Fauxnaif

I think you have more flexibility (no pun intended) and options in the gym. I think a gym will serve you longer since many people outgrow Curves. Some people do like the all-female aspect of Curves. Personally, I love my 24 Hour Fitness.

Water it down a bit. I'll put about 1/5 water, 4/5 soda OR ice up some soda and let it sit a while so the ice melts. This does the trick. I won't drink full-strength soda because of the embarassing excessive burping.

I'm very, very pale, too. The aromaleigh is the only makeup of any kind ever that gives me a perfect match.

I would think 6 weeks probably. I didn't get one until 6 months after and I was loose when I got pregnant. This was a mistake! Don't wait too long.

I had to lose like probably 60 or 80 pounds before people noticed! That annoyed me.

Ridiculous! And if you work out, which you should, you won't have much energy to do so!!! Lots of very successful people do well on 1000-1300 calories per day. We all have our low cal days but it averages out to over 1000 for many of us.

Don't get rid of your sugar-free fruits and veggies! They -fill you up -give you Vitamins -help prevent cancer -contain Fiber -etc.! The light ranch dip may have more calories than you realize, though!

I tend to discourage dieting, but as far as "guidelines" to follow, the South Beach Diet is quite healthy. I would certainly use whole wheat Pasta, etc. rather than no pasta, brown rice instead of white, etc. If I had to stick to a diet, this is the one I would do because I do consider it quite healthy and safe. But I would stay away from the processed Kraft SBD foods. BTW, it's not a low-carb diet. It's a low simple carb diet.

If you've been gaining a while (more than a couple of weeks), I would definitely get a fill. Not being full very long and being able to eat almost anything are signs you need a fill. Even though you still have some restriction, you don't seem to have enough for you. I totally understand these issues-I'm having them now, too.

It's been almost 2 years for me. April 2005 and before that it was probably about Dec 2003, something like that. I'm lucky that fills last a long time with me. But I am getting another one very, very soon.

Damn, that's convenient!!! Lucky you.

All of my fills have been done by doctors. I might trust a nurse practitioner or a physician's assistant to do a fill, but no one else.

Waiting too long to get a fill after my son's birth. And Starbucks Mochas. No more for me, thank you.

I use Aromaleigh and love it. www.aromaleigh.com They have boards where you can ask questions, etc. And you can order samples.

Right as usual, oh wise one! Crunches will not help you lose weight. But you might have really toned muscles under the fat. :mad: Aerobic exercise is the way to go. Recent research: Diet Plus Aerobic Exercise Reduces Abdominal Fat The addition of aerobic exercise to a dietary weight-loss program<SUP> </SUP>can preferentially reduce abdominal fat in obese individuals,<SUP> </SUP>according to a new study.<SUP> </SUP> Investigators studied the effect of a calorie-restricted diet<SUP> </SUP>plus low-intensity exercise, or diet plus high-intensity exercise,<SUP> </SUP>on 45 obese females an average 58 years of age. They measured<SUP> </SUP>body composition with height and weight, body mass index (BMI),<SUP> </SUP>waist and hip measurements, and diagnostic imaging.<SUP> </SUP> <SUP></SUP> During the study period, the participants purchased their own<SUP> </SUP>breakfasts in consultation with a dietitian and had lunch and<SUP> </SUP>dinner prepared by a hospital kitchen staff. One-third of the<SUP> </SUP>participants were told not to change their physical activity<SUP> </SUP>habits, one-third were put on a program of low-intensity exercise,<SUP> </SUP>and the remainder engaged in high-intensity aerobic exercise. Participants<SUP> </SUP>were followed for 20 weeks.<SUP> </SUP> All three groups had reduced body weight and BMI, less body<SUP> </SUP>fat, and smaller waist and hip measurements. But participants<SUP> </SUP>in the high-intensity exercise group had smaller adipocyte size<SUP> </SUP>than those in the other groups. Considering the health risks<SUP> </SUP>linked to abdominal fat, the observation may be important for<SUP> </SUP>preventing and treating health conditions related to excess abdominal<SUP> </SUP>fat, the researchers write.<SUP> </SUP>

I haven't read all the replies so forgive if this has already been posted: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conjugated_linoleic_acid It says the optimal dose per day is 3.4 g. Good article and there is research to back this up. I'm going to get some!

You've got to be honest with your doctor. For good or bad, they need to know the whole story in order to keep you/get you healthy.

I follow my doc's instructions but do enjoy the cameraderie and commiseration on occasion that can be found here. I've always learned so much from the older (and younger) wiser bandsters!

This is the smartest goal of all.

First I chose a 27 BMI-halfway between healthy and obese (still overweight). Met that goal and now have chosen a BMI of less than 25. And this is HARD!!! I don't know if I'll ever make it. But really, my goal is to CONSISTENTLY fit into 12s and Larges.

I think you are going to burn yourself out. Try exercising every other day for now. Sounds like you are overtraining. http://www.rice.edu/~jenky/sports/overtraining.html Here's an excerpt: It is no secret among athletes that in order to improve performance you've got to work hard. However, hard training breaks you down and makes you weaker. It is rest that makes you stronger. Physiologic improvement in sports only occurs during the rest period following hard training. This adaptation is in response to maximal loading of the cardiovascular and muscular systems and is accomplished by improving efficiency of the heart, increasing capillaries in the muscles, and increasing glycogen stores and mitochondrial enzyme systems within the muscle cells. During recovery periods these systems build to greater levels to compensate for the stress that you have applied. The result is that you are now at a higher level of performance. If sufficient rest is not included in a training program then regeneration cannot occur and performance plateaus. If this imbalance between excess training and inadequate rest persists then performance will decline. Overtraining can best be defined as the state where the athlete has been repeatedly stressed by training to the point where rest is no longer adequate to allow for recovery. The "overtraining syndrome" is the name given to the collection of emotional, behavioral, and physical symptoms due to overtraining that has persisted for weeks to months. Athletes and coaches also know it as "burnout" or "staleness." This is different from the day to day variation in performance and post exercise tiredness that is common in conditioned athletes. Overtraining is marked by cumulative exhaustion that persists even after recovery periods. The most common symptom is fatigue. This may limit workouts and may be present at rest. The athlete may also become moody, easily irritated, have altered sleep patterns, become depressed, or lose the competitive desire and enthusiasm for the sport. Some will report decreased appetite and weight loss. Physical symptoms include persistent muscular soreness, increased frequency of viral illnesses, and increased incidence of injuries.

I've had so many starts and stops in my journey, I understand how you feel. I've lost, stopped, lost, gained, gained, lost, etc.... The best thing about the band is you can always start over. You can always decide to change your eating habits. You can always get a fill if you need one. You can always start exercising. There is no window of opportunity. Here I am, living proof, 4 1/2 years later, about 15 pounds from my second goal (1st goal was larger than I thought) and hope to be at goal before my 5 year anniversary! It seems like you weren't ready to comply with the band. Do whatever you need to do (read books, join OA, get therapy, whatever) to get to a mental state where you can be compliant or you won't be able to get it together.

I finally watched it. It was good but these poor guys-they were more than morbidly obese. I was morbidly obese at 300 pounds. The show didn't talk enough about psychological issues which I think are HUGE in almost everyone with severe weight issues. Myself included. I thought they leaned too far in the way of genetics. At least it didn't blame the overweight people but still, it seemed out of kilter to me.

:clap2: Awesome thinking. I'm sure this IS why you have been so successful!

I also had major restriction from the get go. I think it was maybe a year and at leat 60 pounds before I needed a fill.