Dad!

I'm brain dead after reading all those pages and won't even try to go on from there!

Tired after all morning joint replacement class this morning, appt with my primary care doc in the afternoon! Doubled my anti-depressant, cut one of my BP meds in half for the second time! BP was 100/56! Weight was down 4 lb since last appt... about 6 weeks ago. And that was an early morning, fasting appt... this time, afternoon, right after lunch!

Trying to catch up on all the posts - gone for two weeks.

Laura, prayers for your Dad!

I'm brain dead after reading all those pages and won't even try to go on from there!

Tired after all morning joint replacement class this morning, appt with my primary care doc in the afternoon! Doubled my anti-depressant, cut one of my BP meds in half for the second time! BP was 100/56! Weight was down 4 lb since last appt... about 6 weeks ago. And that was an early morning, fasting appt... this time, afternoon, right after lunch!

Fantastic that your weight is down and you BP is so much better. Getting back on my feet after knee replacement was a big psychological boost for me. Walking without pain, wow. Do your excercise to strenthen the muscles all around the knee for fast recovery.

GOOD MORNING GANG - TGIF...

I read yesterday was going to post last night but a gf came over and didn't leave til after 8 and I still had to feed babies and myself.

Charlene

Congrats on the 3 lbs :wink2:

Why would the nutritionist cost $$$ - Mine is included in my office visits - if she's part of Dr's staff I wouldn't think it would cost extra...

As you already know - I am a firm believer in keeping a food diary - it's a great training tool - I did it for the 1st year - I don't do it now - I know I try and keep a mental note of what I have eaten for the day - but cant tell you that it's easy to forget a bite of this or a little snack - and all those little calories add up.. I will find myself trying to remember what I ate - and I always seem to forget something - and I will still jot down my food every now and then..

Cheri - you plan is excellent - you are in bandster hell (pre fill after healed) Low fat - limited carbs/starches - and sugar - I have found for me that's what works... Have a great time at your reunion...

Ocotillo - Congrats on your loss you are doing great !!!:nanahump:

Julie - Hope you are doing better today...

Irene - I am so glad that the WW is working for you - I am a big WW person - cuz I think it's the most healthiest eating plan out there and I have done them all !!! You still get a little bit of everything - it teaches you portion control - about fat - sugars - starches -.. WTG Girl :Banane56:

Meredith - Yep that one more bite - I still do it 2 yrs out going into my 3rd year - it's all about the taste / addiction..

I have never had bad pb like some report - bping for hours - mine usually come up and that's it..

Exercise - Well I don't let myself really get out of the groove - I have trainer 2 days a week that I pay for - after a year ya I could quit as I know what to do. But I don't reason is that it MAKES me go to the gym those 2 days cuz I have paid for it - It's well worth the $$$ - Saturday mornings I usually enjoy cuz I have the energy then - it's the after work gym time that I try and talk myself out of - and the main reason I usually don't talk myself out of it is just for the reason you state - if you don't go for a week - it's so easy to slip back into slug bug/couch potato mode... It's just like eating and allowing too many treats - it's real easy to slip back into our old habits and I am very very mindful of this.

We all have lost it before - we all have gained it back plus some - Lesson learned - we can't stop doing what we know works - eating healthy and exercise - I'm 54 I can no longer kid myself that eating unhealthy and being a slug bug is going to keep me at a size 4 - nope that behavior will make me a 18/20 again... Not going back there - so you just have to make yourself do it - don't think about it - just do it even when you are pooped cuz after it's done it wasn't as hard as you thought it would be and you will feel better - #1 the endorphins and #2 that you did it - that's a good feeling - the Power starts with you !!!!

1day - I was on 2 bp meds - I am down to one.. Wish I could not take that one - but alas I can't - so mines not all weight related but exercise is key in keeping me healthy..

Linda - How are you doing... I always banked my exercise calories - I know pple who say well I burned 300 cal - ate 1500 so that's really 1200 for the day - IMHO I think it's best to eat 1200 - burn 300 - This is what worked for me and a few pple who did it the other way didn't lose like they thought they would

Phyl - WTG on the weight loss - That's great especially since you have been on vacation for the last few weeks !!!

Ok gang gotta get my butt in gear - TTYL HUGS:wub:

Fantastic that your weight is down and you BP is so much better. Getting back on my feet after knee replacement was a big psychological boost for me. Walking without pain, wow. Do your exercise to strengthen the muscles all around the knee for fast recovery.

I haven't been doing exercises to strengten those muscles. Any suggestions?

Hi everyone. Janet, yes, I agree with you -- I bank my exercise calories too. I never eat more than 1200 a day no matter how much I exercise cause those days when you exercise less or not at all, those "burned calories" help to even you out for the week, at least in MHO. I feel very lucky I'm able to do the aerobic exercise I need to do -- so lucky I don't have knee problems. Charlene, I guess I misread your post, I was thinking you thought Livestrong.com cost money, rather than the nutritionist. I'm also surprised that your nutritionist costs extra -- like Janet, mine is included as well. My bicep was feeling much better but last night it started bothering me again. I did check with my trainer at the gym and she said I can ice it for 15 mins. and then use a heating pain for 15 on and off during the day and that should help it heal. I'm continuing to stay away from weights until I know it's better. I'll just continue with my aerobics for now. I'm sure a few weeks away will take care of it. Great, we do time share exchanges -- we have a two bedroom condo so my sister and her family can stay with us -- we are staying at the Grandview in Vegas -- it's about 6 miles away from the strip toward Henderson -- my son lives (and works) in Henderson, so it'll be convenient for them for us to be on that side as well. I lived in Vegas back in the early 90s, so the strip does not hold the fascination for me as it does for some. I just want to relax, swim and maybe see a few shows and enjoy my family. We'll probably head out to the strip at night (when the weather is slightly cooler) as my sister and her kids haven't seen most of the newer casinos. I like downtown too. After the week at the condo, we will stay the extra few nights at my DS's. I'm looking forward to 10 days off. I'm working back to back shifts this week (80 hours) in order to save some vacation time. I work weird hours -- I work 10 hours on Fri., 7 on Sat. 20 hour on Sunday and 3 on Monday. In order to have 1 week off (Sun. to Sun.) I have to take 60 hours of vacation. So, one of my co-workers traded his shift during the week this week for my Sunday so I don't have to use so much vacation time. That's the only thing about my shift that I don't like. Other than that, it's great. Meredith, sorry to hear about your PB, sounds like it was over quickly though, which is a good thing. Gotta get busy with my work out, have a good day everyone. Linda

GOOD MORNING GANG - TGIF...

Irene - I am so glad that the WW is working for you - I am a big WW person - cuz I think it's the most healthiest eating plan out there and I have done them all !!! You still get a little bit of everything - it teaches you portion control - about fat - sugars - starches -.. WTG Girl :scared2:

Janet, thanks! I totally agree with you! I absolutely love weight watchers. I have only been doing the plan since Monday I believe, that along with my new elliptical and Shape-ups shoes I have posted a 4 Lb. loss today (from last Friday). The best part is it's TOM!! Wow!! :tt1: Next week will be just as good :-D

Weight Watchers + Lap-Band = Holy Grail of weight loss/management. That is truly how I feel. It keeps me accountable to every little thing. Rule #3 states, "If you bite it, you write it"... LOL I thought that was so awesome!

It is also a HUGE motivator for me to make sure I'm doing all my workouts as I should. You gain more eating points for all your workouts - and for me, every 10 minutes on my elliptical is worth 2 points!! Haha!! You better believe I'm pushing it. I'm only doing 20 minutes right now - but it would probably be 10-15 without that extra incentive. Also with my new crazy shoes I was only doing 1 mile instead of my 2. I push that 2 now!

Anyway, I'm just totally jazzed. I'm also jazzed I can EAT! It's gravy!!

Drive by post~ I was having a hell of a time with the internet connection last night! I tried to post 3 times and it kept losing everything I wrote!!! uuurrrrghhhhhhh!

Here are the cliff notes version:

1) Nelson is better. Think it was allergies.

2) Dad is doing a lot better. Creat. from 8 to 4. If it is ok tomorrow he will be discharged. He had an endoscopy today for blood in stool and stricture in his esophagus. He did ok.

3)If weather is ok, we will fly home tomorrow.

4)I am down 7 lbs since I arrived! Not sure that is the way to do it. But ready to get home to my gym and my kitchen.

You guys have been so sweet during this hard time! Your kind words have really helped me out. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Hugs to all. More in the coming days.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxopeasout!!!

Laura, great news about your dad and your return home... And as for the weight loss, it's a good thing no matter how it comes off at this point... I say good for you and keep up the good work....

I'm a little better today.........no headache anyway.. back and neck are still a bit sore but I am managing to get a few things done.. Got my batch of homemade oreos made to take with us tomorrow... Also have a pan of banana bars in the oven.... bananas needed to get used up... Will probably take them along tomorrow, too... Or they will be fine in the freezer, too.. I'm not having a good food day..... don't know what the problem is... Have to regroup and get back on track real soon.. I've been lazy because I've been feeling so poor... Just eating whatever is easy and tastes good... I was hoping to start my walking tape soon, but doc said to wait a little yet,,, I guess I can do that...

Well, I'm hoping you all will have a great weekend.. I'll be back Sunday or Monday... TTYL............ Julie