Leepers

Yes, don't dread! Once you're off your special diets, there will always be good choices to make. I feel liberated now because I'm not obsessed with food and overeating. I can actually enjoy myself.

Constipation is a constant problem for a lot of bandsters. I found that laxatives and stool softeners didn't help much. I started eating prunes on a regular basis and they really helped.

Breakfast: hard boiled eggs or an egg muffin Lunch:tuna salad with an apple or tomato Dinner:pork tenderloin, fish, or chicken with a veggie. Snacks: nuts, prunes, cheese

Healthy New Me and Bandista! Both so close to Onederland!

Have you ever read Lap Band Gal's blog? She's been in maintenance for about four years. I do believe that she still watches her portions, but doesn't count calories as much. She weighs and if she's up a little, she goes back to basics for a bit. And of course, keeps up on her exercise. Google her. I went back and read her whole blog. All five years. It took me quite a while, but she was very inspiring. And so are you! Congrats on your achievement. I started out at about your same weight and originally my goal was 180/185 but I changed mine to 165. I think it is achievable!

You can't really trust MFP. If I put in that I did 60 minutes on the elliptical, it tells me I burned over 900 calories. When I put my weight in the elliptical machine, at the end of 60 minutes, it says I burned 550 calories. That's why I never eat back my calories burned. But I do like keeping a record of my activity.

That's so wonderful! Yes, willingness to just go for it has led me to take the stairs to the sixth floor of the parking garage, just to see if I could! Spontaneity is a beautiful thing! Here's to our summer weight loss and all of the new/old activities we'll want and be able to do!

I had my surgery one day before you, and have also lost 62 pounds! Crazy! I have a 10 cc band. I've only had one fill so far because my doc (and I) is very happy with my loss. I'm also happy to be able to tolerate pretty much all foods. So we figured, why mess with a good thing. BUT...I sometimes wonder what it would be like to be in the green zone. My doc said he isn't as concerned with my portion size since I'm losing. I generally stay within a certain calorie range and eat very healthy. I too, exercise 4 days a week. I think of you're exercising as much as you are, you may need to make sure you're taking in enough calories to support it. I also still get hungry, but I've learned to deal with it and it's not the overwhelming, I have to eat RIGHT NOW, feeling I used to get when I was heavy. Too much of a fill in your band would be getting stuck or pb'ing a lot, or only being able to eat slider foods. As long as you can eat real, solid foods, I would continue to get fills if you want them. Congrats on your amazing weight loss. I've started to slow down a little. I lost so much more the first couple of months. Hoping to get the momentum going again. Best wishes!

Finding a way to NOT let others determine how you feel would be a great step for you. It is hard, but it can be done. If the people asking know you had weight loss surgery, then I would just say, "I'm losing at a healthy, slower, rate. My plan is to keep it off."

I love your story. Thanks for sharing. And congrats on your life change!

I do a supplement. I'm a calorie counter and I would rather chew my calories than drink them. I would Google "foods with calcium" and see what other choices come up.

If anyone wants to friend me on MyFitnessPal, my id is lleepers. Send me a request!

Hi Leepers, way to go on your weight loss -- you're doing great! Reading your post (we were writing at the same time so I didn't see it), we have a similar thing going on -- the not eating the exercise points back and heavier caloric intake days being due to alcohol. If we have a highly social couple of days I really take it easy for a couple of days after and it seems to be working. I'm very happy with my loss so far and look forward to getting to Onederland soon (please, please, please!). You're so close to Onederland! I'm totally jealous! Yes, I had four days of going out then got right back on track last week. I needed the break from wine. Lol!

My surgeon said if I want to follow calories that my intake should be around 900 to 1200 calories a day. I average 1000 to 1100. Sometimes I have days when I eat 1600 or more. (Usually due to alcohol intake). I do not eat my exercise points back. I am losing pretty fast. 62 pounds since December. Not everyone wants to lose that fast or be as strict with what they eat. Fast is not necessarily better. With the amount of exercise I'm doing, sometimes I feel I may not be eating enough. Find what works for you.

Really. I'm serious. I have always had a large chest. Even if I get down to my goal weight I will probably still wear about a 36/38DD. Right now I wear a 46DDD. I often wonder, how much of my weight is hanging off my chest? 10 pounds? 20 pounds? I'm looking for ways to think I'm skinnier. Help a girl out. lol.

I see people doing crossfit at my gym. I'm intimidated by it as it looks like you need a lot of existing strength to do it. Me being a weakling and all, I'm still on the elliptical and the weight machines. But, someday... I say do it if that's what you will enjoy! We have to find what works for us.

I smoke a couple of times a month when I go out and drink. (I used to be a smoker for 19 years. Quit 5 years ago) Both are habits strongly discouraged by most surgeons. I haven't had any problems but alcohol is extra calories and well, cigarettes are just nasty. But... sometimes this girl's gotta have some fun. You might get a lot of negative feedback on here. Letting nonsmokers weigh in is like expecting someone who's always been skinny to understand what it's like to be fat. In the interest of full disclosure, I'd tell the surgeon. Still, I do encourage you to give it up, as it makes exercise so much easier. Best wishes!

The heart is a muscle. You can underwork it or overwork it like any other muscle in your body.

This is a selfie and NSV! I took this in the bathroom at work. I was excited because now I can fit in the yellow stripe scrub top, which is an XL!

You look fabulous! How inspiring that you were successful during such trying times.

Five minutes is better than no minutes. Just keep doing that five until you can go to six. You have to start somewhere! Chin up!

Oh, how I love this post. Sometimes I actually feel different than others because I am so committed to using my tool. Like you, I enjoy having a few cocktails here and there, but I follow the rules 99% of the time. Moving is key. I notice that since I've lost 55 pounds so far, I'm a lot less tired at the end of my 12 hour shift. I even took the stairs to the fourth floor of the garage after work today. I love your blog and it inspires me that you can travel and socialize and have a few drinks and still reach your goal. It's all about finding balance and using the tool you committed to having implanted in your body. Best wishes on those last nine pounds!

I definitely keep my mouth shut. I too have "friends" who eat terribly. Tons of sweets and fast food. I wonder how they're still losing weight. Then I also have friends who I think don't eat enough solid food. I am by no means perfect and I have some off days for sure. I just hope that I can inspire by example. I hope to get ideas from others by seeing what they eat also. So, no, I wouldn't say anything.

I think it's just a matter of individual diet. As far as carbs go, they say the steel cut oatmeal is very good for you.

Just a little update: today I made the muffins with Reynolds foil muffin wraps. I still sprayed them with Pam. Worked out perfectly and a lot less mess to clean.