Tabithan

Hi Crzytchr!!! How are you doing???? :frown: I know you are not one of the strugglers but I love reading your posts. Always so insightful. Thanks for visiting us regularly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi everyone, I have an update - On friday last week I felt some sharp pain on the new location of my port (my port was revised and moved about 3 weeks ago.) I felt two sharp edges that occassionally irritated my skin. I went to the doctor today and guess what?? the sutures he used to tie my port to the skin somehow came loose and are pressing against my stomach, hence the pain. I have to go back into the hospital Friday(assuming on-time insurance approval) so he can cut off the sutures (which he explained are like a fishline.) Wish me luck!! But you know what?? despite these MINOR challenges, I am SO GLAD about the fact that I have the band. it has taken me almost two years to lose 54 lbs (mainly because I failed my band) but the weight didnt come back - this would have been an IMPOSSIBLE FEAT without the band. From a goals perspective, today has been good. So far, I am within my calorie goal, I worked out, and I have written down everything I am eating. Need to do better on the Water. How did you all do today???

OMG Steph - I am SO SORRY to hear this - I cannot imagine how cruel kids are these days - we hear stories and cannot imagine that this happens in our schools, which should be safe havens for our children. I will keep you and your daughter in my thoughts and I truly hope everything turns around soon. I am glad that despite the challenges you are able to place some focus on you. But I think I will be easy on you because you have been through some serious challenges the past couple of days. With regards to the band, I would recommend choosing one of your few goals to focus on, rather than all 3 or 5 or however many you have. This way, you can focus on your daughter and also focus on yourself. You are in our thoughts. Please update us on what happens with your daughter and with your fill doctor on Wednesday. Tabitha

Hi SLIM!!!!!!!!!!!!! Welcome, Welcome, Welcome!!!!!!!!!!! We are so glad to have you and excited that there is one more person we can support and who can support us on this journey. I totally hear you about cooking - I am not a big cooking fan but have started cooking on sundays to last me a couple of days. In addition, I have been buying some frozen dinners to take for lunch which helps with the calorie control and means my Sunday cooking lasts much longer as it ends up being just for dinner!!! For the portion size, buying the measuring cups and a little kitchen scale for the food has helped. I am not good at eyeballing yet!!! It is also amazing to track your food intake on fitday.com. You can track your weight progress as well and it is quite fascinating to see how much you really are consuming in a day! How many calories do you eat a day??? I hear you on following the band rules consistently -it can be a challenge to stay on track especially if you eat out much like I do. I know that regularly tracking my weight, setting specific goals, and keeping myself accoutable by posting here DAILY has worked has helped me. Question for you SLIM: What are your specific goals for the rest of December?? Again, Welcome!! We are so glad you have joined us, SLIM:thumbup: Let's do this!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yayyyyyy!!! Great job on getting on track with the workout Bayougirl. And the fact that you have mapped out the week is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Having a strategy in place definitely helps with accomplishing the goals. For me, my little excercise ticker serves to keep me accountable in a wierd way. No clue why, but you should consider it. :frown: So you an on soft foods huh?? what worked well for me on soft foods is weetabix for Breakfast - love it - it is organic ceral - you add a bunch of milk to it then you microwave it and it is almost the consistency of porridge. Then add some splenda - YUM!!! Great job so far and please keep us updated on your daily progress!!

Hi Everyone!!! How's everyone doing after the weekend?? Weekend was tough foodwise for me since I had to eat out so much - the great news is that I still managed to lose this week. I didnt meet my goal of working out 5 times last week but I am proud to have worked out 4 times. In addition, I somehow managed to get my workout in this morning, starting the week on the right track. 'Hope everyone is well!!!

1 hour spin class!!!!!! :confused_smile:

Hi SKHOPP, How are you doing??? I know you had some challenges - how are you doing?? are your hopes still high??

Hi IBBANDED, How are you?? Since you are a lurker, gotta pull you out of the shadows. :thumbup: :confused_smile: Tell us, how did you do this weekend on your goals?? What are your goals for this week? Hope you are doing well!!!!

Hi Bayougirl!!! How did you do on your workout this weekend??? :confused_smile:

Hi Kathy, I think I got your warm thoughts because I actually woke up this morning and went to the gym - Wuhuuuuuuuu - started the week on the right track and goal is to continue the positive track. Thank you!!!!!!!!! I'm so proud of you on your accomplishments with the goals!!! Question for you, Webkat - One week excercise down - will you up your excercise a little bit this week? maybe walk one more minute or increase the incline a lil? hehe - pushing, pushing!!! :thumbup: How are all the other strugglers doing?? What are your goals for this week??? My goals for this week: Eat no more than 1500 calories per day Work out 5 days this week - 1 day - check Track everything that goes in my mouth on fitday Increase my workout intensity a tad bit!!! :confused_smile:

Hi Betrthnever, I appreciate your comments. The premise of this thread is to acknowledge that the reason behind part of our results is tied to our actions, not the failure of the band to work. This is an opportunity for us to acknowledge it, vent about our results so far, then take active steps to turn this "failure to date" into measurable success, by supporting and encouraging each other through the tough and good times. We can do it, fellow strugglers. I cant wait to see where we will be 6 months from now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

KATHI - CONGRATULATIONS, CONGRATULATIONS, Whoooo whoooooooooooop on meeting all your goals for 5 days!!!! Way to go, way to GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for the nudge above - I need it because I can feel myself slipping from my recommittment. Yesterday, we had a birthday dinner. We were supposed to go to PF Changs and I went online and looked at the calories. When I got there, there was a sudden change to a Brazilian steakhouse. Of course now i was in a place where I didnt know calorie content. So what did I do? I went out to TOWN!!!!!!!!!!! LOL - Thank goodness for my band that I was not able to eat all the food I wanted to eat - that physically I was contained!!!!!!!!! I weighed myself today - official weigh day and I have dropped another pound. Phew - what a relief that yesterday did not RUIN two weeks of hard work. But, because I was out late, I did not work out as I had promised myself. Therefore, I need to restate my goals to recommitt. My goals for December are: a) Eat no more than 1500 calories a day :tongue2: weigh everything I eat c) write down everything I eat on fitday. d) Work out 5 days this week. Wish me luck!!!!! Fellow Strugglers - What are your goals for December? How are you doing on your goals??? Do you need to readjust your goals???

Hi Fellow Strugglers!!! How is your weekend so far?? Are you staying on track with your goals???? Please share...both the good and the not so good, so we can keep each other on track!!! Well, yesterday was an interesting day. Had to go to the company Christmas party and ate quite a few tapas. About 3 meatballs, some ham and some chips and dip - not sure how many calories but the good news is that I had eated limited calories the whole day, and I am hoping that I ended up OK at the end of the day. AND - I didnt drink ALCOHOL - Wuhuuu. Unfortunately, I seem to have GAINED some weight today - but i will give it a day or so and assume it is Water WEIGHT. Tomorrow is my "official" weighing day. I was supposed to wake up to go to the gym today to meet my goal of 5 hours this week - to go for SPIN class. Well I overslept and I HAVE to go tomorrow. HAVE to - someone nudge me into action please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 Watching biggest loser right now - wow - these people lose so MUCH in a week - biggerr numbers than weightloss surgery!!!!!!!!1

Hey there!!!! You may want to consider GROUP CLASSES that allow you to self-pace at the gym - go to the back of the class and follow the instructor, just pace yourself and do what you can do, without OVER or UNDER excerting. The beauty about group classes is that you are in the presence of others, and that always does something to a person's motivation to accomplish. And dont mind those skinny people - what do they and their judgemental selves know? keep in mind that MOST people there will NOT be thinking "ooh she is so fat" - they will Be thinking - WOW - if she can make the effort to come to the gym, what's my excuse? You in yourself can be motivation to others. Also, come here to LBT for motivation. Wishing you the best!!!

Hi Gang, I'm checking in for my Friday. Didnt do cycle this morning like I wanted to, so will workout tomorrow morning at the gym!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tonight i have to go for my office christmas party which means - BAD EATING. To prepare for it, I have only eaten about 400 calories so far, leaving me with about 1100 to eat. I know, I know - I should have eaten more than 400 cals all day but I got so busy - and realistically, Now I am happy as I have calories to spare. Well, I am off to get ready for the party. How is everyone doing on their goals today??????????????

Hi Indiogirl!!!! Thank you for the positive note and encouragement. You have been so SUCCESSFUL and it's great that you have shared your tips for long-term success. Hopefully, we can all get back on track and be able to post our success stories here!!! Many thanks!!!!!!!

Hi IBBANDED - Your first post EVER!!! Hooooooooooraaaah!!! *Cheer Cheer Cheer* - Welcome to our lil group - We are so happy you have joined us, and so happy you have decided to recommitt to your band. Those are GREAT GOALS that you have set. You are SUCH A SUCCESS - Who wouldnt want to be like you?? let me tell you WHY!!! - You have lost and kept off 110lbs - that is so COMMENDABLE - Most people would kill to be able to tell your story. CONGRATS - Now, we gotta keep the weight from creeping back on - Stop at 30 gained and say, NO MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!! As for the self-sabotage - Snacking at night - WOW - You could be my TWIN - the pangs come at night - because eating right before I sleep, gives me COMFORT - and it sabotages my weight loss. The dietician tells me not to eat after 7PM or 2 hours before I sleep - the REALITY - I am not there. What do I do to try and get over this ADDICTION TO NIGHT EATING??? a) Clear out ALL bad Snacks from the house - The taste buds crave what you eat - if you completely wean off BAD SNACKS like fried foods and replace them with healthy version, very shortly after you will find yourself craving the healthier options. :wink2: Realize your weakness to snack and night and in the short -term, continue snacking at night but with the HEALTHY version. Right before I sleep, I usually have my non-fat yogurt or carrots. Worst case scanario - I have some YUMMY Soup From Progresso - Only 60-80 calories per cup. This way, I satisfy my EMOTIONAL CRAVING to eat at night, but I do it with FEWER CALORIES. c) Budget your calories for Night Snacking - What I do is I eat very well during the day and allow for a little more room in the evening. During the day I usually eat around 600 calories, leaving me with another 800 for NIGHT. d) Keep yourself active at night - I have started going to a Tae Kwondo class from 7:45 - 8:45PM. This way, by the time I get home, I am tired, take a shower and eat some yummy sould, and its time to sleep. SO I dont have TIME to snack. Something worth considering. e) Get on your scale BEFORE you midnight snack. Might be worth a try. These are some things that I have been doing, that have helped me with the midnight snacking. What is everyone else doing??

Whoooowhooooooooooooop- I am LOVING IT - Brought out the treadmill!!!!! :crying: So what day on the weekend will you work out? for how many minutes???? I am SUPER EXCITED FOR YOU Bayougal - WAY TO GO!!!!!!! To get a quote, click on "Quote" on the person's note, rather than "Reply!" Hope you are having a BANDALICIOUS DAY!!!!!!!!!

Hi Falloutgal, Welcome to the GROUP = Please, dont' give up - You already lost 83lbs and that is nothing to sneeze at. I am pretty confident that your health is SIGNIFANTLY better at 240 verses 326 - and I am also sure you look way more SVELTE at your new weight!! :crying: It is possible that you are a slow loser and sometimes it is frustrating when you are a slow loser. Most of us want to lose all the weight that took us 5 years to gain, YESTERDAY!!!!!!!!! I think that with a renewed committment on your end, you can re-ignite your weight loss. My Questions for you ARE: a) Can you take an honest look at yourself and honestly determine why you havent lost more weight? :wink2: Once you determine WHY, can you committ to tackling those reasons one by one? slowly? C) can you give the band - and YOURSELF another chance???

Hi SKHOPP, Dont be too down on yourself - You have taken the right step talking about it - and I think you can get the results you want. You are right - it took too much for us to get banded, not to see the results we want. WE TOO SHALL BE SUCCESSFUL. My port had flipped so they had to take it out and put a new one in, plus change its location to a more stable part of my body - it was on my belly before, and now it is on my ribcage (or right above it.) hehe I read about the 5 day pouch test - it appears to be a way to try and get back your pouch to normal eating. Click on the link from Webkat on this issue, a couple of threads after your initial response. I would try following their recommendation and see what happens - It appears that they are taking the person back to the eating "rules" we had right when we were banded - liquids, then mushies, then soft solids, then solids - they claim it can help take the pouch back to its original size. Interestingly enough, I had to do this based on my dr's instruction (he didnt call it the 5 day pouch test but pretty much had me on the same rules) and at the completion of it, I finally had restriction - so maybe there is some value to this test!!! Try it. How are you doing today, SKHOPP???

CONGRATULATIONS on your new grandbaby Carol!!!!!! Is it a boy or girl??? And I made it to the gym...wuuhuuuuuuu:thumbup:

Today I went for Tae Kwondo class - 30 mins intense. Really excited because I wasnt sure I could do it!!!!!!!!!!! Hopefully I can wake up on time to go for Spin tomorrow. Wish me luck!! Looks like everyone's doing so well - good going gang!!!!!!!

Today was a KILLER with the head hunger - I mean, my stomach would feel good, but my head - ahhhh it was too much. I ate until I was stuffed. I even ate 15 lays potato chips - 150 calories - I counted them. LOL Now I am here, had a light dinner, and battling with myself as to whether I will go to the gym in an hour!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! someone nudge me into action!!!!! Hope I go so I can make my excercise goal. Hehe

Hi WebKat, How are you doing on your daily excercise goal???? :wink: