SpecialK

Scrappy -- that is fabulous about the size SMALL things. So happy for you. I bought a size Medium shirt (the breast reduction did help!) and am committed to getting the bottom half of my pear shape now down to a Medium! I have two job recruiter prospects already in my first day of sending resumes out to talk to some folks in person. I'm heading out to get my nails done pretty and just keeping positive. Heck, I look even more professional now to go along with the "chops" or experience I have built over the years, so why not go forward believing in myself.

Chica - your story is so moving (emotionally) to me. It just shows me how we all had major ups and downs that we used to use food to solve -- me losing a job, you with the things you had, others have just as important things to them. I am still grateful to have a tool that tells me STOP are you sure you want to do this? At least for most things I eat. I tried to eat a Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich yesterday on a hamburger bun since I didn't have any bread, and I could barely eat it and I was PBing as a punishment for even trying it. Then later on, we had another huge Fathers Day feast and I couldn't leave the macaroni and cheese alone (slider food royal!) and then couldn't keep my hands off the chocolate cake -- SO--- yesterday is behind and today is a new day. I took a nice long walk/jog combination to start the day and I am committed to making good choices today. AND I am sending resumes out today for sure. Hoping I get some replies in a reasonable time so I don't get too discouraged.

Well friends I lost a few days to check in because the job monster got me last Friday - yep, lost the job I had for 14.5 years - walked out the door and felt rotten. I'm going to be okay financially for the short term but it really messes with your mind to lose your job. I had some food pity parties over the weekend and then buckled back down with some walking and trying to stay busy while I get back into the job hunt. Wish me luck and just keep reminding me and all others, its a choice of whether food will Really make me feel better --- NOT!

Everyone is different but my Plastic surgeon kept the nipple attached to the surrounding tissue when she moved it up (the lift part) and then cut excess fat and tissue that didn't affect the connections to the nipple. Mine were sensitive right away after surgery and they plump up, and soften down just as I hoped.

Well I laid off exercising yesterday due to sore fronts of my legs - muscles that haven't been used like that in forever. Surprising, no knee or ankle.hip, or feet pain so I think this is just plain old honest muscle response that will go away. I got a nice walk in on my lunch hour yesterday. Here's a funny one. My company is having us use a pedometer to track our # steps and we have to get to 600,000 steps by end of August. I'm at 450,000 steps now but that is after about 3 different pedometers - yes, every time I have to make a potty run, I have had the stupid thing flip off my pants waistband and hit the tile floor and break or yesterday, one flipped into the toilet when I tried to put it on my pocket after a friend suggested that. So, I went to Target and bought the cheapest one ($5) I could so that when I break it, I won't be crying as another $20 bites the dust. It is motivating trying to get enough steps in to stay active.

Hi back to Mimi and Niki -- I put on 2 supportive sports bras and went jogging on the treadmill at the gym today! I can't even imagine. I could do about .1 mile and then I'd walk some and then another round and then I finished with .25 mile stretch at the end for about 45 min total. I wasn't swaying in the top and my knees, ankles and feet were not hurting. Really what was holding me back was cardio- I felt my heart rate getting above 160 after the .25 mile part and I felt that was pushing pretty far past the 136 bpm that is for 80% capacity for cardio for a 50 year old range person. I am hoping if I keep at it, the cardio will get stronger, not pump as hard, so I can jog for longer periods. Basically, the BR has helped me to get jogging. Now if I can get this last 40 lbs off I will be lining up for tummy tuck in 2011!

I went from a G down to a small C and I was a little shocked at first because I had been so big for so so long. Now, I'm getting used to where I am. When I look at the pretty bras in the stores, there are plenty that offer some padding and uplifting to make me look fuller and I think I will be fine. My doctor had warned me I could end up as a full B and I'm glad I came out a small C but even if I had gotten down to B, I can't picture myself going back for implants especially if some crazy surgeon talked me into DD implants. Now that I don't understand. Hopefully things will settle down, emotionally and with swelling, and things and you'll be happy long term.

I had my surgery to go from a G to a C on April 22 - outpatient - arrived at 11 am and was leaving the hospital for home by 4pm same day! Pain wasn't bad - I kept up with my pain pills for the first day every 4-6 hrs and then took 2 at night to be sure I could sleep good. I got weaned down to 6-8 hours between pain pills in the second day and my third day I was only taking something when I felt I needed it. I will warn you, Darvocet and/or Tylenol #3 with Codeine made me constipated - so I would recommend a stool softener each evening while you are on those narcotic meds if that has been a problem before. So, I am happy to report that I went JOGGING, yes on a treadmill at 4 MPH today for .1 mile at a time, then I would walk some and finished with a jog of .25 mile on the treadmill. I wore a double sports bra and nothing jiggled or hurt! Woo hoo!

I am so thrilled for you. I have 40 lbs to lose until I can consider my tummy tuck next year. I have Aetna insurance and they cover the Panni but not abdominoplasty - I will have to pay the difference. BUT I WILL! Why is it there are so many cute dresses out there that are sleeveless -- if they at least had short sleeves I could hide my flabby arms some but sleeveless - that is asking too much. I will definitely be getting my arms done but that will all be out of pocket too!

So today I started to try jogging on the treadmill at the gym --post breast reduction surgery to help with all that top heavy issue. I was able to do 1/10th of a mile at a time several times over the course of 45 minutes - going 4 MPH when jogging and not holding on. The last session I did about .25 of 1 mile and I had my heart rate up into about 160 range which was heavy duty for me. Fortunately, the knees or ankles or feet did NOT hurt doing this jogging. Amazing. I guess I will just keep setting small goals until I see I can jog .5 mile without going back down to walking and then get to 1 mile of jogging non-stop. I really want to lose this last 40 lbs and I know exercise is a big key to do it. Any other Shamrocks out there jogging now that you've lost weight?

Welcome back Dolores - yes, stay in touch here and we'll do our best to encourage your and likewise we need your help too. Every day is a battle but I never want to go back to where I was pre-band.

Feels good to see progress! It does seem like my body gives up a couple pounds, then bounces up and down around that number for awhile then lets me lose another lb or two! Just glad to be moving on down! I had hoped to lose 40 lbs in 2010 and that would be about 20 lbs in 6 months ending June 30 so I gotta get to 212 to make that goal according this this tracker thread. SpecialK.............232.2.........155...................214.9 Scrappy_friend....149...........135...................140 LadyRoz.............220............190...................212 CandyStarr.........312............212...................312

Hi! I hit my -140 lbs mark yesterday -- so happy. Went to a great thrift shop and bought some new short sleeve tops to match my new smaller top and I am so shocked to have choices among so many things now that I am a smaller size. Bought some Size Medium and size 12/14 things, some L but I am pretty sure my XL or 1X days are finally behind! Now, if I can just get down to that next lower size in jeans! One day at a time!

Hi Shamrocks! I hit my -140 lbs mark yesterday -- so happy. Went to a great thrift shop and bought some new short sleeve tops to match my new smaller top and I am so shocked to have choices among so many things now that I am a smaller size. Bought some Size Medium and size 12/14 things, some L but I am pretty sure my XL or 1X days are finally behind! Now, if I can just get down to that next lower size in jeans! One day at a time!

I love my Mom but I slip up so many times on my eating when she and I get together and go out - she'll suggest sharing a dessert, buys sweets, and yesterday she had a hankering for Ice Cream and we went for the good stuff at a place called GRAETERS. Its the best but I can't even admit to myself how many calories were in those 2 dips - yes, I did it even worse by getting 2 dips instead of 1. Going to burn off some calories today with some extra walking to help with my guilt! Tomorrow is a family cookout and that usually involves Mom's potato salad, baked Beans, deviled eggs -- can you spell HIGH FAT! I'm going to try to keep the portions small.

Harley -- CONGRATULATIONS -- SO HAPPY FOR YOU.

Had a great week! SpecialK.............232.2.........155...................218.6 Scrappy_friend....149...........135...................140 LadyRoz.............220............190...................212 CandyStarr.........312............212...................312

Hello all. I am hoping to get a clearance at a surgeon follow up appt yesterday to increase my level of exercise and eventually get up to being allowed to do the arms on the elliptical trainer and jog! I did break into a new set of numbers for me and I am trying to just keep going each day. Still all in all, I would never, ever go back to where I was pre-band!

Hi Sue! It is great to hear from you on here. I wonder if Greg that got banded same day as us is doing well too. Hope so. I really only had the heartburn for a short time before I got a .5 unfill that immediately resolved it. I later got a .25 fill back in and have stayed at that level for a long time. I'm in the 16/18 range but have a long way to go for my weight - can't picture what size I will be but I am going to see how the body goes and it will let me know. I had a breast reduction surgery April 22 of this year to help me get going on my exercise a bit more. I want to lose another 40 lbs from where I am now before I try for a tummy tuck to get rid of my awful tummy skin and flab. Anyway, I am so with you on I could live this way for a long time and never ever want to go back to where I was.

Lost .2 this week after some Mothers Day weekend splurging on high calorie foods and I am thankful for where I am. SpecialK.............232.2.........155...................222.4 Scrappy_friend....149...........135...................140 LadyRoz.............220............190...................212 CandyStarr.........312............212...................312

Thin2beme -- I guess it must seem like you are on a roller coaster right now - eating and emotions combined -- if he only gives you a small fill pre-vacation - buy yourself a small notebook and write down every bite you eat in a paper notebook until you are home from vacation and can track it online or whatever. Just writing it down and being accountable for what I eat does help me. If you have a hard time on vacation, give yourself a break, start fresh when you return and start tracking your food and exercise one day at a time. Best wishes!

Okay I've been stuck at the same weight for too long. Lost .2 lbs this week which I should be grateful for because I did some major Mothers Day weekend food splurges on my Mom's potato salad and her baked beans. I don't even want to think about the mayonnaise and brown sugar calories in those two.

SK - interesting that you had posted the revision. Hope all goes well from here on out. I know Dr. Choban took good care of ya!

I plan on being at the mall today. Also, anybody with extra Size 20 or so clothes - especially tops? I know one of our lapband friends who is in need of some summer things. I'd say 20 would translate to 1X or maybe 2X if its cut small. I'm happy to share I was able to find a Blue Jackets Stinger navy T-shirt at a Goodwill Thrift in Gahanna on Hamilton Rd. & Morrison shopping center - $1.99 and it was a size L -- looked so small to me on the hangar that I couldn't believe it when it fit okay.

I haven't posted to this accountability thread in a while but I do want to get on track and hold myself accountable to keep going downward now that I am past my BR surgery. I am so hoping that as the summer comes, I can get the level of activity I hope the BR will let me have, and the pounds will go down a little more quickly. I've been on this same set of numbers for what feels like forever and it is definitely my own fault - splurged on carbs and sugary things while I was recovering from surgery since my sister was here and loves all those things too. Back on track this week pretty well now that I am back to a normal working schedule. Re: 2010 Shamrocks Weight Challenge permalink SpecialK.............232.2.........155...................222.6 Scrappy_friend....149...........135...................140 LadyRoz.............220............190...................212 CandyStarr.........312............212...................312