enjoythetime

I've gone through about 4 people's life time wardrobe:-) It's very expensive but it's also VERY rewarding! I went a smidge overboard though because I was so excited to be able to buy whatever I wanted. I still have things in my closet with tags on them that I never got to wear that are now too big. Another great resource (not sure if they have these exact stores where you live) are stores like Plato's closet, or Clothes Mentor, they sell name brand gently used clothes at a fraction of the retail store price, some with the price tags still on them:-) They also will buy the clothes you can no longer wear as long as they are in good condition and still trendy. Another thing to look for are swap and shop sites through facebook in your area. I bought a lot of clothes locally and then resold them when I wasn't able to wear them any more so essentially just traded my way through. It's a great resource. Like @@gowalking I've pretty much stabled off and know what size I'm going to stay in, so now I'm really spending a ton of money because I'm buying the higher end clothes, because they are made to last. So what may be more upfront will save you in the long run, or at least that's how I'm justifying it:-)

That's awesome! I wish I could say I gained a few height inches since losing weight his lady is 5'1.5". However, some days I am artificially taller since I can now wear heels (without them breaking:-)) Good times!

Today is going to be amazing! I met my goal of 80oz of Water yesterday with only 1 glass of tea:-) Today I'm already on my second bottle and man the difference in my energy level is just amazing, oh yeah and 1lb off of that 4 I've been seeing for a month:-) So here's to another day of getting my water in and hopefully seeing those other 3lbs flush away:-) Today it's going to be in the low 70's (very unusual for MO) but don't get too jealous, snow this weekend but for today I'm going to try and take advantage and get my butt out and walk. I hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Yay Bandista! I'm so happy for you! You have been solid and steady throughout your journey, your wisdom and perspective have helped me and so many others along ours! Your determination is simply amazing! Way to go girl!!!!!!

Yay! Congrats to you! This will be one of the best things you've ever done for yourself! Excited and terrified = completely normal, just know that you'll do great! This is the start of new beginning! Take it and make it the best ever!! Keep us posted on how you're doing! Best Wishes!

I just read every post, love it, I'm Jumpin' on the accountability train!:-) I've been yo' yo'ing 4 stubborn lbs. for the last month. I started racking my brain trying to figure out what was going on because it's driving me crazy!! Isn't it funny how you forget the very simple things when you start getting comfortable, like making sure to get 80oz of H2O in EVERY day! I think that's why I keep seeing these 4 lbs. on my scale since returning from my vacation last month! I've been drinking too much iced tea with splenda and not getting my Water in. Yesterday I did better I got 48oz in, BUT I had 64oz of tea.......Today the water and tea are tied:) So.....my goal for today is to get in my 80oz of water. I'm gonna go get me another glass before I get side tracked and forget!:-)

What an amazing transformation! Be proud of what you've accomplished you've earned it!

I would say stay away from any beverage that has a lot of calories, sugar etc. My rule of thumb has always been to never drink my calories. @@Bandista I'm a tea freak too!:-) I love their shaken SF green tea with splenda. 0 cal. I know..........I need to stop the fake stuff but I just can't...LOL I have one about once a month.

@@funky_monkey800 Setting goals is key to any successful execution, so, yes, I think we should all have goals that we set and work towards. The key is to set realistic goals to avoid getting frustrated with ourselves . Some months you'll lose more than others that's just the cycle of our bodies, when the scale is moving slow or standing still, realize you're still losing, you're losing inches and honestly this is way more important than any number on the scale! So, maybe mix it up a little one month aim to lose x amount of lbs. for the next month to be down a pant or shirt size . The other important thing to do is to reward yourself along the way for each goal you meet, such as buying a new pair of pants, or getting your hair done, whatever is a treat for you that's non-food related. Another thing that really helps me is to recognize your daily accomplishments which is what helps you hit your long-term goals, like walking past the donuts at work (did that this morning), taking the stairs instead of the elevator, making a healthy substation in a recipe etc. As far as the shakeology goes I didn't do anything other than follow my doctor's dietary instructions and listen to my band. With that said I don't think there's anything wrong with drinking a shake now then if you're in a pinch and unable to eat something healthy or to bump up your Protein if you're running short , but don't rely on them. In my opinion doing so defeats the purpose of the band. You're doing a fantastic job!!!!!!

No if you don't think your ready or need a fill you don't have to get one. Listen to your body and do what's right for you. You have a life time for fills if you need them:-) I will have been banded 2 years this May and my last fill was in July 2013. I don't want to be so tight that I'm miserable! Plus it's not healthy. Move at your pace and remember this is your journey no one else's! Congrats on the new band life style!

Congrats! This just goes to show that determination and perseverance pays off! Great job!

To hold steady or to experience a slight increase in weight is completely normal during this stage. You're body just went through major surgery and is still recovering. This could mean you're holding onto a lot of Fluid, etc. Hang in there and keep following your Dr.'s instructions to the T and you WILL see the weight come off, it has no other choice. Congrats on your recent surgery and be sure to keep us posted on how you're doing!!

Sorry to hear that you're gong through all of this! Can I ask you a couple of questions to see if we can try and help, not with the medical side of things but with the band function side? You were banded in 2010, Can you tell us approx. what length of time you lost your 40lbs and what was the length of time in between for the regain? Is it possible you've developed a food(s) allergy that is, such as a lactose, gluten or other food intolerance? I know often times this happens to people suddenly out of the blue and has much of the same side effects as the ones your experiencing. My other question is what type of lifestyle are maintaining right now. Meaning are you getting your 60-80g of Protein daily, are you drinking a min. of 80oz of Water daily, is your carb intake low and mainly consistent of healthy carbs? These all are huge factors in the banded life style and without hitting these daily goals you will not see the results you had hoped for.

Whooohooo, this is amazing! So happy for you! Keep up the great work!!!!

I completely agree with Lisa, I live my journey in much the same weigh:-). You can always find something to be proud of yourself for, NOTHING Is too small to count as an accomplishment!

I was banded in May of 2013. My starting weight was 289 and now I teeter between130-133. I agree with starting back with the basics. liquid, mushies, soft, solid phases. I think it helps you to not only reset your band but it helps restart your mind, which in my opinion is the most important especially when emotions are involved (and when are they not:-)). Right now you're going through a hard time and the greatest thing you can do for yourself is to put YOU first! By doing so you'll feel so much better and it will give you the strength to get through life's challenges a little easier. This site is absolutely amazing! We're all here to help and support one another. Everyone has different opinions which is good, you pick and chose what you do and don't like and come up with what works best for you. You can get back to where you were; in fact, I believe you'll be better than you were before! After-all challenges ='s more character right??

@@B-52 You're absolutely right, there's nothing wrong with weighing yourself daily, unless you're a person(like me) that let's the scale determine your mood, day or week. Like @@JustWatchMe pointed out, it's great to step on the scale daily when you're losing, it's definitely the best motivator, BUT when you see that the losing has stalled or that the same couple of lbs. keeps toying with you, it gets frustrating. On flip side of that it's also a kick in the butt when you see those numbers creep up so just like with anything it has it's positives and negatives. Me and many others on this site have learned a lot from your amazing journey and expertise. It's real and something to be respected! Thanks!

In May I will have been banded for 2 years and I'm still learning about myself and this band. I got back into the dreaded scale habit. For the first year and 1/2 I was banded I didn't own a scale, I would only weigh myself at my monthly dr. check-ups, well then my surgeon basically overnight became no more and I found myself in the position that I had to find a new dr., so after 3 months without a weigh-in it was driving me crazy I knew my clothes were fitting the same - (which is the all time measurement), but I broke down and bought a scale. At first I did well, I weighed myself once a week. I had my first consultation with my new dr. and my weight was exactly the same as it was 3-months prior. The following week we went to Jamaica for vacation and I didn't allow myself to worry with calories etc., that is until I got home and then the first thing I did was jump on that scale and the numbers revealed what I had feared, I had gone up almost 4lbs. For me this was the first time since being banded that I SAW my # on the scale go up. It undoubtedly did along the way but because I didn't see it, no harm no foul. Immediately I went into panic mode because I new the next couple of weeks following was Christmas and then New Years, blah, blah, blah, so for the last month, I've been on that dang scale 1-2 times a day. Seeing those same 4lbs go up and down. Bad habits die hard. I need to go back to what has worked for me all along and only allow the scale to see the light of day once a month. Since I seem to know the answer to my own problem, why aren't I doing it? Fear is the answer. Is 4lbs a big deal? No, not at all, we all know we can flex 5lbs over night due to Water retention, stress, BM's, for ladies that TOM etc., but for anyone who's struggled with weight the real concern isn't about the 4lbs., it's about the fear of those 4lbs. becoming 10lbs., then 20lbs.,etc. Has anyone else had this same fear? I mean we've all been through these vicious cycles before. BUT wait, what have I forgotten???? Oh that's right, I forgot, that I'm not in this alone, I now have a tool that helps me navigate through these times. A tool that I'm incredibly thankful for and one that I need to rely on more than my brain during these times. The fear of never wanting to be where I was when I started is a good thing, It's that fear that keeps me in check!!! I'm still finding things out about myself along the way and will continue to learn until the day I'm no longer on this earth. If you can identify with what I'm saying I would greatly appreciate your input! Thanks!

Again, the most important thing is that you're owning it!! You can only change the things you're willing to recognize and you are so you are going to be just fine!! We all make less than perfect choices now and again, it's called life:-) Resetting I think does a lot not just for your band but for your mind! Again good luck and remember this site is here to support and help so use it!! Keep us posted on how you're doing!

You caught yourself before hitting the ground. The biggest thing in my opinion is that you recognize where your problem is and you're owning it. Like B52 said, it doesn't matter how you consume your calories as long as you're making proper choices. You're not failing the band, you just need to reconnect with it. Would it be helpful if you tried to completely reset? Meaning start from the beginning with liquids and then progressing to mushies, soft and solids. There's no doubt you have it in you to turn this around, if there's anything I can do to help send me a message!!! Believe in yourself and remember why you got the band to begin with!!

French Onion Soup- 1/2 cup unsalted butter 4 onions, sliced 2 garlic cloves, chopped 2 bay leaves 2 fresh thyme sprigs Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 cup red wine- Sub this for more beef stock 3 heaping tablespoons all-purpose flour 2 quarts beef broth Melt the stick of butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic, bay leaves, thyme, and salt and pepper and cook until the onions are very soft and caramelized, about 25 minutes. Add the wine, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer until the wine has evaporated and the onions are dry, about 5 minutes. Discard the bay leaves and thyme sprigs. Dust the onions with the flour and give them a stir. Turn the heat down to medium low so the flour doesn’t burn, and cook for 10 minutes to cook out the raw flour taste. Now add the beef broth, bring the soup back to a simmer, and cook for 10 minutes. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Roasted Tomato Soup- 2 pounds tomatoes, quartered 5 cloves garlic 1/2 medium yellow onion, quartered 1 teaspoon fine sea salt 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive 2 tablespoons parsley, finely chopped 2 1/2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth sour cream for garnish, optional Directions: Preheat the oven to 375′. Spread the quartered onions and cloves of garlic out onto a cookie sheet. You want to get rid of some of the seedy part of the inside of the tomatoes–don’t go overboard here and aim for perfection but your tomatoes will be a bit too juicy if you roast them exactly as is. Use your finger to get some of the seedy parts of the tomatoes out of there. Then place tomatoes on baking sheet along with garlic and onion. Dash the olive oil over everything and sprinkle with salt and parsley Roast for 30 minutes, or until the tomatoes have softened and slumped and reduced to almost half their size. Remove from the oven and scoop all of the ingredients from the pan into a medium saucepan. Add the broth into the saucepan and allow to simmer on the low-medium heat for 10 minutes. Use an immersion blender to puree the soup in the saucepan itself or feel free to cool slightly and use a blender instead.

Who says you can't have your chocolate and still lose weight:-) I HAVE to have something sweet at least once a day and this has been the case all along my journey. Of course they are a little modified BUT it works and you don't have to feel guilty later:-) Double chocolate Chunk Quest Bars- 160cal, 20 g Protein Skinny Cow Carmel and Peanut Butter filled Chocolates- 130 cal. for a package of 3 good sized squares Skinny Cow Ice Creams- They have a chocolate ganache cone that is to die for- 160 cal. Weight Watcher Brownies- 1 package of Pillsbury sugar free brownie mix, 1 can of black Beans drain and rinsed really well, add the beans back to the can and fill with Water. Puree and add directly to the brownie mix DO NOT ADD ANY OF THE OTHER INGREDIENTS, stir and bake as directed. It sounds weird but they passed my picky kid test. They're really yummy!!1 Sugar Free Double Chocolate pudding cups- 60 cal. Bleu Bunny Sugar Free Fudgesicles- 100 cal

Any more there are ALOT of Gluten free products on the market. I'm not Gluten intolerant, however, I will buy gluten free whenever possible, it's just better for you. Not sure if you have Hy-Vee grocery stores where you live but they have an awesome selection in their health food section. Just about anything you want can be found gluten free.

OOOH gosh, I would DIE without my CC Cookie dough and Double CC bars!!! It's what gets me through the day when I have that sweet tooth craving or if I'm short on Protein.

Yay! This is AMAZING! Keep up the good work! It pays off!