Oh you naughty little Bandsters! I am not talking about potato chips, corn chips, fried chips or chocolate chips!

Here's a new fun thread that we can all use. I'm looking for volunteers to create Virtual Chips that we can put in our signature line after we EARN THEM. I think Trish is good at creating all those cute computer diddies, so can those of you creative with the computer "create" some virtual chips and post some samples here for us to vote on?

In AA, you get a 30 day chip if you don't drink booze for 30 days. It's a little plastic chip for your keychain. You get another after 60 days, 90 days, 3 months, 6 months, a year, etc. You get the same chips in OA (Overeater's Anonymous) for abstinence. For example, my big problem right now is sugar and soda. I haven't had any for 3 days, so in another 27 days I'll have earned my 30 Day Chip.

WHO ELSE WANTS CHIPS?

Post your starting date, your abstinence and the number of days you have. If you stick to your plan for 30 days, you can add a chip to your signature. This is based on honesty.

Here are some abstinence suggestions:

Three meals a day, no Snacks.

No sugar.

Exercise 5 times a week (abstain from laziness)

No Carbs

No Booze

No Caffeine

I'll start:

Lisa, abstaining from sugar and soda, currently on Day 3.

DAY 19 no soda. I want a Coke. Boy oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy....

New girl, it's just as hard to remain compliant if you don't have good restriction, or if you've let your eating habits slide. The average weight loss for Bandsters is 1/2 of your excess weight. I needed to lose about 140 pounds, and I lost 60. Now I'm still overweight, but the weight won't come off unless I'm compliant.

My weight loss was great in the beginning because I followed all the band rules. Every doctor has different rules. Mine said to eat three meals a day with NO snacking or eating between meals, and no drinking with meals. I stuck to that for 6 months, but little by little we become brave and willing to try things with our band. Don't do it because it's too easy to fall back on old habits.

When you have good restriction, you can only eat small portions, however, some foods are easy to eat. The crap that contains little or no nutritional value seems to slide down really easy, and all those condensed calories add up and keep us fat.

We aren't supposed to drink soda, but one can contains tons of sugar, which converts to fat. Getting and staying thin requires a very small caloric intake for most of us that have slow metabolisms (and keep getting slower as we age.) The more you lose, the better your body burns. Now I'm rambling... hope this helps.

I think I managed not to eat chocolate for 23 days...that's it.

I'm off the wagon, had to have it and it's so good.

No chips for me

Tomorrow (November 2nd) is THIRTY DAYS for me with no caffeine....no more pop...Wahoo! Chip, please....K-ching! (could I have my chip with some cheese and salsa, please?)

So no caffeine....but it's a darn good thing I didn't challenge myself with no ice cream! I'll try that next!

Keep up the good work, y'all. No giving up, I called it!

Jon

Thirty-one days for me with no chips/salsa! I'm going for another month too!

19 Days No Caffeine

Lady, Betty and Jon...You guys are great

I DID IT! WAHOOOOOOO! 30 days with no "Go Juice"!!! Where's my chip? Gimme Gimme Gimme, please!

Oh...do I feel sixty days with no caffeine next? YES I THINK I DO!

Keep on keepin' on, y'all!

Jon

Sunday I will have made it 3 days with NO CHEETOS! I can't believe it. I did eat halloween candy though. Down 3 lbs.

Here's my 30 day chip for no soda (not a drop.) But I've gained weight over stress-eating. Time to gain more control.

Today is Day 1 of no sugared goodies and no eating in bed at night or ever.

chip 30.bmp

This one is for SUPER DADDY! GO BOY GO!

chip 30.bmp

Betty gets a chip! FAR OUT!

chip 30.bmp

Where is Sunnykim? I noticed she has her avatar posted in her signature line. If she can get a pic in her sig line, we should be able to get chips in our sig lines. I'm trying to find her...Kimmy, where are you?

I want to try to earn a chip for following my doctor's orders for 30 days. Basically, get my protein, water, and exercise.

Thanks Lisa, and congrats to you too! Thanks for starting this thread!