funky_monkey800

Thanks for your reply @TheRealMelsHere! My list is pretty long because I couldn't stick to one flavor of protein mix so I tried a few..I have muscle milk lean protein-cookies and cream, gnc total lean shake in bannana, lite vanilla cupcake natural protein and a slim fast chocolate My 3 goto bars when I can't eat a full meal are Balance mint chocolate mint Gatorade whey protein in mint choc. Or a cliff bar in chocolate brownie. Fat free cottage chz, Either chicken thighs or breast And the turkey is ground and pre packaged in 12 Oz sleeves that is supposed to be 3 servings @ 12oz. I usually don't eat anything after 5pm. Day starts at 5 am with workout starting at 6. I started using creatine and a pre workout liquid suppliment. And that's only been about 2 weeks tho.. Maybe my protein is too high. And too many carbs.I just need to do a better job of tracking. I kinda slacked on that since I cut out bread, rice, pasta and spuds...lol. I just hate veggies!!! Lol so I gotta get creative in my recipies!

Thank you so much!! Def gonna do some research and add weights!! Thank you for your help!! And good luck to you! and also good to know I won't bulk...lol I want lean for sure!!

Thank you @@needtorecover! Yes I jiggle :/ but bmi still says over weight...insanity is a workout program that is crazy...I do want to tone up more. Good idea on adding weights! I've always been kind of worried about getting too big. As I am already blessed with "thunder thighs". A personal trainer is a great idea!!

I thought about getting a card since my Dr told me he has them. But I always forget. So what works best for me is to just ask for an extra plate then I can just split with my hubby or kids.... works out fine. Otherwise we end up with a ton of leftovers that usually gets thrown out. My hubby jokes how much cheaper eating out will be once the kids are gone. Lol

Yup..when it's that time of month, when I travel and there is an elevation change, when there is a storm coming.....lol...

Well I have seen so much negativity on the band lately....and it kinda brings me down. so for those of you who are against or on the fence about the lap band, or struggling with your weight loss, I just want to say. The lap band is working for me! 100 lbs down! Yup....crazy. 11 months with the band. Has it been easy? Hell no. Burps, puke, reflux, too tight, not tight enough, stalls, ect.. Was it the "easy road"? Definitely not. Changing the way I eat, the way I exercise, the way i think about food, learning what I can and can't eat so I don't get sick in public or with friends and family. Learning to enjoy meals with the family with band friendly food. And even if it was the easy way, my hubby still forked out over $12k, sooooo...i know it wasn't easy working for that money. Have I learned alot? You bet. I still struggle. What if I fail? Am I really hungry? Why do I weigh myself every dang day? What do I say when I am with people and can't or don't want to eat? And I have to really be honest about what I eat... And I still haven't found the idea of exercising "fun". But I know I have to do it. And I never regret it when I am finished. I like barely being able to walk because I totally crushed my workout. So is it going to last forever...my weight loss? I sure hope so. I've worked hard for this. I've followed all the rules, and in the process i have learned so much about myself. I have come way too far to fail. This relationship between me and the band is a tricky one. But this IS the new me..so for now I am going to enjoy this victory....and have a pumpkin latte. ..cheers!

Such great comments from all of you!! It keeps me going knowing there are others out there going through the same thing!

Thank you everyone!!!

@oklahomagirl1970- I will have to get on and look for you!! @hmj2015- thank you soon much! It has been a tough road! But has definitely been worth it! Weight loss will start again! Mine is slow now and I am definitely not where I want to be. Keep your heads up and don't give up!

I also have neck and chin hair...ugh! And it has not gotten any better or worse. Every purse and every vehicle I own has a pair of tweezers....no joke.

I would love to join...but I am so nerveous! No one knows I have the band! Ahhh...on another note, I hit a weight loss stall for about a month....I was a wreck! I upped my protein and switched up my exercise. Sometimes it's hard to get all required calories. And I heard that too few can put your body into starvation mode..so make sure you get plenty of protein and water. I know this can be hard because some days it's hard to eat or drink much...good luck to y'all!

Thank you @julienorton & @horsegirl315....I believe the whole starvation mode thing may have been an issue...but good news! I have finally seen the scale start moving again. Not fast but moving. I do some lifting and cardiovascular and have recently incorporated "insanity" into my routine....which may possibly be the death of me! Started adding protein mix to more drinks and drinking more water....which is tough for me...anyways thank you for your help!! *as of today 168! Wooooohooo! Dang spell check on my phone..just cardio not cardiovascular...lol!!

So let me start this by saying I know we should focus on alot of other things besides the scale...but easier said then done. For the past 3 weeks, my weight has not budged. It's the same when I wake up and when I go to sleep. I have been good with my food and drink choices and I also exercise...so here is my question...what is the best way to kick start my metabolism? Would too little calories per day cause this? Because to be honest I have a crazy finickey band...where some days I don't even feel like eating because it's too tight. Or I can only eat dinner...but I can never eat before noon...ever. Any insight or help would be appreciated.

Got my band Nov 2014....started at 250. Today I am down to 171

When I have a drink it's vodka and cranberry juice...I've tried the bottled drinks, like Mikes and smirnoff but the carbonation doesn't agree with me....Lots of burping...

I love my fit bit...the other thing I love is shealth on my samsung s6 phone! Because I have my phone with me everywhere it counts steps,weight, you can log food, take heart rate and it has trainings for running....so many cool things! I like the fit bit at night, then I record my sleep manually through shealth....

Wow! You look amazing! Congrats! I wish I had some before pics...

Omg....I need to quit hitting send before I finish...also surgery was 2014 not 2015...sheesh. it's early :/

I don't have saggy skin...my tummy could use some toning but I have also had 2 csections...I'm not gonna get surgery just gonna work on my sit ups and crunches! Lol ! Is there anything I dislike? Nope. Because without it I wouldn't have gotten this far....is it hard some days? Yup! But totally worth it. Wish I had done it sooner.

Oops I missed a line 250 to start 240 day of surgery..

I am 5'5 10/16/15-surgery-250 11/14/15- 220 12/24/15- 214 2/4/15- 209 3/30/15- 202 5/4/15- 180 6/1/15- 176 I have however have hit a wall the past few weeks with no weight lost. I have about 5 months till I reach my year mark, so I hope the scale moves!

Congrats !! Thats great!!

I am 34 had my band put in last november. 5'5 and 250 to start...i wish I would have done it sooner! I am at 176lbs..no where near where I want to be but definitely close to my goal than I was! I definitely sleep better and I feel 110% better! For the most part my skin hasn't been bad...other then my lower tummy (also had 2 c-sections) so I could use a tuck...but it's honestly livable! Maybe with some focus on my abs i could change that....And I have dd's ..lol..Cup size has stayed, but from a 38-34 band... and I drink tons of water and stay active...I can hike with the family...

My biggest gripe? All the ads where the women look so dang happy and comfortable in their bra's.....I hate bras....who can be happy in a underwire for 12 hours a day? Not me :/ lol....rant over!

@@Sharpie posted this a while back and it is delicious! chicken tortilla soup Recipe: medium onion- diced- 3 tbls olive oil 3 cans navy Beans 1 can black beans 1 can corn 2 oz chopped green chili's 1 pak taco seasoning cooked chicken - I used canned breast 1 cup heavy cream cook onions in olive oil until translucent, add green chili's, taco mix, all beans and last cooked chicken heat to a boil, lower the heat to simmer and let it cook 5-10 minutes. add heavy cream and continue simmering as long as you like. it's a great Protein enriched satisfying soup.