IndioGirl55

Becky - Don't Hate yourself - Love yourself enough to say no.. It is Christmas and you have to allow for just a tad of treats You gotta do what Apple and I do an pick one time that you are going to indugle in a treat.... Or do what I have been doing - take one bite of a piece of xmas candy then throw the rest away. Also - avoidance works well too - or look for the calorie content of what you are eating... Is it worth the calories... Awareness - that keeps me from eating that candy and Cookies in the lunch room at work..

Karri Remember you hate sugar - sugar is the devil - Oh here's a good one -(deleted) no I can't say that - it was mean - .. I'm a steak (rare :huh2:) Well it was worth a try - I won't be eating any cookies til next week - then watch out - with my kid's here I will want to eat... But to compensate - Exercise.. Ya I remember you saying that before after I suggested it -so you don't eat chili - If I make soup - well my sis says I make a stew cuz I put so much in it - I just eat the meat veggies tatoes - not really alot of the juice part

Well said Apples - My thoughts exactly... Angela Happy to have you aboard -:huh2: This is a GREAT GREAT GROUP...:cursing: Call tomorrow to make the appointment - you don't need to wait til after Christmas you can call tomorrow heck - it would be great to get in before Christmas if your restriction sucks - Being filled doesn't mean you can't eat - it helps you from over eating.

Lynn - Congrats on the L tops & 12 pants - Fantastic... and know that those number will continue to decrease... When I to to a 12 I thought that was it - well it's not - it will just keep getting better.. Ya we all were in denial about how big we were - that's why I like to say now that my outsides now match how I thought I looked in my head:tongue: 19 hrs - what a weird # - glad to hear that it worked out in the most part to your benefit

CONGRATULATIONS :huggie:PHLY :cursing: :Dancing_sad:100 LBS GONE :huh2: :frown:

Arlene - You are doing fantastic - I think I had lost like 52 lbs by Xmas last year... and we were both banded in July so please please don't sweat it - It will come off !!! Yes Admitting to the problem is the hardest part and the beginning of changing it... I have alot of addiction problems in my family - and ex-bf's so I understand (well as much as you can understand) addictions - I have done alot of reading etc on the subject and for us you just replace the word drug with food - it is truly our drug of choice and that's what it is a drug, IMHO a druggie or alcoholic has it easier than us - they just say no to booze or drugs - where we have to have food to live - so every day we are tempted to indulge in our drug of choice.. You go girl - You are Woman- You are Strong and YOU WILL GET TO GOAL :huh2: Ok Lori - You are making sense I understand - and I am happy that you miss understood her post - cuz you were worrying me that you kept your band very tight and that's what you were relying on to lose the weight and not changing what you are eating or how you looked at food.. Ok I feel better - and yes there was a lady at my docs office who didn't get a fill for like 8 months - You are right we are so very diff and the #'s to get us to our sweet spot are all over the boards. Yep I had 3 fills and almost all of the 3rd fill removed except for .01 - so really I had 2 fills and one tweak - I think I have 5 in a 14 - but wouldn't swear to it... oh ya Kathy - I would be pissed at your doctor - did you tell him about the steak... Yes you might not be making the best choices - but it's also about restriction and I really beleive that from our conversation you are in need of a fill - and yes making better choices. I was lucky cuz I was at home for the most part of that 1st yr - didn't travel much and I eat at home 99% of the time. I know that when I am at a restrauant that I want and usually do order with my old brain - but again I always do have left overs - but the problem is a chees enchillada isn't the most healthiest choice of dinner :0)

:party::huh2::Dancing_sad::cursing::party: :frown: :Banane48: :Banane14: :Banane48: PHYL CONGRATULATIONS 100 LBS !!!! :Banane57:CONGRATULATIONS :Banane57: :party::party::party:

Angela I am almost 1 1/2 yrs out - and do you know what - I still fight to this very day - infact this very second not to continue to eat once I am physically full - I am not hungry right now - but I have the urge to want to eat - the band doesnt stop that at least it doesnt for me. They banded our tummies and not our heads and imho that's where the real problems lies. Also you have only had one fill - and it usually takes more than one - When do you go back for your second fill.. Ok since you have been sick - I will let you slide on the exercise :cursing:- but rememeber your tomorrow is today - truly you can't put off exercising for tomorrow - you gotta do it now - just like if you screw up and eat 3 candy bars - you can't say oh well - I "F'd" up today so I will continue to eat them today and get back on track tomorrow - Nope - once you have realized your slip - stop drop and roll - yank those boot straps and get back on the band wagon immediately... Charlene - For what it's worth - I agree with you 100% if you are gettng stuck - then you have restriction - if you follow the rules (eating slowly & chewing) how much can you eat per meal.. Yes with all your stress - I would assume that you have had some days where you haven't made good food choices and ate stuff that was easy to eat rather than healthy :huh2: But overall you are doing great - can't remenber your exact ticker #'s - but isn't in like 52 lbs gone since July - Be proud of yourself for those lost pounds and very proud of yourself for doing the mental work that goes along with being a successfull bander...

Charlene - I agree 100% - I wish I could find that post in our Lucky #7 thread where we talked about fills - about being physiologically addicting ... Cuz that's we all read about - band and fills - heck I have had 3 with most of the 3rd one removed. We want our band to make us not eat... Well be too tight for a week - and you will never want that again. Yes if you are eating soft - slider foods you are going to be able to consume more food - if you are eating 1 cup of food per meal - and a couple of healthy Snacks - then I think you are at your sweet spot., I don't find that my band keeps my hunger at bay - Yes after a meal of hard Protein I am physically full - but mentality I am still hungry and I would swear to you today that manifests it's self into what I perceive as real true hunger - not just head hunger - but it is only head hunger but I feel it physically - I hope you understand what I am trying to say... Being super tight isn't going to take away the urge to eat those sweets and heck half those sweets are sliders anyways - so you can still eat them.. My newest trick - is to take one bite of a candy and then throw the rest away - there was a lindaroa choc in my stocking at work - I have never had one - so I opened it took 1 bite and threw the rest away... Joann - That's a very good way to look at it... Lori -Congrats on your 91 lbs - Fantastic I feel that my band helps me with my portion control but that's it - I feel that I have to learn new eating habits - healthy - chew - eat slowly etc - The band doesn't stop me from taking big bites or not chewing - it just makes me bp (which isn't good for the band) or get full on 3 bites of hard protein - well those 3 bites aren't going to be enough nutrition to keep my body functioning As to the white knuckle will power - candy - cookie and such are no problem for me to eat and I am at my sweet spot - So I do have to use will power not to eat them- and some times it is white knuckle will power - I just remove myself from where they are.. I could eat have had eaten 6cookies or candies between Breakfast & lunch and then another 6 after lunch and then some more tonight - would I lose weight if I ate around my band.. Nope - would I gain yes.. So IMHO we do have to use will power - change our eating habits even with proper restriction and knowing when we are at our sweet spot can be tough too - I thought I needed a fill last January - well he took all that fill out except .01 so that was just a tweak and most likely helped me more mentally than physically.. We didn't get fat from eating too fast or taking big bites - we got fat cuz we ate high fat - high sugar foods and way to much of it and didn't exercise. I really think what Charlene was saying is that she - thinks that she has restriction and wants to review what she is eating food wise. It's not the fills that make you lose weight it's the amount of calories that you are consuming - if you are eating those slider foods even if you have good restriction you aren't going to lose the weight... Angela - I have never understood why pple concern themselves with the # of cc's in their bands - It's diff for each on of us - I could be at my sweet spot at 2 and it take you to 5 to get to yours and we each have the same band - so the number of cc's really doesn't matter - cuz that is a changing # anyway. How long have you been banded - does it feel like gas - call your doc - we can't diagnose you over the Internet :huh2: he he as we aren't licensed dr's :0)

Welcome Jacobsmommy !!! We are here for you... Ok you say you have restriction so that's not the issue the issue sounds like it's about your food choices & are you exercising?? #1 this isn't a diet - so don't think of it that way - think of this as your new lifetime lifestyle change in eating healthy that's it - you eat healthy 98% of the time and allow treats 2% of the time and exercise. Angela - Welcome - When were you banded ?? Are you on normal food yet - Being hungry well ya you are suppose to be - that's normal - skinny pple get hungry too :huh2: There really aren't that many rules - Well my doc's rules and everyone's is diff - but basic rules - low fat - limited sugars & carb - exercise 60 grms of pt a day - eat Protein 1st then veggies then carbs - 2 healthy Snacks a day. Eat slowly, tiny bites, chew - no drinking 30 min before or after meal.. Ok for both of you... Again this isn't a diet - don't look at it as one. Our bands are only a tool to help us lose the weight - it doesn't make our food choices (as you both most likely know you can eat around your band with slider foods ie ice cream candy Cookies chips) and it doesn't exercise for us... What are you each eating - I am attaching a sample menu. Are you guys exercising - IMHO it is very important to get in some physical activity - to lose weight it's all about calories in vs cal out... In my weight lost phase I ate between 800-1200 calories a day - zig zaggin them and I exercised min 4 days a week.. I replaced sugar foods with sf foods - at night - my hungry time - I would have a sf fudgecicle (healthy choice 80 calories) or a couple sf dark choc pudding - or sf yogurt I bake my fish - I no longer fry stuff - I also use the I can't beleive it's not butter spray on my foods... I still eat some carbs - usually a 1/2 c rice for dinner every night. I have cut my fat intake & sugar intake. I still go out to eat - instead of eating a taco - enchillada rice and Beans - I eat 1/2 taco - a bite or 2 of bean - and a bite or 2 of enchillada - I am full. I also didn't and still don't keep stuff in the house that calls my name... Advoidance is key - food is our drug of choice - would a drug addict keep drugs on the counter or in the cupboard if they were trying to quit.. Nope - so we shouldn't keep foods in the house that we can't say no to. If your DH or Kids just have to have them - then have them keep them in their rooms out of your sight... Also - I keep a food diary for the 1st year - I weighted & measured my food for about the first 3-4 months until I learned what a serving size really looked like and knew how many calories where in what I was eating You don't have to do this forever - just use them as learning tools - as fat chick's we think that a pint of ice cream is a serving size - when it's really 1/2 c.. Both Apple & I are at goal - Long - Charlene - Phyl - Beckyo & Ellen are doing great - and JoannMarie was just banded 12/4. So even though I am the mentor on this thread - we have a great group of women who - will also give you their take on how to be successful -

During my weight loss phase I ate between 800-1200 calories a day - and would vary them - I never hit a plateau To maintain - I eat between 1500 - 1800 a day I just eat healthy and exercise and it's been working for me..

Kari - Too Funny - you should see the snow on the mountains surrounding us (we live in a valley) it's so beautiful... Glad the old tush is doing better !! Karri Ok you get paid for is - so it's ok !!! I thought it was something you volunteered for !!! If you are making the Benjamin's - go for it as much as you can... I can't believe you didn't think of Soups - I guess I make them sorta often - more so in the winter - but it's a good idea - put it in a cup - and sip it - how about chili too - I have had that all week for lunch - The only thing is that they don't stay with you as long as the hard Protein does

Dot You are doing fantastic :ohmy:- Please Please quit putting yourself down - I am a TRUE believer in posititive affirmations. Come on now read what you wrote - you were a 5-4x now a 1-2x and you did this in 3 months :w00t: 41 lbs gone in 3 months. :cursing: Give yourself the props that you deserve. :eek: #1 secert to this whole banding issue - is this is NOT a diet - this really is that lifetime lifestyle changes that they always talk about in other programs - it's not that those programs failed us - we failed to understand that we must - have to - make a permanent change in the way we eat and deal with food. Our bands (God willing) is that permanent tool installed in us so that we do have some control over the amounts of food that we can it.. But as we all know - it's us who makes those food choices not the band. IMHO weigh in only once a week - not daily - our weight flucuates too much. At your breakfast party - stick with fruits - yogurts etc - stay away from the sweets if at all possible - and if you just have to have a taste then follow the 3 bite rule - Props to you for helping our service men/women :bored:

Good Morning Gang... Oh the snow on the mountains surrounding me (I live in a valley) is so beautiful!!! It's very very low.. Just a wondrous site.. Yep Apples - I too am very watchful of those bad habits - that's why I threw away 1/2 that piece of candy I started to eat yesterday - I will be doing my baking next week - so that will be my planned indulgence. You have a very busy week - I bet your Friends are so surprised to see the new you !!! Well just cking in - CBL :ohmy:

Kathy= we don't have them (frozen cokes) here in the States - the don't have diet :shades_smile: Congrats on 73 lbs in 6 months that's FANTASTIC.... Flowers - I would wait and shop til April or 1st of May for your cruise in June - I found that like every 6 weeks I was going down a size - I am going on a cruise in March - I will need a few things cuz last summer I was a 6 - now a 4 but I won't go shopping till Feb or 1st of March Orea How can a frozen drink have carbonations - Was it sugar free :confused:

Hey Charlene - Ya Sunday I don't think I posted - then Monday nite didn't post got home late - same thing last night - but tonight back to my reg routine. Yep - the eating too fast and not chewing will will do it everytime - heck last night I pb'd on soft carrots - it's cuz they tasted good - I thought oh these are just carrots - 1 bit - then another chew chew swallow - well back they came... It really is about tiny bites , chewing and eating slowly... Thats the real key to not bping - and not taking that one bite too many.. Oh SO HAPPY FOR YOU - DH & MOM... GREAT NEWS - LOOKS LIKE 2009 IS GOING TO BE A GOOD YR AFTER ALL..

Ruth Come join us on the I'm Here to Help Thread... Congrats on being banded - it's the best thing I have ever done for me - I feel ten yrs younger and have 100% more energy..

Marie Hope your surgery went well and you are feeling better each day Feel free to join us on the I'm Here to help thread - I am in So Cali too..

Ann Marie I take it you are new to LBT... 43 lbs less than last year is better than being 43 lbs heavier - Don't beat yourself up too much - but know that you can do better. I can't say that another person can motivate you - only you can do that - but can we can support you and talk to you and help you. First thing you need to do is remember why you had the surgery - for me it was to get healthier and hopefully extend the #'s of years that I have left. How's your restriction - what are you eating - give me a typical days food. Are you exercising... Have you just gotten complacence with the 43 that you have lost - how much more do you want to lose..

What's up ladies - How is everyone tonite.. Steph - we haven't heard from you today .... Karri - how was the basketball game. Kari - How are you feeling after your fall Phyl - only one 1 - the rain looks like it's stopping here - I guess it would be a little maddening to be couped up in the MHO all day long. That's tight quarters. Donna - How are you - how's your restriction still good. Candice - Hope you are having some fun cocktails for all of us and enjoying your vacation - We miss you.. Well, just cking in - Stay warm... Hugs Janet

Hey Gang where is everyone !!!! Apples - Lori - Charlene - Boos - Becky - Joann - Ellen Hope you are all doing well.. The sweets were calling me today - I was just plan a$$ hungry today - had 4 oz of fish for breakfast - chili for lunch and the 1/2 See's candy - threw the other half away - then had sf choc candy- clear protein drink - handful of nuts a piece of cheese. I guess about 736 cal - dinner will be LC Alfredo w/scallops so that's 400 - popcorn - and fudgecicle will give me about 1450 for the day - so I guess I am doing OK - plus I did 1 hr of arms at the gym tonite - I am still afraid of eating too much... I feel too good to go back to a candy here a candy there... cuz it all adds up.. But gotta say I really could have eaten more today.. Not hungry right now - but never am right after the gym.. It has rained since 10 last night - it looks like its slowing down - it's been cold and really dark today - a day to stay in the house IMHO. Well that's my day in a nutshell - how have all you been - how are you doing with all the Xmas treats?? Be strong - remember to allow yourself at least one indulgence - but make sure it's planned for.. And if you do go over board - eat a little less or lighter at your next meal & increase your exercise a bit.. Well, I was just cking in... Will check back later - stay warm and safe...

Karri - Tiny bites - chew - or take Soup for lunch:lol: I woulden't drive in the snow either - I would kill someone.. Ok - why are you taking tickets at the basketball game - like you don't have enough on your plate !!!! Do you enjoy it - if you do it's ok - but if it's a chore -I would suggest not comitting to it - you could be using that time for you :shades_smile: - Yes always the mommy looking out for your mh :wink: Well I guess you did buy your self some stuff My GF dh does the same damn thing - she can't get out the door - and he's calling... OMW :ohmy:

Phyl I can't beleive that it took you a minute to jump at the chance to get out on your own for a bit.. And you did great and just buying him something - while I was out Xmas shopping for other - I bought way too much stuff for me :confused: Ya I think it started raining about 10 last night down in Indio and it has rained all day today here at work - I have a little KESQ ticker thing on my dashboard and it says our temp in is 41... If it keeps raining - you could get snow tonite :sad_smile: Great NSV on the driving the car :shades_smile:

It's been raining here since last night - slow and steady - not hard - but I have heared we have some road closures and it was snowing in Banning/Beaumont (about 30 miles from me) Heck my little ticker says it 41 here in Palm Desert - Phyl may get some snow - she is a little higher than us in DHS.... I'm sorry that you are stuck - is it cuz you are trying to eat too fast and not chewing well enought... I guess I have been super lucky - Next month will be 1 yr since I have had anything added or taken out.. And if I get stuck or pb it's 99.9% my fault ... But I gotta tell you I am hungry for the last 2 days - the candy is calling my name - I ate 1/2 of a quarter size see's candy and threw the rest away then ate a sf choc cov carmel - about 73 calories.. No More... Ate chili for lunch but since it's a soup - it doesn't really sick with you..

tbberger - Sorry for your struggles but I have a question for you - if you have restriction why would you be going in for another fill. Our bands are only tools - they don't make our food choices nor exercise for us - they only restrict the amount of hard Protein food we eat per meal - it doesn't restrict any slider foods - ice cream candy chips etc.. You say you are writing down what you eat - which I beleive is a great tool and it is specifically proven that pple who keep food diaries do better in their weight loss - another question - how many calories are you eating a day. During my weight loss phase I ate between 800 -1200 a day and varied them - along with going to the gym 4 times a week - for me this kept me burning calories and never hit a plateau... I have never looked at my band as a diet - I have looked at this journey as a total lifetime livestyle change in my eating and exercise habits - I am not dieting - I am eating healthy period end of story. The band is a great tool that makes the hard job of losing weight easier - but it's still work - mostly mental on changing the way you look at food and deal with it.. Good luck at your doctors appointment ...