JustDoIt130

I'll give it a shot- I've always been "fat fit" if you know what I mean. My problem is I always overate- because I exercised, so I could. yah, that didn't work out so well. I am back working out pretty heavily- not as heavily as you, but 6 days a week usually for at least 40 minutes, sometimes an hour- and I'm eating between 1000-1300 calories a day. So far I haven't been hungry really- banded 1/26/12, and have excellent powerful workouts where I can really give my all. I don't feel hungry all the time even after i workout. Don't have the "I worked out so I can eat 5000 calories" mentality any more. I've lost 52 lbs so far. YMMV

Hi everyone- lots going on with all of us! Kymie- I was thinking about you when I weighed in this morning- only .5 lbs to go to reach your birthday goal!!! Chrissy- you're welcome for the BIDIA- it's something I learned in a weight loss forum a loooong time ago- it's a forum I'm still active on, even after 7 years, we've bonded- I'm hoping we here in our January group bond like that, because I really count on it! As to the biotin- I take 6000 mcg a day- a 1000 mcg in the morning, a 5000 mcg at noon with my Vitamin d. it's one that any excess is excreted in urine, so you won't have too much of it. I really believe it helps, because even though I get all my Protein in (as Kymie said), my hair was still falling out. I do notice an increase in it falling out if I skip a day (like I sometimes do on weekends). I had bought the 1000 mcg caps when I wasn't sure how much to take, so once I have taken all of them I'll probably end up with 10,000 mcg. The 5000 mcg I have is the size of a tic tac, so easy to swallow. i just found it at wal-mart, the spring valley brand. Amica- emotional eating is the hardest thing to break! It's a mental challenge, for sure. The band is around our stomach, not our head . I can't remember the exact acronym, but I read or heard once that if you're hungry you should STOP and think- am I really hungry, or am I bored, tired, mad, frustrated.....figure out the real reason. Some people brush their teeth or drink some Water to try to stop the munchie urge. Just know that you can always get back into it. Really, BIDIA works for me (but I did it anyway). I can USUALLY- not always- convince myself to workout or not eat something- and if I slip, oh well, as we have referenced Scarlett O'Hara before- "After all, tomorrow is another day!" I too have trouble (always have had this trouble, hence the 284 lbs) with not finishing something even if I don't like it- I have always been a card carrying member of the clean plate club, until I tore that card up when I was banded!!! Just put it down the disposal, or in the trash and put dish soap on it!!! And buying stuff I like as "rewards"- I was all about that! Now I have changed my idea of a reward- or I am changing it, as I still fall prey to it sometimes- I have met my 50 lb lost mark, so I'm getting a (much needed) pedicure. Think of- and write down- other things you could do that aren't food related. Just know- we are all struggling!!!! It's a day to day thing. You're doing great- I can't wait to be in a size 16!!! Just hang in there- your band is there for the duration!! Erica- I saw your picture and you look great! It's a great victory to have photographic proof of your downward journey!!! I agree with this is no easy way out! For sure!! I have been noticing a pattern in my own weight loss- several weeks of minimal weight loss, then a much bigger loss, then minimal weight loss for several weeks, then a bigger loss- so if you've written down your weight weekly or anything, look for potential patterns. That helps you know- okay, only .5 lbs this week, but in 2 weeks it will probably be more! Horsegirl- I think I'm coming to the realization that I will always have to count calories to some degree to keep myself on track. If I eyeball it or "wag" the calories, I'm nowhere in the ball park. When I reach goal I may give myself a little more wiggle room, but I definitely know I can't now. I agree with you- I am so glad I have my band, because I just can't give up now that I have it- I spent too much $$, I am putting my all into this- and I just won't give up on myself no matter how hard it is. Meredith- yep, blood, sweat and tears. I think we're to the point where in other diets we'd give up, binge, whatever, and just gain it all back- but now we've taken fairly drastic steps to lose weight, and we really do want to succeed, but now it's harder and weight loss may slow down some....time to remember it's a marathon, not a sprint. hang in there, be consistent! BIDIA!! my mantra!!!! And tell us what your workout was today!! So, I did have a good loss this past week, down 4.5 lbs for a total of 52.5 lbs lost. Time to schedule my groupon pedicure! Yay! I have been really consistent in my exercise- either 40 min of elliptical or 1 hour of zumba on at least 5 days a week, usually 6 and sometimes 7. I bought some light weights to do while watching TV at night but haven't started that yet. I am very consistent at logging into myfitnesspal, it really keeps me on track. I'm usually between 1000-1300 calories a day. So we'll all do this together! As I have said before, I am not doing this to fail!! I will do whatever it takes!

at 236 (but should have a good loss wid tomorrow!)

I have already lost 50 lbs, with 100 or so to go! But I am sure I am going to be a success and lose all of my weight, because I'm motivated and this is going to work for me.

Savannah- yes, I agree with NJ2NC- stay on here! Slow loser or fast, we all need each other. That is awesome that your doc is pretty aggressive- I wish mine were a little more, but he's better than some. I was asking about the aspiration- I was wondering if they aspirated ALL the fluid (to see how much is really in there), would they then push it all back in. But I think I'm getting close to the green zone, so I won't need them to check (they were going to if I felt like I had no change in restriction with the last fill- and I do feel a slight change). I agree also about the not drinking with meals- which has been HUGELY hard for me, I always drank A LOT with my meals. Now I don't, but watch the clock for that half hour to pass. NJ2NC- size 14's!! yay!!! And those pounds will come off quickly! Chrissy- that's why after eating some b-day cake I had a HARD time coming off that sugar high and started craving some sweets again. Had to back way the heck off!!! Everyone, come out and post!! We all need support!!!

I order unjury brand from unjury.com. Love them, the vanilla mixed with oj and strawberries, yum!

Hi everyone- I had another mini stuck episode this weekend, just really minor, but it was good because I know my band is getting tighter! I mean, remember how I was worried that I was at 9 cc's and not much restriction? So now I know I'm probably close. yay! I have another fill in 2 weeks- I'm going every 3 weeks until I get this set. And it looks like I'll get a a good loss this week, WID is on Wednesday but the scale is being friendly.

Monica- the more important thing to note here is....I'm so jealous of u going to dmb!!!!! Wasn't that their opening concert?? Did they play anything off the new album besides mercy???? I'm so bummed, we're not going to a concert this year, they're playing too far away... /offtopic

It's never caused acne for me, and I take 5-7 mgs (or whatever the unit is) of it daily. My nails have never been so strong. It has definitely helped the hair loss, too. But if I miss a day I notice it in my hair fallout.

Checking in at 236. 2 lbs away from 50 lbs lost since surgery!

I think some people use one called lose it... You're doing great- find a doctor you think fits, that is so important to feel like you're a team.

Hi DeAna- are you not yet banded? The two week diet is hard, but it's worth it if you keep your goal in mind! Nicole- well, at least you got a little more fill! And I would definitely go back in the 3 weeks if needed. Savannah- I do know that they aspirate a little fluid each time they fill to make sure they've hit the port. Are you tracking what you eat? Working out? I use myfitnesspal to track, and it really helps keep me on target. As for me- I had my first stuck episode last night- a mini one, I think, but boy did it suck! It hurt and felt like I couldn't breathe- although I could. I did the chicken dance and jumped up and down, and it went away in under 10 minutes- I did burp, but not officially pb. Anyways, I know I need to slow it down! I have always been a fast eater. On another front, DH is being an a$$ and stressing me out. He's such a jerk sometimes, and always calls me at work with crappy stuff that upsets me. Well, not always, and he had been better about it, but now he's done it twice in as many weeks. It's frustrating and stressful. There's no talking about it, I've tried, and apparently it's all my fault. Grrr. Thanks for letting me vent.

I'll inform DH tonight!! ROFLMAO

LyMarie- first, congratulations on the baby! Exercise (when cleared as okay by a doc) will help with both losing weight and ppd. You have been banded a year but also preggers most of that time, so you're going to be able to get back on track. MyFitnessPal or Fit Day or whatever you use to track really is a good thing to do- and it motivates me to really stay on track- no way do I want to put in 1500 calories of ice cream!!! LOL. Good for you for seeing a therapist, that is going to really help. Really internalize the bandster rules and follow them and make them your way of life. Good luck, you're doing the right thing!

walk as much as you can, it really helps with the gas pains. you can't get too much water in, the funnel analogy is apt. Just sip slowly. Did you have a hernia repair done at the same time? That can be a little more uncomfortable. I was good the first day, then kind of meh days 2-4 (back to work on the 4th day), then slowly better until day 8 I suddenly realized how good I felt!

Kymie! You're in twoderland!!! Congratulations!!! I have 5 more to go to meet your birthday goal too, we can do it!! Nicole- congrats on the size 16! I haven't seen that size in years, I can't wait. And I agree, .5 cc's every 6 weeks?? That's cray cray. It'll take you a year to get to restriction!!!! Good luck, keep us posted.

LOL! Treat yourself to smaller undies! Congratulations!!

congratulations!! It does feel good, doesn't it!

LOL Chrissy, that's awesome! the big 50!!!! Congratulations!!!!!

I agree with Jenn on both counts- it is probably weight loss related- I'm on the mirena and hardly have ttotm, but it's happened 2 time since being banded- but it is also worth a look see by the gyno!

Hi everyone- Nicole, vent away! Is there any way you can get more aggressive fills? That is very slow! I know my doctor gives me 1 cc each time- and will slow down when I'm closer. I would ask for more, it does seem pretty conservative. Vent to them, they need to know how you're feeling. Otaknam- all those inches- that's awesome!! I agree, sometime I expect and want more than 1-2 lbs, but the important thing is like you said- they STAY off!!! Of course it adds up- just 1 lb a week is 52 lbs in a year!! Better than the gaining I was doing!!!! ValAnn-thanks for letting me know about how much fill you have- I think I'm probably the same. I will see if they can give me one more cc before they start slowing it down. I may be feeling a little more restriction.... Kathleen- that is kind of frustrating, but you're still doing great! I agree with the suggestion Erica said of upping your calories a couple days a week. That might shake things up a bit. Don't feel down on yourself, it's a process. Erica- be careful about being too filled. It's better to be unfilled a little now, then fill again later after you've lost some more weight and need another one. Even after all the crappy eating and ttotm I still show a 1.5 lb loss. So I've lost 48 lbs so far! I can't wait to hit the 50 mark! I need to lose 5 more lbs to make my Kymie's birthday goal. Speaking of- Shout out to Kymie, Mags, everyone else!!! Post and encourage and vent and help each other!!

So far this fill hasn't made me feel any different- I'm on mushies today, so maybe it doesn't show until you start eating food- we'll see at lunch maybe. 9 cc's is a lot- she did say since I have the larger band I might have just barely needed that larger size so it will take more in it to tighten it, if that makes sense. Hmmm, I could use some positive feedback, girls!

I also don't think that 50 g protein is enough, my doc said 70+ g would be good. Try to sneak in another protein shake to up that. I know that was essential to my feeling my normal self with energy to do everything after surgery.

unjury is awesome! I do the chocolate splendor like Mis said- with 1 c skim milk and a little ice, just to make it super cold. I also use the vanilla unjury with 1 c trop 50 orange juice and some frozen strawberries. Yummy!! I also love their chicken broth one, the only thing is you can't have the Water too hot or it clumps (the sample pack from unjury will let you try 2 of chocolate splendor, 2 strawberry, 2 vanilla, 2 unflavored, and 2 chicken broth and they send you a little rubbermaid container and a thermometer). Keep on the straight and narrow, especially while healing. It's important.

Oh, but I had a question I forgot to ask them- maybe one of you knows- if they aspirate all the saline out of my band, will they put it all back in right away???? I hope so, because if I have to start over from 0 I'd way rather not!!!!