pizzicato66

That's good, because I NEED IT! Why? Because I stopped at the grocery store last night on the way home, and here's what I left with: - 6 chicken wings and cheesey hash browns from the hot bar - tollhouse cookie dough (ate 3 of them last night and brought the rest to work to get it out of the house) What did this mean? 1100 calories for ONE MEAL! yeah, that's ONE meal. This is why I'm logging - I'd gotten into the habit of fixing whatever sounded good, and then wonder why the weight isn't coming off. I've been an Ee-dee-ooo-tay! I do pretty well all day, and then do something to undermine the whole thing, and then beat myself up for it. BUT, I did log it all today and have a fresh start. I guess that's the point. I need to get back to reading the labels and deciding from there. I need to maybe get ONE wing just to satisfy the urge (and I realized while eating it would have satisfied me, btw). I need to stay the heck out of the store when I'm hungry and plan ahead! There, I've done my confession. My butt is officially back in the wagon today. Feel free to nag, cajole or offer wisdom!

It just goes to show how different everyone's journey is, doesn't it? I've ventured too far away from awareness of what I eat, so I need to get back to that. But, I also have at least 30-50 lbs to go before I'm where you are right now, so I've got to regain the focus and momentum I had a few months ago. I have a nasty tendency to be really into something initially and then burn out later. It was a real consideration for me when I got the surgery, because I was really worried I'd burn out yet again. The good news is that it will definitely help me get there. We all need to do what works, eh? I'll get there yet!!

Oy! That's what I get by making an assumption about your name. ugh.

Okay, so far it's just a challenge of one, but at least it's a chance for me to be held accountable. I invite any and all to nag me if I don't update daily!! I did do my log all day yesterday although I'm guessing my calorie count was a tad lower than it really was. I need to make an effort to measure my food so I know just how much is going in. In any case, it looks like I was somewhere between 900 and 1000 calories, so we'll see if it gets me back on track.

That's good to hear - maybe I'll get brave (and rich!) by the time I'm ready.

You guys are SO brave! I read LJM's blog and to be honest, it freaked me out a little. It looks SO painful! I give you a lot of credit for going for it. I guess I'll see how I feel and look when I'm closer to goal. Heck, if I'm in San Diego by then, I'll be nice and close to Mexico. About going th MX for surgery - how do you look up safety ratings for the docs and clinics there? Are they tracked as well as docs in the US?

Wow - sounds like quite a week. Hang in there, everyone! I decided to be proactive and work on a certification that might help me with the job I'm trying for in San Diego. I thought it had been out of the question, but there's a chance they'll take me if I get the certification done. I'd say it's worth dropping some cash and will give me something to distract while waiting for decisions to be made. Worst case, I'll have one more certification to impress with!

whoops! Did I offend? Sorry!

wow - banded the same day AND within 2 lbs of each others' total loss? That's bizarre! I guess we're band-sisters then!

Well, you could treat it as a withdrawal report, I suppose! "Hi, I'm Candle, and I'm a log-a-holic!" :-p I'm an obsessive weigher myself, so I can relate. The food part is definitely hitting me though! BTW, I was a good girl just now. I'd finished lunch and was craving corn chips, but they didn't have what I wanted downstairs, so I stayed away from a substitution. I'd waited a few minutes before going down, too, so by the time I got down there, lunch was really settling in nicely and I wasn't hungry any more. Phew!

Yep - Onederland is when you're under 200 lbs. Century club is when you've lost a minimum of 100 lbs. It's REALLY going to feel good when I get to Onederland (10 lbs to go!), but getting to the Century club is going to make me ecstatic!!!

I've pondered, and I have a ways to go before I'm close to done (probably another 30-50 lbs to go), so I guess I'll see what I wind up with. Right now, most of the fat and flab is in the lower body and abs but I have a bit of batwings forming already and the "girls" have headed south somewhat too). I'm definitely in the "wait and see" school. Yesterday I read a pretty detailed blog and the thought of all the pain, swelling, etc. and all the time off from work scares the bejeezes out of me! My banding was really easy, thankfully, but the idea of having pain in all your skin for weeks freaks me out. I really don't want to spend weeks sleeping in a recliner just to tighten stuff up, and I'm single, so there really isn't anybody around to help me out after it's done. I'm just hoping for the best!

Ladybug - sorry to hear you've got a nasty SIL - mine is a bit of a trip too, so I can relate. But, for the most part, we get along and don't see each other that much (I just hang with my bro when she's working). Why do people have to be so awful to their own family? I'll never know! Karri/Salsa, I'm glad you don't have to wait quite so long to get your adjustment this time. Hopefully you'll be feeling better soon! Val - post that picture! Always nice to see how everyone's moving along. I came across one from months ago on a website (a friend had posted one that had me in it and I didn't know it). I looked at it and thought "gee, that person looks familiar!" and guess what - it was me! I didn't recognize my own face because it was slimmer, and that was about 30 lbs ago. Bizarre experience, to say the least! I'm in a much better mood today. I finally got it into my head that there's no rush for things to go in, and there's no reason to get all stressed about something I can't control. There's a lot of positives to waiting too, since it gives me time to save more money and get things more settled here before I go. I'm casting the net for other jobs too, as I think I put my eggs in 2 baskets a little too soon. Worst case, I stay in town awhile longer and keep the move to CA as an option. That's not so bad, really. Thanks to you all for letting me vent yesterday! And on the subject (yeah, I know I'm totally off-topic), no, I'm not doing a lot for exercise right now. It's just not that much of a priority for me, but I'll see what I can do.

Good for you for getting time with your therapist. I just scheduled an appointment myself for next week with mine (would have loved to get in today, but it never works that way). Funny, I just had a conversation with my friend yesterday. He lost about 140 lbs without surgery, and not entirely in a healthful way (major calorie restriction and overexercising). He said something to me about being PO'ed that I'd gotten under 210 and he wasn't. Sheesh - he's 6'4" and I'm 5'7" - slight difference in scale, don't you think?! He actually had plastics done about this time last year too (skin removal on the belly, minor lipo and breast reduction). He's been working with a personal trainer and still hits the gym hard, but thinks he needs to be around 190 lbs to be "normal." I think he needs time with a therapist to get his brain straight on this one, and it scares the heck out of me sometimes. He doesn't get that the BMI charts are set low, especially if you've been big. He also said something about he's going to start eating whatever he wants since he's not losing weight anyway. I told him to look for a good dietician and work through it. Meanwhile, I've been making poor choices the past few days and am up a lb - no big surprise there. I know it's related to getting impatient and disappointed about the job thing, so hopefully I'll get myself out of this funk soon. I am NO fun today and not getting much done at work either. Ugh. It goes to show - we all have our stuff to work through, surgery or no surgery! Much love, Princess Grumpy-pants.

Dang! As I said - you're a brave girl! I'm glad you don't have to wait as long this time. Hang in there! So, it must feel good and a little weird being at a point where you shouldn't lose more weight. Can't wait to get there myself (if I can behave myself a bit better for a few more months...)

Karri, I feel for you! Sounds like your doc needs to back off a tad on the fills - didn't you get overfilled before Xmas too? How much is going in each time? Blecch! I'm just starting to get comfy again from my last one and I definitely still need to slow things way down. I'm going to hold off on a fill for this month and see how I feel in a few weeks. Hang in there, girl!

I'm in MN. Most of our snow melted off in the past week, and then we got an inch or so this morning (they're talking 4-6 inches tonight). It's supposed to get back up in the 40's after that, so it won't last long, at least. It's Spring in MN! I think I've just run out of things to do to get ready for my move, and the remaining details are out of my control until I get a job offer. I'd set an unreasonable goal of getting an offer last week, even though I obviously can't control when I get a job offer, so I've gotten myself frustrated over it all. It's not the least bit rational - I know that, but that's one of the things I deal with about myself. I seem terribly laid back on the surface but I'm a total control freak, so having big life decisions out of my control drives me batty! I'll survive, and I'll just keep pushing the stuff I can control. The good news is that it gives me that much more time to get the short sale done on my townhouse and I can save that much more money for the move. I'll be home for easter too.

Good job! Those NSV's really feel great don't they?! I can't claim any this week (I'm actually up a lb). I was a total slug on the couch all weekend, so it makes sense. I think it's all emotional right now because I'm getting impatient and a tad disappointed about not having a job offer yet. I did apply for some more openings, and the one in SD could still happen (they just want to interview some others first), but it kinda zapped me out this weekend. I figured out that I need something besides the job hunt and upcoming move to keep me occupied and distracted from eating right now - that seems to be what helped me out on my trip (I was too busy to eat when I was in CA). I've packed or gotten rid of pretty much everything I can at this point without getting in the way of everyday life. No wonder I'm so dang antsy! Maybe a good long walk in the fresh SNOW (ugh) tonight at the dog park will help kick things back in gear (will definitely be fun watching poochie play in new snow). Anyway, I digress- nice work, all of you!!

Exactly! It's interesting. It was really easy for me initially and thought it was just happening, but in hindsight, I was eating VERY strictly, so the weight came off. No big secret - I was following the rules. Now that I'm farther out, it's tougher sticking on the strict plan, so I'm easing into a way of eating that's liveable. The weight loss is slower, but I'm getting closer day by day, and I know there are ramifications if I make bad choices. Slow and steady still gets there!

Thanks everyone! Now that I made a trip out, I'm all the more motivated to get there, even if it's not to the job I'm waiting to hear on. I'm hoping they'll get a couple more interviews in and still decide on me. It may be awhile before I hear, so I'll find distractions, like focusing on the job and life I have, and my weight loss!

wow -you look stunning!!! Congratulations!

Don't worry - we all love your flabby belly because it's part of you! :-)

You'll get there! The trick is to remember it's a tool, not a magic bullet. I know you hear that constantly, but it really is true. If you make poor choices and graze, restriction won't help that much. But, if you make reasonable choices and follow the rules, you WILL lose. Set your expectations high and follow the rules of the game and you'll get there!

Update - I did get turned down for the job in LA (they decided they had to have someone with industry experience - in other words, the president said no). Thing is, I didn't have a good feeling about the job and was leaning towards San Diego. I just need to keep looking and pulling for that job in San Diego and hope for the best. Hopefully the recruiters there weren't trying to let me down easy and I still have a shot there. I'll just keep hoping...

Wow - good for you for posting so bravely! Now you've got me wondering how much of mine is skin! I still have work to do though, if you see my legs you can tell there's fat hanging out yet that hasn't given up the battle. I guess I'll see where I'm at in another 20 lbs or so (once I'm in ONEderland!).