JustDoIt130

I did, bigtime, gained back more than I'd like to admit- 16 lbs! I gave in to my nemisis, ice cream. However, back at it again, lost 5.5 lbs last week, we'll see what this week brings, doing pretty well. Now I don't buy ice cream, that's for sure!!!!

Hi Jeff B and New Girl in Town- we all were banded in 2012- I think there are threads around for those being banded this month. That being said- of course you are so welcome to post here! We LOVE to give advice- at least, I do, LOL. Good luck on your journey, I know all of us that post here are so glad we made this decision. We may not be at goal, but we're a heck of a lot lighter than we were this time last year!!!! All the best- Nicki

Amica, happy Bandiversary! What a lot of great things have come from it!! 7 pants sizes, that is awesome! And only 38 lbs to go- fantastic! Kymie- I do that too- and am grateful I don't do that anymore. Missy- I lost 5.5 lbs last week! Not sure if it was the carb cycling or the laying off the massive amounts of ice cream i was eating, but who cares??? Still stressed about a bunch of stuff, but not eating over it, and it will all resolve. So glad I have you guys to "talk" to! Chrissy, where you at girl!!!! And NJ2NC, Ladybandido, I think it's been a couple days- post! Everyone! Have a great day! Nicki ps I do think I overuse exclamation points!!!!!!!!!

Happy bandiversary to you Kymie!!! You do need to look at your successes- I mean, gee whiz, look at where you are and what you have accomplished! I don't know about you, but I know I would weigh MORE this year if it were not for the band. And Happy Bandiversary to you too Kemisha! I am so glad you're doing better. I don't know if it's the carb cycling or the laying off the ice cream but I lost a lot this week! Denise- you're doing great! Thanks for that website, I do zumba too- LOVE IT!! So much fun and such good exercise! I use myfitnesspal too, love the barcode scanner!! I just got back from working out, boy did I need it! Rough day at work, helps to sweat off some of the stress! And I can feel my body getting more endurance with getting back into it. Well, getting back to work... Nicki

They have tickers on here now? Cool! And I changed my font to purple! It's the small things in life....

Hi everyone! Ladybandido- awesome NSV!! I need to get out my Doc Martens that I had such trouble with the buckles when I was bigger. Maybe I'll wear them on Friday in honor of you!!! Nicole, glad you're over the major crud! And good for you logging. I too sometimes finish up my logging the next morning, but as you say, better than not doing it at all!! Well, I swear DH can manufacture stuff to be stressed about and I am about over it. He is just such a drama queen!!! Grrrr. But I'm not eating over it- in fact, I'm down 5.5 lbs from my weigh in day 8 days ago (I weighed in on 1/1, even though my regular WID is Wednesdays, so today was my "real" WID). I know it's because I'm not eating TONS of ice cream- though I did have 2 measured and tracked cups on Sunday, which is the "cheat" day on the carb cycling diet. I am doing this carb cycling and it seems to be working. I'm tracking and still exercising- though for whatever reason today will be the first day this week I will have worked out. I'm doing what i can. So it was nice to see. For some reason my ticker has disappeared, I"ll have to update it and get it back on my signature! Everyone have a great day! Nicki

checking in at 212.5- down 5.5 lbs! That's what comes from getting back on track and not eating 1/2 gallon of ice cream a night. Still 10 more lbs to lose to get back to my pre-holiday weight. I think this carb cycling is working as well. It's nice to have the scale move down! Lisa, feel better!!!! Nicki

I would also look into logging your food/calories, I use myfitnesspal on my phone to log (it's also on the computer). You can also use Lose It, or paper and pencil, LOL. But keep track of calories and carbs and Protein. Congratulations on your son, and to getting back to basics and losing weight! Nicki

It does tend to happen about 3 mo out from surgery. I too take 10,000 mg biotin- one little (size of a tic tac) capsule in the AM and one at lunch. It has helped. It will slow down, but it will be several months. It's normal. Also, make doubly sure to keep up your protein, at LEAST 60 g a day, try for 80 +. That will help. Nicki

I hadn't heard that Biotin leads to breakouts- I started taking 10,000 mg (5,000 mg 2 x a day) and it slowed my hair loss significantly- I also track my protien. I haven't had any noticable breakouts. I think starting now will at the VERY least get you in the habit of taking the supplement faithfully! Good luck, and it has slowed down for me!

yep, normal, gasx will help, but it will really help to get all the gas out!

I have had 3 c-sections, and the LB surgery pain was minimal compared. Like I had done crunches, as krzy said. I was tired, you're on minimal calories. I also did full sugar Jello, just for the calories, those first few days. I walked a LOT to help with the pain. I had minimal gas- probably helped by all the walking. I too followed the rules. My first liquid- besides water- was warm chicken broth, and I did just sip, til I knew what I really could do. Your first real food will probably be a couple weeks out- Clear liquids to full liquids to mushies to real food. By the time you get even to mushies your swelling has gone down and you're healing so you can eat pretty well like you did before. Remember, you probably won't have any restriction yet til you get some fills, so it will be almost like you didn't have surgery, except the little scars. Just really follow doctor's orders. I have a very sedentary job, I had my surgery on a Thursday and went back to work on Monday- albeit tired,but it was doable. Hope this helps! I second what Sassy said, some minor discomfort for a healthy life, totally worth it. Nicki

Hey all! Missy, happy bandiversary! And man, you have lost a LOT of weight, that is so awesome! I got down to 202 before the holidays, then up to 218!!! But with that carb cycling I'm back down- this is my first week, official weigh in day is Wednesday for me, so I'm not sure just how much I'll be down, right now the scale says 214. I think those milestones can be a real mental thing, ya know- like, when you get there, have a plan to power through it an achieve a new milestone. Chrissy, ah, I get it! Good, we don't want deprivation do we?? LOL. As to the fast- we fast in my church too, but are able to adjust if we have medical reasons why we need to. The spirit of the law vs the letter of the law, if you know what I mean. Like, do what you can do with your particular health needs. Sue! I would LOVE to go on a cruise!!! DH isn't a fan. Those are good goals, then you can indulge a little but exercise it off! And I hadn't really registered just how much you've lost, too, that is awesome! I think your goal of 7 lbs this month is attainable. So, can I just say that I love my parents and don't know what I'd do without them? They are helping DH and I with buying a new (to us) car. I am so grateful and can only pray that I am in the same position to help my children someday. It took a LOT of stress off me and I slept well last night for the first time in I dont' know how long. Doing well on this carb cycling, logging everything, hanging in there! Everyone have a great day!! Nicki

Mish, I agree with Chrissy 100%!! Do what the doc says, log your food and be careful with what you eat, exercise- better to take care of it now than have a more serious issue!! Chrissy- you know, I don't know why when we "reset" we think we have to do it so....plainly? Is that what I mean? Meaning, do chocolate protein powder, not plain- that might kick the craving but be a good choice! Maybe you need a small fill? Like, we need something we consider a treat that is on plan and good for us, but still yummy and something we look forward to, ya know? I'm on a low carb day, doing pretty good. All in all it's been okay getting back on track. I'm just paying attention, you know? We'll see how tomorrow goes- for the last month and a half I was getting up on Sunday morning, getting the kids breakfast, then getting myself a HUGE bowl of ice cream to chow down on- yes, for breakfast. Then more ice cream throughout the day. It is a "cheat" day on the carb cycling diet, but luckily the cheats on this diet have RULES- you can't keep what you binge on in the house- so I have no ice cream. it's "legal" to go out and buy like a single serving and have it, but you cant' keep it in the house. You also have to cheat before dinner, not after (and after dinner is when all my bugaboos come out). It's pretty reasonable and doable, and it looks like I've lost about 3-4 lbs this week, so that's good! Everyone have a good day! Nicki

Chrissy, Ladybandido, everyone who hasn't posted in a few days, check in! I miss you! We're going on a year, here, we need to stay strong!!!! Meredith gets a pass

Hi there, I scared everyone away with my venting! LOL Kemisha- how did the upper GI turn out??? Post the results!! Praying for you! NJ2NC- yep, the holidays were torturous for me too. No problem, we're just going to keep on trucking!! DH made vanilla greek yogurt ice cream in our ice cream maker last night. It was good, but not so good I'd binge- but good enough to take the edge off, LOL. It was a low carb day, and I still was at like 66 carbs- I'm trying to stay under 50 g a day on low carb days. Still, my first low carb day I was at like 40-something. So I'm learning, LOL. Checking in on my goals 1. Logging- check 2. Exercise 3x a week- done 3. NOT EATING MY FEELINGS- so far, so good

I had to do a 6 month diet. Just remember, see the same person and don't skip a month, or you have to start all over. it was a good time to learn about the band and the changes I would have to make. The time flew by, and it was not too hard. I actually wasn't expected to lose weight, either Nicki

Hey everyone- just had to post and pat myself on the back a little, as I do need it, LOL. We (DH and I) have just had one hit after another- health issues, financial issues, and now my car is just broken and not worth fixing (it's 18 years old, the new clutch costs $625, the mechanic who I trust implicitly, said it's like putting a new heart in an 80 year old man, you may get 20 more years, you may get a week.) We truly cannot afford a car payment, but we're going to have to figure something out. We're in the middle of refinancing our house (another huge stress, as if this doesn't work out then we'll have to move). It's one thing after another- and of course, trying to get on track- That was my venting, here's the pat on my back So far I have not eaten food for comfort, It's day 3 of being back on track, carb cycling, it's a low carb day and I'm hanging in. Sigh...

My DH is so back and forth. Sometimes it's gung ho, then (more likely) it's telling me I "mutilated" myself and how I'm still fat and haven't lost all the weight. Oh well. He will just have to deal, I"m over it.

Name, real or screen~ Justdoit130 Goal weight for January 29th~ 210 Weight on January 1st~218 Age~42 Dietary goal for January~ LOG everything and do the Carb Cycling Exercise goal for January~ workout at least 4 x a week Personal goal for January~ To get back on track and start losing instead of gaining. Date banded~ 1/26/12 Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 66 lbs What is your favorite New Year Activity?~ Toasting at midnight and going right to bed!

Hi everyone! Okay, we need a challenge- I need a challenge, LOL. I stepped on the scale to see 218- up 16 lbs. Oh well. Now to get them and a bunch of their friends OFF my butt!!! LOL. I started the carb cycling yesterday, a low carb day and I did well. I know I can do this, now to get to doing! Nicole- sounds like you have a plan! I'm glad you can move forward with your divorce, that must be such a stressful situation to live in! Karen- That is a LOT of weight to have lost!!!! So you'll meet your goal, just keep on working! Everyone, do a new year check in! How are you all doing???? Even if you're not at goal, or met your goal (heaven knows I haven't)- we're still on the journey. So, what should our challenge be? Here's what I propose- a twofold challenge to get us back on track (for those of us who have been waaaaay off track, LOL). And if you haven't been off track, it's still good habit reinforcement. 1. Log all our food- paper journal, myfitnesspal, loseit, whatever you use. Log whether it's good or bad! Just get in the habit 2. Exercise at least 3 times this week. Walk, zumba, at home videos, whatever! Who's with me????? So far I logged yesterday and today, and I did 90 minutes of zumba yesterday at the Y! As the zumba instructor said, "you tell everyone who isn't here today that you have one day on them now in 2013!" Have a great day- Nicki

also, you can order from the appetizer menu and ask for it to be brought with everyone else's meal. or order soup....

Hi everyone! Long time no see, sorry about that! Brannwemee- we all were banded in January 2012, so we're coming up on our 1 year bandiversaries. You're welcome to still post here, of course!! Nicole- wow, what a bummer! I hope you're feeling better- isn't this the second pretty major health event you had???? Ladybandido- I have done so many things wrong the last few months! But back to the real world and back to being successful!! So on top of all the other things DH has going on health wise (pace maker, congestive heart failure, kidney stones, etc), he was just diagnosed with type 2 diabetes!!!! LOL, ya just gotta laugh. BUT- we're not sure if it's a true diagnosis because the blood test he took was not fasting, and he had just drank a HUGE regular soda. BUT even if it's not a true diagnosis, he's gotten a little bit of a wakeup call and is going a little more low carb. Since I'm going to start carb cycling, it's a good thing for me. And it's made him a little more supportive. Okay, I'm going to post my New Year goals here- you all will keep me accountable, okay? Anyone who wants to join me please do! 1. Participate in the monthly lapband challenges (found in the general forum I think- I did a few then petered out...) 2. JOURNAL my feelings instead of eating them. 3. Avoid ice cream like the plague. I just can't have it in the house, it's a total trigger. I MAY have some out of the house once or twice a year, tbd. 4. LOG all my food. ALL of it, consistantly, every single day 5. Exercise at least 4 x a week I've put these in my note app in my phone to keep track of them so I can report on them to all of you! And maybe we can do monthly challenges here again like we did for awhile- they really help me. What do y'all think? This is still a hard journey for me, and boy was my head out of the game since October. I will have to re-lose some weight, but I'll get it done and power through to onederland! Nicki

I do vanilla protein powder with 1 c trop 50 orange juice and sometimes 4 frozen strawberries. It's only 150-170 calories. Or I do vanilla protein powder, 1 c skim milk and 1 Tbsp s/f pistachio powder, yummy! Or chocolate powder, 1 c skim milk and a couple ice cubes to make it extra cold.

Misha, hi! I'm EXACTLY like that too- any kind of crap goes down just fine, but solid protein and veggies not so much! I think I need to just avoid these foods, and take much smaller bites of the good stuff and chew a lot. Sigh, I know it's not a magic bullet, and even with my issues lately I've still lost a heck of a lot more weight than I would have!!!!!