Several people have suggested a place to post on a regular basis to save time going from one thread to another! I thought this would be a good title. Like reading the daily newspaper!

We are all banded now, and I will still update the line up when new people discover this site.

I look forward to hearing from everyone as we transform!

Hello Everyone!

It is back to work for me. Our term will end on the 19th and I will be off work until Jan 5 so that is ok. I have lost another 2 lbs! GREAT! I go see the doc on Friday and don't know if I will have more fill or not.

Apples! Sorry we won't get to meet this time, perhaps someday we can all meet somewhere. Hope you enjoy your trip south!

Long, you and Allie and Apples are Band superstars! Oh and Iteach you are too! I am a turtle when it comes to losing weight, but that is ok... It is coming off! I am down into my old size 14 petite and can wear 12 petite if the waist is elastic. I am happy to be losing and not gaining here at the holidays!

It snowed here today and that put me into the Christmas spirit! Hope you all are doing well and post success soon!

OH! Snuffy! Come out, come out, where every you are!

That goes for the rest of you June Bugs!

Hello Everyone!

It is back to work for me. Our term will end on the 19th and I will be off work until Jan 5 so that is ok. I have lost another 2 lbs! GREAT! I go see the doc on Friday and don't know if I will have more fill or not.

Apples! Sorry we won't get to meet this time, perhaps someday we can all meet somewhere. Hope you enjoy your trip south!

Long, you and Allie and Apples are Band superstars! Oh and Iteach you are too! I am a turtle when it comes to losing weight, but that is ok... It is coming off! I am down into my old size 14 petite and can wear 12 petite if the waist is elastic. I am happy to be losing and not gaining here at the holidays!

It snowed here today and that put me into the Christmas spirit! Hope you all are doing well and post success soon!

OH! Snuffy! Come out, come out, where every you are!

That goes for the rest of you June Bugs!

I am disappointed also that we will not meet. I was looking forward to it. As far as I'm concerned, we are ALL Band Superstars!!!!!!! I am at the end of my weight loss journey but yet I am still inspired by all of you. It's hard work and it's so nice to have friends to talk to on a daily basis. Let me tell you...it is not over once the weight is off. I have been working really hard to figure out where I need to be as far as calories and exercise. I will get it but it's not easy. I just try to get all my nutrients in every day and throw in extra cals when I think I need them. What is so weird is that my doc says 600 cals for a woman on maintenance and 800 for a man. I am needing about double that to maintain. Good for you for losing over TG weekend! Always good feeling when moving to a smaller size. Alright....I am getting pissed...this site keeps putting all of my poop in a group today. I use paragraphs and then one big wad post shows up. Oh well, at least it hasn't deleted them!

Here I am!!

I was out for week. At least as far has being online. Sorry I haven't been positng on here. Will be posting here more often for now on. Tonight I am working on catching up the spread sheet.

I alos took the month off from my diet and exercise. Me and the wife were both experiencing economic trouble, but now we are both back on track. Since I took the month off I haven't loss any weight. But the good news is I havent't gained any either.

Well, lots of work to do. See ya all soon!:thumbup:

Good Day!

I am so happy to see some of the June Bugs!

Snuffy! Glad to see you again! Hope all the problems are fading away for you and your wife!

Not much to report here just a normal day for me. I just want to keep my promise and post here more often.

Perhaps we can share some of the things we like to eat. I try to keep some almonds to snack on. I have to admit that I have a sugar thing!:cursing: Any suggestions on how to get rid of that?

Looking forward to hearing more from all of you!

Hi Cathy, I notice you have a photo on your posts now again. You look beautiful. I know someone saw you that you knew a while back.

Let's see something I like to eat? Egg Beaters every morning for breakfast. And since they've been out for the holidays I have gotten a beef stick (Hickory or Peppridge farms not sure which) and have a slice of that in the evening for my evening snack and to get in a little more protein.

I just today posted a 6 mos bandiversary check in with a poll to post your loss and also to post what you have learned about yourself and the band since our surgeries 6 mos ago. Check it out. Can you believe it's been 6 mos? My official 6 mos date is Friday the 5th. Though I have my 6 mos post op appt on Thurs. I may get a small fill. Jury is still out on that one. I am so fearful of being over filled, however, lately I have been hungrier but did get stuck a few times while on vacation. That concerned me but that was the first time in forever, maybe it was stress (was with 26 inlaws that will do it!!)

Cathy....love your photo. What a pretty lady!

The only thing I know to stop your cravings for sugar is to totally cut them out. Replace them with fruit. See what happens.

Some of my mainstays for food are:

Snacks: 1.5oz pack of beef jerky. 25g protein and very filling. Fiber One cereal. I just put 1/2 up in snack pack baggie. 60 cals. Pure Protein bars (I use these and beef jerky when meal options are not the greatest when I am on the run). I always treat myself with a 100 cal pack of Kettle popcorn every evening. I just gotta have it!

Breakfast is usually 5oz container of Oikos greek yogurt with Splenda and a small amount of Fiber One.

Lunch and dinner: salmon, shrimp, scallops, chix, steak with fruit and veggies.

Hope this helps.

Hi Cathy, I notice you have a photo on your posts now again. You look beautiful. I know someone saw you that you knew a while back.

Let's see something I like to eat? Egg Beaters every morning for breakfast. And since they've been out for the holidays I have gotten a beef stick (Hickory or Peppridge farms not sure which) and have a slice of that in the evening for my evening snack and to get in a little more protein.

I just today posted a 6 mos bandiversary check in with a poll to post your loss and also to post what you have learned about yourself and the band since our surgeries 6 mos ago. Check it out. Can you believe it's been 6 mos? My official 6 mos date is Friday the 5th. Though I have my 6 mos post op appt on Thurs. I may get a small fill. Jury is still out on that one. I am so fearful of being over filled, however, lately I have been hungrier but did get stuck a few times while on vacation. That concerned me but that was the first time in forever, maybe it was stress (was with 26 inlaws that will do it!!)

Long...are the beef sticks individual or the salami type meat?

Long...are the beef sticks individual or the salami type meat?

The one I have now is summer sausage, they are big long ones, I slice off one or two slices.

Aw-shucks! Thanks for the compliments on the pic. Someone did recognize me before, but I figured "what the heck" I like to see everyone else on here, I like to put a face to the person. I am really kinda proud that I had the courage to have this surgery.

Anyway, I forgot about the beef sticks, Great idea for a snack. I have been eating the pre-cooked bacon for breakfast. I have a bunch of food allergies and it makes it kinda hard sometimes. I am intolerant to dairy (yep, no cheese) I can't do egg yoke, strawberry, apples, peanuts and pecans. I have a real challenge when it comes to protein foods and fruits. I am going to try to eliminate sugar completely... or try!

I will also be released from the doctor from my last surgery next week and will be able to finally go back to the gym. I haven't been able to do any exercise for six weeks due to the TOT surgery. (I think that is the funniest name for that surgery) Anyway! I hope I can speed up the weight loss, but never-the-less, I am losing! and I am very happy! So....bring it on!

I remember your old pic, Cathy and I can really see the weight loss in your face! People see it in mine too although I think I still have some saggy jowls..eww. Gotta get a new pic taken and update mine. My last pic on my badge at work ... I looked like a chiipmunk! Glad you are recovering from your other surgery.

Looking good cathy, like your new picture. Judy

good morning June bugs!!

Nice to see your beautiful face Cathy!! I also have a sweet tooth and when I deprive myself or try not to eat sweets I go crazy and go on a binge.. so I found my solution.. they have these new 100 calorie packs of candy.. m&m's, twix, snickers etc.. I keep them on hand and when I have a craving I eat a pack.. just one does the trick.. We love going to the movies on the weekends and I always bring a pack.. I have found that it really helps me to know I can have candy when I need it.

So today I am off to find an outfit for my hubby's work xmas party this saturday night.. The people he works with have not seen me since before surgery.. so i want to look smoking HOT ..lol.. Wish me luck.. when I need an outfit I always have the hardest time finding something.. but the good news is.. I AM NOT SHOPPING AT LANE BRYANT THIS YEAR!! Regular sizes here I come!!! Have a great and glorious day!:cursing:

Good luck finding that 'smokin' hot outfit' Allie. You'll look great and knock their socks off I am sure. My husbands party isn't until January so I hope to find my smokin' hot outfit on clearance after Christams and it won't be at Lane Bryant either. You know I haven't stepped foot in there for a few months already. They must miss me!

We have a beautiful snow fall coming down right now, the big puffy flakes. Looks so clean and fresh and Christmasy out there. Now as long as I do okay on the roads, I'll keep that positive attitude about the snow!! :cursing:

Hi all! I have not checked in on the site in a while, so nice to catch up on every body. To my surprise as I updated my weight loss ticker, I see that I am at the half way mark for my weight loss goal, hurray! So looks like I am right on track loosing half the weight in 6 months, I figured it would take me a year. I've been continuing to loose weight steadily, however have been slacking on the excercise. But will have plenty of time for that now, because unfortunately I was laid off on Tuesday. 23 years with a major IT company, ugh. The company is laying off 25,000 people. And living in Michigan where everything is automotive based, the economy is so bad and jobs are rare. Luckily I did receive 5 months severance to tide me over. May just be time to move out of here.

Strike ~ I can relate to the saggy jowls. Just noticed that on my neck yesterday, yuck!

I'm having a 50th birtday bash for my husband on Saturday. So have been keeping busy with that to keep my mind of the job situation. Went shopping with my daughter last night for a new outfit for the party. How nice it was to shop in normal sizes and I also found I went down another size in jeans. So that definitely cheered me up.

I see some of you were discussing what you eat. I can eat very little chicken or beef because it gets stuck, but do well with fish. In the morning I make my self a fat free latte with protein powder or will have scrambled eggs. For snacks I eat almonds, popcorn, yogurt and light string cheese. I can not do without choclate. I treat myself to a few semi-sweet choclate chips occassionally.

Keep up the good work.

Afternoon June bugs!

Thanks vzghj Long , Allie, and Apples for the food suggestions, I think I do better to listen to Apples and avoid them all together (sort of hard during the Holidays)! I can usually stop a binge if I have a protein.

There is a thread on here that says to always add protein to anything you eat. The thread is for "slow losers"

Like me! I think I will do like Long and go get a Beef stick tonight and slice some of it and take it with me. I also do better if I keep almonds around (the raw, unsalted kind.)

Gald you all like my photo, I would love to see more photos on here. I love to see who I am talking to. You can always take it back off If you don't want to keep it online!

I am taking my class to pack food boxes for Christmas for the Children tomorrow. That is always such a joy! I will decorate my house this weekend and I am actually looking forward to it!

Have a great day and it is GREAT to see more and more people posting!