Hi everyone--I thought I'd listen to some advice from one of the other monthly groups and start one master thread in which we have an ongoing discussion/updates. I don't know about you all but I certainly spend most of my time on these boards on the pre-op forum and the general forum, not here. It would be nice to have just one thread to go to once in this forum.

We can maybe start out with introductions?

As for me, I'm going the "online privacy" route for now (paranoid that people I haven't told about this will somehow stumble across me on this site I guess, which is crazy, I know) but I can give you the big picture:

You can call me Penny, I'm 27, single and live in the Washington, DC area. I have a background in politics (which is why I live in DC) but now I'm a librarian which is much cooler and way more fun (trust me on that). Oh, and there's no "Marion the Librarian" thing with me either. One of the things I hear most frequently (besides the cliche "you have such a pretty face") is "but you don't LOOK like a librarian", which is another one of those bizarre backhanded compliments that you never really know how to take.

Personality wise, I'm kind of dorky, big into public radio and books and popular science. Oh, I'm also a little on the paranoid side (as you may be able to tell from earlier in this post). Beyond that I'm just kind of silly and friendly, VERY much so into traveling and I'm an aspiring "green" domestic diva (but that's not going so well).

Thank you both I think that is what I am going to do. I am off next week so I will have better control of my enviroment and I will be swimming and doing fun activites with my son all week so I will rock the exercise.

Happy Easter everyone!

One, you go girl. You have come to far to go back . I had one slice of turkey last night and could not eat anymore. I was stretching my pouch with carbs. I know doing shakes a couple of days and eating only protein will help you get back some restriction.

We are here for YOU!!!!!

How's everybody doing? I have had a rough two days on my program. Too many temptations around over the holiday. Now, I made Taco soup for DH and it smells so good. I may take a half of cup of the broth and try to put unflavored protein in it. I think the recipe calls for FF cream of soup, 1/2 c of broth, and 2 scoops of protein.

i am hanging in there doing great in the morning and at lunch but that is better than before.

Charlene how many days have you been doing just the shakes now?

i am hanging in there doing great in the morning and at lunch but that is better than before.

Charlene how many days have you been doing just the shakes now?

I am doing a shake in the morning, at lunch, dinner I eat chicken w/lettuce, and then another shake around 8pm. I think I only lost about 2lbs this week. I go tomorrow. I probably would do better with all shakes, but I need to eat something. My worst time of day is from 2p-5p. I want to snack, but all I can have is a pickle. I did drink some broth today and that helped a lot.

Oh, I have been on them for two weeks.

I am doing a shake in the morning, at lunch, dinner I eat chicken w/lettuce, and then another shake around 8pm. I think I only lost about 2lbs this week. I go tomorrow. I probably would do better with all shakes, but I need to eat something. My worst time of day is from 2p-5p. I want to snack, but all I can have is a pickle. I did drink some broth today and that helped a lot.

Hey i can certainly understand the 2-5 hard time. You are doing awesome let us know what the Dr says

weekly Weigh in a day late and no change, It's ok because I did alot of cooking for the family for Easter which means I did alot of nibbling also. So I can deal with no loss and no gain.

Congrats Charlene, A 2lb loss is a good week and on a holiday! You go girl.

I just got back from nutrition class. I am down three.......would have liked more, but I'll take it.

Way to go girl!!!

I just got back from nutrition class. I am down three.......would have liked more, but I'll take it.

You are doing awesome keep up the good work.

Hey all. sorry I havent been around.. 2 small kids keeps me going.... :thumbup: I read all your back posts though.. sounds like its up and down for everyone.

I am doing well.. I just hate when I feel like it takes so much effort to squeeze one pound off!! I remember once I went in to get a fill and there was this couple there who are patient reps.. they both had the lap band together and now they help counsel others with their journeys.. anyhow.. I remember telling them that I was having to work so hard and watch everything i eat in order to lose even a pound.. and they simply said.. you need a fill.. that if your watching your portion size and truely eating till you feel full and not pushing the limit or eating slider foods that it shouldnt be that hard to not feel hungry and lose..

well up until this last week I was pbing some and didnt dare get a fill but I was only losing like 1 lb a week and I was craving sugar like crazy!! I had to cut all milk out of my diet and that means there are so many things I cant eat. no milk, yogurt, butter, cheese.. and no milk products in anything.. so no baked goods with butter.. no nachos,pizza, nothing.. I cant have it in anything so as you can imagine milk is in almost everything! I was thinking this would help me lose weight since I can only eat pure foods.. meats, proteins like beans, and then only some carbs and vegs and fruit.. but the result has been craving sugar! I think because I stopped eating milk which breaks down into sugar my body is craving sugar in other forms. this week I noticed I could drink immediately after eating and thats a major sign that I need a fill.. if I take even a sip immediately after eating I will pb when I am tight enough.. so I made an appt for friday. hopefully it will help.

anyhow.. my birthday was monday and I just wanted to eat a little piece of cake.. no such luck.. couldnt find a single cake without butter or milk last minute.. so I guess I am the better for it. :mad:

anyhow.. I am encouraged by you guys who have lost so much weight.. even though I have had to start over I know I am getting there.. but its nice to see so much more is possible.. cant wait till ive lost 90+ lbs.. will be so nice.. heck 50+lbs would be wonderful at this point!

anyone else have the problem with gaining and losing the same 2 or 3 lbs over and over until you get over the hump? its SOOO annoying.. I only weigh myself once a week.. and it would be like down 2... up 1.. down 3.. up 1.. its driving me crazy. and I have a good scale.

I think most of us do that from time to time it can drive you crazy if you let it. When I'm dealing with that I get so disapointed and fustrated. Now days I try real hard not to let it get to me. I just take it day by day and if I gain I try to switch things up a little but sometimes it's hard not to get fustrated with it.

Edited April 7, 201016 yr by kimaly

Thanks, butterflies, for the props! Since I have been on this shake diet I have noticed triggers and bad habits I still had from my pre band days. I am gonna SHAKE those bad habits! lol

LMAO!!!!! I think that's what we all need to do. Shake those bad habits.

And 1 Day, Love the MOMs ROCK. But sometimes I think that's what helped get some of us in this boat. We spend so much time taking care of everyone else we forget to take care of ourselves. But Lord knows we DO ROCK, Who else gives more of themselves then a Mom.

Edited April 8, 201016 yr by kimaly

LMAO!!!!! I think that's what we all need to do. Shake those bad habits.

And 1 Day, Love the MOMs ROCK. But sometimes I think that's what helped get some of us in this boat. We spend so much time taking care of everyone else we forget to take care of ourselves. But Lord knows we DO ROCK, Who else gives more of themselves then a Mom.

That is so true we do give the most of ourselves. I wanted to change up my pic so I pick that sticker i had.