sheryl

Sarge! No slacking on the job!!! Get back here as soon as possible! Your privates need you!!! Tons of prayers coming your way....

I was going to say the same thing! Our food bill dropped dramatically (not to mention my bad habit of spending $$ going through drive-thrus)... You will recoop the money that you will have to spend in no time. I have been called a "cheap date" because of the amount of food I order. He will LOVE it! Yes, just go forward and he will get on board...

Oh goodie! I can't imagine my life without my protein shake in the morning. Give me my chocolate fix, and my protein fix first thing in the morning. I found some old pictures. One, the day after surgery when I was leaving the hosptial. No makeup, pretty bad at 362 pounds. The other one was after I lost 80 pounds, before I regained 55. I am 4 pounds less now... And I hope better with age!

Got it! Thanks! It will take me a bit to get it looking good... H 362+ (didn't have a scale to weight in) /S 362/ J 278/ G 200 / C 278 - 84 pounds loss total Gone for Good Club June Challenge Score Card Points earned for Rule 1 For each day that you drink a minimum of 64oz of water, you earn 1 point. You may earn a bonus of 5 points for a perfect week. 5-31_____6-01_____6-02_____6-03_____6-04_____6-05_____6-06_____6-07_____ Bonus____Week's Total_____ 6-08_____6-09_____6-10_____6-11_____6-12_____6-13_1__6-14_1__ Bonus____Week's Total_2__ 6-15__1__6-16__1___6-17__1__6-18__1__6-19__1__6-20_1 __6-21__1__ Bonus_5__Week's Total__12__ 6-22__1__6-23_____6-24_____6-25_____6-26_____6-27_____6-28_____ Bonus____Week's Total_____ Grand Total_______ Points earned for Rule 2 For each day that you exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes, you earn 2 points. You may earn a bonus of 5 points for a perfect week. 5-31_____6-01_____6-02_____6-03_____6-04_____6-05_____6-06_____6-07_____ Bonus____Week's Total_____ 6-08_____6-09_____6-10_____6-11_____6-12_____6-13_2__6-14_2_ Bonus____Week's Total__4__ 6-15_2__6-16__2_6-17__2__6-18__2__6-19__2__6-20__2__6-21_____ Bonus____Week's Total__12__ 6-22_____6-23_____6-24_____6-25_____6-26_____6-27_____6-28_____ Bonus____Week's Total_____ Grand Total_______ Points earned for Rule 3 - For each day that you do not eat foods that contain flour or sugar, you earn 3 points. (sugar substitutes are allowed) You may earn a bonus of 5 points for a perfect week. 5-31_____6-01_____6-02_____6-03_____6-04_____6-05_____6-06_____6-07_____ Bonus____Week's Total_____ 6-08_____6-09_____6-10_____6-11_____6-12_____6-13__3__6-14__3__ Bonus____Week's Total__6__ 6-15__3__6-16__3__6-17_____6-18__3__6-19__3__6-20__3__6-21_____ Bonus____Week's Total__15__ 6-22_____6-23_____6-24_____6-25_____6-26_____6-27_____6-28_____ Bonus____Week's Total_____ Grand Total_______ Points earned for Weight loss For each pound that you lose during the challenge, you earn 1 point Beginning weight 5-31: Weigh-in weight 6-7: Weigh-in weight 6-14: 278 (Just started!) Weigh-in weight 6-21: 276 (-2) Weigh-in weight 6-28: Total lost during challenge: Total points earned for Rule 1: Total points earned for Rule 2: Total points earned for Rule 3: Total points earned for weight loss: Total Challenge points earned:

HI! May I join this group??? Some of you know me by now. I was banded in 2003, lost 80 lbs in 7-8 months, had a major upheaval in my life for 2.5 years and I turned to food for comfort, regained 55 lbs, then got my head on straight and lost about 60 pounds since March. So, I am down a total of 84 pounds as of today. I want to lose about 78 more, though I will probably go about 65 pounds more, then see a plastic surgeon for a body lift and boob reduction. That should take care of a few more pounds, at least! TMI?? My next mini-goal is to lose 16 pounds so I can say that I have lost 100 pounds! Hopefully, I can do that in the next 4-6 weeks!

Excellent job!! As time goes on, you will get to know the band and all of it's fickle ways. But it will be the best friend you ever had... You are doing great!!

Yes, totally normal. Keep getting those fills until you have some restriction. You have lost those pounds because of dieting. You haven't used the band as a tool because you don't have restriction. For some, it takes 2-3 fills to get proper restriction. And your surgeon may be on the conservative side with the fills (which can be a good thing)... Just keep getting fills until you are restricted, then it will be a different ballgame... Hang in there! You are doing a GREAT job!!!

I think that this is a huge lesson for all newbies. Getting the band doesn't mean that the pounds are going to melt off of you and life will be glorious. It is just a tool. Life is hard at times. And our struggle to become healthier and thinner is a HUGE journey. Sometimes it takes one or two years, sometimes 3-5 years, sometimes longer. We didn't gain this weight overnight. It doesn't come off overnight either. Life is hard. That has been my struggle for the last couple of years. I was banded over 3 years ago. In the first 8 months or so, I lost 80 pounds. Then life kicked my bottom until there was no tomorrow. After a couple of years of therapy and regaining 55 pounds, I finally was able to get back on track. I lost those 55 pounds and have dropped 6 more. I am about half way to being where I want to be. Not skinny, but just much healthier. I am sorry that those words hurt you. I would have reacted the same way. And I am sure that her words were not meant to offend, but to help her succeed. I just hope everyone understand that this is a huge journey, with a ton of lessons to learn along the way. And it takes time. For some, it will take longer than others. But that does not mean we are a failure. We are just taking longer to learn those lessons that we need to learn. Hugs!

I think the results should go down next to 6-5, not 6-12... At the beginning of bootcamp, you had us put the results AFTER we finished the week. So, does that mean we have 4 weeks left?? Your messing with us privates!!

Another 5 pounds gone this week! That makes 35 total for bootcamp!!! Yippee!!! I am getting close to my century mark. Just 17 more pounds! I am SOOOOoooooo excited!

I don't know if you have to stay away from the liquid calories forever, but probably do them in moderation. A friend of mine lost 196 pounds with the band. She actually lost 5-7 pounds more than her goal, so she had a small unfill, just so she can eat a bit more. I think they are just doing things as they need to do them. Like a wait and see. Good for you on the loss. And good for you for thinking about maintenance. Let us know how you and your doctor do it...

Yes, you got great advice. Call the doctor and tell him exactly what is happening. He will probably have the best advice for you. For me, my band loosens after 30-40 pounds loss. Try to stay away from crackers. Until you get the unfill (if you get it), try eating things like cottage cheese, refried beans (lowfat) or chili, etc. They are softer foods, but they are good protein. I have a decent restriction right now, not tight at all. But in the mornings, it is pretty tight. So I always have my protein shakes. And make sure you keep track of your calories in fitday.com. Your body did well before your fill, so I would shoot for those calories each day. Good luck!! This is the tricky part of the band... You are doing very well.

Monday morning check in! I am so excited! I lost 5 pounds this week!!!! But wait, there is more!!! I hit one of my major goals!!! I have lost the 55 pounds that I gained when I fell off the band-wagon 2.5 years ago! And it took me less than 3 months to lose what I gained in that 2.5 years!!! I LOVE MY BAND!!! I have to say, I am literally working my butt off trying to get my house on the market. For the last 3 weeks, I fall into bed totally exhausted physically. I have been able to work out for an hour every day, but the last 3 days I just couldn't do it. But tomorrow, I will get back on my bike for the hour in the morning!!

I agree.. It is stupid. What is the percentage of people actually losing weight and keeping it off on any supervised diet? It it worked so well, we all won't need the band... The point is, the band is a tool to help you. I think you are a good candidate.

This happened to me. And duh, I didn't know that you weren't suppose to wear a tampon during surgury. Man, did it hurt taking it out (TMI, sorry!) They said that you normally just tell them and they get you the big-old industrial size pads and a pad under you, and it is fine... They are used to it. Whatever you do, do not use a tampon!! Ouch!

My dh didn't have problems with it. He knows that I am a happier person when I am down in my weight. Less tired and more playful. I think that you can't worry about him so much. You have to focus on your health. He will not be more secure until you are thinner and sees that he has nothing to fear regarding your weightloss. Until then, you may be talking until you are blue in the face trying to convince him and not get too far... Good luck!! I hope you guys can work it out...

Hey, Jon. Pick up 4 sticks of butter... That is what you lost! One pound... It is more than you think!! Great job.

Yeah!! I lost 3 more this week... I hit my goal that I set at the beginning of the Spring Bootcamp.... 25 pounds!! And we have 6 (I think) weeks left!! So my new goal is to lose 14 more (to make an even 275 lbs) in the 6 weeks. Pretty doable, I think...

Yup... That has been my life for the last 3 years... It took a while to get use to it. When I have a good restriction, I still can't eat a ton in the evenings. This is why I still drink my Protein shake in the morning. The only other thing that I can get down is thinned-out oatmeal and I really want to stay away from the carbs. But in the evenings, I will have a nice dinner, but I try to finish at least 2 hours before bedtime. And if I need to snack in the late afternoon or after dinner, I have gotten into eating a small Fuji apple (they help with my sweet-tooth)...

A fellow bandster friend of mine in my local group was told that she had to buy a second seat when she was checking in at the gate before she was banded. She was so embarrassed. It was Southwest. She now doesn't have to because she lost 160 pounds and is about a size 10. That scared me, so when I was over 300lbs and flying Southwest, I got the second seat. But it really was good. I had the extra seat, you get to preboard (no waiting in the A-B-C lines), and every time, they refund my money after the flight. They say that they won't refund it if it is full, but it is almost always full and they have always refunded me the money. I hate that I had to do it, but it was worth the not worrying about the embarrassment. And I would ask for an extender as soon as I boarded. But now, I am down enough that I feel okay just getting the one seat. And I don't need an extender either. Great feeling...

Great job!!! With the bike seat, you just have to get your bike butt in shape. It does become more comfortable with time (though I don't know how that happens...) And yes! You should up your calories for your body to work on losing the weight. You probably burned at least 600-700 calories if you were just pedaling normal. If you pedal fast, then it goes much higher! Add the treadmill, and you are doing GREAT!!!

I didn't read all of the responses, but you know what works for me? I say that I am on a controlled diet to get my girlish figure back and I am under the care of my doctor and a nutritionist. I find that older people have this god-like worship thing with doctors and they never question it. When others ask for more info, I say that it is a high-protein, low calorie diet. All of that is true. I just leave out the part of the band.

Yeah, DM!!! Don't sweat the small weight gain. I TOTALLY understand the stress-eating... Congratulations!!

I agree. This is GREAT advice!! I am a programmer as well. For me, the surgery was uneventful, but I was SO tired for a couple of weeks!! It was all I can do to stay awake!!! Well, you are on your way now. A slight roadblock at the start, but you are back on track. Good luck!!

8 pounds is excellent. My surgeon says that 5-10 pounds makes a huge difference when he does surgery... Excellent job!