NJ2NC

HEYYY! This was always a great and supportive group... anyone still here? I can't believe we've been 5 1/2 yrs banded.. I put on 10 pounds since my last post in 2015 (but I'm more toned and stronger). I opened my band a little to compensate for the back to back marathon training, I just wasn't getting in enough food to sustain all the running and weight training. I'm still doing good and still running (have 2 half marathons and 1 full marathon this fall of 2017). Please say hello and let me know how all of you are doing!!

To Follow-up - yep, almost a year later, I've kinda dropped so many things a year ago, but kept myself as #1 and focused on my journey and kids. Nicki, no my WLS had nothing to with the situation, he was cheating before and after the surgery. He was supportive during and after my wls tho. However, what he didn't count on or realize with the results of my WLS I gained the self-confidence to walk away and not look back once I found out how stupid he really was. We've lived apart since then, Feb will make a year. Yes 366 days you need to live apart for a divorce in NC. I'm waiting patiently. lol

Hello Everyone.. wow, it's been almost a year since I've posted.. my 3yr anniversary was the 17th and it made me think of everyone. I've been great hope everyone else has been too. Haven't had a fill in a VERY long time. I've become a runner and since surgery I've completed many 5K's, 10K's, 2 15K's, 8 Half Marathons (13.1 miles) with 3 more scheduled between now and May and my 1st full is coming up in 3 months (26.2). My weight has maintained the same over the last year, 175 & I'm happy with that! dress 10 pants 12.. I'm good. I adjusted my ultimate goal to 175 cause I'm happy here. If I ever get to 160 that'll be just a bonus. I eat to maintain energy for my active lifestyle (I'll admit it isn't always good) but when i get out of control my band remind me! it's still doing it's job and I love it. I hope everyone is doing well and still loving there band. Happy Janu-versaries to you all!! Take care!

Hello Everyone, Just wanted to drop in and say hi, I've followed a lot of everyone's up and down's via email. I've had my share as well. I've not had a fill since last May (2013). I felt I didn't need it till now, I go on March 6th. I did my 1st half marathon back in October and still run on a regular basis. I don't always eat the right things and I slip here and there been bouncing between a 73-75lb loss for the last 6months. I always said I just wanted to be a solid size 12 and I'm here so I'm just maintaining best I can and I'm happy. I'm still a few pounds off my overall goal but hopefully after this next fill I'll get there as long as I keep up my fitness routine. I joined a running group last year and those ladies WILL hold me accountable I know that's where a large part of my fitness success come from. I'm also a run group leader to hold MYSELF accountable. Now, I'm going through a separation/divorce and trying with all my might to stay on track and not get detoured and back slide too much (I still love my sweets/comfort foods) Life happens, right ladies, we fall and we get back up best we can. I still think of this fabulous support group often and I think you for letting me share and vent a little. I pray each and everyone of you continue with your successes, get back in the saddle if you have to and be safe and healthy. I'll be back to try to catch up more with everyone's posts..

Hello Everyone! Long time no update Just dropping in to see how everyone is doing and say hello. I have LOTS of reading to catch up on. I've been doing well. I haven't had an adjustment in several months because I think I'm in a good place. My struggle now is I exercise so much (running) I don't think I'm eating enough so I've leveled off at 185 and can't seem to get it any lower than that. Eat to Lose isn't in my favor right now I've dropped to size12-14 pants which my ultimate goal was to be a solid size 12! and not really a number weight. So I'm really close. I posted a new profile pic and a picture of my 1st 10k Race. I start training for my 1st half marathon in October. It does mentally bother me to not see the scale is not moving even tho I KNOW I'm burning lots of calories but I can't wrap my head around eating more food or high calorie food to burn for energy while running. It's really a head trip. After a 1.6 yrs post surgery I STILL eat to darn fast and get stuck, some things are so hard to change! I know there are lots of ups and downs going on with everyone and I promise I'll take time to read and catch up. Miss you all and all the support and chat. I'm still here! and i'll try to pop in more often and keep in touch.

Nevermind..found it. I see where I can add usernames through MFP. lol (Reading is fundamental I guess)

ok, how do you add a friend by "username" I see the following options: Facebook Friends, Phone contacts or by Email Address?? I went back and searched I found the following MFP usernames. I'm going to give this my best shot at logging with friends this time (if I can figure out how to add you all) lol. If I missed anyone please feel free to add me. My username is: dearzeta330 Chrissyluther Rkimom justdoit130 Mish1908 Kymie9899

JDI, you are absolutely right..the weather is suckish, slightly icy and cold!! Sorry the start of your day is just as sucky as the weather! however, I hope it all level out and you have a good day. I have my exercise clothes too but the more I look out the window the more I'm thinking Nahhhh lol I've always been tight in the morning but then I'll be loose in the morning and tight in the afternoon.. the band has a mind of its own sometimes. I'm loving that I'm rarely hungry these days and I'm FORCED to follow the rules or the food comes right back up! so extra tiny bites it is, I find it important to not wait till I'm VERY hungry...very hard to slow down and take tiny bites at that point. SueBee, I thought toooo tight too BUT almost 3 weeks after a tiny fill. Why the delay? I thought I just seriously irritated the band and needed it to heal. It all started with the stuck episode on a Fri night, Sat-Mon/Tues, had a hard time keeping everything down but KEPT on trying to eat regular. Tues night and Wed into Thurs I started with the soups & protein shakes felt better. Friday and this past weekend things stay down (With slow and tiny bites) but I can feel every thing going down but I never feel hungry anymore.. I haven't had reflux since last Sunday but I do kinda have a lot of light burps after I do eat or drink. I tried a thinned out high fiber oatmeal this morning instead of a protein shake, just 1 package, I ate about 1/2 and I was full. It did stay down yay!. But I feel like the shake would still be better, but I guess its nice to know I can get thin foods down in the morning if I want. I'm going to attempt AGAIN to use my fitness pal.. my name is dearzeta330 I saw a few post where people listed their user names, I'll try to find them and follow maybe friends will help me stay on track.

Hello All, I'm still here. I've been keeping up with most posts through my phone but for some strange reason I can't reply I just haven't had the time to sit and figure out the problem. However, I've read a lot of the ups, downs, prayers, food/dessert suggestions and victories. and everyone is always in my encouraging thoughts and prayers. I've been just moving along at a slow pace. I went down to 185 but back to 187 since my food issue kind of resolved itself. I'm still not logging I've just never been a good logger! but I did/am having a struggle right now and I know the best place to get advice/suggestions is right here!! Last week, I ate something stupid like 2 LARGE slices pizza and of course got stuck and most of it came back up. OK keep in mind I haven't had a fill since mid Jan and it was TINY. but after the pizza episode..for about 3-5 days NOTHING would hardly stay down I even had trouble with water and for the 1st time ever I had nighttime reflux and nausea feelings. OK, so I decided to do liquids to give my band a chance to calm down before I call the doc. So now 8 days later I can eat again i have no more reflux but everything I eat feels like it want to come back up (but it dont) and my appetite is almost completely gone. I have to actually remember to eat. Now we all know NOT eating can be just as bad as overeating. I was really afraid something happened with the band because I've never had 5 days of nothing staying down (especially since I isn't directly behind a recent fill). like I said food goes in and stays now but I can't even eat an entire yogurt or a full meal after all this crap happened and I can go all day and think OH NO I didn't eat. Should I be worried or just be more conscious and make sure I get in enough protein/liquids/veggies and keep it moving. back in Jan my doc thought this tiny fill will put me in the green zone. Could it be that it was just delayed and the stuck episode last week just triggered something because I was NOT tight after that Jan fill I began eating food for breakfast lol I mean seriously I thought he secretly took some OUT the band I felt wide open. But now food for breakfast is not even an option anymore..proteins shake is all that will work and that still feel thick and make me gurgle a tiny bit.. but it stays down! what is going on?? Sorry for the long post.

Hello All, Sorry, it's been awhile but I've been trying to read and keep up as posts come through. I hit 1yr on 1/17 I saw my nutritionist on 1/22. She said from 'our' first appointment I'm down 58 pounds. Wow, what a thrill. I went in for a fill on Friday 1/25 and oddly enough my appetite is off the charts high.. then I realized duhh stop eating and drink water between meals.. boom! down to 188 I thought the scale was broke! lol I'm still running upto about 12-14 miles per week (Weather permitting) jogging all the way! So, yes Ladybandito, every pound means a whole lot... Congratulation to all the newly banded, Olympic Training, Getting off Meds and all the other NSV's ladies..the band work for us because we work for the band. My doctor was telling how people still just think the band is a magic solution and try to live life as they did before being banded. My co-workers all call me "Skinny-Minnie" now but 1 lady said (who knows about my band) "I see you running and in your gym clothes everyday and eating healthy", you are doing well it's all you and a tiny bit 'the band'. That was a wonderful thing to say cause it proves I've changed my life and I made the band work for me! Good Job ladies, we aren't perfect and we slip often but we try and we succeed and we get up when we fall....Newbies, you may fall on your journey just remember to get back up and you'll do great!! the hardest part isn't falling it's getting back up.. this group of ladies was always here with encouragement, suggestions and advise that was a valuable part of my journey! so newbies, stick with this supportive group..you'll never regret it.

This day & time last year I was waking up in the recovery room.. Groggy and smiling! the start of the biggest life changing experience of my life.. I'm extremely grateful to be apart of the January Bandsters group with so much support, advice, suggestions.. just wonderful..

Hello Everyone, I went to ATL for a race. I had a blast with my running group friends. I jogged and several times went into a full out run..the entire 3.11 miles!! yay. Wasn't trying to win, wasn't try to keep up with the Jones's lol just wanted to run the entire thing and I did. JDI130 - thanks, I'm very happy I figured out how my band works. I will check out that book today or tomorrow on carb cycling.. Nicole- Nope, still not logging. I'm terrible at that. I do use MFP when I do log. That is a great little app. I never go over my calories so maybe my subconscious just allow me to forget hahaha Kymie - wow 9lbs I haven't had a lost like that in MONTHS! way to go YAY!! RKIMOM - Thanks, glad to hear from you! you gave great advice I too will do the liquid only after I get stuck, it doesn't happen often anymore but when it does..boy oh boy. Hope everyone had a great weekend. My Monday weigh-in was the same ol 192..I was kind of bummed because last week I was down 2 but then I remembered OHHH it's TTOTM thats why its back up a few pounds lol - hey I'm going with that reason!!! lol

Hello all. Happy Bandiversary Mish, Nicole, Missy & Amica.. If I missed anyone, my apologies. Just wanted to stop in and see how everyone is doing! I can't believe it has been a year! and congrats on all the NSV's.. I've been reading a few people talking about a Carb Cycling Diet... I'll have to research what that is. I think I figured out why my band acts up sometime. I apparently overate at lunch the other day cause my tummy hurt, gas bubbles and for the next few days NOTHING would go down right and would barely stay down! then I thought back after each time I ate just slightly over normal portions I would go through a few days of nothing going down right. So maybe my band must get irritated and don't accept food very well for a few days...hmmm, guess I should be more conscious of my eating even when I have small portions cause I thought I was eating well within my range maybe it was slightly too much but nothing over the top.

Hello Everyone, Happy New Year. Just thought I'd give a quick update. I read through the last few posts but not all (yet). My overall goal was not in pounds but clothes sizes (but not necessarily all in 1 year)..I wanted to go from a 20 to 10/12. Currently I'm 99% in a 14 but I bought a pair of Walmart Straight leg jeans in a size 12!!! they were snug but looked good and I wore them with pride! I did tell my nutritionist i would like to lose 75lbs in 1 year it wasn't an official goal but I did set it. I see her on the 17th (My bandaversary) . I didn't make the goal but I'm happy with my progress. I think I missed it by like 20lbs.. these last few months..I just couldn't move that scale. Maybe I'll get closer by the 17th and drop 5 to get into the 180's I thought the holidays would be torturous (And it was) soooo much food. I did go back up to 194. I just can't get into the 180's geeeeez. Well I have another 5k race in Atlanta on the 13th, I'm hoping to set a personal record (anything under 42 minutes lol). GOALS..I'll take the first challenge: 1. Log all our food- paper journal, myfitnesspal, loseit, whatever you use. I've never been able to keep up with logging but starting today! I'm logging..

Hello & Happy Holidays Everyone, my Monday weigh-in (12/17) was 191 finally Down 1 pound, better than 0 right? are we still posting our Monday weigh-in??? Well, I didn't get a fill on the 14th the Dr. and I talked and because I get so tight several times a day (so tight water dont go down well) he thought another fill may not be a good idea right now, I agreed. Bandiversary is Jan 17th! I'm celebrating a week early and going to Atlanta to do a 5k race and cheer on some friends who are doing the 15k!! should be a fun filled packed weekend.. I'm aiming to shave off another 2-3 minutes from my time and no walking, hopefully their aren't many hills.. JDI, we all struggle in our heads and we ride the rollercoaster of banded life, we spent many years, some of us our whole lives not eating healthy and fighting with exercise...1 year is a great start but it will not undo all of our life long habits. No one is perfect and no band is perfect and you will get back on track, start thinking of food differently and let your band work for you again. Try different different tactics that will work for you. I've noticed I've been grabbing the kids snacks a little too often so what I did was bought myself some healthy snacks and placed then next to the kids snacks so when I open the pantry, no excuse to grab the cheetos when a fiber one cookie, sugar free jello or individual 1 serving size pack of nuts is right there.. it'll take some time, experiment with ways that could help you. I've been stuck for a while and only shed 1 pound and I want to think its because of the snack changes... also venting always work for me with getting the scale moving.. weird right lol Ready, I've had people tell me to not lose any more weight, I'm 191 pounds no where near my goal weight, but they see a new confident 50 pound lighter me!! and I think some "so called" friends feel threatened that I can tuck in my shirt like them and don't lurk in the background and people notice me! not saying they are all jealous but maybe a tiny bit..lol However, I do have another banded friend and she did lose too much weight and did look a little sick, she actually put on about 15 pounds and looked (and she said) felt so much better. she was under her goal weight by almost 20 pounds! she was sick a lot and rarely ate finally she got her band adjusted just right and she look terrific now..I believe she is rounding her 3rd year.

Welcome SueBee01, welcome to a great group of supportive women! Monday weight..same ol, same ol - 192 I'm starting to think I'm stuck!! this time, not me personally but the scale!! (I'm going to need some cheese with my 'whine' at this pity party lol but I cannnnnn't have cheese or I'll get stuccck) I'm kidding y'all, it is disappointing but I bought some misses 14 pants and they fit great, with room to breathe freely! I'm scheduled for a fill on 12/14 hopefully that'll help get the scale moving a bit..last night I ate a 1/2 rack of grilled BBQ ribs with steamed veggies..should I have been able to eat all that? I don't know, but I surely did. I've been running at least 1 mile per day.. some runs some brisk walks..this week I'll add in some strength training.. gotta break the plateau, thats the goal of the week. I'm sure all the exercises is what's increasing my appetite but the band is suppose to slow that down... ok now I'm excited to get my fill on Friday.. JDI, my boss and his wife are HUGE Dave M. fans HUGE HUGE...where's he playing, if it's any state around NC they'll go! lol

Monday weight.. 193 can't break this plateau.. dang!! alway up/down +/- 3 Nicki, I hope you start feeling better soon. I got my flu shot last month! I can relate to the highway, stuck, PB'ing episode. My kids got a snack at the target food area, my daughter didn't want her hotdog so not thinking and like an old habit I picked it up and started eating it I took several bites walking to the car and knew that was a big mistake. I had to open the door at each of the next 3 stop lights on the way home and get that hotdog out or it would have been all over the steering wheel. My daughter (10yrs old) said "Now Mom, you know better, you took way to many big bites" when we got home she said, "would you like a Protein drink out the fridge cause I don't think you have anything left in your stomach".. As far as running, I took a challenge with my group...1 mile a day for the month of December! so far so good.. It's called Dedicated, Disciplined, Determined, December Challenge! Nicole, yes! kids are observant and very smart! mine are very supportive and will quickly say..eat slower mom! that's too much! or no you can't have any of my snack mom, it may make you sick.. they LOVE that one especially when they don't want to share lol Horsegirl, the edge of Onederland!! way to go!

JDI, ouch! wow I can see why running would hurt. I had a knee injury many years ago and running always aggravate it unless I where very tight compression pants. I think I may need to look into a dedicated brace for that knee. Running is good exercise but it's not making the scale move but I'm sticking with it cause it make me feel good.. the scale isn't as important as that. NSV - although I can't do it outside yet..However, last night on the treadmill I actually Jogged 3.13 with no walking!! time: 38:14, pace: 12'10". I felt amazing! best I've ever done! Now if I could just find a official 5k treadmill Race I'd be ready!! but I did go ahead and registered for my next outdoor 5k Color Me Rad race on March 30th...My birthday! I hope your DD is feeling much better! and your mojo will return!! Everyone have a good weekend.

LadyB, I was lmbo this morning after reading your post. Don't worry I don't see any AA Meetings in my near future although the hubby do drive me to want to drink from time to time lol j/k. Have a great day. I also feel the effects of wine (my cheap drink of choice is Gallo, Sweet Chardonnay) a lot quicker after the band. I don't drink often normally maybe 2-4 glasses per month I guess. Is that considered a lot? Well, It should beautiful and sunny here in NC today I think an outside 3-4 mile run is in order this afternoon..