Anybody heard from him? I notice that he hasn't posted in awhile...

I actually had an email from just the other day, he will show up I am sure.

thanks Rick. Just curious. He usually is the most vocal dude here.

I've been out shopping for a pair of shorts like from gigem's Before photo...

Actually, it had been quiet in here, so I'd been concentrating on the March 2008 Bandsters thread, which is pretty busy.

Things are going well - I got a bit of a shock when I ran the Bodybugg program and discovered that, based on my calories burned and weight lost, I was (according to its calculations) eating an AVERAGE of 2700 calories a day over the last 6 weeks or so. I don't think that's right - I've had a few "bad" days, but mostly I've been in the 1500 range, give or take.

I think two things are going on:

1. It's overestimating the number of calories I'm burning

2. I'm underestimating the number of calories I'm eating

So I'm tightening up on the second - mostly cutting out the occasional mini-Peppermint Patty at the office, or the extra piece of boneless, skinless chicken at home, and trying to be more conscious of my eating, and I'm still trying to keep pounding the sidewalk to raise my burn rate.

It's going well - I'm down 93 pounds since my first weigh-in at the end of January, 67 since surgery on March 6. I have minimal restriction, but I like being able to eat what I want. At present, the band doesn't interfere with my eating, it just makes me full sooner, which is pretty ideal. I know that eventually I'm going to have to have a fill, and that life will get a good deal more challenging after that, but I'm coasting now, and it's fun.

Yeah, I'm no expert, Fenton, but I think despite what bodybug is telling you, you continue to kick ass with your loss. I'm kinda of the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" camp.

BTW, don't even joke about 80's shorts coming back into vogue. My underwear covers more than gigem's shorts!

That's kind of the way I feel - I'm eating well, and exercising hard (just walking, but I walk a LOT), and the weight is coming off - I'm averaging 4.5 pounds per week, despite my weekly indulgence of going to a good restaurant and enjoying a glass of red wine and a pan roasted duck breast with ginger hoisin sauce. And, I can't tell a lie: I have dessert, too!

But my mass is coming down - I'm carrying almost 100 pounds less than when I started. On the plus side, I'm moving really easily now, and feel great - it's hard to remember a time (just a few months ago) when it was difficult for me to get up from a chair. On the minus side, the less weight I'm carrying, the less energy I'm consuming, and the slower my weight loss.

I'd decided I'd return to the gym when I hit 375 pounds - five pounds more. I'm only intending doing treadmill/eliptical trainer at first, but it'll be nice to do it in the cool, rather than sweating on the sidewalk outside. I'll still walk to and from work, but now I'll also be doing at least a half hour on the treadmill a day. And I fully intend SHREDDING!!!

I think I've talked elsewhere about wanting to learn how to snowboard; it looks like that's working itself out for this winter. A major snowboard company is going to be making me a custom board (long story - they're buying artwork from a painter friend of mine, and offered some snowboards as part of the deal) (OK, not really a long story after all, I guess!); my plan is to go boarding in Colorado in February 2009 - so that's my main goal!

I'd also like to go on a few roller coaster rides, but I think I'll still be too big during the summer season up here in the NorthEast.

I'd also like to go on a few roller coaster rides, but I think I'll still be too big during the summer season up here in the NorthEast.

Fenton, here in Texas, Six Flags stays open (on the weekends) up until Thanksgiving. I'll wager that you'll easily be on a coaster by Autumn.